Rental Car Mileage: 1491 Miles!

I'm feeling the way that many people feel after vacation about getting back to their comfortable familiar bed. The object of my affection is my home PC, however. Everything seems much brighter, not to mention speedier, on this computer.

 

We got up early enough to drive around in the rental car before our 2:35 flight. We saw where the new LRT will soon open in downtown Phoenix. Then, we leisurely headed to Scottsdale's Old Town. We're not souvenir buyers on short trips, but I almost considered a cactus travelling pack. All the goodies for a little cactus garden including the dirt, bowl, and token item were included. I bought neither that nor cowboy boots.

Allegiant Air departed a few minutes ahead of schedule as they shoehorned in all the elderly, handicapped, and old ladies travelling with cats. Actually, as we bought our own cookies, and bottled water things were fine. Who needs flight attendants nowadays, anyway? Oh, most airports have refrigerated drinking fountains in the departure areas, so clever folks just bring an empty bottle through security and fill it while at the gate. My other travel hint involves taking your oldest underwear on a trip. Then after wearing them, they can be easily tossed in the garbage. This gives you a slightly lighter load on the way home.

Bellingham Airport was a breeze. I'm happy that Allegiant Air is now adding flights to San Diego and San Francisco. If one books early, there are bargains to be had.

Car parking for the few hours over the week came to $55. That's not bad considering we sometimes take a $40 taxi to YVR during off-transit hours. We had to wait about 35 minutes at the Peace Arch to get through the border. That's not too bad, but I wouldn't have thought there'd be so many heading back to Canada on the first day of our three-day weekend. The US citizen's aren't off for three days until next weekend.

We must have brought some of the Phoenix weather with us. The balcony door is wide open. The days before we left we still had the gas fireplace running.

Ah, now that I see this computer works well, I'm looking forward to testing the bed.

In the Place Arisen from the Ashes

Can the week be nearly over so soon? We're in Phoenix in a cheap downtown hotel. Today, we did spend a lot of time in the car. We left Palm Springs at about 9:15 in the morning. It's 265 miles away. As I only drove between 70 and 75 mph, it took a long time. Somehow, the Ford Focus achieved that comfortable floating speed at about 72 mph. You know what I mean, it's the speed where it doesn't feel like one is pushing it at all. It's the speed where the highway just disappears beneath the hood, hopefully in time to something on the radio.



Before leaving New Westminster, we had made tentative plans to stop and see some parents of friends. In fact Jim and Nancy were once my bosses during the days I worked summers in NH after college. A few years ago, the Beckers stopped by to visit us when they were up in British Columbia, so we wanted to see them out in the city of Surprise, AZ. They were available at about 2:00 PM. We were passing the exit on the way to Phoenix but were a little early. I thought it'd be smarter to drive into downtown and get a hotel early. Then, we could pop back to see 'em.

Well, this area looks like one city on Google Earth, but it's enormous. We finally checked into this hotel at about 3:00 and gave a call. My cell phone doesn't provide free roaming here. We got some new directions and found out that they are about 45 minutes from here. A majority of the trip was backtracking.

It was definitely worth it. It was nice to visit and they had thrown together dinner. We ate outside on the patio type enclosure at the back of their lovely home. The whole valley is similar housing. It's really a whole different way of life than we are used to.

We drove back and just walked around the downtown area near all the bank buildings. Not much is going on on a Friday evening but we don't feel like going out to look for crowds. Interstate 10 was crowded enough. I guess this city is now the fourth largest in the United States after the big three of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

More Than Just Deserts

I've just enough time to jot out a quick entry. We were up and out quite early this morning. We went past all the wind turbine power farm out to the east entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park. As I generally drive only 25 miles for a round-trip commute to work, travelling more than that just to start the trip seemed like a lot. We leisurely drove through the park stopping at all the information plaques along the way. I like Joshua trees. The park contains two different desserts each with differing plants and animals. I can appreciate the beauty of deserts and the amazingly hard job its residents have just to survive. I don't think I'd want to live in one though. This being said, I guess my 15 years of overseas work was predominately in them. It took about 2.5 hours just to get through the park down to the Cottonwood exit on I-10.



It was then another 22 miles back to Palm Springs. We took Highway 111 through the valley on the way back. A lot of people call this home. I must remember to look up the population here.

Tonight is the Villagefest. It occurs on every Thursday evening except during the summers. Downtown streets are closed off and vendors come and people listen to music and eat. The Palm Springs Art Museum is open for free for four hours tonight. We might even end up at the downtown Spa Casino to see what they have for a buffet rather than slot machines.

I cannot believe the week is nearly over! We will be on the road tomorrow returning to Phoenix for one night. Our flight back to Bellingham is on Saturday afternoon.

Mid-90's Fahrenheit

It's in the mid-90's. I'm sorry that I cannot give that in Celsius, as I have weak mental math calculation skills. I'd not need to work with such big numbers in Vancouver, anyhow. Whatever, dude. It's nice sitting here in the shade by one of the pools and occasionally running in for a dip. Drying off is very cooling.



Earlier today, we went up the Palm Springs Tramway. The temperature at the top of the mountain required jackets. The cars rotate, so one can have two 360 degree views on the way up or down. At the top, we hiked a little trail through an alpine meadow and even made a snowball. It's hard to believe we could see the area of the valley where I'm now baking.

Tomorrow we might head into Joshua Tree National Park. We'll see as it comes.

California, Here We Came

I'm a little later in getting an entry in today, but we are in a different state. In fact, I'm writing beside the pool at a resort in Palm Springs, CA.

Yesterday we certainly did the Grand Canyon. We went up to the East Gate entrance and stopped at all the points on our way to the Visitors' Center. Then we parked along the road and walked the rim from there to the resorts. It must have been at least four miles. We hadn't planned for lunch and eventually hopped on one of the shuttles to get back to our car. On the way we stopped at the market area at around 4:00 for sandwiches. So, we were in the park from 11:30 to 4:30.

After leaving by the south entrance, we connected and headed east on I-40. For most of the way through Arizona, it's possible to travel on old Route 66. We did for about a twenty mile section. Eventually, when it met back up with I-40, I decided to cover ground even faster. A steady 65 mph was possible on the old road as there were nearly no cars. Still, the limit on the Arizon part of the Interstate is 75 mph and so it was comfortable at 80 mph!

We made it to Kingman, AZ by about 7:30 and found an EconoLodge. It was easy as all prices were listed outside because of the competition. We also found a Chinese Buffet rather than just eating noodles in the room.



We were on the road by 8:15 this morning. I wanted to drive another section of Route 66 to the California border. It was quite an amazing experience out in the desert without another car to be seen. We saw no wild burros near the town of Oatman. Once in California we heading south on highway 95, then to 62. I chose that road as it was a bit scarey out there in middle of nowhere. We stopped for bit out on the edge of the Mohave and when we went to leave, the car seemingly was stuck in the soft shoulder. I hadn't seen a car in a half hour and envisioned being stranded for a while. I put a chunk of tar under the tire and we sped away. For this reason alone when the branch for 177 was visiable, I steered that way. I longed for the comfort of I-10.

Anyway, I'm here by the pool and the world seems perfect.

Good Mornin' Flagstaff

What a nice place to start a new week. Yesterday, we took the scenic drive here through Sedona. That's a nice little place. You know every time I leave the neighbourhood, I always find places which I think deserve a vacation home or at this point a place to retire for a half year per year. We continued along the Oak Creek Valley. The hairpin turns weren't tiring in the little Ford Focus. We saw the J on the mountain town of Jerome, then into Flagstaff.

After eating in a huge Chinese buffet we checked into a hotel and moved the bags in from the car. Then, we drove east on I-40 just to find the Meteor Crater. That is a 4000-foot, big hole from a 150 ft. rock from outer space! It happened more than 50,000 years ago, so it pre-dates even pop star Madonna.

We're off today to see the Grand Canyon. We plan to go up to the east entrance and then exit from the southern route. We'll then head west on I-40 and bits of old Route 66.

Only tomorrow knows in which town we'll end up staying.

Up in Prescott

Yesterday's flight and car rental was flawless. We decided to head up I-17 towards the Grand Canyon. It got dark realitively early compared to what we're used to though. At around 9:00 we found the Heritage House Motel in Prescott, AZ. We're heading out leisurely towards Sedona and eventually Flagstaff. We'll decided what to do from there later today.

Phoenix Bound

It's official. We're heading south for the week.