Well, apparently I'm going to India.

Was looking around for a winter trip, came across this.

Sounds fun. I'm in it for the days in Ranthambore NP (there are tigers there), but I'm sure seeing the other places will be fun. Unless cholera or something strikes.

It's going to suck getting there (DEN to Newark, then 14h to Delhi. Total 24h from leaving DEN, more like 26-27 when I consider taking RTD to DEN). So, getting there a day early to pass out/get on their time.

If anyone in these parts has tips on India, I'd appreciate it.

In other news, taking off the 6th to go see friends in N Cen Arkansas, then ? from there. Found out this weekend my nephew is doing a summer internship at Pinehurst, so might drive over by NC. Never been in that part of the country.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. Tour Dec 15-29. Arriving Dec 14, hope to get more or less on India time before the tour starts.

Booked flights through United. Surprisingly to me, it's shorter to go east than west. I figured since we're most of the way across our continent, and India's kinda sorta in eastern Asia, the Pacific route would be the one taken. So, it's something like: leave here ~9AM Dec 13, 11:45 to Newark at 17:29, then 20:30 to 21:50 Dec 14 in Delhi.

One hiccup. On the return, it's Lufthansa to Frankfurt. Picking seats, united.com informed me I'd have to go through Lufthansa's website. Get over there, can't make online changes, contact the call center.

Get some agent who tells me they don't allow seat selection on code share tickets any more, and the website isn't up-to-date. (I guess changing wording is hard?) Said I should call United.

Got an agent who actually put some effort into it. He called Lufthansa on my behalf and got the info they didn't give me, which is a) there's a charge for seat selection and b) Lufthansa will still move you, at their will, regardless of selection. So, his advice was to grab a seat at check-in time.

It won't be the end of the world if I'm not on the aisle, just somewhat less pleasant for me and the aisle person when I have to stretch a couple times during the flight.

Also unpleasant that the flight leaves DEL at 03:35. 8:10 in Frankfurt, then 11:20 to 13:40. It's going to be a long Dec 29.

On the plus side, I should be able to grab an authentic German beer on my layover. Yay!

Still a list of things to do, but it cantake some time to arrange travel insurance, get a visa, etc.

Speaking of these flights, anybody have experience upgrading on United with miles?

I was looking at the phone app the other day. Saw the change seat option on the EWR->DEL flight. Showed the available seats; when I clicked on, it showed a price in dollars, but not miles.

I know the initial booking lets the user choose fare in dollars or miles, but couldn't find that on the upgrade side. I've got quite a few miles on UAL, thought I might try to upgrade on the transoceanic legs.

Dealt last night, so got to bed late ,around 11:30. Of course wok up at 5:30, couldn't fall back asleep.

Got up, breakfast, packed the last few things. When I went to get the car keys, noticed the truck (which I'd driven to poker last night) keys weren't in the drawer where I usually keep all that. Sometimes I'll absentmindedly set them down somewhere. Got home, so they're obviously around somewhere.

Looked where I take off my shoe, where I stow my poker gear. Went in the kitchen and downstairs. Got the other set and checked I didn't set them on the passenger seat or something when I got home. Hmmm, a puzzlement.

No worries, I've got the backup set, and they'll turn up. But, a rather inauspicious start to the day.

Got on the road, plowing across the Colorado and Kansas plains. In Colby, they have a Buffalo Bill museum with this statue out front.



The storm looked much worse IRL. Later on, I heard NWS warnings about it.

A ways south of town, there's the Monument Rocks National Landmark. A few sandstone features out in the Kansas plains:



One each across the road from each other.



Super windy, so just kind of walked around quickly. There were some cool mini amphitheaters carved out here and there.



I wouldn't say it's worth going to see, but it's a short (~7 mi) drive off the highway, if you're ever on US 83 in western Kansas on a nicer day.

Back on the road. Kansas looks a lot like this



The storm is to the left and behind me. I kept plowing to Great Bend, which is enough of a city to have hotels. Between tiredness and the possible storm, I decided not to camp. Not so windy over here, probably would've been a nice night for it.

Went for a little walk from the hotel. Just starting a few drops, but it looks black to the west.

Just heard some thunder, hotel probably a good idea.

Many of the towns out west are dying. Drive through, lots of empty storefronts. Of those towns, many are the county seat, which maybe means something, but I wonder if counties out here will have to merge with a loss of population.

Woke to a cool, gray, wet morning. Plowed across Kansas without taking pictures because a) it's Kansas and b) see first sentence.

Highlight of the day was seeing the couple who owns our bar-poker league in their future retirement house in SW MO. Just outside of a little town near her family's origins, it's a really nice place. Brick 3BR house on 8 acres with a nice shop too.

Went to a restaurant a couple towns over on their advice. Quite good midwestern type meal. Unfortunately, didn't see any signs for campgrounds as I drove on--turned into a really nice evening, would've been great for camping.

Looks like I'm about 2.5 hours from my other friend's place in Arkansas. Hopefully it will take longer because I'll have good light and scenery for photos.

Oh yeah. Was planning to hit a casino in NE OK tonight, see if their poker room had a game. Thought my friends were only bout 20 minutes away.

Turns out, their town is almost 90 miles NE of the casino. Meh, not in the mood for that long a drive after dinner.

Not sure what else I might come across in the trip. Maybe just no cards this time.

Also good news, that my neighbor found the truck keys. Apparently I'd set them on a chair just inside the front door.

When he came by to make sure everything was OK, he saw & secured them, then texted that he'd found them.

put a deck of cards on a table at a seedy bar

leave the bar

come back later, order a drink, notice the cards, say "hey, it looks like there's a pack of cards here, anyone want to play some poker?"

ezgame

Wandered down To Arkansas to see my friends' place. It's a really nice place. I'm glad for them.

On the way down, wandered through the Ozarks. Like this







Going to stay a night, then take off for parts unknown.

spent a few months living in the ozarks this winter

elite trout fishing, stop and fish while you are there

and also, go drink at a bar and be charged $3 a beer

there are many redeeming qualities about the ozarks
but the rest include what resulted in arkansas

Ozarks were nice. Kind of funny, rick. The county that Mtn View is in, and the one my friends live in, are both dry--with the exception, apparently, of the bar & Brill and the end of their road, right on the river.

Paul thought that was closed Monday, so we went upstream a little. Driving back, he noticed the first was, indeed, open.

Not to worry, I've always got a few in the cooler for when I get to campsite/hotel.

Unfortunately, when we went for lunch, it started raining. By the time we got to town (~10 minutes), it was torrential. Let up a bit in the afternoon.

That evening, went to another local joint right on the river for dinner. Both good, nothing fancy. Probably what you'd expect from small-town places.

At their house that evening, it started raining again. Biblical, with short periods of only torrential. All manner of flood warnings. They're up high enough so no problem for them, and fortunately, no roads washed out along my path.

Anyway, it started letting up some in the morning, so after breakfast in town, headed out. Generally ENE. While the scenery was nice (some hills still, then got out into the very fertile farmland), the light wasn't good.

As I went across the bootheel of Missouri, I learned that Kennett down there is the hometown of Sheryl Crow.

I'd noticed on my map that there's an area in extreme western Kentucky where the Mississippi makes a near-total loop; this land is cut off from the rest of Kentucky, but it's far enough north to be part of their state.

Since I like "going to the end of the road" (see Deadhorse, AK; Usushaia, Argentina; Key West; Fort Kent, Maine, among others), I figured I'd go see what that was all about. Of course, there's no town there, so it's not marked. Just kept driving more-or-less North and West til I ran out of blacktop.

Kentucky doesn't acknowledge the border crossover. Coming back, Tennessee has a "state line" sign, but not a welcome.

Anyway, that area was what looked to be very rich farmland. Got to the end of the blacktop, and there was a sign for private property and noting there were cameras working (I assume for the farmhouse in the distance). Not wanting to bother them, turned around and came back.

On the way back noticed this:



There were enough of them in yards that I assume it's a real person and not a joke. Finally, a candidate all America can get behind!

Anyway, kinda tooled south in TN and started a little east across the bottom. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but at least the weather promises sun again!

safe travels no travails golddog

Thanks, Red!

Going through the E Tenn mountains. Radio guy is extolling the virtues of deck building company.

First says, " Your wife can have a place to sit with her glass of wine and glamor magazines. " Wow.

Then, he says, " it's like having a Waffle House in your back yard."

I did not detect a hint of irony or sarcasm in his voice.

That last one's for you, Tom.

At Harrah's, may jump in for a while if seat available. Didn't plan to come here, but going to the grocery store put me about a mile away.

Just opened the room as I walked up at 10. Trying to get another player to start.

Seems like I got a bonus of $20. Maybe early bird or something.

In $200, out $218 in about 15 minutes. Just played a few laps 5 handed.

One pot against table aggressor. Flopped up & down, bet it. Other than that, just a new chip for my display.

Oh yeah, I guess there was no bonus. When I got back from putting the rack away, some reds were not in a stack.

Thought the dealer tossed them over, but I must've knocked them off when unracking.

Thanks! However, things have been turning decidedly unAmerican in an historic part of Mississippi.

When the mayor says it isn't about crime, it's about crime. Very sad. One of the most memorable late night/early morning meals of my life was at one of those WHs right down the street from a casino where some friends and I had a big night. What better place to celebrate than a WH?

Rusty Grills looks exactly like you think he would look.

And none of those will buff out.

The best part of the last pic is that the detached wheel is still available for the family photo.

Nice work, Nit!

When last we left off, I was in central Tennessee. Kind of went across the southern part. Picked up a lot of MS & AL radio. (ipod broke this spring, 'm at the mercy of the locals for radio).

A lot of farms, often with woodsy hills in the background.



Wasn't planning to go, but had time on my hands, so went up the Lynchburg. I'd done the tour ~30 years ago, it sure has changed.



What I remember is pulling up in a gravel lot. They wanted $25 (dry) or $75 (? tasting) and an hour wait for the tour to start. Not that interested.

However, the old thing about Jack being in a dry county isn't true. When leaving, I saw a convenience store with beer (well, Bud Light) signs in the window. Went in and found some local stuff. Seller said "last one," to which I replied that I didn't notice.

When I got the to the campground that night, I saw stamped onthe can that it was bottled 9/23. Flat. So convenience store guy was knowingly selling old beer. $13+/6. Sigh.

Trundled along, more farms.



Saw this tractor near someone's drive.



A couple of golden mixes laying in the shade. They came over and took a scratch, but when I went to leave, the one growled and they both chased me for a few hundred feet. The Subie won.

Sequathcie Valley in TN.



Hiawassee River flowing pst that night's campground.



Got in just after the office closed. Tried to call the #, but no answer. The rules said to find a site which wasn't marked reserved, then pay on your way out.

After a while, a guy pulls up and says he reserved the site I'm in. I explained what I did, and said I could move. It would take me about 10 minutes to break down and drag stuff to another site--I'd appreciate any help he'd give.

In a real nice gesture, he said, no, he'd just jump into another site. After a while a pickup with what I assume to have been a parks logo on the door pulled up and talked to him. Couldn't hear exactly, but I think must've called at first, and just told them he switched sites.



Decent sleep. Up early, out the door (so to speak).

Today, went up the highway into NC. Some real nice scenery along the way.







Well, that's 50.



As noted, the route the tourist board lady gave me to the grocery put me within a mile or so of the casion, so played a couple rounds. Missed my big change when I folded QJo to an OMC's aggression.



But, trip's not about poker, it's about seeing the scenery, Eventually went to the "Cradle of Forestry" for the US (first forestry school was here).



My neighbor was a forester for the state of Colorado for his career, so figured Ralph might like a hat.

Then to the Blue Ridge Parkway.





Just after getting on, saw a black bear on my side of the road, but wasn't fast enough on the draw to get the camera out before he crossed in front of me and scampered into the underbrush. Had the windows open since it was so nice, could hear him crashing along.

There's tons of pullouts with great views.









and it was a super-nice day. If anyone's ever going, I only saw one spot with facilities/food, and no gas, to fill up before going.

Once I came down, ran down into SC, where I'm at a campground tonight.

Talked with my nephew, he's working at Pinehurst tomorrow, but we're planning to get together after. I've got all day to get there.