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2009  45th National Mardi Gras Rally    Feb. 18 - 25 ,2009

             @ the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena, in the heart of New Orleans

       Followed by Ancient Rock Art & Death Valley, Calf. DXpedition till April 27th

 

     

    

       

     

          

 

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Day 1   Saturday February 14, 2009 

               ...Hook up the & head for Rend Lake State Park in Southern Illinois

Our morning Hike produces My New Walking Stick.  A stick strong enough to Defend against Wild Dogs, Bob Cats & Coyotes etc. for when we get to No Country for Old Men.  It is a nice piece of Oak Tree Limb, 6 1/2 foot tall & almost 2 inches in diameter that had fallen from the winter snows that I will perfect over time.  Scrape the Bark, treat w/ Linseed Oil & find a leather hand strap is in the plans.

   

Day 2    Graceland RV Park & watching Elvis on the Old TV in the Lobby of the Graceland Hotel waiting for the shuttle to Beale Street

   

                  Historic Sun Studio Tour, Memphis Tenn.

  cutting a 45 rpm Hit Single

                    in The Sun Records Historic Record Studio

...Our new hit single will top the charts with one set back.  It is a 45 rpm record.  Not to many people have turn tables any more and doing a road tour will be an issue in that I get tired around 7pm and can only do Sunday Afternoon gigs.  Sun Record Studio was very cool and followed up with a Blues Club Crawl on Memphis’s Beile Street.  We topped the night off with a Memphis Bar B Q and caught the last shuttle back to Graceland.

Blues Club Crawl on  Beale Street,  Memphis Tennessee

                              ...Heading down the road

Day 3   Swinging Bridge RV Park Jackson, Mississippi

 

Day 4   Fairview-Riverside State Park  ...on Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans we are just across the Lake from the French Quarter

 

  Day 5 2009 45th National Mardi Gras Rally    Feb. 18 - 25 ,2009

                 @ the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena, in the heart of New Orleans

                  Laissez Bon Temp Rouler!! (Let the Good Times Roll!)

         

                 ...we pull into the Rally one day early arrival to get the scoop on the what that lay ahead

  during the Happy Hour Kathleen jumps in with the Gals working on some food for the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball on Sunday

  our Rally at the University of New Orleans arena

 

                Day 6  Feb. 19       ...we have from free time from the Rally and head to the French Quarter and some Jimmy Buffet

  

                 We get bussed downtown to view our 1st three parades in reserved seating

Day 7  Feb. 20

     ...Off to the French Quarter &the New Orleans School of Culinary for Cajun Cook'n class & the 300 year history of New Orleans

  

      Reserved seating at the Parades in downtown Ne Orleans

before street lights the Parades were lit by Kerosene Torches that often drips on the carriers who would carry the torches for tips

                        it is obviously a prestigious thing to be a Knight in these Parades

    this Parade is very Cryptic w/ Krewe members of these Secret Societies keeping their identity a Secret

  Brilliant colors on the floats

  Krewe's are the Secret Societies

          that run the Mardi Gras Parades at their own expense each member paying $600 to thousands of dollars a year to belong

 Day 8     Mississippi River Boat Lunch Cruise aboard the Natchez that leaves from the French Quarter   

                         ...Kathleen needs her Benneat eh the Famous Cafe Du Monde

     Mississippi River lunch Cruise aboard the Natchez

     after the cruise a bar crawl on Bourbon Street & catch a bit of the Marquette / Georgetown Basketball game

           City Park evening Parade    ...truly a family affair

    kids a& families rule this parade

               Northern Illinois Airstreamers Mike, a Chicago St. Rita Graduate & his wife Rita Love'n it

             as evening sets in things gear up

    

      City Park Parades are all Families

Lake Pontchartrain

Day 9  Sunday Mass at the Newman Center University of New Orleans

                      ...Only in New Orleans a 800 year old Black Jesus from Africa in the Campus Chapel, very cool

      Mardi Gras World w/ lunch to see how they make the floats

   Basin Street Museum Tour & visit w/ Marie Lavewu the Voo Doo Queen across the street

  doing Huge Ass Beers on Bourbon Street w/ John & Marilyn whom we were on the Baja Caravan with

       this man was Soooooo Bluuuuuuu it radiated out onto Bourbon Street featuring the Hits "Slap Your Ass" & "Stinky Legs"

      followed by more Huge Ass Beers

Mardi Gras Ball on the basketball court of University New Orleans, 200 yards from our Airstream

Open Bar, music and dinner for 3 hours    ...I requested Bourbon Streets "Slap Your Ass" but the DJ had other ideas for this Semi Formal Costume Ball

 Can't have any more fun than this   ...unless you head w/ Mike to Bourbon Street &see the sun come up as he did

Airstream  Rally Royal Court

Day 10   Feb. 23,2009   kick off he day w/ the World War 2 Museum

Some pleasant down time in that we have been going hard for several days now arriving back at the Airstream well after 1am

  we get bussed a mile or so over to the Spanish Plaza on the Mississippi River in preparation of King Rex arriving by Coast Guard Cutter to officially kickoff Mardi Gras we pass about 20 Limos in front of the convention center waiting for the Krewe of Orpheus having a black tie affair.

          we check out where we need to be and Hoof it to Bourbon Street for Some Huge Ass Beers

     

 

work our way over to Sing Sing Blues Bar on Bourbon Street for some more of the interesting Blues songs

                                                                            "Slap Your Ass" & "Stinky Legs"

 

Time for King Rex to arrive and we head back to Spanish Plaza & await Rex the King of Mardi Gras     ...w/ a very cool Blues band playing

     ... this is a family affair and the audience is full of young families with the young children.  A Gal took her shirt off up front the band and the band told her to put it back on and go to Bourbon street.  Anything goes on Bourbon street but all the Parades of Mardi Gras & we have been to maybe 10 plus or so our all family oriented.  Families bring there food, there coolers and stay for the day All their family and friends our members of Krewes in the Parades and everyone seems to know somebody marching.

               Spanish Plaza is Rock'n

 the Crowd gives it up for King REX who meets w/ King Zulu for Zulu's 100 year anniversary        ...it is apparent that in days of old this would never have happened

we have a good location.  Right on the fountains and a great view of the stage.  We are surrounded by really nice families with young children & I have a beer man around 30 feet away w/ $3 dollar beers.     ..Life is good.  Real Good.

    

               King Rex Finishes with a tremendous Fireworks display

Day 11       on the bus at 8am for the Zulu Parade w/ the Mayor of New Orleans, followed by Rex Parade and then the Last man stand'n tour on Bourbon Street

            ...we have outstanding reserved seats for the Fat Tuesdays Parades starting at 8am

                           featuring   ZULU & REX

Rex is the Old White guard of the City.  King Zulu is the obvious favorite of Mayor Nagen Favorite

this is the 100 year anniversary of ZULU, the Black Krewe &  by far the Best of all the parades we seen.  It helped to have a reserved seat  right in front of Mayor Nagen who was the Master of Ceremonies &d introduced the floats and certainly showed his special LOVE for everyone of ZULU.  The King of Zulu and King Rest had a toast with the Mayor Nagen.

    

    Mayor Nagen arrives as a Gladiator in the Zulu Parade to join his wife at the podium .  The crowd is packed with very nice Black Families with their children who come for the day for a great time and they are not disappointed.  Zulu, the best of Parades in my book

As Mayor Nagen repeated over & over    "It's All Good in New Orleans, we will take the stimulus package from President Obama and use it to Party here in New Orleans, It's All Good"

            & he is Happy & Proud that this Mardi Gras ranks w/ those of Pre Katrina Hurricane

King Zulu arrives for his Traditional Toast w/ the Mayor

                            

  Vince & Lonny who put this Airstream Rally on.  They were raised here.  Live here.  They love this town and its people & it shows.

 When someone tells you they would never go to Mardi Gras.  Those people are misinformed.

              ...  As Vince and Lonnie taught us, it is about Family

Nice Melons

          "It's All Good at Mardi Gras"

A special throw given out by Zulu is the traditional coconut.  But they need to be handed to the crowd and are decorated and dated.  A special gift from Zulu.

    Airstreamers Marilyn is given a Coconut from her new friend

      Zulu Parade Ends and Rex begins

       ...here come the United States Marines         ...3 Knights from the Krewe of Rex

   around 2pm and with the end of the Rex parade, we hoof it to Bourbon street.

  We walk with the end of the Rex parade walk right by the location of the 7 people being shot including a one year old child on St. Charles street about 2 blocks from our reserved seats with the Mayor Nagen.  It must of happened just after we walked by because everything was normal as we passed.  This part of the parade was also all young families with many children.

"Whom every would fire into this nice crowd is truly an Animal & Needs the helping hand of a Dedicated Violent Crimes Detective without delay to assure Permanent Residence in a Appropriate Fine Facility"

        Beads for Boobs on Bourbon Street....

Bourbon Street

Pat O'Brien's ...Home of the Hurricane          ...Kathleen will have 2 Hurricanes please

 

Pat O'Brien's is in the middle of Bourbon Street but in a protected Private Courtyard   

                             ...nice place to get away from the Crazies, but not completely away

                                                                                                    show'n off the Zulu's

                                           Photo Op w/ Austin Powers & Ivana    ...I asked if she was Alota & was quickly corrected "Oh no, I'm Ivana"

      

               as things pick up we step  back onto Bourbon Street

 

 Early evening & 10 piece band or so works Bourbon Street       ...as the Sun Sets the mood of the crowd is changing, time to leave

 We Flag down a Cab & get caught in heavy traffic in the Hood just n/o of Bourbon Street, a nice couple our age pleads with us to share our Cab in that they just fled Bourbon street w/ their cooler on wheels & are afraid of this neighborhood.  Like us they have been at the Parades all day.  They tell of Fleeing Bourbon Street as a Huge Riot broke out w/ many people fighting & Police moving in mass.  Looks like we left Bourbon Street just in time.  Turns out they live not far from our Airstream.  They share their beers as we sit in traffic for some time and eventually make it back to the Airstream.  Nice People who had lost their home to Katrina but did have insurance and ended up with a nicer home, unlike many of New Orleans who lost everything.

So just in a few hours we just miss the shooting of 7 people @ the End of the Rex Parade & now just miss the Riot on Bourbon Street.

Great week & the fact is we did not actually see any violence & only observed hundreds of thousands of young families enjoying themselves.

We settle into the Airstream Trailer for a moment when we get a knock on the trailer.  Time for some camp fire folk music w/ our friends from Austin, Texas

          As New Orleans Mayor Nagen said    "it's all good"

                   this wonderful City will call us back   we will wake up to Ash Wednesday

by our Airstream is this strange looking structure.

It was the sight of Pope John Paul II outdoor mass a few years ago when over a million people packed this area for the Mass.

Day 12   Feb. 25,2009        Ash Wednesday & time to say good bye to New Orleans and hit the road

This was a Fantastic time

 ...what we learned / reminded of was that Bourbon Street is Fun,

 ...But Mardi Gras is a Roman Catholic Church Celebration to prepare for Lent that starts on the Epiphany January 6th & ends midnight on Fat Tuesday with the beginning of Ash Wednesday & truly a Family affair built on Community & Civic involvement centered on many Parades & Black Tie Balls scattered through out New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast.

 Mardi Gras is complete w/ noon Ash Wednesday Ashes @ the Cathedral in Houma, Louisiana

Very Sad News Received not long after heading down the road:

Vince & Lonny who put this Airstream Rally Pictured above enjoying themselves as they were through out the entire Mardi Gras Rally.  Vince was raised here in New Orleans & Lonny a bit south of town.  Vince pointed out how he attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.  They Live here.  They love this town and its people & it showed in everything they did.  They made us understand among other things that Mardi Gras was a Family affair for young families & a Roman Catholic Holiday that starts on the Epiphany, January 6 & ends midnight on Fat Tuesday w/ Ash Wednesday & the beginning of lent.

Since we retired in 2001 we have attended 23 Airstream Rallies & Caravans.  All Fun, Some Great, some not so great.  We have learned that not all but some Caravan Leaders & people who run Rallies do it for personal profit to supplement their retirement & those people can't help but show that it is a business for them.

 Vince & Lonny on the other hand put on this Rally for one reason.  Because Vince & Lonny loved New Orleans, Loved this town & they wanted us to Love their town.

Shortly after the Mardi Gras we received an email that Vince had a Heart Attack & went on to another world.  Kathleen & I are Truly Saddened with the loss of this very wonderful man who made everyone he came in contact with feel important & he Loved his Airstreams.  Someone like Vince can not be replaced.  Kathleen & I wish the Best for Lonny in that they were quite a Team.  They played off each other.  Laughed at each others jokes.  Covered for each other so that what they did all day, Every day was Quality Time.

                                                 ...Like I said, Very Sad Sad News 

 

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         Ash Wednesday & Craw Fish Special @ Boudreau & Thibodeau Cajun Cook'n

                      w/ some raw oysters & the sampler appetizer

Day  13   Feb. 26,2009              Lake Fausse Pointe State Park in the Heart of Cajun Country, Gators, Cottonmouth Snakes

   Note: On Day 2 of this trip at Rend Lake State Park,  Illinois        I started a new walking stick.

   a piece of Oak limb that fell because from the winter snows.  It was partially dried not diseased or rotting.    Much Larger, Heavier, should work well in the Southwest w/ Snakes, Coyotes, Bobcats, Wolves, Mountain Lions not to mention getting this wide body down the mountain trail.

                    ...Kathleen's watching for Gators    ...We are in the heart of Cajun Country about 150 miles s/w of New Orleans

 

                 

        Mud on Your Boots  ...or lack there of, will tell where you have been

 

     Avery Island & the Tabasco Factory Tour

 Stop for some Catfish & Crab Cakes @ Ponches     ...we were told we could camp here but the campground is several miles away so we will move on down the road     ...some tips are good, others not so good  although the Funky atmosphere & the food was good.

   

Day 14        flop for the night @ Hidden Ponds RV park, Sulphur, La. 

      head 25 miles or so into the Salt flats to the Gulf of Mexico

 this town was completely washed away by the last Hurricane that hit Galveston, new Lake Homes are popping up all over.

You can Boon Dock on the Beach but a cold front is moving in and it is 60 degrees w/ 30 MPH winds & not a beach day so we will move on down the road

Day 15   Feb. 28,2009   Stephen F. Austin State Park on the Brazos River w/o Houston

         ...Hiking the Brazos River           ...a cold front set in yesterday only a high of 60 today

Day 16    start w/ 9:30 mass at Immaculate Conception & zip back to Camp to watch the Marquette / Louisville basketball game on CBS  & Kathleen's home made pizza.

Day 17   March 2, 2009     Lockhart Texas & Smithy's Bar BQ for lunch    ...you start by the smokers & order your assorted meats by the lbs.

head for the luxurious dining room to order your sides of slaw & baked beans    ...no silverware or plates or sauce @ Smithy's    ...we chose some beef brisket, port ribs and Smithy's home made sausage

After lunch an ice cream cone is $1 to cleanse your pallet    unlike Chicago Texan don't use sauce, they flavor their meats by smoking it.

...Head for the Hill Country of Texas & Blanco State Park walking distance from historic Blanco Texas

Day 17 & 18   March 3, 2009     Branco State Park Branco , Texas

  during the summer this Dam is a swimming & tubing area in the river

         

  Mov'n Down the Road

 

Fredericksburg, Texas in the Hill County of Texas   ...we stopped & walked around Historic Fredericksburg & are disappointed.  The town is beautiful but it is obvious that the tour companies have bought up the town and turned it into a pretend German town full of People being dragged around on tour buses.  Surprised a Cruise ship isn't parked on the mountain.  Not even worth a Pic.  It is a German Town w/ no Beer as in no Beer Hall.  Not buying German town w/ no Beer unless this is a Mennonite town.  Then it would make sense.

  

       Day 19 - 21   March 4 -6, 2009     one of my favorite Cowboy Towns Bandera , Texas

                                               Time to    "COWBOY UP"

        another full hook ups day, we need to get out in the Boon Docks                   ...down town Bandera

  

...11th street Cowboy Bar, on Wednesdays bring your own steak, $4 for fix'n, $2.50 beers and Cowboy Band starts at 6pm

       

Inside 11th St. Bar            ...El Jacalito, best Funky Breakfast Joint in town, 4 tables inside & no one is in a hurry

               ...Cowboy Up w/ a 10 XXXXXXXXXXXX Stetson Cover, Hats don't Cover your head, Covers do

       Silver Dollar Saloon down in the basement, very Funky Cowboy Bar

 

Cowboy Monument @ the Bandera Courthouse Bandera was a trail head for the Chisholm Trail

                                        ...Knights of Columbus Fish Fry @ St. Stanislaus tonight

       Heading towards Hondo Texas and Kathleen works on some mid morning Beef Jerky

 in the heart of No Country for Old Men

Day 22 - 25   March 27, 2009     Amistad Dam National Recreational Area, Texas

    It has been a great trip but we are tired of Towns & RV Parks

     ...Finally Boon Docking 4 days @ a boat ramp in the back waters of Amistatd Dam on the Rio Grand River W/O Del Rio, Texas

 

                        End of the Day in a great relaxing camp

Day 26     March 11 - 15, 2009

Head for Seminole Canyon on the Mexican Border at the Pecos River, Texas

We our meeting up w/ Airstreamer Bob from Georgetown, (Austin) Texas & his friends. We met Bob @ the Mardi Gras Rally.  Bob, a Vietnam Veteran who plays a great camp fire box guitar is among other things a guide for The Rock Art Foundation & has invited us to join his group in a private hiking tour of private lands containing Rock Art not open to the public.  Including the White Shaman & "Tanaho" Sacred Water Hole.  He promises it will be spectacular.

                    http://www.rockart.org/

We our Greeted w/ a cold front coming from Canada that reaches all the way to Mexico City w/ wind and sleet 100 miles to the n/o us.  We will see what morning brings as the rest of the Rock Art Group assembles here on the Mexican Boarder.

            The Shaman of Seminole Canyon               View from the overhang that contains ancient Pictographs

                               ...a break in the clouds allows a Hike into Seminole Canyon 

 

our friend & Rock Art Foundation Guide Bob Holtz

  

             Judge Roy Beans Jersey Lilly in Downtown Langtry, Texas                                 ...The Rules are Clear 

 Mud on Your Boots

...or lack there of, will tell where you have been     ...view of the Rio Grand River from Langtry, Texas

                                                                                                    ...To the left is Mexico, the right USA

pre-dawn Percolated Coffee & viewing the pics from the day before

 

6 mile round trip Hike to Panther Cave Overlook        ...this afternoon we will take a boat to explore Panther Cave

             ...looking north up Seminole Canyon as it meets the Rio Grand     ....Ocotillo in bloom from the rain the last 3 days

Rio Grand River just s/o the Panther Cave Overlook

 

  Meet w/ our boat Captain for a ride down the Pecos River, around the bend onto the Rio Grand River for some Cave explorations

               ... the boat dock has some issues from the unusually high waters of the Rio Grande River

  the Caves are full of Rock Art

     Panther Cave

  The Panther of Panther Cave

   view from Panther Cave shows the look out we hiked to this morning

O

  Below the Pecos River Bridge                       ...The cave of the White Shaman that we will Explore tomorrow

Day 30  March 14, 2009     ...entering the White Shaman Preserve  & the Cave of the White Shaman & "Tanaho" Sacred Water Hole

a reconstruction of the people that lived here 5K years ago

                               Bob discussing replicas of ancient dwellings

            Hike to the White Shaman on the Pecos River

Since retirement in 2001, Kathleen & I have observed, researched & sought after Rock Art locations in North America travelling to many Ancient sites of Art of all kinds.  In viewing this this Rock Art, at first look, the size is not significant.  It is the content that makes this Rock Art Very Special.

Bob explains the Good vs. Evil Theory of the White Shaman & the Life Ever after beliefs of these ancient people.   ...

   a White Shaman Theory:

 To the left is the White Shaman w/ a spear running threw him. Among other things his family / people lay prostrate next to him saddened w/ the death.      ...To the far right is a upside down Dark Shawmen also w/ a spear running threw him.  This Dark Shaman has one black eye ball.  The area around this Dark Shaman is filled w/ the same Dark eye balls floating in the air.    ...The thought is the GOOD White Shaman is missed by his People after death.  ...The EVIL Dark Shaman is not missed & is doomed to float in Space forever w/ the floating Eye Balls (spirits).        ...The Magic of the White Shaman is these 5k year old Ancient people new the Power of Good vs. Evil.

The Aztec Peoples of Mexico are believed to be the descendants of these Naked Ancient people who made this Rock Art.  The Aztec's believe that they came from Naked People from the North who came out of a hole in the earth.

          ...Certainly this Rock Art is open to different interpretation but the above Theory makes sense.

T Looking out of the White Shaman Cave @ the Pecos River Bridge on the Mexican Boarder then Hike out of the canyon

    Climb down to the Pecos River to experience the  "Tanaho" Sacred Water Hole

 

 Exploring the  "Tanaho" Sacred Water Hole              ...how Cool is this

 

         Mud on Your Boots   ...or lack there of, will tell where you have been

                                      & who was there 5 thousand years before you

                       Kathleen Climbs the Rope out of the "Tanaho"

a warm front approaches as Sun shines & warm weather returns to the Pecos River Country

Day 31  March 15, 2009

 Start the Push for Pahrump, Nevada          ...head north through Ft. Stockton, Pecos,  Orla,  Texas

             climbing into the 8,749 foot Guadalupe Mountains N.P.

 Sunrise as gentle warm breeze full of desert Mountain smells fill the air

Decision Time?   Heading west from Artesa, New Mexico.  As they say south of the Border, No Prablemo

 Day 32  March 16, 2009                ...our Back to Nature / Don't Play Well w/ Others Style Camping has just improved

          ...we are Dry Camping just outside the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, tomorrows adventure

  I hike the bluff above our camp w/ Martha, the steep loose Rock was giving way as Martha attempted to crest the bluff, she scrambled backward  about 5 feet on a wall down & decided that this was high enough. 

 

Day 32  March 16, 2009    Mescalero Apache Indian reservation.  Being a follower of The Apache's & especially Chief Geronimo I was looking forward to visiting this Apache Reservation.  A big disappointment.  Only seen a couple Indians and they did not have the distinctive Apache look.

               Time to keep   Move'n Down the Road

      "Valley of Fire,"  in the BLM e/o Socorro New Mexico      ...not sure what this meant but when you see the ground covered w/ Molten Lava for as far as you can it is obvious that this was a "Valley of Fire"

  Socorro New Mexico in the Distance.  We will camp tonight in the National Forest Mountains beyond Socorro

   

  w/o Socorro, N.M. we leave the highway & BLM and take a mountain road into Water Canyon & find a warm beautiful place to spend the night.  There is about 15 primitive camp sites here but we will be hear by ourselves, not counting the Coyotes.

Day 34  March 18, 2009                ...Heading for Arizona boarder & visit the VLA      ...Very Large Array

  a Ham Radio Delight.  27 Antenna's each the size of a baseball diamond on 3 Y shaped arms mounted on railroad tracks so they can be adjusted to  different distances apart.  All hooked up in series so they act as one antenna that is capable of receiving radio waves in multiple dimensions from other Galaxies.

   

Turns out that I am not the only one interested in Antennas & Radio Frequencies in Wheaton, Illinois.  In 1937 Grote Reber built 37 foot diameter dish-shaped antenna in his backyard Wheaton home.  It was the largest of its kind at that time.  His work is given special attention here as a pioneer in the field.

About 20 miles into Arizona we pull off Highway 60 & enter the Apache National Forest.  A few miles down the National Forest road we encounter the usual Primitive Road Caution signs.

    & then decide on our perfect camp backed up the White Mountain & the Apache Indian Reservation .

   this land is posted w/ Wolf Warnings   ...you don't have to tell Martha, she only comes out of the Airstream when she has to

Just like Peter Pan

                        ...I take care of My Shadow Growing a Beer Can & Straw Stetson Cowboy Hat

                                                                                ...My clip on Air Horn to scare off Wolves etc.

        Camp'n on Open Range

                  ...my own cattle & I don't have to take care of them

                       ...pulling out 4WD of our Open Range National Forest Camp

Day 34  March 19, 2009                ...Heading for Flagstaff, Arizona

 

 We our now on Pacific Time & stop in Flagstaff, Arizona  for some Pops @ the Historic Hotel Weatherford Hotel Est. 1897

 Kaibab National Forest just n/o Williams, Arizona     ...LEAVE NO TRACE CAMP, no campers, no campground, just raw Nature

   We Be Hike'N  Kaibab National Forest           ...it's not Wilderness unless something out there can eat you

   

              Coyote Scat all around this carcas

 

                          ...the Raven Knows

My new 55 gallon fresh water drum & siphon worked fine in the Pecos River area days earlier  but issues developed siphoning so I adapted an extra DC trailer water pump & now it is perfected.  The pumps works fast, runs off my Solar  & is easily stored.

We Be Hike'N the Kaibab National Forest  (Kaibab is a Black Squirrel only found on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon)

              Good size print, possible Wolf                                                     large scat = Elk

   

      large print = Beer            Larger & Darker than the Coyote scat = Wolf

Last of the snow ...we are camped in the tree line across this meadow, no campers, no camp ground, no rules, LEAVE NO TRACE

Cold front approaches the Grand Canyon Area & Kaibab N.F. from the west w/ 55 MPH winds & 3 inches of snow starting @ 9am.  We will alter plans & head 50 south to the Cottonwood Valley to shelter the winds and keep the temps in the upper 60's in the morning.

 

 

Day 37 -38  March 22, 2009    Break Camp @ 08:30hrs just as predicted winds kick to 20mph on their way to 55mph & make it to one of our favorite Winter Safe Havens       ...Dead Horse State Park.  Clean, friendly, a good place to pick up supplies &always 15-20 degrees warmer than even a few miles away because of its low elevation.  For example Sedona just to the north but a much higher elevation is always much colder this time of year.

The Treat @ Dead Horse S.P. is the mining town of Jerome Straaaaaaight up the mountain that protects us from the wind to our west.  We bring a jacket, head up the mountain for some Pops & especially the Haunted Hamburger.  Best Haunted Burgers w/o the Mississippi.

...& the Great View is Free

                  . . . . . .

        Hook up & head up the mountain t Prescott, Arizona

...then head for Old Rt. 66 n/o I-40 w/o Williams, Arizona.  100 Miles or so of scenery, a couple neat old towns if your not in a hurry, but not much.  Rt. 66 leads us to Kingman, Arizona & the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.  We stop for a visit w/ Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheehan.  Tom was a Dupage County Sheriff's Police Detective w/ me when I was promoted to Detective in 1978.  Tom left our Office shortly after that for new adventures like so many Deputies of the time who got the 8 year itch & left.  Tom ended up a Deputy here in Kingman, Arizona, ran for Sheriff & is now on his 4th term as Sheriff.

Day 39  March 24, 2009    Camp on the Colorado River in the National Recreation Area @ Katherine Landing 5 miles n/o Bullhead City, Arizona.  Laughlin , Nevada is across the River.

Day 40  March 25, 2009    Oatman, Arizona                      ...Burro's every where, left over from when this area was a mining town

 

     down town Oatman

Oatman Hotel for some Pops

 1700hrs & time to find a place to sleep, not just a place but our best camp of the trip & they are getting hard to beat

...about 1 mile s/o Oatman we head into the BLM on this mining road up a Canyon.  Great Spot w/perfect view of the valley below.

 

Martha runs into this Teddy Bear Cholla that get imbedded in her leg

           Martha checks out her own Cholla Spine

                   time for dinner some pork chops as the Sun Sets

 

  We Be Hike'N  ...Morning brings a hike to the Tailings pile up the hill from a mine worked long ago.  These hills are full of Tailing which are the waste rocks taken from the mine shafts

 

                                                Time to enjoy the Desert Flowers

     

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.............

  Now this is a Old West Camp    ..Cowboy Hat, Guns, Beer, Pork Chops on the Grill, Great Weather, Great View, Surround w/ History of this Old Mining Area, Very Cool !

      "the Cost of this Camp, Priceless"

  every where is evidence that this probably was a mining camp  w/ steel cans, buckets & metal items thrown around.        ...This Steel Can before the days of pop tops & aluminum

      Heading out in the morning w/ 4WD

Day 41  March 26, 2009    Laughlin , Nevada

50 MPH winds kick up in the desert so we do 3 weeks worth of Laundry & do a do the Laughlin Casino Crawl & spend the night in a Casino Parking lot w/ hundreds of other RV's

Day 42 -44 March 27, 2009    Mohave Lake National Recreational Area on the Colorado River, Nevada

      Desert Winds have been blowing so we pick a camp up in the canyon only a short walk to Lake Mohave

         Lake Mead is the desert boating paradise

      We Be Hike'N     ...time to check out the Hills surrounding out Camp

 

       Not just Hike'N   but checking out the desert Animals & the Flowers in Bloom

  ...got a new Goofy Desert Hike'N Hat to go w/ my Hike'N Stick & Oatman Az. Suspenders

                                    ...Kathleen kicks back w/ some Crochet & a Pop @ the end of a day

 ...16:00hrs, & Found a AM Radio Station playing extra Cool Music, an A-Fuente Cigar, Cold Pop & my Raven came by to signal, life is Good

    Heading down The Joshua Tree Highway into California       

Day 45 March 30, 2009 Head for Tecopa Hot Springs & Shoshone Hot Springs, California

 

              08:00hrs Dip in the Hot Spring before we hit the road, air temps still a bit brisk

  stop @ the Opera House on the way to Death Valley

                                                                           Dropping down into Death Valley

Day 46 - 49 arrive March 31, 2009     Death Valley, California        ...elevation  -282 ft.

      

    

The Desert! Either you will love it or you will hate it.

If you hate it you will fly from it and never wish to

see its face again.  If you love it, it will hold you and

draw you as will no other land on earth.

                                                      ~Marshal South

Day 47   Ranger Hike up Gower Gulch               ...The canyon is dotted with Borax mines shafts from long ago

After the 2 1 /2  hour Ranger Hike we continue up Gower Gulch & check out some more Borax Mine shafts.

                             ...the afternoon sun if getting warm, perfect time to brake out the Goofy Hats

This Shaft is Dark, the Camera Flash makes it appear lit

  Hike'N  the Valley," Death Valley

        Mud on Your Boots    ...or lack there of, will tell where you have been

         long way down

Warm Spring Pool, no Chlorine needed

                   Every Day from 14:00 - 16:00hrs was our Hot Spring Pool Time

Day 48    Artist Drive Tour

         the Old 20 Mule Team Trail

  Zabriskie Point, the very top of Gower Gulch that we hike days earlier

 

   ...2V power from the F250 Truck runs the pump that transfers 55 gallons of water to the Airstream in minutes 

Day 49    Echo Canyon & some 4WD &  Hike'N  the Canyon

  

 

          Bad Water Basin, lowest point in North American, -280 below Sea level

                                      ...VFW Bluegrass Festival Pahrump, Nevada

                                                               w/ St. Joseph High School Westchester, Illinois Jim & his wife Debbie

             time to move down the road

 Day 50 - 51  April 4, 2009  Pahrump, Nevada 

Head for Las Vegas but get surprised w/ a huge amount of Casino Construction & traffic w/ little place to Park the Airstream & our usual boon Dock Spots were filled w/ Construction equipment.

  ...The Answer?  Head up Route 93 & the BLM towards the Extraterrestrial  Highway & The A' LE' Inn @ Rachel, Nevada.  The entrance to Area 51.   We take the Elgin, Nevada Gravel road Cut off & after a few miles find this abandoned road that goes no where.  Perfect Camp, so quiet your Ears Ring.  Martha the Boxer loves it but is very concerned w/ some animal that has not showed itself.

Day 52  April 6, 2009    BLM w/o Elgin, Nevada       ***Camp!

    

                            ...357 Magnum Colt Python            ...9mm Glock 26    ...450 Marlin Rifle vs. 15 inch Rock, Rock exploded

             357 Magnum Colt Python 4 inch barrel

                   ...Great Place for Guns, Piwo, Steak on the Charcoal Weber Grill, a Good Cigar & a Great Sun Set.

 Day 53  April 7, 2009

      ...time to be Move'n Down the Road

98 degree Ash Springs in the BLM @ Crystal Springs, Nevada

                                  ...very Nice

 entering the Extraterrestrial Highway & check out the waters @ Crystal Springs

                ...82 degree Natural Springs a bit to cool, we are spoiled & we move on down the road

         never know what you will find

   You can Drop a letter off to the Alien's on the Extraterrestrial Highway Nevada 375

...this Mail Box is on one of the of the gravel roads leading into the Top Secret Area 51, some people think the Government is still hiding the Alien's that landed @ Roswell New Mexico many years ago.   ...Later today we will find out @ the Little A' LE' Inn Rachel, Nevada that this Mail Box actually belongs to a Rancher who would appreciate it if people would stop filling the box full of letters to Alien's.

 

Day 53  April 7, 2009    The Little A' LE' Inn in Rachel, Nevada

              ...Plenty of time for some Pops w/ Aliens @ The Little A' LE' Inn

    

       Our camp in the BLM overlooks Rachel, Nevada to our s/e & a entrance to Area 51 to our n/w

   

Time to explore    ...Ranchers Lease BLM land to graze their Cattle

            ...We have Unlimited amount of Cow Pies to go w/ my Bandera, Texas Stetson

April 8, 2009

w/ a Cold front approaching we Move down the road & stop @ Panaca Hot Springs

                ...82 degree Hot Spring on the Nevada / Utah Border, a bit to cool for us.  We will move on.

 s/o St. George, Utah we head into the BLM known as the Arizona Strip District, this Public Lands leads t the Grand Canyon

  Day 54 - 56                                    about 11  miles into the BLM we find a **** Camp

                     We Be Hike'N

     ...357 Magnum Colt Python 4 inch barrel

                   ...another Great Place for Guns, Piwo, Lamb on the Charcoal Weber Grill & a Great Sun Set.

 

                           Desert Treats, Plenty of Flowers on this DXpedition

 

   Cleaning Time       ...take care of your equipment & it will take care of you when the occasion arises

                                          ...It's Not Wilderness unless something out there can Eat You

the little spec in the distance is our ****Camp

This BLM called the Arizona Strip is truly a Treasure & goes on seemingly forever the entire length of the Grand Canyon North Rim

        ...No Neighbors, No Camp Host, Great Place to enjoy Nature & Especially if you don't play well with others

 

 Day 57 - 58  April 11, 2009     w/ another Cold front approaching, we head south deeper into the BLM Arizona Strip as high altitude clouds cover the mountains tops.  We are in Search for the Perfect Spot for Easter Sunday.

We head over the mountain to a Valley looking for warmer Temps.  After a pleasant day yesterday.  Today is in the 40's w/ occasional  drizzle.  We find a Perfect Spot for Easter in Mormon Territory.  Kathleen has a Ham & some Easter Eggs.

                 ...light Rain covers the Valley but we find a ***Camp.

 Sunshine & mid 60's for Easter w/ the Coyote, Mountain Lion, Rattle Snake & Open Range Cattle Families

    ...I cook up a Cowboy Breakfast of Bacon, Hash Browns & Sunny Side up eggs, Cowboy meaning you never know how it will turn out when this Cowboy is Cook'n.  Kathleen will color the Easter Eggs & make the a Ham for Easter Dinner in the oven.

           30 miles into the Arizona Strip  Wilderness                                      Life & Death reminders

     It's not Wilderness unless Something out there can eat you

               The Bees are Love'n the Meadow Flowers

Day 59  April 13, 2009     Head to St. George, Utah for supplies & work our way to Mexican Hat Utah in the Valley of the Gods

     

Morning coffee walk by the Cattle Holding Pens

      ...Time to resupply.  Our black water tank has not been dumped since Death Valley & our 2nd Propane tank is rattling, a sign that it to is going empty.  After a stop @ the BLM headquarters in St. George for maps & more info we head for Zion National Park.

Day 59 - 60  April 14, 2009     Zion National Park, Utah..

Day 61  April 15, 2009     ...Now this is an Interesting Day.  We leave Zion N. P. w/ a nice sunny morning but the National Weather Services warned of 60 mph winds.  We have been here before, but this is a Beautiful Place & worth seeing over & over again., a bit crowded & the camp grounds are also crowded.  Many Tent Campers & Back Pack Camper Types all loving this place that remind us of ourselves Tenting the Mountains not too many years ago. All  carrying big smiles.  Way to many bus people tourists but the views are terrific especially coming out of the BLM it gave us some social contact.

As the day progressed the Winds & Blowing Sands came true.  For the most part we had 15-25 mph winds but the last 50 miles things picked up with 35 mph & gusts of 60.  The winds where coming from behind us so we were able to make it to our destination of Monument Valley on the Navajo Reservation in northeast Arizona.

winds drop to around 25 MPH for a bit so we head over to visit the Historic Oljato Trading Post w/ our Airstream still in tow.

 

When we pull into the Primitive Camp area & stop.  The winds kick back up to a consistent 60 MPH for about an hour & then was over.  This is one of our favorite primitive Camps over looking Monument Valley.  If your looking for anything but the most fantastic views in the Continental United States, this is the place.

         ...Winds clear & we enjoy the Best Sunset in the Continential United States as Mr. Raven looks for Food.

  Sitting in my Ford F250 V10 stick shift 4Wd truck enjoying the morning Ham Radio 40 meter Rocky Mountain RV Service Net 7176 KHZ I am treated to a fantastic sun rise followed by a Pleasant breakfast in the newly built Lodge about 1/8 mile away.

  

Day 62  April 16, 2009  Move'n Down the Road we pass through the town of Mexican Hat & the Valley of the Gods.

 

Stop for some Pops & Nachos in one of our Haunts in Moab, Utah.  Utah law states you have to have food w/ your Pops.

            ...We settle into a great BLM camp on the Colorado River m/w of town.

.S

Day 63  April 17, 2009     104 degree Hot Springs, 52 degree air temps @ Glenwood Hot Springs, Colorado

Day 64  April 18, 2009            Cross the Continental Divide w/o Denver in 20 inches of snow w/ a few Big Trucks & Yuppie Skiers spinning round & round in their Front Wheel Drive Cars

mm 328 Historic Brown Derby Saloon in Deer Trail, Colorado.

 Great place to get off the road a bit & Cowboy Up for a Pop.  If you like Silly Al's in Quartzite, Arizona or The Little A' LE' Inn in Rachel, Nevada.  Then this is your kind of joint.

                    Spend the night in Lamar, Colorado KOA to get some Laundry done.

 

 Day 65  April 19, 2009     Boondock @ Sheridan Kansas State Fishing Lake w/ a few Rancher Fishermen who came by during the day.                                 ...Nice little lake in the middle of Cattle Country w/ the feel of the BLM.

                          ...We wake up to a morning Treat, a flock White Pelicans

Day 66  April 20, 2009   ...MM166 we stop @ The Cathedral of the Plains, A Franciscan Cathedral built n 1917 by German & Russian Catholics that can be seen for miles.

   ...Dry camp @ Ottawa Kansas State Fishing Lake, If you like the BLM this is the next best thing.  These Kansas State Fishing Lakes have no services.  Usually out in a rural area w/ a few rancher fisherman coming during the day to fish.  Your pretty much left to yourself.  Fee $0, but the rural peaceful environment makes these Lakes a nice stop.

Day 67  April 21, 2009

We head to the Hereford House Steak in downtown Kansas City, Missouri only to find it burned down in October 2008.  Great loss.

Plan B:   Head for a newer Hereford House in Independence, Missouri.  Same food but the Old Time Stock Yard atmosphere is not is good.  But we get a new treat & Boondock in the parking lot for the night.  The Restaurant is hooked onto a Hilton Hotel that gives an appearance that you might of got a room for the night.

Day 68  April 22, 2009

We alter our travel plans a bit to stop @ the Historic Germen Town of Hermann, Missouri.  The problem is the Germans have left.  No German food or beer to be found .  Someone has bought up this town, my guess Bus Tour Companies put in Wineries, Bed & Breakfast but no German Beer or Food.  The City Park right in town has very nice camping in the Park.  You can Boondock as we did by a pleasant creek or have hook ups in designated spots.  Downtown is a short walk away.  The Sharp Corner Taverns a Old Time friendly place & kind of a nerve center for the town w/ $1.50 bottle beer & $1.50 hamburgers.  Hard to find those prices now a days.  But no Weiner Schnitzel.

                          ..... 

Day 69  April 23, 2009     Hoosier National Forest mm79, ,Indiana

Day 70 - 71 April 24 - 25, 2009 

                 Lexington, Kentucky for Sydney's First Communion Party

Day 72  April 26, 2009   Great place to end this DXpedition

                     ...Howard County Vietnam Veterans Festival Grounds Kokomo, Indiana

Day 73  April 27, 2009       Home  QTH (Ham Radio Talk), Wheaton, Illinois

                                                 ...This is where we Keep our Stuff

        73    Portable & Mobile Amateur Radio High Frequency contacts this DXpedition  

         23     Boon Docking (no camp ground) love those solar panels    

         21   Dry Camps, (no hook ups)

         16    Desert Hikes

       7,566   Total Airstream Miles this DXpedition

 

 

      7   Desert Hot Springs

      7,566   Total Airstream Miles

 

 

 

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