On the Road Home
Monday Sept 12th and our summer in Missouri comes to an end after hurricane Irene changed our plans for heading to West Virginia and North Carolina. We hung in Gallatin for an extra week and then headed to Nashville with a stop over at my Aunt Sues who live in Booneville in the middle of Missouri.
Dick and Mom posed for our farewell photo as they said goodbye for the summer. Mom will remain in Gallatin until mid November when she flies back to Phoenix.
Below.. Neely hangs with Red and Cowboy as they bid us goodbye.
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Preparing our departure we had a Saturday night family BBQ with some awesome ribs then Sunday afternoon we spent on the lake Viking with family. A perfect send off.
Aunt Sue’s home near Booneville is surrounded by Peach Tree Farms and the Budweiser Clydesdale Ranch. She is an artist and uses her skills to decorate Peach Tree Farms as well as sell her art creations there. We got a tour of her home and then headed into Booneville for some sightseeing. Booneville lies on the Missouri river which was still at flood stages. Walking the 1/4 mile bridge is a regular exercise area. Booneville is a stop on the 250 mile Katy Trail bike trail (Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail) across the middle of Missouri and we saw a few bikers as we crossed the bridge.
Checking out the pumpkin patch. Some of the unusual produce for sale at the market. Aunt Sue and Frankie with some of the colorful pumpkins.
Budweiser Clydesdales
Warm Springs Ranch home of the Budweiser Clydesdales actually was my cousin Julie & Curtis’s farm 5 years ago. Budweiser came to them and ask to buy their farm and have created a beautiful Clydesdale estate. There’s over 200 horses on the ranch that raises and trains the these big beautiful horses to be the famous Budweiser Hitch horses. They live a regal life, pampered from birth. We got a private tour near sunset with one of the staff trainers. Unbelievable the whole operation. 3 huge multi-million dollar barns full of gentle Clydesdales.
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Frankie meets a couple of 2 year olds. Cool feet.
Then we meet some little ones (2 months) and then some big guys. They don’t get a hitch job until 4 to 5 years.
Below is the view out Aunt Sue’s house. Every morning these guys are entertaining her..
Nashville / Memphis
Tues Sept 13 we arrived in Nashville and spent the next 3 days visiting before heading on to Memphis for a 2 day visit. It’s way to much to cover in this update so that will be coming soon.
We’re writing this camped on a small lake west of Oklahoma City on a fast track back to Phoenix. We should be home by Wednesday. It’s been rainy and cool in the mid 70s the past 2 days. Hope we’re ready for Phoenix…
Until the next update…
September 20th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Wonderful farewell photos!! I know everyone will be sad to see you guys go.. We will be happy to see you! I especially loved the horse pictures!! The Clydesdales are such beautiful gentle giants! We are back in Cholla, and the weather is beginning to cool down.. windows and doors open! Hope I’m enticing you home! No sign of Cholla, but I’m sure she’ll come knockin soon! ox
September 20th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Love the great photos!! Especially the Clydesdales!
September 20th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Great photos!! thanks for sharing!
September 21st, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Great pictures. I especially liked seeing where Susan lives & those beautiful horses. What a great view & good company to live near.
September 21st, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Oddly enough, I lived in Booneville, Missouri when I was a baby and visited my grandparents their when I was old enough to remember the place. Have not been there in many, many years. Guessing it is pretty much the same though. Sorry we won’t be honored with a visit from you all this year but keep us in mind for next year. Still wanting to make it to your place in Mexico one of these days.