Wednesday March 23 Cortez to Pagosa Springs, Colorado Drove about 110 miles today from Cortez to Pagosa Springs. That's mountain miles and quite a bit different than country miles. Another climb up and over a pass and back down into the other side. Arrived at Pagosa Springs and had intended to just pass through on the way to Santa Fe but instead spent the day looking at everything, mostly the hot springs. Found a reasonable room and am staying the night and will decide tonight if it is worth another $50 for a room here plus $25 to visit the springs tomorrow. There are 28 of them from cold river water to 110 degrees. There are no real stores in the town of Pagosa Springs. If you want groceries etc you have to drive back West ... read more

March 22 Monument Valley In Kayenta at the Best Western. Had to get a high dollar room here yesterday to get out of the dust storm. As soon as the dust storm quit it started snowing. But I've been outside and it is clear and cold now so it ought to be a great day to tour Monument Valley. That's the place you see in dozens of westerns. I'm right here at the entrance to it. I probably won't leave till almost 1100 so that will give the snow or ice time to melt off of the roads. Looks like it will be a gorgeous day ! The dust storm of yesterday stopped when it started raining and then turned to snowing finally later in the afternoon. I had sought refuge in the Best Western in ... read more

Jacobs Lake to Marble Canyon, Arizona March 20, 2011 Had intended to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon but Hwy 67 going South out of Jacob's Lake was closed. So headed East on the Alt 87 again towards Monument Valley. Lots of scenic views along the way and I got to Marble Canyon saw a sign for Vermillion Cliffs National Monument and decided to check it out. I drove in and since I had my National Parks Pass it cost me nothing. I found a very nice campground in the Peoria Canyon overlooking the Colorado River at Lee's crossing and decided to stay the day and night. So I picked a good site and paid $12. I made a nice day of it exploring the park and watching the rafters put in the river ... read more

Virgin Mountains Arizona - Zion National Park, Utah March 18 Left the Virgin River campground and headed North on I-15 towards Zion. Stopped in St George, Utah at the MacDonald's to get on the internet and have a cup of coffee. Then went to the SuperWalmart there to get some groceries as no telling what would be available in the park. From St George it was a short hop North on the I-15 and then getting off on Hwy 9 going through Hurricane, La Verkin, and Springdale to Zion. When I got to Zion I used my National Parks Pass to get in and immediately went and staked out a campsite at the South Campground. I filled out the form and put the slip on the post and leaving my bright red Office Depot bag on ... read more

March 16 Tulare, Ca to Las Vegas, NV Got on the road at 1140 intending to go to Barstow for the day and continue on to Vegas tomorrow. West of Tehachapi pass the grass was green and the hills pretty. That is because it rains on that side of the slopes as the moist air rises and so doesn't reach the west side. The west side of the slopes were brown and desert like. When I got to Barstow it just didn't impress me and so I soldiered on and continued East. I was getting down to half a tank and don't like letting my tank get much lower than that way out here in the desert so stopped at a Shell station/store and filled up but paid $4.77 a gallon. I should have waited till ... read more