Waited too long

When I made the plane reservations for New York in September, the web site indicated seat assignments were not available yet and to check back closer to flight day.  I decided to check 2 days ago.  The flight out had half the seats still unassigned and I reserved two good ones for us.  The return flight, however, was another story.  There were only 2 unassigned seats on that flight -- obviously, they were ours -- and they were the last row!  I guess it's a popular flight.  It won't be fun, but the flight is reasonably short and we'll be tired.  There is a lesson learned in this, I suppose, such as checking such details frequently. 

Time for a new journey

Although I've planned my next trip for 3 months, I can't believe it starts in just a week.  My daughter Karin and I are flying to New York City to see the holiday decorations and go to a play.  The play -- A Steady Rain -- is what determined the trip.  It stars Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig for a limited engagement.  As crazy as I am about Daniel Craig, I couldn't let pass the opportunity to see him on Broadway, and perhaps meet him.  Word is that both Jackman and Craig are generous in greeting playgoers at the backstage door after performances. 

The planning began when I read that AmEx card holders would be given a pre-sale opportunity in August.  I was on the phone as soon as the line opened and snagged good seats in the orchestra for my daughter and a family friend who lives in NYC. 

With the tickets secure, I then had to find a hotel I could almost afford.  Since we had other plans beside the theater, I wanted the hotel to be reasonable close to the theater district plus other destinations.  Hotel prices are ridiculous in Manhattan!   After much searching on the Web, I settled on the Washington Jefferson hotel, which had prices at least $100 less than hotels closer to the action but is still a good location.

Finding seats on an airline was much simpler.  We fly from Jacksonville on Dec. 3, see the play on Dec. 4, have another day for sightseeing and museum hopping, and return to JAX on Dec. 6.  By flying out of JAX, I get to go a day early and spend time with my grandsons.  It will be a great week all-around!  If I have any misgivings, it's having the proper clothing for New York in December! I'm a transplanted Floridian who can't handle the cold on a good day.   I'll let you know how it works out.

Home again

We're home!  Actually we arrived last night, 3 days early.  We drove through Alabama and passed into Florida before noon on Tuesday and decided to try to make it home.  The drive was relatively easy, even going through Tallahassee.  Once we were on the turnpike, I was familiar enough with the rest of the roads to manage the night-time driving.  We managed to miss any commuting traffic all the way, but had one holdup on the turnpike in Orlando.  A semi was burning on the side of the road.  We got to the spot fairly early and got past it in about 10 minutes.  News about the accident has been on TV today.

It was great to relax at home last night, leaving all the unpacking, laundering and sorting to today.  The sorting of souvenirs will take days, though (what to give the grandkids now and what to save for Christmas or birthdays), as will the uploading and sorting of photos. 

There wasn't much in the landscape that was unique yesterday except for Mobile Bay.  It is so wide and my husband tried to capture that.  There was also a battleship in port.

It will probably take me a week to get settled after this trip, only to start arranging my next trip.... to New York City on Dec. 3!

More about that another day.

Louisiana green

There wasn't much to inspire me in the rest of Texas: busier highway, congested cities, ordinary landscapes.  Then we crossed into Louisiana, to rich green fields, trees and crops.  I was surprised to see the sugar cane, some of it being harvested, waving in the wind (right).  Then began the rivers and lakes, as well as the swamps (below).

And some of the names evoked memories of my favorite books by James Lee Burke: Bayou Teche, Atchafalaya River and Lake Bigeaux (below).

Then the rains came and required attention to the roads, not the scenery.  It forced us to find lodging sooner than I wanted and we exited the highway at Covington.  Who would know we would find a 5-star restaurant right next to the motel!  It was very elegant, and very expensive, but with unique offerings: lumpmeat crab and brie soup and duck "saltimboca" to name two.  The soup was delicious!  The cost of the meal surpassed our lunches and dinners for the past 4 days!   I will SO have to exercise when we get home.

Two more days, I think, and we WILL be home.  YEA!

Long haul through Texas

Eight hours of driving today and we still are in Texas!  But it's a different Texas than when we left.  Shortly after heading out from Van Horn, the landscape changed notably.... from crags and rocks to soft, rounded hills.  We eventually encountered steeper, rocky mountains as we headed for El Paso but they were farther away, framing broad open plains and valleys.  The washes and draws were dry, only ghosts of moving water.  

The road again was straight and unpopulated except for trucks.  We set the cruise control and pointed east on I-10 (left).  We did encounter traffic in El Paso, but it didn't last long, and we found ourselves alone again with the trucks. 

As we neared San Antonio, the landscape again dramatically changed.  The fields shone green, leafy trees began to appear, and mountains were filled with green brush. There were streams and lakes visible from the road (right).   We began seeing more cattle, and later, horses.  I realized then as much as I like the dramatic landscapes of Arizona and New Mexico, I prefer living amid green scenery.

We will head for Houston tomorrow and eventually Louisiana.  Ever closer to home.

Leaving Tucson - Hello Texas

Our family reunion was over too quickly but we made promises to do it again soon.  Then we were off, heading for Texas on Rte. 10.  The remaining drive through southwest Arizona was interesting as growing rain clouds painted endless landscapes with the mountains (below).

Another surprise was the sudden emergence of fields of nut trees (right), probably pecan and walnut, based on billboards we saw.

Cotton fields also emerged again, this time being harvested by machine and not by hand.  And cattle began appearing again, although in small numbers.

We crossed into New Mexico with the stunning mountains again.  Rounding a curve at one point, we were surprised with hills of rocks that looked like someone (or something) had simply dropped them there, with huge boulders perched on top in precarious positions.  Unfortunately, my photos were too blurred to use.

The rain clouds had persisted all day and we encountered showers for miles. 

The barely populated highway (except for trucks, we hardly saw any other vehicles) allowed much gazing at broad valleys and distant mountains. Surprisingly, the speed limit was raised from 75 to 80!  But cars suddenly materialized in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and again in El Paso, where we had 21 miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic.  Just as suddenly, the cars disappeared and we had open road again.  But we hadn't gone very far east of El Paso when traffic signs informed drivers of an inspection station ahead. Speed was slowed from 80 to 0 in a very short time. The Border Patrol was checking every car, truck and bus.  The Mexican border is very close to that area.

The drive today also included a time-zone change, so we are now in Central Time, gaining back the hours we lost heading to Las Vegas.  Tomorrow's drive will cross Texas but probably not all of it. 

More of our journey then.

San Xavier Mission

A change to cooler weather last night brought low-hanging clouds and grayness instead of the customary blue skies and warmth.  It was hard to get motivated to venture out, but we finally did and the trip was more than worth the effort.

We drove to the San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, about 20 minutes away.  The mission arises from the desert floor like an oasis, shining white and beckoning.  Parking close by, the beauty of the mission captures you as you head for the tall wooden doors (left) and an ornate facade showcasing figures in four niches on either side.  Undergoing refurbishment, the left side is visibly whiter than the right. Inside, the walls and ceilings are a feast for the eyes.  Two full-figure angels reach out on either side of the sanctuary at the entrance to the transepts.  Ornate carvings surround the altar. Niches abound throughout the church with statues of many saints, including St. Peter, St. Paul, the Virgin Mary, and of course St. Francis Xavier.  Murals on the walls depict various religious scenes such as the Last Supper.  

Construction of today's mission began around 1783 and was completed in 1797, under the leadership of the Franciscans.  the work of building, restoring and preserving the mission has been going on since 1859, and includes today the efforts of seven art conservators to remove the scars of time -- smoke, dirt, excrement of birds and bats, and misused varnish that had blackened (left).  A hazardous restoration effort was in removing the many hornets' nests around the walls of the church without disturbing the art.

There is a great story in this mission, whose church has been compared to the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and the finest example of Spanish colonial architure.  It is still in use for weekly masses. 

We had an unusual encounter as we left the mission.  A roadrunner was strutting the stony parking area and appeared to have little fear of people.  In fact, he seemed to know exactly when to pose for photos, as the one here shows.

Be sure to include a visit to San Xavier Mission if you are in the Tucson area.

We leave Saturday on our journey home. 

Air Museum

My brother-in-law took us to the PIMA Air Museum near Tucson today.  It was quite an experience.  The museum exhibits the highest number of WWII aircraft in the U.S., plus more modern planes that evolved from them, and other historic craft.  One of the planes was the 707 used by the press during the JFK administration (below). 

There were bombers and fighters, reconnaissance and trainers, helicopters and NASA aircraft, like the Super Guppy (below left).  Most were outdoors, and we took a tram tour that covered all of them.  The docent was well-versed in all of their history and specifics about the planes. 

Other planes were inside the half dozen hangars, such as the one below right.

We spent a few hours revisiting the past.  Most rewarding was the small museum with a B-29 bomber and a WW II pilot who flew one, sharing his experiences and knowledge of the plane's history. I highly recommend a visit to the PIMA air museum for anyone interested in airplanes and/or history.

That's all for tonight.   Tomorrow includes a visit to a local mission.

Grand Canyon trip

The bus trip to the Grand Canyon was very long... almost too long.  We started at 6:00 a.m. with a shuttle ride to Planet Hollywood and Miracle Mile where the tour buses would pick us up.  We were told we were on the first bus, already waiting, and were the first to get on.  It was nice enough, with cup holders and storage nets.  As it filled up with other passengers, a tour representative boarded and informed us we were on the wrong bus!  We had to change to bus 2, nearly full, and find empty seats where we could. There were no cup holders or storage nets.  But we had a very nice driver and met interesting fellow travelers, including a couple who had also been at the PBR World Finals.  This helped during the 6-hour drive.  Along the way, we drove past Hoover Dam, and it was a nice change to be able to look longer than I could while driving through five days  earlier.  The bus did make a few stops, including lunch at the Grand Canyon Railway depot.  Yes, this is the point of embarkation for the train that takes you to the canyon. 

When we arrived at the canyon, the first impression was that it was cold!  The temperature must have dropped about 20 degrees, and a chill wind was blowing.  We would have 3 hours to walk the paths, browse the shops (including native crafts) and rest with a drink and/or early dinner before returning. 

As anyone who has seen photos of the canyon can imagine, the view is awesome.  Yet it can't really be captured in a photo.  The depth and the breadth must be seen to be appreciated.  However, I was somewhat disappointed in that the canyon walls seemed to be gray-washed, not the vibrant reds I am used to seeing in film and photography.  Apparently, the color depends on the time of day and the angle of light.  But I clarified the best photo I have with some Adobe PS to produce the photo below.  If you can see the white lines at the bottom of the canyon, they are the mule trails that visitors can take.

  
After a mile walk and a turn through the native craft shop (picking up a few things for the grandkids), we relaxed in the bar until time to get on the bus.  The return bus trip was totally in the dark (remember, sun sets at 4:30, Nevada time, which we were adhering to), but movies were played on the small TV sets in the bus.

The one advantage to being on bus 2 is that we were the first to be dropped off, at 9:30 p.m., at our hotel.  We gave a sigh of relief as we entered the lobby.

It was a fitting end to this week-long stay in Las Vegas.  On Tuesday we would be heading for Tucson and a visit with Jim's brother and sister-in-law.

The event is over

It was a lot of bullriding and it's finally over.  The competition was tight right down to the last ride and I was happy with the outcome.  My husband breathed a sigh of relief when we finally could get out of the center.  The noise level of the constant music was unbelievable every night, which takes its toll both on your ears and body. Ear plugs helped the ears but the reverberations were palpable.

After the event -- it was only about 2:30 p.m. -- we headed for the Atomic Testing Museum.  The story of America's development and testing of atomic weapons was detailed with photos, movies, examples of equipment, interactive media, and more.  Jim was in his element; I found it interesting until the engineering elements took over.  It was a worthwhile stop.

Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening before our 15-hour bus trip to the Grand Canyon on Monday. 

More on Tuesday....

PBR opens for last 4 days

The PBR event was all I had hoped it would be -- exciting and entertaining.  There is a great opening ceremony where all the riders, especially the top contenders, are introduced (see right). 

Last night, one of four retiring bulls was introduced and thanked for many years of top-notch competition.  He was in a pen on top of the stage, which was elevated after the ceremony before lowered to the ground so the bull could exit.  The bulls are just as important as the riders in the PBR. 

Today, Jim and I decided to get out of town -- to see the Red Rock Canyon.  It's just 20 miles west of Las Vegas, an easy drive.  We made a short hike on an easy trail and were really glad to be here this time of year.    While the sun was hot, a constant cool breeze blew.  I can't imagine doing any hiking in the summer.  The cane you see in the photo was just "in case."  I'm never sure what my hip will withstand and it's good for balance.  The trail, although easy, was filled with rocks of varying size, which makes balance tricky sometimes.The visit to the canyon also included a scenic drive on a 13-mile loop.  We had a great day and now look forward to night two of the PBR (actually the fifth round). 

More tomorrow....

Welcome to Las Vegas

Within moments of leaving Kingman, Arizona, this morning, we were in Nevada, which welcomed us with another time zone change!  We left I-40 for SR 93 and Las Vegas.  The flat terrain began to change and we entered a beautiful display of intersecting mountains that spilled right down to the road (see photo).  The road through them was winding and slow, and single-lane.  Before long, we were heading to Hoover Dam.  I had no idea we would be passing this engineering monument.  Nor did I realize there would be a security check of all vehicles.  I guess the security guards are used to cars piled high with suitcases, clothing and various detritus from long road trips because there was no issue and we continued on our way.  We did take the time to stop at one of several scenic viewing overlooks
(photos below).

Leaving Hoover Dam, it was a short drive to Las Vegas.  Our borrowed GPS took us on a more direct route than Google had, and we found our hotel in no time.  Unfortunately, with the time change, we were quite early and no room was open yet.  So we opted for a shuttle ride to Mandalay Bay to find the PBR area.

It was a long, long walk from the shuttle's dropoff to get into the hotel, find a concierge with information about the PBR shuttle I want to use to get to the events tomorrow through Sunday, and find the actual area. As our luck would have it, the PBR outdoor event site was quite near to the shuttle's dropoff, but not evident at the time!

We were able to walk through it and get my first bullrider autograph -- L.J. Jenkins.

When we finally were able to check into our room (after lunch at a nearby outdoor mall and a drive down the entire Las Vegas Blvd.), we about collapsed from all the walking in the hot sun (it was 84 degrees today).  The sun is a lot brighter in the dry desert air.  Oh, it also sets about 4:30 p.m. as LV sits on the eastern edge of the Pacific Time Zone.

My first impression of the strip?  The buildings are unbelievably crowded together, not what most of the advertising depicts.  We'll take a stab at getting to some of the more spectacular hotels in the next few days.

This is it for now....

Straight through Arizona

We were in Arizona within minutes of leaving Gallup, New Mexico, this morning. The state change was evident in the scenery as we left behind the plateaus and sheer rock cliffs (see right) and were faced with broad expanses of ... nothing.  The need to traverse this part of Arizona had to have been daunting to anyone, any group trying to find hospitable land.  It seemed to stretch forever.  But finally we approached mountains that at least varied the scenery.  

However, the open expanses did provide one major site that enticed us to our first off-road stop: Meteor Crater.  And it was an awesome sight (see right).  Shortly after that stop, we began seeing mountains again, although much different from New Mexico (see below).  We also noticed two clouds of smoke beyond the mountains, hundreds of miles away. 

I was amazed at the ease with which we were able to negotiate the mountains.  I-40 has the most negotiable roads that climb up the mountains and then down several thousand feet in elevation over and over, all at mostly 75 mph.  It was a great a ride.  We are now close to the Nevada border and our final destination tomorrow: Las Vegas!

The journey continues.

Day 4

Last night's stop was in Shamrock, Texas, a forgotten town of 1800 residents in the Panhandle.  Yet it does have a few claims to fame: Rte. 66 runs through it, the town has the only still-standing, tallest riveted water tower in Texas, and it was the model for the movie Cars, especially the body shop (right) that sits on the corner of Rte 66 and Rte. 83. 

We spent the morning crossing the Panhandle and then reached New Mexico.  What a change in scenery!  Hills and plateaus seemed to pop out of the ground on all sides, and broad vistas offered expanses of cacti, mesquite and grasses.  Occasionally fields of cotton and corn appeared, and cattle dotted the fields.  But the landscape offered the most exquisite views.  If I were a professional photographer, I would make time every year to capture the colors, light and elevations.  My simple photographs from our moving car barely tell the story (below).  I'm so glad we made this road trip because no amount of photographs or movies can reveal the vastness of this part of our country, nor the insignificance it lends to one's own being in the midst of the space.  I do believe this is my favorite part of the country..... although I haven't seen Arizona yet.

A surprising sight along the way was a herd of about 50 antelope gathered near the road. I doubt they were domesticated, but it seemed unusual to have so many of them in one small area, the way cattle gather in a field.

Most of the route today was straight and up and down as we kept climbing to higher elevations.  However, passing through the Sandia Mountains was a little more circuitous, yet manageable.  After passing beyond those, we were surprised to see many outcrops of lava.  We kept looking for possible volcanos -- long extinct.  Perhaps we weren't wrong as a roadside sign encouraged exiting ahead to see Bandera Volcano!  I'll have to look that one up on the Web. 

 We've reached Gallup, New Mexico, today, and are grateful for the chance to relax.  Happily there is only one full day of driving left before reaching Nevada.  Hooray!

More later.

Day 3

After two time changes yesterday that gained us two hours, we were on the road early, heading to Little Rock, Arkansas, on I-40.  Happily, the skies were blue again, promising a good day of driving.  We headed into high altitude amid more landscapes of brilliant color.  Passing into Oklahoma was deja vu as we have been there several times over the years (Jim is from Oklahoma and we've been to a few family reunions).  On the eastern side of the state, leaves were still turning (see photos right and below). 

On the western side, much of the land we passed was past its prime in leaf color, but oh, my!  the winter wheat painted many fields a brilliant green that is amazing for these Floridians to see at this time of year.

Our lunch was at a movie-stereotype truck stop/cafe.  Chicken strips there are nothing like I expected (Florida style) but should have -- heavily coated and fried.  Jim's choice was the lunch special, chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy.  Back to the diet tomorrow!

Besides seeing the many pumping oil wells in pastures, we passed a long line of wind mills used for energy.  I guess that is a growing sight in Oklahoma. 

Something else that is a common experience on this trip is the constant road reconstruction/repaving that reduces two and three lanes to one and speed limits to 40 and 50.  Are all the roads in the country under reconstruction, or just the ones we're traveling?

It's time to find the local steakhouse for dinner.

More later.