tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87303480492416473332024-03-13T20:19:48.207-07:00Obiter ScriptaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-5282486605158722742011-09-17T08:45:00.000-07:002011-09-17T08:49:02.692-07:00Rolling Sabbatical PostscriptLet me start by saying I am extremely thankful for the circumstances that have allowed me to indulge in this long time daydream of a long road trip. And to MJ for tolerating my absence. I am lucky without doubt. Thanks to Aaron for prepping the car and consulting through the mechanical bumps in the road.<br />
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So, 8132 miles were covered in 27 days. Twenty driving days actually. <br />
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The mechanical bumps are inevitable with a 40-year-old car. Let's see. Failed fuel pump, which Aaron had covered with a spare stored behind the seat beneath the back deck. Mal-aligned front end had the new tires on the front scrubbed off by half way through the trip. New alignment and new front tires in San Francisco solved that. The radiator boiled the coolant away in 107 degree Mohave Desert heat. Slowing the pace and distance from the desert solved that. There was (is still) the unexplained phenomenon of low oil pressure on start up from time to time. Fortunately, turning off and back on seems to fix it until it happens again. Got the brakes hot in Ouray resulting in a tow to the flatlands of Montrose to test and assure proper function. All-in-all, not so bad.<br />
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When he was small, after going to a movie, Aaron invariably asked me "What was your favorite part?" OK - here goes.<br />
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<u>Favorite New Place</u>: The Sedona-Flagstaff area. Will definitely explore in the future.<br />
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<u>Favorite Place I'd Been Before</u>: Rocky Mountain National Park<br />
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<u>Favorite Highway</u>: Whichever one I was on at any given moment, with some preference for those in our great Southwest.<br />
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<u>Best Feast</u>: The bacon-themed feast at Joe and Cheryl's in Duluth - all the usual suspects attending.<br />
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<u>Most Meaningful Quote</u>: "Yaarrr!" - Sherean, Vanessa, and friends.<br />
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<u>Most Uncontrollable Laughter</u>: Time spent with Mary..<br />
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<u>Best Restaurant Food</u>: Seared Ahi Tuna with Roasted Pineapple Glaze - Fitch Restaurant - Salida, CO<br />
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<u>Best Bar Stool</u>: In the corner at Ed's Cantina in Estes Park.<br />
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<u>Worst Night</u>: The night in the ER in St. Louis<br />
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As nuts as it may seem to many of you, my favorite part overall was driving. I truly enjoy it. It is a beautiful country, and it cannot be appreciated from the air. Nice people everywhere. New experiences almost every moment. Truly a great time.<br />
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Thanks for your interest in the road trip. I hope you've enjoyed the small part I've been able to share.<br />
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MaynardUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-72304932291442024662011-09-15T16:54:00.000-07:002011-09-15T16:54:37.951-07:00Home!A bit over twelve hours today from Nashville. It was pretty much rockin' down the highway - no pictures tonight.<br />
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This weekend, I'll write a wrap-up of the 8000 miles in 27 days. Thanks to everyone for their interest.<br />
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MaynardUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-67602087873242926522011-09-14T21:46:00.000-07:002012-01-26T15:04:32.440-08:00Winding It UpI knew the last couple of days of the sabbatical would be long ones crossing either familiar territory from Colorado to Florida via the Midwest, or unfamiliar (and most likely not so interesting) territory across Texas and the south. The Midwest route obviously won.<br />
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There was rain at my early departure from Lincoln. I chose to go south around the bridge closures mostly because there were a couple of interesting things I wanted to check out in that direction. The weather gave me a couple hours break just as I arrived at those places and then resumed relentless and heavy rain the rest of the day. No further stopping except for gas and food and no pictures in the rain, though I would love to have captured some of the light show in the sky as I approached Nashville a couple of hours ago.<br />
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The first stop today was to check out Whiskey Run Creek winery. It was founded by the father of one of my long-time and dear friends. The wines are very well regarded in the area and the winery is a multi-purpose facility for the town of Brownville, NE. Sadly, the founder has passed away, and the winery is for sale. Check it out online at www.whiskeyruncreek.com. If anyone has had that dream...... drop me a line.<br />
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Next stop..... Goff, KS. Yep, another town that no one would notice if it had not apparently been founded by some ancestor. This one has a bit more to offer that the spot in the Mojave Desert I shared in a previous post.<br />
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Perhaps you'll have to take my word for it that the water tower says Goff. They also have public buildings. <br />
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They also had three gentlemen on a corner and a guy in a red pickup who seemed to cast a suspicious eye toward the stranger idling a Mercedes around, occasionally stopping in the middle of a street to leap out of the car and snap some pictures. Mr. Red Pickup so much so that he started to follow me around about a half block behind moving as I moved, stopping when I stopped.<br />
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My business complete, I thought it best to leave.<br />
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The remainder of the day was basically highways and rain. At this point is is nearly midnight after 15 hours driving in the rain. I can't keep my eyes open. Tomorrow is the the final day. I'll post a little something about it when I get home and do a recap over the weekend.<br />
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GOOD NIGHT.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-12938943299947320712011-09-13T19:20:00.000-07:002011-09-13T19:25:13.337-07:00You Can't Get There From HereThe morning dawned. Doesn't it always. Its just that it is a grand thing in the mountains. To the east from Highway 36 just west of Estes.<br />
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And to the West looking back as I'm headed out town on Hwy 34.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXGzKv1czQ-vjNy6bU9deXREIFfBhOoOJNxpdAKe4764EOcN8I8l7jR_HWeTPI34_3pjAbBNebeZymZLp4GThkIBH4o4GHC3J8KC-FoZhh4iU1qCgqU9feF_gQLrukNVIxB5en3ucypzD/s1600/DSC_2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXGzKv1czQ-vjNy6bU9deXREIFfBhOoOJNxpdAKe4764EOcN8I8l7jR_HWeTPI34_3pjAbBNebeZymZLp4GThkIBH4o4GHC3J8KC-FoZhh4iU1qCgqU9feF_gQLrukNVIxB5en3ucypzD/s320/DSC_2044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I've always been sad to leave Estes and the mountains. Stuck around long enough to get coffee at Kind Coffee. And some treats to take home for the dogs.<br />
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The drive east on I80 is a long one. I80 in Nebraska is not known for constantly changing scenery. This is an area where there is NOT something cool around every corner. There are not actually many of what I'd call corners. I stopped at the border of Colorado and Nebraska to capture the general landscape of Western Nebraska. You can just add corn and get an idea of Eastern Nebraska. Comments relevant to the I80 transit only. It might be hugely cool elsewhere. But, it may say something about me that I do like to look at the corn. There is just an awful lot of it.<br />
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I stopped for lunch in a small town called I don't remember what. Felt like a BLT and in a flashback to childhood, also a glass of milk. It was, of course, whole milk, like direct from the cow, I swear. Been doing the skim thing so long I had forgotten just how THICK whole milk tastes, if thick can be a taste. And the place served up one size, humongous. Took me awhile to finish it, but I have my monthly quota of dairy fat. The BLT was quite good and hit the spot. People were nice so I recommend the....<br />
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To the purpose of being in NE. Got together with my fellow speaker geek Curt In Lincoln. A great guy and some sort of genius in the realm of speaker design. Also got to tour the company he works for, Duncan Aviation. Duncan is a firm that repairs and refurbs corporate sized jets. From the frame out including finish and avionics. There were planes from France, Egypt, Asia and elsewhere in the hangers. Curt is an avionics, specifically autopilot, expert. Showed me the lab in which the cores of gyroscopes are rebalanced and tested. Pretty cool stuff. Dinner and Curt's company were just great.<br />
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Which leads me now to the punch line. Tomorrow, I was going to shoot southeast and snag I29 south to I70 as the quickest way to FL. Oops, forgot the flood of the millenia on the Missouri River in June and now you literally can't get there from here. No bridges and I29 closed.<br />
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Alternative plans underway, and I am glad I built in that extra day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-49927974781390639472011-09-12T19:56:00.000-07:002011-09-12T21:27:12.349-07:00FlattopInteresting that Colorado would be my last stop in "the West". I've been going to Colorado for about 25 years - sometimes several times a year and I love it every time. Last night I stayed in at the Simple Hostel in Salida. Highly recommended. John, the proprietor is very accommodating. Not a traditional hotel.<br />
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Salida is a very special town. People are welcoming, culture is amazing for a small town, and the view is, well, great. The town is in a wide valley where the Arkansas stops flowing southward, and turns east. It is situated in a low spot, so to speak, and has an amazing microclimate that defies reason for a town at 7080 ft. Even though it is in the mountains, it is a very moderate climate with a decent growing season for vegetables. Cattle also graze throughout the valley. White water rafting and other adventures sports are big business there as well. <br />
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Left Salida early, as I had some work to complete in Denver. This is to the west from the north end of town. Two of those peaks are Antero and Shivano - fourteeners. <br />
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The drive to Denver took me through Fairplay - the inspiration for the TV show South Park. Did not stop.<br />
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Next stop, Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is one place I go to renew. Over the years, I have been all over the park doing some great hiking.<br />
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This picture shows many miles of continental divide - East Slope. To the East, water flows to the Platte then Missouri Rivers. To the West, the Colorado River originates in the Northwest corner of RMNP.<br />
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With every visit to this place comes some contemplation. The flat-topped mountain below is called Flattop. I guess there was not someone convenient to name it after. Fourteen years ago, Aaron and I made a trek up Flattop to scatter some of my brother Steve's ashes. Steve charged Dad with dividing his ashes among his friends and charged his friends with leaving them somewhere meaningful to each of them. This was the meaningful spot for me. Our intent was to leave the ashes at the divide such that some may flow East and some West. The usual afternoon lightening arrived way early that day and when it started to crack all around us we said "Hope you like it here Steve!" dumped him just at the bottom edge of the snowfield in the pictures and fled down the mountain. He would have appreciated that. His motto was "Life is not a spectator sport", and indeed it is not - but neither is life a sport that requires tempting fate in mountain lightening. In the spirit of Steve's motto, a couple of years later, Aaron and I traversed the divide over Flattop, visiting Steve on the way over. A long, long hike, but one of those things that make a father and son a father and son.<br />
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Next stop is Lincoln, NE. Why? Well, not because it is there, but I will fill you in tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-28955143264198489612011-09-11T20:07:00.000-07:002012-01-26T14:58:46.352-08:00Last Stop? Not so fast.US 550, the highway from Durango to Ouray is about as mountain highway as highways get. The destination was Salida, CO. Made it, but not without some care. The mountains north of Durango are something to behold, and they just get better as you approach Ouray. The mountains were in the clouds and the road often misty. <br />
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After quite a bit of climbing and crossing the Molnas pass, we arrive in Silverton. The town was a mining town and staging area for equipment and supplies for the surrounding mines, mostly silver. Great breakfast to be had, by the way, at the Brown Bear Cafe. Then, back on the road. <br />
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The final pass above Ouray is called Red Mountain Pass after the iron laden mountain next to the pass. Approaching the pass, I shot this one. Is there any wonder I love Colorado?<br />
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In any event, the decent from the pass to Ouray is an 8% grade, with lots of twists and turns at 10mph, meaning, lots of chances to use the brakes. By the time I hit Ouray, the brakes were so soft, that I decided to have the car taken down the mountain to Montrose on a flatbed. I felt testing the brakes on the downhill was not a smart move. Montrose, however, is billiard table flat. After having reached Montrose the brakes had cooled and were functioning normally. I did quite a lot of driving in town to see how things went. After consulting with Aaron, I determined to proceed to Salida.. Made it fine, no further brake problems.<br />
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It was about dark on arrival, so I was not able to get good pictures. I'll include some in tomorrow's blog.<br />
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So far, the 40-year-old Dieter has offered a fuel pump failure - thanks to Aaron I had a spare on board. Then, there was the strange loss of oil pressure, which, sadly seems to just happen from time to time. Shut it off, wait a couple of minutes and restart. Pressure good, back on the road. Has probably happened 7-8 times. We are stumped. The radiator boiled over climbing out of the Mojave desert in 107 degree heat, and now the brake thing.<br />
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It has been an adventure. Tomorrow, off to Estes Park, where I will enjoy the food and people at Ed's Cantina.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-20415829815332854822011-09-11T11:00:00.001-07:002011-09-12T21:31:10.275-07:00Last Stop - Ouray<div>Parked. Having some chicken salad and a slightly too sweet ale at the Ouray Brewery. Not much else to do. I had the good fortune of having my brakes go all squishy (technical language for suspected master cylinder failure) while traveling 20mph here in town rather than flying down a mountain. <br />
Ouray is quite scenic and quite worth the trip. After lunch I'll have the car towed to Montrose where there are mechanics. Really need professional brake bleeding equipment. Should be an easy fix if parts for a 40-year-old Mercedes can be found.<br />
I guess it is a sign???</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-77915839403131236352011-09-10T19:51:00.000-07:002011-09-10T19:51:25.031-07:00Trains and Automobiles Anyway....The drive from Cortez to Durango is so short and it was raining a bit so the journey was not committed to digital permanence. When I arrived, there was much activity at the rail station as there always is. The Durango&Silverton narrow gauge trains are a mini-industry here - lots of fairly high priced tickets sold every day. I did not indulge as I will drive through Silverton tomorrow. I have included a few photos lest anyone forget the huffing, hissing sounds, the feel of the ground moving and the slightly acrid smell of the smoke mixed with steam. There really is nothing like a steam locomotive.<br />
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I settled at the General Palmer hotel - a very nice old hotel built by the guy who started the Denver and Santa Fe RR. Dieter had a place of honor out front - actually a place of hopefully better security. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s9pgSmCwZt_tJ6DjCvTB8TKJBlzD1df-Sq9KOpCbf_QAZhbxNOFMywdFVFIKkH5DRYxtrcmQq1QrV9Marup_yr1UhlinEXky8CbP86E6p_fj43zYK6_DCPccoNhBaAa70pzTd-qczm2B/s1600/2011-09-10_18-27-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s9pgSmCwZt_tJ6DjCvTB8TKJBlzD1df-Sq9KOpCbf_QAZhbxNOFMywdFVFIKkH5DRYxtrcmQq1QrV9Marup_yr1UhlinEXky8CbP86E6p_fj43zYK6_DCPccoNhBaAa70pzTd-qczm2B/s320/2011-09-10_18-27-35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cool old hotel isn't it?<br />
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I may be appearing on TV - Durango's promotional channel that covers local businesses, etc. for cable TV. I was enjoying dinner and sipping wine at a place called Ore House. Highly recommended BTW. Despite my undeniable charm (I was reading a book at the bar - OK if you must know a book by Alan Watts.) So, though I was captured on film , rather, digital media no doubt, I do expect that fame will continue to elude me.<br />
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Today, for the first time on the trip, I began to feels as though it is time to wind it down. Not the appeal of work I assure you.<br />
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It is just time.<br />
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Tomorrow, I am off to one of my favorite towns, Salida, CO, where people are uncommonly friendly, the pace of life is manageable, and the three fourteener's across the valley keep the spirit inspired.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-50241712139464801722011-09-09T20:38:00.000-07:002012-01-26T14:54:17.568-08:00Bluff, UT to Cortez, COLast night I dined at a steakhouse that was about the only option in Bluff. A pistol in a case in the front counter with a sign "I ain't gonna be calling 911." You get the idea. Food - not Zagat rated. So, stopped at a coffee/ice cream shop that seemed out of place and was for sale. Had a chocolate shake for my real dinner. Back to the hotel, fairly modern, just in time for the power to go out.<br />
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All this encouraged an early departure. Had a chance to watch a nice sunrise on a cloudy morning.<br />
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Once the sun was up, I found myself in the most desolate surroundings in Navaho country. The landscape was dotted with oil wells, which, judging from the number of pickups on the road very early, provides some substantial employment. The landscape was both barren and lovely.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPc06VRap0Re04YG0Niauwj-s9mk_Vtqb2MZvyDFfK1qiVJz_RCWMdtdkyx2SqnQ3ZZCkUX3jYCArcVBo2FAu22paqx4C0SCAa4i6CsGh8oaRt3njWR1MesFQfRQvMF8Xhu7bowMLoLTC/s1600/DSC_1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPc06VRap0Re04YG0Niauwj-s9mk_Vtqb2MZvyDFfK1qiVJz_RCWMdtdkyx2SqnQ3ZZCkUX3jYCArcVBo2FAu22paqx4C0SCAa4i6CsGh8oaRt3njWR1MesFQfRQvMF8Xhu7bowMLoLTC/s320/DSC_1856.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDvHBD99-QNpebfvbI4KPq4d-ip2nd2m7TSfzssWDQdf2dCpidxuky_NDzGBEUVNZmtxJfDfwMilDNTSGCScYaLKDJEdLwzBY2gX1QG6RKdBzVA9zPXWnBxVMNbUvZZzc45B7wqQC8JyM/s1600/DSC_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDvHBD99-QNpebfvbI4KPq4d-ip2nd2m7TSfzssWDQdf2dCpidxuky_NDzGBEUVNZmtxJfDfwMilDNTSGCScYaLKDJEdLwzBY2gX1QG6RKdBzVA9zPXWnBxVMNbUvZZzc45B7wqQC8JyM/s320/DSC_1855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On to Mesa Verde National Park. The cliff dwellings are at about 8000 feet, and one must wonder what the heck people were doing there. There is a lot unknown, which makes it all the more fascinating.<br />
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I hiked a trail out to Petroglyph Point, where, guess what, the dwelling inhabitants left petroglyphs. The hiking was fairly strenuous, moving along the cliff face, lots of up and down. Some tight squeezes, which had me thankful that I have remained fairly slim. <br />
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Of course, no one really knows what the petroglyphs mean, but they are thought to represent the journey of the inhabitants from the point they emerged from the earth to their arrival on the mesas. This is a sample.<br />
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So, it was a day with more time spent hiking than driving - which was a nice change.<br />
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Tomorrow, a short drive to Durango.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-34392516298445954532011-09-08T19:08:00.000-07:002012-01-26T14:52:26.733-08:00Cool Things Around Every CornerYes, this is a road trip through the West, so there will be lots of shots - in the West. An excellent motoring day in that there were no scares with the car. Everything went extraordinarily well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The day started as it was getting light in Sedona. Some regrets about focusing on the road trip aspects as I'd surely like to do some hiking here. It will wait for a future trip - I am certain there will be future time spent in Sedona.<br />
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Northbound from Flagstaff on the way to the Grand Canyon. More vastness of the West. The lands along the highway were sparsely populated and travelled. This is the day's picture with the car looking back toward Flagstaff. The Flagstaff-Sedona area impressed me. Will be back.<br />
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Nothing can prepare one for a first look at the Grand Canyon. Grand does not cut it as a description. Superfantacular perhaps. Ginormous. Strangely, most of the conversations I heard around me there were in German, Chinese, French, or other languages. An easy majority.<br />
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There are a few fires in progress in the canyon or around it, so photos are hazy. A repeat of a perspective on the landmark that is familiar to most, perhaps because this view is so spectacular. Could stare at it all day.<br />
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All of the visitors to the Park did not seem to disturb this resident.<br />
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Turn to the Northeast. Headed now to Monument Valley Navaho Tribal Park, which covers part of Utah and Arizona. Beautiful red sandstone formations. Throughout Northeast Arizona and Southeast Utah, I have found something around each bend that was great. Will have to pick up a book on the geology of the region.<br />
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Passing now through Mexican Hat, UT. Amazing geology. The red and white alternating striations you see in this picture appeared to be sedimentary layers folded in some sort of uplift into these patterns. In the bluff further away, you can see the same layers remaining horizontal. Again, research to do.<br />
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Ended up in Bluff, UT tonight. Will go on in the morning to Mesa Verde.<br />
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I'm loving this sabbatical.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-34653098093893542742011-09-07T21:34:00.000-07:002011-09-07T21:34:07.237-07:00Of Boiling Radiators and the Wide, Wide, West<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAqk4njoCMGK2aV47MnUiET2y9rxZAS7OJj5mc1g1a0w050IBuNr25AsQZN-DuQKlRfJTEzLL3uZnvzwg0lTTduqPyWjnR_UHw1f35EhLxlBAbo2ZkSSod2Gd258O0ExpuwttwJ8qWsdG/s1600/DSC_1678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Got a reasonably early start from China Lake. The driving was initially fraught with concern over plunging oil pressures, so I had one eye on the road and the other on the gauges. There is not much between China Lake and Goffs, CA. Not much but desert heat that got worse as the day went on. So the gauges message was not about oil pressure, on which more later.<br />
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It was almost four hours to Goffs. Not much there. It has a historic restored schoolhouse, which was closed when I was there. It also has a general store, closed some time ago, and in disrepair, even relative to the condition depicted in internet pictures. I had hoped to capture "Goffs General Store" which was emblazoned on the second story facade. Not to be. Here it is today.<br />
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No residents were to be seen, though some live there, or nearby I think. <br />
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On the West edge of town, there is a railroad switch with a sign that says West Goffs. I'd have taken a picture, but it seemed a bit silly because I could run the length of town in about a minute. There is no Welcome to Goffs sign, an oversight of the Chamber of Commerce no doubt.<br />
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At the West edge, I did take a shot of the view to the north, which is a about the same in any direction.<br />
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The remainder of the day's driving was quite slow, because on the climb east out of the valley of the Colorado, it was 107 degrees and miles of climbing. Having been in Stuttgart, Deiter's designers had no concept of the conditions in the American west. I was fortunate enough to be near a truck stop when the gauges started rising rapidly and the coolant began to spew. No damage. An hour wait, some new anti-freeze and on the road again. I made a couple of other stops after long climbs to allow things to cool<br />
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The wait was worth it. End point today was Sedona, AZ. Words can't begin.... so...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXihPWMEWgkIqYRriPwzR71Ek3qyY3107lAbsWfFyE9oDvIzrUKMWA4o2PocyqjzUHJHMh2igCslBQdZMTInmAH4TMgxbDFqsNSIXZf0YdT93fTagzTqwzY6wFQhUlhClDUOcOgKfsG5q_/s1600/DSC_1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXihPWMEWgkIqYRriPwzR71Ek3qyY3107lAbsWfFyE9oDvIzrUKMWA4o2PocyqjzUHJHMh2igCslBQdZMTInmAH4TMgxbDFqsNSIXZf0YdT93fTagzTqwzY6wFQhUlhClDUOcOgKfsG5q_/s320/DSC_1687.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPvaHCPMbRYttVJVXKbC2ENNuFb7GJ1xAzbg2ODmtwDZRXxMsBrI__ssjcBH58NXCcWRYb1V0hvNBVcc6GhGkGZCMi6CUBKuHiQmU4zqZTbmQHQ9kaXXmX0ueoeb8OSJPjBqAEmr7oeSS/s1600/DSC_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPvaHCPMbRYttVJVXKbC2ENNuFb7GJ1xAzbg2ODmtwDZRXxMsBrI__ssjcBH58NXCcWRYb1V0hvNBVcc6GhGkGZCMi6CUBKuHiQmU4zqZTbmQHQ9kaXXmX0ueoeb8OSJPjBqAEmr7oeSS/s320/DSC_1691.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-9109304210621434232011-09-06T22:10:00.000-07:002011-09-06T22:29:31.150-07:00Uncommon ChallengesThis has been a challenging day involving a car with low oil pressure and a computer that will not download any more.<br />
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Will focus on those problems and post more tomorrow.<br />
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I did want to post two pics that show the beauty of Yosemite followed by two that attempt to capture the vastness of the Owens Valley to the East of Yosemite.<br />
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The weekend had a pirate theme and while there was no actual looting and pillaging, there were good intentions. Here Sherean and some of her friends give a good "Yaaaaarrrr".<br />
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After the sun was high enough to warm the air a bit, our merry gang set sail. I can tell you the locals were suitably fearful and locked up their sheep.<br />
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While it appears here that the Reverend Joe is preaching to the wayward, he is actually gathering orders for take out.<br />
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Bottom line..... Sherean is as lucky to have these folks as friends as they are to have her.<br />
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Tomorrow, on the road at 5AM - hoping to make China Lake by 6.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-14044902972673400572011-09-05T08:51:00.000-07:002012-01-26T14:47:39.909-08:00Wine CountryThe trip east from the redwoods and fog of Monte Rio in the Russian River to the vineyards and sunshine of the Alexander Valley wine country was a study in contrasts. Both ecosystems, and economic geography. The area of Monte Rio I suspect is pretty dependent on tourism. Just a few miles east in Guerneville, one enters the Russian River wine region and density of vineyards and contrasts of wealth increase as you drive into the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys, two major areas of the Sonoma Valley. Top was up while still early in the Alexander Valley. Top came down shortly after.<br />
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Lunch was at Willie's in Healdsburg and was delish. I becoming spoiled by California eateries. Healdsburg exists, apparently, to support the big industry, wine, and its accompanying oenotourism. There is a downtown square that is vibrant and full of higher end shops and restaurants. Not generally where I see myself shopping.<br />
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We made several stops at wineries and bought a couple of bottles - not much room in the car - nor, I suspect, will conditions be right in the car for the wine to travel well through the deserts ahead this week.<br />
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Last evening, in the neighboring town of Duncan Mills, there was much fun listening to the Fargo Brothers, a blues/rock rock band. While some pictures were taken, I won't be publishing any in the name of good taste ;-) and because I fear my companions. Many thanks to Sherean, Vanessa, and their many fine friends for the hospitality of the last few days.<br />
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There is no plan for the day today. Repack the car for the eleven remaining days of the rolling sabbatical. Check things out well because the heat of the next couple of days will be extreme. The route tomorrow takes us to SFO, where I drop off MJ, then just me through Yosemite, then south, through the hot and dry Owens River valley. Once a garden, now a wasteland due to the unrelenting water ravenousness of LA in the last century. Next couple of days will be the toughest challenge for my 40-year-old wheels. Wish me luck.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-49354399373301820022011-09-04T09:08:00.000-07:002011-09-16T09:46:42.022-07:00The Day Started Out FoggyFoggy in a weather sense. I was ready to go before most of El Granada. North to the Russian River via the Jewel that is San Francisco. Foggy in the City by the Bay though. Even so, the Golden Gate is quite a sight. Much more fun to walk across than drive, but today was a drive.<br />
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North along Hwy 1 leads through many little towns full of character and characters who like oysters. Enough oysters to make an industry. We had brunch at Rocker Oysterfellers. As most California food, really tasty. Thats MJ with the hat and our friend Jenny. <br />
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Further North on the Sonoma County coast. Could watch for hours, but if I did that at every stop, this would be a one year sabbatical. <br />
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Final destination was Monte Rio, a little town on the Russian River where we will just sit for a couple of days..... sitting interspersed with some winery exploration. Russian River is known for its Chardonnay and MJ is known for her love of Chardonnay.<br />
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Monte Rio is mosty an intersection... with inns and small businesses scattered through the redwoods. Cool, foggy, just plain relaxing. <br />
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Yesterday, I had the car serviced, cleaned it up a bit and made arrangements for an alignment check today. I managed to stop whatever I was doing long enough to snap a pic of the trusty car at Miramar, a point on the coast where the surf is inexorably taking down the coastline. Nothing special about that, I guess, but it is a point where the street is now close to the surf at high tide.<br />
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You can see the point that extends out into the Pacific forming the bay and harbor. <br />
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The actual harbor is protected by the jetty, which at higher tide has some spectacular (and wet) displays of surf crashing agaist the jetty.<br />
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On the point is where there is an annual surf competition. I walked out along the point as far as I could this morning, before the fog appeared, and took a few shots of the big waves out there. Even at low tide, I could not get as close as I wanted. The rocks were just too slick.<br />
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This surfer must be thinking uh-oh. Actually, the surfers are fun to watch Quite athletic and skilled men and women.<br />
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Tomorrow, MJ arrives for a few days. The girls have invited us to go to the Russian River with them and their friends. Honored that the old folks are so welcome. We've partied a bit with that crowd before and the are great people who know how to have big fun. Should be a nice weekend beginning with the drive up coastal Highway 1.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-30243076400906188612011-09-01T08:29:00.000-07:002011-09-01T08:32:41.489-07:00One of My Favorite PlacesSince heading West four days ago, I have been covering highways and visiting places that are new to me. Yesterday, though, I covered ground that is familiar. I80 Westbound from Winnemucca - open freeway - top down. Before dawn (as always it seems). Stopped for a pic of the Nevada landscape in the early light.<br />
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The run out of Nevada was open freeway fast, fueled by Doobie Brothers and other "get on down the road" music playing loud. Haven't mentioned my media deck and speakers yet. The media deck takes tunes from a flash drive - very convenient. I have about 50 CD's on it. I also made a "false floor" on the deck behind the seats to house dual woofers (and space for the fire extinusiher, etc) - so the tunes have some punch. No..... it is not a boom-boom-boom car, but nice balanced sound - loud, which those who know me know I need.<br />
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Stopped in Truckee, CA, where mainstreet is a nice colleciton of cool shops - art and outdoors oriented. Had breakfast at the Trukee Diner. Next to the Amtrak train station and a piece of history in itself. Pic from their web site. A great place full of local color and characters. Wish I had an afternoon to hang out in Truckee, but not this trip.<br />
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Took Hwy 89 around the west side of Lake Tahoe. Glorious. No wonder the shoreline is lined with homes and businesses. Somehow, though, it does not spoil it. So, here is the tacky picure of the car at Tahoe.<br />
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On the way down from Lake Tahoe on Hwy 50, I was fortunate enough to find Mercedes of El Dorado along the highway. They had the rubber exhaust hangers for the 40-year-old car in stock (gotta love Mercedes). Picked up a couple.<br />
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Arrived In El Granada. One of my favorite places on the planet. Pacific coast - often gray, but always pretty. Have taken up temporary residence on the third floor of the Beach House. With the window open, you can hear the foghorn on Pillar Point and the rigging of the sailboats clanking in the breeze in the marina. Love it. Here is the view from "my" deck.<br />
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The black specs are surfers.<br />
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Today will be a day to do laundry, service the car, fix the exhaust hangers and try to find an alignment shop. The outside edge of the front tires are wearing quite fast. Must be excess toe in (I would never drive mountain roads in a spirited manner). Tonight will go out with Sherean and Vanessa, along with Vanessa's sisters and mother. If there is anything interesting to report tonight I will.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-52772938413731624232011-08-30T20:54:00.000-07:002011-08-30T20:54:11.695-07:00A Driving DayThe day did not start out driving, but reflecting. Before sunrise, I drove north of Jackson about 20 minutes and placed myself along the Snake River across from the peaks and awaited the rising sun. Worth the wait. Once light started to appear, I did not move, but, simply took it in. I feel small.<br />
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Truly.<br />
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Then it was on the road. Travelled west into Idaho where there is some of the most beautiful agricultural land (much of it for sale). Wheat, alfalfa, potatoes, corn, depending on altitude. Much of it is along the Snake River which provides water. It was hard to keep eyes on the road. Here is an example of a farm.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uuFRlYN0wNjZeLCEciXc4xiRQuFfubxfUrx9tB97oG4s_HWUu5O-WP4B6tC79nru25Nc-5NaPFJYQu6IgKrDbY9gM1M4t_oVQuZ8Xw6oNF-WxBd-AYCYdN-XJ-RxkdHsL5uetBMod4tj/s1600/DSC_1230-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uuFRlYN0wNjZeLCEciXc4xiRQuFfubxfUrx9tB97oG4s_HWUu5O-WP4B6tC79nru25Nc-5NaPFJYQu6IgKrDbY9gM1M4t_oVQuZ8Xw6oNF-WxBd-AYCYdN-XJ-RxkdHsL5uetBMod4tj/s320/DSC_1230-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Further down the road, there was an opportunity to snap a picture of the Snake River itself, carving its way through the landscape.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQma2ignZzSQr00ZwtNqXCNvmiVogkNya4uV8BI3z2AngKSFXSZowV7c59f4zOy7AoTn1jx9QNTby6YZTzH3GGsRTL3SCBrc7irEK-2cu_1eJEOSB1c1izoUQOqOmxS7kAeZEZdSa4421D/s1600/DSC_1231-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQma2ignZzSQr00ZwtNqXCNvmiVogkNya4uV8BI3z2AngKSFXSZowV7c59f4zOy7AoTn1jx9QNTby6YZTzH3GGsRTL3SCBrc7irEK-2cu_1eJEOSB1c1izoUQOqOmxS7kAeZEZdSa4421D/s320/DSC_1231-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Finally, Nevada, long, hot drive. Nevada is something to see. Huge, vast, spectacular. And despite the emptiness, also beautiful. The long hills are miles up and miles down. This picture was taken on Hwy 93 just south of the ID/NV border town of Jackpot. Clever name..... but not worthy of a visit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHJVU7T3gSN3fVdoHQXCzJsKTwze8FY0-6HwNR5NlDxXVonLi-MJj_YZ4NyEq2tXGQkhbD7J4B4ZDNc7fXwAuGMxImgJ0mve-KlyzEG8Yzm33qT1Mp__6d6UJC0p8McmlBt4c81kwwhhU/s1600/DSC_1232-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHJVU7T3gSN3fVdoHQXCzJsKTwze8FY0-6HwNR5NlDxXVonLi-MJj_YZ4NyEq2tXGQkhbD7J4B4ZDNc7fXwAuGMxImgJ0mve-KlyzEG8Yzm33qT1Mp__6d6UJC0p8McmlBt4c81kwwhhU/s320/DSC_1232-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On arrival in Winnemucca, I found that the rubber donut exhaust hangers on the back had broken. So spent some time this evening cobbling up a fix until I can replace them. Utilizing hose clamps and #9 wire. There will be no pictures. Just hoping I can get to a dealer for factory parts. Don't want the exhaust on the asphalt.<br />
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Finally, I have to mention the Martin Hotel. Not a hotel anyore but a Basque restaurant. Old building (1898) in a shabby end of town by the tracks. But inside some of the best food and friendly people, both staff and patrons. When in Winnemucca, don't miss it.<br />
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Tomorrow, off for a loop around Lake Tahoe on the way to El Granada on the California coast to visit our girls, Sherean and Vanessa.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-55288282004753263242011-08-29T21:19:00.000-07:002011-08-30T09:07:56.540-07:00A Slight DelayThe day started out at 5:00AM, my originally planned departure time from Newcastle, WY. First thing noticed was the smell of gasoline and there was a pool of fuel at the back of the car.<br />
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So a wait for breakfast and advice from the ladies at Donna's Diner to take it to Rich's Automotive. Opens at 8:00. No luck, booked solid. However, the fine folks at the Chevy dealership got it in. Was the fuel pump. Fortunately, Aaron had stowed a spare among the parts I brought along. By 10:30 I was on the road.<br />
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The drive today was great, but I did not take many photos. Wyoming is a vast and diverse state. The drive from Newcastle to Casper was wide open spaces with a huge coal mine and quite a lot of oil production.<br />
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The drive up the Wind River was gorgeous, especially the contrast beween the irrigated agriculture and the rich browns of the cliffs and mountains.<br />
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Here is a picture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCVZwJO8IvaUlQmoV5gPFx-XIy8LC6Youbn1xU9c6VmMYBoEcxxCFBEr8vXQAmZduaewM_JeXXfEPlCdgTvw9B42vOa702W4w2-gi28AZsfxUXt7-jbJ48plmqVtnBaLjPlMj4KUqrcFv/s1600/DSC_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCVZwJO8IvaUlQmoV5gPFx-XIy8LC6Youbn1xU9c6VmMYBoEcxxCFBEr8vXQAmZduaewM_JeXXfEPlCdgTvw9B42vOa702W4w2-gi28AZsfxUXt7-jbJ48plmqVtnBaLjPlMj4KUqrcFv/s320/DSC_1141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Finally, about 6 hours late, I arrived in Grand Teton NP, just in time for this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMK452XBUpAZrroRfWXpygfqtK-4gVhYrWfaolq29WNcOnaU-lVj_epcb2Chv31HL-pkQ8NHF1jQKCRU3TDDRMx2fN3jzkzSfw1CPFqPil5csT_0ZUtGvXZ8seBjo2JQpu3Gwoph2WCu1/s1600/DSC_1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMK452XBUpAZrroRfWXpygfqtK-4gVhYrWfaolq29WNcOnaU-lVj_epcb2Chv31HL-pkQ8NHF1jQKCRU3TDDRMx2fN3jzkzSfw1CPFqPil5csT_0ZUtGvXZ8seBjo2JQpu3Gwoph2WCu1/s320/DSC_1182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sundown on the Tetons. One of the best things I've ever witnessed. Can't be captured by a camera. I did not move.<br />
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Wrapped up the day with Mexican food and drink,<br />
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More tommorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-52466593919151227082011-08-28T15:42:00.000-07:002011-08-28T15:51:31.145-07:00Thirteen hours more-or-less behind the wheel. Not as young as I once was.I must confess to being a bit tired. Departed Lyon County, IA at 2AM and finished up here in Newcastle, WY about 4:00. Regrouping now before going out for something to eat.<br />
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First stop today was the Badlands. Highly recommended for anyone coming this way. Nature is amazing. Three pics from my trip through.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jFc_UTFZ_dpczryaW7m6tS9Ht2fmrO8OqoTSvRQBeQ9fK9xgdD4TD_dzsDL2e3AhyphenhyphenCDA_x0kuzCFJMw87Uvg8ZC4LfmZ-MUR7xUlqF8L5DzwY9iCHvjZaRHc0JFgkPQPiLOWbJDzsogZ/s1600/DSC_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jFc_UTFZ_dpczryaW7m6tS9Ht2fmrO8OqoTSvRQBeQ9fK9xgdD4TD_dzsDL2e3AhyphenhyphenCDA_x0kuzCFJMw87Uvg8ZC4LfmZ-MUR7xUlqF8L5DzwY9iCHvjZaRHc0JFgkPQPiLOWbJDzsogZ/s320/DSC_1064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Plus! the obligatory stop at Mt. Rushmore. More impressive than I expected. The sheer magnitude of the project and the realization of what was in the artist's eye. Amazing.<br />
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And finally, my last real stop of the day, at Devil's Tower. Perhaps the best of all the beauty I saw today. A volcanic outcropping, but still, it should not be there. Stunning.<br />
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So, today was a sight-seeing day. Tomorrow it is off to the Grand Tetons. Should be spectacular.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-3023833413793558982011-08-27T18:54:00.000-07:002011-08-28T15:32:51.369-07:00Time for a Look BackwardSome of you may want to know why the car is in every pic. Many following are fans of this body style of Mercedes, called R107 and want to see car pictures. I'll start tomorrow putting some in without.<br />
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This was a day of spending a couple of hours looking backwards. Some may know that I spent 23 years in Minneapolis, leaving almost 10 years ago. This is my first employer in Minneapolis, Northrup King - or rather where Northrup King was. It is now an art district. This building is actually quite huge. Many acres under roof. It stretches way back. NK was at one time the largest seed company in the world. If it was planted, NK sold it, except rice for some reason. Some of you reading this were also employees of NK, working for me at one point or other, perhaps here, or in Washington, IA.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NuTKGZJ_oy1Rkbt0IOMWG6sXI6JsuNzYS1NeqREX88nmyrhpT5hkgWjblkW4iiqW7DZgv-Ut4IXZqO_tXJbxzpSxs5a4nNjo6B3WAvq1HEkKkrHmGSNcq0yGAzJ9Y-YkrSRXyGTStvpQ/s1600/DSC_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NuTKGZJ_oy1Rkbt0IOMWG6sXI6JsuNzYS1NeqREX88nmyrhpT5hkgWjblkW4iiqW7DZgv-Ut4IXZqO_tXJbxzpSxs5a4nNjo6B3WAvq1HEkKkrHmGSNcq0yGAzJ9Y-YkrSRXyGTStvpQ/s320/DSC_1051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sadly, I'm going to have to end this entry as the wireless connection is quite poor here and I'm unable to load any more photos. Sorry! More tomorrow.<br />
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And to finish yesterday. Spent a bit of time cruising around Minneapolis visiting places that at least had some importance at some point. This is the house I owned when my son Aaron was born. Very glad someone has fixed it as a couple of years ago the porch was falling down.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjqS25Bxap8mGYHzZOLehaJU-Z6FjN7evAUlAvhsZGSNEdC_8dDsMkOu7VoAFxmKUMxYuUem3dseH3PaF1W8s5FZGG-sFAxoLvwejudbMdomygvjOQyxUXbVUQHIVziE72aRYxUFzhXn-/s1600/DSC_1054-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjqS25Bxap8mGYHzZOLehaJU-Z6FjN7evAUlAvhsZGSNEdC_8dDsMkOu7VoAFxmKUMxYuUem3dseH3PaF1W8s5FZGG-sFAxoLvwejudbMdomygvjOQyxUXbVUQHIVziE72aRYxUFzhXn-/s320/DSC_1054-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This is the "big house" the largest I ever had. Can't see much of it for the trees, but that is what makes it great. Tudor style on a tree lined block. Site of much partying when young and crazy(er).<br />
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This one is of Elliott Hall, the site of grad school trials.<br />
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Finally, the end of my travels yesterday, the Grand Falls Casino and Resort in Lyon County, IA, where I am a teeny tiny investor.<br />
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Sunday, it is off to Wyoming via who knows what.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-80968548614309829132011-08-27T05:06:00.000-07:002011-09-16T09:43:18.269-07:00Ready to Head West<div>Last evening was a feast at the home of our old friends north of Duluth. A feast with a bacon theme. Let's see, Corn Cakes with Bacon and Goat Cheese, Devils on Horseback (Garlic-Stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon), Spinich/Creamed Cheese/Bacon Rollups, Bacon Wrapped Rosemary Shrimp, Heirloom Tomatoes with Basil, Bacon, and Blue Cheese..... Bacon Wrapped Filet of Beef, Bacon-Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Bacon-infused Bourbon even. My wife, MJ, who came by air ti Duluth, was Executive Chef.<br />
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So much consumed that the Mercedes will list to port on the road today. Many thanks to the wonderful friends from the north country who gathered for the fun.<br />
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The day yesterday began with breakfast at Billy's. Billy's is a roadhouse along a county road north of Duluth. Great food and friendly people. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gassed up in prep for the drive south and west today. I must say, the car is thirsty.... and the gas much more expensive in Minnesota than in Florida.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0wz50TjsgappB5Jnrb1u2ri3ga6v9dyFTS8NVM5aC5yG16eMDFnJaauvGOnrhGETD8VpOXwr62JGkTPLuHhKkaL7XvjsBAiE6USL1C2NwZhhx2dtbNLivOzkeqsyG9tE5OgnRpg5aIX1/s1600/2011-08-26_13-23-11_680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0wz50TjsgappB5Jnrb1u2ri3ga6v9dyFTS8NVM5aC5yG16eMDFnJaauvGOnrhGETD8VpOXwr62JGkTPLuHhKkaL7XvjsBAiE6USL1C2NwZhhx2dtbNLivOzkeqsyG9tE5OgnRpg5aIX1/s320/2011-08-26_13-23-11_680.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />
One final thanks to our pals up north for the hospitality. They may have a newer Mercedes, but up north, they don't get the months if driving I get in FL. It is very cool here north of Duluth this morning. It was 53 at wake-up time. There will be top down driving between here and the next stop in Larchwood, IA. Larchwood is in extreme NW Iowa and offers a stop before heading west on I90 toward the Badlands. <br />
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So, more promised tonight or tomorrow.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-30489907531375834222011-08-25T19:03:00.000-07:002011-08-25T19:07:06.615-07:00Port of DuluthHad an opportunity today to explore Duluth a bit. Posting here some pictures for those requesting more car pictures.<br />
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This is an ore vessel that once sailed the Great Lakes loaded with taconite ore from the Iron Range. Big, but not as big as the 1000' monsters they use today.<br />
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Access to the harbor from Lake Superior is through a lift bridge. Goes up and down to allow passage of ships.<br />
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Lake Superior is vast. Here is a view of the West end of the lake.<br />
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Great food and wine enjoyed with friends tonight at the Kitchi Gammi Club. My '72 350SL and friend Cheryl's '09 SLK300 in front of the club.<br />
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Will be in Duluth one more day before heading West Saturday morning. Looking forward to some great driving.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-17009894625128052622011-08-25T07:55:00.000-07:002011-08-25T07:55:06.526-07:00Northern-most PointThe day yesterday was a work day on vacation - spent in the office of one of my employers. Last evening, the journey has reached its Northern-most point, about 30 minutes straight North of Duluth, MN in the mixed pine forests - home of deer, moose, wolves, bears and my friends. They live in this perfectly picturesque environ. Lovely and warm in the summer, lovely and brutal in the winter. The drive up from Minneapolis was a typical drive during the summer MN road construction season. Stop, go, merge, slow, bump, caution. I35 needs a longer construction season because it is crumbling. MN is a high tax state, so I have no explanation for why an artery carrying so much traffic is allowed to deteriorate so much.<br />
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Had my costliest gas stop so far - $68.00. I will probably notice the pain more when the card bill comes next month. But..... I refuse to resort to dollar meals at America's fast food favorites in order to afford the gas. Fortunately, a Hungarian feast and great friends were awaiting my arrival. <br />
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So, another fast-paced day with a single pic of the Northern-most dusk arrival. There will be more later in the day today.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730348049241647333.post-2824973951758607762011-08-24T05:15:00.000-07:002011-09-16T09:40:49.691-07:00Friend ReconnectedAh, the post is late due to a long day yesterday. Travel from Southeast Iowa to Minneapolis, this driving mostly on two-lane state highways. My home state still feels like home and I was able to spend a bit of time with my sister, nephew and brother-in-law. Iowa sweetcorn and pork eagerly consumed. <br />
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This picture is on the road and the rain was as heavy as promised in the pictures. The new top was tight - no leaks. Yes! The wipers though, could not keep up. But the rain eventually ended and gave way to perfect roadster weather which I surely relished.<br />
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And here is a town after the rain - tiny town with a big name. The town slogan is "Where the River Runs North". OK.<br />
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And most importantly - I spent last evening reconnecting with a friend of 32 years that should never have needed reconnecting with. We all have them.... fine people that we grow apart from due to life, kids, marriages, moves........ Tragic really. No more. We talked about life and love, kids and craziness, marriages and remarriages, moves and movies...... and challenges, and sadness, and joy --- but mostly we laughed. And laughed. And laughed. Sorry about the missing years, Mary.... won't happen again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0