travel – Page 2 – The Long West Coast Summer Trip.

95 Degrees never felt so cool!!

“What happens in Vegas , is sooo HOT !

115 degrees hot !!!”

-“There is no global warming “

Just outside Zion.

Zion National Park is located in the southwestern United States, in the state of Utah. This breathtaking natural wonder is famed for its stunning red cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and lush hanging gardens. The park’s origins can be traced back to the late 19th century when it was first settled by Mormon pioneers. Originally named Mukuntuweap, it became a national monument in 1909 and was later designated as Zion National Park in 1919. With its rich history and unparalleled geological formations, Zion continues to captivate visitors from around the world.

Got a whole new appreciation for 65Degrees early mornings. what a delight. Fed Beau , quick walk with him and found a nice drive to golob reservoir. 24 miles uphill , different landscapes, steep red cliffs , green meadows , horse, cows and a beautiful translucent blue bird . Back at ten prepared for tonight Barbeque and nice glass of wine . Starts to feellike a real vacation.

Leaving Las Vegas

Day 11 and ready to leave, after the first three days taking care of repairs and suffocating in the extreme heat. Deidre’s arrival got me a perfect guide and amazing nights in Sin City. The sphere done right , talked with a robot , saw a 16K movie , made us feel we’re in a giant spaceship floating over the desert and in the oceans. What a trip !Jimmy Kimmels comedy club was fun, the high roller gave us an amazing view of the city and the sphere. wow! Great dinners taught us hype isn’t everything, oriental foods stole the show for us. Momofuku is prime , what a view and what delisciuos food!! closing out with a much self hyped magic show by Chriss Angel, a bit dated but very personable Angel! ready for nature and some great National Parks, ZION here we come!

Great girlfriend , never complaints!! oops going to get in trouble!

Zion National Park is a breathtaking sanctuary of towering red cliffs, lush forests, and meandering rivers. Hiking trails wind through the dramatic landscape, leading to iconic landmarks such as Angel’s Landing and the Narrows. Visitors can revel in the park’s serene beauty, explore its diverse flora and fauna, and witness the awe-inspiring vistas that have captivated travelers for generations. Zion National Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, beckoning all to discover its timeless splendor.

Road to Virgin !

Red Rock Canyon

When in Vegas its hard to zoom out and look at this tiny speck in the desert with all its lights , excesses and glitter, incredible talent, self importance and sadness as anything but all there is in Nevada. But …. drive 20 minutes west and start your driving , biking, climbing and hiking loop in Red Rock Canyon Conservation area. After showing your National Park Pass you enter the rocky desert with towering mountain facades, perfect for rock climbing and spectacular photos. Dry but colorfull bushes , so different from anything out east, cover the bone dry desert floor. Parched riverbeds waiting for much needed rain. Tortoises, rabbits, Burros and wild horses are roaming fast and real slow. arriving at 6:30 the sun is just over the hills and lights up the place. Gorgeous and worth the early wake up. Its quiet in the park and I’m first with some brave and strong bikers overtaking me on the down hill. After the 15 mile loop and many stops I find the metropolis of “Blue Diamond”

Blue Diamond,

Elevation………………….High

Occupants………………..Few

Burro’s………………..?

Now this town has a Post Office, sherrifs office in the convenience store and , no kidding the best breakfast place within 200 miles.

Coffee and avocado toast for breakfast , homemade everything , to die for!

Back to the RV, as the sun keeps on rising so does the temperature , 108 today . inside from 10-4 .

Yuca

sky

Self portrait

What else is there to do in Vegas but shelter from the heat???

O… there are the casino’s, shows, magicians, lights, ferris wheel and incredible shopping , if you have the big bucks !

Thats For the next one!

Hot Vegas.

One of the many ways to get to Las Vegas is following the i40 cross country for over 1000 miles untill you get to the town of Kingman AZ. There is onto the 93 for 110 miles .

No big deal right.?

The road up to Kingman has been pretty good , occasional bumps and repairs . Now , getting on the 93 is an altogether different story. For 56 miles , yes I checked , it was a true to life washboard from the Wild West. Speed down to 35-40 miles /hour and everything that could shake loose , did shake loose. My center A/C kept tripping the breaker and temperature was slowly rising. My goal was to make a quick stop at the Hoover dam, it has RV parking on the Arizona side only . No signs and before I knew it the damn dam was on my right and disappearing in my mirror. No problem , on to the Campground and checking out the A/C problem. It really was getting a bit hot. Dash A/C was blowing cold and beau was laying next to me . Hmmmm , why next to me if you have a perfectly good bed in the back. shaking for 2 hours must have cured him. That wasn’t it , the second A/C stopped working as well. Now we’re in trouble. Only one A/C left and a heat warning in Vegas and the whole south west. Temperatures up to 115 Fahrenheit (46 Celsius) and it really is that hot!! Yeah but it’s dry heat!!! My ass dry heat. It’s hot !!its very hot .

Arriving at the RV resort , on the phone for the recommended rv mechanic, they were here in 3 hours , analyzing the issues and I’m on the phone with the warranty company for two new A/C units. Good experience with them this time . Friday I can have it inspected and new units installed.

Beau and I are locked into the bedroom with the only working

A/C and keep somewhat cool (82 degrees cool) the front of the RV is a balmy 101 degrees . No fun.

I got up at 4 am , beau deep asleep and got my first taste of Vegas . a bit overwhelming but pretty spectacular. Walked the strip in front of Paris and Bellagio at 5:30 in the morning , saw the sunrise over the strip , had an early morning coffee at subway with my homeless buddies and all was good with the world.

7 am back to the RV to make sure beau is ok and feed and poop him early before the fiery heat comes back.

Welcome to the west!

Into the fire

The fourth travel day took me into Arizona and a first visit to a state park. A few hours at Painted Desert and Petrified Forest was a welcome change to straight roads and happy truckers passing me by. A leisurely 29 mile track through the park with many stops was just what the boredom doctor ordered. First time I took my camera out and tried to get in the groove. It always takes me a while to catch the photo bug .

Rig runs great , no issues , generator hums right along and keeps Beau cool in his king size bed. Dogs have it made!

No idea what’s coming later that day and the coming three days .Stay tuned.

Petrified Forest National Park is a unique and captivating natural wonder located in northeastern Arizona. It encompasses a vast expanse of 346 square miles, showcasing a remarkable array of petrified wood deposits and the breathtaking Painted Desert. The park’s main attraction is the fossilized remains of ancient trees that have turned into colorful and intricate stone formations over millions of years, creating a surreal and otherworldly landscape.

The park is divided into two distinct sections: the northern area features the iconic Painted Desert, a mesmerizing badlands region with vibrant hues of red, orange, and purple, sculpted by wind and erosion. The southern section boasts the most extensive and well-preserved petrified wood forests, including the Black Forest Bed, Blue Mesa, and Rainbow Forest, where visitors can marvel at the petrified logs, stumps, and fossilized plant remains dating back to the Late Triassic period. With its rich geological history, archaeological sites, and diverse flora and fauna, Petrified Forest National Park offers an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike.

Our Happy Place

I grew up “camping” , 4 days in the DAF to cover 1000km stopping at every church , vineyard and Castle in Belgium and France . They were good times for a young man .

Playing on the lakefront beach in Lacanau Near Bordeaux was the highlight of the year for us.

These days we’re spoiled with an incredible home on wheels , time to use it and already some really great memories in our pocket .

This year we have planned 4 months to the West , starting in South Florida , I’m driving to Vegas with Beau, our Lab,I’ll take about 1 week to cover 2600 miles Deidre will join me there , flying in and we’ll spend a few days seeing the sites

After sun city our first stop will be The town of Virgin close to Zion National park and many other great locations . Stayin about one week .

I’ll leave you today with a nice scene from a few years ago on Anna Maria Island when we were entertained by a group of manatees.

Talk tomorrow

Visiting some old florida History.

Ted Smallwood Store.

The Ted Smallwood Store, located in Chokoloskee, Florida, holds a rich history as a significant trading post in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Established in 1906 by Ted Smallwood, the store provided a vital link between the remote Ten Thousand Islands and the outside world, offering essential supplies, purchasing local produce, and serving as a hub for the Seminole Indians and early settlers. This historic establishment provides a window into the past, showcasing the unique blend of cultures and lifestyles that shaped the region’s development. Today, the Ted Smallwood Store stands as a museum, preserving its legacy and offering visitors a glimpse into an important chapter of Florida’s history.

In 1910, Edgar J. Watson purchased the Smallwood Store from Ted Smallwood, seeking a fresh start after a turbulent past. However, Watson’s arrival in the local community was met with suspicion and unease. The tension culminated in a violent encounter on October 24, 1910, when Watson was fatally shot on the porch of the Smallwood Store. The circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery, with various accounts and theories circulating to this day, contributing to the enduring folklore of the region.

The killing of Edgar Watson at the Ted Smallwood Store reverberated across the Chokoloskee community, sparking intrigue and speculation that continue to captivate historians and visitors alike. The unresolved nature of the incident has woven a compelling narrative into the fabric of Florida’s history, fostering a sense of enduring fascination with the enigmatic figure of Edgar Watson and the events that unfolded on that fateful day in 1910. The legacy of this pivotal moment endures as a haunting reminder of the complexities and contradictions that characterize the annals of the Smallwood Store and the storied past of Chokoloskee, Florida.

Our “im born here” Captain has it on good sources that Watson was a SOB who killed people left and right and pulled his double barrel shotgun first , his bullets were wet, it misfored and the townspeople then as a group killed him !

quit the story !!

see you soon

Gator Hunting , with a camera!

Loop Road, Big Cypress State park, Everglades, Florida

A 20 mile dirt road leads through the unspoiled part of Big Cypress, Aligators sunning on the side of the road, statues maybe. sure feels like it untill you get too close. They are fast, not agressive, thats us trying to get too close !

The Everglades today is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including alligators, a variety of bird species such as herons, egrets, and the rare snail kite, as well as the endangered Florida panther. Visitors can also spot dolphins, manatees, and a rich tapestry of marine life in the waters surrounding this unique ecosystem. The Everglades continues to be a haven for nature enthusiasts seeking to observe an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat.

A relaxing couple of hours with Captain”I was born here” to navigate the Baron River and get a glimpse of the thousand Islands wildlife refuge. Many dolphins, great calm water and mangrove islands. A great place to get lost in !

Everglades City, located in Collier County, Florida, has a rich and varied history. The area was originally inhabited by the Calusa Native American tribe, who thrived in the region’s abundant natural resources. In the late 1800s, the town was established and became a hub for the Southwest Florida’s frontier.

It played a significant role in the construction of the Tamiami Trail, which was completed in 1928, connecting Tampa to Miami and opening up the Everglades region for development. During the early to mid-20th century, Everglades City was a thriving hub for the fishing and stone crab industries.

Notably, the city also gained notoriety as a center for the illegal activities of the infamous “Outlaws” during the 1970s, including smuggling and drug operations.

The rich history of Everglades City is interwoven with the unique ecosystem of the Everglades, making it a compelling destination for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Back Tomorrow.