MV Dirona travel digest for Road Trip to Seattle 2021


Show Road Trip to Seattle 2021 travel log map Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.

On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at //mvdirona.com/maps/LocationCurrent.html.


   

6/8/2021: Rick Hendrick
One of the over 100 dealerships in the Hendrick Automotive Group, founded by NASCAR Cup race team owner Rick Hendrick. We're just departing the Charleston area on our road trip across the US to Seattle.
6/8/2021: Spitfire
Spitfire enjoying traveling without waves. He's adapting to road travel extremely well.
6/8/2021: Basil Thai
Delicious takeout from Basil Thai in Jacksonville, the first stop on our cross-country run.

Today we traveled 241 miles (387 km) from Charleston and were in three states: South Carolina, Georgia and now Florida.
6/9/2021: Bento
Spitfire enjoying breakfast from his Go Pet Bento travel food bowls as we head west on Interstate 10 towards Pensacola, Florida. We bought the stacking food bowls for the road trip and they've worked out super-well to allow us to easily feed him underway and move any uneaten food between the vehicle and the hotel.
6/9/2021: Echo River
A portion of Florida Power & Light Company's vast, 500-acre (202-hectare) Echo River solar farm, completed in May of 2020. About 330,000 panels supply 74.5 megawatts, enough to power 15,000 Florida homes.
6/9/2021: Chick-Fil-A
Chick-Fil-A makes a great chicken sandwich. We love their ads, featuring cows scrawling on billboards "Eat Mor Chikin."
6/9/2021: Escambia Bay
About to cross Escambia Bay over the six-lane Escambia Bay Bridge near Pensacola, completed in 2007. The original four-lane bridge was destroyed in 2004 when Hurricane Ivan knocked 58 spans off the bridge and misaligned another 66 spans.
6/9/2021: Chimney
We stopped for the night in Pensacola, FL after a 357-mile (574km) from Jacksonville FL and went for a driving tour of the area. This is the remains of the Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill Chimney in Pensacola, built in 1854 as part of a steam-powered sawmill. When the Confederacy withdrew from the area in 1862 during the US Civil War, they destroyed all the mills so the Union could not use them. This chimney was the only surviving part of the sawmill.
6/9/2021: Bay Bluffs Park
Walking the steps and boardwalk down the bluffs to water level at Bay Bluffs Park in Pensacola.
6/9/2021: Pensacola Bay
View to Pensacola Bay from the bottom of the boardwalk. It's not that hot at 80F (27C), but the humidity is really high and it feels much hotter.
6/9/2021: Heron
Heron about to grab a fish head discarded by a fisher at Palafox Pier in Pensacola.
6/9/2021: El Asador
The first time we've eaten at a restaurant in 15 months, at Taqueria El Asador in Pensacola, Florida. It's outside, so we're still not technically in a restaurant, but it's a start. The order window was perpetually lined up and the restaurant had two large propane tanks repurposed as barbecues full of meat on the broil, using charcoal imported from Mexico. The tacos were delicious, the best we've had for a long time.
6/10/2021: Alabama
Entering Alabama, the fourth state on our road trip. Only a small section of the state borders the Gulf of Mexico, so we'll be in Mississippi soon.
6/10/2021: D'Olive Creek
Crossing over D'Olive Creek that empties into Mobile Bay. A major restoration project is underway to restore the creek and its 11,000-acre watershed.
6/10/2021: Escatawpa River
Swampland as we cross over the Escatawpa River, a tributary of the Pascagoula River.
6/10/2021: Mississippi
Entering Mississippi, the fifth state on our road trip. Like Alabama, only a small portion of the state borders the Gulf of Mexico and we'll soon be in Louisiana.
6/10/2021: Pascagoula River
Driving the four-mile causeway across the swampy Pascagoula River delta where it flows into Mississippi Sound in the Gulf of Mexico.
6/10/2021: Louisiana
Entering Louisiana, the third and final state of the day, and the sixth on our road trip.
6/10/2021: Lake Pontchartrain
Driving a 6-mile causeway across the southern end of Lake Pontchartrain into New Orleans. 630 square mile (1,600 km2) Lake Pontchartrain has an average depth of only 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 m) and dredging keeps deeper channels open for shipping. Not visible to our north is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway across the center of the lake, listed in the Guinness Book of World records as the longest bridge over water in the world at 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long.
6/10/2021: Mississippi River
View to the Mississippi River from our room on the 43rd floor of the Sheraton New Orleans.

Today we traveled 202 miles (325 km) from Pensacola, FL and were in four states: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
6/10/2021: Crane
Skilled crane operator sliding drywall in through a window that he can't even see, high above.
6/10/2021: Flood Control
New Orleans residents are used to defending against floods. It looks likes there's been a recent flood risk, as many businesses have sandbags across the entrance and here you can see ventilation grates with temporary dams around them.
6/10/2021: Pier 424
A yummy seafood lunch overlooking New Orlean's famed Bourbon Street at Pier 424 seafood market.
6/10/2021: Street Music
Street musicians playing traditional New Orlean's jazz on Bourbon Street.
6/10/2021: St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest in continual used in North America. The first church on this site was built in 1718 under the French rule, and dedicated to King Louis IX of France. A third church was built in 1789 under the Spanish rule, but it burned to the ground and the current cathedral replaced it in the 1850s.
6/10/2021: Andrew Jackson
Statue in Jackson Park of Andrew Jackson, who led America to victory against the British in the War of 1812 at the Battle of New Orleans and later became the 7th US president.
6/10/2021: Old Ursuline Convent
The Old Ursuline Convent, completed in the 1750s, is the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley. Viewed on a Lonely Planet-inspired walking tour of the New Orlean's French Quarter.
6/10/2021: Beauregard-Keyes House
The Beauregard-Keyes House, now a museum, was built in 1826 and is a National Historic Landmark as an outstanding example of the raised cottage design.
6/10/2021: Royal Pharmacy
Royal Pharmacy is an operating pharmacy that is mostly preserved from the 1930s, complete with soda fountain.
6/10/2021: Royal Street
Cast-iron galleries on Royal Street, one of the best places to see classic New Orleans architecture.
6/10/2021: Cafe Amelie
Enticing courtyard at Cafe Amelie on Royal Street.
6/10/2021: Cornstalk Hotel
The fence in front of the Cornstalk Hotel is one of the most photographed items in the French Quarter. There's even a picture of it in our hotel room.
6/10/2021: St. Anthony's Garden
Stately magnolia trees in St. Anthony's Garden behind St. Louis Cathedral. A garden has been here in various forms since the founding of New Orleans in the early 1718, and artists have been displaying their wares on the cast iron fence for over a century.
6/10/2021: Courthouse
The Louisiana Supreme Court Building, completed in 1910 in the Beaux Arts style, an academic architectural style taught at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris between 1830 and the late 1900s.
6/10/2021: Long Hair
We've seen several women in New Orleans with amazingly long braided hair. The one on the left's hair is so long that, despite being braided, she still needs to tie it up to avoid dragging it on the ground.
6/10/2021: Flood Gate
Large flood gates, reminiscent of those we saw in the Netherlands, at the foot of Conti Street near the Mississippi River.
6/10/2021: Ocean Song
The stainless steel sculpture Ocean Song, by American artist John T. Scott at Woldenberg Riverfront Park in New Orleans, symbolizes the motion of water.
6/10/2021: Crescent City Connection
The twin Crescent City Connection bridge, formerly the Greater New Orleans Bridge, is the farthest downstream bridge on the Mississippi and was completed in 1958.
6/10/2021: Natchez
The sternwheel steamboat Natchez makes day trips and dinner cruises along the Mississippi River. The boat was built in 1975, but its steam engines were built in 1925 and came from the steamboat Clairton.
6/10/2021: View South from Hotel
The view south to the Mississippi River and the twin Crescent City Connection bridge from our hotel room.
6/10/2021: Palace Cafe
An excellent meal at the Palace Cafe on the patio overlooking Canal St in New Orleans.
6/11/2021: Superdome
The Superdome (right), home of the New Orlean's Saints NFL club. The facility has gone through several renovations, with a major rebuild after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the building and tore off part of the roof in 2005.
6/11/2021: Lake Pontchartrain
Looking north towards Lake Pontchartrain as we depart New Orleans en route to San Antonio.
6/11/2021: Maurepas Swamp
Driving the causeway over Maurepas Swamp at the edge of Lake Pontchartrain.
6/11/2021: Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Crossing the Mississippi River on the Horace Wilkinson Bridge, built in 1968.
6/11/2021: Lake Pelba
Swampland at Lake Pelba outside New Orleans.
6/11/2021: Calcasieu River Bridge
Crossed decorative pistols on the Calcasieu River Bridge where the river drains into Lake Charles. The pistols are a popular keepsake and often are chipped away and stolen, requiring replacement to prevent the handrails from collapsing.
6/11/2021: Tanks
Dozens of oil tanks storing crude oil at Lake Charles, Lousiana. The area is full of refineries and oil storage.
6/11/2021: Texas
Crossing the border into Texas, the seventh state on our road trip. Texas is a big state, so it will take us a couple of days to get across.
6/11/2021: Baytown Refinery
Baytown Refinery first opened in 1919 and now is the 2nd largest in the US, with a capacity of 584,000 barrels per day.
6/11/2021: Houston
Highrises in downtown Houston as we pass north of the city center.
6/11/2021: Taqueria Roxana
Waiting for our lunch order at Taqueria Roxana. The taco truck was incredibly busy and lined up the whole time we were there. And with good reason—the tacos were exceptional.
6/11/2021: Peterbilt
An entire Peterbilt truck mounted atop the Rush Truck Centers sign.
6/11/2021: Sealy
Another large oil storage facility at Sealy.
6/11/2021: Kitty Central
The first thing we do when we get into our hotel room is decide where to setup what we call "kitty central". Here it is in our room at the Canopy hotel in San Antonio. Spitfire is very good with his litter box, but only if it is full-sized.

Today we traveled 545 miles (877 km) from New Orleans, LA and were in two states: Louisiana and Texas.
6/11/2021: Spitfire
Spitfire lounging by the door to our hotel room at the Canopy hotel on the San Antonio River Walk. The boutique hotel opened only two months ago and is finished throughout with exposed concrete and interesting art. We quite liked the room and the location, and Spitfire really seemed to liked the concrete floor in the entrance to our room.
6/11/2021: River Walk
One of the many pedestrian bridges over the 15-mile (24 km) River Walk, a park and pedestrian area in downtown San Antonio full of restaurants, hotels and shops. The canal was initially built in the early 1900s to control flooding of the river and over time evolved into the the most popular attraction in Texas. The area has a distinctly European feel, reminiscent of the canals in the Netherlands.
6/11/2021: Casa Rio
A great meal canal-side at historic Casa Rio. The restaurant opened in 1946, the first to open on the River Walk.
6/11/2021: Dusk
Dusk looking southwest from our room at the Canopy hotel on the San Antonio River Walk.
6/12/2021: Remote Monitoring
Checking in on Dirona in Charleston from our hotel room in San Antonio. Here we are looking at the live view from the various cameras on the boat.
6/12/2021: Dick's Last Resort
Lunch at Dick's Last Resort on the San Antonio River Walk. The quirky restaurant chain features staff trained to be loud and annoying, not exactly our style, but the food was surprisingly good and we had a great table.
6/12/2021: Mokara
Oysters and a glass of Marlborough Sauvingon Blanc before an excellent dinner at Mokara on the San Antonio River Walk.
6/12/2021: Torch of Friendship
The 65 ft (20 m) Torch of Friendship in downtown San Antonio was given to the city in 2002 by the government of Mexico.
6/13/2021: Kitty Central Mobile Edition
"Kitty Central" setup in the car. We've rented a Nissan Pathfinder and it's working it really well. With the seats folded down we have plenty of space for our luggage in the rear and the rest for Spitfire.
6/13/2021: Cross at Kerrville
The 77-foot-high (23m) Cross at Kerrville is part of The Coming King sculpture and prayer gardens.
6/13/2021: 80 MPH
The speed limit here in Texas is the highest we've seen in the US at 80 MPH (128 KPH). It was actually the highest in the US period, until 2012 when an 85 MPH zone was established on Highway 13 in Texas.
6/13/2021: Desert
The swamps of Louisiana have given way to a decidedly more desert environment in Texas.
6/13/2021: Cliffs
This section of I-10 runs through several sections lined with striking cliffs.
6/13/2021: Squawteat Peak
The colorfully-named Squawteat Peak near Bakersfield Texas has been a prominent landmark for centuries.
6/13/2021: Oil Derrick
We're seeing dozens of small oil derricks like this one along the highway.
6/13/2021: Drill Tower
A tower-based oil derrick east of Fort Stockton, TX.
6/13/2021: Gas Flare
Gas flare and oil storage facility just outside Fort Stockton, TX.
6/13/2021: Masks Required
We weren't expecting mask-wearing to be required much in the southern US, particularly in Texas. But most hotels, restaurants and other business still have signs requiring them.
6/13/2021: Solstice Substation
Solstice Substation in Fort Stockton, TX will be upgraded to support 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines.
6/13/2021: 3-Car Convoy
An unsual sight of a three-car convoy. Well, it was unusual then, but by the time we reached El Paso we'd seen a half dozen. It's an efficient, but not particularly safe or even legal way of moving damaged cars. The wrecked cars are being transported to Mexico for repair and resale.
6/13/2021: Scenic Overlook
View across El Paso, TX to Cuidad Juarez, Mexico from the El Paso Scenic Drive. The border is just beyond the brown raised highway at roughly the center of the picture. In the distance on the hill are the words "la Biblia es la verdad, leela" which means "the bible is the truth, read it".
6/13/2021: La Equis
View from the El Paso Scenic Overlook to the Rio Grande and the sculpture La Equis ("The X") in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico. La Equis is a tribute to former Mexican President Benito Juarez who in the 1800s changed the spelling of the country's name from Mejico to Mexico. The sculpture also symbolizes the merging of the two Mexican cultures: the indigenous people and the Spanish.
6/13/2021: 101 F
It's really hot here in El Paso, with a late afternoon temperature of 101 F (38 C).

Today we traveled 552 miles (888 km) from San Antonio, TX.
6/13/2021: Animo Sin Fronteras
Animo Sin Fronteras (Spirit Without Borders), one of over a hundred murals in El Paso, symbolizes the universal struggle for justice.
6/13/2021: San Jacinto Plaza
Bridges over dry creek beds in tranquil San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso.
6/13/2021: Fray Garcia de San Franciso
Statue of Fray Garcia de San Franciso, who in 1659 founded Ciudad Juarez.
6/13/2021: Bienvenido
This 30-foot open yellow door in downtown El Paso is the work of Philadelphia artist Christopher Weed. The piece, titled Bienvenido, is meant to greet visitors arriving into El Paso over the international Stanton Bridge from Ciudad Juarez.
6/13/2021: Mustang
Classic Mustang in beautiful condition.
6/13/2021: Mexican Border
The busy border crossing into the US from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Due to drug violence, the city in 2008 had world's highest murder rate of 130 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. The homicide rate has since fallen significantly, partly due to government efforts to combat crime and also because a single cartel eliminated most of its rivals. But we'll still be staying on the El Paso side.
6/13/2021: Border Fence
A portion of the new border fence along the US-Mexico border near the crossing between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.
6/13/2021: El Paso Sector
Plaque commemorating the 2019 replacement of the border fence. The motto "Where the legend began" refers to the founding of the US Border Patrol in 1924. The first 24 agents were assigned here in El Paso to combat liquor smuggling during Prohibition.
6/13/2021: Chihuahuita Community Center
Mural of a Santa Fe railway train on the side of the Chihuahuita Community Center. El Paso was the railway company's only direct access point to Mexico.
6/13/2021: Father Haroldo Rahm
Mural on Father Rahm Avenue honoring Father Haroldo Rahm, shown standing next to his red bicycle. He was known as the "bicycle priest," and worked extensively with the impoverished community and with gang members.
6/13/2021: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
El Paso's historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church was established in 1893.
6/13/2021: Court House
The El Paso US Court House was completed in 1936 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
6/13/2021: Immaculate Conception Church
The Immaculate Conception Church was founded in El Paso in 1892.
6/13/2021: District Court
The imposing building housing the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
6/13/2021: El Paso Brewing Co
Great beer and a dinner at the El Paso Brewing Co.
6/13/2021: Evening in El Paso
View from our room at the Hotel Indigo to the United Bank of El Paso, with the scenic viewpoint we drove up earlier in the distance at left. We also enjoyed watching the frequent train movements at the busy railway lines in the background on the right.
6/14/2021: El Paso Sunrise
Sunrise over El Paso shortly before we depart our room in the Hotel Indigo.
6/14/2021: New Mexico
Crossing briefly New Mexico just north of El Peso. This is the eight state on our road trip, but we'll be just passing through into Arizona.
6/14/2021: Pecan Orchard
Passing through a huge pecan orchard just inside the New Mexico border. 20% of the US pecan production is grown in New Mexico.
6/14/2021: Border Patrol
Passing through a Border Patrol station in New Mexico. These federal facilities were setup decades ago to control the illegal trafficking of migrants, drugs and other contraband. We were waved through with no questions asked.
6/14/2021: Boat Transport
A Florida boat under transport in New Mexico.
6/14/2021: Mogollon Mountains
The Mogollon Mountains in Gila National Forest. The tallest peak in the range is 10,895 ft (3,321 m) Whitewater Baldy.
6/14/2021: Arizona
Entering Arizona, the ninth state on our road trip to Seattle. We've really been looking forward to visiting, particularly to see the Grand Canyon.
6/14/2021: Four Engines
Very busy train tracks run alongside this section of I-10. The trains often are quite long, some with four engines in the front and others with extra engines in the middle.
6/14/2021: Dust Storm Warnings
Dust storms seem to be a real hazard here in Arizona. We've passed several sets of signs warning drivers to pull over, stop the car and take their feet off the brakes.
6/14/2021: Rock Formations
Striking geological formations near Roadforks, New Mexico. The landscape is becoming decidedly more desert now.
6/14/2021: Peloncillo Mountains
The western edge of the Peloncillo Mountains in Arizona, where they extend into the state from New Mexico.
6/14/2021: Accident
A scary-looking accident on I-10. The tractor and trailer look to have been recently righted after overturning.
6/14/2021: Kitty Central Portable Edition
Between the hotel and the car, we pack up most of "Kitty Central" into this large North Face duffle bag. Inside are Spitfire's litter box, food, food bowls, sleeping bed and toys. This picture as we arrive into our hotel in Tucson AZ shows everything we carry into the hotel room, except for Spitfire in his carry bag. We each carry a knapsack with our laptops and other items, Jennifer carries Spitfire and "Kitty Central" while James brings an LL Bean XL rolling duffle bag (behind Jennifer) and our Engel cooler (at right).

Today we traveled 318 miles (511 km) from El Paso and were in three states: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
6/14/2021: 107 F
The temperature in Tucson is 107 F (41 C), with a heat advisory in effect for a predicted 111 F (44 C) this afternoon. We've never seen temperatures that high before.
6/14/2021: Pima Air and Space Museum
McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle Fighter on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson AZ, one of the largest privately-funded air and space museums in the world. The museum dates to the 1960s when commanders of the nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) began preserving some World War II and 1950s aircraft that were otherwise destined for the smelter. Initially the planes were lined up just inside the base fence line for public viewing and the collection moved to the current publicly-accessible location in 1973.
6/14/2021: Air Force One
The Douglas VC-118A (militarized Douglas DC-6) Liftmaster Air Force One used by presidents Kennedy and Johnson between 1961 and 1965.
6/14/2021: Super Guppy
Aero Spacelines B-377SG Super Guppy cargo transport in use from 1965-1995. The Super Guppy is designed to carry oversized cargo and is the only plane to have carried a complete S-IVB stage, the third stage of the Saturn V rocket, several times during the Apollo program.
6/14/2021: Convair B-36J
With a wingspan of 230 ft (70 m), the longest of any military aircraft ever built, the Convair B-36J "Peacemaker" Strategic Bomber really stands out among the several-hundred planes at the Pima Air and Space Museum. It's absolutely gigantic when seen in person. This was the primary nuclear weapons delivery vehicle for the US Strategic Air Command from 1949 to 1955, when the B-52 Stratofortress was introduced. The B-36 left service in 1959.
6/14/2021: Bomber Flying
A bomber from the nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DM) flew past several times while we were visiting the Pima Air and Space Museum. The base is best known as the home of the "aircraft graveyard" where about 4,000 planes are stored.
6/14/2021: MIG-29
A Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29, one of six of the Soviet fighter aircraft on display in the US.
6/14/2021: Sikorsky CH-54A
A Sikorsky CH-54A heavy-lift cargo helicopter, one 105 purchased by the US Army, can carry payloads of up to 20,000 lb (9,072 kg).
6/14/2021: Blue Angel F-18
An F-18 Hornet painted in the color scheme of the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s aerial demonstration team.
6/14/2021: F-14 Tomcat
James' favorite fighter, an F14A Tomcat, on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum.
6/14/2021: SR-71 Blackbird
A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird stealth reconnaissance plane. It was one of the first designed with a shape to reduce detection through radar, but its primary defense mechanisms were extreme altitude and speed. The SR-71 still holds the record for speed of 2,193 mph (3,529 km/h) and altitude in horizontal flight of 85,068 ft (25,929 m).
6/14/2021: Solid Rocket Booster
A combination of real and replica parts of a reusable Thiokil solid rocket booster, developed specifically for the Space Shuttle program. After launch, the booster detaches from the shuttle and parachutes into the ocean for recovery. It's one of the rubber-sealed joints visible looking down the fuselage that failed and destroyed the Space Shuttle Challenger during its tenth flight.
6/14/2021: Airplane Graveyard
A view to the astounding "aircraft graveyard" just outside Tucson where about 4,000 planes are stored. Hundreds and hundreds of planes just lined up in the middle of the desert is an amazing sight.
6/14/2021: Desert Garden
We've not spent much time in the desert, and were really impressed with the beauty of this cactus garden we passed while walking to dinner in Tucson.
6/14/2021: El Charro Cafe
An enjoyable Mexican meal streetside at El Charro Cafe in Tucson AZ.
6/15/2021: Flushing Watermaker
Performing a remote flush of Dirona's water maker from our hotel room in Tucson. We can see the power draw went from 20 amps to 26 amps (at right), confirming that all went as planned. Remote flush is a new addition for us, since in the past we've rarely been away from the boat for weeks at a time.
6/15/2021: Engel Cooler
Another item we purchased for our road trip is this Engel soft-sided cooler that has worked out remarkably well. The cooler seals like a drysuit and is amazingly effective at keeping items cold. We put a few cold beverages from the boat fridge inside when we left on the trip and they were still cold that night when we reached Jacksonville FL without even putting any ice inside. When the bag is in the hotel room, ice will last a good two days and it will last the full day even when the cooler is left in the hot car while we are out hiking. It's also easy to transport, either by the shoulder strap or carry handles, and just fits on the floor behind our car seats, where it takes up no valuable cargo space and we can reach it easily from the front seat.
6/15/2021: Saguaro
Our first view of the ubiquitous Saguaro cactus in the Sonoran desert outside Tucson, seen while driving to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Having seen so many images in our childhood of the tree-like cactus in cartoons, it's fun to see a live field of them. The saguaro's blossom is the Arizona state wildflower.
6/15/2021: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, about a half-hour's drive outside of downtown Tucson. The museum is a combination zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum, art gallery, and aquarium focused on the Sonoran Desert and adjacent ecosystems and is one of the most popular attractions in southern Arizona. As a scale point on how interesting the museum was, we spent most of the day there, despite the fact that it was 113F (45C) and most of the attractions are outside. The desert life was diverse and beautiful and the visit was a real highlight of our road trip.
6/15/2021: Mountain Lion
The mountain lion Cruz, partaking in one of his favourite activities, lazing in the shade. The lion was rescued as a 5-month-old cub weighing only 15 pounds and has been nursed back to health, but is unsuitable for release back into the wild. We're pretty sure his tail now weighs more than 15 pounds :-).
6/15/2021: Black Bear
American black bear at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Adult male bears are about 4 to 6 feet (1.2 -1.8m) in length and can weigh up to 600 lbs (272 kg). Adult females are a similar length, but generally weigh 90 to 175 lbs (40 to 80 kg).
6/15/2021: Mexican Gray Wolf
The Mexican gray wolf is is an endangered species who once inhabited mountainous areas, woodlands, and riparian habitats of the southwestern United States. In today's unusually hot weather even for Arizona, when sprinklers came in their enclosure, the wolves rushed over to stand in the spray until they were dripping water.
6/15/2021: Desert Loop Trail
Overlook above the desert loop trail, a half-mile walking path through diverse desert habitat.
6/15/2021: Teddy Bear Cholla
The formidable spines that cover the Teddy Bear Cholla give it a soft appearance, hence the name.
6/15/2021: Javelina
A Javelina, a medium-sized pig-like hoofed mammal, found in Central and South America and in southwestern North America.
6/15/2021: Grey Fox
The grey fox has a silver-grey coat and red legs and chest.
6/15/2021: Ocelot
Arizona is the northern range of the endangered Ocelot. A museum worker just brought in this block of ice that the cat began licking immediately. Even the locals are finding it unusually hot today :-).
6/15/2021: Greater Roadrunner
The Roadrunner is undoubtedly the most famous bird in the Sonoran desert due to the Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner cartoons. While highly fictionalized in the cartoon, the Roadrunner is fast and can reach speeds of 15 mph (24 kph).
6/15/2021: Bobcat
A bobcat, with beautiful tufted ears, sleeping in the shade.
6/15/2021: 112 F
It's another really hot day, with the temperature already near the predicted 113 F (45 C) peak, even hotter than yesterday's 111 F peak. The museum fortunately has water fill stations throughout, and we've drunk gallons from reusable water bottles.
6/15/2021: Mule Deer
On the mule deer, we were unable to get its best side, but they can be found throughout desert regions where food is sufficient. In the warmer months they move to higher elevations and return back down in the winter.
6/15/2021: Rattlesnake
One of the many rattlesnake species on display at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
6/15/2021: Prairie Dog
Black-tailed Prairie Dog in the Desert Grasslands exhibit. The animal was once numerous in the Arizona desert grasslands and now are completely gone. The only place in Arizona you can see them is here in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
6/15/2021: Cactus Garden
One of several impressive cactus gardens at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Cactus grow in surprisingly diverse and interesting shapes and sizes, some with beautiful flowers.
6/15/2021: Sheep
A desert bighorn sheep keeping a watchful eye on us.
6/15/2021: River Otter
River otter in the Riparian display at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
6/15/2021: Beaver
Beavers and the desert don't seem a likely pairing, but the animals once were found through Arizona wherever there was permanent water. They mostly disappeared due to trapping and habitat destruction, but have recently been successfully reintroduced.
6/15/2021: Peppers
Hot peppers growing in one of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's cactus gardens.
6/15/2021: Gates Pass
View across the Sonoran desert at Gates Pass, named after pioneer Thomas Gates, who built a road through the pass in 1883.
6/15/2021: Barrio Brewing
Delicious beer and a good meal at Barrio Brewing in Tucson, AZ.
6/16/2021: Breakfast
Spitfire having a look around while we're eating breakfast on the patio at our Tucson hotel. This is his first time outside other than in the carry bag since we left Charleston, and he's a little cautious. The tree just visible at left is full of ripe oranges.
6/16/2021: Picacho Peak
1,500-ft (457 m) Picacho Peak is prominent along I-10 just north of Tucson.
6/16/2021: Chase Field
Passing Phoenix AZ with a view to Chase Field, home of the Major League Baseball team the Arizona Diamondbacks.
6/16/2021: Red Rock Scenic Byway
Spectacular formations along the aptly-named Red Rock Scenic Byway en route to Flagstaff. At left is 4,817-ft (1,468m) Bell Rock and at right is 5,440-ft (1,658m) Courthouse Butte.
6/16/2021: Cathedral Rock
4,992-ft (1,551) Cathedral Rock, also along the Red Rock Scenic Byway. The scenery here is astounding.
6/16/2021: Chapel of the Holy Cross
The striking Chapel of the Holy Cross, completed in 1956, is built into the buttes near Sedona AZ.
6/16/2021: Eagle Dancers
Sedona AZ is full of artists and art. This newly-installed sculpture, Eagle Dancers, is one of many public art displays in the town.
6/16/2021: Lunch
A delicious Mexican lunch with a view at Cantina Javalina in Sedona AZ. This is the first time we took Spitfire, not visible, into a restaurant for lunch with us. He was very well-behaved in his carry bag under the table. Normally he doesn't like being in the bag and fusses, until he discovers he's at the vet, and then becomes silent and still, and won't come out of the bag. So we expect he thought he was at the vet the entire lunch :-).
6/16/2021: Midgley Bridge
View to Midgley Bridge across Wilson Canyon on the Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive. The bridge was completed in 1938 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.
6/16/2021: Oak Creek
Dozens of tubers far below us on Oak Creek, viewed from the Midgley Bridge viewpoint over Wilson Canyon.
6/16/2021: Oak Creek Canyon
View from the Oak Creek Vista to the switchbacks ascending along the Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive. The really enjoyed the drive through Red Rock Scenic Byway and Oak Creek Canyon—the scenery was spectacular.
6/16/2021: Inspection
The first thing Spitfire does when we get to a new hotel room is make a full inspection round of the space, smelling and investigating everything. This usually takes about 15 minutes, then he can relax and enjoy himself. Here he is checking out the room in Flagstaff AZ.

Today we traveled 275 miles (442 km) from Tucson AZ.
6/16/2021: Charleston View
Checking out the view around Dirona in Charleston, SC from our hotel room in Flagstaff, AZ.
6/16/2021: N2kView
If there are any problems aboard Dirona while we are gone, the onboard control systems will send us an email alert. But periodically we'll check on it from our hotel room. Here's our usual Maretron N2KView status screen showing that everything is OK.
6/16/2021: 81 F
The temperature is a still hot, but much nicer, 81 F (27 C) in Flagstaff this evening, down from 95 F (35 C) earlier in the day.
6/16/2021: Dark Sky Brewing
Excellent craft beer and delicious pizza on the terrace at Dark Sky Brewing in Flagstaff AZ.
6/17/2021: Laundry Day
Doing some laundry at the Residence Inn in Flagstaff AZ. The hotel has great laundry facilities, with four large commercial washing machines and dryers.
6/17/2021: Vaccination
Getting our second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination shot in Flagstaff AZ. We didn't notice any side effects from the first shot, but were quite tired the morning after the second, Jennifer more so than James. By the afternoon though, we were both feeling fine.
6/17/2021: Lumberyard
A good lunch with great beer at the Lumberyard brewpub in Flagstaff, AZ.
6/17/2021: Learning to Fly
Flagstaff is full of excellent street art. This is Learning to Fly by Sky Black.
6/17/2021: Dark Sky
Dark Sky by Phoenix artist Tato Caraveo, outside Dark Sky Brewing where we had dinner last night.
6/17/2021: The Veridic Gardens of Effie Leroux
The Veridic Gardens of Effie Leroux by Joe Sorren on the exterior wall of Diablo Burger in Flagstaff's Heritage Square. The complex mural draws repeat visitors, who discover new characters each time, including miniature recreations from old masters.
6/17/2021: All From a Moment Alive
All From a Moment Alive by Flagstaff artist Lyle Motley.
6/17/2021: Beaver Street Brewery
We had great beer over dinner on the patio at Beaver Street Brewery in Flagstaff.
6/18/2021: Brix
An excellent meal over a bottle of crisp Sancerre at Brix in Flagstaff, AZ.
6/19/2021: Nearing Grand Canyon NP
Approaching the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, about an hour's drive from Flagstaff, AZ. Traffic was very light when we arrived shortly after 7am, and the gates weren't yet staffed, but the park clearly is setup for big crowds arriving later in the day.
6/19/2021: Deer
One of several deer that crossed in front of us as we drove into Grand Canyon National Park.
6/19/2021: First View
Even after seeing countless pictures and reading many descriptions, Grand Canyon is still unbelievably immense when first seen in person. We didn't get even a glimpse until we were right up against the rim and suddenly it was right there in front of us, extending as far as we could see. Jennifer has been wanting to visit Grand Canyon for years, and we're both super-excited to be here.
6/19/2021: Shuttle
One of the best places to view the Grand Canyon South Rim is from the many vistas along 7-mile Hermit's Road. The road is closed to private vehicles most of the year, so we took a shuttle to the end and hiked back along the rim trail. The hike was spectacular, even in the near 90 F (32 C) heat. And it was surprising how few people were making the hike, given the magnitude of the scenery.
6/19/2021: Hermit's Rest
Hermit's Rest, at the end of Hermit's Road, was designed in 1914 to resemble an old miner's cabin with large fireplace and front porch. Today it houses a gift ship and small snack bar.
6/19/2021: Hermit's Rest View
The view north across the Grand Canyon from Hermit's Rest at the end of Hermit's Road.
6/19/2021: Lizard
A beautiful Little Striped Whiptail lizard near Hermit's Rest.
6/19/2021: Colorado River
The Colorado River viewed from just east of Hermit's Rest. It's hard to imagine that this relatively small waterway carved this massive canyon.

Update 07/05/2021: Longtime blog reader Jacques Vuye tells us the canyon is the result of a cataclysmic event where a natural dam holding back a large inland sea collapsed. The resulting flow carved the valley all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
6/19/2021: River Rafting
River rafting on the Colorado River is a popular pastime. We saw many groups as we hiked.
6/19/2021: Rim Trail
Walking the Rim Trail was a wonderful way to really see the Grand Canyon. Parts are paved to support bicycles and wheelchairs, but there's always a narrow trail right along the edge and we chose to be there for most of the hike to get a better view into the canyon.
6/19/2021: Pima Point
View into Grand Canyon and the Colorado River from Pima Point along Hermit's Road.
6/19/2021: Monument Creek Vista
Spectacular view from the Monument Creek Vista. Despite the hot weather, nearing 90 F (32 C), we really enjoyed the Rim Trail hike and the opportunity for so many good views of the Grand Canyon.
6/19/2021: The Abyss
An almost vertical view down into the canyon from The Abyss viewpoint.
6/19/2021: Powell Memorial
Memorial commemorating the exploratory trips in 1869 and 1871-72 down the Colorado River led by Major John Wesley Powell who was the first to fully explore and map the Grand Canyon. The expeditions descended the Colorado River in rowboats, not knowing if something like Niagara Falls lay ahead. We'd opt to ride the second boat if we had a choice :-).
6/19/2021: Bright Angel Trail
The switchbacks of Bright Angel Trail through the canyon below.
6/19/2021: Lunch
A picnic lunch along Desert View Drive in Grand Canyon National Park. This road is open to private vehicles and we'll follow it east for some more views as we exit the park to return to Flagstaff.
6/19/2021: Duck on a Rock
The "Duck on a Rock" viewpoint along Desert View Drive. It does kind of look like a duck sitting on a rock.
6/19/2021: Final View
Our final view into Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. We had a fabulous day and really enjoyed our visit.
6/19/2021: Navajo Nation
We passed briefly through Navajo Nation as we exited Grand Canyon National Park and headed south back to Flagstaff. The vast reserve occupies about 17.5 million acres (7.1 million hectares), but there's not much out here.
6/20/2021: Cargo Liner
We bought a cargo liner to help protect the car in case of any spills, and also put a cat litter mat under Spitfire's litter box. The cargo liner also works well to cover the gaps and holes between the folded down seats so items don't fall below and Spitfire can't climb down. It's all working super-well, and Spitfire is being even more careful than usual.
6/20/2021: Engel Cooler
The Engel soft-sided cooler that we purchased for the road trip is working out super-well. It just fits on the floor behind our car seats, where it takes up no valuable cargo space and we can reach it easily from the front seat. It's impressively well-insulated, and being flexible means we can push it into tight spots.
6/20/2021: Route 66
US Route 66 was one of the original highway systems in the US, running 2,448 miles (3,940 km) between Chicago and Los Angeles. The US Interstate Highway System replaced the route in the 1980s, but several states have maintained or developed sections as part of the Historic Route 66 National Scenic Byway. A section of that route passed through Flagstaff, AZ.
6/20/2021: Navajo Nation
We made for a pit-stop at a gas station north of Flagstaff in the Navajo Nation, where COVID-19 restrictions are the highest we've seen so far. Most tourist attractions on the reserve are closed, including Monument Valley, which was on our list to visit. This gas station has separate doors for entry and exit, masks are required for everyone, and paths are marked-out on the floor so you can go to the restrooms and back out without passing anyone.
6/20/2021: Window Cleaning
James cleaning the windows in our SUV. He used to pump gas for a living many decades ago, and this was part of the job, so he's still pretty good at it :-).
6/20/2021: Navajo Bridge
Walking on the original Navajo Bridge, completed in 1928, with a view to the new bridge, built in 1995 to support heavier vehicle traffic. The new bridge is almost identical to the old in appearance, and both gracefully spans the Colorado River 470ft (143m) below.
6/20/2021: Toilet Sign
This sign in the bathroom was so unusual that we both took pictures of it. We both feel pretty up to speed on modern toilet operation, but this goes to show you you're never too old to learn :-).
6/20/2021: Magnum Fire
The area we're passing through, in Kaibob National Forest, is part of the 71,450 acres (28,915 hectares) that burned in the Magnum Fire of June of 2020. Firefighters took nearly a month to get the blaze under control.
6/20/2021: Kolob Canyons
James with our rented Nissan Pathfinder at Kolob Canyons scenic drive in spectacular Zion National Park.
6/20/2021: Timber Creek Overlook
The Kolob Canyons in Zion National Park, viewed from the Timber Creek Overlook. Kolob Canyons is a less-visited part of Zion about a half-hour's drive from the main entry, and is much less crowded than the main park. The views here are incredible, and if the main park really is better, it must be spectacular.
6/20/2021: Springdale
The view looking across the street to our hotel in Springdale AZ, gateway to Zion National Park. Even the parking lot views here are astounding.

Today we traveled 328 miles (528 km) from Tucson AZ, including our scenic drive through Kolob Canyons.
6/20/2021: Bit & Spur
A great meal on the shaded patio at Bit & Spur in Springdale AZ.
6/20/2021: 108 F
It's a toasty 108 F (42 C) at 6pm tonight in Springdale AZ. We're glad to be sitting in the shade for dinner.
6/20/2021: Fire TV Stick
We carry an Amazon Fire TV in our travel kit that we plug into the hotel TV. It's wonderful having a convenient-to-use, personalized entertainment system wherever we go, with our Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube passwords pre-entered. We've used it all over the world with great success.
6/21/2021: Sunrise
Sunrise lighting up the mountains above Springdale, viewed from our hotel room window. What an amazingly beautiful place.
6/21/2021: Office
James getting some work done at the desk in our hotel in Springdale while Spitfire supervises.
6/21/2021: Mobile Galley
Our mobile galley in a soft-sided cooler bag that we put inside our rolling duffle for transport. Inside the cooler bag are some Galleyware melamine dishes that we'd kept from our previous boat, some flatware, our collapsible travel kettle and coffee filter holder, a folding utility knife, a travel coffee cup, plastic wine goblets, tea bags, coffee filters and ground coffee. Being able to make coffee and tea at will in the hotel room has really improved our travel experience.
6/21/2021: Casa de Amigos
Delicious tacos and exceptional Margeritas at Casa de Amigos in Springdale with the 3,000-ft (900 m) Sentinel visible in the background.
6/21/2021: DeZion Gallery
Beautiful metal art at DeZion Gallery in Springdale.
6/22/2021: Crowds
As with Grand Canyon, the main scenic route into Zion National park is closed to private vehicles most of the year. Shuttle buses carry visitors to various trailheads and points of interest inside. But unlike Grand Canyon, our usual strategy of arriving early to beat the crowds failed. We arrived shortly before 6am for the first shuttle of the day and found ourselves in a line of people several hundred long. It took almost an hour to reach the front and actually get on a bus, with the line-up growing longer and longer behind us.
6/22/2021: Hat Rescue
As we were crossing a bridge to the reach a trail head, a gust of wind carried James' hat into the river. Fortunately it wedged on a rock before the current could carry it way downstream and he was able to retrieve it.
6/22/2021: Hikers
If you look carefully at the cliff, you can see hikers making their way up the switchbacks on the Angel's Landing trail. At just past 7 am, the trail is surprisingly busy (click image for a larger view).
6/22/2021: Zion Canyon
The view south through spectacular Zion Canyon from partway up the Angel's Landing trail.
6/22/2021: Walter's Wiggle
Looking down to some of the twenty switchbacks that climb up the canyon wall on the Angel's Landing trail on a section known as Walter's Wiggle.
6/22/2021: Scout's Landing
Sweeping view north into Zion Canyon from Scout's Landing, with the Virgin River and the Scenic Drive visible way below.
6/22/2021: Climbing Chains
Much of the upper portion of the Angel's Landing trail is along cliffs with steep drop-offs. Sturdy climbing chains have been installed to aid hikers.
6/22/2021: Destination
Our destination, Angel's Landing. You can see a steady stream of hikers ascending the spine of the monolith with 1,500-ft drop-offs on either side.
6/22/2021: Angel's Landing
Atop Angel's Landing after a 1,500-ft elevation gain with fabulous Zion Canyon extending south in the background. We really enjoyed the hike and despite the crowds, we didn't end up waiting very long on the ascent or descent.
6/22/2021: Chipmunk
One of the dozens of exceedingly cute chipmunks atop Angel's Landing.
6/22/2021: Virgin River
After descending from Angel's Landing, we took the shuttle to the end of the Scenic Drive to make a second hike beside the Virgin River along the bottom of Zion Canyon. This short trail reaches the river with views to the canyon and a much longer path, the Narrows trail, leads from there through the canyon along the river. This second route is really a unique experience. We were expecting only to do the shorter first hike, after having done Angel's Landing earlier in the day. But Angel's Landing took less time than expected, so we decided to make the Narrows hike.

Because it was a late addition, we hadn't done the research, and didn't know that a large percentage of the trail is in fact in the middle of a river. When you get to the start of the Narrows trail, its really odd to see fairly large groups walk down from a trail and just proceed without hesitation into the river. Most people were expecting this experience and came with shoes either specially designed for wet hiking, or would dry quickly. We had heavy hiking boots, but we decided that the experience was worth it, so in we went.

It was a pretty unusual experience, and felt a bit like a religious ceremony as everyone just walked into the water and continued up-stream en-masse.
6/22/2021: Canyon
The scenery in the Narrows was spectacular, with the canyon soaring high above us and the unique experience of hiking through the river. We loved it.
6/22/2021: Orderville Gulch
Partway along the Narrows we turned off the main route and followed the intimate slot canyon Orderville Gulch. What a beautiful and special place.
6/22/2021: Lunch
A picnic lunch in Orderville Gulch before we turned back to return to Springdale.
6/22/2021: Bit & Spur
After an awesome day in Zion, we opted for another great meal at Bit & Spur. Zion definitely met, if not exceeded, our expectations.
6/23/2021: Zion Scenic Drive
Amazing view into Zion Canyon from the switchbacks as we follow the Zion-Mt. Carmel Scenic Drive east from Springdale.
6/23/2021: Zion Tunnel
Entering the historic Zion Tunnel. The 5,000-ft tunnel was completed in the 1920s and is too small to fit larger trucks and RVs, so during the day traffic is one-way only to allow higher vehicles to run in the center.
6/23/2021: Tunnel Exit
Steep walls and beautiful scenery as we exit the Zion Tunnel.
6/23/2021: Swirls
Striking swirling patterns in the red sandstone along the Zion-Mt. Carmel Scenic Drive.
6/23/2021: Bighorn
Bighorn sheep near the east entrance to Zion National Park. The sheep are adept climbers and prefer steep-cliffed areas where they can more easily escape predators such as mountain lions.
6/23/2021: Checkerboard Mesa
The unusual crack patterns on this formation resemble a checkerboard.
6/23/2021: Ho-Made Pies
The famous sign outside the Thunderbird roadside restaurant in Mt Carmel, Utah. In 1931, the owner used the spelling "Ho-Made" instead of "Home Made" simply to fit on the sign.
6/23/2021: Red Canyon Arch
Passing through Red Canyon Arch, one of two tunnels that for 90 years have marked the unnofficial entry to Bryce Canyon National Park.
6/23/2021: Picnic Lunch
Lunch in a picnic area just inside Bryce Canyon National Park before we make the scenic drive through the canyon.
6/23/2021: Natural Bridge
The fantastic Natural Bridge arch, along the scenic drive through Bryce Canyon National Park.
6/23/2021: Agua Canyon
The view from the Agua Canyon lookout at Bryce Canyon National Park. The bulbous spire on the left is called a 'hoodoo'. Holes in the canyon walls form when frost enlarges cracks. These holes, or windows, eventually collapse, leaving the hoodoos.
6/23/2021: Inspiration Point
View from popular Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon National Park across the spectacular hoodoo formations. When we arrived into the park earlier, the parking lot here was full so we couldn't enter, but luckily there was space when we finished the scenic drive. The view really is amazing. Bryce Canyon isn't very far from Zion, but the formations are surprisingly different, and equally dramatic.
6/23/2021: Hoodoos
Close-up view to the hoodoo formations visible from Inspiration Point. Just amazing.
6/23/2021: Hikers
Hikers at the trailhead for one of the trails that descend into Bryce Canyon. We'll definitely have to return to explore those trails and get close-up to the formations.
6/23/2021: Cows
Cows wandering across the road as we drive Utah State Route 24 to Torrey.
6/23/2021: La Cueva
A great meal, with delicious margaritas, at La Cueva Restaurante Mexicano right next to our hotel in Torrey, UT.
6/24/2021: Capitol Reef National Park
Entering Capitol Reef National Park, another of Utah's incredibly scenic areas. The state has 5 national parks, third behind Alaska and California, and 43 state parks.
6/24/2021: Cohab Canyon Trailhead
At the Cohab Canyon trailhead in Capitol Reef National Park.
6/24/2021: Cohab Canyon
Walking through Cohab Canyon. The trail is much narrower and intimate than the trails in Zion, but equally beautiful.
6/24/2021: Slot Canyon
Capitol Reef is known for its many slot canyons, some with several-mile-long trails extending through them. Here is Jennifer inside a short slot canyon on the Cohab Canyon trail.
6/24/2021: Cohab Overlook
View to the Fremont River Valley from Cohab Canyon overlook in Capitol Reef National Park. The park name comes from early settlers who associated the white-capped Navajo Sandstone with the Washington Capitol building.
6/24/2021: Cuts Canyon
Shortly after we returned from our hike through Cohab Canyon, heavy rain started to fall. It was time for lunch anyway, so we had an in-car picnic at a viewpoint in Cuts Canyon.
6/24/2021: Runoff
The rain hadn't fallen for very long, but the dry ground doesn't absorb much and small creeks already were forming. Its easy to see how flash-floods can occur here.
6/24/2021: Capitol Gorge
Driving the dirt road tight up against the cliffs in Capitol Gorge en route to a trail through the gorge. The scenery was amazing and the small bit of "off-roading" was a lot of fun.
6/24/2021: Petroglyphs
Native American Petroglphs on the trail through Capitol Gorge.
6/24/2021: Waterfall
One of several waterfalls that formed in Capitol Gorge during the rainfall. By the time we returned back out, less than an hour later, the rain had stopped and the waterfall was gone.
6/24/2021: Pioneer Register
19th and early 20th-century pioneers and settlers passed through Capitol Gorge and many carved their names in the rocks alongside the route.
6/24/2021: Frog
Small frog in Capitol Gorge.
6/24/2021: Tanks
Walking among the pot holes, called tanks, just above Capitol Gorge. The holes filled after heavy rains and passing pioneers used these "water tanks" to replenish their supply.
6/24/2021: Road Closed
During the first part of our hike through Capitol Gorge, the rain had continued to fall and the park closed the dirt road to the trailhead due flood risk. They left a notice on our car asking us to please close the gate behind us as we left and warning us not to cross swift-flowing water.
6/24/2021: Cassidy Arch Trailhead
At the trailhead for Cassidy Arch, a natural arch 1.7 miles (2.8km) from the trailhead. Although the trail isn't very long, the elevation gain is 670 ft (204m) or a 13% grade, making it a bit strenuous in the hot Utah desert.
6/24/2021: Cassidy Arch Trail
The view back to the road to the trailhead from the Cassidy Arch trail in Capitol Reef National Park.
6/24/2021: Cassidy Arch
James standing atop spectacular Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef National Park. The arch is named for the famous Wild West train and bank robber Butch Cassidy, who reportedly had a hideout nearby in the late 1800s.
6/24/2021: Panorama Point
A final view to Capitol Reef National Park from Panorama Point. We really enjoyed our day there, and as with Bryce Canyon National Park, would love to return and explore more of the trails
6/25/2021: Homestead Overlook
Sweeping view across Capitol Reef from Homestead Lookout, heading south from Torrey on Scenic Byway 12 as we turn west to head towards the Pacific Coast.
6/25/2021: Too Close
Spitfire never liked anything too close to the boat and seems to feel the same way in the car. He was quite concerned when we passed through a forest with trees crowding the road.
6/25/2021: Boulder
From the late 1800s, when the first settlers arrived in isolated Boulder UT, until the 1980s, almost every local family made a living through ranching. The view from here during this period would have featured their bright green irrigated hayfields, and likely cattle. For a variety of reasons, many in the area gave up ranching and their fields now have returned to the drought-tolerant plants visible today.
6/25/2021: Box-Death Hollow Wilderness
Jennifer taking in the spectacular view to Box-Death Hollow Wilderness along the Hell's Backbone Scenic Drive. The canyon name derives from the livestock that fell to their death trying to cross.
6/25/2021: Hell's Backbone Bridge
Hell's Backbone Bridge was a major engineering feet when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built it in the 1930s. The bridge spans Hell's Backbone, a narrow spine of rock with canyons dropping of steeply on either side. Completion of this bridge gave the first automobile connection between the towns of Boulder and Escalante. Before that, reaching Boulder from Escalante entailed a difficult, three-day wagon ride through the canyon.
6/25/2021: Georgie's Mexican Cafe
We picked up exceptional take-out tacos at Georgie's Mexican Cafe in Escalante.
6/25/2021: Powell Point Vista
The region pictured here was part of the last uncharted territory in the continental United States when John Wesley Powell launched a mapping expedition in 1871, completing the task 4 years later. Powell also surveyed the Grand Canyon, where a large memorial to him stands.
6/25/2021: Kodachrome Basin
View to Bryce Canyon National Park along Utah Scenic Byway 12 near Cannonville. We're looping back towards the park en route to the Pacific Coast.
6/25/2021: Red Canyon Arch
Passing back under Red Canyon Arch as we briefly retrace our route past Bryce Canyon National Park en route to Cedar City UT.
6/25/2021: Cedar City Lighthouse
The 88-ft (27m) Cedar City Lighthouse, built in 2000, is said to be the tallest inland lighthouse in the US. Cedar City is miles from any water, and was built as a distinctive feature for a property development.
6/25/2021: Liquor Store
We're in Utah, where you can only buy products with less than 4% alcohol in a grocery store. So we stopped in at a liquor store in Cedar City to pickup a couple of bottles of wine and a case of IPA.
6/25/2021: Window Ledge
Spitfire checking out the view from the window ledge at our hotel in Cedar City. He's doing remarkably well with all the travel and new environments.
6/27/2021: Nevada
Crossing the border from Utah to Nevada en route from Cedar City to Reno. Nevada is the 11th state on our trip (the others are South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah).
6/27/2021: Spitfire
Spitfire enjoying the drive while resting on top of his carrier. He seems able to find an endless number of different places to sleep and perch.
6/27/2021: Ely
Ely, Nevada is full of murals depicting the history and culture of the area.
6/27/2021: Casino
We're in Nevada now, so even the smallest towns have several casinos. This is one of four in tiny Ely (population 4,035) with nearly 500 slot machines between them.
6/27/2021: Loneliest Road
The 408-mile (656 km) stretch of Highway 50 across Nevada is dubbed "The Loneliest Road in America," with only a few small towns along the way and not much else. The route was the main overland route across Nevada until the first trans-continental railway was completed in 1869, and was part of the Pony Express mail service route between Missouri and California in 1860-1861.
6/27/2021: Eureka, NV
Eureka, Nevada is one of the few towns along "The Loneliest Road in America," and claims to be the friendliest.
6/27/2021: Opera House
Century-old buildings along the four-block main street in Eureka, Nevada. The town is faring well compared to most others on the Loneliest Road due to still-active gold mining operations. The Goldstrike Mine here is the largest in North America.
6/27/2021: Austin Summit
The Austin Summit mountain pass at elevation 7,484 ft (12,044 km).
6/27/2021: Sand Flats
Extensive salt flats east of Fallon, Nevada. A third-generation family operation mines the flats, bringing out 25,000 tons in a good year. Nearby is Fallon Naval Air Station, home to Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) since it was transferred from Miramar, CA in 1996.
6/27/2021: Water Park
Water park outside Reno, Nevada. In today's hot weather, the park is very popular.
6/27/2021: Travel Router
Another useful piece of equipment in our travel kit is a TP-Link Portable Nano travel router. We hook the router up to the hotel wifi, and all of our devices, including the Fire TV, automatically get connectivity without having to authenticate on each one separately.
6/27/2021: Flushing Water Maker
Performing a remote flush of Dirona's water maker from our hotel room in Reno.
6/27/2021: 97 Degrees
It's a hot 97°F (tk C) in Reno, Nevada. It's an improvement over the 113 F (45 C) we saw in Tucson, but still pretty hot.
6/27/2021: Pony Express
A statue commemorating the Pony Express mail service that operated between Missouri and California for 18 months starting in 1860. The service used a relay system of horse-mounted riders who roared into town, changed mounts, and roared out, eventually passing their cargo off to another rider. The service halved the previous 20-day mail delivery time, but was not a financial success and went bankrupt with the introduction of a trans-continental telegraph service.
6/27/2021: BJs Breweries
An excellent selection of beer to choose from with our dinner at BJs Brewery in Reno, Nevada.
6/28/2021: National Automobile Museum
Some of the more than 200 classic cars at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV. Most are from the collection of deceased casino founder William H. Harrah, who amassed what was then the world's largest collection of historic cars with about 1,450 automobiles. In the foreground is an 1897 Leon Bollee Voiturette, with a single-cylinder gasoline engine that displaced 49.8 cu in (16.38 mL).
6/28/2021: Drag Racer
Most of the National Automobile Museum's collection is from the 1950s and earlier, but it does have a gallery of unique cars from the 1950s onward. Don "Big Daddy" Garlit won 1974 the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) championship in this Wynn's Charger which has a top speed of 247.72 mph (397 kph) and a standing-start quarter mile time of 5.87 seconds.
6/28/2021: Flying Caduceus
The Flying Caduceus, built in 1960, was the world's first jet propulsion land speed car. At the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1963, it reached a speed of 359.7 mph (578.9 kph), not enough however to beat the standing record of 407.45 mph (655.73 kph).
6/28/2021: Sun 900
James trained on the Sun 900 scope motor tester in the late 1970s, back when he was an auto mechanic.
6/28/2021: Silver Ghost
The coachwork for this 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost at the National Automobile Museum in Reno was built using full sheets of solid copper. The price tag was $16,000, about $250,000 in today's dollars.
6/28/2021: Thomas Flyer
One of the highlights of the National Automobile Museum collection is this 1907 Thomas Flyer, winner of the 1908 New York to Paris automobile race. The vehicle traveled 22,000 miles over land and sea west from New York to Paris, claiming victory in 169 days.
6/28/2021: Evening Sun
The evening sun lighting up the mountains, viewed from our hotel room in Reno, NV.
6/29/2021: California
Agriculture inspection station shortly after we leave Nevada for California, the 12th state on our trip (the others are South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada).
6/29/2021: Clio Trestle
Longtime blog reader Jacques Vuye has recommended many excellent railroad-related and other attractions as we travel the world, particularly Flamsbana in Norway and the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania. For our route from Reno to the Pacific Coast, Jacques recommended taking the lesser-traveled Highway 70 following the historic Feather River Canyon route of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Here we are at the first attraction en route, the Clio Trestle across Willow Creek. Completed in 1909, the tremendous viaduct is 172 feet (52 m) high and 1,005 feet (306 m) long.
6/29/2021: Williams Loop
The Williams Loop is one of the most unique attractions along the historic Feather River Canyon route of the Union Pacific Railroad. An eastbound train will approach towards the camera on the upper track at right, then make a slow right turn in a 1-mile descending loop, and pass underneath on the lower tracks at the left. Longer trains will pass underneath themselves as they transit the loop. We waited a bit in the hopes of seeing a train pass through, but no luck.
6/29/2021: Keddie Wye
The Keddie Wye was completed in 1931 to allow Western Pacific trains to divert from the San Francisco route for Bieber, California.
6/29/2021: Howell's Bridge
Historic Howell's Bridge, completed in 1934.
6/29/2021: Belden Powerhouse
The Belden Powerhouse, completed in 1969, is part of Upper North Fork Feather River Project. The hydroelectric scheme includes three dams and five powerhouses with a total capacity 362.3 megawatts.
6/29/2021: Drone Inspection
A crew using a drone to inspect the transformers at the Belden Powerhouse.
6/29/2021: Tobin Twin Bridges
The famous Tobin Twin Bridges, where a railroad bridge crosses over the top of a highway bridge. Locals say it is good luck to have train pass over top as you drive along the road.
6/29/2021: Rock Creek Powerhouse
The Rock Creek Powerhouse, completed in 1949, spans the highway. It is one of many that make up the "Stairway of Power" where water flowing through the Feather River is used over and over by successive power stations until it flows undiminished further downstream.
6/29/2021: Cresta Powerhouse
The Cresta Powerhouse, part of the "Stairway of Power" below the Rock Creek Powerhouse.
6/29/2021: Pulga Bridges
The spectacular Pulga Bridges along the Feather River, where a 680-ft road bridge passes over a railway bridge 220ft below.
6/29/2021: Houseboats
Masses of houseboats moored on Lake Oroville.
6/29/2021: Sunflowers
A field of sunflowers, one of many crops growing in this part of California.
6/29/2021: John Deere
We're always happy to see the familiar yellow and green of John Deere, the engine that powers Dirona. Here is some John Deere farm equipment at a dealership in Colusa, CA.
6/29/2021: I-5
I-5 is a familiar sight—the interstate runs through Seattle between the Canadian and Mexican borders. If we take it south from here in Williams, CA, we'll reach Sacrament. We'll instead be heading west towards the Pacific Coast.
6/29/2021: Clear Lake
Passing Clear Lake, CA. The 68 sq mi (180 km2) is the largest in California and also is the oldest in North America at 2.5 million years old.
6/29/2021: Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Passing through redwoods in Jackson Demonstration State Forest, the largest of California's ten demonstration forests. These forests are open to the public, but also used to study effects of forest management techniques.
6/29/2021: Pacific Coast
We finally reached the Pacific Coast today, at Fort Bragg. Conditions are foggy as we cross over Noyo Bay.
6/29/2021: Noyo Harbor Inn
The beautiful gardens at the Noyo Harbor Inn where we're spending the night along the Noyo River in Fort Bragg.
6/29/2021: Noyo River
View to the Noyo River from the Noyo Harbor Inn. Noyo is an active fishing community, with the two 47 ft lifeboats of the Coast Guard Noyo River station visible at left.
6/29/2021: Silver's at the Wharf
A delicious meal at Silver's at the Wharf in along California's Noyo River, with the entrance to Noyo Harbor and the sea visible in the background. We loved the table, with its view to the vessel traffic along the river.
6/30/2021: Garden
Another view to the beautiful and well-tended gardens at the Noyo Harbor Inn as we depart on a foggy morning. We really enjoyed our stay there.
6/30/2021: Avenue of the Giants
Driving along the Avenue of the Giants, a scenic drive through California's Humboldt Redwoods State Park which has the world's largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods.
6/30/2021: Founder's Tree
The massive 1400-year-old Founder's Tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park is 346.1 ft (105.5 m) tall, 12.7ft (3.9m) in diameter and 40.0 (12.2m) ft in circumference.
6/30/2021: Patrick's Point State Park
A picnic lunch overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Patrick's Point State Park.
6/30/2021: Seals
Seals dozing on the rocks at Palmer Point in Patrick's Point State Park as waves crash in around them.
6/30/2021: Wedding Rock
View north along the rugged California coast from Wedding Rock in Patrick's Point State Park.
6/30/2021: Elk
Roosevelt Elk grazing in the grass at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Viewed from the scenic drive through the park.
6/30/2021: Paul Bunyan
Most of the attractions in this part of northern California area are natural, but there are a few decidedly less natural features. This is a giant statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox at the Trees of Mystery park on Highway 101. Many places in North America claim to be the birthplace of the legendary logger—we saw a similar statue of Bunyan in Bangor, Maine.
6/30/2021: Road Closure
This portion of Highway 101 just south of Crescent City is closed completely for most of the day while construction crews rebuild the road after a massive slide. We arrived on time for one of the scheduled openings, but it still took a good hour to get through.
6/30/2021: Battery Point
View to the Battery Point lighthouse from the deck of our room at the Oceanfront Lodge in Crescent City, CA.
6/30/2021: SeaQuake Brewing
Excellent microbrews over dinner at SeaQuake Brewing in Crescent City, CA.
7/1/2021: Breakfast
Breakfast overlooking the Pacific Ocean from our room at the Oceanfront Lodge in Crescent City, CA.
7/1/2021: Oregon
Entering Oregon, the 13th state on our trip (the others are South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California).
7/1/2021: Stateline Cannabis
Stateline Cannabis, just inside the Oregon border. Marijuana is legal in California now, but Oregon was the first state to decriminalize possession of small amount.
7/1/2021: Harris Beach State Park
At Harris Beach State Park. Our first view in many years of the beautiful and diverse Oregon coast, where we took our first vacation together back in 1983.
7/1/2021: Thomas Creek Bridge
Thomas Creek Bridge is the highest in Oregon, at 345 feet (105 m) high, with a longest span of longest span is 371 feet (113 m).
7/1/2021: Natural Bridges
Looking down to three sea arches from the Natural Bridges lookout, one of many attractions along Oregon's Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
7/1/2021: Meyer's Creek Beach
Dramatic formations at Meyer's Creek right off Highway 101 in Oregon.
7/1/2021: Cape Blanco
Rugged and rocky shore at Cape Blanco, the most westerly tip of the Oregon coast.
7/1/2021: Cape Blanco Lighthouse
The Cape Blanco lighthouse, completed in 1870, is the oldest continuously operating light in Oregon.
7/1/2021: Coos Bay
Passing through Coos Bay, the largest city on the Oregon coast with a population of 16,500.
7/1/2021: Fireworks
One of several fireworks stalls we passed in Coos Bay. Fireworks can be legally purchased at permitted outlets in Oregon from June 23 through July 6th.
7/1/2021: McCullough Memorial Bridge
Crossing the McCullough Memorial Bridge over the Coos River. When completed in 1936, it was the longest in Oregon and is the National Historic Register for its attention to form and detail in the design, and for its economic and cultural impact.
7/1/2021: Fire
We were astonished at how quickly a house fire can spread. In a short period of time, the house directly behind the white truck at center burned completely, the house in the left began billowing smoke and is almost destroyed, and the two houses behind are at serious risk. This despite being across the road from a fire station with a rapid response and many more fire trucks arriving minutes later.
7/1/2021: Siuslaw River
Passing over the Suislaw River. The richly ornamented bridge, completed in 1936, is another notable historic bridge on the Oregon coast.
7/1/2021: Heceta Head Lighthouse
The Heceta Head lighthouse just about to disappear into the fog.
7/1/2021: Devil's Churn
View to the coastal inlet known as Devil's Churn. Waves surging through the narrow channel can throw spray several hundred feet in the air during big winter storms.
7/1/2021: Alsea Bay Bridge
The Alsea Bay Bridge, completed in 1991 to replace the original 1936 bridge that suffered extreme corrosion damage.
7/1/2021: Yaquina Bay
View across Newport Marina to Yaquina Bay as we cross over the historic Yaquina Bay Bridge.
7/1/2021: Spitfire
Spitfire checking out the deck in our room at the Salishan Coastal Lodge. The resort is fairly high-end, and we were surprised they allowed pets, but the lodge is incredibly pet friendly. Few likely were traveling with cats, but it seemed that half the guests brought their dogs. They even supply a pet welcome kit on check-in.
7/1/2021: Salishan
We had a wonderful meal overlooking the golf course on the deck at Oregon's Salishan Coastal Lodge.
7/2/2021: Rabbit
A wary rabbit in the grass outside our room at the Salishan Lodge.
7/2/2021: Salem
At the Riverfront City Park in Salem, Oregon having delicious street tacos for lunch from nearby Azul's Taco House. We're heading east towards Bend Oregon for a the July 4th holiday weekend.
7/2/2021: Detroit Dam
The Detroit Dam at right was completed on the North Santiam River in 1953 under the Flood Control Act of 1938. This created the 9-mile-long Detroit Lake, visible in the foreground.
7/2/2021: Santiam Fire
The Santiam Fire burned from August through December of 2020 across 402,274 acres (162,794 ha) and was one of the most destructive in Oregon history. Over 1,500 structures were destroyed, including much of the towns of Detroit, that we just passed through.
7/2/2021: Three Sisters
View to Oregon's iconic Three Sisters volcanic peaks as we near the city of Bend.
7/2/2021: Heat Advisory
Back away from the coast the temperature is high again, at 96°F (36° C) in Bend, Oregon with a heat advisory in effect.
7/2/2021: Immersion Brewing
Great brews over dinner at Immersion Brewing in Bend, Oregon.
7/2/2021: Cider Response
We got a chuckle out of the AVID Cider Company's "Emergency Cider Response" Unit.
7/2/2021: Old Mill District
Bend's Old Mill District is a beautiful retail space full of shops and restaurants built in an old industrial mill site.
7/2/2021: Winterfest
The throne of the Fire King, crowned annually at the Oregon Winterfest in Bend. The weather is decidedly more warm now than it would be for the February coronation.
7/3/2021: Packing Cubes
Between the hotel and the car, We each carry a knapsack with our laptops and other items, Jennifer carries Spitfire and a large North Face duffle bag with Spitfire's "Kitty Central", while James brings an LL Bean XL rolling duffle bag carrying most of our gear, and our Engel cooler.

We use packing cubes, pictured, inside the large LL Bean duffle to keep things organized and not have to be constantly sifting through loose gear. The packing cubes also work well when optimizing for space in smaller bags. They were super-effective for traveling light on the Rhine River cruise we took a couple of years back.
7/3/2021: Three Sisters
View to the Three Sisters mountains over the old smokestack's in Bend's Old Mill District.
7/3/2021: Deer
This deer was munching on grass between two buildings and let us get surprisingly close as we passed by along the walking path.
7/3/2021: River Tubing
Tubing down the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon is incredibly popular, particularly with the hot weather we've been having. Around 200,000 people float down annually.
7/3/2021: Elixer Wine
A wonderful dinner over a tasting flight of wine on the patio at Elixer Wine in Bend, Oregon.
7/5/2021: Running Engines
Running the wing and main engines on the boat in Charleston from our hotel room in Bend, Oregon. We added remote start for the wing shortly before leaving Charleston on the road trip.
7/5/2021: Smith Rock State Park
At Smith Rock State Park, about an hour's drive from Bend. The scenery here is rather unique for Oregon, and feels very similar to Utah. The switchbacks for the Misery Ridge trail that we'll be hiking can be seen at the base of the cliff, Misery Ridge, slightly right of center.
7/5/2021: Misery Ridge Trailhead
At the Misery Ridge trailhead in Oregon's Smith Rock State Park. The trail is one of the more difficult in the park, but isn't all that bad at distance of just over a half mile and en elevation gain of 600ft.
7/5/2021: Crooked River
Looking down to the Crooked River from the Misery Ridge trail.
7/5/2021: Misery Ridge View
This fabulous view north is the reward for climbing the Misery Ridge trail.
7/5/2021: Monkey Face
We continued west across Misery Ridge for even better views, including the dramatic 350-ft spire Monkey Face. Smith Rock State Park is an internationally popular climbing destination and this formation contains some of the more difficult climbs in the world. Barely visible in the shadows, two climbers were making their way up the left side when we passed.
7/5/2021: Cascade
An amazing view west to the Cascade Range from the top of Misery Ridge (click image for a larger view).
7/5/2021: Three Sisters
Oregon's iconic Three Sisters, viewed from the west end of Misery Ridge.
7/5/2021: Climbers
As we descended the Mesa Verde trail on the other side of Misery Ridge, we could see climbers everywhere. Here are a couple ascending the Mesa Verde wall.
7/5/2021: River Trail
We returned back to our car along the Crooked River trail. We really enjoyed the hike—the scenery was really impressive and diverse, and the weather was wonderful.
7/5/2021: Crosscut Taphouse
A late lunch after our hike at Crosscut Taphouse in Bend.
7/5/2021: AVID Cider
Delicious, and unusual, cider smoothies at AVID Cider in Bend Oregon, home of the "Emergency Cider Response" Unit.
7/6/2021: Mt. Hood
11,249 ft (3,429 m) Mt. Hood dominates the skyline as we drive north from Bend to Seattle on the final leg of our trip.
7/6/2021: Columbia River
Crossing the Columbia River from Oregon into Washington, the 14th and final state on our cross-country adventure. On our Columbia River trip nine years ago, we docked Dirona on Government Island, just visible in the in the distance at right.
7/6/2021: Tacoma Dome
The Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA is a popular venue for concerts, trade shows and other events. Completed in 1983, it's the largest arena by volume in the world with a wooden dome.
7/6/2021: Seattle
Arriving into Seattle at the end of our road trip. Over four weeks we traveled 5,157 miles (8,299 km) across 14 states: South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington. We had a fabulous adventure and really enjoyed the chance to see some parts of the US that we'd been wanting to visit for a long time.