Grand Canyon

We just left the Grand Canyon. We spent one week there at Ten X campground. We got to see a lot of the south rim from Desert View to Hermit's Rest. We hiked the Bright Angel trail down to the first rest stop which is 1.6 miles down the canyon. That is about 1000' decent. It is about 9.5 miles to the bottom. I did not feel up to that challenge. Maybe next time. It took us a little over 3 hours for the 3.2 mile hike. We did that two days ago and our calves still hurt. It was a lot of fun hiking and riding the motorcycle around the canyon area.

We were tired one day after hiking and decided to stop at Mcdonalds on the way back to camp. I got a quarter pounder meal and Sharon got a Mcnugget meal. It came to $22.16. I about fell over. I was stunned and swiped my card. After I sat down I kicked my self for not thinking fast enough to just tell them to keep it. Can you say tourist area (and I thought the Keys were bad).

We stayed on some BLM land near Camp Verde Arizona last night. You can stay up to 14 days free. It is about 3500' lower than where we were at the Grand Canyon and much warmer. It was getting down in the low 30's at night and I was freezing. I guess 5 years in the Keys will do that to you. I got up yesterday morning and it was 30. I put a coat on and went outside to get the motor-home ready to go and the guy across the street was walking around in shorts and no shirt. I went over to ask where he was from. He said Wisconsin why?

Headed for Phoenix today.

Right next to our camp.

No fear of humans here.

Bright Angel Trail.

Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail sign. We did not see any mules but there was plenty of evidence that they had been on the trail.

New Name

You will notice the new name of our blog. I named the RV "Walkabout", the same as what we had named the trawler. The reason is the spirit really hasn't changed. What we are doing is really the same, going walkabout, just the mode of transportation has changed some. Now some on the boat and some in the RV. Yes I know that when the Aboriginals go walkabout they actually walk, but I am much to lazy for that so I need something with an internal combustion engine (or maybe two).

I finally decided on a name for our new boat. It was previously named Ivanova. That did not do anything for me so a change was in order. I thought about names for several months and finally decided that she would be named after a song rather than a person. Then the decision of which song. I narrowed it down to three. Rolling in the Deep, Free Bird, and Amazing Grace. Well Amazing Grace is my all time favorite song followed closely by Free Bird (yes I know that I am strange), but I also like the song Rolling in the Deep witch kinda fit. But after some thought I decided on Amazing Grace. So when the painting is finished the new lettering will go on.

A few pics of the before and after.

I could not stand the shag carpet and blue laminate cabinets.

First to get rid of the carpet.

Next the blue cabinets.

Got rid of the dinette and made a couch/berth.

Still have to make the cushions.

On the Road.

Well, it has been awhile since I posted. It is way past due. As you know we sold Walkabout (our 36' Marine Trader trawler) and bought a smaller boat and a motorhome. February was spent working on Walkabout to be ready for the new owners. March was spent working on refurbishing the new to us motorhome. April was spent working on the new boat and finishing up the motorhome. The first boat that we planned on buying was a 28' Marinette. When we got there to look at the boat (a friend's boat that I had been on many times and loved) it had a lot of water in the bilge and covered part of the transmission, so we opted out of that one. We ended up buying a Wellcraft 2900 Express from my brother. We spent a lot of April redoing the inside. We were determined to fix this boat up before moving onto it. The last two boats looked better when we sold them than when we lived on them. When she goes in the water this fall she should be close to finished (I hope).

We left last Friday from Indiana and are on our way to California in the motorhome. It has been a great trip so far. The first night we spent at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Tennessee, the second night at Camper's World in Little Rock Arkansas, the third and fourth night at Haw Creek Falls campground in the Ozarks, the fifth night K & K park in Shamrock Texas, sixth night at the city park in San Jon New Mexico, and tonight at Mchood campground near Winslow Arizona. Tomorrow we should be at Ten X campground near the Grand Canyon.

We plan on spending some time in Arizona, Utah, and California before heading east again to be ready for hurricane season and work.

Camped at Loretta Lynn's Ranch.

Camped at Haw Creek Falls in the Ozarks.

Mulberry River near Haw Creek Falls campground.

I must have sat and stared at the camp fire for at least two days.

McHood campground near Winslow Arizona (free for up to 14 days).

View from the campsite.