27 October 2015, Tuesday The sun rises late on the western edge of the central time zone. We do notwake until after 7:30 am. It’s another leisurely morning. We headnorth to Quartz Mountain State Park. These mountains are the left-overnubbins of what used to be high peaks – before erosion happened. Still,the mountains are striking because they are so unexpected in thesurrounding flat Oklahoma landscape. Once here at the park it
26 October 2015, Monday We both agree a stay in a motel for showers would be a good ideatonight. We visit the Blue Cafe and Bakery for breakfast in Carlsbadand are quickly on the road heading east into Texas. Most of the dayis spent driving through very flat land on very straight roads. Wedrive north and east across the northern panhandle towards Altus, OKwhich is about 30 miles from Quartz Mountain
25 October 2015, Sunday We are off to Carlsbad this morning to find breakfast before going tothe caverns for our ranger guided tour at 10:30 am. We forgot howdifficult it can be to find breakfast on a Sunday morning in a smalltown. Everything is closed except for Denny’s and IHOP. IHOP it is, asit is on the way to the caverns. Breakfast isn’t bad and we arrive in good time for
24 October 2015, Saturday Shortly after I finished journaling last night the generators powered off andthe campground once again became quiet. We slept well. This morning we eat our breakfast, break camp and say farewell toChiricahua by 8:15. We retrace our drive back to I-10 E and sooncross into New Mexico. There is not much to see except for dry desertscrub and distant mountains. We cross into Texas near El Paso.
23 October 2015, Friday We are back on the road. This morning we head towards ChiricahuaNational Monument. We drive through over 100 miles of desert basinand range. We finally get off of I-10 east and begin following signsto the National Monument. It seems improbable that there can beanything interesting out here, until we arrive at the canyon. IfGoblin Valley, Utah had petrified goblins, this place has trolls –giant trolls, and castles,
22 October 2015, Thursday Packing version 4.2 is completed and our campground reservations for the nextseveral nights are made. Together we have watched the first threeepisodes of Ken Burns’ series on the national parks. Viewing theplaces we’ve recently visited is like seeing old friends. And…I’mbeginning to get ideas for next year. We help S & C finish some of the chocolate delicacies we’ve beenenjoying over the past several days. O &
19-21 October 2015 Monday: We have the oil changed in Jazz before the last leg of our journey. Westock up on more groceries. O, S and C work on door repairs in the house. I have time to peruse one of our geology books. Thereis a photo in the book of Moki Dugway. I learn that the road wasoriginally built for trucks hauling uranium ore during the Cold War. I
18 October 2015, Sunday After breakfast today we tour Saguaro East National Park, a short drivefrom our “B&B.” Ois allowed to enter the park even though he wears his Grand Canyonshirt. We drive the auto loop that serves as an introduction to theSonoran Desert. After our tour we must stop and acquire more cheesecake brownies fordessert later this evening. We eat dinner and watch as the entirewestern sky glows flaming red
15-17 October 2015 Thursday: Just a quiet day spent vacuuming the car to get the last of the mouse fur, etc out of the car, going grocery shopping, doing laundry, and eating home-cooked delicious pancakes for breakfast. This is followed by homemade bread and minestrone soup for supper. Time to update the blog and relax. Friday: More catching up – eating fresh veggies, typing blog entries, finding good beer, looking
14 October 2015, Wednesday We are up in the cool of the morning. The tent is packed quickly and wetop off our water supply. Today we are leaving Grand Canyon. We havea farewell breakfast at El Tovar. I can’t resistone more serving of brie and raspberry jam stuffed french toast. Ojoins me, ordering the same breakfast. Soon we are on the road and heading south. We hope to camp in theSuperstitions