Red Tail RV Trips

26 September, Saturday

2009-09-27T12:41:34Z

Beautiful morning in Flagstaff, down to 33 for the nights low. Felt refreshing compared to Phoenix. Headed out at 0800 as we will be losing an hour once we enter New Mexico. Not much traffic, which was nice.
As we approached Gallup, we decided to drive down Main street or old RT 66, as Myron and Gayla had never been there.
Continued on east to the TA and stopped for fuel and lunch. Then on to Albuquerque and the campground. Several others were already there. A great social hour, then some left over pulled pork from the birthday party and to bed. Sunday will be a busy day.

26 September, Saturday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

25 September, Friday

2009-09-26T13:16:28Z

Well after a BIG SURPRISE birthday party last night we headed up to Flagstaff on our way to Albuquerque for the RNPA convention. It was 101 leaving Sun City and cooled off to 78 in Flagstaff. Myron and Gayla were with us, as they were helping carry all the items for the convention. At Flagstaff we met Dino and Karen, had a little happy hour and then went to Black Bart's for dinner. Another great meal and singing by the waiters, all students at NAU.

25 September, Friday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

28 August, Friday

2009-08-29T13:27:49Z

END OF THE TRIP. Weather was great in Flagstaff, high of 85 and cooled down to 50 at night. Much better that where we are going today. Cleaned the inside of the coach while still at the campground because of the cool weather. Head out and down the hill to Phoenix. When we arrived at home in Sun City the temp was 112, HOT. Got most of the coach unpacked and will finish on Saturday.

This has been a great trip, lots to see and do. Don't know when the blog will start again. Hope to post some more pictures of this trip.

28 August, Friday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

27 August, Thursday

2009-08-28T13:36:12Z

Out of Mesa Verde RV Park and on the road towards home. Anxious and not anxious to get there as Phoenix is still having triple digit temperatures. The road out of Cortez towards the Four Corners area was terrrible. Like a washboard, only allowing a speed of 30-35 mph. At this rate it would be a very long day. But after crossing the Arizona border the road got better and normal speeds could be driven. We stopped in Tuba City for lunch and then found a nice Indian store. So one purchase later we continued on.

Got into Flagstaff and Black Bart's RV park mid afternoon. Still nice up here at 7,000 feet, 85 degrees and cools down at night. We went to the Black Bart Steak House for dinner located in the park. This is a well known eating establishment in the Flagstaff area. The serving personnel are all NAU college students that sing. It was a very nice meal and great entertainment.

27 August, Thursday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

26 August, Wednesday

2009-08-27T12:53:20Z

After several times of trying to visit Mesa Verde we were finally able to enter the park and obtain tickets for a tour.
Mesa Verde is a series of mesas covered with vegetation, thus Mesa (flat top hill) Verde (green in color) It is many mesas and canyons linked together. The people, probably part of the Anasazi, lived here for many years in the early 1200's. They built many pueblos, some large like the pictures below and some very small. They left very few petroglyphs to explain their life. Researchers have been trying to piece together their existence by the remnants found.

We chose to visit Cliff House. This pueblo consists of over 100 rooms and several kivas. The thought is this area served as a communal area for food storage, ceremonial gatherings and home for over 100 people. The National Park service has put in large steps to decend and enter the pueblo, but the exit are the original steps place there when the area was found. They are narrow, much narrower than the picture indicates. They are steep, nearly straight up. There also is a series of four 10 foot ladders, made of tree limbs. All this is to climb some 100 feet out of the canyon up to the road area.

Some of the pueblos, such as Spruce Tree, are open to self guided tours. Rangers are present to answer questions and prevent vandalism. The museum has an excellent movie and artifacts of the area. This is trule a place to visit.

26 August, Wednesday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Gary climbing a series of 3 ladders to get out of the ruins

2009-08-27T00:00:05Z

Gary climbing a series of 3 ladders to get out of the ruins remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Cliff Palace Pueblo ruins

2009-08-26T23:54:54Z

Cliff Palace Pueblo ruins remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Spruce Tree House

2009-08-26T23:53:51Z

Spruce Tree House remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Tour of 100 Gold Mine

2009-08-26T23:52:27Z

Tour of 100 Gold Mine remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

25 August, Tuesday

2009-08-26T12:54:04Z

Woke this morning to dense fog, because of the rain all day yesterday. We had an appointment in Durango for new tires so left early, 0830 and proceeded down the Million Dollar Highway. Dropped the pickup off at Goodyear tire and we went onto Walmart for some supplies. Shopping done, lunch over we went back to pick up the truck and proceeded to Mesa Verde National Park. We have tried to visit the park several times but each time the forest fires had the park closed. This time it was open and not crowded. We drove to the vistors center, bought our tickets for a later tour and then drove a scenic loop. This area was filled by natives in the early 1200's, building their pueblos into the sides of the mesa. It was sad to see all the trees that had burned during the earlier fires. New growth was taking root and the cycle of the forest will soon be repeated. We saw many deer foraging on the new growth of willow and grasses.

25 August, Tuesday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

24 August, Monday

2009-08-26T12:48:05Z

RAIN - RAIN - RAIN We have been most lucky not a drop of rain here in the San Juan mountains for over a week. But today made up for it. It was raining hard when we awoke and continued most of the day. The rain was needed as the forest was getting dangerously dry and the dust on the roads was getting thick. Did some last minute shopping and then in the evening we and several others in the park and the town went to the Brown Bear cafe for a birthday dinner for Sig (she and her husband own the Silver Summit RV Park).

24 August, Monday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

23 August, Sunday

2009-08-24T13:42:54Z

Sunday and another great day in Silverton. Today we visited the ONE HUNDRED mine north of town. This was a guided tour thru the mine by one of the miners. We rode the ore car into the mine some 1700 feet. Here it was explained how the miners, at the turn of the century, mined and extracted the ore from the tunnels. As it turned out this particular mine was a dud, very little valuable ore was taken from it. After we panned some of the gravel and sand for particles of gold and silver. Not much gold, but I did get a bead of silver.

From the mine we proceeded to and took the tour of the mill. This mill served several mines in extracting gold, silver, lead and zinc. It was done with agents (liquids) and weights of the particular mineral. When the mill was closed in 1991 it was donated to the Historical Society of Silverton for preservation. The self guided walking tour was established and it has been a great learning facility for the area.

Time once again for a delictable meal at the Pickle Barrel. We had just been seated and ordered our drinks when we heard a noise in the street. It was the local Brass Band marching to the corner to give a 30 minute concert. Great show. AND the food was a good as always.

23 August, Sunday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

22 August - photos

2009-08-23T16:59:05Z

As you can see, Barbara has downloaded some of the pictures of our off roading in the San Juan mountains. There will be more posted at a later date. This county is beautiful and well worth spending LOTS of time here. The Silver Summit RV Park is also the best one in the area.

22 August - photos remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

22 August, Saturday

2009-08-23T12:59:31Z

Down day, time to get the truck cleaned and reorganized. Since the spare is not the same size as the other tires I am reluctant to drive it more than necessary. Got it all washed and repacked for the trip home in a few days. I did make contact with a tire store in Durango and will have new tires put on as we pass thru on Tuesday.

Being Saturday, Silverton was busy with tourists from the train. Mid afternoon the clouds started to build and look very ominous. Thunder could be heard in the distance. We got about two dozen large drops of rail and then it started to clear. We were hoping for a good rain.

22 August, Saturday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Trail coming down from the top of Mt. Kendall

2009-08-23T04:40:43Z

Trail coming down from the top of Mt. Kendall remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Top of Mt. Kendall

2009-08-23T04:39:50Z

Top of Mt. Kendall remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Remains of a mine coming over Imogene Pass

2009-08-23T04:37:27Z

Remains of a mine coming over Imogene Pass remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Coming from Hurricane Ridge starting up to Corkscrew Basin

2009-08-23T04:36:19Z

Coming from Hurricane Ridge starting up to Corkscrew Basin remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Corkscrew Basin

2009-08-23T04:34:20Z

Corkscrew Basin remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

21 August, Friday

2009-08-22T13:45:48Z

Easy day, Bob and Liz leave on Saturday so this is a short off road trip to Yankee Boy Basin and the Coors waterfalls. We rode with Dave and Katie as I did not want to drive my car until I have new tires. The falls were magnificent as usual. To get there we had to drive to the town of Ouray. After visiting the falls we returned to Ouray and the ladies did some shopping. Back to Silverton and a very relaxing evening.

21 August, Friday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

20 August, Thursday

2009-08-22T13:42:47Z

This is the long trip day. We left Silverton at 0900 and headed to Animas Forks where we joind up with the trail that leads to Engineers Pass (12,640). We were ahead of most traffic so the trail was not crowded. As we neared the Oh Point scenic view area a startling surprise. We had pulled to the right to let a jeep pass downhill and evidently caught a rock on the sidewall of the right front tire. PSSSSSS went the air and a flat tire resulted. Kept climbing to a flat spot about 30 feet ahead and then proceeded to change the tire. Rest of trip went very well to Lake City. There a stop for ice cream was in order.

On the return trip we toon Cinnamon Pass, (12,440). This is a much easier pass to cross the mountains on. We did see a deer and several marmots on this leg. We arrived back at Animas Forks and then proceeded back to Silverton.

Upon arrival at Silverton I checked all the tires. Several had chunks of rubber missing and to top it off, the spare was a different size that the running wheels. Ford will have some explaining to do.

20 August, Thursday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

19 August, Wednesday

2009-08-20T12:36:11Z

Boni was leaving today to head back to the Vail area. After she departed we started up Kendall Mountain. It is located right behind the RV park we are staying in. It is not a popular trail, although it is very challenging and scenic. Ascending up the various shelf roads we again reached heights of over 12,000 feet. At the top we had cineramic view of Silverton and the three valleys that lead to it. We could also see several of the other trails we have traversed in the last few days. While there we were able to watch the steam train from Durango arrive at the station in Silverton. Arriving back in Silverton after some 2+ hours of off roading, the rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing in the sun.

19 August, Wednesday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

18 August, Tuesday

2009-08-20T12:30:58Z

We were now joined by Dave and Katie. Today we head to Animas Forks to take two of the most beautiful trails in the area. Starting on California Gulch we climbed to over 13,000 feet on shelf roads and amid the brilliant colors of the mountains. Lots of flowers in bloom, several Marmots scurring around. This was the first experience for Dave to drive in the mountains and he did very well. At the west base of California Gulch we started up another trail called Corkscrew. Again this took us to altitudes over 13,000 feet with views unbelievable. Not a cloud in the brilliant blue skies of Colorado presented us with scenes you would never belive unless present. Corkscrew gets it name from the descent on the western end of the trail. You must negotiate a series of tight turns as you descend the mountain.
Once back on the highway we headed back to Silverton in anticipation of our dinner at the Pickle Barrell, a well known establishment for prime rib and dessert.

18 August, Tuesday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

17 August, Monday

2009-08-20T12:24:08Z

What can I say, another beautiful day. We headed out for the Buffalo Tramway just off of the Stoney Pass road. This took us up to over 12,000 feet again to the top of the Buffalo Tram that transported ore from the mines to the processing mill in the valley. Much of the building was still intact. It is hard to imagine how all the building parts and equipment was brought to this height and assembled.

After the Buffalo trail we headed to Picaune Pass and Placier Gulch. Again, several old buildings were there for us to explore. Nearing the pass we saw the tent the Basque uses and his herd of sheep on the hill side across the valley. Did not see him or his dogs, but there were over 500 head of sheep grazing. After decending thru Placier Gulch we drove thru Animas Forks, once a thriving community.

17 August, Monday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

16 August, Sunday

2009-08-20T12:18:57Z

Woke to a beautiful morning, not a cloud or drop of fog in the area. This was a day off as we have hit the trails the last few days. Jon and Marie departed for home and we along with Bob and Liz just relaxed around town. Shopping was in order for the women. Boni arrived from Avon.

16 August, Sunday remains copyright of the author REDTAILRV, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs