"The Railroad Runs Through The Middle of the House,...." - Tuesday, May 31, 2011
"...and the trains are all on time." At least it would seem so. In most of the RV Parks in which we have stayed in the last 3 weeks there have been trains running either within hearing distance or seeing distance. They are within hearing distance here. I may get a look at them tomorrow. All of them in the other places were carrying containers, freight trains.
Today we spent about 4 and 3/4 hours driving time on Interstate 40 in California and Arizona: from Needles to Holbrook; from west to east. Tonight we are in a RV Park that will be okay for our 2 night stay here. As one of my friends says, "I can do anything for 2 nights." The wash houses are very clean but spartan. It will be fine for a base of operations.
The ride from Needles to Flagstaff on our way to Holbrook was a road that we have taken before but we kept seeing new things. We looked at the open fields where the elk were said to congregate but it wasn't in the evening so we saw none of them. We saw the San Francisco Mountains near Flagstaff with their snowy peaks again. Both of us thought there was less snow this time than last time.
From Flagstaff into Holbrook was all new territory for us. We had climbs of mountains with new features to see. We even saw a power generating plant.
Holbrook is a long strip of businesses that cropped up to take advantage of the tourist trade. There are many hotels, motels, eateries and gas stations all for the purpose of meeting the needs of the people who come to this area to see the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Tonight we drove north to get to the Painted Desert at dusk and I was looking for a general store like Target or, heaven forbid, Wal-Mart but there wasn't any place that you could buy a spool of thread if you needed it. I didn't so I didn't worry. Tomorrow we will drive south through the other end of town and we will see what is there.
The Painted Desert is a part of the Petrified Forest in the National Park System. This was another place that our $10 expenditure got us in free. The Painted Desert is open from 7am to 7pm. We didn't arrive at the Visitor's Center until 6pm so we had to hurry. We drove to all of the lookouts on the upper loop and took many pictures. We decided that we were about a week and a half late for sunset to be before the closing of the park so that we could see what the sunset did to the landscape. You must remember that Arizonia is on Mountain Standard Time all year round. So it is dark here by a little after 7:30pm. And we are in the eastern part of the state so that makes it just a tad earlier too. But we enjoyed everything that we saw.
Tomorrow we are planning to go to the southern end of the Park and go through the Petrified Forest. There are several tourist traps that given us coupons to get pieces of petrified wood. One of the coupons say that the offer is "One Per Car." But I have 2 grandchildren. They'll want you to buy the other one at a ridiculous price. As I said, there are several tourist traps making the offer. ;o)
I suppose that one could say that we are in the "high desert" here. The elevation for Holbrook is 5083 feet as proclaimed on a board at the end of town. Average high temperature for May is 82; for June it 92. The average night time temperature in May is 43; for June is 51. We are going to sleep with the windows open tonight. We'll get some "real" air instead of the AC.
There goes another train. I suppose it's on time. ;o)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
CA, AZ, NV, CA again - Monday, May 30, 2011 - Memorial Day
CA, AZ, NV, CA again - Monday, May 30, 2011 - Memorial Day
First - Thank you Billy, Richie and all the Veterans who lived and died that I may have the freedoms that I enjoy today.
Second - For those of you who are wondering why "Needles, California" sounds familiar and haven't figured it out yet, Needles is the home of Spike, one of Snoopy's brothers. We have not seen Spike and have not had the time to look for him but we have seen a business that he runs. As a matter of fact, it is just up the road from the Desert View RV Resort where we are staying. Here's a picture of the sign in front of Spike's business. ;o)
Our destination for today was the Mojave National Preserve. (We have seen the word "Mojave" and "Mohave" spelled both ways. I use the "j" spelling here because it is how it is spelled on the brochures and "newspapers" from the Preserve. Ya pays yer money and takes yer choice. :o) )
Our first plan was to drive west in California and then north into the Preserve but the need for gas took us into Arizonia first where we knew that we could get gas for $3.69 per gallon against an unknown in other places. That's where we headed when we left a little past 8:00am. Then north and then west past the casinos just after we entered Nevada. The road took us into the mountains but never higher than 5000 feet. We saw the signs for 4000 feet several times and then went higher and lower but we never saw a sign for 5000 feet. The temperature did lower as our altitude increased. It was so comfortable
outside.
We found our first geocache in Nevada before we entered the Preserve. Since that was the minimum that we wanted we did not look for any more because we wanted to see as much of the Preserve as we could.
Soon after we entered the Preserve we saw a sign which said, "Watch for Tortoises" or something like that. Tortoises are threatened. They are not to be touched or bothered. They are susceptible to diseases that can be transmitted through human contact.
Thirty-five miles into the Preserve we came to the Kelso Depot Visitor Center. It was built in 1924 as a railroad stop and quarters for the crew. The town grew up around it as it was also the home of the "helper" engines that helped the regular engines get the heavy trains up the rest of the mountain.
There we also saw a movie of the highlights of the Preserve. We would have liked to gone to see the Mitchell Caverns but they are closed for repair and it sounds like they will be closed permanently in the fall.
Another part of the Preserve is called "The Hole-in-the-Wall." It's a rock formation made by certain materials in certain conditions that create actual holes in the rocks. We would have liked to go there but it was in and area that would have taken us in the opposite direction than what we needed to go. Plus neither of us were in the the condition need to climb on the rocks to really see them.
So we went south from Kelso to the Kelso Dunes. The prevailing winds carry the sand from "local" areas and deposit it at the base of the Granite Mountains, creating dunes up to 700 feet high. We had been seeing these wide expanses of "tan mountains' for a long time and wondered if they could be the dunes. They sure enough were.
We drove back the road to the dunes and parked with other cars. People were preparing to go to the dunes, leaving to walk to the dunes or walking back from the dunes. There were photographers, hikers and people just out to walk to or on the dunes. We started out walking to the dunes knowing full well that time would not allow us to get there let alone climb the dunes. Both of us would have liked to have heard the sands of the dunes "boom" as they move across each other as they are pushed by someone walking on the dunes. But we got closer to the dunes and took some neat pictures with a camera that is acting funny. I hope it lasts until we finish the trip.
There was a chance to see a Jack Rabbit too but we never did; not even around the RV Park.
We arrived home in time for a nap before dinner. I would have liked to have had another swimm but that didn't happen either. All these pools and I'm not getting in them. :o(
It just seemed that we were being overwhelmed with dirty dishes so I stayed "home" and did the dishes as Tom headed off to get some more "cheap" gas before we start out tommorrow. We have about a 5-hour plus drive east tomorrow. We will leave the desert and mountains of California and go to the town of Holbrook in the mountains of Arizona again. We will have to dig out the winter sleepwear. . . again!
First - Thank you Billy, Richie and all the Veterans who lived and died that I may have the freedoms that I enjoy today.
Second - For those of you who are wondering why "Needles, California" sounds familiar and haven't figured it out yet, Needles is the home of Spike, one of Snoopy's brothers. We have not seen Spike and have not had the time to look for him but we have seen a business that he runs. As a matter of fact, it is just up the road from the Desert View RV Resort where we are staying. Here's a picture of the sign in front of Spike's business. ;o)
Our destination for today was the Mojave National Preserve. (We have seen the word "Mojave" and "Mohave" spelled both ways. I use the "j" spelling here because it is how it is spelled on the brochures and "newspapers" from the Preserve. Ya pays yer money and takes yer choice. :o) )
Our first plan was to drive west in California and then north into the Preserve but the need for gas took us into Arizonia first where we knew that we could get gas for $3.69 per gallon against an unknown in other places. That's where we headed when we left a little past 8:00am. Then north and then west past the casinos just after we entered Nevada. The road took us into the mountains but never higher than 5000 feet. We saw the signs for 4000 feet several times and then went higher and lower but we never saw a sign for 5000 feet. The temperature did lower as our altitude increased. It was so comfortable
outside.
We found our first geocache in Nevada before we entered the Preserve. Since that was the minimum that we wanted we did not look for any more because we wanted to see as much of the Preserve as we could.
Soon after we entered the Preserve we saw a sign which said, "Watch for Tortoises" or something like that. Tortoises are threatened. They are not to be touched or bothered. They are susceptible to diseases that can be transmitted through human contact.
Thirty-five miles into the Preserve we came to the Kelso Depot Visitor Center. It was built in 1924 as a railroad stop and quarters for the crew. The town grew up around it as it was also the home of the "helper" engines that helped the regular engines get the heavy trains up the rest of the mountain.
There we also saw a movie of the highlights of the Preserve. We would have liked to gone to see the Mitchell Caverns but they are closed for repair and it sounds like they will be closed permanently in the fall.
Another part of the Preserve is called "The Hole-in-the-Wall." It's a rock formation made by certain materials in certain conditions that create actual holes in the rocks. We would have liked to go there but it was in and area that would have taken us in the opposite direction than what we needed to go. Plus neither of us were in the the condition need to climb on the rocks to really see them.
So we went south from Kelso to the Kelso Dunes. The prevailing winds carry the sand from "local" areas and deposit it at the base of the Granite Mountains, creating dunes up to 700 feet high. We had been seeing these wide expanses of "tan mountains' for a long time and wondered if they could be the dunes. They sure enough were.
We drove back the road to the dunes and parked with other cars. People were preparing to go to the dunes, leaving to walk to the dunes or walking back from the dunes. There were photographers, hikers and people just out to walk to or on the dunes. We started out walking to the dunes knowing full well that time would not allow us to get there let alone climb the dunes. Both of us would have liked to have heard the sands of the dunes "boom" as they move across each other as they are pushed by someone walking on the dunes. But we got closer to the dunes and took some neat pictures with a camera that is acting funny. I hope it lasts until we finish the trip.
There was a chance to see a Jack Rabbit too but we never did; not even around the RV Park.
We arrived home in time for a nap before dinner. I would have liked to have had another swimm but that didn't happen either. All these pools and I'm not getting in them. :o(
It just seemed that we were being overwhelmed with dirty dishes so I stayed "home" and did the dishes as Tom headed off to get some more "cheap" gas before we start out tommorrow. We have about a 5-hour plus drive east tomorrow. We will leave the desert and mountains of California and go to the town of Holbrook in the mountains of Arizona again. We will have to dig out the winter sleepwear. . . again!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
I Saw More of Needles CA Today - May 29, 2011
I Saw More of Needles CA Today - Sunday, May 29, 2011
When we awoke this morning we couldn't believe that we were still at the same place as we were the previous 2 days. The temperature was so different. It was very breezy but the hot temps was gone. They may have reached the mid 80s in the hottest part of the day but certainly not the 100s! After getting ready for church Tom sat outside for about an hour just enjoying the wonderful breeze and cool termperature. He said that it might even be called cold at times.
We had some time to relax before we headed to church for a 9am service. They had a dedication of a memorial garden right after worship today. I thought we would be the only ones leaving but not so. When I saw the cars leaving I wondered who would be staying. But that's about what would happen at my church too.
Tom had found an interesting place for breakfast. By the time we found the Black Bear Dinner they had a long line out the door. We decided to wait. Since we were a "party of two" we got a table in about 30 minutes. The food was good and the portions were large. Tom said that we could have gone to the Denny's across the road but I said that we could go to Denny's anytime. The Black Bear Dinner is a chain restaurant in the western US. YUM!
We had some things on out shopping list that had cropped up very quickly so we decided to shop on the way back to the trailer. We did find everything we wanted.
After a nap we went geocaching. We haven't been having too much luck lately. We had three chances to get to log one in CA and did not find any of them. The first two we really tried but the third didn't make any sense at all. Besides, there was an old man watching us.
I saw more of Needles CA today than I thought was there. It was very depressing. There was some of the things that are needed by the people who lived there but most of it was either for the tourist trade or was closed down. Motels right next to each other for blocks all advertising low rates around $30 per night just to get the business. Gasoline was in the opposite direction. It was about $4.79 per gallon. Those speed boats and Ski-doos need gasoline too. When you get away from the water you can buy gas for $3.69 per gallon.
So we cam back to the RV Park. It was nice to sit out in the cool temperatures and relax. There were people in the pool when we got back and they stayed there for quite a while. I would have expected it was cold in the water when we got back let along when they finally got out of the water. I will not be going in tonight!
Soon we decided that we would see what our watermelon tasted like. We bought it the other day after we decided that we did have a place to store it if we ate half of it. So we did. We chose a small melon so that it wouldn't be hard to eat or store.
We talked about what we would be doing tomorrow. We don't expect to be in a great hurry to leave tomorrow. We are going to Mohave National Preserve with the possibility of getting a cache or two in Nevada. I'd like to go to the Mitchell Caverns but that would be at the cost of geocaching. We will see how the day plays out.
Off to do the pre-bedtime chores and finish getting ready for tomorrow's trip. I'll let you know what happens.
When we awoke this morning we couldn't believe that we were still at the same place as we were the previous 2 days. The temperature was so different. It was very breezy but the hot temps was gone. They may have reached the mid 80s in the hottest part of the day but certainly not the 100s! After getting ready for church Tom sat outside for about an hour just enjoying the wonderful breeze and cool termperature. He said that it might even be called cold at times.
We had some time to relax before we headed to church for a 9am service. They had a dedication of a memorial garden right after worship today. I thought we would be the only ones leaving but not so. When I saw the cars leaving I wondered who would be staying. But that's about what would happen at my church too.
Tom had found an interesting place for breakfast. By the time we found the Black Bear Dinner they had a long line out the door. We decided to wait. Since we were a "party of two" we got a table in about 30 minutes. The food was good and the portions were large. Tom said that we could have gone to the Denny's across the road but I said that we could go to Denny's anytime. The Black Bear Dinner is a chain restaurant in the western US. YUM!
We had some things on out shopping list that had cropped up very quickly so we decided to shop on the way back to the trailer. We did find everything we wanted.
After a nap we went geocaching. We haven't been having too much luck lately. We had three chances to get to log one in CA and did not find any of them. The first two we really tried but the third didn't make any sense at all. Besides, there was an old man watching us.
I saw more of Needles CA today than I thought was there. It was very depressing. There was some of the things that are needed by the people who lived there but most of it was either for the tourist trade or was closed down. Motels right next to each other for blocks all advertising low rates around $30 per night just to get the business. Gasoline was in the opposite direction. It was about $4.79 per gallon. Those speed boats and Ski-doos need gasoline too. When you get away from the water you can buy gas for $3.69 per gallon.
So we cam back to the RV Park. It was nice to sit out in the cool temperatures and relax. There were people in the pool when we got back and they stayed there for quite a while. I would have expected it was cold in the water when we got back let along when they finally got out of the water. I will not be going in tonight!
Soon we decided that we would see what our watermelon tasted like. We bought it the other day after we decided that we did have a place to store it if we ate half of it. So we did. We chose a small melon so that it wouldn't be hard to eat or store.
We talked about what we would be doing tomorrow. We don't expect to be in a great hurry to leave tomorrow. We are going to Mohave National Preserve with the possibility of getting a cache or two in Nevada. I'd like to go to the Mitchell Caverns but that would be at the cost of geocaching. We will see how the day plays out.
Off to do the pre-bedtime chores and finish getting ready for tomorrow's trip. I'll let you know what happens.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
A Day To Relax - May 28, 2011
A Day To Relax - May 28, 2011
Interesting information about Needles, CA
Population - 5700
Elevation - 495 ft. A big difference from the 6800 ft elevation at the Grand Canyon. No wonder it is 100 degrees here.
One could say that it was a "nothing sort of a day." After all of the moving around we have done in the past 3 weeks, one could say the we deserved today. Tom got up at his usual pre-6am time and I was a happy stay-a-bed until 7:30am. Why should I get up? We weren't going anywhere. :o)
After breakfast we went out to get some things. My meds needed to be picked up. (They got the problem straightened out from last night.) We needed to stop at the store for a new sewer hose and connector. (They were closed today, too, even though the sign said that they would be open.) We had another go at finding the church we will go to tomorrow. (It was easier in the daylight!) We stopped at the food store. (Our list kept getting longer.) We stopped for gas. (We were going to need it sometime so we stopped since the price was right - $3.69)
After a late lunch we "crashed." Then Tom went shopping again hopefully to find a store that was open and I tried to get something accomplished on the netbook. Didn't happen. We decided to have dinner and head for the pool.
We were alone in the pool but maybe the other people knew something we didn't. The water hadn't been warmed by the sun yet so it was a little cool to the body. Refreshing for a rather hot day. And the breeze was blowing a mighty tune through the palm trees. Soon we figured we had had enough so we headed for the showers. Do it now and you won't have to do it later.
Tom researched some geocaches for tomorrow and also found a possibility for breakfast after church. I worked on the blog. It's almost time for bed. What a wonderful day to allow our spirits time to catch up to our bodies!
Interesting information about Needles, CA
Population - 5700
Elevation - 495 ft. A big difference from the 6800 ft elevation at the Grand Canyon. No wonder it is 100 degrees here.
One could say that it was a "nothing sort of a day." After all of the moving around we have done in the past 3 weeks, one could say the we deserved today. Tom got up at his usual pre-6am time and I was a happy stay-a-bed until 7:30am. Why should I get up? We weren't going anywhere. :o)
After breakfast we went out to get some things. My meds needed to be picked up. (They got the problem straightened out from last night.) We needed to stop at the store for a new sewer hose and connector. (They were closed today, too, even though the sign said that they would be open.) We had another go at finding the church we will go to tomorrow. (It was easier in the daylight!) We stopped at the food store. (Our list kept getting longer.) We stopped for gas. (We were going to need it sometime so we stopped since the price was right - $3.69)
After a late lunch we "crashed." Then Tom went shopping again hopefully to find a store that was open and I tried to get something accomplished on the netbook. Didn't happen. We decided to have dinner and head for the pool.
We were alone in the pool but maybe the other people knew something we didn't. The water hadn't been warmed by the sun yet so it was a little cool to the body. Refreshing for a rather hot day. And the breeze was blowing a mighty tune through the palm trees. Soon we figured we had had enough so we headed for the showers. Do it now and you won't have to do it later.
Tom researched some geocaches for tomorrow and also found a possibility for breakfast after church. I worked on the blog. It's almost time for bed. What a wonderful day to allow our spirits time to catch up to our bodies!
Friday, May 27, 2011
California, Here We Come!
California, Here We Come! - May 27, 2011
This was the 13th traveling day of 26 traveling days on our trip. Weatherwise, we have not seen a drop of rain since we left home on May 9.
We were awake early this morning and kept moving until breakfast. By breakfast I had several of the areas in the trailer secured for moving. But at breakfast we both sat and enjoyed the meal and the conversation.
We would have been ready to pull out by 8:30 but our neighbor-for-the-night from VA appeared and he liked to talk. It wasn't too much past 8:30 that we left.
We stopped for gas and a rest area on our very short trip to CA. Then we crossed over the Arizona/California State line and the MST/PDST line in the middle of the bridge over the Colorado River sometime Friday morning. Soon afterward we came upon signs that told us that there was an "Inspection Station. All Vehicles Must Stop. 1/2 mile" The traffic was divided into two lines: All Trucks and Everyone Else. When we reached the "Inspector" we were spoken to this time.
"Where ya coming from?"
"Pennsylvania."
"Are you carrying any fruits or vegetables?"
"Carrots and Celery."
"Any citrus?"
"No."
"Okay. Go ahead."
We moved on happy that that was all there was to it. We are about 2 miles into the state but we are in California!. Tomorrow, I think, we are going looking for a geocache so that we can add that to our list of states in which we found caches.
I think it was a little after noon that we arrived at the road that would have taken us very easily and shortly back to the RV Park but "The Man" couldn't find the road. So "he" took us almost a mile down the road so he could take us in a circle to the Park. "He" did the same thing tonight but it was dark so we missed the signs that would have taken us right to the Park within a half mile instead of about 3 miles round trip.
This place is beautiful. The host and hostess come out to greet you in your vehicle and escort you to your site. You are registered at your site. This is the place that takes payment in cash or check only and passes the savings on to the RVer. Each site is seperated from the next one with a 6' high flower hedge. Each site has a patio and chairs are available to borrow if you wish. The border of the Park is made of palm trees which are lighted with flood lights at night.
There is a wonderful pool that I would love to go in tonight. The woman using the pool late this afternoon said that it is never closed. We'll see. I still have to go to the pool area to use the bathroom before I go to bed. We have a thermometer that we have with us when we travel. We have it so that we will know how uncomfortable we are. :o) This afternoon it read 101 degrees! This is Needles CA and we will be here until Tuesday! The hostess says it is supposed to be hot today and tomorrow and on Sunday and Monday the temps will be in the the mid 80s.
I will be happy for a cool down. It was a really hot job to do all of the laundry today. I had a hard time working with the laundry and the washers and dryers. We brought some of the clothes back to the trailer to fold.
Tonight we headed off to Bullhead AZ to find the church for Sunday. We are hoping that there will be a restaurant available for breakfast afterward.
We arrived back at the Park too late to go swimming (?). But the trailer had to be cleaned up, some clothes organized and clothes put up into the overbed cabinets. Now we are back to almost normal.
There is a dishpan full of dishes waiting for tomorrow morning. It was just too hot to do them with all of the laundry. Tom has to do some shopping for the sewer line equipment and I think we are going to try to get at least on caches in Needles. Tom says there are a lot of them.
Off to bed or the . . . . ;o)
This was the 13th traveling day of 26 traveling days on our trip. Weatherwise, we have not seen a drop of rain since we left home on May 9.
We were awake early this morning and kept moving until breakfast. By breakfast I had several of the areas in the trailer secured for moving. But at breakfast we both sat and enjoyed the meal and the conversation.
We would have been ready to pull out by 8:30 but our neighbor-for-the-night from VA appeared and he liked to talk. It wasn't too much past 8:30 that we left.
We stopped for gas and a rest area on our very short trip to CA. Then we crossed over the Arizona/California State line and the MST/PDST line in the middle of the bridge over the Colorado River sometime Friday morning. Soon afterward we came upon signs that told us that there was an "Inspection Station. All Vehicles Must Stop. 1/2 mile" The traffic was divided into two lines: All Trucks and Everyone Else. When we reached the "Inspector" we were spoken to this time.
"Where ya coming from?"
"Pennsylvania."
"Are you carrying any fruits or vegetables?"
"Carrots and Celery."
"Any citrus?"
"No."
"Okay. Go ahead."
We moved on happy that that was all there was to it. We are about 2 miles into the state but we are in California!. Tomorrow, I think, we are going looking for a geocache so that we can add that to our list of states in which we found caches.
I think it was a little after noon that we arrived at the road that would have taken us very easily and shortly back to the RV Park but "The Man" couldn't find the road. So "he" took us almost a mile down the road so he could take us in a circle to the Park. "He" did the same thing tonight but it was dark so we missed the signs that would have taken us right to the Park within a half mile instead of about 3 miles round trip.
This place is beautiful. The host and hostess come out to greet you in your vehicle and escort you to your site. You are registered at your site. This is the place that takes payment in cash or check only and passes the savings on to the RVer. Each site is seperated from the next one with a 6' high flower hedge. Each site has a patio and chairs are available to borrow if you wish. The border of the Park is made of palm trees which are lighted with flood lights at night.
There is a wonderful pool that I would love to go in tonight. The woman using the pool late this afternoon said that it is never closed. We'll see. I still have to go to the pool area to use the bathroom before I go to bed. We have a thermometer that we have with us when we travel. We have it so that we will know how uncomfortable we are. :o) This afternoon it read 101 degrees! This is Needles CA and we will be here until Tuesday! The hostess says it is supposed to be hot today and tomorrow and on Sunday and Monday the temps will be in the the mid 80s.
I will be happy for a cool down. It was a really hot job to do all of the laundry today. I had a hard time working with the laundry and the washers and dryers. We brought some of the clothes back to the trailer to fold.
Tonight we headed off to Bullhead AZ to find the church for Sunday. We are hoping that there will be a restaurant available for breakfast afterward.
We arrived back at the Park too late to go swimming (?). But the trailer had to be cleaned up, some clothes organized and clothes put up into the overbed cabinets. Now we are back to almost normal.
There is a dishpan full of dishes waiting for tomorrow morning. It was just too hot to do them with all of the laundry. Tom has to do some shopping for the sewer line equipment and I think we are going to try to get at least on caches in Needles. Tom says there are a lot of them.
Off to bed or the . . . . ;o)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Another Canyon
Another Canyon - Thursday, May 26, 2011
This is the day before moving. We had one more thing that we wanted to do before we moved on so we did it. While on the train to and from the Grand Canyon on Tuesday almost everyone told us that we just "had to see" Sedona and the Oak Creek Canyon. All they said was that it was a wonderful drive. So we thought we would go to see it and then continue on the same road to make a loop to get back to the Park.
What we saw was wonderful. It had it's own magnificence. Another canyon but so different. Another time that you stop takin pictures and just drink in what you saw. Route 89A was a ride down the mountain through the canyon. It was a steep mountain so the road was actually a switch-back. No vehicle greater than 50-ft long was permitted on the road. That leaves tractor trailers out at 53-ft long but I wondered about the bus and a 5th wheel RV that was attempting it. We decided not to make the loop but to go back up the mountain and see the canyon from the opposite direction.
On the way up we got to stop at a "scenic view" that we missed on the way down. It was also a place where the Native Americans were selling their crafts. But the views were extraordinary. At one point we could see the road below and watch the vehicles on three or four of the switchbacks. And you could see further in the canyon. This is one drive I would recommend to anyone in the area. And Tom and I believe it was recommended by my orthopaedist. Too bad I don't have to go back to see him so I could tell him that we did see it. ;o)
When we arrived at Williams we did some shopping at the train depot and at the local food store in preparation for our trip tomorrow. Then we came back to the trailer. It was still there!
Well, of course, it was still there. We jokingly talked about it that way today because it was so windy here today. And we had a wind gust advisory. When we "crashed" we could feel the trailer move. It was like "Rock a Bye Baby." The wind is still howling tonight but not like this afternoon.
I think it is supposed to be not quite as windy tomorrow for our trip but the wind gust advisory is still in effect. We will be traveling westward again to Needles, CA. We are going here just so we can say that we were in California and that we can try for geocaches in CA and Nevada. We will also be going down in elevation so we may leave the wind behind. But we will be taking on greater temperatures; like somewhere in the mid-90s! I'm glad this new park has a pool. Time to dig out the sunscreen!
See you tomorrow in Needles CA!
This is the day before moving. We had one more thing that we wanted to do before we moved on so we did it. While on the train to and from the Grand Canyon on Tuesday almost everyone told us that we just "had to see" Sedona and the Oak Creek Canyon. All they said was that it was a wonderful drive. So we thought we would go to see it and then continue on the same road to make a loop to get back to the Park.
What we saw was wonderful. It had it's own magnificence. Another canyon but so different. Another time that you stop takin pictures and just drink in what you saw. Route 89A was a ride down the mountain through the canyon. It was a steep mountain so the road was actually a switch-back. No vehicle greater than 50-ft long was permitted on the road. That leaves tractor trailers out at 53-ft long but I wondered about the bus and a 5th wheel RV that was attempting it. We decided not to make the loop but to go back up the mountain and see the canyon from the opposite direction.
On the way up we got to stop at a "scenic view" that we missed on the way down. It was also a place where the Native Americans were selling their crafts. But the views were extraordinary. At one point we could see the road below and watch the vehicles on three or four of the switchbacks. And you could see further in the canyon. This is one drive I would recommend to anyone in the area. And Tom and I believe it was recommended by my orthopaedist. Too bad I don't have to go back to see him so I could tell him that we did see it. ;o)
When we arrived at Williams we did some shopping at the train depot and at the local food store in preparation for our trip tomorrow. Then we came back to the trailer. It was still there!
Well, of course, it was still there. We jokingly talked about it that way today because it was so windy here today. And we had a wind gust advisory. When we "crashed" we could feel the trailer move. It was like "Rock a Bye Baby." The wind is still howling tonight but not like this afternoon.
I think it is supposed to be not quite as windy tomorrow for our trip but the wind gust advisory is still in effect. We will be traveling westward again to Needles, CA. We are going here just so we can say that we were in California and that we can try for geocaches in CA and Nevada. We will also be going down in elevation so we may leave the wind behind. But we will be taking on greater temperatures; like somewhere in the mid-90s! I'm glad this new park has a pool. Time to dig out the sunscreen!
See you tomorrow in Needles CA!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A Very Strange Wednesday!
Addendum to May 23, 2011 - Tom and I went for gas for the van on Monday evening and check out Williams, AZ and the train depot. At the bottom of the hill to the RV Park was a tractor trailer with an "Oversize Load" on it. It was so, so long. After a while I figured that it was one of the blades from a wind turbine. I have never seen one so close. I had to get out of the van to take a picture of it because I needed a different angle to get it all in one shot. I'll have to share the picture when it gets resized. When we came back from out trip the lead truck was there. Soon they weren't there.
Addendum to May 24, 2011 - One of the things that happened in the morning was that a "Sharp Shooter" (read that "photographer") went through the car taking everyone's picture who would let her. She said that she would be back in the afternoon with the pictures. And, indeed, she was. It was a set of 4 pictures: an 8x10 of us and another 8x10 of a steam locomotive, another was about 4x4 of us and another approximately 4x4 mounted on magnets for the refrigerator door. We did not buy the pictures. She put the push on gently and then accepted our decision. Some people behind us asked the price and I nearly choked at the $35 answer. I'm just as happy with the picture that the bus driver took at the canyon.
+++++++++++++++
A Very Strange Wednesday! - May 25, 2011
Tom was awake at his usual early hour and out to the washhouse. I was aware of that and then went back to sleep. When he came back I decided to get up. The only thing I knew that was on the schedule today, for sure, was an oil change for the van. It was over the recommended time for a change and we have been asking it to do a lot of work lately. When Tom called the shop he was told to bring it anytime and they open at 8:30am. That's when he wanted to be there. And so he left.
Since the van wasn't going to be around to take us anywhere I decided to air the sleeping bags and pillows. I put pastic table cloths on the picnic tables and spread a sleeping bag on it. I put another table cloth on another nearby table and put the pillows on it. Then I went in to do the dishes and found that the water heater wasn't turned on. So I vegged.
Soon Tom was home without the van. It seems that tires had cracks in the rubber and that the shocks were worn out. It is an 2002 van which we bought in 2004 and these tires and shocks were the original equipment on the van. Although this was an AAA approved service center Tom still asked him if he was taking advantage of him. So now the van has 4 new shocks, 4 new tires and new oil. We should have a safer ride. The load shouldn't be so heavy any more with all the money we left in Williams.
Tom helped put the other sleeping bag out to air and we started the dishes. Soon a man from the service station came to get Tom to take him to get the van.
I was talking to the lady who runs the RV Park office. She told me that it was 100 degrees in Tucson since we left. And Tom came back with the news that they had 3 inches of snow hee one week ago from today.
After lunch we both took a nap for a while. For me this was the "let down day" from all of the activity of yesterday.
Then we went geocaching. We found all 3 of the 3 that we were looking for in Williams.
We found a Safeway food store in Williams while we were looking for the third cache. When "The Man" told us about it I thought it was going to be a small store next to a gas station. Not so. It was a full size grocery store. So we went in for "a few things" that we could remember from our shopping list that we thought we might need in a hurry. The tomato was on the list but the cucumber wasn't. Neither were the nectarines. The snack crackers for munching while traveling were on the list as was the ice cream. We brought ice cream sandwiches with us from PA but they ran out earlier this week. Now we found some mint ice cream sandwiches!
Home to a light dinner and putting things in their places. Now the computering is complete. Soon the ice cream will come out and we will go to bed after a trip to the washhouse.
Tomorrow we hope to visit Sedona AZ. Everyone says "Don't miss it" so we shall see what's there. We think it is suppose to be a beautiful drive.
Addendum to May 24, 2011 - One of the things that happened in the morning was that a "Sharp Shooter" (read that "photographer") went through the car taking everyone's picture who would let her. She said that she would be back in the afternoon with the pictures. And, indeed, she was. It was a set of 4 pictures: an 8x10 of us and another 8x10 of a steam locomotive, another was about 4x4 of us and another approximately 4x4 mounted on magnets for the refrigerator door. We did not buy the pictures. She put the push on gently and then accepted our decision. Some people behind us asked the price and I nearly choked at the $35 answer. I'm just as happy with the picture that the bus driver took at the canyon.
+++++++++++++++
A Very Strange Wednesday! - May 25, 2011
Tom was awake at his usual early hour and out to the washhouse. I was aware of that and then went back to sleep. When he came back I decided to get up. The only thing I knew that was on the schedule today, for sure, was an oil change for the van. It was over the recommended time for a change and we have been asking it to do a lot of work lately. When Tom called the shop he was told to bring it anytime and they open at 8:30am. That's when he wanted to be there. And so he left.
Since the van wasn't going to be around to take us anywhere I decided to air the sleeping bags and pillows. I put pastic table cloths on the picnic tables and spread a sleeping bag on it. I put another table cloth on another nearby table and put the pillows on it. Then I went in to do the dishes and found that the water heater wasn't turned on. So I vegged.
Soon Tom was home without the van. It seems that tires had cracks in the rubber and that the shocks were worn out. It is an 2002 van which we bought in 2004 and these tires and shocks were the original equipment on the van. Although this was an AAA approved service center Tom still asked him if he was taking advantage of him. So now the van has 4 new shocks, 4 new tires and new oil. We should have a safer ride. The load shouldn't be so heavy any more with all the money we left in Williams.
Tom helped put the other sleeping bag out to air and we started the dishes. Soon a man from the service station came to get Tom to take him to get the van.
I was talking to the lady who runs the RV Park office. She told me that it was 100 degrees in Tucson since we left. And Tom came back with the news that they had 3 inches of snow hee one week ago from today.
After lunch we both took a nap for a while. For me this was the "let down day" from all of the activity of yesterday.
Then we went geocaching. We found all 3 of the 3 that we were looking for in Williams.
We found a Safeway food store in Williams while we were looking for the third cache. When "The Man" told us about it I thought it was going to be a small store next to a gas station. Not so. It was a full size grocery store. So we went in for "a few things" that we could remember from our shopping list that we thought we might need in a hurry. The tomato was on the list but the cucumber wasn't. Neither were the nectarines. The snack crackers for munching while traveling were on the list as was the ice cream. We brought ice cream sandwiches with us from PA but they ran out earlier this week. Now we found some mint ice cream sandwiches!
Home to a light dinner and putting things in their places. Now the computering is complete. Soon the ice cream will come out and we will go to bed after a trip to the washhouse.
Tomorrow we hope to visit Sedona AZ. Everyone says "Don't miss it" so we shall see what's there. We think it is suppose to be a beautiful drive.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Grand Canyon!
The Grand Canyon! - Tuesday, May 24, 2011
We finally made it! This is what this journey was all about in the first place. When we decided to "go for it" everything else just fell into place. And now the story of today's adventure.
When we awoke at 5:25 this morning, it was 32 degrees outside and 42 degrees inside the trailer. As soon as Tom awakened me I was crawling out of bed; not because I felt like it but because I had promised. We needed to work at getting to the train depot when it opened at 7:30am. So Tom turned the heater on and headed for the wash house. I, on the other hand, stood it the stream of hot air coming from the vent and got dressed. Then I went to the wash house.
We had breakfast, packed what we thought we would need and were on our way by 7:05. By then it was 55 degrees inside the trailer and 37 outside. We were parked at the railroad station/hotel parking lot by 7:25. Tom headed for the ticket counter while I came along at a slower speed. We still had to wait for the place to open but the conversation was good.
We finally got our tickets for the train ride to the canyon, a bus tour and a buffet lunch. We were here and we were going to do it right; especially since we had some gift money in our pockets! ;o) We still had to wait until 9:15 to board the train. There were two $300 rocking chairs setting in the "tourist trap" and we occupied them. It was as good a place as any to sit and wait. Tom disappeared outside to take some pictures but no one wanted to sit beside me so the chair was vacant when he came back in.
We were not interested in the Wild West Show that was to be taking place at 9am on the other end of the train platform so we headed for our car on the train. We had reserved seats so we didn't have to hurry. We did get to our car early so we chatted with the conductor/hostess. We were boarded and then the engine started moving at 9:30 on the dot.
Our conductor/hostess's name was Angel, originally from Philadelphia but now from Flagstaff. She was a "hoot and a half" and very helpful. She was full of information and trivia that you would never find out any other way. One of the things she told us about Williams, the town from which the train leaves for the canyon, was that they can not dig wells here at 6800 feet so they must haul in all of their water. That was why they had the large plastic "tanks" in the yards. She also told us that the local Native American name for the Grand Canyon means "Upside down mountain."
The railroad is run by the same company that has the contract for the hotels, restaurants, buses, stores, etc. in the Grand Canyon, Yellow Stone, Yosemine, Mt. Rushmore and some others. So it was this industry that took this little town and gave it it's living. There are several hotels and multiple restaurants. The gasoline runs $4.19 - $4.29 a gallon. However, the gas station that is connected to the RV Park at which we are staying gave us a coupon for 20 cents off a gallon of gas and it could be used multiple times. You just go inside, show them the coupon and they will reset the pump. We were told that if the coupon was not returned to us that we should just ask for a new one. The coupon was also good for 10% or 15% off items in the gift shop depending on what you bought. I wonder if the gas is so expensive because it takes more to truck it up to this elevation.
The train ride which, lasted 2 1/4 hours, ended at the South rim of the canyon. Those who were not going on the bus ride where told that there were 47 steps to climb up to the rim with different viewing points of the canyon and restaurants and gift shops and on and on. The rest of us headed for our bus which took us to two different views of the canyon. We had about 25-30 minutes at each of the places to see what we could see and ask our bus driver our questions. Then we were taken to a hotel where we were to have our buffet lunch. What a marvelous hot lunch for only $12! We had an hour to eat and we were told by our bus driver not to come away hungry.
The bus delivered us back to the train depot 1 hour before departure/30 minutes before we could start boarding. I wanted to see what was at the top of those 47 steps. So we started up. Because of the altitude and my walking it took longer than I would like but we made it in a reasonable time. We walked around and then went to the rim. Each new view is different and as magnificant as the last. It was a day well spent!
We each expected to sleep on the trip back to Wiliams but this was not the case. Since this is a 2 1/4 hour trip the company tries to keep it's patrons happy and entertained. Our hostess was always telling jokes, talking with all of the patrons, and giving information in a happy-go-lucky manner. There were two "entertainers" that were on the train. The one in the morning was a fiddler and right good at it. He encouraged some people in the car to work with him. And he was a joke teller too. The one in the afternoon played the guitar and he was good. He did very good impressions of Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash plus a few other gags. He was a good joke teller too. There was also a Twist contest where all the people in the car were encouraged to get up in the aisle and do the Twist. Yeah. We did! Never would have thought it, would you?
We also saw a some elk and antelope on our train ride.
Then the entertainment included a train "robbery". The "bandits" rode up on horses and made the train stop. They entered our car first because we were the first one right behind the engine. They worked their way through the car telling everyone to had over their gold, etc. Then they went through the train, car by car, doing the same thing. Just after they went to the next car, the "Sheriff" entered our car and he slowly made his way through our car only to enter the next car slightly after the "bandits" had gone a car further.
As we were finishing our ride I noticed some snow covered mountains again and asked about it. They were the San Francisco Mountain range the tallest peak of which is Humphreys Peak. When I saw Humphreys Peak for the first time yesterday I saw only one peak. Today I saw the series of 3 or 4 of them that make up the San Francisco Mountains.
We came into the station at Williams and headed for the gift shop. We were looking for something but couldn't find it. Maybe I'll look again before we leave Williams on Friday to see if I can find it.
We came back to the trailer about 6:30 to "crash". It was a little after 7pm when we got up and had a light supper. The barest of minimum of dishes were done so that we could have breakfast tomorrow and we started the computer work for the evening.
Now it's time to go to bed. It's 10:50pm, 43 degrees outside and 60 inside. I was getting cold so Tom turned the heat on. Feels good. Good night.
We finally made it! This is what this journey was all about in the first place. When we decided to "go for it" everything else just fell into place. And now the story of today's adventure.
When we awoke at 5:25 this morning, it was 32 degrees outside and 42 degrees inside the trailer. As soon as Tom awakened me I was crawling out of bed; not because I felt like it but because I had promised. We needed to work at getting to the train depot when it opened at 7:30am. So Tom turned the heater on and headed for the wash house. I, on the other hand, stood it the stream of hot air coming from the vent and got dressed. Then I went to the wash house.
We had breakfast, packed what we thought we would need and were on our way by 7:05. By then it was 55 degrees inside the trailer and 37 outside. We were parked at the railroad station/hotel parking lot by 7:25. Tom headed for the ticket counter while I came along at a slower speed. We still had to wait for the place to open but the conversation was good.
We finally got our tickets for the train ride to the canyon, a bus tour and a buffet lunch. We were here and we were going to do it right; especially since we had some gift money in our pockets! ;o) We still had to wait until 9:15 to board the train. There were two $300 rocking chairs setting in the "tourist trap" and we occupied them. It was as good a place as any to sit and wait. Tom disappeared outside to take some pictures but no one wanted to sit beside me so the chair was vacant when he came back in.
We were not interested in the Wild West Show that was to be taking place at 9am on the other end of the train platform so we headed for our car on the train. We had reserved seats so we didn't have to hurry. We did get to our car early so we chatted with the conductor/hostess. We were boarded and then the engine started moving at 9:30 on the dot.
Our conductor/hostess's name was Angel, originally from Philadelphia but now from Flagstaff. She was a "hoot and a half" and very helpful. She was full of information and trivia that you would never find out any other way. One of the things she told us about Williams, the town from which the train leaves for the canyon, was that they can not dig wells here at 6800 feet so they must haul in all of their water. That was why they had the large plastic "tanks" in the yards. She also told us that the local Native American name for the Grand Canyon means "Upside down mountain."
The railroad is run by the same company that has the contract for the hotels, restaurants, buses, stores, etc. in the Grand Canyon, Yellow Stone, Yosemine, Mt. Rushmore and some others. So it was this industry that took this little town and gave it it's living. There are several hotels and multiple restaurants. The gasoline runs $4.19 - $4.29 a gallon. However, the gas station that is connected to the RV Park at which we are staying gave us a coupon for 20 cents off a gallon of gas and it could be used multiple times. You just go inside, show them the coupon and they will reset the pump. We were told that if the coupon was not returned to us that we should just ask for a new one. The coupon was also good for 10% or 15% off items in the gift shop depending on what you bought. I wonder if the gas is so expensive because it takes more to truck it up to this elevation.
The train ride which, lasted 2 1/4 hours, ended at the South rim of the canyon. Those who were not going on the bus ride where told that there were 47 steps to climb up to the rim with different viewing points of the canyon and restaurants and gift shops and on and on. The rest of us headed for our bus which took us to two different views of the canyon. We had about 25-30 minutes at each of the places to see what we could see and ask our bus driver our questions. Then we were taken to a hotel where we were to have our buffet lunch. What a marvelous hot lunch for only $12! We had an hour to eat and we were told by our bus driver not to come away hungry.
The bus delivered us back to the train depot 1 hour before departure/30 minutes before we could start boarding. I wanted to see what was at the top of those 47 steps. So we started up. Because of the altitude and my walking it took longer than I would like but we made it in a reasonable time. We walked around and then went to the rim. Each new view is different and as magnificant as the last. It was a day well spent!
We each expected to sleep on the trip back to Wiliams but this was not the case. Since this is a 2 1/4 hour trip the company tries to keep it's patrons happy and entertained. Our hostess was always telling jokes, talking with all of the patrons, and giving information in a happy-go-lucky manner. There were two "entertainers" that were on the train. The one in the morning was a fiddler and right good at it. He encouraged some people in the car to work with him. And he was a joke teller too. The one in the afternoon played the guitar and he was good. He did very good impressions of Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash plus a few other gags. He was a good joke teller too. There was also a Twist contest where all the people in the car were encouraged to get up in the aisle and do the Twist. Yeah. We did! Never would have thought it, would you?
We also saw a some elk and antelope on our train ride.
Then the entertainment included a train "robbery". The "bandits" rode up on horses and made the train stop. They entered our car first because we were the first one right behind the engine. They worked their way through the car telling everyone to had over their gold, etc. Then they went through the train, car by car, doing the same thing. Just after they went to the next car, the "Sheriff" entered our car and he slowly made his way through our car only to enter the next car slightly after the "bandits" had gone a car further.
As we were finishing our ride I noticed some snow covered mountains again and asked about it. They were the San Francisco Mountain range the tallest peak of which is Humphreys Peak. When I saw Humphreys Peak for the first time yesterday I saw only one peak. Today I saw the series of 3 or 4 of them that make up the San Francisco Mountains.
We came into the station at Williams and headed for the gift shop. We were looking for something but couldn't find it. Maybe I'll look again before we leave Williams on Friday to see if I can find it.
We came back to the trailer about 6:30 to "crash". It was a little after 7pm when we got up and had a light supper. The barest of minimum of dishes were done so that we could have breakfast tomorrow and we started the computer work for the evening.
Now it's time to go to bed. It's 10:50pm, 43 degrees outside and 60 inside. I was getting cold so Tom turned the heat on. Feels good. Good night.
Just a quick note from Tom
I just wanted to post a pic and crow about a fulfilled dream. Most of my adult life I have been wanting to see the Grand Canyon. We finally made it, as this picture shows:
We took quite a few pictures, but pictures just do not do justice to the majesty and awesomeness of this place. When we boarded the train for the return to Williams, I told the conductor/hostess of our car when she asked about our day, "We were thoroughly awed, we survived (on the way there she had warned us of the consequences of not keeping ourselves hydrated), and my wife didn't through me over the rim. So I guess we had a good day."
BK will be along soon with a more detailed account.
We took quite a few pictures, but pictures just do not do justice to the majesty and awesomeness of this place. When we boarded the train for the return to Williams, I told the conductor/hostess of our car when she asked about our day, "We were thoroughly awed, we survived (on the way there she had warned us of the consequences of not keeping ourselves hydrated), and my wife didn't through me over the rim. So I guess we had a good day."
BK will be along soon with a more detailed account.
Monday, May 23, 2011
We are going UP the mountain! - May 23, 2011
I woke up this morning as Tom went out the door to shave. I woke up the second time when he came back. I just shouldn't roll over in the morning when he leaves.
Temperatures in Tucson were in the low 60s when I finally got up and where probably in the mid to high 70s by the time we left the RV Park for a day of traveling to Williams AZ.
We were on the road by 8:33am. That's good time for us. We have left a camp ground earlier but this was another day to avoid the morning rush hour on the major interstate.
Before we leave Tucson I wanted mention that when "The Man" brought us back to the RV Park on Sunday we went by some kind of an air craft museum. There were a lot, and I mean a lot, of old aircraft parked all over the place. Some of them were only pieces. It made me think of a junk yard where one would go to get parts for an old car. There were some planes from the U.S. Navy and some from the Air Force. I tried to get some pictures so we will see how they come out.
As we were on the road we watched the desert and the saguaros disappear and the evergreens appear by the side of the road. There were no deciduous (sp?- no spell checker) trees. We passed the sign for an elevation of 3000 feet; then 4000 feet. It was never straight up but ups and downs with more ups than downs.
We stopped for lunch at a rest stop which was a first of a kind for us. We were headed north when we were told of the exit for the rest area. As we exited there was no area to park nor any buildings. Nothing but a road at the bottom of the exit ramp and the entrance ramp on the other side of the road. At the bottom of the exit ramp there was a sign to tun left under the highway. At the other side of the highway there was another sign to turn left again. We were on a road with 2-way traffic. In a little while there was the rest area. It was a neat and cheap idea. There was one rest area that serviced both sides of the highway instead of one on each side. When we were finished with our lunch we went to the exit which was perpendicular to the 2-way road. We choose to go back down the road in the direction that we had already come, go under the highway and turn left up the entrance ramp to continue north. Others could have turned in the other direction to continue their journey south.
The highest elevation that we achieved, at least as being able to see signs for it, was 7000 feet. But one of the major sites for this day was the snow covered Humpherys Peak appearing on the horizon above the trees as the road turned. It is the highest point in the state of Arizona with a height of 12,637 ft. It was a magnificent view. I have taken many pictures of it. I hope some of them are good. But the condition of the Arizona highways isn't the greatest.
And we ascended the mountains the temps kept getting lower. By mid afternoon when we arrived at the RV Park where we will be staying this week the temps were already in the mid 60s and the wind was blowing really hard. It still is as I type this.
After we "crashed" again and had dinner we set out for information about the train rides to the canyon. It's a nice little tourist trap that they have set up here. We found where the tickets for the train rides are sold and their costs. They even had the weather for the canyon for tomorrow posted in the ticketing area. High of 64 degrees; low somewhere in the 20s. We looked around a little and then came back to the park.
We decided to try to get tickets for the train ride. The ticket office opens at 7:30am and the train leaves at 9:30am. There is supposed to be some kind of "gun fight" - wild west kind of thing - at 9am.
I'm off to bed in self defense. It is 49 degrees outside an 61 in side. I am getting cold. And I still have to get to the wash house. I hear the wind blowing. When I get back I'll crawl into my nice warm sleeping bag and be cozy all night.
Tomorrow morning will be another thing.
Temperatures in Tucson were in the low 60s when I finally got up and where probably in the mid to high 70s by the time we left the RV Park for a day of traveling to Williams AZ.
We were on the road by 8:33am. That's good time for us. We have left a camp ground earlier but this was another day to avoid the morning rush hour on the major interstate.
Before we leave Tucson I wanted mention that when "The Man" brought us back to the RV Park on Sunday we went by some kind of an air craft museum. There were a lot, and I mean a lot, of old aircraft parked all over the place. Some of them were only pieces. It made me think of a junk yard where one would go to get parts for an old car. There were some planes from the U.S. Navy and some from the Air Force. I tried to get some pictures so we will see how they come out.
As we were on the road we watched the desert and the saguaros disappear and the evergreens appear by the side of the road. There were no deciduous (sp?- no spell checker) trees. We passed the sign for an elevation of 3000 feet; then 4000 feet. It was never straight up but ups and downs with more ups than downs.
We stopped for lunch at a rest stop which was a first of a kind for us. We were headed north when we were told of the exit for the rest area. As we exited there was no area to park nor any buildings. Nothing but a road at the bottom of the exit ramp and the entrance ramp on the other side of the road. At the bottom of the exit ramp there was a sign to tun left under the highway. At the other side of the highway there was another sign to turn left again. We were on a road with 2-way traffic. In a little while there was the rest area. It was a neat and cheap idea. There was one rest area that serviced both sides of the highway instead of one on each side. When we were finished with our lunch we went to the exit which was perpendicular to the 2-way road. We choose to go back down the road in the direction that we had already come, go under the highway and turn left up the entrance ramp to continue north. Others could have turned in the other direction to continue their journey south.
The highest elevation that we achieved, at least as being able to see signs for it, was 7000 feet. But one of the major sites for this day was the snow covered Humpherys Peak appearing on the horizon above the trees as the road turned. It is the highest point in the state of Arizona with a height of 12,637 ft. It was a magnificent view. I have taken many pictures of it. I hope some of them are good. But the condition of the Arizona highways isn't the greatest.
And we ascended the mountains the temps kept getting lower. By mid afternoon when we arrived at the RV Park where we will be staying this week the temps were already in the mid 60s and the wind was blowing really hard. It still is as I type this.
After we "crashed" again and had dinner we set out for information about the train rides to the canyon. It's a nice little tourist trap that they have set up here. We found where the tickets for the train rides are sold and their costs. They even had the weather for the canyon for tomorrow posted in the ticketing area. High of 64 degrees; low somewhere in the 20s. We looked around a little and then came back to the park.
We decided to try to get tickets for the train ride. The ticket office opens at 7:30am and the train leaves at 9:30am. There is supposed to be some kind of "gun fight" - wild west kind of thing - at 9am.
I'm off to bed in self defense. It is 49 degrees outside an 61 in side. I am getting cold. And I still have to get to the wash house. I hear the wind blowing. When I get back I'll crawl into my nice warm sleeping bag and be cozy all night.
Tomorrow morning will be another thing.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saguaro East For Sure - Sunday, May 22, 2011
Yeah! We did! We woke up in the 5am hour! When we finally get used to this it will be time to move back to Mountain Daylight time.
We were ready for church and left a little after 7am for a 7:45am Service at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Tucson. As we were looking for the church one of the lanes on the 3-lane street was blocked off and police officers were at the corners. There was a street race that was being held. We couldn't find any information on it. Tom said that some of the riders looked like they were serious and some seemed to be just out for a Sunday ride.
We were there quite early and had a chance to look around. The 7:45 Service was held in the "Chapel" while the other 2 Sunday morning Services are held in the main church building. It's cornerstone reads 1956 and is the typical southwestern architecture with the red tiled roof. There is a a youth building and a nursery building.
Tom found a sign that said that the "Jr League" and the "Sr. League" were each going to participate in a workcamp. The Jrs. were going to somewhere in Colorado and the Srs. were going to Scranton PA. When Tom showed me this we looked at each other and smiled broadly. We wondered what they would be doing in Scranton. During the Service the Jr. and Sr. Leaguers who where at that Service were commissioned for their trip. It was explained that they were going to this "small town" to put roofs on buildings, paint and whatever. We both wondered what the kids would think when they got to this "small town." To us who have connections in Scranton, it is a large town.
After church the cyclists were still at it. I guess they have to start early in order to beat the heat of the day.
We headed for "Pappy's Restaurant" for breakfast. Eating breakfast out after church on Sunday when camping is a tradition for us. This restaurant is "nothing worth writing home about" but the food was good and the portions were large.
Back at the RV trailer park we changed into other clothes, packed up things to drink and headed out for the Saguaro East National Park. We followed the way Tom figured out by looking at the map. It was an interesting ride through another part of Tucson even though I was the navigator and had to watch where we were going.
At the Park's Welcome Center we walked through the exhibits and then took the 8 mile tour through the desert with many scenic vistas along the way. This was another time that our $10 Senior Pass served us well to get into the 8-mile tour for free.
There was a group of about 8 on bicycles that were going to go through the park. There was a 6-8 yr old boy with them and a girl who was a little older. Maybe there were two others who were teenagers and 4 adults. The first part of the tour was a series of up and down hills. Tom and I were both wondering how the little guy was going to make it. At one point on an upgrade two of the male adults were with him as he worked his way up. They were not going to let the little guy be the lone last person.
Then we came to a long, long gradual ascent. We stopped for a view about half way up the entire rise. The view was wonderful. It was a close up of the mountain about which I had rhetorically asked,"What are those white things on the mountain?" They were rocks; long white rocks. Then the cell phone of the woman next to us rang. When she answered it and talked for while I couldn't help but listen to her conversation. It was helpful and informative. She was explaining that this desert was nothing like it was when she was growing up in the area. There were no waterfalls or any water in the desert. It was dry all over.
Water in the desert!? Waterfalls!? Then I looked at my "white things" and sure enough they were the waterfalls! One could follow the stream that the water would have taken down the mountain and zig-zagged across the valley floor. This part of the country needs water so badly!
As we were getting ready to leave the vista the 2 adult males rode their bikes up to the scenic vista and stopped. None of the others were in view. It was my feeling and hope that rest of the group were all together and were coming along walking. I thought that the guys were permitted to go ahead in order to try to get as far as they could. At least that is what I had hoped.
We let "The Man" find our way back to the trailer. "He" did indeed take us another way. We saw more houses all over the place. From the road it looks like the houses are trying to disappear into the desert and become invisible. Don't know if that was/is the intention.
Back at the RV park we "crashed." We were asleep for about an hour. Then we headed for the pool. Again we were the only ones in it. The park is very quiet this weekend. Don't know if the season hasn't started yet here or what.
There are very few people here and lots of empty spaces. But there are a lot of permanent residents. People park their RVs on a lot and leave them. They have shaded shelters for their cars when they come and flower gardens planted. In this park we are literally right up against each other. If I can remember tomorrow morning I'll try to take a picture of our proximity to our neighbor. This is okay for 3 nights but I wouldn't want to camp like this. We bought the trailer as "something in which to sleep and stand up to get dressed!" We don't need all the other stuff that came with it. It is primarily a camping vehicle. However, the trailer being what it is, it has made this adventure possible.
A light dinner followed and then the first part of preparations for moving on tomorrow. We are headed for Williams, AZ. It's an estimated 4.5 hr drive and we will be moving to a higher elevation. Hopefully we/I will get to bed early tonight so that we can get an early start. Well, we ARE up at 5am. geeesh!
We were ready for church and left a little after 7am for a 7:45am Service at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Tucson. As we were looking for the church one of the lanes on the 3-lane street was blocked off and police officers were at the corners. There was a street race that was being held. We couldn't find any information on it. Tom said that some of the riders looked like they were serious and some seemed to be just out for a Sunday ride.
We were there quite early and had a chance to look around. The 7:45 Service was held in the "Chapel" while the other 2 Sunday morning Services are held in the main church building. It's cornerstone reads 1956 and is the typical southwestern architecture with the red tiled roof. There is a a youth building and a nursery building.
Tom found a sign that said that the "Jr League" and the "Sr. League" were each going to participate in a workcamp. The Jrs. were going to somewhere in Colorado and the Srs. were going to Scranton PA. When Tom showed me this we looked at each other and smiled broadly. We wondered what they would be doing in Scranton. During the Service the Jr. and Sr. Leaguers who where at that Service were commissioned for their trip. It was explained that they were going to this "small town" to put roofs on buildings, paint and whatever. We both wondered what the kids would think when they got to this "small town." To us who have connections in Scranton, it is a large town.
After church the cyclists were still at it. I guess they have to start early in order to beat the heat of the day.
We headed for "Pappy's Restaurant" for breakfast. Eating breakfast out after church on Sunday when camping is a tradition for us. This restaurant is "nothing worth writing home about" but the food was good and the portions were large.
Back at the RV trailer park we changed into other clothes, packed up things to drink and headed out for the Saguaro East National Park. We followed the way Tom figured out by looking at the map. It was an interesting ride through another part of Tucson even though I was the navigator and had to watch where we were going.
At the Park's Welcome Center we walked through the exhibits and then took the 8 mile tour through the desert with many scenic vistas along the way. This was another time that our $10 Senior Pass served us well to get into the 8-mile tour for free.
There was a group of about 8 on bicycles that were going to go through the park. There was a 6-8 yr old boy with them and a girl who was a little older. Maybe there were two others who were teenagers and 4 adults. The first part of the tour was a series of up and down hills. Tom and I were both wondering how the little guy was going to make it. At one point on an upgrade two of the male adults were with him as he worked his way up. They were not going to let the little guy be the lone last person.
Then we came to a long, long gradual ascent. We stopped for a view about half way up the entire rise. The view was wonderful. It was a close up of the mountain about which I had rhetorically asked,"What are those white things on the mountain?" They were rocks; long white rocks. Then the cell phone of the woman next to us rang. When she answered it and talked for while I couldn't help but listen to her conversation. It was helpful and informative. She was explaining that this desert was nothing like it was when she was growing up in the area. There were no waterfalls or any water in the desert. It was dry all over.
Water in the desert!? Waterfalls!? Then I looked at my "white things" and sure enough they were the waterfalls! One could follow the stream that the water would have taken down the mountain and zig-zagged across the valley floor. This part of the country needs water so badly!
As we were getting ready to leave the vista the 2 adult males rode their bikes up to the scenic vista and stopped. None of the others were in view. It was my feeling and hope that rest of the group were all together and were coming along walking. I thought that the guys were permitted to go ahead in order to try to get as far as they could. At least that is what I had hoped.
We let "The Man" find our way back to the trailer. "He" did indeed take us another way. We saw more houses all over the place. From the road it looks like the houses are trying to disappear into the desert and become invisible. Don't know if that was/is the intention.
Back at the RV park we "crashed." We were asleep for about an hour. Then we headed for the pool. Again we were the only ones in it. The park is very quiet this weekend. Don't know if the season hasn't started yet here or what.
There are very few people here and lots of empty spaces. But there are a lot of permanent residents. People park their RVs on a lot and leave them. They have shaded shelters for their cars when they come and flower gardens planted. In this park we are literally right up against each other. If I can remember tomorrow morning I'll try to take a picture of our proximity to our neighbor. This is okay for 3 nights but I wouldn't want to camp like this. We bought the trailer as "something in which to sleep and stand up to get dressed!" We don't need all the other stuff that came with it. It is primarily a camping vehicle. However, the trailer being what it is, it has made this adventure possible.
A light dinner followed and then the first part of preparations for moving on tomorrow. We are headed for Williams, AZ. It's an estimated 4.5 hr drive and we will be moving to a higher elevation. Hopefully we/I will get to bed early tonight so that we can get an early start. Well, we ARE up at 5am. geeesh!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saguaro National Park East or . . .West - Saturday, May 21, 2011
I was aware when Tom got out of bed this morning and went back to sleep. When he came back it was totally light outside. I looked at the clock and call "5:45?" He said, "Well I was awake so I thought I'd get up." I felt like it by then so I got up too. It is Mountain Standard time. It was 57 degrees outside and 61 degrees in the trailer.
We were up, washed, dressed, fed (Thanks, Cindy, for the walnuts for our waffles this morning.) and out on the road for fuel for the van and to find the church so we don't have to find it for the first time for a 7:45am Eucharist tomorrow.
As we were looking for the church, we found that Tucson is the home of the University of Tucson. It advertises that it is the home of the or an Ansel Adams Collection. It also announces the it has a '"Swede' Johnson something or another." I'll have to refresh my dimming memory tomorrow. But it struck me funny that there was a "Swede" in desert country.
And, of course, Tucson has it's own homeless community who were out on the streets this morning.
We came back to the park to make a few preparations for our afternoon excursion and then settled down to do some computer work. Tom did his stuff and I recreated the blog for yesterday. It came rather easily since I had already written it once!
We decided to have our main meal of the day at noon, wash the dishes that we have been saving and then take off to Saguaro (sah-WAH-row) National Park East.
We told "The Man" (Grandson, Eliot, calls the female voice in his daddy's navigator "The Lady" so we call the male voice in our navigator "The Man.") got us lost. We told him where we wanted to go and we found ourselves in the middle of the Tucson Mountain Park.
We stopped at the International Wild Life Center for directions. It wasn't what we were looking for but they had some wonderful displays that we could see for free. I hope the pictures of the rhino and the cheetah turn out well. I took a picture of a huge sculptured Lion who was in the middle of a tremendous roar just for Richie. I also got a picture of Tom with the lion sculpture. They had steps that people could climb for a photo op with the lion.
With directions we headed off to Saguaro National Park West. On the way we stopped at a place to pull off the road for a photo op of the desert. There was a bench there placed in memory of a young man of 21 years who died in 2000. There was no indication of how he died or why a bench is significant. It was also the trail head for a like up the mountain. The pictures will give me names later.
Finally we found the park entrance for West. There was an admission charge but we didn't have to pay for it because we have a Senior Pass for all of the National Parks. It was interesting that the worker at the desk couldn't enter the Pass into the system. She had to call the Ranger to do it. The Ranger was so happy to see us. We were 5 minutes late for a 15-minute film but she offered to have a special showing just for us. We took her up on her offer. It was about a look at the desert from the local Native American point of view.
We took the short "hike" through the cactus garden. There was so much information there. We had bought sunscreen for being out in the sun but, of course, it was in the van. We did have our hats though and lots of water in the van.
We finally decided we had had enough and should start for home. We also decided the give "The Man" the rest of the day off and head back to the RV Park by what we remembered from the maps that we had seen. It worked. It was on the ride down the mountain that I remarked that I'm going to have to stop taking pictures and just enjoy the surroundings. We also wondered whether the people who use that road every day to go to and from work ever get tired of seeing the desert and just consider it common place. Maybe I'd better start looking at my surroundings in Allentown to see what I am missing.
Back at the trailer we rested for a few minutes and then headed for the pool. We were the only people there at 6:46pm local time. Considering it was going to be dark in 45 minutes I could understand why. The water was just on the cool side at first but then we got used to it. We had slathered on the sunscreen but the entire pool area was in the shade. Soon we left the pool and came back to get our things to get showers and ready for bed. Tom is headed there now and I will be very soon.
Tomorrow, after church and breakfast, I think we will be trying for Saguaro East . . . again!
PS to John: I used the thumbdrive to store the recreated blog for yesterday and was writing today's blog when Dad read your comment.
And on the time differences, you've got it. Arizona does not observed Daylight Savings Time. But get this: the Indian Reservation within Arizona's borders does observe it. And within the lands of the reservation there is another tribe of Native Americans who do not observe it. Go figure!
We were up, washed, dressed, fed (Thanks, Cindy, for the walnuts for our waffles this morning.) and out on the road for fuel for the van and to find the church so we don't have to find it for the first time for a 7:45am Eucharist tomorrow.
As we were looking for the church, we found that Tucson is the home of the University of Tucson. It advertises that it is the home of the or an Ansel Adams Collection. It also announces the it has a '"Swede' Johnson something or another." I'll have to refresh my dimming memory tomorrow. But it struck me funny that there was a "Swede" in desert country.
And, of course, Tucson has it's own homeless community who were out on the streets this morning.
We came back to the park to make a few preparations for our afternoon excursion and then settled down to do some computer work. Tom did his stuff and I recreated the blog for yesterday. It came rather easily since I had already written it once!
We decided to have our main meal of the day at noon, wash the dishes that we have been saving and then take off to Saguaro (sah-WAH-row) National Park East.
We told "The Man" (Grandson, Eliot, calls the female voice in his daddy's navigator "The Lady" so we call the male voice in our navigator "The Man.") got us lost. We told him where we wanted to go and we found ourselves in the middle of the Tucson Mountain Park.
We stopped at the International Wild Life Center for directions. It wasn't what we were looking for but they had some wonderful displays that we could see for free. I hope the pictures of the rhino and the cheetah turn out well. I took a picture of a huge sculptured Lion who was in the middle of a tremendous roar just for Richie. I also got a picture of Tom with the lion sculpture. They had steps that people could climb for a photo op with the lion.
With directions we headed off to Saguaro National Park West. On the way we stopped at a place to pull off the road for a photo op of the desert. There was a bench there placed in memory of a young man of 21 years who died in 2000. There was no indication of how he died or why a bench is significant. It was also the trail head for a like up the mountain. The pictures will give me names later.
Finally we found the park entrance for West. There was an admission charge but we didn't have to pay for it because we have a Senior Pass for all of the National Parks. It was interesting that the worker at the desk couldn't enter the Pass into the system. She had to call the Ranger to do it. The Ranger was so happy to see us. We were 5 minutes late for a 15-minute film but she offered to have a special showing just for us. We took her up on her offer. It was about a look at the desert from the local Native American point of view.
We took the short "hike" through the cactus garden. There was so much information there. We had bought sunscreen for being out in the sun but, of course, it was in the van. We did have our hats though and lots of water in the van.
We finally decided we had had enough and should start for home. We also decided the give "The Man" the rest of the day off and head back to the RV Park by what we remembered from the maps that we had seen. It worked. It was on the ride down the mountain that I remarked that I'm going to have to stop taking pictures and just enjoy the surroundings. We also wondered whether the people who use that road every day to go to and from work ever get tired of seeing the desert and just consider it common place. Maybe I'd better start looking at my surroundings in Allentown to see what I am missing.
Back at the trailer we rested for a few minutes and then headed for the pool. We were the only people there at 6:46pm local time. Considering it was going to be dark in 45 minutes I could understand why. The water was just on the cool side at first but then we got used to it. We had slathered on the sunscreen but the entire pool area was in the shade. Soon we left the pool and came back to get our things to get showers and ready for bed. Tom is headed there now and I will be very soon.
Tomorrow, after church and breakfast, I think we will be trying for Saguaro East . . . again!
PS to John: I used the thumbdrive to store the recreated blog for yesterday and was writing today's blog when Dad read your comment.
And on the time differences, you've got it. Arizona does not observed Daylight Savings Time. But get this: the Indian Reservation within Arizona's borders does observe it. And within the lands of the reservation there is another tribe of Native Americans who do not observe it. Go figure!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Greetings from Tucson AZ
I am sorry but I don't have anything right now. It is 2:40am Saturday, May 21, eastern time and 11:40pm, Friday, May 20, Mountain time and I just lost a good portion of this post. It was there and as I was typing it dissappeared. I am too tired to recreate it now. It will have to wait until tomorrow.
I did try but now it's off to bed. For those of you who read this, you will have to come back another time.
See you all tomorrow. :o)
++++++++
Now let's try this one:
Welcome to Tucson AZ - Friday, May 20, 2011
A bit about the time stamp that may or may not be on this blog. Some time today we entered the Mountain Time Zone from the Central Time Zone. That should make me 2 hours earlier than my home time zone, the Eastern. However, Arizona doesn't use Daylight Savings Time so we are actually 3 hours earlier the EDST! If it is confusing to you just think about our body times.
When we awoke this morning it was 50 degrees outside and 57 inside the trailer. It felt kind of good to me. It warmed up quickly. We didn't push to get out so it was 9am until the equipment was ready and 9:22am until we were ready to go.
We rode along the desert highway with always new mountain formations. I always continue to marvel at the varied landscape.
There are a variety of signs along the highway reminding drivers of "severe winds", fires and sandstorms. One of the more interesting to me was the warning of a "prison facility" nearby. Also it warned "Do Not Pick Up Hitch Hickers." Hmmm wonder what that was all about. :o)
We also went through a Border Patrol check point. After deciding that we (a van with a travel trailer) were a "Car" and not a "Truck" we got in the appropriate line and slowly moved toward the officer who viewed the cars and told them to "Go ahead." He didn't take any extra time with us so I guess we weren't what he was looking for.
We crossed the "Continental Divide" in New Mexico at an elevation of 4585 ft. So now all of our water flows toward the pacific ocean.
We stopped for a "real lunch" (as opposed to PB&J and eaten in the van) at a rest area just inside Arizona. The breeze was brisk and welcomed. We ate lunch watching the people come and go and the mountainous back drop. I roamed around looking for a good view of the mountains for a picture when Tom told me of a sign that was there. I went to take a picture of it. I hope isn't blurry. It reads: Poisonous Snakes and Insects Inhabit the Area. It was time to move on.
We arrived at the King of Tucson RV Park about 3:02 which was actually 2:02pm. Changing time zones while traveling west gives us extra hours of daylight and this is a good thing. Except for AZ which does not observed DST. We were out shopping tonight and were surprized to see that is was dark about 7:30pm!
After doing the least amount of work necessary to set up, we "crashed." I think I was out for about 2 hours.
We made supper and went shopping. We ran into a problem getting what we wanted but we finally found it. But we ran out of time to look for the church we will attend on Sunday.
We have internet service but it is not Free. This is the first place that we have been to that didn't provide it except for the VA state park. It is a reasonable cost so we have it on the laptop. After Tom does his computer work I get to do mine. So when he was finished he sat and waited for me to finish. I didn't finish fast enough so he went to bed while I continued. But then when I was just about ready to say I was finished I lost all of the blog I wrote. :op I then recreated the title and some of the text and said good night.
Oh! BTW: Sometime today Tom told me that we are over 1000 miles from Cindy and John!
I did try but now it's off to bed. For those of you who read this, you will have to come back another time.
See you all tomorrow. :o)
++++++++
Now let's try this one:
Welcome to Tucson AZ - Friday, May 20, 2011
A bit about the time stamp that may or may not be on this blog. Some time today we entered the Mountain Time Zone from the Central Time Zone. That should make me 2 hours earlier than my home time zone, the Eastern. However, Arizona doesn't use Daylight Savings Time so we are actually 3 hours earlier the EDST! If it is confusing to you just think about our body times.
When we awoke this morning it was 50 degrees outside and 57 inside the trailer. It felt kind of good to me. It warmed up quickly. We didn't push to get out so it was 9am until the equipment was ready and 9:22am until we were ready to go.
We rode along the desert highway with always new mountain formations. I always continue to marvel at the varied landscape.
There are a variety of signs along the highway reminding drivers of "severe winds", fires and sandstorms. One of the more interesting to me was the warning of a "prison facility" nearby. Also it warned "Do Not Pick Up Hitch Hickers." Hmmm wonder what that was all about. :o)
We also went through a Border Patrol check point. After deciding that we (a van with a travel trailer) were a "Car" and not a "Truck" we got in the appropriate line and slowly moved toward the officer who viewed the cars and told them to "Go ahead." He didn't take any extra time with us so I guess we weren't what he was looking for.
We crossed the "Continental Divide" in New Mexico at an elevation of 4585 ft. So now all of our water flows toward the pacific ocean.
We stopped for a "real lunch" (as opposed to PB&J and eaten in the van) at a rest area just inside Arizona. The breeze was brisk and welcomed. We ate lunch watching the people come and go and the mountainous back drop. I roamed around looking for a good view of the mountains for a picture when Tom told me of a sign that was there. I went to take a picture of it. I hope isn't blurry. It reads: Poisonous Snakes and Insects Inhabit the Area. It was time to move on.
We arrived at the King of Tucson RV Park about 3:02 which was actually 2:02pm. Changing time zones while traveling west gives us extra hours of daylight and this is a good thing. Except for AZ which does not observed DST. We were out shopping tonight and were surprized to see that is was dark about 7:30pm!
After doing the least amount of work necessary to set up, we "crashed." I think I was out for about 2 hours.
We made supper and went shopping. We ran into a problem getting what we wanted but we finally found it. But we ran out of time to look for the church we will attend on Sunday.
We have internet service but it is not Free. This is the first place that we have been to that didn't provide it except for the VA state park. It is a reasonable cost so we have it on the laptop. After Tom does his computer work I get to do mine. So when he was finished he sat and waited for me to finish. I didn't finish fast enough so he went to bed while I continued. But then when I was just about ready to say I was finished I lost all of the blog I wrote. :op I then recreated the title and some of the text and said good night.
Oh! BTW: Sometime today Tom told me that we are over 1000 miles from Cindy and John!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
We had to turn the AC off in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning but it was warm when we got up. The evening breeze was nowhere to be felt this morning. It was just going to get hotter and hotter. So much for the desert. Just before we left Ft. Stockton RV Park the woman who works in the kitchen told us that it hasn't rained here since last September. What a need for water!
We finally left at 9:07am Central Time. It's a little later than we like but not as late as it sometimes gets. This part of west Texas is all desert. You may see a house here or there or some cattle but that's all. There are signs warning of severe cross winds and fires. We did see blackened grasses in the median and sometimes on the side of the road. We couldn't tell whether they were controled burns or out-of-conroled burns.
Soon we entered the Big Bend area of SW Texas and you could tell the difference. There was green grass! And things weren't so flat anymore. We started to climb. There were hills and then mountains. Things were changing.
Then we passed from Central Time Zone to Mountain Time Zone where we will be for a while.
Then we came to El Paso and soon into New Mexico. Somewhere along the line these wonderful mountains showed up. They are absolutely beautiful. They can be seen from the front gate of the RV Park. I wanted to take a picture of them but by the time I got the camera the sun was not lighting them the way it was before. And tomorrow morning the sun will be coming up behind them hindering a good shot. Oh well. Maybe I got a good one some time.
We arrived here about 4pm local time and settled in. Tom made hamburgers and we did 3 days worth of dishes. We also looked for a geocache but didn't find it. Then there's computer time. It's about 10:45pm local time. I was figuring that the windows would stayopen tonight but I think not. Maybe one of them but not all of them and not the ones over our bed! It will be fun to see what the morning temperature is.
Now it's time for bed. I will enjoy being horizontal tonight. I can just about stay awake now. zzzzzzz
We finally left at 9:07am Central Time. It's a little later than we like but not as late as it sometimes gets. This part of west Texas is all desert. You may see a house here or there or some cattle but that's all. There are signs warning of severe cross winds and fires. We did see blackened grasses in the median and sometimes on the side of the road. We couldn't tell whether they were controled burns or out-of-conroled burns.
Soon we entered the Big Bend area of SW Texas and you could tell the difference. There was green grass! And things weren't so flat anymore. We started to climb. There were hills and then mountains. Things were changing.
Then we passed from Central Time Zone to Mountain Time Zone where we will be for a while.
Then we came to El Paso and soon into New Mexico. Somewhere along the line these wonderful mountains showed up. They are absolutely beautiful. They can be seen from the front gate of the RV Park. I wanted to take a picture of them but by the time I got the camera the sun was not lighting them the way it was before. And tomorrow morning the sun will be coming up behind them hindering a good shot. Oh well. Maybe I got a good one some time.
We arrived here about 4pm local time and settled in. Tom made hamburgers and we did 3 days worth of dishes. We also looked for a geocache but didn't find it. Then there's computer time. It's about 10:45pm local time. I was figuring that the windows would stayopen tonight but I think not. Maybe one of them but not all of them and not the ones over our bed! It will be fun to see what the morning temperature is.
Now it's time for bed. I will enjoy being horizontal tonight. I can just about stay awake now. zzzzzzz
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
On the move again . . . slowly
It was hard getting started this morning. We were late getting up and just slow moving. It was 9:40am until we were on the road. Shame on us! :o)
We went through downtown San Antonio and I snapped some pictures of the skyline and the individual buildings as they came closer. They are a stark contrast to the poor neighborhoods that the highway went by earlier. I was appauled by the condition of the houses.
After we left the cities behind we came to the flat lands of west Texas. The grasses were dead and the trees looked like tall bushes. Every once in a while there was a house with or without an outbuilding or two. My mother's question haunted me; "Where do they go to shop." Or maybe the more proper question is do they have money to shop?
We stopped at the second rest area that we saw. It was in the west Texas hill country. There was some very beautiful scenery and views from that place on one of the hills. All of the tables at all of the rest areas in this part of Texas are under roof in order to provide shade. The tables at this rest area were shaped like wagon wheels. The shade was very welcome because it was very hot. And there was a wonderful breeze on top of that hill.
A bird had made a deposit on the table at which we chose to sit. When I looked up I saw a small nest. I was trying to decide if it was a small nest or an unfinished one. Then two swallows came and one of them occupied the nest. The other flew away but returned later.
There came miles upon miles of ranch land. Some places you could see the cattle and some you could see fences. But it was all the same: dead grass, short trees.
At some places you could see short bridges on the Farm Market road (service road) that ran along side of the highway. But all of the stream beds/water ways/etc. were dry. It was disheartening. Here we are hoping that it won't rain so that we will be safer on the road and make it easier to drive and these people are suffering because of the lack of rain.
Then it happened. I fell asleep. Poor Tom! But I was startled away by his call. I was glad that he did awaken me. Across the horizon was a row of wind turbines! I snapped pictures and snapped some more. This is when we are happy for digital pictures! I hope some of them are good so that they can be posted. When one is sitting in a moving vehicle picture quality is never the greatest.
We finally arrived at the Fort Stockton RV Park. It was 97 degrees outside by the van's thermometer. there was a line up outside the office of the park so Tom had some time to do some figuring:
-we traveled 317 miles today
-we are 2316 miles from home
This park isn't too bad. It is basically carved out of the desert. We are told not to walk on the desert grass because it will kill it. It seems that the lack of water has already done that. It boasts of "completely private bathrooms". We couldn't figure this one out. Then I went into the ladies room. It had 3 complete bathrooms each behind a lockable door. Toilet, sink, tub with shower. You were almost at home. It also has a wonderful pool.
I'm headed for bed early tonight. Hopefully the AC will continue to work all night. Tomorrow we head for Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is expected that we will travel another 290 miles.
We went through downtown San Antonio and I snapped some pictures of the skyline and the individual buildings as they came closer. They are a stark contrast to the poor neighborhoods that the highway went by earlier. I was appauled by the condition of the houses.
After we left the cities behind we came to the flat lands of west Texas. The grasses were dead and the trees looked like tall bushes. Every once in a while there was a house with or without an outbuilding or two. My mother's question haunted me; "Where do they go to shop." Or maybe the more proper question is do they have money to shop?
We stopped at the second rest area that we saw. It was in the west Texas hill country. There was some very beautiful scenery and views from that place on one of the hills. All of the tables at all of the rest areas in this part of Texas are under roof in order to provide shade. The tables at this rest area were shaped like wagon wheels. The shade was very welcome because it was very hot. And there was a wonderful breeze on top of that hill.
A bird had made a deposit on the table at which we chose to sit. When I looked up I saw a small nest. I was trying to decide if it was a small nest or an unfinished one. Then two swallows came and one of them occupied the nest. The other flew away but returned later.
There came miles upon miles of ranch land. Some places you could see the cattle and some you could see fences. But it was all the same: dead grass, short trees.
At some places you could see short bridges on the Farm Market road (service road) that ran along side of the highway. But all of the stream beds/water ways/etc. were dry. It was disheartening. Here we are hoping that it won't rain so that we will be safer on the road and make it easier to drive and these people are suffering because of the lack of rain.
Then it happened. I fell asleep. Poor Tom! But I was startled away by his call. I was glad that he did awaken me. Across the horizon was a row of wind turbines! I snapped pictures and snapped some more. This is when we are happy for digital pictures! I hope some of them are good so that they can be posted. When one is sitting in a moving vehicle picture quality is never the greatest.
We finally arrived at the Fort Stockton RV Park. It was 97 degrees outside by the van's thermometer. there was a line up outside the office of the park so Tom had some time to do some figuring:
-we traveled 317 miles today
-we are 2316 miles from home
This park isn't too bad. It is basically carved out of the desert. We are told not to walk on the desert grass because it will kill it. It seems that the lack of water has already done that. It boasts of "completely private bathrooms". We couldn't figure this one out. Then I went into the ladies room. It had 3 complete bathrooms each behind a lockable door. Toilet, sink, tub with shower. You were almost at home. It also has a wonderful pool.
I'm headed for bed early tonight. Hopefully the AC will continue to work all night. Tomorrow we head for Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is expected that we will travel another 290 miles.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
On the road again!
After the last minute packing, making sure that we had everything (as of this moment in time we have not found that we are missing anything) and farewell taking of Cindy and John we were on the road again by a little after 9:30am. We thought that rush hour might be over by 9:30 and so picked that as our target.
Traffic wasn't bad but when one is towing a trailer, even only a 20-foot trailer, one wishes that there was no traffic on the road save himself! ;o)
We could have stopped at a rest area at 11:00am but decided to continue for another hour. Wrong decision. As the passenger I kept dozing off but Tom was having the same problem as I was. We will know better the next time. Even just to "stretch your legs" is a good reason to stop.
We decided to have one of our infamous by now PB&J lunches: made in the trailer at the rest area and eaten in the van as we travel. We usually have carrots and celery with our sandwiches but we had a banana today thanks to Cindy. It's nutritious but weird.
Over 222 miles after we left Cindy and John we arrived at our haven of rest for the night after 1:30pm. Huge place and we are parked right across from the wash house and swimming pool!! Didn't get in today though; other things to do.
Armed with just a bus route folder we took the bus into San Antonio hoping to find the Alamo and whatever there was to see and to get dinner. But we got off the bus at the wrong stop which was no where near where we thought we wanted to be. We thought for a while taking into account the time of day and what we had been through so far and decided to take the bus in the other direction to go back to the Mission Concepcion which we had passed on our way into downtown San Antonio.
We are very glad we did. There were a number of people around when we got off the bus (we could see the grounds as we got off of the bus) but they seemed to have disappeared when we arrived at the signs and discriptive placques on the grounds. Mission Concepcion is one of I think 7 missions started by the Franciscans to convert the indigenous people to Christianity/Catholicism and make them Spanish citizens. It is now part of the National Park system and an active congregation. Of all of the missions in the area this one is the most authentic, having most of it's parts that were built in the 1700s still standing. A stop in the park office told us that we had less than an hour before the park closed and we would be asked to leave. That was okay with us. We were tired.
We were to enter the church into what was evidently the sacristy and into the chancel but not behind the Communion rail. That area was roped off and we were asked to observe the sacred space of the congregation that worships there. All of the doors except for the main door into the nave were not very high. Tom is about 5'10" and he had to duck his head. The main door was massive, about 8'-9' tall. All around the art work is being restored. The rooms where the side altars were were small and you could see the artwork being penciled on the wall in preparation for painting. There was a very large stone basin in one of the walls and we wondered if this was a baptistry although there seemed to be a baptismal font in the chancel area. The pews were rough hewn boards but they shined as though there was a finish on them. I think there was. Something I thought was funny was that I'll swear you could see the outline of someone's posterior part on some of these wooden slabs made into the pews. We took lots of pictures. It was a very interesting place.
We took the bus back to the RV Park and made dinner. Tom then went for gas as I tried to set up the trailer for sleeping and clean up from eating. We spent some time outside as the temp had dropped and the breeze was still strong enough to blow the newspaper around so that Tom had a hard time reading it. Soon we came inside for Tom to do the book work and head off to bed. I'm still pulling together the pieces of the day.
The bookwork showed this little tidbit of news: Officially we have traveled 1999.3 miles since we left home for this trip. geesh!
Tomorrow we have a much longer ride to Fort Stocton, TX. There is a beautiful National Park there, Big Bend I think, but it is a long trip to get to it and that isn't in our plans. We are headed for New Mexico for the weekend.
EDIT by Tom: Just one small correction here; it was late when bk wrote this. Las Cruces, NM, will just be a waypoint tomorrow (Thurs.) on our way to Tucson, AZ for the weekend.
Traffic wasn't bad but when one is towing a trailer, even only a 20-foot trailer, one wishes that there was no traffic on the road save himself! ;o)
We could have stopped at a rest area at 11:00am but decided to continue for another hour. Wrong decision. As the passenger I kept dozing off but Tom was having the same problem as I was. We will know better the next time. Even just to "stretch your legs" is a good reason to stop.
We decided to have one of our infamous by now PB&J lunches: made in the trailer at the rest area and eaten in the van as we travel. We usually have carrots and celery with our sandwiches but we had a banana today thanks to Cindy. It's nutritious but weird.
Over 222 miles after we left Cindy and John we arrived at our haven of rest for the night after 1:30pm. Huge place and we are parked right across from the wash house and swimming pool!! Didn't get in today though; other things to do.
Armed with just a bus route folder we took the bus into San Antonio hoping to find the Alamo and whatever there was to see and to get dinner. But we got off the bus at the wrong stop which was no where near where we thought we wanted to be. We thought for a while taking into account the time of day and what we had been through so far and decided to take the bus in the other direction to go back to the Mission Concepcion which we had passed on our way into downtown San Antonio.
We are very glad we did. There were a number of people around when we got off the bus (we could see the grounds as we got off of the bus) but they seemed to have disappeared when we arrived at the signs and discriptive placques on the grounds. Mission Concepcion is one of I think 7 missions started by the Franciscans to convert the indigenous people to Christianity/Catholicism and make them Spanish citizens. It is now part of the National Park system and an active congregation. Of all of the missions in the area this one is the most authentic, having most of it's parts that were built in the 1700s still standing. A stop in the park office told us that we had less than an hour before the park closed and we would be asked to leave. That was okay with us. We were tired.
We were to enter the church into what was evidently the sacristy and into the chancel but not behind the Communion rail. That area was roped off and we were asked to observe the sacred space of the congregation that worships there. All of the doors except for the main door into the nave were not very high. Tom is about 5'10" and he had to duck his head. The main door was massive, about 8'-9' tall. All around the art work is being restored. The rooms where the side altars were were small and you could see the artwork being penciled on the wall in preparation for painting. There was a very large stone basin in one of the walls and we wondered if this was a baptistry although there seemed to be a baptismal font in the chancel area. The pews were rough hewn boards but they shined as though there was a finish on them. I think there was. Something I thought was funny was that I'll swear you could see the outline of someone's posterior part on some of these wooden slabs made into the pews. We took lots of pictures. It was a very interesting place.
We took the bus back to the RV Park and made dinner. Tom then went for gas as I tried to set up the trailer for sleeping and clean up from eating. We spent some time outside as the temp had dropped and the breeze was still strong enough to blow the newspaper around so that Tom had a hard time reading it. Soon we came inside for Tom to do the book work and head off to bed. I'm still pulling together the pieces of the day.
The bookwork showed this little tidbit of news: Officially we have traveled 1999.3 miles since we left home for this trip. geesh!
Tomorrow we have a much longer ride to Fort Stocton, TX. There is a beautiful National Park there, Big Bend I think, but it is a long trip to get to it and that isn't in our plans. We are headed for New Mexico for the weekend.
EDIT by Tom: Just one small correction here; it was late when bk wrote this. Las Cruces, NM, will just be a waypoint tomorrow (Thurs.) on our way to Tucson, AZ for the weekend.
Monday, May 16, 2011
It's LATE!!
For us it is late. Tom is in bed and I should be there too. We are mostly packed which means that most of our things are either in the trailer or van and may or may not be put in their correct places for traveling. We have a goal to be leaving Cindy's and John's by after the morning rush hour. So we are looking to be on the road by 9:00am or 9:30am. The van's fuel tank is full and I think Tom said that we will be traveling about 325 miles.
Cindy and John had a good-bye dinner for us with as many as the family who could make it and a few friends. There were 13 of us here for dinner. As usual Cindy went all out and it was delicious.
I was just too tired to play Balderdash with them but enjoyed listening to those who did. I wanted to get some things accomplished before we set out tomorrow. There are pictures to be posted, especially of a beautiful rag doll cat named Zeus and some pictures of the family taken at the birthday party but they will have to be posted another day.
Off to bed. Next time you earn from us we will be in San Antonio. Later.
Cindy and John had a good-bye dinner for us with as many as the family who could make it and a few friends. There were 13 of us here for dinner. As usual Cindy went all out and it was delicious.
I was just too tired to play Balderdash with them but enjoyed listening to those who did. I wanted to get some things accomplished before we set out tomorrow. There are pictures to be posted, especially of a beautiful rag doll cat named Zeus and some pictures of the family taken at the birthday party but they will have to be posted another day.
Off to bed. Next time you earn from us we will be in San Antonio. Later.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Is it very late or very early???
It has been a strange, turned around day. Tom and I were awake early because that's what we do. Sometimes I wish we would change our ways. The family was supposed to leave around 9am to ride for about an hour and a half to a triple birthday party. We didn't quite make 9am but it wasn't bad. There were a few photo ops available but the camera was not. I enjoyed the design of a particular suspension bridge and the miles and miles of chemical plants some of which employed Cindy at a former time.
The party was enjoyable. There were lots of kids to watch and lots of new people to meet. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and cake were the foods of the day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous again today. Several pictures were taken today and when I'm not the only one awake I will ask if any of them are good enough to be posted.
We headed home mid afternoon and mostly crashed. Cindy made a wonderful potato soup for supper. We hurried off to church for a 7pm service only to find out, after we had arrived that on Sunday evening the service starts at 6pm! Bummer! So we had a party in the morning and "almost" church tonight instead of the other way around.
This evening we watched the movie "The King's Speech." It was 2hrs to veg on the sofa but it was a good movie. Now I'm doing the things I want to do before I go to bed.
Tomorrow's agenda includes food shopping for the next part of our journey, 4 loads of laundry, making reservations for the last part of our trip and repacking the trailer so that the adventure may continue. It is amazing how many people want to come along with us when they hear about what we are doing.
The party was enjoyable. There were lots of kids to watch and lots of new people to meet. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and cake were the foods of the day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous again today. Several pictures were taken today and when I'm not the only one awake I will ask if any of them are good enough to be posted.
We headed home mid afternoon and mostly crashed. Cindy made a wonderful potato soup for supper. We hurried off to church for a 7pm service only to find out, after we had arrived that on Sunday evening the service starts at 6pm! Bummer! So we had a party in the morning and "almost" church tonight instead of the other way around.
This evening we watched the movie "The King's Speech." It was 2hrs to veg on the sofa but it was a good movie. Now I'm doing the things I want to do before I go to bed.
Tomorrow's agenda includes food shopping for the next part of our journey, 4 loads of laundry, making reservations for the last part of our trip and repacking the trailer so that the adventure may continue. It is amazing how many people want to come along with us when they hear about what we are doing.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
"Oh, What a Beautiful Morning...." - Saturday, May 14
We awakened to a beautiful day in the Clear Lake area of Houston, TX. My guess is that the temperatures were in the low 60s and there was a nice breeze blowing. Tom and I took our chairs into the back yard and enjoyed just being in TX. I continued the work on Cindy's and John's wedding afghan (it's only almost 2 1/2 years late) and Tom read his Azimov's science fiction magazine which he had saved to bring along. We actually got a little cool out there and came in when Cindy came home from her class. We were told that both the low temperature and the breeze are not common for this area at this time of the year.
When everyone was ready the four of us took off for a lunch of "real" Mexican food and some wonderful chocolate. These were in the town of LaPorte where Cindy used to live. So we got a tour of LaPorte before we had lunch.
Then we headed out to see the monument to the Battle of San Jacinto where the Texans (before they were called "Texans") defeated Santa Ana in the battle for their independence. We saw a film explaining the whys and wherefores of this and the previous battles and the reasons for all of the bloodshed. So much history that I never knew!
Added by Tom: We didn't have our camera with us, and did not get decent pix with our cell phone. We'll learn! One thing that came to mind as I watched the film: When Texas (TAY-hass) was part of Mexico, the Mexican government became concerned about the number of immigrants coming to Texas from the U.S., and passed a law to prohibit any more such immigration. Thus the "Nord Americanos" were illegal immigrants!
Back to BK:
Nearby was the Battleship Texas. I think it was a battleship. I will be corrected tomorrow if I am wrong. Everyone has gone to bed now so I have no one to ask. We did not get to go into the vessel because it was after visiting hours. Maybe another time.
Then off to a thrift shop and eventually home for dinner and catch-up time. Now it is bedtime. More at another time.
When everyone was ready the four of us took off for a lunch of "real" Mexican food and some wonderful chocolate. These were in the town of LaPorte where Cindy used to live. So we got a tour of LaPorte before we had lunch.
Then we headed out to see the monument to the Battle of San Jacinto where the Texans (before they were called "Texans") defeated Santa Ana in the battle for their independence. We saw a film explaining the whys and wherefores of this and the previous battles and the reasons for all of the bloodshed. So much history that I never knew!
Added by Tom: We didn't have our camera with us, and did not get decent pix with our cell phone. We'll learn! One thing that came to mind as I watched the film: When Texas (TAY-hass) was part of Mexico, the Mexican government became concerned about the number of immigrants coming to Texas from the U.S., and passed a law to prohibit any more such immigration. Thus the "Nord Americanos" were illegal immigrants!
Back to BK:
Nearby was the Battleship Texas. I think it was a battleship. I will be corrected tomorrow if I am wrong. Everyone has gone to bed now so I have no one to ask. We did not get to go into the vessel because it was after visiting hours. Maybe another time.
Then off to a thrift shop and eventually home for dinner and catch-up time. Now it is bedtime. More at another time.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Catching Up (sort of)
Keeping up with the blog has been harder than we expected. Most of the time we're either too busy or too tired. Here are some updates on the previous days:
On Tuesday, May 10, in Southern Virginia we passed an area where there had obviously been a tornado. We had never seen anything quite this bad. Trees and buildings were broken like toys that an angry child had stomped on.
At Gadsden, AL, we visited Noccalula Falls:
On Tuesday, May 10, in Southern Virginia we passed an area where there had obviously been a tornado. We had never seen anything quite this bad. Trees and buildings were broken like toys that an angry child had stomped on.
At Gadsden, AL, we visited Noccalula Falls:
The story is that Noccalula was the beautiful daughter of the chief of a Cherokee tribe. Her father wanted to marry her to a brave from another tribe with which there had been frequent battles. This was to promote peace between them. Noccalula was devastated because she was deeply in love with a brave in her own tribe. So she jumped to her death at this falls.
On Wednesday we crossed the mighty Mississippi without incident. Sheesh! You'd think we were headed West in a covered wagon! (Please NOTE: That last statement is not meant as a criticism of anyone. It is an attempt to make fun of the preceeding sentence.)
It is now Friday evening, and we are at Houston with John and Cindy. We expect to stay until Tuesday, when we will head for San Antonio.
We are doing well and having a good time. May all our family and friends have a happy and safe summer!
-bk and tom
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
We survived the first 2 days!
Hi all. We've had 2 long travel days with little energy leftover for doing anything else. Monday brought us to Claytor Lake State Park in VA. On the way we took time to find a Geocache at the WVa welcome center. We enjoyed the mountains on either side as we passed through the Shenandoah Valley. Unfortunately the camera was under the shotgun seat, where BK couldn't reach it.
Today we came to Noccalula Falls Park in AL. The falls are (is? There is only one!) worth seeing. We'll include a picture when we have more energy.
Tomorrow will be another long travel day. We expect to cross the Mighty Mississippi ahead of its crest at Vicksburg, MS.
Most of our travel days west of the Mississippi will be shorter.
The main thing is that we are letting everyone know that we are alive and well, and enjoying our "adventure."
-bk and tom
Today we came to Noccalula Falls Park in AL. The falls are (is? There is only one!) worth seeing. We'll include a picture when we have more energy.
Tomorrow will be another long travel day. We expect to cross the Mighty Mississippi ahead of its crest at Vicksburg, MS.
Most of our travel days west of the Mississippi will be shorter.
The main thing is that we are letting everyone know that we are alive and well, and enjoying our "adventure."
-bk and tom
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Ready to roll (almost)
Hi, all. Sunday afternoon, May 8. We're running around like chickens with their heads cut off. What's left is food and odds and ends. We hope to leave by 8:30 tomorrow morning.
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