Sept 24, Monday: Grand Canyon South/Air Museum

Sept 24th, Monday:  Our travels have us heading to the Grand Canyon. However, there is a Planes of Fame Museum that needs out visit.  Roger has taken a million pictures that we know that he and our good pilot friend, Buzzy,  will enjoy.  These were World War II planes and Douglas MacArthur's private plane.  This plane is when he met Roosevelt and got fired and then took him back home. 

Now on to the Grand Canyon south.  OMG...............OMG what specular sights.  Gretchen and Blue got their first views of the canyon and a walk around the canyon.  Amazing that there are no guardrails.  Watch very carefully that you don't go overboard!  And then there were a group of kids who loved the Blue - more than the canyon!  So he did his sit and shake thing and they loved him even more.

On our way to somewhere we experienced a dust storm.  The wind was tremendous - hard to keep the rig on the road and then we hear banging, slamming on the rv roof.  Gretchen can see that the awning has come lose and turnouts are few and far between.  But we find one of those jewelry stands and seems like no one is there so we pull in.  Start unloading the RV to get at ladder and Gretchen sees a native craftsman building tomahawks!  So she explains that the awning has come apart and he is appreciatve that we parked so that the wind has been blocked.  Whew, Roger needs a hair cut but not a scalp job! 

Luckily no damage to the awning and off we go to a "jewelry store" on the road side.  Have purchased some special gifts for Gretchen's Portage Lakes friends that were made by the local Navajo family. 

On way again, but Sophia (this is what we had named our GPS) screws up and gets us 20 miles out of the way.  Now there are only two roads in this area so we don't know what her problem is.  PMS?  Turned around and getting tired but campgrounds are a rarity in this region since lack of everything (water, electric, trees) and plenty of rattlers.  We find the next best place - a Walmart in Page, Arizona.  We needed supplies anyway.

By the way, Blue seems to have recovered from his "problem" with only one more day of meds.  If that "thing" doesn't come back, we are home free and without an operation.

picture:  Fighter carrier Corsair with boms on wings
picture:  T28B was only two years younger than Rog & Gretch!
picture:  Lucky Bastard award for 25 missions and coming home safely.  Dec 26, 1944.
picture:  Blue enjoying his first view of the Grand Canyon South Rim.
picture:  pretty canyon view with a tree
picture:  try looking over this cliff...no way O.J.
picture:  two pretty clifs
picture:  On right is named Visnu Temple.  Then look left to Wothron's Throne which is a 1/4 mile mesa bit enough for a football field.  But getting fans there would be a problem!  This is 7.75 miles away.
picture:  A close up through the binoculars.
picture:  Colorado River at bottom of the canyon
picture:  Navajo jewelry stores
picture:  Dust storm.  Right there after we experienced the awning problem
picture:  painted desert
picture:  This is why there are few campgrounds in this region. 

Sept 23 Sunday, Route 66 - The Turn

Sept 23rd, Sunday.  We have made "the turn."  After over a month of heading west, we are now heading somewhat back east.  We have altered the Arizona course and are moving in a north direction to Grand Canyon.  Got our kicks on Route 66 (if any of you younger folks remember it).  Looks pretty nastalgic with the gas pumps, malt shops, and the Burma Shave signs.  Some of Route 66 is very desolate, though.  Wonder if they make Burma Shave anymore?

Weather is turning.  Desert is fading so out come the sweatshirts.  Looks like Gretchen's pool days are gone. 

picture:  Hackberry General Store filled with 1950 & 60's memorabilia.
picture:  soda fountain
picture:  1939 juke box
picture:  one heck of a pretty Corvette
picture:  There were no dollars on the gauge, just cents!  Like 15.9 cents.
picture: menu:  What would be a cheesebuger without cheese.  We ordered just like the menu says:  "cheeseburer with cheese"!
picture:  Snow Cap drive-in in Seligman, Arizona on Route 66. Not a drive-in anymore but a walk-in!
Great tasty malts, though.

September 22, Saturday

September 22nd, Saturday.  Left that great campsite at Blythe.  Now Roger is such a wonderful husband, that he drove 40 miles out of our way so Gretchen could get pictures of those cactus that she deleted on the camera.  Isn't he the greatest?

We then took the scenic route to Lake Havasu, Arizona where this "London Bridge" is.  Some English dork paid 1.2 million in 1938 to have this bridge brought in from England.  Big deal.  It looks like the Carnegie Bridge in Cleveland and we laughed our heads off when million of visitors come here to see this stupid bridge.  For years it never even crossed a river, just went from desert to desert.

Now we left California, went to Arizona, then back into California, then to Nevada (our 31st state), and have camped the night back in Arizona!  Are we crazy or what?  The road we were on to Nevada was quite remote and so no "welcome to Nevada" sign. 

Hey, look, what is that?  A Harrah's in Nevada and can you imagine we just had to stop and make a donation.  This day isn't quite going the way we wanted and now we are watching Michigan turn the ball over 6 times to Notre Dame. 

temperature:  113 degrees.  The motorhome air is continually running. 

Update on Blue:  he is getting better each day.  "Give me meds," he whines and with that far away drugged up look!.

picture:  the saguaros (sa-hwah-ro) cactus.  Only living in the Arizona's Sonoran Desert. Slow-growing that a 6-inch might be 10 years old.  And protected by law!
picture:  a forest of saguaros cactus.  Cute?
picture:  Bill Williams Mountains. Who in the heck is Bill Williams and why did he have mountains named after him?
picture:  the infamous London Bridge in Lake Havasu.  What a waste of time here.  Let's get going!
picture:  welcome again to California
picture:  Get your money out..................there is the Harrah's in Laughlin, Nevada.
picture:  why is that rock formation giving us the finger???

Sept 20/21 Blythe, California

Sept 20/21, Blythe California:  As of September 20th, it has been a month since we departed for our western trip.  Doesn't seem that long ago.  We are now in our 30th state (California) in Blythe which is on the eastern border.  This campground is on the Colorado River and our camp site is on that river.  It is 105 degrees and the pool was soooooooooooo very refreshing.   Sorry Strongsville, we know that our temperature is 1/2 of what you have!  Burrrr.

Have met here one Michigan fan and the guy next door graduated from Michigan State.  Seems like that Michigan chair gets their attention!

Took Blue down to the river but he still doesn't seem to get the idea that he can swim in it.  So he walks on the edge, goes a little into the water and that's it.   By the way, his "problem" seems to be getting better.  With five kinds of meds, we hope so.

Met some Portage-Lakes-kind-of-people at the pool (meaning that boy can they party!).  They cooked us a great Mexican dinner.  Leaving for sites unknown Saturday.  It seems so weird to not have a plan but then again it is refreshing not having to worry where/when and hurry.  Miss everyone, though.

picture:  Gretchen enjoying the pool
picture:  the pool.  Doesn't that look great?
picture:  Gretchen and Blue in the Colorado River.  Warm and refreshing.
picture:  Roger and Blue at campsite our first night.  Colorado River in background. 
picture:  Gretchen again in the pool with a newly bought noodle.  Just like a kid!

September 19th/20th: Picacho Az to California

September 19th, Wednesday:  Visited Boothill Grave Yard and then off to an unexpected visit south to Sierra Vista.  Blue is sick.  He got shots and meds for, we hope, an infection.  To take for 10 days, and if the swelling is not gone, it may be a tumor.  Here's hoping with all fingers and toes crossed that he will be okay.  He even got one of the dorky "satellite dishes" to wear.  And where may you ask is this problem?  Well,  right in the butt hole!!!!!  Of all places.  You think that was funny.....well that vet's name as Dr. Bone!  Yeah, you read that right!

So we travelled to Picacho, Az.  It is 100 degrees.  Nice pool where Gretchen cooled off.  Wouldn't you know it, you could finaly have a campfire but who wants to have one in this weather??!!

September 20th, Thursday: Crossed our 30th Motorhome State = California this afternoon.  Weather is now 110 degrees.  Saw some beautiful cactus but a bummer when Gretchen realized that , after trying to get the date on the camera pictures,  all images were erased! So just a memory for us and for you to try picture!

Good night or good day or good morning.  Will get back to pictures tomorrow.

Oh yeah, as you noticed the lack of Mexican food for us.  However, Roger is making a pot roast.  Pictures to follow!

September 18th, Tuesday: Tombstone Day 2

September 18th, Tueday:  Our second day in Tombstone was just as much fun as the first.  We toured the haunted, original artifacts at the Bird Cage Theatre. Was the most famout honky-tonk in America in the late 1800's. 

The is was on this day, not yesterday, that we went to the American Legion to exchange lincense plates. 

After that to tour the courthouse and back to the rv for a nap.  Then off to Johnny Ringo's that was recommended by the American Legion bartender, Jeff.  He was there and lo and behold so was the Mayor of Tombstone (population 1,600!). 

Another wonderful day/night in Tombstone.

picture:  Where Morgan was shot and died on pool table
picture:  Did you hear that ghost pluck a piano key?  Gretchen did.
picture:  original liquor bottles.  Unoriginal people.
picture:  bullet holes by a drunk cowboy shooting at an actor.  Guess he missed!
picture:  Where Josephine and Wyatt made whoopie at the Bird Cage Theatre.
picture:  8 year long poker game was here.  In back is the original bet try with original chips.  Put your name in and wait 3-4 days for a seat.
picture:  Josephine's prostitute license as signed by Wyatt.
picture:  ride 'em