Friday, October 27, 2023 Shafer Trail

I like this place.  My humans let me do some exploring.  I like the smells.  Maybe I can find a mousie.

My morning walk… oh, there is really no place to do a walk.  I walked around the campground.  That took 5 minutes.  I will have to get my walking in doing hikes.  Plenty of that around here so it shouldn’t be a problem.

It is a sunny day with some puffy clouds.  Spouse wants to drive the Shafer Trail.  It is a 19.3 mile off road trail that starts at a Potash plant off of hwy 279, and ends in Canyonlands National Park.  It is supposedly an easy trail for 4WD vehicles with high clearance.  I actually read where 2wd with high clearance would be ok.  Hmmm, I doubt that!

As we get on 279, we see a rock climbers paradise.  We will have to come back for that. 

We follow the Colorado river till we get to the boat ramp.  Here the trail turns to dirt, and Spouse airs down the tires.  And then to rock.  Not horrible, mind you, but it is slow going.  A car that we saw heading up was now turned back.  They were Italian tourists and heard this was an easy trail, and found out it really isn’t that easy! They really should watch what they publish…

We have a guide that has specific mileage points of what you can see.  We crawl over rocks – they weren’t huge, just meant we had to go slow and navigate through them.  Beautiful vallleys and wide open spaces with the red rock cliffs escorting us.  After we pass the Potash evaporation ponds around mile 5, we enter BLM territory.

The guide offers side excursions.  We decided to take one… til we almost got stuck in sand and had to back out over rocks.  And it wasn’t the right ‘road’ as it dead ended into a fence.  Based on the tire tracks, we were not the first ones to make this mistake!  But with that, we figured we should stay on the main ‘road’.  When I saw where one of these offshoots would take us, there was NO way we would be climbing that!  Naw…  let’s stay on the main road….

Around mile 9 is the Thelma and Louise viewpoint.  On top of this magical mesa, we stopped for lunch.  Although it is only 51 degrees, the sun is shining and it is quite pleasant.  Light sleeves are enough to keep us comfortable.  Below us is the Colorado River, where we once rafted past here.  The aerial views were stunning.  The red rock walls forming a canyon.  Just think, in a billion years this area might look more like the Grand Canyon!

After mile 11, we technically enter Canyonlands National Park.  The only difference in the road is that there is a 15mph speed limit sign posted.  I guess that is just in case we can get our speed up to 15mph!

During all this time, you have to be careful if a vehicle is coming in the opposite direction, as there isn’t always room to pass.  We didn’t have much problem with that, but we did have to keep our eyes open.

At about mile 14, there are switchbacks.  SWITCHBACKS! Here is where you really need to be mindful of oncoming vehicles.  The road is narrow, and for us to make our turn, we need the entire road, otherwise we will need to back up...  On this tiny, narrow, steep road…  naw…   Spouse wanted to take this going downhill.  I am really glad we went up it.  We wouldn’t have had any brakes left if we went

down it!   1.5 miles of narrow, narrow steep switchbacks.  Then we got to ride along a narrow ledge til we got to a viewing area.  That was certainly interesting!  We did have to jockey for position a couple of times for oncoming traffic, but at least we were able to make our turns ok.  It was a fun experience!

When we got to a normal road, Spouse put some air back in the tires.  Hey, we are in Canyonlands.  Let’s explore.  It is a very interesting place.  On the mesa is miles of cattle grazing ground.  At least it was cattle grazing grounds before it became a national park.  For as far as the eye can see, you would never know you are sitting on top of the world.  You see plains… or call it a ponderosa.  But once you get to the edge, WOOSH!  An aerial view of eastern Utah into Colorado!  The red rock canyons, the valleys, the Colorado River… it is totally eye popping!  We were tired but managed to check a few of the viewpoints out.  Wow!  Maybe we will check this out more later.  For now, back to Artee and our little black beast Rudy.

 

Thursday, October 26, 2023  You forgot what?

There was lots of noise so I had to snuggle with my humans.  I don’t like those noises.

What a sunrise!  After a night of not sleeping much due to the WINDS, we were at least rewarded with morning beauty.

We did a little bit of walking around the view area.  There was a wee walking trail out on a point.  Then we got back in the truck.  We were only about 10 miles from Green River.

Spouse fueled up, and filled our water tanks.  He has been living on You Tube and he wants to stay at a BLM campground along the Colorado River, so no services.  The first place we looked was at Goose Island.  It is the closest to Moab, and it was full.  So we drove on.  The road we are on is Hwy 128.  It is a small road with the red rock cliffs towering on one side, and the Colorado River on the other.  The aspens are turning yellow for the fall.  Occasionally, there is a camp ground.  What we saw was small.  We turned into Drinks Canyon Campground and I looked behind us.  Hmmm… I think that is a spot!  Sure enough, if we back up just right (always an adventure with a rig such as Artee!) we could have a somewhat private spot.    Spouse inched forward and back, avoiding poles and rocks and got Artee in place.  We are right on the river.  Of course, the road is there, but it is the road less traveled so we don’t expect that to be a problem.  We were fortunate to have gotten this spot as there wasn’t a decent turnaround spot for a rig of our size.

Then Spouse announces… I think I left my National Park pass at home.  What???  Are you kidding me?  Oh, yes… when he got the truck serviced, he took it out so it wouldn’t get stolen (as if that is a hot ticket item)!  That pass entitles you to half price at BLM campgrounds.  Normal fee is $20, $10 with a pass.  So we paid our normal fee for one day, then headed to Arches National Park where I bought a lifetime senior pass for myself.  And while we were there, they happened to have a timed entry available so off we went!

This entire area is red rock walls, arches, arroyos and more arches.  We hiked around the windows arches, feeling a few drops of rain.  The clouds looked menacing, but they pretty much left us alone while we hiked and toured the park. There are about 90 arches in the park.  Some you can easily see, some you have to hike to.  Since it was getting late, we stuck to the easily accessible arches.

 

Wednesday, October 25, 2023  Holy Wind Gust, Batman!

I like it here better.  Those big houses that grumble are gone.  My paternal human let me explore a little.

After a walk around town, and of course, Spouse getting fuel, we got back on I15.  We cross into Arizona and through the beautiful Virgin River gorge passing into Utah, where are first stop was at a Walmart.  We needed some of this and that.  Since we didn’t have as much time to prepare for this trip, a few things fell through the cracks.

I15 in Utah is an 80 MPH zone.  We go about 61.  It is pretty country as we pass St. George, Hurricane, turnoffs for Brians Head, Bryce and Zion.  When we get to I70, we head east.  My turn to drive for a while.  It is more mountainous here but easy driving.  We stop at a few of the turnout viewpoints and the scenery is breathtaking.  There are valleys with vast ranches with freshly mowed alfalfa fields, next to fields of solar panels…

We switched drivers again.  We wanted to make it as close to Green River as we could, which would make it an easy drive into Moab tomorrow.   When we stopped at a viewpoint which was on top of the world, we decided to stay there for the night and enjoy the view.

Around 10 pm…  they came… the winds.  Let me be clear.  They were the WINDS!  Artee rocked and rocked.  I was concerned we would get blown clear out of Utah.  Then it stopped… and I could sleep.  Then it started and I was awake.  And that is how the night went.  But what a beautiful sunrise…

Tuesday October 24, 2023 – On to Mesquite or maybe further???       

I don’t like the noise here.  Big houses that move are grumbling.  We need to move on!

It is a beautiful sunny, crisp morning.  Spouse and I walked around the rest stop a few times to get some exercise before we hit the road.  Spouse wants to stop at the Bass Pro Shop in Las Vegas.  And of course… we have to get fuel, which means Spouse has to do his gas dance for the cheapest stuff.  I hate that…

There was a Cracker Barrel next to the Bass Pro Shop so we went in for some breakfast.  This is NOT my favorite food, but it was there and convenient.  Can you believe they do not have salsa?  What kind of restaurant anywhere in the southwest does not have salsa!  And they were out of jelly… really? you specialize in breakfast and you run out of jelly?  They had good coffee though, and the food is edible.

After feeding our faces, we perused the aisles of Bass Pro.  Spouse was looking for this and that.  I was just walking around to get exercise.  After about an hour, we were back in the truck heading east on I15.  And Spouse was able to get gas here that was suitable for his cheapness.

I hate driving through Las Vegas.  There is always road construction, and traffic.  We actually made it past the casinos, and to the Auto Raceway before the traffic stopped.  STOPPED!  Down to two lanes of a gazillion of my new best friends.  We would move 100 feet, then stop…  over and over.  We would turn the engine off.  And wait…  Next to us, we saw a semi roll backwards into another semi.  We gave then our phone number if he needs a witness.  After 2 and ½ hours, we had gone about 10 miles.  At that point, they took us off the freeway and back on, alternating with a sideroad that was just as backed up as the freeway.  We had considered going on to St. George, but with this delay, Mesquite was looking good.  Besides, our friends, Vicky and Butch were there so we could hook up for dinner.

We got a spot at the Oasis Rv park, which is part of the Casablanca Hotel.  We didn’t want to unhook, and we barely fit, but it was not crowded so we went with it.

We met Vicky and Butch for dinner at the Casablanca.  The restaurant there used to be pretty good.  It was busy and the food was not as good as before, but we had a good visit and that was more important.

We walked back to Artee.  We expect to be off the grid a lot so we enjoyed having electricity while we could!

Monday, October 23, 2023 – Hitting the Road

My humans have been running all over.  I know something is up.  Oh, they are putting me in the little house that moves.  We are going somewhere.  I think I will nap.

We had a gazillion things to do to get ready for this trip.  We got as organized as we could and got on the road at about 2:30. We figured we would at least get out of town and stop at a rest stop or something for the night.

We are heading to Moab, Utah.  Moab is a hub for outdoor fun.  Varying degrees (from easy to suicidal!) of canyoneering, rock climbing, hiking, biking, off roading, river rafting, fishing, equine activities and more are all here for the taking.  And Spouse has been watching off road recoveries on You Tube…  here we go!

Normally, we would take a few weeks to meander to our destination.  But because of the circumstances with getting Artee ready, and Spouse’s cataract surgeries, our time got cut short.  So we headed the most direct route.

We used to take the 14 to the Pearblossom Hwy.  But that has gotten so crowded.  There are so many lights to get into Victorville, and it is a pain in the behind.  So now we take the 14 to Mojave and catch the 58 to Barstow.  It is a little bit further, but, oh so much easier and quicker.

Since it was time to eat, we decided to stop at Peggy Sue’s 50’s diner, which is a wee bit east of Barstow.  When I took of my sunglasses, one of the rubber pieces covering the arm got caught in my hair.  And of course… it has to fall in the most inaccessible place in the truck… between the seat and the console.  We got a flashlight and I saw it… I tried to get it with my hand, and I succeeded in pushing it under the chair rail.  Crap…  now what…  Spouse put some tape on a screwdriver for me to wedge in there and maybe get it to stick.  And it did!  I rescued it!  Let’s see how long I can keep these sunglasses together…  I have another pair just in case.

Peggy Sue’s is truly a relic of the past.  Our booth had torn naugahide seats.  We decided to split a meatloaf dinner.  It came with mashed potatoes and gravy (I am sure they were just out of the box) and the best canned string beans ever…  Now, the blueberry pie and ice cream were really good!  I am not complaining.  It was pretty much what I expected and it was fun.

Back on the road, I was nodding out as Spouse drove.  He finally pulled into a rest stop east of Baker.  We could pull along the back fence so we didn’t have to be with all the trucks, and we could open Artee up.  The freeway noise was like white noise so it wasn’t bad.  We actually got a good nights sleep.  Rudy did not like it here.  Diesels are not his friends.  He was very clingy.

Preamble

October 22, 2023

Our plan for this year was to head to Moab, Utah for the great outdoors.  Spouse has been watching scores of You Tube videos on the off road adventures.  We were there about 40 years ago where we started on a 4 day river raft trip down to Bullfrog in Lake Powell, but we never really explored the area.

Our original plan was to leave after Labor Day.  That is until Spouse decided to have cataract surgery in September.  One eye… then the other… then the follow up visits.  Well, if he is going to be tied up in that way, I figured I could work the orchid show at the Huntington Library.  We could set up Artee at the Elks in Pasadena so that I wouldn’t have to commute.  Artee would then be ready and we could leave right after that for an abbreviated trip.  After all, the orchid show was not over til 10/22.

Spouse was totally Jonesing to leave before that.  He brought Artee home so we could load her.  Hmmm, the refrigerator isn’t working properly.  He replaced this part, had a friend help and somehow they thought it might be working, but when we got to Pasadena, it was just not doing its job.  From my standpoint, I wasn’t planning on eating much at Artee so I could do without the fridge.  My friend, Gayle, was there in her rig too, so I could use her fridge if I needed.  Spouse arranged for a mobile repair back at the house, so he planned on bringing Artee home two days early.  Ugh, I will get over that… But there was something wrong with the hitch.  Gayle’s husband Steve had to help hitch her up.  When Spouse got her home, he had a neighbor do some welding.  Spouse serviced the hitch.  The mobile repair on the fridge was quick and easy… but they couldn’t guarantee that this was the problem. 

So, if we did not do the trip to Pasadena, we would not have known about either problem until we were well on our way to what would have been a problematic trip!  Some times, things happen for a reason.

Spouse picked up Artee on Sunday, and the hitch worked perfectly.  We ran the fridge… if it was cold on Monday morning, we were leaving as soon as we could.

I had tons of stuff to do following the orchid show, but the fridge was cold, so I rushed through to get ready.

We must be back by 11/13 for an appointment.  And weather this time of year is definitely going to be a concern.  But, when life deals you a lemon, make lemonade.  If it is cold north, we will head south. 

Utah, here we come!

 

April 2023 Meet Artee

All good things must come to an end.  Hannah had travelled with us for about 100,00 miles.  She had been as far east as Nova Scotia.  She has been up the east coast, and down some of the east coast too.  She has visited the middle of our country, the south, and some of the north as well as a whole lot of Canada.  She has been on countless trips around California.  She has been a wonderful true friend.  But, towing a rig for that many miles (think 8.0 earthquake for 100,000 miles), takes its toll.  Things were going wrong.  Every time out, Spouse had to fix one thing or another.  When he opened the refrigerator and the door fell off in his hand, he had had enough!

Over time, we have always looked at other rigs just to keep up on what’s out there.  We have been on many an RV lot and looked at countless designs… countless useless designs!  So many of the designs looked mighty pretty, but functioned pretty lousy.  Gee, let’s get this nice faux fireplace, and in exchange, get rid of most of the kitchen counters!  Not even room to chop an onion!  Or maybe a huge salon with a huge TV, yet the bedroom has a tiny, itty bitty closet.  Or maybe the quality oozed out like on the rig that had the faux wood grain wall paper falling off the door.

If we could, we would get the exact layout and size as Hannah, in a newer model.  Problem is, that doesn’t exist.  IT DOESN’T EXIST!  We looked and looked.  The only thing that even came close was the Arctic Fox.  It has high quality, and a layout very similar to Hannah – in other words, FUNCTIONAL! 

She is 34 feet, instead of Hannah’s 31 feet.  That extra space really improves the bedroom big time.  I would not have bought a rig for that, but I will certainly enjoy that!  The shower is separate from the bedroom, which is nice.  But once again, I would not have bought the rig for that.  She is 6 inches wider, which really shows when she is all closed up as you have room to move around some.  This does make it more challenging to maneuver her around.  And all this extra room adds more weight.  She has only 2 sliders, which is all we wanted.

She has other bells and whistles.  She has two air conditioners which is something I will certainly enjoy passing through places like Laughlin, Mesquite, Mojave.  She has self leveling (requires a PHD, but Spouse is learning it all!).  She has a huge generator so we can live off the grid easily.  The previous owner admits he was anal in the maintenance.  The roof has been improved, the shade awning is automatic.

We had to figure out where to put Rudy’s water.  He didn’t have the same layout!  He wants a glass of water, not a bowl.  So, by the railing by the shower seems to work.  Out of the way for us, and he seems to be ok with it.

It has really nice leather furniture.  I hate leather.  The beautiful couch is now in our friend’s rig, as we bought another that is more suitable for us.  We kept the chairs, which are quite nice.  I will get use to the leather.  That’s why we have all these throw blankets that can serve as a liner!

We have taken her on a couple of short trips to work out the kinks, making improvements here and there.  I think now, she is ready to go.