Our interest in Kanab was the atving that was available in the area. Many of the trails are sand, make that all of them are sand in the immediate area. Somewhere exciting(got stuck, missed trail turnoff etc) and many lead to scenic views of the valley below us. The highest elevation was just under 8000 ft. We did 6 rides in the Kanab area and one ride in the Kaibab Forest for a total of 133.1 miles. We really liked the forest riding, no sand and lots of trees. Also about 15 degrees cooler!

We took several “rides” in the car to explore the area. One of our trips was to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. This park has huge sand dunes, that with the right light look coral pink. Since we do not like sand, we decided not to ride there. Another day car trip we took was to the Grand Canyon North Rim. Tuesday the 15th the road to the park opened for the season. The lodge was smaller than the south,however the food in the dining room was reasonable and good. Some great views from the lodge, probably the best in the park. In fact the lodge was built around this view. We did have to wait  in line to get into the park! Only one lane and it was opening day! It was a little hazy, maybe due to the fires to the south?

Our visit to the Kanab area is coming to a close. We will be leaving here tomorrow the 18th and will head to Circleville, Utah for the next 2 weeks.                                                                                                                                             Circleville sits at 6,060 feet in elevation in Circle Valley, surrounded by the mountains of south-central Utah. The name is derived from the shape of the valley, which widens out into a wide, round shape here, in contrast to the other long, narrow valleys along the Sevier River. The flat valley floor indicates that a lake once occupied this valley. Mountains reach above 10,000 feet on all sides of Circleville. Mt. Dutton, prominently visible to the south, is 11,041 feet tall. Thick alpine forest cover the tops of the mountains, with junipers and sagebrush on the lower slopes. With the valley floor in irrigated farmland, Circleville is surrounded by beautiful green scenery.

There are 2 major atv trails in the area, the Paiute Trail and the Fremont trail. Both have hundreds of miles of riding. Hopefully the snow will have melted by the time we get there. Circleville has a population of only 549 folks! Does have a restaurant and a mercantile that sells groceries.

So until later, keep in touch!

Happy Trails

Rincon is very nice with paved streets, air conditioned buildings and lots and lots of activities. Our lot size was big enough to park the car and trailer and still have a concrete patio to sit on and enjoy the weather! The cost for a season(5 months) will cost just a little more than a 50 amp site at DT. So we made a reservation for next winter! We had been at DT for 5 years and decided we needed a change of scenery. Our friends Ron and Loretta will also be spending the winter here.

We left Tucson on the morning of the 26th and headed to Dewy, AZ, to a park called The Orchards. A very nice rv resort, made up of park models, manufactured homes and rv sites. Lots of activities and very friendly.

Our intent was to stay for 4 days and then leave for Page, AZ. We visited with a cousin, Joy and Tom Brown from Morris Illinois. Joy and I are cousins and have not seen each other for over 40 years! We had a great time catching up and reminiscing about family reunions at my grandparents farm, especially “down at the creek”!

I said our intent! We started to pull our slides in to get ready to leave and our drivers side slide would not come in! So I called a repair service and found out our motor and gearbox needed to be replaced! Very expensive part and the overnite shipping was not cheap either! Fortunately I had extended warranty insurance, which picked up most of the cost. We stayed an extra 2 nights waiting for the repair. Went to pay and found out someone was due into my site! Manager Sue said no problem and comped both our sites! Now that is service.

Our next stop was Wahweap RV park, in Glen Canyon, Page Arizona. What great rv sites. Long enough we did not have to unhook our “train” . We only had 75 miles to Kanab, Utah the next day. We arrived early afternoon and got setup on nice long back in sites with room to put the car and trailer in front! Also got our satellite internet service!

Friday we took an atv trip of about 16 miles. The area was very sandy and easy riding. Today, Monday we will be going on another ride in a different area.The weather has been cool, just as I like it. Due to warm up next week. Our ride today was 24.5 miles through some mountains and sandy areas. The area is largely sand with some rock out croppings. As we progress north we will be going to higher elevations and it will get rockier.

Kanab is a tourist town, centered around the western theme and movie making. A lot of old movie sets are still here in town. We drove to an old ghost town that was used for a movie set. Much of it was falling down. It had been used for episodes of  Gunsmoke. The town is very clean with 2 groceries, several gas stations, a Subway, Pizza Hut, Wendys and a McDonalds, plus several local eateries.

Well time for supper! Isn’t it always time to eat!!

Happy trails.

It has been a good winter season. Geocaching was great! Thanks Reeve and and Susan for gathering and printing all the geocaches. Thanks to Bill and Elaine for their great insruction at the Shooting range and thanks to all the atvers for following me on our fun filled trips.

We too will soon be leaving, April 26th. We will meet Ron and Loretta on the road to begin our 2012 ATV adventure to Utah, Colorado and Nebraska, before returning to DT. Looking forward to atving in Utah! Lots of neat trails and things to see. We will spend 2 months there and 3 months in Colorado. Higher elevations means cooler weather!! Take a look at the “Our routes” page to see a graphic of our route.

Yes our itinerary does say Australia! November 9th we will leave for Australia, to observe a total solar eclipse and to celebrate my younger brothers 50th birthday! He will be going with us, as this will be his last continent to visit.

Keep in touch and look for more updates as we begin our travel adventures! Happy Trails

This year was a good year, spent with family and friends, and experiencing new adventures. In December of last year we purchased a Yamaha Rhino side x side atv. So began our ATVing adventures. One of our first rides, resulted in being towed back to the trailer.(Dead battery) Another ride (in Colorado) resulted in the fuel pump going bad and being towed back. Then there we the muffler problems! But we did have fun!!!!
After visiting family in California and Oregon, we visited with Shar and Mike Reynolds in Island Park,Idaho, on our way to Cody, Wyoming to visit with Bill and Elaine Tabacinski, who were campground host at Absaroka Bay rv park.
Then it was on to Howard Colorado to meet up with Ron and Loretta Shuman at Banderas Bunkhouse. We spent 2 months there and had a great time, atving and hanging out with friends, Dick and Sandie Buckmaster, Ben Leedle, John and Leora Meadows. My children Heath and Heather and families also came and stayed at BB for a week. We had a great time, fishing, atving, horseback riding and just visiting with each other.

Our next adventure was in Lake City, Colorado. We stayed on private property,of Dan and Anita Plies, with Victor and Charlotte Westmoreland, And Ron and Loretta Shuman. We also met David and Candy Bebee, David and Geneva Grove and Gary and Jane, As well as Jerry Springer (no not that one!) Just a few of the folk we met while in Lake City. The property had a lodge, that was rented out, a hydoelectric dam and generator and 4 rv sites. We had a great time. I made a fire every nite, well most nights and we would sit around and spin tall tales.( Victor mostly)

We made several atv trips into the mountains, including our famous ride in a rain storm, where we all came back soaking wet. (Most of us, some turned back before the rain!) As the weather got colder, the aspens began to turn and our atv trips into the mountains resulted in seeing large expanses of gold color in the trees. What a beautiful sight! We also got to see a Moose, beaver and deer. No elk this time. Deer were in our camp site every morning. We ventured to Durango, Colorado for the train ride to Silverton. That also was an experience! Had to wait to clear the tracks of rocks, it began snowing at 8000 feet, 4-6″ of snow in Silverton and the power was out! On the way back we were delayed while the tracks were fixed and while they switched crews! Got back about 8pm, too late to drive back so we stayed another night in Durango.

Soon the “cold” weather prompted Ron, Loretta, Loretta and I to begin our journey to Arizona. First stop, South Fork, Colorado, for some more atv riding. The campground we picked was used to film some of the scenes from Chevy Chase the Vacation. It was a nice area and we were able to atv in several directions, with out trailering to far. Most of our rides took us to 10,000 feet or higher and towards the end of our stay we began to get into snow up to 4″ deep! We also ran into mud! My front tires stick out, so they fling mud up on us! Loretta used a shower curtain to protect herself and I mad a mud flap from an old rug, that helped. Boy what a mess. Once that mud dried, it was very hard to get off! Soon the temperatures were falling below 30 at night and the campground was turning off the water. So it was time to head south once again.

Up until now We had pulled the trailer with the motorhome. We have seen motorhomes pulling double, so we decided to try it. So from South Fork to Santa Fe, we pulled double. 69 feet long. We called it our long brown train! No problems and towed very well. Do need to adjust the rear camera so I can see the trailer. We stayed in Santa Fe a few nights and visited the downtown and the Loretto Chapel and other sights. While at the rv park, Bill Schneider came up to say hi! We met Bill and Susan in Sequim Washington. The were camphosting at GilGal RV park, where we stayed. Small world!

On the road again, this time to Socorro, New Mexico for some trail riding. Then on to Deming, New Mexico before heading into Tucson. Deming was a nice stop and we went rock hounding in Rockhound State Park. Didn’ find anything valuable, but did have a good time.

We arrived at Desert Trails on October 29th and got settled into our rv site. Ron and Loretta had to wait as there site was occupied. We took the train home for Thanksgiving to see family and had a good time and train ride. we have settled in for the winter. Took our first atv ride last week. The weather has been cool and rainy. However the weather has now turned to normal. 70′s during the day and 40′s at night. Just the way I like it! We had a quiet Christmas and enjoyed the day with friends at a truck stop, for dinner and good conversation. Thanks Ron and Rhonda!

That is our year in a nutshell! Hope all are well and will have a safe New Year!

Happy Trails!!!!!

The weather in the last few days has been overcast and cool, with some wind. Sunday we are suppose to see some more rain. At least it has been cool enough that the snakes have gone to ground.

About 13 folks went shooting last Wednesday. A good crowd! Went to Fred’s after to fill our bellies.

Folks are arriving everyday! The park is filling up fast.

Improvements to the park are; Sided the rec hall, painted the Gallery and Oasis, removed 1 set of water tubes and filled in one pool to created 2 more rv sites.

A few more folks have arrived with their atv’s! We may have 6-8 folks going with us on our atv adventures. Ron and Loretta have friends here and we are going back to Illinois for Thanksgiving, so our first ride will be in December. OH! I did go for a ride last week. Pericles’ sister was visiting from England, and wanted to go for a ride in the desert. So I volunteered to take her. She tried riding one of the park atvs, but had trouble steering, so we brought it back and she drove the beast for awhile. Then I drove and gave her a good ride, up a small mountain.

I have 2 new cameras. Both have infra red for night viewing. I have one set up to look into the wash. It is set for motion detection. Last night I got a 5 second video of a javalina! My first sighting. The other is set up in front of the mh looking down the street.

We have put up several Finch feeders and Humming Bird feeder, this year and are getting a lot of birds. Nice to see the different finches fighting for a spot. Also seeing Gila Woodpeckers, Cactus wrens, Curved-bill Thrashers and other birds.

Well that brings you all up to date. We leave by train at 2am the 21st to head to Illinois. Will return the 3rd of December.

Happy Trails!!!

On the way back we were delayed twice to repair the tracks and had to stop once to get a new train crew as they are only allowed to work 12 hours at a time! We finally arrived back at 7:45pm. We were planning on going to Pagosa Springs for the nite, but due to the late hour we stayed in Durango.

We left the next morning to head back to Lake City. Stopped in Pagosa Springs to get a haicut. Great barber, who did a good job. Wolf Creek pass had 10-12′ of snow, but the roads were clear.

Our last day in Lake City was the 11th. We headed to South Fork, Colorado, to spend a few days there and to do some riding. The weather was perfect and we stayed at RiverBend RV. The movie  National Lampoon Summer Vacation shot some scenes here. Nice campground. We stayed about 10 days, before the weather turned on us and the nights started to get cold. I had to wear pants for 3 days in arow!!! Time to move on. We did some mountain riding and ran into snow above 10,000′! Some had melted and made the trails very muddy. This wasn’t good for us, as our wheels stick out and it flung mud everywhere. I made a mudflap from a rug and put it on Loretta’s’ side, which helped some. She also bought a shower curtain to help keep the mud off her.

We left for Santa Fe on or about the 27th. I decided to try pulling the car with the trailer attached, all behind the motorhome. I had seen several units like mine pulling double, so thought I would try. It worked out very well. I am about 69 feet long! We call it our train!

We stayed at the Trailer Ranch RV Park, on the south side of Santa Fe. We were able to take the bus, which stopped outside of the park, downtown to do some tourist activity! We all went downtown (Ron and Loretta). We visited the Loretto Chapel and other historic places as well as doing some window shopping!  Loretta and Loretta went back the next day and got a picture of themselves with the Loretto sign. Loretta,Loretto,Loretta! I joked we  could go back at night and change the O to an A!

A “it’s a mall world” thing happened at the Rv Park. Bill Schneider from Gil GAl RV park in Sequim, Washington, came walking over to the motorhome. Bill and Susan hosted at Gil Gal and remembered our car license plate (6) and thought it was us! It is a small world! You just never know who you may run into.

We left Santa Fe and treked down to Bosque Bird Watchers RV Park, south of Socorro, NM, to spend 2 nights so we could do some more trail riding. A no frills rv park for sure. We rode some desert trails the next day, rested and the moved on to Deming the next day.

2 nights in 81 Palms Senior RV Park, with a visit to Rockhound State Park to look for minerals and gems. I found laying on a rock wall a small Ameythist crystal! Picked up other rocks that would look good in our rock garden in Desert Trails. Our next stop….. Desert Trails!

We are now in Desert trails, so check out the web cams and the D&L weather Station (also this complete weather page) Happy Trails and keep in touch!!!

Fall has arrived in Colorado! The temps in the early am has been in the low 30′s! Frost one morning and the leaves have started to change. One area the locals call”the postage stamp” has completed it’s change. This is the first area on the mountain to change colors in the fall. In the spring this area is the last to have the snow melt! Strange!

We have taken several rides up into the clouds! Our last ride took us to 12,400 ft. Wow what views we saw from there. All around us we saw the mountains turning gold in color. The aspens are rapidly turning. Snow has been observed on the higher peaks and one trail, Engineer pass had snow drifts and will soon be closed!

More and more deer are being sighted in town and at our campsite! Did see a moose on one of our trips. A big bull with a large beard. Have not seen any bears yet, but have seen scat along the road to our site. Locals told Loretta that the bears come into town every night to raid the garbage bins, or at least try.

Soon it will be time to leave for Arizona. But first we are going to try and go to Durango and ride the train to Silverton. They say this is a beautiful ride. Must be as we are having a hard time getting tickets!

Check out Loretta’s facebook for more pictures of the scenery that we saw on our atv rides. Enjoy the fall.

Happy Trails.

The muffler saga continues! It came in on Friday. It was there when we returned from breakfast with Ron, Loretta,Loretta, Sandy and Dick at Patio Pancakes, of course! So I tore open the package and…. it was all there! I had purchased the parts needed to install from the dealer in BV, when the parts he ordered came in minus the muffler, so I was ready to go. I had already taken the roll cage apart and removed the old muffler. So we tipped the box and that is where the fun began.

We tried putting the muffler in from the back, but it kept getting hung up on a frame member. So we tried from the top, from the side, from the other side, from the back, we dropped the header and we tried from the side, from the other side, and one last time from the back. We knew it had to go, so this time I pushed it in till it stopped, then twisted it to the right, then forward, then twisted back to left and it was in!!!! Only took us three hours to complete!!!

So off we went for a ride. Dick and Sandy rode with us. We headed west from Banderas to the gold fields to get some samplings from pits others had dug. We drove to several and in one spot we stopped it was in a thorny patch, so Loretta asked me to back up. Whoa, whats this? I move the gear shift and it still says I am in high. I give it gas and it moves forward. I try to shift to low same thing. It feels like the linkage was broken. We still could go forward, so we headed for home.

We arrived back okay. I took off the console and sure enough the bolt had come out of the linkage arm. Good news the bolt and washer was on the plate below! Put it back in and put the console on and it was as good as new.

We took another trail ride on Saturday to Texas Creek. It was about 18 miles from Banderas. Great trails and a beautiful area to ride. We took our last ride, Monday. We again went west to Wellsville and took some new trails to some quarries, then back to the highline trail to another new trail, following it until it dead ended then back to the highline trail back to Banderas. 33.5 miles in total. The Beast is so quiet now. Ron and Loretta appreciate that and so do we!

So keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel.

Happy Trails.