Our daugher Isabelle is 9 today. We had a birthday party for her and Gracie serving hamburger and red sauce. Happy girls tonight.
We, however, had a "trying" day. Currently staying the night at Jackson Lake State Park just north of Fort Morgan, CO - about 70 miles East of Denver. To get here from Grand Junction we had to drive over two 10,000+ foot mountain passes. Very slow going and "extremely" dirty for the vehicles. Lot's of heavy snow on top but not causing travel problems (road ice) to be a danger. Just a mess of everything when we got down. The road dirt was like glue or cement on the vehicles. Never experienced anything like that before. Found a grocery store, gas station, and car/RV wash all on the same block in Ft. Morgan. Quickly (well not so quickly - it was a lot of work) got all done and to the park by about 5:30 pm. Whew!!
Somehow managed to sever the electrical cord connecting the tow car to the RV, broke the generator exhaust mounting bracket, broke the "eye" hook connecting the protective"skirt" between the car and RV, snapped several leveling blocks in two at the campground, and forgot to take the car out of gear while it was attached to the RV as I pulled the RV onto the leveling blocks. Couldn't figure out why the RV didn't want to move!
But no serious damage to anything. I can fix it! Just may need to stay here an extra day before moving on.
Good internet connection and I could put pictures on the blog - but, once again, not tonight. Tomorrow, I promise. Good night! See ya all soon.
Saturday
Friday
Day 60 - Friday, April 2
We left Gouldings Resort/Lodge/RV park today and headed North. Went through some of the most beautiful country we have ever seen. Too few places to pull off the road to take pictures and not well marked in advance to slow down to get good photos. Definitely a place to return some day and get a better "feel" for the area. Highly Recommended!
Tonight we are at a Colorado State Park about 20 miles East of Grand Junction. Probably not a place to spend more than one night due to it's being next to the I-70 and a railroad track. But it's clean and right on the Colorado River. I was able to wash the desert dust off both vehicles and let the girls get a swim in a clear lake pond here on site. Quite a relief for us to get all the dust and dirt washed off the vehicles and the dogs.
We passed through Moab, UT and tried to get a stay at Dead Horse Point State Park but not a chance. It's a great state park and hard to get into at any time. We got in several years ago and have wanted to return. It was not in the plans for this year, but we ended up in Moab afterall and would have welcomed a stay there again if we could. Checked online in advance and were told no space but from experience we know just showing up frequently has good results. Not so today, so we just kept moving on. There is a big "Jeep" ralley in Moab this weekend and the place is "jammed". It's the 44th annual event. No doubt why we could not get in at the State Park. We will come back another time!
We have pictures from our Monument Valley drive and our travels today. Internet connection too slow for pictures yesterday and too late tonight to "load them up". I'll try to get caught up in the morning.
We are heading home but not in a rush! We may "drift" south from here into Southern Colorado if the weather is good and the road are open to see some new sights. Iff'y this time of year. Still winter in the Rockies.
Looks like the internet connection it good enough to upload pics in the morning.
More then, see you all soon!
Tonight we are at a Colorado State Park about 20 miles East of Grand Junction. Probably not a place to spend more than one night due to it's being next to the I-70 and a railroad track. But it's clean and right on the Colorado River. I was able to wash the desert dust off both vehicles and let the girls get a swim in a clear lake pond here on site. Quite a relief for us to get all the dust and dirt washed off the vehicles and the dogs.
We passed through Moab, UT and tried to get a stay at Dead Horse Point State Park but not a chance. It's a great state park and hard to get into at any time. We got in several years ago and have wanted to return. It was not in the plans for this year, but we ended up in Moab afterall and would have welcomed a stay there again if we could. Checked online in advance and were told no space but from experience we know just showing up frequently has good results. Not so today, so we just kept moving on. There is a big "Jeep" ralley in Moab this weekend and the place is "jammed". It's the 44th annual event. No doubt why we could not get in at the State Park. We will come back another time!
We have pictures from our Monument Valley drive and our travels today. Internet connection too slow for pictures yesterday and too late tonight to "load them up". I'll try to get caught up in the morning.
We are heading home but not in a rush! We may "drift" south from here into Southern Colorado if the weather is good and the road are open to see some new sights. Iff'y this time of year. Still winter in the Rockies.
Looks like the internet connection it good enough to upload pics in the morning.
More then, see you all soon!
Thursday
Day 59, Thursday, April 1
Last night did get nasty with high winds and rain. Ice on the vehicles this morning but no snow. It was supposed to rain/snow all day today but this area missed most of that. Turned partly cloudy (so we had some blue sky), but not very warm, so we went to the Navajo Tribal Park & Visitors Center. Kind of like a National Park or Recreation Area only part of the vast Navajo Reservation.
The entrance fee allowed us to travel by car a 17 mile "off road" or dirt road as we call it, route through the "Monuments". You have to see the pictures - I can't explain it. John Wayne filmed a lot of his movies here. It's very rugged, yet beautiful. During our trip we encountered the clouds, the sun, the dust storms, the rain, the sleet, and the snow. Quite the experience! As usual, we took pictures and will share the best of them with you, but nothing - I mean nothing - compares to being here and seeing it for yourself!
The internet connection here can be ok to not very good. I'll try to add pictures tonight but can't always get it done in this remote location. Actually, we are happy to have anything at all. If you don't see them please come back to this post as it will be well worth it.
Got back to the RV site around 4/4:30 and it began to snow "heavy". Did not last long and did not "stick". Clearing up now, but near record low of 28 expected tonight. Pretty views right now, but cold! Headed home tomorrow!
See you all soon!
The entrance fee allowed us to travel by car a 17 mile "off road" or dirt road as we call it, route through the "Monuments". You have to see the pictures - I can't explain it. John Wayne filmed a lot of his movies here. It's very rugged, yet beautiful. During our trip we encountered the clouds, the sun, the dust storms, the rain, the sleet, and the snow. Quite the experience! As usual, we took pictures and will share the best of them with you, but nothing - I mean nothing - compares to being here and seeing it for yourself!
The internet connection here can be ok to not very good. I'll try to add pictures tonight but can't always get it done in this remote location. Actually, we are happy to have anything at all. If you don't see them please come back to this post as it will be well worth it.
Got back to the RV site around 4/4:30 and it began to snow "heavy". Did not last long and did not "stick". Clearing up now, but near record low of 28 expected tonight. Pretty views right now, but cold! Headed home tomorrow!
See you all soon!
Wednesday
Day 59 - Wednesday, March 31
We did leave Lee's Ferry today and headed for Camp Verde south of Flagstaff. Never made it! While driving we decided to head North instead to Monument Valley, Utah. No need to go into the explanation. Too windy and dusty to see anything or take pictures. Rain and more wind yet tonight and tomorrow so I don't know if we will "hole-up" here and wait for good weather or not.
We are at an RV park (Goulding's Lodge) which has a lot of history. Hope the weather does not drive us out of here before we get to see it all. At home you seem to have the good weather this year.
Pictures and one video have been added to the last two day's posts, so go back again for them if interested.
Nothing to report about being here until we can see it!
We are at an RV park (Goulding's Lodge) which has a lot of history. Hope the weather does not drive us out of here before we get to see it all. At home you seem to have the good weather this year.
Pictures and one video have been added to the last two day's posts, so go back again for them if interested.
Nothing to report about being here until we can see it!
Tuesday
Day 58 - Tuesday, March 30
Today, our last here at Lee's Ferry, we hiked what is called Cathedral Wash. It has two sections - the upper which goes into the higher reaches of the canyon, and the lower which we followed down to the Colorado River. Took about 2.5 hours round trip after driving about 3 miles out of camp. Not strenuous, but a little rock and cliff climbing with some "exposure" (means you can slip and fall and die) involved and not a marked trail. Well worth the effort to do it, however. We have the river right in front of our campground, but to hike 75 minutes down a canyon and walk out at the confluence to the river with not a single sign of life is very special.
Weather today was about 80. It was hot and sunny. Just as we returned to the RV the winds that were forecasted arrived and really got strong - still are now at 7:30 pm. Gusting 40-50 mph! Could be an issue leaving here tomorrow. We'll see. We had to pack everything up to keep it from blowing away!
I'll start here with pictures from Monday and our Jacob Lake drive, then finish up with pictures of today's hike.
Weather today was about 80. It was hot and sunny. Just as we returned to the RV the winds that were forecasted arrived and really got strong - still are now at 7:30 pm. Gusting 40-50 mph! Could be an issue leaving here tomorrow. We'll see. We had to pack everything up to keep it from blowing away!
I'll start here with pictures from Monday and our Jacob Lake drive, then finish up with pictures of today's hike.
Just a pic of RV as we left for our drive
Roadside motor lodge/inn just West of Marble Canyon (Lee's Ferry) that blends in with the surroundings so well you can only see the doors & windows unless you look close
The Vermillion Cliffs
That's our destination in the background - the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We were sure we would never get to the Rim as the road is closed in the winter (you'll see why below) - but we tried.
More Vermillion Cliffs
My little camera just doesn't show how vast this landscape is here in front of us. We see canyons, desert, high plateau's, towering cliffs, and snow capped mountains all in one scene. Our pictures only give the pieces of the whole puzzle
Snow covered sign at Jacob Lake. If we stay on highway 89A we would end up back in Zion. Turning here, if we could, would take us to the North Rim via hwy 67.
The Visitors Center
The Visitor
Pretty high snow piles still have a lot of melting to do
The girls had fun
Hwy 67 going to the North Rim - about 50 miles "on down the road"
View of RV as we returned - the RV is in the spotlight so many times just because it really gives one a feel for where we are at. It's just so impressive to see the "little" RV sitting out here in such a remote place
Looking upriver with the Lee's Ferry launch site on the Left. Took the dogs here to have a bath
Ellen forgot to tell me to "suck it-in", but really that's just the wind billowing my t-shirt
Going my way?
Beautiful sunset warning us of bad weather to come
Moon Rise over Lee's Ferry
And Pictures from today's hike - not a lot of comment - just pictures of where we were. As I said earlier we started at a parking lot just off the road. Up the canyon goes into Glen Canyon NRA, down goes into Grand Canyon NP. We went down because we knew we would end up on the banks of the Colorado River where the wash entered
Big flash floods do most of the "heavy lifting" and are very rare - but here you can see the size of the boulders that can be moved.
No maintained trail here - you find your own way down and back up
The canyon gets deeper as it gets closer to the river - but not always this wide.
Made it to the river
All these rocks came from up the canyon. It takes a rare flood to wash them down to the river, but the do eventually get here
River level view back up the canyon we just came down
wild flowers blooming in the canyon
Day 57 - Monday, March 29
Ellen's pictures are now on the Sunday (Day 56) post.
Today was the warmest so far - about 77. Real nice! We drove to Jacob Lake to see if there was any way to get to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Jacob Lake was 50 miles away and we had no problem getting there - about a 5,000 foot elevation gain. Lot's of snow up there and often the road is closed after a snowfall because it takes awhile to get it plowed. We were told not to go to Flagstaff via that route from Zion due to the likehood of bad road conditions. We heeded the advice and took the longer and lower route through Page. We are glad we did as Page turned out to be a great area to spend five days. I'm off track here! From Jacob Lake there is a 45 mile road to the North Rim. It is still closed due to snow! They do not plow it in winter and rely on the snow simply melting before opening it back up in Spring. So we had a nice drive but did not get to our hoped for destination.
We got back to camp in time to enjoy the late day sunshine and warm sunset - reading, taking the dogs for a swim, drinking, eating, and fire. Of course, Ellen walked around the campground "chatting-up" all the other campers.
A few more Lee's Ferry Pictures -
Today was the warmest so far - about 77. Real nice! We drove to Jacob Lake to see if there was any way to get to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Jacob Lake was 50 miles away and we had no problem getting there - about a 5,000 foot elevation gain. Lot's of snow up there and often the road is closed after a snowfall because it takes awhile to get it plowed. We were told not to go to Flagstaff via that route from Zion due to the likehood of bad road conditions. We heeded the advice and took the longer and lower route through Page. We are glad we did as Page turned out to be a great area to spend five days. I'm off track here! From Jacob Lake there is a 45 mile road to the North Rim. It is still closed due to snow! They do not plow it in winter and rely on the snow simply melting before opening it back up in Spring. So we had a nice drive but did not get to our hoped for destination.
We got back to camp in time to enjoy the late day sunshine and warm sunset - reading, taking the dogs for a swim, drinking, eating, and fire. Of course, Ellen walked around the campground "chatting-up" all the other campers.
A few more Lee's Ferry Pictures -
about 1/4 mile upriver from the current rafting "launch site" is the historic "Lee's Ferry", or at least what is left of it
It was the low spot across the river that provided the early settlers the access to the river crossing
Here you can see the old road goes right to the river bank
Barely visible is the old road (just a ribbon of white) as it winds it's way to the crossing
Our campsite
Moon rise from our "backyard"
Monday
Day 56 - Sunday, March 28
Our second day at Lee's Ferry.
Here are a few links to info about Lee's Ferry I couldn't post earlier due to on and off internet access.
I'll give them first, and then more on today.
Lee's Ferry 1
Lee's Ferry 2
Some of the info is repetitive, but combined they should give you a feel for the area.
If you already looked at Day 55 - go back to see the pictures I just added.
The first 18 miles of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam is accessable to everyone for recreational purposes. But only one company has the "concession" to take paying passengers down that short stretch. They leave Page, float the 18 miles to Lee's Ferry, then bus the passengers back to Page. It's about 5-6 hours total time. We were going to do it when we were in Page, but the time away from the dogs was too long without paying for a "doggie day care" which we are reluctant to do, and not because of the cost. So while in Page we did a 3 hour Lake Powell boat tour. Before leaving this thought - travel on the Colorado River is STRICTLY controlled by the NPS. No one gets past Lee's Ferry without a permit to do so. And it can take upwards of 10 years, yes 10 years, to get one of these permits. So it's a pretty special event. River Running Companies have "concessions" with the NPS and can take a limited number of passengers each year, but even reservations with them can require planning 1-3 years in advance. In summary, the NPS allows only a certain number of people on the river at any one time to minimize the impact.
Moving on - We got to our campsite here at Lee's Ferry and we saw the boats from Page pulling in at Lee's Ferry to drop off their passengers. Ellen lamented that we should have taken the raft trip instead of the boat trip. So I told her to call the rafting company, make a reservation for herself, and I would drive her back to Page so she could float back to our campground. She did it and her pictures are below. She may add some "verbage" as well when she looks at the blog. Needless to say, the dogs and I had a wonderful, quiet afternoon.
Here are a few links to info about Lee's Ferry I couldn't post earlier due to on and off internet access.
I'll give them first, and then more on today.
Lee's Ferry 1
Lee's Ferry 2
Some of the info is repetitive, but combined they should give you a feel for the area.
If you already looked at Day 55 - go back to see the pictures I just added.
The first 18 miles of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam is accessable to everyone for recreational purposes. But only one company has the "concession" to take paying passengers down that short stretch. They leave Page, float the 18 miles to Lee's Ferry, then bus the passengers back to Page. It's about 5-6 hours total time. We were going to do it when we were in Page, but the time away from the dogs was too long without paying for a "doggie day care" which we are reluctant to do, and not because of the cost. So while in Page we did a 3 hour Lake Powell boat tour. Before leaving this thought - travel on the Colorado River is STRICTLY controlled by the NPS. No one gets past Lee's Ferry without a permit to do so. And it can take upwards of 10 years, yes 10 years, to get one of these permits. So it's a pretty special event. River Running Companies have "concessions" with the NPS and can take a limited number of passengers each year, but even reservations with them can require planning 1-3 years in advance. In summary, the NPS allows only a certain number of people on the river at any one time to minimize the impact.
Moving on - We got to our campsite here at Lee's Ferry and we saw the boats from Page pulling in at Lee's Ferry to drop off their passengers. Ellen lamented that we should have taken the raft trip instead of the boat trip. So I told her to call the rafting company, make a reservation for herself, and I would drive her back to Page so she could float back to our campground. She did it and her pictures are below. She may add some "verbage" as well when she looks at the blog. Needless to say, the dogs and I had a wonderful, quiet afternoon.
Below the dam at our boat launch
Just got on the river and looking back at the dam
Our river guide Mike
A beautiful, slow, cruise down river. Would have liked some rapids but they start after Lees Ferry. The canyon walls on this part of the river get up to around 1,100 feet high and are Navajo sandstone. In the Grand Canyon the depth of the walls can be as high and straight up as a mile (5,280 ft.) and 7 layers of rock!
We stopped at a sandy beach area for lunch and a short hike to see some ancient petroglyphs
More beautiful scenery all the way to Lees Ferry
The bus was waiting to take our group back to Page but I had my own "driver" named Jim who picked me up at our take out point. He had 2 gorgeous "babes" named Isabelle and Gracie with him. It was a good day!
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