Saturday, October 6, 2018
Travel to Farmington NM Day 2
Today was one of our easiest driving days in a long time. Only 100 miles to cover until we stop in Farmington, NM at an Elks Lodge. This is a planned stop to get gas, supermarket etc before we leave for Page. The trip to Page, only 250 miles or so but will take 2-4 days as we plan to stop at Durango and do some touring. As usual, depends on the weather. We appear to be out of the ups and downs of the mountains for now and just enjoying a relatively flat drive.
Travel to Farmington NM Day 1
The blog might be a little out of sequence. Due to poor internet I couldn't do updates each day as I normally do.
Today we bagan our wander toward the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, several stops are planned at Durango and the Navajo National Monument. We will stop at Page, AZ and take a little break, stock up, laundry before heading toward the Grand Canyon.
We are taking US 64 across norther NM and AZ. So far in our trip we crossed 2 passes at 8700' and 9700'. Today we crossed 3 more at 8700', 9800', and 11000'. We had great weather for a while but as we climbed into the mountains, heavy rain, heavy fog etc. Visibility was very poor, luckily no one drives this road. We creeped down the mountain and finally had good visibility around 8500'.
When driving the mountains we always have Plan A, B and more. Today, after that delightful drive and seeing black clouds all around us we decided to stop. We travelled all of 120 miles. This has been a good decision, been raining on and off all afternoon. Giving me a chance to catch up on the blog and hopefully the pictures.
I wish there was a way to describe the Aspen and how beautiful it is, I just don't have the words and the pictures don't do the scenery justice.
Today we bagan our wander toward the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, several stops are planned at Durango and the Navajo National Monument. We will stop at Page, AZ and take a little break, stock up, laundry before heading toward the Grand Canyon.
We are taking US 64 across norther NM and AZ. So far in our trip we crossed 2 passes at 8700' and 9700'. Today we crossed 3 more at 8700', 9800', and 11000'. We had great weather for a while but as we climbed into the mountains, heavy rain, heavy fog etc. Visibility was very poor, luckily no one drives this road. We creeped down the mountain and finally had good visibility around 8500'.
When driving the mountains we always have Plan A, B and more. Today, after that delightful drive and seeing black clouds all around us we decided to stop. We travelled all of 120 miles. This has been a good decision, been raining on and off all afternoon. Giving me a chance to catch up on the blog and hopefully the pictures.
I wish there was a way to describe the Aspen and how beautiful it is, I just don't have the words and the pictures don't do the scenery justice.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Today we drove up to Rio Grande de Norte National Monument. Mostly a wilderness area with the Rio Grand River Gorge on one side. Beautiful views. We were very surprised at the number of campers up there. Mostly tenters and a few RVs.
We then drove over to the Rio Grand Gorge Bridge, the seond hghest bridge in the US and the middle span is over 300' long. This was a bust. The bridge was closed for some work. We had no idea how long it would be closed the traffic line was fairly long and the truck had a boom over the side of the bridge blocking all traffic. We have to go this way tomorrow so we will have another try.
We then drove over to the Rio Grand Gorge Bridge, the seond hghest bridge in the US and the middle span is over 300' long. This was a bust. The bridge was closed for some work. We had no idea how long it would be closed the traffic line was fairly long and the truck had a boom over the side of the bridge blocking all traffic. We have to go this way tomorrow so we will have another try.
Taos Area
We drove toward Taos today. Scenic drive the entire way. We had tested the MH in the mountains, mostly just fro Flagstaff to Phoenix. Today was a real test, 2 passes to navigate, one at 9700' and the other at 8700'. The MH was great! Engine kept the speed in check and then some. Very curvy with many tight curves and 25 MPH. Everything worked great. We will be having additional tests of our mountain skills for the rest of the trip.
Once in the mountains the scenery was phenomenal. The Aspen tress are bright yellow set against the dark green of the pines. Awesome!
We will be staying here a few days to be tourists. Do the Enchanted Drive Scenic Byway and 1 or 2 others we know about. Visit the Taos Ski Area and ride the ski lift to the top(need a good day for that) and visit the Taos Pueblo, the oldest continuosly occupied Pueblo in the US.
We had a minor problem today after we set up camp we went out to eat and our one tire was reading very low. Took it to the local tire shop and we had a nail in it. Hour later back on the road again. Always something.
This afternoon we had rain and thunderstorms. Strange thunder. We thought someone was shaking a big piece of metal, maybe a roof piece but it was the thunder. Must be the moutains echoing in some way.
Once in the mountains the scenery was phenomenal. The Aspen tress are bright yellow set against the dark green of the pines. Awesome!
We will be staying here a few days to be tourists. Do the Enchanted Drive Scenic Byway and 1 or 2 others we know about. Visit the Taos Ski Area and ride the ski lift to the top(need a good day for that) and visit the Taos Pueblo, the oldest continuosly occupied Pueblo in the US.
We had a minor problem today after we set up camp we went out to eat and our one tire was reading very low. Took it to the local tire shop and we had a nail in it. Hour later back on the road again. Always something.
This afternoon we had rain and thunderstorms. Strange thunder. We thought someone was shaking a big piece of metal, maybe a roof piece but it was the thunder. Must be the moutains echoing in some way.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Heading Toward New Mexico and Taos
The drive was uneventful, all good road and nothing interesting to see along the way. Had a time change to Mountain Time so need to reset all the clocks. I am always surprised as to how many clocks we have in the MH. Everything seems to have a clock on it. I counted 12 clocks that need to be reset. Such a pesty thing.
End of Oklahoma, on to Texas
The last 2 days have been interesting. Yesterday(Thursday) we went off to visit 2 additional state parks. No real reason but saw them on the map. Both names intregued us: Roman Nose and Red Rock Canyon. Pretty much the only thing going for them were the names.
Red Rock Canyon had on 30' Red Rock and lots of campsites. Roman Nose was named after and American Indian warrior and had a golf course, lake and lots of camping.
One thing we noticed was that a majority of the campsites were reserved for the weekend. Since we were planning to move on Friday this raised a red flag. We are close to Oklahoma City so there is a much larger population base. I called the ranger at the park where we were planning to go to and was told if we weren't in by 10-11AM there probably wouldn't be a site. No way we could make that time.
We decided to skip that stop and go on to Amarillo, TX. As usual, many trucks on the back roads but once we found I40 all was good. Both OK and TX have major windmill farms, we saw one that went to the horizon and beyond. Each windmill generates for the landowner about $8000 pere year. With these large windmill farms the money is probably a much-needed bonus.
I40 should have been a good drive, except for the 20-25mph headwind and the 50 miles of quasi-washerboard road(and this was an interstate). Exhausted when we finally pulled into the campground. We will do some touring and restock before heading into the mountains of NM and AZ.
Red Rock Canyon had on 30' Red Rock and lots of campsites. Roman Nose was named after and American Indian warrior and had a golf course, lake and lots of camping.
One thing we noticed was that a majority of the campsites were reserved for the weekend. Since we were planning to move on Friday this raised a red flag. We are close to Oklahoma City so there is a much larger population base. I called the ranger at the park where we were planning to go to and was told if we weren't in by 10-11AM there probably wouldn't be a site. No way we could make that time.
We decided to skip that stop and go on to Amarillo, TX. As usual, many trucks on the back roads but once we found I40 all was good. Both OK and TX have major windmill farms, we saw one that went to the horizon and beyond. Each windmill generates for the landowner about $8000 pere year. With these large windmill farms the money is probably a much-needed bonus.
I40 should have been a good drive, except for the 20-25mph headwind and the 50 miles of quasi-washerboard road(and this was an interstate). Exhausted when we finally pulled into the campground. We will do some touring and restock before heading into the mountains of NM and AZ.
Friday, September 28, 2018
Amarillo
We spent a day restocking, checking MH fluids, car fluids, cleaning, laundry etc. We generally dedicate one day a week to this. Just needs to be done.
We played pure tourist in Amarillo. On Sunday wew drove down to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Beautiful day after a misty, foggy Saturday. As we approached the park, still 20 miles away, there was this big black cloud, of course, right over the park.
I wouldn't want to take the road down to the canyon in the MH, 10% grade and some hairpin turns. Car was fine. Park is beautiful. You start out at the rim a nd then go down into the park and drive along the valley. The fog/cloudiness cleared up a bit and wereally enjoyed the park and recommend anyone who is out this way visit.
Palo Duro-
After that we did our tourist stops: Legs of Amarillo and Cadillac Ranch. We threw in Big Tex Steak House for lunch.
Legs of Amarillo-
The same person who created Cadillac Ranch commissioned to have these Legs built. The reason why is lost and not documented. Just a wierd quick stop along the highway.
Cadillac Ranch-
Here is the story behind Cadillac Ranch from Roadside America:
Cadillac Ranch was invented and built by a group of art-hippies imported from San Francisco. They called themselves The Ant Farm, and their silent partner was Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh 3. He wanted a piece of public art that would baffle the locals, and the hippies came up with a tribute to the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin. Ten Caddies were driven into one of Stanley Marsh 3's fields, then half-buried, nose-down, in the dirt (supposedly at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza). They faced west in a line, from the 1949 Club Sedan to the 1963 Sedan de Ville, their tail fins held high for all to see on the empty Texas panhandle.
Next stop lunch at the Big Tex Steak House. Lunch was good, the food was good and the service was excellent. We both had a small Prime Rib, we have had better, we have had worse but the price was fair and we have now done out tourist duties.
We played pure tourist in Amarillo. On Sunday wew drove down to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Beautiful day after a misty, foggy Saturday. As we approached the park, still 20 miles away, there was this big black cloud, of course, right over the park.
I wouldn't want to take the road down to the canyon in the MH, 10% grade and some hairpin turns. Car was fine. Park is beautiful. You start out at the rim a nd then go down into the park and drive along the valley. The fog/cloudiness cleared up a bit and wereally enjoyed the park and recommend anyone who is out this way visit.
Palo Duro-
 | |
| Yes, that is the road down there............. |
After that we did our tourist stops: Legs of Amarillo and Cadillac Ranch. We threw in Big Tex Steak House for lunch.
Legs of Amarillo-
The same person who created Cadillac Ranch commissioned to have these Legs built. The reason why is lost and not documented. Just a wierd quick stop along the highway.
Cadillac Ranch-
Here is the story behind Cadillac Ranch from Roadside America:
Cadillac Ranch was invented and built by a group of art-hippies imported from San Francisco. They called themselves The Ant Farm, and their silent partner was Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh 3. He wanted a piece of public art that would baffle the locals, and the hippies came up with a tribute to the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin. Ten Caddies were driven into one of Stanley Marsh 3's fields, then half-buried, nose-down, in the dirt (supposedly at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza). They faced west in a line, from the 1949 Club Sedan to the 1963 Sedan de Ville, their tail fins held high for all to see on the empty Texas panhandle.
Next stop lunch at the Big Tex Steak House. Lunch was good, the food was good and the service was excellent. We both had a small Prime Rib, we have had better, we have had worse but the price was fair and we have now done out tourist duties.
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