Page 6 of normon66 Travel Blog Posts


North America » United States » Arizona » Kingman June 18th 2011

Geo: 35.1888, -114.055... read more

North America » United States » California June 18th 2011

Geo: 34.3608, -117.632Driving westward through the Mojave Desert while listening to George Strait just felt right. After my power nap in the Grand Canyon visitor's lot I was feeling recharged, although still a little thin.I stopped in at a couple of the small towns on this particular stretch of highway 40 - Williams, Seligman. I noticed the same thing at both of them: very friendly people. I stopped in Williams to get gas and a cup of ice to keep the few perishable items in my ice chest cool. The woman inside was very friendly and when I came out, I was surprised to see a man washing my windshield. "Well hey there!" I said. He greeted me in response. I motioned to the rest of my truck, more colored by speckles and spatters of mud ... read more
One of these things is not like the other
Mojave
Waterfall 1

North America » United States » Arizona June 17th 2011

Geo: 36.0464, -112.154After a full day hanging out and getting some contract work done in Flagstaff, I had the thought to take a short nap in the evening, and to start driving once the sun set. Driving through much of the night under the full moon a few nights earlier was so calming that I wanted to do it again. Plus, if I could head west over the Mojave Desert by the cool of night rather than the heat of day, even better!I had been debating whether or not I wanted to drive up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, about an hour and a half away. Although it was a pretty large detour, I decided what the hell? It's been 14 years since I've been there, and I don't exactly have a schedule, ... read more
Laughter and Tears
Canyon Sunrise 11
Canyon Sunrise 13

North America » United States » Arizona » Flagstaff June 16th 2011

Geo: 35.1982, -111.651I was surprised at how good the music on the radio was during the drive the night before, especially for being in the middle of the Arizona desert and in the middle of the night! The reception was, however, slightly sinusoidal, or perhaps menopausal. Great for 20 seconds, then some fuzz... good for 15 seconds, fuzz... kind of like the thought processes in my tired brain at the time. It reminded me of college. Between classes, I would often go waste some time in the dorm room of some of my good friends, Jon and Bill. They had an old tv - the screen about 12 inches wide, probably 3 inches thick (drop that sucker off a parking garage and it might damage the concrete below), and you could see every pixel if you ... read more
um...what?
The saddle
Highest point in AZ~

North America » United States » Arizona » Tuba City June 15th 2011

Geo: 36.135, -111.239... read more

North America » United States » Arizona » Kayenta June 14th 2011

Geo: 36.7278, -110.254It is a five and a half hour drive from Durango to Flagstaff, my next destination. After parting with my new friends, I decided that I might as well start driving that night, see how far I got, and just stop when I got tired. I filled up my tank, got a latte flavored energy drink (that shit can't be good for you), and was on the road by 10:30.Just a day or two short of a full moon, the night drive was spectacular! Even when turning off the headlights, the road and painted lines were still completely visible. I figured that I should keep them on, however, and was later reminded by a 30-foot blood smear across the road with a mangled deer corpse at the end that this was probably a good ... read more
Chasing the Dawn
The Silver Bean in Cortez

North America » United States » Colorado » Durango June 14th 2011

Geo: 37.2737, -107.879Other than the fact that I could possibly run it faster than my poor, old truck can drive it, I absolutely love the drive from Ridgway over the passes to Durango. It's a dangerous drive. Narrow roads, sharp turns, blind corners, multi-thousand foot cliffs, no guardrails, no shoulders, and some of the best mountain views Colorado has to offer - making it all the more difficult to keep your eyes on the road. The first time I ever made the drive was on a road trip with a girlfriend. I was so mesmerized I pulled over so that she could drive and I could gawk my head out the window and take pictures (actually, it was probably her choice, fearing for her life since I wasn't really watching the road).Mines, mines, and mines. And ... read more
Mining Ruins
Like the drapes?
Moras Pass

North America » United States » Colorado » Gunnison June 12th 2011

Geo: 38.5449, -106.927... read more

North America » United States » Colorado » Ridgway June 12th 2011

Geo: 38.1528, -107.761One. While in Whoville, did Colorado secretly pass a law that any '6' on a speed limit sign should be treated as a '5' and the speed of the vehicle adjusted accordingly?Two. Montrose. Your stoplights. Shit. I think you must just put them in for fun. And rig them all to turn red as white, mud-speckled out-of-state Tacomas are approaching. You are depressing and the lights are not helping me get the hell out of you!Three. Looks like my truck CD player decided to die. Won't play the CD that is currently in its belly, but refuses to relinquish said CD. I may be at the mercy of western po-dunk town radio for a while.Four. Colorado Boy brewery is closed today. The growler I have been holding on to for two years since I ... read more
Willa - Ridgway coffeehouse


Geo: 38.8702, -106.986After a few days in Whoville, I have decided to hit the road and continue my trip.As I've written in my last couple entries, this place in fantastic! The area, the people, the town, the feel... something about it just resonates with me right now. (namaste).However, I am still in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right now: no permanent residence or job, no responsibilities, no deadlines, living off of savings and decent contract work that I can do at any time from any place, my house in Denver rented to some great, reliable people... To stay here would mean to give that up, and there's a good chance things would never line up this perfectly again for me to be able to do this. Crested Butte isn't going anywhere. I can always come ... read more
Sunset rising
Bedroom view
Mud and mountains!




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