T-minus.....Sue

The day began as a parting of ways and ends with a changing of the guard.  Sue taking her bags and packing to leave for home, but surprisingly, the car had no more room.  The new passenger, though spartanly packed, had to find room for dozens of bottles of highly recommended but discounted bottles of wine replacing all of the space vacated in the car.  We quickly discovered that the seemingly harmonious relationship that had existed in the car up to now was gone.  Different packing styles, different ideas on where to go and how to get there, dualling smart phones(does anyone else hear banjo music).  But we quickly found a groove once we were rocketing down the highway.  The desert sun shone brightly on missile site 571-7 south of Tucson Arizona as the Bunnell boys rolled in.  Had the staff know that 'Mr Fidget' and son were in the facility, they might have tried harder to keep us away from all of the sensitive controls in an effort to avoid an international incident.  We thought it best after that to head underground, just in case, and saw the lovely Kartchner Caverns.  Then we rode into the sunset, yours truly taking his first shift of driving and now the first posting.  I hope to keep you all entertained in the manner to which you've become accustomed.  

We're Not Done Yet!

Today I fly home. Indian Summer has left, and the temperatures are back to cool nearing chilly in Ocean City. Oh. Boy.

Fred and I did have the most wonderful time. Idyllic, really. But the grindstone calls, Fred's here in Phoenix, and Fred's faithful sidekick, Brian will be taking my place in the Mazda, and also on this blog. Hence the slight title twist.

Check in here for more escapades as the fearless duo explore caverns, boneyards, jackalope sightings and other spine tingling phenomena. It should make for great blogging!

I have been assured that Brian will be faithful in keeping the blog, and Fred will make sure some great photos get uploaded.

Now I get to be on the receiving side, just like all our other followers, and I look forward to seeing where these two go, and how much trouble they can get in to!

Next stop.....I don't know!!!

This Is It.

This is it. The end. The last day before I sadly fly home. Fred and Brian start their trek eastward tomorrow.

I suspect that this blog will end at this post. Fred, who doesn't care to even write a quick email, most likely will not care to regale the reader with further exploits next week.

Here's some statistics:

We drove 3,305 miles.
We stopped 11 times for gas
We had to jump start the car twice
We consumed 4 tanks of propane for the Coleman Stove
We had to tie up the tent once
It rained 8 days
It hailed 1 day
We packed 5 books. We read zero.
I did 1 NY Times Sunday crossword. Complete, only peeked once for a clue.
Fred got only 1 speeding ticket - Page, AZ - 62 in a 45. Pay online.
We saw untold number of beautiful sights.
We met many wonderful, friendly and pleasant travelers.

There have been so many things that happened that didn't make it to this little journal. There are many things that I've learned, and the lessons will stay with me for a long time. I didn't relate the story of Fred's monetary contribution to the fair people of Page, AZ. Then there were all the nice people we met in each park, I felt as though I was a member of some arcane National Park Groupie association.
I've learned that you shouldn't leave computers turned on and plugged into the car overnight because you'll have to find a jump when you want to drive somewhere. I also now know it takes at least two times for this to happen to get it right. When you pack for an extended trip, I also realized you should take only the absolutely necessary articles for survival. This keeps the car neater and it's easier to find things. Also, you don't need to pack as much food as an army would eat. Food is easily accessible on the road.

The most important thing to do, is take a trip with someone you enjoy being with, have fun and laugh at the misfortunes and mishaps that might come your way. Those are the things you'll remember long after the sun sets for the final time.

Happy Trails To You.....

Up, Up and Away

Fred reminded me of a song this morning. Up, Up and Away by the 5th Dimension.

Dave took us for a ride on the Apache Trail, a two lane mountain road very twisty and narrow with steep drop offs instead of guard rails. A road I'm certain Fred would have enjoyed driving himself. We followed the road for a few miles after the pavement ended but before it turned into a one lane road.

From there we stopped at famous Tortilla Flats just long enough to get a couple of funny pictures in the lady's room and for Fred to autograph a one dollar bill. Almost the entire interior walls of the tavern and restaurant are completely covered with these reverse souvenirs. We'll have to go back one of these days to find his investment.

The second highlight of the day was the hot air balloon ride.The chase van met us at Deer Valley Airport, taking eight of us to the launch site where we got to see the balloons inflated then hop into the gondola for a six mile float across the Arizona desert. The only surprising thing about the balloon ride was how HOT those propane flames are that heat the air inside the balloon when you're standing next to them!

We saw a group of wild burros, heard a coyote, gazed at a hot pink sunset, nibbled on gourmet treats and sipped champagne. Our pilot was very experienced - over 30 years flying - and knew enough not to land us on the high tension wires the state of Arizon just put in a month ago. We were all happy about that. The only issue any of us had was that the trip wasn't long enough.

Dinner at a fantastic New Mexico cuisine restaurant, the Blue Adobe, and home for some of Ann's great homemade cookies. This is why camping is so much fun. Oh, that's right, we stopped camping a couple of days ago. This is what's called the Good Life!

All That Jazz

Mesa, AZ. Today's forecast is sunny and warm. Just like yesterday. Just like what we were innocently expecting during the previous two weeks. We're slowly regaining our civilized habits - shower every day, dining with napkins, silverware and plates. Fred is now shaving every day and no longer has that Grizzly Adams look. Anne and Dave are the consumate hosts, making sure we enjoy all the comforts of home.

The main event yesterday was a free lunchtime concert in downtown Mesa. The Mesa Arts Center is a great contemporary center with interesting horizontal fountains, great architecture and a great venue for intimate concerts such as yesterday's. The performance was a jazz fusion with latin influence by two guys called Soluz Duo with an acoustic guitar and keyboard. Fred bought the cd.

Mesa, AZ. Almost as many wrinkles per capita as Florida. Understandably why. Cost of living is low. Weather is great. People are friendly and the scenery of the distant Arizona mountains is beautiful. All in all, a great package.

Fred has something special planned for this afternoon. We're also headed to Tortilla Flats and Canyon Lake for lunch. This was a portion of what we were going to do yesterday, but we all decided to make a lazy day of it instead.

Can't wait to see some more scenery. Maybe I'll run into a cactus or two!

Did Anyone See That Meteor?

What a difference sleeping in a bed! Warm, cozy, quiet, no rain, no wind. Just how I usually like to sleep!

We had a liesurely morning in Flagstaff, packed up and headed for Meteor Crater, exit 233 on I-40. It is one of the best known and best preserved craters in the world and was the first one to be confirmed as being created by meteor impact, not something else. After a short video and a tour through the museum, we joined a small group for a guided tour around a portion of the rim.

This hole in the ground is huge. I tried to take pictures, but none did the hole justice. We agreed that the whole thing was a bit hokey, but still interesting. Our guide, Eduardo, was an interesting fellow and made the 1 mile round trip tour  entertaining.

After a quick lunch at the Subway in the museum, we head towards Mesa to visit with Anne and Dave.

There are still a few good things to happen in the next few days, even though we're finished with our camping expedition, although time is quickly passing.

Tomorrow we'll tour towards Tortilla Flat etc. We have a personal guide, and so we're guaranteed no to get lost. Tortillas are always flat, aren't they?

How Cold Can It Get?

It can get SO cold that you wake up shivering at 2:30am and decide to quit this tenting business and end up in the car with sleeping bags and pillows looking for warmth. Wimp!

The car goes on, the heater gets jacked up to 92 degrees until you thaw out, then the car goes off, you slumber like a wee little one until the chill creeps back into your bones. Repeat said cycle until you're tired of it, or dawn arrives. Whichever comes first.

Welcome to Monument Valley, late October. What were we thinking! Fred added this to the trip because he wanted to see some of the large buttes that are in the great John Ford westerns of his time. They even have a John Ford "alley" if you want to check it out.

Dawn was beautiful - cold and clear. We packed up the forlorn looking tent, hopped in the car. "How about that 3.2 mile hike around West Mitten?" say I.
"We're going to skip it," says Fred.
"Why?"
"We're going to take the loop road around the valley to see more, that's why."
".... um, don't you need a 4 wheel drive, high clearance vehicle to do that?"
"So? Let's see how far we can get!"

Hold on to your hat, the car seat and your loose change, because it was a bumpy ride. Nice, but a few close calls. I just hope that the computer in Fred's little Mazda, clearance of maybe 6-7 inches, didn't log the rough treatment. There are now a couple of road rocks on the 17 mile Loop Road that bear a bit of the Mazda black underbody paint.

I must admit, we did get a few great pictures, and the car drove fine all the way to the Grand Canyon. We arrived to see some major renovations going on. It appears that they will be converting to a shuttle system to get around the park, much like Zion has. With all that traffic through there, it seems a good idea.

Mather Point, where Fred wanted to set up for some sunset shots, was closed due to construction. We had to find another suitable vantage point. The most difficult part was figuring out what time sunset was, and then what was the local time. Goofy. Must be the altitude again. But we stayed until sunset, neither of these to addleminded travelers thinking to put on a winter coat to await a cold and windy sunset. I guess we didn't learn from last night in Monument Valley.

After sunset, it was off to Flagstaff, with the heat on HIGH. Fred, that nice guy, not the curmudgeon this trip at all, said he was going to treat me to a night of comfort. So we're here in Flagstaff at the Motel 6, all clean, shaven and tidy with a load of wash in the laundry room across the way. I could enjoy this!

Tomorrow we're off to Winslow, AZ to see the large Meteor Crater. Afterwards, we'll be the heat-seeking Mazda Speed3 hurtling south to Phoenix to the comfort and warmth of Anne & Dave's winter retreat.

Over dinner we talked about all we've done so far. There's more adventure afoot, of course. But NEXT time, we agreed to set the timing a bit better. But without all the rain, hail, cold and wind, what type of a camping trip would it have been!?!

If It's Monday It's...

... Now THAT's a darn good question. My apologies to anyone following our adventure. I'm certain I've got some of the days and sequence of events jumbled. Must be the fresh mountain air.

Monday dawned, I assume. The driving rain kept the sun far, far away and made for a very soggy packing. Tent was wet. Air mattress was wet. Fred and I and much other stuff were wet. Thankfully the car started and we bid adieu to Zion, pointing southest headed for Page, Ut.

Our stop at Antelope Valley was very much worth it. The slot canyon tour was Navajo guided by the lovely Jamie. She was extremely knowledgable about everyone's cameras, and made sure we had the best photo opportunities. The canyon was so narrow in some spots, only one person in each direction could pass. Fortunately, this tour was flat on the ground with the canyon rising around us. Quite beautiful.

The drive further east took us through the wide open skies of southern Utah/northern Arizona on our way to Monument Valley, where we have finally successfully pitched our tent.

One might ask, what's the big deal about pitching a teeny-weeny widdle tent? You've certainly done it before! Well, that's true. We have now pitched the tent in good weather and in bad, in light and in darkness. But Monument Valley is where we pitched the tent in 25-30MPH winds. Yes, WIND, not a gentle breeze. Looking back on our monumentous effort (pun intended), I don't know what was more difficult: finding soft enough ground for the stakes, or tying the tent to the car to keep it from blowing away!

Right now as I blog, we're comfy-cozy in the car, waiting for the air mattress pump to charge. Currently, before wind chill it's a dry 52 degrees. Not a cloud in the sky, thankfully! The overlook on which the tent and the car are perched has a nice easly slope of about 25 feet, just in case we get blown over tonight. Ah, that's why we tied the tent to the car. I forgot.

Tomorrow we're in for a short 3.2 mile hike around the Mitten, and then it's on to a quick stop at the Grand Canyon. Who could pass THAT up!

Where Are All the Angels?

Sunday, October 24

We're still in Zion, deciding on which trail to take today. The weather was rainy yesterday and photo opportunities were slim. Today seems better, and we're ready to hit the trails. As Fred has 2/3 of the votes, we're headed up, Up, UP to Angel's Landing, about a 2.5 mile hike round trip with an increase of 2148 ft in elevation. Huff-puff, huff-puff.

There is a portion of the Angel's Landing trail called Walter's Wiggles. Aptly named as they are a series of very short, steep switch backs that get you to Scouts Point, just below the last push up to Angel's Landing itself. I should point out the spot is aptly named as it is the tippy top of the mountain.

The 2 photos I chose for our banner and sideline will show you why neither of us went the last 500 ft up to the top. Fred wasn't in tip-top shape (pardon the pun) and no way was I going someplace where chains were the only safety you had.

The weather held, as did legs, knees and lungs and we happily tromped back to the shuttle stop afer the hike. Dinner was a couple of hot dogs. We tried some Jiffy Pop over our campfire, but Jiffy didn't pop, just made a foul smell when we opened the bag. Guess the flame was too high.

This is our last night in Zion. Sigh. I really wish the weather had been better so we could really appreciate the tops of the mountains - they were usually veiled in cloud. But Monday it's onward to Monument Valley via Page, UT and Antelope Valley to visit a Slot Canyon.

The Weather's Got To Be Better in Zion, Right?

Wednesday evening the weather turned cold and wet, equally so. We toasted hot dogs while dodging rain drops. As the evening progressed, our dinner was interrupted by a hail storm. This did not bode well. We hurried for cover under the restroom eaves and waited out the worst of the storm. Good news is that the tent withstood the storm and it was dry in there! A quick trip into town to replace the our stove lighter and find some foot warmers for yours truly was the high point of the evening. The low was looking at the next day's forecast for rain and snow. ugh.

Thursday October 21 was to have been our last day of hiking in Bryce. We wanted to do the Navajo Loop Trail, a steep trail ending at what's called Wall Street, a narrow canyon where we would have found two 500 year old Douglas firs happily growing. That will have to wait for our next trip. The rain held off long enough for us to have a quick breakfast and pack up.

Westward ho! Onward to warmer weather! Zion here we come!

We were extremely glad to be leaving the cold at the higher altitude.

Entering Zion from the east was beautiful. The sliprock sandstone formations, the hairpin turns on the road and the 1.1 mile tunnel offered what will be some fond memories. Luckily, there were ample spots in the South Campground, and we selected a prime spot close to everything including the shuttle system that you use to get around.

The rain stayed with us all day and night. Again, the fates smiled on us and turned off the spigot until the tent was up. Once we were all set, the spigot opened full force! We trekked into Springdale, the symbiotic town adjacent to Zion (much nicer than Moab), and found some supplies. The only available shower was also located down the road. $5 will get you smelling less like the cattle we see in the distance. Cooking dinner in a downpour can be challenging, but I persevered and served Fred some perfectly cooked pork loin. Still don't know how I managed that one!

Today, Saturday, was rainy in the morning, and cloudy for the rest of the day. We took the shuttle up canyon, and walked the riverwalk to the Narrows. We were contemplating the Narrows hike, an unmarked trail that requires special wet gear you can rent, but due to the inclement weather and large amount of rain, the trail is closed. Darn those flash floods!

We hiked all three of the Emerald Pools. It was a great hike that tuckered us both out. We passed numerous waterfalls that feed the pools, and the lowest one we were able to walk behind. Much red mud on the hiking boots. Poor Fred's car is more red than black these days!

Tomorrow is a challenging hike to Angel's Landing. I won't go all the way up because of some very sheer drop offs, and very little safety things to cling to. I will try to go up to the first place where the chains start. I have learned some interesting things about exploring these parks. If there are chains involved on a hike, it's one that I'll chicken out of. Not so my trustworthy and agile partner.

Thankfully the rain has stopped. We're hoping it will not rain tonight, so the tent might have a chance to dry out. It was pretty wet this morning when we awoke.

Partly sunny is the forecast for Sunday. Angel's Landing and other adventures await!

Bryce is so different than Arches. We see snow on the peaks around us, and we're still in the treeline at the highest spot, Rainbow Point, elev 9115 ft. Distant views can be up to 200 miles on a very clear day. It's been cloudy, but still impressive nevertheless.

 The cloud cover hid the sun and the brilliant colors, but it was still a beautiful sight. It rained overnight, woke us both up. We held our breath then relaxed when we knew the tent didn't leak and it wasn't floating away. The day started damp and chilly, 34 degrees until the wind picked up and although it was now in the low 40's it felt even colder. brrrr! We actually set the alarm clock this morning for 6:00am. Sunrise over Bryce Canyon is spectacular and we wanted to catch it.

Fred treated me to a day off in the kitchen and we had breakfast at the Lodge. A nice, warm place to sit and have somebody wait on you. Who am I to refuse that. He spoils me, that man!

This afternoon we explored the bottom of Bryce Canyon on horseback. Yes, I now know which side of a horse or mule to get on. Fred sat Rachel and I was on Dixie. Since I was the weenie of our small group, I got to ride behind our guide and Fred was after me. It's late in the season and there were only seven in our group. When I remarked that Dixie liked to hug the edge of the trail closest the drop off, our guide reminded everyone that the animals were not suicidal and just preferred being out there. Mules in the Grand Canyon were the same.

Halfway through the tour, we stopped to stretch our legs. Hmmm, not too bad, guess I'll be okay in the a.m. I didn't think about the return trip, and now I know I'll be walking funny tomorrow. Fred seems impervious to such discomfort. Iron Man. I did get a little nervous when his saddle started to slip, but he managed to straighten things out on the move and our guide didn't even have to stop.

We're looking forward to returning to our little camp, build a nice fire and have a quiet evening. Before that, it's off to the General Store in search of footwarmers and relish. No relation to eachother, thankfully.

Tomorrow is our last day at Bryce, and we're planning some hiking and exploring. Then later in the day we're off to Zion for some more fresh air and exercise. Can't wait. Some say we're leaving the best of the National Parks for last, but we'll see.

I'm Glad We're Here

When it's two hours past sunrise, and it's still only 34 degrees, you know you should have packed warmer clothes.

The weather is sunny and cool even now at noon local time. We explored just a wee bit, there's plenty more to go.

The campsite is ours for 3 nights. I was thinking of our idyllic stay in Moab, but as you know my dreams were shattered along with the frost and ice on our tent this morning.

On the bright side, there is truly a shower today. They have them at the General Store in the park, and after this blog you can guess where I'm heading. I thought Fred was joking last Thursday night as we packed saying he would buy me a shower for my birthday! Well, he must have planned this all along. Right now, I can't think of a more romantic man.

I haven't even opened the camera, so the rest of the day will be devoted to that and finding some wood for the fire.

We're camped at the North Campsite, and the main road through Bryce runs North to South. Before we lost the afternoon sun, we took a drive south, checking out the vantage points. What a beautiful country this is!

Fred wants to take a horsie ride down to the bottom of the canyon, and we're scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, 10/21. The quiet and serenity, fresh air and altitude are doing their work on both of us. It appears we're getting lazier as the week progresses.

Bryce Canyon on horseback.... remind me, what does a horse look like?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Our last day in Arches. The final arch was Delicate Arch, a 3 mile hike with about a 500 ft climb in elevation. Truly wonderful. And I survived the hike. I didn't know it was possible to go uphill in both directions, but it seemed so on this hike.

The arch is best viewed in the afternoon, but we didn't have that luxury as we wanted to move on to our next destination, Bryce Canyon, about a 4 hour drive southwest. There was no rain, we both felt great, and I managed my mild acrophobia as the rock ledge we climbed on was quite wide, about 5 feet, and the summit where Delicate Arch can be found had a lot of rock around so it didn't feel as though you were stting on the edge of a very, very tall seat. The most recent photo on our blog is Fred underneath Delicate Arch.

In the morning, we packed up our expanded 10 lbs, and miraculously put it back in the car before we headed to the Delicate Arch hike.

On the road again, with huge Utah vistas all around. Mountains, higher mountains and ones higher than those. Although we're headed south, the weather isn't getting warmer - it's getting cooler as we climb.

We arrived at Bryce Canyon National Park just before sundown. We found a campsite, happily within the park. That tent went up in record time! Air mattress was inflated, sleeping bags installed. Oops. Restrooms that are close by are closed. So is the Port-a-Potty. Let's leave the tent and see if we can find another spot. If not, we can walk to the toilet - I'm thinking, "how far and how many bears?"

Luck was on our side as we found another campsite down the way just a bit. Great! Restrooms available! Even better, flush toilets! Running water! We're in the groove!

Bedtime arrived early after a quick supper in town. As we're preparing for the night, Fred casually remarks, "You know, the average low this time of year is 29 (degrees, not my age)." He can be a cup half-empty kind of guys sometimes. But he's usually right, and he was on this tiny fact.

I don't think I have ever been as cold as I was at 3 o'clock early Wednesday morning. No bears in site. They're smart and found someplace warm to bed down. The air mattress de-inflated at the most inopportune time, and the pump is charging in the car. The ground was really cold. But I'll not dwell on the negative!

If it's 29 at night, what will tomorrow bring???

You Want Me to Go WHERE???

Monday Afternoon, October 18, 2010

As of this morning, we had seen just about all the easily accessible arches. The elusive "Double O" was still to be found. We checked the map, located the trail head, packed a sensible lunch and plenty of water and off we went.

The Double O could be found at the end of a difficult 2 mile hike - steep terrain, scrambling and climbing over rocks, traversing a short span of trail with steep vertical drops on either side with no visible means of support...just up my alley!

There were a couple of other easily reached arches, Pine Tree, Tunnel and Landscape before Double O. On our way to Lanscape Arch, it started to sprinkle. We looked for someplace to get out of the rain and have that gourmet lunch, but none could be seen, so we skipped the lunch and went off to Landscape. Very huge, very awe inspiring, and you really do feel like an ant when you see it. No place good to have lunch in the drizzle, so it was on the the Double O.

As soon as we got to the first serious rock climb, I dug in my heels, and with the rock getting slick from the rain, said to my favorite Mountain Goat (a.k.a Mr. Fidget), go on ahead, I'll wait for you here. And on he went.

Whilst awaiting his return, it REALLY poured. Gee. Too bad I didn't take my raincoat with me. It's in the car about a mile back. Oops, Fred's got the car key. Guess I'll stand out the rain under that nice looking pine tree on the trail. Gee. Pine trees don't make very good umbrellas. Next time I check out my future in the crystal ball I'll make sure it's polished  - the shower I foresaw on Sunday night was indeed in my future. But I was outside, fully clothed and without a bar of soap.

After an hour of waiting out the rain, and the rain winning, I began to ponder other warnings I saw at the trail head. The one going through my head was the wildcat warning. There I was, alone on the trail with a couple of nice ham, turkey and cheese sandwiches in the backpack which I'm certain you could smell for miles. What do wildcats eat? I know the warning said to pick up small children if you see a cat. Guess they eat them. They also siad if you encounter a cat, do not run - I know this from watching a housecat chase a mouse. Stand tall. I could to that. If you're attacked, fight back. Okay, but with what? A bottle of water? The flash from my camera? Seems that I nothing that would be a viable weapon.

Luckily, I suppose cats don't get out in the rain, because I didn't see a one, but I did see some interesting tracks off the trail that weren't human. Once the rain stopped, I decided to get back to the trail head, and continued to wait for Fred. Worrywort that I can be at times, I was thinking of what I should do if he didn't show up. It was a VERY long walk (18 miles) back to civilization and help.

But my story ends happily with Fred returning just before sundown. He had the good sense not to see what was over the next ridge, and came back instead. Double O was great, he said. He was dry as a bone. Seems that there was an overhang that he waited out the rain.

Cool as a cucumber and dry as the desert, that's Fred!

The Events of Monday, October 18, 2010

I happily survived my first night of primitive camping. In case any one asks what you do when the sun goes down, you light a fire and hang out until it's a suitable time to go to sleep. We didn't have any wood for a fire, so we went to our sleeping bags early, trying to get over the marathon drive and hiking. It was cozy in the tent. The site is right across from the Colorado River, so I went to sleep listening to the frogs croaking.

Morning came early and if there were chickens around I think I would have beaten them to the cue. After a wonderful breakfast that I cooked on our trusty camping stove, we went back to the park for some easy hiking and wonderful sights.

I'm finally getting over the altitude - from Ocean City at 0 ft elevation to over 5000 in the park, the air is certainly clear and there's not as much of it. All I can say is I'm happy I started to get all that biking and walking in before we left. By the time we're home I'll be in even better shape. Must be all that fresh air.

Many of the sites in Arches can be driven to, but some are seen only by hiking/walking. So we took it easy and did a combination of both.

As the afternoon shadows lenghtened, we decided to get an easy dinner, and went into the town of Moab. Moab looks like a cross between a wild west town and a village of micro Wal-Marts. Huge signs everywhere, hotels/motels/restaurants etc.etc.etc. After a day of not seeing another soul for literally miles and miles, it was quite a shock to the system. As was the Pizza Hut pizza we had for dinner. My advice, if you're ever in Moab, skip it.

Wood for fire tonight! Now the party's really going to start!

A Beautiful Day At The Park

After my last post, we had a quick breakfast at Denny's where we just missed the late night bar crowd, napped in the car for about an 1-1/2 hour, and then the day started. We were up for sunrise in Arches National Park.

Sunrise was great, but our pictures were limited, most likely directly attributed to our feeble mental state. We woke up as the sun rose and the day continued, taking in a few short hikes that promised spectacular views. The only glitch in the day was that there were no campsites available in the park. Stricly by reservation, and we didn't have one. Oh well, on to plan two, which you see implemented in the side bar. This is called a "Primitive Campsite" because there is no running water, but happily, there is a toilet. Gee, the things I'm learning. I should have had a crystal ball when I said that I saw a shower in my future.... It hasn't happened yet.

Not to dwell on unsavory issues, I did forage for food at the local grocery store, and we had a wonderful dinner of cold sandwiches and water. Neither of us is up for much of anything except catching up on sleep. We did verify that the tent will accommodate two people on a queen size air mattress because Fred set that up. The down side is that we don't know if it will hold air through the night. Again, primitive is a word I'm becoming all to familiar with!

Tomorrow is the upper half of Arches with some better photos hopefully,as we should be getting a wonderful, cozy night's sleep!

What DO you do at the camp when the sun goes down????

We Made it to Moab, UT

Fred pulled an all nighter, and now we're here, arriving at 3:53am local time (Mountain Time).

We drove 2,142 miles. Stopped 7 times for gas and comfort breaks and one dinner. It took us 34 hours to get here. Hopefully the forced march has ended and after some much needed rest we can start to explore.

Cell phone coverage is spotty, so hopefully we'll get to post some pictures and update our travels while we're here.

During the trip, Fred earned a new title: Mr. Fidget. Goes along with being an irrascable curmudgeon.

Now patiently awaiting sunrise to see where exactly we are.....

The Other Side of the World

We made great progress today. I started driving just before St. Louis, and Fred snapped that nice pic of the arch in early morning. No traffic issues on a Saturday morning, but I was a bit sursprised to drive for over an hour and I was still in the St. Louis suburban sprawl. I will always remember the city for the infinite number of concrete bridges and the expanse of malls and truck stops.

Missouri was wonderfully brief - just under 250 miles. The country was scenic in a low key kind of way - rolling hills, reddish golden fields divided by pretty trees in their fall best. Scattered amongst the pastoral scenes were signs for the usual tourist stuff - Rest Stops, Truck Stops, Local Sights and Adult Stores.

That's when it struck...

We know now, having driven almost through the entire state of Kansas why Dorothy and Toto had such a great time in Oz. There was a teaser of pretty scenery just over the Missouri border, but that soon gave way to a stunning monotony of flat, flatter and flattest land I've seen in a while. We were both startled to see the great number of windmills in the middle of nowhere. They were about the only interesting thing west of Topeka on I-70. The snapshot on our sidebar truly does not do them justice.

Currently, we're 50 miles from the Colorado border, about 250 miles from Denver and about a gazillion miles from Moab, UT. Our plan is to continue our adventure, sliding into Moab at a convenient hour to enter the Arches National Park early, set up camp.

I see a shower in my future....

Once Again, How Far Is Moab, UT?

It's Saturday, 8:05am EST, or 7:05am local time as we're in Illinois. Fred is still driving, and except for two gas and comfort breaks, we've driven straight through. We've managed to stay on I-70 except for a brief 10 mile detour, and it appears that so far, a GPS is not required for this part of the trip.

West Virginia and Ohio were just a blur. It was dark and I was asleep. I woke up when we were in Indiana, and we stopped for gas and a gourmet breakfast at the T/A truck stop outside of Indianapolis. For those adventuresome folks following our trek, I highly suggest sticking to the salty, tasty treats in the car and skip the food at the Truck Stop.  Fred wanted to turn the interior light on for me so I wouldn't have to eat in the dark. A big mistake. What was that rubbery piece of protein (at least I like to think it was) in my breakfast sandwich? When I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Dawn brought a beautiful clear sky. It's rather pretty with the fog over the farms fields, trees bright with fall colors, and no radar traps on the road. We're about an hour from St. Louis, and I'm excited about crossing the Mississippi (did I spell that right?) in a car, as I haven't done so in many years.

And to quote Fred, "And Moab is how far from Ocean City???"

I reply, "2180 miles."

We've travelled 850 miles so far...

Happy Trails To You

Friday dawned sunny and windy in beautiful Ocean City, elevation 0. It was 7am on the boardwalk when I thought it best to take a photo of home to remember what it's like on low, flat land.

As of this afternoon, Fred efficiently packed the car. Even sardines wouldn't fit in the back. But for safety's sake, there is plenty of visibility through the rear window. I guess if we need to, we can always open the sleeping bags and stretch out over the rest of the stuff.

We departed Ocean City about 7pm with yours truly driving the first leg. We made it all the way to 9th & West before our first controversy. Fred wanted me to zip through the left turn - I had a green arrow, but there was a bike in the way. We managed to weather his backseat driving and made it to the Garden State Parkway without any more glitches.

The Schuykill and beyond was what you would expect, but we made it to the PA Turnpike, and sailed on through. Fred was busy checking out our destination on the web, and now feels better about knowing where we're going. He did a great job making sure we can stay online through the trip, as long as we have cell phone coverage.

Our waistlines will not be suffering for the duration. By 9pm we were foraging for those salty, tasty treats to fuel the driving. Pretzels, beef jerky and trail mix - yum!

There are just a couple of disadvantages to our drive, right now the most pressing is that the seats can't recline, so I guess we sleep sitting up. Anyone care to recommend a good chiropractor?

Next stop, Wheeling, WV then on to Columbus, OH (a.k.a purgatory).

10 Pounds in a 5 Pound Car

We're making progess packing, but Fred's a bit concerned we're running out of room in the car. Let's see, we've got the virtual computer room, kitchen gear, tent, sleeping bags, stove, cooler, snacks and goodies already in the car. I'm afraid to look. Pillows, only one each - this is the ultimate in roughing it for someone used to much cushier surroundings. Raincoats - thanks to Herb & Lori, along with heavier jackets, and 2 suitcases are still to find a home in the buggy.

We've had some controversy about clothing. I'm assuming I'll be grubby for a week, Fred's thinking we'll want to go someplace nice for dinner and should pack accordingly. Hmmm.... I fully expect futher discussions regarding the single "toiletry tote" that we're sharing, but I'll have to wait for Fred to finish before I know if I'm territorially safe.

I love the comment Fred made about his cotton short sleeve shirts he's packed: "I'm camping and I don't have to look good doing it," a paraphrase, of course.

The computer room is actually our 2 laptops, a printer, chargers, cables and other handy odd'n'ends to make sure we're able to stay in touch. We are optimistically naive about have cell phone and therefore internet access - of course we'll want to check email etc when the sun goes down and it's pitch black outside.

Departure is T minus 22 hours and we still haven't looked at the map. There's still time tomorrow before we leave, I'm sure. Fred just asked how to find I-70, so I'm sure we'll be checking out the map soon.

We've only just begun

It's late Wednesday night, Oct 13, and I'm just starting to relax. Preparations, lists and packing are going furiously as we're trying to meet a departure time of Friday evening. Jury's still out on whether we make it.

A trip to Sam's Club netted some tasty treats for the road - all salt, sugar and CALORIES! Except, of course for the case of bottled water. Pretzels, granola bars, sugar wafer cookies and beef jerky will round out our diet for the drive out to our first stop, Moab, UT. Fred wants to drive non-stop, well, if we need to sleep, we can pull off the side of the road, lock the doors and snooze. The mind is willing, but our sadly not-so-in-shape bodies might protest a 35 hour drive.

This trip has been a couple of months in the planning and we're fully prepared with a detailed packing list, piles of related things on tables and floor - everything from a deck of cards to toilet paper (I had to convince Fred to also take along a roll of paper towels - I think I got them on the list). We finally picked out a cooler that will easily fit into Fred's wee little Mazda Speed-3. The only thing we're not sure of is exactly where we're going,when we arrive, or where we go next. No biggie, that's what the maps are for!

Tomorrow is Thursday. Less than 36 hours to take off. I can only wonder what we'll forget to pack!