Westward Hoh!!

The wagons are hitched,  horses fed (gassed up).  Supplies sufficient.  Saddle up and let's head west!

We spent the past 3 wonderful days helping Sraddha's nephew, Tyler and family, move into their new home.  Camping outside on the street or "Burbs-Boondocking" was really fun.  We met many neighbors and friends who stopped by to say hello or help.

Burbs Boondocking

We even went shopping at Ikea for shelving and spent last afternoon and evening assembling and installing shelves and other storage devices in the playroom.  I had lots of help from the little ones.  Unfortunately, no one thought to take a photo until afterwards.  Sigh.  Must I do it all?

Helping out in the kitchen

We will finish up with installing wall photos this morning and I packed up the RV, making it ready to head out.  We had lunch with Tyler, then headed west.  Tonight's destination unknown but we have some possibilties.  It's 650 miles to Ananda Village.  Too far for one day.  Almost too far for two days although we have done that mileage.  The problem is having any energy left upon arrival.  So we will spend 2 nights on the road.

A little playtime when the sun finally came out

If we can drive 200-250 miles today (5-6 hours) and 250-300 (6-7 hours) miles tomorrow, then we have an easy day Thursday of, say 100-120 miles.  We average 50 miles per hour when we are really moving but thursday will be over and down mountain passes which drops the average to 35 miles per hour realistically or 4 hours of driving.

Helping out

So we will shoot for Wells-Elko area Tuesday hoping to set up camp for a late dinner.  Then head over through Fernly, NV for refueling and onto Washoe Lake State Park or Lahontan Lake Recreation area outside of Carson City, might be possibilities for affordable stop.  Then we could hit the Carson City Trader Joes store for essential resupply before heading up over Tahoe to Ananda Village.

We will not make any reservations and just see what comes to us.  Should be a fun little trip and looking forward to more "burb-Boondocking at Ananda Village.  The price is right.

Pods and Horns

We made it to  South Jordan, Utah, out in the Southwest 'burbs of Salt Lake City.  As you may recall, we are assisting Sraddha's nephew, Tyler, move into his new home.  Tyler is a widower with 4 small girls, his wife Lissel (Sraddha's niece) passed away unexpectedly last December a week before Christmas.

PODS out front of new home

They had packed up their home in Toelle, Utah, about 1 hour drive west of here, putting everything in "Pods" while they then took a little vacation, then the pods were later delivered to the new home as you can see here.

Thankfully these horns won't fit on our RV living room wall.

Thanks to some new and some old neighbors, the family was able to move everthing into the house before the rains.  Well mostly.  It did shower a little but a big storm moved in overnight.  We had set up campsite on the street outside of home.  Tyler had received special permission for us to do this for a few days.

Boondocking in the 'Burbs.  Notice new snow in mountains.

We even hooked up power to the house using our big extension cords. I only blew the 20 amp circuit once last night.  Found out that I can run either the hot water heater, the microwave, or the space heater along with the electric blankets and fridge and TV, but not 2 of the 3.  That's ok.  We turned on the propane water heater and I turned off the space heater when I warmed up leftovers in the microwave.

We managed to get a fair amount of unpacking down yesterday and will do more today.  Monday we will do even more, and receive another small trailer load of things which were temporarily stored back in a neighbors garage.

Thankfully one of Tyler's "boy genius" friends got the internet wifi working so I can write blog without using up our precious bandwidth. I also have been able to download all the latest software updates for our computers and IOS devices.  Woo Hoo.  Always a bonus for us with limited monthly bandwidth.

The other bonus is free rent space.  Most RV campgrounds cost $30-$35 per night.  State parks range from $25-$30.  BLM and National Forest Campgrounds are $3-$8 with senior access pass.  So we like to find free places occasionally.  We like to boondock out in the "boonies".  Now we are boondocking in the "burbs"!  Average daily rent for 2014 is $14 so far.

Welcome to Utah!

Driving west on Interstate 70 from Colorado into Utah we pass see high cliffs, mountains, plains desert, redrock, puff clouds, and wide open spaces.  Heading to Salt Lake City area to help Sraddha's nephew move into their new home closer to his work so he can reduce his commute by 2 hours per day.  This is important because his wife, Sraddha's niece, Lissel, passed away suddenly last December just before Christmas.  Leaving behind 4 little girls, oldest 9, it has been challenging for the family.

Welcome to Utah

When we attended the funeral we volunteered that, if nearby, we would come help them move.  That time has arrived.  We have really enjoyed the past 7 weeks of meandering around the southwest with no fixed schedule knowing we would end up in South Jordan, Utah on Friday May 9.

Wide open spaces

Meandering, or as friend put it "Roam with Om" has suited our current lifestyle and temperament.  For past 45 years I have been on a schedule.  It is nice to take a break.  Yesterday as we were walking in the campground I remarked that if feels a little strange to have to be somewhere at a specific time.

Attention to Detail keeps us mostly out of trouble

Not that we haven't made appointments here and there, however, this is a little different.  We are looking forward to seeing the family and helping out Tyler's mother and father who have moved in with them to help take care of the little ones.

Our campsite amidst the cottonwoods

We will be here in SLC area for 4-5 days then, since "nearby" drive 650 miles west to California to spend a week at Ananda Village in familiar surroundings, seeing friends, attending to medical and dental minor issues, getting haircut, etc. Then resume meandering on our northern migration to Oregon.

Fresh Snow on the Mountains east of Provo.

Since we arrived early we had 2 nights near Utah Lake.  The first night we spent at an RV park where we had stayed 6-7 years ago.  Set amongst the big cottonwood trees if offers a wonderful respit from the hot Utah sun.  Only problem is the temps were in the 60's with snow in the high mountains.  Quite a beautiful alternate to the desolate brown hillsides we have seen the other times we have been in area in summer, fall and winter.

Utah Lake State Park campsite

The next day we moved to the state park at Utah Lake.  Open, big, spread-out campsites, view of the lake, view of the mountains and easier on the budget too.  We drove up to NW Salt Lake City area to visit Natural History Museum on University of Utah.  Modern building with amazing exhibits on the geology, archeology and cultural history of Utah.  Really cool dinosaur exhibit.

My new friend.   I didn't invite him home

And an exhibit about Chocolate. Afterwards we went to cafe and drank a cup of Mexican chocolate.

Ah, Civilization

Late in the afternoon we took a different route home.  Rather than face the commute during rush hour, we headed east over the first big mountains to Park City, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics.  Walked around historic downtown and met an interesting photographer in his studio/shop, who has made some very inspiring photos and a business out of his photography.  We chatted a while about traveling as we do. Glad we are unencumbered right now and able to roam as we do.

Fun old engine.  I used to have a model of this one on my layout

Off to help our nephew now, move into his new home for a few days then head west.

A Big, BIG Boo Boo and The Colorado Monument

Where the heck is The Colorado National Monument?  Well, in Colorado of course. It is near Grand Junction, Colorado off Interstate 70.  Fruita, Colorado, specifically.

Digression time - Departing Black Canyon of the Gunnison, we descended the 5 mile road to the highway without the Jeep attached figuring it would be easier on the RV brakes.  I had run our preflight checklist for departure and missed a very important step.  When we arrived at the bottom Sraddha noticed something dragging.  Our 50 Amp power cord.  Destroyed. Oh no!  We cannot hook up tonight for power.  We had planned to stay in a state park.  What to do?  Fortunately we have the internet.  I googled RV repair in Grand Junction.  Found 2 plaees.  Reached on service department who scheduled me in for early afternoon.  Whew.  We arrived Grand Junction around 1:30 and dropped off the RV.  We picked out a new one and headed out for for some shopping and to check out the state park.  They installed it and we were back out the door by 4 PM off to the new campsite. With $200 less in our pockets. Whew.  Another bullet dodged.

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you."  An old adage I have heard years ago. This time we ate the bear so to speak.  Dodged a bullet.  Didn't panic. Well a little bit of "oh Rats" but Sraddha bucked me up with her positive attitude.  She even drove back to campsite to find the adapter which was fell off.  Ok, ok, true confession time.  When I drove out of the campsite, I had not disconnected the power cord.  Senior moment here?  Fortunately no damaged to the power post at the campground that we know of.  Drug the cord 5 miles down the highway at 25-35 mph. Must have been a sight.

Anyway, I digress.  

Colorado National Monument

Up until 10 days ago we had no idea this place existed until someone we met in a campground told us about it.

Independence Rock

Only 2 hours from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, it completes the circuit for us of all the National Parks and Monuments in the greater four corners region encompassing Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

The Coke Ovens

We departed the repair shop in Grand Junction and arrived late afternoon at the State park in Fruita, to overcast, winds and threatening rain, setting up camp at James M Robb, Colorado River State Park.  A very tidy campground nestled along the Colorado River.


We set up camp and headed up to visitor center on the mesa overlooking the Monument.  Wow.  (Do I keep saying "Wow" a lot?).  Sraddha stubbed her big toe tearing part of the toenail off the toe, when opening the door to visitor center and bled all over.  (no photos). I ran to get the first aid kit and some paper towels.  We cleaned it up, patched her torn up toe.

Our view out front Window.  Colorado Monument in background

She was not able to go hiking nor will for several days.  So we drove around the rim admiring the sights.  The light was really pretty neat, reminding me of the light last year as we toured the rim of Canyon de Chelly.

Another angle

I was able to shoot some nice HDR from the rim.  Too bad we couldn't hike down in.  Next time.  Hopefully without damaging the power cord.  Oh yes,  I also had to replace the shower hose which wore out.  At least we are clean!

We decided to take a down day 

A Very Black Canyon, a 2 Mile Tunnel and a Really Cute Stud Muffin

After three mountain passes, we were ready to camp.  So was CharLi and Toad.  We don't like making advanced reservations very much anymore so we take our chances.  Fortunately we arrive in early May when not very many people are traveling other than full timers such as ourselves and we arrived early in the day.

 Glad we did.  We drove through the campground, seeking a level place to unhook Toad, then surveyed the available campsites.  We found 3 possibles.  The first site we spent 30 minutes trying to get a decent level on the RV.

Lunch Finally

Although I could get it level, after last winter's issues with slide-out I was hesitant to raise up too high so, when I saw the front left wheel completely off the ground and the right wheel still on the ground, I said, let's try another site.  We moved just across to a shorter, cozier site and leveled real easy.  It's tricky to gauge the level potential of a site sometimes. Most of the time we can do it but are still learning.

After lunch we head to the visitor center to check out the park.  We meet Tom, also a camphost who fills us in on the best places to visit and we make a date to meet him later in afternoon down in Cimarron.  This place is so unlike the Sandstone formations we have been encountering along the way in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.

Early morning vista

We get in the jeep and head out along the canyon rim.  The Black Canyon is named because of an uplift of very old hard rock in the area a couple billion years ago here in SW Colorado.  Then the fast moving river cut down the hard rock. to form a 2,000 ft deep canyon.  Very different from the Grand Canyon which was formed by erosion of soft rock or Yosemite which was gouged by Glaciers.

Dragon vista.  Can you see the two Dragons in the Rock?

We then headed down to Cimarron, about 25 minute drive up river which meant we go descend out the backside of canyon to main highway, drive east over another mountain pass, then descend down to the Gunnison river's edge where we meet Tom, the camp host of Cimarron Campground.  He promised us a personal tour of the railroad museum.

Restored Steam engine (does not run)

Apparently back in the hey day, the Denver and Rio Grande RR ran a narrow gauge through the upper canyon which connected to the standard gauge mainline in Montrose.  Cimarron was a place where helper engines were added to help the trains travel westward up over Cerro Pass.  Not much left now except some railroad cars and a restored engine which looks great but doesn't run.  Still pretty cool.

Crystal Dam on Gunnison.  Upper east end of park

We drove down this narrow gorge on the old railroad bed to see one of the hydro dams on the river.

Tom spends summer months here in Colorado then has a "job" volunteering at a state park in the Florida Keys.  Really?  hmm.  Will we have an in down there next winter?  Sigh.  He said the park is already booked solid all winter 11 months in advance.

It is still merely late in afternoon with Sunset not til after 8 PM so we go back up to the rim of canyon and descend again to the river in the deep canyon.  This time its 2200 ft descent in 5 miles.  16% grade. Toad does pretty well.  Not a cycling road nor for CharLi.

Downriver Deep in Canyon

We enjoy the peace and quiet of the river.  Fishermen patrol the banks.  The campground has 3 pickup trucks with camper units on back.  We walk downriver a half mile. We enjoy the solitude.  We then drive upriver a little ways to investigate the Gunnison Tunnel.

The buildings over the Gunnison Tunnel

Back in 1909 construction began on a tunnel through the canyon wall to route water from the Gunnison River to the valley above Montrose.  Working 24/7 they drilled and carved through hard rock and in 1912 the over 2 mile long tunnel was functioning thereby opening up the west side valley to agriculture.  This feat has been hailed as a major engineering achievement of the early 20th century. I could wax on about this but will not bore you, the reader.  Hard not to appreciate when you see the actual place.

Dusk was approaching so we headed back up the 5 miles windy steep grade. I am now driving into the late setting sun. Near the top, Sraddha says "STOP, STOP"!! What?  Am I about to hit something?  No.  She has spotted a bird.  Of course.

Female Dusky Grouse (backlit with sunlight)

We slowly roll down the window.  I get out with my new Olympus camera and ultra zoom lens and walk behind the jeep.  "What is this bird?" Sraddha asks?  It is pretty dark but we finally figure out it is a female Dusky Grouse.  New Bird!  Woo hoo. Where is her male counterpart.  We don't see him.

Male Dusky Grose.

We drive a little further and spot him!!  He is puffing up and courting.Where is his girlfriend?  Will they find each other?  We can hear him.  He is such a stud muffin!  

What a Stud Muffin!

Nice way to end the day around the Canyon.  We do get up next morning to visit more of the rim.  Then head out towards Grand Junction.

Early next morning