Tuesday, November 29, 2011

What a beautiful day!  We continued our daily routine and left the campsite at the Crystal Forest Museum Gift Shop about 9:45 am, then progressed to the entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park using the previous day’s pass to enter.

Teepee at the Crystal Museum

Our campsite

 First we started with a stop at the Rainbow Museum.  The ranger gave a lecture on the formation of the petrified wood logs.  At the conclusion of the presentation, we followed a trail that intertwined through the various deposits of petrified logs.  The logs were phenomenal.  The trees were very large when they fell.  What an awesome sight!

Cyndie and the petrified logs

Tom standing among the petrified logs

Old Faithful

Petrified Logs

              
As we wiggled our way through the park, we made several stops.  Each time we got out of the motorhome, took pictures and marveled at the sight.




Our rig at a painted mountain

The stop at the Painted Desert was incredible.  The sight was magnificent with the layers of rock having a variety of colors from red to white in horizontal bands.



A painted mountain



A red painted mountain



Petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock

The time we spent in the park was a wonderful break from the daily travel.

The rest of the day was spent in conducting upkeep activities such as dumping waste, filling propane tank, filling gas tank, and buying food.  Our destination for the evening is the Wal-Mart parking lot in Winslow, Arizona.  Tomorrow’s goal is Flagstaff.









Monday, November 28, 2011

This morning we awoke in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with several mountains very close to us on the east. Of course, we were in a Wal-Mart parking lot.
We ventured on our way about 10:00 am Mountain Standard Time heading west on I-40 or route 66. The buttes and bluffs west of Albuquerque were fabulous. They were bright red from the sun’s rays shining on the surface jutting out from the ground against a bright, blue backdrop of the sky. Awesome!!!
We were headed to Gallup, NM. Then, we stopped at a souvenir shop on the Continental Divide. That’s where the water flows in different directions: the eastern flowing waters go to the Atlantic Ocean and the western flowing waters go to the Pacific Ocean. We decided to stop and have lunch. Also, we conferred as to what our destination for the evening. We decided to head to the Petrified Forest National Park. In addition, when crossing, we would stop at the visitor’s center for more information.

 

Our Rig

 

Continental Divide Souvenir Shop



Route 66 Sign Continental Divide



Cyndie at the Continental Divide



Arizona State Sign



Arriving at the Petrified Forest about 3:30 pm Mountain Standard Time, we stopped at the ranger’s visitor center. The ranger said that we could drive through the park to the southern entrance where there are two rock shops that provide free camping for self-contained campers.

Great! Let’s Go! At the beginning, the Painted Desert exhibited bright red rock. The timing was perfect – The sun was going down for sunset. The sun’s rays and elevated rocks produced dancing shadows made the view breath-taking.




The Painted Desert at sunset



The Painted Desert at sunset



The Painted Desert at sunset



The Painted Desert at sunset

 The road twisted and turned around the buttes as the sun was descending in the west. Each turn exhibited a new sight. Then we came upon the Petrified Forest. Hundreds of chunks of rock logs were strewn across the floor of the valley and on top of hills. Unbelievable!!! Finally, we reached the exit to the park. The rock shop was right there – our destination for the night! Yes, it is NOT a Wal-Mart parking lot!! We are looking forward to our trip back through the park tomorrow.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Today I felt we survived a hardship.  Yesterday, we used all of our fresh water.  I did not have water to wash my face or flush the toilet.  We had 3 five-gallon jugs of drinking water that we used.

The morning was bright and cheerful with the sun blazing overhead.  We headed out of Trinidad, Colorado to Raton (Spanish for mouse) Pass, Colorado.  The mountains were beautiful with a dusting of snow while evergreens and boulders dotted the landscape.  The road was clear, but Tom drove slowly because of the incline, and the road was close to the edge of the mountain. As we wound our way around the pass, on the other side, a different topography existed.  The sides of the mountains were barren and had flatter peaks.  Some of the mountains were mesas (Spanish for table) which had flat tops like the top of a table.  We had entered New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment.

As we progressed, the land became flat with an occasional jut of a mountain that had a square top making the mountain look like a cube.  The wind was gusty which made it difficult for Tom to drive so we made several stops for him to rest.

We passed through Santa Fe early afternoon.  The landscape was dotted with typical, traditional adobe dwellings.  We call them Santa Fe architecture.  They were just like the one that had been appearing in my dreams.

Proceeding to Albuquerque, NM, we found the Wal-Mart.  We filled our water tank (yeah!) and our gas tank.  We were set for tomorrow’s trip.  The highlight of the evening was a shower for the each of us.  Then we went to bed. 

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Today we arose to sunshine and more snow on some of the mountain peaks outside Denver.  It was an awesome sight.  We began our day leisurely.  Around 10 am, Bryan and Denise arrived with the remainder of our laundry.  Way to go!  Deliver to your door laundry service.  Thanks, Denise, I appreciated it so much.

The four of us proceeded to Denny’s for brunch enjoying our friends’ company and conversation.  We then arrived back at the rig and said our good-byes.  Next we started our trip to Trinidad (Colorado’s southernmost town), our destination for the day.

On our way, we traveled through Colorado Springs where we paused at a scenic overlook to take some pictures of the rig with the Rocky Mountains in the background.  From Denver to Colorado Springs, the mountains were on the right.  What a spectacular sight!  The drive was not as difficult as it could have been.  There were winds but not too gusty, and the ride was beautiful with the sunshine.  Around 4pm, we stopped at a rest area to allow the sun to set behind the mountains so the sun’s rays would not interfere with the driving.  The next 40 miles were the most difficult – Tom was driving after dark.  His eyes were fixed on the white lines as well as vehicle lights affecting his vision.  The drive was very tense.  Finally, around 6 pm, we stopped for gas then proceeded to our destination another Wal-Mart parking lot.

That night tested the motorhome’s systems.  The temperature got into the teens.  We survived the night staying warm with no frozen pipes, or breakdowns.

Friday, November 25, 2011

We awoke to sunshine and realized that the parking lot was back to normal.  We spent the day in Denver, Colorado, making shopping trips to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Starbucks, and Verizon, all within walking distance.

Later, our friend, Bryan, picked us up and took us to his house for the afternoon.  We were greeted by his wife, Denise.  We had a great visit.  Denise graciously allowed us to do our laundry.  Thank you so much, Denise.  We also dined on Thanksgiving leftovers.  Yum!  Delicious!  Our conversations wound down, and then Bryan delivered us back to our rig for our evening routine.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Today was a great morning.  The sunshine woke us up.  What a pleasant sight to see.  We started off with filling the gas tank in Goodland, Kansas.  Grasslands and flat.  It is sparsely populated and can see for miles without trees or buildings obstructing the view.

Along the way, there are several hundred evergreens planted in double rows with a fence line.  You will see them from time to time.  The trees are planted to control the snow.  The pavement on the road is laid with grooved and rough surface to prevent vehicles from sliding.  There are a lot of snow and weather precautions in the area.

We stopped at Limon, Colorado, to take a breather.  We spied a KOA sign, and decided to dump our waste.  That was an experience.  You could tell we were newbies.  Needless to say, we had to change our clothes.  We also used our time to make the decision – Colorado Springs or Denver.  Denver is it!  We want to see the mountains.

We arrived in Denver about 4:30 pm Mountain Standard Time.  Boy, the mountains are beautiful.  You can see the tops of them with the snowcaps highlight by the sun’s rays.  We cooked in the oven and on the stove for the first time.  They were gas generated.  Our meal consisted of a turkey tenderloin breast that was marinated, green bean casserole, Stove-Top dressing, rolls, and individual pecan pies.  It was fantastic!  We are truly thankful for our blessings! 

We went to bed early, remind you we are in a Wal-Mart parking lot.  About 11:00 pm, I was rousted by clanging at my head.  “Tom, Tom, get up!  Check the Jeep and bikes!”  Tom reluctantly got up and checked the exterior.  The parking lot was full of cars with some parked within inches of the rig.  Lots of commotion and yahoos.  A real party outside.  It was midnight madness.  We went back to sleep with no more difficulty. 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Today was a great morning.  The sunshine woke us up.  What a pleasant sight to see.  We started off with filling the gas tank in Goodland, Kansas.  Grasslands and flat.  It is sparsely populated and can see for miles without trees or buildings obstructing the view.

Along the way, there are several hundred evergreens planted in double rows with a fence line.  You will see them from time to time.  The trees are planted to control the snow.  The pavement on the road is laid with grooved and rough surface to prevent vehicles from sliding.  There are a lot of snow and weather precautions in the area.

We stopped at Limon, Colorado, to take a breather.  We spied a KOA sign, and decided to dump our waste.  That was an experience.  You could tell we were newbies.  Needless to say, we had to change our clothes.  We also used our time to make the decision – Colorado Springs or Denver.  Denver is it!  We want to see the mountains.

We arrived in Denver about 4:30 pm Mountain Standard Time.  Boy, the mountains are beautiful.  You can see the tops of them with the snowcaps highlight by the sun’s rays.  We cooked in the oven and on the stove for the first time.  They were gas generated.  Our meal consisted of a turkey tenderloin breast that was marinated, green bean casserole, Stove-Top dressing, rolls, and individual pecan pies.  It was fantastic!  We are truly thankful for our blessings! 

We went to bed early, remind you we are in a Wal-Mart parking lot.  About 11:00 pm, I was rousted by clanging at my head.  “Tom, Tom, get up!  Check the Jeep and bikes!”  Tom reluctantly got up and checked the exterior.  The parking lot was full of cars with some parked within inches of the rig.  Lots of commotion and yahoos.  A real party outside.  It was midnight madness.  We went back to sleep with no more difficulty. 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Today, we awoke in Booneville, Missouri.  We had our leisurely morning and did not begin our travels until about 11-11:30 am central time.  We started in the center of Missouri and drove to the western boundary of the state.  Independence, Missouri, and Kansas City are in the general vicinity.  The lady on the Garmin took us through downtown Kansas City which was a nightmare.  All the twists and turns made the drive tense.  Fortunately, it was at noon and the traffic was not as heavy as it could have been.  We made it admirably.  I will never follow the GPS through KC again.  Take the by-pass, I-470.

Also, as we traveled through Independence, Missouri, I thought of the pioneers 100-150 years ago.  It was their last stop of civilization to pack their small wagons with a few prized possessions, the clothes on their backs, needed supplies, and a few quilts.  The most important struggle for them was facing the elements.  I am so grateful that I am crossing the same trail in my wagon called a motorhome, especially since I am sitting here having just completed a hot shower and feeling refreshed.

As we passed signs on I-70, they had a yellow flower on them that resembled a sunflower.  As I learned on the evening news, Kansas is the sunflower state.

Kansas has a bum reputation as being flat and boring.  So far today, I would have to say that is all hogwash.  Kansas, west of Topeka is very rolling with hills that are covered with golden grass and no trees.  The area was sparsely populated with fields filled with cows and cattle:  they were called ranches instead of farms.  Exits off the interstate highway, stopped at one end and continued at the other end to ranches, hence the road was called Ranch Road.

In the middle of the day, we stopped, took a siesta, and had our large meal of the day.  We then proceeded to Salina, Kansas.  On the way, the sun was shining.  It is so amazing how the sun rays can lift the spirits.  We were so thankful and glad.

Our destination for the night is the WalMart parking lot in Salina, Kansas.  As I am writing, I hear the trains in the background.  The toots of the horn and the clickety-clack of the tracks are enough to put a person to sleep.    Goodnight for today.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Today is day two of our journey, and Tom’s 60^th birthday.  We got up, had a leisurely morning, and headed out about 10 o’clock.  We decided to take the by-pass on I-270 around St. Louis, Missouri.  We did not have a problem.  The time was perfect – no heavy traffic.  Made a couple of stops.  One was at a rest area so Tom could test the CB radios that were my Dad’s.  Either the radios didn’t work or Tom did not have the right parts.  Consequently, we did not have a working CB radio.  Several of the gas stations were difficult to maneuver because we are newbies at this RV-ing.  The process takes four eyes – two to watch the white lines (Tom, the driver) and two to watch the signs (Cyndie, the navigator).

We stopped about 5pm central time at Booneville, Missouri, west of Columbia, which is about the middle of the state.  We are headed west to Salina, Kansas where we make the decision to go south to Oklahoma City where it is warmer or west to Denver to follow the east side of the Rockies.  I would prefer the scenic route to follow the Rockies.  Tune in tomorrow to find out which direction we take.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Today is the beginning of a new life for Tom and me.  We are starting a new chapter.  We left Westfield, Indiana, about 1:30 pm in our motorhome heading to the southwest.

This journey has taken about a year to work out the details of living on the road.  We bought the motorhome October 21, 2010.  Our house was for sale for a year; and because of the economy, we could not sell it.  So we decided to rent the house (our home for the last fifteen years).

Then we got recumbent tricycles.  They are fabulous, but how were we going to transport them?  We had a cargo rack custom made to fit on top of the Jeep, so it looks like a safari vehicle.

Two weeks before our estimated departure, I blew the engine in the Jeep. What were we going to do?  A new Jeep or keep the old one (17 years old). We loved that car so we had it fixed.  Boy, do we have a classy “rig” setup.

Twenty-four hours before our estimated departure, my Dad passed away. Boy, the world can change in an instant.  I miss him.  Our departure was delayed a week.

Today is the beginning.  We headed west on I-70 from Indianapolis.  About Brazil, Indiana, we stopped at a Pilot Travel Center to get the motorhome weighed.  Tom for sure thought we were going to be over weight because I packed so much stuff.  A miracle!!  We passed; I didn’t have to part with any of my precious belongings.

Then we got to Terre Haute, Indiana, to have our propane tank filled.  After that, we proceeded on our journey heading west.  Finally, we arrived at Effingham, Illinois.  The Wal-Mart parking lot was our destination for the night.