Greetings from El Paso!

Greetings from El Paso TX,

Yep…El Paso…the sun…the 70 degree weather!

I traveled here from Denver hauling a load of adult beverages (Ask your Mother).

On the way down, I drove thru the state of New Mexico. Actually, I had never driven over some the roads I used today…so it was a bit of a learning experience for me, too. I entered New Mexico thru Raton Pass (it crosses the mountains at about 7834 feet above sea level…Denver by comparison is only 5280 feet above sea level).

As you study the states and their histories consider this: How was it to travel west in a horse and wagon?

Raton Pass on I-25 and Loveland Pass on I-70 west of Denver (at over 11,000 feet) were hard climbs. For example, Peaches pulled very hard climbing Raton last night…she was down to 20 mph a one point. She weighed 79,000….but her heart is 370 horsepower diesel engine. Imagine hauling 1000 pounds up a mountain with only 2 or 4 horses!

Another thing to consider is how people lived…what they faced…and how they achieved! It is awe-inspiring when you think about it. I understand that you recently went to "Frontier Texas". I bet that was interesting! So you can see what I mean.

Now, once I was in New Mexico the land looks a lot like the Pan handle of Texas around Amarillo. As I went south it gets flater and more desert like. Here are a couple of pictures:

Now, here are a couple of questions for the two of you:

What major river beings in New Mexico (Up around Albuquerque) and then creates the southern border of Texas?

Name for me the one place in New Mexico where the Space Shuttle (Columbia, STS-3, 1982) has landed…hint…its just north of El Paso TX.

What is the capital of New Mexico?

Until Next time…be well and have fun!

Knome

P.S. Picked up a new friend…here is his picture. Nothing like Hanging with my Gnomies!!

Answers to A and J

A & J,

Very well done on the states that border the Mississippi. Considering most children your age would be hard pressed to find that river on a map, you did excellent. I can see that you G-Ma’s praise of you two is well founded!

Iowa and Wisconsin are both interesting states.

For one thing my company is based in Green Bay...not very far from Lambeau Field (Home of the Green Bay Packers!!!!) People know all about the cheese and milk products produced up there in Wisconsin...but they miss the paper. Yes, paper and wood products are produced in the forest of northen Wisconsin.

Iowa is part of the bread basket of our country. Farming is the primary industry and the state is largely rural. In someways, Iowa is very much like Texas...many miles of open land...rolling hills.

A, I would like to meet you, too. As your G-Ma can tell you I pass thru on occasion. If I have time and things work out it could happen. How are you liking Laura Ingalls Wilder’s story? I have been to Mankato, Sleepy Eye and Walnut Grove, they are in South West Minniesota. They are all on US 12, named for Mrs. Wilder.

J, I heard you play basketball and football. I hope you find it fun. While you play sports I grew up being in the Boy Scouts, sports just wasn’t my thing. Honestly, I don’t follow basketball much. The only sport I really follow is baseball and I am an Atlanta Braves fan. I do like to catch Rangers and Astro’s games when I can. If I had to give you one mascot I like it’s the old Braves Mascot “Chief Knoc-A-Homa”.

Well, take care and catch up with ya later!

Be well,
Knome

Greetings from Denver...written 2/25/08

Greetings from Denver, Colorado,

I am writing this in advance because I don’t have internet access tonight. As I write this I am sitting in a truck stop about 5 miles from downtown Denver. Here are a couple of pictures of the downtown area.

A and J, I know that you are dealing with states as they come into the union, but I also know you have been to Colorado before. It is a beautiful state, so long as you can avoid driving in the snow!

Denver is the capital of Colorado and its largest city…but for more info let us check Wikipedia:

The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/) is the capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States. Denver is located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The Denver downtown district is located immediately east of the confluence of Cherry Creek with the South Platte River, approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is nicknamed the Mile-High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile (5280 feet or 1609.344 m) above sea level.

The United States Census Bureau estimates that, in 2006, the population of the City and County of Denver was 566,974, making it the 26th most populous U.S. city. The Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated 2006 population of 2,408,750 and ranked as the 21st most populous U.S. metropolitan statistical area, and the larger Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area had an estimated 2006 population of 2,927,911 and ranked as the 17th most populous U.S. metropolitan area. The city claims to have the 10th largest downtown in the United States.

It sits on the “front range” and for that reason has strange weather. For example, today 2/25/08, its about 50 degrees and tomorrow it will be in the 40’s….but 70 miles away, and 6000 feet higher, they are expecting 10-20 inches of snow.

One of the oddities of mountain ranges is that depending on the direction of the weather, they can either be a source of shelter or make the weather a lot worse. In the case of the storm that is coming, the mountains actually block some of the worst of storm and force it further north. While on the other side of the mountain the conditions will be bad for driving.

Now, A! I understand you did some pretty impressive picking for the NCAA tournament! And since you are interested in sports here is a question for you. Name for me the 4 big teams in Denver. One is football, one is baseball and one is hockey and one is basketball. You can see the football stadium below! “Invesco Field at Mile High”!

J, I have not forgotten you! Name for me the Mountain range to which I keep referring. Also at the foot of the mountains, south of Denver is a town called Colorado Springs. It is home to a major military academy…can you tell me what it is called, or what branch of the military it is related to?

Don’t know where I am heading yet…but I will tell you about it when I get there. Be well and Keep Smiling!

Knome

Westward Hooo!

Howdy!

Well, today I crossed four states and traveled a little over 600 miles. I destined for the Kansas City Mo area.

A and J, I hope you are well. While I am sure you know who I am, let me introduce you to my partner...my truck...Peaches.












As I traveled west I crossed a big river, The Mighty Mississippi. From Wikipedia:

The Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of 2,340 mi (3,766 km) from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in Gulf of Mexico. The longest is its tributary the Missouri River measuring 2565 mi (4,128 km).

The Mississippi has a long and rich history that includes some of the first Europeans who explored this land. Even today the river is still used to transport goods up and down its length. Some of the things carried on the river are coal, grain, and other things in large bulk sized quanities.

Normally, I cross it at one of a few points: Vicksburg MS, Memphis TN, St Louis MO or the Quad Cities of IL and IA. Today, it was St Louis! You can always tell St Louis because of the Arch, Gateway to the West!













I hear you two are learning the states...can y'all tell me what states border on the river?

As I travel, Peaches pulls a trailer loaded with cargo...on the river a Tug Boat pushes these vessels that carry cargo...what are they called?


I hope you like the picture...I will try to post more soon. As I write this I am near Kansas City and it is snowing.

Be well,
Da Knome

Greetings All

Greetings!

This is a blog of a truck driver....who one day typed in the mis-spelled username "theroamingknome"...and yahoo accepted! So, before I see a question about the name...it is pronouced "The Roaming Gnome"...as in Travelocity, but not related to them at all!

A friend of mine has grand children who are home schooled and very smart. So, I figured if they would like to see some of the places I go, then I would provide them a place to see them through the photos I take. Also, for them to ask and answer questions as time allows.

As this is a public site...I encourage anyone to ask questions...but please any questions asked or comments made need to be family friendly...or they will be gone as soon as I find them and reported shortly there after.

Well, that said, I hope you enjoy this blog

Take Care,
Da Knome