April 11
Arrived in Durango last night and the campground was 10 miles out of town and ugly. It had beautiful views cause it was on a high ridge overlooking the town and the mountains beyond but the campground mostly had long term or year-round campers and a lot of junk. Kinda sad looking with lots of traffic noise but full hookups so adequate for our needs and inexpensive.
Brrr. Chilly here.
Took the Durango narrow gauge train ride. Dan and I took this trip a couple years ago and loved it. It is too early in the year to go all the way to Silverton (where the townspeople are in period dress and greet the train) but got 3/4 there.
This is a real coal-fired steam engine so if you go out to the open observation car, they recommend wearing sunglasses or other protective eyewear because of the coal cinders in the air.
The train follows the Aninmas river up through the mountains and is just an awesome trip. So awesome that we both wanted to experience it again and made a huge detour many miles out of our way. Also wanted to go to the great sand dunes but unfortunately are running short of time. There is SO much to see in the 4 Corners area. I have been a couple of times and would love to spend some more time in the future.
Loved wandering the Durango downtown. Forgot to tell you that Dan bought a cowboy hat in Santa Fe, so he fit right in wearing it in Durango.
April 12
Pursuaded Dan go through Gallup, NM on our way to Flagstaff, AZ. There is a wholesale store in that town called "An Indian Touch of Gallup" that I have been to twice before. They have a showroom, but if you hem and haw enough, they will let you in the wholesaler's room where the bargains are. They definitely have the best prices for turquoise and silver jewelry and we stopped with the excuse of purchasing some early Christmas presents. Now, whether or not the intended recipients actually receive these earrings or they never make it out of my jewelry box is another question.
April 14
Woke up here in Flagstaff, AZ (in Black Bart's RV campground, general store and restaurant) to 20 degrees and 3" of snow. Still coming down like crazy. We were supposed to get the dog groomed at 9:00 and then leave for California but I don't think we'll be going anywhere anytime soon. The TV keeps saying how beautiful the weather is and in the 70's and 80's but that's in Phoenix. We're in the high desert and apparently the altitude definitely makes a significant difference. Last time I was in Flagstaff, they had a heat wave and no one had air conditioning. Go figure.
We brought some winter clothes for Alaska and we broke them out along with a quilt I threw in at the last minute. Glad we have them. Had the fireplace going 24 hrs a day and the heat came on a lot. Covered the windows and slide-out cracks with towels and we were snug as a bug.
April 15
Digging out. Snowed all night and we woke up to the sun shining with about 7 inches on the ground. Again, we will be staying put until the roads melt a little and we can get the snow off the top of the slideouts. Poor Diesel - the snow is up to his snout. Seems to be melting fast so maybe we'll get going after lunchtime?
Dan pushed most of the snow off the one slideout and then took the hose and melted the rest. Glad we both brought our boots and grubby clothes - what a mess.
We would just stay put for another day but we are already behind in our schedule. Still have to meet up with the Caravan in Northern British Columbia by May 10.
Route 40, exit 123 in Arizona - billboard for the "Roadkill Cafe." Didn't stop.
April 16
As of yesterday, we have been on the road one month. Last nite's campground was very nice - neat, clean, friendly, lovely views of the surrounding mountains in Kingman, Arizona. It was also a "horse hotel," so we could have brought along our horses if we had them.
It has been very nice to find that a lot of the RV parks have fenced-in dog runs which makes it convenient for Diesel.
Had to go to an RV repair shop in Kingman since the pin on one of the front landing jacks wouldn't go in yesterday. We fooled and fiddled around in the snow and finally just tied it up and went on. We couldn't unhitch from the truck last night. Fortunately the repair shop took us right away. Also, since our toilet had not been holding water in the bowl, we had them look at it too. Naturally, it was not a simple fix. Either the ball mechanism or the whole toilet should be replaced, so, we went ahead and replaced the whole toilet. What the heck - it's only money. We have blown our RV repairs budget in the first month. Oh boy.
Going through the Mojave desert - harsh, alien, almost lunar landscape - so empty and arid. Saw a green valley in the middle of the desert and turns out it was along the Colorado river. Actually, the desert has its own stark beauty. I thought the desert would be flat, but it is very hilly.
Also it is 82 degrees - hmmm after 20 degrees only two nights ago.
We stopped for gas at the only station in 85 miles and naturally, they charged us $5.49/gallon. Can you say ripoff?
Some more funnies on the way:
"Fang Acupuncture Clinic" - wonder if he's from the Twilight series?
"Nail House Rock" - does Elvis do French manicures?
More later,
April 5
Celebrated Dan's birthday very quietly - a non-event today but we will celebrate in Colorado by taking the Durango-Silverton rail trip next week. Mother nature gave Dan a present with a spectacular sunset over the mountains.
April 6
Took what I thought was a short cut from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. NOT!!! The road went from paved to poorly repaired concrete to gravel to dusty washboard. Eleven miles of bad road (sounds like a country/western song) with no place to turn around our rig! Oops - have to be more careful with my navigating. Luckily Dan just kinda laughs things off. Figured anything in the camper not lashed down would be toast, but everything was ok.
Stopped in a unique little town called Madrid that Dan and I visited years ago. Now I know where all the aging hippies and bikers go. Had a picnic lunch at their rec park and chatted with some residents. The movie "Wild Hogs" was filmed here. I'll have to rent the DVD again.
Arrived in Santa Fe just in time for their First Friday Art Walk. Went downtown and instantly fell in love. Don't know how to describe Santa Fe - pretty, neat, quirky, friendly - love it!! Went to some galleries near the central plaza and was blown away by the quality of the art displayed. Top notch stuff. Got to meet some of the artists - what fun. We were really impressed with the art - it was museum quality work. Went back for more on Saturday and Sunday and found Canyon street which is about 2-3 miles long with nothing but galleries ranging from fine art to sculpture to folk art to Indian art. Wow!! Could have stayed for days.
This campground is neat - 7,100 feet above sea level and surrounded by mountains and valleys. a 1978 Clint Eastwood movie "Every Which Way But Loose" was partly filmed here. Guess I'll have to rent that one too. Stayed here four days and got caught up on e-mails, more laundry and FIXING THE SINK! After all that $$ and time spent, the stupid sink was still leaking. Naturally, Camping World never returned our calls. Arghhhh!
Dan just put plumber's putty on everything possible and it stopped leaking.
Met a couple on their way from Maine to Alaska via the southern route. They spent the winter on the Texas gulf and plan to full-time it in their camper.
Love the pueblo-style architecture. The houses just sort of nestle into the landscape and are not intrusive to the eye. I could easily live here, but Dan has been sneezing ever since we arrived so, alas, I would have to live here alone.
April 10
On our way to Durango but going a little out of our way to pass thru Taos. The scenery is lovely. I keep taking pictures, but they don't begin to capture the beauty. Headed towards some serious looking mountains with snow on top. Hope the truck is up to it.
Hee Hee - just passed a Laundromat called "Dirty Shorts."
Love the lack of humidity - I feel energetic but it is so dry my nose keeps bleeding and we're going thru chap-stick like crazy.
Had a picnic lunch along the Rio Grande Gorge. What a beautiful spot to have lunch.
Passed through a town called Aztec, New Mexico. As we entered the town a sign read "Welcome to Aztec, home to 6,800 friendly people and 6 old soreheads." That's great! Wonder if the 6 know who they are. I imagine everyone thinks it's someone else or they are driving themselves crazy trying to figure who the 6 are.
New Mexico is quirky with a great sense of humor.
More later,
Dear Readers,
I just figured out how to do this blog, so bear with me. I will be posting probably every week or so as time permits so be sure to check it out every now and then and I will try my best not to be too boring.
March 30
Still in Memphis. Forgot to say that one of the unique things about the Graceland campground was that you can call a local BBQ trestaurant that they recommend and a chauffeured pink caddy limo comes and picks you up and returns you to the campground after your dinner. So, every evening between 5:00 and 9:00 the limo is seen zipping around the campground picking up and discharging dining campers. Cool.
Hung out for 2 days with a real nice couple from Colorado. They're on their way back home after picking up their brand new Montana 5th wheel from the factory in Michigan. Hope to keep in touch. Maybe we'll run into them again on the road.
It sure is an interesting experience getting used to all the things that have to be remembered as one prepares to head out each day. For instance, when we got to Falls Lake from Emerald Isle, there was a surprise waiting for us on the floor of the camper - a package of defrosted Spanish mackeral. We had stuffed the freezer (which is on the small side) and THOUGHT it was closed. Well, it was closed, but apparently not locked. Lucky only one package fell out. So now we listen for that little "click" that tells us that the lock is engaged.
We've discovered a lead under the sink. Our son-in-law said the sink is not properly attached to the countertop. No big deal, but limits what I can store under the sink. When we settle somewhere for a couple days, we'll have it looked at by Camping World.
Later in the week - so far, Arkansas is flat, FLAT. Nice farmland.
April 1
So far, no April Fool surprises. Stayed last nite on the Arkansas river in a tiny town called Mulberry. Were one of five campers in a Public Corps campground - no water or sewer - just electric - but only $16. Watched a DVD (thanks, Rich & Sue) since we were so far out in the boonies there was no TV reception. 85 degrees and a little humid. Don't know if this is normal for Arkansas in March.
Odd to see fields planted in some type of crop with an oil well or pump smack dab in the middle.
Now headed to Oklahoma and it is 94 degrees with a wind that would blow away anything that wasn't nailed down. No litter along the highway - probably got blown down to Mexico. I can now see ow the dust bowl in the 1930's happened.
Got to see a forest of giant windmills in the western part of OK. Making good use of this stiff breeze. They look rather majestic.
April 2
Stayed last night in Clinton, OK and now nearing Texas. A gazillion more windmills and pretty farmland. Stopped at the Route 66 museum in Elk City. They also had a transportation museum, old town museum, farm and ranch museum and a blacksmith exhibit. All for $4 for each of us. Such a deal! We spent about 2 hours there and had a picnic on a park bench next to a fountain, pond and trees. Drove along old Route 66 (business 40 here) just to say we did it and saw some old hoels and neon signs. Elk City was a neat old town with a thriving downtown. Glad we stopped.
After gazing at miles and miles of open, empty prairie, I can only imagine the thoughts of the pioneer women arriving after their menfolk dragged them here to claim their 40 acres and a mule. Living in a sod house, dealing with the threat of scalping and the wind and the loneliness. Bet more than one wanted to run home to Mama. Bet more than one DID.
Found out at a rest stop that all these windmills are "wind farms" whose major crop is energy. Texas has over 1,300 wind farms. Texas also has the prettiest and fanciest rest stops I have ever seen - granite, tile, wow! Have to remember I'm not in NC anymore. Took the dog for a walk at a rest stop and headed for shrubs on the side but saw a sign saying stay out of tall grass and rocks because of rattlesnakes. Glad I saw the sign.
Fuzzy Butts Liquor Store?????? Only in Amarillo. You see some really funny billboards along the way.
April 3
Chilly last night! Cold and windy. Some change from 90 degrees in Memphis. Went to the Great Plains Panhandle Museum which is affiliated with Texas A&M Univ. in Canyon, TX. A small gem - very worthwhile.
Drove into Palo Duro Canyon which is the second deepest canyon in the US. Glad we didn't plan on camping in the canyon last nite as it was a steep grade road with some tight switchbacks. Dan is good, but let's not push it.
April 5
Arrived in Albequerque New Mexico. Saw the beautiful snow-capped mountains in the distance as we got close. What a surprise when we got there that there was snow on the ground too and it was 42 degrees. Had to turn on the heat for the first time and we really are appreciating having an electric fireplace first thing in the morning and in the evenings.
Love that the interstates and interchanges in NM are stained rusty red to blend with the landscape. Some are rust and turquoise and some are decorated with tile. Not quite as nice as our beautiful flowers in NC but better than just gray concrete.
Got to see hot air balloons go up early in the mornings - with the backdrop of the mountains it is quite a sight. Must be breathtaking to attend the annual hot air balloon festival in October.
There is a Camping World in Albuquerque not far from the campground so we got up bright and early to drop off the camper to get the sink fixed. Several hours and $$$$$ later, they pronounced it all better.
The campground we're in now is sparkling. Finally got a chance to do laundry. Thought I wouldn't like not having my own washerdryer but it is nice to take 3 machines and get everything done at once. One also meets some neat people. Met one fellow doing his wash and within a few minutes I knew his life history - where he was from, how many kids, how long married, how his son took over his business, etc., etc. Dan had to come rescue me!!
More later,
