Sunday, July 31, 2011

Miles and gas prices

Missing start days are when we stayed in same city several days (Rogers Arkansas for bb match, Portland Oregon, San Francisco Califormia, Los Angeles Califormia, Flagstaff Arizona, and Deming New Mexico).

I shot 2046 pictures after Rogers Arkansas and 970 pictures at the BB Gun match. Also a number of videos about 1 minute long each

Visited 18 states:
Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisana, Missippi and Alabama

6/30 381523
3.19
3.45
3.29
3.27
3.19
7/5 382355
3.65
7/6 382604
3.49
3.35
3.59
7/7 383239
3.45
3.35
7/8 383854
3.57
7/9 384293
3.69
3,78
3.73
3.56
7/12 385199
7/13 385345
3,69
4.09
7/14 386189
3.81
7/17 386296
3.79
7/18 386613
3.64
3.73
7/20 386855
7/21
3.89
7/22 387161
3.98
3.47
3.49
7/23 387659
3.89
7/24 388135
3.38
7/25 388279
3.34
7/26 388464
3.65
3.39
7/27 388761
3.69
7/28 388959
3.59
7/29 389421
3.46
3.54
3.42
7/30 390020
3.43
3.49
end 390546

total miles 9023
days 31


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Day 26

Drove today from Monroe Louisiana to LaFayette Georgia. Good drive. A few light showers.

After 31 days and just over 9000 miles the trip has come to an end. Saw more things and people than had planned. Some neat new experience. Taught 3 classes online while traveling and maintained web sites for several groups. If I do again I will not teach 3 classes online, just 1 or maybe 2 (but really 1). Shot about 1000 pictures at BB gun match and over 1500 on rest of trip. Got to get all of them edited now. Will post ASAP.

Day 25

Drove from Big Spring Texas to Monroe Louisanna today. Started in desert then move to southeast USA vegetation. Lots of driving.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Day 24

On the road back to Georgia.

traveled from Deming New Mexico to Big Spring Texas. Stopped at Mexican product and saddle blanket store in El Paso and got a couple things. In midland Texas had a dust storm hit that was mixed with rain. different. Most of way was desert at high elevation and mountain climbs.

Last night woke myself up talking in my sleep. I have known for years I talk in my sleep but never woke up with the conversation going from in sleep to realizing i am in bad awake talking to someone in dream.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Day 23

Saw in local travel magazine that the Gila Cliff Dwellings are only 100 miles away and that you can go in them. Today we went up there. Nice ride but took almost 3 hours.

The park was great. You hike about 1/2 mile straight up and then you walk in the dwellings. In some cases you climb a ladder and look in, in others you walk in. The wood in structures is original and the ceilings were smoked over when used 500-1000 years ago. They were impressive. In the hike up you go thru area that was burned in the massive New Mexico fire last month.

Went back to Deming and spent the night.

Day 22

Went from Tucson Arizona to Deming New Mexico. Went down past Tombstone but raining and have been number times so did not stop. Drove by Bisbee and stopped at Lavender Pit (former copper mine) that is huge. Took pics. My dad worked for a time when young as part of complex.

Drove on to Douglas Arizona and drove by and took pic of the house my grandparents lived in when I was growing up. Looked around town too. Then on to Deming. Stayed at Grand Motor Inn, a motel out of 60s that is still same but clean and nice. has restaurant and bar and spread out.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Day 21

Went from Phoenix to Tucson today. Stopped at Casa Grande National Monument. Impressive multistory early Indian (or pre-Indian) ruins. They have sheltered the biggest.

Had supper tonight with my Uncle Ray . Enjoyed seeing his new home and then went to eat at a nice Mexican restaurant. Good seeing him and visit.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Day 20

Today was a slower day. Left Flagstaff Arizona and drove to Phoenix Arizona.

Started the day visiting Bill Schuchman who is a friend of Carl's and I knew from when he attended church i grew up in Northern Virginia and he hosted the Explorer Post on our tour of the west in 1972. We had a real good visit with him and his wife and daughter.

We then went to Montezuma's Well which is near Montezuma's Castle. Montezuma's Well is a large spring fed pond the early Indians diverted into irrigation ditches for their fields. Some of those ditches still used today. You walk down in crater to pond. It is beautiful and there are several cliff dwellings you can look at fairly close, not as large as at Castle. I wandered the whole place. I am impressed with it and colors are out of the world.

Staying in Phoenix tonight after we stopped at Cliff Castle Casino which is a large and complete Indian casino. Carl was lucky. We ate at Johnny Rockets in the casino. It has a bowling alley with about 18 lanes

Day 19

Drove from Williams Arizona to the north rim or Grand Canyon and then to Flagstaff Arizona.

It took about 5.5 hours drive up and about 4 back. Real scenic area. Went across the Colorado river at Lee's Ferry. They have a new 2 lane with shoulders bridge and old one lane bridge is open to walk on. I walked out on it and took pictures of the river. Both bridges are concrete bed on steel structure. The drive on up to the canyon was real nice. Two lane roads but well built and most 65 mph and I ran close to that most of time.

North rim of Grand Canyon is a totally different world than south rim. I have been to south many time and hiked down and camped at phantom ranch once. The north rim has a lot fewer people. You can park close to the lodge and visitor center (not like a 7/11 but sure not like where you may be a mile or more away on south rim). More casual feel to north. You can go in the old lodge (now dining areas and viewing over canyon) and out on deck. Nice views. Canyon had good colors. The lodging is in cabins and has my interest in maybe doing in future. Log buildings are everything with green roofs (looks like built with Lincoln logs).

Stopped at one trail head and walked 1/8 mile down (probably 60 or more feet drop) and got some interesting pictures.

Stayed at an old Travelodge in Flagstaff on Route 66. I have stayed there before.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Day 18

Traveled from LA to Williams Arizona today. Headed east.

Stopped at Hoover Dam and riding outskirts of Las Vegas. At Hoover Dam, went down and looked at the dam and walked back and forth across it and took pictures. Cars can still drive across but we did not. I walked (climbed a bunch of steps) to new bypass bridge. There is a walkway to walk on it. However it was windy today (they recommended high profile vehicles not cross) and the wind did me in making me uncomfortable more than 6 feet from the edge and not where I could see dam. But did get pics of bridge. It is impressive and very stable.

We drove across the bridge and the concrete rails are so high on the south bound side you see nothing. But easy to drive.

Then drove across desert to Williams AZ where will leave from in morning to north rim of Grand Canyon

Day 17

Stayed in same hotel two nights. Rare on this trip. Went to see the Richard Nixon Library which is on the other side of LA from where staying. I can drive LA traffic. Experience from DC and Atlanta was useful. California does not post mile markers and only puts exit number on the sign at exit.

The Nixon Library was interesting. Different than the Regan but just as good. Reagan has the Air Force One, but Nixon has the Sears house he was born in and lived first seven years.

It was interesting looking at all the stuff and noticing a few campaign items they and I have from 1972. I was a student volunteer for him and visited reelection headquarters several times (CREP). What was really interesting was seeing picture of all people on White House lawn watching Brezhnev arriving in 1972 and realizing I was one of them. The Explorer post I was in was invited to be there as crowd welcoming and I went. Only time I was on grounds other than a tour.

That evening we had dinner with my Uncle Jim and cousin Allan. Had last seen Uncle Jim in LA airport in about 1994 and Allan at my grandmother's in 1976. We had a good time catching up on family and visiting.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Day 16

Traveled from Bakersfield California to Los Angeles today. Not many miles but a lot of climb up and down elevation. Traveled I-5 which had a good layout and climb. Worked the car but driving not bad. Car ran warmest it ever has when moving, but still in safe zone.

Went to the Reagan Library and toured it most of afternoon. Lots of good exhibits and covered Reagan thoroughly and well. Enjoyed seeing it. Has Air Force One and got to walk thru it. The grounds are way done.

Staying in Sylmar. Ate at Shakey’s Pizza tonight. Had not seen one in years. Back in the 70s in high school and first year of college in northern Virginia I ate there regularly. Still same pizza but a couple added items. Sign looks same.

Day 15

Stayed in Bakersfield an extra day. We are ahead of schedule and chose to not travel. My sinuses have been kicking and I figured a rest day would help. Most of day was working on pictures and my classes. Had a good breakfast and supper at Milt's Coffee Shop that appears to be from 1960s. Bakersfield is basically Nashville of the west and lot of oil fields.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Day 14

Today was a slower day. Only did 200 miles (5100 on trip so far). Drove up to Sequoias National Monuments in the mountains from Fresno. It was a rough drive up from about 400 elevation to over 6000 feet. Beautiful views. Took a number of pictures. Much of drive up was on edge of mountain with no guardrail. Saw several good sequoias and got pictures close up. Staying in Bakersfield tonight.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Day 13

We went from San Francisco to Yosemite to Fresno. Spent all afternoon at Yosemite driving in from north and out by south. The drive climb up was really steep and huge drop offs. California does not use guard rails where i am used to and appears to have a very limited supply. Beautiful views. Went to Yosemite Valley and took pictures of half dome and various waterfalls which all appeared to be running. Traffic was heavy in valley and parking limited. They still let you drive all the way to a 10 minute walk (or shuttle bus) from visitor center. I thought you had to use shuttle bus from entrance. Then went to Mariposa Grove where the Sequoia redwoods are and walked .8 miles up mountain to look at Grizzly Giant tree (it is huge). Several people up there and me swapped cameras taking each others pics. I went by myself and a lady on the bus who was with her parents who did not feel like doing the steep climb both got there together and took each other pics. It was one of last shuttles and we only had 45 minutes up and back to catch last shuttle. We went at a fast clip down mountain, Walked on to California Tunnel tree which you can (and I did) walk thru (got pic there also). To get to Mariposa Grove you had to take a shuttle from several miles away as parking was full. These redwoods are actually red. Yosemite was great.

Drove on to Fresno for a room. Drove all around fro over an hour and saw no motels and burger places (but large industrial park) but then found a bunch.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Day 12

Went to San Francisco today. My cousin Sara and her 2 year old son Sam met us near the city. She took us over the Golden Gate Bridge (fogged in) and over to Sausalito. We looked at bay and wandered a little. We then rode ferry to the wharf at San Francisco. Nice views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge and city. She then told us how to get around and back to car. She had other things that needed done. She and I and Sam enjoyed seeing each other and a visit. With me in Georgia and her in San Fran seldom do we see each other.

We then wandered Pier 39 and wandered in shops. Since I am in San Francisco I got a cone of Cherry Garcia. Caught a streetcar then that took us to the cable cars. The streetcar we rode in was decorated like the trolley cars in Washington DC in the late 1950s. That was ironic me a Washington native catching that car.

We rode the cable car one way up the hill and I stood on running board playing tourist hanging on and leaning out. It was fun and Carl took pictures of me. We then caught the bus to the subway (MUNI not BART) and rode out to the car by San Francisco University.

Day 11

Traveled from Eureka CA to San Francisco. Got room at very reasonable rate at Comfort Inn near airport.

Drove thru more redwoods including down Avenue of the Giants. These redwoods are not coastal type but slightly shorter (still reach to the sky) and larger trunks. They were impressive. The road followed old stagecoach route but now two lane and blacktop. There were some really impressive ones.

Rode a little more on coast and still impressive. Also thru mountains some. California does not put guard rails often. Can be a nasty drop-off just beyond pavement edge and your responsibility.
Rode across Golden Gate Bridge. It has an awesome structure and is real nice. Rode on thru town.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Day 10

Yesterday was lower mileage but still lot of driving. Went from Medford Oregon to Eureka California. The coastal redwoods are in this path. Traveling down US 101 on the coast.

The redwoods are as impressive as I expected. Took about 200 pictures (yes I am in some). Took back road thru them to start and it was on old stagecoach route and dirt and most of way one lane (they need to make 1 way). Trees right by road. Great views. I did two 1 mile hikes to some beauties.

Coast is pretty. different than east with cliffs and rocks out in water but great views. Most of area is marked as tsunami zones.

We stopped at casino in Crescent City and it was very plain. I played a dollar in 5 cent slots and only lost 50 cents. Crescent City had a pretty coast and beautiful lighthouse

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Day 9

Went from Portland Oregon to Medford Oregon. Took a slight diversion to go see Crater Lake. It is a beautiful view. Driving up to it and at it there was a lot of snow including piles that were roof high. Temperature was in the 40s. Then took route 62 down to Medford which follows the Rouge River. Stopped at view point for the Rouge Gorge. It was really great with bunches of water pouring thru it. The river narrows and does a large drop there as it goes thru collapsed volcano tubes. Impressive.

I have posted the pictures I have shot as JPG format at http://tripwestjuly2011.shutterfly.com Most of what I am shooting is in RAW format and I have not had chance to edit and save as JPG. I will be getting them done along with the 1000 pictures I shot at the BB Gun match. I have shot about 840 pictures on my travel so far.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Day 8

Drove by Columbia Gorge on historic highway 30. It took us to top of mountain where we looked down at river. great view. Then stopped at several falls on way down. Bridal Vail falls were great but about 1/2 mile walk in. I could see why named that. Horse tail falls were nice and i could see how named also. At Multnomah Falls I went up to bridge and a little further. Impressive high falls that are by I-84. We then stopped at one more falls. Ate lunch at Char Burger and had a good Hawaiian Burger. Drove by Mt Hood but most of day was closed in by clouds which lifted for a moment so I could get picture. At Government Camp saw some small snow flakes falling. Then went to dinner with my first cousin Laura i had not seen in 35 years. Her family went too (Barry, Alli and Brad). We had a good pizza at ZigZag Pizza with a great atmosphere. She and I caught up on family.

day 7

Drove up to Mt St Helen's. I was there in 1992 and they have built a much better road. There is some stuff starting to grow there now, but there are still tree trunks on the ground from the volcano. The clouds blocked seeing in basin and the dome but otherwise good views. Enjoyed seeing the differences. That evening had supper with my cousin Jennifer and her husband Bill at Rock Bottom Brewery in Portland. We had a good visit and good was good. Couple of observations from day. Saw hitchhikers whop looked out of 70s. The gas stations pump your gas but that is all. At Walmart the carts were pushed in by employees not by the mechanical cart pusher. Oregon is beautiful like I remember.

Day 6

Met up with a friend that was in church youth group and Explorers in high school, Mark Read who has lived out here since then. He gave us a guided tour from Forest Grove. He took us to Seaside and showed us the town and the salt-making location of Lewis and Clark. Took us to Astoria and we saw the Astoria tower which is a real good location of seeing the mouth of the Columbia river and over to Washington. The tower is neat with engraving of significant points in history. We then went to Tillamook and visited the beach. Mark and I walked thru a tunnel and went to a small separate beach. We had supper at a real good seafood restaurant by the beach. I had the grilled salmon with a Cajun sauce.

Day 5

Drove from Baker City to Portland Oregon. Interesting scenery. I was glad i had taken first exit to Baker City as I would have gotten room on I-84 and never seen the city.

Drive today was thru mountains, plains, deserts and then to the Columbia River gorge. Lots of nice sites. Ate lunch at Shari’s restaurant (my wife's name, confused her when I called from table and asked what she recommended at her place) and food was good. Columbia River gorge is beautiful. Lots of windmills.

Saw a hardwood tree farm, trees raised in rows as the tree farms raise in south Georgia. Had not seen hardwood raised that way.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Day 4

Drove about 400 miles today from Ogden Utah to Baker city Oregon. Went across Utah and now in Pacific Time Zone. Eastern Oregon has a totally different appearance and took lots of pictures there. While in Idaho a man driving an antique car (Model A) from Lexington SC pulled up at rest stop. Talked with him and got pictures of his car. He is driving it to 48 states and already to San Diego and he says does good on hills. When i passed him he was doing 50. Went thru Hells Canyon in Oregon which really looks nice and took a lot of pictures. stopped in one tiny town and got picture of street sign of Arthur (my first name) and Oregon Trail names. When got ready to stop pulled off at Baker City and checked in at knight's Inn. It is a beautiful town. Rated by USAToday and Rand McNally as most beautiful small town. I wandered streets shooting pictures and it is beautiful.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

day 3

Drove across Wyoming and most of Utah today and stopped in Ogden Utah. Another 600 miles and 100 or so pictures. Stopped at Tree in the Rock in Wyoming and enjoyed seeing it. Was there when pioneers came thru and the trees live to 2000 years so who knows how old. The Utah welcome center at Echo was really good. Beautiful views up and down the valley (climbed hill for some pics. Prairie dogs were by walk and took some pics of them. Went out to where golden spike was driven on joining railroads but got there after closing so just pics of area and upper salt lake. Beautiful views all day. Saw a number of wind farms and some windmills not working, not sure why.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Day 2

Drove from Lawrence Kansas to Loveland Colorado today. Gas price in Colby Kansas was strange. Price posted was 3.49 When I swiped card and noticed price on pump when I chose unleaded it was 3.59 I then discovered plus was 3.49 so I go plus. Showers in morning and hit rain in late afternoon. Now on mountain time. Staying at Hiway Motel in Loveland CO. The rolling prairie in Kansas was nice and now seeing Rockies is great.

Day 1

The first 6 days were going to Rogers Arkansas (drove from Georgia thru Tennessee to Arkansas) and assisting with the DNNBGCM. I shot just over 1000 oics there (850 in BB and 150 in airgun). Stayed in real nice Embassy Suites and paid $10 per night for Internet. Matches were real good and nicest spot in almost 20 years of doing them. Go Daisy! Toured plant and museum. Walmart museum has been redeled and is much nicer. Braums ice cream locations are the best.

Left at about 4 after ceremony and drove into Missouri (past Joplin and Carl's Junction) into Kaansas and spent night at Super 8 in Lawrence. Internet free here

Saturday, June 18, 2011

trip

I will be traveling out west going to Rogers Arkasas of DNBBGCM to Portland Oregon to San Francisco to Los Angeles to Arizona and back to Georgia. I will be writing about the and posting here. Pictures will be at dwightwatt.shutterfly.com