2006 October 02 to 08

2006-10-02 Monday

Torrey, UT to Bryce Canyon, UT  - 164 miles ; 4:30 hours

We took the easy way (not as many steep hills as US 12 across Boulder Mountain would have been) to Bryce, went up north and west on US 24 to Richfield and came down south on I-70, then US 89 through the Sevier river valley and Panguitch and then US 12 east to Ruby's Inn CG.

Unhitched and took the scenic 18 mile drive to the end of the road. Stopped at every view point and took the appropriate and mandatory pictures.

Still lots of traffic, but a parking spot could always be found. The Bryce Shuttle stops operating on September 30.

Ruby's Inn is very commercial, but as the closest commercial establishment to the park, it has sort of a monopoly and it seems to take advantage of this situation.

We had to shop a bit for food and the Ruby's General store charges by the piece for potatoes, also the selection is very basic.

It is obvious, they want the people to and spend money in their multiple restaurants, not to hang out in the CG or the motel rooms and cook.

Bryce Canyon photos are here

2006-10-03 Tuesday

Bryce Canyon, UT to Joseph City, AZ   - 357 miles; 6:00 hours

Yesterday evening when I was back in my rig after having had a nice dinner with Dierck and Vera, all of a sudden I realized, that I had enough of sight-seeing and I wanted to be back in SeaWind as reasonably fast as possible.

I have enough to prepare, repair and modify on the rig, plus the preparations for my daughter Claudia's coming back to the States, that I need time in a fixed place to do all this.  And SeaWind is the place to do it.

So, this morning in the rain of an early thunderstorm I went to Dierck and Vera's rig and told them about my decision. They were very understanding and since they now will definitively come to SeaWind after the Albuquerque balloon fiesta, we will see each other again.

We parted ways in the rain and I posthaste took a straight shot down US 89 to Kanab, Page and Flagstaff, where I picked up I-40 east.

Between Page and Cameron, along the Echo cliffs, there was a 10 minute period, where I drove through a thunder shower so heavy, that 40 mph seemed a prudent speed. There was running water, sometimes a couple of inches deep, on the road.

After 6 hours of fast cruise I am camped in Joseph City's only CG.

This is on the old Route 66. A very sleepy town, so I am not sure if and how I will get my kicks. :-)

I have internet access via my Verizon cell phone.

2006-10-04 Wednesday

Joseph City, AZ to "The Ranch" Lakewood, NM  - 475 miles; 8:45 hours

Got confused by the Arizona habit, NOT to observe Daylight Savings Time and started out an hour earlier than planned.

This proofed to be a good thing as I made good time. The plan was to drive towards "The Ranch" in Lakewood, NM only as far as it was prudent and to stop before I was too tired.

In Holbrook I left I-40 and took US 180 to St. Johns and Springerville, where I joined US 60 East.

At 10:45 arrived in Pie Town where I had spent one night in their Municipal lot one year ago.

This time I only had a good second breakfast in the world renowned Daily Pie Cafe and four different pieces of their famous cakes to go in the fridge for later consumption.

http://www.dailypie.com

Driving east on US 60, later on, the radar antennae of the VLA (Very Large Array) on the plains of Augustine were not as impressive in the mid-day sun, or at least not as mysterious, as they appeared to me a year ago in the morning mist.

Fueled up in Socorro, then the brief eight miles south on I-25 to San Antonio. US 380 east, skirting the northern edge of the White Sands Missile Range, then on through Carrizozo to Hondo, NM.

US 70 east to Roswell and US 285 south to Lakewood and "The Ranch".

Putting the rpm up to 2600 (77 mph) on  US 70 and US 285, both interstate-like 4-lanes, allowed me to reach The Ranch just at 16:00, in time for happy hour, where I was warmly greeted and welcomed back.

Overall a day with lots of driving, but not stressful at all, due to almost no traffic and good roads.

2006-10-05 to 08 Thursday to Sunday

The Ranch, Lakewood, NM

As I have some friends here in The Ranch I decided to stay a couple of days.

Visited with E2 (Elizabeth) again, did partake in some social activities of the CG, like MEWS

(Men Eating Without Supervision - just means that every Wednesday the guys go out for breakfast to a local spot and leave the gals at home)

Did a necessary Walmart run and otherwise just relaxed.

Cleaned a little and phoned a lot of friends I had not connected with for a long while.

It helped to have a good working WiFi in the CG, that allowed me to use my SKYPE connection. A real boon for long US and overseas calls.

On Monday I will be leaving. The plan is to go to Del Rio and on Tuesday to arrive in SeaWind.

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