Next Vehicle will have Onboard GPS

I've had smart phone envy for a few years, as I’ve watched people get information – of every kind – quickly and efficiently. However, I've been unwilling to make the investment in either the device or the service, allowing myself to struggle on trips, either printing information found online before departure, using other paper resources, or simply remembering what I read.

Bob does have a GPS, a gift several years ago from his sons. He didn't take to it and I used it only when we were travelling, so we never got fast enough with its functions for the device to be very useful. Until now.

The GPS has provided info on routing details, hotels, restaurants, fuel, landmarks – everything with latitude/longitude coordinates. Here in Sedona, we used it all day yesterday driving through the canyons. The GPS found our best restaurant (the Mesa Grill) and Burger King last night for a whopper junior – all we wanted after a day in the heat. Today, it will guide us as we visit the Grand Canyon.

When I first wrote this several weeks ago, I was convinced that next time one of us buys a vehicle, it will have GPS technology. Since my return, I've been persuaded that it's sometimes better to have the mobile device. I suspect that we'll have a combination of the two in the future.

Sedona Rocks and Canyons

Map of Sedona

When we decided to stay in Sedona for two nights, we really needed a relaxing non-travel day, and Labor Day was a good time to visit the hills around the city. We did the upper and lower Red Rock loops, as well as the beautiful grounds of the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

It was too hot to walk up to the chapel on the hill, though many were doing so, and a long line of vehicles discouraged us from inching our way up the hill. In a gutsy move, Bob turned around the Traverse without going off the road and we abandoned our spot in the queue. We also visited the airport again and enjoyed the spectacular views in daylight.

The highlight of my day was the opportunity to help a cyclist on the road, who had just begun a very long walk toward town because of a flat tire. We moved around the stuff in our vehicle and got her bike into the car, since we both decided that she wasn't part of some gang out to rob us. Turns out she's a former participant in extreme sports, like the Eco Challenge. We delivered her to her door in West Sedona and headed for the car wash, where Bob spent $5.00 for 10 full minutes of a deluxe car wash, including a good wax. We have the cleanest looking car in this dusty area.

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Threat of a Storm

This afternoon we rested for a little in our cool, comfortable room and hit the pool, where we were the only swimmers for most of the time we were there. I love an empty pool so I was in heaven for an hour or so.

We heard thunder earlier, but the threat of a storm seems to have passed.

Dinner at the Mesa Grill

Grilled salmon

Filet mignon

Bob insisted on going out for dinner, which turned out to be a great idea. Judi's, the steak restaurant recommended by the hotel, was closed on Sunday, so Bob selected the Mesa Grill from the hotel list and we used the GPS to get us to the Sedona Airport.


We had one of our best meals ever at that fantastic restaurant. Bob loved "the best filet I've ever had". I had grilled salmon and excellent curry almond rice. The "seasonal" grilled vegetables were just the right combination of local peppers, onions and green beans; topped it all off with a nice glass of pinot noir.

Sunday in Sedona

It took us forever to get to 89A toward Sedona; it certainly was not a job for a timid driver, which Bob is not. After entering the highway, we soon began to drive downhill, through mountainous pine forests. There were camping and picnic grounds almost all the way to Sedona, with people, including unattended children, on the side of the road paying little attention to heavy traffic in both directions.

As we neared Sedona, the landscape began to change and we saw glimpses of the famous red rocks. The hillside was decorated with lovely cactuses and the temperature increased by several degrees in the late afternoon soon. We were getting tired and dehydrated; we needed a place to rest and we had no hotel reservation.

Our first tries were unsuccessful: Best Western complex with great views, Hyatt with timeshares for sale, Hampton with no vacancies. The very pleasant customer service rep at the Hampton Inn directed us to the Arroyo Pinion, in fact the Sedona Real. I raced another woman to the reservations desk (yes, I beat her) and booked a beautiful King suite which we like so much that we decided to spend two nights rather than one.

Flagstaff

On the road to Flagstaff

Flagstaff looked so beautiful in the distance, from the freeway. Low, blue hills and a hint of pine forest. We were surprised at its coolness when we arrived, not much over 80 degrees with a fair bit of shade.

The edge of town was quite congested on this Sunday of Labor Day weekend. In the lane next to ours, five or more  Corvettes from Colorado seemed to be travelling together, C5s and C6s and one really old one that Bob thinks was a "kit car". We parked on one of the streets near the Amtrak station and walked there, since it's also the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Lunch at Altitudes turned out to be chips & salsa (delicious), washed down with cold beer, after the server told us there would be at least a one-hour wait.


Street corner in historic Flagstaff

Other diners waited impatiently for food while we munched away, and the snack was surprisingly satisfying. Blair the server didn't charge us for the chips and, with a $6.50 bill, I felt very grateful and left her a $5.00 tip. Our grumpy neighbors were not so lucky and walked away both hungry and dissatisfied.

We learned that 80 trains a day pass through Flagstaff, so I was really happy that I hadn't had time to make a reservation for the night when I was surfing through deals earlier in the day. I'm a poor sleeper at best and freight trains all night would be enough to send me over the edge.



Welcome to Arizona

Entering the beautiful state of Arizona

The beautiful flag of Arizona on the Welcome to Arizona sign signaled the entrance to a rest stop, our first in several days. We crossed all of New Mexico without a single rest stop with visitor information, although I guess it's possible that we missed one.

We found helpful staff, a map and glossy printed brochures as we entered Arizona. Felt like the beginning of a great new day!


Less of a welcome here!

Sunday Mass in Gallup

We were road weary on Saturday evening when we stopped for the night in Gallup, New Mexico. We stayed in a Hampton Inn plunked in the middle of a hot complex of hotels and restaurants, right across from a huge Home Depot. We had a cookie for dinner and didn't venture back out into the hear. The internet connection was weak, and I didn't do my usual planning for Sunday Mass.



Baptism at St. Francis of Assisi, Gallup

Yesterday morning we hauled ourselves out of bed, moving more slowly than usual. We checked out of the hotel just in time for 9:00 o'clock mass at St. Francis of Assisi, a little over a mile from the hotel. The Franciscans are very present in this part of the world, and the morning's celebrant was a visiting priest who spoke fluent but very accented English. He frequently interjected comments in Spanish to the linguistically mixed congregation. The beautiful baby girl of people who seemed to be Hispanic was baptized in English, but presented to the congregation in both English and Spanish.

I was amazed and moved by what seemed to be a cordial co-existence of English and Spanish in this part of the country. The missalettes were in English on one side, in Spanish on the other. The bulletin was bilingual, and I heard both languages spoken as we left the church -- an easy switch from English to Spanish and back in the same conversation. I did wonder about how the parish and the diocese deal with the underlying hostilities in the immigration debate that colors the political and cultural landscape here in the southwest.

After the very brief homily, a female parishioner read a letter from Bishop James Wall, about the Diocese of Gallup's decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the wake of accusations of sexual abuse "many years ago". I don't know anything about the response of this particular diocese -- I could find only a few references, but I was surprised that the reading of the letter wasn't followed by a response from the pastor or the parish council. The congregation seemed quite oblivious to the news and the mass went on. Several days later, I heard the announcement on TV and read about it online.

The choir was pretty good and led congregational singing quite well. We were greeted by many parishioners and felt quite at home in this vibrant parish.

Albuquerque ... Skimming the Surface

The plaza in Albuquerque's old town

So many damn trucks on the road -- much busier this afternoon that it was earlier this morning. I'm really happy to have the GPS, a gift to Bob from his boys a number of years ago. After  using it half-heartedly for a couple of years, I've finally mastered it. I love this technology! I always know the day's destination and "via points", distances, time remaining, ETA, elevation etc. And the GPS is a lifesaver when arriving at an unfamiliar destination.

Entertainment in the plaza

It guided us from I25 to I40, the freeways that cross Albuquerque's downtown, and off at the right exit so that we were only a couple of blocks from the old city. By the time we arrived, we were both really hungry and followed our guidebook's suggestion of the Church Street Cafe for lunch. Bob had a ham and cheese sandwich on a croissant, with an excellent coleslaw. I chose a breakfast meal, my favorite huevos rancheros, served with both red and green chili on the side.

San Felipe de Neri

After lunch, we walked across the street to one of the oldest churches in North America, San Felipe de Neri. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and, while lovely, it needs an awful lot of work. I wonder who will be able to manage all the restoration.

There was much more to see but by the late afternoon we were both tired and eager to put on a few miles. We got back on the road and drove for a couple of hour to Gallup, NM. I've been dealing with photos and Facebook since we checked in ... and it's now time to call it a night.

Santa Fe Old Town

St. Francis Cathedral. Oasis on a hot day.

I feel catatonic this evening as I try to blog about the day's events. It's extremely hot and the sun is unremitting, day after day, hour upon hour. I feel I can't do justice to the beauty of the day but I'll try anyway.

We decided to visit Santa Fe, which was not on our original itinerary. Just the old town, a small area packed with the history of the area. The air was pleasantly warm by the time we arrived in Santa Fe in mid-morning. We ambled around the market, full of the usual vendors, but with a southwestern flavor. We're not shoppers, so we didn't seriously look at anything, though I was tempted by some of the fabrics and jewelry.

Love the colors of St. Raphael's shield

St. Francis Cathedral was easy to find, beautiful gardens in both shade and sun. I wasn't overwhelmed by the beauty of the church, except for the Stations of the Cross and perhaps the high altar. I lighted a couple of candles for family and friends. I didn't visit the Blessed Sacrament Chapel -- didn't feel comfortable in shorts. The church was wonderfully cool and I could have spent more time there, but a wedding party was gathering and, well, it was time to leave.

Santa Fe market fabrics

We stopped for coffee at the French Pastry Shop, where Bob had "St. Michael's cake", a delicious confection that he generously shared with me. By the time we finally got a map of the area, we were sweating in the midday sun and had pretty much had enough, so I missed the famous staircase in Loretto Chapel. It was fun to walk through Fort Marcy Park, where the Cross of the Martyrs overlooks the city.

The old town is so congested that it was hard to get out of there! We left in the early afternoon for Albuquerque, an easy hop on I-25.

Rattlesnake Country

When we finally got out of the car yesterday, I started thinking about rattlesnakes and kept my eyes cast downward, to make sure I didn't step on one sunning itself in the burning heat. I thought about the International Rattlesnake Museum in Albuquerque and made a mental note not to visit this popular attraction. I actually know several people who have been bitten by rattlers, so I really do feel the need to be vigilant.

I couldn't resist looking up "rattlesnakes of New Mexico". Seven different kinds. There will be no stepping into the sagebrush to get a good picture.

From Kansas to New Mexico, via Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles

We were still a little weary when we headed out this morning at about 8:00, without breakfast. We drove past downtown Wichita, where of the city's connection with the aerospace industry is very much in evidence. Suddenly we were out of the city, in a Kansas version of suburban MSP. Green fields became parched, brown plains, and the day's sauna heated up.

55 Chevy we followed on the road. AC through missing back window.

We had a mediocre breakfast at Jeri's in Klingman, a disappointing substitute for the fresh farm meal I was expecting. Drivers in this part of the country seem to be either very fast or excessively slow on the two-lane highways we drove on much of the day.  Bob passed slower vehicles repeatedly, sometimes at very high speeds. I was shocked to read the GPS stats: his highest speed was 101 mph, a fact I discovered when he thought he was about to be pursued by a state trooper. False alarm: someone else was caught, a guy driving a car Bob had just passed.

Dorothy's House in Liberal, Kansas

Dorothy's Kansas seemed a long way off so I was somewhat surprised to see a kind of Oz theme park near our Subway lunch stop in the city of Liberal. "My kind of place", I thought, though I missed taking a picture of myself beside the sign. By the time we left town in the early afternoon, the thermometer was already well over 100, and the landscape was drier and a little more grim.

We crossed the border into Texas shortly after 2:00 and were immediately assailed by the odor of cow manure. Cattle stood in holding pens covering several acres and the idea of a vegetarian diet suddenly seemed very appealing. By 3:30 we had entered New Mexico and immediately gained an hour in the Mountain time zone. The landscape gradually became more hilly and mountains appeared in the distance.

Finally, back to freeway on I-40. We thought about staying on the road until we reached our planned destination of Albuquerque, but fatigue and heat were somewhat oppressive and we settled on a Hampton Inn at Santa Rosa. We swam in the lap pool and felt revived after the hot tub and a cool shower.

Soup and salad at Denny's next door seemed like the right meal choice, and now I'm wondering how early I can go to bed.

One of the many trains we saw today

Minnesota-Iowa-Missouri-Kansas

Ready to go: 7:12 in the Goodrich alley

Geography has never been my strong suit. I struggle with simple directions, remembering turns, distinguishing east from west except on a bright morning or cloudless evening. I certainly had no idea when I mapped out the 625 miles or so to Wichita that the journey could be so long and ... I hate to say it ... a little boring.

I really wonder how I got ready for trips in the pre-retirement days, when I'd usually work a full day before leaving on vacation. I spent yesterday doing laundry, cleaning for the house sitter\cat caregiver (son Chris), and packing. This morning, I got up shortly after 5:00 a.m. and performed the usual last-minute tasks, like making coffee and cleaning the litter box. I was soon sweating profusely and skipped sweeping the floor, deciding that "enough is enough".

But oh, what a beautiful morning! The mist rose out of the water at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, breathtakingly lovely. We drove past the rich green farmland of southern Minnesota and suddenly we were in Iowa by 9:35. The wind farms, on both sides of I-35, extended as far as the eye can see, made me worry about migrating birds that will soon be using the Mississippi River flyway on their southern journey.

A bridge of Madison county, Iowa

We stopped for gas in St. Charles, Iowa, and I discovered the location of the Bridges of Madison County! We decided one of the bridges was a good place to have lunch in the now 90+ degree weather, and I was very happy that I'd taken the time to make a turkey sandwich before departure.

Same bridge, different point of view

The rest of the day consisted of pressing through the heat, soon up over 100 degrees F, getting past Kansas City over the lunch hour and driving south through Missouri, where the effects of drought became more evident with every passing mile.

We intended to spend the night at a Hampton Inn just off Wichita exit 50. We missed a turn and ended up a the Holiday Inn, where the scotch tastes just as good and the bed seems comfortable. Tonight we'll review tomorrow's journey to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Roadtrip Countdown

For years now, Bob and I have been talking about visiting the Grand Canyon. We wondered if we should fly to Vegas and take a bus (an idea that was quickly dismissed) or a helicopter tour (more appealing), or maybe drive from California during one of our west coast visits. We settled on the roadtrip idea awhile back, partly because Bob wanted to incorporate New Mexico on the outbound segment, and parts of Colorado on the way home.

As the weather consistently tops 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Minnesota, day after day, we're getting ready to head into some hot driving days, though we'll in a very comfortable air conditioned vehicle. Our route looks like this so far: St. Paul to Wichita on Thursday, Albuquerque on Friday. I think we'll spend some time in New Mexico before heading to the Grand Canyon sometime Labor Day weekend.




Grand Canyon Roadtrip - Outbound