Long Day from North Platte to Saint Paul

Windmills on the trip home

It was so hot when we arrived in North Platte on Friday evening that the cool morning was almost a surprise. We were on the road shortly after 8, with a long road across Nebraska, north through Iowa and Minnesota before arriving home.

I hand't slept well the night before and was feeling kind of jumpy all day. Fortunately both the roads and the weather were great, and the heat was present but not oppressive. Bob did all the driving: too many trucks, too much passing, driving speeds exceeding 80 mph on freeways are all too challenging for me to deal with, and the two-lane highways are often worse, especially when you factor in slow vehicles, drivers texting or otherwise using mobile devices, difficult terrain.

Late summer along I35

We put on about 3600 miles in 10 days, and I'm always impressed that Bob can get into the car day after day, ready to do a full day behind the wheel. He's an expert driver and not too much phases him, even ten days of road fatigue: and he was determined to make it back home yesterday.

By the time we got to I-35 in Des Moines, we felt that we were back home. The landscape in Iowa was green and hilly, rich looking under overcast skies. Minnesota was much the same, though a little flatter and sunnier.

It's good to be home!

The Grand Canyon Road Trip was bigger and more wonderful that we had anticipated, and we need a little time to process all the beautiful images and memories.We drove down the alley at about 6:20, and I was doing laundry 15 minutes later. Minou the cat was so happy to see us that she followed one of us around all evening, purring constantly. Home feels pretty good to all of us.

Independence Pass

Independence Pass, Colorado Rockies

We decided on scenic route 82d across the mountains to Colorado Springs, and discovered along the way that it's known as Independence Pass. As we climbed steadily into the Rockies, the road got narrower and the precipice seemed steeper around every hairpin turn. Bob said it was the scariest road he had ever driven, and I (who often proclaim loudly that I love heights) began to feel a trifle queasy by the time we reached the Continental Divide.

Continental Divide

The drive seemed to go on forever. I opened the window so that I could take pictures with my head hanging out of the window, like a crazy dog. Our highest altitude was over 11,000 feet -- not the 14,000+ feet of Pike's Peak, of course, but plenty high.



Twin Lakes, Colorado

We stopped for gas in Buena Vista, where a young deer ran across the highway to a city park, and continued toward Colorado Springs. We turned north on I25 right away and eventually (thanks to the GPS) made our way to Hwy 76 and, eventually, I80. The GPS guided us beautifully past the Denver airport, on I225, through the heavy noon traffic.
We left the Rockies behind and were soon heading toward Nebraska. I knew we were almost home when I looked out the window of our freshly redecorated room at the Hampton Inn in North Platte and saw golden farmland.

North Platte, Nebraska

On the Road

I haven't much thought about Jack Kerouac or On the Road for nearly half a century, and even when I was reading the book, I didn't really get it, maybe because I hadn't spent much time on the road. Not that I'm a roadie in the Kerouac sense, but snippets of quotes have been zapping their way into my consciousness.

My recall of the quotes was so inadequate that I looked them up:

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life. Bob noted the other day that our luggage didn't look much like that of other people checking into hotels: paper bags (snacks and beverages); a cooler; my St. Mary's, Ontario, shopping bag (one of my favorites in the collection); Bob's old motorcycle overnight gym bag; my camera and computer bags. Our swimsuits and underwear for the next day spill over the sides of wherever we happened to shove them. Other hotel guests travelled with matching luggage and garment bags. But no matter, we were having a wonderful time on the road of life.

Where we going, man? I don't know but we gotta go.  Some mornings, like today, we head out without a clear understanding of the day's destination. I thought we were going to Colorado Springs for a visit and maybe overnight in the Manitou Springs area. Bob was thinking of Colorado Springs as a via point as we began the trip home. Since I'm the navigator, I should have asked the question earlier on in the journey, before we were pretty much committed to taking Hwy 24 all the way, before turning north. Oh well, we did go a little out of our way but ...

... the world is rich with possibility and we had a great day.

Time Zone Confusion

I'm a poor sleeper and I move better from west to east: it's easier for me to "lose" an hour of sleep than the reverse. I like to make sure I change the time on my devices, so that pictures and posts are properly time-stamped. I've lost control on this trip.

I was OK until we reached Arizona. I did change the time when we crossed the border, but something seemed to be askew, especially as we moved through the Hopi and Navajo reservations. The answer: Arizona is in the mountain time zone doesn't observe daylight time, so in summer the time is the same as Pacific time. I should have realized this when Windows had me select "Arizona" rather than "Pacific" time, but the realization came on me slowly as I saw several references to time as we crossed Arizona.

The Hopi go along with the rest of the state, but the Navajo do not, since the Navajo nation spans several states. So what time was it in the Navajo nation in Arizona? I have no idea: I gave up a few days ago, as my cameras went out of sync and my mind couldn't deal with moving between time zones and exceptions.

Here's an explanation, written by someone who really knows.

Maroon Bells

Lake at Maroon Bells

With only an afternoon in Aspen, we decided we would spend our time at Maroon Bells, renowned for beautiful vistas and fantastic photo opportunities.

It was much more than we had dared to hope for. The mountain road is very well maintained and easily navigable, unlike other roads we were on two years ago when we first visited Colorado. We drove to about 9,200 feet where the air did feel a little thin, but the path was easy and we walked up to the lake.

Two marmots cuddling up

The sun came out just as we reached the amphitheater, and I took advantage of the light to shoot a lot of pictures. My favorite pic is of two marmots who seemed to be posing for me.

Bob and Cath 

This is one of the most beautiful parks I've ever visited. Quiet, serene, beautiful. The aspens were just starting to change color and summer seemed to be slipping into fall. We came down the mountain at the very end of the afternoon and visited the town, looking for a dinner venue. In the end, we felt too tired to go out so stopped at City Market once again and put together a wonderful takeout meal of chipotle salmon, crab salad, beans almandine, melon, and cheesecake for dessert.

A perfect day. The sky is bright with lightning now, but I haven't succeeded in getting a good shot. Looking forward to coffee on the deck tomorrow morning.

Aspen

View from our condo in Aspen Square

Bob wanted to visit Aspen because, for some reason, we missed it when we were in Colorado two years ago. I was lukewarm, but was eager for a day with only a few hours of driving.

The morning weather didn't look promising, but we were soon on our way from Grand Junction to Aspen in almost full sun. We had a little trouble finding visitor information in Aspen, but the Chamber of Commerce was very helpful and we were shepherded to an interior office for help finding accommodations. We booked a studio at Aspen Square for $149, about $50 lower than I found online when I checked after our arrival.

It was great to be settled for the night shortly after noon! We shopped for lunch at City Market a block away. We were soon settled in our comfy studio apartment and ate on the deck, enjoying the view of the city below and the mountains in the distance.

Overnight in Grand Junction, Colorado

On the way to I-70

After visiting Arches National Park, I was ready to hit a hotel and pool for the evening. However, it was only 4:45 and Bob was not inclined to burn daylight by wasting it on a cocktail hour. Nope. In fact, still under the influence of the personable visitor center rep in Blanding, he was determined to take the "scenic route" on SR 128. After a quick sky check for storm clouds, which would have made the highway a non-viable choice, we set off on a highway reduced to one lane by road repairs.

We pressed on, and after twenty minutes or so, we were too far along to thing of turning back, following the muddy Colorado River, heading for I-70 some 42 miles to our NE. I have to admit that the route was beautiful, with the sun setting behind us and the red rocks fading to shadow.

In Colorado, toward Grand junction

By the time we reached the freeway, we still had over thirty miles to go before reaching Grand Junction, Colorado. We were too tired to appreciate all the beautiful scenery just west of the city. The GPS directed us to Main Street, about 5 miles away from the freeway, and we settled on SpringHill Suites, where I was a little surprised to find out I had an affinity card.

The hotel itself looks dated, but our king suite was terrific. Very retro, except for the great Wi-Fi speed, high end lighting and comfortable seating. And the bed! My best night's sleep so far. We were too tired to go out for dinner so we polished off our Kaukauna cheese on crackers, with scotch for Bob and bourbon for me.

We had breakfast outdoors, on the terrace but really right on Main Street, then packed up for a rather late out, slightly after 9:00 a.m.

Crossing Utah

Characteristic southern Utah landscape

Yesterday's drive from Tuba City was inspired, in part, by Scott Hennessey's recent motorcycle trip that included parts of Utah. The morning was fresh but more heat was promised as we enjoyed our second cup of coffee outside our Tuba City hotel. Gas, and then we hit the road.

We expected a long day through the parched land, but instead were surrounded by beautifully colored hills, mesas and welcoming little communities along the way. The hospitality rep at the visitors' center in Blanding, Utah persuaded us to visit Arches National Park, a few hours away.

We stopped in Monticello for lunch and $$ at Wells Fargo, and were in awe of the beauty surrounding us as we drove -- an all-day scenic "Sunday ride". By mid-afternoon, I had already run through the batteries on my old Lumix camera and was well into the first Samsung battery -- I'd been saving the Samsung with the good zoom for the park.



The Arches National Park

Somewhere along the way we'd returned to MDT, an hour ahead of Arizona time, though I'm not sure what that meant for our day. By late afternoon when we arrived at the park, the temperature was 104 degrees F so we decided to drive and see major attractions, rather than hike a little and not see much of anything. We weren't disappointed.

In the early evening, we made our way back to Hwy 128 for Grand Junction.











Navajo and Hopi in the Southwest

I've always been drawn to native spirituality and the images evoked in art: land, water, animals, birds, plants -- all rooted in profound awareness of and respect for the Creator.

The Hopi and Navajo people we've met on our journey have been welcoming, helpful and pleasant. I bought a beautiful wooden ornament near Sedona and earrings yesterday after we crossed the border into Utah. I feel uplifted after talking with the artists who sell their work at roadside stands.

The hotel in Tuba City is staffed mostly by Hopi, who must live somewhere in the area, maybe in one of the many rundown properties we passed along the road. The poverty rates for indigenous peoples is shockingly high, as evidenced 2010 census reports. Several cities we've visited on this trip are on the list of the Top 20. I was even more shocked to read that Minneapolis, one of the Twin Cities a few miles from my own home, is #2.

Tuba City

Hopi hotel emblem

Wednesday night we stayed in Tuba City, named for Hopi leader Tuuvi (1810-1887), converted by Mormon missionaries in the mid-nineteenth century. We felt lucky to see any accommodations at all in this little community noted for dinosaur tracks and its proximity to Navajo landmarks and artifacts.  Our drive-by past the Quality Inn did not look promising, especially after I noticed the roaming stray dogs and the RV park that seemed to be incorporated into the property.




The hotel is filled with beautiful art

We stayed at the Moenkopi Legacy Inn and Suites, a brand new hotel on the main street that we'd noticed on our way into town. It was beautiful and still had with the new construction smell. It felt "Hopi" rather than "Mormon" to me, though one of the two desk customer service reps was the daughter of missionaries from South Dakota, whom I presumed (but didn't know) were Mormon.
After a long day on the road, this Irish woman needed a drink and I was somewhat dismayed to learn alcohol  is prohibited on the premises. A Hopi or a Mormon rule? Maybe both: I read later in my travel literature that alcohol is nearly always illegal on Indian reservations in Arizona.



Desert Drive

Layers of colorful splendor

After leaving the parking area of Grand Canyon National Park, we decided to put a few miles on before dinner. We didn't realize there was more beauty ahead from several scenic overlooks along Desert Drive.

We stopped at a couple of them and were, once again, knocked over by the seemingly endless miles of beauty. There weren't too many visitors, although at one spot a family were perched on the edge of a rock for a photo op. One misstep could have resulted in disaster, but didn't.

We eventually left the park and headed toward Cameron and Tuba City, seeking a room for the night.

The Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is what we came for, but we never imagined that it would be this wide, or long, or ... grand.

Grand Canyon

The approach to the Grand Canyon from Highway 64 is deceptive. We drove "uphill" through the pines and were happy that we hadn't been on this two-lane road over the holiday weekend. We entered Grand Canyon National Park just as the sun was beginning to heat up before midday. Nothing spectacular about the entry or the visitors' center hints at the spectacular vistas only a few minutes away.

A storm in the distance in the Grand Canyon

Preferring to spend our one day here outdoors, we didn't take advantage of any of the inside activities, though we were told that the Imax show is excellent. Instead we boarded the shuttle bus which stops at various spots along the route, then turns around at Hermit's Rest. We went all the way to Hermit's Rest, named for Louis Boucher, an immigrant from Sherbrooke, Québec (this place is a long way from the Eastern Townships, in every possible respect).

We hadn't had the foresight to think about a picnic and were hungry by the time we got there, so we lined up at the snack bar and bought a deli sandwich to share. To discourage littering and minimize the environmental impact on hiking trails, no bottled water is sold in the park so we settled for a couple of soft drinks and sat down on a hard rock to have our lunch. All around us, people spoke German, Japanese, Spanish and, of course, English. The only French I heard was later on in the day. A little blond boy, not much beyond toddler age, had a full-blown tantrum as people ate their lunch around him, until his father finally took him away, continuing to resist the child's sobbed pleas ("bitte, bitte"). Entertainment for us, embarrassment for the dad. Squirrels and a persistent big black bird begged for handouts.

We got back on the shuttle and stopped at a couple of spots on the way back to the visitors' center. The beauty went on and on, for miles. For once, "awesome" is the right word.

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