Moominmama's Adventures

  Wherein Moominmama has a bear of a time crossing the Midwest, facing a near disaster with her Moominhouse but ending happpily among friends... When Moominmama left Gothenburg, Nebraska, it was raining. Omaha, to the east, was in the clear so she figured she'd drive out of the rain in due time. After about two hours of driving and getting passsed by fast-moving semis that sent torrents of water onto her windshield, she pulled into a rest stop and went back into the trailer to get a bite to eat.  The floor and cushions were wet, and when she looked up, there was a 14-inch square hole in her roof. The ceiling fan was gone. Sticking her head out the hole to scope out the roof provided no enlightenment at all. No sign of the thing. And it was raining directly into the trailer. Oh, and it was a Sunday, and there were no dealers or repair services open on God's day of rest in Nebraska. A large quantity of duct tape later, the water was at least directed to a spot where a dishwashin...

In which Moominmama explores the Nebraska plains and its history along the Oregon trail... Moominmama is parked in a municipal campground in Gothenburg, Nebraska, across from the Roping Club, which maintains the local rodeo ground and runs the annual rodeo each July.  On arrival at the campground, I was invited to a fundraising supper for the Roping Club -- so I went. This gave me a chance to meet some Gothenburg locals who were interested to learn I'd come to visit because I once lived in their town's namesake, the city of Gothenburg (or Göteborg) Sweden. Plus I got advice on some places to see, including their local historical museum and a preserved Pony Express station in the center of town. By the time I arrived at the historical museum the next morning, word had spread, and I was asked if I was the woman who'd come to the Roping Club supper the night before. This is a small town in every sense of the word! (Population 3,500.) Exquisitely maintained lawns, farm fields a...

In which Moominmama takes a mental break, returning to Fruita and Grand Junction in Western Colorado... After a week of epic hikes in Utah and little contact with the outside world, Moominmama has returned to a location she visited last year. This provides a welcome opportunity to relax the brain. I know where the supermarket is. I know where the library and town pool are. I know a great pizza place for lunch. This is a welcome break from locations where absolutely everything is new and unfamiliar. I am still in canyon country, but unlike the awe-inspiring heights and towering canyon walls of Capitol Reef or Arches, hiking here is more like being in a nice church than the Notre Dame. Hikes here allow me to appreciate some of the little things, like these small daisy-like flowers. These were only about 6-inches tall and appeared to grow right out of the red sandstone, though I suspect there's a crack under there that provides for the roots. Flume Canyon in McInnis Canyons Conservat...