Organ Pipe

Sunday, April 23
We stopped at Butterfield’s RV park in Benson for the night. Darn nice park. The only negative would be the proximity to the train tracks. A train went through every 20 minutes blowing its whistle several times. It did not bother our sleep one bit.

Now the good part. They have an observatory. That said, they were the only RV park with one. They have a 16” which we were informed is the smallest professional device. They are commonly used at universities. It's getting better. The man that did the “star talk” was gifted at explaining things in terms we could understand. The program was a little over three hours. 

We looked at Saturn and it’s four moons. Europa was setting behind Jupiter while we watched. Other objects were Proxima, M3, M35 and NGC3242, the Ghost of Saturn.

Monday, April 24
We drove three hours southwest on a not so good two-lane to Ajo, AZ. We are going to spend two days checking out Organ Pipe NM. We should have allocated more days, but I screwed up.  I have a hard time making a schedule.

This afternoon we spent two hours at a local museum chatting with a guy about the history of the former copper mining town and border policy. We would have never guessed the mine owner was connected to so many swells, including TDR. The owner was very progressive, in the old sense. He paid well, built a hospital and schools which look good today 75 years later. 

The "5 C's" of Arizona are cattle, climate, cotton, copper, and citrus. We had seen two or three copper mines on previous trips. This trip we have seen them everywhere. We had no idea there were so many, and many are still in operation.

From Ajo to the Arizona/Utah border

Tuesday, April 25
We got away early and drove the Ajo Mountain Loop. While it’s named for the Organ Pipe cacti (Stenocereus thurberi), the Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) greatly outnumber them. And to our eyes have a better appearance.

Wednesday, April 26
We took our time leaving Ajo and arrived at RV Coach Glass in Phoenix after lunch. 

Thursday, April 27
They started work at 8 and finished at 12:30. That’s longer than they took at the place in Florida to screw up five windows. There was a little bit of etching on the glass after two months. 

We escaped Phoenix to a Escapees park in Congress, AZ. We should have stayed in the lot at the glass shop. The Escapees park was a not a dump, but only a few steps up. People actually spend a season there.

Friday/Saturday, April 28/29
We arrived in Prescott. We had no idea it was so peoply. We walked along the lake and got a few pictures. The wind was blowing so no yakking. The boats have yet to get in the water.

We took some more pictures at sunset on Saturday. The wind had died off, but we did not have the time to launch before losing the light.

A Photo club was there also

Rocks and water were not the only going on. There was a National RC Rock Crawler competition

Sunday, April 30
We escaped Prescott. It may not be as bad as Sedona, but we have no reason to return. Having driven 89A to Jerome back in 2007 we knew better than to take that twisty windy downhill road again. So we dropped down into the valley and found a pleasant place to park on Forest Service land. It seems dispersed camping is everywhere the AZ forests. 

Monday, May 1
We went a few minutes north to the misnamed Montezuma’s Well. Montezuma was never anywhere near here. We were informed that snow melt on the Mogollon Rim [Muggy On] 10,000 years ago is still seeping to this well. Several million gallons an hour.  Hard to believe, but it is an oasis in the gravel pit. 

The ranger mentioned that the V Bar V ranch was just a few miles up the road and had over 1,000 pictographs. We have seen dozens of walls of pictographs, but he made this one sound special and it was. But only because there was a ranger explaining it. First, the wall is almost on a true north/south axis - that’s necessary for it to work as desired. The Indians placed two sharp rocks in a crevice that acts like a sundial, but for dates, not hours. They etched into the rock face symbols to denote key times of the year, such as a representation of an ear of corn. When the shadow from the inserted rocks points to the corn, it was time to plant. They even have a when to dance symbol after the time to harvest symbol. A good corn harvest was a great deal more important to them than picking up a few ears at the grocery.

Montezuma's Well

The Seasonal "Sundial" The shadows point to symbols that are critical times of the year. For instance, wait until the shadow points to the ear of corn before planting, otherwise risk frost and loss of seed.

Montezuma's Castle

Tuesday, May 2
We moved a little north toward Flagstaff. Glenda wanted to route us 40 miles north on I17 and then 20 miles south to our destination, Morman Lake. The Delorme map showed a much shorter route on a two lane paved road. The map was wrong, it turned to gravel, but we went through some great high pines country. All the formal Forest Service CG’s were closed, so we opted for dispersed again in the pines.

We passed a sign for Lowell Observatory on the Forest Service road but did not check it out.  The storied hilltop center is in Flagstaff is no longer used for research. This one is their Dark Sky facility.

Wednesday, May 3
We made four stops in Flagstaff for various items and planned on staying at a campground at Sunset Crater. But it does open until Friday. So again, we are parked in the pines. This time with Blue Birds that are most interested in looking in our windows. They perch on the window frame and turn their heads to peer with first one eye and then the other. We think they are mystified they can not see in. Right now, the female is perched on Dorothy’s kayak and the male on mine. I should take a picture, but a week worth of volcanic dust covers the rear the window. OK, I got out the California Duster and cleaned the window. Do the Blue Birds return to perch on the yaks. No!

In only a week we have made it from Phoenix to the northern part of the state. After we leave here we will have to go through the Navajo Res to Page. We are about out of water.

Farther Along

 Even the deer have to walk the line in Llano

Friday, April 14

We have arrived. Llano, Texas. Cooper BBQ. We have been hankering to get back here for two years. We plan to stay and eat for a few days. The city park is next to the river. Just a level parking lot with stripes that has full hookups for $15.

We stuffed ourselves on pork ribs at noon. Never thought about even a cracker for dinner.

The Pits 

 What’s In The Pits

Where The Stuff In The Pits Goes

We enjoyed watching a 2004 movie The Notebook. Decent movies are rare.

We have only been without hookups the two days we stayed with friends in Marksville. Did not need them then and only needed AC a day or so since. It’s been overcast almost every day keeping the temperature down. When we leave here we will be boondocking more. Hope the temp stays low. That will determine the stops we make. We wanted to go to Chaco Canyon, but after seeing the pictures on Mary and David's blog, we took a pass. Just too much uneven terrain for our feet.

How Verizon carryover data works. After you use your current monthly allotment any carryover from the previous month is throttled, the same as if you have the unlimited plan. It’s a use it or lose it type of deal. Any carryover not used in the next month is gone. It’s a great biz plan for Verizon. 

Saturday, April 15

We walked around looking at the hundreds of types of granite and quartzite at The Living Stone Company. Stone from all over the world in slabs of about 6 by 10 feet. Not any of the common stuff you see at the big box stores. The prices are quite reasonable.

This was our 9th consecutive cloudy day.

The highlight of the day was Prime Rib at Coopers. The cashier recognized us.

 The day after the ribs. Ever eaten really juicy prime rib on butcher paper?

A few samples of the thousand or so slabs of granite

Sunday, April 16
We picked up brisket and goat at Coopers and headed west.
Day 10 of clouds. Some rain is forecast in the Hill Country, so we hope to get out of hills before getting wet. Goodbye, water, hookups, humidity and green things.

We stopped for a nap at one the wonderful Texas RA that is above and well off I10. We woke to a shower and hung around until the rain stopped.

We over-nighted at one of our fav Texas RA’s. It is atop a mesa near the town of Sheffield. We are the only ones here. A delightful breeze and two bars of VZ.

These girls were traveling with their family from Mississippi to California

Monday, April 17
We are another 2.5 hours west, deep in the wasteland of the southwest. It will be like this through much of southern New Mexico and Arizona. In California, we have to endure the worst of the worst, the Mojave. We could have taken a more northern route, but I want to try Organ Pipe, weather permitting, and get a window fixed right in Phoenix. Besides the northern route would mean going through Death Valley again. ARG!

Tuesday, April 18
A long day. We planned to stay at Hueco Tanks just east of El Paso. We had never been there and wanted to see why some friends go there every year. Our planning should have included reservations as there was no room at the inn.

It was another 90 minutes to Deming to a private park we know. After 5.5 hours driving and several stops, we were not tired when we arrived. Odd for us.

Along the way, we saw a sign for Border Patrol Museum and wheeled in. It was interesting and NOT taxpayer funded.

 Footwear to pass as a horse

Footwear to pass yourself off as a carpet

Foreground, a motorcycle with space for three passengers

Background, a homebrew go-cart to ferry passengers over the border

Home made boat used from Cuba to Florida

Wednesday, April 19
Our reason for stopping in Deming is to restock our wine. I only like sweet wine and St. Clair has several to choose from. We replenished the cellar and the bins and the Jeep with wine.

Spent time re-doing our route be able to get to Phoenix for an appointment and to escape the gravel pit early. Making definite plans is not something we like to do. We much prefer the la-te-da mode of traveling. It’s a lot more crowded the last few years with more people retiring.

We have made reservations for the next 10 days. ARG! Our usual per night parking fees have been $10 a night for the last few years. This trip if we stay south of $25 I will be surprised.

The Gravel Pit
The southwest is a large undeveloped gravel pit punctuated with low mountains of no merit and pockets of green where it's irrigated, along with some scenery. I suppose the aggregate has washed down from ancient mountains and filled in valleys.

Vast areas of the gravel pit are used by the Air Force and Navy as a bombing range.  In the past, the Army tested missiles in New Mexico and nuclear weapons in both New Mexico and Nevada. No worries if a missile blew up or went off course. It would just hit some other rabbit warren.

I forget the disagreeable parts of the southwest until we pass through it. Full-time RV folks use it as a haven from the winter.  We have tried that. We prefer to be at home, rather than living in a gravel pit.

Thursday, April 20
We made the 35-mile drive from Deming to The City Of Rocks. We have passed by here twice before and had not stopped. It’s worth a stop. Wind eroded Pumice rocks in the middle of nowhere. The formations are not unlike those at The Alabama Hills in CA and Vedauvoo in Wyoming.

We opted for a dry site as the placement of electric sites was not appealing. Our site has two large oak trees which shade it from the afternoon sun. We have enjoyed sitting outside enjoying the balmy temp and the fresh breeze. We have opened the windows the last few nights at dark. By 3 am the furnace has been cutting on.

Friday/Saturday, April 19/20
Just up the road from the City of Rocks is Silver City. It seemed like an OK place to spend the weekend. We took a drive through the Ponderosa Pines.

Half Way There

Dear Diary, We are half way to somewhere. No idea what we half-way to. Maybe half-way across Texas.

Dorothy notes the slave quarters need maintenance

 At Coral and DD's In Marksville

Pernadles Falls State Park

I juiced this to make it seem that it was not heavily overcast

We started the trip with new cab curtains, new rear window shade, installed third generation window storage trays, replaced hot water gas valve, installed variable speed fan switches for our personal fans, replaced Bilstein shocks, 100m maintenance and several other items we can not recall.

We name our trips. Most do not have very imaginative names, like The Rock Trip. This year I saw a great name Our Trek To The Zombie-Free Haven North Of The 49th. Seems appropriate for going to BC.

Since we will be eating rather than hiking this year, we are already calling it the Eating Trip. Dorothy was talking with a friend with an agile imagination who suggested Gourmet Eating sounded better, so it will be The Traveling Gourmets. We are not going to just toss the Zombie name either.

Tuesday, April 4

Selma is on the most direct route headed west from Montgomery. It was known as The Queen City Of The Black Belt and was one of the wealthiest cities in the US before the Civil War. You have probably have heard of the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma. We had no idea who Pettus was so we looked him up. Turns out he was a civil war hero and a proslavery fanatic. This was the reason MLK picked the bridge as the starting point for the march to Montgomery. It certainly was the site for a lot of head-knocking and bloodshed.

We spent the night at Roosevelt SP, just east of Jackson. A good deal, full hookups for $14

Wednesday, April 5

We are mooch docking with our former neighbors on their estate near Marksville, LA. The property has been in the family for several generations and all of his relatives live here.

Thursday, April 6

We got a fine start yesterday on eating in Bunkie, LA at Dugout Grill and Bar Rocky's Tails and Shells. A gourmet hamburger and sweet potato fries. The potatoes are grown across the street. That was topped that evening by gourmet dining at the Red River Grill in Marksville, LA

The folks we are staying with are natives to the area. His family goes back generations. So they know everyone and every place to eat in a wide area. We are suggesting he put in a one site RV pad in the back.

Friday, April 7

We drove two hours to Baton Rouge and are dry camping at Parr Park. It’s quiet and only $10. The weather is perfect so we have no need for AC. We had a late lunch at a Greek and Lebanese restaurant we have been to before. It was a good as we remembered it. I had three appetizers and Dorothy had one appetizer and the Chicken Korma. We did not need dinner.

Saturday, April 8

I read this morning that Bigfoot kept a lumberjack as a sex slave and his wife says he is no longer the man she married.

We had appetizers for lunch at The Chimes - East. Dorothy had a cup of gumbo and crab cakes. I had a bowl of gumbo and alligator. All divine and we are stuffed.

Baton Rouge has the densest traffic of ANY city we know. Perhaps the flooding last fall concentrated folks here?

Sunday, April 9

We got away early to drive to Lafayette to eat breakfast at Prejean’s. We had such good memories of the food. The parking lot was about empty. That should have been a clue. I should have put my fork down after the first bite and left. I didn’t. A mistake. $40 wasted.

Drove another two hours and parked at Niblett’s Bluff, a city park. Not bad for $22. No bluff in site. Perhaps it is concealed by the greatly swollen Sabine River, the border of LA and TX.

Monday, April 10

You are still reading?

Today’s goal was to gain back the latitude we gave up by going to Baton Rouge and do it without going too near Houston. If took several tries with various waypoints set to force Glenda to take us north of the city. A good FM road, but also lots of stoplights for a time slowed us down. 

We parked at Lake Summerville, a COE campground. It was an area of Texas we had not been in. Low hills, big ranches, some wildflowers. There are two adjacent campgrounds on the lake. I turned into the first one, drove three miles to the check-in where we saw a sign on the window closed for repairs. We thought it would have been nice if they had put that sign at the turn-off. We were even more surprised that the check-in was manned. Yep, there was someone there to tell us it was closed.

Tuesday, April 11

Day 8. We continued west through the southern end of Austin where we found rain. We stopped at Pernadles SP, [Lyndon, a local, pronounced it Perda Nal Lis], because we had not been here before and the rain was getting annoying. Texas parks are a value IF, you are going to stay in several in a year. The park pass is up to $70 which means you don’t have to pay the daily entrance fee per person. That fee here is $6, so add in the $20 site charge and the cost is $32 a night.

Wednesday, April 12

Another hour west brought us to Fredericksburg. I always recall the town from how it was 50 years ago. Every downtown storefront was boarded up. 25 years ago it started its rise to a tourist mecca. Cutesy stores, over 100 vineyards in the area and some great eating.

We were going to stay at Ross and Beverly's, but the city leaf truck broke down and could not remove the pile of leafs where we would park on the street. We found decent accommodations for $30 and that's the low price in town. The city park is now $40. 

Had a superb Red Snapper at a most unusual place, The Hilltop Cafe.

These two look like they need good meal

Thursday, April 13

Laundry, shopping at the best grocery store chain the country, H-E-B and dinner with Ross and Beverly.

Some folks think Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are good. We don't care for them.

Quick Trip To Florida

We cut our Florida trip short. We only stayed two weeks. Florida is still Florida, it is just not that exciting to us anymore. The weather was great.

We went down to get our windows defogged.  They are now clear. But it was a miserable experience at Suncoast Designers.

We enjoyed staying with friends for a few days on their ranch. It’s in a hilly section of the state. The morning sun coming through the new leaves and Spanish Moss was enchanting.

We found two PBS stations that actually played music. No news, no opinions. Just music.

We paddled the Chassahowitzka river on the Gulf side of the state. Lots of birds and one river otter.

We were going to paddle Juniper Springs also, but when we found out it was a five-hour trip, we wimped out. It would have been the day after doing the Chassahowitzka and Dorothy was still worn out from that.

On the way home, we wanted to take a new route. But Glenda did not approve. It took several tries before she gave up on taking us through Tallahassee and Dothan. We got back on US 82 and drove on five Martin Luther King Blvd’s in the process.

 One of the holes where the Chassahowitzka forms

 This otter had no fear of us. Just foraged and munched away.

 I like this exposure

Koko on Mike's lift. I tightened the coach bolts

He has the most fantastic workshop

Alabama Hills

I found this picture taken in the Alabama Hills to be quite interesting. I think it shows what can be done in a digital darkroom by someone with technique and lots of time. I don't think you can get the rocks in the foreground correctly exposed without washing out the mountains. At least that is my experience.

If you look at his other pictures, Photoshop can be seen at work. Still some impressive work.

http://ahearnarts.com/

Replacement Mode

We have been in replacement mode since we retired. I foolishly thought that since we had everything we needed and it was in good repair, we would not have many major purchases after we retired. Not so, we have replaced everything in the last 10 years.

Our bodies are also in need of replacement. Dorothy continues downhill with her legs. It will end where she will not be able to walk. Her doctor told her that well over 10 years back. I started using a CPAP in April and it was a miracle. My energy level was reset back a decade. I no longer was falling asleep at 5PM. I could exercise, hike, etc. After four months the miracle went away. While my sleep apea is under control, I am back to struggling to stay awake after 7PM. I have had all sorts of tests. Three doctors have no clue what the problem could be.

After over two years, I have changed the masthead picture. Still like the old one, but this one taken in the Bighorns Mountains interests me also.

Some 2016 campsites in review. Ones where we had the place to ourselves. Nothing but horizon.

 Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming

 Our own babbling river on the eastern approach to Yellowstone

 Warm River, Idaho

 Rouge River, Oregon

 Mad River, California

The Maze, Utah 

Moab to Alabama

Monday - October 10

Still on Dalton Springs Road.  There was an RV we could see, but they packed up their sand toys and left.  Drove with Ed and Carol to Gemini Bridges and then to Four Arches Canyon.

Tuesday - October 11

Groceries and library in the AM. Upgraded the OS on both the iPhone and the Macbook. Took forever to download and install.

We met this guy in Moab. You see all types of vehicles and folks that are a little off the road. He was a hoot. Very bright and was working on a combo of power sources for his trike.

There was some sun, so we tried to get to Klondike Bluffs on Willow Springs Road, but did not allow enough time. Stopped and shot some rocks along the way. Heavy clouds on the horizon blocked the golden hour.

Wednesday - October 12

Ed got antsy and wanted to leave. So we took their paid up spot at Goose Island. Dorothy is happy. She likes it here, even with the road traffic noise. I am OK, with only one bar and much less sun for charging.

It was a great day. I had three goals for the Moab area. The Maze, get to Klondike Bluffs and a clear day to drive the Poison Spyder trail. We notched The Maze last week. We have been close, but not to, the Klondike Bluffs three times. Once we had to abort because we got a call saying my computer was ready. Today, we drove one of the best Jeep trails in the area. And it was in Arches all along. Turn left at Balanced Rock on a dirt road that starts out a little rough but has a sandy road bed for much of the ten miles. A few of the turns were banked near 45 degrees which gave us pause about tipping over. But other than that it was an enjoyable drive through some great scenery including a canyon. It brought us up close and personal to Klondike Bluffs and we spent an hour or so taking pictures just before the golden light. I would have stayed, but had no desire to exit in the dark. We elected to take the extremely rough Tower Arch road back to pavement in Arches. We could have gone back the way we came or out to 191 on Willow Springs.

Thursday - October 13

It being a clear day we decided to drive the Poison Spyder trail. We have done it twice before and wanted to include the northern loop this time. When we got to the second “waterfall” I looked long and hard at it and wimped out. I know we have been over it before, but it was very intimating today. I am guessing that trail use has pockmarked the rock creating holes where there was smooth rock before. Disappointed? Yes. But I think I made the right choice for us. Going up was going to be difficult and I did not want to think about coming down when I was sore and tired.

It was good to catch up with our Moab friends. Kinda like coming home. Next year, I suspect we will have more time.

Friday - October 14

Errand day. Got the bumper hitch “beefed up”. Visited three rafting outfits to see what they offered for going down the Colorado. Found one that also does the Green and Yampa rivers.

Saturday - October 15

Started home. Parked outside the fairgrounds in Farmington, NM

Sunday - October 16

Drove the Besti Highway south to scout out picture locations. We will be back here for more exploration. It's a wilderness area. BLM controls it. But there are Indian roads all through it. The Indians are not real keen on white folks looking at their sacred rocks.

We parked at Enchanted Trails RV park near Albuquerque.

 Strangely eroded rock formations at Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah 

Can you find Dorothy in this picture? Me neither. Going to have to learn how to photograph mono-chromatic scenes.

Monday - October 17

We continued east on I40 to the city park at San Jon, NM. If we did not tire out after driving 3/4 hours, we could cross the country a lot faster. San Jon consists of a highway maintenance facility and two truck stops, both have restaurants. One has Indian fare. Yes, in the middle of nowhere we had a decent meal. 

Tuesday - October 18

From NM, thru the Texas panhandle, to OK. Amarillo is the first city that looks different from our track through Nevada, Utah and New Mexico - they have brick homes. Before we reached OK, we crossed the 100th parallel and like throwing a light switch green appeared. 

We parked in the Elk City, OK city park. Great place on a small lake. W and E for free. [B and T, take note] 

My energy level went up starting with the first night I used the CPAP back in April. No more more struggling to keep my eyes open in the afternoon. The joy ride seems to be over starting the first of this month. I struggle to stay awake until 9. Last night it was 8pm. This means I am awake at 4!

Need to break this cycle.

Wednesday - October 19
Day 5 homeward bound. At least another 4 days to go.
Awoke to dew! Not seen in months.
Along with water, you get bugs - on the windshield.
Finally, 87 octane at “regular” prices. It was $1.75 in OKC. 20 cents higher on both sides of the city.

Parked in a most delightful COE park on Lake Eufaula. Needed the ac. The idea of returning home on the northern route in cool weather and enjoying fall colors went out the window. There is a heat wave in the mid section of the country and it looks like OK will not have fall colors this year.

Woe is us. We have had about zero equipment problems on our trips until this year.

Engine ran rough one day. Had diagnostics done. No trouble found. 
Back shade cord broke, after a half-ass repair, it broke again
Five windows are fogged. Too many dirt roads we suppose.
Commode seat broke
TV antenna cable broke
Hot water heater control board went toes-up
Don’s hard drive died
Don’s computer charging cable died
Koko had to have new battery
Rubi had to have new tires


About $2,000 all total

Thursday - October 20

Overnighted at a COE park south of Little Rock on the Arkansas River called Tar Camp. We saw no tar.

Friday - October 21 

Walmart in Clinton, MS

Home Saturday.

This concludes hiking, biking and Jeeping for the year.