tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-310310492024-03-14T01:48:11.023-07:00Gassaway's AdventuresThis blog is intended to keep family and friends updated on our current adventuresDana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.comBlogger340125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-47223360466676228812024-01-06T13:03:00.000-08:002024-01-06T13:03:54.004-08:00THIS IS A TEST POST<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Test, test</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopj_eDNIDIKftJbmF7Ztgsoa2LYGPxq58Tvkr6OcxJ-BZKluU1d8Lu5vFEAC9ZLsJJgm99R0PfrNJm3DGUzenhdj4-qe9i-saVZv3w-4OwHDRrB4Q_Udmcq7alE__M_OwCXRhrlsTGam5f0Pr6Z06uR4_0dTjXGhSQ8RevCm22Yl8BxsTkCEghQ/s728/IMG_0168.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="631" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopj_eDNIDIKftJbmF7Ztgsoa2LYGPxq58Tvkr6OcxJ-BZKluU1d8Lu5vFEAC9ZLsJJgm99R0PfrNJm3DGUzenhdj4-qe9i-saVZv3w-4OwHDRrB4Q_Udmcq7alE__M_OwCXRhrlsTGam5f0Pr6Z06uR4_0dTjXGhSQ8RevCm22Yl8BxsTkCEghQ/s320/IMG_0168.jpeg" width="277" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Adskljakls;fjsaflo;kajsfkalosfjaskoldfajfaiosfdjoddddlskfjasklfjasfljkalfkjaskfjaoghq0reorfjqowevbkacnefowfakvnaskcbnkjfehqweofhqnwo;kljfnakjfnaskvanvk;ajnvcakjvnaskcjnasckajncksdcvnaskvcnakcjnavcklancvaskjlcjn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-4Vzf6n3c4Lc8KGtIe5aIyQFmKrRBUI6l0rJbiqoikxiah0NA2rT318VwBeGoBzdwMSheqhuyKuFevhHcQ1kXH8rb21qrmeQrYu2Hr1WOIkiRsZDJLA1tzhXG6WAzmhybbqISqAoQfDc8vXgSw_NPcVEUjye18gSIA3FlZLGWQ_TXVIL5i_n3A/s960/IMG_4207.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-4Vzf6n3c4Lc8KGtIe5aIyQFmKrRBUI6l0rJbiqoikxiah0NA2rT318VwBeGoBzdwMSheqhuyKuFevhHcQ1kXH8rb21qrmeQrYu2Hr1WOIkiRsZDJLA1tzhXG6WAzmhybbqISqAoQfDc8vXgSw_NPcVEUjye18gSIA3FlZLGWQ_TXVIL5i_n3A/s320/IMG_4207.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p><br /></p><p>Adfjkls;fjasdfolajsdflkalsfjaslfjalfjafoqwhcoquwicunqeijqr head ubnaeiuvhcqewioufhqewuiofhqifuhqeriuvhqenivuahnviuqwhnfqeivhneqiufvhneiupovhnequifvhnqeivbneivhneivienvheivhneivuhneivhneipuovjnqids</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifVJv0gYlIE8W7eBLdmA0MJOnkMLLOqu0_YOpT5N_8ToorVOIudrvUax7_aE-umo2J4qxUy_aZ6ZBLKD7OcGYLSQbc6d5zNLJslSBst49bnuNI5yFbU_zaeSWE60XTVmNdopv5gYWVy9PbWsnw4OZUiBmyTZXUGRfiTm7cL7VA8JZHT-hujKIFQ/s960/IMG_4206.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifVJv0gYlIE8W7eBLdmA0MJOnkMLLOqu0_YOpT5N_8ToorVOIudrvUax7_aE-umo2J4qxUy_aZ6ZBLKD7OcGYLSQbc6d5zNLJslSBst49bnuNI5yFbU_zaeSWE60XTVmNdopv5gYWVy9PbWsnw4OZUiBmyTZXUGRfiTm7cL7VA8JZHT-hujKIFQ/w640-h640/IMG_4206.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-52825993140700394472023-09-27T07:06:00.002-07:002023-09-27T07:06:18.970-07:00WINDMILL VIDEO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5az8yyLG7k" width="320" youtube-src-id="a5az8yyLG7k"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-36345897551877553572023-09-25T06:03:00.000-07:002023-11-24T10:05:51.606-08:00WINDMILLS, WINDMILLS, WINDMILLS<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">As we were heading south through Western Minnesota, we passed through the small town of Jasper. Unbeknownst to me, Jasper is home to The Windmill Man, Terry Rodman. On the outskirts I spied some windmills of various types and sizes. I told Cathie that after setting up camp nearby we just had to go and take a look at them. The next day, Cathie opted to stay in camp, but our camping buddies, Len and Joe agreed to go and have a look.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The windmills, we later learned there were 44 of them, were all set up in the yard of a lone house in the corn fields. No fences and with a pathway through them, it was as though we were being invited to go and admire them. There were tall ones and short ones, there ones from different counties, China, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, and Argentina. There ones with huge fans, and small fans. There were ones with wooden fans and one with two fans. I was being overtaken with Windmill Envy.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SWtcFV8leapuJFFuRlWu1iVz5G1w2W5nHZyNnFFFfPIwr1y_M0JjnyKm1WilWfqM2fi4vsr4CNMhS3VxY3kdD_qmILbtp5x0pDwTkDsSobXRu7eAHkQKIXVKcSRVK-4JZ-ThYHs0iYw3Bp6FeBD7FnGoYZy2VWSWYfYt8o7RFrHOPfvJ5b9zQQ/s4032/IMG_0695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SWtcFV8leapuJFFuRlWu1iVz5G1w2W5nHZyNnFFFfPIwr1y_M0JjnyKm1WilWfqM2fi4vsr4CNMhS3VxY3kdD_qmILbtp5x0pDwTkDsSobXRu7eAHkQKIXVKcSRVK-4JZ-ThYHs0iYw3Bp6FeBD7FnGoYZy2VWSWYfYt8o7RFrHOPfvJ5b9zQQ/w400-h300/IMG_0695.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ2dMwB-ExoCNqja3bDK5T3a32ZhyphenhyphenB3m5e1j9pO4qAFMcF3q2-CH88dU6fIAP0TLkbZxEe1DnjOdccxmiUdNrBo5EBUcoMxl5farZuuOi3v3ITS07FcnTq9afNRVxaPhz-1sjKXYAYIC5AVNudR1W1IvCLokwRMXziMU32eZmjIXdwlqFf7WlGQ/w400-h300/IMG_0700.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">After, we headed back to came driving through the small town. We came upon, The Windmill Man shop and with the door open, we took that an invitation to stop and take a peek inside. There was someone inside with his back to us working at a work bench. “Hello”, I said and didn’t get a response. I repeated my greeting and still, no response, so we walked in getting closer to the man, and upon my third, “Hello”, he slowly turned around. I asked if he was the Windmill Man, and he said that he was an employee. His name was Paul and was definitely past his prime. He explained that he was the Windmill Man’s only employee and that the boss was out for the day. At some point in the conversation, he told us that he was 94 years old and had been working a long time in the shop. He explained that the boss was much younger and in his late 70’s. Once we got him talking he showed us around the shop and explained how some of the mills worked. There were two giant wooden wind mill fans that he had help restore and having painted each vane 3 times knew exactly how many vanes there were. 94!</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hsVssntOUnJAD_sJvTgqA6QoMdNgrvUhHMpiMPB0lO1fimARaDzp8THIpG8ENV0Lu3C2LuV-RFMy_Ty7_xpqIiohpWuDZAEBrB-Rn1poHO46kdjHWjPBqD0TaCOkRFOKu7TRwLMqS4CxQ9LHf7FZy6h9y7IW82XuhoFJ__tCi_1YfI5GiUgA7Q/s4032/IMG_0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hsVssntOUnJAD_sJvTgqA6QoMdNgrvUhHMpiMPB0lO1fimARaDzp8THIpG8ENV0Lu3C2LuV-RFMy_Ty7_xpqIiohpWuDZAEBrB-Rn1poHO46kdjHWjPBqD0TaCOkRFOKu7TRwLMqS4CxQ9LHf7FZy6h9y7IW82XuhoFJ__tCi_1YfI5GiUgA7Q/w400-h300/IMG_0717.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVF8y692gjQTeDYlChU2nZp39gAkk_naqxDgT-YGzfYSvdJtNDyQCuobKTa3hSvpeRKElqjJT1UBI7VQJRjrJRu3sD86jvQJJb-awfGTN7QqMahIPNWLou4Mn3lRDNT7m0VoqgeGiqSv1p7DqR-rsC4odJ_Z21JpPa2p-JqNVC5E3bNEPjba-lw/s4032/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVF8y692gjQTeDYlChU2nZp39gAkk_naqxDgT-YGzfYSvdJtNDyQCuobKTa3hSvpeRKElqjJT1UBI7VQJRjrJRu3sD86jvQJJb-awfGTN7QqMahIPNWLou4Mn3lRDNT7m0VoqgeGiqSv1p7DqR-rsC4odJ_Z21JpPa2p-JqNVC5E3bNEPjba-lw/w400-h300/IMG_0718.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The next day knowing that Cathie would also appreciate seeing the windmills, she and I went back. As luck would have it, the Windmill Man, Terry, happened to be there. He told us about his collection and shared with us how some of the worked. He even demonstrated a tilting windmill for us. I asked how he got started collecting them. He said he wife asked for a Dutch Windmill, you know the small ones you see in people’s yards. He told her that if she wanted a windmill, he would make her one, but it had to be a real windmill. He explained that his shop roll up door had and opening of 16 feet. So, he built the windmill in three separate sections, each being 15’ 9” tall, trucked them to the house and put them together with a crane.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxZNu3lyCbkljOVMDjkLJ7Jx6eTvzm5CuOR8J7f_Ra79erALFK7A2Joaz7iSOItPF4XHn3477Gu47n3LwCcNFTt8g2PPgumxCMSxouagFYbn-jbrROqKqJUS-sn2ES4hnyAByKGxwrGnzCS772LCP_Gq81mglw6Px_c2oQi6KMLDNKv_lM4z1hQ/s4032/IMG_0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxZNu3lyCbkljOVMDjkLJ7Jx6eTvzm5CuOR8J7f_Ra79erALFK7A2Joaz7iSOItPF4XHn3477Gu47n3LwCcNFTt8g2PPgumxCMSxouagFYbn-jbrROqKqJUS-sn2ES4hnyAByKGxwrGnzCS772LCP_Gq81mglw6Px_c2oQi6KMLDNKv_lM4z1hQ/w400-h300/IMG_0723.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopPnyBx_AAAKEyZYpRAUGF60I6XNlzPNmahdaMltRRbD49ttYBYV6E5qnbtV5iqTjuzzdEnmB-GXj7px9OhXlV-ki74J4GjaZ9BE08qAP8PTIbDSS2Aq2IdVdvECNoGvUh89i-p4T-GcSd9KOiuSoRvjXaVk1o9Dh5x7PkR8Xgu-XM-xbFJauVg/s4032/IMG_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopPnyBx_AAAKEyZYpRAUGF60I6XNlzPNmahdaMltRRbD49ttYBYV6E5qnbtV5iqTjuzzdEnmB-GXj7px9OhXlV-ki74J4GjaZ9BE08qAP8PTIbDSS2Aq2IdVdvECNoGvUh89i-p4T-GcSd9KOiuSoRvjXaVk1o9Dh5x7PkR8Xgu-XM-xbFJauVg/w400-h300/IMG_0724.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtS9O-uQe91VgmmCAgFcRJCKnyFFJ8IcC0KNwg6Vp6B0O1N5CoWl9zyN4KWdevz2zibhVzcXMSneLyckUj9mfVKDmxBuLYc5D-s5wmdvY9MMBWBRQAyV9wPzC-ljQ5OFyaDaKV2Ldgh1TPyVdaP_5DSY4EpY7zlxGwFSPUAHdaZg_yPaNm6SQeQ/s4032/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtS9O-uQe91VgmmCAgFcRJCKnyFFJ8IcC0KNwg6Vp6B0O1N5CoWl9zyN4KWdevz2zibhVzcXMSneLyckUj9mfVKDmxBuLYc5D-s5wmdvY9MMBWBRQAyV9wPzC-ljQ5OFyaDaKV2Ldgh1TPyVdaP_5DSY4EpY7zlxGwFSPUAHdaZg_yPaNm6SQeQ/w400-h300/IMG_0725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Of, course I had to tell him that I once had a windmill, but it stayed at our house when we sold it. I asked if he had any for sale, and he pointed to the field across the road where he had stored numerous windmill towers and various parts. He said he could restore on for me for what I considered was a very reasonable price. All I had to do is get it to Arizona. We shook hands and I said I would consider his offer. We shall see it there is a new windmill in the cards.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-78554859211721232792023-09-17T06:02:00.000-07:002023-09-17T06:03:00.059-07:00GRANDKIDS, A GREAT MUSEUM AND MORE <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">We’ve been moving right along, Bluff, UT for a night, two nights in Meeker, CO and on to Lander, WY to meet up with grandkids, McKyle and Aislynn. Kyle having obtained his Bachelors Degree in Wild Land Management and Wildlife Biology has landed a job with the Natural Resources Conservation Service-Sage Grouse Initiative. Basically he works with the BLM, Forest Service, state agencies and area ranchers to maintain the Sage Grouse’s range. If this sounds like keeping people out, it’s not. It’s goal is to maintain a healthy Sage Grouse population to keep them off the endangered species list.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Aislynn, drove up from Denver where she is attending collage studying crime scene forensics. We all spent the weekend doing tourist stuff, visiting and eating way too much. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">One of the the highlights was visiting the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois. This museum opened in 2020 and houses a collection of military vehicles and weapons. Over 500 tanks, trucks, jeeps, and various speciality vehicles, all of which have been restored and most are in running condition. The museum is divided into galleries, each representing a different war. At 160,000 square feet under one roof, with technical descriptions of each vehicle, displayed in ways depicting how many of them were used. So, who collected all these machines? They are the collection of one man.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><img id="id_9a2c_49fc_da7d_4885" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-wCicbNQlRs_NuuXRHdpDWAHA3ynquNq6VvA28kD1eZhOON_0j0cdsaudq1m6vpp64Z1mwKXX8g3QwQ1iYKCsxK_lpFeA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e185_9ee4_9fd5_cada" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-yJMHWSYGhIHe_2KY8GIjwKdgkFQpeJTSPXt-gkuPxPkeH1CsU2Elk1cJNzcE9DwsirZRBK1m-DtbvwolKzQb7tttrrAA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3845_923c_a8a5_9352" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-yenpLmKX6SFf_UYGiETXdwdx33xO-SrKzaH_vQWK_ovKq3KJiCNuewsZYUB7RX2DiA9w-wRsWpEr-MVD04P9rJXwbpMQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_eed3_e59_5d9d_5db2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-xdDUZtD2wy6YGb794sPQkSEPss02sXgMWLKGdyunjOOUpp8uKc8Nf-I-kTTm5dM5v1npoF__1Fm-Oop2xObZN99z29Ug" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_28dd_7aa1_7d29_f830" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-y1AMWR84VllOwejuXkO9-RjjqL6bHSDskFpYVESzHwD1BHKuQpD61b3owdF7TBC6mVR2K9oOXwPWBue3GGVs3ZDCCPdA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br>Dan Starks, is the retired CEO of Abbott Laboratories and is on the board of directors for St Jude Hospital. He didn’t start out collection military vehicles with a museum in mind, but as his collection grew, he began showing his collection, which at the time, was housed in two barns. There was so much interest that he built the current building at a cost of 100 million dollars. In the town of Dubois, he built a facility to restore the vehicles and employs 6 full time employees for that work. If you go to the museum you just might meet Dan as he routinely acts as a tour guide.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">One of the galleries holds small arms including some historic guns. General Pattons pearl handled Colt 45 semiautomatic pistol, a revolver owned by Wyatt Earp, and a .79 caliber Dutch flintlock musket which fired the first shot at the Battle of Bunker Hill in the American Revolution. This musket was owned by Private John Simpson, who upon hearing the order, “don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes”, immediately stood up and fired the first shot. He was later court marshaled for disobeying an order, but received little or no punishment. He continued his service till the end of the war. His musket was recently sold at auction by his descendants and the winning bid was a whopping $492,000 and shortly thereafter it went on display in a prominent display at the museum.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><a href="https://nmmv.org/plan-your-visit.php" id="id_c7f6_64_3464_80d3">NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY VEHICLES</a><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><img id="id_d117_122e_2cf1_9ba6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-zgcsLM3y56DhcsaS1Y0QXhJyp-3El6E8SJe7_gOXUrgCDg7t0L9wxe5fcl2B4M6HW4hTCtE_hmsoe9uk7DH1S6OGKC" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_38c7_f175_412a_4e60" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-wj94EAJn_Yq7GSIyticc0IRm22eyr4R0Va6ZBE7RmJ12nW05l3v73POVP5lW59uby9CgoT--BpqdYwvfUbS0gzUWjc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br>Our next stop was just a short way up the road to the Wind River Gorge for an overnight stop in a state park campground. We managed to snag the same spot we’ve stayed in before with a view of the gorge and river. The next morning we continued north with another overnight stop at Devils Tower. This was a disappointment as the place was packed. The campground was full due to half of the spaces closed. There was an hour wait for a parking spot at the visitor’s center, so we made a U-turn and found a small RV camp with a view of the tower. Next on the agenda, we headed east into South Dakota then north to Bismarck, North Dakota. We stayed at General Sibley Campground, a beautiful park on the outskirts of the city. Big spacious campsites under an umbrella of mature trees, and grass all around. Turns out Bismarck has miles of paved and designated bike paths, so I finally got in an early morning ride.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><img id="id_dbbc_655_54f5_e1f0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-z3CabuuBjZHw7kVk-q17TrpCEzIS2EKBsSlIYSBMA3q1Fso30HhiLILua7jy8p20mILJ7r3asmL-7iwLLh7LdgZ_fN_Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4c29_ddf8_68b2_6c89" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-wTs9j3YR6zWbYK1Z1i9WnDCURCDWZY-PXqiIlCM0n-jCS0aHN2HHRqLka3YvI8WW14PEgxnd1m2EUKoFmzupIN8URI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_125f_dcc3_e2c_cd1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-wpfb6bmBOgSIS6KRRbF2byLTVPQhwX12DENOjSzXGzpWpROmganwXJOxCHZ07eME2ldH11Dv7Y3rJIQ_nYOjKzBqk-Ew" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br>Of course being in the state capitol, while Cathie stayed behind, I paid a visit to the capitol building. Unlike many capitol buildings, North Dakota’s has no dome. Completed in 1934, after the original building burned to the ground, the new building was built in the Art Deco style and is 18 stories tall. The next day, Cathie joined in and after doing the laundry took a tour of the former governors’ mansion. Built in 1883 as a private residence, the State bought the home and it served as the Governors’ residence from 1893 to 1960. During it’s restoration, 13 layers of wall paper was discovered on the ceiling in the living room. As in all of North Dakota’s state historic sites and museums, admission is free.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><img id="id_a579_f4bb_a864_2a11" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-xZ0cunCxCyE3vTg08NaLmgWlV-oruoUlgrqOy9GuLXTRRN8yCa9zXmbkIxqvNJAOmowaTn4OBNI9WIQy2OAGLLpzsS7w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5aa4_86cd_df37_ff94" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-yjfb3lbi9kujln5HPCp7MtgobgLKzz5qqS-Vg04teXXVrwJOmDeZAKhrJ4R6MKDDKcH_3zH9v7bqR3dOWLoWwdVB1G5w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f799_a534_aebd_e34b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-xyG9zjAGoOOZ6LWqXQKoYRw4aZU9ytFlkS2cBA86BUOB70if4yrFPRVKhnq58x3jT26EjlYpnbDLooO-N45q2rgl-l" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5a2c_6957_dc58_fa24" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-z5igu-diKgCFTZtjRfILSE4qy_YuTIuoLPh9JQTIt5XllBWLWp7z7j5YtaVHj7Q6Wb48SDEkA5DeohcORDze-k0mRLyg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br>You’re all caught up now, but stay tuned for the next episode,</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-20810229097950663242023-09-01T09:25:00.000-07:002023-09-01T09:25:14.130-07:00WE CAN'T SIT STILL<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvIHCZyr4F5xeSley7L8AO_OOjbkssRNx5YV0amU7JD7-lg5qyLXLumvVzWHVZ6ra74D5r84cDEr0_zIcjoQyjtkv8Z6juPdj01I1i0TnpsFw7_NdI0BwBz9eIIxpHpp1vh_hhFulusKjYHR8CLlnLmogecP9FU-8jsmmLpoQsVr0WuOHpr9RpQ/s3264/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvIHCZyr4F5xeSley7L8AO_OOjbkssRNx5YV0amU7JD7-lg5qyLXLumvVzWHVZ6ra74D5r84cDEr0_zIcjoQyjtkv8Z6juPdj01I1i0TnpsFw7_NdI0BwBz9eIIxpHpp1vh_hhFulusKjYHR8CLlnLmogecP9FU-8jsmmLpoQsVr0WuOHpr9RpQ/w400-h300/IMG_0035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It's been awhile since we've been anywhere, like 3 months is a long time to stay still, so we're going on the road again. Only the first three weeks are planned, with the remaining 3 to 4 weeks left up to our imagination. Heading to Wyoming first to see a couple of grandkids before heading east for a meet up with my Camino Brother Len. Len, from Canada, and I met on the Camino in 2015 and we have stayed in touch since then. Len and his wife, Janet, will meet us in Minnesota with their RV and we'll camp together for about 10 days. Tagging along will be Len's brother Ron and his wife Lorraine in their 5th wheel. Hope they're ready for all the Camino stories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Next we'll head south into Missouri so I can check out the <a href="https://mostateparks.com/park/katy-trail-state-park" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">KATY TRAIL</span></a> The trail is a "rails to trail" trail about 240 miles in length generally following the Missouri River. Primarily a bike trail, but walkable too. Perhaps an American Camino is in the works. Continuing in a southerly direction, we intend on visiting a friend from work who lives in Eastern Tennessee. After that we have no definite plans other than to head in a westerly direction. Maybe a stop in New Orleans so we can finally visit the World War II Museum before taking the slow route home through Texas. As with most all of our RV trips, we leave open the possibility of changing our minds and direction if we don't like where we are or hear of some must see place. Or some currently unnamed hurricane that makes us skedaddle north. We will be flexible as that is the way we travel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, follow along and I'll post from time to time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><br /><p></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-90543569168685080312023-02-20T12:24:00.001-08:002023-02-20T12:24:41.709-08:00ANOTHER COWBOY POETRY GATHERING<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrlrHdFw_YuH1DsaafTjBn3qoJGnaYN95LvOjUZRSli_xNyM62vZKGhaGgf2vkeXwTo20TuSc-CAUSyiuHdWVOPGyNdfPDJ0gGGPmcaSNtvVl3WiWCkOCV_3FLLdwsbDjIyeunuzcAzXMuhZ_F7BRHJ94D6dWSaixb6DukYPXUWGIJARmL6w/s1500/NCPG38+OTT+primary+thumbnail+2500x1406+RESIZED+FOR+WEBSITE+BANNER+KJA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrlrHdFw_YuH1DsaafTjBn3qoJGnaYN95LvOjUZRSli_xNyM62vZKGhaGgf2vkeXwTo20TuSc-CAUSyiuHdWVOPGyNdfPDJ0gGGPmcaSNtvVl3WiWCkOCV_3FLLdwsbDjIyeunuzcAzXMuhZ_F7BRHJ94D6dWSaixb6DukYPXUWGIJARmL6w/w400-h225/NCPG38+OTT+primary+thumbnail+2500x1406+RESIZED+FOR+WEBSITE+BANNER+KJA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After a 2 year hiatus due to Covid, it was time again for the <a href="https://www.nationalcowboypoetrygathering.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">38th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering</span></a> in Elko, Nevada. It's not just poetry, mind you, but plenty of cowboy music too. This was our 3rd trip to Elko for The Gathering, so it's become a yearly event for us. For those of you who aren't familiar with Elko, it's in Northern Nevada and although not in the Middle of Nowhere, you have to go through the Middle of Nowhere to get there. Held at the end of January each year, it is usually a cold and sometimes snowy drive to get there. This year was no exception and with a stop in Ely, NV for an overnight we learned what cold was all about. Upon checking in to our hotel the desk clerk filled us in on the previous night's temperatures. Minus 20 with a wind chill of minus 40. We lucked out as our overnight temp was a balmy minus 5. But you get the idea, it was cold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6fGLXjMSHSjHbtV1nAwm9x9GYoq3ZtCbMN7FSkaelxxYZRUgEPxTQxZVtOR7bWVHWwVt1UpEcVsnA8f21MyOoW92scInYJvVLcGBmWXRRJk4uTu56_DJou0bzjtyCuHSY7-T58gRTfxSFLvTlIyUV1w6nE7_rdWlnB2ifRKr_95PwXRt4Z4/s4032/IMG_8773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6fGLXjMSHSjHbtV1nAwm9x9GYoq3ZtCbMN7FSkaelxxYZRUgEPxTQxZVtOR7bWVHWwVt1UpEcVsnA8f21MyOoW92scInYJvVLcGBmWXRRJk4uTu56_DJou0bzjtyCuHSY7-T58gRTfxSFLvTlIyUV1w6nE7_rdWlnB2ifRKr_95PwXRt4Z4/w400-h300/IMG_8773.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We made it to Elko in one piece and checked in to our hotel for the next 4 nights looking forward to the first of many shows that evening. The Gathering is presented much like a professional conference, with a choice of different sessions you can attend. From poets, to fiddle and guitar players, to yodelers to full on bands, there is a lot to chose from. One session that is on going is Open Mic. If you've got a poem you want to try out, this is for you. We just go to listen and are usually pleasantly surprised with some pretty good poetry. Of course there are plenty of well known Cowboy Poets, in the cowboy poet world. Also some great songsters, a few of you may have actually heard of, or maybe not. How about Michael Martin Murphy? His song Wildfire was a big hit way back when. Now 77 years old, he still put on a great performance. Also in attendance was Corb Lund, well known in Canada, is a very entertaining singer and song writer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eOUJEyLmeUlTgfdn3WIDRBBb8-3dhPkWMrtsbSaAE1tYjYtO_dRMhOW5HeyXE8nnJfOpWTw_FYToK6RXvAE9766tuFD6axX7x_G5R48tCnTla85_KLs2pUmadFHaTawEiVHIBTcqi4JETC7tlNl-u_0rdjMYyledRw-Ji8deKqE8jzEyHNk/s4032/IMG_8783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eOUJEyLmeUlTgfdn3WIDRBBb8-3dhPkWMrtsbSaAE1tYjYtO_dRMhOW5HeyXE8nnJfOpWTw_FYToK6RXvAE9766tuFD6axX7x_G5R48tCnTla85_KLs2pUmadFHaTawEiVHIBTcqi4JETC7tlNl-u_0rdjMYyledRw-Ji8deKqE8jzEyHNk/w400-h300/IMG_8783.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PLAYING THE SAW</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Marley's Ghost, in the below photo, consists of six old guys who have been playing together for 35 years. They can play just about any kind of music, from rock to blues to gospel and country. They were really good and one of our favorites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSUnQ6JiaCtr47onXNOcfznnT7sf_FmxrjBF9STtVMb2QLJWj2bSmvLBunLdRqt4DQiMWSxVOXAEpUT1VBfHE6VS-FRHSN3A4RpK508MLG6vE0_16xFxI1L0lquk2elTEi4GkRYwCHxCsOretQTa4Sc9iV9LM8jHli6grsP8uznX5tLk6BYM/s4032/IMG_8789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSUnQ6JiaCtr47onXNOcfznnT7sf_FmxrjBF9STtVMb2QLJWj2bSmvLBunLdRqt4DQiMWSxVOXAEpUT1VBfHE6VS-FRHSN3A4RpK508MLG6vE0_16xFxI1L0lquk2elTEi4GkRYwCHxCsOretQTa4Sc9iV9LM8jHli6grsP8uznX5tLk6BYM/w400-h300/IMG_8789.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1fmbKvOvtzIMQZs8TpRXJImJDlpWN7fWrOgd0ifIvjPQzF7yRCeC4Kta4LfOn6oar59gJ7uoGhOXPZrQ6bXXMgahJFYhQ9wFdv6ugHmedukmtSE9DuCX-mvJu2PBHE0YOyTxf2TRGpgTHy5ZqBzFJAihooDATbR6LgOER9RqykG1AQDS4ew/s4032/IMG_8798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1fmbKvOvtzIMQZs8TpRXJImJDlpWN7fWrOgd0ifIvjPQzF7yRCeC4Kta4LfOn6oar59gJ7uoGhOXPZrQ6bXXMgahJFYhQ9wFdv6ugHmedukmtSE9DuCX-mvJu2PBHE0YOyTxf2TRGpgTHy5ZqBzFJAihooDATbR6LgOER9RqykG1AQDS4ew/w400-h300/IMG_8798.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OPEN MIC</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Below is R.P. Smith, a rancher from Broken Bow, Nebraska, has become my favorite poet. He'll get you laughing till your sides hurt. As with the majority of poets at the Gathering, he is a real cowboy from a working ranch.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzB4PNKZItJcuntkrpV_0ePJiIEWE4t96yGUVs6Hnn4-tCzAQX3k1E7OwoogwVxhy9wJ6TFRnwAUx7QjRirYGJoje9H8AlfwOw67wO_4HQcwrN_hnYfeZ7YTNIWWhn3N3gP1f0xvFxbDteaxak79gTfEyKpSAH2RHl2BNpMZ00FVcHY0M-Wg/s4032/IMG_8806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzB4PNKZItJcuntkrpV_0ePJiIEWE4t96yGUVs6Hnn4-tCzAQX3k1E7OwoogwVxhy9wJ6TFRnwAUx7QjRirYGJoje9H8AlfwOw67wO_4HQcwrN_hnYfeZ7YTNIWWhn3N3gP1f0xvFxbDteaxak79gTfEyKpSAH2RHl2BNpMZ00FVcHY0M-Wg/w400-h300/IMG_8806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A short poem by R.P. Smith entitled Ranch Romance</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Come away with me, my darling wife,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and share my morning song.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">come out with me, oh love of my life,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for you presence I do long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we shall taste the morning dew,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">then greet the coming dawn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My heart does beat only for you:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Without you, I can't go on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We shall be linked together,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And my destiny you will control.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For you see, my love,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.....the pickup's stuck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Could you come give me a pull?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhtXntKs9d8DBap20BhO1gk30saHD_J4aktqafz1fF1sKZTn4hHgphgvmS6ChAjw7dMSWLJRZD38-voQFc05TzxFyDLB1fVM_7RAtt6lPAYWp7-ANcvZsOPUFMG9amw7jphE9OX5J0zWaqd4YdUeZ4T1WUC17alKcqUmnJWjAlYf3mU85TYg/s4032/IMG_8813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhtXntKs9d8DBap20BhO1gk30saHD_J4aktqafz1fF1sKZTn4hHgphgvmS6ChAjw7dMSWLJRZD38-voQFc05TzxFyDLB1fVM_7RAtt6lPAYWp7-ANcvZsOPUFMG9amw7jphE9OX5J0zWaqd4YdUeZ4T1WUC17alKcqUmnJWjAlYf3mU85TYg/w400-h300/IMG_8813.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CORB LUND</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy3BVoHtiMgN9o-Gx5T__Q8_4fW-9eNWL5PYYuBJwpIVgI8ZvfsFAZuA0hx9uTMP52aPyksrjjlfs3Obq8bZCLlxCyig8uzg6KmjeIDb-KQgfWBoHaIkq2tR270YQT7r7Xl3mvKtb124rqTM1TF5568TavLib9WktOEcxtm_03MFjAxJaxS0/s4032/IMG_8825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy3BVoHtiMgN9o-Gx5T__Q8_4fW-9eNWL5PYYuBJwpIVgI8ZvfsFAZuA0hx9uTMP52aPyksrjjlfs3Obq8bZCLlxCyig8uzg6KmjeIDb-KQgfWBoHaIkq2tR270YQT7r7Xl3mvKtb124rqTM1TF5568TavLib9WktOEcxtm_03MFjAxJaxS0/w400-h300/IMG_8825.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHY</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafOWk8w2fKQPdQabYo84IIGcAlnfumsS0rK0o6oTtgIeIjtDCoRLXhqA3iUkRsSXZd6ohbUmMfPpyeBgRmHLWtvWB0e-Y1by4a9aGzzqUIjGqa_LGqC4e7-0_D9mamlApIERP3hmB6RMATGJ9cDT1RAwp2Eq2TjM6YTsxaNPZreLWKmfZXUA/s4032/IMG_8826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafOWk8w2fKQPdQabYo84IIGcAlnfumsS0rK0o6oTtgIeIjtDCoRLXhqA3iUkRsSXZd6ohbUmMfPpyeBgRmHLWtvWB0e-Y1by4a9aGzzqUIjGqa_LGqC4e7-0_D9mamlApIERP3hmB6RMATGJ9cDT1RAwp2Eq2TjM6YTsxaNPZreLWKmfZXUA/w400-h300/IMG_8826.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Of course, after a full day of music and poetry which extends into the evening, a stop at the local cowboy watering hole is in store.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpSxyb6B_Pp325Vu-PJLrcB__etCjCt5DFzeIRDCOLGePESFTEbLgOaybBMjHEIXRCkwD5ligQsjTZuI3YXxSN6ZNUWH79jIRNEhOZ7LldFFLvTeDL6Gb6KTcnheUpylM5oMZ0fO16cRu6zR6chO_GP6WnlFTmZiqI3uH_CyspfLyTDZlNa4/s4032/IMG_8777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpSxyb6B_Pp325Vu-PJLrcB__etCjCt5DFzeIRDCOLGePESFTEbLgOaybBMjHEIXRCkwD5ligQsjTZuI3YXxSN6ZNUWH79jIRNEhOZ7LldFFLvTeDL6Gb6KTcnheUpylM5oMZ0fO16cRu6zR6chO_GP6WnlFTmZiqI3uH_CyspfLyTDZlNa4/w400-h300/IMG_8777.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">We really enjoyed this year's gathering listening to all the poets and musicians. Saw some we had seen before, but discovered many new, at least to us, performers. We intend on going next year and it is such an enjoyable get away.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The downside is the drive home, with blizzard conditions, we opted not to drive through the Middle of Nowhere, but instead took the long way through Salt Lake City. Still in a blizzard much of the way, but at least we were Somewhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcIvXHu4vYR3jbzD1bs_f_xRvzYC-SQ8QxvT8ylKM8FNHj0vgR9HlTGg61vcbXG4OBC7qGg6Ktj6w24M2uinDHDV0llydjhOmDku4iFK2Z2I9M7VCXPvxVS6p8yqqQqI4zz9jYWGcP3_Ep_tqSGWKS424TXlOsBTrj_VCgD3zFHURkf0l1sA/s4032/IMG_8781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcIvXHu4vYR3jbzD1bs_f_xRvzYC-SQ8QxvT8ylKM8FNHj0vgR9HlTGg61vcbXG4OBC7qGg6Ktj6w24M2uinDHDV0llydjhOmDku4iFK2Z2I9M7VCXPvxVS6p8yqqQqI4zz9jYWGcP3_Ep_tqSGWKS424TXlOsBTrj_VCgD3zFHURkf0l1sA/w400-h300/IMG_8781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /> </div><br /><p></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-15328763371482238722022-10-16T13:58:00.001-07:002022-10-16T13:58:12.152-07:00A BRITISH ADVENTURE-THE FINALE <div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">As the finale of our latest adventure I going to post some of my favorite photos and perhaps say something about them. If you’re a follower on Facebook you already may have seen some of them, especially the “Todays English Stone Wall”. I have a fascination with stone work I have seen in our travels. I usually come home wanting to build a wall and start looking in the yard for the best location. As in the past, a wall never gets built, so to get my fix, I’ll start planning our next trip. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">There are a couple of firsts on this trip. First time taking a shuttle bus from home to the airport. Won’t do that again, two hours of agony. First time flying in business class. (Did first class on the job). First time in the business class lounge at the airport. First time we did’t stay in a hotel. First time the trip lasted only 1 month. First time herding a cow. All in all a pretty good trip. Now for the photos</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_bc8c_e9e5_b017_ec35" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/52ZQFFUOLI5QkUqD3JT22_BYSn-9mfEEjEernC_dnjjgZYZDdq4EANGNp_mZRqdCdKY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_c40d_b9ff_7ef3_2cf4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bpfVsepeOBWRLZjBL4Hs7qu56Bh-bLwFR9L_vr9krPOYQp3ihReeZrclCL5_ktbdmRE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">WINDSOR CASTLE , THE LONG WALK</font><br></span><br><img id="id_d76c_fbb8_851c_1c6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KBRqwaJ30gvWfHBxRFdanMNeKd4mloPm0DB7mwY-lJL6IB26GICygODG7-7fQuAOkEM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">HONORING THE QUEEN</font><br></span><br><img id="id_161a_b104_af10_a9fb" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/R5kuvej1k1_xsDGuKFzEhh7CBhyRLeuu4LIHDKkVR5jApeclPcNX_HI4TdHZLMhwUks" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">SHERWOOD FOREST</font><br></span><br><img id="id_f7f3_a90c_a1f0_9b11" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4XOSEVhCcdYDj3JheFHSZOcIb63y9wGCesg7YsB9xMX5QeZWuj56WwmIBxgAdAv-PJc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6eee_1194_38e7_ac5d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RplB7I_a19zisE4dNGO07jT6xV9NzjkPH-hUxaX2JQ-aoGwfXMHWzSL6bPDJTcJuEQ8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_706e_74c0_81c5_2204" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/n_31e_dSQK1ffis7e6Mlrxjn_KwOHg0djJ9ZfZL9WUTjT8QNENtqyz9hu7_pK-MnPmM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><br><img id="id_9a64_5f0b_5965_8072" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/2FWgTi_V7igzMuEAXwBZRmqrajWsu2EMqnlyX3YVTAZpxIDMNvJdnuaes1PeDsm_uq0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1c18_ad7c_bf04_e9c6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_cD1UPvGqVkfvrg1EpNMS1fgQmw3YMvtprgKDxsiprYISf3Bv4MZkM-Au9ep9tc1hnQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">FILEY BEACH</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_7e11_804a_92a7_9b0a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/HFzJk4oXyvgwwnQ99ExSW3uH6g60QkQWuScY98WF7bsTCyMuDxwH8QnnKdgVdwZIN1E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8573_b070_d155_a322" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/lJOhX_hB1XauSMajGayEdnrC9UBmTzPq1_Sse8syZ2np9lSNHxfOvUywc5QtV1hiTCs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">DERWENTWATER, LAKE DISTRICK</font><br></span><br><img id="id_be9f_6528_228_dfe6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6V2M3HJ58lEZj8xX0FcV2BYDBL8QwFl6tdQn-1ZvLDplbzzoZXjVvav1MLmAReZunEk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_655_8d00_39e9_d902" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3sk6I1bUEUzVkn-n6bbu6_iTh1CagIGbXwaqdSahfvVdrVt7CRkfP4RPnlsMdAHd_Ig" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_617f_5572_eb7d_f807" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NKLF_YCyeoQmPFonuMwo1QgUILeEpKBi6NsLPoso17ILcMFX18JvoIeEuIfaatDHnsc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_74f9_e951_5213_216b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hDATYD0tqsaEhGYC6fYdrgAUOkq5wUdek4DJWK3W6Y9DGdiMaEHHILnfQ6d2GmQT5Wg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_de5a_3716_cae9_5ed8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qGU_6L9j8mtaph84yZGsoNL5IMap_jtKqrDm7QM1nKoS9etuzkKYQE38qnt10BBl2UY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_157f_be49_9d3a_35f7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VNYS-CwcKifvdKu7BUC55StvX8bXzplDW0M882nEazCw8aouoIoMA04FN-BHGRzvgvo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><font size="4">BUTTERMERE, LAKE DISTRICT, MY FAVORITE PHOTO</font><br><img id="id_f6a0_a469_707b_3d26" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/STuHiZ7oGnYnD2Xk5IHNEOLiv2rFvFJ_efNtJOBfvUYY6OeJJREumjzjpxWrRSbe5BE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3cf4_cbce_5532_2034" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RRV5M2G7M8rdYtkZUldybBQ0DyVdzlcnbeRtW1v2UoivEoQ3iSi9FaB1HaVI47cyQAg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_b4bd_83b8_706_6a66" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Tjm2h0lnjBWMHNMDpvJfXpZg_bJLMA1SJvAs5_f0hzFpQoiyO8fszqyERH3MU5cGpE8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f0f1_fede_b5af_22bd" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_vEUekNL_foQ6sDNzSrCpTEmz7NlS4VVtXFyGz87ReMVhjIkbehvJ3NII--UGOXXl-Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3eb_d320_e18b_b799" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QCa9-B4bzK0cRJME_Q-FmdzXX0anLs_eJe0r0LoW_QyUlV_Z8-OA1OGEawHxBfp5qQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">PUB LIFE</font><br></span><br><img id="id_bebc_d12_81b5_2cd5" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2V7wqkiw5Q5VKEKRWk1b8O5C3hf0BvYvtUqa6aBhIyC4Mj4VYKexaNATFO6dNyZr4MU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">EGGS ON TOAST SAUSAGE, MUSHROOMS, BLACK PUDDING</font><br></span><br><img id="id_2ab4_9a66_f753_4d6f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5FzBmUHu6bYAIVzTHpyNEIPIrScF1YGdtlTLrXzvMXP10wGT-nF1i2Fn0K3Z97VBuHo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_18f_7168_882_32b7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/KlbaYxHlqr7WmgO8TR_fItAtDyZAmm5dO8tzk8woKrfCBIUdg1w1OtExkW8sa56-Src" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d5d4_84e2_eb02_fa68" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Cb-iAJC_AtnC8Oj_DVwwc7bKMyGsnLydj0zWkSpWwlWZtOjZF8dwskdtVz8UTNj4Jbo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1999_3753_d3de_3a95" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qlF6j7mtKAX9OyC6RsIdJ1IEeY31TqyyLSfo7nXbwE5NfS3lt-mU-lQ4TJOVKxxWIgc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ea3e_954e_85f9_33a2" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Ubjs894qwPtQ4hxCNzGK5qG_xt9-Nda7_mLBqlS3cPTz1H1utDjoxSNPUbY8mq_6FCY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">PUB LIFE</font><br></span><br><img id="id_95ce_a8ec_c5b3_3e29" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Cqw5ttu58mpqJgEc3ndwBk8WVqtUeek0qp8wB4jNBL0PfyaV9ZZ5H1EalR__ozh2ZeI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">LOOE</font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_1868_d6a_d5d9_6602" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fAL00QRT55jNN1Z1y6YFMw8o7H-9OfZ5LHpIqNzThDgQhVNkBvWtv-xqoxbR9OMKPSg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">LOOE</font><br></span><br><img id="id_f8af_1a05_116a_cbf6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/FAWHovA_U39AybMGPQyBG2z2B_2tpxV-mO_ojb1j9Em-bftcafIdpV8UHqnXtFY7qsY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">COLCHARTON FARM<br></span><br><img id="id_a87d_4bef_2060_3c55" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h2ELFm8Uio2tFK7OXJ0eF8gCWNtfMiExHFyPgU3ofwfL9Az984q9cp1Is9TfXgpe8JY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_51d9_f0d0_834c_9cf6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Jp4vlyNRUdNL5zSA-uA8pgAOZgxyj5aQxu7AXgvAHSKIHUg-LS22ooBoAl80kGLdK8Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">PUB LIFE</font><br></span><br><img id="id_7e80_a81a_e133_2897" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/li1s9duNpxll8WOhq0ZSgMa1TzNa6UolC13-h2ulWECiEGx_TdpE4kaUF2RnlvAaAhY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b126_8f32_84e_72a0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RyS72wUZw-agh-Q9hV8gJtCbgUiAKQcFFtMxDiL4WiY4VFHcb0KaOqS8F1QQP2hxmrU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f68b_8e0d_4bc2_fe0f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/aAw-ql8yL0TYWW6TZTAAHviyp25qeTiwiOjakggIokRs4kydqIXZiiOYRjPUcVSn0oo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">PORT ISAAC</font><br></span><br><img id="id_79bc_4e1e_20dc_6d8d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XcRd1KbrCBT07Jw4Hl1GPKZ7JVX0F_4RvbcMCdt6vptFHpRtZusosbwBbeZ5J2uyR-w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">PORT ISAAC</font><br></span><br><img id="id_c9bc_9c75_cba6_8b3b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vlRCMdGTbrVo-0ftWI4SIE1eejV5eZ9vs-dRTYNadudbR0wEPg8AEjCPjnjKjFkLBr4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4">Hope you enjoyed the photos as much I as did taking them. Till the next Adventure…….</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><font size="4"><br></font></div> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-74645570720198666082022-10-14T20:29:00.001-07:002022-10-14T20:29:28.970-07:00A BRITISH ADVENTURE-CORNWALL<div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">For our last week in England, we head to the south and Cornwall. Our luck continued to hold with another outstanding farm B&B. <a href="https://www.visit-dartmoor.co.uk/accommodation/" id="id_7501_7c4e_9ab5_a38c" target="_blank">Colcharton Farm B&B</a> is a working cattle and sheep operation run by Ed and Lowenna and their two sons. Ed and sons handle most of the farm operations, while Lowenna handles the B&B, plus the bookkeeping responsibilities. Being quite a large operation at 400 acres, 300 head of cattle and 600 sheep, everyone chips in as needed. They also grow most of the feed for the animals. The house was originally an Elizabethan longhouse, dating back to the 16th century. It has many of it’s original features like the granite entryway and bell pulls to summon servants. It is surrounded by the iconic patchwork of emerald green fields separated by hedgerows and storm walls so common in England. It was a perfect locations for us to explore some of Cornwall. As with all the B&B’s we stayed in, we were treated like royalty and each morning served a cooked to order breakfast fit for a king and queen. It was calving season and Ed and sons worked long hours make sure the birthing went smoothly.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><img id="id_9f1b_b25a_b39c_e342" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Cc2v1rhmsc6KutZMlioj3Mw5vYr1xb1ncPIyB48Fsw3d04lMa5rdHQeiRKvFW4Nzpy8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8b46_74c7_13fa_4ea7" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PrB80pTW3UvnXyDdFP-4auMPoP-cIHRVCvURj5crugtI6UJ_hXA-wOjvYrAlmy3rjQQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8f9d_d1b5_aa8c_9dde" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nCYeBuNlESj76unZRy9fx1PmVy3ueOy21SGMUNHVOsoS4NQXQV7N0Wcjbe4Nc6ZOBIs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5fed_628_51d6_525a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/skyULu0ZqA51kzp9Y-MPyGZqMDNc5r2ZTPCOgv9zndrISKjO5STYGiDUMPwpziGEhkE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1cb4_baed_980a_d75d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qsQ0SVn5J37i94VN0r_g_EDQhgybdYSQZjo4I4dyB7s_4lmRzgS5f-pqVVD-_Kgdqic" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">THIS CALF WAS A BREACH BIRTH SO IT GOT SPECIAL CARE<br></span><br><img id="id_cc5d_8c4_9a_da1c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/St3z8uujSlrnkDwkePRIZ9y6SNfOy91YBgFu6xq-YCat2IW4jZcVJw7nMcxiFdvC_h4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_26be_2bbc_6a71_374" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wHV4WCZ8SnpgyrxyRLb5y3QYRKH5afMJseZwmcZPuN5LWAtexNITbsewJ1vzaic0Wfk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2a38_a67d_b526_e146" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CjJCNTpJ70-j6b_JRi9pXzKLOG3CeZNkhvmkRRgldsGN50n87RFFIYETOb_rn_bKCTk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">One night upon returning from dinner, we rounded a curve and almost hit a wayward cow. I quickly deduced that the cow shouldn’t be where it was and pointed it the the direction of the barn by herding it with the car. It ambled off in the correct direction. I reported to Ed the loose cow, and he jumped up and ran out the back door. He later told the that the cow had actually escaped by going over the hedgerow. I told him that if he ever paid a visit to Arizona, I could show him the way cowboys there would have saddled up and lassoed the critter. He got a big laugh out of that.</font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4"><br></font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">The farm is located just outside of </font></span><a href="https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/" id="id_7883_e70_8af4_597f" target="_blank">Dartmoor National Park</a> <font size="4">an area of rolling barren hills, known as moors. With little protection from the wind, it can at time be a dangerous place to be when the fog rolls in. Area farmers are allowed to graze their sheep in the park and there are wild horses. Both tend to stand in the road, thus a speed limit in the park is 40MPH. The moors are also home to His Majesty’s Prison at Dartmoor. Opened in 1809 it is still in operation today. Between 1813 and 1815, about 6,500 American Sailors from the War of 1812 were imprisoned at Dartmoor. It is said that when a prisoner escaped, he usually returned on his own because of the howling winds and cold temperatures. There is a certain beauty to the moors, especially when the weather is good. I rained while we were there but the fog cleared.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><br><img id="id_a49b_d0ee_3378_ec84" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/agK1zO-UvFdicQFnmYBZOK9LlpMrHLKqK5vFNZ0B-DlUK8MqM5NCk7mYVlHw63Jwcq0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 498px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_76dc_fec3_f1f9_5d69" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/san0R2iubFxiTqydgH5ehmMX8duXplMAFziaPPI1z_6g3ZZZyOUTw5z5h9pwHFpEl2I" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">THIS IS A CLAPPER BRIDGE, DATING BACK TO 1380<br></span><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We managed to get to some of the small coastal villages that are hidden down narrow lanes and situated where narrow canyons meet the sea. Usually one has to park outside of the town as there is no place to park in town. One such village is Port Isaac, a small and picturesque fishing village on the Atlantic Coast. The town is the filming location for the British comedy, Doc Martin, so it gets lots of visitors. With it’s narrow streets and leaning buildings, it’s fun just to wander around.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_483f_cf42_772a_6e6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Xrc059puu_wl-6CrZpI0TnFpyaqf0afx8F63uj_eM65kvntUn3zu9-1qMSaJilSo_vE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7ce_5686_acff_6176" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/I3OJirkhF90IV0jZ_k5fkIhR3XSM38eMs2uCBlXybf9WUu8x0YZoigAQgBFAZMv4O3I" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9b0e_645c_7af5_416d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/upN_Yjxo2egzQKy7S6AOH1bLMgeg5bJxXkbnU-qna3boeCATYnVFVfugOPIdSVnQQGE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_450_31cf_534b_20f0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qjMvsSdC7w2Wg83552OTZsh8w5K4iM6RigXXxHdTfQ1Sy8x3UuP_g6oAg-2qnDYHELk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ea56_5bc5_e780_9ce2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/h-XmM1q2jg0RIy5Jflk6Yj9XHIJXqmIZ2AoCzXEVkFO8gncl73PvPBe9MWXcFpbG3og" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a5f1_2a15_a8a7_454" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/109euRFqi4y0AfUNi76QHU3lNVfvi-Xb3EpvB2UaVMBAOp4AHHZVNvk3t8Apqy7UdOs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">We also made it to the City of Plymouth, where there is a monument where the Pilgrims of 1620 left England for the New World. We were looking forward to walking the old town known as the Barbican. The way it was described with it’s cobbled street made us think it was a large area. Not so much, and it was a disappointment with just a few blocks to explore. We managed to entertain ourselves by walking around the Royal Citadel, a old and still in use military fort. It and the adjacent Hoe Park are on a high headland overlooking the bay.</font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div> </div></div><img id="id_c92_9df2_fe09_616" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/DyQcMGaTcM9_W_uSdf6cNrGhMBHAWc1gWnalZqSj6mi4FDZgH8Eh1GiHBmakDKbZsvE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">THE MAYFLOWER RETURNS<br></span><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_ddd0_c67d_f406_6756" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Yu47AvQXG1kliFkAIxc2Hy7Ow-cRZ2iQXHi7JDaWpokKZhPpKvarctU-SqIMbeveEZk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ef19_cd8b_6cac_cad0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pvTaQkbLXkKN98nprxGRXi1BMs95QSPdiDdIUK9AbsCW5rxKOCycIGvXkyyEYQzUPqk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ba2c_e3f7_d82d_53fb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qyC7gQuDaO5KLfWQCE7Zy50KLyRSnHtJQ37iUOELhG_qhDqpc928D8JQ-lpppCNTnoY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_fffe_565_43e2_7c34" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jb2LNvwnKBBnAo-62LcRPq5iK_ODLQy5EHYAnKIwHhUrpRhrkQz1bW3ya3Tp-9mp0DU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1275_93dd_152a_7568" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/T0Tsi4hgXb4AXiLr38CNaE3yj5NrkDMFSzx2-HXjCx13RQcvbV_THqUHIYF0ZgsK56k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1ea6_c02f_e974_e78a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Fp8ezyBtH4fCQvtxS5-LRZuBfthk7321FkchmVuVs_1BRVewROzRlIuAi_meau2iOcY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The last two days of our trip was back in Old Windsor, where it all started. We were ready to go home and looking forward to driving on the correct side of the road. We managed to return our rental car without any new damage, which was pretty amazing given the narrow roads and the crazy fast British drivers. A few days before our flight we managed to score another upgrade which gave us access to the Club Lounge at Heathrow. Free food and drink, what’s not to like. At the entrance to the lounge is this stupid looking horse. Probably something the CEO picked out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_3cb6_f0c5_d3e4_ec26" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rKi0BPKd2-kIaXjk55zv9lctJPSkLcB15JvMDJkpM-knIqkeQwoH7PyL9-02sD5ZbJ8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">And we had to take a bus to the plane.</font><br></span><br><img id="id_9b9c_cfbd_34b_5231" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8k9HuY-5nTcCg-udrgvaNeoLeyo4Il99wfVXUhkk4iFPlyxxQ8cCEFbrzzM8iYINOzI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">An uneventful on time flight home and then the excruciating 2 hour ride in the uncomfortable shuttle bus to Prescott. The taxi from the shuttle office to home was reminiscent of taxis I’ve taken in Spain. Scary. But hey it’s an adventure, right?</span></font></div></div></div></div>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-11229468720255815302022-10-09T12:44:00.001-07:002022-10-09T12:44:04.567-07:00A BRITISH ADVENTURE-THE COTSWOLDS<div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We left the Lake District in the rail, which is fitting because it’s England and all, and headed south to the Cotswolds. Designated as an “Area of Outstanding Beauty” it was one of those places that we visited in 2013 and promised ourselves that we would return. One of it’s attributes is the stone use for building houses and walls. A golden hue, it glows when the sun hits it. There are several towns and villages on the route that most tourists take, but there are also hidden gems hidden down narrow roads left to be discovered. Also, like many other regions, walking the many pathways that cris-cross the rolling hills and farms in another attraction to the area.</span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We booked 5 nights at </span></font><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: large;"> Lowerfield Farm, which is a farm in name only. It used to be a working farm dating back to the early 1800’s, but now all that is left are a few fruit trees and the chickens. They have eight rooms and can house 18 people. Thats’s a lot of breakfast to prepare, so our hosts Gareth and Sue stagger the breakfast at 15 minute intervals. The night before you place your order on-line and Gareth , who is the chef, prepares your food as you like it, and Sue delivers it to your table. They are one busy couple, but run a very nice B&B.</span></div><a href="https://www.lowerfieldfarm.com/" id="id_107b_d3ea_1d4a_415a">Lowerfield Farm</a><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_b0b0_c084_febb_1ae0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tMjBKVz8v7P9xVdUhzzbxOpqYgZJokScAR5N44qsiT0VD1gKk4G4QWGvgGKqO2F3GD4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d1aa_4eae_1ba8_4302" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nKTI6bdavBWRyJUWtbN1XMDioi7hlVAGmMUQ2AQFvCod1HMZ2XeWaVYIRsh2TzkRqNQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9f68_d626_6e2e_f96c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mD3SwJ5xJKfr-2Hi7IR3oyGA9CktnhJ5jvwNutNtUTVjqjqpVbFvRX65bqrAi0dx-fc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8bf6_f8e9_a2c1_88c2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/HXVpN7JEgHgXyaLny6wSv0d6Z9epI4VFbMR8FLAh5_WgutfFl3DmjpOt392DCFLGd08" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">So with a big breakfast, we’re usually good till dinner time. Most of our evening meals have been in pubs. On our previous trip here, while on a walk, we discovered a local pub in small village called the Black Horse. We just had to go back. After a pretty good meal, a couple sitting nearby asked us where we were from. They too were visitors, only from New Zealand. We stood besides their table speaking for a few minutes, and before long we were sitting down exchanging our travel experiences. Grant and Elaine suggested that we meet back on Sunday afternoon for the traditional English Roast Beef Dinner. We had a nice Sunday afternoon dinner and exchanged invitations to each other for future visits at our respective homes. Grant and Elaine have a special way of traveling. They are professional pet sitters. They are staying in this small village for 10 days or so taking care of someone’s two dogs. Free lodging in exchange for pet sitting. They have be doing it for years and have traveled all over the world doing so. How cool is that!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_7cbc_25ad_fddd_6591" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bygbDEB35EkMd4DCJj2UrctGNmIL3aEPAC5w_yfno1Wbod12iYI3bPLea4oKxesmYD8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f016_3443_62e2_5b24" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_wOevXS1mLava3nfk3SwFlANsI7sqcYpJb5niiTFab6rucrNKRPECmC2d31k4BlCgcs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">Pubs, by the way are a great choice for reasonably priced meals. Even the smallest of villages will usually have at least one pub that many times doubles as the local inn. Most are open for lunch till around 3 then close till the dinner hour. Most also serve a Sunday afternoon dinner then close till Tuesday. Anyway we ate in a lot of pubs and many times got in to conversations with the locals. Isn’t that what travel is supposed to be about?</font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4"><br></font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">In the nearby village of Upper Slaughter, as opposed to Lower Slaughter, we stopped in the village hall after seeing a sign that they were serving tea and cakes. The ladies of the town were holding a fund raiser for upkeep of the hall. Of course we had to buy the scones from one of the ladies present and this led to a conversation about the town. One of the gals showed us pictures on the walls of the town folk at different celebrations involving the Queen. She pointed out that she was in all the photos from the Queens Coronation in 1953, to her recent Diamond Jubilee. She then showed two wooden plaques with names listed. She explained that her village was called a Doubly Blessed Village as the men on one woman who served it the world wars all returned home without a scratch. Remember, alway talk to the locals, you just might meet someone interesting.</font><br></span><span style="font-size: large; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I said, there are walking trails everywhere and we took full advantage of them. Because they cross farm land, with some field home to sheep and cows, and the farmers want to keep them in, there a various kinds of gates that let you pass but keep the pasture secure. Some are pretty engenous. Cathie played nice and provided some demonstrations.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4"><br></font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_f21a_db29_f3_36d1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tGshWu-g-eZI4F8fu5fbLab2DzL232V8DK8lGnGoR8y0NeygSWCZrVBF9ZnW0Zcoyqg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU BUT NOT THE COWS<br></span><br><img id="id_69a5_1a3d_9112_eeab" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/H_cMNrBjjgboJGAdVIsuDSQQD2xnEfNzyoEGFMEdqroWbBkB3smZnvmxhh3FH1rFBzU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">THE UP AND OVER<br></span><br><img id="id_3ce2_2450_d694_a113" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Sr7haPwu3j8bPHCnonzt0I7_F0ATe2nATMe2uwBzv0yl863ulJXOH7lpY8epemvKNx0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">FOR THE DOGS<br></span><br><br><img id="id_30a2_e846_e612_b176" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/R_PfuUtAF4oOSrSU9ueyerTRbOm-cUQG8ENjp0lHmdsZQyc86xqVoDmb1EGjuKYXjoU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">STONE STEPS AND THROUGH THE WALL<br></span><br><img id="id_abcf_94f_afe4_3ad6" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cIq0JjBt_3hUd3LDgHYaQPumH-XNmGN0Okg_ZC63-0MkDpMFQU42GTMbQRTdcUH7uoY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">UP AND OVER<br></span><br><img id="id_9481_dca_ea87_436a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hyODPD2zYoAr0z7Jisnn-cP70W8CHIBn6gNipbNfkq3Efd3YVfOPpnDxuVbMktMiCEY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">SELF CLOSING GATE</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">If you’re a follower of mine on Facebook you probably have already head most of what’s written here. You also will know that I have a penchant for photos of stone walls. I think many of the stone walls here in England, and the rest of Europe, are beautiful in their design and construction. I don’t want the rest of my readers left out so here you are, enjoy.</span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_dcf8_a713_f403_47da" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QEDhvyL5-zEJCeBLv8OhZABt-IXM_uo6B1YkLNKuh4YqTHrl6Pu3gcIxZ3YEdlBx1tI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8b76_d0c0_65eb_88ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/avDnxoNDCWmRcDkkMRwb-CaiFF1xwVqZkgyNsKwY6X1Ef0m_yUJDIyo-vfIxvc-Vn5A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e905_bd07_fb53_9f0f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Nrk6vOw7DzLbAVj7za9rqEfTmWzN2u9Jd874JrRdHeB5nBI6-pSEIF3_-ws-7VTRebs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8610_3a7a_3005_256" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/L_oaGZeh-jgwEWs_oCr9GCQck1O6W4MOAqZIZVfIjIQSqzuIS3-JUcwbGLVGjMdireY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9614_b2cb_7523_f37e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/CVupXZ1NstcZall8QvehnzsR4EM1N2556ZwgFvL0Oev83Ta9BZFYJjSLyzLqGuS9YSc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_fb4d_5baa_acf3_eea8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sUZaMJxbTBQQyLQWfXG81I_DunDJGJBkJvMqQ262cGlpK4_mdESQxycAIB87jzjYz7Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_520_6d1d_c63_3822" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9E4peQT01N2sQa-gl7rhXApHj6HAXj-gDe5gGct7ftJclC_ZmXFkGXOGMd73XB6Fz8Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b516_2a0c_6e37_fe15" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/zbWmPXF3uKh3HvCiwVUVMFb_SCrwCUsb6ezCc1Rm4WbVRUsPrrroKkkcbC4aiDs4vyY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4c25_756a_8b12_549f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bOzKt_zCsKn-ZlQBCNyPb8QutM_vqeSxHRyGJIq-ORVvEcWXCXOBr2BHPTGT-utNwf8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_cc42_e7ba_7082_60c8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IVp0RZgjS1zOkK14lWERL7K2LFWeVPWfXuAy72OwA-MFrXQq-g2KbHKp8sfshSgWe_s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4"><br></font></span><br><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font><br></div> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-89567682091223702092022-10-07T06:03:00.001-07:002022-10-07T06:03:19.759-07:00A BRITISH ADVENTURE-ON TO THE LAKE DISTRICT<div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">After a wonderful stay at Hazelwood Farm, it was time to move on, heading north to the Lake District. The Lake District is a large national park which is one of the places we had promised to return to after our trip to England in 2013. We weren’t disappointed this time either. Beautiful lakes, (waters, if you remember), tall mountains, and walking trails galore. We booked six nights at </font><a href="https://www.highfoldbedandbreakfast.co.uk/" id="id_75c5_9f2b_91b6_a452" target="_blank">High Fold Bed & Breakfast</a><font size="4">, up the hill from the waterside town of Ambleside. Beautiful views all around and the ever present narrow roads to get there.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br><img id="id_1584_b5d6_d900_b47c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ASCu9L0uzR2gJN3VRe6VdZQqrWy9BZgeOMqpZbPpSzbbA61S6sF7rSNOGRJU__IW_BQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">VIEW FROM HIGH FOLD B&B<br></span><br><img id="id_7329_582c_6448_e84c" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/I8sJXzBP9_9kCc51_yEz87j6oi0IbNI61LUDduInzSZosUY1nuuU9b82Ojed3I4V5Bw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_89d1_d26_7210_bad3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZGCPf0FG6h76eS2BOgSia5VcSIDeRwYazjkAwsB4yeNxmpe1FWLECI4XoIqbASeutvc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">AMBLESIDE<br></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We managed to get in some walks, which helped we hoped, to keep our waistlines from expanding too much. The breakfasts in British B&B’s can be huge. The traditional breakfast here consists of eggs, bacon AND sausage, grilled tomato, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms, black pudding (blood sausage) toast, juice and coffee. Also available is yogurt, fruit and different kinds of cereals. Most B&B’s cook your eggs to order from poached to fried, or Eggs Benedict if you like. Jackie, our host made sure that we had plenty to eat and we usually left the table stuffed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_31c5_cddd_e8ff_8c17" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yvdo5d6oNiFJubTR3sA-t7fK9sJu2L5XmsIvizsPeJOQQ3OidLnogEYVdbsmqyDKCbk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_bda2_1c2_e26d_5229" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CiHri707zRYIL2SDAB0fTo2MU32CWwPHdssomaO-ASVPavyczrShzzavk5zN-T6FAsE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed our walks here, sharing fields with sheep and cows. The beautiful green hills, ever present, and majestic old growth trees make the walks enjoyable. The British are out enjoying too. As a result of the Queen’s death, the Monday of her funeral was a national holiday, making it a 3 day weekend, so the Lake District was especially crowded. So many people at times that parking became difficult at many of the trail heads. The national park doesn’t charge an entry fee, but they make up for it with a fee to park. There is usually a machine that sells you a ticket for how ever long you want to stay, that you place on your dashboard. Many times we found the car park full, especially over the 3 day weekend. It didn’t deter us though, we still found many places to walk.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_3e3b_75c5_c0c1_4b1a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MPnJby1RniWQCu4PgRP5texXqwK2FIQYDUbE-rBiLrJ7kt5GmWHNXQ-UVmL5GaPOIgo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3ff7_a27f_3bc1_8ff3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vF15rr9FwZrNTqL2IqcIKAdw8EgqyxHaaHQb4mQOM-e7n4rJzBOmE4a-R4UWl4AtjBA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ee67_fe3c_f441_6259" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qgH-lXrRwAiengIdViLbquGTTTyNJDTZ3Nj-LBJbGDOAtbnAoWMxmLhilMAvLL3pz5c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_61bb_1107_c0e5_1528" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/n86VNocDKXjult7PaE1IaT8i-o20t0ahoYXzX-wcbEsN7_pLmHRP1RQ6h7OkLLost4A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d452_3115_2e34_63c2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Rci9cx4edjNFLzjQwvX7BAVfGO_quWUTSJ40eTTfWcToUlMBaRmJskubW6yr0WObD5s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1bd_a216_d217_7b88" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9hcjZLLhjH07Zgzt0Kui6_wBYaIDMhDO0LV7ZI9OsuMwqV9cBNyPR92A_CN2u7wGidE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6a67_590f_62df_7a22" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UE6TGjydzalDUu4w81zniMYqzf7UHeAfJHwv4OUDJr8m5V34DMdSdDncQS8GL6McgQw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">We ended up in a routine of sorts. Big breakfast at 8, out the door by 10, on the trail till 2, having tea and a scone instead of lunch, back to the B&B for a rest, then off to the local pub at 6:30 for dinner. It was nice and actually made the trip enjoyable. We didn’t do too much of tourist stuff like guided tours. One that caught my eye was the </font><a href="https://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk/" id="id_affe_a35d_abe_e66e" target="_blank">Ullswater Steamers</a>. <font size="4">Back in the day, many of the lakes had steam powered boats which took mostly tourist, but some cargo, to different towns on the lakes. One of the guests where we were stayed told be that some of the boats had been restored and still utilized steam. How cool is that? So, wanting the experience, I booked a ride on the Ullswater “Steamers”. Notice the quotations? It’s on their web site too. Which means, they’re not driven by steam, but diesel. I discovered this when the “steamer” pulled up to the dock and it didn’t quite sound like a steam engine. I almost didn’t get on board, but we spent 50 bucks, so we went ahead and boarded with a group of blue haired ladies who were on a tour. The only good thing about our excursion was conversations with the blue haired ladies. Turns out there are real steam boats on other lakes, but not this one who’s company fooled me into believing that there were.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_bd0c_9bd_85cc_6e07" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/860gREIYGMsNwes5QUkk4wVRMwlbWrp7XfouhxczaQcEx0YWEeXOswmozCc1JKq3MMM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4">A word about scones the proper British way. A scone here is about the size of a biscuit and comes with clotted cream and jam. Clotted cream is really thick unsweetened whipped cream whipped almost to the point of turning into butter. The cream goes on first then the jam. I’m going to miss this almost daily treat.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_9b2b_b5d1_5525_abf3" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UsZ2TqhIuYfP627G3tgcBOE5oTIk7lzBKdjJFGSPJ-Qz0EZkTEvx3_RvydIj148VYiY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">CRUISING WITH THE BLUE HAIRED LADIES</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_21de_4db8_7248_e3a8" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UnwKbl113FeSUtPWG0n4UjFbK7u2d-VS7MA66IYVYGVQw1-JSvButPSclQrDMSlOCUg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">NOT A STEAM BOAT<br></span><br><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><br></div>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-42280171613321838522022-09-26T09:09:00.001-07:002022-09-26T09:10:33.802-07:00A BRITISH ADVENTURE-DRIVING AND WALKING<div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">Driving on the left side of the road can be challenging in its self, but for a real adventure add narrow roads and a 60 mph speed limit. That’s the speed limit on most rural roads that aren’t otherwise posted. That means nice two lane roads with ample shoulder (rare), nice two lane roads with no shoulder (more common), and narrow single lane roads that carry two way traffic at high speeds (the most common). To make things really fun, a 60 mph speed limit and oncoming cars, trucks, semi trucks, and lots of really big tractors. Even the tractors cruise along at 45 mph. So we’re tootling along at what would be an acceptable speed for us of about 35 mph with hedgerows on each side so close that the dashboard alert keeps beeping warning you that your too close. Before you know it there is some guy in a Jaguar bearing down on your rear who, realized at the last moment that my 35 mph doesn’t coincide with his 60 mph and slams on his brakes. I find the nearest break in the hedgerow and pull into it so the guy can get to where ever it is he’s going. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">On coming cars, trucks tractors speed around blind corners and we only avoid a collision because my speed around corners is a safe 2 mph. Why is it that I only meet oncoming cars at corners? So one of us has to back up to the nearest unsuitable spot for passing, which usually means a place where one lane becomes 1-1/4 lane. There is enough room for passing if you can drop a shilling out the window sideways as you pass and it just makes it to the ground. That’s generally enough. And this is not just with cars. It’s also with big ass tractors with wheels that are 10 feet tall, I kid you not! The dash board warning buzzer’s screaming causing more distraction as you squeeze by. It’s no wonder this rental car had two pages of previous damage on the rental contract.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_6627_9355_282a_5807" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ONYClLzpO4GzMzBR_Ln677sIYKw0D15c6zKXdv_zAR8Hh8S83gbpW9Fhlt1RDoJnRn8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e34e_4c6a_483e_5ca3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2O_NpawIOyryiKYdYF5DMe8TluLpViCqGmd9nwMTkFxs7vwaPSKoRanGsRrNpO0ILm8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9893_157f_43ce_78fa" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/DZ4CFaixSn3b_2t2S6ee1beSXtOWiaZlCLGPv9DSrDE4t42YZofvKmQ1-U42wOyBDRQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">FOR THE ENGLISH THIS ROAD IS FOR FREEWAY SPEEDS</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But you know, it’s different on the motorways as the freeways are known in these parts. You don’t see many speeders as there are speed cameras EVERYWHERE. They call their motorways, Smart Motorways. There are variable speed limit signs which change with the traffic conditions. If there’s an accident, or obstruction ahead, the signs tell you and tells you which lane it’s in and give you plenty of warning. Like 5 miles warning. We witnessed this and the traffic merged out of the effected lane well in advance of the obstruction. And the British don’t use that lane, even if your sill a couple of miles from the actual closure. No trying to get ahead by using the closed lane till the last minute. Very orderly. Of course those cameras are watching.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_9dff_fd3e_971f_df1f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Rc4052kFIK0zS7os90antJIdCf2QnZwtsIDmDsHi16VrwP70YYWHKyUyk2tMC1ApUTQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8274_6384_a092_ee5b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/updrgHx2SRPiC4yQ7HynPcZDCu4MsCPdwsKPL7P2iXpBjQrxLa_fo3Gnk58Gy_co12s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3085_c511_fb52_40f8" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/T8sdWDFlwO2bESKeiv-icD8kcwpFGja1yIPHz1EQJoyDtMEOT8HoPZ300H6_agpUiyg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have been decompressing from the excitement of driving by walking. Walking is the national past time here. Everywhere there are pathways that crisscross the countryside. Many of this paths are part of the National Trails which follow designated right of ways and may go from point A to B. But many are permissive rights of ways where landowners allow one to pass. So you end up crossing farmer’s fields where you share the path with sheep, cow and horses. There are designated entry and exit points with a gate allowing you to pass, but keeping the animals in. These “gates” take many forms. Traditional type gates one would expect, but others that allow you to pass over a fence or wall. They make allowance for dogs too. Look out for the sheep shit as there is plenty of it. So we’ve been walking these pathways most every day so we can work off some of the massive English Breakfasts provided at every B&B we are staying in. Of course most of these pathways pass through small and large towns where one can stop at the local pub for food and refreshment so you can pack those calories right back on. But that’s what travel is all about, isn’t it?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_3518_b05c_f4cb_a04a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mcOeAgZ4n73WY1prPcGLO7tQZ-oG7W00DtOy1fwBCihlSH-dJCYp9-4Wa__TcF3fAMw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2e39_2c09_117b_db7e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rAY2m7AVTGqzTxmD3j_xE8bDGsRnOD3jD0pnCJ7IvCzVnIZOeDc0NB75EmU9f_URCUI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">MOST EVERYBODY WALKS HERE<br></span><br><img id="id_a86a_3fb_5ccb_397c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZMo_sU9swOPZGRdvZpOiROtG93FZp9FY4ZP46N6swPut1rF4d_x_wtREfjEs7nVlFfc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">SELF CLOSING GATE<br></span><br><img id="id_2b62_583_6551_c506" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vgKAsTuKCfJndnc9S8iIZg_9DGxfwOZ1gdQiwydHnFwScS8_8ULOwKVo1Ut7oKpVw4g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2a5b_ed64_eaaf_9581" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zsM1w1XIBwELucboNnnFCOVX9Er565SoAGjoCOrXYnDwAeFNrnxvGTLcYu70A7J5w2c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8f26_3e66_8d0b_5301" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/akNKtcZf2NYlXmqujj-qXSkyFpWGXYR8O6uUi88wKi1R3HngmucjlCmE9chFblzjyjw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">MOSTLY WELL MARKED<br></span><br><img id="id_160f_aa9d_128e_e3e5" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/5llFMKk5g-b8i6r_TMS2_VlvKDelfLzn1VJ5WCEYsx4wwpT-qlgMu37x0NiwEj4qGmk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">GOTTA WALK TO GET THE BEST VIEWS<br></span><br><img id="id_99dc_ab1a_12a5_85db" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Py4dUDiKPPhlp3XqfS0Wug3CvINMqlq1aWWyjgnXpWW4kWXXPd23FUY4zNsVkcj7jSA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">UP AND OVER<br></span><br><img id="id_77cc_132f_e0f3_7ace" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GAoqlcbNFzp2ailEqkWV25gunbgyYokIIeY0Osnb5ExD81ODq2TofWCGvtqjp8O5UnI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">THROUGH THE WALL<br></span><br><img id="id_2539_b153_2603_4825" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1MmhG8vyd3QwC4djGWXI-5GUp6fStwULCurDlF-72077u4Ag7tPHCkr_jehV3UKQHPM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_55eb_1cb2_6cc5_c433" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Ill0KExQhOl0i3Bik5lPRD1M_082Xg3Dw0LrhmdPyLGlgncXkdwcDj0DiZtTC5suHCk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">FOR THE DOGS<br></span><br><img id="id_4f98_49e3_b436_d478" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BvUOjJ-vcJUxpW5kzZLyhYnsIlCG7nNChSGjIEeCAr0QXXZl9JH1ZxVYj0dHI-DZzko" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">FOR THE HUMANS<br></span><br><img id="id_74cd_3676_dd4f_d1d1" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/YkJBP4Tzcrct2HARiExjh_uTKsxxyNW-Z-R8EISt_aGbMAgQeoGE9mgocALMqTQlt2A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">BOTH DOGS AND HUMANS<br></span><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><font size="4"><br></font></div> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-21832715025100455462022-09-21T12:03:00.001-07:002022-09-21T12:03:49.381-07:00A BRITISH ADVENTURE-A COUPLE OF STORIES<div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">Two stories from our trip: We stayed in the very small village of Maulds Meaburn for one night. So how did it get it’s name you ask? Well, “meaburn” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon meaning “meadow stream”. The “Maulds” refers to a story of murder and treachery. Lord of the Manor, Hugh de Morville, was one of the knights who murdered Thomas Becket in Canterbury in 1170. As punishment, part of the manor was confiscated by the King and the remainder was granted to Hugh’s sister, Maud, hence Maulds Meaburn. The portion for the King was named King Meaburn, and both still are villages just a short distance apart. You can read about it here: </font><a href="http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/becket.htm" id="id_f85d_66df_dd7_48b1">The Murder</a></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_bfd_43d0_4cc7_962b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VyuLpCK907nsyGAEq89Re6SwJW-cQMxnDajuVgTdDirUPNIaCdhonEUeDOy8XO9HVGY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">MAULDS MEABURN TODAY</font><br></span><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">Our second story is more recent. The Lake District, where we now are, is a National Park. Unlike our National Parks, there are cities, towns and peoples homes within the boundary of the park. But if you own a home within the boundaries, there are rules, much like a HOA, only worse because it’s run by the government. So there was this lady who wanted to do some renovations on her home. She submitted all the paper work and plans to the local council for it’s approval. They denied her request and she appealed. This back and forth continued for several years with her request always being denied. In her research of the regulations, she discovered that there was no requirement for the color of the house. So to stick it to the council, she painted the house purple. Since the color purple wasn’t forbidden the house remained purple.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">As years past, the woman moved and the house was left abandoned but still purple. Eventually someone set it on fire and it burned to the ground. The property was eventually sold and the new owners built a new house that met all the rules of the council. In keeping with the “sticking to the council” attitude, the front door of the new house is purple. Also in the spring when the flowers in the front of the house bloom, they too are purple. </font></div></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_424d_8a94_1933_1872" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/LxdP_DhheLlN-0Bxoo_AnKgOqJRcUIwf-HUkEEY1nY3HXGoVqxF327MM_EHKa515tNw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_27c5_8af7_253f_53af" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XxqGfVetxKPnlA60CPqZWU9qAWGEMsgVM3u90kKw5Bx0rrn3zjAtr4DqbXHyqEZAGW0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7627_948a_9ccf_775f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Vn_xMF3i62bXKSqYRJO3aMoyJ65biUMFscoZfKlV-ZLTPDeHqiIhJHdzYrrEA-UKpMs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><br></font></div>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-42323581714690431712022-09-18T09:54:00.001-07:002022-09-18T09:58:04.317-07:00A BRITISH ADVENTURE-WINDSOR AND YORKSHIRE<p style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">After the fiasco with the criminals at the car rental, we drove a short distance to Manor <a href="#" target="_blank" data-original-attrs="{"data-original-href":"http://www.manorcottagewindsor.co.uk/","target":"_blank"}" id="id_40f6_6dd3_9bf6_42e4">Manor Cottage</a>, our home for the next three nights. We were greeted by our hosts, Richard and Jan who gave us the tour and got us settled in. As some of you may have heard, the Queen died and as it turns out our B&B in Old Windsor is just down the road leading into Windsor Castle. Being one of the Royal Family’s homes, and almost every British Citizen wants to pay their respects, many chose to use the road in front of our B&B to get there. It’s busy to say the least. But not to worry as we are a stone’s throw from the Themes River where you can walk along it’s course, and many restaurants within walking distance.</font></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4">We did walk to Windsor with the throngs of well wishers, and it was actually a good way to get past any lingering jet-lag. It was impressive to see Britons of all ages making their way to the castle gate to leave flowers for the Queen. The powers to be closed all the streets in Windsor to accommodate the thousands upon thousands making their way to the castle.</font></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_5872_fbf1_6b4e_5223" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/S6sMpU8LtoGbb49ZYtNvoEFQ0OdsBejPbN0k-QZ64jW3GJTs5hDbQjIoFGfRJrtuUIQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4ae_481a_c4e9_122e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4zF2pUrra73DgATbJO1Lk9hFtAuQejtQMTUfmDhbiydQSIGeT9BW8WxFNyKEHAeK9Ho" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_407f_3187_84f7_dd3e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fO4huWBPZm5Ng6nUFrRepKwg1NDqoZERfy8DXqVKaqI0iLV0Oqeg4oXVLIwQY_ifgAI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_f69c_22fd_181a_3c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_-UZSIuXHXgu19XmKbONld6iZ3mvZ2DVJr1e7x8SCd3rqi3tpKikGAkoXzkl_d0yQGg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_13b9_b74c_d44_cc8b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5MjkunUbsKvhSMHIROjGLEdOPzK7iGImHk-5YCT7KlNrLYzZkACKCSXkHV6NRHQKBVo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">Our plan all along was not to spend time in and around London as we have been there done that. So we headed North to Yorkshire to the small village of Crayke and </font></span><a href="https://www.hazelwoodfarm.net/" id="id_82cb_a2d0_e370_5bc9" target="_blank">Hazelwood Farm</a> <font size="4">for the next 4 nights. Netty the owner and I have stayed in touch since our first visit 9 years ago and it was good to catch up. One of the benefits of making friends with Netty was to be invited into the inner sanctum and having dinner with Netty and her husband Eamon. But we didn’t just hang around the B&B, but each day we ventured out exploring the North Sea Coast and countryside. We managed to get in a couple of hikes, called walks here in the UK. There is a completely different language here for geographic directions when one walks in the fields and mountains. The following is from a blog post from a previous trip to England:</font></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">The Lake District, is also known as the Walking Capitol of the UK. So, not being familiar with the area we rely on directions given to us either by the tourist office or in the case here in the Lake District, directions given to to us by our hosts David and Marilyn. Now both of them are avid walkers and they are a wealth of knowledge about the area. So we asked if they could suggest a 5 or 6 mile hike, oops, I mean walk, that we might enjoy. We soon learn that a glossary is needed to help decipher the directions.</font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">So here's the directions to our first walk. Walk on the track and go over the beck. Turn right and make for for the bottom. When you get to the second farmhouse, take the track that goes behind the barn to the trig point and keep going over the fell. You'll pass a lovely force, then climb the tor to the water.</font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">Are you lost yet? Well, we were lost in the directions before we started walking. So after learning what these terms mean, here is a glossary for future reference, not in any particular order.</font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">BRITISH WORD WHAT IT MEANS</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hill Climbing Climbing big hills</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rambling Walking</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Walking Hiking</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Beck Stream</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Bottom Lower part of a Valley</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Dell Valley</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Glen Valley</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Spout Waterfall</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Force Waterfall</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Trig Point A concrete survey marker</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Water Lake</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Great Wood Forest</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Plantation Forest or Tree Farm</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pike Sharp well defined peak or mountain</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Fell Mountain or hill</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Tor Hill</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pen Hill</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">How Hill</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Naturally there might be some confusion with these terms, so in clarification a hill could be a mountain or a hill, it could be steep or not so steep, it might be tall or short but it all likely hood it is up hill from where you are standing.</span></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Now that we’ve got the directions figured out, here are some photos of our walks in Yorkshire</span></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><img id="id_c00f_4345_2a32_ebd6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xPLwLvMjEtFbsNXT_bwODdGIhiYdmKKeerPHFYZUh4aiNG_Q61TuZhT79ZYXqRwZepQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">ROBIN HOOD’S BAY</font><br></span><br><img id="id_cd25_bf17_65ca_db7d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PpdHyQz_UCdB-NlpEySHA7_CkMtL6gu2cktge0M04AjxX2x7DSfrd6WdLhYJeuHYjQo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">ROBIN HOOD’S BAY<br></span><br><img id="id_6a37_19fb_eeb2_c487" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BN_ly3cwgrIFLRJOnur0HRvB2R8t5pAWmOOUluNdC1gqJlQJ1uY2P809F4DjAeLdxj4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">THE CLEVELAND WAY 109 MILE NATIONAL TRAIL<br></span><br><img id="id_1980_11f6_6c71_1120" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hdLt_GBpU1v4vELGGOddFVVN4FKrFUOz96Edj71RhP-KLI8p_pRAuxNEwkbnCnfXIYc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_cca_e072_7f36_f600" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/snFpw1cX2ZEIYGWf5VQ_YT4XNzZvzvf3qaYuFPBg8JkAcYur5eu700mFj4L7bhb7AsY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_981e_19c7_9804_acd5" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QZpjMQGK9H7tgaayQsNW1r2o5QihTotCx8BJSZZy6OLU8V4SbItwoFYe2qqx1k0gVsI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_59a3_1983_23fb_4e61" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Qub18RFrDoZ7gUR3dPcOnsXcJ_e-Gyes-oG_bZRd3KpifWqS0POJ0nNPf7EfGv09TxQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e79c_621c_1a27_deb1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_0FIU67mDJqxAM891CKGTxOj6IUsR01XT_OeCaByZ4Uyb3wUI7l41Ua2kUgDZcUUxHQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">RIEVAULX ABBY<br></span><br><img id="id_8fbc_80ea_f1ab_414a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Qa_H91Lp4iIOb7S3c4dpKCmCA12vJGnZzB8dSv3epXMWVvfpKj7j7JinivQGfCqElTI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_26b4_f9c2_ff3d_e3b0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/K3wah1CvpVywy6H8EghUyXapyEhucOVGMBmes7LsW2DXgB9MjH8qqXzwXfNxO9COC-E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We had made plans in 2018 to walk the Cleveland Way but the trip got cancelled due to a pilot strike at British Air. So this time we decided to walk the beginning couple of miles and the same at the end. The two sections are beautiful with the beginning crossing farmer’s fields and walking in forests and the ending on high bluffs above the North Sea. We’ll have to go back and complete the entire 109 miles of the trail.</span></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><img id="id_614c_a827_233d_733e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/FGgwDX51xaASrysiH9t_5aAMRXfXitdIrW_UNz29q4r-LtH5_7r_mlV3-S28OZFEY2s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d745_4647_6890_75e0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IXe-XjAL03M1Ye4aga-JD4OB8laNmypPWxb_vZ1Clzfh1bYvdwWjoblfSlVpB5TinAo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font size="4">ABOVE FILEY BEACH</font><br></span><br><img id="id_20b2_e7c4_e4b_179d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LdqinGMVevDjWLl-Cm8qyQsSgQEWwgxLMQH4NM_Kuv_ztoHLvAYMwuCA5l5mR5E7YT8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">FILEY BEACH, THE END OF THE CLEVELAND WAY</font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">One last little story for this post. We were out to dinner and I thought I might order Fish and Chips at least once. I said to Cathie that I hope they wren’t greasy like most that I have had. The two ladies at the next table overheard me and chuckled, probably because they are always greasy. Anyway, one of the ladies was probably our age and the other perhaps in her early 80’s. We started up a conversation with them and it turns our they are mother and daughter. The older of the two said they were there celebrating her 100th birthday. After congratulating her, I asked her if a shot of whisky a night was her secret for her longevity. No, she said, it’s walking. Maybe there’s hope for me yet. When she left the restaurant, she walked out without a cane or any assistance from her daughter.</font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><font size="4"><br></font></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font><br style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.199999809265137px;"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="text-align: start; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></p> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-1487997372260140642022-09-16T04:36:00.000-07:002022-09-16T08:48:39.718-07:00 BRITISH ADVENTURE-GETTING THERE<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">Getting there is always an adventure, some trips more so than others. Because our new home in Arizona is 2 hours away from the nearest international airport (Phoenix), you can get there by a short hop flight from the local airport for $400 each round trip. Well that’s not happening. Or we could drive there and pay over $1000 for one month in long term parking at the airport, not happening either. You could ask friends to drive you to the airport, but they won’t be friends for long. The best alternative is to take the local shuttle bus. It is the best option for the budget, but the worst option for comfort. A little over 2 hours in a seat with less room than on the cheapest budget airline economy seat. Cramped no where comes close to describing the conditions.</font></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">But we made up for it on the flight to London. A couple of days before our departure, I got an e-mail from British Air offering an up grade to Business Class for a ridiculously low price. Without telling Cathie, I jumped at the offer. So because our original tickets were paid for with points on our credit card, we were now flying business class for a couple hundred bucks each out of pocket. Upon our arrival at the airport, Cathie noticed that we were in the fast lane for baggage check in, but I lied and told her it was be cause we were in the frequent flyer’s club. Once through security, we waited in the posh first class lounge upstairs from the cheep seats. With free drinks and food it was a nice change from downstairs. Once on board, Cathie was finally onto my trickery. The only downside will be that Cathie will be expecting the same treatment on future flights.</font></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><img id="id_eeed_cc7b_7213_146f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Qwjx34F3ik9BKfKrB6gnpjTapyunCNAKuATGRkhFzrG6g_J3RQIrjprTP1mJ-M8gQAo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ea85_c016_9fd0_2f3e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/whulho-gKJ3o68AovJblOQRMd4ZjXajC45gdoVJAWiLYLiKaE8D-kxuatP1jci7JTxE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d2ef_9df9_95f8_59d2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/g6LuLqRQFFDNbLgqTwG261UpPe7aX4V-JeVWOhLRMiCIFHvKrtCdKbvqlN9wn2BcRf8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4">Upon arrival we breezed through the airport at Heathrow, with no waiting a passport control and only a short wait for our bags. Next up was an unpleasant experience dealing with the rental car. On all of our trips to Europe and the UK we have rented cars from a stateside consolidator called Auto Europe. I have discovered that they find the best deals and if a problem arises, like an overcharge, they fix the problem for you. This time the best deal was with Europcar. So we arrived at the counter with our voucher in hand and guy behind the counter said he had to check to see if our car was available. He came back with a set of keys for an upgraded car that he commenced to pressure us to agree to for an greatly increased price. I had to tell him several times to get me the car I wanted. Next was pressure to buy their insurance. He insisted that my coverage provided by our credit card was not valid. Again I had to tell him several times that I didn’t want their insurance. Then it was that we needed coverage for roadside assistance as though if the car broke down they wouldn’t come get it. I finally told him to cut the B.S. and give me the car we had paid for. Turns out the keys to the car I ordered were in his pocket. I overhead other employees using the same tactics on other customers, some of which were falling for the up-sale. They we trying to scam every customer. A bunch of criminals in my opinion. After the fact, I read some Google reviews about the Heathrow Location……mostly all bad with the same experience.</font></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px;"><img id="id_7de7_3d8c_6413_bd19" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GaPv6HgnxWvveZalSVQh0uSHAuOlycVI3YyFRhJgT1prw60ETljlC70a2FbjgI0fbz4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="4">We didn’t drive the car much the first couple of days, but when we drove north to York, I noticed a metal to metal sound when applying the breaks. When we arrived in York, I went to the local Europcar car office and requested a new car. This office couldn’t have been more accommodating. They didn’t even question my diagnosis of worn out brakes, and provided us with a new car. While we were waiting for the car to be washed, we spoke to another woman who told us she had been ripped of by another rental car company, with an upgrade charge of $7200 for a three week rental. So, just beware, there are lots of crooks out there that will gladly take advantage of you.</font></p><div><br></div>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-72172081654169969672022-09-01T10:03:00.000-07:002022-09-01T10:03:36.042-07:00WE'RE OFF....FINALLY<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-XFZY8oTpEYR2U1u5o-PT57VvT57JvpUExTo388W6CN4XmTA_zLVdHL5lt3lFjgU8p7-NzO-0N4Bb_GR226BznGjX5xL3LJnQ9BXebD-4yauSpF1PPrbFgozbEsTr1ha8d0lUhWLY96iBMmn6pDhtfz2PQ1-MFRUW7ic2ZWEqueG3K9-S70/s300/download%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-XFZY8oTpEYR2U1u5o-PT57VvT57JvpUExTo388W6CN4XmTA_zLVdHL5lt3lFjgU8p7-NzO-0N4Bb_GR226BznGjX5xL3LJnQ9BXebD-4yauSpF1PPrbFgozbEsTr1ha8d0lUhWLY96iBMmn6pDhtfz2PQ1-MFRUW7ic2ZWEqueG3K9-S70/w400-h224/download%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As the title and picture suggest, we're finally going somewhere. Having suffered through the lockdowns, canceling trips, and having to put up with all the unnecessary B.S (my opinion anyway) we are finally able to travel to an overseas destination. Where to, pray-tell? Well, most of you detectives out there have probably figured it out with the picture of a big airplane, and you're right if you picked the United Kingdom, England more specifically. We've been there before in 2013 and enjoyed it immensely. At the time we promised ourselves we would go back. Now we're keeping that promise. We are going back to some of the same places that we visited before, but not to worry, we didn't see it all the first time. So if all goes according to plan, it was go something like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In one week fly direct to London from Phoenix via British Air. Some of you may remember that We've had problems with them before, lost my trekking poles, cancelled a flight due to a strike and another because of Covid, trying to get a refund. In short their land based customer service sucks. But they are the only way to fly non-stop from the west side of the country and their on-board service beats any US airline in Premium Economy. Separate cabin, wider, almost full reclining seats with foot rest, lots of leg room and a much better food selection. Once on board, I've never had a complaint. I bought the tickets back in January before airline tickets went through the roof and we had amassed enough points on the credit card to pay for the tickets. The real sticker shock happened when I went to rent a car. Prices for rental cars are over the top. We will spend a month heading to our favorite places staying exclusively in B&B's, most of which are on working farms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We're not heading into London, having spent a week there on our previous trip. First we'll spend three nights in Old Windsor before driving north to York. When we were there before we lucked out and found one of the best, if not the best, farm B&B's. And we're going back. On our first stay we hit it off with Netty, the owner (we're both blog writers) and after a couple of false starts we managed to book a room at <span style="color: #ff00fe;"><a href="https://www.hazelwoodfarm.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelwood Farm</span></a> </span> Not and easy task mind you, as rooms are booked a year in advance. Netty, Pictured below was a bundle of energy, expertly taking care of us and her other guests, treating all of us like royalty. I am sure in the ensuing 9 years she hasn't changed a bit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGjsFTLHK2fHfo3LH5TGQqwNCe7cCdOHje51jFqq5zs5LXjXnr110J6YZE-pNitB9LQMqKB1ItKGw2euyRHlREl3YjfMEhQVjedtnSaS_DH8xlfQgCwSwJ3hvjGYZjUog_oIaOHjQSHgSo6NmPb2rPkrpnASYZc6rpCHTduXmv53lBlvgiXU/s1600/DSCN1394.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGjsFTLHK2fHfo3LH5TGQqwNCe7cCdOHje51jFqq5zs5LXjXnr110J6YZE-pNitB9LQMqKB1ItKGw2euyRHlREl3YjfMEhQVjedtnSaS_DH8xlfQgCwSwJ3hvjGYZjUog_oIaOHjQSHgSo6NmPb2rPkrpnASYZc6rpCHTduXmv53lBlvgiXU/s320/DSCN1394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NETTY</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">From York we will head to the <a href="https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Lake District</span></a> for a week and explore some of numerous trails that the Lake District is famous for. Next, back south to the <a href="https://www.cotswolds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Cotswolds</span></a> for another week of exploration, again on the vast network of walking trails. Our last stop will be in the south of England in <a href="https://www.visitcornwall.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Cornwall</span></a> where we just might get a little beach time. In an attempt to make the trip a little more relaxing, we will be staying close to a week in most places. This also gives us more of an opportunity to explore a region a little more in depth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Anyway, follow along as I will try to keep the blog updated as we move from place to place or when something exciting happens.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><br />Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-43987764019464115332022-07-16T16:03:00.001-07:002022-07-16T16:03:00.330-07:00Exploring Arizona Off-Road<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">In our continuing effort to explore our new State, in the past couple of weeks we’ve took a couple of off road trails. One to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the second in our own back yard. The North Rim, although in Arizona, is about 300 road miles from our home. So the plan was to drive up to Jacob Lake, stay the night in the Jacob Lake Lodge, drive to the North Rim the next day, and upon our return stay at the Lodge for a second night. Friends Ken and Trudy also Joined us as it is always good to travel off road with a second vehicle.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So early in the morning we headed out. Part of the drive to Jacob Lake is pretty scenic, traveling through red rock country and crossing the Colorado River at Navaho Bridge. We stopped for a few pictures, but being around 100 degrees, we continued on to the high country and the cool air at 8,000 feet at Jacob Lake. The next morning after breakfast at the lodge, we headed for the North Rim and Point Sublime. There are quite a few North Rim viewpoints that require a high clearance vehicle or 4 wheel drive, but we had heard that Point Sublime, as the name suggest, was one of the best. Once we hit the dirt, we were on pretty well maintained Forest Service roads, that as the miles past, gradually became narrower and narrower. Not bad roads mind you, as most of the way 2 wheel drive sufficed. Once we crossed into the National Park, the roads showed no sighs of being maintained in the recent past. We had heard that in the winter when the roads are closed, many trees are blown down during storms blocking the road. In June, when the park service opens the roads, a lot of effort must be made to clear the downed trees. We saw hundreds of trees that had been cleared off the road and we too encountered on tree blocking our path. I had brought with us a chain saw just in case, but the tree wasn’t all that big and we were able to drag it off the road.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">After 26 miles and several hours we arrived at Point Sublime and sublime it was. Beautiful 180 degree views up, down, and across the Grand Canyon. We enjoyed our lunch with a view and after about an hour, we started our trek back to pavement. Timing was perfect as just as we were heading out, several vehicles arrived, and on our drive out we encountered more people heading in. We opted for a different route out, staying in the National Park. The road was rough and rocky and although not technical, it was still nice to have 4 wheel drive.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><img id="id_444f_373f_97ef_4e4e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lxIB5p1gTmlHSzW10U_u3OMx7piQoVb2bQ0s71JOobIIszVzmi3YVdcl7UBqULNP6HE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f2c8_657d_9198_3b42" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2nHz3oBel1SI2W3bPai-OtowdHkwDPgA1pMaz6600mfrwrDrbOBb_Z0l9K7jv6MII58" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4add_318c_be51_5aef" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/smtIG0rX31VraBV5Bq4FoXWygnzmWFMKPuBO81-KILVRntMBGTa3BsgAfVelzWwEGtI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_96e_9133_9196_f0be" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UKcMIf48-hiYtz0QUEyZyYTLaNjlWjzFH1c5ljIVToV4NG-FRn3s8u39vL8l0UqI5g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2c5e_5b7d_3e80_b691" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lQyA9qSE433f0qWNg8_Ek8KG9fXyw1qm10aOK2MJj5KKLXF0ta49CRW5HUuRJlKBGsw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8118_3fac_e7d2_4502" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tiLuZckIg2xbGIKgguomSm_E3TQkgVdJm9JSIFlSi7ZcK55nLDkHWlE47oG75Jy0hLw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8433_923e_a882_da0e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/54raUUDsNEHStq7wyj1iB3ELRICaPPj63TF0whL5fxTGX4H6jCWS8e8mHOA4C_zCDtk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e225_dff5_2eee_167c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Im6BRquRlQFe2KYdrJytuTAhK20o04HqgYJfsBnGubnNLvRJ7F_VPLTpqu7IxoWUEYM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5370_e0c6_de60_d1dc" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tAdd86otP-sK5q8EtOVssj9yn0ialWMoRXdRTHGBO3CCIY0E7g07zk0QK-MVkH8Q2fg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">After 44 miles in the dirt, we headed back to Jacob Lake for another night, before heading home the following morning. We all agreed that we would return to the North Rim and explore some of the other overlooks in the back country.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Next up, something closer to home. We were invited by friends John and Eva, to join up with them and folks from their neighborhood, for some off road adventure ending up in Williams, AZ. We arrived at the appointed 8:30 start time at the appointed place and joined up with 8 other rigs who had arrived before us, putting us at the back of the pack. We were introduced around and of course due to my advanced age, names I quickly forgot, but not to worry as pretty much everyone forgot our names too.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So with our fearless leader leading we headed out across the dusty plain towards our first destination of Perkinsville. Cathie and I had been to Perkinsville twice before, but by different routes. One in the dirt and once on the Verde Canyon Railroad. Not much to Perkinsville nowadays, a ranch and some ruins, but the ranch is still operated by the Perkins Family who settled here in 1900. There is a bridge here crossing the Verde River allowing us to continuing North and to higher elevations near Williams. We made two unscheduled stops along the way, one to winch out a hapless kid who tried to do more than his truck was capable of, and a flat tire that one in our group had. No fun changing a flat in 100 degree heat, but others chipped in and helped. As our route gained elevation the road changed to pavement and the scenery went from shrubs, to junipers and finally to tall ponderosa pines and green grass. After 58 miles we arrived in Williams and a well deserved final stop at the Grand Canyon Brewery for lunch and a brew. I opted for lemonade, and for Cathie, what she knows best, a Bloody Mary.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">
</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Thanks to John and Eva for inviting us as we had great time. Hoping that they will remember us for the next off-road adventure and we promise to learn a couple of more names.</p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><img id="id_1caa_363a_71d1_b89b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WGRVKY8wMgM0fVRt_y-kNrtU8J_UEqfF-kTBzRw2XoI2GIbd4ae2MnU4x7k7jKe7bA8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b84b_4297_5742_fa43" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f39KLBQGDQssXhDhtZFYy79e5bLBmQYWUlTQMjpw42N4QrGL6V6jaguoVGsBgkSDF8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5b3a_5519_d6d8_d6e6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ePBTV1zkKRnpP_tuxZ7u8BVnEpfBlhHUWgroa9vqPzsNeUJ_GRuljs_jGjJQgUZj2i4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ec2b_9db2_51b4_6380" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ISa5X5VvMlwRRPuQpw01PQfcnwz_2nWSWe0OYEa_8sdDuzkg-5uMzdvUk0fzRxu0Jco" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5f0c_a1d4_989b_9202" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/U254vc7p-BHFQle6m5KvobQIR4bm7CRA-dDOYcG8VaiqYkONDChxZ4L6lcEybXZHePg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e673_a523_9e5a_2eb5" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/im7rAvih3byf3V-CjTQQ0mlOwIoh1xGeOC9LuONyMPaFedfWAezCOVMpaQZnoQ26ZA0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_65e4_1238_57cc_dc89" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EGGIeg_Lg4KV_idcDbNrPFHET9xeM0KOrIve3-8Bl944J6sOvbdje0AEp09tGPDCBP8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-12364665948419420332022-06-01T16:12:00.001-07:002022-06-01T16:17:33.364-07:00Bike vs Truck and the E/R<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As some of you may know, part of my exercise routine is riding my bike. Being in Prescott, there are lots of hills and I don’t do hills. So I put the bike in the back of the truck and drive to Prescott Valley where it is flatter. Lots of traffic in PV, so I stick to the residential streets and alleys. I don’t know how many close calls I’ve had with cars while on my bike, but there have been a few. I ride very defensively and that has kept me out of trouble for the last 15 or so years of riding. Also I ride early to avoid the traffic. Today changed all that.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;">I was getting ready to make a left turn and there was a car approaching. I slowed to a near stop waiting for the car to past. I had crept out of the bike lane slightly in preparation for my turn. The car pasted, I began my left turn and, WHAM! Before I knew it I was on the ground on my back. Somewhat dazed, I just laid there. Within seconds there was someone standing over me asking if I was ok. (This was the guy that hit me). First sitting up and not noticing anything broken, nor was I covered in blood. I got up and made sure my bike was ok. Hey, it’s an expensive bike. It was, so I got out of the middle of the street.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">I realized pretty quickly that I had turned into the guy standing next to me. Totally my fault. I didn’t signal, I didn’t look, nor did I hear him approaching. The only part of me that was hurting was my left arm and shoulder. The driver of the truck said he was trying to give me plenty of room but I kept turning into him. Turns out it was his mirror that hit me and knocked me down. The first stroke of good luck was that I didn’t turn a tad sooner or I would have been stuck in the grill of his truck.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">So as any bike rider who was up and walking around would do, I got back on my bike and finished my ride. Even made a loop around the local hospital as it is on my route. When I got back to the truck and took off my helmet, I noticed that it was cracked in several places and had an indentation on it made by the surface of the road. Well, my head didn’t hurt and my next stop was the coffee shop, so I went to coffee and read the paper. I started feeling a little light headed, and I noticed that my jaws hurt and also my hip. I vacillated back an forth wether or not I should go to the hospital. Thoughts of long waits and spending the day in a place where there are more germs than a gas station bathroom was not how I wanted to spend my time. But on the way home I decided, in an abundance of caution, to head for the ER.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">I wasn’t looking forward to this, but my luck continued to hold. First I was alive, at least for now and there was a patient parking spot right next to the ER doors. I figured they would have the required mask for me, but my luck held as they didn’t require them. As I entered the waiting room, luck was still with me….there was no one waiting. When I spoke to the nurse, I told her I felt a little light headed. Turns out that was the thing to say as within seconds the Trauma Nurse arrived, put me in a wheel chair and wheel me right into the Trauma Room.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">After Lora, the nurse took my story, Dr. Kec arrived and asked me some questions about my condition and where I hurt. He left, spoke to the nurse, went to a computer somewhere out of sight and ordered a Cat Scan of my head and jaws. Minutes later I was being wheeled to X-Ray. Cat Scan and X-Ray of my hip completed within 30 minutes of my arrival. My luck is still holding.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Another 30 minutes go by and Dr. Kec comes in to tell me the results. Drum Roll Please…..Nothing broken, no brain bleeds, and I really do have a brain. It takes longer to be discharged than to be treated. But as my luck stayed with me I was given a 25% discount on my co-pay because I was able to pay on the day of my treatment. After the passing of about 2 hours, I was walking out of the hospital through the packed waiting room.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">So thanks are in order to the Doctors and nurses at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center, to the guy who hit me for stopping, all the sick people who waited to go the the Emergency Room till after I arrived and my helmet. As for me, tomorrow I will ride my bike….nah, I’ll walk and stay off the street.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT3onQYcRLjJ3V46pAWIIzf9MYcMbpFKa-JVk4Cl7iL7mOPMnLXdAWQ0j2svyvsjAm-shXR3zFrCp6KvmSJZ-zH4qswfTUEfvr8PPSJY3uXW34Gqh8mzQaXKTRdHs6p43XB5RgtmN-LCMsFRhda6QOPjo5r0OJ_3fJSAKgcmmDIYj9GzTQUU/s4032/2022-06-01%20004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT3onQYcRLjJ3V46pAWIIzf9MYcMbpFKa-JVk4Cl7iL7mOPMnLXdAWQ0j2svyvsjAm-shXR3zFrCp6KvmSJZ-zH4qswfTUEfvr8PPSJY3uXW34Gqh8mzQaXKTRdHs6p43XB5RgtmN-LCMsFRhda6QOPjo5r0OJ_3fJSAKgcmmDIYj9GzTQUU/s320/2022-06-01%20004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Emergency Room</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa09_LnS3YtW_ZCgNlZZE7bWUODJ9BDZM7HYkTsKZFnz-gUkdS1bt1jnsH9VXYHnf4GrJfME4wawIEEEUILF3hJKzLAV0NCGmc0gF2nk7Mge_Ff_N0xrMlcZ8LTt0d96MoWBWlMLg-0QXg-p1dHJmVaagunDnLkJvu6qZ7hRwd5ovstRVtP0/s3088/2022-06-01%20002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa09_LnS3YtW_ZCgNlZZE7bWUODJ9BDZM7HYkTsKZFnz-gUkdS1bt1jnsH9VXYHnf4GrJfME4wawIEEEUILF3hJKzLAV0NCGmc0gF2nk7Mge_Ff_N0xrMlcZ8LTt0d96MoWBWlMLg-0QXg-p1dHJmVaagunDnLkJvu6qZ7hRwd5ovstRVtP0/s320/2022-06-01%20002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Patient Aka The Idiot on a Bike </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEnzvPM8h39KBdCjdioy4JfO9FiDYNwO-Ct_tTSbBO8BS_g6aP3odaZ6wa0XpwLhPh6pNDCLE8Eyyh2AuAuYChFOW6BNqzElNTykyHJhZqlaSazcMk-IzNRGYYhEJfFB5TP6Kcd5zmogM_OHfes4OuJqHoCLzyC2OYiwE3NoUv5oPz7ygkSs/s4032/2022-06-01%20003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEnzvPM8h39KBdCjdioy4JfO9FiDYNwO-Ct_tTSbBO8BS_g6aP3odaZ6wa0XpwLhPh6pNDCLE8Eyyh2AuAuYChFOW6BNqzElNTykyHJhZqlaSazcMk-IzNRGYYhEJfFB5TP6Kcd5zmogM_OHfes4OuJqHoCLzyC2OYiwE3NoUv5oPz7ygkSs/s320/2022-06-01%20003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Nurse, Lora</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ClrE8C8qLLeHiMCIG0PKCuZcayXUdOZVwLKvTXqB-JvXCtYUL_eLlhL_KmfsDx_gtqvKqDSdTFbxJxgD9R6gkD57ueW6A3nVzQwOVCqPBKEqG3u_bxk6JP5WowQgHsuWgToKKr2gOC-SIR32RzFj5kPoTJO4VWSfnOur9cxK6fGHc-KTIiU/s4032/2022-06-01%20005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ClrE8C8qLLeHiMCIG0PKCuZcayXUdOZVwLKvTXqB-JvXCtYUL_eLlhL_KmfsDx_gtqvKqDSdTFbxJxgD9R6gkD57ueW6A3nVzQwOVCqPBKEqG3u_bxk6JP5WowQgHsuWgToKKr2gOC-SIR32RzFj5kPoTJO4VWSfnOur9cxK6fGHc-KTIiU/s320/2022-06-01%20005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Helmet</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9lbxvKOBl1NWEDahm8v2ockdRIBjvmSyjL4L9nDzwRNXVffXz5T76fxKR01Bi3TSPkGd9vQ91h50AaVZ2O5nr85mY6DZu7GYdJsv4vSFLllKzsHxyykVGat0_FrMet3pEcOlaY0ibShSKlpVpQ4ByTtxowgVSj81YFEuk9oK83T3MA9lT58/s4032/2022-06-01%20006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9lbxvKOBl1NWEDahm8v2ockdRIBjvmSyjL4L9nDzwRNXVffXz5T76fxKR01Bi3TSPkGd9vQ91h50AaVZ2O5nr85mY6DZu7GYdJsv4vSFLllKzsHxyykVGat0_FrMet3pEcOlaY0ibShSKlpVpQ4ByTtxowgVSj81YFEuk9oK83T3MA9lT58/s320/2022-06-01%20006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.1px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-23641947213496554232022-05-20T20:09:00.001-07:002022-05-20T20:09:25.787-07:00THE DOLL HOUSE<p style="text-align: justify;"> As some of you probably know, I like exploring the Southwest for Indian Ruins. Oh wait a minute, they are not called Indian Ruins, but Anasazi Dwellings. Turns out that the term Anasazi means enemy so apparently that term is offensive to the Indians. So in today's wokeness, we now call them Ancestral Puebloans. Whatever. They are old houses where people of long ago and who are now dead used to live. Don't think they'll be offended. Anyway, as we have done before, we went looking for these places in Southern Utah around Cedar Mesa and <a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/bears-ears-national-monument" target="_blank">Bears Ears National Monument</a>. Because there was to be some off-roading involved in finding these places, we hooked up the off road trailer to the 4-Runner and heading out bright and early.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One specific ruin we were interested in has been given the name, Doll House. I have seen on-line posts about it and a YouTube video or two. Directions were either non-existence or lacking in any clarity. All I knew was that it was a long way from pavement on Forest Service Roads going up over 9,000 feet. Finally by doing more research I found some detailed directions that looked like they would get us there.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We set up camp on Cedar Mesa near Sheik's Canyon, which has it's own ruins. We attempted to find one called Yellow House, but never did. We hoped for better luck with the Doll House.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiBICCVIxcWKMTOI0XSypTHUyMwjdVi_lVJvk0On35b_spK2TWpmsCNR2P44MfsBKpevGc7SiXkPGGsh7z_9-q6NjruRRNwRlgFVD-xu_JiDhqYKa69O-KUQkHBjPSPiOnwr-MMJTO382QZK8mHFMe0gWtGowcrrMZk_ldqAFRfTnKVpYmZs/s4032/2022-05-12%202022%20Doll%20House%20002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiBICCVIxcWKMTOI0XSypTHUyMwjdVi_lVJvk0On35b_spK2TWpmsCNR2P44MfsBKpevGc7SiXkPGGsh7z_9-q6NjruRRNwRlgFVD-xu_JiDhqYKa69O-KUQkHBjPSPiOnwr-MMJTO382QZK8mHFMe0gWtGowcrrMZk_ldqAFRfTnKVpYmZs/s320/2022-05-12%202022%20Doll%20House%20002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Local Traffic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOuA9WMONDEiZb-LMY1KgDPCf9RzIF9kiiibXDRz7nXZ6PDNN71W5A7_vlEk4auh6w-ReZDcgRJ3AsdC6dus_S44eU8nHtS5pl4-Sd8Gq5HlAJ7vZ4_tk5yhBVuF0Tjn9UowjloCmTv9rOeqDbC8dleVrhRFUdRskygZ2XUMKfjb6cwheJ3Q/s4032/2022-05-12%202022%20Doll%20House%20004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOuA9WMONDEiZb-LMY1KgDPCf9RzIF9kiiibXDRz7nXZ6PDNN71W5A7_vlEk4auh6w-ReZDcgRJ3AsdC6dus_S44eU8nHtS5pl4-Sd8Gq5HlAJ7vZ4_tk5yhBVuF0Tjn9UowjloCmTv9rOeqDbC8dleVrhRFUdRskygZ2XUMKfjb6cwheJ3Q/s320/2022-05-12%202022%20Doll%20House%20004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Camp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">First thing the next morning, following my discovered directions and my <a href="https://www.gaiagps.com/" target="_blank">Gaia Gps</a> on the iPad, we headed out. The directions I found turned out to be pretty accurate. We were soon in the dirt, on some pretty well maintained Forest Service roads, climbing up and between the Bears Ears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHs1Gxy8Pbf7CXkRsx3lY88qdM_pZa4DA50Ws-v6o2plaiq-ZL_gxW7IkFXmRUu446Lkuu3XXRWup0vMu8HyKP1TABXe52DWVs6MXFLRArnjq7xNTpfcZ3_Cymt4FgFQPjJm_uVn9z7MmboC3z-jiNVHw8VbgzKdeivAoR2_v-Pj1iTGQIUM/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHs1Gxy8Pbf7CXkRsx3lY88qdM_pZa4DA50Ws-v6o2plaiq-ZL_gxW7IkFXmRUu446Lkuu3XXRWup0vMu8HyKP1TABXe52DWVs6MXFLRArnjq7xNTpfcZ3_Cymt4FgFQPjJm_uVn9z7MmboC3z-jiNVHw8VbgzKdeivAoR2_v-Pj1iTGQIUM/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo taken from camp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Up in the higher elevations, the trees were tall and the grass was green. A big difference from where we started. We saw lots of deer and a couple of elk, in addition to amazing views overlooking the <a href="https://www.blm.gov/visit/dark-canyon-srma" target="_blank">Dark Canyon Wilderness</a>. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe-w6khnc3uyniAWpr83GZI1NhNGQwXbIF1x6takTMvpmSAJeR5oz1gh2c4SB8OmyB4oZ3vb1nQjgWS1NymOr1-E6wmDv7pFNJ4d18lLTKM4aTaT1SvbUq1o8IV975bnVk3LQ--OzqwC4lUE88xLTWLbDo3zSwq7qDR69arHgUKEJ__W2xv8/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe-w6khnc3uyniAWpr83GZI1NhNGQwXbIF1x6takTMvpmSAJeR5oz1gh2c4SB8OmyB4oZ3vb1nQjgWS1NymOr1-E6wmDv7pFNJ4d18lLTKM4aTaT1SvbUq1o8IV975bnVk3LQ--OzqwC4lUE88xLTWLbDo3zSwq7qDR69arHgUKEJ__W2xv8/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It wouldn't be a true adventure if there weren't some hic-ups along the way. A few days before our arrival, there were strong winds in the area. It turns out we were the first to travel these roads since the storm. We encountered two trees that had fallen across the road. Luckily they had been dead a long time and were light enough for me to move them out of the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JB3vwJKb0Dc" width="320" youtube-src-id="JB3vwJKb0Dc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After 26 miles and 2-1/2 hours we arrived and the trail head. Yes there was some walking involved, down into a canyon to the ruin. Actually less than 1/2 mile. Here are the photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNgyMIaBq_gvpoCuwNPowFQTjgPOn98QG3vdU8AVqSWPh2nFPEulTjr6Ji5KU1KNtcYQsDO8Dw_DihTuZpR3yzp5vfvFdajMs5Fz5MKEUIeLp0-OSpIQ2wRgpnkia4mZHrnwy5jRGTX4RMzZvZwa1Krjj0k0B-k0CfY6iU6EiL4jSx-LfsbE/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNgyMIaBq_gvpoCuwNPowFQTjgPOn98QG3vdU8AVqSWPh2nFPEulTjr6Ji5KU1KNtcYQsDO8Dw_DihTuZpR3yzp5vfvFdajMs5Fz5MKEUIeLp0-OSpIQ2wRgpnkia4mZHrnwy5jRGTX4RMzZvZwa1Krjj0k0B-k0CfY6iU6EiL4jSx-LfsbE/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On The Trail Down</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU7Fu8EdqDZZ7HsO7m0vHNbIFHEcp8E_qE31A9L_3xhr6dLJExsb4mp2_YCHHitU6b9fbSOUTnZUW8fDK0WJdBln8Wy_Pi_HTFMjxwHXJM5XwtG7zOq__oqOM4c5FC4R4o-kOHnoYuU1HaGNR4Xq5DVfZwEdMfCmahXNRNwb5bg1kITmGbxo/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU7Fu8EdqDZZ7HsO7m0vHNbIFHEcp8E_qE31A9L_3xhr6dLJExsb4mp2_YCHHitU6b9fbSOUTnZUW8fDK0WJdBln8Wy_Pi_HTFMjxwHXJM5XwtG7zOq__oqOM4c5FC4R4o-kOHnoYuU1HaGNR4Xq5DVfZwEdMfCmahXNRNwb5bg1kITmGbxo/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzU4rMx3UHdJBJUEn3bbORiBn7RJSQaBNWGwTatg3BFIA9SVj3ipN9GsYvPY3wZDi0tgcsuChjt9htQgJtW5cU1QqWUTszRR54zAa4RQrTqzoRj_2TSxzrCWa6TltyZLeTeSecdyAmD1xdRsY-LzPSaMVwiCVLhxomHaERGO_p2urJXiOF9s/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzU4rMx3UHdJBJUEn3bbORiBn7RJSQaBNWGwTatg3BFIA9SVj3ipN9GsYvPY3wZDi0tgcsuChjt9htQgJtW5cU1QqWUTszRR54zAa4RQrTqzoRj_2TSxzrCWa6TltyZLeTeSecdyAmD1xdRsY-LzPSaMVwiCVLhxomHaERGO_p2urJXiOF9s/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImS_30V6AkU5W_vHPwc4_p2ybbECkq66IuCLVw5k25IqUx88T1qdclXrsmojWE8EPuNVR-8cAySRh-I17h3ycQWT49Qt39GprT1KO1dE05iRccDQCFBoTuLUViNWa0qXjv_7xvtJuUJne1FwnHiwf-8yQHdozQOkUpJJgHG2czIAmmjFckLA/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImS_30V6AkU5W_vHPwc4_p2ybbECkq66IuCLVw5k25IqUx88T1qdclXrsmojWE8EPuNVR-8cAySRh-I17h3ycQWT49Qt39GprT1KO1dE05iRccDQCFBoTuLUViNWa0qXjv_7xvtJuUJne1FwnHiwf-8yQHdozQOkUpJJgHG2czIAmmjFckLA/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9nWGNsnxOZpzHnNvyB_1qEyKyj6iZ8e_dPi1nv-bNkd0EPQ-rJc_ZP4AH2wv-1OYx-bXzp-87TYrxYreGOWqib6hQD6iKr7XLEV-QxmyaV6idblXn6T15nEoL1HbQZVnow-9TS8D5ikPtioWBgppMTXblQF53SDGaBdAhj5eaM7SVqFmMNU/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9nWGNsnxOZpzHnNvyB_1qEyKyj6iZ8e_dPi1nv-bNkd0EPQ-rJc_ZP4AH2wv-1OYx-bXzp-87TYrxYreGOWqib6hQD6iKr7XLEV-QxmyaV6idblXn6T15nEoL1HbQZVnow-9TS8D5ikPtioWBgppMTXblQF53SDGaBdAhj5eaM7SVqFmMNU/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas4XEORv5s4Pv1NVOor7_Q5oVmC7dUIvR-7dDb5OHuSTQM6BsT0F7jjDmxzsU9SJBay-eHUkHYR1OVLVvU7VA74MXdP1_NKCfFk94EYokjuhQ6fnEHrholbbkKklkXcgy9IlrTGtkOUCb4Y0XWuk8n0A25boHdxmqwFgyLIWiAB9puqxxXkA/s4032/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas4XEORv5s4Pv1NVOor7_Q5oVmC7dUIvR-7dDb5OHuSTQM6BsT0F7jjDmxzsU9SJBay-eHUkHYR1OVLVvU7VA74MXdP1_NKCfFk94EYokjuhQ6fnEHrholbbkKklkXcgy9IlrTGtkOUCb4Y0XWuk8n0A25boHdxmqwFgyLIWiAB9puqxxXkA/s320/2022-05-13%202022%20Doll%20House%20014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As you can see, this is a very well preserved ruin. Set deep in an alcove in the cliff face, it has been protected from the elements. It's distance from pavement also protects it from idiots who unfortunately have a tendency to destroy things. It its believed that the building was not lived in but used as a grainery to store corn. It is divided into two rooms, each with their own opening. The ceiling is in perfect condition as well as the ridge polls supporting the roof. It is estimated that the structure is between 900 and 1200 years old. It was great to be able to find and see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We did a little more exploring of Cedar Mesa, but no more ruins. After three days without a shower it was time to head to town. Here's a link to the place we stayed in Blanding Utah. A great restored Auto Court with a good breakfast thrown in. <a href="https://www.stonelizardlodge.com/" target="_blank">Stone Lizard Lodge</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After a loooong shower and a good nights rest we headed south back to Arizona and the eastern side of the state. Camping near Alpine, we spent a couple of days exploring the high country. No ruins here, just beautiful forest at above 8,000 feet. Some photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcBR0DL8yQ54mddvBrgehi9mtPDCWQn5pbjilSmY17Hp1Xf-bhgZTPRf6sbh3-tpJ9pDJ4n7BxwOLGnUl-ebtN-jqjLQ5q37BUmZ-NsgMOUM1OL6I9g9m3o973yYWzK4HKn52S0-0B3ImJ63-mLlWCuqWnG5d7SUAe_iNs8GBCPqGYTh0w0w/s4032/2022-05-16%202022%20Doll%20House%20001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcBR0DL8yQ54mddvBrgehi9mtPDCWQn5pbjilSmY17Hp1Xf-bhgZTPRf6sbh3-tpJ9pDJ4n7BxwOLGnUl-ebtN-jqjLQ5q37BUmZ-NsgMOUM1OL6I9g9m3o973yYWzK4HKn52S0-0B3ImJ63-mLlWCuqWnG5d7SUAe_iNs8GBCPqGYTh0w0w/s320/2022-05-16%202022%20Doll%20House%20001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9IXM6VT3br5CNyV7F_VMsWDahFnSH17gy9F3uo6MivGc3FoAxEoCzuNOxZA-88_lZxJ0SfUwm1lQkuW9Ik4lDLlNd8nbZvqqUZAEMAjVSnZWboICGbDpjgiet4QP61xFmxZCDlFvRIyT6LF13AdpH0a4Kux-oc8OenFMGierLIu2uk2MAzc/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9IXM6VT3br5CNyV7F_VMsWDahFnSH17gy9F3uo6MivGc3FoAxEoCzuNOxZA-88_lZxJ0SfUwm1lQkuW9Ik4lDLlNd8nbZvqqUZAEMAjVSnZWboICGbDpjgiet4QP61xFmxZCDlFvRIyT6LF13AdpH0a4Kux-oc8OenFMGierLIu2uk2MAzc/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwW4FJoUI-fL186XfFI-h_WHNOX8C98mbmnYe3_aqTBJM1AMKdnUOY1F9PN0zGMRaFBfcvhFRyFaAOE8tEy-Ip-8a0RS3Cs9nqFmpoI_otVBXTwNm63SmPz-PgwAFKg5JIq2zWXC0JXfTn81TmuSrb_9_s8VO6t0ONUCUHHdIGkJvil40SDk/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwW4FJoUI-fL186XfFI-h_WHNOX8C98mbmnYe3_aqTBJM1AMKdnUOY1F9PN0zGMRaFBfcvhFRyFaAOE8tEy-Ip-8a0RS3Cs9nqFmpoI_otVBXTwNm63SmPz-PgwAFKg5JIq2zWXC0JXfTn81TmuSrb_9_s8VO6t0ONUCUHHdIGkJvil40SDk/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beaver Pond</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBzT5fcZkODmR_XV-DvCI7Q9aWANmoAROOWoqWBw4J-bP0LUx3T7D2wT8rlQcydOJRu1j2Bs8gzmMjlYpyC42TznO0I56F0tecybEMONPFkprXNrhab-slgFzCPt_fOkjYbukBBugeM782AxDVQnBila7BGQBHgaWzxKBB3lIksSPBaBRCI4/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBzT5fcZkODmR_XV-DvCI7Q9aWANmoAROOWoqWBw4J-bP0LUx3T7D2wT8rlQcydOJRu1j2Bs8gzmMjlYpyC42TznO0I56F0tecybEMONPFkprXNrhab-slgFzCPt_fOkjYbukBBugeM782AxDVQnBila7BGQBHgaWzxKBB3lIksSPBaBRCI4/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a little more and it's coming down</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoKqcZg0aHX09jJUdyfcrs6AUjwcliQMkmaiZZ4AUl79ION2MtFlBoArFyNHvus8LGWnPUou81dz6O5C_5LCioaQodfIIP1TS4_K5qVcozoi_JZFiVImiEcFU0hMEXyCyNt2mnW7v_xPHn47R0G2Qv1tUmD2IXBrxiuz-iPscUYgOMZNo7Lk/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoKqcZg0aHX09jJUdyfcrs6AUjwcliQMkmaiZZ4AUl79ION2MtFlBoArFyNHvus8LGWnPUou81dz6O5C_5LCioaQodfIIP1TS4_K5qVcozoi_JZFiVImiEcFU0hMEXyCyNt2mnW7v_xPHn47R0G2Qv1tUmD2IXBrxiuz-iPscUYgOMZNo7Lk/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpfwvqdljV-GrR33cMMgxfPbEc3yOZWGJ0Ccr2aB215ugZ-NOcaA2bSfU3oRDCRDxly2xGLuGx7LMXxvT-BmdjzqbsqIiqko49vyA8mNAMd3o7s2cB_yd_40ZRjUnWaqHGyCvyIYsw1AnIfPz_EybXbIyo_OttYh76up3-H9eMLn0uYr1qts/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpfwvqdljV-GrR33cMMgxfPbEc3yOZWGJ0Ccr2aB215ugZ-NOcaA2bSfU3oRDCRDxly2xGLuGx7LMXxvT-BmdjzqbsqIiqko49vyA8mNAMd3o7s2cB_yd_40ZRjUnWaqHGyCvyIYsw1AnIfPz_EybXbIyo_OttYh76up3-H9eMLn0uYr1qts/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakX_QyODSsmsIagYxHqDBjnqlXtZJkkR5jK7EpUvrX54E32OUbvZyHDF3nCvf8mt_ZL8EMuHr5Idr90IIbD-6KPo72d6NIpCq68g4B0s882dJ72YbB_hA0rXaq7kgyV1MhrazKWMRnTAIS4PewsUDrl1ERLoSO70XU8INBg_YC_XBkokiwnA/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakX_QyODSsmsIagYxHqDBjnqlXtZJkkR5jK7EpUvrX54E32OUbvZyHDF3nCvf8mt_ZL8EMuHr5Idr90IIbD-6KPo72d6NIpCq68g4B0s882dJ72YbB_hA0rXaq7kgyV1MhrazKWMRnTAIS4PewsUDrl1ERLoSO70XU8INBg_YC_XBkokiwnA/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elk</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPuChYwT7CL1Yszl3EHK3SDp9JGfd0PRUzBCQEchK0QN7mHMYO-zVEqO73v-MxTTnhClGAjuKRV-6oVWOsUSQkrLzBk74t6O5T9ziXE1DjLQGx9cuRgwkuZojww2AEuoUlDNyPHoSCHNbJIXmP1RPjzMlnwC1zw_EZflmrJC4CaRQKuibwIc/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPuChYwT7CL1Yszl3EHK3SDp9JGfd0PRUzBCQEchK0QN7mHMYO-zVEqO73v-MxTTnhClGAjuKRV-6oVWOsUSQkrLzBk74t6O5T9ziXE1DjLQGx9cuRgwkuZojww2AEuoUlDNyPHoSCHNbJIXmP1RPjzMlnwC1zw_EZflmrJC4CaRQKuibwIc/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What's This?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mhMSAkEhjR4NrppZ3XVI56vg8zFXqmdxSojdbczi6qmaXop4YmZiu9LZUb9iNpel87ZXRQhgRgsg9wfhKuty2hbi4GW5zDAvjaSUrbhYzGBZNE00g3ECbLCj3ua2x_5a_A54R671pjK0iZSEUfrMq1BJ5GYkTNi8Mc3g1189Lm3AV5hmfq0/s4032/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mhMSAkEhjR4NrppZ3XVI56vg8zFXqmdxSojdbczi6qmaXop4YmZiu9LZUb9iNpel87ZXRQhgRgsg9wfhKuty2hbi4GW5zDAvjaSUrbhYzGBZNE00g3ECbLCj3ua2x_5a_A54R671pjK0iZSEUfrMq1BJ5GYkTNi8Mc3g1189Lm3AV5hmfq0/s320/2022-05-17%202022%20Doll%20House%20015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who's washing the car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /></div></div></div></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-22974943269536388862022-03-29T19:46:00.000-07:002022-03-29T19:46:21.343-07:00EXPLORING ARIZONA-OFF ROAD<p style="text-align: justify;">We've traveled to and through Arizona many times, mostly through, on the way to other parts of the US. Only scratching the surface in previous visits it is now our duty as residents, to begin to see the many wonders of this beautiful state. In that endeavor, we decided to check out three different off road routes in Central and Southern Arizona. Not the rock-crawling, try to make it off road trail, but more sedate roads in the National Forests of Arizona. So we spent three nights and four days with our off road trailer camping out in the boondocks with no one around. Beautiful weather with clear skies, making for starry nights and only the sound of the coyotes and owls to keep us company at night. I should mention that in the southern part of the state on the Mexican Border, we did hear the US Border Patrol passing by throughout the night.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><img alt="" id="id_f2cc_5e45_46f1_cbe1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jyDV-tp1IX9DeSIDxIT3dTQQ9QmA9dV402KagUc1_Mm-ewu64wUikVqG3SqEW3WN-qM" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br />First up on this adventure, just north of Tucson, we explored the <a href="https://www.blm.gov/visit/ironwood" target="_blank">Ironwood Forest National Monument</a>. After turning off I-10 at Red Rock, we were soon on good dirt roads. The Silverbell Copper Mine has been in operation for years and is still producing copper to this day. Our first stop was at the Sasco Cemetery to pay our respects to past residents who worked and lived here. The cemetery is still accepting new internees, mostly local residents. We had hoped to stay at the Silverbell Rockland Hotel, but as was no longer accepting guests, so we opted for a side road in the Saguaro Cactus to set up camp. Nice quiet location, but we were discovered by the local sheriff who was out and about seeing what was up. He told us that many illegal aliens pass through and want to make sure I was armed. That's Arizona for you. Never did see and Illegals.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><img height="300" id="id_9817_8d5_84ed_eff7" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QtlKvx7RS5D83l2xKbbcBRTAeQg41ha6n1wMFx9Z38bHLovNJU7_RrnHcKBTjP6W3Ho=w400-h300" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" tooltip="" width="400" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_5906_3822_9c67_cebd" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/s113Vl_y_ydTA6XcvH8qziTvTcuz-MOP7It0auzGk_2cH_E6rbLDiqPg88YTtW1Xvqw" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_5f57_25f6_1cf3_b9b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/THn1YTGK5sUjaBQjA1ZwVV8nbhBlXh2Qd-BQfGP1vcWTDddcxoPQmzAVP75oayUXtbA" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_6c3a_ce40_ba6f_b896" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QU8US3GkwDicSREXPCFQKRtte4G9o4bGtjHI2yTfpqviEuiDjBEJRIt8ZpOl6VS9o6g" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_c66d_72d_17fe_d233" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xb4HhIyq3aRz_cgsDOJp2ZY99vwq-ITl-dMvY8eHCGZkzbwWmHuXNP2ZceNNMsIibhU" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img height="300" id="id_21a6_e25c_6e84_f3a3" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/njD3RZampPn9m3XzbntfCGfemjG_sEGphKLkGmJw3a_fXuaEPrOQyCjPuqa2ZKjKxHw=w400-h300" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" tooltip="" width="400" /><br /><br />Speaking of murder, in April of 1919 Charly Coleman's wife was living in Sasco and apparently was being hit on by other men. Charley, who lived in Tombstone at the time, got wind of this and decided to head to Sasco to settle the score and kill the two men hitting on his wife. Upon arrival to Sasco, Charley got into an argument with his wife. (Go figure) The owner of the saloon who had already heard about Charley's intention to kill the two men, heard the argument in process and fetched his 30-30 rifle and shot Charley on the spot.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We had a peaceful night sitting around the campfire watching the stars come out. With the local Sheriff in the neighborhood and Charley out of the picture we slept well and comfortably in our roof top tent. The next morning we continued our loop through the Ironwood Forest and after "airing up", we headed south to the small town of Patagonia.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpj5y_qxCNMd7hOvJLn5r0-Nf6oMyI28d4WJRNPnLYVjWF7YME32k4qkx_ifr2aEHscGta5Bdr36zj5lEp1kj7KQ0vADsGhWUl6BPtcpxMuM8RKMKWVt3RWTAI4C3XdRcXT_R4J2m-G5cDwprWa3X2ikAk4n1feUAvF9pvbuGqXx-MFS31JE/s4032/2022-03-23%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpj5y_qxCNMd7hOvJLn5r0-Nf6oMyI28d4WJRNPnLYVjWF7YME32k4qkx_ifr2aEHscGta5Bdr36zj5lEp1kj7KQ0vADsGhWUl6BPtcpxMuM8RKMKWVt3RWTAI4C3XdRcXT_R4J2m-G5cDwprWa3X2ikAk4n1feUAvF9pvbuGqXx-MFS31JE/w400-h300/2022-03-23%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Located just north of the Mexican Border, Patagonia is near the southern terminus of the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd786984.pdf" target="_blank">Arizona Scenic Trail</a>. It traverses Arizona from south to north or the other way around if you like walking south. Anyway, lots of pilgrim looking folks carrying large backpacks. We opted to stay in the 4X4 as we weren't equipped for a 800 mile walk across the state. Anyhow, just south of town is the 50 mile Ghost Town Loop, which we intended on exploring. Now, most of the ghost towns in these here parts only consist of a buildings or two, so mostly we were here for the scenery. First up is the Patagonia Mountains which separates the town from Mexico. As it was getting late, our first priority was to find a campsite. Most of the roads in the area are well maintained dirt roads. Because of the close proximity to Mexico, they are well traveled by the Border Patrol. We felt completely safe as most of the illegal aliens are harmless and tend to travel away from the BP and roads. As the previous night we never did see any illegals. Anyway we found a secluded campsite just off the road. At about 7,000 feet it got a tad chilly that night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1AOJbGJJBbNMVkF66y6XXSkwh4bBZSHrjrkM2Afegh648uyMsyf039FxJxIQ2qLO0q0LgwyoadvdfYNWYqgmA8X_ixio6Pq0VmHMEJJ2N132yhlmpXPWEFi-Fzc0rntITr7b3xxx94mTUVWqO5QCLi1M7NpcCWw2RSef5aSk5AGo4km14bE/s4032/2022-03-23%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1AOJbGJJBbNMVkF66y6XXSkwh4bBZSHrjrkM2Afegh648uyMsyf039FxJxIQ2qLO0q0LgwyoadvdfYNWYqgmA8X_ixio6Pq0VmHMEJJ2N132yhlmpXPWEFi-Fzc0rntITr7b3xxx94mTUVWqO5QCLi1M7NpcCWw2RSef5aSk5AGo4km14bE/w400-h300/2022-03-23%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next morning after breakfast we continued south stopping on occasion for a photo of another "ghost town".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rvcm_rUJb3OnXtjygsgFVOxPWkXAZteEoOh12jKcdR7AC07gK8Wq3N_Q6PNQqSTjy9y1lt49QFAy4fGxS6NbD5AbUzWSITTaBcnsNC5A9IXzfFgqpVLWvh7w7gUfBnQdz4kwn-5_sscpeVZUh-VamcezqWnlO5OSlBZscsPPJJfxRws4a8I/s4032/2022-03-23%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="HERSHAW" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rvcm_rUJb3OnXtjygsgFVOxPWkXAZteEoOh12jKcdR7AC07gK8Wq3N_Q6PNQqSTjy9y1lt49QFAy4fGxS6NbD5AbUzWSITTaBcnsNC5A9IXzfFgqpVLWvh7w7gUfBnQdz4kwn-5_sscpeVZUh-VamcezqWnlO5OSlBZscsPPJJfxRws4a8I/w400-h300/2022-03-23%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">HERSHAW</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SsWn4yBcKy5V0MgrGKGdCZsOhWbOBYc7D_8SU7czO4gqQn20tdTa6EsvccPqrvNijujfl4_wEmkAXnOWYm5PO9h7pEyPwcZL4MwimInhOJlbE2CH1sW-0GKIwTyh2V-SWVSlnV5gpznZTG7tJK_Wk82DuWDPiT03IgYfpZmEBDcuKNWgI_k/s4032/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SsWn4yBcKy5V0MgrGKGdCZsOhWbOBYc7D_8SU7czO4gqQn20tdTa6EsvccPqrvNijujfl4_wEmkAXnOWYm5PO9h7pEyPwcZL4MwimInhOJlbE2CH1sW-0GKIwTyh2V-SWVSlnV5gpznZTG7tJK_Wk82DuWDPiT03IgYfpZmEBDcuKNWgI_k/w400-h300/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DUQUESNE SCHOOL HOUSE</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xfKGDS0kjm-MUkSRKmblrPtYr4VgFHOb0z9ihs6gr_LYGtZghw-a5uhyWU49ZJ52PVgkozszd27bmoO27UtpNUxuE_WSf9BQ52dAKIu7DQ0YII15yl22hRmJ3MZ0r__D-dlC291BptsRJXEo0tYvPzdSVg0Qa6OrhrYKVxvKdYEf_JsUhv4/s4032/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xfKGDS0kjm-MUkSRKmblrPtYr4VgFHOb0z9ihs6gr_LYGtZghw-a5uhyWU49ZJ52PVgkozszd27bmoO27UtpNUxuE_WSf9BQ52dAKIu7DQ0YII15yl22hRmJ3MZ0r__D-dlC291BptsRJXEo0tYvPzdSVg0Qa6OrhrYKVxvKdYEf_JsUhv4/w400-h300/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LOCHIEL SCHOOL HOUSE (restored)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Some people still live in Lochiel, but the school house is now a museum. Situated at the south end of San Rafael Valley it is a stones throw from Mexico. The plaque on this monument reads: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By This Valley of San Rafael</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fray Marcos de Niza</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vice-commissary of the Franciscan Order</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Delegate of the Viceroy in Mexico</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Entered Arizona</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The First European West of the Rockies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">April 12, 1539</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweh4wQqONDzmlSoBaEO8IAFg0NAIC5uWAiB_FEeyF8QQNLCDYLVnHchXDVXYl7QO1rEKtVBZqbrVMLecS-WSG3nwvESsVTbeY7EWN-B2XacKbkAZEjfYn2hRtdArANFLVeJNyGJQ5ygDY2futJb4U1iGh2gWZLS9PcyXjZR8HDOGRGTKKOC0/s4032/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweh4wQqONDzmlSoBaEO8IAFg0NAIC5uWAiB_FEeyF8QQNLCDYLVnHchXDVXYl7QO1rEKtVBZqbrVMLecS-WSG3nwvESsVTbeY7EWN-B2XacKbkAZEjfYn2hRtdArANFLVeJNyGJQ5ygDY2futJb4U1iGh2gWZLS9PcyXjZR8HDOGRGTKKOC0/w400-h300/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Here we turn east and then north, passing through the San Rafael Valley and it's vast grasslands. Beautiful gently rolling land that reminded me of the Mesita in Spain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoJcGI-YuLWswmv-cH0wdtCPF-JCULW0_yqMuixXLlYeVA1_pAx4J83tL3cm3SA-WWt74KxcuOC8IcFB0SIy4h8KcG-i92KuYdJBlA7mtF2Z-wPVHHZK6KiKBxtNTlfAE9L1XMifrgK9oQ-CbagDVGy9R1x_kaiOt5wjM4g3bFrvoJe0ZKU4/s400/WLOIai_G_PAD5lgCDBr4Z.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="400" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoJcGI-YuLWswmv-cH0wdtCPF-JCULW0_yqMuixXLlYeVA1_pAx4J83tL3cm3SA-WWt74KxcuOC8IcFB0SIy4h8KcG-i92KuYdJBlA7mtF2Z-wPVHHZK6KiKBxtNTlfAE9L1XMifrgK9oQ-CbagDVGy9R1x_kaiOt5wjM4g3bFrvoJe0ZKU4/w400-h299/WLOIai_G_PAD5lgCDBr4Z.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Miles and miles of open range with a few cattle ranches. I would love to see this area during the Monsoon when the grass is green. Guess we'll have to go back. But now we head north to our last area of exploration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">North of Phoenix off of Interstate 17 is an off ramp to Bloody Basin Road. Since our home in Prescott is nearby, we have passed this off ramp numerous times. Now was the time to check it out. It was late afternoon when we made our exit from the freeway and entered the <a href="https://www.blm.gov/visit/agua-fria" target="_blank">Auga-Fria National Monument</a>. So, first up was to find a campsite. About 5 miles down the nice graded dirt Bloody Basin Road, we found a perfect spot beneath a large Sycamore Tree. The evening was spent around the campfire, being serenaded by a couple of owls, then off to bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWkiKR1opuoruj_gCQUs23Fk7ahpfl2dI72yhNVliRkOqYewtQLc_oxK44hRQklugji_v4SCEW9ElOk-rYCf1xq0h1cay5ugiInUrOIAITA6poXh691tNLYdOIN-3LxpOyZToB7d3N7J5uudtWbNWmquFGYkEw0AB3euZgWYJfU0VMV9gHiE/s4032/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWkiKR1opuoruj_gCQUs23Fk7ahpfl2dI72yhNVliRkOqYewtQLc_oxK44hRQklugji_v4SCEW9ElOk-rYCf1xq0h1cay5ugiInUrOIAITA6poXh691tNLYdOIN-3LxpOyZToB7d3N7J5uudtWbNWmquFGYkEw0AB3euZgWYJfU0VMV9gHiE/w400-h300/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIehdc7Nfjn8BhdkjduW4zrDY3XCSC7QMhSZPFy-sf3nK1N5t0QZHuzStKyKsizbuSBKs4RT9DrMj-vbM85zoojwkOaaeekDqZczEey7d1wNH64nif9ogU3vwdm-SvyvTe3U5qrfYrzpA1xxTnEcuZd5fLfxz1yS_6wqzRzeY7AcRybhtWTcY/s4032/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIehdc7Nfjn8BhdkjduW4zrDY3XCSC7QMhSZPFy-sf3nK1N5t0QZHuzStKyKsizbuSBKs4RT9DrMj-vbM85zoojwkOaaeekDqZczEey7d1wNH64nif9ogU3vwdm-SvyvTe3U5qrfYrzpA1xxTnEcuZd5fLfxz1yS_6wqzRzeY7AcRybhtWTcY/w400-h300/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3Ly32-XWZxua27_7dtS1nHerQJmtyavSoHLJ78ercoasGVRfZSs0S7zMBhar6K0E2smTdCcrAhYhjpyet9WPfHZht_hPvp8kH26v1yPW6yp4zO6oIBlJpqwLZPHNveOZ934kE1umR_1CUWiiZBMAi0b2EqmqGOQbAekYC-UyFugNK8quhRs/s4032/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3Ly32-XWZxua27_7dtS1nHerQJmtyavSoHLJ78ercoasGVRfZSs0S7zMBhar6K0E2smTdCcrAhYhjpyet9WPfHZht_hPvp8kH26v1yPW6yp4zO6oIBlJpqwLZPHNveOZ934kE1umR_1CUWiiZBMAi0b2EqmqGOQbAekYC-UyFugNK8quhRs/w400-h300/2022-03-24%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next morning we're up early and out of camp at a decent, for us, 8:30. The road goes for about 38 miles to the Verde River and <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/recarea/?recid=35219" target="_blank">Sheep Bridge</a>, where for all intensive purposes the road ends. I did some research on this road and it is described as an easy 4-wheel drive road. As we leave camp, the road is a nice pretty well maintained forest service road for the first 28 miles. A few stream crossing and over a high pass, but a nice scenic road none the less. The last 10 miles or so is rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. Still doable with out a 4X4 as long as you have a high clearance vehicle. But it's slooow going. Seldom more than 5 MPH. The main issue with me was that we had to turn around and drive over all those rocks to get out of there. Would I do it again? You would have to give me a really good reason to spend another 6 hours driving over those rocks. The rocks, I might add, we placed in such a position that you had to drive over everyone of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlaYF80BApCluAT1thczDi57zIGueeqFY-oG0jLKZIRdUD1WkI8MmiReJvkeuml1pER4Sl10oLFwoWKMsuBnx_mPnvYmMUOx4ybzmX5MBcM6LjWuG6yWFQyoW1gc7v2EI68JlD9tEQsAHr0p79o9agnrCLxd3IkxdRmmRaTXyPhCgmVhjtYA/s4032/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlaYF80BApCluAT1thczDi57zIGueeqFY-oG0jLKZIRdUD1WkI8MmiReJvkeuml1pER4Sl10oLFwoWKMsuBnx_mPnvYmMUOx4ybzmX5MBcM6LjWuG6yWFQyoW1gc7v2EI68JlD9tEQsAHr0p79o9agnrCLxd3IkxdRmmRaTXyPhCgmVhjtYA/w400-h300/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SHEEP BRIDGE AND THE VERDE RIVER BELOW</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscwltMMVojj0S0u2dGaa5eQr4_VXKHsdbO_ClqQmBtxIX55YbNFUA-mt2hK9AW-A6ONjtb0qGl5ECOKWvxwxxl7PbsWUtiTlI8S3JKzoTx_YKqxUDKUAo6qBChcNCeouMwUrEA37_hXlfEHAJg_cpzGLzht5rjc7eCEZimyiGnYBNskBXOwg/s4032/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscwltMMVojj0S0u2dGaa5eQr4_VXKHsdbO_ClqQmBtxIX55YbNFUA-mt2hK9AW-A6ONjtb0qGl5ECOKWvxwxxl7PbsWUtiTlI8S3JKzoTx_YKqxUDKUAo6qBChcNCeouMwUrEA37_hXlfEHAJg_cpzGLzht5rjc7eCEZimyiGnYBNskBXOwg/w400-h300/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiapKJR1bywhEl8D-UzDsS_9adOe5NnbtwZFkSIcHOqOVfxR-pktj4C6Y2lsvESvLjwqhlTP5ImXb28bayL0oP2Gmu0jM__Xhe0F4Eh5pn2Lg_tIrsobCVlJCOPWTx9P2qRw1z5_BK-z49eMCSOxHyr5OuhnWEBYBb9dVE4tYeYG20JGes7s/s250/poazsheepx4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="250" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiapKJR1bywhEl8D-UzDsS_9adOe5NnbtwZFkSIcHOqOVfxR-pktj4C6Y2lsvESvLjwqhlTP5ImXb28bayL0oP2Gmu0jM__Xhe0F4Eh5pn2Lg_tIrsobCVlJCOPWTx9P2qRw1z5_BK-z49eMCSOxHyr5OuhnWEBYBb9dVE4tYeYG20JGes7s/w400-h267/poazsheepx4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsedQp8MtY5eC2V4dcAYi0m29iPdIoRrqLxFieuEJlH4iyKJOUzk6Z7-bgQ0G4dZ6Q3VV9U_hXfMvFmkoINVFIcQa0iUBlkXu1zlk9Kg4ktuLbaZcCdgis5hnv9GKcAVoK9a_Bi-sTexuFQn2RQYHGDR9PfAJa-HUDdc3eaV6Q02w1ovO-nZQ/s377/74865282.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="377" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsedQp8MtY5eC2V4dcAYi0m29iPdIoRrqLxFieuEJlH4iyKJOUzk6Z7-bgQ0G4dZ6Q3VV9U_hXfMvFmkoINVFIcQa0iUBlkXu1zlk9Kg4ktuLbaZcCdgis5hnv9GKcAVoK9a_Bi-sTexuFQn2RQYHGDR9PfAJa-HUDdc3eaV6Q02w1ovO-nZQ/w400-h265/74865282.webp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NOT MY PHOTO, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7ekUu9zo8ZG931S5aNVZJz7zGPJ-BL7tYofzLHSZwEPUIsZPpYnhoeWDd9U1bNyRtQRUNspoDN1lIGjh6y4nc8qAquChFBR1zunBpo08x45rW3E_RtiFzEeF5r0BnG6AGEkQSpbwhNfSBVOWY_YLajwVhmj1CWrE0PwdJ_bQe7EPYZdAnbo/s4032/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7ekUu9zo8ZG931S5aNVZJz7zGPJ-BL7tYofzLHSZwEPUIsZPpYnhoeWDd9U1bNyRtQRUNspoDN1lIGjh6y4nc8qAquChFBR1zunBpo08x45rW3E_RtiFzEeF5r0BnG6AGEkQSpbwhNfSBVOWY_YLajwVhmj1CWrE0PwdJ_bQe7EPYZdAnbo/w400-h300/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlqLobiAN2gtOyl-wJxVAxwOf-dASz-udTbNbqMSa3q90sYCBBPSDak-9vHdJ9IywBtC5IBeoeUubqpujfqLbLmV-mZbTvD9WTGsGyrymOEDCiDU9ZPrrKNQfiYlyyuCbUp8bSvRV-TTiOPFeitL8MbmoKot3gPRdRlEyxuyl7DpGcJY-f7E/s4032/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlqLobiAN2gtOyl-wJxVAxwOf-dASz-udTbNbqMSa3q90sYCBBPSDak-9vHdJ9IywBtC5IBeoeUubqpujfqLbLmV-mZbTvD9WTGsGyrymOEDCiDU9ZPrrKNQfiYlyyuCbUp8bSvRV-TTiOPFeitL8MbmoKot3gPRdRlEyxuyl7DpGcJY-f7E/w400-h300/2022-03-25%202022%20AZ%20Off%20Road%20Trip%20010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span>We made it out ok, and headed home for a dinner out and a well deserved shower. We saw new places for us and I discovered that 3 nights in the tent is my limit. Cathie could go 4, but she's tougher than me. We'll be going again as there are so many remote places to explore in our new state, Arizona.</span><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /> </div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-54027050839781490032022-02-26T19:05:00.000-08:002022-02-26T19:05:09.892-08:00HOW' IT GOING IN PRESCOTT?<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">So you ask, “how’s it going in Prescott?” Well, here’s a report on how things have been going. We have been in our new home since the last week of September and have been getting settled in, unpacking and organizing. We’ve got most stuff put where it belongs and we are actually able to get two cars in the garage. We held a open house and invited the neighbors and others that we met in Prescott. With the help of our friends Duane and Shari from San Diego we had a great little party. The neighbors seem to be happy to see us as there was apparently bad blood between them and the previous owner. Most of our neighbors have lived here for years, and several met each other for the first time. Different times than when everyone knew all their neighbors.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">We’ve been learning our way around town and finding the short cuts. I have been walking on nearby trails, which are plentiful. Now that’s it winter, it’s cold walking just before sunrise, but I’m getting use to it. But I must say walking at 14 degrees with a frozen water bladder is a little unnerving.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7oeGseE16T5cOK3K6Gji0Une147TfZt28EpAWOl8luo6rMYLNiyzLqUIYuIHpcLJdv3vXWR9bjKQDucaZuAX0EDk6RKOfY8Z-LE11MddpDVYhLus95gd6ea9DNnY0hnH6qeCEMGKz55CefMdBjqVDYqTMqt70YgMiXweX6Ch_vxoDRIcHwgc=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7oeGseE16T5cOK3K6Gji0Une147TfZt28EpAWOl8luo6rMYLNiyzLqUIYuIHpcLJdv3vXWR9bjKQDucaZuAX0EDk6RKOfY8Z-LE11MddpDVYhLus95gd6ea9DNnY0hnH6qeCEMGKz55CefMdBjqVDYqTMqt70YgMiXweX6Ch_vxoDRIcHwgc=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Are there pluses having moved to Arizona, you betcha. There are a few minuses too, the biggest of which is medical care. We had to change our medical insurance and our new carrier is no way close to what we had before. We had insurance with Kaiser Permanente for years but they’re not in Arizona. Our new insurance with United Healthcare doesn’t come close to the service we received from Kaiser. When United assigned us doctors, a different one for each of us, neither of them were accepting new patients. So I called to find a doctor who was taking new patients. 80-90% of their doctors we not accepting new patients. I went around and around with them over this and finally gave up. A friend recommended their Nurse Practitioner and luckily she was taking new patients. They assigned me Cardiologist but I couldn’t get an appointment for 4 months. I raised hell with them, and finally got in to see a doctor. But luckily that's about it for the bad news. Everything else has been positive.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Humboldt-Dewey make up the Quad Cities. With a combined population of 130,000 we don't lack for most services. And if need be, Phoenix is 80 miles away. People for the most part are friendly and welcoming. We have not encountered any negativity about all the Californians moving here. Not to say it doesn't exist, we just have not experienced it. And there are a lot of new people moving here, the place is booming. Lots of new construction, and the cost of housing going up. So, I suppose, depending on how you look at it, there is both good and bad. If you're looking for someone in the trades to do some work for you, plan on waiting. One side effect of the growth is people in the construction industry are busy, really busy. Here's an example:</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">We needed to move our propane tank as it was right in the middle of where I want to build a shop. So we need to run a new gas line from the new tank location to the house. 100 feet of new line. So I started calling plumbers to get bids. The first problem is getting them to return my calls, but finally one company said they would come out and give me a bid. And they did. $8,300! I looked the guy straight in the face and said, "that ain't happening". So after several attempts, to find a plumber, I gave up and called the local propane company. They came out, looked at my situation and said if I dug the trench, they would lay the pipe for 3 bucks a foot and $100 an hour. How long would it take? I asked. "Oh, 2 to 3 hours." This was becoming a no brainer, but I still had to dig the ditch. I started looking for someone with a backhoe to dig the ditch. I called 6 companies. 3 never called me back, 2 said they could get to me in 2 months, and, as luck would have it, the one guy I text a message to, texted me back within 15 minutes and said he could be there the next day. How Much, $400. So in the end when all was said and done, It cost me $2100, and that included 400 gallons of propane. And as a bonus, they hauled away my old propane tank, which started leaking on the day of the switch. A far cry from $8,300. So, the shop will take a while. The 1st step is in process as the plans a being drawn. After that I'll have to wade through the process of finding a contractor.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUW1dKklGKc5oTvVW63dBFA4Uj023E8oZ1bqitaAP1QSp6j8o2evpclQCBrqgStJ3k3W-1tjVpCCxmAgueL1bPyU3U4jEdmPX3_4UIBR8Z_EJkoSsqWUz5RC_bRNF_jhw8p6qI-BJiXt5P1xIZb0b_CV9nT31c2kZhsUKJrAJ9x43wEkxnvgc=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUW1dKklGKc5oTvVW63dBFA4Uj023E8oZ1bqitaAP1QSp6j8o2evpclQCBrqgStJ3k3W-1tjVpCCxmAgueL1bPyU3U4jEdmPX3_4UIBR8Z_EJkoSsqWUz5RC_bRNF_jhw8p6qI-BJiXt5P1xIZb0b_CV9nT31c2kZhsUKJrAJ9x43wEkxnvgc=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OUT WITH THE OLD</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4bjQfZ7NtACNNIfOUkqSeNEYHXBw4vofDu2XCvt8odaASsevj2LdeOEUp8YHbqBBnt-b7Z96ksF1UCH7Qxc66F7xlP4fbI-YVXC9Yr1cuZR4Y2P0YvWlRCRMz1-A815kOUXG-6F1MM132b8F54ACGEmAj30RcBlv5o6fRnQEW4WmoO9KtKqY=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4bjQfZ7NtACNNIfOUkqSeNEYHXBw4vofDu2XCvt8odaASsevj2LdeOEUp8YHbqBBnt-b7Z96ksF1UCH7Qxc66F7xlP4fbI-YVXC9Yr1cuZR4Y2P0YvWlRCRMz1-A815kOUXG-6F1MM132b8F54ACGEmAj30RcBlv5o6fRnQEW4WmoO9KtKqY=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">IN WITH THE NEW</div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">We're finding new friends and getting to know our neighbors. Dan and Martha from next door invited use to one of the local hang-outs to a blues jam, which was fun. We trade picking restaurants with them for occasional breakfasts. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNRH77JttGukSzkGW3kc1Kd53OuIYGaGi1nUZcTqS5yIBmzZhUhVRTlEoHji5nen0D-14xpAWtxsRX3mN0lHvuxfktyd0HtCBPZ5lFbJPmuPtfjZD0hUpamLBEaqfyTv_Ba3dS99m7xzVBdcWUPdi0Gm-fUlcVo3Siajjw75Wl_lqPNX_xGCM=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNRH77JttGukSzkGW3kc1Kd53OuIYGaGi1nUZcTqS5yIBmzZhUhVRTlEoHji5nen0D-14xpAWtxsRX3mN0lHvuxfktyd0HtCBPZ5lFbJPmuPtfjZD0hUpamLBEaqfyTv_Ba3dS99m7xzVBdcWUPdi0Gm-fUlcVo3Siajjw75Wl_lqPNX_xGCM=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">We've been experiencing the seasons here, with monsoon rains, hail storms, summer heat (not too bad) and snow with temps in the teens. A far cry from Southern California's two seasons, Sunshine Season, and Tax Season.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3wzoe9Liol4USJaA8CYyqb2SrHUavoCq2DElwt_cMZLuBKOv9Ipnex2JDJCbRpJNytQDLBb_8FQjFJsQetZrf1WLYPlgzlp4d9D9VKuc3V_tOFwKuvu5EiAIDid_1A__TKxpTgDtfaNbCz0MFtJ-Qm1DWvsfNxlxsCahVZTr-Ypzkq7U8HV4=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3wzoe9Liol4USJaA8CYyqb2SrHUavoCq2DElwt_cMZLuBKOv9Ipnex2JDJCbRpJNytQDLBb_8FQjFJsQetZrf1WLYPlgzlp4d9D9VKuc3V_tOFwKuvu5EiAIDid_1A__TKxpTgDtfaNbCz0MFtJ-Qm1DWvsfNxlxsCahVZTr-Ypzkq7U8HV4=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrVO4P2BXtrN1X4D1eJpEeTt6NM2XFwPlbfhrHiknHy8jmBkfOto4GieVAGhk3zOB9TORNdxXEYtvlHOLkkRiGX8ock7vcUFGeNS6i_fZ8Lzhcm8c-rNABI-918dSs0XfIXq_fSqjemV_h_T08RxPD3-b2B5fiPrz-d206_HsCJVNmsELyLc8=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrVO4P2BXtrN1X4D1eJpEeTt6NM2XFwPlbfhrHiknHy8jmBkfOto4GieVAGhk3zOB9TORNdxXEYtvlHOLkkRiGX8ock7vcUFGeNS6i_fZ8Lzhcm8c-rNABI-918dSs0XfIXq_fSqjemV_h_T08RxPD3-b2B5fiPrz-d206_HsCJVNmsELyLc8=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Speaking of the government. I made a trip to the local department of motor vehicles to take care of registering our cars here in Arizona. What a pleasant surprise. For those poor souls who still have to deal with the DMV in California, I feel sorry for you. I made an appointment for the following day. In California you're lucky if you can get an appointment. I arrived at the appointed time and found this....no line. I was offered a chair, in California, they don't have chairs, and my business was concluded in no time. I thought it might have been a fluke, but no. On a return trip I was greeted with the same, no line and a pleasant and competent clerk who took care of me. And if you register your car for 2 or 5 years at a time, they give you a discount.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuM6G6kHx7N2lP4utjxXDbarq4BL-KahSKJ30ucuMccmoQupGDkolSJRvOE4Rwh--JWKXMBt6gTbRJH-HBLqIlUSbqqidRNkon1DdqGww4IdZMDWmaggbeuJWIZVTtyiYPvLbDs3zEDjsYZjdsIwfCDBKstzROZ1LND_uUTYt9Nge0ei4J5Iw=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuM6G6kHx7N2lP4utjxXDbarq4BL-KahSKJ30ucuMccmoQupGDkolSJRvOE4Rwh--JWKXMBt6gTbRJH-HBLqIlUSbqqidRNkon1DdqGww4IdZMDWmaggbeuJWIZVTtyiYPvLbDs3zEDjsYZjdsIwfCDBKstzROZ1LND_uUTYt9Nge0ei4J5Iw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Next week we head back to California for two reasons, one to do our California taxes for that last time, and so we can congratulate ourselves for making the move to Arizona.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Till next time........</p> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-61563174439305940662021-12-24T09:42:00.001-08:002021-12-24T09:42:04.710-08:00NOVA UPDATE<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><img id="id_468d_5a38_f0d4_758c" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/B_-KCkI5bReEAKe1ZMKoHioJrH9MshMRx8N0UqDgR8YY16D4KgqdxoGaoObRJPkdYBg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">About a year ago, I posted on the blog about my Nova and since then much has be done in it’s restoration. I’ve posted updates on facebook, but nothing on the blog. So if you’re not on facebook you’ve been missing all the work that has been done. Not going to rehash everything here, but here is the current update.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It’s been awhile since I posted a “More Progress” update on the Nova. Because of the silence, people keep asking me, “What’s up?” So here’s what happened. Motor complete, in the car, rebuild the carburetor, and troubleshoot some minor wiring issues. The car starts right up, but runs a little rough. Not an issue, right? More troubleshooting. We, mostly my car garu Bill, take the temperature of the exhaust manifold and one side runs hot and the other runs cool. This was the same issue we had when we ran the motor in an engine stand. We figured we had solved the problem with the carb re-build. Well, that wasn’t the case.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So we ran a compression check, and the hot side was normal, but the cool side had NO COMPRESSION. Valves not closing, holes in the pistons, broken piston rings, what was it? We had completely gone through the engine, new pistons, rings, valve job, new cam, polished the crank, all new bearings, what the hell was wrong?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><img id="id_2c92_97b6_997e_78df" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/s-9K8JmisoRJPvHtsKBMzKilPJ5F0_QHAL3oRb88GBNYxAbdH4UEZv7ZG26zwGIEvDA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bill feeling responsible, said if it was something he did wrong, he would fix it. So one again the car is transported on a tow truck, this time to Bill’s shop. Now with me having moved to Arizona, it was problematic for me to get to San Diego every time Bill wanted to work on the motor. Not to worry, said Bill, he would handle it.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So off come the head on the cool side, the one with no compression. Happy to report that there were no holes in the pistons, which was a great relief. With the head off, Bill was able to determine that some of the intake valves weren’t closing properly. So, it seems that the machine shop who did the valve job screwed up. This was good news as we are pretty sure this was the only problem and Bill is relieved that it wasn’t his fault.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So true to form, Bill will follow up with the machine shop, get the valve issue taken care of and put the car back together. Boy I’m I glad I know Bill. He’s been a lifesaver with his knowledge and willingness to hold my hand, as I am in over my head when it comes to engine re-building.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; min-height: 13.1px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Once the car becomes drivable again, a decision will be made as to where the upholstery gets done, Arizona or California. The seat covers are completed in the original fabric and need to be put on. The door panels are at a shop in Oregon waiting to be completed. Hopefully in a few months we’ll be cruzin the the streets of Prescott in my Nova.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><img id="id_7829_f514_a5c2_bd56" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Q3e4bS1LS2h9ZtAS9EUGIqyaUFtxLBopdZi7k3vpN8ZFvHtup5tuE4uOdF8--NGSnPg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 500px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br></span></p> Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-20726149004699433692021-11-26T08:56:00.000-08:002021-11-26T08:56:45.438-08:00El Nuevo Rancho Poco a Poco, Our New Home<p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwwtjmbkWkeWddm0CbN8Cwk8A_niQHoCxG7c9NXD1NQZ2U_wZhma-Ag9p7A3zmGZn0wiRX8eIL7quq8K0eSa7hbddKp7q16PjPiDKuIrLfd7F4mDHwLYAiKV0S6T92PLu_JyPNQ/s1280/Prescott+house+1.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwwtjmbkWkeWddm0CbN8Cwk8A_niQHoCxG7c9NXD1NQZ2U_wZhma-Ag9p7A3zmGZn0wiRX8eIL7quq8K0eSa7hbddKp7q16PjPiDKuIrLfd7F4mDHwLYAiKV0S6T92PLu_JyPNQ/w400-h266/Prescott+house+1.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I must admit that I have been neglecting the blog, but with the move to Arizona we haven't been sitting on our hands. We're getting settled in and learning how to navigate our new town. Our house had no major issues with the exception to a damaged roof and air-conditioners due to a massive hail storm which passed through the neighborhood. Many of the homes nearby also received extensive hail damage. Luckily this all occurred before we bought the house and the old owner's insurance paid for a new roof on the house, a new metal roof on the garage, a new roof on the storage shed, and two new rooftop air-conditioners/heating units. The home inspection showed no major problems and the well inspection indicates that we have a good well.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kls0fum6gsDiUsXlN1NA3W97z2kkqSvAzIzPMECyVub8JASMoHjnneYSZ7Rhy7U-uXD9ZXMOZ4AdLJxBVSns8gVWfoBDIDBTZF-UDtVca2zVTY0AIVHDLTu0MfbYPBOuPR1rXA/s2048/IMG_6120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kls0fum6gsDiUsXlN1NA3W97z2kkqSvAzIzPMECyVub8JASMoHjnneYSZ7Rhy7U-uXD9ZXMOZ4AdLJxBVSns8gVWfoBDIDBTZF-UDtVca2zVTY0AIVHDLTu0MfbYPBOuPR1rXA/w400-h300/IMG_6120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjormrmhQWSvWlrFPPWAeRHuRDeouxh6a8yx8eu8DW823puFu5yH4ClcovkL3jQ8HA79ke8ef86WoFw8LI_BB9gVDGIVCzwE1BNXA1bEeoHKSGo8Jda-T4NXYEs5_gPgE3u9rrjtA/s2048/IMG_6156.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjormrmhQWSvWlrFPPWAeRHuRDeouxh6a8yx8eu8DW823puFu5yH4ClcovkL3jQ8HA79ke8ef86WoFw8LI_BB9gVDGIVCzwE1BNXA1bEeoHKSGo8Jda-T4NXYEs5_gPgE3u9rrjtA/w400-h300/IMG_6156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NEW ROOF FOR THE GARAGE</div><p style="text-align: justify;">The biggest hassle was the move it's self. Although we did get rid of some stuff, we still moved a huge amount of furniture and just stuff you don't want to throw away. It was a logistical nightmare. Our son Gary and I packed up and moved all my shop tools and stuff and put in in storage in Prescott. We were lucky enough to find a moving guy who specializes in moving people from California to Arizona. He's been busy. So he did all the heavy lifting, but we, Cathie mostly, boxed up all the small stuff and wrapping breakables in bubble wrap. We used a whole lot of bubble wrap. Should have bought stock. So on the appointed day and time (8 am), the moving guy, Tab, shows up with two big trucks and 4 guys and begins loading. They finish loading about 9pm and head out to Arizona. We take one last look around the house that we had lived in for 47 years. Our home that we raised our family and had many good times and family celebrations and walked away.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next morning we met up with Tab and his crew at the storage facility we had rented and somehow he got everything into our unit. We had a smaller storage unit that we filled with fragile things we brought over ourselves. Now it was time to find a new home. While searching, we stayed in the RV at a local RV park which was filled to capacity with mostly Californians looking for a new home or waiting for theirs to get built. There were so many people moving to the Prescott area, that it was difficult to find temporary housing or places to park your RV. With storage units you had to get on a waiting list before you could snag one. But, we managed and after about 5 weeks we found our home. Once escrow closed, the second move began. We called Tab, but he we too busy moving more Californians and couldn't help us. But we did manage to find a local guy and crew who moved everything into the house and placed the furniture were we directed. I must say that I don't ever want to do that again. Selling of the house, moving all our belongings, finding a new house and moving everything for a second time, was one of, if not, the most stressful things I ever did. The last time we moved in 1975 it took two pick-up trucks and a couple of friends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycIjFR6EnGoKbdLXkUb3BCV-jVf0wfz7Kd-pb-hF46oaL2Ms_khB8EGEHzVUkXGXfIVDKqcaLs6A-ox7crsJlBIxHViHGwd6lUb6Z7bTeLdMLWaOkIBfs4rVLnxhSzKwp8DoBgQ/s2048/IMG_6115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycIjFR6EnGoKbdLXkUb3BCV-jVf0wfz7Kd-pb-hF46oaL2Ms_khB8EGEHzVUkXGXfIVDKqcaLs6A-ox7crsJlBIxHViHGwd6lUb6Z7bTeLdMLWaOkIBfs4rVLnxhSzKwp8DoBgQ/w400-h300/IMG_6115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">MOVERS MOVING</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoy6nTXGKWApZ5jZ_gMDDkjLWJrHU48jfQ2yrBktRgLTR0d6aIZX5Y8Q1pyB_E-LCpSRI18q5QzcsCD5wQPAYmq9RDVbToYA2maI_oJSbWDfgPwB_VbC497F8OtuMIzDJD84NMw/s2048/IMG_6110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoy6nTXGKWApZ5jZ_gMDDkjLWJrHU48jfQ2yrBktRgLTR0d6aIZX5Y8Q1pyB_E-LCpSRI18q5QzcsCD5wQPAYmq9RDVbToYA2maI_oJSbWDfgPwB_VbC497F8OtuMIzDJD84NMw/w400-h300/IMG_6110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CARPET LAYERS LAYING</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8jDCDNqcmbDozYbMpne5ebLqFJurCryilqhk-Kd6wEcj__k3DjNcxfDSMat1N-67ea4AL9xXfpAYRJSwDwsULX83UC1CpG62ZI-NYnfFeGF6GqZ4-yb7-44wYTZibbQUN37SGw/s2048/IMG_6114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8jDCDNqcmbDozYbMpne5ebLqFJurCryilqhk-Kd6wEcj__k3DjNcxfDSMat1N-67ea4AL9xXfpAYRJSwDwsULX83UC1CpG62ZI-NYnfFeGF6GqZ4-yb7-44wYTZibbQUN37SGw/w400-h300/IMG_6114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PAINTERS PAINTING</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There are a whole lot of pluses in our new home and the surrounding area. First is the house doesn't need anything fixed. Everything works (so far) and is in good to excellent condition. Except for replacing carpet and paint in two of the bathrooms, we just had to unpack and hang pictures. We've got an acre of land, so our neighbors aren't on top of us. Speaking of neighbors, so far of the ones we met, seem like nice folks with the same conservative views as us. One standout is Dan and Martha, who after meeting us gave us a house warming gift of a bottle of Irish Cream, which I love, and got hooked again. Of all the neighbors we've met, they seem to be grateful that we're the ones that bought this house. It seems that the previous owner was, shall we say to put it mildly, a bit different. Another plus to our new home is the view of Granite Mountain from the front porch. A great place to enjoy lunch or happy hour.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been exploring some of the hiking trails around here and there are many. The Prescott Parks Department maintains numerous walking paths a trails all over the city. The main focus is around the Prescott Lakes, Willow and Watson. With marked trails around the lakes and in the <a href="https://www.exploreprescott.org/recreation-locations/the-granite-dells/">Granite Dells</a>, a huge jumble for granite consisting of huge boulders and rock formations, there are ample of places to enjoy the scenery. In addition to the City Parks, Prescott is surrounded by the Prescott National Forest, with hiking and camping opportunities galore. In fact a stones throw from out house is a National Forest Trailhead leading to protected wilderness. I've been hiking there and exploring different trails.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-h3mYsDjL60RqVgq55Od9aitWVzjsersttuhSpWCp1lg3ekiXC2Qf8B_TCal7I9MEBJndbj9r5EF7hV0RsknKLFcbdfUcqiae6peb-iL83HQDf9sz3uC2Nlq8XFsHqjxHbVWAw/s2048/IMG_5993.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-h3mYsDjL60RqVgq55Od9aitWVzjsersttuhSpWCp1lg3ekiXC2Qf8B_TCal7I9MEBJndbj9r5EF7hV0RsknKLFcbdfUcqiae6peb-iL83HQDf9sz3uC2Nlq8XFsHqjxHbVWAw/w400-h300/IMG_5993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">GRANITE MOUNTAIN</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuw3U6vH1XoqkfjuCnpdWssf9am1XGudM1hEXyeFKoewPKVw8EDD_2WJnPhkTwcgAB3bewEaqcpfjbqSsvJ6kxwZScrHLdVd8l12YpJ7clE3uKEmFg6eBC3wjuE6L1DYPT7rclQ/s2048/IMG_6059.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuw3U6vH1XoqkfjuCnpdWssf9am1XGudM1hEXyeFKoewPKVw8EDD_2WJnPhkTwcgAB3bewEaqcpfjbqSsvJ6kxwZScrHLdVd8l12YpJ7clE3uKEmFg6eBC3wjuE6L1DYPT7rclQ/w400-h300/IMG_6059.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WATCH YOUR STEP</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDv78KLM-VI7gdw2d2aTkGlQkEuyYifiYsdWEB_4B9QqQBnT515FF9zuZCMTm8xHYEP1lB1EdyusQSNetaHaDFc5dO1uuUgh1MqaL6TnRk-Q3_-OxkJzDBxKhNWukDJWzYHXzlQ/s2048/IMG_6231.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDv78KLM-VI7gdw2d2aTkGlQkEuyYifiYsdWEB_4B9QqQBnT515FF9zuZCMTm8xHYEP1lB1EdyusQSNetaHaDFc5dO1uuUgh1MqaL6TnRk-Q3_-OxkJzDBxKhNWukDJWzYHXzlQ/w400-h300/IMG_6231.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">IN THE GRANITE DELLS</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoeSCc17sU4zz1RUiGEDNoEWBjoSTFhj9PPNJjZ-V-rie580fAz6US75GpYBjQL4abUSjlaSOVUwMtPw1GlnJo5AiOrNjgNX4QGLvPlGKSARRVI-X03ClwIXNAgrxwWneOM90hA/s2048/IMG_6243.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoeSCc17sU4zz1RUiGEDNoEWBjoSTFhj9PPNJjZ-V-rie580fAz6US75GpYBjQL4abUSjlaSOVUwMtPw1GlnJo5AiOrNjgNX4QGLvPlGKSARRVI-X03ClwIXNAgrxwWneOM90hA/w400-h300/IMG_6243.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WILLOW LAKE</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjkAR04wR3jOwk81g60orBFdev9_zkYZS9fm3hQRwD-o8Ok3acwecpXKN-npbQVNoLmpuaQHl4JEhwolXXfk4bixlFpXHMwIzbajsxtB998v0W6hzDM-P_WrWsq4llPgs9nVd9Q/s2048/IMG_6263.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjkAR04wR3jOwk81g60orBFdev9_zkYZS9fm3hQRwD-o8Ok3acwecpXKN-npbQVNoLmpuaQHl4JEhwolXXfk4bixlFpXHMwIzbajsxtB998v0W6hzDM-P_WrWsq4llPgs9nVd9Q/w400-h300/IMG_6263.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">MY MORNING WALK</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are many great restaurants in the area, especially in the old part of the city. I don't know if we're gonna be able to visit all of them, but we're trying. There's also plenty other things to enjoy in Prescott. In the summer time weekly concerts at the Courthouse Square, the old historic <a href="https://www.prescottelkstheatre.org/">Elks Theater</a> where one can see old movies and plays. The local collage <a href="https://www.ycpac.com/Online/default.asp">Yavapai Collage Performing Arts Theater</a> with plays and music. Several museums in the area. Anyway you get the picture, there's plenty to do. On top of that, there's the whole state of Arizona to explore. Of course we've been to Arizona many times, but we've only scratched the surface. There's a whole lot to see in our new state.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6yv3iGICEGGkQMCpkhLh0xjcXkDIZeErKztFjJD-YQIhKrqmdW5Eo7_XEgNV3JYy20kkjxi5lWmy4gfKKSuPejCpdy9Rga94aJcX8rVe9ShR9cKL0hbeVyZ43QoexUEv9ogQLQ/s2048/IMG_5895.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6yv3iGICEGGkQMCpkhLh0xjcXkDIZeErKztFjJD-YQIhKrqmdW5Eo7_XEgNV3JYy20kkjxi5lWmy4gfKKSuPejCpdy9Rga94aJcX8rVe9ShR9cKL0hbeVyZ43QoexUEv9ogQLQ/w400-h300/IMG_5895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehIu-kyejRrG6kWblSku0xlck9NNV4iB6x_8VU_5ddWzPaKfBwrvlr0mPAa2PvfW1Y7Eg9aw2Cnks8ZpEtYToQDajUYMtmQWVVhtL3Du8RDSMnoMGO6vd9tfW3nmJmVvmR7ElLg/s2048/IMG_5899.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehIu-kyejRrG6kWblSku0xlck9NNV4iB6x_8VU_5ddWzPaKfBwrvlr0mPAa2PvfW1Y7Eg9aw2Cnks8ZpEtYToQDajUYMtmQWVVhtL3Du8RDSMnoMGO6vd9tfW3nmJmVvmR7ElLg/w400-h300/IMG_5899.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ROUTE 66</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Before I close this entry, I wanted to thank several people who moved to Prescott before us and who gave us a wealth of information about our new hometown. Craig and Shelley, Vern and Sonia, Jane and John. We made advance trips to Prescott and meet with these friends who provided us with some local knowledge about Prescott. I also wanted to acknowledge new friends we met in the RV park. Everyone in the picture has moved from somewhere else an plane to make Prescott their new home. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3o6o8Deaq6hB9ifFTzat5NTEJ9mUBGV9IbGmWgb-Wsjd9GPBanfUv0AHHjQqkBXlEORXiHxslbisUw4vMT6DS1I6zz9oVufBj34ac2a6D0Hl62LphIkCXTYOrz0bHAJdns_xFQ/s2048/IMG_6050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3o6o8Deaq6hB9ifFTzat5NTEJ9mUBGV9IbGmWgb-Wsjd9GPBanfUv0AHHjQqkBXlEORXiHxslbisUw4vMT6DS1I6zz9oVufBj34ac2a6D0Hl62LphIkCXTYOrz0bHAJdns_xFQ/w400-h300/IMG_6050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Hour</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop in and stay a while. We've got extra bedrooms and a small studio apartment attached to the garage. If you really can't wait to see us, we're having an open on December 4th, drop me a line and I'll give you the details.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-18490412303079016032021-08-05T16:56:00.000-07:002021-08-05T16:56:23.699-07:00WE FOUND A HOUSE<p style="text-align: justify;"> Yes, we found a house, made and offer which was accepted and we are now in escrow. Although not a done deal at this time as there has been no home inspection, but it looks promising. Getting to this point has meant traipsing through numerous homes and ruling them out for one reason or another. Actually the one we chose we had ruled out about a month ago because it only had a two car garage and no shop space. We came close to making an offer when we first saw it, but after sleeping on it we initially ruled it out. But Marianna, our realtor never gave up and found numerous houses for us to look at. We were pretty interested in the Williamson Valley area, north of the city a few miles. Rural with most properties an acre or more it became our favorite area, so Marianna focused our search there.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We put an offer on one house that had everything we wanted including a RV garage. The problem was that, because properties sell so fast, that it was felt we had to move fast. We offered more than the asking price and gave the seller till noon the next day to accept. That night I had second thoughts, I just don't like being under the gun like that, especially with such a momentous decision. In the morning I was hoping the seller would reject our offer or let it expire. They did let our offer expire and we were off the hook</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We kept coming back to the one we saw a month before. The seller, who showed us the home told us at the time he would lower the price $50,000 for each week it was on the market, so the price had dropped $205,000 since we first looked at it. One issue with the property was, although the house sat on 1 acre, there was an adjoining .8 acre that had to be included in the sale. That made the property out of reach for us.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We were saved by our son Eric, who always looking for investment property, decided to buy the adjoining lot. He says he just might build a house on it so he can keep and eye on us. So, next week a building and well inspection will be done and if there are no major problems, we should be ending our homeless situation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is still the issue of not enough garage space and no shop, but with the lower price we should be able to remedy that with a new building in the back yard. So here's a little information about the home:</p><div style="text-align: center;">3 bedrooms with bath</div><div style="text-align: center;">Office</div><div style="text-align: center;">Huge Laundry</div><div style="text-align: center;">Studio Apartment in Garage Building</div><div style="text-align: center;">Patio BBQ kitchen w/fireplace</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gated entry</div><div style="text-align: center;">and much more</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Plenty of room for visitors, so if you're in the neighborhood be sure to look us up. Now for the photos</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLR2luzgVe7O0AtbpGV_V4Jt9ruqOZ3ynUbHtpFdg2sUSYm87sGa9lsfCUNF8p4kNMFG8pDv1sk6LsAL-3GsApNEEkKDnf8S7WuEUW3gHQkSxz7LqKxxwD5jClNFpp_HOvPMcCzg/s1280/Prescott+house+1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLR2luzgVe7O0AtbpGV_V4Jt9ruqOZ3ynUbHtpFdg2sUSYm87sGa9lsfCUNF8p4kNMFG8pDv1sk6LsAL-3GsApNEEkKDnf8S7WuEUW3gHQkSxz7LqKxxwD5jClNFpp_HOvPMcCzg/s320/Prescott+house+1.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0MOvcdmjC6EZXB5zj_IDEnMFhktjSDsg_yl0a37ZgikOdnfM9ybFGMbMfP_sYyQI-jRPgDX6CkgddtRe08xBEZvNWOUKiASANXrekqWNJtmm0idLYcqzTWHvkN41nh5QAFJGOQ/s1280/prescott+house+71.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodTEY6TMNEBTaJofsBL1V__qQ5vuyK-y5DpzyHZFqsB-2iAr8lrz_zzSgtapUS0FDCD-wLHP-N6Uz9GMH0H85t4e_MkOyyNYdW4XwtI_X1OUk0o1zhrqYpWDl-T-uZxJ7tOggyg/s1280/prescott+house+63.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodTEY6TMNEBTaJofsBL1V__qQ5vuyK-y5DpzyHZFqsB-2iAr8lrz_zzSgtapUS0FDCD-wLHP-N6Uz9GMH0H85t4e_MkOyyNYdW4XwtI_X1OUk0o1zhrqYpWDl-T-uZxJ7tOggyg/s320/prescott+house+63.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq6KSB-9uv-VWMjjyN7k_bt_RSLP-_nV0UkBAuiTQ4gW3EbTlgf6lwizclmtiIDDx_kEeQlfqHeZxFooyLGxoP2JESXQ99qPzmM7AJ4ffga-sZJSVBAXfnSwYEHjpEfV9OrF5_A/s1280/prescott+house+64.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq6KSB-9uv-VWMjjyN7k_bt_RSLP-_nV0UkBAuiTQ4gW3EbTlgf6lwizclmtiIDDx_kEeQlfqHeZxFooyLGxoP2JESXQ99qPzmM7AJ4ffga-sZJSVBAXfnSwYEHjpEfV9OrF5_A/s320/prescott+house+64.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-49199564878571355942021-07-16T08:14:00.000-07:002021-07-16T08:14:10.390-07:00A DIFFERENT KIND OF ADVENTURE<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We've talked about it off and on
for a long time, but we're moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Actually we already have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
let's get you up to speed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There have been discussions
between us about selling our house and moving somewhere out of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>. We' checked out the area around Carson City,
Nevada, but on a trip there in the winter the temperature was 7 degrees so we
crossed it off our list. We were
considering <st1:state w:st="on">Nevada</st1:state> because there is no income tax, but we ruled out <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city></st1:place> because of the summer
heat.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We wanted somewhere that was in a
day's drive of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Diego</st1:place></st1:city>
because that's where family is. So the
next best was <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:state>. Not <st1:city w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:city>,
for the same reason as <st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city>, so we chose <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Prescott</st1:place></st1:city>. Located about 1-1/2 hours north of Phoenix is
sits at 5400 feet, is big enough with a population 0f 43,000. With the addition of neighboring <st1:placename w:st="on">Prescott</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype>
and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Chino</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>, the tri-city area has a tad over
100,000, big enough to offer all the necessary services, like a medical center,
recreational opportunities, and Trader Joe's.
We made several trips to check out the neighborhoods and get the lay of
the land. We got a little concerned one
trip when it snowed about a foot overnight.
All the locals told us that was unusual.
We really liked what we saw in <st1:city w:st="on">Prescott</st1:city>
(pronounced Preskit), so <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Prescott</st1:place></st1:city>
was it. We were lucky in that we know
some ex-Californians who live in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Prescott</st1:place></st1:city>
and their input was essential in helping us choose our new home town. To top it off, Prescott's motto is, Everybody's Home Town.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLCMCed65_J68FoLNYPw-AjqTCDLNxemHYfUsA7QzovJY5lak8naZ_3DG6tlW-dVGJYshFo5z0SZH-q1qOXye4GQ8RR6NSU4K_3gBbd57ZGxYr3yVF0LiYF6WRBYUWCeHB7DD6w/s550/historic-court-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLCMCed65_J68FoLNYPw-AjqTCDLNxemHYfUsA7QzovJY5lak8naZ_3DG6tlW-dVGJYshFo5z0SZH-q1qOXye4GQ8RR6NSU4K_3gBbd57ZGxYr3yVF0LiYF6WRBYUWCeHB7DD6w/s320/historic-court-house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THE COURTHOUSE</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0o2My-k-s56m0pEyuT8wCwW-cCd_jcqeDTN_rZcICznDs4CUgTvD9wRMwKU_TlL7kko-WtKwbhlUQDulDffTEctpinm9CgC5zF8G2jDTlAhKJdU1lUwyUuDpFbbOMwf5jcKZHqw/s550/prescott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0o2My-k-s56m0pEyuT8wCwW-cCd_jcqeDTN_rZcICznDs4CUgTvD9wRMwKU_TlL7kko-WtKwbhlUQDulDffTEctpinm9CgC5zF8G2jDTlAhKJdU1lUwyUuDpFbbOMwf5jcKZHqw/s320/prescott.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DOWNTOWN</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M969NQPGSNBZTCFgQN0CnKtEMkEvTDqHX0Mg4BzMvcyWNe-HiDAM1A4__CN72x6gnxOww44-D1eu7pcfhKcYFrtU7YP2CIJmrt43B3ynNWW-dn4Puu6rgoC3GLZJ1bZgQFtTfg/s790/prescottaz-1400ca7032a01181cdfba48284680226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="790" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M969NQPGSNBZTCFgQN0CnKtEMkEvTDqHX0Mg4BzMvcyWNe-HiDAM1A4__CN72x6gnxOww44-D1eu7pcfhKcYFrtU7YP2CIJmrt43B3ynNWW-dn4Puu6rgoC3GLZJ1bZgQFtTfg/s320/prescottaz-1400ca7032a01181cdfba48284680226.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THE LAKES</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We were still waffling, but with
Covid we couldn't do anything else, so it became a good time to move. What really made us take the leap was the
amount of money we could get for our home.
It became a no brainer. So the
house went on the market and within two weeks we had a buyer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> I</o:p>'ve been asked by friends how
will I feel about leaving a house I built with my own hands and lived in for
the past 47 year. On top of that, I've
lived on the same property almost my entire life, having been in the family
since the late 1930's. It turned out not
to be a problem. Before making the
decision I felt there might be some emotional attachment, but I haven't
experienced that. The house was old and
needed work, the private road to access the house is in bad shape and was about
to cost a bunch of money. Cathie also was ready to move.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p>But the main motivation for
moving was, it's <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>. Oh sure, nice weather, great beaches, but the
nut cases in the State Capitol and elsewhere in government have made living
there much more expensive. High personal
income tax, gas tax, regulations that only add to the cost of living, failure
to arrest and prosecute criminals, homeless population out of control, making
the state a Sanctuary State and protection of illegal aliens, the list goes on and on. So we took advantage of the high costs and
sold our house for and inflated price.
Of course <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>
still has us in it's grip as we have to pay Capitol Gain Tax on the profit from
the house, which is a sizeable amount given that in 1975 the house only cost
$28,000 to build. It wasn't so much that
we wanted to move to <st1:state w:st="on">Arizona</st1:state> with it's 4.5%
income tax, soon to be 2.5%, but that we wanted out of The People's <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Republic</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">California</st1:placename></st1:place>. So now, we are homeless. Living in the RV till such time as we find a
home we can both agree upon and that we can afford.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">That's what we're doing now,
looking for a home. Marianna, our
realtor and a long time resident of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Prescott</st1:place></st1:city>,
has been looking for our forever home and has been finding possibilities. Currently the available for sale home
inventory is low and most homes sell very quickly. I have noticed, that in the past month houses
are taking a little longer to sell, which is good for us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p>So we will continue our search
and when we are not looking a houses we will explore <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Prescott</st1:place></st1:city> and the surrounding area.</p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31031049.post-48599620444471577372021-02-06T19:40:00.004-08:002021-02-06T19:41:05.086-08:00WE BOUGHT AN OFF ROAD TRAILER<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_J944Rl1uc-RAdotYxYRCzCU_1_qwhczZ9X4KrrGtiXH3hG46F7fHV8G8nu7-5fl-GbRY6xRJ5E_bQi8iCNxYuUC3kcpUxQA8YQaJPQQCLBcTwR7r4_nQMlo9nIHfBK2P8Dvzw/s2048/IMG_5578.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_J944Rl1uc-RAdotYxYRCzCU_1_qwhczZ9X4KrrGtiXH3hG46F7fHV8G8nu7-5fl-GbRY6xRJ5E_bQi8iCNxYuUC3kcpUxQA8YQaJPQQCLBcTwR7r4_nQMlo9nIHfBK2P8Dvzw/w378-h278/IMG_5578.JPG" width="378" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> As some of you may remember, we've been trying out our iKamper Roof Top Tent and our first trip didn't go so well. Just not enough room for all the stuff we take in just the 4-runner. So to solve the problem and to let Cathie bring whatever she want's, we decided to buy a small off road trailer. We picked it up in Salt Lake City a couple of weeks ago and it was time for it's maiden voyage. It's mostly just to carry stuff and doesn't have any amenities like some if the high end trailers out there. But with the tent of top of the trail and not the car, it allows us to set up came and go exploring in the car.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsCkLiXUaZqxjJjdXtoHVepRN0X3j8rQPdbVvVD9xUaDuBhunv-DL6gGf8hk16EXdQmVp3xyQFNPovZypnDincWq6cKjvrJPWviHizYL21EqQ-oGHFZCaeHulNCtHAyQfN4CDQA/s2048/IMG_5581.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsCkLiXUaZqxjJjdXtoHVepRN0X3j8rQPdbVvVD9xUaDuBhunv-DL6gGf8hk16EXdQmVp3xyQFNPovZypnDincWq6cKjvrJPWviHizYL21EqQ-oGHFZCaeHulNCtHAyQfN4CDQA/w360-h240/IMG_5581.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So for the first test run we headed to Arizona and the Kofa Wildlife Refuge. This allows us to get off the pavement for some easy 4-WD and to see how the trailer behaves in rough terrain. It did just fine and followed along nicely. The roof top tent comes with a room addition of sorts that encloses the tent opening making a large area to get out of the elements.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_0CjiKDxjgRQ4MrjTUSdzZ50I6o_ZKOhRazuO7MtiZ45mGoknIUYFeBPlUF5Z6ecHl3qP_vFHP1gQ9l6-i_j9MAD0pZa_Kq_Kpb1JKW91nQR7tdLf6Z8wuCbJgMMAtn1ui063w/s2048/IMG_5589.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_0CjiKDxjgRQ4MrjTUSdzZ50I6o_ZKOhRazuO7MtiZ45mGoknIUYFeBPlUF5Z6ecHl3qP_vFHP1gQ9l6-i_j9MAD0pZa_Kq_Kpb1JKW91nQR7tdLf6Z8wuCbJgMMAtn1ui063w/w362-h240/IMG_5589.JPG" width="362" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">After a good nights sleep we headed back into California and traversed the Bradshaw Trail, a old wagon freight road from the Colorado River to the Salton Sea. 70 miles in length on a mostly good dirt road. We set up camp at the mouth of Red Canyon and explored from there. Red Canyon is really beautiful and made the trip. Most of the rest of the scenery on the Trail was nothing to write home about. Anyway it was a successful trial run, with the exception of a flat tire on the 4-runner. Check out the YouTube video.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6br_UGL-O8xTFhSnW5LegoDN1vgskuItNcrEfNrMxVapn-6Hp7vxaq1g-qKISRiIF9BOjBI5YEQltcca0C-CpZC5hIV7b7_imd7Bodl9SxXQ-uhncmgn65w7hBh-7MAMRgfrIEQ/s2048/IMG_5612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6br_UGL-O8xTFhSnW5LegoDN1vgskuItNcrEfNrMxVapn-6Hp7vxaq1g-qKISRiIF9BOjBI5YEQltcca0C-CpZC5hIV7b7_imd7Bodl9SxXQ-uhncmgn65w7hBh-7MAMRgfrIEQ/w369-h240/IMG_5612.JPG" width="369" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquiDN89R7U-EsdR0RINGbBiyK3UkJwD0c_GSBEEo-RU4CMslxVUs3_ik1ZJYDQWGkDc3xthgriYQa4eFeE3Z_h5HL3CxF5vK8wAbHWV5HfTINj4j86Q4kMa35YLRb0mwjXE_gcw/s2048/IMG_5619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquiDN89R7U-EsdR0RINGbBiyK3UkJwD0c_GSBEEo-RU4CMslxVUs3_ik1ZJYDQWGkDc3xthgriYQa4eFeE3Z_h5HL3CxF5vK8wAbHWV5HfTINj4j86Q4kMa35YLRb0mwjXE_gcw/w364-h240/IMG_5619.JPG" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WtRN1AoJnYg" width="358" youtube-src-id="WtRN1AoJnYg"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Dana Gassawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918135446614033541noreply@blogger.com0