Day 10 - Farmington, New Mexico to Flagstaff, Arizona

Tired and going to bed at 7:30 usually means up early and we were. Very early, as in just getting light. Anyway we packed up and headed to Ron's for a quick breakfast sandwich. Next up gas and westbound on US 64 to Shiprock and then South on US 491. Both highways alternated between good and needing a lot of repair, but both were 4 lane, so all was good.

US 491 took us to Gallup on Interstate 40 and the Starbucks visited eight days ago. Having recently driven this stretch of Interstate 40, there was nothing new and today it was just getting from one place to another. We made one stop for a walk around and another in Holbrook for a latte.

Arriving in Flagstaff too early to check in, we drove another 20 miles to Williams to check out the railroad hotel there. We prefer the other two. As it was lunch time, we decided on the Goldies Route 66 Diner. What a good choice. Kinda like a old time diner.

Barb Liked the diner	Haven't seen one of these in years

Heading back to Flagstaff, Barb called and found we could check in early. 5:00 reservation at Red Lobster for a lite dinner and probably an early night.

Tomorrow we head home, but first a side trip to have breakfast with very good friends in Chino Valley, Arizona.

Day 8 - Around Colorado Springs

As expected we showed up at Einstein Bagels to share another bagel sandwich. Will be the last for this trip.

Last night we were told of all the growth off Interstate 25 North of town, so decided to take a look. Its true, what was in our time mostly grassland is now almost entirely built up. Big office buildings, hotels and strip malls. Its all there. Including a couple of Starbucks.

With nothing to do till lunch, we headed to South end of town to wander the around the Citael Mall. We were hoping it wouldn't be mostly shut down like the one the other day. We arrived a little before 10:00, only to find it didn't open till 11:00. So it was back to the hotel to do a little packing and await lunch time.

Well, we did a little packing and then went to Marigold again for their French onion soup. Still the best.

Took one last drive up to Peregrine. This is the house we had built in 1995, when we moved from Portland to The Springs.

This was really a beautiful home. Three story, 4,200 square feet, four bedrooms, four baths, large woodshop and great views. All for two people. We are now in the one story stage of life.

Had a great dinner and conversation with good friend Steve at P.F Chang's. Steve is one Colorado Springs friend we get to see often, as he visits Arizona most every year.

Packing is mostly done now. Hopefully and early start tomorrow for our drive to Farmington, New Mexico. Only two more nights and we will be home.

Day 7 - Around Colorado Springs, Colorado

It is now an offical habit that we start the day splitting a Einstein bagel. Then it was back to the hotel to wait for the weather to warm up just a little. Not really used to cold mornings.

We tested Interstate 25 South to see what the traffic might be like when we leave in two days. Not bad, moving a lot better than I thought it would. Next up was to getting gas, which was just a bit less expensive than at home. Then it was off to The Garden of the Gods.

So today's post is going to be mostly about The Garden of he Gods. Colorado Springs has the Air Force Academy, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, nearby 14,110 foot Pickes Peak and many other worthy attractions. But for me, The Garden of the Gods tops them all. All of the following photos can be enlarged by clicking. But first a video.

Click on photos to enlarge:

The photos represent just a small part of the park. Paths wind through the area and you ony realize the height of these slabs of pink sandstone and limestone they are when you are actualy among them.

We took another drive up around Peregrine and then headed to lunch. Needing something on the healthy side opted for salad and soup at Olive Garden.

Barb did some housekeeping (also known a laundry), while I worked on getting the photos ready for the Blog.

Had a great time at dinner tonight at Jose Muldoon's. Joining us were three very, very good friends from my working days. Talking about the old days brought back a lot of memories.

Tomorrow we have no plans, so will be starting with a clean slate.

Day 6 - Around Colorado Springs, Colorado

Last night I finally figured out how to fix the adding photos problem, so I'm posting one I meant to do earlier. I've never had a problem before, but it seems switching to the Chome browser solved the problem. This was taken at the Santa Fe Plaza the first day we were day.

Started the day by splitting an Einstein bagel and then back to our room to put up the Service Room sign. Then it was off to Cripple Creek.

Starting out early meant Interstate 25 South was an easy drive, as was US 24 westbound. Starbucks in Woodland Park, Colorado showed up as expected and provided a mocha to fuel the morning. We continued on US 24 to Divide, Colorado, and then headed South on Colorado 87.

This is not a two lane highway you want to take in winter. Topping out at 10,205 feet, with a few severe dropoffs and curves to match, the guardrails offer evidence of driver mistakes. On the other hand, it is a very bueatiful drive, with tall trees, mountains and the kind of views that distract drivers.

Looking down on Cripple Creek. Most of the building to the left are hotel/casinos. Note the small white cross in the foreground. There were many of these down the hillside.

This is looking down part of East Bennett Avenue. Most buildings on both sides of the street are casinos. East Bennett doesn't look very steep. Just a small hill, but at 9,494 feet a small hill becomes a big hill if you are not used to the altitude. We weren't.

I don't know if its the state of the economy, but every slot (and there were a lot of them) I saw in Bronco Billy's was 1 cent. Now you could opt to play 5 to 30 cents per pull, but you could also have a 100 pulls per dollar. If you win a few cents every 10 pulls, you play a long time on a double sawbuck.

And how do I know all this? Well, I went into Bronco Billy's, put my twenty bucks in and 10 minutes later walked away a winner. I considered it a win as I didn't put another twenty in.

Avoiding anymore casinos, we were off on County Road 1 to Florissant, Colorado. Again a nice drive in the country. Then back down US 24 and Interstate 25 to Biaggi's for a bowl of soup.

Later we met old friends Randy and Ivy for dinner at the Bonefish Grill. What an excellent choice and what a fun time to talk over old and new times. A very nice way to end a day.

Tomorrow we will revisit The Garden of the Gods. Hopefully we will find a parking spot and be able to walk among the rocks.

Day 5 - Around Colorado Springs, Colorado

Two immediate missions to start the day. First was breakfast, so we headed to Einstein Bagels to split a breakfast sandwich. Second, we needed to find Barb a hoodie to protect her from the cold. Cold that is compared to Arizona.

Since the shops didn't open until 10:00, we drove up to Peregrine to check out our old home. Other than a new coat of paint, it looked the same as when we had it built in 1995. Rising to over 7,200 feet, Peregrine is mountainside residential community surrounded by pine trees and Colorado's red rocks. We miss it.

Once back at The Promenade Shops At Briargate (pretty fancy name, right?), it wasn't too long before Barb found the hoodie she wanted. Now cold mornings and over airconditioned restaurants will no longer be an issue.

After a little more driving around, we headed to Marigold Cafe and Bakery for lunch. This place has the very best French onion soup and it was all I ever ordered when living in The Springs. Just as good today as back then.

After lunch the day kinda went South. First on our afternoon list was a visit to The Garden of the Gods. This is an amazing place and as soon as Iremember how to put photos up I will do so. We learned quickly that one does not want to visit The Garden of the Gods on a Saturday afternoon. I don't ever remember seeing this many cars before, but then it has been over 20 years and my memory may not be quite what it once was. We managed to take a quick route through, passing several parking lots that were full with people waiting to get in.

The second item on our list was to visit Old Colorado City, which is a few blocks of interesting shops to poke through. Again too many cars and no parking.

We will try both of these again on Monday, when everyone should be back to work. In the meantime, we decided to take a drive up Highway 24 as far as Woodland Park. A short, but scenic drive and one I made many times to fly fish the South Platt at Deckers, Colorado. Well, we didn't get as far as Woodland Park, turning around about halfway. Traffic was heavy and moving fast. So we took the long way back to the hotel and made plans for dinner.

Having dinner with friends the next three nights, we opted to share a hamgurger at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar and it was a good choice. Very good burger and the sauce for the fries was outstanding. Picked up a Starbucks Latte and took a short drive up to the golf course I played a lot back in the day.

In spite of the problems we had with traffic and crowds, it was another fun day. Tomorrow we hope to get out early and head up to Cripple Creek. I say up to because the highway there will take us up near 11,000 feet. Hopefully the slots will be kind.

Day 4 - Santa Fe, New Mexico to Colorado Springs, Colorado

Started the day with another very good breakfast courtsey of the Inn. After packing, loading the car we were off for our next overnight in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Shortly after leaving Santa Fe, we passed by Glorieta, New Mexico, which was the site of the only Civil War battle in New Mexico. Sometiimes called the Gettyesburg of the West, it ended the Confederate hopes of accessing mineral resources in Colorado. While a tactical win for the South, it was a strategic win for the North.

Further on we we had two reasons to pause in Las Vegas, New Mexico. First, was a stop to check out the Castandea Hotel. The Castandea is one one of three old railroad hotels in New Mexico and Arizona. The other two are La Posada in Winslow, Arizona and the Grand Canyon Railroad Hotel in Williams, Arizona. These are old hotels that have been refurbished with modern amenities, but retaining their old world charm. We have stayed in La Posada and Castandea is now on our to do list. Second, Las Vegas had the only Starbucks for several hundred miles.

The drive through Northern New Mexico is a beautiful one. For the most part excellent road surface and visually very pleasing to the eye. Except for the number of crosses planted beside the highway. We must have passed six or seven, the worse of which was a group of five all planted together. Most were located where you would think there was no chance for an accident.

In the many times we have traveled Interstated 25, we have never stopped in Wagon Mound, New Mexico. In fact, we have never even thought of stopping. Years ago, Barb had a friend who retired and moved to Wagon Mound, so this time I took the exit to see what Wagon Mound was about. With a population of 264 harty souls we didn't expect much and got less. Most of the downtown, all of two blocks, was mostly buildings with plywood windows and door. Wagon Mounds claim to fame is a nearby butte named, strangely enough, Wagon Mound, which was a landmark for wagon trains on the Santa Fe Trail.

Just before entering Colorado, we made it over the Raton Pass, elevation 7,834 without incident. In the past we have encountered one lane, with snow up to the car's side windows.

Lunch was so bad it will receive no further mention. Our motel for the next five night also will not receive further mention. Dinner at Biaggi's was the bright spot of the afternoon. Biaggi's was the site of my company retirement dinner twenty plus years ago.

Tomorrow we do stuff around Colorado Springs.

Day 3 - Around Santa Fe, New Mexico

Started the day with a great breakfast at the hotel. Far and away better than the usual found at most overnights. And it was included with the room.

After breakfast we walked to Starbucks for a mocha and then found a sunny bench in the plaza. Lot of activity in the streets surronding the plaza. Vendors were starting to set up for a three day festival that starts tomorrow. Looks like it should be a good time, with music, food and probably an ample supply of pottery, jewelry thrown in. Too bad we will mis it. Since it was early and shops hadn't opened yet, we headed back to our room to rest up for the shopping that lay ahead.

For three hours we looked for that pair of earings and for three hours they remained elusive. By 1:00 it was time for water and a break, so it was back to the room.

When there is shoppinng to do, returning to the room can be a problem. Both of us decided to take naps and time did fly by. When we awoke and saw the weather predicted rain, we decided to cancel dinner at The Shed and any further shopping on the plaza.

Just past 4:00 we headed down to the complimentary happy hour. We both opted for Cream Sherry and then headed to dinner at the hotel. By this time it was raining hard, with very loud thunder. Glad we cancelled The Shed, as we both had forgotton coats of any kind.

Barb ordered a Quesadilla, while I chose Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas. Both were very good. Cuisine of Northern New Mexico differs from that of Mexico, in that there is a heavy reliance of chile peppers and the use unique ingredients like blue corn and pinon nuts.

Then it was back to the room to start packing for the drive to Colorado Springs.

Day 2 - Gallup, New Mexico to Santa Fe, New Mexico

Up at 6:00 (an hour before the alarm) and down for the hotel (in name only) breakfast by 6:45. A short drive back to the West got a Starbucks mocha and then it was off again Eastbound on Interstate 40.

New Mexico is a very pretty state when the sun is coming up. Not that it isn't pretty at other times of the day, but the sun shining over, around and off of the mountains, mesas and red rock outcroppings really is a beautiful sight in the early morning.

Interstate 40 changes quickly from smooth to rough. I'm guessing a combination of winter weather and the abundance of trucks takes it's toll. Dodging the not so filled in potholes quickly becomes an art, which I have nearly mastered. Besides the potholes, another interesting feature is the number of damaged guardrails. And by damaged I don't mean just a small dent. Drivers are taking out 10, 20, 30 or more feet of guardrail, along with the rather substantial posts that secure them in place.

New Mexico is a land of (pick one) indigenous people, native Americans or Indians. Today we passed through the Sandia, San Felipe, Acoma, Laguna and Santo Domingo Pubelos. There may have been more, but not less. Pubelos are not Reservations. Pubelo Indians were granted their land by a 1848 treaty between the United Stated and Mexico.

Arriving in Santa Fe much too early to check in, we did our usual walk up to the Plaza, stopping to visit some of the Indian pottery, jewelry and art establishments that inhabit old downtown. Purchases will be saved till tommorrow after all establishments have been inspected or until Barb finds the earings she wants. At which point it's mission accomplished.

After Some serious window shopping we returned to our upgraded room at The Inn of the Governors. We have been staying there for around 24+ years and always seem to get an upgrade to a suite in The Governors Wing. The Inn is two blocks from the plaza and near everything that matters, like all those pottery, jewerly and art establishments. It's also near really great restaurants like Coyote Cafe, The Shed, and La Plazuela. Tonight it was La Plazuela for really great Northern New Mexico cuisine and tomorrow we will visit our old friend The Shed.

All in all another great day. Now if we can just find thoses earings Santa Fe will be a success.

Day 1 - Home to Gallup, New Mexico

Out the door and on the road at 8:04 AM for a long overdue drive through Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. We headed North on Interstate 17 toward Flagstaff, Arizona, with only a quick stop in Anrthem, Arizona for a Starbucks. Reaching Flagstaff we turned East on Interstate 40 to our first overnight in Gallup, New Mexico. As with most trips, the first day is usually just getting somewhere to start the trip and today that somewhere was Gallup.

We have driven this route so many times that we expected nothing new and weren't disappointed. Two Arrows was still there, but missing an arrow. Two Guns had no guns at all. The Painted Dessert, Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater National Landmark remain remarkably intact. We passed on Apache Death Cave (who needs death on the first day) and $29 each is a little rich to see a hole in the ground.

One town of note along the way was Winslow, Arizona, home of "Standin' On The Corner In Winslow, Arizona" fame. Winslow is also home of La Posada Hotel, which is one of three remaining old railroad hotels in Arizona and New Mexico. The recently brought back to life Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, is our next Railroad Hotel to try. Our arrival in Winslow marked the change from AM to PM and got us a 6" Subway sandwich to split.

The drive from lunch to Gallup was uneventful, except for the number of trains heading both East and West. And only the number of trains, but the length. Some had three engines in front, three engines in the middle and two engines at the rear. These trains went on forever and most were stacked two high with containers. Receiving on average one or two Amazon delivers a week, I was not surprised at the number of Amazon containers moving both directions.

Our Overnight was upgraded to a King Suite, which turned out to be very nice. Dinner was at Don Diego's and was very good, with a very reasonable price. All in all a good day. Hopefully the first of many. Tomorrow we are headed to Santa Fe for two nights.

To Chino Valley and Back

Day 1

Needing a few days away from the heat in Surprise, we headed up to visit friends in Chino Valley, Arizona. At an altitude of just over 4,700 feet, it would be just what we needed. The initial part of the drive on US 60 is less than interesting, but once on State 89 the scenery, as well as the temperature, improved. Passing through Congress (population 1,811) we started the climb up the White Spar Highway, which is home to some rather spectacular views.

Part way up the highway is the Granet Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. The park was created to remember the nineteen members of the Granet Mountain Hotshots that died there on June 30, 2013, fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire.

At the top are the towns of Yarnell (population 579), Peeples Valley (population 374) and Wilhoit (population 664). Not a lot of large towns in this neck of the woods. From Wilhoit to Prescott is about 14 miles of twisty, curvy road that you do not want to leave, as the drops are severe. Once in Prescott, we stopped for lunch at the LazyG Brewery. This is a must stop for us every up to visit our friends and its always the Turkey Club Wrap and Sunshine Blonde Ale.

Arriving in Chino Valley, we spent the rest of the day visiting with old friends that were neighbors from our Oregon days. And there may have been some adult beverages joining the conversation.

Day 2

The first morning in Chino Valley means The Skillet for breakfast. The Early Bird menu is great and the coffee is free. Anywhere else you are paying $3 to $3.50 a cup, but not at The Skillet.

The rest of the day was spent visiting and solving many of the World’s problems, followed by diner at the Texas Roadhouse. Three orders Country Fried Chicken and one order Fried Catfish, along with two sides apiece, made for an excellent diner. No wonder the place was packed at four in the afternoon. Four diners and drinks for under $90, what a deal.

Back at the house for a little more of the adult beverage and then a good night’s sleep.

Day 3

Since our hosts had appointments in the morning, we were up and on the road early. Not wanting to drive back through Prescott, we took usual route home through Skull Valley to Yarnell. Just as scenic, but a lot less curvy. A quick stop in Wickenburg at the new Starbucks and we were home. Nice drive and its always good to visit with old friends.

Day 3 - Las Cruces to Home

Wanting to get an early start, we were down when breakfast opened. Same fare as yesterday, scrambled eggs and turkey sausage. Quick and adequate.

It always seems the drive heading home goes by quicker and today was no exception. Very little traffic on Sunday and every rest stop we passed was packed with trucks, which meant I was having to share the road with them. I will say it is much more enjoyable to be driving West rather the East in the early morning.

Once again, we managed to pass up stopping to see "THE THING", which is advertised on dozens of billboards along the way. How we passed that exit and missed finding out the secret of "THE THING" is truly a miracle. On other trips we have also passed up the five-legged steer and the world's largest prairie dog.

Lunch plans were made and abandoned and we finally gave up and just headed home. Nice short trip and we came home with some nice Hatch chile peppers and salsa.

Day 2 - Around Las Cruces and Hatch, New Mexico

Started the day with breakfast at the motel. Scrambled eggs, one turkey sausage and orange juice kept my diet on course. Next up was a Starbucks mocha and we were ready to start the day.

Today was our day to head to Hatch, New Mexico. Hatch, a town we have visited several times, is the Chile capitol of the country. Hatch green chiles have found their way into everything cheeseburgers to wine to vodka and really good salsa.

Rather than take Interstate 25 North, I decided to take one of those backroads that we find interesting and well worth the extra time. Today it was North on State Route 185, which parallels the Rio Grande River on its way South.

Along the way there were hundreds of acres of nut trees, which we later learned were pecans. Closer to Hatch there were hundreds of acres of green chile plants. There were also some pretty nice-looking homes, whose inhabitants most likely owned all those acres. At a wide spot in to road; there was a bar with a big sign saying "Hide From Wife Here."

Once in Hatch we parked and went immediately to Hatch Chile Sales. Barb bought 4 mild green chiles and a chile powder. Next, we walked down to the Village Market, where you will not find a better or more extensive selection of salsas. We have bought here before and today we left with three bottles, one of which we will share with friends. As it wasn't lunch time yet, we passed on the Valley Cafe, which has the very best Green Chile Cheeseburger. Bummer. Then it was back to Hatch Chile Sales for a couple of hot green chiles and some local grown onions. When I tried to pay for this purchase the lady just smiled and said "no worries." What a genuinely nice person.

Heading back to Las Cruces we took the same backroad and saw all the scenery in reverse, while heading to Dillard's for a must have item for Barb. Once that was done it was time for lunch. After wandering around lost for about an hour we gave up on lunch and decided it would be a good time to get gas, since the get gas now light was on. At that point our luck turned. When pulling out of the Shell station there was a Subway. We split a 6" And headed back to the motel for a before dinner rest.

After a short rest we headed to Mesilla, New Mexico. Mesilla is a true old Southwest town. A central plaza, surrounded by adobe buildings speaks to its Spanish past. One corner of the plaza houses the courthouse where Bill the Kid was sentenced to death. Pancho Villa and Pat Garrett were among the famous that roamed its streets.

After some window shopping, we met or son and his wife for diner at La Posta De Mesilla. Great margaritas and very good food, we recommend it in the area.

Tomorrow, we head back home after a fun little drive.

Day 1 - Home to Las Cruces, New Mexico

Thought we were to have a short drive today. But no, turned out to be 433 miles, which about 100 more than I like to do these days. Our second mistake was to forget New Mexico is one hour ahead of us in Arizona. So, when we left at 8:00 it was really 9:00. Live and learn and do a little better planning.

Headed South on AZ 85 to Gila Bend, which is usually a nice drive, except we just made that drive one day ago. Usual scenery, 2 landfills, 1 state prison and several rivers without water. Rivers without water is pretty much the norm here in Arizona.

At Gila Bend we headed East on Interstate 8, Which is one of my favorite highways. No traffic. During an hour or so I passed no one and was passed 5 times. However, once Interstate 8 ended at Interstate 10 we picked up all the truck traffic headed East out of the port in Las Angeles.

Tucson finally gave up a much-welcomed Starbucks mocha, which is fuel on most trips. Once we reached Benson, Arizona the traffic had thinned out; not as many cars and just as many trucks. Our plan was to have lunch at a Subway in Wilcox, Arizona. Turned out it was in a truck stop, so we moved on to a Burger King.

Crossing into New Mexico gave us better roads and a little construction. Finally, Las Cruces and our motel showed up. After searching the internet for an evening meal, we decided on La Posta De Mesilla Had diner there sometime in the past at remains excellent. Tonight, we shared an Appetizer, deciding to save ourselves for tomorrow night when we would return when friends.

All in all, not a bad day. Learned a little something that may be useful for a trip in 2025.

Day 13 - Henderson, Nevada to Home

It appears The Good, The Bad and The Ugly weren't through with us. You may remember I mentioned yesterday that Barb's dinner wasn't quite up to snuff. Well, during the night said dinner took its toll on her. One very sick Barbara. With time she managed to fight the dinner to a standstill and by mid-morning a draw was agreed upon.

My own troubles began about 1:30 am, when I lost contact with the mattress and ended up on the floor. Not just any floor mind you. This was a very solid first floor concrete floor, with very little in the way of carpet. I estimate between two and three sheets of paper between me and the concrete. Anyway, I landed on mostly on my head, shoulder and knee, all on the left side. Recovery was hindered by a small distance (18 inches max) between bed and wall. Barb was there in a flash and soon I was sitting on the bed, repeating "I want to go home." And we would have if it hadn't been O Dark Thirty. Neither of us were comfortable the rest of the night and so were up at 5:00 and driving away by 5:30. Once again Ron provided a breakfast sandwich and before long we were on our way home.

Not much traffic that time of the morning and soon we were on the new Interstate 11, which still took us over Hoover Dam but without having to go downtown Boulder City. That's a big plus. The next 204 miles were on US 93, taking us to Kingman, Arizona followed by Wickenburg, Arizona. I got to tell you that except for a brief moment in Kingman, this is one very lonely drive. The only challenge along the way is to see which of us will spot the first Saguaro cactus.

At Wickenburg we took US 60 to Surprise, Arizona and 16 miles later we were home.

Day 12 - Carson City, Nevada to Henderson, Nevada

Well, today was more or less a “The Good, Bad and the Ugly” kind of day. Wanting an early start, we picked the only breakfast establishment that opened at 6:00 am and that was the Cracker Box. Having eaten there before we knew the food was good and service fast.

Having tired of US 95 from Fallon South past Goldfield, we decided to take US 395 down to Big Pine and then State 168 and State 266 over to US 96. The Good for this decision was the scenic beauty of the lakes (Topaz and Mono) and the Sierra Mountains, some still with snow. The Bad was the four or five (who remembers how many) construction zones, all of which were one-lane, resulting in waits for pilot cars.

The Ugly was state routes 158 and 266. Starting as simple two-lane country, first 158 and later 266 turned into narrow, curvy rolling roads. Now, I don’t mind these kinds of roads one bit. In fact, I’ve always enjoyed that kind of driving. Barb, of the other hand hates narrow roads with curves, can’t see the bottom drop offs and big elevation changes.

Once on US 95, we had a good ride on a mix of two and four lane roads. In Beatty we paused at the Stage Coach Hotel & Casino for a much need rest break and managed to avoid the slots of the way out.

Down the road Barb relieved me at the wheel for about 20 minutes, which was Good as I was getting a little sleepy. During this part of the drive, we finalized our plan for dinner at Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, before checking into our motel. Plugged the address into the GPS and off we went through Las Vegas. The next 20 minutes was Ugly, with mid-afternoon traffic and missed turns. My Lady in The Dash (LITD) was kept busy getting me back on course.

The Bad sprang up again when the LITD deposited us at a checkered flag and announced we had reached our destination. It was now up to us to find the restaurant in a Mall Maze. The Good was we managed to find our dinner spot in spite of walking around in 111-degree heat.

And the last Ugly of the day was Barb’s dinner. What she ordered was a pulled pork sandwich. What she got was a pulled pork sandwich without a bun. When she asked “what gives” she was told she had ordered the lunch portion and the lunch portion doesn’t come with a bum. When she pointed out that sandwich usually means bun, they brought her one.

Had we thought about it earlier, we would probably have driven home tonight, but instead we are in another motel. I suspect we be up early tomorrow and be home by noon.

457 miles today

Day 11 - Bend, Oregon to Carson City, Nevada

Wanting to be first in line for breakfast at 7:00am, we set the alarm for 6:00. We were ready to leave at 6:19. We’ve been doing this for a long time and are just too fast in the morning.

So, we changed plans and headed South on US 97 to La Pine, Oregon and yet another of Ron’s establishments. Being semi-skilled at ordering at a kiosk we did so and dutifully fill in 101 as our table. Knowing your table number, they usually bring your meal to you. Not so in La Pine. Our table sat 7 feet from the take-out counter and that’s where our breakfast was left with a hearty “Table 101” shouted for all to hear. The clerk, who had seen her share of take-out, couldn’t be troubled to walk 7 feet.

Most times we opt for a left turn onto the Fremont Highway just South of La Pine and we did so today. Fewer cars and trucks and much more scenic makes it the best choice.

Near Silver Lake we passed near the Cowboy Dinner Tree, a restaurant we have visited a few times. It was a 2-hour drive for us, so it was only for special occasions. The Cowboy Dinner Tree has two items on its menu, a 30-ounce top sirloin steak and a whole roasted chicken. That’s it. Of course, salad, soup, a baked potato and dessert are included. So, bring an ice chest and take home-fixings for the next few nights.

Most of the drive was uneventful. Did have a deer run across the road ahead of us, but not close enough for concern. Still some snow on the Southern Cascades and to the West around Reno.

Barb’s only complaint today was no lunch. The route today included taking the Standish Cutoff, which meant we missed a Starbucks and lunch in Susanville, California. However, we did score a very good mocha at a little coffee hut in Lakeview.

The bugs along our route in California were not only large, with ample liquid content, but hit the windshield with a stunningly loud bang. So, our first stop in Carson City was to fill the tank and clean the windshield. Tank was easy, bugs not so much.

Next up was Olive Garden, before even checking in. Did I mention Barb was hungry and I wasn’t far behind. Anyway, once fed we checked in and are now wait for the last full day drive tomorrow to Henderson, Nevada.

422 miles today

Day 10 - Around Bend, Oregon

With a 9:00 am breakfast date, we slept in late and finally loaded the car about 8:00. First stop was Fred’s for gas and then The Original Pancake House to meet with Tom and Sharon. A good hour’s worth of chatter got us caught up and then we were off to do some shopping. Tom and Sharon were among our earliest friends when we retired to Redmond.

Our must buy list for Oregon included Andouille Sausage from Carlton Farms in Carlton, Oregon and Portland Ketchup, from where else but Portland, Oregon. Carlton Farms Andouille is the best ever and, barring an emergency, the only one we use. As for the Ketchup, it’s from Oregon, so organic of course and contains sugar, cloves, onion, allspice, cayenne and more. Good stuff.

So, our first stop was Newport Market, when we managed three packages of sausage and two bottles of Ketchup. Realizing we had a little extra room in the ice chest a second stop was made at Market Of Choice for one more package. Four packages, two bottles and shopping was done. On our way out there was Tom and Sharon with their bag of groceries. A short conversation later we headed out on a 38-mile drive to Prineville for a Starbucks.

With a mocha in hand and lots of time before we could check in, we decided on a drive up the Crooked River to Bowman Dam. The Crooked River was a favorite fly-fishing spot in my Oregon days. Beautiful river, easy to wade and fish to catch. Nothing better than standing in the river waving a stick.

I could easily put a fly in this water

For our third night in Bend, we decided on stay at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. McMenamins is a chain of pubs and hotels that the brothers built using old buildings, such as old schools, old hotels and even an old Elks Lodge. Where we are staying was once a Catholic school

They do an outstanding job of rehabbing these old buildings, always building in a lot of special features. For example, here at Old St. Francis School there are a number of different buildings, with guest rooms and bars. In one such building, we took an elevator to the third floor and found the broom closet. Inside there were brooms hanging on the walls of a small, narrow room. I starting pushing and pulling on the brooms and suddenly a part of the wall opened into a very small bar. Pretty neat. Dinner was at McMenamins and very good as unusual.

Tomorrow we start our return home with a drive to Carson City, Nevada.

109 miles today.

Day 9 - Around Bend, Oregon

Up very early (like 5:45) for no apparent reason other than very early to bed. This means a long wait to meet our friends for breakfast at the Moose Sisters at 9:00. Moose Sisters? Yes, we have had a few meals there and all have been very good.

Temperature in Bend today is projected to be 93, while at home in Surprise it will reach 113. No question where I went to be today. And it looks like there may be a monsoon at home, which will bring the humidity to an uncomfortable level.

With no great plans for the day except breakfast, we set out at 8:05. Today we would meet up Neal and Phyllis, two of our oldest friends from the Redmond days. It was really fun to sit down and catch up after six years apart. These two are truly the best of the Greatest Generation.

Next up we headed to Sisters, Oregon, to do a little poking around and play tourist. The drive was a short 19 miles West on US 20. Most of my experience on US 20 in Oregon and Idaho has been mostly a two lane, out in the country road. Little did I know until recently that US 20 stretches from Newport, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts and at 3,365 miles is one of the longest highways in the US. Anyway, Sisters was a bust. To many cars, to many people and most of the stores we knew from the past had closed. A real bummer.

In short order we headed back, this time on State 126, so we could do a drive by on our old home in Eagle Crest. The house was still there and from the looks of it well cared for by the new owner. Across the street a lady was sitting on her front porch. Barb rolled down the window and waved and in no time we were sitting out on Mike and Susie’s back deck catching up again on six years. We met them in 2002 a couple of years before building our home. Great couple.

Finally found out what all the traffic was about in Redmond. Apparently, we ended up in the middle of a three day of music festival at the Deschutes County fairgrounds. While the 30 or so acts were probably all very good, the traffic was most likely the result of Willie Nelson appearing today. If I was still living in Redmond, I’d be there.

Barb, getting just a little tired of the traffic and crowds, suggested we head off to the River House and have one of their exceptional Bloody Marys. The words were barely out of her mouth and I was plugging the address in to GPS. Minutes later we had A) a window table, B) a view of the Deschutes River and, C) a really great Bloody Mary in hand. Suddenly all was right with the world.

Today we opted for an early dinner and that took us to Pisanos Woodfired Pizza in Tumalo, Oregon. For us, the Diavola pizza is the best pizza ever. Better than any other we have ever had.

When we travel for more than a week, we must have housekeeping days every 7 or 8 days. This usually means doing some laundry, but can also include a car wash, an oil change (really long trips), a haircut and shopping for necessities. Having done as much as 48 days on a trip, we have done all of these and more. Today it is laundry, so while I’m writing this up Barb is somewhen making friends with a washing machine and dryer. Always pays to bring a roll or two of quarters.

Tomorrow is breakfast with old friends from our Eagle Crest days. Other than that, no plans.

86 mile today

Day 8 - Florence, Oregon to Bend, Oregon

Up at 5:55 and on the road at 6:30. First stop was Ron’s place for a breakfast sandwich. We are really getting pretty good at ordering from the kiosk.

First part of the drive was on State 126, which is very scenic, heavily forested, two-lane road winding through the Coast Range mountains. Not a lot of traffic and when there was a passing lane would suddenly appear. Near Eugene, we took the Beltway to Interstate 5 and the end of scenic. On the plus side, all rest stops were open.

Later we were off on Interstate 205 and shortly thereafter at the Willamette National Cemetery. Why a cemetery on vacation? Barb’s parents are buried there, along with two uncles, and we came to pay a visit. With some recent additions, the cemetery covers nearly 308 acres and is currently home to over 188,000 veterans. Barb and I are pre-approved for burial in a National Cemetery and Willamette is a likely spot for us.

Barb's parents

After passing through the town of Boring, and yes, it is, we picked up US 26, which would take over the Cascade Mountains to Central Oregon. Along the way, Mt. Hood, the tallest in Oregon at 11,249 feet, still had snow. Photo was taken with an iPhone while the car was doing about 55 MPH.

A sudden slowdown in traffic had us wondering what was going on until we saw the vehicle off the roadway, upside down and below grade. Had to be some serious injuries there. It was a good 15 minutes before we encountered emergency vehicles headed their way.

The rest of the way into Bend was uneventful. We saw more snow on Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, all of the Three Sisters and Broken Top and the Alpaca ranch in Terrebonne had a number of young ones running around.

We were amazed at the amount of traffic going in Redmond and then between Redmond and Bend. Never saw traffic like the when we lived there.

We have three purchases that must be made before we return home. We checked off the first one on the list when we bought three boxes of food grade kitchen gloves at a really great commercial kitchen store.

Our hotel was at the Old Mill District, an area along the Deschutes River containing high end shops and restaurants. Our problem is that we are here on a Friday and Saturday and the crowds are out in force. Realizing we would never get into a nearby restaurant, we opted for old friend Jackson Corner, where Barb choose a salad and I ended up with a very good pasta dish.

Tomorrow we will have breakfast with friends and then poke around some of our old haunts.

351 miles today

Day 7 - Around Florence, Oregon

Not having a new destination today, we elected for some much-needed sleep and didn’t get up till 8:00. Felt good.

First stop of the day was at Ron’s place for a breakfast sandwich. Not exactly up to Black Bear standards, but we have plans for later in the day.

Walking around the waterfront we were surprised to see most shops didn’t open till 11:00. So, it’s prime tourist time on the Oregon coast and I guess the shops have made enough money to open late. Well, at least River Roasters, our favorite coffee shop in town, was open and ready to give us that day starting shot of caffeine.

By the time we had walked to end of the waterfront and back Kitchen Klutter, our favorite kitchen store, was open. A single, very inexpensive purchase did nothing for the local economy but made Barb happy and making Barb happy is important.

As 11:30 approached we headed to Mo’s Seafood & Chowder. We never miss lunch at Mo’s when in town. We both had a cup of what is the best clam chowder on the coast and split a shrimp appetizer. I can say that both went well with a Bloody Mary.

Back out at the hotel I spent an hour and a half on our deck in a cheap, plastic, poor imitation of an Adirondack chair watching the Pacific Ocean roll onto the beautiful Oregon coast.

Dinner was at the Waterfront Depot and it was excellent. Barb had crab encrusted cod, while I opted for the pasta jambalaya. We would both go back there in heartbeat. After dinner we did what my parents did in the evenings when they lived in Florence and stopped by BJ’s Ice Cream for a waffle cone to go.

Tomorrow we leave the coast and head to Central Oregon.

32 miles today

Day 6 - Eureka, California to Florence, Oregon

A quick continential breakfast at the hotel and 6:53 found us on our way. Well, almost on our way. Six blocks later we had our morning mocha and then were off. Timing was pretty critical today and we were on the road a little earlier than anticipated.

A short drive-up US 101 took us to the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, which is a fancy way of saying “A Drive Through the Redwoods.” We have made this drive several times before, but are always amazed by the size of these giant trees. While only about 10 miles in length, we could spend the better part of a day exploring the various trails if only we had the time.

Coast Redwoods can exceed 300 feet in height and 15 feet or more in circumference. They are the tallest trees in the world. Harvested for lumber the remaining giants are found in small groves in California and Oregon. They are truly stunning when seen up close.

Timing was critical today as we had to arrive at The Crazy Norwegian’s Fish & Chips in Port Orford very close to 11:35. You see, they open at 12:00 and there will be a large group vying for one of the seven tables. We arrived early as planned and were number three in line. We stop here every trip on the coast. The Crazy Norwegian has absolutely the best fish and chips ever. Hands down, no contest the best ever.

Just prior to crossing into Oregon we passed up All Star Liquors, which was a first for us. As I recall, the last time I scored a fine single malt. No worries, I’ll be this way again.

The rest of the drive was uneventful. We did discover Oregon, like California, lacks rest stops. Coos Bay offered up a much-needed rest break as well as some additional traffic.

Our room for the next two nights is adequate, which is exactly what we expected. On the plus side, it is the only place with excellent views of the ocean. Dinner was kind of a bummer. Our favorite place on the coast fell from favor and it was a long fall. I don’t think we will be going back. New place tomorrow night.

Tomorrow we spend the day in Florence. There’s a coffee shop and kitchen store waiting for us, as well as a cup of clam chowder at Moe’s.

285 miles today

Day 5 - Monterey, California to Eureka, California

The plan was to leave Monterey at 8:00 am, but as is usual with us we were up, packed and driving away at 7:00. I don’t know why we always have to get early starts. It’s just in our DNA. Today, however, the early start paid off.

With nothing to eat since yesterday’s lunch, our first priority was finding a decent spot for breakfast and Barb came up with a winner. Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the world, was kind enough to provide us with a Black Bear Diner, which is in our all-time Best Five for Breakfast. The senior menu offered just enough nourishment to last till the anticipated seafood dinner.

The first five or so hours of today’s trip were not good. First, there was numerous stop and go traffic on US 101 from San Jose to Burlingame. During this time, I did have the opportunity to note the vehicle with the greatest propensity to dart from lane to lane was the Tesla.

Then there was driving in San Francisco. US 101 turns into Van Ness and while not exactly downtown, it was something new for me to be in so much traffic, in narrow lanes and with large busses ever so close. We were both surprised by so many Boy Scouts camping out on the sidewalks. The colorful tents and other camping paraphernalia took me back to my own days of scouting.

Lastly, there was the hunt for a Starbucks. This saga began immediately after crossing the San Francisco Bay Bridge. The hunt started in the town of Sausalito and ended in Cloverdale. We searched Sausalito, San Rafael, Santa Rosa and Healdsburg without success. Mind you each of these towns had multiple Starbucks, we just couldn’t find any of them. Not with the car GPS or with the Starbucks App. We were going in circles and I have no doubt that at times we were with 30 feet of our quarry. In Cloverdale our quest came to an end when we found a Sinclair gas station in the same parking lot as a Starbucks. The rest of the drive was, thankfully, uneventful.

When in Eureka we always stay at the same motel for two reasons. First, it’s a nice place and second, they provide a stretch limousine to take us to dinner. Tonight it was The Sea Grill. I like oysters on the half shell and tonight it was Asian Kumamoto, raw, on the half shell, topped with Tobiko caviar, ponzu, lime and siracha. I would definitely do that one again. Barb had scampi and I had scallops. Both were very good. A quick call and the limousine was there to whisk us back.

403 miles today. Oh, by the way, we didn’t really didn't think they were Boy Scouts.

Day 4 - Monterey, California

Started the day much as I remember from my grade school days in Monterey. Dense fog. I’d say it was low tide, but can’t see for sure. Going to be 61° here today, while home is looking to reach a warm 114°. Glad to be where I am.

Last night we requested muffins, mini chocolate croissants, orange juice and coffee, which was delivered promptly as requested at 7:45 am. Did I mention we like staying at the Monterey Bay Inn?

Our first stop was to take a look at the house I lived in some 73 years ago. Still there on Seaview Avenue, but with a little different look as someone has added a partial second floor. Then down David Avenue (where I once waited for the school bus) to take Ocean View Boulevard from bay to ocean. With the fog, most of the drive consisted of assuming there was a view of the ocean. We did pass the Pacific Grove Golf Links, where in a past life I would tag along with my dad as he played.

I thought a drive over to Carmel would be fun. Encountering a heavy dose of traffic and narrow streets we headed back, planning to spend some time at Fisherman’s Wharf. With $15 parking we decided to head back to the hotel and take the free Trolly to the wharf.

Once the Trolly delivered us, we walked the wharf checking out the all the shops, finding more trinkets and t-shirts and looking over the posted restaurant menus. Although many looked good, we decided on the one at the very end of the wharf, where we had lunched years ago. Excellent clam chowder, very good fish and chips and so-so shrimp cocktail. The Monterey Wheat beer was perfectly cloudy and very good.

Back at the hotel we rested up a little and decided to pass on dinner tonight. This is only day four and I’m already fearing the return to diet status upon returning home.

Later we took one last walk-up Cannery Row, stopping at Tidal Coffee for a small Flat White and Mocha. Both were excellent. While enjoying our drinks and the warmth of a sunny afternoon, a group of medics passed by going to a lower patio. Curious, we snuck a look and saw that they were working on someone. It appeared they were taking out the paddles, which is never a good sign. As we walked back to the hotel an ambulance complete with lights and siren was headed to the scene.

All in all, another fun and relaxing day. Tomorrow we are off to Eureka, California.

23 miles today

Day 3 - Paso Robles, California to Monterey, California

Started the day with breakfast at the motel and it was actually pretty good. After loading the car, we had to stop at a Walmart to replace a worn phone charging cable. Then it was a Starbucks mocha to share and North on US 101.

Only a 2+ hour drive today, but what a nice short drive it was. For the first hour it was nothing but miles and miles of vineyards rolling over hill and dale. Later we moved on to cabbage, pimento, lettuce and a bunch of stuff we couldn’t identify. There was even one small field of corn.

A 10-minute stop at a grocery market in Salinas provided a quick walk about and a much need rest stop. California’s budget woes must be responsible for all the rest areas being closed. Bummer if you start the day with a coffee drink.

Salinas to Monterey is a short drive with a lot of traffic, especially on Sunday. With the short drive we were way too early to check in, like 5 hours too early. Our hotel is right on Cannery Row, so after pre-registration it was off to explore and find lunch.

In its heyday, Cannery Row was known for the canning of sardines and Monterey was made famous by several John Steinbeck novels, including Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday. Alas, while having several fine hotels and restaurants, Cannery Row has become the land of trinkets and t-shirts.

We decided on a lunch of a cup of clam chowder and sharing fish and chips, which we both rated as very good. Plus, we had a great window table with a fine view of the bay. The rest of the walkabout was a bust, with us finally returning to the car and resting until our room was ready. Resting for me was an afternoon nap.

We have stayed at the Monterey Bay Inn before, but this time was a little different with a bottle of 2020 Merlot waiting to help celebrate our anniversary. Dinner was at Schooners Monterey and it was a great experience. Very good food and a very good dessert and champagne courtesy of the restaurant for our anniversary.

124 miles today

Day 2 - Barstow, CA to Paso Robles, CA

Breakfast at Black Bear Diner and on the road at 8:06 for an easy drive westbound on State Highway 85. Along the way we passed Boron, California, where over one million tons of refined borates are produced every year. You may not know it, but borates are used in many products around the home.

Further on we passed Edwards Air Force Base and the Tehachapi Loop, where trains pass over themselves while climbing up over the mountains. We also encountered at least 1,000 or more wind turbines, of which a dozen or so were turning. Guess it’s time to start up the coal fueled plants.

It seems that almost every time I buy a new Apple product, they have changed connectors, which means the unit I use to download photos from camera to iPad no longer works. Took a chance in Bakersfield and checked Best Buy. Lucky me, they had the part. Now maybe I’ll be able to add photos now and then.

Rest of the drive to Paso Robles was pretty easy, except for some traffic near the end. Since it was too early to check in, we decided to visit Eberle Winery. Tasted eight wines and decided to join their wine club. Six bottles will be sent twice a year and we have a bunch of nice perks on our annual visit. Made a nice anniversary present for Barb.

The nice lady we worked with at the winery told us about the best restaurant in town and went to far as to call the owner and get us reservations to sit at the bar for dinner. What a great meal. Had to been in our all-time top three. And sitting at the bar gave us a prime view of the three chefs. A real treat.

We started the trip with a full tank of gas and 639 miles later I filled up in Paso Robles. Maybe that large gas tank is why it costs so much to fill up.

The day started hot and only got hotter. We are really looking forward to cooler weather in Monterey.

280 miles today

Day 1 - Home to Barstow, California

Well, after years of only being able to take a few days at a time to travel, we are finally on the road again. This time we are headed for Monterey, California to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. We will follow that up with a drive up the California and Oregon coast. After living in Arizona for the last six years, we intend to feast on seafood along the way. Then it's over to Bend, Oregon for a few days before heading home.

With a short travel day ahead of us, we didn't leave the house till 7:53 (that's a late start for us.) Our first problem of the day was our direction of travel took us was away from all local Starbucks. Bummer. But we headed West on Interstate 10 dodging trucks and the usual would be race car drivers. 132.5 miles later we found the often-visited Starbucks in Blythe, California. Sharing a Grande Mocha and all was right with the world.

Taking US 95 North out of Blythe was great for about 35 miles, with peak-a-boo views of the Colorado River trying to offset a lot of mostly dead palm trees. After that we ran into a lot of truck traffic, which on a two-lane road slowed us down considerably. Ok, we weren't in a hurry today.

Lunch was to be at a Subway in Needles, But I decided I didn't like the looks of the place and accidently ended up on Westbound Interstate 40. Five miles later we were able to reverse course and ended up having lunch at the Wagon Wheel restaurant. Great place. Outstanding club sandwich and onion rings. Leaving Needles on Interstate 40 was again something like a truck parking lot. And it was hot. 116 degrees hot. By the time we got to our overnight stop in Barstow temps were down around 110. A real cooling trend.

Along the way we found that the Historic Route 66 has been renamed, at least in California, to the National Trails Highway. Think I'll stick with Route 66.

A good deal of the afternoon conversation centered around where to have dinner. After the lunch we had it was decided to have something lite, like maybe soup or a bowl of chili. When we checked into the motel, they gave us some Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies and two bottles of water. Those added to the two hard-boiled eggs we brought along made a dinner of sorts. The decision has already been made for Black Bear Dinner tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow we are off to Paso Robles, which means wine country and one step closer to the coast.

402 miles today

Day 3 - Page, Arizona to Home

As usual when we travel, we were up way too early. I don't know what it is, but we just seem way too anxious to get on the road. Bags packed up, room checked, card keys turned and we were ready to find breakfast. Unfortunently the motel did not have a breakfast, so we were on our own. McDonald's being only a 1/4 mile away that's we ended up. Not the best way to start the day, but it worked.

The plan today was to meet friends in Rimrock, Arizona for lunch. Yeah, I'd never heard of Rimrock either. Anyway, Page to Rimrock was a 3-hour drive and we were about an hour and half early. With practically no traffic, I drove the speed limit and increased my miles per gallon. Plus, it's amazing how much more of the scenery you see when driving slowly. On the down side, it's a lot longer between rest stops.

In order to use up time we took the long route through Flagstaff and were rewarded with a Starbucks and the ever-important restrooms. I think we must have hit just about every red light through town, which helped us use up even more time.

Back on Interstate 17 it was speed limit all the way to Rimrock. The plan was to meet Steve and Sally (good friends in Redmond, Oregon, before we wised up and moved to Arizona) at the El Patio Bar and Grill. And what timing the four of us had; we pulled into the parking lot within minute of each other. Not bad considering they had over an hour drive.

As you might have guessed from the "El" in El Patio and Grill, it was Mexican cuisine and while I can't/won't speak for the others, mine was quite good. Steve and Sally live about two hours from us, so we don't get to see them too often. The hour plus we spent was a good time. 

The rest of the drive home was unremarkable. Well, except that Barb get the first Saguaro cactus. For the years we came to the Surprise area (before moving) the challenge was to see who spotted the first Saguaro. I usually win, but not this time. And here she is, the Winner

Well, it was great to finally get out for a drive. Not quite the 10-to-30-day road trips we have done in the past, but fun.