Canyon De Chelly from Top we were taking pictures from the spot you see below yesterday

Dear Readers today started as promised with a few quick snapshots of Canyon De Chelly from the North Rim.  Then we headed to the four corners monument (Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico meet here).  After much map reading and analysis we took a shortcut on a Navajo Reservation road.  Yours truly agreed wholeheartedly with Faithful and Obedient's orienteering skills that led us to conclude we could save several miles by taking what the map said was a paved back road.  Instead of like 60 miles we would ride 45 on this path and cut the trip by 15 or 20 minutes.  The road was paved for the first 8 miles or so, then ......dirt.  Several washouts were encountered as well.  Miraculously we made it without once a discussion of who's idea was this!  It actually turned out to be fun and added some "interest" to what would have been a pretty bane excursion.

We reached four corners safely and snapped a few mandatory shots, then onward to the recross the continental divide at Wolf's pass Colorado (elevation 10,700 feet).  My faithful followers may remember a shot with me sitting on the divide on our trip west a whole month ago!

We have heard Stowe's fall colors are already peaking, hopefully a little will be left when we get back.  We did see some pretty Aspens in fall splendor but I must tell you readers nothing compares to good old eastern hardwoods for a true fall festival.  We can hardly wait.

Faithful and Obedient companion and I are settled in at a Comfort Inn in Pueblo Colorado.  Discussions continue about routes home.  More as we go.  Until then

Adieu

Looking for Navajo Warriors Murray Rider?

Massacre Cave spot where Spanish soldiers killed Navajo Men Women and Children  in 1805

Would you travel 30 plus miles on this?  We did!

To get here!  Faithful and Obedient celebrated by dancing in 4 states at once (Four Corners Monument!)

Chimney Rock Colorado

Remember Murray at East to West Crossing a Month ago?  Back on the Atlantic side at last!

Wolf Pass Colorado Fall Colors of the Aspens in bloom can't wait to see Vermont's!

"ABC" or Another Beautiful Canyon

My Faithful and Obedient Companion has, for several years, wanted to visit a certain place in Northeast Arizona.  It is on a Navajo Reservation but is also a US National Monument (since 1931).  The land is considered a huge part of Navajo heritage and was once the land of the Anasazi (Ancient Pueblo Peoples).  It is unique in that it is the only National Monument administered jointly by the US Park Service and the Navajo Nation, whose people still inhabit the canyon.  It’s name Canyon De Chelly.  

 At one time several years ago Barbara had heard of the beauty of this place and we planned a visit that just never happened. Those of you who remember that I was an Anthropology Major would no doubt think this visit was my idea, but it was not.  I did enthusiastically embraced it when it looked like it would fall into our general route home.  Neither of us were disappointed, in fact we enjoyed our day thoroughly.  This despite the fact that for the first time this trip we never saw the Canyon from the top (we will be sure to do so tomorrow before we leave).  Instead we signed on to a Navajo run (the only way you are allowed in the lower Canyon is with a Navajo Guide-in this case Dave) Pick-up truck (Bed was Modified with seats for like 14 of us) tour.  We took the ½ day version.

First let me say that if you are in the market for a pick up buy a Dodge Ram.  There were no real roads in the Canyon just ruts, and the truck was rugged to say the least. The 160 Navajo families who have “summer camps” (small farms really) all use 4 wheelers.  The canyon by now is pretty empty of  these Navajo (except a few spots where our truck stopped and vendors were selling Navajo jewelry etc.).  Our guide Dave said he spent summers in the Canyon for the last 60 years.  This is considered sacred ground by the Navajo who have lived here (along with some Hopi who would wonder in from time to time) for about 800 Years.  Prior to that it was occupied for almost 1,000 years by the Anasazi  (Ancient Pueblos).  Note we tend to call them them cliff dwellers.

The ride was VERY bumpy but fun and informative.  Dave welcomed us to take pictures of the  petroglyphs and Pueblo Ruins but not to take pictures of any Navajo in the canyon.  We honored that wish on both counts and  had a fun 4 hours..  So without further anthropological BS I will post some pictures ands will follow up tomorrow with a few from the top.  Meanwhile if you want to read more about Canyon De Chelly here is the National Park Service Link NPS Canyon De Chelly enjoy reading more if you like and until next time

Adieu

Petroglyphs put on these walls sometime after 300 AD and before 1200 AD

Anasazi Ruins same period

Ditto

Ancient Pueblo ladder?  No current trail used by locals!  Yes this ladder is used to help climb out of canyon

Let's hope nobody gets hurt!

We were assured that this will not topple for say 1,000 years!!

Uh Oh did I hear Native Jewelry for sale?  Oh yes that's Dave with the "cowboy hat"

Some like dead trees I like big rocks!

Grand Canyon Chapter 2 the South Rim this time

Murray I'm Free Fallin

OK readers,  I will make this brief.  I spent 2 hours last night on a slow connection here on the Navajo reservation where we are staying (a Quality Inn).  My text did not publish nor half my captions.  Pictures took forever to load.

I will not start over (as much as I love ya all).  Faithful and Obedient Companion and I are heading out soon.  We have plotted our plans for returning home, more on that later but likely 5 or 6 more posts to come so check back later!

Murray 

Faithful and Obedient Companion continues her fascination with "dead trees"

A Grand View!

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

A couple of fellow travelers on Route 66

Today's Blog comes to you from the Econolodge in lovely Williams Arizona on legendary Route 66.  Faithful and Obedient companion and I left Blair and Eric and San Diego to head east on the final leg of our journey.  We decided that our trip would take us due east from San Diego with a drive through  Joshua Tree National Park.  Back in August we had optimistically hoped to make a trip North to Glacier National Park, a lifelong dream for yours truly.  However a realistic discussion of timing (Glacier is already starting to close up for winter), coupled with the USMC's delay in getting Eric home eliminated any realistic hope of swinging that far north for any real worthwhile visit.  I guess that will be a dream postponed...until another blog!

One thing became clear to us as we headed into the deep Mojave desert, it is desolate and it is dry!  Remember my corn blog?  Well substitute corn for sagebrush, and Joshua Trees and you get a similar sense of vistas of sameness as far as the eye can see.  The only break was in the stretch between Joshua Tree NP and the Arizona border, here there was little but salt flats and barren hills. This was all beautiful but in a very stark way.

As the blog introduction implies we made it (after a 9 hour drive) to lovely Williams Arizona in the "heart" of Route 66 territory.  It is an interesting town, with an old west feel.  We had a drink at a local saloon and some wings and shrimp for dinner.  Faithful and Obedient Companion had to teach the local bartender what a Martini was, as the waitress brought her a Gin and SWEET VERMOUTH (yech) concoction on the first attempt.  The bartender explained that since they ran out of dry vermouth she would simply use the sweet....after all it did say MARTINI and Rossi on the label!  Of course faithful and Obedient was happy to explain some gin and olives sans the vermouth works best in such circumstances!  The night therefore ended on a very happy note!  I stuck with a sure winner- a bottle of Dos Equis.

Well I will leave you with a few facts on Joshua Trees (thus fulfilling the educational public service portion of my blog), you can read about them below.  Tomorrow we head slightly north ( guess what's there if you cannot wait until the next blog), then west again on I 40 (modern day route 66!).  Hopefully we will get a few more "Kicks" on our way down Route 66!  Until then:

Adieu

 

Main Street Williams Arizona

Joshua Trees in National Park of same name

These tree grow an inch and a half per year.  How old is this baby (not me!)?

Mormon pioneers are said to have named this species "Joshua" Tree because it mimicked the Old Testament prophet Joshua waving them, with upraised arms, on toward the promised land. This unique species grows abundantly at Joshua Tree National Park

Lots of neat rocks,  Joshua Tree NP is a huge Rock Climbing Center

On Route 66 between Twenty Nine Palms Marine Training Center and Needles California

Still on Route 66 they made a TV show about this desolation???  TV is a wasteland!

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY BLAIR & ERIC

This time last year we were having a great time in Charleston.  What a wonderful weekend+ that was.  The youngest Roberts' spent the day together while Jim and I found our way around SD.  We browsed antiques stores (who would know this would keep Murray's interest) and took a walk on the beach.
All in all it was a laid back day.

A trip to the west coast wouldn't be complete without the mandatory sunset picture:

Or the picture of the San Diego Pier:  Some of you may recognize this shot if you've visited us in Vermont.  A similar picture hangs in our 1st floor powder room.

Then there is the picture of the pilings of the pier:

We honor the differences and the gifts of each individual and hope for their safety: 

We thank God for the beauty that surrounds us:

And ask God to bless the newly married:

As well as us old geezers!  Tomorrow we 'hit the road again'.  Stay tuned and God Bless.

Love to all,

Mrs. Murray Rider  

From Sea to Shining Sea or East Coast Versus West Coast Seashore's

OK readers if today's post looks different, and has more errors than usual blame it on 2 things. First it is almost 3 am and I am doing this post cause I could not sleep. Second I am using my Ipad which uses HTML script (wake up reader). Anyway in my sleeplessness I came up with today's posting theme.

Readers this will be an interactive post. I seem to have put you all asleep with my OB commentary. It inspired no comments, either via posted comments or emails. So I am hoping, like a seventh inning stretch to get you all off the couch and responding to my scoring and analysis of today's CONTEST! Simply put Murray Rider(just Murray Rider Faithful and Obedient Companion rolled over and mumbled when I told her I was getting up to "blog", may have been an expletive thrown in as I left the room), is going to weigh in on one of the biggest issues of all time- which is better West Coast or East Coast for that "sea shore " experience. Now I know most of you will have an opinion here. We have some good representation for both coasts, Susan and Dan, Ethel and Jay, Alexa, Steve and Helen have lot's of West Coast and some East Coast history. My college friends Les and Joan, Joel and Norma, Phil and Joan all own East Coast shore houses. Maria and Vern spend a lot of time in Brigantine (ok mat be not). Marla and Bob have Ocean City Maryland experiences galore.

Despite my history of hating the "beach" I believe I can quantify the debate by breaking it down into specific attributes and weighing in on which coast is better. In the end may the best coast win. Oh by the way "west coast is Northern Washington to Right here in San Diego, east coast is Maine to......Texas! No Hawaii, no Puerto Rico, and Alaska is out...who goes to the beach there anyway!

Here we go:

Length of coastline- Just go Maine to Florida and East Coast wins

Sunrises-Dah East Coast rules

Sunsets-Dah West Coast Rules oops there's that damn Florida again, Sarasota, Naples, etc. I will leave it advantage West Coast but it does not win hands down!

Sandy beaches to lay around on- Come on East Coast rocks he!

Speaking of Rocks, how about Grandeur and ruggedness of coast-Oregon,Washington and Big Sur are incomparable, even with fog! Sorry Maine I love ya but no comparison.

Food-Oh come on, New England Claim chowder, LOBSTER, clams etc. Boardwalk Fries, Coney Island HotDogs, Salt Water Taffy. Out West here we have what- Sushi? Heck as much as I love it it's from Japan. East Coast is hands down here.

Music-Sorry East Coast, Under The Boardwalk is a classic, On The Way To Cape May not so much. The West Coast had the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean etc. Not even close here West Coast Rules.

Swimming and playing in the waves-OK anyone notice on the West Coast the only people in the water are wearing rubber suits. East Coast rules.

Surfing-Do I need to ask? The East Coast Doesn't exist, despite what a few nut cases that try in Hurricanes and stuff.

Speaking of Hurricanes and disasters East Coast has that dubious negative vote, as despite Tsunami warnings and rouge wave, the East Coast evacuates all the time, just think Katrina and enough said.

Ok readers did I miss any categories? You West Coast Fans better weigh in because it appears the East Coast has won in my analysis. You all are invited to add your thoughts! For me sleep is finally beckoning. I will finish by saying each coast has a beauty all it's own and I for one will be nodding off to thoughts of a bowel of New England Chowder, watching whales off the Oregon Coast, listening to the Let's Go Surfin Now, with my butt and toes in the sand on a South Carolina Beach, watching a sunrise or sunset somewhere in this great land of ours!

Until Monday

Adieu

PS I have proofed this and see several errors unfortunately posting in
HTML makes it impossible to fix without starting over. Reader is a word confuses you ....figure it out!
Murray says good night

The Ocean Beach (Otherwise referred to as "OB") scene

Our Hotel 

Hello Readers from the Courtyard of the lovely OB Hotel!

As promised I wanted to try to give you a little of the "flavor" of Eric and Blair's "Hometown" here in San Diego.  They live in a section called Ocean beach (OB for short) about 4 blocks from our hotel.

OB is an interesting place.  Some might call it "Eclectic" others trendy, still others "seedy".  Truth is it is all three.  There are sections of Multi-Million Dollar homes, sections of cute bungalows and apartments (Eric and Blair's place for example), and sections of...well let's just say Phi Delt Ocean City Dives.  All three have one thing in common, lots of vagabonds.  I use that term in lieu of "homeless" because I'm not sure which is which.

No matter which section you are in you will see at some point people going through trash bins and carrying their belongings with them.  Here at the beach they are interspersed with people surfing, people sunbathing etc.  I am reluctant to classifying all as homeless because many seem to be young people just "camping" on the beach.  The prime example today are the "Germanic Vagabonds I photoed under the pier on our walk this morning.  As My Faithful and Obedient Companion checked them out one was reading a German newspaper (written in German).  He and his friends had obviously slept under the pier, one was chatting on a cell phone...in German.  So I am very hesitant to claim the have suffered from the US economic downturn as the reason they are there!  Blair claims that she sees many of these vagabonds using cell phones.

Last night we could here some wild partying from the bars near our hotel, until vary late at night.  In the morning My Faithful and Obedient Companion and I discussed the "Atmosphere" of downtown OB.  I said it was kind of like a cross between Wildwood and Longport , NJ.  Barbara felt it was closer to a cross between Wildwood and New Orleans.  Her description was right on. It certainly seemed like we were at the Royal Sonesta Hotel last night!   A final observation on what OB is like, many of the local residents are young people who like to surf, skateboard and party, others are aging baby boomers who like to surf and skateboard and party. A large number of both like tatoos.  I guess in that sense  it is a little Stowe, except we use skis and snowboards.  Oh and since we dress for winter who knows about the tatoos?

This morning we had breakfast at a place across the street from our Hotel.  We were discussing the pro's and cons of living in OB with Eric and Blair.  Blair was saying she cannot wait to move as she is tired of being approached by vagabonds.  Eric said he loved OB (surfing, the local nightlife etc.) and that she was exaggerating the problem. Then a classic event occurred within a couple of minutes (like my Park Ranger story in Zion).  We were seated on a terrace outside and a nice young man approached us from the street and shoved one of those American Sign language cards in our faces obviously asking for some coin in return (Bernie Beury if you are reading this please no offense intended).  We had no problem waving them off, but we saw two people exchange some paper money for cards in the tables near us.  Eric then said "well maybe your right Blair".  Score that one Blair one Eric Zero!

I wanted to post some additional pictures of local lore, however for some reason the blog is stopping me at six.  Rather than fool around in an effort to show you some local surfers, guitar players on the beach and a man going through a trash bin I will leave that to your imagination.  If you want to see views the Hotel has a webcam which can be viewed at  Current View from OB Hotel  Enjoy and until tomorrow

Adieu

Faithful and Obedient Companion in Hotel Courtyard

Germanic "Vagabonds"

Murray Rider on Rocky OB Beach

OB Pier

View from our balcony at OB Hotel surfer in distance

Some Vagabonds across from our hotel

A lazy day

Well readers I hope you all do not mind but My Faithful and Obedient Companion and I had a lazy day today. After Eric's late arrival we slept in, had an oil change to the car (almost 7 thousand miles so far!), late brunch with Eric and Blair. Tonight we treated Eric and Blair to Sushi(Eric craved raw fish). Then we left them to be with some local friends for a night out. No real pics to share today.
We are booked next 4 days at The Ocean Beach Hotel which is on the Ocean about 4 Blocks from their apartment. We resume our travels Monday. Hopefully We will share some local San Diego stuff with you in the meantime. Certainly I look forward to sharing some observations on the local color her in "O.B"!

Eric shared a few Afghanistan Stories with us today let's just say that this deployment was not as self satisfying to him as his Iraq adventure. He is definitely ready to finish his Marine career in May. He is proud of his service as are we!

Many of you posted comments while others have sent nice emails. Thanks for your support. Jean Joan Wurfel I will keep posting until we are back in Stowe. Meanwhile until tomorrow

Adieu

Eric is back in the USA!

Hot of the press.  I will let Pictures be my blog.

Until later 

Adieu

Remember That Sign you all hand printed!

Murray and Blair anxiously waiting

So was Faithful and Obedient Companion!

Here they come!

 Gee Seven Months apart what are we supposed to do again?

Oh yea that's more like it!