10-10-08 Friday (Jim Kicks the Dog)

It's Grand Canyon Journey Day!

We got up at about 7 but with all we had to do, I don't think we hit the road until about 11am. One of the stops being a truck wash center. Jim and I both washed the RV. It was a long bay with above hoses on each end. Of course, I managed to just about rip off the gutter extension with the overhead hose. We left it dangling figuring if it survives, it survives.

As we drove US64 West through the EXTENSIVE Navajo Indian Reservation, it was very windy. We saw our first tumbleweed cross the road. It was small but still much larger than the cat hair tumbleweeds we used to get at the house. It was so windy, there were a few times I thought we'd get blown off the road. It was awful!

We crossed the state line into Arizona to see the Four Corners National Monument. It was $3.00 a person to get to the damn thing. As you probably know, I usually keep the blog entries pretty clean, but I can't find a better descriptive word to sum up the Four Corners National Monument with, other than SHITHOLE. Harsh, you say? Take a look at the slide show and decide for yourself. The only nice thing was the Four Corners Monument itself. I think it needs to become a National Parks run operation. There was a stray dog under the stairway to the overlook. He approached Dasher and then growled. Jim yelled at it, but it persisted with its approach toward Dasher. Jim kicked it, fairly lightly in the head, it backed down.



Perhaps you noticed I have this blog post classified as a MISadventure. Perhaps you can take a look on yesterday's blog entry at Ms. Pearl's comments. Let me see if I can extract part of her comment.... ah yes, here it is:

Be careful driving, and walking and backing up and parking. I can't wait to hear
the Grand Canyon installment of your Great Mis-adventures.

What happened? Well, as know, it was windy. Very windy. The patio awning ripped off the side of the RV, gouged a hole into the RV wall which exposed the insulation. The flying awning also managed to tear the rear side awning as well. The patio awning then landed in the middle of the highway! Oh yes. Jim had to go drag it off to the side of the road. Here's the "insurance" photos to prove it. So Pearl, please issue your check for $500 (deductible) payable to us, and please get Mike to include my cell phone reimbursement check that I'm still waiting for.

I'm sure the awning replacement and RV bodywork, will back for another misadventure. Stayed tuned!

McDonald's sounded like a good stop for a 3pm lunch, especially since 90% of the drive seemed to have been unpopulated areas. We went inside, ordered and waited along with a bunch of other people at the world's slowest McDonalds. As we ate lunch we were able to find some humor in the awning situation. At one point, I joked with Jim and he replied, "Shut up before someone drops an awning on you". He also created a new song title "I Left My Awning in Arizona" to the tune of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco".

The rest of the drive, it seemed like the wind was even stronger. I think it was after the other little awnings. When we stopped for a smoke, aside from the blowing sand blinding me, the entire RV swayed as if we were driving. I told Jim that if this how the campground will be too, we'll see the Grand Canyon and go. I don't think my contacts can handle anymore sand. I'm not winking at you, there's something in my eye.

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair. OK, it wasn't dark and I don't have hair. BUT on this road, closer to Grand Canyon was a sign that read "FRESH OIL". The road look like it had been sealed, showing only bumps where the yellow and white lines were painted. So is that just a term for resealing or do they put some sort of oil on it? While it did cover several miles, it didn't extend to the entire road. Maybe they weren't finished. Anyone know what it was and why?

We arrived to the campground and found that we have cell phone service. YAY. I do want to mention that we are now 3 hours behind. (Most of Arizona does not observe Day Light Savings time.)

We knew coming here that the RV park here gets it's water trucked in and therefore they don't permit washing vehicles or pets. When we arrived the handout says the water is to supply guests with drinking water only. Water is limited and not to bathe persons, pets, clothing, vehicles. Well, they can kiss my ass. We wouldn't be staying here if I knew I had to walk to the showers AND deposit coins for it's use. Buy more water then and raise the park rates instead of hiding the facts. I hope that somehow, that's not what they meant. Here's an exciting video of the water pressure.

After setup, we went a couple of miles to a lodge for dinner. It was OK. Originally we were going to cook but the day took longer than expected and at this point I didn't care to cook.




We love you Pearl.