I’ve been flexible this winter with travel plans, some happened and others didn’t. In fact this was a remarkable winter for exploring new and old places. But I have to admit, I’m a tired traveler. What I don’t want to admit, is I’m aging. I thrive on travel, but it’s not always easy and when you’re on the go all the time it can be exhausting. Especially if solo, when everything to be done, is done by me alone.
The most recent plan to visit Arches, Canyonlands and stay with a Ranger friend at Capitol Reef were abandoned due to the long Easter weekend, when I didn’t want to be out with the crowds. Would have required way more driving than playing, and that’s just not my style.
I left Yarnell last Tuesday and picked up my new eyeglasses in Prescott. I like the totally new frame look but the lenses have to be re-ground because of a scratchy-smudge right in the middle of the right lens. Then headed just up the road to visit friends in Chino Valley. The wind blew all day and night, rocking the camper.
We had a great visit and I got to smooze with the Icelandics who are so friendly they’re almost always too close for full shot photos.
Took off Wednesday morning north with more wind pushing on the side of the camper until I pried my hands off the steering wheel in Flagstaff. By then I’d already changed the plan and parked at a friends place just out of town. We took a little loop drive through Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments, places I haven’t been in a long time.
With continued high wind Thursday my decision to head to Kanab, Utah where I’ll be dropping the camper off the truck seemed the best and would get me off the highway over the holiday. Besides, I got to visit with more friends. But the wind whipping across the Painted Desert was brutal and I made no stops. If I’d gotten out of the truck I’d surely been blown away.
I drove the newly opened SR89 up to Page. This road had fallen off the cliff face several years ago. The new road just reopened March 27 and winds against tall cliffs of sandstone. Unfortunately there are now less overlooks to park in and enjoy the distant view over Marble Plateau where the Colorado cuts its way to the Grand Canyon.
From Page I crossed the Glen Canyon Dam, not on the dam, and saw how low the water is by the white ‘bath tub ring’ below the red rock. Didn’t stop as I was focused on getting to Kanab and off the windy highway. Besides I’ve been there before.
Once I had the protection of the Cockscombs to the southwest the wind dropped a bit but still not enough to entice me out for a walk, although the landscape is breathtaking. Sorry, none of the drive-by photos do this country justice.
The towering rock formation called Mollie’s Nipple appeared in the distance approaching Kanab.
I arrived exhausted from fighting the wind then parked at a friends and did basically nothing for the next couple of days.
I am so thankful they helped me unload the camper. It’s a round and round job to jack it up high enough to drive out. Now I can hit the road back to Yarnell. Then in two weeks I’ll be hooking up to the 5th-wheel to head to the North Rim of Grand Canyon for my eighth summer season. And my first weekend I’ll drive the 85 miles to Kanab to put the camper back on the truck for the summer.
Good to catch up and see some areas I’m not familiar with.
Sure hope the wind is less when you bring the fiver.
I hope the spring wind will settle down for that 5er journey as well but don’t really feel it as much as the camper. I’ll bet it feels good to home, even with snow.
I can just imagine how the wind would exhaust you. So sorry you have to end your winter on such a tiring note. I just don’t drive in anything over 28 mph so I don’t know what I would do out there. Beautiful horses. Love seeing the picture of you.
If I have a choice, no driving in wind either. I just needed to get this done and get home for some rest. Those Icelandics are really special.
BIG mistype make that18 mph. Why do I always see these things AFTER I hit publish?
It is hard to admit the age is catching up with one. I still feel very young at heart but the muscles and bones don’t feel quite the same! You still have a while to catch up with me and you amaze me what you do. I hate wind, nothing worse except when it is bitterly cold. Take care Diane
Wind and cold just make my body ache and feel older. I look forward to summer in SA next year.
Glad to hear that 89 has finally reopened. Love that part of Utah, except for the wind.
It’s once again a beautiful drive but only one good pulloff now on the downhill side. Spring winds in the SW can be intense.
Parking at friends was a nice bonus, especially when helping to unload. Driving in wind is the worst!
It is nice to have friends along the journey. Sure hope there’s some around when I want to reload, that’s the hard part. Spring does bring wind to the SW. Hope all is well. Looked cold at the Easter egg hunt.
Glad to hear others among us are recognizing the tell-tale signs of being boomer travelers. Sigh. . .sometimes the getup and go wants to stay put! Loved this post. Your travels have been great – thanks for sharing them with us.
Thanks Jackie. I love to travel but it is nice to stay in one place for a little while I’m traveling. Have always said “can’t fight time or gravity” but I suffer from Peter Pan Syndrome.
Ah, these photos make me want to buy a fast car and zip down to catch up with you, then mosey slowly. Son-in-law’s parents are hiking somewhere in Zion; will let you know when they return.
I’d have liked it better if this last trip was a slow mosey. Am home now, resting for the next move. I’m sure they’ll love Zion.
You sure have done enough mileage during your vacation and although tired, I am sure you enjoyed it all but I agree, it can be tiring.
I did enjoy every tiring minute. Not as many miles as we did last year.
As I get older I need more rest but afterward you get up and keep on going. The alternative isn’t nice.
I’ve always found it strange how high winds are just plain exhausting. Outside you are always bracing yourself against them and driving is tiring also and I’ve never driven a truck with a camper on the back. That would be like a big sail to me.
Statistically, persistent strong wind makes humans aggravated. The drive with the ‘sail’ was exhausting. But a day of rest at home has me, almost, ready to pack again.
Nice wrap up of the last week, or so. Sorry about the glass’s. You would think someone would have checked, eh. Driving in wind can take much of the joy away. Also know what you mean about aging. The brain still says yes, but the old body says “I’ll show you”.
Thanks Jerry. Supposedly someone checks the glasses. Should get my replacement lenses this week. I used to enjoy driving more, but never in wind. And who is that old lady looking back at me in the mirror. 😉
The new glasses are great. I ordered my first “progressive” lenses today after only needing reading glasses for so long……yep, getting older 🙂 Glad to see you’re out from under the camper for a little while – hope the winds die down for the trip back to the rim. Love the ruins and the bright red K mountain.
I’ve worn progressives for years but this time I got them to listen to my definition of distance for close and mid. They have to lower my far distance on these new lenses so I don’t have to drop my head to see. Felt funny driving the truck with no load but it won’t be long now.
You’re looking good behind the new eye glasses, you’re rockin the style! As always, I love your photos and visiting the desert right along with you, albeit in my own head!
Thanks Patti. Always glad to share the desert, and soon the canyon again. I’m looking forward to your journey into places for me unknown.
Your drive by pictures really do show the ruggedness of this beautiful country. Sure glad you didn’t blow away; we drove the 5-W through there one time and I was afraid we’d take off and get airborne. I am in such awe and deep admiration of you doing what you do as a solo traveler.
Spring wind in the SW can be deadly and I’d rather not drive in it. Have been known to pull over and wait it out, when that’s possible. Seems I’m destined to travel solo.
Not to be a “nip picker” but that’s Mollie’s Nipple, not Zion you photographed from 89. Made famous by Ed Abbey in the Monkey Wrench Gang (Seldom Seen Smith was one of the few to ever summit it he wrote). I’ve been up it twice myself, but never summited, you get to the top and there is this ledge you have to walk along with a 700 ft drop off the northside of the Nip. I don’t do heights or dropoffs. Mollie’s Nipple was named by the one and only Jacob Hamblin of Kanab, the Mormons will tell you after his favorite cow, Mollie. I swamped for Grand Canyon Expeditions a few times in the 90s and the boatman I swamped for, a jack Mormon if ever there was, said that was a load of Mo-Mo Baloney. Orrin Porter Rockwell, the leader of the Dannites (the Mormon “assassins”) ran a “inn” at Point of the Mountain as you enter Salt Lake and employed a goodtime girl name Mollie who was Hamblins favorite whenever he went up to Salt Lake on church “business”.
Thanks for that head up. I’m not a climber so will never summit it either. Great stories about the name.