Time warp

Time moves funny when you’re full-time living in an RV. This is especially true when we are on the move.  It feels like I enter a time-warp every time we do… It couldn't have been only XX days since we were YY?!  It’s hard to wrap my head around the time- location shift (Especially when you put time-zone changes in there too. Most times I don’t even try to figure out distances!) I know Morgan has the same difficulty I do. He has a lot of trouble remembering the places we were at after a few days. Lily has a much better sense of place and time. 

Five days ago I was in Calgary, in a snowstorm, shoveling out at least a foot of snow from my friend’s driveway and then later watching as my plane was de-iced before take-off back to Las Vegas. It felt like I was leaving home and going home at the same time. 

Four days ago I enjoyed the sun and warmth at Lake Mead. It was so nice to wear capris and sandals again. (LOL. I have to laugh. For someone who was so adamantly against going to Vegas, this is the first location we've been to that is pulling me back. But that may just be the fact that it’s also the first place that’s been warm in ages!)

Three days ago we drove into Arizona. The temperature dropped considerably, the wind picked up just a bit and suddenly Christmas decorations and lights were in evidence. Good thing I hadn't put away my winter jacket yet!

I’m glad our day at the Grand Canyon turned out to be reasonably nice (needed a sweater/ long sleeve shirt & lighter jacket) without any wind. 

Yesterday we drove east into light rain, winds and chilly temps (high of 8 C). When we stopped for lunch in the trailer before going up to see Meteor Crater I turned on the furnaces. I haven’t had to do that since northern BC! (they’re usually off for traveling) Warmer jackets, and even mittens were pulled out for our walk outside along the crater rim. After visiting the crater (which is quite interesting, btw), we retraced our drive back to Flagstaff and then headed south, looking for somewhere a bit warmer. Our original goal was Phoenix, but the scenery outside our truck window beckoned us to take a closer look. So we stopped about 60 miles short of the city, not too far from Mayer. (Note: as further evidence of the time warp effect, I started writing this paragraph “Two days ago” until I realized my timeline didn't sync and I couldn't figure out it was “Wednesday” until I stared at my watch!)

Montezuma Well

Today, we managed to escape the rain for much of the day, heading back north, about 30 minutes driving time, to check out Montezuma Well and Montezuma Castle National Monument. Tonight, the region is getting its first real solid rain in over two months (hey look, our drought breaking ability is still here!). I can’t imagine this rain in Las Vegas, but the forecast says it’s going to be there too, which doesn't mesh with the image of cloudless blue skies and bright sun that’s in my memory.  

Montezuma castle - 5 stories tall, and way up in the cliff

Maybe that’s part of why I feel like I’m in a time-warp every time we shift locations. I get a snapshot of a place that is completely time-dependent. I know it doesn't always look or feel like the image that’s in my head, but in that moment my experience of a place encompasses and defines it. Each time we have shifted we have changed not only location, but weather, sights, sounds and each place’s unique “feel”. Where we are tonight is so different from where I was five days ago or four days ago, or even yesterday that any amount of time might have passed and I wouldn't really know it!

And yet, I don’t really mind this feeling. It’s also a Wow! Look how far we've come and how much we've seen! kind of feeling. It emphasizes the sense of adventure and fuels the desire to explore further. It hammers home just how big and diverse North America is and how much there is to see, which really is a big part of why decided to set off on this life-shifting trip! Tomorrow we shall continue to mess with the space-time continuum and head to Phoenix. Until next time...

It sure is Grand

Ah, Boulder Beach campground. I think I could have l lived there forever. But there are places to see highways to travel and so we left the warmth of Lake Mead for somewhere a little cooler. Temperature wise and view wise. We were off to go check out a rather famous hole in the ground carved out by a famous river.

Any guesses?

The Grand Canyon! 

After traveling for several hours on Monday, climbing several thousand feet onto the Colorado Plateau, and subsequently dropping 30 F in temperature, we settled ourselves into the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, in Williams, AZ, caught up on laundry, grocery shopped, splashed in their indoor pool and settled in for a rather chilly (below freezing!) night. 

Today we drove to the Grand Canyon, about an hour north along highway 64. 

The highway from Williams offers no clues to the nearby presence of an enormous canyon. In fact, right up until you walk past the last of the Douglas fir trees, and look out on the abyss it's really not obvious. It reminded me quite strongly of the abrupt scenery change you experience when going to Dinosaur Provincial Park, in Alberta (although that is on a much smaller scale), where the land just drops away. 

Just like our trip over the Top of the World highway, pictures cannot do justice to the vista. And just like that highway the views are all out and down and down and out and down some more. Miles and miles wide and a mile deep, the scale of it is really incomprehensible, even standing on the rim, looking at it. 

We arrived at the Canyon near noon and stayed until 5ish, which gave us time to explore, walk the canyon rim trail (and take the free shuttles), learn some of the geologic and cultural history of the canyon and watch the light change on the canyon walls, painting the same view completely differently from one hour to the next. 

The canyon walls are near vertical steep, and the trails unforgiving and narrow, so given the ages/ abilities of the kids (and both their parent’s intense desire to keep them safe – especially since Morgan loves to bounce and run with his head down, which has scared the crap outta me many times!) we stayed on the rim trails and didn't venture down. Looking out at the tiny snaking trails, I think that to really experience the canyon one must descend from the heights (and perhaps someday we will return to test that theory). That said, the rim, and the multitude of lookout points available along it give a pretty good view from above! 

I think I should let the pictures do the talking…

Hey look!  A family picture

Morgan's favorite viewpoint - he liked the terraces

Can you see the trail on the right?

Nearing sunset

My favorite view - love the red

Invaders from the North

They’re everywhere! In the RV parks & campgrounds. On the streets.  In the businesses and on the roads.  No matter where I turn I see them.  

Canadians!

And a lot of them, considering just how far we are from our own border. It’s both shocking and pleasant. A bit like being at home, except the scenery is totally different. 

I’m familiar with the term “snowbird” but I never really grasped just how many Canadians flock south for the winter. It seemed at the large Oasis RV Resort, in Las Vegas, that every third or fourth unit was from Canada. Even at the small Boulder Beach campground, there were three others when we arrived.  And we’re only on the edge of snowbird territory!  

I remember in social studies, growing up, I was introduced to the term Manifest Destiny. The U.S. believed that one day Canada would be part of them. From my current perspective, the opposite is truer. Kinda.

While we may not have taken over, we certainly peacefully invade.

And why wouldn't we when this is what greets us at home! 

Morgan has it right – less winter is good!  

Now that's more like it!

We have moved out of Las Vegas over to Boulder Beach campground on Lake Mead (Boulder Basin, actually). It was a much shorter drive than we expected and is only a few miles from Boulder City and Hoover Dam (5 to be exact). It feels like we are in the middle of nowhere, but in reality, the city lights are just over the hill. I like this so much better.

To quote Marlin from Finding Nemo “A fish can really breathe out here!” 

This National Parks Service campground doesn't have hookups or cable or WiFi, unlike the RV park right next door, but it feeds my soul in a way that all those services can’t. The sites are spacious and ours is shaded, the scenery is beautiful, the other campers are friendly, and it’s populated just enough to feel comfortable and safe, but not so full as to feel cramped. It feels like a place where the kids can run, bike, explore and just be kids without me having to rein in their enthusiasm. It seems so much easier to just get outside and be outside than our last stop was (nothing against it, I just seem to get extra uptight about “appearances” in a park with lots of people & rules). 

Here, I can relax at the picnic table, or enjoy watching the kids play in the water of the lake (the beach is a short drive/ moderate walk away), and Munchie can actually go outside to sun herself and roll in the dust.  Schoolwork is nicer when it can be done outside in the sunshine (Morgan may have a slightly differing opinion).

I guess it just feels more like my home & yard than a spot that I am renting to put my trailer on. I hope my family makes good use of it while I’m away in Calgary for the next four days!

Boulder Beach at dusk

Verdict

We've been to the Fremont Street Experience.

Light show on Fremont Street

We've drove and walked the Strip.

Near the Bellagio fountains and across from Paris

We've taken in some of the local attractions.

Jelly's at the Shark Reef Aquarium, Mandalay Bay

We've grocery shopped, seen where the truckers sleep and where the locals sleep.

We've taken in some natural sights just a stones throw from the big city.

Red Rock Canyon visitor centre

Red Rock Canyon

We've enjoyed the sun and warmth.

My verdict.
Las Vegas is an okay place. The real part that is. I'm not so fond of the Strip though. The enormous casinos and sights are overwhelming to the senses, and are really amazing to see all lit up at night. We saw New York, Paris, Egypt, Greece, fountains of water jetting up at least 50 feet high, dancing to music at the Bellagio, a casino with ceilings painted like the sky (Cesar's); and so many lights and neon all in one small stretch of land. Like I said, amazing, but underneath that shiny (and fake) exterior it's not so pretty. Inside the casinos people sat at flashing machines or card tables just on the possibility of walking away with more that they put in (I doubt many do). Outside, people carried drinks wherever you went, and while I couldn't find somewhere to purchase a regular slurpee, I certainly could have had my pick of any alcoholic one I wanted. More people in the streets trying to get you to part with your money for shows and merchandise, and homeless sitting on the walkways hoping for a handout. I don't mind some of this part of Vegas, but I don't think I'd want to visit often.

I like the Las Vegas that's away from the Strip better. There are definitely some seedier parts of town, but I think every big city has that. There's a very diverse population here, lending to a unique ethnic flair. Mexican restaurants nestle up to Thai and sushi restaurants and you can see people from every walk of life here. The locals are very polite, and patient on the road, which is so nice when you're a slightly lost out-of-towner! I'm sure some of that stems from the fact that this is a tourist town, but I think much of it is just how it is here (Bob says it's also because there are some crazy senior drivers!). And if you are in the mood for some culture, there is plenty to take in (both modern and ancient), and huge amounts of high quality entertainment (music, shows, you name it!).
I can't complain about the weather either (at least not for November).While Alberta shivers (sorry guys!), I have enjoyed T-shirt and capris. Finally! The sky here is a nearly cloudless blue - the same blue I always associate with Alberta summers. The sun is up by 6 am and by 7 it's bright, beckoning one to get up and do something! There's some really beautiful natural sights to see right nearby, and many more within a days drive.
So, yes, I've changed my overall opinion of Las Vegas, but I still don't think I'd want to live here. Sure, it's nice now, but desert in the summertime? yikes!
On a side note: Morgan thinks this place is fabulous, and evidently he would live here. As he says "It gets less winter here!" And there's a trampoline place, and pools to swim at and all sorts of bright lights to look at. Oh, yeah, he loved the slot machines (and they do look like big video games), and wanted to know where the kid ones were. Ah, how easy it is to be a kid!

We're moving tomorrow out to Lake Mead. There are several campgrounds to choose from, and while I'm not sure of the intelligence of moving an hour away from the airport (which I will need on Wed, and is currently only 10 min away), it will be interesting to have a different perspective of the area.

Happy birthday monkey

Today my boy turned 8. Wow, where has the time gone?!

We may be on the road, and far away from Alberta, we’re not far from family. Grandma Bonnie & Grandpa Ken took us all out for supper last night, as they had to hop a plane early this morning. Morgan got a birthday brownie & ice-cream, complete with the waitress singing him happy birthday! 

Today texts, e-cards, pre-prepared cards from both sets of grandparents & my sister, and Skype calls let everyone know how much he’s loved (just in case he didn't know already!). 

He got a new Wii game (which he just had to play before breakfast), and I baked him his requested strawberry cake – under Lily’s watchful eye. We plowed through our school work, had lunch and then were off to Sky Zone indoor trampoline park, a short drive away from the campground. We had noticed the sign on the way in on Monday, and I immediately thought of Morgan.  He has always loved trampolines, and would jump on them whenever and wherever we found them (as our neighbour in Airdrie could attest!).  Ever since he was little, I have taken him to gymnastics, and he always enjoyed the trampoline & especially the foam pit. Our last session of gymnastics before moving was at the Flip-Factory in Calgary, which had a bunch of trampolines. Every time Morgan jumped he had such a huge smile on his face. Anyway, back to today. 

So, off we went. We planned to go during their “happy hour” so the kids could jump at a discount price.  Upon arriving we discovered that it was Homeschool Friday, meaning an extra discount – score! And, since it was his birthday, he would get 50% off anyway. Extra score! We were coming anyway, but it was extra nice to get in for less. The kids and I jumped & played while Bob watched.  I’m not sure if it was busy because it was a homeschool special, but there were plenty of parents and children of all ages there at 2:30 in the afternoon.

This place is fun! There are several sections to play in. The main area has multiple interconnected trampolines, and even ones on the walls the bounce off of. Whee! The only thing I didn't quite like was that this area was divided into ages/ sizes. I know it’s to prevent crashes, but it meant I couldn't jump with my monkeys. Morgan & Lily both tried to call me over, but the attendant made sure everyone stayed in their allotted sections.

The foam zone has four trampolines off the edge where you could jump into the pit filled with foam blocks. Morgan did flips and twists into the pit, while Lily jumped as far as she could. I got brave and did some flips into the pit too (which was great fun as soon as I realized it was softer than jumping onto my bed, and it earned me compliments from both kids).

Another section had two longer trampolines which led up to padded basketball nets – one high and one lower. With a foam basketball, Morgan jumped along the track and tossed the ball toward the net, hoping to get it in.  I don’t think he’ll ever become a great basketball player, but he sure had fun!

An hour proved to be more than enough for the birthday boy, and he powered out a bit before the hour was up.We headed back to the trailer, Lily & I iced the cake and then she and her brother decorated it with every kind of sprinkle I had with us (which was a lot!). After supper Bob took the kids over to the pool for an evening swim, before munching on cake and calling it an evening. I didn't ask him directly if he had a good day, but the tired smile on his face as he snuggled into bed for the night hopefully meant he did.  

Below are two really cute videos of the kids at Sky Zone.

Race to the Sun

Colder weather was coming.  A storm was forecast for Washington, Oregon, Idaho and down into Utah for the weekend, which meant it was time to move on! Bob decided that we just had to go to Vegas, apparently because that was the first spot on the map that looked warm. I think the fact his parents are here this week added to that decision.

the acreage

After working on the remaining two hubs, we set off from Duvall about 2:30 Friday afternoon. From that point on we were on the move, racing away from the storm. East, across Washington on the I90 – a route we had taken the previous summer – and then away from the familiar, south on I84. We drove past sundown, spending our first night just inside the Oregon border at a truck stop in Umatilla. Sleeping at the noisy truck stop was not exactly restful, but everyone did manage some sleep (the kids always sleep, regardless of the noise; I wish I had that ability). We got up and drove all Saturday, through the northeast corner of Oregon, into Idaho. It rained for a good chunk of the morning, becoming lighter as the day passed. Every time we stopped for a break, though, the rain would catch up, pushing us onward. Late afternoon in Idaho we encountered our first dust storm, complete with tumbleweeds! 

S Oregon or N Idaho - not sure which!

It would have been entertaining playing avoid the tumbleweeds, except for the wind that made those move, also meant paying extra attention to driving (which sadly meant no pictures either, although I would have loved to get some!). We pulled into Country RV Village in Heyburn, ID at about 8:30pm (again pulling in in the dark) and quickly stuffed two loads of laundry into their nice, inexpensive washers. I would have done more, but we only had enough American quarters for two (are you noticing we really, really haven’t gotten ourselves organized yet!?). The kids discovered a small playground at the campground, which allowed them to burn off some of their built-up energy before bed. 

Sunday morning dawned quite chilly (near freezing), reminding us of why we were doing this monumental drive. We all took advantage of the nice hot showers at the campground the next morning, before getting back on the road for more driving (ugh, I hate feeling grubby!). Starting our longest driving day yet, we dropped down into Utah, joining the I15 and spent all day heading south, pretty much traveling the length of the entire state. Shortly before noon - alongside the road, hey! Is that? Snow! Yep. Stopping at a rest stop for lunch, the kids spent some time playing in the freshly fallen snow. Lily made miniature snowmen and Morgan tossed snowballs at the trees. Bob and I had to get out their mittens from the back of the trailer so they didn't freeze their little fingers (see, I knew having all our winter gear with us would come in handy!).

The rest stop had free Wifi, so we stayed a bit longer than originally intended, connecting to family & friends, getting weather reports and trying to figure out where to stay once we reached Vegas. That weather report showed that pretty much all of Utah was in the cold front we were racing away from, meaning there would be no leisurely sightseeing here. Traveling on, we passed Salt Lake City, which looked quite beautiful nestled against the mountains, with a fresh coat of snow.

My original plan was to stop at Beaver for the night, but below freezing temperatures pushed us onward, over the mountains. We did stop just outside of Beaver at one of the many truck stops, backed in and grabbed some supper (and WiFi), before making the decision to continue on to lower ground and above freezing temps. I’m not a fan of driving at night time, but the road was bare and dry and there was quite a bit of truck traffic. I got the impression we were missing some spectacular scenery though! 

Our new goal was St. George, just north of the Arizona border.  Since it was going to be after 9 by the time we pulled in we figured we’d grab a spot at Camping World or a truck stop, rather than a campground. This proved to be not possible as both were crammed full. So, parking a block away, we spent our night parked on the street beside a hotel. Neither Bob nor I felt 100% comfortable – although the presence of a transport truck right behind us made us feel a bit better about staying there- and we planned for an earlier rise than our usual 8ish wake up. 

somewhere on those last 100 miles

Monday morning we got up early, packed the kids in the truck and finished up our drive to Las Vegas (only 100 more miles!), actually getting to see some of that scenery I knew was out there!

Since Friday afternoon we have driven over 1200 miles (that’s nearly 2000 km), all to get to a city which I have never ever wanted to visit in my entire life. The extreme consumerism and excess to the extent that Las Vegas seems to portray just isn't my cup of tea. Okay, my prejudices and preconceived notions are showing, and really, I don’t know Vegas, so it’s unfair to judge it before experiencing it. Part of making this journey is to break away from those preconceptions and misconceptions about places and the people who live there. So I shall do my best to open my mind and heart to the area. I’ll let you know how it all works out…

Super traveler Lily

Super traveler Morgan