2023 CANYONLANDS ADVENTURE - A ROYAL GORGE AND A BLACK CANYON

 

DAY #6 – FRIDAY – JULY 7, 2023

 CANON CITY, CO. – MONTROSE, CO.

180 – MILES / 2,057 – TOTAL MILES

On Day #6 of my Great Canyonlands Adventure, we will make our way across the continental divide and transition from the front range of the Rockies to the West Side. We pulled out of the Best Western in Canon City about 5-minutes after 8 a.m. Mountain Time.

We headed west on Highway 50, and almost immediately after leaving town we began to climb up the mountain toward our first stop of the day. The drive up, like everything in Colorado, is a scenic one. About 10-miles west of town we make a left-hand turn onto Colorado Highway 3A.

Five Miles later we arrive at the Royal Gorge Bridge which is another one of My Bucket List Destinations. We arrive about 8:40 a.m. and access to the bridge and attraction aren’t available until 9 a.m.

But there are several overlooks and scenic views available from the parking lot.  While walking around I see a deer grazing in the valley below and off in the distance there are several big horn sheep. I managed to get a picture of the Deer but just as I was focusing in on the sheep a bunch of noisy kids scared them and off, they went.

There was also an old Rio Grande Steam Locomotive and tender on display overlooking the gorge carved by the Arkansas River.  This Denver and Rio Grande locomotive was built in 1902 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Pennsylvania.

It is a standard gauge 2-8-0 and rebuilt by the Denver & Rio Grande in 1930 as a 2-8-2 and became the Denver & Rio Grande #499. In May of 1999 it was acquired by the Royal Gorge Bridge Park and has been on display here ever since.

Right at 9 a.m. Michelle, our tour guide secured and distributed our tickets, and we were free to roam around the Royal Gorge. The first time most of us did was begin our walk across the 1,260-foot bridge that spans the gorge carved by the Arkansas River some 950-feet below.

The views of the river and the gorge from the bridge are spectacular. While I was walking across the bridge, I watched the Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad make its way along the river below. 

While I am not fond of heights, I had no trouble walking across the bridge or looking over into the canyon below. It took me about 45 minutes to walk across the bridge and back because I stopped often to take in the magnificent views and to take photos.

There are a couple of other attractions here at the gorge that some in our group took advantage of. One is a zip line that sends you speeding across the gorge.  Now this wasn’t for me, but one member of our group did pay the extra fee and take the heart pounding ride across the gorge.

There is also a gondola that carries visitors across the gorge.  Again, while I am not a fan of heights, I decided to take the gondola ride across the gorge.  This was a spectacular ride that afforded me amazing views of the Bridge, the gorge, and the river below. It was a grand ride, and I am so glad I did it. But there is no way that I would do the zip line.

We spent a little more than two hours at the Royal Gorge, and it was a fantastic stop. A little before 11 a.m. we made our way back to U. S. Route 50 and continued our journey west toward the Continental Divide.

A little over an hour later we arrived at Salida where we decided to stop a McDonalds for Lunch. The one thing about traveling by tour bus is you can’t just pull into the parking lot and park. You can’t just park on the side of the road either. You must find a place large enough to safely discharge the passengers.

Here in Salida there was a parking lot in front of a NAPA Auto Parks Store big enough to accommodate our bus. Our Driver John pulled into the lot with the intent of letting us off and then moving on to park elsewhere.

Just as we stared t to get off the bus a man from inside the NAPA store came out and started to rant and rave that John had to Move the bus. John tried to explain that he was just staying long enough to discharge his passengers. But the Irate guy wouldn’t listen, insisting that John Move the Bus immediately.

We did finish getting off the bus and made our way into McDonalds. John moves the bus to a side street almost directly behind the McDonald.

One more thing about traveling by bus. When you drop 40 plus people unexpectantly in on a restaurant you can expect slow service and confusion. But I must say that this McDonald’s was well staffed and handled our rush in fine fashion. The food was served quickly, and our orders were correct. This was a well-managed and well-prepared McDonalds.

As efficient and nice as McDonald’s was, the encounter with the Irate NAPA Employee left a bad taste in our mouth and was a stain on the town of Salida.

The town of Salida sits at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. As we left the McDonald’s and continued west, we could see our next destination directly in front of us. Almost immediately we began to climb the eastern slope of the Rockies.

In a little more than 30 minutes, we climbed from 7,000 feet in Salida to 11,300 feet at Monarch Pass. This was our next stop of the day.

Monarch Pass sits at an elevation of 11,312 feet on the Continental Divide and as we got off the bus there was a definite chill in the air. We had gone from 82-degrees a few minutes earlier in Salida to 54-degrees here at Monarch Pass.  The wind was also blowing, 20-30 mph.

As I walk around snapping pictures of the still snow-covered peek, the wind about blows me away.  There is a good-sized building here at the Pass that houses a gift shop, and snack bar. 

Monarch Pass is on the Continental Divide Trail which is a 3,000-mile hiking trail that stretches from
the Mexican Border in New Mexico to the Canadian Border in Montana. It is one of the trails in the United States Triple Crown. The others being the Pacific Crest Trail that runs from the Mexican Border in California to the Canadian Border in Washington State. And the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

The gifts shop here, has a large selection of Hiking equipment, and supplies that day, weekend and thru hikes can purchase. While I was in the Gift Shop two northbound thru hikes came in and I was able to talk with them for just a bit. The Started their Hike back in early April and were hoping to finish sometime toward the end of September or Early October. They did say they were behind because they had to take a 10-day break a week or so ago because of an injury.

This was their first attempt at thru hiking and eventually they want to complete the Triple Crown. I treated them to some “trail magic” a couple of drinks and some protein bars and wished them well on the rest of their adventure.

 Before getting back on the bus, I bought a couple of t-shirts and grabbed a cup of coffee. Our next stop was about 100 miles away, so I also grabbed a few afternoon snacks.

Leaving Monarch Pass we began our descent down the western slope of the Rockies. It was slow going but the scenery was beautiful. Arriving in the Valley on the western slope of the Rockies we ran alongside the Gunnison River which has been dammed up to form a beautiful lake.

Two and a half hours after leaving Monarch Pass, we arrive at Black Canyon National Park, which is our next stop of the afternoon.  We arrive at the South Rim Visitors Center and begin our 45-minute visit to this amazing National Park.

The National Park contains the deepest and most dramatic section of the canyon. At its deepest point the Gunnison River is more than 2,700-feet below the rim of the canyon. Black Canyon gets its name because the deepest parts of the gorge receive only about 30 minutes of direct sunlight each day.

Because I have very limited time here, I take the short half mile hike down to the South Rim Trail to Gunnison Point. Here you get to see and appreciate the true delph of the canyon and its rugged beauty.

I

I must say the hike down was a heck of a lot easier than the climb back up. Making my way back to the top was a bit of a chore for a fat man with bad knees. But I eventually made it and had time enough to stop at the Visitor’s center to get my National Park Passport Stamp and a couple of souvenirs.

By the time I finished up in the Gift Shop it was time to get back on the bus and head to out final destination. It was about a 25-mile drive to Montrose and the Hampton Inn where we would be spending the night.

Since there were no restaurants close to the Hampton Inn, Michelle (our tour guide) had called ahead and made arrangements for supper. So before getting to our hotel we stopped at Jimmer’s BBQ, Burgers, and Beer in Montrose.

Jimmer’s was ready for us when we arrived, and our large group was immediately seated in an area they used for large groups that was away from the main dining area.  By the time our servers had taken out drink order they had set up an all you can eat BBQ buffet, consisting of pulled pork and ribs, baked beans, slaw, and a salad bar. They also treated us to banana pudding and peach cobbler for dessert.

This was by far the best food and service that we enjoyed on this trip. It was outstanding.

After we had eaten our fill and were getting ready to leave, the owner stopped by to thank us for coming and wished us safe travels. If I ever get back to Montrose, Jimmer’s will be my go-to place for a fine meal.

It was just a short two-mile drive to the Hampton Inn. Upon arrival Michelle quickly obtained and distributed our room keys. The meal at Jimmer’s and the quick check in at the Hampton Inn was the perfect ending to a great day. Tomorrow is what I am calling my True Grit Million Dollar Day. This adventure just keeps getting better and better.

 

 

 

 

2023 CANYONLANDS ADVENTURE - GETTING TO KNOW KIT CARSON

 

DAY #5 – THURSDAY – JULY 6, 2023

 SANTA FE, NM – CANON CITY, CO

297 – MILES / 1,877 – TOTAL MILES

While Day #5 of my 2023 Canyonlands Adventure was a moving day, it was a relatively short-day mileage wise.  After a good breakfast in the Hilton Hotel Restaurant, it was time to board the bus and begin today’s journey.

For once we pulled out of the hotel right on time at 8 a.m. Every Morning so far the same few people have been late getting to the bus causing us to be late leaving every morning. I don’t know if someone may have said to them or if they took the hint when everyone stared at them when they boarded the bus. We will see if their on-time arrival was a fluke or if it will continue.

Any way we pulled out of the Hotel parking lot and headed toward out first and only scheduled stop of the day in Taos, New Mexico. It took us almost two and a half hours to make the scenic drive from Santa Fe up to Taos.

The Bus dropped us off near the historic plaza in Taos, which is fill with shops, art studios and restaurants. Most of the folks in out group are going to take advantage of the two hours that we have here to do a little shopping and to grab lunch.

Since I am not a shopper, I decided to head up to the Kit Carson House and Museum.  This was the home of the famed, frontiersman, fur trader, Army Scout and Indian Agent, Kit Carson.

The historic home was built in 1825 and Kit Carson lived here from 1843 until his death in 1868.  The small museum and gift shop are in one part of the U-shaped that was built around a courtyard that once housed the stable and corral. 

The 4-room house was where Kit had his office when he served as an Indian Agent for the tribes in the four corners region of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. Kit was well thought of by the Indians who often referred to him as “Father Kit.” He was constantly lobbing the United States Government on behalf of the Indians. Some in the Bureau of Indian Affairs called him “The White Man with the Indian Heart.”

Most of the furnishing used by Kit and his 9-children was primitive at best and none survived the decades of hard use before and after His death. Today the original home is preserved as a museum dedicated to telling the story of the man who blazed the trail into the Rocky Mountains, served as trapper and Army Scout.

While he was a giant among men, he was small in stature, standing only about 5’5” tall.  His wife Josefa died on April 23, 1868 while the couple was getting settled at Fort Lyons where Kit was preparing to lobby the government on behalf of the Indians..Exactly one month after the Death of his Wife, Kit Carson Died on May 23, 1868.

After finishing my tour of the Kit Carson House, I made the short walk through an alley to Kit Carson Park. Here in a section of the Town Park is the Kit Carson Memorial Cemetery where Josefa and Kit along with a couple of their children and grandchildren are buried.

By the time I finished with my Kit Carson Tour, it was time to look for a quick lunch. The Gentleman at the Kit Carson House suggested a small local café on the plaza. It was operated by his good friend, so, I checked it out and wasn’t disappointed. I had three very good tacos that were served with chips, salsa, and a drink for just a little over $12.  As I was leaving the Owner even treated me to a large cold lemonade to take with me on the bus.

After having a nice filling lunch, it was time to board the bus.  Once again, the same few folks that have been habitually late were once again late returning to the bus. Twenty minutes past our scheduled departure time they finally showed up and we pulled out to resume our journey.

Leaving Taos, we headed across U. S. Highway 64. This took us across the mountains through the Kit Carson National Forest.  It was an amazing scenic drive. We dropped down into a resort area that had sprung up around Eagle Lake.  Off to the North we got out first views of the Snow-Capped Peaks.

As we drove through the resort valley along the bank of the lake it wasn’t uncommon to see a bald eagle or a herd of deer grazing along the lake. After leaving Eagle Lake we began another scenic climb through the mountains.

About an hour after leaving Eagle Lake, we crossed the mountains made out way through the Town of Cimarron, New Mexico. From Cimarron it was almost another hour over to Interstate 25. 

Once on Interstate 25, we headed north through the town of Raton and soon after we reach to top of Raton Pass and left New Mexico and said hello to Colorado.  Just a few Miles or so into Colorado our Bus had to stop at the Colorado Weigh Station.

Rather than getting the green light to pass on through, our bus got the red pullover light. John, our driver, spent about 15 minutes inside with the Weight Station Officers.  While he never said anything about what the issue was, I suspect that it had something to do with his electronic logbook.

From Raton Pass, we descended into the flat lands with eastern foothills of the Rockies off to the west. An hour and a half later we arrived in the City of Pueblo and left Interstate 25 and headed west on U. S. Route 50.

From Pueblo it was only about a 45-minute drive out Highway 50 to Canon City, Colorado where we are spending the night at the Best Western.

We arrived at the Best Western at about 5:30 Mountain Time which is 7:30 back home in the Eastern Time Zone.  After getting settled in my room, it was time for supper. There were only a couple of Restaurants in walking distance, an IHOP and a Chili’s. Since I haven’t had good luck at IHOP’s in the Past I chose Chili’s.  This was a good choice. The service and food were good, and I was a happy traveler.

I really enjoyed my visit to Taos and the tour of the Kit Carson Home and the visit to His grave. The drive across the mountains between Taos and Raton was amazing. Tomorrow we will continue to explore Colorado with a stop at the Royal Gorge Bridge and a trip across Monarch Pass. It promises to be another amazing day.

2023 CANYONLANDS ADVERNTURE - AMAZING HISTORY OF SANTA FE

 

DAY #4 – WEDNESDAY – JULY 5, 2023

 SANTA FE, NM

6 – MILES / 1,580 – TOTAL MILES

Today is the only day of this adventure that we will not be moving.  We will be spending the entire day here in New Mexico’s Capitol City. We are staying at the Hilton Hotel, right in the historic district and in our hotel packet we received a voucher for a free Buffet breakfast.

While our hotel is in Santa Fe’s Historic District and it is just a short two or three block walk to the Plaza and the Palace of the Governors, our guide decided that because of the heat and higher altitude it would be easy for us to get back on the bus and ride to the plaza rather than walking.

During the short ride we are joined by a local guide who will spend the next 3-4 hours with us, pointing out the many historic sites and points of interest. We began our tour in the Plaza. Like most Spanish cities, the Plaza is the city square where locals gather for various festivals, markets, and cultural events. It is also a site for protesters to gather.

Our guide relayed the history of the Plaza and explained that several local festivals take place here each year. The Plaza was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Adjacent to the Plaza is the Palace of the Governors that dates to about 1610. The adobe structure served as the seat of New Mexico Government for centuries. Today, the Palace is preserved as a museum with local arts and craft vendors allowed to sell the wares under the covered veranda that surrounds the building.

Just a short walk from the Palace and the Plaza is one of the sites that is on my Bucket List. The Loretto Chapel is known for its miraculous staircase which is something that I have always wanted to seen since I first heard about it when Charles Kuralt visited for one of his On the Road Features.

The Chapel was commissioned by the sisters of Loretto for their girls' school, Loretto Academy, in 1873. Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy had brought in two French architects, Antoine Mouly and his son Projectus, to work on the St. Francis Cathedral project, and suggested that the Sisters could make use of their services on the side to build a much-needed chapel for the academy.  The stained-glass windows were imported from France by way of the Santa Fe Trail. The chapel was built from locally quarried sandstone and took five years to complete, being officially consecrated in 1878. Loretto Chapel was used daily by the students and nuns of Loretto Academy until the school closed in 1968. Today the rest of the Academy was demolished, but the beautiful Chapel survives and is a privately owned museum and is a popular wedding venue.

The Loretto Chapel is best known for it “miraculous staircase,” which rises 20-feet from the sanctuary to the choir loft. The beautiful spiral staircase is built out of wood without any visible means of support. There is no central pole, and the staircase is held together with handmade wooden pegs.

Another unusual feature of the staircase is that the wood used was a type of spruce that is not native to New Mexico. There are 33 stairs in the staircase, which is the same as the age of Jesus Christ at the time of his death.

According to legend when the chapel was completed the sisters discovered that there was no way to access the choir loft.  Because of the small, confined quarters the sisters could not find anyone who could offer a solution other than using a ladder.

In response to their dilemma the sisters prayed for nine straight days. On the 9^th day a mysterious stranger appeared and offered to build the staircase. The stranger worked quietly and alone using only a few simple tools.

For several months the stranger worked tirelessly. Then one morning the sisters arrived to find the staircase complete, and the stranger gone without collecting any pay. The stranger was never seen again, and his identity remains unknown.  However, the sisters claim because they prayed to St. Joseph who was the patron saint of Carpenters it was St. Joseph himself who came to them and built the miraculous staircase. Seeing the Chapel and the Miraculous Staircase was amazing and was worth the $5 admission fee.

After leaving Loretto Chapel our local guide, who was named Peter, by the way, walked us around more of Santa Fe, pointing out historical sites, museums and of course places to eat. Just a few minutes before noon, Peter left us and we were free to explore Santa Fe for the rest of the day. 

Before setting to explore Santa Fe on my own, I decided to grab a quick lunch at the Burrito Company just across the street from the Place of the Governors. I got the three-taco special which set me back a little over $12. While it was quick, filling and a few points better than Taco Bell, it was nothing to write home about.

After lunch I walked up to the San Miguel Chapel which is the Oldest Church in the United States. The church was originally built in 1610. Part of the church was damaged during the Pueblo Revolt in 1710 and a large part of the original church had to be rebuilt.

Just walking to such a historic building was so awesome. But when I was able see the foundation and step of the 1610 building was totally unexpected and amazing.  San Miguel Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1968

After leaving San Miguel I walked down to The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. The cathedral was
built between 1869 and 1886 by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy on the site of the original adobe church that was built in 1826 and destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The small chapel on the north side of the cathedral was kept from the original church. The Cathedral was listed on the National Register of Historic Place in 1973.

After finishing my visit to the St. Francis Cathedral, I decided to make the half mile walk over to the New Mexico State Capitol.  I did make a quick stop along the way and bought a large cold drink from one of the street vendor. I must say it did hit the spot.

The New Mexico State Capitol is one of 11 United States Capitols without a dome and is the only circular state capitol building. It was constructed between 1964 and 1966 and is one of our country’s newest capitol buildings. Only Hawaii and Florida have newer Capitol Buildings.

Over the Years New Mexico had four territorial capitols including the Palace of Governors which was built in 1610. This makes Santa Fe the Oldest Capitol City in the United States.

The Rotunda at the center of the building is 49 feet in diameter and 60-feet high. The seal of the Great State of New Mexico is inlaid in the rotunda floor.  Even without a dome the stained-glass skylight above the rotunda is impressive.

I spent about an hour visiting the Capitol and managed to get my capitol passport stamp before Leaving. 

After finishing my visit to the capitol, I walked back to the plaza where I stopped and visited with a few other members of our group.  I decided to take a break and start making my way back to the hotel just a few blocks away.

On the way back to the hotel I stop at Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Shop on San Francisco Street for a couple of scoops of Ice Cream and a cold drink. That cost me almost $10 and was worth every penny.

Back at the Hotel I took a break in my room. I checked my Fitbit, and it shows that I have walked a little over 5-miles.  Before leaving on this trip, I was having some big problems with my knee and went to the doctor and got cortisone shots in both knees. So far, they have really helped. I have had absolutely no problems with my knees.

After taking a two-hour break, I decided to walk back down toward the plaza and see if I could find anything for supper.  On the way back down San Francisco Street, I happened upon a historical marker affixed to the side of a building.

The building was where  Billy the Kid was captured and held in Jail for several months in late 1880 and early 1881.  The plaque reads:

“The notorious New Mexico outlaw, also known as William Bonney, was captured, and successfully imprisoned for the last time in the downstairs jail housed in this, the Cornell Building, at 208 W. San Francisco St., Santa Fe, From December 27, 1880, to April 3, 1881. On that date he was moved to Mesilla, New Mexico for Trial. He was found guilty, sentenced to hang, and moved to the Lincoln County Jail from which he escaped. He was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico on July 14, 1881.”

I am constantly amazed at what I can find by just walking around. I didn’t have any luck finding supper around the plaza. I eventually returned to the hotel and had supper in the Hotel restaurant with a few other members of our group.

Today the adventure really began and began and I really enjoyed my visit to Santa Fe. The history of this city is amazing. I was able to walk almost 6-miles and for the most part my knees are pain free.

Tomorrow this adventure kicks into high gear as we say goodbye to Santa Fe and New Mexico and head toward Canon City Colorado.

2023 CANYONLANDS ADVENTURE - BACK AT THE BIG TEXAN

 

DAY #3 – TUESDAY – JULY 4, 2023

 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – SANTA FE, NM

548 – MILES / 1,574 – TOTAL MILES

 Today, started as we checked out of the Fairfield Inn – Quail Springs just north of Downtown Oklahoma City.  This hotel was nothing to write home about. It was an old and dated hotel that could definitely use a remodel. It was clean enough, but I would stay here if I was traveling on my own.

We check out, boarded the bus and departed just a few minutes after 8 a.m. and made out way to downtown Oklahoma City.  At 8:30 a.m. we pulled up at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The Memorial Museum didn’t open until 9 a.m. but our guide has arranged for a Ranger to meet our group and take us on a tour of the grounds.

This was the site where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once stood. On April 19, 1995, a terrorist named Timothy McVey detonated a truck bomb here. That blast destroyed the building and claimed the life of 168 innocent People.

We Began our tour at the Survivor Tree. The tree stood in the Parking Lot of the Federal Building. People who arrived early for work would get the cherished spots in the shade of the tree. During the Investigation, federal agents want to chop the tree down to recover pieces of evidence. But they spared the tree and it survived and today stands in tribute to those who survived the blast.

Our Next stop was at the reflecting pool that sits between the Gates of Time.  At the west end of the Pool is the 9:01 Gate. It represents the innocence of Oklahoma City and our Nation in the Minute before the Bombing.  The Reflecting Pool occupies what was once Northwest 5^th Street where McVey parked his truck bomb.  At the east end of the Memorial stands the 9:03 gate represents the moment following the bombing, when Oklahoma City and our nations was changed forever.

Our Last stop was at the Field of Empty Chairs.  Here sit 168 empty chairs that represent each person who died that terrible morning. Each Chair bears the name of a person killed in the blast. There are 19 smaller chairs representing the 19 children who were in the building’s day care center.

Several people in our Group opted to take a quick tour of the museum when it opened at 9 a.m. This was my 3rd visit to the Memorial and I decided to forgo the museum. I don’t care how many time I visit; a wave of emotion sweeps over me. As I walk through the Chair Garden and read the names of each of the Victims, even today, almost 30 years later, I still can’t help but shed a tear. Especially as I stand silently at the small chair bearing the Name of Bailey Almond.

Little Miss Bailey Almond had just celebrated her first birthday the day before the terrorist attack. She was in the daycare center when the bomb exploded. In the minutes following the bombing an amateur photographer snapped a picture of a fireman carrying her limp body aways from the destroyed building.

As I stand at her small chair in the chair garden and visualize that photo, a wave of emotion sweeps over me and tears stream down my cheek.

I take a few moments to compose myself and begin the walk back toward the bus. As we depart, the ride to the Oklahoma State Capitol is made in emotional silence. 

We make a brief stop at the Capitol where we jump off for a few quick photos. Then we make out way back to Interstate 40 and head west toward Texas.

A couple of hours later as we rode along beside old Route 66, we passed the famous leaning water tower near Groom Texas.  We also pass the Big Cross that stand at the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Cross rises 19-stories above the flat Texas Landscape. Around the cross are magnificent sculptures depicting the Stations of the Cross, along with the three crosses on Mount Calvary and the empty tomb that symbolizes our Risen Lord.

I visit the Cross on Easter Sunday back in 2018. It was an amazing visit that I shared with a few of my traveling companions on this trip.

We stopped for Lunch at one of my all-time favorite eating places. The Big Texan in Amarillo.  The Big Texan is home to the 72-ounce steak challenge. This is my 4^th visit to this popular restaurant, and I have never had a bad meal here.

As our group is seated, I notice that there is a young lady seated on the stage attempting the 72-ounce Challenge.  She doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell of finishing it but I do admire her spunk.

While we are having our meal, the young lady throws in the town and admits defeat. She is quickly replaced by another challenger. This time a cowboy in his late 20’s or early 30’s.  By the time we finish our meal, he is slowing down, and it is apparent that he won’t succeed either.

As we say goodbye to the Big Texan, and pull back onto Interstate 40, I realize that we still have a long way to go. It is going to be a long afternoon. A few miles west of Amarillo we pass by the iconic Cadillac Ranch.

This is where in 1974, a man named Stanley Marsh buried 10 Cadillac’s nose down in a pasture field. For almost 50 years now, people have been stopping with their bottle of spray paint to cover the cars with graffiti.

Moving west we cross into New Mexico and the landscape soon changes from the prairie of the Texas Panhandle to the sandy desert of New Mexico.  We also lost another hour, as we are now on Mountain Daylight Time. About Mid-afternoon we run through a brief rainstorm and are reward by a vivid and beautiful rainbow.

We make our afternoon rest stop at the Love’s Travel Center in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.  When my dad an I passed through here back in 1984 there wasn’t anything in the area but a small rest area. Now there are a couple of truck stops and a few other businesses.

Soon after our afternoon Break, we arrived at Clines Corner. He we headed north on U. S. Route 285.  Here at Cline’s Corner, we said goodbye to Interstate 40, which has been our primary route since we joined it near Dandridge, Tennessee some 1,340 miles to the east.

At 7:30 Mountain Time (9:40 Eastern Time) we pull into Santa Fe, New Mexico and arrive at the Hilton in the Historic District. This will be our home for the Next two nights.

Here in Santa Fe, we can now slow down and really begin this adventure. Tomorrow, we spend the entire day in New Mexico’s Capitol City. I have never been here before, so I am looking forward to my time here in Santa Fe.

2023 CANYONLANDS ADVENTURE - MOVING ACROSS ARKANSAS & INTO OKLAHOMA

DAY #2 – MONDAY - JULY 3, 2023

 HORN LAKE, MS – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

409 MILES - 1,026 TOTAL MILES

Day #2 of my Canyonlands Adventure got off to another early start. I was up at 6 a.m. and had to have my bag outside my door at 6:30 a.m. so it could be loaded back on the bus. I joined the rest of my traveling companions for Breakfast at the Drury Inn & Suites.  Like supper last night, breakfast was a cut above the normal Hotel meal. The food was hot and very filling. I also got to know a few more of my traveling companions. Most seem very nice and friendly.

After a nice Breakfast we departed our hotel right on time at 7:30 a.m. About 20 minutes later we crossed the Mighty Mississippi on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. This is the same bridge that was closed a year or so ago due to Structural Fatigue. The Traffic Jams were massive on the only alternative which was I think the I-55 Bridge several miles away. I am glad it has reopened but I must say I held my breath a little bit.

But we made it across safely and cruised past the Crime ridden city of West Memphis, Arkansas.  In all of my years of traveling, I have been that you are taking your life in your own hands if you stop in East St. Louis, Illinois or West Memphis, Arkansas.

About two hours later we arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas where we made a quick 25-minute photo stop at the Arkansas State Capitol. After snapping a few quick photos, I hustled up to the capitol building and made my way through security. I snapped a few photos of the interior dome. Before leaving, I stopped by the information desk and got my State Capitol Passport Stamp.

I made it back to the bus in plenty of time and even managed to snap a few more photos before reboarding. This was a quick stop and was the only scheduled stop of the day. On the way into Little Rock, we passed by the Bill Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.  Some of my companions commented that they wished we had time for a stop there rather than at the Capitol.

I have been to the Clinton Library and Museum a couple of times and while it was ok, it was not one of my favorite Presidential sites. It is rather bland, and the layout is kind of boring.

After departing the Capitol, we made our way back across the Arkansas River and continued our trip west on Interstate 40.  About an hour and 15 minutes later we stopped at Colton’s Steak House in Russellville, Arkansas for lunch.

A lot of times when a tour bus full of passengers drops in unexpectedly on a restaurant, they are caught off guard and unprepared. Michelle, our tour guide, had called them when we left Little Rock and when we arrived, our party was quickly seated, and our servers set about taking out orders.

The food was well prepared and very good, and the service was top notch. But even so this was a long 2-hour lunch stop and it was about 1:45 p.m. when we headed back to Interstate 40.

At 4:00 p.m. we made our afternoon Rest Stop at the Pilot/Flying J in Checotah, Oklahoma. This was a surprisingly quick stop as everyone was back on the bus and ready to go in less than 20 minutes.

After our Rest Stop, it was clear sailing to the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Plaza Terrace in Oklahoma City.  Once we arrived and were settled in our rooms it was time for supper. The choices for our meal were limited to an IHOP, a local restaurant called the “First Bite Café,” and a Jimmy John’s sub. I opted for Jimmy Johns and from the comments of my fellow travelers that was the smart choice. 

Of those who ate at the IHOP and the First Bite, no one had anything good to say about the experience. They said both places had horrible food and horrible service.

Tomorrow will be another long day as we travel from Oklahoma City to Santa Fe, New Mexico. We do have a couple of scheduled stops which I hope will break up the long ride across Oklahoma, the Panhandle of Texas, and into New Mexico.

2023 CANYONLANDS ADVENTURE - HITTING THE ROAD

 

DAY #1 - JULY 2, 2023 – HOME TO HORN LAKE, MISSISSIPPI

617 – MILES / 617 – TOTAL MILES

Today is the day that I depart on my 2023 Great Canyonlands Adventure. I am up and about a little before 5 a.m. and out the door right on schedule at 5:30 a.m. I am scheduled to me my Sunshine Tour Bus at 6 a.m. but the information they sent said that I should arrive at the pickup site 15-minutes early.

 The bus arrived just a couple of minutes late at 6:05 a.m. In addition to myself there were only two other couples boarding here in Christiansburg.  One couple was Glenn and Sarah Cochran, who are friends of my friends, Pete, and Valerie Ramey. Glenn is one of the local State Farm Insurance Agents here in Christiansburg and I have met him a few time around town and at the Rec. Center.

 I boarded the bus and was happy to find that there were several vacant seats in the back of the bus. On trips longer than 5 days, Sunshine implements a system where passengers rotate seats every day so that travelers can get views from different sides of the bus.  I don’t like to rotate seats and have found that if you sit at the back of the bus the other passengers don’t force you to move and have no problem avoiding the bathroom. I’m hoping that will be the case on this trip.

 I find a seat about 5-rows from the back and store my carry-on bag in the seat next to me. It took the driver to less than 10 minutes to load out luggage and I am off on what promises to be a grand adventure.

 At 6:30 a.m. we pick up several more passengers at the Sunshine Tour Office in Dublin and at 7:10 a.m. we pick up our final group at the Fairfield Inn in Wytheville. The final count for this 15-day journey is 39, not counting our bus driver John and our Tour Guide Michelle.

 Shortly, after departing Wytheville, Michelle formally introduces herself and John, and welcomes us on board.  She gives us a brief description on what the rest of the day will be like. Basically, today is all about miles.

 As we leave Virginia and enter the Volunteer State of Tennessee, we make our first rest stop at the Tennessee Welcome Center in Bristol. Here at the welcome center, we are treated to sausage or Ham biscuits, donuts, and coffee. This is where we all got to mingle and get acquainted with some of our fellow passengers.

 From Bristol we pass the New Buc-ee’s that just opened a few day earlier at Sevierville, Exit 407. Evidently, the newness hasn’t worn off, because traffic is backed up on the ramp and across the bridge waiting to get into the parking lot.  

 We soon streaked through downtown Knoxville and start up the east side of the Cumberland Plateau. At the top of the plateau, we pass another Buc-ee’s at Cookeville.  Some in our group wanted to stop, but our Driver John shut that idea down. Evidently from past experiences, John knew that a 30-minute stop would probably turn into more than an hour.

 Today’s schedule is tight, and we keep pushing on toward our only scheduled stop of the day, which is a lunch stop in downtown Nashville.

 As we climbed the Cumberland Plateau west of Knoxville, we entered the Central Time Zone and shortly after 1 p.m. (2 p.m. Eastern Time) John pulled the bus up in front of the Ryman Auditorium and let us off for a two hour stop for lunch and a little sightseeing.

Having been to Nashville Several times before, I decided to pass on the traditional restaurants and Honky Tonks that Line Broadway and chose to have a quick lunch at one of the many food trucks that you can find parked just off Broadway.

 After a quick shrimp Po’boy from a Cajun Food Truck. The sandwich and drink set me back $14 but it was worth it. And the sandwich was really good.

  With a little more than an hour and a half left before I had to be back on the Bus, I set about exploring Broadway and Music City.  I stopped and took several photos of the statue that stand outside Ryman Auditorium.  Since I was her last back in 2021, a statue of Charlie Pride has been added to the statues of Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, and Jimmy Dickens.

 While those statues are great, I have always found it strange that there is not a statue of Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl in the area around Ryman. It is just strange to me that two of the longest and most popular stars of the Grand Ole Opry have been ignored.

 While everyone else spent most of their time in restaurants, I spent most of my time walking around and enjoying the sights and sounds of Music City. But at 3 p.m.  It was time for us to re-board the bus and head toward our first night’s lodging near Memphis.

 About halfway between Nashville and Memphis we made a bathroom/Rest stop at the Love’s Travel Center near Jackson, Tennessee. Then it was back on the Road for the final leg of our first days Journey.

 It was a little before 7 p.m. when we arrived at the Drury Inn & Suites in Horn Lake, Mississippi which is just a couple miles south of Memphis. I have stayed at Drury a couple of times in the past and they are known for something they call their evening Kickback with features a rotating Menu of entrees, and sides along with hot dogs with all the trimmings.  The kickback is free for hotel guests. The kickback food was very good and hit the spot.

 The end of Day #1 was a long one. I got acquainted with several of my fellow travelers, especially the Back of the Bus Bunch who had the same Idea at me. None of us wanted to rotate and seemed to have developed an early bond.  We covered a total of 617-miles today and tomorrow promises to be another 500-mile day. This adventure is just getting started.