The most recent two week vacation to restore my sanity is over and I broke up the drive a bit on the way home from Bryce Canyon because it was hot and I don’t like to drive more than 3-4 hours in a day.
A rather uneventful two hour drive and 3000 foot drop in elevation off the Paunsaugunt Plateau with temperature increases and no stops along the way. There are a few cute small towns and I saw people rafting on the Sevier River but I didn’t need anything or want to cook the cat. Got to Kanab about 1pm. Parked, level, and plugged in with AC for Sierra and me at Bill’s house. I love being able to visit friends in the comfort of my own home.
The next day I continued on the way home via SR89 from Utah to Arizona through Page where I only stopped for fuel at 103°. The view was hazy with smoke from lightning started fires on the Kaibab National Forest and the Obi Fire on the North Rim.
I drove off pavement east into the Coconino National Forest north of Flagstaff and felt the temperatures drop as the elevation rose.
Found a nice place to camp with a signal and brought Sierra out on her leash. She lead me around walking like five feet and plopping down with heavy tail wags. Then would move on and do that again. We never walked more than 15 feet from the camper. I got the feeling she wasn’t entirely impressed. But the poor girl hadn’t been outside in a week. I figured she’d be really happy to be home the next day where she could run free.
Sadly as the evening settled, so did the smoke. Not bad enough to totally obscure the view but could definitely smell it and gave a little extra color to sunset.
Night above, morning below
In the morning the smoke had decreased for the rest of the drive on the way home. After a quick grocery stop in Flagstaff I encountered road construction on I40 west. Sure glad the road is finally being repaved as it had potholes large enough to swallow a Smartcar.
Made it home in about 2 1/2 hours, parked and plugged in. Sierra went out for hours. We stayed in the camper one more night and moved back into the little house slowly over the next two mornings to avoid the 90+° days.
This past two weeks on the road is just what I needed. As usual, nature revitalized my spirit. I love to journey but also like to have a home to come to. I am working on a community gathering to celebrate Berta’s life.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
If you have problems commenting try this: leave the cursor after the last word of your comment, then use the Tab key to move the cursor to the Name, Email, and Website boxes before you click the submit key. Otherwise, feel free to comment at https://www.facebook.com/Geogpsy , use the contact form found below the header shot, or send an email. Please know I appreciate everyone who lands here and stays long enough to read. I really do like comments and try to respond to them all.
The heat is bad everywhere this summer. I am so ready for fall. Glad you had a nice “vacation” and arrived home safely.
No such thing as climate change.
As always, the photos told a beautiful story, smoke and all. We have it here as well, only much much thicker, from lightning caused fires around Grants Pass, and of course that awful Carr fire in Redding. Glad you are home again, even though you took it with you. I love seeing Sierra, by the way. Cat fix of sorts for me. I miss my traveling cat a lot.
The West is burning yet there are still climate change deniers. Hope the smoke clears soon. You are sure to get more cat pic fixes as Sierra is quite photogenic.
Glad your trip helped you feel better. How nice of you to plan the memorial for Berta.
I, too, love the Sierra photos. She is such a beautiful cat!
Travel is my best medicine. Looks like Sierra might be able to handle the lifestyle. If I was in the 5th-wheel she could shed in a bigger space.
Glad you are back and safe. The heat is everywhere. It is 6 pm here and I am sat in the office with the fan on and it is still reading 30C!!!
Glad that you went to see Bill, how is he?
Beautiful photos and I hope that now the house is scorpion free for you 🙂 I am sure the 15th is not going to be easy, but as you say I am sure Berta will appreciate fun and laughter rather than tears,
Take care, Diane and Nigel
I’ve never spent a summer in Yarnell. The locals say it’s warmer than usual. But at least the nights cool closer to 20C.
Bill and Sasha are doing well.
Thanks. Yes the house seems scorpion free.
Welcome home! I’m sure the next few days will be both busy and melancholy. You must have a lot of stories to share, is Sierra invited?
Thanks. I thought of bringing Sierra on her leash but think she’d be totally freaked out with the crowd I expect.
Sounds like a very nice break from being house bound. Lovely photos as usual. Good idea keeping Sierra leashed so she wouldn’t get lost.
Was just what I needed.
Are you moving back in with the creepy crawlies?!
Two days after I left the house was sprayed inside and out. So far, so good.
Fabulous flyer for Berta’s gathering. It will be wonderful!! Glad you made it home safely and am always sorry to hear about the fires and the smell of smoke. Love your night and morning pictures.
Thanks Sherry. Posted the flyers around town this morning. We seem to be avoiding the smoke in Yarnell.
Fun to vicariously hit the road with someone else, especially when they are traveling in country you know and love.
We have dangerous levels of smoke here in Southern Oregon with visibility sometimes less then a mile and we are all ready to evacuate when the call comes. Our beautiful, scenic, much loved area is burning down and will take years to recover, long after I’m gone from this heaven of a planet.
Stay cool and comfortable, Gaelyn.
Glad you came along for the ride. Sorry to hear about the smoke. Seems the entire west is on fire. No smoke in Yarnell.
Sierra just doesn’t like the leash. I have seen cats on people’s blog posts just merrily walking along with a leash like a dog. Your experience has been my experience with cats.
Sierra is definitely not used to being restricted when outdoors. I’m going to keep working with her on leash when we travel. I too have seen cats happily walk on leash and suspect they’ve been doing it since kitties.
Beautiful end to your vacation (except for the smoke — and don’t get me started on the latest tweet from the idiot-in-chief).
The invitation for Berta’s celebration looks perfect. I’d be honored if that quote around the outside margin applied to me….
IQ45 continues to show his ignorance.
Berta has had that “cracked” quote hung somewhere every since I’ve known her. I think it probably does apply to you. It does to me.