Omaha Nebraska
Day 43
So begins our seventh week traveling the country in the 30 foot box...it's getting smaller
We both slept soundly last night. This RV park is a good distance from the road and the rail road track isn't 20 feet from the camper. Yay!
We made our way over to the brother and sister in law's house late morning. Took a walk in one of the many parks in this area. The winds were gone, and the two mile walk was refreshing. Later we lunched at the Kona Grill. Wish we had one closer to home, great place!
Tonight we saw Iron Man. I'm not usually a fan of super hero movies, but for some reason I enjoy the Iron man movies...could it be Robert Downey Jr.? Certainly could.
We'll be here one more day, then taking off on Monday. Of course, we're not sure exactly where that will be. The only thing I know for sure - it won't be NORTH!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Wind Chill
Grand Island Nebraska to Gretna Nebraska 132 miles
Day 42
Rained hard most of the night. Again, it wasn't a rhythmic calming sound, but a loud and annoying popping on the thin roof. That and being cold kept me awake...my FACE was freezing! Next time I won't forget to check to see that the heat is set. Heck, it was 50 degrees inside the RV this morning!
The dogs were shivering after their walk. Their fur is short, but not THAT short, for cryin' out loud. Southern dogs. I should talk....I had a sweatshirt and my winter coat on. The wind was howling and I was walking backwards with my hood up to not have to face the wind.
There was ony a short distance to go and we had wanted to take the state roads, but with the wind, we needed to stay on the wider interstate.
Tonight and for the rest of the weekend we are in Gretna KOA, near Omaha. We visited Jim's brother and wife this evening. On the way there, Jim didn't listen to TOM TOM and we had to double back....hmmmm.
Today is the first day of the trip that I didn't take any photos. I was too cold.
Day 42
Rained hard most of the night. Again, it wasn't a rhythmic calming sound, but a loud and annoying popping on the thin roof. That and being cold kept me awake...my FACE was freezing! Next time I won't forget to check to see that the heat is set. Heck, it was 50 degrees inside the RV this morning!
The dogs were shivering after their walk. Their fur is short, but not THAT short, for cryin' out loud. Southern dogs. I should talk....I had a sweatshirt and my winter coat on. The wind was howling and I was walking backwards with my hood up to not have to face the wind.
There was ony a short distance to go and we had wanted to take the state roads, but with the wind, we needed to stay on the wider interstate.
Tonight and for the rest of the weekend we are in Gretna KOA, near Omaha. We visited Jim's brother and wife this evening. On the way there, Jim didn't listen to TOM TOM and we had to double back....hmmmm.
Today is the first day of the trip that I didn't take any photos. I was too cold.
Little RV on the Prairie
Brighton Colorado to Grand Island Nebraska 385 miles
Thursday, May 6 2010
Day 41
Nice day for driving, not much wind. Come to think of it, not much anything.
This interstate, I76, connects I70 to I80 from Denver to Nebraska in the northeast corner of Colorado. There's not much out there, in a touristy sort of way. Cows, there are cows, and grass...the corn isn't growing yet. Oh yes, there is a river, the South Platte that the highway follows, and a few lakes . Plenty of those enormous windmills off in the distance too. And there you have it, that was our day.
We noticed the sky darkening as we neared the Grand Island KOA, around dinner time. Back into Central Time after North Platte, we'd lost an hour. Hate giving them back. We knew there was a cold front on its way, but were surprised that there were severe storms around...it didn't seem warm enough for that. The severe storms were tracking just a little south of us, thank goodness, because the ones we got were bad enough!
The rain was noisy and the temperature fell. Had trouble sleeping. When we awoke and turned the news on we couldn't help but laugh at what was happening. The temperatures were TWENTY degrees lower than normal and windy. It was only in the low 40's and with wind chills in the 20's. Good grief, we seem to bring strange weather everywhere we go.
Maybe we'd better go home...they say it's getting too hot there....
Thursday, May 6 2010
Day 41
Nice day for driving, not much wind. Come to think of it, not much anything.
This interstate, I76, connects I70 to I80 from Denver to Nebraska in the northeast corner of Colorado. There's not much out there, in a touristy sort of way. Cows, there are cows, and grass...the corn isn't growing yet. Oh yes, there is a river, the South Platte that the highway follows, and a few lakes . Plenty of those enormous windmills off in the distance too. And there you have it, that was our day.
We noticed the sky darkening as we neared the Grand Island KOA, around dinner time. Back into Central Time after North Platte, we'd lost an hour. Hate giving them back. We knew there was a cold front on its way, but were surprised that there were severe storms around...it didn't seem warm enough for that. The severe storms were tracking just a little south of us, thank goodness, because the ones we got were bad enough!
The rain was noisy and the temperature fell. Had trouble sleeping. When we awoke and turned the news on we couldn't help but laugh at what was happening. The temperatures were TWENTY degrees lower than normal and windy. It was only in the low 40's and with wind chills in the 20's. Good grief, we seem to bring strange weather everywhere we go.
Maybe we'd better go home...they say it's getting too hot there....
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Eastbound And Down...And Up And Down
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Moab Utah to Brighton Colorado (via Utah RT 128 & I70) 400 miles
Day 40
Today was a travel day. We left the Moab KOA around 8:30 and decided to take a scenic byway RT128 through canyons and driving beside the mighty Colorado River. This was was a little slower and longer than taking RT191 back to I70, they way we came, but oh man, it was so worth it!
The highway (not really, it's just a narrow two lane road) winds and twists through a canyons for 44 miles, going around the southern end of Arches, then north to the interstate about 50 miles west of Grand Junction, Colorado. Glad we took this way back, it was fabulous. A perfect way to put an exclamation point on the Utah portion of this trip.
The weather was okay, not crystal, like the last few days, but nice. It was a little chilly in the higher altitudes that we were driving through today. Before we knew it we left the relatively lower mountains of Grand Junction and got more acquainted with the BIG BOYS of the Rockies.
We drove through some of the more popular ski resort towns. Vail is something to see, even from the highway! Some day I really want to get down into that town. Still plenty of snow on the mountains, but this is what they call the 'mud' season, and the crowds are not there.
Poor Tioga was put to the test pulling the mountain passes. After huffing and puffing up Vail Pass at 35mph, we thought it best to disconnect the Jeep (which is pretty much 4800 lbs of dead weight going uphill) and I drove it behind the RV. We had lunch in a park and ride, then I followed Jim up and down and up and down a few more high mountain passes. The RV was very happy not having to drag the Jeep up some of the highest mountain passes on the US interstate system.
I tagged along all the way, about 60 miles, until we 'hit bottom' which would be coming down off the mountains, in Golden Colorado. I always laugh at the signs on the highway coming down that last, long grade. They keep reminding the drivers that they are NOT all the way down yet!
We found a mall and re-hooked. Good thing because I really didn't want to drive in Denver afternoon traffic.
The shortest way to Omaha was to pick up I76 in Denver. Almost immediately we encountered our first traffic jam of the trip. It was due to an accident and many lanes of traffic trying to get into one. Actually, it worked to my favor, because apparently all the RV parks/campgrounds are on the other sides of Denver. This highway goes off at an angle to the northeast corner of Colorado to Nebraska...and who goes to Nebraska?
We found a place by accident and turned in. It has no WIFI or cable. As soon as we got settled I looked around for the railroad track, that I knew would be here. Yep, just at the edge of the park, across the street. The good thing is that it's out in the farmlands, that are disappearing, with a new shopping center less than a mile away.
Tomorrow, we drive across northeaster Colorado and western Nebraska...hope I can control my excitement! Wanna bet we see lots of cows?
Moab Utah to Brighton Colorado (via Utah RT 128 & I70) 400 miles
Day 40
Today was a travel day. We left the Moab KOA around 8:30 and decided to take a scenic byway RT128 through canyons and driving beside the mighty Colorado River. This was was a little slower and longer than taking RT191 back to I70, they way we came, but oh man, it was so worth it!
Riding along the Colorado River on RT148
More open range just before the Interstate
Up close and personal...sorry, I like cows
The highway (not really, it's just a narrow two lane road) winds and twists through a canyons for 44 miles, going around the southern end of Arches, then north to the interstate about 50 miles west of Grand Junction, Colorado. Glad we took this way back, it was fabulous. A perfect way to put an exclamation point on the Utah portion of this trip.
The weather was okay, not crystal, like the last few days, but nice. It was a little chilly in the higher altitudes that we were driving through today. Before we knew it we left the relatively lower mountains of Grand Junction and got more acquainted with the BIG BOYS of the Rockies.
We drove through some of the more popular ski resort towns. Vail is something to see, even from the highway! Some day I really want to get down into that town. Still plenty of snow on the mountains, but this is what they call the 'mud' season, and the crowds are not there.
Lil Dummy somewhere on I70 @ 65 miles per hour...tough life, eh?
I70 westbound lanes are elevated due to the narrow canyons in some places
Poor Tioga was put to the test pulling the mountain passes. After huffing and puffing up Vail Pass at 35mph, we thought it best to disconnect the Jeep (which is pretty much 4800 lbs of dead weight going uphill) and I drove it behind the RV. We had lunch in a park and ride, then I followed Jim up and down and up and down a few more high mountain passes. The RV was very happy not having to drag the Jeep up some of the highest mountain passes on the US interstate system.
The we met up with the snow going up the first pass
A view I normally don't see. I'm driving the Jeep, following Jim and giving the poor RV a break.
Entering the Eisenhower Tunnel at about 11,000 feet elevation
I tagged along all the way, about 60 miles, until we 'hit bottom' which would be coming down off the mountains, in Golden Colorado. I always laugh at the signs on the highway coming down that last, long grade. They keep reminding the drivers that they are NOT all the way down yet!
We found a mall and re-hooked. Good thing because I really didn't want to drive in Denver afternoon traffic.
The shortest way to Omaha was to pick up I76 in Denver. Almost immediately we encountered our first traffic jam of the trip. It was due to an accident and many lanes of traffic trying to get into one. Actually, it worked to my favor, because apparently all the RV parks/campgrounds are on the other sides of Denver. This highway goes off at an angle to the northeast corner of Colorado to Nebraska...and who goes to Nebraska?
We found a place by accident and turned in. It has no WIFI or cable. As soon as we got settled I looked around for the railroad track, that I knew would be here. Yep, just at the edge of the park, across the street. The good thing is that it's out in the farmlands, that are disappearing, with a new shopping center less than a mile away.
Tomorrow, we drive across northeaster Colorado and western Nebraska...hope I can control my excitement! Wanna bet we see lots of cows?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Canyonlands
Moab Utah
Day 39
Canyonlands National Park & Dead Horse Point State Park
Good weather for our first excursion to Canyonlands National Park. We were advised to stop in to see a state park, Dead Horse Point, on the way. Very nice!
Today was a day of 'WOWS', should have counted how many times we said it.
There were some spectacular views of the canyons. From the visitors center, one can see a deep canyon, the Colorado River and some enormous electric blue 'ponds'. Jim wonderered what they were...of course, I knew exactly what they were. They are where the airline industry get the water for the airplane toilets! Some other person there said they were drying ponds for the potash industry....silly man.
On the way to the state park and Canyonlands we finally got to see the native wildlife we've been searching for. Big, very big and RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, were the cutest cows! Okay, it was more like 'domesticlife', instead of wildlife. The road was on open range, so the cows just walked wherever they wanted. It was like Lion Country Safari, only it was really Bovine Country Safari. Still it was fun stopping right beside them. We got a good laugh out of pulling up and saying, "Hey, COW"! The cows would stop eating and pick their heads up and look right at us. Um...maybe we've been on the road too long?
Canyonlands was breathtaking, totally different from Arches, but stunning in its own way. We walked a bit. The Mesa Arch was 1/2 mile total, and hilly...our calves were screaming from yesterday's walk. But the Mesa Arch was worth it. Canyonlands is huge and today we saw the 'Island in the Sky' section.
Tomorrow we are taking a scenic byway Rt128 from here toward Grand Junction Colorado. We are stepping up travel in order to meet with famiy in Omaha, so Colorado will be a 'drive by' this year.
Day 39
Canyonlands National Park & Dead Horse Point State Park
Good weather for our first excursion to Canyonlands National Park. We were advised to stop in to see a state park, Dead Horse Point, on the way. Very nice!
Today was a day of 'WOWS', should have counted how many times we said it.
There were some spectacular views of the canyons. From the visitors center, one can see a deep canyon, the Colorado River and some enormous electric blue 'ponds'. Jim wonderered what they were...of course, I knew exactly what they were. They are where the airline industry get the water for the airplane toilets! Some other person there said they were drying ponds for the potash industry....silly man.
Tidy Bowl blue at the bottom of the canyon
From Dead Horse Point, the Colorado River is 2,000 feet below!
On the way to the state park and Canyonlands we finally got to see the native wildlife we've been searching for. Big, very big and RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, were the cutest cows! Okay, it was more like 'domesticlife', instead of wildlife. The road was on open range, so the cows just walked wherever they wanted. It was like Lion Country Safari, only it was really Bovine Country Safari. Still it was fun stopping right beside them. We got a good laugh out of pulling up and saying, "Hey, COW"! The cows would stop eating and pick their heads up and look right at us. Um...maybe we've been on the road too long?
Hey Cow!
Canyonlands was breathtaking, totally different from Arches, but stunning in its own way. We walked a bit. The Mesa Arch was 1/2 mile total, and hilly...our calves were screaming from yesterday's walk. But the Mesa Arch was worth it. Canyonlands is huge and today we saw the 'Island in the Sky' section.
Take a few steps to the right...oops!
Mesa Arch
Finally a picture together!
Tomorrow we are taking a scenic byway Rt128 from here toward Grand Junction Colorado. We are stepping up travel in order to meet with famiy in Omaha, so Colorado will be a 'drive by' this year.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Arches
Moab Utah
Day 38
Arches National Park
The weather was perfect for our visit to Arches National Park today. We left a little after 9:00 and headed into town for gas, ice and a couple of Subway sandwiches. Visitors must bring their own food into the park. Even though the entrance to Arches is in town, I really didn't want to take that initial climb up the side of the mountain twice!
The park is awesome. I am not a fan of the adjective 'awesome' as it is so overused these days, but it is the perfect word to describe this place. The cliffs, the colors, the vistas, the valleys and the La Sal mountains in the background are all a treat for the eyes.
We felt energenic so we decided to hike one of the many trails early on. This one, Park Avenue, was labeled 'moderate'. Most of the mile hike was downhill, the first hundred feet or so, almost vertical on a mostly man-made stairway. Then down through a the gorge, walking mostly on a smooth rocky river bed. Half way down, we passes an elderly couple going in the opposite direction (uphill) and marveled at their physical condition. Jim had been ready to turn around and shorten the hike until he saw them...he wasn't about to be upstaged by an two people who looked old enough to be our parents! Later as we finished the hike we saw them again and told them that they were an inspiration to us. Jim asked if they would like to volunteer their ages - she was 81 and he was 85! How wonderful is that? Oh, and the return trip was all uphill...an elevator would have been nice!
Lunch was by one of the overlooks, in the Windows and Double Arch area. Talk about a table with a view! Jim's right knee had started to bother him on the first hike, so for the rest of the day we took shorter hikes on mostly level ground. On the other hand *I* was in perfect physical shape, but had to stay with the 'old guy' with the bum knee. *I* would have taken the hikes up the mountain cliffs...yep, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
So we drove from overlook to overlook, walking and taking photos. Good thing for digital photography, because I would have gone broke developing film, there are so many gorgeous scenes it's hard to stop taking pictures.
About half way through the park, I realized that we were seeing 'things' in the rock formations. Faces, the Sphinx, a lion, the little 'Google Street View Man' and I even saw a few vertical columns that looked to me like giant....um....er, oh, never mind...
By late afternoon I must have been getting a little hungry. So many of the rock formations looked like huge a Mr. Potato Head, or gigantic russet potatoes. Time to leave.
Back to the KOA, easy dinner....one of those frozen vegetable mixtures with pasta, and a sauce to which I added a grilled chicken breast sliced and mixed in. Talked with my daughter, he did the laundry and I gave Molly a bath. Chores have to be done, even on vacation.
Tomorrow, good weather forecast and a visit to Canyon lands National Park.
Day 38
Arches National Park
The weather was perfect for our visit to Arches National Park today. We left a little after 9:00 and headed into town for gas, ice and a couple of Subway sandwiches. Visitors must bring their own food into the park. Even though the entrance to Arches is in town, I really didn't want to take that initial climb up the side of the mountain twice!
Hwy 191 into Moab
On the hike...way steeper than it looks here
Mr. Wounded Knee on the same hike
We felt energenic so we decided to hike one of the many trails early on. This one, Park Avenue, was labeled 'moderate'. Most of the mile hike was downhill, the first hundred feet or so, almost vertical on a mostly man-made stairway. Then down through a the gorge, walking mostly on a smooth rocky river bed. Half way down, we passes an elderly couple going in the opposite direction (uphill) and marveled at their physical condition. Jim had been ready to turn around and shorten the hike until he saw them...he wasn't about to be upstaged by an two people who looked old enough to be our parents! Later as we finished the hike we saw them again and told them that they were an inspiration to us. Jim asked if they would like to volunteer their ages - she was 81 and he was 85! How wonderful is that? Oh, and the return trip was all uphill...an elevator would have been nice!
Balancing Rock - this would be a real bad time for an earthquake!
No...I think I'll just stand under the arch and wait... WHAT!
The dictionary should have this picture next to the word 'GNARLED'
Lunch was by one of the overlooks, in the Windows and Double Arch area. Talk about a table with a view! Jim's right knee had started to bother him on the first hike, so for the rest of the day we took shorter hikes on mostly level ground. On the other hand *I* was in perfect physical shape, but had to stay with the 'old guy' with the bum knee. *I* would have taken the hikes up the mountain cliffs...yep, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
So we drove from overlook to overlook, walking and taking photos. Good thing for digital photography, because I would have gone broke developing film, there are so many gorgeous scenes it's hard to stop taking pictures.
Double Arch, how cool is that?
About half way through the park, I realized that we were seeing 'things' in the rock formations. Faces, the Sphinx, a lion, the little 'Google Street View Man' and I even saw a few vertical columns that looked to me like giant....um....er, oh, never mind...
By late afternoon I must have been getting a little hungry. So many of the rock formations looked like huge a Mr. Potato Head, or gigantic russet potatoes. Time to leave.
The End
Back to the KOA, easy dinner....one of those frozen vegetable mixtures with pasta, and a sauce to which I added a grilled chicken breast sliced and mixed in. Talked with my daughter, he did the laundry and I gave Molly a bath. Chores have to be done, even on vacation.
KOA Campsite
View from the RV of the LaSal Mts. (morning)
Tomorrow, good weather forecast and a visit to Canyon lands National Park.
You See A WHAT?
Richfield Utah to Moab Utah 175 miles
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day 37
Woke up to grey skies and before long it started to snow. the dogs came in from their short morning walk shivering...they are sooooo southern dogs! People here said that they were so surprised, it was very unusual for snow this late. Hah! They didn't know we were on the way! Later we made a hurried trip around the food section of Walmart, and got up I70 before it got worse. And then it got worse.
There we were, a South Carolina vehicle up in the mountains with snow and wind and ROCKY CLIFFS... I decided to distract myself by looking out the side window for wildlife. There were signs for elk and deer. Surely, I'd be able to see elk easy today, they would stand out with the snow covering the ground...and there was a river at the bottom of the SHEER DROP OFF, certainly they would come down for a drink. Right?
No, even they wouldn't show up on a lousy morning like this. Well, maybe deer...I'll look for them, see them all the time, but I need to distract myself. Nope, no Bambi's either. How about a loose cow? Heck, I'd even take a bunny rabbit, I just don't want to look out of the windshield! Nada, nothing. Here we were in the middle of a national forest with no services for over 100 miles, and I used to see more wildlife in my last house's back yard, which was in a large subdivision. Sunday morning...Utah...maybe they're Morman wildlife.
Finally, the snow stopped and little by little the sun overtook the clouds. The mountains changed to multi colored towering cliffs and canyons. So many layers of rock, laid down over millions of years, makes you wonder what changes were happening on the very spot that you are standing on.
We entered so many different landscapes in such a relatively short time today. One area had rounded small hills of different colors. A particular mound, off in the distance, was more or less isolated and unlike the others consisted of only two colors, a sand dune color and the peak was a red sandstone with a small boulder on top.
I pointed it out... "Oh look at that one, kinda looks like a cupcake, huh?"
Jim looked to his left, "No....I think it looks more like a nipple."
Men and women are wired different. Doesn't it figure, I see food, he sees something sexual. But as I took another look before we drove out of sight...he was right.
We drove through some spectacular landscape today. Moab is very busy, we were surprised at the number of campers in the parks here...we got the last long site in the KOA. The weather warmed a bit, it's in the mid 50's (they tell us it's 20 degrees colder than normal) but tomorrow and Tuesday is fore-casted to be in the 70's with SUN!
When my son heard that we were headed to Utah, he said that the people of Utah should be warned that a plague of locust would be descending on them!
Very funny.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day 37
Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow...
Keeping warm on squirrel watch
Woke up to grey skies and before long it started to snow. the dogs came in from their short morning walk shivering...they are sooooo southern dogs! People here said that they were so surprised, it was very unusual for snow this late. Hah! They didn't know we were on the way! Later we made a hurried trip around the food section of Walmart, and got up I70 before it got worse. And then it got worse.
Snow sure washes the color out of a photo
There we were, a South Carolina vehicle up in the mountains with snow and wind and ROCKY CLIFFS... I decided to distract myself by looking out the side window for wildlife. There were signs for elk and deer. Surely, I'd be able to see elk easy today, they would stand out with the snow covering the ground...and there was a river at the bottom of the SHEER DROP OFF, certainly they would come down for a drink. Right?
No, even they wouldn't show up on a lousy morning like this. Well, maybe deer...I'll look for them, see them all the time, but I need to distract myself. Nope, no Bambi's either. How about a loose cow? Heck, I'd even take a bunny rabbit, I just don't want to look out of the windshield! Nada, nothing. Here we were in the middle of a national forest with no services for over 100 miles, and I used to see more wildlife in my last house's back yard, which was in a large subdivision. Sunday morning...Utah...maybe they're Morman wildlife.
Finally, the snow stopped and little by little the sun overtook the clouds. The mountains changed to multi colored towering cliffs and canyons. So many layers of rock, laid down over millions of years, makes you wonder what changes were happening on the very spot that you are standing on.
From the town of Bedrock...
Salt Wash View Area on I70
Devil's Canyon, photos don't really show how deep it is
I hate to see these signs! The ramp ended at a stone cliff, if the gravel didn't stop you the cliff will!
How's that for an interstate road sign?
Leaving Spotted Wolf Canyon on I70
We entered so many different landscapes in such a relatively short time today. One area had rounded small hills of different colors. A particular mound, off in the distance, was more or less isolated and unlike the others consisted of only two colors, a sand dune color and the peak was a red sandstone with a small boulder on top.
I pointed it out... "Oh look at that one, kinda looks like a cupcake, huh?"
Jim looked to his left, "No....I think it looks more like a nipple."
Men and women are wired different. Doesn't it figure, I see food, he sees something sexual. But as I took another look before we drove out of sight...he was right.
We drove through some spectacular landscape today. Moab is very busy, we were surprised at the number of campers in the parks here...we got the last long site in the KOA. The weather warmed a bit, it's in the mid 50's (they tell us it's 20 degrees colder than normal) but tomorrow and Tuesday is fore-casted to be in the 70's with SUN!
When my son heard that we were headed to Utah, he said that the people of Utah should be warned that a plague of locust would be descending on them!
Very funny.
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