Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
Hhhmmmm... I only saw three: Study in Pink, Blind Banker and the Great Game. What's the fourth?
Sue
Sue
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Running Away
- Thread starter Jim and Sue L.
- Start date
Mick'nSarah
Junior Ranger
My mistake! Sorry! There are only 3. Boy, my brain has been failing this week! Maybe it just felt like 4! No telling.
Netflix is streaming them right now, which is new since last night (I added season 2 to the que)...in case anyone else wants to watch them.
Netflix is streaming them right now, which is new since last night (I added season 2 to the que)...in case anyone else wants to watch them.
jsl said:
For whatever reason, the DVR did not record last Sunday's Sherlock! I have now got it set to catch that episode sometime next week one morning at 3am - phew! A good series.
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
Three or four, it doesn't matter. I love them all.
Sue
Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
I'm going to get back to the journey as soon as I can lasso Jim and sit him down! Now where did that boy go...?
Sue
Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
I'm tired of waiting for Jim, so I'll start all by my little self.
Dawn shone clear, crisp and bright that April 10, 2012. Jenn was up first, as usual, and had coffee running. We enjoyed a peaceful breakfast listening to the birds with their morning songs and lingered over coffee as we planned the day's adventures.
Jim wanted to drive out of Bryce and reconnoiter the Grand Staircase and a little out of the way place called Kodachrome Basin. We decided on a picnic somewhere in the middle and do a bit of shopping as our stores of fresh food were running low. So into the blue truck and off we went.
Out of Bryce, down Hwy whatever (Oh, it's Hwy 12-Jim is here) for about 30 minutes or so and Jim spies a sign for Kodachrome. We pulled into this one dog town who's name I can't recall (Jim says it's Cannonville) and headed straight for the visitor's center...which was closed on that particular day. Just our luck. We wandered around the little parkland at the center and finally road off down this dusty little track headed for Kodachrome.
It was a short trip down this little road that wandered through farmland and pastures, then switched to high desert and groves of Pinion Pines and Junipers. Along the way we stopped by a fenced pasture that was being irrigated. It was still very cold and the water had frozen on the irrigation wheels, grasses and fence. Everything was covered in a spiderweb of ice that glistened in the early sunshine. Icicles and sand, so odd but beautiful.
Leaving the farmland behind, we entered canyon land, but on a much smaller scale than Bryce and Zion. A left turn from the road lead to the entrance of a box canyon and the start of Kodachrome Basin State Park. Here we found a wonderful little park lush with Junipers, Pinion Pines and all manner of high desert plant life. Rising out of all this greenery where towering cylindrical chimneys of brilliant red and buff colored rock, like accusing fingers pointing at the sky. Nestled in the middle was a wonderful little campground with many secluded sites-some with power, pull through drives, and a general store.
Jenn hopped out and explored the campground. It was lovely, just lovely. We all decided this would be a must stop site for the future. Next we took one of the interpretative trails, and easy mile stroll filled with information markers and wonderful sights. A stop at the ranger station/store (Jenn bought some bandanas and a scorpion pin for our granddaughter) gave us all the info we needed about camping availability. The ranger stated not many folks were aware of the park, so the campground is always quiet. We promised ourselves we would return.
Back on the road and on to Hwy 12, we headed for the Grand Staircase and Escalante. We had been told by the ranger in Bryce that Hwy 12 was a must see route and for a single day's ride we should go all the way to the small town of Boulder. She promised it was a ride to remember and she was so right.
A lovely ride down through high desert country with forests of dark junipers brought us to the tiny town of Escalante. A quick stop at the information center, then off again. The main street of Escalante was only a couple of blocks long with a few buildings...that's it. But it did have a great little grocery store. We stopped to refill the larder and get something for lunch. We already had some black olive bread and bought fresh greens, tomatoes and bell peppers. Jenn discovered the meat section and snatched up packets of smoked salmon while Jim and I found packages of Kanab Ranch, grass fed beef so inexpensive as to make you want to cry. Free range sirloin steaks, fresh salad and caramelized bell peppers became the order for that night's dinner, now we wanted lunch, so off on the road again.
A double back out of the Escalante outskirts brought us to a man made lake and the way to a petrified forest. We stopped by the shore and picnicked on sandwiches of olive bread and smoked salmon-delicious. Jenn and I laughed about "roughing it" with such opulent fare. We are every crumb.
The day was getting very hot and after such a sumptuous meal, climbing the mile plus uphill to view the petrified trees did not seem so appealing. Jenn said it best, "You see one five million year old tree, you've seen them all."
We decided to skip the walk and head on to Boulder.
Back again along Hwy 12, the road from Escalante to Boulder ran right up along the spine of the escarpment with deep canyons on both sides. It was a fabulous trip, but at one point we were running along a very narrow two lane road on the edge of a cliff and nowhere to go but down. Now, I sometimes have a problem with heights, especially if I am not the one driving. Usually I can control it...but not this day and several times I was white knuckled around several particularly nasty turns. Jim thought it was all so funny.
At the top of the escarpment, Jim found a wide pull out and we hopped out for a walk and a little rock hunting. Soft, buff colored sand and stoney outcroppings dotted with wind swept brush, wild flowers and stunted pines made for good photo ops and easy climbing. Jenn and I found we were fellow rock hounds and merrily explored away. Eventually we trouped back to the truck and continued on to the town of Boulder.
Boulder proved to be a cute little artsy stop in the middle of nowhere. Really not much there that we could see except ranches and one little shop at a cross road. Of course we stopped so Jenn could pick up a few more bandanas for her collection. I bought some super deluxe, triple chocolate brownies fresh baked that day by a friend of the shop owner. Huge, dark and very rich, how could I resist? The perfect finish for our steak feast that night (and they go great with wine).
By then it was late afternoon and time to head back towards Bryce and our camp for the hot showers and hot food. Lingering over our drinks after dinner, we shared stories around the campfire and stayed up late. We would be parting company with Jenn in the morning. She would head out to the north rim of the Grand Canyon while Jim and I were off to Monument Valley. We would meet up again at the south rim in two days.
And this is where we stop for now.
The adventures continue.
Camp On
Jim and Sue
Dawn shone clear, crisp and bright that April 10, 2012. Jenn was up first, as usual, and had coffee running. We enjoyed a peaceful breakfast listening to the birds with their morning songs and lingered over coffee as we planned the day's adventures.
Jim wanted to drive out of Bryce and reconnoiter the Grand Staircase and a little out of the way place called Kodachrome Basin. We decided on a picnic somewhere in the middle and do a bit of shopping as our stores of fresh food were running low. So into the blue truck and off we went.
Out of Bryce, down Hwy whatever (Oh, it's Hwy 12-Jim is here) for about 30 minutes or so and Jim spies a sign for Kodachrome. We pulled into this one dog town who's name I can't recall (Jim says it's Cannonville) and headed straight for the visitor's center...which was closed on that particular day. Just our luck. We wandered around the little parkland at the center and finally road off down this dusty little track headed for Kodachrome.
It was a short trip down this little road that wandered through farmland and pastures, then switched to high desert and groves of Pinion Pines and Junipers. Along the way we stopped by a fenced pasture that was being irrigated. It was still very cold and the water had frozen on the irrigation wheels, grasses and fence. Everything was covered in a spiderweb of ice that glistened in the early sunshine. Icicles and sand, so odd but beautiful.
Leaving the farmland behind, we entered canyon land, but on a much smaller scale than Bryce and Zion. A left turn from the road lead to the entrance of a box canyon and the start of Kodachrome Basin State Park. Here we found a wonderful little park lush with Junipers, Pinion Pines and all manner of high desert plant life. Rising out of all this greenery where towering cylindrical chimneys of brilliant red and buff colored rock, like accusing fingers pointing at the sky. Nestled in the middle was a wonderful little campground with many secluded sites-some with power, pull through drives, and a general store.
Jenn hopped out and explored the campground. It was lovely, just lovely. We all decided this would be a must stop site for the future. Next we took one of the interpretative trails, and easy mile stroll filled with information markers and wonderful sights. A stop at the ranger station/store (Jenn bought some bandanas and a scorpion pin for our granddaughter) gave us all the info we needed about camping availability. The ranger stated not many folks were aware of the park, so the campground is always quiet. We promised ourselves we would return.
Back on the road and on to Hwy 12, we headed for the Grand Staircase and Escalante. We had been told by the ranger in Bryce that Hwy 12 was a must see route and for a single day's ride we should go all the way to the small town of Boulder. She promised it was a ride to remember and she was so right.
A lovely ride down through high desert country with forests of dark junipers brought us to the tiny town of Escalante. A quick stop at the information center, then off again. The main street of Escalante was only a couple of blocks long with a few buildings...that's it. But it did have a great little grocery store. We stopped to refill the larder and get something for lunch. We already had some black olive bread and bought fresh greens, tomatoes and bell peppers. Jenn discovered the meat section and snatched up packets of smoked salmon while Jim and I found packages of Kanab Ranch, grass fed beef so inexpensive as to make you want to cry. Free range sirloin steaks, fresh salad and caramelized bell peppers became the order for that night's dinner, now we wanted lunch, so off on the road again.
A double back out of the Escalante outskirts brought us to a man made lake and the way to a petrified forest. We stopped by the shore and picnicked on sandwiches of olive bread and smoked salmon-delicious. Jenn and I laughed about "roughing it" with such opulent fare. We are every crumb.
The day was getting very hot and after such a sumptuous meal, climbing the mile plus uphill to view the petrified trees did not seem so appealing. Jenn said it best, "You see one five million year old tree, you've seen them all."
We decided to skip the walk and head on to Boulder.
Back again along Hwy 12, the road from Escalante to Boulder ran right up along the spine of the escarpment with deep canyons on both sides. It was a fabulous trip, but at one point we were running along a very narrow two lane road on the edge of a cliff and nowhere to go but down. Now, I sometimes have a problem with heights, especially if I am not the one driving. Usually I can control it...but not this day and several times I was white knuckled around several particularly nasty turns. Jim thought it was all so funny.
At the top of the escarpment, Jim found a wide pull out and we hopped out for a walk and a little rock hunting. Soft, buff colored sand and stoney outcroppings dotted with wind swept brush, wild flowers and stunted pines made for good photo ops and easy climbing. Jenn and I found we were fellow rock hounds and merrily explored away. Eventually we trouped back to the truck and continued on to the town of Boulder.
Boulder proved to be a cute little artsy stop in the middle of nowhere. Really not much there that we could see except ranches and one little shop at a cross road. Of course we stopped so Jenn could pick up a few more bandanas for her collection. I bought some super deluxe, triple chocolate brownies fresh baked that day by a friend of the shop owner. Huge, dark and very rich, how could I resist? The perfect finish for our steak feast that night (and they go great with wine).
By then it was late afternoon and time to head back towards Bryce and our camp for the hot showers and hot food. Lingering over our drinks after dinner, we shared stories around the campfire and stayed up late. We would be parting company with Jenn in the morning. She would head out to the north rim of the Grand Canyon while Jim and I were off to Monument Valley. We would meet up again at the south rim in two days.
And this is where we stop for now.
The adventures continue.
Camp On
Jim and Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
I thought you took pics of the brownie/cherry dessert. Yeah, we were twisting the plate to get the best light, remember? That was great fun.
Sue
Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
We did a lot of fun cooking on that trip. Maybe we should start a thread about pot luck meals. Not recipes, but more of a toss-together-what-you-have sort of thing. Didn't you mention you wanted to do that?
Sue
Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
Here it is, the eve of Memorial Day and everyone is out of town..sort of. Anyway, we thought it was high time we continued with our runaway trip. So come with us now into the thrilling days of yesteryear...no wait. That was the Lone Ranger. Okay, it was the morning of April 11 and we wanted to get an early start...
Hugs and kisses all around as Jenn headed toward the northern rim of the Grand Canyon and we set off for Monument Valley. It felt so odd not having Jenn and that little trailer in our rear window, but we were going to meet up again in two days at the southern rim of GC, so all was good.
We decided it would save time to breakfast on the road and we set off in search of a little mom and pop bakery for a bite and coffee. A left turn out of Bryce and about one mile down Hwy 12 brought us to a cross road and a little grocery/bakery store. The sigh read "tourist stuff" so of course we had to stop. Two cups of questionable coffee and a couple of day old apple fritters (sans apples) later, we were paying up at the counter and heard those old familiar words, "Is that your trailer outside?".
We glanced out of the store window at the parking lot that contained one Tundra and one bright blue Tacoma with the only trailer to be seen for miles around...Hhhhmmmmm, wonder to whom they were speaking? Oh! It was us! Guilty as charged. The questions started rolling, beginning with: "Do you sleep in that?" A full tour ensued.
It was quite an extensive tour. This lovely couple had mountains of questions, oohed and awhed over the quality and spaciousness (they were both very tall) and finally left happy with a pamphlet tightly clasped in the husbands hand. We settled down to enjoy our breakfast of lukewarm coffee and stale apple-less apple fritters. Oh well.
The next stop was the Red Canyon Visitor's Center...which was closed for the season, of course. We had a grand time wandering along the trails and snapping shots of the brilliant blood red monoliths poking out amide dark green junipers and pines with a blindingly blue sky over all. A charter bus stopped and disgorged a load of European tourist who instantly swarmed over the trail and anything else nearby while talking at the top of their lungs and frightening the birds, so we decided to high tail it out. We had a lot of ground to cover and it was best we got back on the road.
We kept on the road until lunch time, driving through marvelous country. We traveled along the Vermillion Cliffs, wonderful escarpments tiger striped with pinky-reds and cream and lunched in the parking lot of the Visitor's Center, which was open. A nice chat with the ranger was pleasant and informative, then off on the road again. The day was getting on and the storm which we had been dodging the entire trip was fast catching up with us.
Along the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, the view from the road was fantastic. Row after row of monumental escarpments, one after the other, marched down our left, creating the impression of a gigantic staircase miles long. The colors were muted as the storm was fast on our heals, but it was still a magnificent sight.
As we dipped down into Arizona, we crossed Lake Powell and stopped in the town of Page at the Info. Center. A lovely, white haired lady volunteer was full of great information and gave us leads to a great campground at Navajo National Monument-it was free! Whoopee! So off we went...into a sandstorm! The skies were pink with sand and the wind was howling. And we still had that rain storm behind us. Goody.
The edge of the rain storm crossed to our right. We watched as the wind whipped up the sandstorm and rammed it into a bank of rain that swept in from the west. The collision of sand and rain created a small twister that skittered along in the distance away from us, thank goodness. The rain was hit and miss, so we never had enough to completely clean the sand off the truck. We were howling with laughter at the rivulets of pink mud running down our truck and trailer only to be instantly covered over with fresh sand. At times the sand blew so hard we wondered if there would be any paint left on the truck. What an adventure.
By late afternoon we made the turn toward Navajo National Monument and started a steep climb along a beautiful road that lead into the mountains. Secluded and nearly untouched, the wilderness around us would have been quiet enough to hear our own heartbeats had it not been for the blasted wind and sand.
The Visitor's Center was on top of a salmon pink plateau. A very kind and informative Navajo ranger was very helpful in guiding us to our campground, but first, he advised us to take a short walk to view the cliff dwellings. Cliff dwellings? We weren't expecting that. Grabbing cameras and hats, we were off.
The narrow path was 1.3 miles round trip, but the fierce wind and high altitude made it seem like 20. But the path was paved and easily accessible (except where the weather had worn it away-not good for wheel chairs) and at the end it lead to an overlook at the edge of a deep ravine. Across the ravine was a bank of cliffs with numerous caves. Inside the largest cave, a natural amphitheater, stood the Betatakin Dwellings, home of the Puebloan people from 1250 to 1300. A marvelous sight.
After many pictures, we battled the wind back to the truck and headed out in search of a campsite...at the very tip top of the plateau. The ranger, smiling, had told us they were expecting snow and it felt like it. Sunset Campground was lovely with paved roads and secluded camp sites amongst wind swept trees and breathtaking views. We found a semi sheltered site and pulled in as the wind howled around us, snapping branches off the junipers and kicking up sand everywhere. The fellow in the camp site next door helped guide us in. Campers are such nice people.
The wind wasn't letting up, so Jim held one of our car sun shields as a barrier so I could cook dinner. A joint effort that was successful. Steaks and roasted bell peppers over salad and some Bailey's Irish Cream chocolates made up for the crappy weather. Yummy. A short walk through the campground in the increasingly cold wind convinced us to hit the sack early. Snug and sand free in our little trailer, we felt sorry for our neighbor with his motorcycle and his dome tent shuttering in the icy wind.
We awoke to a peaceful dawn and opened the doors to: a miserable day. It was overcast, damp and damn cold. A race to the restrooms - heated, thank God - for a quick clean up and then back to camp amid the fluttering snow flakes. Breakfast would be had along the road as we were eager to get going before the snow started to stick to the road. Our next stop (and breakfast) would be in the town of Kayenta at the doorway to Monument Valley.
And here we stop for now.
Camp On,
Jim and Sue
Hugs and kisses all around as Jenn headed toward the northern rim of the Grand Canyon and we set off for Monument Valley. It felt so odd not having Jenn and that little trailer in our rear window, but we were going to meet up again in two days at the southern rim of GC, so all was good.
We decided it would save time to breakfast on the road and we set off in search of a little mom and pop bakery for a bite and coffee. A left turn out of Bryce and about one mile down Hwy 12 brought us to a cross road and a little grocery/bakery store. The sigh read "tourist stuff" so of course we had to stop. Two cups of questionable coffee and a couple of day old apple fritters (sans apples) later, we were paying up at the counter and heard those old familiar words, "Is that your trailer outside?".
We glanced out of the store window at the parking lot that contained one Tundra and one bright blue Tacoma with the only trailer to be seen for miles around...Hhhhmmmmm, wonder to whom they were speaking? Oh! It was us! Guilty as charged. The questions started rolling, beginning with: "Do you sleep in that?" A full tour ensued.
It was quite an extensive tour. This lovely couple had mountains of questions, oohed and awhed over the quality and spaciousness (they were both very tall) and finally left happy with a pamphlet tightly clasped in the husbands hand. We settled down to enjoy our breakfast of lukewarm coffee and stale apple-less apple fritters. Oh well.
The next stop was the Red Canyon Visitor's Center...which was closed for the season, of course. We had a grand time wandering along the trails and snapping shots of the brilliant blood red monoliths poking out amide dark green junipers and pines with a blindingly blue sky over all. A charter bus stopped and disgorged a load of European tourist who instantly swarmed over the trail and anything else nearby while talking at the top of their lungs and frightening the birds, so we decided to high tail it out. We had a lot of ground to cover and it was best we got back on the road.
We kept on the road until lunch time, driving through marvelous country. We traveled along the Vermillion Cliffs, wonderful escarpments tiger striped with pinky-reds and cream and lunched in the parking lot of the Visitor's Center, which was open. A nice chat with the ranger was pleasant and informative, then off on the road again. The day was getting on and the storm which we had been dodging the entire trip was fast catching up with us.
Along the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, the view from the road was fantastic. Row after row of monumental escarpments, one after the other, marched down our left, creating the impression of a gigantic staircase miles long. The colors were muted as the storm was fast on our heals, but it was still a magnificent sight.
As we dipped down into Arizona, we crossed Lake Powell and stopped in the town of Page at the Info. Center. A lovely, white haired lady volunteer was full of great information and gave us leads to a great campground at Navajo National Monument-it was free! Whoopee! So off we went...into a sandstorm! The skies were pink with sand and the wind was howling. And we still had that rain storm behind us. Goody.
The edge of the rain storm crossed to our right. We watched as the wind whipped up the sandstorm and rammed it into a bank of rain that swept in from the west. The collision of sand and rain created a small twister that skittered along in the distance away from us, thank goodness. The rain was hit and miss, so we never had enough to completely clean the sand off the truck. We were howling with laughter at the rivulets of pink mud running down our truck and trailer only to be instantly covered over with fresh sand. At times the sand blew so hard we wondered if there would be any paint left on the truck. What an adventure.
By late afternoon we made the turn toward Navajo National Monument and started a steep climb along a beautiful road that lead into the mountains. Secluded and nearly untouched, the wilderness around us would have been quiet enough to hear our own heartbeats had it not been for the blasted wind and sand.
The Visitor's Center was on top of a salmon pink plateau. A very kind and informative Navajo ranger was very helpful in guiding us to our campground, but first, he advised us to take a short walk to view the cliff dwellings. Cliff dwellings? We weren't expecting that. Grabbing cameras and hats, we were off.
The narrow path was 1.3 miles round trip, but the fierce wind and high altitude made it seem like 20. But the path was paved and easily accessible (except where the weather had worn it away-not good for wheel chairs) and at the end it lead to an overlook at the edge of a deep ravine. Across the ravine was a bank of cliffs with numerous caves. Inside the largest cave, a natural amphitheater, stood the Betatakin Dwellings, home of the Puebloan people from 1250 to 1300. A marvelous sight.
After many pictures, we battled the wind back to the truck and headed out in search of a campsite...at the very tip top of the plateau. The ranger, smiling, had told us they were expecting snow and it felt like it. Sunset Campground was lovely with paved roads and secluded camp sites amongst wind swept trees and breathtaking views. We found a semi sheltered site and pulled in as the wind howled around us, snapping branches off the junipers and kicking up sand everywhere. The fellow in the camp site next door helped guide us in. Campers are such nice people.
The wind wasn't letting up, so Jim held one of our car sun shields as a barrier so I could cook dinner. A joint effort that was successful. Steaks and roasted bell peppers over salad and some Bailey's Irish Cream chocolates made up for the crappy weather. Yummy. A short walk through the campground in the increasingly cold wind convinced us to hit the sack early. Snug and sand free in our little trailer, we felt sorry for our neighbor with his motorcycle and his dome tent shuttering in the icy wind.
We awoke to a peaceful dawn and opened the doors to: a miserable day. It was overcast, damp and damn cold. A race to the restrooms - heated, thank God - for a quick clean up and then back to camp amid the fluttering snow flakes. Breakfast would be had along the road as we were eager to get going before the snow started to stick to the road. Our next stop (and breakfast) would be in the town of Kayenta at the doorway to Monument Valley.
And here we stop for now.
Camp On,
Jim and Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
Jim wanted me to wait until he organized the photos so they can be used to illustrate the saga. I figure I'll be dead six years before he gets to it, so on with the story.
On the road to Monument Valley from Sunset Campground in the early dawn was a fun run amid the snowflakes. They danced in the wind like so many diminutive ballerinas, swirling round the vehicles as we drove down the long, lonely road. A sudden gust would throw them into tiny spirals that shot off in different directions. They chased us until we dropped below the magic elevation level where the snow stopped as suddenly as it started. Then the wind picked up and nailed us with red sand.
As we dropped back down into the valley, the junipers and pines vanished to be replaced with sparse vegetation scattered over miles and miles of rolling red and pink sandstone hills. Many small homesteads dotted the landscape, most with hogans, a testament to our entry into the Navajo Nation. The scenery continued tame for most of the ride until just outside of Kaynta (I think that's the name) where we made a long, slow right turn and damn near slammed the truck to a dead halt in the middle of the road.
I am a Zane Grey fan. I have read most of his books and reveled in his descriptions of scenery so intense I swear I could smell the sage brush. One look at the valley before us brought back snatches of some of his best works: Wanderer of the Wastelands, Wild Horse Mesa, The Mysterious Rider. Everywhere we looked we saw long stretches vermillion and purple flat land and out of this, great monoliths reaching up as if they held the sky in place. Atlas in stone.
We pulled off the road (trying to be respectful of private property) and snapped away like mad. The wind had eased and the snow had turned to hit and miss showers. This made for some fantastic skies and fleeting sunlight, so we had to move fast. Finally we continued on down the road. Breakfast was fast becoming lunch.
We stopped at a nice, clean little cafe called the Blue Coffee Pot and enjoyed some good, down home cooking. The cafe is a favorite haunt of the locals and we were surrounded by friendly, pleasant Navajos. I tired not to be rude and stare, but I'm an artist and people fascinate me. The Navajo are a lovely people with pleasing moon shaped faces accented with large almond shaped eyes that turn up at the end as if a smile is about to break loose. Their skin is the richest mahogany and the hair is so black as to have deep blue and purple highlights. Dimples are almost universal. Quick to smile, they impressed us as a very warm, congenial and pretty people. We left with full tummies and and fuller hearts.
Traveling through the valley, we stopped often for some truly spectacular shots. The rain storm scuttled in the distance, slinging clouds about, casting great shadows that raced along the ground and up the monuments and changed the earth and sky from red to pink to lavender in a heart beat.
We took a break at the visitor's center (no surprise there) just short of the main road to the official park entrance. A nice new complex, besides information it offered at least fifty small shops where one could purchase local crafts. Irresistible. Silver and bead-work was purchased while we enjoyed friendly conversation with the artisans. I made comment to the silversmith, Ernest Grey, about the beautiful land and how envious I was of those so lucky to wake up every morning to such magnificence. Ernest said how much he and his family loved living there and would never leave. I certainly could see his point, the lucky devil.
We continued on, stopping for more photo ops and eventually got to the main entrance of the park. Here we were informed that there were no roads through the parkland, no paved roads, that is. Most visitors park their vehicles and contract with the locals for a tour in four wheel drive vehicles. Since we had a four wheel drive truck, we could drop the trailer and take our chances with the dirt and sand roads. If we got stuck, we could hope for one of the tour jeeps to give us a rope out. Hhhmmmm... Ten dollars to drive 100 feet to a dusty parking lot, leave the trailer unattended and risk getting buried in a sand drift with another storm on the way. Nope. We turned around, traveled along the boarder of the park and saw some wonderful sights.
The day was getting on and we still had to travel to the Grand Canyon and our rendezvous with Jenn around 5PM. We made a quick stop at the local trading post/tourist trap, wandered around the shop and nearly got altitude sickness from the prices. Yikes! Off on the road again. It was only a three and a half hour drive to the South Rim, so we goofed off, soaked in the scenery, lunched on the road and visited some of the Navajo venders along the way. This was early in the season and not many were open, but we had fun and enjoyed friendly bantering with the artisans.
The road climbed out of the red stone valley, the density of the trees growing in proportion with the altitude. Soon we were traveling in a lush alpine forest, such a change from the sandy table land just a few hours back. Jim and I chatted non stop about the richness of the forest and wondered when we would get our first glimpse of the canyon when suddenly there it was.
Zion was mysterious and sacred, Bryce magnificent and Monument breathtaking, but nothing prepared us for that first view of the Grand Canyon. We gasped - no, really, we gasped! Jim pulled a questionable maneuver, drove the tuck over to the turnout and we just sat there and stared. We had been to the canyon many years before, so you'd think we would have been able to keep our mouths from flapping open. Nope. No memory is good enough, no photo big enough, no painting true enough to capture the staggering grandeur before us.
A vase chasm of fantastically carved and colored banded stone stretched for miles and miles until it vanished into that magic purple only found in great distances. Great shadows and huge bands of light moved across the enormous space creating gigantic geometric swaths of color. Golds, creams, browns and oranges crossed, collided and battled with reds, purples, greens and blues. The storm clouds overhead reflected the myriad of colors below and at the very bottom, a clear green snake that is the Colorado glittered.
And this was just the first turn out! It took a while, but eventually we closed our mouths (I only swallowed one small bug), hoped out and clambered around the rocks taking photos. It was only a few miles to the campsite, but we made so many stops we nearly were late for our reunion with Jenn. We finally made that last turn into the campground and after a bit of a search, there was Jenn (and the CI sticking our like a jewel in the wilderness) waving and smiling. We had been apart for only one day, but we missed her terribly. Warm hugs, laughter and boo-boo lips for not being allowed adjoining campsites (bad ranger, bad), we set up (a breeze as always) and headed off to the main hotel for a spot to catch the perfect sunset photo of the Grand Canyon.
And I'll tell you about that later. My neck is getting stiff and it's time to start dinner.
Tune in next time and
Camp On,
Sue
On the road to Monument Valley from Sunset Campground in the early dawn was a fun run amid the snowflakes. They danced in the wind like so many diminutive ballerinas, swirling round the vehicles as we drove down the long, lonely road. A sudden gust would throw them into tiny spirals that shot off in different directions. They chased us until we dropped below the magic elevation level where the snow stopped as suddenly as it started. Then the wind picked up and nailed us with red sand.
As we dropped back down into the valley, the junipers and pines vanished to be replaced with sparse vegetation scattered over miles and miles of rolling red and pink sandstone hills. Many small homesteads dotted the landscape, most with hogans, a testament to our entry into the Navajo Nation. The scenery continued tame for most of the ride until just outside of Kaynta (I think that's the name) where we made a long, slow right turn and damn near slammed the truck to a dead halt in the middle of the road.
I am a Zane Grey fan. I have read most of his books and reveled in his descriptions of scenery so intense I swear I could smell the sage brush. One look at the valley before us brought back snatches of some of his best works: Wanderer of the Wastelands, Wild Horse Mesa, The Mysterious Rider. Everywhere we looked we saw long stretches vermillion and purple flat land and out of this, great monoliths reaching up as if they held the sky in place. Atlas in stone.
We pulled off the road (trying to be respectful of private property) and snapped away like mad. The wind had eased and the snow had turned to hit and miss showers. This made for some fantastic skies and fleeting sunlight, so we had to move fast. Finally we continued on down the road. Breakfast was fast becoming lunch.
We stopped at a nice, clean little cafe called the Blue Coffee Pot and enjoyed some good, down home cooking. The cafe is a favorite haunt of the locals and we were surrounded by friendly, pleasant Navajos. I tired not to be rude and stare, but I'm an artist and people fascinate me. The Navajo are a lovely people with pleasing moon shaped faces accented with large almond shaped eyes that turn up at the end as if a smile is about to break loose. Their skin is the richest mahogany and the hair is so black as to have deep blue and purple highlights. Dimples are almost universal. Quick to smile, they impressed us as a very warm, congenial and pretty people. We left with full tummies and and fuller hearts.
Traveling through the valley, we stopped often for some truly spectacular shots. The rain storm scuttled in the distance, slinging clouds about, casting great shadows that raced along the ground and up the monuments and changed the earth and sky from red to pink to lavender in a heart beat.
We took a break at the visitor's center (no surprise there) just short of the main road to the official park entrance. A nice new complex, besides information it offered at least fifty small shops where one could purchase local crafts. Irresistible. Silver and bead-work was purchased while we enjoyed friendly conversation with the artisans. I made comment to the silversmith, Ernest Grey, about the beautiful land and how envious I was of those so lucky to wake up every morning to such magnificence. Ernest said how much he and his family loved living there and would never leave. I certainly could see his point, the lucky devil.
We continued on, stopping for more photo ops and eventually got to the main entrance of the park. Here we were informed that there were no roads through the parkland, no paved roads, that is. Most visitors park their vehicles and contract with the locals for a tour in four wheel drive vehicles. Since we had a four wheel drive truck, we could drop the trailer and take our chances with the dirt and sand roads. If we got stuck, we could hope for one of the tour jeeps to give us a rope out. Hhhmmmm... Ten dollars to drive 100 feet to a dusty parking lot, leave the trailer unattended and risk getting buried in a sand drift with another storm on the way. Nope. We turned around, traveled along the boarder of the park and saw some wonderful sights.
The day was getting on and we still had to travel to the Grand Canyon and our rendezvous with Jenn around 5PM. We made a quick stop at the local trading post/tourist trap, wandered around the shop and nearly got altitude sickness from the prices. Yikes! Off on the road again. It was only a three and a half hour drive to the South Rim, so we goofed off, soaked in the scenery, lunched on the road and visited some of the Navajo venders along the way. This was early in the season and not many were open, but we had fun and enjoyed friendly bantering with the artisans.
The road climbed out of the red stone valley, the density of the trees growing in proportion with the altitude. Soon we were traveling in a lush alpine forest, such a change from the sandy table land just a few hours back. Jim and I chatted non stop about the richness of the forest and wondered when we would get our first glimpse of the canyon when suddenly there it was.
Zion was mysterious and sacred, Bryce magnificent and Monument breathtaking, but nothing prepared us for that first view of the Grand Canyon. We gasped - no, really, we gasped! Jim pulled a questionable maneuver, drove the tuck over to the turnout and we just sat there and stared. We had been to the canyon many years before, so you'd think we would have been able to keep our mouths from flapping open. Nope. No memory is good enough, no photo big enough, no painting true enough to capture the staggering grandeur before us.
A vase chasm of fantastically carved and colored banded stone stretched for miles and miles until it vanished into that magic purple only found in great distances. Great shadows and huge bands of light moved across the enormous space creating gigantic geometric swaths of color. Golds, creams, browns and oranges crossed, collided and battled with reds, purples, greens and blues. The storm clouds overhead reflected the myriad of colors below and at the very bottom, a clear green snake that is the Colorado glittered.
And this was just the first turn out! It took a while, but eventually we closed our mouths (I only swallowed one small bug), hoped out and clambered around the rocks taking photos. It was only a few miles to the campsite, but we made so many stops we nearly were late for our reunion with Jenn. We finally made that last turn into the campground and after a bit of a search, there was Jenn (and the CI sticking our like a jewel in the wilderness) waving and smiling. We had been apart for only one day, but we missed her terribly. Warm hugs, laughter and boo-boo lips for not being allowed adjoining campsites (bad ranger, bad), we set up (a breeze as always) and headed off to the main hotel for a spot to catch the perfect sunset photo of the Grand Canyon.
And I'll tell you about that later. My neck is getting stiff and it's time to start dinner.
Tune in next time and
Camp On,
Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
Jenn,
Sharing this trip with you will go down as one of our favorite adventures. We were a bit worried our "seek and destroy" method of reconnoiter camping may have left you a little bruised and breathless. We'll have to get together again, plant ourselves somewhere and just vegetate (my natural state according to Jim).
Jean,
A sunrise tour sounds fantastic and we will do that next time around. This trip was a tight scheduled reconnaissance mission; searching for new places, campsites and such. Sort of a slash and burn style of camping, but fun. If it had not been raining and we had not been towing the CI, we would have taken that road through the park. We'll definitely be going back many times more for longer stays and exploration at all the wonderful places we found.
Camp On,
Sue
Sharing this trip with you will go down as one of our favorite adventures. We were a bit worried our "seek and destroy" method of reconnoiter camping may have left you a little bruised and breathless. We'll have to get together again, plant ourselves somewhere and just vegetate (my natural state according to Jim).
Jean,
A sunrise tour sounds fantastic and we will do that next time around. This trip was a tight scheduled reconnaissance mission; searching for new places, campsites and such. Sort of a slash and burn style of camping, but fun. If it had not been raining and we had not been towing the CI, we would have taken that road through the park. We'll definitely be going back many times more for longer stays and exploration at all the wonderful places we found.
Camp On,
Sue
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
Jenn,
Jim says he'd have to do the "Sip" first, before he could work up the courage for the "Zip and Dip".
I, on the other hand, think the wine afterward is a good idea. Self medication after all that energetic, young people type stuff would be an absolute must for us two old farts.
Actually, I'd love it, but Jim is sitting here making those "oh, hell no" eyes at me. Jim says all he can think of is the comedian, Jeanne Robertson, and Left Brain (her husband) rafting down the Colorado. If you don't know who Jeanne Robertson is, just check out youtube. She's a riot!
Sue and Jim (says)
Jim says he'd have to do the "Sip" first, before he could work up the courage for the "Zip and Dip".
I, on the other hand, think the wine afterward is a good idea. Self medication after all that energetic, young people type stuff would be an absolute must for us two old farts.
Actually, I'd love it, but Jim is sitting here making those "oh, hell no" eyes at me. Jim says all he can think of is the comedian, Jeanne Robertson, and Left Brain (her husband) rafting down the Colorado. If you don't know who Jeanne Robertson is, just check out youtube. She's a riot!
Sue and Jim (says)
Sue, and Jenn, and maybe Jim,
You all need to take one of your winters, pull your CI's down to warmer climates, set up camp and then settle down and write your journals. or maybe even a collaboration. You two can flat tell a story and keep ones interest. Then throw in the photos.... I think it would be a seller. At least to the teardrop and camping crowd. LOL
You all need to take one of your winters, pull your CI's down to warmer climates, set up camp and then settle down and write your journals. or maybe even a collaboration. You two can flat tell a story and keep ones interest. Then throw in the photos.... I think it would be a seller. At least to the teardrop and camping crowd. LOL
Jim and Sue L.
Junior Ranger
Okay, no more procrastination. We just came back from a couple of short hops and are about to run off again to Lassen and IRG. Thought we'd better finish this story before going on with the others.
Now where were we............ Oh, yeah: Grand Canyon and out meet up with Jenn.
We pulled up in the late afternoon and there was Jenn waving her arms in that hey-I'm-over-here style. As was said before, some grumpy ranger wouldn't let us camp next to her...and there was nothing but room everywhere...but we were close enough. Set up camp, which is to say: dropped the trailer, and headed out for photo ops.
Found the perfect spot for the classic "Grand Canyon at Sunset" shot, set up the camera and waited. We met lots of fun folks also waiting for the sunset and had a grand time chatting about cameras and lenses and light angles, then, just as the sun was about to slip into the exact position...a storm front moved in and obscured the whole bang lot! What a joke! We gave up and decided to drown our disappointment in a good hot meal at the grand old hotel.
I like cooking outdoors, but there's something to be said about a hot meal on a cold night and this was a very cold night. The restaurant at the hotel is quite popular and we had a bit of a wait. But no bother...we just whiled away the time shopping. We bought trinkets for the kids, including several pairs of the most outrageous socks every woven, then Jim spotted a stunning Pendleton blanket. Done in the style of Maynard Dixon, the blanket was a geometric rendition of the canyon all in golds, rusts and deep midnight blue. Stunning and a must have. We were considering it when our table came up. Food first, blanket later.
Now as you know, hotel restaurants-especially ones in high traffic areas-can be either very good or ghastly. I am pleased to say the hotel restaurant fell into the former with spades. Lickty-split service, interesting menu, great ambiance and particularly good food. I started with a yellow squash and roasted pepper soup and wished I could have just gone on with it. So creamy, savory and hot with just the right amount of nip - delicious. Medallions of beef in a luscious sauce, roasted seasonal veggies and braised potatoes finished with perfect coffee...who could ask for more? The price wasn't too bad and considering the quality, it was worth it.
After that feast, we returned to the canyon, but the storm was closing fast, so off to camp. We decided to turn in and be up early for a bus tour. The next day was colder and overcast, but we were taking the bus all around the canyon rim, so who cared? Now, the bus is the way to go on the South rim. We got on at the shopping center and spent the day transferring from one rout to another and snapping away until we had had enough. It was getting colder and the report was for snow by the dawn, so we decided to return to the camp, share dinner and hitch up just in case we had to beat a hasty retreat in the AM.
We made it as far as the car, then looked at each other...that damn blanket was on our minds. Where would we find another? It was designed specifically for the Grand Canyon...laughing, we all hopped into the truck and raced back to the hotel store. Jim bought his blanket and Jenn broke down and got one also. We're such a bad influence on her!
Back at the camp, it was too cold and blustery for a fire. We had dinner and shared hugs before calling it a night. Chances were we would leave early if the storm hit.
We awoke all warm and comfy and wondered what about the time. The skylight was still dark, so I opened my door...and was hit by a mini avalanche! The snow we get in California is heavy with moisture and tends to stick to whatever surface it lands on. Not in Arizona. Dry as sand, this snow followed the laws of gravity with a vengeance. It flew into the trailer and merrily covered me and my side of the blankets in record time. Jim howled with laughter as I frantically brushed at the snow, hoping to get it our before the melt set in. But the time all was clear, we were pink, damp and giggling like loons. We looked outside and all was a postcard of sparkling whiteness. Christmas in Spring.
By the time we had dressed, the flakes were falling fast and thick. We decided to haul out before we were snowed in. Jenn agreed and we said our fair-wells. The snow continued until just before Kingman and we had a few white knuckle moments with morons in fast cars, but the roads were plowed and we made it safe to Needles...where we learned the sunroof hadn't been properly closed and had popped up encouraging the air flow to suck up lots and lots of road water into the trailer. Oh goody, wet sheets and blankets (not the Pendleton).
Well, the mattress had a water proof cover and the KOA we chose had a big laundry room, so all the water damage was put to rights in no time.
The rest of the return trip was uneventful. The desert wasn't up to a big flowering this year, so it was a pretty dull drive. But we had fun...and my daughter and her new baby just came in, so by for now!
Sue
Now where were we............ Oh, yeah: Grand Canyon and out meet up with Jenn.
We pulled up in the late afternoon and there was Jenn waving her arms in that hey-I'm-over-here style. As was said before, some grumpy ranger wouldn't let us camp next to her...and there was nothing but room everywhere...but we were close enough. Set up camp, which is to say: dropped the trailer, and headed out for photo ops.
Found the perfect spot for the classic "Grand Canyon at Sunset" shot, set up the camera and waited. We met lots of fun folks also waiting for the sunset and had a grand time chatting about cameras and lenses and light angles, then, just as the sun was about to slip into the exact position...a storm front moved in and obscured the whole bang lot! What a joke! We gave up and decided to drown our disappointment in a good hot meal at the grand old hotel.
I like cooking outdoors, but there's something to be said about a hot meal on a cold night and this was a very cold night. The restaurant at the hotel is quite popular and we had a bit of a wait. But no bother...we just whiled away the time shopping. We bought trinkets for the kids, including several pairs of the most outrageous socks every woven, then Jim spotted a stunning Pendleton blanket. Done in the style of Maynard Dixon, the blanket was a geometric rendition of the canyon all in golds, rusts and deep midnight blue. Stunning and a must have. We were considering it when our table came up. Food first, blanket later.
Now as you know, hotel restaurants-especially ones in high traffic areas-can be either very good or ghastly. I am pleased to say the hotel restaurant fell into the former with spades. Lickty-split service, interesting menu, great ambiance and particularly good food. I started with a yellow squash and roasted pepper soup and wished I could have just gone on with it. So creamy, savory and hot with just the right amount of nip - delicious. Medallions of beef in a luscious sauce, roasted seasonal veggies and braised potatoes finished with perfect coffee...who could ask for more? The price wasn't too bad and considering the quality, it was worth it.
After that feast, we returned to the canyon, but the storm was closing fast, so off to camp. We decided to turn in and be up early for a bus tour. The next day was colder and overcast, but we were taking the bus all around the canyon rim, so who cared? Now, the bus is the way to go on the South rim. We got on at the shopping center and spent the day transferring from one rout to another and snapping away until we had had enough. It was getting colder and the report was for snow by the dawn, so we decided to return to the camp, share dinner and hitch up just in case we had to beat a hasty retreat in the AM.
We made it as far as the car, then looked at each other...that damn blanket was on our minds. Where would we find another? It was designed specifically for the Grand Canyon...laughing, we all hopped into the truck and raced back to the hotel store. Jim bought his blanket and Jenn broke down and got one also. We're such a bad influence on her!
Back at the camp, it was too cold and blustery for a fire. We had dinner and shared hugs before calling it a night. Chances were we would leave early if the storm hit.
We awoke all warm and comfy and wondered what about the time. The skylight was still dark, so I opened my door...and was hit by a mini avalanche! The snow we get in California is heavy with moisture and tends to stick to whatever surface it lands on. Not in Arizona. Dry as sand, this snow followed the laws of gravity with a vengeance. It flew into the trailer and merrily covered me and my side of the blankets in record time. Jim howled with laughter as I frantically brushed at the snow, hoping to get it our before the melt set in. But the time all was clear, we were pink, damp and giggling like loons. We looked outside and all was a postcard of sparkling whiteness. Christmas in Spring.
By the time we had dressed, the flakes were falling fast and thick. We decided to haul out before we were snowed in. Jenn agreed and we said our fair-wells. The snow continued until just before Kingman and we had a few white knuckle moments with morons in fast cars, but the roads were plowed and we made it safe to Needles...where we learned the sunroof hadn't been properly closed and had popped up encouraging the air flow to suck up lots and lots of road water into the trailer. Oh goody, wet sheets and blankets (not the Pendleton).
Well, the mattress had a water proof cover and the KOA we chose had a big laundry room, so all the water damage was put to rights in no time.
The rest of the return trip was uneventful. The desert wasn't up to a big flowering this year, so it was a pretty dull drive. But we had fun...and my daughter and her new baby just came in, so by for now!
Sue