Spring Break in the Chiricahua Mts.

This year for Spring Break we decided to go visit the Chiricahua Mts. in southern Arizona.   James and I visited Chiricahua National Monument in 1996, but it was time to take Grace.  We were very curious about how things would be since the Horseshoe 2 fire last summer.  

We headed to the monument and found a campsite at the Bonita Campground.  It was nice, but the sites are way too close together for our liking.  The bathrooms in a CCC-built building were very nice with new tile and flush toilets.

First we went to the visitor's center to pick up Grace's Junior Ranger booklet.  Then we drove the road up into the park and stopped along the way.   It truly is a "Wonderland of Rocks"

Massai Pt

Here is Grace looking at the China Boy formation.  Grace couldn't see it.  She didn't know the traditional hat that the Chinese wore.  When we got home, I showed her a picture and she then got it, but thought it was weird.  

Faraway Ranch House

Within the Monument there is the Faraway Ranch.  It was a guest ranch for many years that operated outside of the monument.  In 1973, the Park Service acquired the ranch and it became part of the monument.  The ranch is a fun place to visit.  The chimney of the main ranch house has the names of Buffalo Soldiers carved into it.  They also have a nice little display on the ranch and the CCC in the monument. 

After the visit to Faraway Ranch we headed to the visitor’s center so Grace could get her Junior Ranger Badge.  She is now has over 30 Junior Ranger badges.  At Chiricahua National Monument you get a patch instead of a pin-on badge, which is very nice, since the pins pop off and get lost.  One of these days, I will sew the patch on Grace’s Camelbak.  

The next day we headed to Fort Bowie National Historic Site.  To visit Fort Bowie you have to hike in a mile and a half to the visitor’s center and the ruins of the fort.   

Apache Spring

We hiked in and on the way we passed the reason for the fort, Apache Spring.  When Grace saw it she said, “That is it?”  She had read about the fort before our visit and I think she was expecting a big gushing spring, not a little trickle of water.  We sat had a drink from our water bottles and pondered all who had drunk from the spring before us, Geronimo, Cochise, General Howard, countless natives and military personal, pioneers, and now us.

We got to the fort and picked up Grace’s Junior Ranger booklet.  We then went around to many of the ruins.  I had no idea what a big place it was.  The big problem was they put the fort above the spring, so the spring became contaminated, so they had to pump water from a spring in the next valley over.  It is kind of funny all that conflict and then it becomes useless to them.  

Another Junior Ranger!!

The fort has a long history of the conflict between pioneers, then the military and the Apaches.  The Park Service does a very good job of telling the story without judgment on either side.  When Grace asked us who was right we replied, “They were both right.  Both sides were just fighting to preserve their way of life.”  Grace said, “Aren’t most wars fought for way of life?”  She is right.  I have a smart kid!!!

Fort Bowie is definitely worth a visit. 

We had planned on camping in the National Forest, but had heard from many people of the devastation the forest had sustained from the Horseshoe Fire 2 that had raged for over a month in 2011.  So, we stayed in the Monument’s campground for the first three nights.  On the third day, we headed out to drive over the mountains via Pinery Canyon road and survey the damage.  Our goal was Sunny Flat Campground near Portal, AZ. 

When we started over the mountains you could see the road was the fire line.   

Green on one side, black on the other. 

Then we got up higher and all we could see was burned trees, it was a crowning fire and the damage was extensive.  I am not sure what the plan is for forest, but I expect it will be a long time before the forest recovers. 

Our campsite!!

We ended up in one of our favorite campgrounds.  We typically try to avoid campgrounds as a rule.  Why have a Dormobile and go where everyone else goes?  We have it to go where others are not willing or able to venture.  But Sunny Flat is a campground we go back to time and time again.  It was designed by a camper, for campers, but the best reason is the scenery. 

We spent the next day relaxing, reading and watching Grace build dams in the creek. 

Grace setting up my bed!

 One of the great parts about Grace getting older is she is expected to help out more:)

After seven days and six nights we reluctantly headed back to civilization and “real” life.

How to Pick Up a Range Rover in Style

About a year and a half ago James and I decided we wanted another Range Rover Classic. I was the main force behind this decision. When I first met James in 1995, he had a Series III, 88 inch wheel base Land Rover. We went on a trip to Moab and met up with a friend from Colorado. He had a Range Rover. I was hooked and the next year, I came back with a Range Rover of my own. We used that Range Rover at our wedding, brought Grace home from the hospital, and drove it to over 290,000 miles. Our wedding picture with the Rover is still on our photographer’s website - http://www.lindastoryphotos.com/page4.html I love the Dormobile, but it is hard to drive, and I missed the ease of a modern car, and my old Range Rover.

We had looked at multiple different RRC’s. Then this spring one of our Land Rover friends in Northern California put his on the market. We knew this was the one we had been waiting for. I showed Grace a picture of it, she was so excited. She said, “It is just right for us. The Dormobile has a green body with a white roof and this Range Rover has a green body with a white roof.” She was so excited and then at dinner that night said, “I have got it!! We have a Dormobile and now we will have a “Rangemobile!” It is kind of ironic because in 1999 both our Dormobile and our Range Rover were on a Mendo Club trip around the Four Corners area. Back then the Rangemobile was white. It got new body panels after a trip through the Rubicon.

So this summer we were off on another great adventure. One could argue that buying a 19-year-old Range Rover is silly, buying one 1000 miles away is crazy, and setting off on that long road trip to pick it up in a 43-year-old Land Rover in the hot summer months is foolhardy. I just think of it as being optimistic.

After two long hot days of travel across the desert we were there. Here are some of my favorite spots along the way.

Paso Robles -

James and I had traveled through here in 1999 and loved all the wineries. We made a point to hit a couple of our favorite wineries and found some new favorites.

Elephant Seals –

About a mile north of Hearst Castle there is a beach where Elephant Seals hang out. It is very cool to see them in their natural habitat. These seals even have their own webcam - http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25732

Camping at Laguna Seca Raceway –

This was so unique for me!!! There was no need for an alarm clock. We were woken up bright and early by the race cars. So fun to eat breakfast and watch the races!!!

Golden Gate Bridge –

Grace was so excited about getting to go and take the Dormobile over the Golden Gate Bridge. She was so sure we could get a shot of the Dormobile on the bridge. When we told her that would be just about impossible, she understood once we were there. She loved it all the same.

Camping on the beach at Bodega Bay –

Grace played and played in the freezing water. Grace’s lips were blue and she was shivering, and when she finally got out all she could say was, “I am not cold!”

Visit to Korbel Winery –

In the Russian River Valley there are many wineries. We really enjoyed the Korbel winery. We found out that Korbel “Natural” is the Champagne that has been served at every Presidential Inauguration since the early 1900”s. So, drinking it is kind of fun!!! (Cost Plus sells it.) The winery also has a cool history of immigrants who came to this country for a better life and found it.

Camping in the Redwood Forest –

We camped one night among the Giant Redwoods. So Cool!!! Plus, we had purchased some crab right off the dock and had Champagne and fresh crab for dinner. Yum!!

Redwood Forest where “Return of the Jedi” was filmed –

This drive was kind of surreal. We kept thinking a Storm Trooper would come out around a tree, or that two legged robot thing would appear. It was a fun drive. I wish we would have had the Star Wars score on our MP3 players. I would have downloaded it if we would have had cell phone service, instead we just imagined.

Picking up the Rangemobile –

June 21^st – This was our 14^th wedding anniversary. Did you know 14 is the Range Rover anniversary? We arrived at Granville’s house to pick up my Range Rover. We have known Granville and Melanie for many years and they were gracious hosts to James, Grace and I. They have chickens and roosters, one rooster kept trying to attack me. Their dog, Rosie, always came to my rescue. Grace loved Rosie and seeing all the chickens.

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks –

Half of a day is not enough time to explore these parks. We will be back at some point in the future. The drive through the Giants is not to be missed. One of the most interesting things I learned was that they cut down a 24 ft diameter tree to take to the World’s Fair in 1912. They could not transport the whole tree so they just took a cross section of the tree, and the World’s Fair would not let them display it, because they thought it was a hoax.

Homeward Bound –

We drove early in the morning and late in the day, since neither car had air conditioning. Around Needles, we had an issue with the infamous ignition module overheating on the Range Rover, so James squirted water on it and the engine fired right up again. The sunroof also had a rock hit it while on Highway 95 in California and shattered. We duct taped it and drove on home.

The trip up Highway 1 was awesome. I am so happy to have the new addition to our family of cars. Our adventures with it are just beginning. Grace is already talking about how she is going to learn to drive on the Rangemobile. I can’t wait to teach her. I have a feeling it won’t be too long before she is driving off pavement.

Parker 4-Wheeler Rally Veterans Day 2010

We went to the Parker 4-Wheeler Rally this Veterans Day weekend.  We were not sure what to expect.  It is a really different rally than any of the Land Rover Rally's we have been to in the past.   When we pulled in to La Paz County Park on Thursday evening, we registered and signed up for a trail the next day.  We knew nothing about the trails and when I asked questions the staff didn't really understand why someone would want an easy trail.  So we signed up for El Supremo Wash.  It was rated a 3 and did not have any pictures of cars on their sides or turned over.  Plus it said there were "go-arounds" for obstacles.

We asked about camping and the guy helping with camping asked if we were the people in the "Range Rover"  We laughed and said we had the Land Rover, but it is far from a Range Rover.  He didn't know the difference and didn't think there was one. 

Camping was kind of open and we could camp anywhere we wanted.  We went and found a small tent site near a restroom.  We camped by some people who live at the campground and a few others from the rally.  They were all very nice and welcoming. 

On Friday, we lined up for our trail.  On our trail we had one Toyota, 18 Jeeps and an Old Chevy Blazer.  We headed out toward the Buckskin Mts.  Then up El Supremo Wash.  At this point I started driving.  I needed to be spotted through the wash at a sharp turn.  The trail leader is looking at James and telling him what to do.  All of the sudden he realizes I am the driver and that our car is right hand drive.  After a couple of loud bangs from his spotting.  I tell James to get out and spot.  He tells me he is not so good a spotting. (which is true) But in this situation he is the best.  He knows our car, clearance and handling better than anyone else there.  Everyone one else has at least 33 inch tires and 3 or 4 more inches of ground clearance than we do.  So, I explain this to him and he decides he should help with the spotting from here on out. 

Here are two videos of me driving.  On this trip, it is the first time we have let Grace out of the car. We gave her the video camera and you can see she listens well to her parents. 

Video: Grace Listens Well

The second video is me getting up the wash.  Guess how many times I stall the vehicle.  

Video: Kelly may stall, but gets through

During that obstacle I think I stalled 5 times, but that is how you learn.  Grace is the videographer.  One thing I must say is the guys on this trip were so great!!  I have been on lots of Land Rover trips where men make me feel small and inferior because I am a woman.  Not these guys!!!  They didn't care if I stalled or took all day.  They kept saying we were there to have fun and that is what we were going to do.  It was awesome to have them be so great towards me.  

After this we came to a really hard obstacle where I asked James to drive.  I am not good at stick and without power steering my arms were getting very tired.  As we moved up the wash, I did not notice that James was moving again.  I was out talking with others.  And that is when we got the dent in the side of the car.

May not seem like much, but I had damage to my car.  The car has gone 42 years with no damage and here I am not paying attention and we get a dent.  Once I realized James was moving I ran up and took over the spotting for our car.  They wanted him to back up and go over a rock.  I knew this would be very bad.  So, the guys did some road building.  At one point, one of the guys was spotting James and I was standing next to him, spotting too.  The guy said, "He is only looking at you.  Do I even need to spot?"  I said, "No"  He said, "James listens only to you and what you say seems to trump what all of us say."  See I am a good spotter, and I have learned over the years that when I don't speak up, because I let some guy make me feel inferior, something breaks on my car.  I have decided that I don't care if I hurt people's feelings or egos.  It is my car and so I have the final say.  At our lunch stop one of the guys said he really liked me because I was more like a man and didn't care what they thought. I was just going to do it my way.  Not sure if that was a complement, but that is how I am going to take it.

Video: Jeep getting stuck

As most of you who have been on a trail know, there is always one person, usually a guy, who thinks he is the best driver and doesn't need any help or advice.  This video is that guy.  For this obstacle we were happy to take the "go-around"  Everyone was told if they did not have lockers they should take the "go-around"  This guy did not listen.  It is always nice to see someone else's truck get stuck.  It is worth noting that on a earlier "go-around" he did not take it either and also got stuck.

After this we had lunch right there.  At lunch we realized we were the only people who had driven our car to the rally.  Everyone else had trailered their car.  They were all amazed we could take ours on the freeway and also be on the trail.

After lunch we went up to the Vampire Mine and down through a cool wash.

Video: Cool Wash

Here we met up with the main graded dirt road.  It was around 1pm and I was tired.  The group was going to take off down some other wash.  I was exhausted and wanted to just head back to town.  So, at this point we broke from the main group.  On our trail the owners of ASFIR 4X4 were also on our trail, the father, Eitan, and his daughter Karen.  Karen was doing the driving and she did great.  I was so glad to see a young woman out there driving off road.  Yeah!!  Anyway, they did not want to leave us by ourselves so we drove into Parker and had lunch together.  Great people!  Here is a link to their website.  www.asfir.com  They sell skid plates among other things.  We are getting a diff plate from them. 

That evening they had a car crush at the campground.  We had never been to one of these before.  Grace was so excited and couldn't wait.  We went over to where ASFIR was set up and Grace was able to sit on their car so she could see the action. She was mesmerized.

It was very interesting.  A morbid fascination.  Like I shouldn't want to watch, but I just can't help myself.  Like gawking at a traffic accident.

I was not there for the beginning of the car crush, but I was told that several guys tried to get over and rolled.  The first two to get over were women.  Girl Power!!

On Saturday, we signed up for the easiest trail they had.  It was Finger Mountian on the California side of the river and was rated a 2.5.  It was much more our speed.  It was "scenic"  which I figured out to a lot of people is kind of a bad word around there. 

We were on a trip with 4 other Jeeps.

It was a very nice drive and just what we like.  A little low range, but no danger of damage. 

When we finished a couple of other trucks wanted to go up and drive over the Parker Dam.  So, we went to the dam.

That night a camp they had a dinner and raffle.  Since the kids get bored very easily they had a "Kid's Quest"  It was a jumpy castle and blow up obstacle course.  Grace loved it!

For the kids there was also a "quarter dive"  They buried $30 in quarters and the kids got to find them.  Grace found $2.

There was also an articulation ramp.

 Here is an 11 year old in his Dad's golf cart trying the articulation ramp.
Not the smartest thing I have ever seen.

They had two raffles, a raffle with mostly Jeep stuff and a 50/50 raffle.  We bought tickets for both, but did not win anything.  Too bad about the 50/50, the take home was over $1200. 

On Sunday, we woke up early and headed home.  Grace had a piano recital and we needed get home for it.  We had a fun weekend and met lots of great people.  We know we didn't quite fit in, but people were still very friendly and nice. It was a good weekend!

Fall Break - Eight Days in the Dormobile

This year for Grace's fall break from school we decided to go to Chaco Cultural National Historic Park.  James and I have planned at least 4 other trips to Chaco before, but there have always been problems.  Twice it snowed, and the other times it was over 90 degrees.  This year the weather cooperated and we set off on our longest trip yet in the Dormobile.

The first problem with eight days in the Dormobile and going to a place like Chaco is there is no electricity or ice to be found in Chaco.  So, we borrowed a 60 quart Norcold fridge from Jeff Scott, and we are so grateful for the loan.  James gave me the measurements of the fridge, but I didn't really realize how big it really was.  I had to fit the huge fridge plus everything else we need for 8 days into the little Dormobile.  My idea for the trip was to try and have everything we needed with us and not have to rely on finding a grocery store for supplies along the way.  We were going to be mostly on and around the Navajo Reservation, and you never know if you will be able to find what you need.

It was crowded, but we made it work.

This summer James had mostly installed an air conditioner, but he had not finished the vents and ductwork.  We also took the speakers from our old Range Rover and put in an mp3 jack.  Here is what the dashboard looked like.  It was a strange mix of old and new technology.  

Passenger side of dashboard.

Grace's Fancy Air Conditioning Vent,  ;)

Our first day was a Saturday and anyone who has spent much time with James and I knows we are not morning people.  So, we set a goal of being on the road by Noon.  We were on the road by 11:45 am and felt very proud to be out early.  We headed towards Wilcox on I-10.  We had made a conscience decision to stay off the freeways as much as possible.  This stretch between Tucson and Wilcox was our longest bit on the freeway.  When we got to Wilcox we went to Apple Annies produce stand to stock up on fresh vegetables for our trip.  Next we headed up 191 to State Route 78.  We had planned on camping somewhere near Reserve, NM.  The Land Rover had a different plan.  On State Route 78 you climb up out of the desert into the pines.  Our Land Rover started spewing smoke from under the hood.  So, we stopped and camped at Blackjack Campground.

 

Link to google maps for more details on route.

Here is our route for the trip.

Once we arrived at the campground, James realized it was only the radiator cap.  He knew this one was getting old, and had one in the carport at home.  But he had forgotten to pack it.  So, since it is a pretty common cap, we would just pick one up along the way.

The second day we headed into New Mexico.  We went through some pretty remote areas and wished we could live in a place like this.  Away from people and cities, but Grace needs a good school.  So, that dream will have to wait for 10 or so more years.

Our first stop at a monument was La Ventana Arch in El Mapais National Conservation Area.  

Then we went through what was called the Narrows.  I couldn't find any real description of this online and was very curious about it.  I was very cool!  There are 500 foot cliffs on one side of the road and the other side is a lava flow.  There is just this narrow strip of land in between.  I couldn't get a got picture of it, but it was definitely a unique experience.

The next are we stopped at was the Sand Stone Bluffs.

What a neat place!

It was about 4pm in the afternoon, so we decided to camp on Mt. Taylor at the "Coal Mine" campground.  We drove into Grants, NM.  Stopped at the auto parts store and got a new radiator cap.  Grants is not the nicest town in America and on the way out of town we passed a large prison complex and the desert was strewn with trash.  So, I was nervous about camping there, but when we got to the campground it was very nice and a pleasant surprise.

The next day we drove down State Highway 53 to El Morro National Monument.  This monument is a collection of prehistoric petroglyphs and inscriptions from early Spanish and English explorers.  The monument was the only year round water source in area, so everyone stopped here for a break.

Very few women inscribed on the bluff.  One was Miss A. F. Baley.  Her full name was America Frances Baley.  She stopped here as part of a wagon party from Missouri to California in 1858.  This wagon train was one that was attacked by Mojave Indians at the Colorado river crossing.  This is one of the reasons Ft. Mohave was established.  I had read about this particular attack when we drove the Mojave Road in California a few years before, so it was interesting to read about another part of that event.

Grace got her first of six Junior Ranger pins at El Morro.

Next we visited the El Malpais Visitor's Center.  Since we had spent so much time in the park the day before, Grace was easily able to fill out her Junior Ranger booklet.

She got her Junior Ranger badge.  It was very nice.  The Rangers made a big deal out of it and went outside in front of the National Park Sign.  Grace was so excited and beaming.  El Malpais is worth the side trip off  Interstate 40 if you are passing by.  We loved it! 

Now we head to Chaco Canyon and are hoping with get there before dark.  Next post will be Chaco.