Welcome to OPEN ROADS 2002
July 1st Grand Canyon
Leave Boulder City refreshed and raring to go at 5.00a.m. Watch dawn rise over the Hoover Dam. Already hot. Breakfast in Cracker Barrel restaurant in Kingman.For a short stretch (75 miles) we follow the famous Route 66, running alongside the railway along a wide plain bounded by escarpments. After about 50 miles of straight we see some signs which go something like:
"A man, a car and the missus, ahead lies a curve.
He kissed the missus, missed the curve and messed the car!"
At Ash Fork we enter Kaibab National Forest, more trees - the air feels cooler. Stop for fuel in Williams then head North for Tuyasan, 6574 feet asl. We are about to arrive at one of the Seven natural wonders of the world, The Grand Canyon. It is every bit as awesome as one imagines. Nearly no room at the Inn. Most people book 24 months in advance but Julian's charm sorts us out. We share a small lodge with Philip and Kathryn.
We take a shuttle bus trip along the South rim and marvel at all the views. Half a mile and more from top to bottom! The mule ride down to the floor of the canyon beggars belief. Again 24 months notice required. No one scared of heights or with nervous disposition need apply!
Leave Boulder City refreshed and raring to go at 5.00a.m. Watch dawn rise over the Hoover Dam. Already hot. Breakfast in Cracker Barrel restaurant in Kingman.For a short stretch (75 miles) we follow the famous Route 66, running alongside the railway along a wide plain bounded by escarpments. After about 50 miles of straight we see some signs which go something like:
"A man, a car and the missus, ahead lies a curve.
He kissed the missus, missed the curve and messed the car!"
At Ash Fork we enter Kaibab National Forest, more trees - the air feels cooler. Stop for fuel in Williams then head North for Tuyasan, 6574 feet asl. We are about to arrive at one of the Seven natural wonders of the world, The Grand Canyon. It is every bit as awesome as one imagines. Nearly no room at the Inn. Most people book 24 months in advance but Julian's charm sorts us out. We share a small lodge with Philip and Kathryn.
We take a shuttle bus trip along the South rim and marvel at all the views. Half a mile and more from top to bottom! The mule ride down to the floor of the canyon beggars belief. Again 24 months notice required. No one scared of heights or with nervous disposition need apply!
We take a shuttle bus trip along the South rim and marvel at all the views. Half a mile and more from top to bottom! The mule ride down to the floor of the canyon beggars belief. Again 24 months notice required. No one scared of heights or with nervous disposition need apply!
July 2nd Fire in the mountains
Set off to Desert View at 5.30 to watch the dawn come up over the Canyon. In a word - MAGNIFICENT. On to Rt. 64 East along the Little Colorado Gorge in itself quite spectacular with vertical cliffs dropping 800 feet. On through the land of the Navajo Indians, evidence of poverty abounds, Very arid poor soil, a tough existence. Breakfast at Cameron's Trading Post, full of interesting Indian artefacts made in Indonesia! Refreshed, we head off onto Route 160, through the painted desert then running along the base of the Chuska range of mountains. Huge plumes of smoke over the top indicate a large fire. The highest peak is named Mount Beautiful! . Pass Farmington, place with a huge racetrack and huge traffic jam due to road works. Healey gets hot and I get bothered. Engine temp reaches 220F. We call it a day at Bloomfield, 20 miles further on. July 3rd Set off rather late at 6.a.m. and promptly lose another hour crossing the time zone. Much pleasanter drive through beautiful wooded valleys - Apache country - they drew the lucky straw. Temperature drops, legs are getting cold, ask Peter what the altitude is and spot a sign saying 7860 feet. No wonder I'm frozen. We stop at Chama for breakfast after 100miles. The next step takes us up to Cumbres Pass, Heaven on Earth at 10,230 feet. Fabulous stretch of road alongside a scenic railway, closed at the moment from fire risk. Tall trees like silver birch, cattle wandering across the road. Pass the oldest church in Colorado. Yes, we are taking a short loop into Colorado for fun. Stock country, scent of new mown hay. Pass the Jack Dempsey Museum, not interested enough to stop. Over the baby Rio Grande River, not so grand at this point. Buy a picnic in tiny San Luis and set off for some off piste work I have been saving for Peter's birthday. Gravel Road, 20 miles of it - GRRREAT Fun. Peter happy, Healey happy but Philip & Kathryn left to eat dust and very unhappy! We stop for a picnic in the Red river ski area, a lovely canyon through the mountains. Bear country! All we saw were chipmunks and a squirrel. Rodeo at Cimarron After lunch we are cruising along Route 64 when I shout STOP. Yes, you will have guessed from to-day's heading, I spot a rodeo in action. I spend a happy half hour learning the intracacies of team roping and throwing a lassoo. Find a tack shop and buy myself a small rope halter for the foals' pressie. |
July 4th
Not much to say about to-day except it rained and rained. A Healey is not the best place to be in heavy rain. You can't see very well to drive and water pours in every orifice. When a large truck passes, you get deluged with the spray, outside and in.
The only people that will be happy are the fire-fighters.
July 4th is American Day of Independance and fireworks are very popular. Many States have considered banning them due to the extreme dryness and fire risk. This rain should help but the party could be a rather damp squib.
Through the rain we spot cattle, centre-pivots and corn. Pump jacks everywhere, or as we would say 'nodding donkeys'. We take Rt. 87 through Dalhart, Dumas, Borger. By-pass Amarillo by way of Pampa and Electric City a weird sci-fi scene. Right onto Rt. 70 to Clarandon then Rt. 287 to Childress where we stop for the day, very soggy.
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Not much to say about to-day except it rained and rained. A Healey is not the best place to be in heavy rain. You can't see very well to drive and water pours in every orifice. When a large truck passes, you get deluged with the spray, outside and in.
The only people that will be happy are the fire-fighters.
July 4th is American Day of Independance and fireworks are very popular. Many States have considered banning them due to the extreme dryness and fire risk. This rain should help but the party could be a rather damp squib.
Through the rain we spot cattle, centre-pivots and corn. Pump jacks everywhere, or as we would say 'nodding donkeys'. We take Rt. 87 through Dalhart, Dumas, Borger. By-pass Amarillo by way of Pampa and Electric City a weird sci-fi scene. Right onto Rt. 70 to Clarandon then Rt. 287 to Childress where we stop for the day, very soggy.
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