Brief escape from Camping World

February 17, 2014
Clear and warm, 73*
Lat/Lon 34.52N 111.45W

We've been stuck at Camping World for a while, so we decided to rent a car and take a day trip up to the Red Rocks of Sadona, Arizona.

A great view of the general Phoenix area.  It's a HUGE valley.

I love BIG rock outcroppings!

Or in some cases, rock mountains!

 Approaching the Red Rocks area.  Check out the almost perfect line in the strata.

Potty Break for the mutts!

This was the day we stopped to watch the V-22 Ospreys.  So it was late afternoon by the time we got to Sadona, but it made for some beautiful photos!

I've seen a lot of red rocks on our journeys, but the Red Rock of Sodona are REALLY RED!

The contrast of the dark green and silver green with the red rocks was stunning. 

Unfortunately, this picture doesn't do it near enough justice.

The cacti really stood out against the red dirt.

As apposed to the brown gray dirt of most of the desert.

LOVED this house that blended in so well! We didn't see it at all until we were right up to it.

For some reason, it looks like a 'Kate' house to me.

  Another magnificent view.  Imagine looking out your front window at this!

One last shot of just how RED the Red Rocks of Sodona really are.

I want one of these!!!

Feb. 22nd, 2014
Clear and warm, 73*
Lat/Lon 34.32N 112.28W

I know,… I've lead a sheltered life.  

Clearly, I was not an "army brat".  

I also went 10 years without a TV.  

Probably everybody in the world knows about this but me.  

Nevertheless, it WAS new to me, and I was very impressed!

When we went to Sodona last week, we went through Prescott, AZ so that Charley could show me the 

V-22 Osprey.

It's a tilt-rotor aircraft that can do vertical, or very short, take-offs and landings. 
Part helicopter/part airplane! 

Cool-Ass TOY!

I took 2 (short) videos that are kinda cool.  

This first one is close up, starting to 'taxi', in which you can see the rotors tilt partway forward.  

This second video is the takeoff, and you can see the rotors tilting the rest of the way forward.

Sure enough, those rotors are all the way forward like a regular prop plane.


I want one of these!
And they only cost $63 million each! 
Christmas idea if anybody needs one!!!

grand canyon

February 8th, 2014

Clear and cool (57 degrees)

Lat/Lon 36.05N 112.14W

We left Quartzite, AZ on the 5th of February headed for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  

Our intent was to drive the White Whale up to stay near the canyon.

 Upon arrival in Flagstaff, we bumped heads with a winter snow storm.  

Needless to say, the Whale does not like snow, so we hunkered down in Flagstaff for a couple of days.  Once the weather cleared, we decided to cut our losses and (rather than take the Whale to the canyon to spend a few days),  just make a day trip up to the Canyon in the pickup. 

And it was beautiful!  Clear, sunny and relatively warm.  

Visibility was excellent and I was amazed at the shear SIZE of the Canyon.

We took a ton of photos, but I will try not to bore with repetitive photos.  

I'll try to use the ones that look a little different. 

There is just no camera large enough to capture the enormity of this place.  

Mother Nature is a talented landscaper!

This raven was very curious about us, and followed us as we walked along the south rim for about a mile.  

Down at the bottom of the photo is the Bright Angel Trail which goes from the top of south rim, to the bottom of the canyon and to the river.  Across the canyon is Bright Angel Canyon.

Charley checks out some of the earliest 'cabins' at the canyon.

With many, many layers of paint, and constant up-keep, they are still in use today.

One of the many museums.

Every turn is a different view, and every hour, the movement of the sun changes colors with highlights and shadows.

I thought with the cold and the snow we might be lucky to spend and hour or so at the Canyon, but we spent well over 4 hours, and walked our legs off.  I had forgotten to eat all day, so about 3:30, when the sun started to set, my energy hit a brick wall, and it was time to head home.

On the drive home, we passed the highest peak in Arizona.  

Humphrey's Peak at 12,637 ft.

After seeing so much desert, I was surprised to see how much this northern area looks like parts of Idaho.

It was an amazing day of breathtaking vistas.

But I confess, I was ready to get the Whale headed south again,…. 

back to sunny 70 degree weather again!