Our Glorious Trip
June 1 to June 23, 1997
~~Overview~~
America The Beautiful
This writing is prepared to reflect the wonderful experiences
that
Edna and Herb Stott enjoyed so very much during the fabulous
trip to so many places. We feel extremely fortunate to have been
so physically and mentally able to make the journey.
It is only by the tender loving care that Herb has received
over
the years from his personal physician, that the trip could have
even been considered. His physician accomplished almost miracle
treatment of at/near death situations from two major failures
of
his pulmonary system in 1993. The physician also detected cancer
in Herb’s colon in 1995 which resulted in 100% successful removal
of the cancer by removal of 70-80% of the colon which was con-
firmed by test in 1996.
Edna has fully recovered from the removal of a ruptured appendix
which was extremely life threatening in 1995.
The writing is from our inspired spirits and souls. We hope
that
it encourages others to consider and go do some or all or more
of what we were so blessed to do.
Time moves in such rapid pulses. We hope you do not delay
for
too long.
There is so much of God’s Creations to enjoy
here on Earth.
God Blessed America
Our Glorious Trip
June 1 to June 23, 1997
Table of Contents
Page
ITINERARY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1
MILEAGE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1
FROM MISSISSIPPI TO MONTANA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1
GLACIER NATIONAL
PARK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` 2
SEATTLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
4
BRITISH COLUMBIA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4
Bechart Gardens
Victoria
BACK TO SEATTLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4
TOUR GROUPS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5
CALIFORNIA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5
Kings Canyon
Sequoia
Mojava Desert
ARIZONA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7
GRAND CANYON~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7
South Rim
West Rim
East Rim
MORE ARIZONA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10
LAKE POWELL~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~10
MONUMENT VALLEY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11
FOUR CORNERS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11
VALLEY de CHELLY NATIONAL PARK~~~~~~~~~~~ 11
SOUTH ARIZONA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12
NATIONAL PARKS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12
AMTRAK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 13
ON THE WAY HOME~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 15
RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 15
Herb and Edna Stott
OUR TRIP
JUNE 1 - JUNE 23, 1997
ITINERARY
MS, TN, KY, Chicago, IL, MN, WI, ND, Glacier National Park,MT, ID Seattle,WA,
Victoria,BC, OR, Sacramento, Kings Canyon, Sequoia National Park, Mohave Desert,CA,
Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT), Valley
De Chelly, Tucson,AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS.
MILEAGE
Personal Car 200 miles
Amtrak 5284 ( 5 Nights )
Rental Car 318
“ “ 2408
“ “ 238
Tour Bus/Ferry 375
Total 8823 miles
FROM MISSISSIPPI TO MONTANA
The trip from Jackson, Ms to Chicago started on 6/1 on Amtrak’s City of New
Orleans train was non-descript except that portions of the Illinois Central Railroad
tracks used by Amtrak are well suited for vibratory massage of your whole being
and all other things.
Chicago has a very excellent waiting/transfer facility for sleeper class Amtrak
passengers. We had only about a two-hour wait for the Empire Builder Train to
head
west.
The scenery that we passed as we went west was very interesting:
-The survey crew who laid out the route of the rail tracks across
the plains
years ago accomplished an amazing feat in that they located the
track
so that there was equal beauty on both sides of
the right of way for we
humans to see.
-Rush hour traffic in ND involved 3 cars.
-There were stop signs out in the plains at crossroads when there
was one
house 2 miles to the east and the next house 4 miles to the west.
-The open wire telephone lines alongside the tracks were on poles
so short that
you could work on the lines by standing on the ground with your
hands below
waist level.
-There is no worry about keeping up with the neighbors. There aren’t
any.
-There were family auto junk-yards where every car since the 30’s
rested in
peace out in the field lined up in neat rows next to the house.
-There were many out-houses.
-Baths were taken care of in some places thru’ use of a 55 gallon
barrel mounted
on a wooden frame out in the yard so the water can be heated by
the sun and
flow into a curtained stall below.
-I could not imagine how groceries were obtained except by ordering
by catalog
because no stores for shopping were visible.
-Maybe it was the wind, but I did not see a single church steeple
in North Dakota.
-Maybe they do not die. I did not see a community cemetery in all of ND.
-However, I only saw one piece of property with a FOR SALE sign.
Montana citizens are favored by 4-5’ stakes driven into the earth beside
all their roads for travel aid during snow storms.
In the plains of MT a farmer parked his motor home next to the field he was
plowing with his tractor in order to minimize his daily commute time. It was
a very long way from a visible ranch house. I guess he lived in the Motor home
until he finished that tract.
I read a travel report, before we left home, that said that in Montana, there
are 4 cows
and 3 sheep for every person. I did not see many cows or sheep.
In central MT you can look 10+ miles north & 10+ miles south and not see
a tree or
bush or power line or anything except fields of grain. Several MS
Deltas would easily
fit into the area.
Apparently a type of strip farming is practiced. A 1,000 to 10,000 acre plot
is planted and an adjacent 1,000 to 10,000 acres strip is left to fallow.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA
As we approached Glacier National Park, we could see the snow covered mountains
emerge on the horizon to the west of the massive expanse of the plains of MT.
Simply
beautiful as the snow-capped mountains gradually surrounded us as we moved farther
and farther west.
There in a beautiful mountain meadow as the sun settled behind the breath-taking
mountain peaks was a herd of 20+ deer gracefully grazing as the train passed
by.
We left the train at Whitefish, MT, and went to the Pine Lodge Inn. The name
describes
the facility very well. with large pine logs used on its exterior. Our third
floor room overlooked a tranquil greene/blue mountain stream full of Mallard
Ducks and a playful beaver. While I could not see them, I am sure that the stream
contained many scrappy tasty trout.
The next morning we had a rental car delivered to us and we drove into Glacier
National Park past the Park Entrance Ranger who gave us a hearty welcome.
What we saw was absolutely perfectly beautiful. We drove to McDonald Lake which
is 10 miles long and up to one mile wide at least, up to 450 feet deep, crystal
clear and the
color of the reflected sky and the surroundings of huge majestic snow covered
{50%) mountains. There was no breeze to ripple the water surface. so it was a
wonderful
mirror.
This was June 4. The leaves on the white barked birch trees were tender green
in color, virgin to very little rain or sun-light as the white tree trunks and
roots were being nurtured by several inches of melting snow on the ground underneath.
There were wildflowers with dainty pink and white and yellow and blue and purple
blooms that were rising from the warming earth even before the plant’s foliage
had even emerged just to show their splendor.
We realized very shortly that the name on the Park Entrance Ranger had to have been Saint Peter.
We drove to the end of the road within the park from the west because the
clearing of
the road’s winter’s snow fall was being worked on for removal but had not yet
been completed. That clearing typically occurs before the middle of July each
year.
So, we went back outside the park and drove to our next night’s lodging.
The East Glacier Park Lodge was built in 1913 utilizing many Ponderosa Trees
40-50” in diameter and 50 feet long/high as vertical internal support members
in the
great halls. There was no TV or Air Conditioning and none was needed. The walls
between rooms were not sound insulated. There were gently banging hot water pipes.
There was real enjoyable character in the place. There was a HUGE
fireplace in the
main lobby with much plush seating to encourage people to sit around and chat
or to just enjoy the whole thing.
We had a shower of rain in the afternoon and the sun came out from the west piercing over the top of 8-12,000 feet high snow capped peaks and a fantastic double rainbow formed to the east over the plains of Montana, The Big Sky State. (I was extremely fortunate to capture the double rainbow image with a disposable panoramic camera that I had purchased and it turned out in spite of my nervous anticipation.) I shall always treasure that picture and memory.
After the rain, we drove up the eastern edge of Glacier National Park on
narrow seldom traveled roads to enjoy the ever present beauty some more. As darkness
approached, we turned around and headed back towards the lodge. On the way back,
we found a local small restaurant in a lovely quaint log cabin structure that
served a delightful meal in real atmosphere.
Topping off the meal was a serving of Huckleberry Ice Cream (a local dish)
which
I drizzled with a light coating of local honey. It was scrumptious !!! [ I highly
recommend if you get a chance, that you visit this restaurant-- The Restaurant
Thimbleberry at 1112 Hwy 49, E. Glacier Park, MT 59434 owned by Sheri Courtney,
telephone (406) 226-5523. Family Dining in The Heart of Glacier Country.]
The next morning we drove up the west side of the park for more beauty. We
saw a dark
object in the distance beside the road and as we approached, it turned out to
be a
big brown grizzly bear eating yellow dandelion
blossoms. Apparently that was dessert following his meal of white pulp he had
eaten from close by gleaming trunks of trees from which he had skinned off the
bark with his massive claws.
I stopped the car, rolled down the window enough to hopefully clear the camera
lens, but no more, snapped a picture (which was acceptable when developed) and
accelerated away. Just about a mile up the road, a deer ambled across the road.
From Montana we boarded an Amtrak train destined for Seattle. From the train
we saw
a Bald Eagle sitting of top a pole on the water’s edge of Puget Sound. We also
saw a
lone Orcas Whale rolling just off shore.
SEATTLE
Typically we avoid large cities when we travel. Seattle was recommended by
friends and was a wonderful surprise. We had a travel agent make all plans
for us. Thankfully
they chose Grayline Tours who planned and provided everything.
Revealed was a very clean welcoming modern city which had NO graffiti,
had much water/shoreline related features, fantastic homes overlooking the sound
from high hills with absolutely the most beautiful manicured yards, flowers,
shrubs, blooming dogwoods (on June 6) etc. They have only 36” of rain per year,
mostly showers, never downpours and generally 60 degree temperature most of the
year.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
We left Seattle very early via bus to travel north to take a very large ferry
which had multiple large two decks comfortable enclosed and open deck lounge
areas for passengers including a well provided cafeteria type eating area for
a two hour trip through the San Juan Islands on the way to Victoria. We saw island
deer and goats plus a pod (school) of Orcas whale.
Timid weather (hot/cold) apparently compliments what seems to be the world’s
best flowers, gardens and lush everything. Maybe people just do not
have enough to do
beyond working in their yards. Everything was beyond beautiful.
Buchart Gardens
The gardens are recognized a fantastic showcase of the wonderful miracles of
Mother
Nature’s many varieties of flowers, shrubs, trees. and all those lovely things.
Very relaxing and inspirational
Victoria
Victoria is a tourist’s opportunity to do much--horse drawn open carriages driven
by top hatted drivers, personal bicycle coaches built for 4 peddlers, rickshaws,
high speed
whale chasing craft for 20-25 people to search Puget Sound and the Pacific, 10
person
harbor slow touring boats, scooters rentals, restaurants & shopping galore,
many street
musicians & pantomimes, sidewalk coffee shops & tables, etc.
Our accommodations in the Victoria Chateau Hotel were without question the
most
majestic that we have experienced in our lives. We had a large corner suite on
the 12th floor consisting of an entry, a beautiful living room surrounded by
glass windows overlooking the beautiful city, a balcony, a generous kitchen with
an elegantly furnished dining area, a large bedroom and a plush large bath. We
had definitely arrived.
BACK TO SEATTLE
The return Trip to Seattle was uneventful except for a giant Bald Eagle sitting
in the very top of a tall fir tree near the ferry re-boarding area.
We went from the 7th floor in the first Seattle hotel (Warwick) to the 12th
floor in Victoria Chateau Hotel to the 24th floor in our second Seattle hotel
(Madison) which was almost adjacent to Seattle’s tallest skyscraper building
of 76 floors. The 76th floor had a viewing platform but the reported best view
in Seattle was from the 75th floor if you we were a female. The ladies restrooms
featured toilet stalls of clear glass to the exterior and offered unusual unprecedented
vistas.
The desk clerk at the Madison Hotel noted to me that the reserved room was
to be shared. I was a bit surprised. Excess conversation (he was new at his job)
revealed that it was to be a lady named Edna----------------------My Wife of
47 Years!
I have noticed in my travels from Key West to Seattle, from Maine to Arizona
and from
Cape Hatteras to Monterey that many many citizens have become too
foundationed,
seriously challenging the scientifically conceived and engineer designed distance
between armrests and the width of aisles on airplanes and Amtrak trains and tour
busses and shower stalls.
Seattle presents an extremely positive attitude of its residents and government.
To see
a sidewalk sign just down the street outside of our hotel which said “ADOPT
A STREET” plus all the very evident concerted efforts on RECYCLING and
the
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS revealed that those people have
really
got it together and offer an enviable model for many communities to copy.
TOUR GROUPS
Our decision to spend time in the Northwest was based on friends’ recommendations.
We chose to allocate some days to the area and contrary to our 50 years experience
of planning our trips 100% on our own, we sought out a Travel
Agency (Aladdin) to make all arrangements in the area.
They chose Gray Line Tours of Seattle which was an excellent choice.
Upon arrival at the Amtrak Station, we had been sent prepaid vouchers for all
travel and lodging including a taxi to and from our hotels. After hotel arrival,
busses are used with very service oriented, knowledgeable, pleasant, dedicated
combination guides/drivers.
Tour participants are generally near to being or graduate senior citizens.
Some hold
Doctorate Degrees in aging and some have forgotten their credentials and require
some
probing reminders to -----------------whatever.
They have hot/cold flashes, motor mouth diseases who really need to or should
have stopped for an oil change, are always head counted for lost/late riders,
one male rider commented as he got onto the bus that he had lost his wife and
my spontaneous out-loud remark was “joy, joy, joy” to which he responded as his
stress was relieved by voicing a very very vocal seizure of laughter (of joy
?).
A 40 person bus tour is a seldom to be chosen vehicle to be used by us as a
“quicklier”
means to enjoy a congested geographic area. We are typically loners in our travels
but this tour done good !
CALIFORNIA
Seattle to Sacramento on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight was a very smooth and very
scenic
trip. This Amtrak segment was without question the best in staffing, communications,
rider participation programs, equipment, service, etc.
We had an excellent dinner on the train with a couple from Switzerland which
reminded
us of our own trip to that country in 1952 and was a subject of our wonderful
conversation over the meal.
The train station in Seattle was immaculate but the train station in Sacramento
was
filthy at best even to a numb person.
We had rented a car through our Travel Agent as an intermediate size but
when we arrived at the car rental agency (Hertz) two hours early, we were informed
that our car had not yet been delivered from their central yard and that there
was a problem in that they wished to substitute a different car than we had reserved.
They provided a 1997
Lincoln Town Car with only 1427 miles on the odometer.
With some emotional
restraint, I agreed to accept the car at no added cost to me to do them the favor
of
delivering the car to Tucson. A very pleasant surprise. We
drove the car 2408 pleasurable miles before we turned it in and we never did
totally comprehend all the buttons and features. The only complaint that I had
was that it gobbled gasoline at a rate of about 30% more than the Cadillac that
we owned until late last year. But it drove beautifully on the highways and on
the twisting mountain roads.
We made a surprise visit on friends in Oakdale, CA, who we had not seen in
7 years.
They had changed their tel. # to unlisted, so our arrival and visit was unannounced
and memorable as we saw how their children had matured so beautifully.
We avoided Yosemite National Park because of the negative publicity resultant
from last year’s floods and also, we had been there before.
The drive to King’s Valley and on into Sequoia National Park was just Beautiful. To
see a harvested tree with growth rings revealing its accurate birth date of 261
BC
was mind boggling to say the least.
The drive down from the BIG TREES was very very steep with torturing switchback
curves. At one of the viewing pull-offs we looked down and saw a
Bald Head Eagle soaring in the valley below us enjoying
the currents. Fantastic!
Vehicles over 22 ft long were not allowed. About
3/4 of the way down, we met a real dumb (my opinion) bicyclist pulling his camping
gear in a trailerapparently on theway to the
summit campgrounds. It takes all in this world to make it go.
Wednesday night revealed the best ever in my life from anywhere for a glorious
tasty/tender sirloin steak in Bakersfield, CA at the Black Angus Restaurant.
You ought to go!
The 270 mile trip in lower CA through the Mojave Desert on I-40 past Edwards
Air Force Base was a new adventure for us. The speed limit was whatever you dared
do.
Rest Areas on I-40 were 74-79 miles or about one hour apart. Only
in CA would
we see at the entrance to restrooms a sign which said “Disabled Users May
Be Accompanied By The Opposite Sex.” I missed them though !!
Before our arrival in Needles, CA and the head colds that we had picked up
in the snow covered mountains in the Northwest or in Seattle really bloomed with
the 100 degree heat. We stopped in Boron, CA at a drug store along The 20 Mule
Team Borax Trail and obtained hopefully remedial medication.
Needed gasoline and the cheapest regular was $1.499 per gallon. (that was $.15
less
than the highest in town and $.20 per gallon more than later in AZ.)
After a restful nap in the motel in Needles, CA we drove south along the Colorado
River into a Wildlife Preservation Area (indicated on the map). The wildlife
is extremely well protected. There was almost NONE. In 69 miles, we saw 3 crows
or ravens, a buzzard and a ground squirrel.
.
The flora and the fauna joined together and departed from the landscape and
left absolutely no relatives/plants to cover the naked earth except immediately
adjacent to the blue/greene Colorado River.
A welcomed change and relief from norm was a wonderful KFC dinner to marshal
us
to bed that night.
ARIZONA
To kill some time until our next motel reservation was available, we drove
down to the southwest and across the mountains to Prescott, AZ.
If someone brags that they originated in west AZ, congratulate them because
they left and beware of their possible intelligence.
We approached the top of a hill way out in the desert and in the distance was
a very tall pole with a sign at the top that we could not read from that distance.
Edna said “what in the world is that?” The people who had erected the sign had
anticipated her question. When we got there the sign said “NOTHING
AT ALL”. How correct they were!
Edna debated whether we both should seek out a Doctor to treat our colds but
we checked into the motel at noon, slept and rested, sneezed, coughed, used all
the Kleenex and toilet tissue and tried to survive rather than abort the trip
after only 12 days.
On June 13, 1997, a local TV said Flagstaff’s YTD normal rain was 8.98”, high
today was 63 degrees, low tomorrow would be 39 and I was going to wear
shorts ! Yesterday, when we were just 75 miles west, it was 104 degrees. WOW!!!!!
Arrived in Valle, AZ at a Days Inn just 25 miles south of The Grand Canyon
and which was very far superior to anything that Williard Scott advertises on
the NBC Today Show. The oasis of LUSH grass in the middle of the desert landscape
turned out to be the result of being watered by “Reclaimed Waste Water” as posted
on the wooden fence rails around the greened area. There was a busload of teenage
guest who apparently had not seen much if any such lush lawn, who were literally
rolling on and enjoying the luxury.
I guess an added pleasure to typical bathroom activities is a greened lawn and
beautiful flowers and shrubs.
GRAND CANYON
South Rim
On June 14, after checking into the motel, we drove up to the Grand Canyon
late in the afternoon and stopped at Mathers Point which is the first viewing
area on the South Rim.
I will not attempt to convince you. You must see it for yourself. GOD allowed
us to look across the banks of a 10 mile wide river while standing on the very
edge of the southern bank with the river water flowing almost one (1) mile directly
below us. The river bank that we stood on was at an elevation of almost 9,000
ft above sea level.
A young child looking at the glory of it all out there asked his mom if the world was
moving or is it us !?
The air was so thin for me and it was crystal clear and cool.
I saw one man who after initially seeing the awesome spectacle, almost glide
through the air as a ballet star would in SwanLake as he hastily
returned to his car to retrieve his
video camera and to return to the canyon rim to try to hopefully capture the
view forever to show to the people back home.
Probably more than 50% of the visitors were from foreign countries. Verbal language
was not a barrier to understand how the glorious views penetrated the whole
body until it glowed with emotion regardless of the place
of birth/origin.
I noted one man who was there with his family from somewhere around Pakistan.
He
was dressed in a grey suit with tie, a beard possibly rolled around some kind
of cord
underneath the beard on his chin with the tied ends of that cord hidden under
the immaculate purple turban that he was wearing. After a bit of time with his
family he moved aside for some personal privacy I guess and was standing very
near me. He seem to have emotional tears in his eyes and said something in his
language which sounded like “fantisticolo”.
I knew precisely what his soul/body/spirit/ ? was experiencing. Mine
Too !
Please go and see it so as to convince yourself, while there is still time.
Do not
Try to do too much at one time. Love it a little at the time. Just let it
soak in deep.
We experienced a sunset emerge out of the earth, not from the sky. You
could see
the beautiful changes occurring as the shadows moved majestically across/up/down
the peaks/cavities/colors/valleys/everywhere changing the vista gloriously.
It
got into your soul and even today resides in the depths.
Before we left on the trip, I researched for temperatures that we could expect
for clothing planning. Glacier National Park, MT could have low temperatures
inthe 30’s and Arizona would be in the early 100’s. We planned accordingly.
West Rim
The next morning we awoke to a cloudy sky, dressed based on my temperature research
and the fact that just 150 miles earlier we had experienced 104 degrees, had
an early breakfast and drove to the Grand Canyon with plans to tour the West
Rim.
The Park Service no longer allows private cars, except handicapped, to drive
along the
west rim. Instead, you must park your car in central areas (much still under
construction)
or find parking and board free shuttle busses to visit the eight viewing points.
You can stay at the individual points as long as you wish and catch the next
bus which runs at 13 minute intervals all day. This is an excellent needed traffic
control program.
(I must comment that in the total Western USA, in cities and particularly
in National Parks that there has been substantial serious effort applied to assure
wonderful access to everything for the handicapped to touch/feel/see/be involved/enjoy.
I commend that dedicated effort.)
The broad international community’s participation and universal acceptance
of the majesty of these creations generates understanding and appreciation thereby
inspiring common communications and enjoyment by all we people on this earth.
Taxpayer money spending should be wholeheartedly sanctioned for improving projects
of this nature which will not necessarily present obvious tangible touch and
feel results.
This world will be far better from such effort.
We parked our car 3-4 blocks away from the beginning point of the shuttle
busses for
the west rim. The weather was not encouraging. We boarded the bus and rode to
the
first viewing point. The canyon was beautiful but there was the visual distraction
of fog/clouds down below us in the canyon plus in the sky and it started to rain.
We caught the next shuttle bus and since it started raining harder, we just
stayed on
the bus through the remaining seven stops without getting off to see the views
to avoid getting soaked. The trip took about 60-90 minutes.
When we arrived back at the start point of the west rim shuttle bus route,
it was
raining heavily. Some of the bus passengers took off under umbrellas (ours was
in the motel) or in sufficient rain gear or with no protection to go to their
cars. We had little protection on our bodies and insufficient clothes for the
actual/eventual weather.
We found a native very thick and broad pungent cedar/fir bough for shelter.
Eventually
the significantly increasing wind and rain saturated the needles in the thick
bough and it started leaking. We sought protection on the downwind side of the
large cedar/fir tree
trunks which did not last long.
The Park Service was building a 10-12 ft tall vertical wall out of native stone
nearby so we backed up to that wall, protected from the wind and rain as it was
blown across the
top. There were several minutes of good protection. We were the only people
remaining in the area.
Then, much to my surprise, the precipitation turned to about 50% rain and 50%
SLEET bouncing on the ground as it fell. The wall behind
us became saturated as
the rain was blown over the top and ran down the wall and penetrated my thin
jacket until it came in contact with my skin. We Were SOAKED. It
Was COLD !!
Edna saw a Port-a-John about 25 yards away and said she needed to use
the
facility. She ran to it but could not get the door open and hollered for me to
help. I
grabbed the door and Eureka, it opened. It was very clean, had little
or no smell,
was larger in size than the ones in MS, so we both got into it and closed the
door.
The rain and sleet pelted the sides and roof of the Port-a-John but none of
it
could get to our body.
Consider this ! TWO LOVERS OF 47 YEARS ELAPSED TIME ENJOYING
EACH OTHER WHILE BEING PROTECTED FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD’S PEOPLE
AND THE WEATHER IN THE SHELTER OF A PORT-A-JOHN .
Any port in a storm.
We used the structure for and beyond its design intent. The space was small
and required probably more cooperative effort than committed to in our wedding
vows.
All of that was all before a lunch of hot chicken soup.
That afternoon, the clouds blew away and were replaced by beautiful blue
skies. After
a hot shower, a nap and a change into dry warmer clothes we returned to the Canyon
about two hours before sunset. The MAN upstairs did it
again with wonderful sun rays
and ever changing moving shadows to sizzle and burn into our very being.
On June 15 we checked out of the Days Inn in Valle, AZ. A wonderful facility
staffed by a family/clan/tribe of pleasant, dedicated, efficient, meticulous,
appreciative Navajos.
A real group effort that should be copied by many and envied by all. Reminded
me of
Chief Philip Martin’s activities with the Choctaws.
East Rim
Weather was beautiful as we drove back to the East Rim of the Grand Canyon
to view
the sun moving higher and shadows did their beautiful thing. At the Desert View
visitor area was a writing by a first time visitor to the Grand Canyon in 1875:
“No language can fully describe, no artist paint the beauty,
grandeur,
immensity and sublimity of the most wonderful production
of Nature’s
great architect. Grand Canyon must
be seen to appreciate.”
nuff said
MORE ARIZONA
The Grand Canyon numbed our senses and the trip north through the Painted Desert
and Echo Cliffs was not exhilarating.
Both of us are always alert to the possibility of seeing wildlife and are responsive
to signs which say Watch For Animals Ahead with a plaque
underneath that says for next
5 Miles, then 10 Miles, then 20, then 50 ---But we saw no wildlife and few cows,
horses,
sheep, etc.
When we then saw, Next 100 Miles, we knew that tax money for the signs was
running out. Then The last sign that we saw said NEXT 157 MILES---------
that
meant to us that they had also run out of animals.
Finally, I realized that the animals that they wanted us to look for had to
be those humans that we were meeting in on-coming cars.
LAKE POWELL
In Page, AZ we found Glen Canyon Dam across the Colorado River backing up crystal
clear Lake Powell, the 2nd largest lake in North America but it had to be without
question the most beautiful with panoramic views of fantastic rock formations
reflecting
in the water and thousands of boats of all sizes and functions.
a must see
From Page, AZ we headed east towards hopefully another point of interest
through the
ever and ever and ever changing landscape of nothing and nothing and more nothing,
almost no people, some prickly low bushes, many very dry washes, no interesting
animals
or birds and maybe a stream bed with a very narrow
wet stain made of nature’s water trying to run downhill before and as
it was evaporated by the hot sun and the incessant
wind.
MONUMENT VALLEY
In the distance some individual shapes and structures begin to gradually pierce
into the blue sky on the horizon. As miles and miles and miles passed, the structures
began to take on some random irregular non-uniform majestic character as stone
monuments rising from the desert floor. The sun cast magical shadows for the
minds creation of whatever. There were splits and crevasses and even holes penetrating
the massive stone monuments.
You think you can digest/absorb no more, then you turn around and look back
in the direction from which you came and the new panorama is even more breathtaking.
You
take and take pictures hoping to capture some of the fantasy to show to people
back home.
It has to end!!
And it does but unpredictable bluffs fill your horizon, then thin long layers
of almost flowing red lava flows accentuated by the sun’s shadows,
the rolling hills, the mesas. the all.
FOUR CORNERS
This is a point in the desert where UT, CO, NM, AZ have a common geographical
corner for the states. That is about all it is except the point is almost 100%
circled by booths selling Indian jewelry, beads, etc.
VALLEY de CHELLY NATIONAL PARK
The Navajo Indian race and culture, I grew to respect and admire. These are
a people of helping each other. A people who have taken business ventures in
the desolate
land to excellent successes.
If you ever went into a Navajo enterprise you could be 100% confident of competent
pleasant satisfactory service in an extremely orderly and clean facility. We
noticed most every Navajo home had a round or 6/8 sided structure in the yard
which we learned was called a “hogan”.
We were fortunate to be able to go into one. The hogan is
the traditional home of the Navajo people. It is usually made of logs and mud
constructed in a circular fashion with a mud roof supported by a beautiful geometric
design structural arrangement of supporting logs bridging the outer walls and
with a roof top smoke hole for the light of day to enter and to view the stars
at night. The walls have a door always on the east side. The thick mud roof and
walls keep the inside at a comfortable temperature regardless of the outside
climate. The hogan has a dirt floor of which multi-colored
sand painting were made and it was used for weaving fabric, caring for children,
ceremonies and for total living.
The elevation of the valley varies from 1000 to 5000 ft. The central canyon
was carved
by water over the centuries into the red and multi-colored limestone. Some of
the open faced massive caverns in the canyon walls were used to build multi floor
level living quarters.
The Navajo selected the almost hidden canyon years ago as a refuge from the
continuing attack by the white man. This is almost sacred ground to the Navajo.
The canyon has been extensively and almost continuously occupied by agriculturists
for nearly 2000 years. About 70 Navajo families currently live within the park
boundaries.
A place to see and remember and respect.
SOUTH ARIZONA
After Valley de Chilly, the Arizona landscape returns to bland non-stimulating
all the way to near Tucson.
Then the various cacti make for a variable interesting landscape with changing
configurations for the changing altitudes.
South Arizona is a place not to live for me. The Arizona Department of Transportation
capitalizes of the climate and saves the taxpayers many bucks.
I never saw a Rest Stop or a Restroom in the whole state that had been put
in place by the State.
Two consecutive days on June 19 & 20 the temperature reached 105 degrees.
June historically, per the Weather Bureau, has an average high of 99. Looking
at averages,
I guess that could be a range of 84 to 114 or worse.
The humidity at maximum temperature in June is 13% with my guessed range of
0-26%. The highest humidity at maximum temperature in August is 33% with a yearly
average of 25%. One morning the radio reported a humidity of 7 %.
Average rainfall is 11.14” per year. The June average is .22” (YES,
THAT IS
0.22 INCHES).
Elimination of body fluids is not a problem in those weather conditions. The
fluid evaporates rapidly from the body making replenishment of fluids to maintain
body moisture a more critically demanding task than needing a restroom.
WEIRD !!!!
It is dry heat, they say, but it is extremely -------------------------HOT.
I remember when we lived in Vermont for two winters that we experienced minus
40 degrees. That was dry cold, they said, but it would
freeze your extremities and etc off.
same as dry heat
NATIONAL PARKS
The sparkling jewels in the crown of the United States are in the National
Park system. Not only are they respected and enjoyed by we citizens
but visitors from foreign lands
marvel at our blessings. These treasures should be promoted
in other countries and have accesses and facilities improved at maximum to valuably
aid in more peaceful co-existence of the people/races/cultures/etc. this wonderful
blessed earth that we must share. The value
of spending of foreign currency in the USA today by foreign tourist must be astounding
even today as a trade balancing economic element and it can be accelerated with
a focused program by our federal government.
AMTRAK
Prior to this trip we had made trips on three (3) segments of Amtrak’s Crescent
Line and one (1) segment of The Silver Star Line. These trips were for us to
determine if we really wanted to and/or should accelerate going on this long
trip to the west before the very strong likely potential of the necessary termination of
the nationwide Amtrak passenger train system for financial reasons.
The two most important things that we learned initially, is while on an Amtrak
train, do not order the meat loaf and do not try to sleep two people in a two
person sleeping compartment. There is just not enough room for two people to
sleep and avoid stepping/standing on your travel companion as you prepare to
convert the compartment back to a sitting area . Get a bedroom please, if two
are traveling.
A deluxe bedroom has generous sleeping arrangements for at least two. It has
a private toilet with shower, a wash basin and towel cabinet, a 6.5 ft long comfortable
couch with a variable angle back for comfortable sitting which converts into
a very comfortable wide lower level bed at night while another bed with ladder
for access is lowered from above and there is also a lounge chair for seating
for daytime use in front of your own large viewing window for all the scenery
passing by while enjoying all the fresh coffee or orange juice that you desire.
You can also have a private connecting door and have two bedrooms if you need
it. The sleeping car attendant prepares the beds at night and makes it up the
next morning.
Three excellent meals per day are served in the dining car on linen table cloths
with
linen napkins complimented by real china and crystal by very entertaining black
suited
waiters. The food is included in the sleeping quarters fares and are excellently
prepared as you travel, in an on board kitchen.
I had a delicious New York Strip Steak, a delectable roasted pork tenderloin
in a beautifully spiced and seasoned gravy sauce, Cajun Creole Jumbo Shrimp on
a bed of rice, a half roasted chicken, a wonderful freshly prepared chicken salad
with apple cubes, nuts, etc. on a bed of lettuce and garnished with twisted orange
slices which are also good eating, just to name a few of the meals.
We have now traveled one (1) segment of The City of New Orleans Line to Chicago,
two (2) segments of the Empire Builder Line to Seattle, one (1) segment of The
Coast Starlight Line to Sacramento and one (1) segment of The Sunset Unlimited
Line from Tucson to New Orleans on this trip. In a total of nine (9) segments
all over the USA, we have seen much diversity.
Unfortunately we could not depart on this Amtrak trip out of Meridian.
We had
to drive to Jackson to
catch the train. We also could not return to Meridian on
the Amtrak train. We had to ride to New Orleans,
get off, catch a taxi to the New Orleans’
airport, pick up a rental car, drive back to Meridian and
turn the rental car in the next day at the Meridian airport.
The Amtrak system is a private business which has received government subsidies for
years and has become somewhat complacent with their style
of existence.
It is late in their existence and much, much, much maintenance is required
on their rolling stock and they definitely need a major change in their management
techniques/capabilities/philosophies.
Knowledgeable travelers will/must bring warm clothing because the inside
environment air handling systems can no longer control the in room temperatures
because the individual room thermostats in the rooms no longer function, the
input air vent controls into the rooms no longer can be mechanically adjusted
because of lack of maintenance, the background “elevator music” systems in the
rooms do not work because of static, the upholstery is becoming tattered and
worn, the walls are in need of refurbishing, the rail track infrastructure which
is not owned by Amtrak is much improved since I rode trains in 1967 and before
but there are many rough spots in much, much of the tracks, etc.
The Amtrak employees on the trains are individually very helpful to passengers,
but
are very protective of what they consider as their personal job and will
seriously and noticeably avoid the possibility of infringing on what they consider
as someone else’s duties by other Amtrak employees and do not allow any possible
infringement (help) into their area. There is a definite lack of team
effort/spirit/concern/participation apparently as what is felt to be a personal job
security protective action. That is really sad. AND
IT MUST BE OVERCOME.
It is noticeable that Amtrak has been managed by “romanticists” with the
passion of railroading. Romance is a short lived thing which takes time to rejuvenate
to yield the quality of the event and the passion experienced/expected by normal
people.
Absolutely no way to run a business for profit.
These type of people need to vent there railroad passion with a toy train
set up in the privacy of their basement to avoid their disruptive biased outbursts
in the public environment , if Amtrak is ever to have
a chance to survive.
Very badly needed is a professional management cadre who
will/can create and implement a positively motivated inspired team oriented passenger
serving internally self supporting profit assurance mission. Boot-Strapping is
a MUST.
The terrible addiction to public tax support must be broken and accepted
as an important needed responsibility and challenge.
During our travels on Amtrak routes we have passed by, or
seen or been inside individual Amtrak train stations as follows:
Silver Star 22 Stations
Crescent 28 (some of
them 2-3 times)
City of New Orleans 16
Empire Builder 40
Coast Starlight 16
Sunset Limited 16
Grand Total 138 Stations
Not a single train station that we have seen. approached the
grandeur of our new train station which is under construction in Meridian !!
Not a single one had a majestic SECURITY GUARD TOWER type
structure which overlooked a barbed/razor wire topped security fence, in its
front viewing area, which surrounds a correction institute’s yard like the large
new jail currently under construction in downtown Meridian.
Such Forethought for potential future use of the facility is amazing !
Aren’t we lucky and proud ???
ON THE WAY HOME
Early rising was required to get to the station, but it was great to get back
on Amtrak in Tucson and head for New Orleans for a scheduled 35 hours trip which
actually took 39.5 hours. We passed lots of nothing and more nothing all the
way back.
At 3:00 am somewhere in Texas, I swear we ran out of rail track and bounced
along for miles and miles and miles with the wheels of the train traveling along
on top of the cross-ties and fallen in the void in between.
It was great to get home even though it was at 3:15am on June 23,1997.
My mattress which I have fashioned over its 40 year life with my own personal
form fitting pot-hole was very relaxing.
My wife found her favorite cooking tool still functioning effectively in the
kitchen---
the smoke alarm--- which calls me to the table when the meal is done.
A REALLY FANTASTIC WONDERFULLY AWESOME TRIP !!!!!
RECOMMENDATION TO YOU
Please, before too far in the future, plan and take at least a trip through
the Plains
of Montana approaching the beautiful Glacier National Park and spend several
days in the East Glacier National Park Lodge as you spend your days touring and
seeing the wonderful Park.
Then on to Seattle by train for a few days and include a ferry trip to Victoria
for a surprising enjoyable relaxing time.
Be sure to go and allow some days at the awesome Grand Canyon and travel to
beautiful
Lake Powell and over through the unbelievable Monument Valley.
We guarantee that you will be inspired by all of this, those attractions will
never get
any better and you will come back home, a much better person.
Enjoy.
Herb and Edna Stott