We did better today than yesterday, on the freeway about 10:15
Once on the I 15 we had to decide how we were going to get to the I 70 which ran eastwards towards Utah. We had several options: Route 6 which essentially ran the hypotenuse of the triangle but ran about 140 miles through the mountains. Option 2 was highway 28 along a wide valley, about 50 miles, but a lot further down the I 15 or Highway 50 even further south which was only 30 miles long but ran up quite high--we ran into a little snow up there last year. Still, this route missed 50 miles of the I 15 and 50 of the I 70.
We decided on the 28 which turned out to be a good choice. The road was mostly flat and the weather cleared as we drove along.
Soon we were eastbound on the I 70, much colder here.
Though the weather was good when we got to Green River, where the 6 joins the I 70, only 25 miles or so from the Moab exit. Perhaps the 6 would have been better, perhaps not. The route we took was longer but more reliable.
Here is a map that shows our route and options.
Early stop tonight in Moab, though Bluff is only some 170 kilometers further on we'd need groceries before we got there. Also, the Portal RV Park in Moab has a nice dog park.
We were stopped and done at 4:40 on |Hallowe'en. We weren't sure if we would have any trick-or-treaters but we were prepared with a couple of large bags of candies. The kids old and young along the way will be happy with us.
There were no fireworks for which the dogs were grateful, Trekker enjoying his swim in the dog pond which in previous years was the fishing pond. Trekker liked the upgrade!
Odometer: 96,883 kilometers
Friday, November 1st
This is usually the day we cross the border into Mexico. It will likely be another week give or take a day this year.
Since is would be a short run to Bluff we weren't in any great rush to set off. Art went out to clean a few bugs from the front of the motorhome and found quite an unusual one. Must have been the time of year.
We left a few minutes before noon, checking out time. In Blanding we stopped for a while to do some Grocery shopping. It took a little longer than normal since Gillian's cold was getting her down Art was the Designated Shopper. He didn't do to badly and only forgot a couple of things. Yes, he had a list, but no pen to check the items off. Ah well. . . . . Nothing too important.
About 2:30 we arrived in Bluff which has been a native settlement long before the Mormons arrived via a backbreaking route in 1880. Population according to the 2000 Census was 320.
We stopped at the Twin Rocks Cafe for lunch before moving on the half mile or so the RV park. For such a tiny town the restaurant is excellent. Even real turkey, sliced from a real bird, in the club house sandwich. And a nice craft brewed IPA to wash it down. The trading post too has a nice selection of native art work, crafts and clothing
The scenery here is the typical spectacular landscapes of southeast Utah, one of our favourite places. We have visited most of the accessable areas and last year did a little off roading with two couples we met in the RV park.
We were settled into Cadillac Ranch RV Park by 3:30, the dogs enjoying a walk, Gillian working on recovering from her cold and Art taking a nap just because.
We though we might spent another day here and take a trip to either Glen Canyon or perhaps just another drive around Valley of the Gods which we have done before. Glen Canyon would be an all day trip. We'll decide in the morning.
Odometer: 97,049 kilometers
Saturday
After we had risen and were having breakfast Gillian said "Let's just move on today". Her cold wasn't any better even though it was beginning to look like she was sharing it with Art.
The weather was still clear and cold. We now know what the Jeep would look like with a white top. The black one was covered in frost.
10:25 we left the park and stopped up the road for fuel, finally on the road again at 10:45
We're heading for Albuquerque, New Mexico, all being well. We again had a choice of routes.
Last year we visited Canyon de Chelly in Arizona which was only a slight detour and well worth it, though it cost us an overnight in a Wallmart parking lot on the way to Albuquerque.
This time it would be more direct, but we still had a three options. Once eastbound on the 64, we could turn south on the 491 at Shiprock, or turn south at Farmington on the 371, both of which join the I 40, or we could go a little further east on the 64 to Bloomfield and take the 550 south east to the I 25 then south to Alburquerque. (On the map below, Bluff is just off the page top left--green pointer, and our destination near bottom right, the other green pointer)
Gillian favoured the 550 which we had taken before but Art didn't remember it at all, though most of it is marked as a scenic route, and he thought it would take longer. Gillian also thought south from Farmington was a good option.
Well, when we came to ask the new Garmin GPS ( for RVs) it sided with Art so that is the way we went. :)
The town of Shiprock is named from a rock formation of the same name. Our photo of it below was taken from the 491 due east of the rock at a distance off about 10 miles.
Fortunately for Art and the GPS, Highway 491 proved to be in excellent condition and mostly flat and straight. The occasional striking chunk of rock appearing here and there. We thought this one resembled a ruined medieval castle.
Onto the I 40, we turned east again, 140 some miles to go. At exit 39 we pulled into a truck stop and parked off the the side to walk the dogs and have our lunch and a rest, on the road again at 3:20 and at 5:45 arrived at the Albuquerque Central KOA. We stayed here last year, it's handy to the freeway--almost too close--the traffic is going by only a few hundred feet away but there is an effective noise barrier.
We don't usually frequent the KOAs, they tend to be a bit pricy but this one we knew from last year, and though not exactly central it has good access to the city. They have a nice dog park with an agility course set out and good laundry facilities as well as having propane available which we will take advantage of. This link should show you where we are.
We are booked in for three nights, our last main shopping before the Mexican border in a few days.
Late Sunday morning we put a couple of loads of laundry in and got it out just in time to meet our friends for lunch at an excellent New Mexican restaurant, El Pinto where we spent a very pleasant few hours. Cathy and Ken visited us in Victoria this summer, we met them years ago in Mexico and try to keep in touch. After lunch it was off an off leash dog park.
Tia went in with Art and had a good time, including putting a rambunctious 7 month old Great Dane in his place. The owners said Thank You to Tia, saying that is just what he needs! Art replied, why do you think we called her Tia?--she likes puppies but knows how to handle them!
Trekker however was just too full of it to put him in the very busy (Sunday afternoon) park so walked on leash on the paths around the park, joined by Cathy and her new dog who is fearful of other dogs and somewhat of people. Gillian and Cathy did a little work on that and when Tia returned continued on with a few seconds of sniffing and moved them apart. It was nice to see that just before we left Cathy's dog wanted to go see Tia again and was only allowed a very quick sniff then put in the car. Progress.
We stopped at a pet food place for a final bag of dog food for Trekker, hopefully we will have enough for Mexico then home to the rig. The laundry hadn't been completely dry so Gillian took it back for another spin in the dryer them we all took time for a nap.
Monday was catching up on the blog day, getting Tia's nails clipped (not a fun thing) and shopping. Gillian found a bottle of Trader Joe's Blended Scotch Whisky at ten dollars, Art said "Sure why not give it a try. We have lots of Canada Dry Ginger Ale if necessary!"
Which brings us up to date. I might post a photo or two more this evening, but no promises. And who knows when we will have internet access again.
We'll be out of here in the morning for points south, likely Carlsbad. We won't be doing the caverns again--if you haven's seen them, do so. This is an overnight stop only. Wednesday we will be near Larado and we'll cross the border Thursday morning for Saltillo.
Odometer: 97,570 kilometers.
Here is our planned route from there which I will edit--add to or modify as we progress.
Overnight stops in bold
Saltillo.
Matehuala or possible through to
Queretaro
then further south to see if we can find San Juan Teotihuacan to visit the ruins. This will be the closest we have driven to Mexico City.
From there to Patzcuaro via Morelia
And finally Zihuatanejo.
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