Walkabout Day 6: Summary

I hope I haven't frightened anyone with my not posting last night. I got into the hotel in Oakhurst late and I was very tired after a long day.

Today's journey took me from Fresno to Oakhurst with a visit to Kings Canyon National Park and a return visit to Sequoia. I wanted to see if I could successfully complete a trip there without getting myself lost.

Day 6 Quick Hits

• What an interesting smell this morning in Fresno. It's reminiscent of growing up in Ft. Worth and the wind would shift and the stench of the stockyards (back when there was actual stock there) would fill the city.
  
• With all this mountain driving I've been doing, I've have opportunity to use my extensive "Hot Brakes Fail" training. That was pretty much a joke for one reader.
  
• I'm sure you're asking how I could possibly afford all the entry fees to all the parks I've been to. I must be filthy rich. Well, yes I am. And thank you for asking. But the parks service has, for just $80 an annual pass that gets you into all the Nation Parks/Forests/Monuments and the like. Had I not had the pass, I would have already spent over $100. The Grand Canyon alone was $25. And I still have 3 or 4 more parks to go to.
  
• For some reason, every third car I see at Sequoia/Kings is a PT Cruiser.
  
• The Germans have moved from the Grand Canyon and have invaded Sequoia. Shouldn't they be home getting ready for Oktoberfest?
  

Walkabout Day 4: Summary

I forgot to start the GPS until I was already an hour into trip. It lost mostly the drive down E. Canyon Blvd and a little of the drive on I-10 to Joshua Tree.

Today's journey took me from Palm Springs through Rancho Mirage and Indio, to Joshua Tree National Park ending up in Barstow. With the Cowboy opener, and to rest a bit, there was a very limited amount of driving today.

Day 4 Quick Hits

• While sitting at Sloan's I noticed a crotchety old man and his wife walk in. He had a big puss on his face and waved his hand at the hostess and told her, angrily "Just sit us". Once at their table he wouldn't sit because "there's goddamn water on this chair." Now, there were four chairs to choose from. Given that his wife should take a dry one, that leaves two dry seats. So why make a big thing about it and stand until that chair is dried? Seriously, what makes people get like this, so bitter and angry at everything? I know what did it for me. But I want to know what happened to others.
  
• While driving to Barstow, in one of the little towns on the way I witnessed this 600 lbs. dude (at least) cross the street in his Rascal. And I've wondered for a while if we as a society should allow the morbidly obese access to Rascals and the like. Do we really want to make it easier to get to the Carl's Jr? And, yes, there was really a Carl's Jr across the street, where he was heading. The old people can still have access. Shit, I just picked up a catalog my own self.
  

Walkabout Day 3: Summary

Day 3 travel took me from Flagstaff AZ to Palm Springs CA with a detour through Sunset Crater National Park, Wapatki National Monument and the Grand Canyon.

Day 3 Quick Hits

• In Arizona there are no Mexican Restaurants. They're all called Mexican and American restaurants. I guess they're still feeling the sting of giving up the Gadsden Purchase.
• While standing at Starbucks in Flagstaff I saw this dude and wondered "Do the guys with the large flat-billed trucker hats know how ridiculous they look. Do chicks dig it??"
• On the way up to the GC, every lookout point has a Navajo trinkets booth. It's the usual stuff -- pottery, blankets, jewelry. Isn't it time to update the Native American image? Maybe sell a line of fine fountain pens, or maybe sign people up for Dish Network. Just sayin.
• It was amazing that most of the people visiting , and it was crowded at the GC, did not speak English. In fact it seemed as though most spoke French, with another large protion speaking German.
• I'm not an anti-smoking guy. But shouldn't you leave the smokes at home when going to a National Park? There's all this delicious, pine-fresh mountain air to breath. So, dude in the goofy bike hat, do you really need a smoke at every lookout point??
• I filled the Xterra up with gas in Needles, CA. It had to be well over 100° at 7pm.
• While driving into California, everyone, not just trucks, have to stop and be asked about if you're carrying any fresh fruits, veggies etc. You read it here first. California -- Nazi-like police state.
• For about 90 minutes in Cali, I had to drive on a small, two-lane desert highway. It was dark, dusty, undulating and quite scary. I couldn't help but wonder if an over-enunciating Tina Turner would greet me at the end of the trip and inexplicably refer to me as Raggedy Man.
• Also, on that desert hiway, I saved the life of a desert fox by not running him over.
• Day 4 Preview: Joshua Tree National Park

Walkabout Day 2: Summary

It was much harder to find WiFi in New Mexico and Arizona. But on the good side, many many many more pictures were taken. The journey today started in Las Vegas, NM and ended in Flagstaff AZ with stops in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Petrified Forest National Park featuring the Painted Desert. Meteor Crater was closed when I got there. Probably spent to much time in looking for parking in Sante Fe.

Day 2 Quick Hits

• Beautiful clear, cool morning -- 60° ish.
• What is with the douche wearing a Bluetooth at the complimentary continental breakfast. He's staying at a Super8 for chrisake with his wife and 3 kids. Who's he trying to impress, Sanjiv behind the checkin desk?
• Note to the people of Santa Fe. I get it. You guys really really like adobe. Now let's move on.
• I nominate Santa Fe as the best city in the US to play Homeless Guy or College Student.
• Speaking of the homeless, what's with letting them sell newspaper in the middle of the street?
• Despite my rant, there is a definite pleasing aesthetic in New Mexico. Most everything looks nice. I saw a Burger King that was gorgeous.
• I'm starting to think that planning to go to the Grand Canyon on a Saturday was not the smartest thing I ever did. What was? Shortening "Too much information!" to "TMI!"

Walkabout Day 1: Summary

The Drive


The change in elevation.

Somewhere around Archer City I called an audible and decided not to go to Palo Duro canyon tomorrow. I conceivably can go there anytime. This trip is a rare opportunity to see the great National Parks of California. So I increased my driving for today to get to Cali a bit earlier. So, instead of stopping in Amarillo, I've stopped in Vegas Baby!!!! Well, Las Vegas New Mexico.

Day 1 Quick Hits

• In Quanah, Corby's default small Texas town, I intersected with Highway 6. I guess they're right. It really does go both ways.
• Just west of Amarillo there is a giant windmill farm. So that's where my Green Mountain Energy dollars are going.
• The disappearance of the mighty DQ does not seem to have spread through the panhandle. I was tempted many times to get me a delicious Blizzard.
• Amarillo is the most disappointing city in Texas. Texas Burger Guy has declared the #1 burger in Texas is in Amarillo at a place called Boondock's. So I tried to go there only to find that it had been shut down like a common lower greenville Irish pub. A second burger joint also on the list was also closed. But it appears, at least, to still be in business.
• The XTerra has a "Distance To Empty" indicator. It was 120 from Tucumcari to Las Vegas. The DTE said 130 and I figured there would be at least 1 gas station on the way. There wasn't. Luckily I had enough gas.
• There were also no rest areas. And about 20 miles from Las Vegas the 32oz Aquafina I purchased in Amarillo demanded to be released from my bladder. So I found a relatively safe place to pull over and met it's demands. And then I looked skyward to a cloudless night sky and saw 1,000,000 times more stars than I have ever seen in my life.