September 3, 2008
Peoria, AZ
Whew! It's been quite busy over the past week, and I haven't had the time I'd wanted to keep the blog up to date. Primarily, that's been related to some picture-taking opportunities, but also to our first scheduled return to the Phoenix area.
Last week was hot at Lake Powell, hotter than I'd expected it to be. I wanted to get close enough to home so that we could make relatively easy trips back for Geri's dental work, but still beat the heat. I didn't do the right research when scheduling our stops, but we're definitely making the best of it.
We made a couple of day trips aimed at finding cooler spots, and were very successful. I also got some good photos, and that's the source for some of my delay in posting. I've been playing around with some new filters for the camera lenses, primarily a new circular polarizer (this filter helps reduce glare and enhance blue skies). As a result, some of the images I've captured are too dark, and require some PC processing before I can post them. I just haven't gotten to that work yet, so pictures will come later.
Last Wednesday, we drove south from Lake Powell, then west to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This area is known for thunderstorms on summer afternoons and we saw some clouds building but didn't get wet. We found the 8,000+ foot elevations brought temperatures in the mid-60s to low-70s that were quite pleasant. We packed the pups and a lunch, and stopped to eat at a picnic area right along the Canyon. It was a nice trip, retracing our steps from a visit many years ago. For the return trip, we headed north from the Canyon into Utah, and then east back to Lake Powell. It was a long day, as we didn't get back home until well after dark.
On Saturday, we made another day trip, this time back into Utah, first stopping at Cedar Breaks National Monument, and then Bryce Canyon National Park. The geology and topography in these two areas is similar, although the Breaks is a natural amphitheater and Bryce is (duh) a canyon. Both are filled with rock features called hoodoos, vertical fingers of rock that have eroded away over time. We climbed higher on this loop, with Bryce topping out at 9,100 feet and Cedar Breaks around 10,600 feet; the temperature stayed in the low-to-mid 60s. The normal afternoon thunderstorms were forming as we left Bryce and we could see rain showers in the distance as we drove home.
Saturday night, the rains came to Lake Powell, after a long evening of a light show from the lightning in the distance. Since the forecast called for more rain on Sunday, we decided to move our trip back to Peoria up by a day, leaving Sunday morning instead of Monday. This was probably a wise choice, since we were able to get settled in and make sure that everything was OK with the house, and still have Monday open for any needed shopping, etc.
The drive from Lake Powell took a little under 5 hours, as planned, with a couple of stops for gas, food and "rest". It's pretty much a straight shot south from Page to Flagstaff along US-89 and then I-17 to Phoenix. It's a climb from 4,000 feet to over 7,000 near Flagstaff, then a drop to about 1,200 feet in Phoenix. Of course, this is spread over many miles, but you can definitely tell when you're going "up" or "down". There were storms around Flagstaff; we could see them in the distance as we approached from the north, then we got hammered for the first hour or so of driving once we got on I-17. We had rain so heavy at one point that I was glad there was an 18-wheeler ten car lengths ahead of me, because that was the only way I knew where the road was. Gladly, he actually stayed on the road! We ran out of the rain before we got to Phoenix, and it was just partly cloudy and warm (mid-90s, not 100+) when we got home.
Everything was fine with the house, which was fortunate given the holiday weekend. No exploding toilets when the water was turned on, and no issues with the gas. The A/C was reset from its 88 degree mark and everything cooled off nicely.
Monday was a day of running around. We did some shopping at Cabela's for replacement outdoor chairs and tables to keep in the coach; we'd seen some in CT and decided to pick them up before we head to the Balloon Fiesta. And, Geri had a chance to get a manicure and pedicure, since she was way overdue.
Tuesday, we started off at Geri’s periodontist. His task was to evaluate her dental implants for proper healing, and to “release” the first two to the prostodontist for installing the teeth. Fortunately, everything worked out very well, and we’re “good to go” for the first two implants. As expected, the second two implants need a bit more healing, and will then need to be “uncovered”. Apparently, on the “uppers”, they want the gum tissue to grow back and cover the implant for healing, something not needed on the “lowers”. We made the appointment for the “uncovering” in late October; that will need an additional month to heal before the process of installing teeth can start. I never realized how long this stuff takes!
Last night, we attended another baseball game, this time the local Diamondbacks hosting the St. Louis Cardinals. Although there’s a rumor that we jinxed the home team, we prefer to believe that they managed to lose “big time” all on their own. Chase Field is a beautiful park, though, and it was quite comfortable with the roof closed (95° outside and 77° inside at game time. The D-Backs lost, but it was a good game for the visitors; we were both surprised at how many St. Louis fans were in attendance. I suppose we shouldn’t be, though, since Phoenix is one of those places where “nobody is really from here”, with a lot of transplants. Fortunately, we had very good seats, about 30 rows up from the visiting dugout. We were also fortunate that the 20-something Cro-Magnon sitting in front of us with his pants hanging down left after the third inning, or maybe that he remembered to wear his “Superman” undies. Or both. Ugh! We really enjoyed seeing the “Cuervo Guy” hawking frozen Margaritas in the stands, and both commented on how much Al would have enjoyed the game and venue.
Today, we both had appointments with the prostodontist. Geri had her impressions taken for the teeth that will go on the implants, and that went very well. We decided to wait until we get back in October to have them installed, which will save us from having to drive back from Santa Fe later this month. I had my loose bridge re-cemented, and hopefully I’ll be able to get another year or so out of it before we have to rebuild it or move to an implant for me as well. I was worried that he wouldn’t be able (or willing) to do anything today, so I’d prepared myself, but it’s good to have it back in with something other than Fix-o-dent.
We’ve been eating well and enjoying the “wine box” since we’ve been back, shopping twice at AJ’s Fine Foods (our local gourmet shop). Monday, we had some nice steaks (filet mignon for Geri and porterhouse for me) and today we had some halibut fillets, poached with tomatoes and basil, with a creamy orzo with peas. Makes us anxious to get back for the winter!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Some relaxation, then "ouch"!
August 25, 2008
Lake Powell, AZ/UT
We did a pretty good job of relaxing over the last few days, except that yesterday things started to fall apart.
Saturday, we organized and shopped. We started making a list (well, it'll be a list once we actually write it down) of things to do while we're here. I'd like to go ona tour to the Antelope Canyon (a "slot canyon" cut through the sandstone) and identified a couple of places for possible picture making. We also are thinking about a dinner cruise on the lake, and maybe a boat rental for a day. We can also make day trips to the Grand Canyon (North Rim), Zion, Bryce, and Monument Valley, but we've already visited those places so we'll have to see if we want to go back.
One factor will be the weather, more specifically the heat. It was "cooler" yesterday at 95 degrees, and it's supposed to be "warmer" (98/99/99) Wednesday through Friday. We got here a little early; it's supposed to cool off after Labor Day. Maybe this week will be a good time to do the day trips to cooler places.
Yesterday, we didn't have a plan and we over achieved. Geri did a fine job of polishing most of the countertops, and gave Maya Lynn a bath (Merlin's scheduled for today). That's when things started to go downhill. While getting rinsed, Maya tried to do a back-flip in the sink and the faucet head became disconnected from Geri's hand, spraying water all over the place. No problem; it's just water and the floor needs cleaning anyway. A short while later, she was pouring water from the Britta and didn't realise that it had just been filled. Another clean-up project. We laughed about what else could go wrong.
Well, it didn't take long to find out and, unfortunately, it wasn't as funny. I was giving the pups their afternoon walk and stopped to chat with some neighbors. We'd actually met them at the Four Corners Monument, two couples with the same brand coach as us. It turns out that they are leading a caravan through the major southwestern parks starting next week, and ths is their kick-off point. They're part of a group we joined this spring; we're thinking about a "wine country" caravan next year with this club.
Anyway, as we were chatting, the dogs were waiting patiently when all of a sudden, Maya jumped up startled and started licking one of her back paws. She started crying and we figued out pretty quickly that something had bitten her on the paw. The only bugs I remember seeing around the area were ants, but who knows. I had to carry her back to the coach and we started figuring out what to do. Last year, we'd purchased a book on first aid for dogs, and I was sort of glad we had it. The good news was that a section on insect bites was easy to find and had common sense advice (baking soda and water compress, ice to releive swelling). The bad news was that it started out with possibilities that are fatal (recluse spider bites, scorpion attacks, anaphalactic shock, breathing failure, etc.) that I just didn't want to hear about. Who knows what's crawling around out here in the desert?
Once inside, she alternated between furiously licking her paw and limping around on three legs with the offending leg held straight back. It was sad and scary at the same time. We followed the "prescription" (it was time to change the baking soda things in the fridge and freezer anyway) and the compress and ice helped. We also gave her a pill that would reduce itching, and by bedtime, she was better. She woke me up at dawn this morning and wanted to go out, and was walking OK, so I think we're out of the woods on this one.
On the food front, we've decided that it's time to defrost the freezer so we're focusing on eating everything in it. With the heat, it's more effective to cook outside when possible, so that's our strategy, even though that means eating a little later (it starts to cool off around 6:00 PM and we're nicely positioned so our "patio" is in the afternoon shade). On Saturday, we finished up the NY Strips we'd bought and froze back in CT (Costco impulse buy) and yesterday, we made our second batch of Lo Mein, this time with chicken instead of pork (that's what was in the freezer) and peas instead of bean sprouts (sprouts went bad in the fridge). It was still good, and better with the addition of the sesame oil called for in the recipe (we didn't have that on hand for the first batch). This is a pretty flexible recipe, so we'll probably make it often.
Now that we're back in AZ, we can get wine in the grocery stores, so we'll have to stock up. I picked up a few bottles of Sauvignon Blanc and other unoaked whites for apperitif purposes, and we've been working off the selection of value Shiraz and Cabernet blends, with the odd Rioja and Malbec thrown in, that I'd laid in before we left CT. I'm thinking we'll raid the "wine box" and do some shopping while we're back in Phoenix on September 1-3 for Geri's dental work.
Well, that's it for this morning...
Lake Powell, AZ/UT
We did a pretty good job of relaxing over the last few days, except that yesterday things started to fall apart.
Saturday, we organized and shopped. We started making a list (well, it'll be a list once we actually write it down) of things to do while we're here. I'd like to go ona tour to the Antelope Canyon (a "slot canyon" cut through the sandstone) and identified a couple of places for possible picture making. We also are thinking about a dinner cruise on the lake, and maybe a boat rental for a day. We can also make day trips to the Grand Canyon (North Rim), Zion, Bryce, and Monument Valley, but we've already visited those places so we'll have to see if we want to go back.
One factor will be the weather, more specifically the heat. It was "cooler" yesterday at 95 degrees, and it's supposed to be "warmer" (98/99/99) Wednesday through Friday. We got here a little early; it's supposed to cool off after Labor Day. Maybe this week will be a good time to do the day trips to cooler places.
Yesterday, we didn't have a plan and we over achieved. Geri did a fine job of polishing most of the countertops, and gave Maya Lynn a bath (Merlin's scheduled for today). That's when things started to go downhill. While getting rinsed, Maya tried to do a back-flip in the sink and the faucet head became disconnected from Geri's hand, spraying water all over the place. No problem; it's just water and the floor needs cleaning anyway. A short while later, she was pouring water from the Britta and didn't realise that it had just been filled. Another clean-up project. We laughed about what else could go wrong.
Well, it didn't take long to find out and, unfortunately, it wasn't as funny. I was giving the pups their afternoon walk and stopped to chat with some neighbors. We'd actually met them at the Four Corners Monument, two couples with the same brand coach as us. It turns out that they are leading a caravan through the major southwestern parks starting next week, and ths is their kick-off point. They're part of a group we joined this spring; we're thinking about a "wine country" caravan next year with this club.
Anyway, as we were chatting, the dogs were waiting patiently when all of a sudden, Maya jumped up startled and started licking one of her back paws. She started crying and we figued out pretty quickly that something had bitten her on the paw. The only bugs I remember seeing around the area were ants, but who knows. I had to carry her back to the coach and we started figuring out what to do. Last year, we'd purchased a book on first aid for dogs, and I was sort of glad we had it. The good news was that a section on insect bites was easy to find and had common sense advice (baking soda and water compress, ice to releive swelling). The bad news was that it started out with possibilities that are fatal (recluse spider bites, scorpion attacks, anaphalactic shock, breathing failure, etc.) that I just didn't want to hear about. Who knows what's crawling around out here in the desert?
Once inside, she alternated between furiously licking her paw and limping around on three legs with the offending leg held straight back. It was sad and scary at the same time. We followed the "prescription" (it was time to change the baking soda things in the fridge and freezer anyway) and the compress and ice helped. We also gave her a pill that would reduce itching, and by bedtime, she was better. She woke me up at dawn this morning and wanted to go out, and was walking OK, so I think we're out of the woods on this one.
On the food front, we've decided that it's time to defrost the freezer so we're focusing on eating everything in it. With the heat, it's more effective to cook outside when possible, so that's our strategy, even though that means eating a little later (it starts to cool off around 6:00 PM and we're nicely positioned so our "patio" is in the afternoon shade). On Saturday, we finished up the NY Strips we'd bought and froze back in CT (Costco impulse buy) and yesterday, we made our second batch of Lo Mein, this time with chicken instead of pork (that's what was in the freezer) and peas instead of bean sprouts (sprouts went bad in the fridge). It was still good, and better with the addition of the sesame oil called for in the recipe (we didn't have that on hand for the first batch). This is a pretty flexible recipe, so we'll probably make it often.
Now that we're back in AZ, we can get wine in the grocery stores, so we'll have to stock up. I picked up a few bottles of Sauvignon Blanc and other unoaked whites for apperitif purposes, and we've been working off the selection of value Shiraz and Cabernet blends, with the odd Rioja and Malbec thrown in, that I'd laid in before we left CT. I'm thinking we'll raid the "wine box" and do some shopping while we're back in Phoenix on September 1-3 for Geri's dental work.
Well, that's it for this morning...
Friday, August 22, 2008
So, what time is it anyway???
August 22, 2008
Lake Powell, AZ/UT Border
Today was a travel day and it was a wonderful day for it. We left Durango this morning and were fully ensconced in our new "home" at Lake Powell by mid-afternoon.
Yesterday, I puttered around with the blog and associated pictures (this is the part that can be time consuming) and "ran out of runway" in terms of getting some of the travel preparation dealt with the night before departure. Since we had a relatively easy day of driving, I opted to not worry about it and pick up the slack in the morning. This was a good call, especially since the "ace in the hole" was that we'd gain an hour due to the time change. This is because Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time.
We reset our departure target from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, and actually beat the target by 40 minutes. We were up at 7:00, got most of the inside stuff done, and then walked the pups. Since we were in a relatively narrow valley, the sun was "up" but not actually shining on us since it was behind the mountains. Man, was it chilly! As soon as the sun crested the mountain, it warmed up considerably.
I packed most of the outside stuff while Geri bought us a take-out breakfast from the park's kitchen. We then wrapped up the prep work and were actually on the road by 9:20. It was a beautiful day for driving, without a cloud in the sky in any direction. We fueled up as planned in Cortez, and stopped for a break at the "4 Corners" monument (the only point in the US where four states actually join). We followed US-160 out of Durango for most of the day, before taking the CO-98 shortcut to Page, and then over the bridge by the Glen Canyon Dam to our stopping spot at "Wahweap". The Glen Canyon Dam is a hydroelectric power plant similar to, but nowhere near as famous as, the Hoover Dam at Lake Mead further downriver.
It's warm here, and will continue to be in the mid-90s for the next few days. We're located in a very new section of the park, with all paved roads and concrete pads. It looks like the power will be good (it darn well should be, with the hydroelectric from the dam and a large coal-fired plant just outside town), so running the A/C shouldn't be an issue. We overlook the extreme southern end of the lake (it stretches for miles from here). We'll get out for some local pictures tomorrow.
One interesting thing is that we're probably 100 yards from the Utah border. We're a little time-confused, since my phone shows one time and Geri's is an hour later. The only thing I can think of is that her phone is picking up a Utah tower (Mountain Daylight Time) and mine is getting Arizona (Mountain Standard Time). So, who knows what time it is? More importantly, who cares - it's nighttime. And I'm done for today!
Lake Powell, AZ/UT Border
Today was a travel day and it was a wonderful day for it. We left Durango this morning and were fully ensconced in our new "home" at Lake Powell by mid-afternoon.
Yesterday, I puttered around with the blog and associated pictures (this is the part that can be time consuming) and "ran out of runway" in terms of getting some of the travel preparation dealt with the night before departure. Since we had a relatively easy day of driving, I opted to not worry about it and pick up the slack in the morning. This was a good call, especially since the "ace in the hole" was that we'd gain an hour due to the time change. This is because Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time.
We reset our departure target from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, and actually beat the target by 40 minutes. We were up at 7:00, got most of the inside stuff done, and then walked the pups. Since we were in a relatively narrow valley, the sun was "up" but not actually shining on us since it was behind the mountains. Man, was it chilly! As soon as the sun crested the mountain, it warmed up considerably.
I packed most of the outside stuff while Geri bought us a take-out breakfast from the park's kitchen. We then wrapped up the prep work and were actually on the road by 9:20. It was a beautiful day for driving, without a cloud in the sky in any direction. We fueled up as planned in Cortez, and stopped for a break at the "4 Corners" monument (the only point in the US where four states actually join). We followed US-160 out of Durango for most of the day, before taking the CO-98 shortcut to Page, and then over the bridge by the Glen Canyon Dam to our stopping spot at "Wahweap". The Glen Canyon Dam is a hydroelectric power plant similar to, but nowhere near as famous as, the Hoover Dam at Lake Mead further downriver.
It's warm here, and will continue to be in the mid-90s for the next few days. We're located in a very new section of the park, with all paved roads and concrete pads. It looks like the power will be good (it darn well should be, with the hydroelectric from the dam and a large coal-fired plant just outside town), so running the A/C shouldn't be an issue. We overlook the extreme southern end of the lake (it stretches for miles from here). We'll get out for some local pictures tomorrow.
One interesting thing is that we're probably 100 yards from the Utah border. We're a little time-confused, since my phone shows one time and Geri's is an hour later. The only thing I can think of is that her phone is picking up a Utah tower (Mountain Daylight Time) and mine is getting Arizona (Mountain Standard Time). So, who knows what time it is? More importantly, who cares - it's nighttime. And I'm done for today!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Scenic Drive to Silverton
August 19-20, 2008
Durango, CO
Yesterday, we took a scenic drive from where we're parked (just a few miles north of Durango) to the old mining town of Silverton. Today, we puttered around the house. Yesterday was much more interesting.
We've actually been to Silverton before, around a year ago, when we made our way west after last summer's adventures. Then, we traveled along I-70 and stayed for a few days in Grand Junction, and one of our day trips was to drive the "Million Dollar Highway" (so named for the value of the silver it carried, or its cost, or some other suitable tall tale), aka US-550, from Grand Junction to Silverton. Unfortunately, one of us (that would be me) pushed for bringing the dogs with us on last year's drive so our out-of-the-car options were limited. This year: "the 
dogs will be fine for 1/2 day guarding the motorhome".
This year's drive was a lot shorter, about 50 miles as opposed to over 100 from Grand Junction. It was quite a nice days, and we timed it to be able to stop as desired for photo opps and to have lunch in Silverton before our return trip. As it turns out, we had the chance to finish driving the "Million Dollar Highway" this year, as that designation extends all the way to just outside Durango. We made numerous stops for pictures, since there was a new vista around every corner, and the road's pretty twisty. We crossed over two passes (Coal Bank Pass at 10,640 feet and Molas Pass at 10,910 feet) before descending into Silverton.
Silverton only has just over 500 residents, but that's a lot for this area. In fact, it's the only incorporated town in San Juan County, making it the county seat by default. It's also one of the highest towns in the US at just over 9,300 feet (yes, we felt the altitude - we sound like a broken record). The town itself is nestled into a small valley with large peaks on all sides. There's one paved street, no traffic lights or stop signs (plenty of "yield to pedestrians" crosswalks, though), and enough tourist traps to keep anyone busy.
We had lunch at a small Mexican restaurant on the main drag, 
chosen because Geri saw the sign in the window advertising "George's Famous Margaritas". I was angling for "The Bent Elbow", a burger and beer joint on the back street, but how could I argue? It turns out that George and Lucy Romero started the place in the '60s and it's been family-run ever since. The food was decent if not stellar (remember, we've eaten in the best Mexican restaurants in NYC) and the Margaritas (yes, we had to try them) were 7 on a scale of 10 (10 being mine, of course J). Once Geri found George's name on more than the Margaritas (it was on the door to the loo), we figured other people may have the same opinion. Gotta love places that don't take themselves too seriously!
The drive back was just as nice even though we were backtracking. It's amazing how much
more you'd see if you had eyes in the back of your head. The different point-of-view, coupled with a different angle of the sun, made additional stops for pictures necessary. We passed several sets of bicyclists on the return trip (only two on the morning segment), and Dave would have surely been interested in how they were managing the climbs with over 4,000 feet of change (with little amplitude - all "up") in 20 miles or so with no sign of support vehicles. That's hard core, for sure.
Other than the typical mountain vistas, the only other things of note we stopped for were a stray llama and a hot spring. The llama was in a meadow (if you can call it that with a 45° slope) overlooking Coal Bank Pass. I spotted it on the way out but stopped on the way back for better pictures with the telephoto lens (another reason I should have bought that 500mm lens or 1.7/2.0x tele-converter - shoot!). With the longer lens, I could see that it had a halter and lead on it, so it must have escaped from somewhere and was living large on the side of the mountain. Of course, it's probably not the only thing living on the side of the mountain, so we wish it well…
The hot spring was right on the side of the road, and I barely saw it in the
morning. I was glad we stopped in the afternoon, though, as the light was much better for pictures. It's called the "Pinkerton Hot Spring" and was apparently named for a local rancher. It's one of several highly-carbonated springs in the area and it's created a mound of travertine about 10' high and 20' around, right along the side of the highway. It was like something you'd see in Yellowstone, and we didn't expect to see it here. I'm surprised that the road construction didn't destroy it, but they certainly made a nice pull-out for travelers to use. The colors in the mound were quite bright, and the patterns reminded me of something from an Impressionist painting - if Impressionists did abstracts, I suppose (OK, so I'm not the art history guy).
Anyway, click here for more pictures from the day trip to Silverton.
After the hot spring, we headed home. From there, the story turns mundane. Second meal of veal parm (second meal is a euphemism for "leftovers", nothing on TV, downloading pictures from the cameras, early to bed. Today, Geri did some more laundry and I gave myself a hair and beard trim. Other than that, we relaxed. We'll probably do more of the same tomorrow, with some shopping and packing in advance of our Friday departure.
Durango, CO
Yesterday, we took a scenic drive from where we're parked (just a few miles north of Durango) to the old mining town of Silverton. Today, we puttered around the house. Yesterday was much more interesting.
We've actually been to Silverton before, around a year ago, when we made our way west after last summer's adventures. Then, we traveled along I-70 and stayed for a few days in Grand Junction, and one of our day trips was to drive the "Million Dollar Highway" (so named for the value of the silver it carried, or its cost, or some other suitable tall tale), aka US-550, from Grand Junction to Silverton. Unfortunately, one of us (that would be me) pushed for bringing the dogs with us on last year's drive so our out-of-the-car options were limited. This year: "the 
dogs will be fine for 1/2 day guarding the motorhome".This year's drive was a lot shorter, about 50 miles as opposed to over 100 from Grand Junction. It was quite a nice days, and we timed it to be able to stop as desired for photo opps and to have lunch in Silverton before our return trip. As it turns out, we had the chance to finish driving the "Million Dollar Highway" this year, as that designation extends all the way to just outside Durango. We made numerous stops for pictures, since there was a new vista around every corner, and the road's pretty twisty. We crossed over two passes (Coal Bank Pass at 10,640 feet and Molas Pass at 10,910 feet) before descending into Silverton.
Silverton only has just over 500 residents, but that's a lot for this area. In fact, it's the only incorporated town in San Juan County, making it the county seat by default. It's also one of the highest towns in the US at just over 9,300 feet (yes, we felt the altitude - we sound like a broken record). The town itself is nestled into a small valley with large peaks on all sides. There's one paved street, no traffic lights or stop signs (plenty of "yield to pedestrians" crosswalks, though), and enough tourist traps to keep anyone busy.
We had lunch at a small Mexican restaurant on the main drag, 
chosen because Geri saw the sign in the window advertising "George's Famous Margaritas". I was angling for "The Bent Elbow", a burger and beer joint on the back street, but how could I argue? It turns out that George and Lucy Romero started the place in the '60s and it's been family-run ever since. The food was decent if not stellar (remember, we've eaten in the best Mexican restaurants in NYC) and the Margaritas (yes, we had to try them) were 7 on a scale of 10 (10 being mine, of course J). Once Geri found George's name on more than the Margaritas (it was on the door to the loo), we figured other people may have the same opinion. Gotta love places that don't take themselves too seriously!The drive back was just as nice even though we were backtracking. It's amazing how much
more you'd see if you had eyes in the back of your head. The different point-of-view, coupled with a different angle of the sun, made additional stops for pictures necessary. We passed several sets of bicyclists on the return trip (only two on the morning segment), and Dave would have surely been interested in how they were managing the climbs with over 4,000 feet of change (with little amplitude - all "up") in 20 miles or so with no sign of support vehicles. That's hard core, for sure.
Other than the typical mountain vistas, the only other things of note we stopped for were a stray llama and a hot spring. The llama was in a meadow (if you can call it that with a 45° slope) overlooking Coal Bank Pass. I spotted it on the way out but stopped on the way back for better pictures with the telephoto lens (another reason I should have bought that 500mm lens or 1.7/2.0x tele-converter - shoot!). With the longer lens, I could see that it had a halter and lead on it, so it must have escaped from somewhere and was living large on the side of the mountain. Of course, it's probably not the only thing living on the side of the mountain, so we wish it well…The hot spring was right on the side of the road, and I barely saw it in the
morning. I was glad we stopped in the afternoon, though, as the light was much better for pictures. It's called the "Pinkerton Hot Spring" and was apparently named for a local rancher. It's one of several highly-carbonated springs in the area and it's created a mound of travertine about 10' high and 20' around, right along the side of the highway. It was like something you'd see in Yellowstone, and we didn't expect to see it here. I'm surprised that the road construction didn't destroy it, but they certainly made a nice pull-out for travelers to use. The colors in the mound were quite bright, and the patterns reminded me of something from an Impressionist painting - if Impressionists did abstracts, I suppose (OK, so I'm not the art history guy).Anyway, click here for more pictures from the day trip to Silverton.
After the hot spring, we headed home. From there, the story turns mundane. Second meal of veal parm (second meal is a euphemism for "leftovers", nothing on TV, downloading pictures from the cameras, early to bed. Today, Geri did some more laundry and I gave myself a hair and beard trim. Other than that, we relaxed. We'll probably do more of the same tomorrow, with some shopping and packing in advance of our Friday departure.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Relaxing in Durango
August 12-18, 2008
Durango, CO
The past week has been both relaxing and productive, as we've
spent the last week in Durango, CO.
We had a relatively easy driving day on Tuesday, following CO-115 south out of Colorado City and US-50 west (past the Royal Gorge again), to US-160 which brought us right into Durango. The only minor glitch was that I was watching for a fuel stop before we got into our campground, but didn't find one (at least one we could get the rig into and out of). This isn't a big problem, since we have 5/8 of a tank and will be able to find a place during our next driving day, the 21st.
In general, we haven't tried to do a lot, which is OK since it's pleasant and
scenic just staying here in the park. We're in a small valley along the Animas River, with red rock mountains of 800-1,000 feet on either side. The Durango-Silverton scenic train goes right past the park several times a day hauling tourists, but we decided to pass on the train. First, it's pretty rustic, with coal-fired steam engines belching smoke and the old open-window wooden cars not exactly the lap of luxury. Second, it's an all-day affair, involving about 9 hours (3 hours to travel the 50 miles to Silverton, 3 hours to walk around there and three hours back).
Geri did some laundry early in our stay here, and will do another batch before we leave. I had some fun upgrading the water pump in the coach, and we've had several nice meals (grilled steaks, low-and-slow ribs, veal parm, and (a first for us) home-made pork lo mein. Geri found a simple (lots of prep work but easy to assemble) lo mein recipe in the Fine Cooking magazine, and it's definitely a keeper.
This park has an open space of a little over an acre that fronts the road (US-550), and they've
fenced it off and mowed it for use as a dog run. It's been great to be able to let the pups run loose and they've met some of the other dogs staying here. Unfortunately, many of the other dogs (or their owners) are skittish about playing nice, so sometimes it seems like the dog run is "single threaded", but other than that, it's been great. In the meantime, they've been enjoying their portable pen by our site.
The water pump saga goes back several months, actually over a year. Late last summer, I noticed a small intermittent water leak, and soon determined that it only happened when we were not hooked up to a water supply, only when we were using our on-board water supply. The reason it didn't leak all the time was the difference in pressure. When we're hooked up, I keep our pressure regulated to 40-45 PSI right at the faucet. The pump generates 65 PSI, and the difference apparently was enough to force a small leak. After we got back to Arizona, I tracked the leak down to a plastic fitting where the water pipe connected to the accumulator tank. I tightened it up and all was well - I thought. After we left Connecticut a few weeks ago, I noticed the leak had started again. Unfortunately, this time, tightening the fitting caused it to leak more, not less. That's when I knew it was time to upgrade the water pump - the high end models are variable-speed and don't require the accumulator, and provide more flow (5.7 gallons per minute as opposed to 4.0 GPM).
I bypassed the accumulator while we were in Illinois (the old pump still works without it, just runs a lot more frequently) and bought the new pump at Camping World (the best source for generic RV parts like water pumps) while we were in Colorado Springs. Since it rained every day there, I held off on installation. With the weather so nice here, it made sense to get it done. As soon as I read the directions (yes, some of us do read the directions - at least some of the time), I thought I'd need a trip to the store for electrical parts since the upgraded pump requires a 30 amp relay for switching (the current draw is higher). When I crawled in to check, I was surprised to see the relay already in place! I'm not sure if it was original equipment, or if it was installed as part of some of the warranty work. Either way, I was happy to see it there.
Swapping out the pump was pretty easy, since they use standardized fittings that only go on hand-tight, and they're all roughly the same size. When I went to reconnect the wiring, I realized that the aforementioned relay had been directly "in the line of fire" from the leaking fitting and was heavily corroded. I removed and cleaned it, but couldn't get a reliable operation, so off to Napa Auto Parts I went (I always note the location of Home Depots and Napas on entering town) for a replacement. With a little location adjustment and some contact cleaner, we're back in business. I'll pick up another relay (~$9) as a spare at some point, and I stored the old pump in the "spare parts bin" in the basement. Another $100 in labor saved!
Friday, we took a short scenic drive over to Cortez, a place we'd been to before - a long time ago. Years ago, we started RVing by renting one when I could cobble two weeks of vacation at a time. Our very first trip like this was in the late-80s, and we flew to Phoenix, rented the RV in Mesa, and drove up through the "4-Corners" region with stops at Mesa Verde, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks. Mesa Verde is just west of the town of Cortez, and we stayed in town - somewhere. Darned if I could remember where, of course, but that's OK. We'll pass through there again when we leave here heading for Lake Powell.
Durango, CO
The past week has been both relaxing and productive, as we've
spent the last week in Durango, CO.We had a relatively easy driving day on Tuesday, following CO-115 south out of Colorado City and US-50 west (past the Royal Gorge again), to US-160 which brought us right into Durango. The only minor glitch was that I was watching for a fuel stop before we got into our campground, but didn't find one (at least one we could get the rig into and out of). This isn't a big problem, since we have 5/8 of a tank and will be able to find a place during our next driving day, the 21st.
In general, we haven't tried to do a lot, which is OK since it's pleasant and
scenic just staying here in the park. We're in a small valley along the Animas River, with red rock mountains of 800-1,000 feet on either side. The Durango-Silverton scenic train goes right past the park several times a day hauling tourists, but we decided to pass on the train. First, it's pretty rustic, with coal-fired steam engines belching smoke and the old open-window wooden cars not exactly the lap of luxury. Second, it's an all-day affair, involving about 9 hours (3 hours to travel the 50 miles to Silverton, 3 hours to walk around there and three hours back).
Geri did some laundry early in our stay here, and will do another batch before we leave. I had some fun upgrading the water pump in the coach, and we've had several nice meals (grilled steaks, low-and-slow ribs, veal parm, and (a first for us) home-made pork lo mein. Geri found a simple (lots of prep work but easy to assemble) lo mein recipe in the Fine Cooking magazine, and it's definitely a keeper.This park has an open space of a little over an acre that fronts the road (US-550), and they've
fenced it off and mowed it for use as a dog run. It's been great to be able to let the pups run loose and they've met some of the other dogs staying here. Unfortunately, many of the other dogs (or their owners) are skittish about playing nice, so sometimes it seems like the dog run is "single threaded", but other than that, it's been great. In the meantime, they've been enjoying their portable pen by our site.The water pump saga goes back several months, actually over a year. Late last summer, I noticed a small intermittent water leak, and soon determined that it only happened when we were not hooked up to a water supply, only when we were using our on-board water supply. The reason it didn't leak all the time was the difference in pressure. When we're hooked up, I keep our pressure regulated to 40-45 PSI right at the faucet. The pump generates 65 PSI, and the difference apparently was enough to force a small leak. After we got back to Arizona, I tracked the leak down to a plastic fitting where the water pipe connected to the accumulator tank. I tightened it up and all was well - I thought. After we left Connecticut a few weeks ago, I noticed the leak had started again. Unfortunately, this time, tightening the fitting caused it to leak more, not less. That's when I knew it was time to upgrade the water pump - the high end models are variable-speed and don't require the accumulator, and provide more flow (5.7 gallons per minute as opposed to 4.0 GPM).
I bypassed the accumulator while we were in Illinois (the old pump still works without it, just runs a lot more frequently) and bought the new pump at Camping World (the best source for generic RV parts like water pumps) while we were in Colorado Springs. Since it rained every day there, I held off on installation. With the weather so nice here, it made sense to get it done. As soon as I read the directions (yes, some of us do read the directions - at least some of the time), I thought I'd need a trip to the store for electrical parts since the upgraded pump requires a 30 amp relay for switching (the current draw is higher). When I crawled in to check, I was surprised to see the relay already in place! I'm not sure if it was original equipment, or if it was installed as part of some of the warranty work. Either way, I was happy to see it there.
Swapping out the pump was pretty easy, since they use standardized fittings that only go on hand-tight, and they're all roughly the same size. When I went to reconnect the wiring, I realized that the aforementioned relay had been directly "in the line of fire" from the leaking fitting and was heavily corroded. I removed and cleaned it, but couldn't get a reliable operation, so off to Napa Auto Parts I went (I always note the location of Home Depots and Napas on entering town) for a replacement. With a little location adjustment and some contact cleaner, we're back in business. I'll pick up another relay (~$9) as a spare at some point, and I stored the old pump in the "spare parts bin" in the basement. Another $100 in labor saved!
Friday, we took a short scenic drive over to Cortez, a place we'd been to before - a long time ago. Years ago, we started RVing by renting one when I could cobble two weeks of vacation at a time. Our very first trip like this was in the late-80s, and we flew to Phoenix, rented the RV in Mesa, and drove up through the "4-Corners" region with stops at Mesa Verde, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks. Mesa Verde is just west of the town of Cortez, and we stayed in town - somewhere. Darned if I could remember where, of course, but that's OK. We'll pass through there again when we leave here heading for Lake Powell.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Garden of the Gods -- Are Smiling On Us
August 11, 2008
Colorado Springs, CO
We did some final sightseeing around Colorado Springs, and managed to have some incredible luck with the Range Rover at the same time.
Backing up a bit, the Range Rover came with three years of free scheduled maintenance. Since we bought it in mid-2005, it was due for the final "freebie" this summer. Accordingly, I took it in to the Land Rover dealer near Hartford while we were in Connecticut. They did the service but failed to reset the service indicator (the little "Service Engine Soon" idiot light on the dash. I could tell because every time you start the engine, the dash indicator displays the miles to go until the next service.
So, while we were driving up Pikes Peak, the "Service Engine Soon" light came on. I cursed myself for not having it fixed in CT, but figured I'd just live with it for a while. Just for grins, I checked the navigation system for the nearest dealer and - what do you know - there was one about 5 miles from where we were parked in Colorado Springs. I figured I'd give it a shot, especially when the front end started making a funny noise under acceleration on Sunday afternoon. So, first thing Monday morning, I sped over there when they opened to plead my case for a quick check and reset.
The first thing the service writer asked was if "recall on the front end had been done". Uhhh, what recall is that? Apparently, a new campaign has just begun to replace the front dri
ve shaft and part of the differential. I saw this as a good thing, since these were the parts that failed us in the middle of Yellowstone National Park in the past. So, rather than getting a quick reset, I got a loaner and left, keeping my fingers crossed that they'd be able to finish the work in one day. As it turned out, they did the recall and reset the service indicator, and then got a "check engine" fault when they did the test drive, so they replaced a thermostat as well. Since this was all under warranty, it was a fantastic win for us, as we essentially had zero impact to our travel plans. Of course, when the warranty is up in mid-2009, who knows what will happen…
Anyway, back to the da
y's adventures. We used the loaner to make a quick tour of the "Garden of the Gods" city park. We'd made a quick pass through the park several days earlier, and wanted to come back when it was sunny (we finally had a sunny day!) for some pictures. The whole park (it's only a couple of square miles in size) reminded us of the "red rock" areas around Sedona in Arizona. We made the loop and got a few shots, although it was relatively difficult to avoid getting other tourists in the photos. One of the most popular features is "Balancing Rock", and you'd be amazed at how parents let their kids climb under the sides of this 30' high boulder. Click here to see some additional photos from the park.
After touring the park (about an hour, tops), we hit the highway and headed south on I-25, then west on US-50 to Cañon City, where we caught the scenic "Royal Gorge Route" train. The train follows old tracks originally laid during the mining days (passenger service started in 1879), along the path of the Arkansas River. The "Royal Gorge", as it's called, is almost 1,200' deep and relatively narrow, so it was an interesting ride. Along the rim, someone actually built an amusement park that encompasses an aerial tramway and a bridge across the chasm; we stuck with the two-hour train ride. It was pretty long for a scenic railway, with about 15 cars and three engines (two for uphill an one for the return). Apparently, they use different cars for various classes of service and meal options ("gourmet lunch included" in one car, "a la carte" in another; there are 7 classes overall).
We opted to bypass the food but upgraded to the "Vista Dome" car for a better view (and for the air conditioning!). We had reserved seats and a great view. The several "Dome" cars were originally built for the Canadian National railroad, and were used as passenger cars on route across Canada. All along the gorge, we passed river rafters fighting with Class V rapids. On the return trip, I made my way to one of the open cars (not much more than a flatbed car with some handrails) for some pictures (click here for pictures from this trip).
After the train ride, we had a leisurely drive back to Colorado Springs (about an hour), where we did most of the packing for our departure the following day.
Colorado Springs, CO
We did some final sightseeing around Colorado Springs, and managed to have some incredible luck with the Range Rover at the same time.
Backing up a bit, the Range Rover came with three years of free scheduled maintenance. Since we bought it in mid-2005, it was due for the final "freebie" this summer. Accordingly, I took it in to the Land Rover dealer near Hartford while we were in Connecticut. They did the service but failed to reset the service indicator (the little "Service Engine Soon" idiot light on the dash. I could tell because every time you start the engine, the dash indicator displays the miles to go until the next service.
So, while we were driving up Pikes Peak, the "Service Engine Soon" light came on. I cursed myself for not having it fixed in CT, but figured I'd just live with it for a while. Just for grins, I checked the navigation system for the nearest dealer and - what do you know - there was one about 5 miles from where we were parked in Colorado Springs. I figured I'd give it a shot, especially when the front end started making a funny noise under acceleration on Sunday afternoon. So, first thing Monday morning, I sped over there when they opened to plead my case for a quick check and reset.
The first thing the service writer asked was if "recall on the front end had been done". Uhhh, what recall is that? Apparently, a new campaign has just begun to replace the front dri
ve shaft and part of the differential. I saw this as a good thing, since these were the parts that failed us in the middle of Yellowstone National Park in the past. So, rather than getting a quick reset, I got a loaner and left, keeping my fingers crossed that they'd be able to finish the work in one day. As it turned out, they did the recall and reset the service indicator, and then got a "check engine" fault when they did the test drive, so they replaced a thermostat as well. Since this was all under warranty, it was a fantastic win for us, as we essentially had zero impact to our travel plans. Of course, when the warranty is up in mid-2009, who knows what will happen…Anyway, back to the da
y's adventures. We used the loaner to make a quick tour of the "Garden of the Gods" city park. We'd made a quick pass through the park several days earlier, and wanted to come back when it was sunny (we finally had a sunny day!) for some pictures. The whole park (it's only a couple of square miles in size) reminded us of the "red rock" areas around Sedona in Arizona. We made the loop and got a few shots, although it was relatively difficult to avoid getting other tourists in the photos. One of the most popular features is "Balancing Rock", and you'd be amazed at how parents let their kids climb under the sides of this 30' high boulder. Click here to see some additional photos from the park.After touring the park (about an hour, tops), we hit the highway and headed south on I-25, then west on US-50 to Cañon City, where we caught the scenic "Royal Gorge Route" train. The train follows old tracks originally laid during the mining days (passenger service started in 1879), along the path of the Arkansas River. The "Royal Gorge", as it's called, is almost 1,200' deep and relatively narrow, so it was an interesting ride. Along the rim, someone actually built an amusement park that encompasses an aerial tramway and a bridge across the chasm; we stuck with the two-hour train ride. It was pretty long for a scenic railway, with about 15 cars and three engines (two for uphill an one for the return). Apparently, they use different cars for various classes of service and meal options ("gourmet lunch included" in one car, "a la carte" in another; there are 7 classes overall).
We opted to bypass the food but upgraded to the "Vista Dome" car for a better view (and for the air conditioning!). We had reserved seats and a great view. The several "Dome" cars were originally built for the Canadian National railroad, and were used as passenger cars on route across Canada. All along the gorge, we passed river rafters fighting with Class V rapids. On the return trip, I made my way to one of the open cars (not much more than a flatbed car with some handrails) for some pictures (click here for pictures from this trip).
After the train ride, we had a leisurely drive back to Colorado Springs (about an hour), where we did most of the packing for our departure the following day.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Pikes Peak or Bust
August 10, 2008
Colorado Springs, CO
No, we didn't trade in the RV for a smaller model!
We made the trip up to the top of Pikes Peak (no apostrophe), catching a partial break in the weather. We had two choices for the ascent: drive or take the cog railway (actually, there's a third - hiking - but we weren't up for that). I flipped a coin and driving won, which gave us a little more flexibility. This was good since the altitude was still bothering Geri a bit.
The mountain was created through "uplifting", not volcanic activity, and the various layers or rock tilted at angles, some approaching 90°, are evident all over the area. The locals claim that it's the most visited peak in North America and the second-most visited in the world (guess the most - see below); some 500,000 people a year are supposed to reach the top. It's the easternmost peak in Colorado, and ranks 31st out of the 54 peaks over 14,000 feet in the state.
This part of the country was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and surveyed by Pike in 1806. The term "Pikes Peak or Bust" was coined by gold seekers headed west in the Colorado gold rush circa 1859, since the mountain was a landmark they could see from days away (Conestoga's were lucky to make 15 miles per day). The first weather station on the summit opened in 1873 and the first road (a "carriage road") was built in 1886-1888 (just about the time my father's parents were born). Katherine Lee Bates wrote the words for America the Beautiful after visiting the peak in 1893. The current road was first constructed in 1915 for $500,000; quite a sum for a project driven by tourism as opposed to mining (the typical reason for construction in the mountains).
The drive up the mountain is taken on a 19+ mile toll road that's probably 75% paved and currently operated by the city of Colorado Springs (sorry, no National Park passes accepted!). The unpaved sections are well-maintained, and there was evidence of ongoing maintenance and improvement all along the route.
One of the popular tourist activities is biking on the Pikes Peak road. Dave would be disappointed though, since the biking is all downhill (riders are driven to the top in a van which follows them down for safety).
We stopped at one of several alpine reservoirs for a photo op before heading for the summit. There was a bit of low-gear driving on the way up, and especially on the way down (can't burn up the brakes!), but nothing that required 4-wheel drive. Once at the top, I poked around looking for additional pictures while Geri waited in the car. As it turns out, just after we got there clouds started to descend on the peak, so I had to work quickly. I managed to get a few shots before the clouds closed in completely, and a few more on the way back down. Click here for some additional shots.
Overall, it was a nice outing. In several ways, it reminded us of Haleakala on Maui.
Colorado Springs, CO
No, we didn't trade in the RV for a smaller model!
We made the trip up to the top of Pikes Peak (no apostrophe), catching a partial break in the weather. We had two choices for the ascent: drive or take the cog railway (actually, there's a third - hiking - but we weren't up for that). I flipped a coin and driving won, which gave us a little more flexibility. This was good since the altitude was still bothering Geri a bit.
The mountain was created through "uplifting", not volcanic activity, and the various layers or rock tilted at angles, some approaching 90°, are evident all over the area. The locals claim that it's the most visited peak in North America and the second-most visited in the world (guess the most - see below); some 500,000 people a year are supposed to reach the top. It's the easternmost peak in Colorado, and ranks 31st out of the 54 peaks over 14,000 feet in the state.
This part of the country was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and surveyed by Pike in 1806. The term "Pikes Peak or Bust" was coined by gold seekers headed west in the Colorado gold rush circa 1859, since the mountain was a landmark they could see from days away (Conestoga's were lucky to make 15 miles per day). The first weather station on the summit opened in 1873 and the first road (a "carriage road") was built in 1886-1888 (just about the time my father's parents were born). Katherine Lee Bates wrote the words for America the Beautiful after visiting the peak in 1893. The current road was first constructed in 1915 for $500,000; quite a sum for a project driven by tourism as opposed to mining (the typical reason for construction in the mountains).
The drive up the mountain is taken on a 19+ mile toll road that's probably 75% paved and currently operated by the city of Colorado Springs (sorry, no National Park passes accepted!). The unpaved sections are well-maintained, and there was evidence of ongoing maintenance and improvement all along the route.
One of the popular tourist activities is biking on the Pikes Peak road. Dave would be disappointed though, since the biking is all downhill (riders are driven to the top in a van which follows them down for safety).
We stopped at one of several alpine reservoirs for a photo op before heading for the summit. There was a bit of low-gear driving on the way up, and especially on the way down (can't burn up the brakes!), but nothing that required 4-wheel drive. Once at the top, I poked around looking for additional pictures while Geri waited in the car. As it turns out, just after we got there clouds started to descend on the peak, so I had to work quickly. I managed to get a few shots before the clouds closed in completely, and a few more on the way back down. Click here for some additional shots.Overall, it was a nice outing. In several ways, it reminded us of Haleakala on Maui.
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