Oct 16, 2019 - Grand Canyon

October 16, 2019 We are now tied in the cribbage tournament! As we didn’t even have Verizon connectivity, we didn’t check the overnight temperatures. I awoke at 7:00 to 28 degrees. The space heater is in the back so I turned on the gas furnace which doesn’t seem to be so efficient but did the job. Early in the morning (before 6:30) I am able to backload pictures to the blog using Verizon. I do this frequently. Today I went back to review the blog and pictures from our similar trip in Apr-Jun 2012. Amazing what we don’t remember as well as...

Oct 15, 2019 - Page to Grand Canyon, AZ

October 15, 2019 I had an industrious morning. Made the sauce for our Asian glazed slow cooker chicken thighs and then scrambled eggs for breakfast. There is quite a rhythm to max the use of space and not blow a circuit! We had a lovely drive from Page to the Grand Canyon on Hwy 89/64 (about 130 miles). For the most part the drive was mesas and scrub brush. We had planned to listen to Sapiens but found that I downloaded the Spanish version! Our first stop was Desert View inside the GC. This is where the Vermillion Cliffs, San Francisco...

Oct 14, 2019 - Zion, UT to Page, AZ

October 14, 2019 Normally we would eat dinner at the Zion Lodge. It is located on the Zion Scenic route which is only accessed by shuttle buses. (We did see cars in the lot yesterday so you must be able to drive if you have a room there). At this time of the year the last shuttle left the Lodge at 6:30. Thus, we found ourselves (along with many others!) at the Spotted Dog across from camp. We were once again reminded of 7 years ago when we biked down the Scenic Drive from the Temple down to the Visitor’s Center. With the frequency of the...

Oct 3, 2019 - RIM-2-RIM

Pictures still being edited, under construction!!! All of my hiking life the Grand Canyon North RIM to South RIM hike has always been a goal/a dream. The problem, I DO NOT backpack (sleep on the ground). So, I needed a bed at Phantom Ranch, the only oasis at the bottom of the canyon. They have 50 beds, a few are allotted to the overnight Mule Rider concessionaire & others to White Water Rafter concessionaires, with the remaining for hikers. The hiker portion, about 10, are reserved through a lottery system/drawing, online only, 13 months...

Oct 2, 2019 - Buenos Dias, Cancun!

I know, I know! It’s been 3 weeks since we returned from Cancun and I promised a blog about it when we returned but life always seems to interfere with my plans! The day of our return was August 31 which coincided with Michele’s move from her house to her high-rise apartment in downtown Phoenix. I still wonder how it is that a girl raised in the suburbs all her developing years became a happy urban dweller! It all started when she was in school in downtown Seattle. School was in the urban center and it only made sense to have an apartment...

Sep 29, 2019 - Colorado to Arizona

What a difference a week can make! On Monday we left South Fork at 8,200' elevation & cool fall temperatures. Today we're in Wellton, AZ, & it's a cool day with a forecast high of 87! (It was 93 yesterday!) We had a nice trip with good weather & no problems. We didn't leave Riverbend until mid-morning & we spent Monday night in Cortez, CO, at Sundance RV Park - very nice. We were on the road again by 9:00 Tuesday morning. We left the San Juan Mountains behind & headed out through the desert. Watching the landscape & vegetation change is...

Sep 27, 2019 - Grand Canyon

Wow, wow, wow We spend two full days in the Grand Canyon, driving up from Williams with picnic, waterproofs, maps and all other paraphernalia we can think of. Day 22 We've been warned about the queues to get into the park and are prepared. What a lovely surprise no long queue, just two vehicles in front of us at the gate. We park up near the visitor centre and collect information on trails and view points. And we're off, not knowing what to expect but full of anticipation. Our first view of one of the world's seven natural wonders is simply...

Sep 26, 2019 - Railside RV Ranch

/// September 1, 2019 A Travel Day: We departed Dolores, CO by approximately 0700 hrs. Being anxious to return to Williams, AZ we opted to skip a planned stop in Gallup NM and drive straight through to Williams, AZ. The road conditions today were mostly good, the traffic was light with the exception of a shop stretch of Hwy. 84 near Cameron, AZ. This section of hwy was also quite rough. We made a rest stop at the Cameron Trading post, had a quick bite to eat and hit the road again for the climb into Flagstaff. Entering Flagstaff the AC on...

Sep 25, 2019 - Sunset Crater

RV Airbnb? Day 21 Today is the last day we will spend exploring Route 66 before we hit the National Parks. The town of Holbrook has a museum in the historic old courthouse so we visit here first. What a gem. The museum provides information on Navajo County’s past which includes ancient pottery, Native American art displays, artefacts of Holbrook’s early pioneers and businesses, and a tour through the old county jail. The displays and objects show how life was lived from the end of the 19th Century until the late 20th. The old schoolroom...

Sep 24, 2019 - Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

What wonderful colours Day 20 We’re up early and ready to set off by 8.30. Car packed and we set off for the I-40West and the Petrified forest. Staying true to the spirit of the trip we call in at Gallup on the original Route 66. This is our last stop in New Mexico and we are quite disappointed. We are unable to find some of the advertised sites and the town itself is quite run down. Continuing on I-40 we cross over into Arizona and we lose yet another hour (we are now 8 hours behind home). We leave the road at Exit 311 for the Petrified...

Sep 20, 2019 - The Sonoran Desert - Phoenix

Up this morning and ready to go! The plan today is to drive to Phoenix which is a 2 1/2 hr trip down I17. Leaving a little late, no time for breakfast, we stopped at Denny’s for lunch. Back in the car traveling S on I17 as we approached Phoenix we took exit 222 looking for The Sonoran Desert to take a hike. At Apache Wash Trailhead we decided on The Sidewinder Trail. Checking the temperature posted it said 101 degrees so decided to take only a 20 min hike up and 20 min back taking a lot of cactus and desert photos. We loaded up on water...

Sep 19, 2019 - Grand Canyon

The temperature this morning is in the 40’s and the wind is going to blow 20 to 30 mph and gust up to 45mph!!! This is all too cold for me but today is our day to go to the Grand Canyon and I’m going to bare the cold!! Susan and I have been there before but Julie hasn’t. Breakfast first, then on the road. We are taking Route 66 that turns into I 40 W then Hwy 64 N. We stopped at a little store on Hwy 64 to get a few snacks then on our way to Grand Canyon arriving around noon. Parking was horrible there we spent at least 45 min circling and...