Paria Outpost 7/10/08

Hi All, It's us again.
We didn't make much progress yesterday.I only drove about 50miles.But at least we got out of Az. Even though we loved it there and the people and scenery were great.
We were headed up hiway 89 and we were looking for some place to eat lunch.We passed a restaurant that had a b.b.q going. It smelled so good,that I stopped in the middle of the road and started backing up.Luckily there was nothing behind me. I backed up for a quarter mile before I got to the driveway.We pulled in and the stupid place was closed.[there oughta be a law]But after carefully looking around for food I saw a sign that read"horseback riding and camping"
This is the perfect place for us.We drive in and it's like being at home.The people at Paria Canyon Adventure Ranch were GREAT. Mary,Lizzy,Hal,Kathy and Aden,made us feel soo at home.They put us in a camp site,let the boys do pretty much whatever they wanted.[Played pool, hiked,danced,played in water, played with puppies,met lots of people from other countries,and most important they got to go horseback ridding]They cooked us the best steak dinner we've had on the trip.IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM to anyone traveling on hiway 89 in Utah.They have cabins,rv sites and tent sites.
Anyway we left OUR favorite camp ground so far, this morning and headed for The Arches National Pk.Durango,Col.Then on to Pagosa Springs and Denver.
We are really liking these unscheduled stops. They seem to be the best.
Well that's aout it for now .

Take care and be careful
Jan

Wickenburg,AZ 6/26/08

Hi all,

We're not in Las Vegas any more. We left Vegas at around 9 am. yesterday and went to Hoover Dam. By 10:30 am. the temp was already at 98. We had to park almost a mile away and we couldn't find a shuttle. Soo we just looked at the dam from waayyy up high and took off. Both boys and I were disappointed but we sort of made up for it later. When we got into AZ we stopped at Willow Creek Campground and boat launch. We had lunch there. The boys fed the ducks and waded in the river. It really was beautiful there. Not quite up to Hoover Dam standards but close.

Next we found a camp ground called Burro Creek. This was about a mile off of Highway 93 in AZ. It would have been great except it was about a 100 ft. above the water and straight down. Oh well, we decided to go on. A couple hrs. later we found a horse camp in Wickenburg, AZ. PERFECT for my boys. They were off looking for snakes, lizards, toads and bugs. They found a snake skin and a railroad trestle. They also could have found wild pigs. I would really rather they didn't.

It was sooooo nice to wake up this morning and have it cooler then when we went to bed. It's actually nice outside.

I hope to make it to Gila Bend this afternoon. Then on to Organ Pipe Park on Fri.

Well, you all have a good day and I'll try to write some tomorrow.

Jan

What Happens in Vegas

All of us at our best

Hi, it's me,

I'm learning that what happens here may not stay here, but it sure moves slow getting out of town. We came to Vegas to get the generator fixed, and it's taken us 3 days to get 'er done.WE ARE LEAVING IN THE MORNING!!! [I hope]

During our time here both boys have met some great people. First there's Tony from Penn. Very nice young [40ish] man visiting his young son [2] for a once a month visit. I believe he's a roofing contractor by trade. He and I talked yesterday about farming in Redding. First choice was cattle. Second was pigs. Faster turnover. So the last I heard of him, he's planning to start a pig farm in Redding. BOY AM I GOOD. The Chamber would be sooooo proud.

Next came the 2 Swedish girls. [21 and 23] Take a guess which boy started talking to them first? [7 yr.old B] But D did all the clean up. B is quite popular with this stomach roll thing he does.

Last evening D came in and told me he and KAT were going to the movies at the casino,without B. D's first date on the trip. B couldn't have cared less. He was sooooo tired from being in the pool from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm, all he wanted to do was go to sleep.

At 9pm B wanted a snack. I gave him grapes. He was sooo tired he had his eyes closed while eating the last several grapes. He was asleep in seconds.

The plan was to get generator fixed this morning before noon and be on our way. But that didn't happen. By the time we were all fixed it was to late to start out so Wed. is the plan.

Everyone we've met here has been very nice.

The boys are both back in their element. They're at the pool swimming and meeting all the girls.

I'm sitting here writing this blog as the cool people are at the pool. OH POOR ME!!

Talk to you later.

Jan

June 16 and 17

Hi everyone,

We've just finished our 5Th day since leaving Anderson. D and I went to Los Osos to pick B up at his house. We were able to spend 4 days with Stella, Mike and Danny before taking off on the rest of our adventure.

Yesterday we left Los Osos,Ca. at about 10 am. We took our time heading for Yosemite National Park. The boys both LOOOOVVVVEEEE!!! McDonald's food. So being the kind, loving grandmother I am, we stopped there for lunch around 1:30pm. As it turned out it was the only REAL food we had. We took one of my side trips. We were looking for Bass Lake. We thought we'd camp there over nite then head to Yosemite in the morning.

We found a resort, but no camping. We could see the lake water but could not find the camp grounds. WE EVEN STOPPED FOR DIRECTIONS. After about 2hrs. we gave up on Bass Lake.

We continued our search for Yosemite and a camp ground. As we entered the park, the rangers told us "no vacancies". Oh well, I decided to take the boys through the park and see about "OVER FLOW"parking.

BOY, was I ever glad I decided to go on through the park.

The time of day was prefect. The boys were looking out all the windows in the old Winnie at the same time. They were impressed with all the scenery. The trees, the rock formations, the deer and the tunnels. They're still talking about the tunnel sign the mirror clipped. I think the sign is a break away. Did no damage to mohome, just my pride.

Anyway, the boys were taking picts fast and furious. Half Dome was prefect. Shadows just rite. As we're traveling through the park, B sees a deer who sticks his tongue out at him. What a great place. They have the deer trained to stick their tongues out at kids. Continuing on we arrived at the opposite gate and we were told Over Flow was Full. By now I'm getting very tired. We try the two over flow sites and they're full. By chance I see a pull thru along the side of the road. I pull in and we have the prefect campsite, nice and level and off the road. I should mention that we've been in patchy snow for the last several hours. It's almost dark and I'm trying to wear B down so he can sleep after being in the mohome most of the day. He's telling me about the bear that might come visit us in the night. I'm saying "no the mohome is very safe". Who was trying to convince who?

We all finally went to sleep. Hoooray. I wake early, so in the morning I open the curtains to the most beautiful site. At least the boys were as impressed as I was. We were across the road from Mirror Lake with all the snow and shadows it was one beautiful site.

We were back on the road about 9am. We stopped in Lee Vinning and bought gas. 5$ a gal! I just ABOUT HAD A HEART ATTACH. $200 FOR 40 GALS. OH WELL PRICE MUCH BETTER IN Dayton NV. We had lunch and dinner with my step mom and my niece. Both boys met 2ND and 3rd cousins they'd never met.

We're staying in Dayton one more day so some mail can catch up with us. I'm going to try the pict.thing again.

Sorry I'm so long winded ,but a lot happened the last couple days.

Talk to you later.