Westward 2013 (5/2: Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and a mystery hike)

Today was our first round of hikes.  We first stopped at the Ranger Station to enter the lottery once again for a pass into The Wave - one of the most famous places in the US,  There are only 10 spots open each day and today there were 109 people entered in the lottery.  Of course we didn't make it but we will try again tomorrow.  Instead we were able to get passes into Coyote Buttes South for tomorrow.

We did end up returning to one of our favorite places (Jeff and Linda had not been before).  Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch are some of the prettiest slot canyons around.  There were some parts that were passable although very wet.  We were able to traverse over some well placed rocks.  We finally got to a place that we would have had to wade through about a foot of icy cold water and we decided that none of us really wanted our arthritis to act up.  The whole hike still took over 2 hours.

We then went to the Paria Canyon Ranger Station to find out about a little known hike to a curl in the rocks that will have to be left un-named.  They don't like too many people walking back to it because the rock is very delicate they want to preserve it.  They only tell you how to find it if you know to ask for it.

The area along House Rock Valley Road on the way back to Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch is so beautiful.

The first part of the hike is through Wire Pass.  The walls are all sandstone and the color is incredible.  

These pictures do not do it justice.

Inside of Buckskin Gulch is very rocky and hazardous.  

Here is Linda carefully crossing one of the water hazards.  

To the right is Vaughan's head - complete with movie camera strapped to it.

Another cool formation along the road.

This is taken inside the curl of the secret area.  

There is a short nearly vertical climb in front of him up through a funnel-like sandstone formation.

This is taken from the top of the funnel.

We had a tired drive back to the RV but the day was well worth it.

Westward 2013 (5/1:Driving to Kanab)

Today we left Phoenix for Kanab Utah - about 334 miles north.  The drive was going well until we were told one of the main roads was closed due to a landslide.  Not a good thing to hear when your driving a 40 foot RV towing a car.  The back road wasn't bad - just very narrow and we had to climb up then down the side of a mountain with cliffs on the side.  If we didn't have the beautiful scenery we would have been a little cranky.

 The scenery here changes every 20 minutes.  It's truly amazing.

The Vermilion Cliffs

 Can you see the small plane in the middle of the picture?  This is by Lee's Ferry on 89A in Arizona.

Watch out for falling rocks!!

This is how narrow, and winding, and old this road was.

Westward 2013 (4/28-4/29: Casino & Sedona)

Sunday Vaughan, Jeff and Linda decided to hike up Piestewa (used to be called Squaw Peak).  Vaughan came back dirty, tired, smelly, and complaining about his age.  Now you know why I didn't go.  Later, after his nap, we dressed up and went to Wild Horse Pass Casino where I won about $125.  There was a nice jazz band playing - all Navajo musicians.

Monday Vaughan, Jeff and Linda decided to bike on the canals.  Vaughan unfortunately had a flat they had to cut it short.  We then headed up to Sedona on the I17 - we sat/stopped for nearly 2 hours on the highway due to a large truck with fifth wheel trailer that jack-knifed on a bridge.  I am so glad we took a cooler of water with us (95 degrees on pavement is no place to sit).

Sedona was beautiful.  We haven't been in years and it had changed so much.  Still beautiful red rocks in the background but very touristy and expensive.  Tomorrow is a day to relax and then Wednesday we leave for Kanab, Utah about 330 miles north.

 Lunch at Open Range Restaurant - what a view.

Westward 2013 (4/27: Tucson - Mira Vista)

Today we drove 2 hours back to Tucson to a very nice clothing optional resort  (please imagine pictures here because I will not be posting them).  However, here are a few pictures of the other wildlife we saw today.

 This beautiful owl was sitting on her nest in the crook of a tree.  She had adopted the resort as her own and apparently felt quite safe here.  Below is a fuzzy picture of her 2 fuzzy chicks (once she moved off the nest).

Many birds build homes in the Saguaro cacti.  Lots of fun to watch them going in and out of these.  This cactus was about 40 feet tall and probably around 100 years old.  They live about 150-200 years.

Westward 2013 (4/25 to 4/26: Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree)

We have spent our first 2 days looking at the areas we may want to live in the future - Scottsdale, Cave Creek and Carefree.  We saw some beautiful homes.  Who knows what the future will bring.

 Buddy was happy just staying at home and watching the birds and jack rabbits out his window.

 In Cave Creek they had about 6 of these life size metal horses along the road. The details were amazing.

We dined at "The Horny Toad" restaurant - had a fabulous prime rib.  Notice the giant Saguaro cactus. One this size is over 100 years old.

On to Buffalo Chips for some rodeo action.  This was Vaughan's first rodeo.

Tomorrow we head to Tucson for a little sight seeing,

Westward 2013 (4/21-4/24: Atlanta to Phoenix)

Finally made it to Phoenix.  What a long trip.  First night in Jackson MS (at a Walmart).  Second night in Abilene TX (at a KOA). Third night in Shakespeare NM (on Arizona/ New Mexico border at the Welcome Center).

 Getting ready at Twin Lakes in Cumming.  This is our home for the next few weeks.

 Saw lots of these throughout Texas.

 Some of the trains we went by had lots of graffiti, but this one was amazing. 

 Here is Jeff and Linda heading into a sandstorm in west Texas.  We had to really clean everything again when we got to Phoenix - the sand was everywhere.

Stay tuned now that we are here.

Westward 2013 (Phoenix, Kanab, Escalante)

We're on our way again.  We are pulling out on Sunday, April 21st and heading to Phoenix for a week then Kanab and Escalante Utah.  Stay tuned and follow along.