Down Down Down....

Great day, great weather, great hike!  We had perfect weather for the hike down to the bottom of Bryce Canyon today! Cool and sunny and stunning views! The guide book from the park says to do the hike clockwise...but if you ever do it.....do it counter-clockwise.  The trip down from Sunset Point is steep but I'd rather have been going down it than up it. Fortunately we had a book that gave us that little tip so we did it backwards and were happy we did.  Now, don't get me wrong....the hike up the other side at Sunrise Point was tough as well....but not nearly as bad as it would have been the other way.  We started at 9000 feet. So we were out of breath before we began!  But it was gorgeous and not crowded, We met a young couple on the trail who told us that he was doing it because his parents had done it a while back and told him he HAD to go to Bryce and do it and see it for himself.  He said he will ALWAYS listen to his mother from now on. So, to my children:  GO SEE BRYCE CANYON AND WALK THE TRAIL TO THE BOTTOM.
We headed to our campground/motel's restaurant for some homemade soup for lunch then back to the motorhome where we were finally able to sit in the sun, snooze in the sun and read in the sun for the rest of the afternoon.  We haven't been able to do that since we were at Lake Powell. It was a great day. Bill will BBQ tonight without being pelted by hail and we will head off early tomorrow to drive the Scenic Byway 12. Life is good. We begged a couple more days here as it is just so doggone cold in the evenings and mornings and more rain is on the way and they can accommodate us until Wednesday. Then we get the boot. But it's below freezing in the mornings and takes a lot of coaxing to get me out of bed to start the coffee....so we are grateful for what we can get.

Who's on first?

We arrived in Bryce around 2pm. We had some rain along the way but nothing really bad. We found our campground...Bryce Canyon Pines...without trouble and were delighted with what we found.  Big trees, big sites, full hook-ups, nice laundry, restaurant , reasonably priced  and the nicest folks on the planet waiting to check us in. Now , I want to begin my "checking in story " by reiterating that these are the absolute sweetest people.  All of them. All 4 of them. I am certain that the owners of this great little campground went to the local senior center and hollered as loud as they could (because, bless their hearts they are deaf as rocks), "HEY! ANYBODY HERE OVER THE AGE OF 92 WANT A JOB RUNNING A CAMPGROUND?" And these 4 folks jumped at the chance of starting a new career. So, with no training, they were put in charge of Bryce Canyon Pines.  With the grit that years of experience and wisdom provided, and determination that you were gonna go out the door with a smile on your face....they , all 4, got me checked in in a record time of.....30 minutes. Not exactly correctly, not exactly quickly, but by jingles I was smiling when I left. I'm a little hoarse from having to shout and I, too, now am a little deaf from the loud talk.....but I've not had a better time in a long while. 
As I was getting organized inside and Bill was plugging us in, I heard a loud commotion.....he was being severely pummeled by a sudden hail storm. I'm sure he'll be bruised tomorrow!
So, for the next 2 days we'll be here with all of the comforts of home. Then off to the park campground since this one will be full. No hook-ups, no water.....but plenty of atmosphere!

Singin' in the Rain

That's what we're doing today.  The IPOD is crankin' and the rain just keeps on keepin' on ! Today was a "getting ready to move on" kind of day as we leave for Bryce Canyon in the morning.  Laundry to be done and things to put away, that kind of stuff. The snow is at bay there until next week so we will just have more rain and cooler temps to deal with until then. But time for new scenery...time to move on. 
Yesterday we just hung in Moab, had lunch at Eddie Mc Stiffs (killer pulled pork w/ Jack Daniels sauce)and some locally made beer. It was too wet to go on our last hike and too wet today as well. I guess that leaves us something to do should we ever pass this way again.
And now for my final Arch View RESORT bashing:  As we prepare to leave here ,slogging through the mud which is ankle deep in our site ,we realize they have no recycling program here. Nope. Just throw all of that plastic and aluminum stuff right in the landfill...I guess it will be someone elses problem one day after those who own and run Arch View will be long gone. Who does that in this day and age?  And there ends my bashing.....
We'll check back in after we get to Bryce.  And, BTW....YES Mary....you were BOTH right! It is beautiful in Utah.

Horseshoe Bend/The Colorado River

The Colorado River. 

Monument Valley Ruins/Picture of the floor.

Bill climbed up into a cave/ruin and found these prints and drawings in the sandstone floor as well as some small "rooms". There were pottery sherds everywhere as well. A good long climb up too! I stayed below opting not to  chance careening down the side of a mountain cliff. Bill is definitely the better adventurer and was well rewarded for his efforts.

3 4 3

Yep! I'm 3 for 3 on the Snake Scale. What are the odds? Maybe I should

play the lottery! Or maybe I just need to leave Moab! Yesterday was a

great day. We donned our warm clothes, umbrellas and boots and

headed, undeterred by weather, to see the Scenic By-ways 279 and 128.

Utah dose not disappoint when they say Scenic By-way...you

need to believe them.The 279 was a meandering road with the Colorado River on one side (so close you could hear it as you drove and could put your feet in it if you chose to) and red rock canyon walls on the other side. Called the Red Rock Gorge it was just that. Petroglyphs on the rock walls were amazing. Sadly, people have defaced some of them by adding "Mary

loves Clay" to these beautiful pictures.

We then headed over to the 128....another must see drive. Rufus got

to walk over the Colorado River on a foot bridge...whining the entire

time.But he did it! May beautiful sights and lots of river access.

There were many more people on this route on the 279, but still 

enjoyable. Both drives took several hours. At the end of the 128 

drive we found ourselves up on Hwy 70. This would be the furthest 

north we would be in Utah. Someone we had met in Bluff told us of 

some petroglyphs in a canyon called Sego. So we headed north to

Thompson Springs where you enter the Sego Canyon. Thompson Springs is 

a nearly deserted mining town. Back in the 40's (and earlier) they 

were mining coal up in the canyon and we saw several old mine shafts 

as we  drove further into it. But Thompson Springs was no more than a 

town full of boarded up and falling down homes, motels, railroad 

station ,cafe's and a 1 room school house which is still in use. We

will try to post some pictures of it soon.

Heading into the canyon we saw more and better preserved petroglyphs

than we had ever seen. Some were Anasazi, some were Ute, and some

have been dated back to OVER 7000 YEARS AGO.These were some nearly

life size images and writings. It was truly incredible. To imagine 

that you could still clearly see something that ancient was awesome 

. (not he "California surfer awesome but really awesome).Will our children's Glidden spray painted graffiti last as 

long? One has to wonder. As we continued up the canyon past the mines 

we saw many old homesteads and a wonderful old "cemetery" where the 

headstones either had never had names on them or they were so old  

had weathered off. It was a wonderful day...snakes and all.

Now for my daily Arch View Bashing. You may remember that I told you

there was only 1 trash can in this entire campground..excuse me

RESORT. It is not so centrally located and is actually a humungous

dumpster. How humungous, you ask? Well, they have had to install a

LADDER and steps in order for you to reach it to deposit your trash.

It might have been a better idea to take some of the extra money from

the "premiere" sites and purchase a 2nd or 3rd dumpster and NOT had to

have fabricated the ladder to the big one. Just a thought.

We paid $3.95 per gallon for fuel in Moab a few days ago. We're still

under $4 so we're still giddy. It's pouring down rain right now so we

will head to Moab for a Jalapeno Beer (3.2 is all you get in Utah so

we may have to drink several) and lunch. If the rain lets up we'll

try for a hike we didn't get to do the other day. Either way, it will

be a great day!

Glen Canyon Dam/Monument Valley(including Jimmy Hoffa Petroglyph)

Photo of Antelope Slot Canyon Hike

SSSSSooo many SNAKES....SSSSoooo little time

Two days in Moab.....Two snake encounters. Up close and personal. Lucky me. But after the rattlesnake encounter in Anza last year I have learned to take it with a grain of salt. These did not have a diamond shaped head and did not rattle...so I even got close and took photos.

Moving right along from that news flash, yesterday we went to Arches NP. While it had some (well, more than SOME) amazing arches and we appreciate the geology and formations, we took some pictures, drove the 18 miles of park roads, did a short hike and left. Zillions of people and tour buses and the worst visitors center we have encountered so far on this trip were all left behind. And how many arches and rocks can you see? Apparently for us we have seen all we care to see in Arches NP. So, to sum up this area....go to Canyonlands and spend as much time as you can...go to Arches and take a few pictures.

It is pouring rain here this morning and the wind has been blowing at 35-45+ for days.  Anyone who thinks that the wind is limited to the desert regions is a fool.  We have encountered more wind than not on this past 3 week adventure and would strongly recommend NOT doing this trip in a tent or pop-up trailer. We will do a driving tour today in hopes we can see some of the Hwy 128 Scenic By-way and The Hwy 279 petroglyph area between rain drops.It's not been cold just very windy. Maybe the snakes will stay under their rocks to get out of the rain. That would make me VERY happy!

Now, for my "daily bash" of the Arch View Resort:  The dog run (the only place you are allowed to take your dog) has several varieties of cactus growing in it. It looks like a rather nice cactus garden....beaver tail, barrel all coming into bloom here as it is wildflower season. But who puts those in a dog run? Really? The dog run? Do you think Woodall's gave them a 4 instead of a 5 because of that???Sheesh!

We are revising our plans for staying in the park at Bryce because of the snow and 20 degree weather. We have found an RV park that is near the entrance with hook-ups so we can use our heater and electric blanket. We have reservations there for 2 nights to see how it is.  If the weather improves we will move into the park otherwise it looks like we will, once again, be "busting the budget".  But, like our Central America trips, you just have to be ready for anything and flexible enough to enjoy what others might find un-enjoyable. But I sure am glad I bought new UGGS.....and I sure am glad we are doing this trip. SSSSSnakes and all......

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Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

Don't Beat a Dead Horse

Posting to this Blog is tough here in the Arch View RV Resort. But this morning, I have a signal so here goes.  Yesterday we went to Deadhorse State Park. Beautiful views as you see the Colorado River 2000 feet below. We had a picnic lunch up there and headed for Canyonlands National Park. As we headed up there I commented to Bill that it kind of needed to be spectacular since after the Big Kahuna of Canyons (better known as Grand), and the amazing monoliths of Monument Valley, everything SINCE then has been just "holes in the ground and big rocks". That was one of my concerns in this trip...how many times can you see big rocks and holes in the ground before you say "ENOUGH already!"

Valley of the Gods was just that. More rocks. HOWEVER...Canyonlands did NOT disappoint! Even Bill wasn't all that excited to go. But WOW! It was fantastic! It absolutely rivals the Grand Canyon for beauty and geology. It certainly didn't hurt that it is wildflower season here now so it was blooming. You can see both the Green and Colorado Rivers from here. Very few crowds compared to the Grand C and no commercialism. We both highly recommend this stop. We did a bit of hiking and came home exhausted. A great day! There is a campground called Horsethief that was big enough for us and easy to get to on the way but we had read that it was closed so never even looked there. However, it is NOT closed and I think it would be a great place near the park to camp. Rufus did well in his "jail" for 6 hours. He is such a good dog.

Bill got eaten alive by "no-seeums" the other day. If you've ever had any of those nasty bites you can sympathize. There is just nothing that itches as much or lasts as long! We had them in Panama and Costa Rica...but never expected them in Utah. Apparently they are a desert creature. Who knew? He slathers himself with "Soothe-a-caine" (a suggestion by one of the people here in the general store at Arch View to whom he is eternally grateful) and it helps.

Today we are off to Arches NP. We are hoping to get a full day in before the storm hits. 

Congrats to our friends N & C! We are so glad you will be our neighbors! We can't wait to see your new house!
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Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

Woodall's Drunken Raters

Well, here we are in Moab.  We will visit Canyonlands NP and Arches NP as well as some other spots from here. A busy and nice town with a regular grocery store, Wells Fargo Bank, lots of restaurants and nightlife.  We called and emailed every RV park and campground from Bluff to find there was absolutely NOTHING in this town available. We never dreamed it would be so busy this time of year. I finally had to take a "Premiere" spot ...the last spot in town that we could fit into...at Arch View Resort. RESORT!!!! VERY pricey and WoodALL RATED 4, we expected to have a nice spot and beggers can't be price choosers when there's nowhere else in town. Well, we paid our hefty price, the weather was good we went to our "Premiere" spot.  Small and gravel like Cadillac Ranch in Bluff but without the nice hosts.  Nearly rude they made me feel like they had done me a huge favor by taking my money.  Undaunted, we smiled and asked to be shown the direction of the pool.....and hoped for a dip to cool off.  The pool is no bigger than the above ground 15 ft pool ( deep end was 4 ft/shallow end was too!)we have in our back yard! And, it was empty. No water. Nada.  Fine.  I'll take this opportunity to go do some needed laundry in their laundromat.  Well, I lost it when I realized the laundromat was less than 80 square feet with 2 windows the size of my smallest RV window! But, hey.....laundry still needed to be done. With a smile on my face and an attitude beginning to build.....I spent 3 hours getting it done in the laundry sweat shop. You couldn't park the car anywhere but your site (many many rules here)so you had to drive  then walk back and forth with the soap, laundry, well, you get the picture.  They seem to only have 1 dumpster in the place so emptying your trash soon becomes a chore you do once a day. We finally decided...the WOODALL'S people were drunk when they rated this place. BUT...the BEST part>>>> we have to stay here until FRIDAY now in the STILL only spot available because of the winds and snow which will begin to fall tonight in BRYCE. So, again, with a smile on my face...I paid the rude woman at the counter...because STILL there was nowhere in town to stay as everyone else was staying put as well.
Later tonight I will try and post a bit about our Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point trip which we did today and really enjoyed. That is if I can get a WIFI signal...which is sporadic. But, hey, what do you want for a PREMIERE site?  Woodall's.......you're on my list!!

Cadillac Ranch in Bluff

I forgot to mention the nice folks at Cadillac Ranch RV in Bluff. I promised that I would.  Clean and small (15 sites) around a small pond. Quiet and pleasant though the sites are small. Nicest hosts so far. Not many ammenities...but a nice spot to call home while visiting the area.

Bluff, UT

Most people drive right past this 5 block town. But it has a rich history, many historic sites and beautiful scenery.  We first happened upon the old cemetery where we found hundreds of very old markers and "humps in the dirt " covered by rocks. Large families all buried high upon this hillside near Indian ruins. We spent an hour up there just reading markers...the Allens, the Deckers, the Redds. But who were all of these people who called Bluff their home? We had no idea. Driving down the hill into "town" we saw beautiful old Victorian homes with markers on them as well...many of the same names we had found in the cemetery. In the center of town we saw a sign that said "BLUFF FORT".  We went into the visitors center and watched a movie about the 70 Mormon families that made this incredible journey here and created this "fort"...not a military fort but a settlement of cabins where they lived. NO ONE DIED on this trip....trly a miracle. I have included a short excerpt about this journey below. We felt like we knew these families after spending so much time in the cemetery. But if you really want to read about their amazing trip, go to www.hirf.org.

today we are off to Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks State Park, and Edge of the Cedars State Park. The weather is finally warm again and we're loving it!!

The Bluff Fort Historic Site Upon their arrival in the Bluff valley, irrigation, planting crops and shelter became the paramount concerns of the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers. As soon as a crude irrigation ditch was in and crops were planted, their energy was directed to the construction of adequate shelter so that they might not spend another winter in wagon beds and tents. By early fall of 1880, they were helping one another construct log cabins from the surrounding cottonwood trees. Forty to fifty cabins were initially arranged in close proximity to each other to form an open square. Each cabin's door and window faced the center. These humble dwellings were their homes until resources and circumstances allowed for something better. It was several decades before they would again have the accommodations to which they had been accustomed. Thus, it was in these humble log cabins that most of the San Juan pioneers raised their families.

The Barton Cabin,  after its partial restoration. The Barton Cabin, the oldest pioneer structure in San Juan County, Utah Of the forty to fifty log cabins that once formed the fort, the Barton cabin is all that is left. It is now the only tangible reminder of early home life on the San Juan frontier. Its walls have echoed the voices and laughter of the seven Barton children. Under its sod roof, its occupants experienced times of joy and times of great sorrow. On May 29, 1896, Harriet Barton died at age 40, just seventeen days after giving birth to their eighth child. Nine days later, the baby, Ray Wesley, died.

Log Meetinghouse  A meetinghouse at the north end of the fort was used as a church, school, courthouse and dance hall. It was the center of all social life. A replica of the Bluff meetinghouse has been constructed as authentically as possible. The meetinghouse is available for meetings, receptions, reunions, etc.

Stone Monument Thanks to the donations of Hole-in-the-Rock descendents, a monument was erected in 2005 in honor of the original pioneers who came through the Hole-in-the Rock. The monument is the centerpiece of the fort site.

Future Plans Future plans include the construction of additional log cabins, a visitor's center, public conveniences and additional interpretive displays.

The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail - A wagon road blazed over country so broken up and inhospitable, the company's scouts declared that it was impassable! The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail was named after a crevice the colonizers utilized to gain access to the Colorado River gorge and some of the most broken terrain in North America. The 250-mile long trail runs from Parowan in southwestern Utah to Bluff and Montezuma Fort in southeastern Utah. The road was blazed during the winter of 1879-80 by 70 families who were answering a call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to establish a settlement in the Four Corners region. The first eight-five miles of their route from Parowan, Utah, to Escalante, Utah, was over established wagon roads. From Escalante, Utah, the last established town along their route, the colonizers blasted a trail through the Colorado River gorge, descended crevices, and crossed deep ravines, mountains, deserts, and forests - terrain so inhospitable many of their own scouts deemed it as impassable. By the time they reached their destination, they had been en route twice as long as it took some the same participants to pull handcarts 1300 miles to the Salt Lake Valley. Once completed, the wagon road provided a vitial access and supply link. The road was utilized in its entirety for one year. In 1881, Charles Hall, who operated the ferry at the bottom of the Hole-in-the-Rock, moved his ferry thirty miles upstream, where he established Hall's Crossing. Although Hall's Crossing bypassed the Hole-in-the-Rock crevice, major sections of the original wagon road were utilized in conjunction with the new river crossing.

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Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

John Wayne Still Lives

Well, he does here in Monument Valley anyway!  This stop hadn't been in our original plan but my sister-in-law, Lora, said one day "Well, you've GOT to go to Monument Valley.  That's where John Wayne shot all kinds of films".  Well, I'm not particularly fond of "The Duke" myself but I try to always listen to the sage advice of my "sister".  Sure as shootin'....she was right.  

We stayed at the Gouldings Campground...once owned by Harry and Mike Goulding (no, not a domestic partnership. Mike's name was Leone but Harry called her Mike because, as he used to say, it was easier to spell). Many years of trading sheep with the Navajo, living in tents, and just plain being adventuresome, Harry and Mike took their last $60 and went to Hollywood to convince the powers that be that they should come out to Monument Valley and film their movies. It was a win/win for everyone concerned. Harry and Mike ended up adding a Lodge and other amenities and now you have what is known to all around here simply as GOULDINGS.That's the abbreviated version of a really great (and long) history of the Gouldings.

We spent today on a  5 1/2 hour tour which included a cook-out lunch seeing the sights on the Navajo reservation. Pictographs and petroglyphs(thought of you, Nancy) and cliff dwelling ruins all up close and personal. It was a great day....our guide would sing us songs that his Grandfather taught him as we drove along.  It was about 900 below zero however (well, it felt like it anyway) and Bill and I were definitely under dressed even though the sun was shining brightly. But, still, a wonderful day.  After a nap we headed to the lodge for dinner.  I had a Navajo taco which is chili over Navajo flatbread and lettuce, cheese and tomato on top. YUM.

Tomorrow we head for Bluff, Utah. We'll do a day trip or 2 from there to Gooseneck State Park, Valley of the Gods and the town of Mexican Hat. By the weekend we should be up in Moab.....but we'll just see where we end up.

Thanks for the comments from those of you that post them.  They are always fun to read and make us feel like all of this writing nonsense is worth it.

And now, as the DUKE says...."It's time to saddle up"....

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Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

Hail Hail,T he Gangs STILL HERE

In Page, that is! Crazy hail storm, thunderstorms and 56 mph cross winds have kept us here yet another day.  Wind warnings went out last night for high profile vehicles and I can sure see why!  We were really rocking and rolling last night.  Todays hail storm was like sitting in a tin can with someone shooting BB's at you!  Some of the thunder felt like a small earthquake.Our motorhome is now sitting at a cock-eyed angle since being pelted by winds and rain have made us sink somewhat...we list like an old boat. But we certainly faired better than the tent campers and the pop-up tent campers.Tomorrow we will finally get to head out...and we are ready.

We did tour the Glen Canyon Dam and it was really a great experience.  Walking in it and on it and learning all about how and why the structure was built.  Very good stuff. However, as impressed as I am with the engineering feat..and mindful as I am that Arizona and California couldn't exist without the water from the Colorado River....I am saddened by the impact on the flora and fauna of the area. Interestingly, so was our tour guide.  I guess that's why I liked her so much.

We did a little Walmart shopping.  All we really needed was potatoes.   We spent $87 and walked out and returned to the motorhome to find we had left the bag with the potatoes in it on the little Walmart bag merry-go-round thing!  I might not have felt as bad overspending if I had at least come home with the dang potatoes!

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Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

Get a handle on it!

Yesterday we had a great 3 hour tour of the Antelope Canyon and Navajo Canyon from the water.  Navajo Tapestries adorn the rock canyon walls as thousands of years worth of wind and erosion have created these beautiful markings.  Seeing antelope canyon from the water gave us a whole different perspective of the Antelope area as well. We went in until there was nowhere left to go...then had to back out of theses very narrow and winding  slot canyon waterways. You could touch the walls from the boat!
When we got back to the car and Bill went to open the driver door the handle broke! The hardware of which lies at the bottom of the inside of the door panel rattled all of the way back to the campground as a constant reminder that we will be opening the door from the passenger side from now on.  However, always searching for the silver lining.....now we don't have to worry about locking that door anymore!
Today we take the Dam Tour.  We will get to walk around it and I think INTO it.....I'll let you know.  It's $5 so, I mean, how can we NOT do it!!
Tomorrow we leave for Monument Valley...home of the John Wayne Westerns and more importantly much Navajo history.
 BTW, we're Giddy over Gas Prices.  Here in Page it's "only" $3.74 per gallon! Woo-Hoo!!
And Happy Mother's Day to those who qualify!

Lake Powell, what a jewel

Here we are in our lovely campsite overlooking beautiful Lake Powell!  We took a non-hook-up site for a whopping $11.50 per day (Bill qualifies for the Geezer rate) in this wonderful area.  I had no idea what to expect here...but I can tell you it's so nice we extended our stay by 2 days. There is so much to do and such pretty scenery! I  highly recommend Wahweap campground as it is clean and quiet and there just isn't a spot with a bad view. You have your choice of hook-ups or non-hookups and, as I said before, if you are a senior your rate is 50%  off (although they will NOT tell you that when you make your reservation even if you ask).   You have full use of the facilities at the lodge ....2 great pools, jacuzzi, bars, restaurants, etc. Everything you eed is right here. Yesterday we headed out to Antelope Slot Canyon.  All of the photos you see of this canyon are exactly what it looks like. No photoshopping needed! I hope to be able to post some of our own soon! Today we will be going on a 3 hour cruise (hope it comes out better than Gilligans) to see the slots from he water as well as an up close and personal view of the Dam. The weather here is more to our liking than the Grand Canyon.  It's been 85-90 degrees during the day and 55-60 degrees at night. Being desert rats we love the heat!

To sum it up.....Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is everything AND MORE than it's cracked up to be. Something for everyone, as much or as little to do as you like. And absolutely stunning. More later.....

Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

The Grandest of Canyons

YES!  It is the Grandest of Canyons! The Mac-Daddy of Canyons, The Canyon Motherload! Just plain BIG.  I have flown over it over 150 times and never really was all that impressed.  It wasn't on my "10 things to do before I die "list but in retrospect, it should have been. And if you've not seen it...it should be on yours. Kudos to Bill for insisting that we make this stop. Good job Mother Nature!
Rufus spent the day in the Grand Canyon Kennel.  He had pretty nice digs...indoor/outdoor humungous dog runs with A/C, two play times in the fenced play yard.  All for $16.00!! They will keep your dog or cat overnight for $4 more. Great deal.Less for small dogs or dogs who share a kennel. Again...the kennels were BIG.
Tomorrow we head for Page Arizona.  No WIFI for a few days...just good old dry camping!  Our big highlight will be a tour through Antelope Slot Canyon.
www.antelopeslotcanyon.com


Check it out...it's sure to be another stunner!


And then, with any luck, maybe the Wave.  http://www.besthike.com/northamerica/usasouthwest/wave.html

Water Water Everywhere,but Not a drop to drink!

So here we are in Williams,AZ.  After a nice day in town cruising Route 66 and taking pictures of buildings and gas stations yesterday we settled in for an early night of reading and sleep.  Cozy under our electric blanket  we slept well. However, when we got up this morning we found we had no water! I could see that the space next to us had a leaky faucet so I went to get a gallon next door.  Then I tried ours AGAIN. Still no water. Our internal tanks were empty since we had purposely used our supply all up before making the big climb to Williams.  Hmmmm...... a dilemma for sure.  Bill went out to investigate and find the camp host. 
Fortunately ,before looking like complete idiots, he felt the hose. It was hard as a rock! FROZEN SOLID!!  We Southern California campers are kind of lame when it comes to camping in the higher elevations as evidenced by EVERY one of the RV's with California plates was still hooked up to the water spigots!  We all had frozen our water supply!  Sunshine and patience (and water from the tea kettle) got us back in on track in an hour or so.  Tonight we unhook the water AFTER putting some into our internal tank. !
However the biggest news flash today was that Bill shaved off his mustache after having had it for over 20 yrs!  Neither he nor I knows what possessed him....but it looks great!
We are off to look at the big hole in the ground commonly known as the GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM today.  Rufus will be enjoying the pet hotel up in the village. More later......

An uphill Climb

Today we head to Williams, AZ.  We have an uphill climb of about 3400 feet. The current temperature in Williams is a pleasant 32 degrees with a high today of 68.  You all know how we LOVE to be FAC! But we will have hook-ups so our electric blanket and space heater should keep us toasty.

More later.....
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Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

Bye Bye Crater

Well, once again we are leaving the Amboy Crater in the rear view mirror.  We were running late, (misjudged the time it would take to get to Kingman) ,it just was kind of out of the way and my nose was still running like it was a firehose.  All the winds over the last few days really kicked up my allergies...maybe another time for the crater. We said good-bye to John and Lora near the Crater, made some PB&J's and headed for Kingman.
We arrived in Kingman,AZ  about 4pm and fueled up.  I think I will share the gas prices with you so you can sit around and talk about what idiots we are for doing this trip.  Today we paid $3.76 per gallon (we had the Flying J discount. regular price was 3.79per gallon) and we were THRILLED!  Beats the heck out of the California prices! Then off to the KOA here in Kingman for an overnight stay. No Truck Stop camping for us. Tomorrow we head out to Williams: Gateway to the Grand Canyon.  We have WIFI here in Kingman (not expecting it) and a nice level dirt campsite with FLEAS.  The campground is actually pretty nice (well, other than the FLEAS) so we put some K9Advantix on RUFUS and we're good. 
Hot dogs are waiting to be cooked...then early to bed for us both...so until a later date......

Heading out

Heading out today! Off to the Amboy Crater. near Joshua Tree ...because we can! Not in the original plan but we've passed it a few times in the past 20 yrs and today we will go see it before we pass it again.  We'll let you know in a few days (when we have WIFI again) what we think of the Amboy Crater!

Blowin' in the WIND

Today is our last WIFI spot for a few days. The reunion has been fun. However, today many of our family will  begin their trip home. Some we won't see many for a while while others we'll see as we continue our travels.  The kids have all grown so tall and beautiful.  We even have 2 teenagers now among the group. The oldies beat the kids at Trivial Pursuit as usual!
Sam's Family Spa was as retro as it had been described. But it was the perfect place for kids to run wild safely and there was always plenty to do. We had fierce winds for a few days and Bill and Karen ended up sleeping in our RV again (deja vu Anza Borrego) as we had to collapse theirs so there wouldn't be any damage this time.  Bill is putting it up for sale on Craigslist when he gets home and will be on the hunt for another "regular" trailer.

Lift Off Today!

And we're OFF.....
Xanax Free! Yes, I'm conquering my "careening off a cliff in the motorhome " fear and heading off for our great adventure. And, contrary to several of my friends' well meaning suggestion( you know who you are!).....we are declaring our RV as a Xanax free zone!! But thanks for caring! White knuckles...here I come!
First stop, Desert Hot Springs! We are meeting up with our entire family for our long awaited reunion.  
One thing about Wichmanns'....they'll always come from far and near with just the promise of a beer.....
And we promise to have PLENTY!  We'll be staying at a place called Sam's Family Spa...complete with a really cool pink and blue TOTALLY 50's retro neon sign. It boasts 3 natural mineral spring hot tubs, a pool and plenty for the kids to do.  Those of us who have an RV will stay in the campground...the others will stay in the remodeled rooms on the premises. Now, I am told, remodeled means it was remodeled from the 1950's to the 1970's....so I'm guessing it's still pretty retro.  I'll report back after I see it for myself! My son-in-law actually used to vacation there with his family as a kid back in the 70's....and I'll bet it hasn't changed a bit! You can check the place out at www.samsfamilyspa.com.  

Geting your social conscience "on"....

One of the great things about setting up and writing a blog is that you get to communicate your ideas to many people in one easy to use place. While the main purpose of this one is to communicate and share our upcoming trip with our friends and family, we also have a platform to support some of our favorite "social conscience" issues.  Look around the page. You can donate to Cancer Research, Global Warming, Animal abuse, etc., without shelling out any money, send free kibble to shelters for dogs and cats. You can  learn about "No more Homeless Pets" at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, read the latest news, etc. all from this page. From time to time new links will be added. Click around......

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Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Bill and Jo Ann Wichmann

Load 'em up and Move 'em out!

How much stuff can you load in a motorhome? We'll let you know! By the way we've packed you'd think there wasn't a grocery store or drug store anywhere once we leave our neighborhood! Only 2 weeks until we head for our Family Reunion in Desert Hot Springs.....then off on the rest of our adventure!  Bill and I will try to keep this blog current.....but remember who you're dealing with here.  Neither of us is very tech savvy! If you're on the automatic update list and want to be removed just let me know.  If you're not on it and want to be added...well, let me know that as well and we'll see if we can figure it out!