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Tag: road trip

23 July 2018

Arrived in time for Sunrise at Sunset Crater National Monument

first light Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaAfter nine months of several planned road trips not happening I finally hit the road Tuesday and got just north of Flagstaff to Sunset Crater National Monument.

I let neighbors know I’d be gone for a while and left keys with a friend on the way out of Yarnell on Tuesday.  Also sent a text to Berta’s daughter to let her know my plans.  Her reply to have fun and let her know if anything needs to be done at the house.  So I told her about the scorpions and my recommendation to have everything moved away from the house’s outside walls then have it sprayed.  Four days later it’s taken care of.

old gas station Skull Valley Arizona

Sierra cat behind bed pillows in truckcamperLeft town about 10:30am headed north to higher elevation.  Made one quick stop in Chino Valley and when I got in the camper Sierra was tucked into the bed covers with no plan to come out.

traffic construction Mount Humphreys storm clouds I40 East ArizonaBetween rain, construction, and an accident, Interstate 40 east of Belmont was a slow go for about 45 minutes.  Yet I felt in no rush.

multiple street signs junction Country Club Drive & SR89 Flagstaff ArizonaStopped to call a friend in Flagstaff and made dinner arrangements.  I was being taken out to my favorite Greek restaurant in celebration of one year no cigarettes.  Smile

truckcamper Bonito campground Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaOnly 12 miles north of Flagstaff and adjacent to Sunset Crater National Monument, Bonito campground provided paved roads and sites that were almost level for $24/night or $12 with my Senior Pass.  Normally I’d have camped on the west side of SR89 for free on the forest but with all the rain had concerns about gravel road conditions.  With only 25 sites—fire ring and table—and no reservations taken I was happy to see a few sites left when I arrived at 3pm.  They are nicely spaced out under the Ponderosa Pines.

I was unprepared when opening the camper door and Sierra bolted out.  I think as soon as her paws touched the unfamiliar ground she jumped into the truck wheel well to hide forever.  I coerced her with treats and she finally relented showing up by the truck cab where I picked her up and put her back in the camper.  My ride for dinner arrived moments later.  Sorry no pics of the delicious dinner.

sunrise Sunset Crater National Monument Arizona

first light San Fransisco Peaks Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaBy the time I returned to camp I was too satiated and tired to walk where I could see what looked like a colorful sunset.  Then after a restful quiet night I awoke early enough to see first light through the trees and it called my name.  With coffee in hand, I quickly battened down and drove east to the first parking for a trail to greet the morning.  I should do this more often, maybe.

I contemplated driving the 73 mile loop road through Sunset Crater and Wapatki national monuments yet I knew the day would get warmer and was thinking about Sierra baking in the camper.

mountains clouds leaving Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaSo I turned around and quickly returned to SR89, headed North with a stop in Cameron for fuel before crossing the Painted Desert and on through the sparsely populated Navajo Nation.  No matter how many times I make this drive I an entranced by the desert’s beauty.

cars Jacob Lake Inn sign Jacob Lake ArizonaAt the start of the climb onto the Kaibab Plateau I saw three California Condors soaring high above.  And before I knew it, was stopped at Jacob Lake where I just had to get a couple cookies.  It’s been almost nine months ya’ know.

tree tunnel FR219 Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAnd besides I needed some treats for my next remote location.

 

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Arizona, Flagstaff, National Parks and Monuments, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Bonito campground, road trip, RV life, sunrise 26 Comments
07 September 2017

Overnight at Lee’s Ferry

August 22-23, 2017

map park forest monument Navajo reservation ArizonaAfter watching part of the partial solar eclipse and enjoying multiple gorgeous sunrises, sets and rainbows I headed off the Kaibab Plateau to Page for a grocery run before staying overnight at Lee’s Ferry to break up the drive home, and sit with the Colorado River a bit as I love to do.

stormy sky from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaSaid goodbye to some crazy monsoon skies at Marble View wondering if I’d head into rain watching the clouds in my intended direction.

stormy sky Marble Platform Vermilion & Echo Cliffs SR67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaStopped at an overlook along SR67 on the Kaibab and could still see cloudy weather.

stormy sky Marble Platform Vermilion & Echo Cliffs SR89A Kaibab National Forest Arizona

stormy sky Marble Platform Vermilion & Echo Cliffs SR89A Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThen another look from an overlook along SR89A.

stormy sky Vermilion & Echo Cliffs SR89A East ArizonaThought about stopping to grab a campsite at Lee’s Ferry on the way to Page but decided I could camp on House Rock Valley if the campground was full.

Echo Cliffs SR89 North Arizona

Marble Platform Vermilion Cliffs Kaibab Plateau clouds from SR89 North to Page ArizonaSeemed to have left the heavy clouds behind climbing up to Page on SR89 yet could still see them hanging over the Kaibab Plateau.

Marble Platform Vermilion Cliffs clouds SR89A North ArizonaTook care of shopping business as quick as possible then reversed the drive back down and headed to Lee’s Ferry.

boats Colorado River Echo Cliffs Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Marble Canyon ArizonaNo need to have worried about a full campground as it was half empty and I think there was a group filling the top end.  It was only 95°F that day and the night down to high 60s so didn’t feel terribly hot.  I snagged my favorite campsite then headed down to the river.  Boats were being put in late in the afternoon.  Always fun to watch the activity and dream of going along.

Colorado River & muddy Paria River flow below Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaThen I moved down stream to hang out in a quieter place along the river and listen to her song.

Blue Heron Colorado River Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona

Killdeer Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaStartled a blue heron fishing along the shore and flushed out what I believe is a Killdeer, or plover of some kind, feel free to chime in here.

muddy Paria River flows into Colorado River below Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaThe Paria River was flashing muddy waters into the blue-green Colorado.

Gaelyn's shadow Colorado River cliffs below Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaThe shadows grew long and I headed back to camp for dinner.

sunset rays Vermilion Cliffs from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona

last light Echo Cliffs from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona

last light Echo Cliffs Colorado River from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona

sunset Vermilion Cliffs from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaSun set behind the Vermilion Cliffs casting last light on the opposite canyon walls.  Plus a little color lit up the clouds.

sunrise from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona

first light Vermilion Cliffs from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona

first light Echo Cliffs from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaWoke up to a colorful sunrise above the cliffs and river.  And in reverse from the sunset a rosy glow showed up on the opposite canyon walls.

sunrise rays Echo Cliffs Colorado River from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaThe still invisible sun allowed rays to find their way and reach to the sky.

sun rays Echo Cliffs Colorado River from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona

morning light Vermilion Cliffs from camp Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaAs the morning lightened the sun finally found its way over the cliffs to brighten the day.  Notice I’m seeing more sunrises as I’m motivated by the amazing light and shadows of the golden hour.  I could watch the colors of the rocks change throughout the day.

leaving road Lee's Ferry Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaYet getting up early actually got me on the road by 7:30, as I did have groceries to put away at home.

Navajo Bridges cross Marble Canyon Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ArizonaBut first, a stop along the way at Navajo Bridge to look for Condors and didn’t see any.

Interpretive Center Navajo Bridge Marble Canyon ArizonaThe old looking visitor center was actually opened in 1997 after the completion of the new and wider bridge.  It has a small parking lot that is not big rig friendly but there is parking along SR89A in Marble Canyon only a short walk away.

clouds over Kaibab Plateau SR89A West Arizona

highway Marble Platform Vermilion & Echo Cliffs clouds from SR89A Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThen back across the Marble platform and up onto the Kaibab Plateau with another stop to look back where I just came from.

road cut clouds Kaibab National Forest SR89A West Arizona

road cut forest clouds Kaibab National Forest SR89A West Arizona

meadows forest clouds SR67 South Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAnd finally continued up in elevation from desert through juniper/pinyon into ponderosa forest, across meadows, and home.

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Arizona, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Lee’s Ferry, Places I've been, United States camping, road trip, shopping, sunrise, sunset 14 Comments
06 March 2017

Driving to Valley of Fire State Park

March 1, 2017

Snow Bradshaw Mountains Iron Springs Road ArizonaThis, is why I wanted back to the desert so it was totally worth the five hour (long to me) drive to Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.  Why there?  Well, Nina, a fellow Ranger who I hadn’t met yet would be there and it’s a gorgeous place.  Plus Sandee was only an hour away in Las Vegas after a marathon and had never been to Valley of Fire so I convinced her to join us.  That didn’t take much.  And she was the first one there to claim our campsites.  Seems this has been a winter full of meeting up with old and new friends.

When I left Kirkland around 9:30am the Bradshaw Mountains were dusted with white on the way to Prescott for supplies.  A thirty minute drive and two and half hours shopping.  Why does it always take me so long?  I only went to three stores.

From Prescott, State Route 89 north of Chino Valley tosses the truck up and down like a roller coaster which means slowing down way below the 65mph speed limit so the camper doesn’t break.  Next, I couldn’t wait to get off I40 west from Ashfork.  I don’t particularly like to travel interstates on the best of days, but this stretch of freeway is in terrible condition with huge chuck holes that would swallow a VW.  Seems a lot of our highways are going to pot(holes).

Hoover Dam bridge SR93 ArizonaAt Kingman I was relieved to turn north on US93 even with its cracked and flaky surface.  Thought I was going to drive over the Hoover Dam with its beautiful Art Deco architecture but instead was whisked over what I believe is the newer high bridge.  Been a while since I passed this way.  Did see a sign to the dam but figured I didn’t have time.

Lake Mead SR93 East Boulder City NevadaDrove a few miles past my turn off to Boulder City and fueled up as it’s pretty remote at Valley of Fire.  As I drove back to Lakeshore Drive/UT167 I saw my first real view of the puddle called Lake Mead.  The light color on the far shore should be under water.

DSCN0841 Lake Mead Lakeshore Drive Lake Mead National Recreation Area Nevada

Dry docked Lakeshore Drive Lake Mead National Recreation Area NevadaThe “Lake” is rarely visible from the road being so far from shore.   One hundred forty feet below full pool.  Another idea gone astray.  If these deserts were meant to have lakes they’d have been there naturally.  Other than a distant view, most of the side roads to signed “beaches” aren’t.  Instead they are high and dry along with the numerous boat docks and businesses.  Business has literally dried up.

Lakeshore Drive Lake Mead National Recreation Area Nevada

Folded rock Lakeshore Drive Lake Mead National Recreation Area Nevada

Badlands Lakeshore Drive Lake Mead National Recreation Area NevadaYet the landscape is so geologically diverse.  At first rolling hills dotted with low desert scrub. Then towering cliffs of tilted, folded, and rippled sunset colored sandstone topped by shades of gray weathering limestone.  Suddenly, cresting the top of a steep hill a valley stretches below.

Sunset Valley of Fire State Park NevadaDo you see the face/head profile of an ogre, or is it just me?

Just before I turned west onto Valley of Fire Highway, and straight into the setting sun, I took advantage of a weak signal and sent a text to Berta letting her know I’d almost arrived.  I discovered during last year’s visit there is very limited phone signal with nothing in the campgrounds.

Although I was arriving a little later than expected I knew from Sandee’s morning text she had saved three campsites.  Didn’t quite turn out that way.

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Arizona, Nevada Lake Mead, mountains, road trip, sandstone, Valley of Fire State Park 12 Comments
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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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