Stuck in Kansas!

Got mz Mac (my RV) all checked out in Missouri to make sure everything was good for crossing the rockies…  Got to Hays KS and the "check engine" comes on - I have a scan gauge and it told me the code was for the EGR cooler, which has to do with the emissions system…. and of course it was Sunday and nothing open!  So Theo and I relaxed in the WalMart parking lot waiting for the Dodge dealership to open today.  Turns out they do not have a Sprinter technician.  ah well… So I'm on hold with Chrysler customer support hoping they can find me a dealership…stay tuned.  Glad I filled my fresh water tank yesterday - I was ready for a shower this morning!

Missouri and Kansas

OK, I took a day off from painting to see my brother in Missouri, but I promise I'll catch up in Kansas.  We had a good visit.  He was noticing how similar our hands are, and so took a photo of them at dinner, with a glass of wine on one side and a plate of food on the other.  He's a photographer - he took the image and worked with it in PhotoShop to create this cool shot.  You can see more of his work at www.peteranger.com

On the drive, Theo got a good roll in the grass on a little hill at a rest stop - and you can see Mac in the background…

I got into my Kansas campground and found a great spot with a panoramic view of the lake, and few neighbors.  Yay!  I think the stormy forecast kept folks away for the week-end.  I don't mind.

As I was driving across the eastern part of Kansas today I was admiring the rolling cow pastures.  It reminded me of an old 1940s clip of cows singing in a pasture !  too funny… sorry you have to skip the ad at the beginning… and then the talking head… but keep going - its worth it!  Click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZkd0L1lGA

…and I shall post some more paintings tomorrow!

Painting 4: Harmonie State Park, Indiana

I took an extra day here for R & R… Mr. T needed a break…

We got out for a long walk in the woods early this morning and though we admired the deep greens, the mosquitoes were thick!  Already!  Glad we have our screens on mz mac.  But lovely nonetheless…this is a 6 x 6 inch on Ampersand gesso board.

Painting 3: Kentucky

Kentucky is a beautiful state.  I love to drive on I64 through the horse country…  rolling hills and little traffic….  here's painting 3. It's an 8 x10 acrylic  on aquabord...

Painting 2: Camp Creek, WV

Those of you who have followed my blog for awhile know that I've camped here at Camp Creek State Park before.  Its such a nice little park, with a trout stream and mountains.  This time I eschewed the full hook-ups and parked in the prettier "rustic area."  I got Theo a "Coolaroo" bed to keep him cool and off the ground at the campsites.  He likes it!  So here is painting two, of Theo on his Coolaroo…it's a 6 x 6 inch Acrylics on Aquabord.

Here he is wading in the creek:

Driving down the road I was singing "King of the Road."  I like Jerry Jeff Walker's version best, but couldn't find a good youtube of it, so here's Roger Miller singing it.  Come on, sing along!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk_hPTN50UE

Painting 1! Jordan Lake, NC

OK, I said I'd work to do a "painting - a - day" on this cross-country trip, but I didn't promise to post to the blog - a - day.  Good thing too because I couldn't!  No internet reception in the second two campgrounds - in WV I was in the mountains and in Kentucky I was too remote I suppose.

So today I have a day off the road to get caught up.  I'm in Indiana… but let's start from the beginning…

I left home on Saturday May 2, delivered a large marsh painting to Cary and then camped at the Poplar Point campground on Jordan Lake.  I got a nice quiet private site in the woods.  Here is mz mac on her first night:

That first night was just a day before the full moon.  Here's how it looked from my campsite just before bed…

Theo and I got out for an early morning walk, and painting 1 is from that walk.  Its an 8 x 10 acrylics on Aquabord (yes, that's the way Ampersand spells Aquabord)...

I'm experimenting with how to set up the studio in Mac.  Most of the time I hope to be painting outside, but sometimes ya just can't.  Here's how I did it for this painting:

Bon Voyage!

We're off!  Finally!  Took forever to get out the door - a lot of work to prep my house for renters - but I'm so relieved to have responsible people there while I'm gone.  And now that's done!

I also had to run down to Wilmington on Friday to get a back-up camera installed on Mz. Mac (my RV).  Luckily it worked out to have a camp-out pizza dinner with my friend Sam there before leaving.  He made me the BEST Bon Voyage Card EVER!!!  Here it is:

… and now, let the adventure begin!