Carlsbad, White Sands, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion
July 25, 1959 - August 6, 1959
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July 25, 1959
Saturday
Up at 4:30 and away like an underweight snail. After packing a
breakfast
and lunch and loading two sleepy children, Billy and Barby, we left at
5:15. The second time we left was 5:30.We simply had to return
for
our atlas tires book of license plates. In it, we had little gummed
plates
of all the states (and Canada, no less). On all our trips we have
enjoyed
"collecting" different plates; so now every time we get one, we'll
stick
it in its place in the book.
We ate breakfast of cookies, milk and fruit as we rolled along. Ditto lunch of ham sandwiches, cheese, Fritoes, and fruit. Just before we hit the New Mexico border we had a flat! And on a road that was being fixed, too.
Despite that, we arrived in Carlsbad and had a cabin (at a Deluxe Motel) by 3:45 (lost an hour on the way, you know). Bill and the children have gone to get the tire fixed, and I'm enjoying this air conditioned, quiet cabin. There's a swimming pool for later in the afternoon. Mmmm 'tis the Life of Riley!
Now for a cool glass of water and my murder mystery. Aren't vacations wonderful? Later- The kids and I had a good swim before supper. There is a nice pool here. Then we ate and went out to the caverns to see the bats fly out for the evening. That was quite a deal. There is a new administration building in the caverns, built in 1957. It has exhibits in it and a lunch room. It is very beautiful. Also, it looks out over the hills. I'd like to go there and just sit and look for a while. Could be we'll have time to do that when we go out tomorrow to go through the cave.
As we went out to White's City yesterday, we saw a deer - a buck with fuzzy new horns. That thrilled Billy and Barby muchly!
Bill and I decided that we would read in bed a while last night after we got the kids in bed; so we rigged the cabin's 60 watt ('s' help me) lamps by our bed. I got my Agatha Christie, he The Santa Fe Trail - then we both promptly fell asleep!! We'll try again. Today was a good day!
July 26, 1959
Sunday
We breakfasted late in the cabin then took off for Carlsbad. We went
in on the 10 o'clock trip with 520 other people. As was true
eleven
years ago, the trip through the caverns was terrific. We all enjoyed it
so much. The children were cold most of the time, but they enjoyed
themselves.
We ate lunch down in the cavern, and I called mother. She was quite amazed - both to hear from us, and to learn from where we were calling. She said everyone was fine there. Bobby was napping and they were going to a "party with presents" that evening for Aunt Ethel.
As we came back to White's City, we noticed a ski ride; so Bill and the kids went on it while I read the paper.
After naps and a swim, we went to a luscious spaghetti supper. It was a cafe in a private residence, and the food was scrumptious!
July 27, 1959
Monday
Today was the all important day to get our trailer. We drove to Artesia
late in the morning and, after hunting a while, we found the house, and
our trailer was sitting out front. Before we saw it, we all tried to
guess
what color it would be, but no one guessed rust and white.
The trailer has propane lights and stove and a 20 gal. Water tank (the water runs by gravity - I found out later that's important). It's real cute, and I think we are going to like it fine.
We ate lunch in Artesia then we hitched up the trailer and took off for Cloudcroft. The car heated some, but after we reduced our speed, that stopped. Then the gear shift started jumping out when we were in high. It has done that for years, but it got so bad that it was happening every few minutes. It was rough. However, we made it to our camp grounds, and with the help of our neighboring campers, we got parked. We now know a level, a shovel, and an axe are real nice items to take on a trip - also a Coleman lantern.
We ate our first meal in the trailer and went to bed - after visiting our neighbor's (the Collins) camp fire.
July 28, 1959
Tuesday
Early this morning Bill took the car into Alamogordo to see why it
jumped out of gear so much. Low Blow! A new transmission at $66.45!
That makes $100 of car expenses we didn't expect. On most of our
other trips that much of a drain on our finances would have ruined our
vacation; so I guess we should be grateful that we have the money
anyway!
While Bill was gone, the kids and I took a hike 'way back in the mountains. It was quite a hike - fun, but was I tired when we got home!
After lunch and naps we packed a picnic supper and took off for parts unknown. First we went to an old ghost town called White Oak. 'Twas so old even the ghosts had left.
We ate a picnic supper in Ruidoso. It's a beautiful place, too.
Home and in bed by 9:30.
July 29, 1959
Wednesday
Today Bill and the kids took off on a hike, and I curled up with a
book. Then it started raining cats and dogs. It kept it up all morning,
through lunch and naps. It was still doing it when we took off for
White
Sands National Monument.
First we stopped in Alamogordo and did a washing. Then we bumbed around town 'til it was done - saw the zoo, played in the park, I bought some sneaker (I always forget mine), Bill, some magazines. We went in a beautiful grocery store and got some Fritoes and fruit. Then we went to White Sands.
This was quite a place! I'm sure in the heat of the day it was pretty rough, but it has rained enough today to be cool, and we didn't go to White Sands 'til the recommended "two hours before sundown". We drove the 16 mile scenic loop and stopped and romped on the dunes. They were fabulous! That gypsum is, first of all, beautiful, and, secondly, quite fascinating. We ran, hopped, scooted, and slid down the dunes. The kids loved it, and so did Bill and I!
We had taken our snow wing, hoping to slide on the sands, but it didn't work. We did, however, watch another family make a great home movie as they enjoyed the dunes. We sat on the side of a dune and watched them run through and then the shooting of a scene - then we roundly applauded their efforts.
We didn't get home and have supper till after 8:00. Then I bathed the kids and tucked 'em in bed. Tomorrow we are moving on to newer pastures.
July 30, 1959
Thursday
We pulled out of camp at 5:30. We really hated to leave that
lovely, cool place, but we didn't fully appreciate it until we pulled
into
the petrified forest about 2:30. We spent a couple of hours there.
Barby
spent more time at the souvenir counter than looking at the petrified
wood,
but we all had fun.
We got to Flagstaff, Arizona, about supper time and bought some groceries before going into Oak Creek Canyon to our camp site. We ate a late supper and fell into bed.
Tonight we split the kids, Billy slept on the bed over our bed, and Barby slept on the "breakfast nook" bed.
I haven't said much about our trailer, but we like it very much. There's something most comforting about pulling along your bed and food on a trip.
July 31, 1959
Friday
Today we got up fairly early (Bill and Billy woke up Barby and me.
We're the sleepy heads), ate breakfast, and started on a tour of Oak
Creek
Canyon. It was most rugged and beautiful.
By 10:30 it was getting pretty hot, but we came to a place on Oak Creek where we could swim. We all went in (Bill bought a suit in Sonora). The water was cool and just right.
We ate lunch farther on the canyon drive; then we drove back and hitched up the trailer.
Out of our beautiful canyon we climbed, and after a rather hot drive, we arrived, again, in the mountains, at Jacobs Lake trailer park. It's cool, and we're tired.
August 1, 1959
Saturday
Up about 7:30. Jacob Lake is a
beautiful park in the Kaibob National
Forest with fine camping facilities and beautiful trees. We
"pulled
blankets"
again last night.
This morning after breakfast and while I was washing the dishes and Bill was ready-mg the trailer for travel, Billy and Barby took a hike and got themselves completely lost! When we were ready to go we called the children and they were no where to be found! Bill and I both started looking and calling, but to no avail. I was just before getting panicky and we were going back to the camp when we heard the car honk and Billy's voice, "Daddy! We're home!!" Oh, joyous sound.
It seems they had finally reached the highway and started AWAY from camp! A couple, forever nameless to us (but we are forever indebted to them), found them and brought them back to camp. For several miles our six and seven year olds talked of their great "adventure". Both admitted that they were "a little bit scared". I admitted to much more!
From here we went to Bryce Canyon, stopping for some luscious Utah fruit and other supplies (40 lbs of ice cost $1.00!) On the way. We drove to Bryce in a driving rain and found a fine campsite. The campground in Bryce is by far the most convenient we have found. We had to wait in the car until there was a lull in the rain; then we raced to the trailer. No sooner were we inside than the rain turned to pea sized hail. It was pretty chilly, too.
The rain lasted through lunch. Then we started or a drive around Bryce. It is an amazing place. Even while you're looking at it, you find it hard to believe.
The lookout points were all over the canyon - or rather the eroded cliff and the wind was blowing and it was cloudy - all of which combined to make for goose-bumpy weather.
We ask a ranger about the morning hikes and found out, much to our dismay, that this was without a doubt the worst rains they'd had in months and very probably the trails would be closed tomorrow.
We drove on to Bryce Point and found a "peek-a-boo" trail open; so we walked part way down in the canyon - probably little more than a mile down but a good three miles coming back - those who have hiked down hill then back know what I mean.
After that hike it was after 3:30 and, since we couldn't hike more there, we hitched up and drove to beautiful Zion. We did nothing here except enjoy the drive into the Park with its mile-long tunnel and "peek-a-boo" windows. Zion also has a fine parking-camping area.
August 2, 1959
Sunday
Up around 7:30 this morning. After a breakfast of blueberry pancakes
and sausage, we were ready to view this beautiful Zion National Park.
We
tried to get going early enough to go on the mile and a half walk up
the
Narrows, but we couldn't make it. Sooo instead we drove up the
canyon
slowly
and stopped where we wanted to. We saw The
Three Patriarchs and The
Great
White Throne. Then we took a half mile, self-guided nature walk
to the
Weeping Cliff. It was beautiful
and fascinating.
The mile and a half to the Narrows didn't seem that long. The guide (a girl) was pretty good. She was the same one we heard last night at the camp ground lecture. She was pretty dry last night.
When we returned home, we ate lunch and then hitched up and took off for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We were well established in our camp by 5:30; so we decided to walk the mile and a half around the rim of the canyon to the lodge. It was fun - going down, but there were also up places. However, we made it out to Angel Point and decided it was worth it. Coming back by the road Barbara wasn't so sure!
It was 7:30 by the time we got back to camp; so we ate in the cafeteria: smothered steak and mushroom gravy, potatoes, green beans, rolls, ice cream, and tea - oh, yes, tomato soup to start with. We ate like wild men - we were ravenous. And it was oh, so good. (Note: that supper for the four of us cost $4.58!)
We slept like logs - except Bill who had a tummy ache. He thought it was from the supper, but I think it was from too many Utah plums.
August 3, 1959
Monday
Today we got up and away from the North Rim by 5:45. Consequently,
we saw 29 deer and two large groups of wild turkey on our way out of
the
park. It was quite exciting.
Our reason for leaving so early was to get out of the heat of the desert before it started getting too bad. It worked, too. By 11:30 we were camped on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and by 1:00 everyone was fed and down for naps.
Strange, of course, we are on the last leg of our trailer vacation, and it won't be long before we are homeward bound, but both Bill and I - all of a sudden - are ready to go home. I'm beginning to miss my Bobby! Also, we have seen the Grand Canyon. I'm sure this is part of the reason we are feeling this way.
We are planning to leave here early tomorrow and return the trailer to Artesia by Wednesday around noon and then go home.
We spent almost the complete afternoon sleeping. We were tired. Then Bill went to the hotel and visitor's center, and after I woke up, Barby, Billy and I went to the lodge for some souvenirs for Bobby.
Later, we had supper, then Bill and the children went to the visitor's center, only to find it closed. I washed the dishes and fixed the beds. Everyone was in bed by 8:15.1 read about 15 minutes and went to bed, too.
August 4, 1959
Tuesday
We were up by 5:45. After a substantial breakfast of scrambled sausage
and eggs, with potatoes, we started off for Williams. 'Twas quite
ironical
when we drove by a Mobil station while we were still in the park on
this
Williams road. We've been using our Mobil credit card for this trip,
and
all day yesterday we bought gas because we couldn't find that "flying
red
horse". We figured we had about $15.00 a day for the rest of the trip,
and we spent most of it on gas yesterday. Today we "reckoned again" and
came up with $20 a day. That's better. This should be a light day, but
tomorrow we must give up the trailer; so it will cost again. No matter,
this vacation has been well worth it!
We have enjoyed our hunt and quest for license plates, too. We have now seen 48 of them and have only one, North Dakota, to go. Isn't that a strange one to end on ? When we came into the park yesterday we still needed Delaware, West Virginia, Nebraska and North Dakota. Three of them fell at the South Rim.
We drove hard all day and arrived at Nogal Lake in Lincoln National Forest. We made camp for the last time here.
We visited the lake, had supper, and were in bed by 8:30.
August 5, 1959
Wednesday
Up about 6:00 and had breakfast. Then we scrubbed the trailer and
packed
everything except our lunch in the car. The trailer is cleaner than we
got it! Then we started off to Artesia
to return our little mobil home.
We enjoyed it. Actually, this has been a terribly expensive vacation,
due
to our unexpected car trouble and new tire, but it has been a good one,
too. Bill needed it; it has done him good, I believe. Already though
he's
planning next year's three week one to South Dakota. I hope to record
it
here, too.
After cleaning the trailer, we started off for Artesia. On the way Bill made some rapid calculations and decided that we could be home by 9:30 tonight. I wanted one more night in a motel - air conditioned, and with a swimming pool, preferably, but Bill's idea sounded pretty good. Sooo we decided to go for it.
At Artesia we learned that it had been 100 degrees the day before, and, low humidity or no, it felt that hot again.
It was 1:00 before we had the trailer unhitched and were away. We ate lunch as we drove along. By the time we got to Carlsbad, Bill and the kids were beginning to talk hotel again (it was very hot), and at Pecos I agreed with them; so we got a beautiful room - air conditioned, unlimited supply of ice just outside the door (it's an electric ice maker), and a beautiful swimming pool.
We bathed, lounged, read, and (the kids) watched TV until it was cool enough to swim; then we swam. Mmmmm nice!
We had supper at Roper's Restaurant. Bill and I had a steak and the kids had shrimp and chicken. It was good and cost, for the four of us $6.00, but since it was our last night out, we could afford it.
We were home and in bed by 8:15. We watched my favorite show, "I've Got a Secret" with Gary Moore and read 'til 9:30; then we went to sleep.
August 6, 1959
Thursday
We were up and away by 5:00 this morning, trying to beat the heat.
We loaded the kids in the back seat and let them continue sleeping.
Bill
had hoped they would be up and dressed by Ft. Stockton so we could
breakfast
there, but they were still sleeping too soundly to disturb. The next
good
place to eat was a good two hours down the road, but we drove on -
facing
the just coming up sun.
We breakfasted in Ozona and stopped for the last time - we thought. However, in Junction there was a parade with floats, horses, and Aggies doing Aggieland yells! So, of course, we stopped to see it.
Then we gassed again in Kerrville and I recalled some of my flood experiences. With 66 miles left to go, we set out once more at 11:30.
And here the journal ends.
Miscellaneous Notes:
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Bill Jr., Bill Sr., and Barbara at Petrified
Forrest N.P. |
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