Today we left on our long planned trip to the southwest. Sue had her teeth cleaned and we finished packing. We talked to Burt and Debbie across the street and they agreed to watch the house. Thanks Burt and Debbie! Bob called Protection One and the Cobb County Police about our trip.

We pulled out of the driveway around 2:00 and drove to a campground west of Birmingham Alabama. McCalla Campground is a private campground and we have electric and water. We arrived about 6:00.

We slept later this morning and left the campground at 8:30 AM. We drove through Alabama and Mississippi into Louisiana. We arrived at Shreveport around 6:30 eastern time.

During the day, Bob received a call from Jeff Warrensford, the PE coach at Sedalia Park. Jeff was planning to join him at the Grand Canyon and take the six night hike he is taking. He was in an auto accident and his car was damaged. He was not injured, but his car will not be repaired in time to drive to the Grand Canyon. He will not be able accompany Bob on the hike.

We found a KOA campground and decided to stop here. During our ride through Shreveport, the interstate was very bumpy. When we opened the camper, the hanging rod in the closet had bent because of the weight of the clothes bumping up and down with the road bumps. We rearranged the closet and repacked under the bed and seat in the dining area.

Tomorrow (Thursday) we plan to stop somewhere between Abilene and Odessa Texas. Friday we will go through El Paso (thanks Marty Robins) and on to Arizona.

We showered, ate breakfast and left the campground by 8:30 this morning. We arrived at Abilene around 4:00 and stopped at the local WalMart. We stocked up on groceries and beverages and located the KOA campground. An uneventful day (that's good). Tomorrow, Friday, we will stop at El Paso Texas and Saturday we will drive to Scottsdale, Arizona. We have reservations to see Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's summer home and studio. The tour is on Monday and will take three hours. We will take a rest day Sunday and explore the Phoenix area.

We left Abilene at 8:30 eastern time and drove to Las Cruces, New Mexico. We drove through El Paso, since we knew there was a KOA campground in Las Cruces. By the way, KOA stands for C(K)ampgrounds Of America. Our site overlooks the city and has a beautiful view of not only the city, but the mountains beyond. We noticed a drastic change from the hill country of Texas to the southwest desert country. We are really there! Our driving days have been more difficult because Bob keeps the speed to 55-60 mph. A 400 mile day takes at least eight hours. Today, when we went to the camper for lunch, we found open wine cooler bottles open on the floor. Apparently we did not close the refrigerator door securely and they fell out during the drive. The floor was sticky and we cleaned it up after we arrived at the KOA.

We have reservations for Taliesin West. Bob called yesterday and confirmed the time and date for the tour on Monday. We may drive to Scottsdale tomorrow and have a rest day Sunday.

Bob has started a new personal web site for Sedalia Park. Sue has been reading most of the day and we finished listening to The Da Vinci Code audio book. We will start the Earth Children series tomorrow. The first book is The Clan Of The Cave Bear, one we have heard several times before.

P.S. Since writing and posting the above journal notes, there have been light showers. The sky has blue patches and rain clouds. We can see the rainfall over the valley below. The horizon is enormous, since there are no trees. The view is panoramic and we can see from horizon to horizon. We can see lightening to the north, rain to the east, an orange sunset to the west, and blue sky to the south, all at the same time. So far, the trip is all we hoped for.

P.P.Ps. There is a MAJOR lightening and thunder storm passing through with high winds. I'm glad we left the trailer hitched to the car. The trailer is rocking and lots of rain in the valley. No rain here, just very windy.

We left Las Cruces, New Mexico and drove through Tucson to Mesa Arizona. We stopped at the Apache Junction KOA. We decided to go out to eat and decided on Los Gringos, a Mexican restaurant. It was recommended by the KOA manager. We had our usual; enchiladas. It was good to have a good authentic Mexican meal.

Tomorrow we will have a rest day. There is a Costco nearby and we will stock up on some supplies. Also, the right rear tire has a slow leak and we will have it repaired.

Monday we will visit Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio. We have reservations for a guided tour in the morning. After the tour, we will drive to Flagstaff. The KOA there is fifty miles from the Grand Canyon. We will stay two nights there and drive to the Grand Canyon Trailer Village Wednesday.

Today we went to Costco and stocked up, had the tire repaired at Sear's Auto Center and went to WalMart for other items. The high temperatures here range between 100°F and 107°F. Bob hosed down the camper to remove the road dust and Sue cleaned the shower.

Bob called the Grand Canyon to see if we could arrive on June 13 instead of June 15. There were no available sites at the trailer village, so we will drive to the KOA in Flagstaff and may drive the 50 miles to the GC on Tuesday or Wednesday for some sight seeing. Bob will start his hike on June 16 and wanted some time on top of the South Rim before he gets started.

We will post some pictures tomorrow of Taliesin West for today's photos. There are very few campers at this KOA. Maybe it's something about the temps. They are probably full over the winter months. We have some aloe plants around the camper. That's a word on many crossword puzzles. Sue finished the fudgsicles (actually there are a few left) and we had a relaxing day.

Today we visited Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and studio.

Following the visit, we left for Flagstaff. This was the most difficult drive we have had on our trip. The elevation gains with our six- cylinder Explorer slowed us to about 35 mph on some of the uphill ascents. The downhill descents were equally exciting with a two ton trailer behind us. As the elevation rose, the temperatures lowered. Anyway, we made it to the KOA campground. It is located about 30 miles west of Flagstaff. The campground is about an hour drive from the Grand Canyon and we will make some day trips there. Last night, is was so cool (in the 40's) we turned on the heat and broke out the blankets.

Today we drove to the Grand Canyon from the KOA. We went to the backcountry permit office, Mather Point and took the shuttle bus to Hermit's Rest. The trailhead for Bob's hike starts there. We checked the cell phone and there is no coverage at the Grand Canyon. When we set up camp there, we will be out of touch and will not be able to update the website. We will stay at the KOA tonight and drive to the GC tomorrow for another day trip and return to the KOA.

Today we drove back to the Grand Canyon. This time, we visited the eastern most point of the park. Devil's Tower was designed by Mary Coulter as a monument to the ancient people that lived in the area. The drive along the south rim took most of the morning, as we stopped at each overlook to see a different part of the park. Pictures will come later. One site was the ruins of an ancient village that consisted of about thirty people.

Later, Bob stopped at the backcountry permit office and took Jeff off the permit. He purchased an animal proof bag made of metal mesh. Rodents and squirrels will eat anything they can reach. They cannot bite through the metal mesh. The bag needs to be hung from a tree or left outside the tent. If they smell any food, they will eat through the tent to get to the food. Bob talked to the ranger and learned that this route is a popular hike and he should meet other hikers on the trail. Water is good at Hermit's Creek and less so at Monument Creek. The only major problem with Hermit's Trail is part of the trail is covered with landslide material and has covered the trail. Bob will have to locate the trail once he is past the debris.

Tomorrow, we will break camp and take the camper to the Grand Canyon Village campground. We should be set up shortly after noon. We found out that ravens are pecking at the vinyl sewer lines from the trailers to the sewer connection and causing leaks. Most people remove the line at night and reconnect in the morning. Interesting! Stay away from ravens with dirty looking beaks! We want to get to the campground early, since the drive to the canyon is very windy in the afternoon. The temperatures have been in the low 80's on the rim, with very low humidity. The high temps for the canyon have been about 107°F and lows between 80°F and 70°F. When Bob hiked to Phantom Ranch several years ago the high was 120°F and the low was 80°F. In order to sleep, he had to soak in the Bright Angle Creek and head to bed in his tent. It was the only way to cool down in order to go to sleep.

Today we will set up camp at the Grand Canyon Campground. This will be the last journal entry until we get to an area with internet /cell phone access. Bob starts his hike tomorrow morning. Sue will drive him to the shuttle bus early and he will ride the bus to the Hermit Trail trailhead.

You can check the journal pages for the dates of the hike if you want to see the trail maps.

Day One: South Rim to Hermit Rapids CG Click to view map Hermit Trailhead, 6,640 feet Santa Maria Spring 4,889 feet Hermit Camp 2,880 feet Hermit Rapid Camp 2,360 feet

Sue wrote:

Bob woke up early and was raring to go. I drove him to Hermit’s Rest where the trailhead starts. The road to Hermit’s Rest is closed to most traffic. The park has bus service that shuttles people from the Grand Canyon Village to Hermit’s Rest. The Backcountry Information Center gives backcountry hikers a code number to use at the beginning of the road to open the gate.

When I was driving Bob to Hermit’s Rest at 5:00 in the morning, it was in the cool 40’s. At the Grand Canyon, the temperatures cool down to 40 at night but warms up to 80 during the day. When we arrived at Hermit’s Rest, I took pictures of Bob before he started on his hike.

I drove back to the camper and started on a jigsaw puzzle, which I worked on all day.

Bob wrote:

Sue drove me to the Hermit Trail trailhead at Hermit's Rest. Sue took some pictures and we said goodbye. I started down at 5:15AM. The initial descent was difficult because of the steepness and rocky path. However, it would prove to be one of the easier parts. The first junction was with the Waldron Trail junction. I continued to Dripping Springs Trail junction. There was a flat rest area with some trees at the junction. Since I am writing this on Sunday, I am considering using this area as a possible overnight stop if I can't make it all the way back in one day.

My next milestone was Santa Maria Springs, the only water source on the trail until Hermit Camp. Just before reaching the spring, I encountered the first of many rock slides. These falls require some crawling, squeezing and jumping and can be very confusing. One fall occurred at a switchback and the trail which was at a 180° angle from me was almost impossible to find. The National Park Service does not clear rock falls, but does place cairns along the fall. A cairn is usually a pile of three rocks, with the largest at the bottom. They indicate the trail and are noticeable because they must be man made. I did not replenish my water supply here, since there were small fish, tadpoles, mud, leaves, etc. in the water. Bad mistake! All water taken in the Grand Canyon must be filtered with a water filter pump. I did have a filter, but I did not realize how difficult the trip would be and decided to pass on this opportunity.

Next, I approached the next landmark, Lookout Point. By this time, I knew I had a problem. I did not anticipate the amount of rocks on the trail and the effect they would have on my feet. In hindsight, I make two additional mistakes because of my inexperience. I should have used two pair of socks, one thin liner and another thicker layer. The socks would rub against each other instead of against my toe. The other mistake was the way I laced my boots. There is a technique that prevents the boot from slipping while going downhill. At any rate, I developed a large blister under my left toe, which tore the skin away. My progress was slowed drastically, since I had to favor my left toe. I did stop and tape my toe to try to prevent any additional injury. That, in addition to the backpack that did not fit properly, affected my sense of balance.

I finally made it past Lookout Point and hiked to the Cathedral Stairs. This is a series of very steep switchbacks spanning between two ridges. The switchbacks lengthen as they descend and terminate at the Tonto Plateau. When I saw the junction with the Tonto Trail, my spirits lifted. In the distance there seemed, at last, to be a flat piece of land. Actually, there is no such thing on the trails. There is up and down, nothing else. From this point, I had about two miles left to hike on a gradually descending trail. While the trail was not exceptional, my lack of water and the discomfort from my left toe made the final leg more of a trial.

When I arrived at Hermit Creek Camp, I made a desperate scramble to the creek for water. The creek is in a deep gorge with a steep, hazardous trail. I filtered the water and filled my water packs. I was scheduled to continue to Hermits Rapids, but I decided to stop and set up camp. There were five other people already here; Laura and Aaron, a married couple who are returning to the trailhead tomorrow, Ryan, whom I would get to know better later and two other young adult male hikers that passed my on the way down.

When I decided to fix dinner, I discovered that I had not packed my stove and cooking pot. I checked the stove the night before, but must not have placed it in my backpack. I asked Laura and Aaron if I could use their stove and they agreed. I had fuel, but they used their own to fix some hot water for me. I brought freeze dried meals that came in a bag that I could just add hot water and eat. After I ate, I went to bed. It was early, but I was exhausted. This trail is much more difficult than the Bright Angle or South Kibab trails.

Day Two: Hermit Rapids CG to Hermit Creek CG Click to view map Hermit Rapid Camp 2,360 feet Hermit Camp 2,880 feet

Sue wrote:

I spent the day reading. I finished the book True Believer by Nicholas Sparks and read A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. In the late afternoon, I decided to go to the Grand Canyon Village. I walked along the rim from the Bright Angel Lodge to the El Tovar Lodge. I sat on the back of the El Tovar Lodge in the shade to cool down. Then I walked to the Hopi House which displays Native American art. After returning to the car, I drove to the market near the campground to shop for dinner. When I returned to camp, I fixed salmon on the grill. When the couple next to us came in in a pickup pulling a popup camper, they had the pickup filled with so much junk, I wondered what on earth they were going to do. Well, the man took PVC pipe out of his truck and started building a frame before he even popped open his camper. When he finished the frame, he placed it on top of the popup and covered it with a tarp. They also had a lot of food so I thought maybe they were planning to have a wild party.

Bob wrote:

I have decided to stay here at Hermit Creek campground for the duration of the hike. I am sore and my left toe is worse that I thought. When I was hiking, it was mostly numb, except when I stepped on a rock directly on the toe. Now, after looking at it, I realize that it needs some recovery time. It will not heal completely before I hike out, but I need to be smart and protect myself. I had planned to hike to Monument Creek and the river at Cedar Rapids. That will have to happen at another time.

Ryan has a tent site under some low hanging rocks on the east side of the canyon. There is shade until the middle of the afternoon. This is the only shade that I can find in the canyon. I walked up to his site and spoke with him. He had worked for the Commerce Department in Washington D.C. He is originally from Prescott Arizona and he and his wife are visiting his mother. His wife was a reporter for an local television station. They are on their way to Los Angeles to start an advertising firm. He is leaving tomorrow and I asked if I could move my tent up to his site. The site is quite large. We are the only people in the campground. He agreed and helped me move my tent and gear. I shared two of my freeze dried meals with him, since I plan to return to Sue and the trailer, probably Monday. I miss her and can't wait to get back.

Day Three: Hermit Creek CG to Monument Creek CG Click to view map

Sue wrote:

I spent the day reading. At dinner time, I wanted to go out so I drove to the nearest town outside the national park to have dinner at Wendy’s. Since there are no cell towers in Grand Canyon National Park, I haven’t been in contact with my family. While I was in town, I decided to try my cell phone. Since I had service, I called my mother, Rob and Julie, and Jenny. While I was talking to Jenny, I looked out the back window and saw a moose walking toward the car. It passed my car and walked over to a grassy area where it grazed. Many cars stopped to take pictures of the moose. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera.

Bob wrote:

Ryan left early this morning and I am the only one left in the campground. I treated my toe with a antiseptic swab and left it open to the air to heal. Oh, by the way, I found that if I left the water in the sun, it gets hot enough to use to prepare the freeze dried food. I have a water bag that I use to bring up water from the spring. I try to bring up enough for the day. The trail to the spring is nearly vertical with large boulders to traverse. It's not a trip I want to make often to carry water. I place the water up on a boulder and step up. It takes a while and I don't want to aggravate my toe. When I leave, I will wrap the toe, but I don't want to use the supplies now. I think it will heal better open to the air.

Ryan gave me an extra pair of thin socks to use as a liner on the way back. It prevents sliding against the toe. The outer and inner layers rub together instead of rubbing against the toe. When I leave, I need to make it as far as Santa Maria Springs to refill my water containers. If that is as far as I can get, I will camp out there and make the ascent in the morning. Sue, I really miss you.

The elevation gain from Hermit Camp to Santa Maria Spring is 2,000 feet and from the spring to the summit is 1,760 feet. The distance from Hermit Camp to Santa Maria Springs is 4.6 miles and from the spring to the summit is 3.1 miles.

I really want to leave tomorrow, but I want the blister to have one more day to heal. It won't be completely healed, far from it. I have been taking Motrin and that relieves the pain. I am saving the Advil for the hike back. My feelings change hourly. I know I have a tough hike ahead. I have to make it to Santa Maria Springs for water. There is a small covered shelter with a branch for observers. I can sleep there if I need to. I'm sure many others have done the same thing. It is a nice day hike from the trailhead. The elevation gain from the trail head to here is almost as much as from here to Hermit Camp.

There were no hikers down today and I spent the day alone. I have been taking my sleeping mat outside and propping it against the low rocks. I watch the condors, lizards birds, shadows, trees, clouds. There are at least four or five different kinds of lizards. I saw one about the size of a iguana. They do not bother me. They are looking for ants and I say let them eat well. When the clouds pass over the Grand Canyon, the smaller ones dissipate and the larger clouds grow smaller. The moisture must be sucked out by the dry air. On the opposite wall, I have seen many sculptures, depending on the light and shadows. I saw a cello player, a sarcophagus, and a few others. When I looked for them later, they were gone with the new shadows. There is a parade of planes and helicopters flying over the canyon. Sightseers buy rides to see the canyon from above. I was wishing one of them would come down and take me back, but no such luck. I have enjoyed the solitude, but not as much as I thought. I guess I am finally used to being around people. I really miss Sue. Now I am sitting on a metal container used to store food. It's one of the softer materials around to sit on. The critters love to get into camping provisions. I bought a metal mesh bag at the backcountry permit office to hang from a tree. The ranger said they have removed the metal storage boxes because people were using them to leave their garbage instead of carrying it out. Everything that a hiker brings into the canyon must be carried out, including toilet paper. Evidently they missed this storage box. I have been trying to eat all of my food, but I am really tired of freeze dried and I won't take this on a camping trip again. Tonight I will have some oatmeal instead of the dried food.

My campsite is facing northwest and is underneath overhanging rocks. There is no morning sun and about three hours of afternoon sun. The temperatures reach around 105° during the day. Hermit's Spring was created years ago at a fault line that split and opened a ravine. The opposite side from me is very narrow and forms a deep creek valley. This creek flows to the Colorado River about one and a half miles from here. I am fortunate to have this site so that I can rest my toe. I have stayed off my feet as much as possible.

Day Four: Monument Creek CG To Granite Rapids CG Click to view map

Sue wrote:

Today I got caught up on the journal and Quicken.

Bob wrote:

This morning I awoke to watch the moonrise. The first night I was here, at another tent site, the brightness on the far rocky face awoke me. I knew it couldn't be sunrise because the sky was still dark. I looked over and behind me and saw a full moon. The vertical face of rock gives way to a sloping Tonto Plateau. The moonlight first shown on the vertical face and worked it's way down the slope. This morning the full moon was gone and it was not as light. I had hoped to use the moonlight on my hike out day, but it won't be any help. The moon is waning and not as bright. When I leave, I will dress my toe and use a flashlight to get off the plateau.

After I went back to sleep, I heard a voice. It awoke and startled me, since I haven't heard a human voice for a few days. Apparently someone came in yesterday and stayed at the far end of the campground. He was walking away when I called to him. He may have been checking to see if I was leaving this morning, since he was leaving this morning.

I am encourage about my toe. It is not as sensitive this morning. I dressed it with an antiseptic swab and some antibiotic jell and wrapped it with a band aid. The band aids in my first aid kit are worthless. I will pack my own kit next time. I can't believe I left without Neosporin. I am still keeping off my feet to keep the healing going. Tonight I will dress it using adhesive tape and gauze for the hike back.

I took the water bag to the spring for some water. The trip is arduous and difficult because of the steep path made of boulders. I am trying to be very careful not to fall or re-injure my toe. I carry the water up one step, put it down, and step up. It's a slow process, but with my sore toe, I must be careful.

I use the bag so that I only have to make one trip per day. The other day, after I brought the bag up and set on the ground by my tent, it tipped over. I had to make another trip, but this time I made a round stone enclosure around the bag so that it would not tip over again. I cover the water bag with a travel towel to keep the critters out.

When I leave tomorrow, I hope to have enough light to reach the Cathedral Steps by sunup. This is one of the most vertical parts of the hike. I need to reach the top of the stairs before the heat arrives. From there, the path is a gradual assent with about six to eight rock falls. My goal is to reach Santa Maria Springs for more water. If I can't go on, I will camp there for the night. I really want to reach to summit tomorrow, but it is a 1,700 foot vertical ascent.

I am wondering if anyone will hike in today. Yesterday there were a LOT of aircraft. Sunday must be the busiest day. I am so ready to start my hike back! I really miss Sue. I was not able to get to the river or camp on the Tonto Plateau, but I did the best I could do. It's very hard to just sit, but I must get my toe in the best shape possible. The mornings have been beautiful. They are cool with a nice breeze. With the overhang I am camped under, only the late sun penetrates my site. There's not much to do except sit and watch everything. My only clock is watching the shadow come down the opposite mountain face and down the plateau, across the creek, (which is not visible from my campsite) and up the rise to my tent. I have taken my sleeping mat out of the tent and put it next to the tent under the overhang. Three black ravens just flew up to the opposite cliff. They were very noisy, "CAW, CAW, CAW". I keep looking for the condors to return. They came by yesterday for a while. They are incredible to watch. They soar on updrafts and swoop down on the plateau on the opposite side for prey. There is plenty at my campsite. There is a lizard that lives in the outcrop above and I see him (her) often. He (she) has agreed to share the area with me. The three ravens just flew down the creek to the river. There really is a lot to see. I am adjusting to being alone.

When my bottom begins to hurt, I move to another, softer rock. I decided to move to my chaise lounge next to my tent. It might nap time. While lying on my mat, I sneezed very loudly. When I looked up, there was a lone hiker on the plateau opposite the creek. He heard me and I waved. He waved back. He was on the Tonto Plateau. Little did I know then how important that sneeze would be. David Chagala, the lone hiker, would prove to be a good friend and a major help in my successful return to the south rim.

David was hiking from the Boucher Trail, accessed from the Hermit Trail. It is an extremely difficult trail that only experienced canyon hikers can make. He was stopping here at Hermit Camp until the sun was down and continuing to Monument Camp on the plateau. He stopped by my site when he arrived at the campground. David and I had a long talk. He has over thirty years experience hiking in the Grand Canyon and around the world. His hikes include America, England, France and the Himalayas. The has a doctorate in Eastern Medicine and specializes in acupuncture. He gave me some "second skin" and Neosporin for my toe. He related a time that he spent several days at this site when he was sick and sat out the illness. I invited him to share this site, but he was going to another site at the other end of the campground that had afternoon shade. He invited me to join him in the afternoon.

When I joined David in the afternoon, he suggested that I hike out with him this evening. He would accompany me as far as the junction of the Tonto and Hermit Trails. From there, he was continuing to Monument Creek camp and I would start the ascent to the Cathedral Stairs. If I did that and camped overnight, I would have shade most of the way to Santa Maria Springs. I agreed and we started out at sunset. David told me the biggest mistake hikers in the canyon make was to hike in the sun. He always starts early, sits out the heat and hikes until dark. I made it as far as the beginning of the stairs. I did not want to hike upward in the dark. David mentioned a good place to stop there and I located the area. It was a small, flat area just off the trail. I arrived at late evening and set up camp. Davis suggested I place my tent flat on the ground, put my sleeping mat on half of the tent, and use the rest as a blanket. Having done that, I went to sleep looking up at the Big Dipper. A sight I will never forget!

Day Five: Granite Rapids CG To Monument Creek CG Click to view map

Sue wrote:

Since I had been in the camper most of yesterday, I decided to go out this morning for breakfast at McDonald’s. When I finished breakfast, I drove back into the park and went to the Backcountry Office to ask questions about Bob. Then I went over to the Bright Angel Lodge and walked along the rim. I visited both Lookout Studio and Kolb Studio. At Kolb Studio, there was an amazing exhibit of photographs taken of the Grand Canyon by many different photographers. One photograph showed lightning hitting the rim in the distance.

Well, the couple next to us is still here joined today by a group of people. The signs on their car say that they belong to an astronomy club. I wish that Bob were here to join them tonight since he has an interest in astronomy. We thought about buying a telescope for this trip. I wish that we had because you can see so many stars here because there are no city lights. The sky is filled with stars, stars, and more stars.

After I finished writing this entry, I heard a knock on the door. Since I do not know anyone in Arizona, I was wondering who could be knocking at my door. When I opened the door, there stood a dirty grungy man-Bob! The first words out of Bob’s mouth was, “If I ever want to do this again, tell me no.” After he rested, cleaned up, and ate, we went into town to call our family to tell them that Bob had made it safely back.

Bob wrote:

The first light immediately awoke me . I quickly packed and started up the Cathedral Stairs. I was fresh and rested and the ascent went well. From the stairs, the trail gradually rises on the east face and is nearly all in shade in the morning. There were several areas of switchbacks that the sun hit, but the hike was uneventful. Since I knew what was in store for me at the rock slides, I was able to manage without any real trouble. Now, the only problem was fatigue and water supply. When David and I parted the night before, he graciously gave me a one liter platypus bag of water from his own supply. On the hike down, I had too much water early in the day. This time, I would do a better job of rationing and I added electrolytes to the platypus bag. As I ascended, and before I reached Santa Maria Springs, I added the water in David's bag to mine and mixed in more electrolytes. When I reached Santa Maria Springs, I replenished my water supply. Now the only obstacle was the 1,700 foot ascent to the trailhead. Here, fatigue would prove to be the enemy. I stopped to eat at the junction to Dripping Springs. As I hiked the remaining trail, I would stop frequently, drink and continue on. Eventually I reached the trailhead. I estimate that I started hiking this morning around 4:00AM and reached Hermit trailhead at 2:00 PM.

When I reached the trailhead, there was a man and woman reading the warning signs. Apparently there was a young woman that ran the Boston Marathon in 3:00 hours. She and a friend took a hike in the canyon but were unprepared for the hike. She died because she did not take enough water and was unfamiliar with the difficulties of hiking the canyon. The couple was astonished that anyone could hike down the canyon and back. They congratulated me on my "successful" hike. I thanked them and continued to the bus stop to return to the campground. I stopped to rest at Hermit's Rest, a concession area. They followed me and asked if they could get me anything. I had forgotten to bring money with me for refreshments. I thanked them and they bought me an ice cream and two waters, which I consumed greedily. They carried my bag to the bus and helped me on. I rode the bus to the end of the line and got on another bus to the campground. I walked to the trailer, knocked on the door and asked Sue if I was late for dinner.

This hike was more difficult that the other hikes I have taken in the Grand Canyon. With the injured toe, this was an emotional roller coaster. In hindsight, I could have avoided all of the major problems that I encountered. Those include bringing more water, lacing my boots correctly, using two pair of socks, avoid hiking in the sun and being in better physical condition. I told Sue I would never do this again, but memories fade and it's easier to remember the good than the bad. I suspect I will do this again. I haven't see Monument Creek, both river sites or slept on the Tonto Plateau. Plus it would be fun to hike with David again, even if I am a mule and he is a rabbit. (old running stereotypes)

Day Six: Monument Creek CG To Hermit Creek CG Click to view map

When we woke up, Bob showed me the pictures that he had taken on his hike. Susan then went to do the laundry. She wanted to do it early before it got hot. She left at 7:00 and returned at 9:00. When Susan returned, Bob was unpacking his backpack and getting it ready to pack away. While Bob was working, our neighbor, the astronomer, came over to talk. He invited us to go to the Star Party at Yavupai Point. He told us that the National Park Service arranges with his astronomy club to camp free at Mather Campground in return for a Star Party. Since he and his wife like air conditioning, they pay to stay at Trailer Village.

We decided to go outside the park to call Bob’s mother and sister. When we called last night, we had to leave a message on the machine. Bob wanted to talk to his mother so she would not be worried.

We then went to the backcountry office so Bob could check in and let them know that he had returned early.

We rested the rest of the day until evening. Then we went to Yavupai Point to see the sunset and the Star Party. When we arrived, we had to park along the road. Since the astronomers had their telescopes set up in the parking lot, there were not many parking places left in the parking lot. We walked over to the rim and set up our chairs to comfortably watch the sunset. Bob took oodles and oodles of pictures of the sunset. We then walked over to the parking lot to see the Star Show. These astronomers have spent thousands of dollars on huge telescopes. We saw Saturn with its rings and the shadow of its rings. We also saw Jupiter with its four moons. Saturn and Jupiter were the brightest and the first to show up in the sky.

Today Hike Back To South Rim From Hermits Creek CG Click to view map

Today we decided to go to the rim to see Lookout Studio, Kolb Studio, and the Hopi House. When we arrived at the rim, we saw several condors soaring through the sky over the canyon. The National Park Service introduced the condors to the Grand Canyon some time ago. They are such a beautiful sight to see. Although Susan had seen the studios and the Hopi House while Bob was on his hike, she thought that Bob would enjoy seeing them.

After dinner, we drove to the rim behind Bright Angel Lodge to see the sunset. We had a nice walk along the rim to the El Tovar Lodge and back.

Today we got up early and drove to Hermit’s Rest to meet David, Bob’s friend that he met on the trail. David is the one who helped Bob when he was hiking. Since David’s friend had deserted him at the last minute, David had to make arrangements to get home another way. We drove to El Tovar to have a celebratory breakfast with David. During breakfast, David told us about himself. He has his doctorate in Eastern medicine and is an acupuncturist who lives in Boulder but loves to travel around the world hiking.

After breakfast, David wanted to walk to the Bright Angel Lodge to see if his friend had sent his box of belongings, including his wallet and credit cards. He had. Then he wanted to go to Maswik Lodge to check on his travel arrangements. Finally he wanted to go to the campground/Laundromat to take a shower and change clothes. After dropping him off for his shower, we went back to Trailer Village to hitch up our trailer. We returned to pick up David and dropped him off at Bright Angel Lodge where he was going to hang out until 5:00 when his bus left for Phoenix.

We then started our trip to Zion National Park. We reached the eastern boundary of the Grand Canyon around 12:30. The trip took us around the Grand Canyon north to Utah. We arrived at Zion in the late afternoon. In order to enter the park, there are two tunnels that we had to pass through. The second tunnel required one way traffic because of the width of our trailer. All RVs must make the trip in one way traffic. After we exited the tunnel, we registered at the campground. Watchman Campground has electric connections, but not water or sewer. Because of our late arrival, we were given a site in complete sunlight. It would be very hot. We asked if we could switch sites the next day and the ranger said we probably could find another site if there were vacancies. Each site has the last day of occupancy on a post by the road. We decided to look tomorrow morning for a site in the shade. In addition, we are downwind of the dump station and the smell is very unpleasant.

Today we drove around the campground looking for another campsite that would be in the shade. After finding a shady spot, we went to the registration office to ask if we could move. They agreed so we packed up and drove a short distance to a shady spot. We both think that this will be better. We needed some groceries so we had to go out of the park to Springdale where we bought what we needed except for grits. We think that we might have a hard time finding grits in the Southwest.

Since the temperatures reach over 100 degrees at Zion, we have decided to go out in the morning and late afternoon to see the park. We are going to relax in our air-conditioned trailer in the shade during the hottest part of the day.

About 4:00, we went to the Visitor Center where we got on the shuttle bus to tour the park. The shuttle bus is free and allows everyone to see the view. It is also good for the environment.

Today we slept late, had breakfast and decided to relax this morning. We decided to make reservations for the rest of our trip in Utah. We did not make them earlier, since we were not sure about our schedule. We will be in the KOA in Cedar City from Friday, June 30 to Monday, July 3, Ruby's Campground outside of Bryce from Tuesday, July 4 to Friday, July 7, Thousand Lakes Campground in Torrey (Capitol Reef) from Saturday July 8 to Wednesday, July 12 and finally Portal Campground in Moab Thursday, July 13 to Tuesday, July 18. We may stay an extra day at Portal free if we choose to. From there we plan to go to Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado near Cortez.

Later in the morning, we noticed that it had become cloudy. When we spoke earlier with the ranger in the visitor center, he mentioned that they had not had rain for two months. When we saw the clouds, we hoped for rain. Later, we smelled a burned odor. We looked again and the clouds were not rain clouds, but smoke from a brush fire on the other side of Zion. The fire had started yesterday and would become a threat to the communities outside of Zion. The main danger to us was that the road to Cedar City would be closed intermittently throughout the week.

We decided to go out to eat tonight. We drove out of the park to Springdale and found the Spotted Dog Cafe Restaurant. While we were there, we asked about the fire. They were nervous about how close it was, especially to their homes outside of Springdale. We had a great meal of southwest pork loin with new tastes for our Midwest/Texas/Southern palettes.

Today we decided to take a short hike to Weeping Rocks. We packed Bob’s small backpack with snacks, walking sticks, and water. Since we have to catch the shuttle at the Visitor’s Center, we went in to check on the weather and the fire. We rode the shuttle to the Weeping Rocks stop and started our very short hike to Weeping Rocks. Weeping Rocks is an area with an overhang that has water dripping down from the overhang. It is caused by water seeping through layers of rock. When the water reaches a layer of rock that it can not seep through, the water goes to the edge where it drips from the edge. In effect, the dripping water collects and creates an ecosystem like a swamp. Many of the plants were plants that would grow in a swampy area. After Bob took many pictures (He loves his new camera.) from Weeping Rock, we hiked back to the bus stop which we rode to the Museum.

At the museum, we looked at the exhibits until the video about Zion was about to start in the auditorium. When the video started, we noticed that they had closed captioning under the movie screen. We were happy to see that they had closed captioning for Bob. As the video started, we also noticed that there was no sound. Some of the people in the auditorium got up and went out to tell the rangers about the snafu. The rangers came in and told us that they were having technical difficulties and were working on it. A young girl in the audience read the closed captioning to her younger brother. Everyone in the audience had to read the closed captioning as they watched the video. The sound did not come on during the whole video.

When we left the museum, Susan suggested that we walk back to the Visitor’s Center because it was not far. It was a hot and much longer walk than Susan thought. We walked along the river and through the campground to get to the Visitor’s Center. After this, Susan will probably keep her suggestions to herself.

Today we decided to relax at the camper. Susan read a book, The Second Silence by Eileen Goudge. Bob wanted to work on the computer, getting his weekly Accelerated Reader reports ready for school.

Today we awoke and had breakfast. Bob decided to take a hike along and in the Virgin River. The Virgin River is the main element in the forming and erosion of Zion Valley. He left for the visitors' center around mid morning. The visitors' center is the starting point to all points in Zion Valley. Private vehicles are prohibited from driving in the valley, except for visitors with reservations to Zion Lodge. From the visitors center, everyone boards a tandem bus powered by propane fuel.

The riverside walk starts at the end of the shuttle route at a stop called The Temple of Sinawava. The riverside walk is a two mile out and back hike. The hike terminates at the Virgin River. From there, hikers continue upstream in an area called the Narrows. The Virgin River enters Zion National Park at the northeast corner and flows south through Zion Valley. This area is unique because the river carves a deep, narrow valley with vertical sides as it passes through this area. Through hikers usually start at the point where the river enters the park and walk downstream in the river as if flows south. Bob decided to walk upstream from the terminus of the riverside trail. The river bottom is rocky and the footing is tenuous, with a swift current adding to the difficulty. He went upstream about one-half mile. There was a point where the water was waist deep and he decided his navel couldn't stand the shock. He returned after a enjoyable, cool and refreshing walk in the Virgin River.

While Bob was on his hike, Sue cleaned the trailer and read a book, Teaching For Comprehension in Reading, Grades K-2, that will be used in her book study group at Hollydale next school year.

After supper, we drove to Springdale for groceries. Actually, all we have to do is exit the campground, take a left turn, exit Zion and take another left turn to the Market. It can't be more than a mile away. We really liked Springdale. It owes it's existence to Zion NP and serves the visitors to the park. The town is clean, attractive, but unlike other cities bordering national parks, it isn't "touristy" or exploitative. While we were in the market, Sue saw a tote bag with Native American weaving. She really liked it and mulled over it for a long time. She decided not to buy it. We got groceries and returned to camp.

After Bob took his hike to the Narrows yesterday, he suggested that we walk along the River Walk, which is the first part of the trail of the Narrows. We packed Bob’s small backpack with snacks, water, and lunch. We drove to the Visitor’s Center and checked on the weather and fire. Then we walked over to the shuttle bus which we rode for about 45 minutes to the last stop, Temple of Sinawaba. As you ride along in the shuttle, the drivers usually comment about each stop. This time, the driver pointed out Angel’s Landing at the top of a tall rock formation. The interesting thing about Angel’s Landing is that a person must cross a very narrow three feet walkway with a chain on one side and vertical drops on each side to get to Angel’s Landing. After looking at the panoramic view on Angel’s Landing, one must again walk along the narrow walkway with a chain to go back down to the valley. The driver pointed out some people who were crossing the narrow walkway as we were riding by on the bus.

When we arrived at the Temple of Sinawaba bus stop, we started walking along the River Walk. It was a pleasant walk along the river. When we arrived at the point where one had to walk in the river, we sat and ate our snack. The squirrels here are not afraid of people and are definitely looking for food. One of the children wanted to feed the squirrel, but the mother said, “No, it’s a $100.00 fine.” We retraced our steps along the River Walk back to the bus stop where we boarded another bus, which we rode to the Lodge. We decided to stop at the Lodge to eat our lunch which we packed. We found a shady, grassy spot under the large tree in front of the lodge and ate our sandwiches. When we walked back to the bus stop, we caught another bus to take us back to the Visitor’s Center. The bus service here is great. The buses run about every seven minutes during most of the day. The bus drivers are very courteous and informative about the park.

When we returned to the Visitor’s Center, we went to the market in Springdale so that Susan could buy a bag that she had admired each time that she had shopped at the market. Susan finally decided that she could not live without the bag which she did not need. The bag has a Native American design, the flute player, on it.

When we returned to the campground, we packed up some of the supplies and prepared the camper to leave early the next morning.

When we woke up, we had a quick breakfast, finished packing, and set off for Cedar City. As we drove out of Zion, we saw areas along the side of the road where the fire had burned down to the road. When we arrived at the KOA, we were told that the checkout time was 11:00 and someone was still in our space. We waited until 11:00 and the people still had not checked out. While we were waiting, another girl who works at KOA asked us if we would like to go into another site next to the one assigned to us. We readily agreed. She guided us into our site and we set up the camper. While we were waiting for our camp site to become available, we checked to see if we had cell phone service here. To our dismay, we did not seem to have any cell phone service.

We wanted to come to Cedar City so we could stock up on supplies like water before we went back to the national parks. We were hoping to find Costco but had to settle for Wal-Mart. When we were driving into the city earlier, we noticed where Wal-Mart was located. After getting settled into our camper, we headed out to Wal-Mart. While we were doing our shopping, Susan checked out her cell phone and found a very strong signal. Susan asked Bob if he wanted to call his mother and sister. After Bob talked to his family, Susan called her mother and then Julie.

When we left Wal-Mart, we found Jiffy-Lube where we had an oil change. Bob thought that we needed an oil change after pulling our camper after so many miles.

Jenny called Susan and talked to her on her way home from work. It is so nice to talk to family.

Today we got up early and drove to the Great Basin National Park in Nevada. This is the furthest point west of our trip. The drive was one hundred twenty miles. About half way to the Great Basin, the terrain changed. We drove over several mountain passes that were separated by wide, flat plains that dipped down and back up again. It is hard to describe, but the vegetation changed as the elevation dropped and it seemed as if these were areas formed by stretching and pulling apart, somewhat like rift valleys. The beauty of this area is a result of natural formations, total isolation, and an enormous sky from horizon to horizon. The ride back was even more stunning, with different sun angles. In the valleys, there were shadows, different colors of green and earth colors and rain in some parts of the sky. Part of the enjoyment of this particular ride was thinking of Sue's dad, Bill, and how much he loved the history and legacy of the west. We both talked about how much he would have enjoyed this trip that we are taking, especially this area of the country. Bob has been surprised and pleased about how much he likes Utah.

Just before we arrived at The Great Basin, we passed through a small town with one unattended gas station, a restaurant, and several shops. The approach to the park was a steep grade upward and we reached the visitors center at 6,825 feet. The park is representative of a larger geographical area that includes parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Washington and a little bit of Idaho. The great basin area is unique in that any water collected here has no outlet to the ocean. Water collects in salt lakes, marshes and mud flats. It then evaporates in dry dessert air.

We decided to have lunch in the cafe and then take a sixty minute tour of Lehman Cave. This underground cave extends a quarter mile into limestone and marble layers. After the tour, we took a drive up to the higher elevations of the park. The highest point is 10,000 feet. The road is a steep, winding road with no shoulder or guard rail. Bob has a small problem with heights and decided to turn around at on overlook around 8,500 feet.

On our return, we stopped at a site near Cedar City that had ancient petroglyphs. These markings on rocks were made by ancient people and their meanings are unknown. They are carved on rock formations and are found throughout this part of the southwest. We toured the relics and took some pictures. We returned to the KOA in Cedar City for dinner.

Today we decided to go explore Cedar Breaks National Monument which is just thirty miles east of Cedar City. We took Route 14 out of Cedar City and headed east. The ride up to Cedar Breaks was quite beautiful. When we arrived at the Visitor’s Center, we parked and walked up the hill to the Visitor’s Center. We learned that Cedar Breaks was having a Wildflower Festival from June 30 until July 16. We timed our arrival perfectly for the wildflowers were blooming prolifically. At the rear of the Visitor’s Center, there is a large window overlooking the view of the magnificent sight. Cedar Breaks is a canyon formed by water erosion. It reveals different layers of the earth which are different colors-yellow, orange, pink, purple, red.

When we left the Visitor’s Center, we walked further up a hill to an overlook. What was impressive was not only the canyon but the scenery off in the distance. We took a small hike near the Visitor’s Center and was impressed by the abundance of wild flowers along the path.

We decided to take the five-mile scenic drive through the high country. We stopped at the overlooks to look at the views. At the Chessmen Ridge Overlook, we decided to hike to the Alpine Pond. It was a pretty hike but the flies were really bad. When we met some people walking back from the pond, they mentioned that the mosquitoes were large and profuse. At the mention of large mosquitoes, we decided to turn back. We stopped and ate our sandwiches at the North View overlook. We continued our drive through Brian’s Head Ski Resort to the interstate and returned to Cedar City. We stopped at Wal-Mart to shop and returned to the campground to get caught up on the journal.

When we woke up, we had a quick breakfast and started to break camp. We left Cedar City at 8:00 and arrived at Ruby’s Inn Campground about 10:00. It was a very pretty ride from Cedar City to Bryce Canyon. After we set up camp at Ruby’s Inn Campground, we decided to go check out Bryce Canyon. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center where we looked at the exhibits in the museum and checked out the gift shop. Susan bought post cards to send to the family. We drove to Sunrise Point to look at the view. We were both tired so we decided to go back to the camper to rest. Susan read a few chapters of Teaching for Comprehension in Reading and then started reading Sea Glass by Anita Shreve. Bob worked on the computer and read some chapters in Discipline Without Stress, Punishments, or Rewards, a book assigned to be read during the summer.

Today we slept late. After breakfast, we went shopping at the store at Ruby’s inn. After putting away groceries, we drove to the Visitor’s Center where we looked around for a while. Then we drove to some of the overlooks and returned to the camper. Susan finished reading Sea Glass by Anita Shreve while Bob worked on the computer. Bob cooked steak on the grill so we had steak, salad, and steamed vegetables for dinner. When Susan was going to bed, she heard fireworks and looked out the window near bed and watched the fireworks. Bob was dead to the world.

Today we were going to take the shuttle but we discovered that the shuttle only works from Ruby’s Inn to the end of Bryce Amphitheater at Bryce Point. We decided to drive to the end of the scenic drive at Rainbow Point and stop at the scenic overviews on the way back. We stopped at Rainbow Point, Black Birch Canyon, Natural Bridge, Swamp Canyon, and Bryce Point. While at Bryce Point, Susan noticed a very strong signal on her cell phone and decided to call Jenny who was at work. We talked for a short time until Jenny had to get back to work. She said that she was sitting in for the supervisor and the phone was ringing. Susan asked Bob to drive through the campground at Sunset. We had camped out in Bryce Canyon when we visited about thirty years ago when Jenny and Robby were little. Susan remembered how pretty it was to look out the window of the camper. She wanted to see if she could find where we camped. We agreed that it must have been at this campground. On the way back to the camper, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center to see the twenty-minute video about Bryce Canyon. There was closed captioning under the screen but this time there was sound. Susan also bought another music CD. When we returned to the camper, Susan started reading A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve while Bob worked on the computer. After a while, Bob suggested that we go out for dinner. We walked to Ruby’s Inn where we checked out the restaurant and the diner. Neither one appealed to us so we drove to Bryce Canyon Lodge where we had a very nice dinner. After dinner, we drove to Bryce Point so that Susan could call her mother before returning to the camper. We have a weak signal on the cell phone at the camper.

Last night it started raining and continued raining in the morning. We had breakfast in the camper. We decided to go out to get a newspaper and some post cards. Susan bought some post cards when we arrived at Bryce Canyon. Before she could write them, Bob spilled wine all over them yesterday afternoon. When we went out, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center to get the post cards and then we stopped at the campground office to get the newspaper. Bob wanted to go for a ride to Escalante Staircase National Monument. We drove for a while and stopped at the Visitor’s Center where a young girl was very helpful and informative. We received some information which we will find useful when we are at Torrey. We returned back to the camper, because it was still raining. After lunch, Bob started working on the computer while Susan wrote on the post cards. When Susan finished the post cards, we walked over to Ruby’s Inn to mail the post cards. It had become a sunny beautiful day. Bob asked Susan to look at the hiking shoes for herself because he wants us to go hiking together. Susan bought a pair of hiking shoes and socks. When we returned to the camper, Bob continued working on the computer while Susan worked on the journal. It has started raining again.

After breakfast, we packed the backpack and drove into the park. We had decided to take a hike in Bryce Canyon. We stopped at the visitors' center and purchased a hiking map. We decided to take the Queen's Garden Trail. The trailhead is on the rim at Sunrise Point. We took lots of water, raincoats and some snacks. The hike was about two miles out and back and descended three hundred feet. The path was sand with some small rocks. We used the hiking sticks and enjoyed a leisure pace. There were some switchbacks and several tunnels that the path passed through. At the end of the "out" portion, we saw Queen Victoria sitting on her throne atop a large vertical rock. We took many pictures of the hoodoos, cliffs and rock formations. The rock colors at Bryce vary, but are predominately a red/pink shade. The hike lasted several hours and we returned to the campground and worked.

When Susan woke up, we had breakfast and started packing up to leave Bryce Canyon National Park. We drove west on Route 12 through Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. We went from a summit of 7,400 to a summit of 9,200. Needless to say, it was a stressful but beautiful ride through the mountains. At one point, we were going about 20 miles an hour in first gear at 4000 RPM going up a very steep hill. There were two fourteen percent grades to climb. Our little V-6 Ford Explorer had a difficult time pulling our trailer up the steep mountains.

When we checked in at the campground, the lady who checked us in reminded both Bob and Susan of Susan’s Aunt Delores. We also learned that the lady and her husband were work-camping at the campground. She and her husband work for two hours a day for five days of the week and get to camp free at the campground. Later we learned that several other couples were also work- camping here.

After we settled in at the campground, we drove to the Visitor’s Center where we bought a CD that had a self-guided driving tour. It is an audio guide to the natural, cultural, and geologic history of the park. The self- guided tour is divided into three different tours, that all depart from the Visitor Center going east, west, and south.

After resting for a while, we took the self-guided tour on the Highway 24 West Tour. This tour showed many beautiful vistas in this part of the park. We took a short hike at Goosenecks at Sulphur Creek. Looking down at Sulphur Creek, we saw two campers hiking along the creek.

When we returned to the campground, we stopped at the office to ask about the internet service available in the park. We talked to the owner, who is from Iceland but had lived in South Africa before moving to New York City. She did not like the big city life of New York City, but loves the wide open spaces in Utah. We paid her for the internet service for the time that we would be here and went back to the camper to try it.

The internet works but we have no cell phone service at all.

Today we had bacon and eggs for breakfast.

At lunchtime we drove to the picnic area in the Fruita Historic District and had cheese and crackers. The Fruita Historic District is the area where the Mormon settlers built their fruit orchards. We drove to the Visitor Center, where Susan learned that at the Gifford Homestead, they served homemade blackberry, apple, and peach pie and homemade vanilla and strawberry ice cream.

We started on the self-guided scenic drive tour. One of the first stops was the Gifford Homestead, where we purchased a small blackberry pie and vanilla ice cream. We shared the pie and ice cream on a picnic bench in the yard. The Gifford Homestead was built in 1908 by polygamist Calvin Pendleton. He and his family occupied it for eight years. The original house had a combined front room/kitchen and two small bedrooms. An outside ladder accessed two upstairs bedrooms. Bob and I wondered if one wife lived in one bedroom and the other wife in the other bedroom. He also constructed a barn and a smoke house.

On the scenic drive tour, we saw Oyler Mine, which was a uranium mine which is now closed. At one time, people used the uranium to cure arthritis and other illnesses. The sign said, “Which was worse- the illness or the cure?”

At the next stop, we saw Cassidy Arch. It is called Cassidy Arch because it is believed that Butch Cassidy used the canyon as a hideout from the law.

The scenery here at Capitol Reef is reminiscent of the western movies that we watched as children.

Today we decided to take a scenic drive around and through Capitol Reef. This drive consists of paved and unpaved roads. Since we have four wheel drive, the ranger told us we should be able to make the trip. The problem has been the rain on the unpaved portion. We started out driving on the scenic drive east through the park until we reached the junction with the Nortom-Bullfrog road. We continued along the Nortom-Bullfrog road several miles until it changed to a dirt/gravel road. This portion of the road was sandy and smooth is some parts and rough and wash board bumpy in other parts. The scenery was magnificent! We were on the ridge and some views were of the distant mountains and some were of fertile, irrigated valleys. Along the way, we heard a disturbing high pitched sound coming from the front right wheel. We slowed and proceeded cautiously. We continued this way until we reached a landmark, the Cedar Mesa campground. From here, it was shorter to return and retrace our route than to continue for the rest of the loop. We considered several possible causes, such as wheel bearings, brakes, or even a bad serpentine belt. Shortly before we reached the paved portion, Bob jerked the steering wheel sharply and the noise stopped. We continued carefully, drove back through the park and returned to the campground.

After we reached our campground, we walked to the front office and asked if they could recommend a good local mechanic. The son of the owners of the Thousand Lake Campground had a garage directly behind the campground. The manager called him, but he was not available. She left a message for him to call back. We then went grocery shopping in Bicknell. When we returned from shopping, we stopped back at the office. The mechanic said he would stop by our campsite later that evening. We later learned that in addition to running his garage, he was a general contractor and was busy working on a house he was building. He did not make it to our site because they were working late.

When Susan awoke, Bob asked her if she wanted to go out for breakfast and she agreed. We drove to Aquarius Restaurant in Bicknell. At each table, they had four or five humorous books written by Ben Goode. On the counter was a pile of magazines for customers to read. It reminded Bob of Mel's Diner. After breakfast, we drove back to the campground. We stopped at the campground office and the same woman called the mechanic again. He told her that he would come over to our campsite in fifteen minutes. When he arrived, we discussed the problem. Biggi thought that a small stone might have jammed itself in the wheel and caused the noise. He agreed to look at the car this evening around six o'clock. He needed to shingle the house he was building. After he left, we decided that it would be okay to drive the car today and we prepared for our morning tour of Capitol Reef.

We only had one leg of the self-guided driving tour left. We started at the Visitor Center and went east on Highway 24. Our first stop was the Fruita Schoolhouse, which was built in 1892. The school had one room and included grades one through six for 22 students. The ranger told us that the students were full of pranks to delay the start of class. At the front of the room in a corner was a stool with a dunce cap on it. Bob told Susan to put the dunce cap on her head and he took a picture.

At the second stop, we walked on a boardwalk to look at petroglyphs made by the Fremont Indians before the pioneers settled in the area.

At the third stop, there was a hike to Hickman Bridge. We first walked along the Fremont River and started walking up the hill. When we arrived near the top of the hill, we saw a sign that told us that Hickman Bridge was .7 mile. We turned around and walked back down the hill. When we hiked near the river, Susan walked over and put her hand in the cold water.

We skipped the fourth stop and stopped at the Behunin Cabin. The cabin was a small one-room house for a family of ten. Evidently, the parents and two small children slept inside the house while the boys slept in holes on the side of the cliff and the girls slept in a wagon bed outside. The family ate outside. At the sixth stop was a waterfall. The Fremont River rushed through a narrow passage at the side of the trail.

When we returned to the campground, we rested and prepared supper so we could eat before Biggi came. When he arrived, Bob drove to his garage behind the campground. He put the Explored up on the lift and removed the tire. We inspected the wheel assembly and couldn't find any damage. Apparently the noise was caused by a small stone that dropped out when Bob sharply turned the wheel yesterday. We were relieved that there wasn't any permanent damage.

Today we drove to Anasazi State Park on Route 12. At the Anasazi State Park, there is a museum with exhibits about the Anasazi culture. The archaeologists refer to the village dwelling farmers who existed in the southern Colorado Plateau of the Four Corners region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern Nevada between A.D. 1 and 1300 as Anasazi. Behind the museum, archaeologists had dug and uncovered ruins. Because Bob believes that his class will be studying the Native American Indian, he took many pictures of the exhibits and ruins.

When we returned to Torrey, we ate lunch at Sunglow Family Restaurant, which is famous for pinto bean pie and pickle pie. Bob and Susan shared a slice of pinto bean pie after a lunch of bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. After lunch, we returned to the campground. It was such a beautiful day that Susan decided to sit outside under a tree and read. She started reading The Fluent Reader by Timothy Rasinski. Bob looked at campers online. Since we have had a difficult time driving up the mountains with our little Ford Explorer pulling our trailer, we have discussed other possibilities.

When we drove into Torrey the first day that we arrived, Bob noticed a police car parked across from the general store. He noticed that a dummy dressed as a policeman was sitting in the driver’s seat. The dummy had a long handlebar mustache. When we drove by the general store every day, the police car would be sitting there with the dummy inside the car. We thought that it would be funny to give the dummy a shave some night.

After breakfast of cheese grits, we packed up and left Torrey and drove to Moab, Utah. Because Moab is at a lower elevation, the weather is hotter. When we arrived at the campground, the office was closed until 6:00, but a sign on the door told us to set up in RV 5 and return to the office to pay when they opened. When we drove to our site, we found that someone was parked in our site. We decided that they had not checked out yet. We drove over to the side and had lunch while we waited. After lunch, the people were still in our site. We asked them when they were going to leave. They apologized and left immediately. After we settled in our site, we drove into Moab. Bob bought clips for the awning so that we could put our awning down. We also did some grocery shopping.

After we had settled in, we drove to the Visitor’s Center in the Arches, where we looked at the exhibits and watched a video about the Arches. We also decided to rent a CD self-guided tour of the Arches. Since it was getting late, we decided to start our tour of the Arches in the morning. We returned to the campground and put up the awning. This campground has electric, water, sewer, internet, and cell phone service, but it is not as pretty as Thousand Lakes Campground in Torrey. There are only a few trees in the campground and the sites are closer together.

After breakfast, we started on our self-guided audio tour of the Arches. On the CD we heard that the rangers have counted about one hundred arches in the park. We drove past the Visitor’s Center and stopped at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. Across the street from the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint were the Three Gossips and the Sheep Rock. Several people stopped there said that they thought the Three Gossips looked like the Three Wise Men. Susan said maybe they looked wise because they gossiped.

The next stop was Balanced Rock. Many people were stopped here. One old lady was picking up rocks off the ground. When a young boy with her leaned over to pick up something, Susan informed him that we are not supposed to take anything from the park. He put it back on the ground. The old lady leaned over and picked up something. Bob told her that she was setting a poor example for the young boy. She ignored us. Later we saw people trying to climb up the Balanced Rock, which is against park regulations.

After we stopped at Panorama Point and took many pictures, we drove to Wolfe Ranch. Wolfe Ranch was a small cabin along Salt Wash where a man and his son lived after he left his wife in Ohio. Evidently, he suffered from arthritis and thought that the dry air would be good for his condition. His wife decided to stay in Ohio. Not far from the cabin were some petroglyphs on some rocks. At the next stop, we took a short walk to see Delicate Arch at the overlook. Delicate Arch was in the distance. The next stop was called Fiery Furnace because the rocks there look as if they are on fire at sunset. At Devil’s Garden, we drove around but did not stop.

Today we drove to the Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is divided into three areas by the Colorado River and the Green River. Island in the Sky is in the northern section. In the eastern section is the Needles district. The Maze in the western part of the park has no paved roads. We planned to visit Island in the Sky today. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center where we rented a CD self-guided audio tour of the Island in the Sky. As we started the tour, we discovered that the CD was hard to follow so we gave up on listening to it. We stopped at the Shafer Canyon Overlook, Mesa Arch, Buck Canyon Overlook, Grand View Point Overlook, Green River Overlook, and Whale Rock. We walked about a half-mile to view Mesa Arch. As usual, we took a lot of pictures. We ate lunch at the Overcliffs Overlook. Since it was hot, we looked for a picnic table in the shade. We found one tucked under a small tree. We had to bend over to get under the tree to sit down on the bench.

When we completed the tour of Canyonlands, we drove to Dead Horse Point State Park. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center where we looked at the overlooks before going into the Visitor’s Center to look at the exhibits. After leaving the Visitor Center, we drove to the Dead Horse Point Overlook. According to one legend, the point was once used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa. Cowboys rounded up these horses, headed them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only thirty yards wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush creating a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and for some reason, left the other horses corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.

When we returned to the camper, we had leftover spaghetti and corn on the cob for dinner. Susan finished reading Fluent Reading by Timothy Rasinski.

Today, Sue decided to stay in camp and take a rest day. Her stomach was bothering her last night. Bob decided to take a hike. While she was resting, she started reading Action Strategies for Deepening Comprehension by Jeffrey Wilhelm. She also worked on the journal.

Bob left at 6:45 and drove to Arches NP. He drove to Delicate Arch trailhead. This arch is the state emblem used on the Utah state license plates. The trail is a strenuous three mile round trip hike. He started around 7:30 and arrived at Delicate Arch at 8:45. On the way, the trail consisted of gravel and sand paths leading to a slickrock ascent and finally, around a rock ledge leading to the arch.

He returned at 9:30 and drove to the Double Arch trailhead. This is an easy one half mile hike and leads to a view of two giant arch spans which are joined at one end. He started at 10:00 and finished at 10:30.

He arrived at Devils Garden trailhead at 11:00 and started up to see Landscape Arch. This is a strenuous hike beyond Landscape Arch. Bob continued up to see Partition and Navajo Arches. There were narrow ledges with exposures to heights. He returned to the trailhead by 12:30 and the visitors center by 1:00.

He returned to the camper, took a long shower and had lunch.

Today we drove to the Needles district of Canyonlands. The Colorado River and the Green River divide the park into three sections. The different sections are not connected by roads. One must leave the park to see another part of the park. We drove south from Moab on Route 191 and then west on Route 211 to arrive at the Visitor’s Center. We looked at the exhibits and talked to the rangers before we started on our scenic drive of the Needles. We stopped at several overlooks to enjoy the beautiful scenery. On the road out of the park, we saw a sign pointing to Newspaper Rock and decided to stop and look at it. The rock had so many petroglyphs on it. One petroglyph looked like a wagon wheel. Bob said that it looked like a cowboy may have added that picture to the petroglyph.

We drove back to Route 191. Before we reached Moab, there was a sign that pointed to Needles Overlook. We turned on the road to explore the area. At the end of the road was an overlook. We decided to eat lunch in the car because Susan had received a lot of insect bites on the day that we visited Canyonlands in the Island in the Sky. She did not want to get any more insect bites. After we ate our sandwiches and chips in the car, we got out of the car to explore. We followed the path, which took us around the edge of the mesa on slickrock. We looked down on the canyons in the park. The views at this overlook were one of the most spectacular scenes that we have seen on this trip. At one overlook, a man from the Bureau of Land Management asked if we would take five minutes to answer some questions for a survey. Another man joined him a few minutes later and we had a conversation about teaching with him.

Bob decided that he wanted to go on a raft ride on the Colorado River today. Yesterday he purchased tickets for an all day ride. Susan decided that she would rather read and take it easy so she stayed at the camper. She read 6+1 Traits of Writing for Primary Grades by Ruth Culham.

The company that arranges the raft ride came to the campground to pick up Bob at 8:00. He was walking up to the campground store as the van pulled up. There was a family of mother, father, two boys and a younger girl on the bus. Bob would be on the same raft as the family.

Our bus drove into Moab and stopped at the rafting center. We signed waivers and were given life jackets. They must be worn the entire time we were on the raft. Bob forgot his water bottle and the manager gave him one to use on the trip. The raft had water and food supplies for the trip onboard. We could refill the water bottles any time and the food was for lunch. We boarded another bus and then drove about twenty miles up the Colorado River northeast of Moab. Part of the raft trip would border Arches National Park. The river is in a steep valley between two mountain ridges for part of the time and other times one side flattens out. We would drift seven miles, stop for lunch and drift another seven miles to the finish. The ride would take most of the day.

Bob rode in a raft with the family he met on the bus and another couple from Europe. The woman was from England and her husband was from Ireland. Bob related our trip to England and that we had visited Stratford-Upon-Avon. During our time there, the Royal Shakespearian Repertory Theater was performing at the festival. We decided to buy tickets for that evening. However, the performance was sold out. At the last moment, the ticket office found there were two cancellations and we purchased the tickets for Othello. The woman said they lived very close to Stratford.

The float ride was mostly smooth, with class one and two rapids. These classes are usually not bumpy with only a little white water. The guide was the only person with oars and the rest of sat on the side of the raft and held on to the safety rope on the side. There were about six or seven other boats in our group and each boat had about three buckets. We found out what the buckets were for when we drifted up to another boat and started a water fight. We were one of the more aggressive boats. We decided not to attack the raft with senior citizens. There were impeccably dressed and stared us down when we floated by with the buckets at the ready. You couldn't douse your mother, could you?

To be continued. Time go to the Carlsbad Caverns!

OK, we are back from Carlsbad Caverns. What an incredible, amazing place. Anyway, our guide's name was Dustin, as in Dustin Hoffman. He was a third year college student at Idaho (or Montana) University, and his major is biology. He skis on ski boards in the winter and guides rafts down the Colorado in the summer. Not bad! In between the rapids, most of jumped in the water and drifted along side the raft. The water felt great. The temps were near 100° F and the water was around 65 ° F. With the life jackets, I could just float on my back and look up at the sandstone cliffs around me. The young girl with the family in the raft was fearless. She had two older brothers and spent most of the time in the water. They got along well and had a good time. She was small sized, and I thought she might be in second grade, but actually she was a fourth grader.

Eventually, we beached the rafts and the half day passengers unloaded and another couple took their place for the afternoon part of the trip. The woman was a nurse and her husband was a psychiatrist. He was somewhat concerned about the difficulty of the rapids, so everyone told him how tough they were to cross. He held on for dear life on his knees until he saw them and realized we all had a sense of humor. We continued to floated in the water or in the raft until lunchtime.

When if was time to eat, we beached the rafts on the shore and all the guides carried folded tables, waterproof crates of food and drinks and set up the lunch buffet. The lunch consisted of cold cuts, lettuce, tomatoes, chips, pickles, potato and macaroni salad and cookies. There was plenty of food, since all the boats carried a portion of the supplies. We ate and the guides returned everything back to the rafts.

The afternoon part of the trip was similar to the morning. We had fewer water fights since everyone was getting tired. We mostly got the kayakers, since they had no buckets. They did use their oars, though. It was all in fun, since getting wet helped cool everyone in the heat. It was hot! The desert is a great place!

During the afternoon, we passed a raft that was stuck on a rock. Every raft beached and made sure they were able to get back in the current. One guide from another boat was out in the water helping when we passed by. All the rafts, even those from other concessionaires, stopped to help if they were needed. No one continued until the raft was safe and in the water. Eventually, we reached the end of the trip and passed by The All Day Eddy (or something like that). This is an eddy created by the currents of the river. Dustin said if a raft got caught in the eddy, it could be there all day. We got out of the raft onto the shore and quickly located the restrooms. Drinking water all day makes one needy. Also, we were told to use the Colorado if we needed to. I think that's why so many people were in the river between rapids.

We boarded a very crowded bus and rode back about five miles to Moab. I asked the driver to let me out at the campground, since they had picked me up there. The car was at the campground and I couldn't drive back.

PS On the shore in two locations were expensive resorts with great views of the river and Arches National Park. One resort had a winery and we returned the next day to visit and attended a wine tasting. We also took pictures of the rafters, since Bob didn't want to take his camera on the float ride.

When we got up, we decided to go out for breakfast at Jailhouse Café. The small building was a former courthouse with a jail. We did not go into the building because we decided to sit out on the patio. In the brochure, the ad said that they only serve breakfast because that’s what they do best. We did not think that their best was very good. The sausage and potatoes were very dry. We did enjoy sitting outside on the patio because it was a cool, sunny morning.

We went back to the camper to do the laundry. When we checked out the Laundromat at the campground, we found that they did not have many washers. We decided to go find a Laundromat in the city. When we finished the laundry, we shopped at the grocery store, which was in the same shopping center. When we returned to the camper, we put away the laundry and the groceries and had lunch.

After lunch, we went for a drive along the Colorado River. It was the same road that Bob took yesterday for his raft ride. He did not take his camera on the raft ride because he didn’t want to get it wet. Today we retraced his steps and took pictures. It is a beautiful ride. On both sides of the river are tall red cliffs carved out by the Colorado River which parallels the road.

In the morning, we will be leaving for Mesa Verde in southern Colorado. The campground in Moab is surrounded by tall, red cliffs but is too crowded for our tastes. We are ready to leave Moab since we have been here for a week. We think that we have seen everything in the area that we wanted to see. Susan is getting ready to get home. She is thinking about the start of school and is anxious to get home to get ready for school to start.

After breakfast, we started packing up and left Moab about 8:30 and drove southeast to Mesa Verde National Park near Cortez, Colorado. When we entered Mesa Verde, there are some mountains to climb. We crossed our fingers hoping our Ford Explorer would make it. We did! We found the campground and registered. Bob had made reservations for full hookups-electric, water, and sewer. Unfortunately, we had no cell phone service. We had a strong signal in Cortez so we were hopeful. As soon as we got into the park, we lost the signal. After we set up camp, we drove to the Visitor’s Center to get tickets for the tours. Some of the ruins do not require a ticket, but Balcony House, Cliff Palace, and Long House do. We bought tickets for those three tours. The girl who sold us the tickets said that she belonged to the same credit union because her mother had taught and retired from DeKalb County Schools. She had graduated from Towers High School.

One thing that we noticed as we drove through the park, much of the park had dead trees damaged from fire. Signs at the Visitor’s Center told us that they had had numerous fires in Mesa Verde since 2000. The underbrush had started growing, but not much growth from the trees.

We drove back to Cortez to shop at Wal-Mart and call our family to tell them where we were and tell them that we had no cell phone service. We also had our car serviced. We waited a long time. We found out that there was water in the differential, but they could not service that. The manager suggested that we go to Jiffy Lube down the street. It was late so we decided to do it tomorrow (just like Scarlett O’Hara). We drove back to the camper and relaxed for the evening. Susan read another book of course.

Today we had bacon and eggs for breakfast. We left for our 10:00 tour about 8:30 because we had a long ride to Cliff Palace. We got there about 9:15. After taking a bathroom break and changing from sandals to hiking shoes, we were ready. We walked to the area that told us to wait for the ranger there and we waited. About 10:00, the ranger arrived and warned the group that it was a fairly strenuous tour. We needed to take water and be in good health. He also warned us that we had to climb a fairly steep ladder to get into Cliff Palace.

Then we started walking toward the ruins. The ranger took the group through Cliff Palace talking about the Anasazi or Ancestral Puebloans who lived in Mesa Verde from 1100 to 1300. The Ancestral Puebloans built their dwellings beneath the overhanging cliffs. Their basic construction material was sandstone which they shaped into rectangular blocks about the size of a loaf of bread. The mortar between the blocks was a mix of mud and water. Rooms averaged about six feet by eight feet, space enough for two or three persons. Isolated rooms in the rear and the upper levels were generally used for storing crops.

Much of the daily routine took place in the open courtyards in front of the rooms. Pottery was fashioned there, as well as various tools-knives, axes, awls, scrapers-made from stone and bone. Fires built in summer were mainly for cooking. In winter, when the alcove rooms were damp and uncomfortable, fires probably burned throughout the village.

The Ancestral Puebloans spent much of their time getting food, even in the best of years. Farming was the main business of these people, but they supplemented their crops of beans, corn, and squash by gathering wild plants and hunting deer rabbits, squirrels, and other game.

Fortunately, for us the Ancestral Puebloans tossed their trash close by. Scraps of food, broken pottery and tools, anything unwanted, went down the slope in front of their homes. Much of what we know about daily life here comes from these garbage heaps.

In Cliff Palace, there were two hundred rooms and twenty-one kivas or ceremonial rooms. The kivas at Mesa Verde were underground chambers that may be compared to churches of later times. Based upon modern Pueblo practice, Ancestral Puebloans may have used these rooms to conduct healing rites or to pray for rain, or luck in hunting or good crops. Kivas also served as gathering places, and sometimes as a place to weave. A roof of beams and mud covered each kiva, supported by pilasters. Access was by a ladder through a hole in the center of the roof. A small hole in the floor is a sipapu, the symbolic entrance to the underworld.

When we finished our tour of Cliff Palace, we drove to a picnic area where we ate our sandwiches and chips in the shade of a tree. Since we had a tour of Balcony House scheduled for 1:00, we decided to drive to that area and wait for the next tour. When we arrived, the 12:30 tour was starting. Bob asked the ranger if it would be alright if we joined the tour instead of waiting for the 1:00 tour. The ranger said that we could. The ranger again warned people that they must be in good condition and take plenty of water. She also cautioned us that we had to be able to climb a thirty foot ladder to enter Balcony House and crawl on our hands and knees through a tunnel to exit.

When we left Balcony House, we drove out of the park to Jiffy Lube to have them look at the water in the differential. They fixed it quickly. Before heading back to the camper, we stopped at Dairy Queen to get our favorite treat, a Reese’s peanut butter cups blizzard. Yum! We drove back to the camper where we relaxed for the evening. Susan finished her book.

After a breakfast of cheese grits, we left for our 10:00 tour of Long House. We arrived at the parking lot early. After we changed our shoes, we walked to a covered area and waited for the tram to take us. Again the ranger warned us that we needed to take plenty of water and we needed to be in good health. When the tram arrived, we got on and rode to the trailhead. From the trailhead we walked down a path and some stairs to enter Long House. The ranger informed us that Long House also had twenty- one kivas. There was a source of water at the rear of the dwelling. What was different about Long House is an open ceremonial plaza at the front of the dwelling. We waited at the trailhead for the tram to take us back to the parking lot.

We drove to Far View Terrace and Marketplace. At the cafeteria, we decided to get the house favorite, Navajo taco. A Navajo taco was a variety of sauces and condiments on flat bread. It was really delicious. We both enjoyed our lunch. After looking at the gift shop, we drove to the Chapin Mesa Museum. The exhibits at the museum were interesting and educational. Bob took a lot of pictures. We also saw a video in the auditorium about Mesa Verde. We were planning to walk to Spruce House, but we were both too tired.

As we drove back to the camper, we noticed that the air conditioning was not cooling properly. We got Bob’s laptop at the trailer and drove to Cortez to see if we could get someone to look at the air conditioning. Since it was about 4:30 on Saturday, we did not find anyone to look at our car. We drove to a rest area close to Mesa Verde because we needed to transfer funds online. While Bob did that, Susan called her mother. When we were both done, we returned to the camper for dinner of hot dogs and chips.

Since the air conditioner was not working well yesterday, we decided to travel early before it got hot. No one could work on the car on Sunday. We got up early and left at 7:00. We had driven about thirty miles when the motor on the car stopped running. Bob pulled over to the side and Susan called AAA. We waited for about ninety minutes before the tow truck arrived. The driver put the car on the flat bed of the truck and hooked the trailer up behind the tow truck with our hitch. We drove back to Cortez. On the way, the driver told us that he could drop off the trailer at an RV park or he could drop us off at a motel and then drop off the car at a mechanic’s garage. We decided to stay at an RV park that was really close to the mechanic’s garage. The driver was very kind to us. When we arrived at the RV park, the driver unhitched the trailer and we quickly set up camp. Susan stayed at the trailer while Bob went with the driver to the mechanic’s garage. When Bob returned, we finished setting up the camper. A neighbor came over and offered to take us if we needed to go somewhere. We relaxed for the rest of the day.

At 7:00, Bob walked over to the mechanic’s garage to talk to the mechanic about our car. When he came back, we decided to walk down the street to the grocery store. When we walked by the garage, we noticed that our car was in the garage. We stopped to talk to the mechanic. He told us that we had a bad alternator. He had put in a new alternator and was charging the battery and then he would check to see if anything else was wrong with the car. We continued on to the grocery store where we got some groceries that we needed. When we walked by the garage again, the mechanic said that some wires needed to be replaced. When we returned to the camper, we got the camper ready to go. At 11:30. Bob walked over and got the car. When he returned, we started hitching the car to the camper and we left Cortez again. We drove to Grants, New Mexico where we stayed at KOA. After supper, the wind started blowing and then it started raining.

We awoke early at 5:45, ate breakfast, showered, packed up, and left the campground in Grants, New Mexico by 6:45. After stopping for gas, we were on the road by 7:00. We wanted to get an early start because of the Santa Ana winds around Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thirty years ago, we were driving between Albuquerque and Gallup, New Mexico with a travel trailer when a gust of wind blew across the road causing the trailer to lose control. When Bob got the car and trailer to stop, the trailer tipped over on its side. Since it was an old trailer, it was totaled. Naturally, we were nervous driving between Albuquerque and Gallup with a trailer again. Fortunately, this time we did not have a repeat situation. On the road, Jenny called on her cell phone on her way home from work. She got off early and was excited about getting home early. We drove to Las Cruces, New Mexico where we stopped at a KOA campground. We stayed at this campground on our way to the Grand Canyon. We liked the campground so much because of the view overlooking the city that we decided to stay here again. The view did not disappoint us. After dinner, we walked a short distance to a gazebo that overlooked the city. We sat and talked until it started to get dark.

Today we awoke early again and were on the road by 7:45. We drove to Guadalupe Mountains National Park and stopped at the Visitor’s Center to look at the exhibits. Bob bought a pin and Susan bought a CD. Bob is collecting pins from each national park that we visit and wants to make a display of his pins someday. Susan is collecting music CDs from the national park and enjoys listening to them. She plays them at school a lot because they are calm and soothing and helps to relax her students and her. Guadalupe Mountains does not have many roads into the park. The park is used mostly for hiking. Since we wanted to get to Carlsbad Caverns, we did not stay long at the park.

We drove for about an hour when we stopped at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We stopped to buy tour tickets to see the cave tomorrow. We decided to go on a guided tour at 10:00, eat lunch, and go on a self-guided tour in the afternoon. We walked through the book store and gift shop and returned to the car.

We continued to the city of Carlsbad and decided to stay at Carlsbad RV Park. While driving on the outskirts of town, we realized that the gas gauge was on empty and the warning light was on. We turned off the air conditioner, used overdrive and coasted as much as possible. Just as we came into town, we saw a gas station, and filled up the tank.

The RV park is not a pretty park. It has some shade but we are several feet away from a huge motor home parked next to us. After getting settled, we drove to Wal-Mart where we shopped. Whenever we see Wal-Mart, we know that we have made it to civilization again. We decided to go out for dinner tonight but there was not much choice. We asked the girl at the desk at the campground. She suggested that we try Roja’s Mexican Diner. It was fairly crowded, but neither of us would want to eat there again.

When we woke up, we ate breakfast and showered. Bob packed his backpack with water to drink during the tours and sandwiches to eat at lunch. We drove to Carlsbad Caverns. The drive was much easier this time since we were not pulling the trailer up the mountain. When we arrived, we put on our hiking shoes and went inside. We looked at the bookstore and the gift shop again. Then we went to the elevator. When we were here a few years ago, we walked to the natural entrance and walked into the cave through the area where the bats live. This time we decided to go down in the elevator. The elevator takes about a minute and descends about 750 feet. The doors to the elevator are glass so you can see the side walls of stone.

As usual, we were early so we had to wait about half an hour before the tour started. We waited in the area where they have a shop where they sell sweatshirts for people who don’t realize that the cave is about 50 degrees year round. They also have an area where they sell sandwiches and drinks and have picnic tables where people may sit to eat.

At 9:55, the tour guide (ranger) arrived. Actually, there were two rangers-one who led the tour and another to turn off the lights and make sure that no one was left behind. We walked through part of the Big Room single file because we were walking against traffic. We walked down some switchbacks until we got to the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public, King’s Palace. This guide talked to us about the geology of the cave-how the cave was formed. When we were here a few years ago, the ranger talked to us more about the history of the cave-how it was discovered and who discovered it. This ranger told us to imagine that we had to fill a bathtub with an eye dropper. She asked us how long it would take to fill the tub. She compared filling the tub to how the cave was formed. At the end of the tour, she asked the other ranger to turn off all the lights in the area where we were sitting. It was so dark that you could not see your hand in front of your face. We walked back up the switchbacks and went to the area where we could eat our lunch inside the cave.

After the lunch, we took the self-guided one-mile tour of the Big Room. In the fourteen acre Big Room, you can see Bottomless Pit, Giant Dome, Rock of Ages, and Painted Grotto. The size of the room is amazing. Also, the caverns have been lit to show the caverns in the best light. The person who did the lighting for the cave really knew what he was doing. When we returned to the campground, we relaxed for the rest of the day. Susan worked on the journal.

We awoke early and got on the road by 7:00. Our morning ride was quite pleasant. We drove out of Carlsbad on Highway 285, a two-lane highway with hardly any traffic at all. It connected with Interstate 20. When we got on the interstate, Bob said that we were going to be on this interstate until we got to Atlanta. We drove all day. In the afternoon, when we got close to Abilene, Texas, Bob saw a small piece of a tire on the interstate. Since we were pulling the trailer, he could not make any sudden moves. Unfortunately, he had to drive over the piece of tire. After he drove over the piece of tire, we noticed that the trailer seemed unsteady. When we stopped at the KOA campground, we noticed that the electrical cord that controlled the turn signals, brake lights, head lights and the electric trailer brake had been hit by the tire piece, knocked out of the receptacle and had been dragged on the ground. As a result, the end of the cord that connected to the car was ruined and part of the wire was scraped and damaged. After we set up camp, we drove to Jerry’s RV shop and purchased a new cord and connector. Bob cut off the damaged part of cable from the camper and spliced in the new cable to the trailer. We were back in business.

Today we decided to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We left the KOA campground in Abilene, Texas at 7:00, but we left Cracker Barrel at 8:00. We got a late start for the day, but it sure was a good breakfast. We drove until 5:00 when we stopped at the KOA in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Arrived home!