On to New Mexico and the Doanes

April 12

We left Kayenta AZ this morning at 8:30 after a hot breakfast at our Hampton Inn. 

Another beautiful day, 53 degrees, top down with scarves and jackets. After perusing our itinerary, we changed it a little and headed NE on Rt. 160 toward Four Corners. Once again we had the road (2 lanes, flat, straight, 65 mph) almost to ourselves!  At 5000 feet we're still in the high desert with lots of sagebrush, red sandstone cliffs and green-clad rock mesas off in the distance and a well-maintained road. The first couple of days we had to scrape the bugs off the windshield but, since turning south through UT, suddenly, no bugs!  What more could we ask for? Although, the cell phone coverage is spotty as is the GPS!  Fortunately we're a little old-fashioned so we have plenty of maps with us! Never go on a road trip without maps!!  

We arrived at Four Corners at 10:00. The park, run by Native Americans, has an Entrance fee, $5.00 each, no NP card accepted!  There's a plaque in the ground where AZ, UT, CO and NM meet at perfect 45 degree angles!  This is the only place in the U.S. this happens!  The plaque is surrounded by booths where Native Americans sell their wares. Small native gardens and not much else!  Peter bought a t-shirt and I bought hematite necklace and earrings. 

Back on the road at 11 to NM. Rt. 160 to 64 to 550 south toward Albuquerque in Navajo countryl. Still 2 lanes, then 4 lanes, and 55 mph, temp 65 degrees. How lucky are we?!?! However, there were clouds in the distance. We hit a commercial area in Shiprock on 64E and it continued  at 55 mph with some construction (35 mph) until at 1 PM when we reached 550 S, 70 mph and a more scenic drive. 

Again we viewed high desert with sage brush covered hills near and far. And then sandstone rock formations and mesas. The sky got grayer, totally cloudy with rain in the distance and sprinkles on us. Top up at 7000 feet and 53 degrees!!  And then our first official rain! Our luck had run out; we had been dodging rain for days. We left Navajo country and entered Apache country and the same beautiful high desert landscape continued. We crossed the Continental Divide at 2:20 at 8000 feet. Put the top back down after 15 minutes of rain!  As we have seen on previous road trips, there are lots of memorials/ crosses at the side of the roads where deaths have occurred. We saw a Mustang police car that had pulled someone over!

We arrived at the Doanes at 4:28, 2 minutes early!  What a stunning home just outside the Sandia Mountains in Sandia Park NM. After a tour of the house and a stroll around the neighborhood, we had cocktails, appetizers and a delicious dinner topped of by a homemade raspberry pie and then some cards. Conversation was flowing with 2 often going on at the same time!!  We had some time to catch up on!  And we'll continue tomorrow!

Hooray For Scenic Byways

April 11

Yesterday we dodged rain showers all day. Today was beautiful!  One threat of rain appeared in the distance but never reached us!  We left Torrey UT at 8:30 and 41 degrees but the sun was out so we dressed accordingly and put the top down! We drove through Capitol Reef National  Park on Rt. 24 to Hanksville. In the park, we took a short hike alongside the Freemont River. All we could see were tall red sandstone cliffs. Outside the park the terrain was still beautiful but the gray/brown rock formations were pointed and smooth looking and 

looked like piles of road salt/sand. 

At 10 we stopped for coffee and fruit in Hanksville where it was 60 degrees. Here we connected with the 

Bicentennial Highway, Utah Rt. 95 S. The signage for 

open range proved to be accurate. Cattle right on the shoulder!  We drove through North Wash Canyon, Glen Canyon and the northern end of Lake Powell which is 

down 50 feet from 25 years ago. The view of land locked Hite marina is a testament to this fact!  The red rock mesas and buttes were sites to behold!  After crossing  the Dirty Devil River, we crossed

another bridge over the Narrow Canyon of the Colorado River. Our altitude 

was 4500 feet and the temp 62 degrees. From these high desert plains we viewed the buttes Jacob's Chair and the 

Cheese Box.  The drive was, again, fantastic, but we are running out of accolades!  You  just have to see it to believe it!

A juniper forest led to the top of Cedar Mesa and the 

Natural Bridges Monument. Outside the info building we walked through a desert garden and looked at a lovely

round leaf buffalo berry bush. From there we drove the 

nine mile loop to several natural bridges seen from the canyon above. About 12:45 we stopped for a picnic lunch

on the loop and then at the

Horse Collar Ruin overlook we hiked a 1 mile trail to view Pueblo ruins. Next to the trail were high desert purple wildflowers. 

We left Natural Bridges at 2 and got back on the Bicentennial Highway to Blanding. We drove through a tight passage cut out of Comb Ridge and continued through the high desert juniper and sage brush. This scenic byway, the Bicentennial Highway was constructed in 1976. Kudos to those who made this decision!!!  We were mesmerized the whole route with the awesome, changing landscape. Double WOW!!!

At 2:45 we turned south on Rt. 92 to Bluff and on to Mexican Hat and the Monument Valley scenic drive. The temp in the high desert on the way to Monument  Valley was 67 degrees. At Mexican Hat we saw a rock formation looking like a sombrero which gave the town its name. After crossing the San Juan River, with the top down, we were overwhelmed by the smell of 

diesel coming from the truck in front of us!  Phew!  We crossed into Arizona 4 PM. In

Monument Valley we viewed the Agathla and the Owl Rock buttes. At that point we decided to put the top up. Ahead of us black sky with rain visible was threatening. As before, it didn't reach us!  At 4:45 in Kayenta AZ we checked into a Hampton Inn. Early for us but we were pooped and needed to stop!  We actually had room service for dinner!  On to New Mexico tomorrow for a visit with Helen and Paul Doane 

What a spectacular day:  the weather, the drive and our very cool Mustang!

 

80 MPH Interstates to Dirt Roads and Back

April 10

After a decent breakfast, we left Twin Falls ID and set off for Almo ID at 8:30, 55 degrees, partly cloudy, with the top down. We had a Starbucks stop (YAY!!) and then made our way to the Shoshone Falls on the Snake River. Hardly Niagara Falls, but fairly impressive. Along the way we glimpsed muskrats scampering out of the rocks to cross the road. Our first wildlife sighting!

Then we drove south to 

Almo, the City of Rocks our destination. We elected to drive there on secondary roads....good decision. 

Rt. 30 went through small towns, huge farms, acres and acres of fields, piles of manure, bales of hay, getting ready to plant (Idaho potatoes?). We saw unassuming farm houses, small wind farms and snow capped mountains to the south. 

After passing several large factories, we came to the city of Burley. It was 62 degrees and partly sunny. We turned 

South  after Burley and followed the Snake River again to Declo, population 344, where we saw our first police car since leaving Portland. We were in 

farm country again and then

beautiful scenery up and down a summit  with snow-capped mountains in the distance to Albion, population 267, celebrated for its haunted mansions. We were back again on the high plains, altitude 5700 feet. Rt. 77S is beautiful, not even dotted, not a car insight. 

Our next road was the Back Country Byway to Almo, the

City of Rocks and the California Trail where emigrants in the mid-1850s crossed to California. We drove the City of Rocks Rd...a dirt road following the original California Trail to the City of Rocks. Along the way we observed Amazing geological formations. At Camp Rock we saw emigrants' messages and signatures applied to the rock with axle grease from the covered wagons! At Emery Canyon, Elevation 6800 feet, the road was snow-covered so we backtracked and at 

12 noon retraced our drive on the Back Country Byway to Rt. 77, to I84 toward  Salt Lake City. We did spot an eagle outside the City of Rocks!  And, although there were a few raindrops, we were undeterred and kept the top down!

We entered Utah on I84 at 1PM, still cruising along at 80 mph, top still down, 60 degrees. We were making great time and decided,again, to bypass the big city, Salt Lake, with, hopefully a glimpse of the Great Salt Lake. At 1:45 we stopped in Tremonton UT for a fast food lunch. Then we were off again,  on I84 then I15 heading for Torrey UT, speed limit now 70mph and not even a glimpse of the Great Salt Lake!  We stopped at 3:55 outside Provo to put up the top.....bad weather threatening!  Beautiful views of the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains to our east where Peter has skied many times. Weather threat was over, sun was out!  What wimps we are!!  So.......top up again at 4:10!!!

We left the interstate at 4:30 to follow some recommended secondary roads to Torrey. Speed limit 65mph on two lane road!  Route 28 to 89 through Gunnison Valley, farms, fairly prosperous towns and small cities, beautiful scenery approaching Canyon Reef on Rt. 24 where the landscape changed color, from green hills to tan rocky hills dotted w green shrubs. It's still high plains, altitude 6000 feet. We reached the summit at 7370 feet and 52 degrees. Scarf and jacket time!!!  Deer on the road at a deer crossing sign!!  Altitude 8370, 49 degrees!  On the descent we were back to densely shrubbed high plains and hills and 54 degrees. Then

WOW!!, beautiful red-ridged mesas!!

We arrived at the Capitol Reef Resort in Torrey UT at 7. The room is quite nice and looks out on red rock mesas. We had dinner at the onsite restaurant, regrouped for tomorrow, watched a little TV, talked about how fortunate we are with the weather, the awesome scenic roads we've traveled and our cool Mustang convertible. Peter is sooo happy!

 

WOW!! One of the Top Five Drives We've Ever Done

April 9

We awoke to another beautiful day in Oregon. Breakfast came with our room so we left the the Best Western well sated at 9AM. We drove to The center  of Baker City and took a stroll along its lovely, 5 lane wide Main St. This city back in the late 1800s was the largest city between Portland and Salt Lake City. It is named for the only U.S. senator who died in battle, during the Civil War. 

We left Baker City at 10 and headed for the National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.....fascinating!! The mid-1850s saw the largest migration in American history from East to West. Imagine making that trip over this rugged terrain in your Conestoga wagon with your whole family!!  After a brief tour of the exhibits we continued on the High Canyon Scenic Byway to the Hell's Canyon Scenic Byway east to Idaho on Rt. 86, 70 degrees at 11 AM. NOONE on the road! Peter was in his glory: 2 lane road, up an down, many corniches. THIS is a road trip! We drove beside fast flowing creeks, saw a few sheep and cattle ranches, even a pen where men were practicing roping calves. Unbelievable high plains and green canyon scenery!  The only town we passed was Richland. 

Just south of Homestead we looked for our route into Idaho. We thought we found it but after crossing the Canyon River we had to turn north....we wanted to head south.  No signal so GPS wasn't working!  We turned around and made our way back to the Oxbow Dam site,stopped at a camp site and met some very friendly people who put us back on track!  We weren't far off!!!  As we drove along a reservoir we found a place to stop for a picnic lunch:  peanut butter sandwiches and oranges!!

At the Brownlee Dam we crossed over into Idaho about 1PM. Temperature 77 degrees. The one town we drone through on Rt. 71 was Cambridge, population 360. Saw many road signs:  Watch for Stock, Open Range, Watch for Game, Game Crossing. Driving through the Payette National Forest we saw  of snow beside the road and the temp is 74 degrees!  Our next destination was New Meadows where we hooked up with the Payette River Scenic Byway to Eagle on Rt. 55 at 2:30. 

More than patches of snow now!  Roads bare but piles of snow everywhere. We drove through McCall, a thriving recreational town on Payette Lake.  Then more high plains, altitude 4900 feet, with mountain ranges off in the distance on both sides. Then forested land with white canyons on each side of the road and back to high plains! 

In Cascade, population 903 and the county seat, we crossed the North Fork of the Payette River into more forested landscape. When we crossed the Payette on the Rainbow Bridge, the road began to follow the contour of the river. In the Boise National Forest, as we descended, the forested hills converged on us on both sides and the river began to rage southward. Even though we hit patches of high 60s, as we descended, we were back in the low 80s T 4:30!  And finally high plains again until we reached Eagle. 

Along this final stretch, 20 miles from Boise we could see some lovely homes dotted along the ridges, their backs to the sky!

We decided to bypass Boise and get some more miles behind us. So we got on I84 at 5:15 and still 80 degrees. We haven't done a city yet so why start now. We drove for 6 1/2 hours today, 289 miles, all on AWESOME secondary roads and scenic byways. Speed limit on I84 is 80!!! And plenty of "country air!" But not much to see!

Oops!  On our way around Boise, looking for a hotel online, we discovered we'd driven into Mountain Time!  So we arrived at our Best Western an hour later than we thought, 8PM rather than 7PM!!  No matter!!  We adjusted!  Another Best Western, another salad dinner!  Not too many steps today!  I did manage to get 50,000 for Mon-Fri!  And an AWESOME day!  

On the Road Again and Again and Again

April 8

Up and at 'em at 7:15!  Got packed up, had some breakfast and walked to Starbuck's for coffee, packed Matt's car with our stuff and at 9 headed to Avis in Beaverton to pick up our convertible. Arrived there at 9:30 to NO CONVERTIBLE even though we'd reserved one a couple of months ago and Peter had checked with the Avis rep in Beaverton a couple of times this week!

After a half hour on the phone (9:45-10:15) with Hotline, our booking agent, a convertible was found for us at the airport. Back on the road!  Arrived at the airport a little after 11.  Left at 11:45 with a brand new white Mustang and drove back to Matt's to leave his car!!  It took me a lot longer than Peter because I had my GPS set on AVOID HIGHWAYS for the road trip!!!  What a total fiasco!! Oh, well!  Onward!!

Back on the road AGAIN about 1 PM (4 hours later!) to head on Rt.84 to Baker City OR, our destination for today. It was sunny and 83 degrees!  The top was down and we were in shirtsleeves!  We drove most of the way along the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, past snow capped Mt. Hood to the south, Multnomah Falls, the Dalles Dam, miles-long wind farms, the John Day Dam, the fleeting scent of wildflowers, forested hills replaced by forestless, green, rockyhills, then fairly flat land on the Oregon side of the Columbia,  cattle grazing, farmland and an enormous tree farm right next to the highway

At Boardman, Rt.84 turned SE away from the Columbia River. 

Temp 77 degrees at 5 PM. The landscape is flat, then rolling green hills approaching Pendleton with the Umatilla National Forest in the distance. We drove on the Blue Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor or the Old Oregon Trail through the Umatilla Indian Reservation where the temp was 69 at 3400 feet at 5:30. At one point a big pick-up truck gave Peter a thumbs-up!  Coming down from the Blue Mountains, we could see the snow-capped Wallowa Mountains in the distance. 

The foothills to the mountains are beautifully tree-covered on the way to LaGrande where we stopped for gas and where our itinerary indicated we would stop for the night. But, we decided to push on a little further to Baker City. Approaching Baker City with the temp 73 degrees, we could see some snow on the tops of hills. We were driving on a high plane at an altitude of 3370 feet. 

We arrived in Baker City, did some grocery shopping and were in our Best Western r

room about 8. After a delicious dinner of salad with cheddar cheese, hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese and roasted chicken, we perused our itinerary for tomorrow and retired. But, first we congratulated ourselves for struggling through our fiasco. The Mustang is awesome!

Matt's Birthday

April 7  Matt's birthday!

Another BEAUTIFUL day:  63 degrees at 7:15AM,  81 at 7:15PM!  We did lots of walking in the neighborhood today, for bagels, for Starbucks lattes, for errands, for shopping, for lunch. I think we'll miss Nob Hill more than Matt and Kirsten. 

I had the opportunity to reorganize so I think we're all set for our road trip that starts tomorrow. We spent some quality time this afternoon with Matt and Kirsten enjoying the weather and easy conversation and opening presents!  It's been many years since we've spent a birthday with Matt.   

Later we walked with Kirsten down Overton St. to 19th and met Matt at Justa Pasta Co. For dinner we each had some variation of pasta: pasta with halibut, olives, tomatoes and arugula; pasta with chicken parm; ravioli with pesto sauce.   Mmmm!  Peter's been afraid he wouldn't get his "pasta fix" during this road trip!!!  Back at the hacienda, we watched the finale of the final season of "American Idol."  Good show but a little schmaltzy. AND our "girl" La Porsha did NOT win!   Wow!!!  

Tomorrow, bright and early, our three week road trip starts in earnest!  Thanks, Kirsten and Matt!!

AND WE'RE OFF.....

April 5 and 6

We left Barnstable on the 1:40 EST bus to Logan. It was 31 degrees and felt like 20!!!! Brrr!!!  The trip to Logan and the flight to Portland were easy!  We arrived AT 8:15 PST and Matt and Kirsten met us with no problem. After a brief chat and a renewed acquaintance with their dog Daisy, we retired about 10:30 PST in our suite in the "big house."

Up this morning at 8. Matt and Kirsten had already left for work. After breakfast at their place, we took off for a neighborhood walk. Beautiful day!  And such diverse and interesting architecture. Stopped at Starbucks where Mike found us on the Find Friends app! I guess we can't go ANYWHERE now without being found!  We saw some interesting mosaic sculptures. It is amazing how much further ahead in Spring Portland is than Cape Cod!  Flowering trees and spring flowers in bloom. It's sunny and 67 degrees. 

By 1 PM we were waiting at the end of the driveway for Kirsten's mother, Ginny, to arrive to give us a tour of the St. John's neighborhood in north Portland. We saw and walked around the magnificent St. John's bridge over the Willamette River. Built in the 1920s, the bridge was the center of recent protests against" Exxon-Mobil and their Arctic drilling. Protesters hung from the bridge!!! The park-like area under and around the bridge is bucolic!  Peter was especially impressed by the City Water Quality Control building!

Then we drove to the University of Portland, Kirsten's alma mater. The campus, right on the Willamette River, was bustling with student activity!  Azaleas, Rhododendrons and flowering fruit trees were ablaze with color!  We drove past Kirsten and Matt's new house and then arrived at Ginny's apartment. After a walk in her busy neighborhood, we relaxed at Ginny's until Matt and Kirsten picked us up for dinner. 

Dinner was at a restaurant called Firehouse where they served wood fired oven food......like pizza!!  Delicious dinner with lively political conversation!  We chatted a bit after we got home and now  it's 11 PM!!!Tx