Still hanging out in Flagstaff

Just feel the warmth

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - - So, you  may be asking yourself why we're still in  Flagstaff?  Simple: it's the CYA theory.  As in:  Cover Your Accommodations. If you're traveling then getting a campsite on the weekend is always a gamble.  Getting a site on a three day holiday weekend raises the odds.  Normally, when you travel and begin looking for a site about 3pm.  Doing that on a holiday is a crap shoot.
     On Thursday we decided that rather than hit the road, we would extend the stay in our campground until Sunday night (7 days) and hit the road on Memorial Day when most folks are traveling. home.  The CYA attitude works quite well as long as the campground isn't full of blow-out, party-hardy weekend escapees.

Toes up

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - - We're taking a breather while atop Cave Crater.  Once you get on top there are lots of small caves so watching your step is paramount.   The San Francisco Mountains are in the background while you may also spot some "ranchetts." 
     Flagstaff is pretty spread out so it's interesting when you find a hike which allows you to see a great deal of the area.  But not Flagstaff  from this location.

Historic Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - - Interesting flourish to the design of the church.  The plaque provides the information about it.  And, yes, I wasn't content to cut off the steeple I also crimped the plaque.

Adventures with Lydia

Ms. elk checked us out and went back to looking for food.

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - -In the military they call it a "forced march.'  With Lydia, it's more like "follow me and keep up."  These are usually instances where her keen sense of direction overcomes any obstacles which may be in the way.  Case in point:  At the Grand Canyon, we had to Park at an overflow lot away from everything.  Sensing the canyon rim was close by so there must be a trail to it, we set off with me in the position of 'keeper upper'.   There really was a trail , but it required a lot of rambling through the woods and an encounter with a female elk to find it.
     We always seem to survive even if the short way may not be on Lydia's internal GPS.

Ahh, the sun feel good

Warming up the cold blood in the lava fields

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - - This fellow pictured was "guarding" the Citadel Pueblo in the Wupatki National Monument.  The area is 'attached' to the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.  Both were an easy drive from our campground of the past few days

Grand Canyon Glory

The Colorado River rolls thru the canyon

A relatively level section of Bright Angel Trail is visible.  Keep going another 3,000' to the canyon floor.

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - - The Grand Canyon never ceases to amaze.  We've seen the awe inspiring terrain from both the South and North Rims.  From the SR, the drop to the river is 5,000'.  You get an extra 1,000' of elevation on the north side so the drop is 6,000'.  Now imagine you want to do a rim-to-rim trek  26 miles of hiking and you have a "fun" escape.
     And escape is what we wanted to do after battling the very large crowds on the South Rim.  Everyone should see the Grand Canyon once you just need to be aware that it seems like everyone shows up on the same day on the south side.  So we suggest you head to the North Rim... as it takes dedication to get there and a long drive which keeps the crowds to a reasonable number.

Painting in the desert

One of the view points of the Painted Desert.

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - - We've been playing the tourist thing the past two days:  Checking out the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert plus the Grand  Canyon.  We entered our first national park of the trip supposedly at the Petrified Forest end.  We quickly found out that the forest is but a small part of the desert.  We hadn't been here before so we spent a good amount of time checking out trails and view points.
     Wi-fi spots have been scarce so the next post will be the Grand Canyon.

Wimped out

SANTA FE, NM - - It was 27-degrees this morning.  There was slush in the water jug left out last night.The campfire felt good, but we knew that within an hour or so the wind would start again making things seem even colder. Black Canyon campground is nice.  We had a good site.  But the wind during the day is frustrating as you can't enjoy yourself if you are always trying to stay warm. And we've  got clothes we would normally take to Alaska.
     So we've packed up the bus and are leaving Santa Fe two days early.  We'll continue to wander slowly west

Liven up your cooking

Never double-click when adding a photo

Hot chili peppers are a great souvenir

SANTA FE, NM - - After  breakfast at a French bistro, we wandered around the streets of the Plaza.  The area is a tourist magnet with lots of shops and street vendors selling just about anything southwestern you could ask for.  A small bunch of these chili peppers could arm you with enough 'firepower' to spice up your cooking for years to come.

CAN YOU SAY: SNOW!!

SANTA FE, NM, - -  We're used to surprises on our travels.  So  I was up at 5:30am and noted overcast skies.  Lydia was up a half hour later and it began to snow lightly.  And then it really began coming down.  It snowed long enough to cover everything with about half an inch of wet flakes.  We decided since this was our day to play "tourist" in Santa Fe that we might as well head out to start the day in a dry, warm  place for breakfast.  Soon after we left the blue skies peeked out, but the breeze and low temperature kept things lively.

Happy 25th anniversary among the ponderosa pines

Note the carefully placed shadow of me (bottom left).

SANTA FE, NM - - May 17 has always been a special day for Lydia and me.  We've been going strong since 1992.  Over the years we've traveled to France and surrounding countries in Europe;  spanned our northern neighbor, Canada; and been to at least 48 states including Alaska.
     This was breakfast this morning:  30-degrees, a campfire and hot coffee.  Add a kindle e-reader and we're all set to hangout and watch the little creatures who are checking the area for crumbs.  The kindle doesn't work too good when you try to turn pages with gloves on.  With gloves off, your fingers freeze.  Solution:  tap the screen with your nose.  It works

We're cool

SANTA FE, NM - - We're cool, as in  it was 36-degrees at 6am.  We expected it and we were looking forward to it.  Nothing like a nice fire in the fire pit and a cup of French Press dark roast coffee to warm things up a bit.  Cold mornings will be the norm while we're in this campground for a few days as the sun takes its time in meandering down the mountain side before gracing us with its warmth.  

Getting up in the world

Lydia sits by the campfire while "the Bus" is in breakfast mode.

This sign got my attention.

SANTA FE, NM - - The 'getting up' in the blog title refers to our current camp site in Black Canyon forest service campground in Santa Fe, NM. At 8,300' it's breath taking...literally.  At $5 a night you can't beat the price (half off for holders of the government's park pass for seniors).  We plan on spending at least 5 nights as we did two years ago.
     Anyway, on Sunday night we were in Villaneuva (NM) state park.  We weren't too high (6,000') but we were remote.  And remote is good when you're looking at the heavens.  By 10:30pm it looked as if you could reach up and touch the stars.  We were camped on an area halfway up the surrounding canyon wall and with no tall trees and no ambient light sources to dull the sky so you could scan 360-degrees.  It's not something you can see in Florida.
     Earlier on Sunday we crossed through Texas.They have an easy way to keep kids from wandering off, at the Gray County rest stop (I-40) in the Panhandle.  The adults stay on the paved walking areas too.

Bargain prices in Oklahoma

We saw gas as low as $1.85 but were past the exit by the time we read the price

CLINTON, OK - - The weather forecast for today was:  sunny, breezy and with great gas prices.  Take advantage now because low prices won't last.  We've found Oklahoma to always be easy on the wallet.
     Oklahoma's barely rolling topography and very straight I-40 made for an almost easy day.  A major traffic backup in Oklahoma City at the main interchange of intersecting interstates led to hitting the alternate route...longer but quicker.  When we rejoined I-40 all was good.  The Texas panhandle looms down the I-route with New Mexico after that.  We're still trying to outmaneuver the nasty weather the TV out here keeps reminding us about.

Elvis slept here...but we didn't

Hang this on  your wall if you're an Elvis fan.  (Right, I should have straightened the pic before using it.)

We spotted the Elvis souvenir at our lunch stop, in Forrest City, TN. (Wavy image due to rain falling on windshield.)

CARLISLE, AR - - Of course we're talking about The King of Rock and Roll, none other than Elvis "the Pelvis" Presley.  And the mecca for long time RR fans...Graceland.  Unfortunately the best we could do was wave as we sloshed through Memphis in a heavy, heavy rainstorm.  Lots of rain has been the byword for today and it appears it will be with us for at least the next two days.  There's plenty of evidence of what it has been like here in Arkansas and western Tennessee as small streams and rivers (including the Mississippi) have overflown their banks. Farmers fields, visible from I-40,  are sodden with standing water.  

On the road notes

COOKEVILLE, TN - - A long day in the van...or so it seemed.  Actually 400 miles isn't bad unless your  posterior hasn't been subjected to  that much sitting in one place in 19 months.  Lydia and I split the driving so that breaks things up.  Not much photographic material, but we sure like being in the mountains even if we barely broke a sweat rolling over 2900'.
     Today's edition of this blog is courtesy of the wi-fi at the Alpine Motel in Cookeville.  Usually if we were camping (strong thunder storms heading this way later tonight according to tv) we would have stopped at a McDonalds.  They are everywhere.  Two senior coffees and you are set for at least an hour.  However, we'll take a wifi signal anywhere we can find one.  Real Estate offices are a good source, but if you are parked "stealing" a signal the local law enforcement really frowns on it.
      Tomorrow?  More Tennessee and probably some Arkansas.
    

On our way

GREENSBORO, NC - - We got away from OB late Monday afternoon heading out for another five month wander around the West.  My health problems kept us home last year which seemed more like a ten year endurance test...since we've been on the road each summer since 2006.
      We stopped at South of the Border, a well known destination for anyone who has  traveled  I-95 in the Carolinas.  My first time there was in 1970 on my way to Daytona and the Cycle Week motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway.  My second time was yesterday.  The only real change is that it has gotten bigger. 
     Why call it South of the Border??  Because you can see the North Carolina state line from SOB.
     The funky shot of Pedro and the rest of the gaudy atmosphere  gives a good idea of what you might miss if you drive by.  Now it's onward tomorrow towards Tennessee and points West.

The viewfinder lies because it showed the top of the huge sombero

Hi, biscus

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - No birds today, as much as I like their antics.  Instead of hitting the road to look for our feathered friends, I walked to the end of our driveway. Our hibiscus.bushes  have been in constant bloom over the last few months...first red then pinkish and now yellow. 
     This full bloom appears to have a buddy getting ready for the spotlight.