Left Salt Lake City on Saturday, 17 January 2015 at 12:10pm after having Marilyn and Duane Fox help me get rid of a few last minute items from the house: two folding tables, one TV, TV stand, one safe, the mattress (couch pad from my previous motorhome) that I slept on the last few nights, a vacuum cleaner, and a few other items; and loading other last minute items, like food from the freezer on the back porch, into the new (2003) 31' Fleetwood Terra motorhome I got at the last minute to replace the old one. Duane and Marilyn had loaned me their Oldsmobile the moment I sold my little Toyota pickup, expecting me to leave "any day now". I think I had it for six weeks or more because, after getting my original motorhome loaded and ready to go, I discovered that it just wasn't going to pull the trailer I had.
            Many friends, especially Lew Ershler, Jon Lindgren, and the Fox's, had been VERY helpful in helping me started on my journey. All of them said they wanted me to stay, but they sure were helpful getting rid of me.
            Special thanks to Marilyn Fox, the cutest 80 year old dance instructor in the world. She and husband Duane really pulled me through with sage advise, hard work, and many trips to the thrift stores and the dump to get rid of my "stuff." Oh yeah, and to the best neighbors in the world, Jubie and Gayleen Varos for taking most of my other "valuable items."
            Arrived at Ray Nelson and Denise Pennington's "Ranch" in Boulder, Utah at about 6:00pm after stopping at the overlooks on Boulder Mountain to take a couple of photographs; really beautiful vistas just at sunset.

Sunday, 18 Jan. - Visited a lot with Ray and Denise and went for a short hike to see a small Indian "granary" Ray had discovered very close to their home. Had a great turkey dinner cooked up by Denise while Ray and I were out hiking.

Monday, 19 Jan. - Went for a short hike with Ray and Denise, then worked on "settling in" to the new motorhome while they went the 35 miles to Escalante to get their hair cut. I just don't understand it. Why would anyone in their right mind drive 35 miles to get their hair cut when I told them I had some clippers of my own? We could have had a hair cutting party!

Tuesday, 20 Jan. - My folks anniversary. It would have been their 75th. Ray and I went for a nice hike to see some great rock formations and to try to find some previously undiscovered Indian ruins. We didn't discover any ruins, but we did see some pretty neat country and found a great, natural "bathtub" at the bottom of a natural, steep, "slip & slide." It would have been a really wild ride down that. It had a few "kickers" in it! Denise was home preparing the house for the cat sitter to come on Thursday evening so Denise and Ray could head to Mexico for a winter vacation. Upon getting back from our hike, I went to my motorhome to prepare to leave on Wednesday. I checked the pressure on all my tires and aired them all up. I had foolishly assumed, since the dealer said they really went over the vehicle when it was traded in, that the air pressure was set properly. All the tires on the motorhome were at 60 lb. They need to have 80 lb. pressure in each. I guess they had checked them. They WERE all set the same; just a LITTLE low.
            To finish out the day, I locked myself out of the motorhome and gave up trying to pick the lock well after dark. At least now I know that the door lock is very secure!

Wednesday 21 Jan. - Tried to pick the lock some more. Determined that it was going to cost me about $400 to get a locksmith or wrecking service to come from another town, and that it would take several hours for them to arrive; Ray tried to drill a hole in the rear window. It shattered without falling out so we unlocked the locks and I crawled in and unlocked the door. It only took about two hours of their rapidly disappearing preparation time. It's really great to have friends that will do "whatever it takes" to get rid of you. - Thanks Ray. You really saved the day.
            Hit the road about 10:30am and headed back over Boulder Mountain. Took more pictures. Stopped at Hanksville to replace three axle grease fitting covers (hubs) that had fallen off my trailer. I really can't imagine how three can come off at once. I've never had even one come off before. The guy at Kiteley's just gave me the grease cups AND installed them for FREE! I sure have good friends and meet nice people!
            Reached Hog Springs on Utah Highway 95 around 2:00pm and realized that I wouldn't reach my destination, a recommendation made by Denise, in time to take in the full museum and ruins at Edge of the Cedars State Park; so I stopped for the night and took real nice 2 hour hike to the two pour-over pools in the right fork of the creek. There were more dog and cat tracks on the trail than there were human tracks, but it was nice to get the exercise and the small canyon was beautiful and serene, but cool. Actually, just right for an uphill hike.

Thursday, 22 Jan. - Awoke about 7:30am and hit the road around 9:30 after airing up a flat tire on the trailer, then deciding I'd better change it. It had a rather large piece of steel in the tread. Did I mention that I have almost any tool I need, but they're stowed away very well in various places on the motorhome and trailer. I wish someone would tell me which ones I'm going to need and when! I could get rid of some and stow the others in easy to access and remember locations.
            I crossed the Colorado river at Hite and arrived at the state park about noon. I spent about 3 hours there, then headed over to the Blanding visitor's and information center to get some info and download my email via Wi-Fi. Downloaded about 850. I've got to do something about that. My domain name server promised that if I'd pay them another $4.95/month, all that spam would go away. NOT!
            I just figured my gas mileage on the motorhome for 34 gal. (75 gal. tank) - 8.55 mpg. It ought to get better when I get out of the mountains and hit the flats. Thank God gas prices have gone down!
            I'm about halfway to Hovenweep National Monument and it's 9:30pm, so I'd better get started on that email.

Friday, 23 Jan. - Went to Howenweap National Monument today and had the whole monument to myself. Had been near before, but never made the turn. Well worth the short trip if you're near. Lots of bang for your buck, so to speak. LOTS of small, but spectacular ruins right on the top of the cliffs and it's only about a 2 hour walk around the whole main canyon. There are other ruins in the park, but I couldn't get close enough with my long rig and it would have been a 10 mile hike from the main center. That afternoon, I drove to Cortez, Colorado with the intention of seeing Mesa Verde National Park the next day.

Saturday, 24 Jan. - Got up around 7:00am, dropped off my trailer at the bottom of the mountain and spent all day at Mesa Verde. Again, the place seemed almost deserted and I had fine, cool weather. I started a tour of the museum at Chapin Mesa Museum, but interrupted that to go on a guided hiking tour of Spruce Tree House, the only large cliff pueblo that can be toured in the winter. It is also the pueblo that is best protected naturally by the cliff overhang and is still in excellent condition, although not completely intact. Time has taken its toll.
            I then completed my museum tour and headed for the 6 mile self guided drive to see many of the other magnificent pueblos and pit houses visible along the road or from viewpoints across the canyons. I was lucky to fall in with a couple from Mississippi that volunteers it the park and thus had my own doubly guided tour. They knew lots about all the ruins. They also mentioned that even though the road and tours to the most spectacular pueblo of all, Cliff Palace, were closed for the winter, I could hike out to the viewpoint. It was about 2 1/2 miles and the sun was already getting low, so I really had to hustle. I made it in about 30 minutes and got there just in time to get some photos, hurry back to my motorhome and exit the park. I had the whole mountain to myself on the hike, shared only by about twelve deer, a couple of coyotes, and some turkeys.
            I really think Mesa Verde rates right up there with the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, and Yosemite as a must see destination. Totally awe inspiring and wondrous. It's really hard to imagine how they managed to build and live in some of the ruins, especially when you realize they had to carry hundreds of 50 to 75 lb. stones up some of the cliffs that would give a modern, experienced climber a tough time just getting there.

Sunday, 25 January - Tuesday, 27 January - Drove to Albuquerque and visited and had great meals with my uncle Robert Cassell and his wife Carol and my cousin Lisa.

            Until next time,
                        May the wind always be at your back.