May 7, 2011 Cedar City, Johnny, Kaki, Joyce, Bob

Started early this morning - was on the road by 7:30...again more beautiful scenery - we came across 14 the 'scenic bypass' where we were in elevations exceeding 10,500 ft...and there was SNOW up there...lots and lots of it!  This pic was just a patch - because by the time we got to where it was all snow, as far as you could see and it was over top of the motorhome (from snow blowers on the road) and we had unhooked the car because there were 8% grades for 25 miles...SO not happy with that! 

We got into Cedar City about 11:30 and stopped to eat - then drove the car to David's brother Johnny's and his wife Kaki - while we were saying howdy his sister Joyce and her husband Bob came over...we went and got the motorhome and it is now parked in Johnny & Kaki's driveway -where there are hook-ups!  woohoo!  We chatted and chatted, then everyone retired for a rest - to meet up again at 6 pm to go to dinner!  They took us to a place called Sulli's steakhouse & cafe, and they had coupons for two prime rib dinners with salads, potato, and fantastic rolls for $22.00 - yep, $11 per couple for prime rib!  Johnny bought dinner with Kaki's money (grin)...then we went to Kolob Canyon and took some great pictures - but the sun had gone down on our day...Thanks Johnny & Kaki for the wonderful welcome, the terrific day and yet more good memories!

Johnny, Joyce & David

Johnny & Kaki

Joyce & Bob

We are now snug in the MH and ready for bed. 

Breaking news - Miss Kaeleigh is in labor, and we may have a new great grandson, Landon Michael David Carter before morning! 

May 6, 2011 Flagstaff to Kanab

Once again, we were ready to go at o'dark thirty...we actually pulled out of Black Bart's RV Park at 8:15, and topped off the gas tank and on the road by 8:30. 

We drove up 189 - and the scenery once again just knocked our socks off! 

We figured a 200 mile day would be pretty easy - NOT.  If we ever do that road again, we will split it into two days.  We got to Kanab at 3:30 pm, totally exhausted from twists, turns, ups and downs - the motorhome engine got pretty hot - we stopped twice to let it cool, once to have lunch, once just to shop...yep, along the way there are stands set up selling navajo jewelry and pottery - got something for my friend in Cheyenne, and got me a stunning necklace and earring set, in a verlant green - gorgeous!  I'll be wearing it for years to come I'm sure!

When we finally got to Kanab, we decided we needed the AC, so we stopped at the Kanab RV Corral - very nice small park, but most expensive campground we've been in to date.  Was $30.57 WITH our discounts!  Ouch!  However, right outside our door is a beautiful fully blooming lilac bush - and I have a bouquet on the table - oh smells heavenly!

I fixed dinner, shrimp with angel hair pasta & garlic, salad and garlic bread - it was yummy - just FYI, I don't always cook shrimp, but I had a 2 lb package that I bought back in Dec for New Year's Eve, and as you know, I ended up in a hotel in San Antonio heading for PA at that time.  So I needed to get it used up before it got freezer burnt!  Mission accomplished!

Tomorrow the plan is to pull out early, head to Cedar City, UT...where more adventures await!

May 5, 2011 Crater National Monument

Today was quite a day!  We got up early and hit the whole motorhome with the vacuum, windex, pledge and plenty of paper towels.  The wind in Deming blew the whole house full of dust and grit.  After about an hour of concentrated cleaning, it was time to shower and hit the tourist trail. 

We stopped for breakfast at Cracker barrel.  We rarely stop there, preferring to have breakfast at home or at least not at a chain restaurant!  It was quite a treat, and we left there heading for Sunset Crater Volcano National park.  Wow, it was another day of far too much scenery to take in.  You can read all about it at:  www.nps.gov/sucr It is truly amazing! 

Here are a couple of pics – none of which do justice to the wonder of what we saw!

We continued to Wupatki National Monument – where ruins have stood for more than 900 years.  It too is amazing, and you can read about it at:  www.nps.goc/wupa

By the time we got back to town we were starving, and although the plan was to go to Black Bart’s Steak House and Saloon for dinner, we went to a local pizza joint and had excellent pizza for a late lunch. 

We stopped at Little America and toured it – we’ve seen all the Little America’s now!  This one is very small and insignificant compared to the others – the one in Cheyenne is the biggest and most elaborate!

We came home and had a very quiet evening, enjoying the internet, had watermelon for snack and hit the hay about 9…

Tomorrow, Kanab UT is on the schedule – we’ll see what adventures we can get up to there!

May 4, 2011 Flagstaff AZ

First of all let me tell you something I forgot about in yesterday's post!  When we were just past the town of Alpine NM, off to the left there were a herd (okay, 6 of them) of ELK - David said they were all cows, but we were excited to see them just browsing in the woods!!!  We were at about 8500 ft elevation!
This morning we got up and headed up Hwy 180 again, and took the scenic loop through the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Parks.  I told David that God decided to 'wink' here....in the middle of NOTHING to have this gorgeous scenery - made me cry a couple times!  Pictures can in no way do it justice, but here are a couple just so you know we were really there!

It took us about 2 hours to drive 27 miles, but it was worth every minute of it!

We continued down the road and arrived at Black Bart's RV park about 3pm.  It was recommended to us and it is a nice park.  We paid for 2 nights, and even with our discount it was $53.25, so a little more than we like to spend, and NO cable TV...but good wifi :) 

We drove downtown Flagstaff and got some tourist information for tomorrow - I did a little shopping at an Albertson's and then we came home and I made dinner.  We had shrimp fettuine alfredo and garlic bread...and there is enough for leftovers!  Woohoo! 

We firmed up plans to meet with David's brother John in Cedar City UT on Saturday, so we have some miles to travel...and more adventures tomorrow! 



May 3, 2011 Eagar AZ

Yaaay – we got out mail today J  Yep – it was mailed from Livingston on Friday the 29^th – got to Deming general delivery today, May 3^rd!  The worst of it was, the only thing in the envelope was an Escapee’s magazine…shesh!  I’m expecting my TX driver’s license – the next time we get our mail will be May 15^th or so in Grand Junction, CO!

What with the mail situation, and getting gas - $3.79 per gallon, 53 gallons $220.00…yikes!  We finally got on the road at 11:30am.  We headed up HWY180, and it was a beautiful drive, through Glenwood, Alpine, etc…and we ended up in Eagar, AZ.  We had found a VFW here and we called them the other day – they were sincerely nice and said we could park in their lot or there was an empty parking lot across the street. 

We got here about 4:30 pm…set up in the parking lot next door.  Went into the VFW and it was taco night – after several libations and more tacos than we should have eaten, I took Cinder for a nice long walk, and we are now settled in for the night.   Plans for tomorrow are up in the air – but I think the Petrified Forest is one of the places we’re going to stop and visit.

More adventures tomorrow – and MAYBE some pictures.

May 2, 2011 - Still in Deming - no mail!

Today started out very chilly - had to run the furnace for a cycle before I could get my shower this morning!  Temp was down to 38...bbbrrrr!!!

We puttered around for a while, took Cinder out for a long walk, then we headed into town - they have an absolutely fantastic museum here - it is amazing how much stuff they have, and how well preserved it is.  Probably the most surprising thing is that there is no admission fee...it is run entirely on donations and volunteers.  We spent several hours touring it.

We then stopped at the post office where our mail 'should' have been today - nope, not today so we'll try again tomorrow!

We stopped at a lovely market named 'Peppers' where I got the fixin's for a spinach strawberry salad, and a fresh loaf of bread, and we headed over to Fran & Rich's about 5 for happy hour and dinner :)  Fran made some fabulous pork chops with potatos and carrots, and we had yummy peanut butter cookies for dessert.  We washed it all down with some kind of lovely lemonade/vodka drink that was so very smooth...Fran and Rich, thanks for a terrific dinner!

Tomorrow morning I plan on doing a quick cleaning of the MH, putting stuff up and ready to roll - if our mail comes in early we are heading out - we won't drive too long, but do expect to get a ways up the road.  Don't know where we'll spend tomorrow night, but I'm sure it will be more of an adventure! 

May 1, 2011 Deming & good times

This morning we had invited Fran and Rich over for 'muffins' and coffee...I bought the muffins at Sam's - but I decided that breakfast needed a little more - so I whipped up a bacon, cheese & onion crustless quiche, and we added some watermelon - breakfast was spectacular! 

We sat and chatted for almost 2 hours - then I headed off to the laundry, as did Fran.  Rich and David worked on our automatic step that had decided to be NOT automatic! 

While we were doing laundry, we continued to chat, and I was looking through menu's from town - I had been at Paloma's several years ago when I stopped in Deming on my way to Tucson - and the food was amazing!  I wanted to take David there - but according to the menu, they were only open on Sunday's from 11 - 3 and closed Mondays - we will be leaving here Tuesday morning (if our mail shows up!) so when we got back to the MH we told the guys that we wanted to go to an early dinner - and we wanted to visit a winery first...sssssooooo

We visited St Clair Winery and tasted some wonderful wines - of course we got a couple bottles, then we went to Paloma's.  We forgot our camera, but take my word for it, they had an Italian buffet that was...ceasar and house salad, a fantastic potato/sausage/leek soup, wonderful yeasty rolls, spaghetti with meatballs and sausage, cheese ravioli, eggplant parmagiana, penne with chicken in an alfredo sauce, sauteed veggies, drink AND a homemade dessert - coconut cream pie, or Lime chiffon pie, or death by chocolate cake, all for $8.95.  We did our best to get our money's worth :) 

This evening we ran into K-Mart because for some reason I have been unable to locate Cinder's brush - and with this wind and dust, I had to have a new one.  We walked around and around, and bought a brush...and some 1/2 off Easter candy - a dove bunny - mmmm bedtime snack :)

Tomorrow - more adventures are on tap!