10-15-16 - Heat Escape - Day 65

Our day began a little later than usual.  We didn’t get up until 9 am.  We took a couple mile hike then decided we wanted to go to town to get a couple of steaks and a tripod grill to cook over the campfire. We unloaded Amber and away we went.

You never realized how much you depend on Google, until you’re Googleless.  We stopped at a gas station 50 miles after leaving and found out the nearest place to obtain our goods was another 35 miles away.  Oh well, it was a gorgeous day, beautiful scenery, with the temperature in the 80’s, no reason not to ride on.

We found the Walmart in Silver City, purchased our goods, checked our text and e mail messages, and headed back to the campground. 

It was another gorgeous night.  The moon was brighter and fuller than the night before.  We cooked our steaks and baked potatoes over the campfire and they were delicious.  The 170 mile road trip to Walmart was definitely worth it.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/6Jd9bgoAuf9cgXq4A

10-14-16 - Heat Escape - Day 64

                                                                           Morning

We left Red Rock Campground this morning headed in a southerly direction with a maybe destination to boondock for free in Gila National Forest.

Our first stop was Apache Creek Campground;   there were hunters, campers, four wheelers, horses, etc., piling in for tomorrow’s beginning of the elk hunt in Gila National Forest.  We decided to travel on to our next maybe destination,

We continued on a narrow, switchback road until finally arriving at Cosmic Campground. There are 6 very primitive sites here.  There is absolutely no phone or internet service. There was one other camper here when we arrived.   After traveling 195 miles, we found our destination.

The campground is in a valley surrounded by hills.  It has a few small trees and shrubbery.  Cosmic Campground is one of the few International Dark Sky Association areas.  The skies here are far away from big light sources and are a great place to star gaze. 

We watched the beautiful sunset, grilled some burgers, and enjoyed the quiet night sitting by the campfire. The sky was dark with a big, bright, full moon lighting it up which outshined the stars.  Even though the moon was more pronounced, the stars were still very beautiful.  The quiet sound of the night was broken when the coyotes started yelping.

                                                             Jack Rabbit

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/M1iahUk8xfbvmLMr9   

10-13-16 - Heat Escape - Day 63

                                                            Ready to ride

We went to the Petrified Forest National Park today.  It was not exactly what we expected.   Who would have thought petrified wood in a desert would be so pretty???  We were pleasantly surprised!

                                                  a little Mother road therapy first

We again waited for the temperatures to rise out of the 30’s this morning before taking off on Amber.  We took the back roads through the Indian reservations.  We passed very few vehicles on a nice two lane road on a gorgeous day.  It was a very enjoyable, peaceful ride.

We stopped for our picnic lunch at the south end of the park and headed north.   The petrified wood here is a lot prettier than the petrified wood in Mississippi.  The wood appeared to be cut with a chainsaw displaying the multiple, beautiful, colors of the wood.   The ranger told us it is the natural petrified process that breaks the wood in pieces.  Mother Nature again amazes me.  After the 28 mile drive of gorgeous scenery, we headed home.

                                                       some route 66 through the park

It took us almost 3 hours to get to the park today; it took us a little over an hour to get back home on I40.  Interstate travel is not our favorite, but we had a choice of coming home on the back roads after dark or getting home before dark.  A no brainer.

                                                                      I40 eastbound

We sat outside for a little while and watched the sun set behind the big red rock.   The temperatures dropped as fast as the sunset did so we are inside with the heater on. 

Tomorrow we plan to make a southerly relocation.


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/EFsA3mF48yhnW89M6

10-12-16 - Heat Escape - Day 62

                                                          some Route 66 this morning

We waited for the temperatures to rise from the 30’s to the 50’s before taking off on Amber this morning heading to Arizona.  We rode by Window Rock then continued to Canyon de Chelly.  After the 2 hour ride, the temperature was in the 70’s. There is nothing like a beautiful sunny day, in a beautiful National Monument.

                                                       Window Rock

                                                             along the hwy

                                                        1st pic of Canyon De Chelly

After touring the North Rim, we stopped for our picnic lunch at Cottonwood Picnic area.  It is a pretty park with the Cottonwood trees just beginning to change colors.  We stopped by the Visitor’s Center and took a guided tour of a Hogan.  I never realized that there were families living in these round buildings we have seen in this area.  The guide explained the spiritual meaning behind the way the Hogan is built. This is a very interesting way of life.  The 37 mile round trip loop of the South Rim was just as gorgeous as the North Rim.

                                                                   picnic area

                                                              Inside Hogan

                                                                   outside

Our 2 hour ride back to camp turned into 2 ½ hours after we got stopped in road construction for 30 minutes.  We made it home just in time to see the sun setting behind us.  The beautiful sunset was the perfect end to a beautiful day.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zFrbMKd5NEJRqaabA

10-11-16 - Heat Escape - Day 61

                                                             On the road

                                                       1 last shot of Shiprock

We relocated 120 miles to the south.  We are staying at Red Rock Park in Gallup, New Mexico for a few days.  We had a beautiful day to relocate, even though it was windy.

The layout of this campground is very disorganized, but it has what we need, water and electricity.  As a bonus, our campsite has a beautiful view of Red Rock.  After a week of camping in the city, we are enjoying the country life.

We took a stroll around the park and to the museum.  There are 2 hiking trails in the park, Church Rock & Pyramid Rock.  We decided to hike Church Rock.  It was a very pretty 2.2 mile trail with 330 foot elevation gain along the red rocks and canyon.  We could see for miles and miles . We had great views of Church Rock, the campground, the train station, and the interstate.  The flat land rednecks that we are, forgot our hiking sticks in the truck.  They would have been handy coming down the steep slick rock trail on the way back.  Oh well, we won't forgot when we do the Pyramid Rock hike which is higher in elevation than Church Rock.

We have 6.5 miles hiking today.  Time to sit back and relax for the night.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/Rxc6fUL5mTQqFTvG8