Look it is the rockies in the distance.
Not much snow really, and the sun is fantastically warm.
Tuesday 26 February 2008
26/02/08
Up and on the road quite early for some reason, and had actually crossed into Colorado by 11am, the road is a lovely slow climb back up to 5000ft after the descent from the Grand Canyon. Cortez visitor centre provided plenty of information about the state, but not which sites were open. We pulled onto a Passport America one in Cortez, and there was a notice on the door saying “No One Nite Stays until Spring”, so we carried on towards Durango until we located this one near Mancos, under a large snow drift.
Look it is the rockies in the distance.
Not much snow really, and the sun is fantastically warm.
Look it is the rockies in the distance.
Not much snow really, and the sun is fantastically warm.
25/02/08
We did not see one campground there or on the way, boondocking by the road looked dodgy so we carried on driving and hauled up at Kayenta a further 60 miles on in the dark. Finally ending up dry camping behind the Wells Fargo Bank adjacent to another couple in a motor home from Minnesota.
Very tame dogs, but running as a pack.
This is called Church Rock, appropriate methinks.
Very tame dogs, but running as a pack.
This is called Church Rock, appropriate methinks.
The morning was gloriously sunny so we set off early to the Grand Canyon 40 miles away, the climb topped out at 7000ft. Checked in at the Visitor centre and saw the IMAX movie which whetted our appetites for more. The views are better than can ever be captured on a camera, although we tried hard and took gallons of the things. Rode the free shuttle bus between the many viewing points and it was after 15.30 before we left the park heading for Tuba City 60 miles away.
Sunday 24 February 2008
23/02/08
We left Kingman in fine spirits, the weather was fine and the forecast was good, we would be on Route 66 for about 130 miles. Saw a “swap meet” shortly after leaving Kingman, and decided to visit, the name is American for a “boot sale”, think of the worst one you have ever been to, and this was worse than that, absolute rubbish.
The road is excellent, with a dead straight roads heading for snow capped mountains in the distance. What neither of us realised was that it was continually climbing until the sides of the road started to turn whiter and whiter we actually topped out at 7000ft.
All we could do was laugh, we had come to the USA for SUN and what we had run into was snow, so when we pulled into Williams at the end of the 66, we were happy to find a good camp site, and by the railway yet again.
This one is next to the train line to the Grand Canyon, just one train out and back per day in winter. The night was very cold, so thank goodness for the little electric heater from Wal-Mart. The morning was a combination of heavy rain, strong winds, then snow, so as it was a good internet connection we decided to stay another night and carry out a little bit of housekeeping, Jane even cooked a traditional Sunday lunch, (except Yorkshire Puds), no flour. Perhaps tomorrow will be better weather.
The road is excellent, with a dead straight roads heading for snow capped mountains in the distance. What neither of us realised was that it was continually climbing until the sides of the road started to turn whiter and whiter we actually topped out at 7000ft.
All we could do was laugh, we had come to the USA for SUN and what we had run into was snow, so when we pulled into Williams at the end of the 66, we were happy to find a good camp site, and by the railway yet again.
This one is next to the train line to the Grand Canyon, just one train out and back per day in winter. The night was very cold, so thank goodness for the little electric heater from Wal-Mart. The morning was a combination of heavy rain, strong winds, then snow, so as it was a good internet connection we decided to stay another night and carry out a little bit of housekeeping, Jane even cooked a traditional Sunday lunch, (except Yorkshire Puds), no flour. Perhaps tomorrow will be better weather.
Saturday 23 February 2008
22/02/08
Got to the garage about 11.30, again just as the tyres arrived, then it was up to them. The 3000 mile oil change was due, so arranged for that to be done as well, the upshot is that we didn’t leave the garage until 13.30 and we still had some shopping to do, but the Hoover Dam was only 27 miles – no problem.
That is when it started raining, a long gentle climb out of Vegas, then a few wiggley bits, a security check, and the dam in all its splendor came into view.
It really is a spectacular sight, and the intention was to go on a tour, but the weather and number of people put us off. It was very windy and cold outside the RV, but I did pull in to get some ace photographs, which showed how low the water level is compared with what it could, or should be. Had a quick look at the map to see where next, turned that Kingman was the next, only 67miles away, so that is where we are now.
Got here at 19.00 local time, which is the latest we had ever set up shop, and I say local time ‘cos we are now back in Arizona and had forgot we had lost an hour, so we are only seven hours behind UK now. We settled down to watch the final two episodes of Dexter (1st series), but had to delay that for ten minutes half way through. We couldn’t hear the TV, thunder and lightening, then hail and high winds, the temp dropped like a stone to about 34F, not exactly the ideal temperature for a holiday. Kingman is on the old Route 66, and we will be on that for a little while so that is another ambition achieved.
That is when it started raining, a long gentle climb out of Vegas, then a few wiggley bits, a security check, and the dam in all its splendor came into view.
It really is a spectacular sight, and the intention was to go on a tour, but the weather and number of people put us off. It was very windy and cold outside the RV, but I did pull in to get some ace photographs, which showed how low the water level is compared with what it could, or should be. Had a quick look at the map to see where next, turned that Kingman was the next, only 67miles away, so that is where we are now.
Got here at 19.00 local time, which is the latest we had ever set up shop, and I say local time ‘cos we are now back in Arizona and had forgot we had lost an hour, so we are only seven hours behind UK now. We settled down to watch the final two episodes of Dexter (1st series), but had to delay that for ten minutes half way through. We couldn’t hear the TV, thunder and lightening, then hail and high winds, the temp dropped like a stone to about 34F, not exactly the ideal temperature for a holiday. Kingman is on the old Route 66, and we will be on that for a little while so that is another ambition achieved.
The rainbow ended on the road but we never caught up with it.
21/02/08
Did not take us long to get to Las Vegas, it was only 45 miles from Primm. On the way though I was feeling another vibration similar to before the first tyre stripped, and Jane decided to “bite the bullet” and change the other three tyres.
Down town on the bike, found a tyre place and they could get them in for the tomorrow morning, expensive option but what cost is peace of mind when we still have about 6000 miles to drive?
Vegas, big, brash and noisy but not pushy. Having done the slot machine stuff last night, neither of us was interested in more, so paid $5 each for the bus cruising the strip and the downtown area, money well spent methinks, it really is something.
Down town on the bike, found a tyre place and they could get them in for the tomorrow morning, expensive option but what cost is peace of mind when we still have about 6000 miles to drive?
Vegas, big, brash and noisy but not pushy. Having done the slot machine stuff last night, neither of us was interested in more, so paid $5 each for the bus cruising the strip and the downtown area, money well spent methinks, it really is something.
20/02/08
Took the advice of a Canadian we met at the Orange Grove campground and stopped at a place called Primm, just over he border into Nevada, you can’t really miss it, three enormous casinos dominate the town. Pulled up and a security guy came along and said “you are ok there but it would be quieter tonight with less traffic around on another car park”.
We got a players card each from reception, and the sign said “bring in your gas receipt for a free $20 play”. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, we went to put some petrol in the RV, so happens that there was a receipt already sticking out of the pump, so we had that one and our own $30 dollar fill up, then moved to the other car park for a free nights camping.
Went back to the casino and had the money put on our respective cards. We had no idea what we were playing, but soon worked out the pay system, you had to feed a dollar or a ticket into the machine before playing, then it would work on your “free” money, any winnings would be added to the moneys you put in and paid out in a token ticket when requested to be used on the next machine, or cashed out later.
Whilst playing, or pretending to play a machine, you could get free drinks from girls walking around for that purpose. Turns out that we had a great evening for the princely sum of $0, apart from the meal we had, even though we technically spent $40 between us. Barbara (my ex) had recommended that we eat in one of the Casinos called Buffalo Bills, she was spot on, we both came out of that buffet completely sated after an excellent meal. No walking between the casinos either, free shuttle bus or monorails carried you back and forth.
We got a players card each from reception, and the sign said “bring in your gas receipt for a free $20 play”. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, we went to put some petrol in the RV, so happens that there was a receipt already sticking out of the pump, so we had that one and our own $30 dollar fill up, then moved to the other car park for a free nights camping.
Went back to the casino and had the money put on our respective cards. We had no idea what we were playing, but soon worked out the pay system, you had to feed a dollar or a ticket into the machine before playing, then it would work on your “free” money, any winnings would be added to the moneys you put in and paid out in a token ticket when requested to be used on the next machine, or cashed out later.
Whilst playing, or pretending to play a machine, you could get free drinks from girls walking around for that purpose. Turns out that we had a great evening for the princely sum of $0, apart from the meal we had, even though we technically spent $40 between us. Barbara (my ex) had recommended that we eat in one of the Casinos called Buffalo Bills, she was spot on, we both came out of that buffet completely sated after an excellent meal. No walking between the casinos either, free shuttle bus or monorails carried you back and forth.
19/02/08
We limped our bumpy way to the tyre change place, (10 miles), and arrived just as the delivery truck did with our new tyre. A swift fitment and we were on our way at about 11.30, heading for the desert. The intention last evening was to stop in Mojave, which was now only 50 miles away, anyway stop we did, but only for lunch, saw plenty of mothballed civilian aircraft near to the town and perhaps the greatest accumulation of wind generators ever, literally hundreds of them on the hills leading to Mojave.
Then onward on the 58 toward Vegas, we made it as far as Barstow on the I15, whose claim to fame as far as I can make out is that it was once part of Route 66, but the camp ground is OK, and claims there is no train noise, this upset Jane when she read the brochure, but it turned out to be untrue, she can still hear the hooters in the distance. It rained overnight, can’t remember when that last happened.
Then onward on the 58 toward Vegas, we made it as far as Barstow on the I15, whose claim to fame as far as I can make out is that it was once part of Route 66, but the camp ground is OK, and claims there is no train noise, this upset Jane when she read the brochure, but it turned out to be untrue, she can still hear the hooters in the distance. It rained overnight, can’t remember when that last happened.
Monday 18 February 2008
18/02/08
Guess what ?? The tyre came in early and we had it changed and on the road for 11am bound for Las Vegas with a night stop planned at Mojave.
Well it didn’t quite turn out that way, we were making good time and came off the CA99 at Bakersfield onto the 58, when just before junction 119, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, another bl…….dy tyre partially stripped its tread. Three down and a possible three to go, Oh I hope not!!!
So we pulled into a magnificent camp ground called Orange Grove RV Park, which luckily was just off the freeway, organised yet another tyre for the morning and settled in.
The site provides orange pickers so you can collect your own fruit from the many trees in between the sites, as many as you like, as long as they are for personal use, beautifully sweet and obviously fresh.
Well it didn’t quite turn out that way, we were making good time and came off the CA99 at Bakersfield onto the 58, when just before junction 119, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, another bl…….dy tyre partially stripped its tread. Three down and a possible three to go, Oh I hope not!!!
So we pulled into a magnificent camp ground called Orange Grove RV Park, which luckily was just off the freeway, organised yet another tyre for the morning and settled in.
The site provides orange pickers so you can collect your own fruit from the many trees in between the sites, as many as you like, as long as they are for personal use, beautifully sweet and obviously fresh.
17/02/08
I know one of the photos is of a hole in the road but believe me it is a Squirrels drey.
We both saw this squirrel carrying grass and twigs down the hole, so don’t tell me that squirrels live in trees. It looked as though the road had been repaired once, but the darned thing had dug its way out again through the asphalt.
When night time comes we get the rivet, rivet, rivet of the frog serenade which blends in with the dull drone of the traffic on the adjacent freeway.
We both saw this squirrel carrying grass and twigs down the hole, so don’t tell me that squirrels live in trees. It looked as though the road had been repaired once, but the darned thing had dug its way out again through the asphalt.
When night time comes we get the rivet, rivet, rivet of the frog serenade which blends in with the dull drone of the traffic on the adjacent freeway.
16/02/08
Madera, a place we were not intending to visit, nothing against the place, it just wasn’t on our agenda. However circumstances dictated that we visit, another tyre decided to disintegrate, this time the inside left rear, Oh sheeeeet. What a racket, two thirds of the tread came off, but thrashed hell out of the underside before I could slow down, so we joined the others that have left treads on the freeway.
Obviously I cannot say whether it is an inherent USA problem, or the type of tyres fitted by the previous owner, but you don’t get much warning. When we bought it, the ad said all new tyres, and we found that the tread was good on all of them. It also broke the exhaust hanger, but bought a pair of childs flip-flops for $1, and made a new one from those, wonder how long that will last??
Obviously I cannot say whether it is an inherent USA problem, or the type of tyres fitted by the previous owner, but you don’t get much warning. When we bought it, the ad said all new tyres, and we found that the tread was good on all of them. It also broke the exhaust hanger, but bought a pair of childs flip-flops for $1, and made a new one from those, wonder how long that will last??
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