Southwest Trip (long)
Tom Warfield
sure I'll be ending up in some RV parking lots but, more importantly,
am I missing anything of importance for the items of interest? (Note:
I'm skipping the Grand Canyon because the north side campground
doesn't open up in time for this trip; besides, we've been to the
south side of that big hole in the ground.)
Itinerary for 2003 SW USA trip
5/3, Saturday
8:00 am -- Leave home, Oakville, WA
(380 miles, 7 hours)
Gold 'N' Rogue KOA, Gold Hill, OR
5/4, Sunday
(400 miles, 7.5 hours)
Coachland RV Park; Truckee, Ca
5/5, Monday
Drive around Lake Tahoe
Heavenly Tram
Lake Cruise
5/6, Tuesday
Reno: Planetarium
Automobile Museum
5/7 Wednesday
(320 miles, 6.5 hours)
KOA of Ely; Ely, NV
5/8, Thursday
Bristlecone Pine Forest
Great Basin NP
Lehman Caves
5/9, Friday
(250 miles, 6 hours)
Bryce Canyon Pines Country Campground; Rubys Inn, UT
5/10 Saturday
Bryce Canyon
5/11, Sunday
Kodacrome Basin & Grosevenor Arch
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Escalante Petrified Forest
Panguitch-Escalante-Boulder Scenic Drive
Anasazi Indian Village
5/12, Monday
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Dixie National Forest
Brian Head peak
Zion Canyon
5/13, Tuesday
Bryce Canyon
5/14, Wednesday
(270 miles, 5.5 hours)
on the way:
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Moqui Cave
Flagstaff KOA; Flagstaff, AZ
After setting up camp (maybe):
Sunset Crater
Walnut Canyon
5/15, Thursday
(340 miles, 6 hours)
on the way:
Meteor Crater
Albuquerque KOA, Albuquerque, NM
5/16, Friday
(225 miles, 5 hours)
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Alamogordo NM
(visit with friends)
5/17, Saturday
Toy Train Depot
Space Center
(oil change)
(transfer photos to CD?)
(visit with friends)
5/18, Sunday
(visit with friends)
5/19, Monday
White Sands Nat'l Monument
maybe: City of Rocks State Park
5/20, Tuesday
(160 miles, 3.5 hours)
Carlsbad RV Park & Campground; Carlsbad, NM
5/21, Wednesday
Carlsbad Caverns
Natural Entrance
Big Room
Lower Cave
5/22, Thursday
Carlsbad Caverns
Left Hand Tunnel
Kings Palace
Maybe: Million Dollar Museum
5/23, Friday
(290 miles, 5.5 hours)
Albuquerque KOA-Central; Albuquerque, NM
5/24 Saturday
Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway & chairlift
5/25, Sunday
Museum & zoo
5/26, Monday (Memorial Day)
(350 miles, 7 hours)
(visit Four Corners on the way)
KamPark; Blanding, UT
5/27, Tuesday
Navajoland
Navajo National Monument
Monument Valley
5/28, Wednesday
Natural Bridges National Monument
5/29, Thursday
Canyonlands National Park
5/30, Friday
(80 miles, 1.75 hours)
Pack Creek; Moab, UT
Moab's Skyway Tram
5/31, Saturday
Arches National Park
6/1, Sunday
Arches or Canyonlands National Park
6/2, Monday
Dead Horse Pt. State Park
6/3, Tuesday
(450 miles, 8.5 hours)
Twin Falls/Jerome KOA; Twin Falls, ID
6/4, Wednesday
(500 miles, 9 hours)
Grandchildren, Moses Lake, WA
6/5, Thursday
visit with family
(transfer photos to CD?)
(oil change)
6/6, Friday
visit with family
Grandchild Graduation
6/7, Saturday
visit with family
6/8, Sunday
(300 miles, 6 hours)
Back Home; Oakville, WA
(37 nights at 12 campgrounds + Grandchildren & ~7000 miles later)
*****************
-Tom Warfield
> 2000 Coleman Mesa
> 1999 Ford Ranger (4dr supercab, 4.0L, 5sp AT w/OD)
> In the great Pacific NorthWest (sw washington)
> NOTE: if you send an email msg to my hotmail acct,
> dont be surprised if I don't respond. I'm tired of
> all the spam and have all email from unknown sources
> sent to "junk mail".
http://communities.msn.com/PopUpTrailerCamping
the old anarchist
stopping? hoover dam, lake mead, the red rocks state park just west of vegas
are all very interesting too. and i am going to guess you have been to
sisters OR?
a btw, if you do your own oil changes, why not use a synthetic just before
you go and change it when you get back? just to save the hassle. you are
only going 7k miles. with all the start and stops I do, i do mine in 5k
increments using synthetics. but on the highway, 10k towing. oh well
have fun
the old anarchist
ps, this year, my wife has told me the vacation plans. not camping this
year, gonna go see 'grandkids'. hard to tow the pop up behind the Boeing at
40,000 ft to Argentina. flops around too much.
<twarfiel -at- hotmail -dot- com (Tom Warfield)> wrote in message
news:jpoe1vok0qmctcuk3...@4ax.com...
Skip P
Wow, what a trip! Kodachrome Basin SP is a wonderful CG. Incredible setting.
Grosvenor Arch is worth the visit except!......ANY rain will instantly turn
Cottonwood Rd (think that's the name) into a muddy, impassable mess. Any
chance of rain and I'd scrub the ride. We tried to use the road as a
shortcut to the Grand Canyon and even with 4WD, we couldn't get through
after about 1/4" of rain. Sure was fun trying though :-)
Deadhorse Point offers a remarkable sunrise location. The CG is in one of
the most remarkable settings I've ever seen. The most beautiful CG I think I
have ever camped in. No utilities but well worth it. I remember laying on
the picnic table and looking at the stars....never saw so many. The lockable
food pantries are a real plus.
Canyonlands NP. If you get a chance, visit Mesa Arch for a sunrise.
Probably won't be alone but, photographically, it can't be beat. We stayed
at a CG 10 miles from the NP, at the intersection of the park road and the
road to Moab(can't recall the name) that was pretty centrally located.
E-mail me and I'll dig up the name. Ever been to a "slot canyon"?
Can envy seep through a computer?
--
Skip P
ski...@ec.rr.com
Please visit our Outdoor and Nature Photography site:
http://members.telocity.com/outdoorphoto
<twarfiel -at- hotmail -dot- com (Tom Warfield)> wrote in message
news:jpoe1vok0qmctcuk3...@4ax.com...
lfm
<twarfiel -at- hotmail -dot- com (Tom Warfield)> wrote in message
news:jpoe1vok0qmctcuk3...@4ax.com...
> sure I'll be ending up in some RV parking lots but, more importantly,
> am I missing anything of importance for the items of interest? (Note:
> I'm skipping the Grand Canyon because the north side campground
> doesn't open up in time for this trip; besides, we've been to the
> south side of that big hole in the ground.)
> Navajoland
> Navajo National Monument
> Monument Valley
Monument Valley has a wonderful private RV park - Gouldings. it is much
nicer than the one right by monument valley. Gouldings is about 10 miles
away, and has an awe inspiring view of it. They also own a hotel nearby, and
you can use their pool or the one at the CG - both are indoors.
About 2 hours south of there is Canyon de Cheilly (pronounced shay) - really
lovely, and the CG (no hookups or showers, but flush toilets and running
water) is free - it is owned by the Navajos.
>
Sounds like a great trip!
Laura
The Other Harry
com (Tom Warfield) wrote:]
> Any comments on the following intinerary would be appreciated. I'm
> sure I'll be ending up in some RV parking lots but, more importantly,
> am I missing anything of importance for the items of interest?
The old anarchist and I seem to think a lot alike: Las Vegas is the
glaring omission. It jumps right out and bites me in the bee-hind.
Please take this in the context that you are hearing it from someone
who neither likes to gamble nor who even particularly likes Las
Vegas in the first place. I consider it to be one of the ugliest,
most disgusting cities on the face of the earth.
But you gotta see it. You really do. If nothing else, all that
spiritual time in all those beautiful parks needs to be counter-
balanced with some glitz, grime, and sin.
The really cool thing is that you can enjoy yourself there without
spending much money at all. Some of the most spectacular stuff is
absolutely free. The dancing fountains in front of the Bellagio
Hotel, for instance -- I could literally spend hours watching them.
They may well be the best free show anywhere in the world.
Seriously. (I don't think they come on until around 9:00 PM, by the
way. Nothing in Las Vegas does.)
As to the rest of your itinerary, there's quite a bit there with
which I am not familiar.
In the course of a cross-country trip last December, my wicked
ex-wife and I drove through parts of Nevada, Arizona, and New
Mexico. In addition to Las Vegas and the south rim of the Grand
Canyon, we spent some time in the area around Sedona, AZ and Santa
Fe, NM. Also, I used to live south of San Francisco, so I have
spent a fair amount of time around Lake Tahoe.
Here are some of my thoughts, opinions, and prejudices:
- Lake Tahoe is a must. Truckee is actually a very nice little
town; there isn't a heck of a lot there, but the area is very
pretty. Donner Lake is worth a look. Donner Pass, Donner Summit,
Donner Party. It's hard to imagine what they went through getting
over those mountains back then. It sends chills down my spine to
even think about it.
I like this part of your itinerary.
I does make me want to drive from there down thru Gold Country,
however. In the increasingly unlikely event that memory serves
correctly, I think that would be Highway 49. I do understand that
your travel plans take you east instead.
Think about a visit to Gold Country for your next trip. Visit some
wineries, pan for some gold, do a raft trip...
- I personally would X-out Reno altogether. The car museum is
interesting, but unless you are really into old cars I don't think
you'll find it worth your time. Reno generally is not all that
interesting.
(The one thing you could do near there that *would* be interesting
is something your wife probably would not allow: Go visit a
brothel. Most people don't know this, but it is entirely possible
to go into one, have a couple over-priced, watered-down drinks, chat
with the girls, admire their titties, and then leave. There is no
requirement that you "do" anything more than that. This would be a
lot more interesting than a visit to the car museum -- you have my
personal guarantee on that. It would be one of the highlights of
your entire trip. More information on request.)
- Instead of Reno, I'd go to Virginia City. This is a little jewel
of a town. There is no place else quite like it. Lots of history,
and a lot to do there.
I have some stories to tell about Virginia City. I'll give you a
just a short one:
Virginia City is an old silver mining town that sits on top of a
hill. Much of the ground underneath it has been mined and is
therefore hollow (this is like Jerome, AZ, which was copper mining
town and which I'll mention again later).
The town itself is much like it was 150 years ago. Very much like
it was, in more respects than one.
For one thing, there are a lot of bars. It is a very small town,
but there are a lot of restaurants and bars and other places that
sell booze one way or the other.
While our wives were taking afternoon naps at a motel on one end of
town, a good friend and I once set out with the goal of seeing
whether it would be possible to have one drink in each place that
served a drink.
The answer to that question is that it is not possible. Not for us,
anyway. We didn't even make down one side of the street.
I'm not entirely clear on what happened after that. We were on
foot. so there wasn't too much damage we could do. And, assuming we
didn't find the entrance to one of the mines, there wasn't any
serious risk of us getting lost. There are no police there (none to
speak of, anyhow), so getting arrested wasn't a worry.
Our wives managed to find us somehow. Like I said, it is a very
small city. I think I had frog legs for dinner that night. You
don't find frog legs on all that many menus anymore. They were
excellent.
I do remember going into one place that had antique gaming machines.
Like old slot machines, but more diverse. This was far better than
that car museum. You could actually use them. You can't help but
use them -- they are fascinating. Much better than the ones we make
today.
I'll save the other stories I have to tell about Virginia City until
after the children are asleep.
- I can't really comment on the next portion of your trip. I've
driven across Nevada, but I've never spent much time in Utah. I
know my sister and brother-in-law quite enjoyed a trip they took to
Bryce Canyon and Brian Head.
I will say that I generally like driving in the desert -- doing
anything in the desert, for that matter -- a lot more around sun-up
and sun-set than during the middle of the day. I am serious about
this to the point where I would be breaking camp at 3:00 or 4:00 in
the morning and getting on the road. It is a whole different
experience than if you wait until 10:00. The colors come out.
- As to the Anasazi, I will once again agree with The Old Anarchist
(he and I need to find something to argue about): I think you may
even want to make them kind of a theme that glues together the
entire time you spend in the Southwest.
Ex-wife and I visited a park called Bandelero (sp?) north of Santa
Fe, NM and got hooked. I had not expected to find myself getting
interested in any of this, but I was wrong about that -- very wrong.
What you need to understand, however, is that this pretty much all
involves spending more time than it looks like it will on the map.
You have to get out of the car and walk back up into the hills. If
you are planning on going with one of the guides (highly recommended
if available), you will probably have to wait for a tour to start.
Anything that looks like you can do in one hour will likely take
four hours. If you rush it, you will miss it.
- Now then, I understand that the next phase of your trip is
somewhat dictated by your visit to your friends in Alamogordo, but
nonetheless...
Why are you planning to stay in Flagstaff? This ranks right up
there with Reno as a conspicuous X-out. There isn't anything there.
I bought a new set of tires there, but that's all I can remember
about it.
Go to Sedona instead. Better yet, go to Jerome (AZ). Somewhere in
or around Oak Creek Canyon. Just not Flagstaff. All Flagstaff is
known for is a quick listing in an old song called Route 66. (And,
by the way, parts of historic Route 66 *are* available for driving
these days -- you might want to look into that. Nostalgia fodder.)
And why are you *not* going to Santa Fe? This ranks right up there
with Las Vegas as a conspicuous omission. We liked Santa Fe so much
that we extended our stay there by several nights. My ex- is ready
to move there. (She ain't doin' that on my nickel!)
The Four Corners will be a disappointment. You might want to go
there anyway just to say you've been there, but it's a waste of time
otherwise. There are a few Indian vendors who have shacks there who
can be enjoyable to visit with -- and maybe to buy some trinkets off
(They aren't cutting any fat hogs, so it's good to spend some money
with them. Dicker though - that's one of the rules.) -- but there
isn't anything to see.
We did take photos of ourselves with one paw in each of the four
states and our butts sticking up in the air, so I guess I can't
criticize you for wanting to do the same. Just don't expect much.
Overall, it sounds like a wonderful trip. A bit too fast for me,
but I can see your reasoning. If you can find a day or two that you
can do without, I think you'll be better off -- but I'm not sure
there are any.
Maybe you can call in sick and extend the trip another week.
Harry ;)
Tom Warfield
<shawves...@comcast.net> wrote:
>The anastazi is fabulous. Mind blowing. you get close to vegas, but not
>stopping?
Neither the wife or I have any interest at all in the big city lights,
not to mention our lack of interest in gambling. We were in Vegas a
few years ago as part of a geology field trip. We went into town to
eat at one of the big smorgusboard restaurants and then walked along
about 4 blocks of the strip and through two casinos to get to where
the campground shuttle stopped. That was enough lights and casino
action for us.
>hoover dam, lake mead, the red rocks state park just west of vegas
>are all very interesting too.
The geology class trip took us over Hoover (anyone ever fall for one
of the electrifying jokes?). My wife's previous father-in-law was a
dam nut that stopped at every dam he came to so she hasn't much
interest in dams. I'm afraid Red Rocks SP will have to wait until
after I retire.
>and i am going to guess you have been to sisters OR?
Yup. We camped at McKinzie Bridge (on the west side) for a week a
couple years ago.
>a btw, if you do your own oil changes, why not use a synthetic just before
>you go and change it when you get back? just to save the hassle. you are
>only going 7k miles. with all the start and stops I do, i do mine in 5k
>increments using synthetics. but on the highway, 10k towing. oh well
You suggestion makes sense and my truck's manufacturer warranty
expired long ago but I'll still have my extended warranty coverage
during this trip (but not much longer afterwards). I'd rather go
through the hassle and lost time having the oil change done at a
dealer and get it into their computer than chance a claim denial
because I don't have proof of proper service.
Tom Warfield
> Ever been to a "slot canyon"?
I've waded up the Virgin River (Zion NP) as part of a geology field
trip and I think that qualifies.
Tom Warfield
>Monument Valley has a wonderful private RV park - Gouldings. it is much
>nicer than the one right by monument valley.
>
>About 2 hours south of there is Canyon de Cheilly (pronounced shay) - really
>lovely, and the CG (no hookups or showers, but flush toilets and running
>water) is free - it is owned by the Navajos.
I know I'll be missing a lot of great campgrounds (and sights), but
they will have to wait until I retire and don't have a schedule to
keep to. This trip I'm sticking to places that I know allow dogs and
where I can get reservations for because I want to be assured of being
able to stop near the sights we are interested in and so we can get
into camp at a decent hour (4:00-5:00). Finding "no room at the inn"
and having to move on just doesn't fit into that. I already had to
shift the dates of the trip and drop 10 days in the Tetons &
Yellowstone after we realized the oldest grandchild was graduating
from high school this coming June. I just wish we did have the luxury
of just moseying around with no cares. Then I probably wouldn't be
putting out $36 per night at a KOA parking lot which isn't our
favorite type of campground anyway. But then, this area of the country
kind of begs for utilities to run the AC that I'm having put on the
popup just because of this trip.
Tom Warfield
<hc...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>Las Vegas is the glaring omission. It jumps right out and bites me
>in the bee-hind.
>
>Please take this in the context that you are hearing it from someone
>who neither likes to gamble nor who even particularly likes Las
>Vegas in the first place. I consider it to be one of the ugliest,
>most disgusting cities on the face of the earth.
>
>But you gotta see it. You really do. If nothing else, all that
>spiritual time in all those beautiful parks needs to be counter-
>balanced with some glitz, grime, and sin.
Not only is Vegas not in line with the travel route to get to the
natural sights we are going to, but we have "been to" Vegas before as
a stop during a community college geology class field trip. We may go
back sometime after I retire, but for the time being we've had our
fill of that particular glitz.
>- I personally would X-out Reno altogether. The car museum is
>interesting, but unless you are really into old cars I don't think
>you'll find it worth your time. Reno generally is not all that
>interesting.
Reno isn't the reason for this stop, Lake Tahoe and the boat ride &
tram ride are. The wife is really into museums; she'd be stopping at
every one but I get tired of them after the first one. I know she'll
really enjoy the car museum. The planetarium stop is for me.
>- Instead of Reno, I'd go to Virginia City. This is a little jewel
>of a town. There is no place else quite like it. Lots of history,
>and a lot to do there.
When I first began planning the campsites for this trip I had the
Virginia City campground as the stop for that area. I no longer recall
why I switched but it will probably be a stop for a future trip.
>Why are you planning to stay in Flagstaff? This ranks right up
>there with Reno as a conspicuous X-out.
This is simply some place to stop between Bryce Canyon and Alamagordo.
Its location, and stopping again in Albequerque, gives me something
close to my desired daily travel range. Originally, I wasn't going to
stop here but in Gallop instead. I had to change things when I
discovered that the north rim campground didn't open until a couple
days after I was planning on stopping there. I decided that traveling
from Bryce Canyon to Gallop was a bit more than I wanted to do in a
single day, thus the Flagstaff & Albequerque stops instead.
>And why are you *not* going to Santa Fe? This ranks right up there
>with Las Vegas as a conspicuous omission.
There just isn't enough time to get in the natural sights on our
northbound leg of this trip and do Santa Fe too. We have the deadline
of getting to the grandchild's high school graduation. Santa Fe, and
more time in Albequerque, will have to wait until after I retire (4
years, 2 months, 26 days -- but who is counting).
>The Four Corners will be a disappointment. You might want to go
>there anyway just to say you've been there
That's the whole reason. It's just a little side trip between stops so
nothing major. Just a photo op.
>Overall, it sounds like a wonderful trip. A bit too fast for me
Fast? The previously mentioned geology class trip was what was fast
(Bryce & Zion in the same day). That's why we are going back; besides
this trip includes areas that the geology trip didn't. I fully realize
that allocating a single day or two for someplace like Canyonlands NP
or Arches is no where near enough. With this trip we'll have a better
idea of where we want to return to after I retire.
>Maybe you can call in sick and extend the trip another week.
Thanks for all the input, even this one. Unfortunately, due to the
graduation, I'd have to do the extension at the beginning and due to
things happening at work I'm already cutting it close as it is to be
leaving on May 3.
Pam in Iowa
there and then spend a day at Mesa Verde. MV is one of the
most incredible parks around, an International Heritage
center in addition to being a wonderful National Park.
While you're in Albuquerque, spend time in the Old Town and
at the Museum of History, both great places. I think the
tramway is overrated and expensive.
Make sure you have reservations over the holiday weekend.
It is an ambitious trip!
Pam in Iowa
Brad Blackburn
Tom Warfield
> doesn't open up in time for this trip; besides, we've been to the
> south side of that big hole in the ground.)
Too bad because the North side is a different experience.
> 5/8, Thursday
> Bristlecone Pine Forest
> Great Basin NP
> Lehman Caves
Great Basin in a nice quiet place in the middle of nowhere.
I hope to make it back there someday to spend some time.
I just did the cave tour.
> 5/11, Sunday
> Kodacrome Basin & Grosevenor Arch
> Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
> Escalante Petrified Forest
> Panguitch-Escalante-Boulder Scenic Drive
> Anasazi Indian Village
I'll second the comment about the Cottonwood Canyon road. It turns to
grease if it rains. Seems like the road to Grosvenor is well maintained.
It's paved to Kodachrome.
On the highway 12 drive, Calf Creek falls is a nice hike with a rewarding
100'+ waterfall.
It's about 5-6 miles round trip though.
I've never stopped at Escalante Petrified forest because it doesn't look
like much.
There is an awesome one out in Grande Staircase but now that this is a
National Monument people will find out about it and ruin it.
> 5/12, Monday
> Cedar Breaks National Monument
> Dixie National Forest
There's a little visitor center in an old ranger house near Duck Creek in
DNF.
Since you seem to like caves there are several lava tubes in this area you
can drive right up to.
Some are down gravel roads. They can have perennial ice in them.
> 5/19, Monday
> White Sands Nat'l Monument
> maybe: City of Rocks State Park
near Corrizozo NM is Valley of Fires
http://www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/valley_of_fires/recreation_area.
html
I wish I would have camped here instead of "pushing on" during a previous
trip.
You camp in (next to) a fairly recent lava flow.
> 5/21, Wednesday
> Carlsbad Caverns
> Natural Entrance
> Big Room
> Lower Cave
>
> 5/22, Thursday
> Carlsbad Caverns
> Left Hand Tunnel
> Kings Palace
Our volunteer group has done quite a bit of restoration in Lower Cave, hope
ya like it.
The park is slowly removing structures over the cave such as housing etc.
There is
"talk" of someday having a shuttle system out of White's City and doing
away with
all structures near the cave.
You will be there right before they start the summer hours.
Natural entrance shuts down at 2pm.
The bats should be flying.
The bats return before sunrise one by one. You can walk down to the
amphitheater in the dark and listen to them . Ask a ranger for more details
if interested. The pretty much stop flying when the sun comes over the
horizon.
>
> 5/25, Sunday
> Museum & zoo
Los Alamos has a museum on the building of "the bomb".
The signs that lead you there seem to disappear and I ended up driving
right past the museum not knowing what it was.
> (visit Four Corners on the way)
Ditto on what was said in a previous post about four corners,,,,don't
expect much.
> 5/28, Wednesday
> Natural Bridges National Monument
The entire park is solar powered, you can see the grid near the visitor
center.
This park is a real sleeper but the campground can fill up as it did when I
was passing through.
I ended up camping at Goosenecks State Park. Primitive camping but you can
camp almost on the rim of a pretty amazing little overlook of the river.
> 6/2, Monday
> Dead Horse Pt. State Park
This park DOES have a 120volt outlet under the shelter picnic tables.
Arches will be crowded. Moab will be crowded.
Moab Diner has the best breakfast in town.
The visitor center is also in the center of town and should be your first
stop.
It's staffed by BLM, NP, NF people. Great source for books and maps too.
I've camped in the Needles District of Canyonlands and loved it.
I would buy a 50$ National Park Pass if you haven't already.
Brad Blackburn
The Other Harry
Tom:
You solicit input from others, then you systematically reject
everything anyone sends you. It's a pattern.
You might want to consider seeing a shrink.
Tom Warfield
Yeah, a shink to determine why I'm continuing to work after I already
have 30 years in with the state.
As far as the suggestions for this trip and my responses, I'm just
replying to suggestions as to why they don't work for me for this
particular trip. I'm willing to change my itinerary -- after all I've
got almost 4 months to change reservations -- but I need a convincing
reason that matches our likes.
I notice you don't even offer any alternatives.
Tom Warfield
wrote:
>Instead of spending two days in Albuquerque, spend one day
>there and then spend a day at Mesa Verde. MV is one of the
>most incredible parks around, an International Heritage
>center in addition to being a wonderful National Park.
>While you're in Albuquerque, spend time in the Old Town and
>at the Museum of History, both great places. I think the
>tramway is overrated and expensive.
For some reason I can't find Mesa Verde in my software such that it
would be an alternative as you suggest. Albequerque is essentially a
non-important way stop for this particular trip that allows shopping,
laundry, and a Church day. The tram, though expensive, is something I
got the wife hooked on during our 1999 Alaska trip, thus the reason it
is included. Other Albequerque stops will have to wait until a future
trip since we have a graduation to get to at the end of this trip.
>Make sure you have reservations over the holiday weekend.
I've already got confirmation for both Albequerque stops, though I'm
still waiting to hear back for the Memorial day stop.
Tom Warfield
<crevi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> I'm skipping the Grand Canyon because the north side campground
>> doesn't open up in time for this trip; besides, we've been to the
>> south side of that big hole in the ground.)
>
>Too bad because the North side is a different experience.
That is why I wanted to stop there even though the wife isn't really
interested. Since the campground doesn't open in time, this will have
to be a stop for a future trip.
> 5/12, Monday
> Cedar Breaks National Monument
> Dixie National Forest
>Since you seem to like caves there are several lava tubes in this area you
>can drive right up to.
I like caves, my wife really loves them. Even so, neither of us are
particularly enthralled by lava tubes
>I would buy a 50$ National Park Pass if you haven't already.
This is definately in my plans. I figure it will save about 1/2 on the
NP entrance fees.
Jeff H
> I know I'll be missing a lot of great campgrounds (and sights), but
> they will have to wait until I retire
A 37 night vacation and you will have to wait until you retire??? Must be
rough :-).
Jeff
CE Piercy
Thanks for the long post-if I win the battle with Mother Nature I will
get to some of those places.
BTW the first trip I made after retiring was 1200 miles south to New
Orleans, turn right and head west and return in 34 days. The next year I
turned left at New Orleans for 32 days. Destinations are important but
darn, I hate to drive by any new adventure.
Ted Piercy
the old anarchist
to gamble. she's a gaming agent for the the state. but there are a lot of
things to see. the Ventian, the Bellagio, the Mirage, the tigers, the
shows. I wouldn't say one trip, especially a field trip where the sights are
not on the list, could you say you saw Vegas. The Ethel M Candy factory has
a great desert flower and plant garden. stuff like that. the free stuff.
Red Rocks and I didn't go to ?Plain of Fire? state park. Vegas is a hard
place to camp. either hotter than hell or expensive. We ended up in a hotel
for less than the camping fees.
the old anarchist
<twarfiel -at- hotmail -dot- com (Tom Warfield)> wrote in message
news:50og1v46ds2fhlcev...@4ax.com...
George & Theresa Odom
instead of going to KamPark; Blanding, UT. Of interest in this area are
the Durango-Silverton RR, Mesa Verde, and many old mining towns.
Tom Warfield
<shawves...@comcast.net> wrote:
>we don't do very much gambling when we go. my wife's friend is not allowed
>to gamble. she's a gaming agent for the the state. but there are a lot of
>things to see. the Ventian, the Bellagio, the Mirage, the tigers, the
>shows. I wouldn't say one trip, especially a field trip where the sights are
>not on the list, could you say you saw Vegas. The Ethel M Candy factory has
>a great desert flower and plant garden. stuff like that. the free stuff.
>Red Rocks and I didn't go to ?Plain of Fire? state park. Vegas is a hard
>place to camp. either hotter than hell or expensive. We ended up in a hotel
>for less than the camping fees.
Every place has its own features and attractions, even Vegas. I'm
certainly not saying that we'll never go to the big cities, just that
they don't really draw us that much and the sight-seeing for this
particular trip is planned specifically for the sites made by mother
nature, with only a comparatively few man-made features tossed in.
Tom Warfield
wrote:
>A 37 night vacation and you will have to wait until you retire??? Must be
>rough :-).
Vacation time-wise I can only "afford" these extensive trips every 3-4
years and that is only by being fairly frugal with my vacation time
during the intervening years.
More importantly to me is that after I retire I can wander at ease
generally without a schedule to be kept. My wife doesn't believe it,
but I look forward to not having to plan these trips down to the
tiniest detail (menus, what must be purchased at certain stops,
reservations gotten months in advance, sometimes even where we'll be
stopping to have lunch).
Tom Warfield
<go...@chartertn.net> wrote:
>The only suggestion I have is to go over to Durango or Cortez CO.
>instead of going to KamPark; Blanding, UT. Of interest in this area are
>the Durango-Silverton RR, Mesa Verde, and many old mining towns.
Those would definately be of extreme interest to my wife but will have
to wait for a future trip. The Blanding stop is solely because it is
fairly central to the sites in the area. The fairly short move on to
Moab is simply to cut down on driving distance to the sites in that
neighborhood.
Ab Diver
Tom, you seem to have an interest in caves. If you can, consider visiting
Kartchner Caverns. Located off I-10 between Benson and Sierra Vista. Went
there a couple years ago. All I can say is "Wow!" Nice campground, too: Big
sites, full hookups, but bring your own shade. It's the high desert, but can
get a bit warm in the summer.
http://www.pr.state.az.us/parkhtml/kartchner.html
Sounds like a wonderful trip. I'm jealous. Hope you have a fantastic time!
--
Dave Morris
'98 Coleman Bayside
'97 Chevy K3500 crew-cab
These are the good ol' days!
The Other Harry
com (Tom Warfield) wrote:]
> Any comments on the following intinerary would be appreciated...
There are also a couple links off this website that might be of
interest to you.
The Other Harry
I'll try that one more time, this time with the URL:
> Any comments on the following intinerary would be appreciated...
There are also a couple links off this website that might be of
interest to you:
http://www.starcraftrv.com/ya/camps/hidden1.html
Tom Warfield
wrote:
>Tom, you seem to have an interest in caves. If you can, consider visiting
>Kartchner Caverns. Located off I-10 between Benson and Sierra Vista.
Thanks for the pointer. I finally found it (off of I-90, not I-10
which is why I had problems finding it). It's way too far south for
this trip but it'll be a future stop.
Tom Warfield
<hc...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>I'll try that one more time, this time with the URL:
>
>There are also a couple links off this website that might be of
>interest to you:
>
>http://www.starcraftrv.com/ya/camps/hidden1.html
>
Thanks for the link (and yes I did see your email). I just wish that
the starcraft site gave a name to that U-bend river picture. I suspect
it is likely in the Utah area where we are heading (at least I've read
about that type of river bend for that area).
Skip P
There's a picture of it on my web site. If you have the time and a high
clearance vehicle, you can get another view by taking the (I think) White
Rim Trail from Arches NP to Moab. It's a rough (in places) dirt road that
that gets you close to some spectacular scenery, passes a potash mine and
ends up just outside Moab.
--
Skip P
ski...@ec.rr.com
Please visit our Outdoor and Nature Photography site:
http://members.telocity.com/outdoorphoto
<twarfiel -at- hotmail -dot- com (Tom Warfield)> wrote in message
news:n6hs1v4cdecmh0baf...@4ax.com...
Brad Blackburn
> the starcraft site gave a name to that U-bend river picture. I suspect
> it is likely in the Utah area where we are heading (at least I've read
> about that type of river bend for that area).
http://parks.state.ut.us/parks/www1/goos.htm
Brad
lfm
Monument Valley. We did it as a day trip. We also stopped in the town just
before it (as driving from MV). Not much there, but we had lunch at a motel
on the San Juan River. Later we walked down to the river. My kids really
enjoyed playing with the mud on the banks of the river. It was a lovely red
clay. If my 9 yo daughter (and beginning potter) had a wheel and a kiln we
would never had got her out of there.
Laura
"Brad Blackburn" <crevi...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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