12/14/2019. Sedona Arizona

We have spent the last 3 nights in Sedona.  During our stay we have done multiple hikes:

• Slip Rock State Park - .7 miles
• Red Rock State Park - 3.02 miles
• Devils Bridge Trail - 4.5 miles

Visited Jerome Arizona which is a real ghost town.  In the 1920s there was 10,000 people in Jerome due to the Billion Dollar copper mine.  By 2010 the population reduced to 444.  I took pictures of some of the old copper mine equipment.  For my buddies at Square D check out the electrical master switch that controlled the locomotive.  It looks like the old EC&M Crane Control Master switch we used to sell.

Visited Montezuma Castle National Monument which has housing built into the mountain from 1300 AD.

We are staying at Distant Drum RV Resort which is at 3277’ above sea level.  The campground is very nice and we will consider coming back in the future.  

The challenge for Sandy and I growing up in Ohio is acclimating to the elevation.  Anything above 1000’ is a workout for us since we are truly “flat-landers”.  The hiking is very aerobic in that it pushes our heart rate up very quickly, the trails are rocky, the air is thin, and everything is up, up, up, including the increase in elevation.  It has been fun.

Sedona is also a great place for Jeeps, 4 wheelers, dirt bike etc...

Tomorrow we head out to our winter destination of Mesa Arizona.

Here are some pictures:

12/7/2019. Palo Duro Canyon State Park Texas and Cadillac Ranch

Who would have thought that the 2nd largest Canyon in the United States is in Texas?  It is located just south of Amarillo and consists of 27,173 acres.  It was also the sight of the Decisive Battle of Southern Plains Indians Red River War 1874-1875.

There are two campgrounds for RVs, additional campgrounds for tents, as well as rental cabins. 

We spent two nights in the Canyon and hiked the lighthouse trail which was approximately 6 miles (3 miles in and 3 miles out) off the road.  During our hike we heard wolves howling in the Canyon and saw a family of long horn sheep.

We also drove to the Cadillac Ranch which is west of Amarillo and spray painted our names on the Cadillacs.  It is the tourist thing to do.  Cadillac Ranch consists of 10 old Cadillacs buried vertically in the middle of a farm field within sight of Rt 40. 

12/5/19. A little to close for comfort & chipped $3000 windshield

Just North of Memphis Tennessee we were traveling along at 63 mph (which I have found to be the best speed for the Motorhome.  Same speed many truckers cruise at) in a 70 mph zone when a Nissan mini-van started to merge in front of me. The mini-van was going to slow to successfully make the merge.  In order to let him in without him side swiping the motorhome I pumped the brakes to slow down.  He merged 10’ in front of me, then immediately slowed down further and put on his flashers. I hit the brakes to bring us to a crawl and layed on the air horn.  I couldn’t go around him as traffic was flying past us in the passing lane at 70 mph.  

To make matters worse his mini-van was missing the rear clip (including the wrap around bumper) so as he merged his rear tire kicked up a stone creating a chip in the huge $3000 windshield on the Motorhome.

I have read of people purposely looking to get into an accident with a Motorhome  just so they can claim insurance.  Just like this guy did to us.  They pull in front of a Motorhome and quickly slow down or jam on the brakes so that the Motorhome will hit them in the rear-end.  I truly think this guy was setting us up.  After all he did need the rear clip replaced (or did he purposely remove the rear clip so that there would be extensive damage??)

Little did he know I have a dash cam and recorded the whole event.  Although after reviewing and saving the camera video, I did realize that my current camera is not clear enough to allow me to zoom in on his license plate.  It did do a good job of recording this clowns actions.

After the traffic cleared I was able to get around him using the passing lane while laying on my air horn.  Wouldn’t you know it he was looking at his cell phone while driving 35 mph on a busy 70 mph highway in Thanksgiving weekend traffic. 

To bad I couldn’t get his license plate I may have called the Missouri State Police and reported this clown.

12/5/2019. We are on the Road Again

We have been on the road for 6 days.  We are on our way to Mesa Arizona for the Winter.

We have covered many miles and states since we left home.  Tonight we are staying in the Palo Duro Canyon just outside of Amarillo Texas.

On Saturday last week we stopped at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.  It was well worth the stop.  As expected they have many corvette’s on display many of which are on loan from the cars owners.  The Corvette Manufacturing plant is just down the street, but unfortunately they were closed to tours due to tooling change for the production of the new mid-engine 2020 model.  They did have one of the 2020 test models on display which we were able to look at.  I think it is going to be a winner.

On Sunday we drove to Memphis and camped directly across the street from The Elvis Presley Mansion.  Monday we toured the Mansion and Graceland.  Then drove to and toured Sun Studio where Elvis and many other artist started their singing career.

On Monday we moved on to Branson Missouri.  We Prepurchased tickets on line for the Clay Cooper Country Express and Christmas Show for Tuesday morning.  At the beginning of the show some of the cast members pulled people from the audience to participate in the preshow.  A cast member walked up and down the isle looking for “suckers” to pull up on stage.  After many in the audience turned them down, he walked over to Sandy and I while motioning for us to come up with him.  I shook my head “No” and Sandy stood up.  Of course, in the back of my mind I am thinking “What is she getting us into now”.  Up on stage we go.  They  put a cowboy hat on me and a hat with a big plume on the front of the hat on Sandy.  Next thing we know they are giving us detailed acting instructions.  They expected us to perform in front of the crowd while they pretended to record us with a fake movie camera.  I rolled my eyes and thought here we go.  In the end we did fine and the audience loved us, but I am pretty sure Sandy will never volunteer us again :-0.  At the end of the show Clay Cooper offered Sandy and I free tickets for a 50’s/60’s musical show the next morning (Wednesday).  We called the campground and they offered to let us check out late so we could go to the show which we did.  I am adding Branson to my list of favorite place to return.  Of the places we have traveled to I would return to Camden/Bar harbor Maine, Golf Shores Alabama, Ft Myers Florida, and Branson Missouri.  The Tetons/Yellowstone were also on my list, but I have been to both twice now so they have fallen off the list.

See pictures below of our 6 days of travel.