We have been to the top of the Eiffel Tower - the one in Las Vegas! What a view. It is 50 stories high and the elevator has a glass front so the ride up and down is just as thrilling as the view from the top. "Paris" was being built last time we were here (1995). It is quite a contrast to drive from ghost towns to glass castles. Appropriately enough I am just finishing the book, The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls. It is a gripping memoir about her life with non-conformist parents who with 4 children lived a nomadic life in desert towns of the US. Her father's mission was to built a "glass castle" for his family. The story is fascinating and especially intriguing because it is about the author's life. Her parents become street people (by choice) after their children are grown. She never looks at street people in the same way again.
Las Vegas is a place of many contrasts too - the beauty of glass, the marvellous shows of fountains and waterfalls, the gorgeous sculptures, volcanoes and pirate ships. And then the street people, the addictions, the cards handed out every 10 feet offering "hot babes". The push and shove of people in the heat.
The glass castles of Vegas - a little trip out of the real world - fine for a time.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Get your kicks on Route 66!
On Route 66 Outlaw Willie will draw his guns, arrest you with gunfire, and transform into Rev. Rod Hall, the wedding man, and perform your wedding in a mine, on the road, in a boat, on a hillside, wherever you say! That gives new meaning to a "shotgun wedding"! Route 66 or the "Mother Road" as it is called was the result of the need seen in the early 1900's for a national highway system. Eight states built the "Main Street of America" which was completed in 1937 from Chicago to Santa Monica.
Route 66 is right out of TV memory for us! The little towns are just as you might imagine - old and full of character. We arrived in Oatman (mining ghost town) just as the Ghostriders Gun Fighters were putting on the show that closes the road for 30 minutes! We arrived in Seligman as the 3 wheel motorcyles club were meeting in front of the Copper Cart restaurant!
I thought of my mother who travelled with her parents and "Uncle Bill" (family friend - more about that later) to California when she was 12 (1923). They were moving there from Hamilton to find work building houses in Oakland. Some friend had told them about this opportunity. There was no Route 66 completed yet. It must have been quite the trip. Route 66 is at best a 2 lane roadway, sometimes narrowing as it winds around a mountain; sometimes flat as a pancake and straight as an arrow. My Mom always talked about how long the trip took. I can see why now!
The towns were delightful and full of character - we loved the wild burros that wander the streets - the mountains were treacherous at times - no guard rails - lots of crosses where cars have gone over - the little shops and restaurants were quaint and owned by proud locals. On one mountain stop we climbed to a lookout point where a pool of spring fed water attracted bird and butterflies.
Lots of kicks on Route 66 - ghost towns, guns, burros, shot-gun weddings - who could want for more?
Route 66 is right out of TV memory for us! The little towns are just as you might imagine - old and full of character. We arrived in Oatman (mining ghost town) just as the Ghostriders Gun Fighters were putting on the show that closes the road for 30 minutes! We arrived in Seligman as the 3 wheel motorcyles club were meeting in front of the Copper Cart restaurant!
I thought of my mother who travelled with her parents and "Uncle Bill" (family friend - more about that later) to California when she was 12 (1923). They were moving there from Hamilton to find work building houses in Oakland. Some friend had told them about this opportunity. There was no Route 66 completed yet. It must have been quite the trip. Route 66 is at best a 2 lane roadway, sometimes narrowing as it winds around a mountain; sometimes flat as a pancake and straight as an arrow. My Mom always talked about how long the trip took. I can see why now!
The towns were delightful and full of character - we loved the wild burros that wander the streets - the mountains were treacherous at times - no guard rails - lots of crosses where cars have gone over - the little shops and restaurants were quaint and owned by proud locals. On one mountain stop we climbed to a lookout point where a pool of spring fed water attracted bird and butterflies.
Lots of kicks on Route 66 - ghost towns, guns, burros, shot-gun weddings - who could want for more?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sweet
How do we figure out what church to visit on a Sunday? In small towns it is fairly simple to choose. In bigger places, we wait for direction! At the Kingman Visitor's Centre we picked up a sheet of local churches - 2 pages of them! The only problem was that no service times were listed. We could call, but decided to pick three Protestant types that sounded good (Ha!) and drive by. They had to be within 20 minutes of our campsite. Thank you, Jane (our GPS).
Church 1 looked dead. The time was falling off the sign - maybe not. Church 2 seemed okay - maybe. Church 3 was sweet! By the front door there was a plexiglass covered board with a sample service on one side and a welcome to visitors on the other, saying that they would welcome us, ask us to fill in an address form and that only this was expected in the offering plate for visitors. Sweet. On top of that, there were parking spaces marked "Visitors - welcome!. Even sweeter.
We arrived and parked as Visitors. It was a very casual, young atmosphere. Padded chairs served as seats and we could see a guitar/drum combo warming. Pastor Ken came out in casual wear and said a few words of welcome and then picked up his guitar and joined the others.
The service was very informal and educational. Pastor Ken could sing, play and preach! The best part was that the lesson for the day was on Joseph!! (West Plains produced Joseph in December). We were humming the songs in our minds as the story unfolded (35 min. sermon; lots of time for songs). Sweet.
Afterwards we got out our Joseph T-shirts and had a picture taken in front of the church. And we got a surprise! On our van was a card thanking us for coming to the service along with two candy cane striped candies attached! Very sweet. The whole thing was very, very sweet. Food for thought.
Church 1 looked dead. The time was falling off the sign - maybe not. Church 2 seemed okay - maybe. Church 3 was sweet! By the front door there was a plexiglass covered board with a sample service on one side and a welcome to visitors on the other, saying that they would welcome us, ask us to fill in an address form and that only this was expected in the offering plate for visitors. Sweet. On top of that, there were parking spaces marked "Visitors - welcome!. Even sweeter.
We arrived and parked as Visitors. It was a very casual, young atmosphere. Padded chairs served as seats and we could see a guitar/drum combo warming. Pastor Ken came out in casual wear and said a few words of welcome and then picked up his guitar and joined the others.
The service was very informal and educational. Pastor Ken could sing, play and preach! The best part was that the lesson for the day was on Joseph!! (West Plains produced Joseph in December). We were humming the songs in our minds as the story unfolded (35 min. sermon; lots of time for songs). Sweet.
Afterwards we got out our Joseph T-shirts and had a picture taken in front of the church. And we got a surprise! On our van was a card thanking us for coming to the service along with two candy cane striped candies attached! Very sweet. The whole thing was very, very sweet. Food for thought.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
KOA
We arrived at beautiful Kingman KOA campground last night. I took my contact lenses out in the van. Let me tell you that I can see about as well without my lenses as that dense fog we faced at first glance over Grand Canyon! This morning I decided to put my lenses in at the washroom and have a shower. Rip pointed out the building and it wasn't very far away so I was good to go.
No one was in the washroom - I am often alone as those fancy RV's that surround us in parks come millionaire style with their own washroom, shower and TV, etc. As I am getting into the shower I hear an electric razor. Not one os those delicate, girly kinds. One of those meaty, grazing, lawn-cutting sounds. Ohm no! Am I in the women's washroom?? Did I chose the wrong door?
I wait and wait until I am totally SURE that I am alone again before I begin to slink out of the shower. I run to put my lenses in and as I am cleaning them, I look in the sink. Razor stubble. It surround the sink vessel. I am now in panic mode. I see a urinal. I am mortified. I put my lenses so fast, I don't remember doint it.
I go outside and check the door. It says, "Women". I go inside again. The "urinal" is another seaprate sink, lower and bigger and separate from the other three, I guess for washing dishes. It looked like a urinal to me in my fuzzy state.
I don't know much except this; some woman needs a new razor out there. Or some man got confused today. The whole situation was KOA - Kind Of Awkward.
We are now off to church - Canyon Community Church - I can finally relax, but you can bet I will wear my lenses to campsite washrooms from now on.
No one was in the washroom - I am often alone as those fancy RV's that surround us in parks come millionaire style with their own washroom, shower and TV, etc. As I am getting into the shower I hear an electric razor. Not one os those delicate, girly kinds. One of those meaty, grazing, lawn-cutting sounds. Ohm no! Am I in the women's washroom?? Did I chose the wrong door?
I wait and wait until I am totally SURE that I am alone again before I begin to slink out of the shower. I run to put my lenses in and as I am cleaning them, I look in the sink. Razor stubble. It surround the sink vessel. I am now in panic mode. I see a urinal. I am mortified. I put my lenses so fast, I don't remember doint it.
I go outside and check the door. It says, "Women". I go inside again. The "urinal" is another seaprate sink, lower and bigger and separate from the other three, I guess for washing dishes. It looked like a urinal to me in my fuzzy state.
I don't know much except this; some woman needs a new razor out there. Or some man got confused today. The whole situation was KOA - Kind Of Awkward.
We are now off to church - Canyon Community Church - I can finally relax, but you can bet I will wear my lenses to campsite washrooms from now on.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Finally Fishing!
We awake this morning after a heavy rain on Lake Cataract camp grounds. As usual I am up at 500 am and off for a walk. I am chasing Blue Birds, Eagles and Ospreys for a photo opp all around this lake. I have seen many men fishing over the past two days but nothing caught. As I am walking back to our camp a fisherman catches a Rainbow Trout. I walk down to see it closer and talk with John the fisherman. He says that I should try my luck. Not being one to pass up an opportunity to fish I am back in a flash with my rod. I have three trout on shore with four casts and I ask john if he wants them. He only wants to know what magical lure I am using. I show him my Panther Martin lure and offer him one. I catch another 8 Rainbows within the hour and Give them all to John except one for lunch. He is happy that I showed him the lure and now he is catching more fish. All the other fisherman on the lake have come to shore and are casting around us, but they do not have the magical lure. We leave the camp ground and I have made a new friend from Arizona.
Pea Soup!
PEA SOUP!
Here we are standing at the edge of 1 of the 7 natural Wonders of the World. All we can see is thick, white, blinding fog. We stayed 3 days in Williams, Arizona (gateway to Grand Canyon), hoping for a sunny day to take a tour of Grand Canyon with Marvelous Marv (MM) as recommended by friends. We called MM early this morning to suggest changing our date. We checked the internet at the Visitor’s Centre where we find out the Grand Canyon is expecting thunderstorms and rain today – 70% chance. The ticket for the tour is $85 each. We have 5 weeks left, and the WW (Grand Canyon) is on our Bucket List! We are inclined to wait. MM tells us that he has 3 others going, and if we back out the tour is off (minimum 4 people). Don’t you think that such heart twisting ethical decisions should be on the “not on the sabbatical” list?? Me too!
Of course you know what we chose – our tripmates tipped the scale on decision making. MM assured us that seeing WW is better with “weather”. It is downright boring on a sunny, blue sky kind of day. The Irish in me is tempted to call this malarkey (sp?). On the way the rains came harder and harder, slowing as we approached the WW entrance kiosk. The big, bold sign says, “Bad Weather Conditions” – no refunds. This does not bode well.
Standing at the first viewpoint, seeing 2 feet maybe in front of our faces, and no canyon in sight, we are starting to wonder if MM is really Moneymaker Marv. Marv says, “can’t change Mother Nature; could be socked in like this for a week”!! Where was that info at 7 am this morning? All the faces around us are forlorn. I am starting to plan our return trip after Las Vegas.
MM diverts our soul-sinking spirits with his wealth of information about the formation of WW – 2 billion years ago an earth plate carrying island arcs and the one that became North America collided and made the base of the canyon. Rivers and seas and moving mountains formed the Colorado Plateau and then the powerful Col. River cut down through the mountains forming the incredible canyon.
We think it might be incredible at this point – but so far not sure. Just as we are about to move to another destination, Divine Intervention or Marv Magic brings a sheer miracle.
The fog begins to dance and move upward in swirls of milk twisters giving us our first glimpse of the South Rim Canyon – Most Magnificent. It is this weather that in the end gives us a show rarely seen at the WW. We continue our tour as the visual sights transform from Soup to Super. Marv dazzles us with his knowledge of the WW and of all the plants and trees he identifies and shows how they have been used by the first nations people for food, clothing and medicines.
The day is a mix of cloud, more fog, little bursts of sun and blue sky and as we are leaving the heavens open up again with a steady rainfall. What timing.
Magical – Marvelous Marv truly is a great guide. We highly recommend him. At one point he took pictures of the passengers of the day, and presented us with that photo as a keepsake. So nice. Our day turned from pea soup to super; but honestly a little blue sky and sun could never make this magical place boring.
Here we are standing at the edge of 1 of the 7 natural Wonders of the World. All we can see is thick, white, blinding fog. We stayed 3 days in Williams, Arizona (gateway to Grand Canyon), hoping for a sunny day to take a tour of Grand Canyon with Marvelous Marv (MM) as recommended by friends. We called MM early this morning to suggest changing our date. We checked the internet at the Visitor’s Centre where we find out the Grand Canyon is expecting thunderstorms and rain today – 70% chance. The ticket for the tour is $85 each. We have 5 weeks left, and the WW (Grand Canyon) is on our Bucket List! We are inclined to wait. MM tells us that he has 3 others going, and if we back out the tour is off (minimum 4 people). Don’t you think that such heart twisting ethical decisions should be on the “not on the sabbatical” list?? Me too!
Of course you know what we chose – our tripmates tipped the scale on decision making. MM assured us that seeing WW is better with “weather”. It is downright boring on a sunny, blue sky kind of day. The Irish in me is tempted to call this malarkey (sp?). On the way the rains came harder and harder, slowing as we approached the WW entrance kiosk. The big, bold sign says, “Bad Weather Conditions” – no refunds. This does not bode well.
Standing at the first viewpoint, seeing 2 feet maybe in front of our faces, and no canyon in sight, we are starting to wonder if MM is really Moneymaker Marv. Marv says, “can’t change Mother Nature; could be socked in like this for a week”!! Where was that info at 7 am this morning? All the faces around us are forlorn. I am starting to plan our return trip after Las Vegas.
MM diverts our soul-sinking spirits with his wealth of information about the formation of WW – 2 billion years ago an earth plate carrying island arcs and the one that became North America collided and made the base of the canyon. Rivers and seas and moving mountains formed the Colorado Plateau and then the powerful Col. River cut down through the mountains forming the incredible canyon.
We think it might be incredible at this point – but so far not sure. Just as we are about to move to another destination, Divine Intervention or Marv Magic brings a sheer miracle.
The fog begins to dance and move upward in swirls of milk twisters giving us our first glimpse of the South Rim Canyon – Most Magnificent. It is this weather that in the end gives us a show rarely seen at the WW. We continue our tour as the visual sights transform from Soup to Super. Marv dazzles us with his knowledge of the WW and of all the plants and trees he identifies and shows how they have been used by the first nations people for food, clothing and medicines.
The day is a mix of cloud, more fog, little bursts of sun and blue sky and as we are leaving the heavens open up again with a steady rainfall. What timing.
Magical – Marvelous Marv truly is a great guide. We highly recommend him. At one point he took pictures of the passengers of the day, and presented us with that photo as a keepsake. So nice. Our day turned from pea soup to super; but honestly a little blue sky and sun could never make this magical place boring.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Heaven
We arrived in Flagstaff to our first rain since Texas - a long while back! It is also cool and green. We thought about finding a motel instead of camping, and as we rounded a corner I saw an attractive place I thought would be perfect. We got close to the driveway and I saw the sign, "The Mortuary"!!! Oops - not quite ready for that yet. We drove on and found a perfect campsite in the trees called Woody Mountain - it was heaven all right!
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