HAPPY HALLOWEEN

WRITTEN BY REX

THE EARLY MORNING TEMPERATURE AT THE GRAND CANYON WAS 21 DEGREES, WITH A FORCASTED HIGH OF 52 AND A 15 MPH WIND. SCREW THAT, LET GO "HOME" TO MOHAVE VALLEY AND ENJOY THE 82 DEGREE TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON.FOR HALLOWEEN, HERE IS A PICTURE OF A RAVEN I TOOK THIS WEEK IN THE PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

METEOR CRATER

WRITTEN BY REX

WE'VE TRAVELED I-40 ACROSS NORTHERN ARIZONA AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO SEVERAL TIMES. COMPARED TO I-70, I-80, AND I-90, THE I-40 HAS THE FEWEST MOUNTAIN CLIMBS AND MOUNTAIN PASSES, MAKING PULLING THE CAMPER EASIER.

OVER THE YEARS WE'VE SEEN THE SIGNS FOR DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS AND ALWAYS TELL EACH OTHER OVER THE RADIO THAT SOME YEAR WHEN WE HAVE TIME WE WILL CHECK SOME OF THOSE ATTRACTIONS OUT. THIS HAS BEEN THE YEAR, THE AREA HAS A LOT OF HISTORY, THE HUGH NAVAJO INDIAN NATION, THE RAILROAD, THE PAINTED DESERT, PETRIFIED FOREST, GALLUP, AND OF COURSE THE MOTHER OF ALL HIGHWAYS "ROUTE 66".

TODAY WAS ONE OF THOSE STOPS AT THE METEOR CRATER JUST WEST OF WINSLOW, ARIZONA. THE CRATER IS 50,000 YEARS OLD AND OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH DESERT. IT'S 2.5 MILES IN CIRCUMFERENCE, ABOUT A MILE ACROSS, AND 500 FEET DEEP. A BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND!! THE TOUR GUIDE WAS FROM MILWAUKEE, AND THE MILE LONG HIKE ALONG THE RIM WAS VERY INTERESTING. THE SITE IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND INCLUDES AN RV PARK.

WE'RE WATCHING THE WEATHER CLOSELY AND DISCUSSING DROPPING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER AT WILLIAMS ARIZONA AND TAKING THE HONDA UP TO THE GRAND CANYON TO HIKE DOWN INTO THE CANYON TOMORROW.

STAY TUNED...............

The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

By Mary

Today we went to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest National Park. Essentially you drive through the 28 miles of park and stop to do hiking trails to see points of interest or to look at scenic overlooks. The views we saw were truly awesome.

Seeing the park today makes me feel sad that we didn't have a blog the last 6 plus years to record all of the wonderful sights we have been privileged to see. I wish I had a better record of all of our travels.
After the park, we stopped at a couple of bars for a drink then home for homemade pizza.

It's Saturday

By Mary

When we checked in at Red Rock State Park in Gallup yesterday, I asked the lady if there was a Saturday morning Farmer's Market in Gallup. She gave us directions to a Saturday morning Flea Market. So we got up early and left by 8:00 AM to go to the Flea Market. The lady at the park said they started selling at 7:30 so we wanted to be there early. Apparently no one told the vendor about the 7:30 AM start. There was hardly anyone there and very few booths open. And it was COLD!! We did walk around but left at about 8:20. We had noticed a Safeway on the way to the Flea Market so we decided to go there and stock up for the next three days. So we did!

In the same strip mall that had Safeway, there was a Western clothing store. We had to go there cuz Rex has been looking for another plaid Western shirt with snaps. We lucked out and found one that he liked in his size. Believe me when I say...this is a very hard thing to do!

After we got done grocery and shirt shopping, Rex wanted to go to old downtown Gallup and walk around. So he navigated us there and that is exactly what we did. Some of the old shops were really interesting and we saw a lot of Indian jewelry and various other artifacts.

Of course by this time it is time for a cocktail and we found THE AMERICAN BAR in downtown Gallup!! Let me tell you the American Bar had only 2 white patrons (guess who??) everyone else was Native American.

Now we needed to hit the road and do our big 110 mile travel day to Holbrook AZ. After checking in at the KOA and showering it is time for happy hour. We had noticed the Empty Pocket Saloon on the way in so we went there for happy hour. The bartender was a really nice lady that ended up giving us a dozen "farm fresh" eggs. And they were .....one still had feathers on it!! No lie!!

Now I need to add a little footnote about our visit to Independence, MO. While walking around the square one day, we notice a big white thing in a store window. Rex and I stopped and really looked...yup..it was actually a casket!! The store name----Direct Casket Sales--OK now I've seen it all!!

GALLUP, NEW MEXICO

WRITTEN BY REX

JUST AN OLE FASHION TRAVEL DAY ACROSS NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. IF YOU HAVE TO SIT ON YOUR ASS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE THIS IS THE DRIVE TO DO IT. THE RED ROCKS AND BUTTE CLIFFS ARE SPECTACULAR, AND FULL SUNSHINE MADE THEM EVEN MORE COLORFUL. WE MADE A PIT STOP AT THE SKY CITY CASINO AND THE GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO WAS STANDING OUTSIDE MAKING A SPEECH TO GROUP OF INDIANS.

THE WIND (10-15 MPH) TOOK IT’S TOLL ON OUR TRAVEL SPEED, BUT WE MADE THE 311 MILES AND FINALLY GOT OUT OF TUCUMCARI. WE WERE BOTH A LITTLE TIRED OF THE LIZARD LOUNGE.

TILL TOMORROW FROM SOMEWHERE IN ARIZONA.