Tuesday - Day 20 - Update

We drove from Delores, Colorado to Santa Rosa, New Mexico on Tuesday the 26th.

Shiprock is one of the more famous outcroppings along Hwy 160. There is a town named Shiprock.

It was another day of downhill then uphill driving.

We parked in this grocery parking lot and Kathy fixed lunch. After lunch she went grocery shopping and said she got some good deals.

We drove into quite a storm. The rain hitting the truck was so noisy it almost sounded like hail.

Then we got a rainbow.

And beautiful clouds.

We had planned on staying in Albuquerque overnight. The weather report was for more rain overnight so we continued on to Santa Rosa. When we got up the next morning Kathy heard that Albuquerque had received 1.8" of rain overnight and some streets were flooded. In Santa Rosa we had some rain, but it was no problem.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.

Navajo Power Plant, Kayenta Coal Mine & Electrified Train

As we were driving from Tuba City, AZ to Cortez, CO we were surprised to see what looked like an setup for electric powered trains. We saw a westbound train of coal cars pulled by 4 engines with pantographs that picked up power from the lines above the tracks. The tracks paralleled Hwy 160 until near Kyenta, AZ. There we saw part of a long conveyor (it is 17 miles long) that ran south out of sight. The conveyor fed 4 silos that temporarily stored coal for the train.

Some online research indicated that the coal was for the largest coal fired powerplant in the West, near Page, AZ. When running at full capacity it takes three 80 car trains, 100 tons per car, a day to keep the three 750 megawatt generators burning. It takes the train 6-7 hours to make a round trip on the 78 mile track.

The utilities that operate the plant are planning on shutting it down in 2019 because they say then can buy, cheaper electricity from other plants that burn natural gas. The Navajo tribe will probably end up owning the track. The plant and mine that provides the coal employs about 750 people, almost all of whom are members of the Navajo and Hopi tribes. The mine provides those on the reservation with all the free coal and water they want to haul away.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/energy/2017/09/01/electric-train-keeps-navajo-generating-station-coal-plant-burning/441387001/

Monday - Day 19

Mesa Verde was fantastic. We are continually surprised by the crowds, especially this late in the year.

Views from the park. These snow covered mountains are not in the park.

Hiking from the parking lot up to the fire lookout station sure caused us to do some heavy breathing.

Views are absolutely stunning.

A little of the road we drove in on, it seemed like we were driving around the Swiss Alps.

The small trees/shrubs had leaves that looked like oak leaves.

One of the ruins we walked around.

The first cliff dwelling we looked at. We would have loved to have gone on one of the guided tours of the place but it was a 2.4 mile hike, and a long way down and back up, from where we took the photos. I don't think either of us could have made that hike at sea level. I'm certain we couldn't do it at over 7,000 feet above sea level.

They think these have been abandoned for over 800 years. No one knows why they were abandoned.

 This is the canyon that runs up to the cliff dwelling.

This was another cliff dwelling several miles away. You could take a ranger guided tour of it but the hike was far to strenuous for us to attempt.

A map of the park. We drove nearly 50 miles, round trip, in to and out of the park. I hope this shows up so that you can see a little of it.

This is a satellite view of the park area. There is a lot of "flat" areas where Indians farmed, MANY years ago. An interesting feature of the "flat" areas is that they tilt down to the south. We were told that this "tilt" towards the sun adds about 20 days to the growing season.

 A physically fit person could easily spend several days hiking into different areas of this park that are open to the public. He/she could spend years in the park exploring, it is over 50,000 acres.

We had an awesome day, but we were sure tired by the end of day.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.

Tuesday - Day 20

In Santa Rosa, New Mexico tonight. Long day, nearly 400 miles. All is well here. Spent yesterday at Mesa Verde National Park. Great place! To tired to post more. Will catch up Wed or Thur.
God is good, may He bless you & yours.

Sunday - Day 18

We took that day off today.  Last nights low was in the mid-30's, today's  high didn't reach 60. The sun was so bright that it didn't feel all that cold. I sat outside for almost an hour wearing a long sleeve shirt and light jacket. When a cloud passed in front of the sun it got a little chilly but in the full sun it was very nice.

We stayed around the park until near noon then drove into Cortez. It is a NICE community, at least everywhere we went. We stopped at Pippos for lunch. I had an open face "hot beef" sandwich that came with a nice salad. Kathy had a burrito. Both were excellent. Kathy got "chive fries" with her burrito. They were so good that I ordered a side order of them for my dessert.

The campground is still under construction. Looks like they just finished the "carpet" for the putting green. The owners will have a top notch campground when it is finished.

Badmitton (tennis?) courts in background, also a horseshoe pitching area.

After lunch we stopped at Walgreen's to refill several prescriptions. A nice thing about Walgreens is that they all have access to your files. You can easily refill a prescription at any Walgreens. Then it was on to Big R where we bought some fiberglass pipe wrap insulation and an outdoor thermometer.

Tomorrow we plan to go to Mesa Verde National Park. It is only about 15 miles from here.

We went out and looked at the stars a few minutes ago (10:30). The thermometer, located just outside the door, read 39. It is supposed to drop to 28 tonight. Tomorrow the high/low is forecast to be 63/31.

There are 3 water drains under the trailer that extend through the insulation under the floor. I wrapped them with the fiberglass and covered them with duct tape. Also, I'm a leery of the waste drains on trailers. I still remember laying under our old Jayco, while parked at Tom & Mary Lou's campground in Tennessee, using a hair dryer trying to thaw out the valves on the drain lines so that I could empty the wastewater tanks. I also taped the exposed portions of the drains. I don't think anything would freeze at 28 but thought it best to take precautions, temperatures are supposed to be below freezing for 8 hours.

Tomorrow night should be the last of our cold/cool temps. Tuesday night we should be in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Overnight low there on Tuesday night is forecast to be 54.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.

Saturday - Day 17

This morning I stepped out the trailer about 8:30. Weatherbug, an app on my phone, said the temperature was 40 degrees. I was wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt, no jacket. The sun was so bright that I didn't need a jacket as I unhooked utilities from the trailer and hooked it back up to the truck.

We drove a little over 192 miles today, from Tuba City, Arizona to Dolores, Colorado (If you look you may not find Dolores on your map but you will see Cortez. We are actually closer to Cortez than Dolores.) The highest temperature my truck thermometer reported during our drive was 74. We plan on staying here 2 nights, maybe 3.

Within walking distance of the campground in Tuba City was a  Navajo Museum. The Museum was closed but we did manage to get in to see a section on the Navajo Code Talkers. Their story is impressive. The Germans had their Enigma Machine for code. We had the Navajo Code Talkers.

I thought this exhibit was interesting. It shows how political correctness is changing our society. Note this is the battle gear provided a WWII soldier.

 Note the bottom left corner.

 Soldiers were issued a Bible. Isn't it interesting how ignorant we used to be. Now we know so much about what the original framers of the Constitution meant with the 1st Amendment.

 

We stopped to fix lunch at a shopping center in Kayenta, AZ. There were a bunch of other RV'ers who were doing the same thing.

Some scenery along the way. Rock formations like this one just pop out of the ground.

 Hills like this one are common occurrences. Probably a 200' climb in 3/4 mile. Soon there will be a downhill section.

We made a stop at Four Corners, the only place in the US where four states meet at a point. It is a pretty commercialized spot. All four sides/states have rows of booths.

Our feet are in 4 different states. Utah, Arizona, New Mexico & Colorado.

Then it was on to Cortez & Dolores.

 The way the sun was shining on this area it made it look like it lit up an entry to a huge cave. We don't think there was actually a cave.

 Entering Cortez.

At the campground in Dolores. Yes that is snow on the tops of the mountains in the background.

 Parked and set up.

 Sunset.

We drove down the road a few miles and had supper at an "authentic" Mexican Restaurant.

 It was a good day.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.

Friday - Day 16

We drove to Grand Canyon National Park today, 184 miles round trip, now 2,136 miles since leaving Centertown.

Yesterday’s drive to Tuba City, from Bryce Canyon, was almost all 2 lane highway. Most of the roads were in good shape until maybe the last 50 miles in Arizona. The road surface was looked in good shape but there was one dip after another in the roadway. It was like riding a bucking bronco. The roads to and from the Grand Canyon were also all 2 lane and a little rough. No huge potholes but lots of patches that made bumps.

Our first impression of Grand Canyon National Park was pretty negative. It seems that the National Park Service isn’t aware that we have a Constitution. Prior to entering the general area where the Visitors Center is located we found that our 1^st Amendment right to free speech was no longer in effect.

As we entered the Visitor’s Center we found that our 2^nd Amendment right to bear arms was no longer in effect.

 We have not seen a similar warning in the other national park visitor centers we have entered. It is a sad commentary on how we have allowed the federal government to run amok, trampling our rights/freedoms.

Kathy and I both were tired today and we agreed that our impressions were probably somewhat skewed because we were tired. We also think our judgment was tempered because of the several days we spent in Bryce Canyon & Red Canyon. Even though Bryce Canyon is not nearly as large at the Grand Canyon we thought the scenery was much more impressive. We would suggest that anyone who comes out here sightseeing should see the Grand Canyon first and then go to Bryce Canyon. If you can only do one then go to Bryce. We did not have time to go to Zion National Park, in Utah, but we had people tell us that the scenery there was also grand.

We were amazed at the crowds. We had to wait for the 3rd shuttle bus.

 The canyon was impressive.

 This is a photo of the far (north) side of the canyon, with my camera zoomed out. It is 10 miles across the canyon.

 A glimpse of the Colorado River down below, again with the camera zoomed out. The river is over 3,000 feet below the rim

 Some rapids in the river, again over 3,000 feet below where I am standing.

 A menu from a snack stand. For those who have cruised with me, imagine my disappointment, NO HOT DOGS!

Actually we were favorably impressed at the food prices. Kathy had a coffee from another stand earlier in the AM. It cost $1.30 and she said it was good coffee. We had to wait for 15 minutes to be seated for lunch but the food was good. I had beef stew in a bread bowl. It was very good. Kathy had an Arizona Cob salad which she said was good. $24 total, including tax. We thought that was very reasonable considering the location. (We didn't have drinks. Cokes and ice teas were $2.90.)

This tower was the first area we explored. I was unimpressed when I learned that it was not really a stone tower. It was stone veneer over a steel frame. Some of the other "stone" buildings were also just veneers. It reminded me of Disney World.

When we were in this area we watched a fool enter a prohibited area and climb onto a rock outcropping so his friends could take his photo. In 2014 there were 24 fatalities in the park, normally there are about a dozen a year. It is interesting that the number of people falling to their deaths is declining while the number dying from exposure, dehydration, etc is increasing. One bus driver said we would not believe how unprepared some hikers are when they head out onto the trails.

Tomorrow we head to Cortez, Colorado. While there we want to visit Mesa Verde National Park to see the cliff dwellings.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.