The Team

The Team

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Day 3- Continuing on Highway 50 and Scenic 70 to Green River Utah

The day started with great intentions of finding wine less expensively than the grocery store next door, as we had been given "a hint" by another shopper yesterday that the grocery store had high prices. We eventually ended up at the grocery store, as few stores are open on Sunday in Ely. 
This meant we were a bit later than our planned time of 8 AM for leaving. 

After heading the wrong direction  out of the hotel toward Highway 50, my driver eventually agreed to follow what Garmin said and we were on our way in the correct direction about 8:45 AM. 
Highway 50 is marked as a Scenic Highway for this next area, and relatively speaking it was more scenic that what we experienced yesterday. However, it was still a VERY lonely highway. 
The clouds in the sky made the vistas quite lovely for the high desert where we were traveling. 
Jim is the morning Morgan driver and Ellen Jo the afternoon driver. I haven't managed to have Philip let me drive and tow the trailer yet. I am experienced with the truck, but have never towed anything. 



Mid-morning we crossed over the state line to Utah. 



While purchasing our "last" Nevada wine, Ellen Jo noticed the clerk had an Aero shirt on, so we posed him with Philip and his Morgan shirt to make a Morgan Aero shirt.

We continued on having a lunch stop at Subway shortly before we reached Highway 70. 
Ellen then took over driving their Morgan. We were so proud of her because she managed to drive at 65 mph and even made it to 70 mph today. Her confidence is increasing. 
The next section of SCENIC HWY 70 was fantastic. There were storm clouds in the sky that made both land and sky spectacular. 



Water on the road from recent rain









While there were a few sprinkles en route, the heavy rain didn't start over us until we arrived at the hotel, River Terrace Inn. Upon arrival  we were told we couldn't stay there because they had a fire, so we needed to go across the street to the Holiday Inn Express, and hope they had rooms. They did and also had room to park our truck and trailer. 
It turns out that lightening struck the River Terrace Inn, and started a fire in the attic, and fried the electrics. 
The usual wine and cheese time was enjoyed by us in our room before heading out to the Tamarisk Restaurant where we enjoyed dinner and the most spectacular  sunset. Unfortunately, none of the 4 of us had brought our cameras or telephones to dinner, so we captured the scene in our memories, and can't share it with you all.
Tomorrow we head for Silverthorne where we will stay with MONZA friends Dennis and Nancy, meet up with Michael to continue on the trip, and visit with John and Gail who will be following along in a couple of days. 
Ken and Pat and Ken and Marion left from British Columbia today heading for Savannah. They expected storms, but hopefully they didn't hit them. 
Steve's Morgan was shipped a couple of weeks ago from California and should be arriving in Savannah this week. He and Sue fly to Savannah next Sunday. 
I have had no word from the Savannah agent that the Kiwi Morgans are at the warehouse, nor the second container from UK/France. Hopefully we will hear tomorrow that all the Morgans are safely tucked away ready for pickup. 
So Morgans Over America is gathering together with just a few days until it officially starts. 








DAY 2- Over the Loneliest Highway in America- Route 50

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In an attempt to adapt our bodies to the three hour time difference in Savannah, we arose early and met at 7:30 AM to head out for breakfast. While our inexpensive Best Value in America Inn was adequate, it didn't serve breakfast.
We headed down the road toward recommended Jack's, but Philip's legs were weak, so we stopped at the intermediate route Casino  for breakfast instead. No gambling money was thrown away, only Senior breakfasts with military discounts were purchased.
It was a very comfortable temperature when we started out, but warming up once breakfast was over.
Our destination today was Ely, NV, over Route 50, the Loneliest Highway in America. I will have to admit there weren't many people and not many stops.


We had an early lunch stop in Austin, the first town after leaving Fallon,  after stopping for gas.




Ellen left her backpack purse in the restroom, but fortunately the next user returned it to her before she even knew it was gone.
Lunch Stop. Didn't realize the sign until we left 






Eureka!


















The next town,  Eureka,  was at least 70 miles away, which would make lunch late.
Ellen drives in the afternoons and she was able to drive up to the 70 mph speed limit today. We are so proud of her, as this is her first big driving trip in the Morgan.




We arrive in Ely at 3 PM to a very nice, new La Quinta Inn (with VERY SLOW INTERNET).  A quick trip to the grocery store deli next door allowed that we have a picnic in the lobby of La Quinta, which we enjoyed.
The night was still early, and here I am catching up on my blog before an early time to bed. Philip's tablet still does not work, but there were no possible places to replace it on today's travels.




Friday, August 28, 2015

DAY 1 OF TRIP TO SAVANNAH

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We were about an hour late leaving home. Jim and Ellen Jo arrived on time, but we weren't ready to go yet. Our age is slowing us down, so we were not able to fully load the Morgan into it's new trailer and load the truck with MOA stuff on time.
Jim, Phil, Ellen Jo and Elaine 




It was a very warm day for Jim and Ellen Jo in their Morgan as we passed through Auburn. It cooled down a bit as we headed over Hwy 80 and then heated up again around Reno.
Philip was very pleased the way the truck handled with the trailer behind us going up and down the hills.

We travelled up to over 7000 feet and back down going over Donner Summit. I can't imagine being the Donner party and taking that trip.

Heading toward Hwy 50, America's Loneliest Highway, we stopped for the night in Fallon NV. Tomorrow we head out on Hwy 50 to Ely Nevada. 



Stopping at the Nevada State Line


Kristi reports that Healey doesn't want to be disturbed. Healey and Bentley were clearly sad when we were getting ready to go. They will be missed so much, but at least cat sitter Kristi now has a phone so we can get pictures and I will even teach her how to use FaceTime. However, that doesn't make up for our evening cuddles.
People in Fallon are on their way to Burning Man. This was a happy group.
Upon our hoteliers recommendation, we at THE WOK in town. It was a decent meal and definitely much cheaper than in the Bay area.

Philip just feel asleep reading his tablet, and dropped it on the floor and broke it. So it will be awhile before he can communicate with the outside world.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

MORGANS ARRIVING IN THE US

Three of the UK Morgans are now in the warehouse in Savannah.
Another 4 are expected soon, having finally cleared Customs. The 5 Kiwi Morgans have arrived and are now being inspected in Customs as well. We hope they all are cleared soon, and ready for pickup September 8th. 

We loaded the pickup with regalia and directions in preparation for our drive to Savannah. 
Michael made it to Cheyenne but with high winds and rain. 

Saturday, August 22, 2015

MOA Preparations Almost Done

Things are coming together nicely for MOA which starts in Savannah on September 7th. Our count is now 20 Morgans- 5 from New Zealand, 2 from Canada, 6 from the US, and 2 from France, and 5 from UK. We also have a Morgan owner Australian couple in a hire convertible for a total of 43 people. 

The British and French Morgans have arrived and believed to have finally cleared US Customs, although one container was randomly chosen to be x-rayed.  The New Zealand Morgans arrived Thursday and will have to go through US Customs and be trucked to Savannah. Sadly one couple, who shipped their Morgan from France, subsequently had to cancel the trip due to an injury. 

Today I completed the paper packets with the Daily Sheets, Participant Books, green/red papers indicating "I'm okay- don't stop" or "please stop, I need help", post-its, pens, highlighters, and more.



















Last week I finished sorting and packing regalia in our MOA Chico bags. I also mailed some  regalia to US participants. 

We ordered 50 tee shirts, 20 jackets, 46 fleeces, 50 Polo's, 33 ladies sparkley shirts, 8 anti-sun shirts, and 50 caps or visors.   I have a few Tee's , a ladies XL gray fleece, and a couple of visors and hats left to sell.






Healey the Cat enjoying the softness of the sorted Regalia


























We took delivery of our new "smaller" trailer Thursday, as we are towing the Morgan to Savannah, along with all these boxes of "stuff" as above.