Day 12

At 7:49am local,

Ken found some kind of local radio station with "Native Traditional" music and all the announcements are in Navajo (?).

Ths Southwest is in a "record setting, lethal heatwave".  We are heading to Phoenix where the temperatures are around 120F and when I checked last night at 11p, it was still 101F. It isn't getting below 92f at night.  We prepared for the heat with plenty of sunscreen, hats, gel-cooled neckbands, and plenty of salty snacks, water, vitamin water, and gatorade.   

The one question we keep getting is: Are you going to the Grand Canyon?  Well, maybe.  If we do, it will be from the north rim when we camp in either Page, AZ or Kanab, UT.  We will decide that when we get there.

8:40a local, Petrified Forest NP

The landscaping is constantly changing every couple hundred feet as we drive through The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.  Ken took photos on the Canon Rebel, but I do have a couple to share.

We didn't realize that Arizona does not switch to daylight savings, so, we are now three hours behind the East Coast!

Part of Historic Route 66 is maintained by the NPS as part of Painted Desert / Petrified Forest.

We also crossed the Santa Fe rail line.

The Agate Bridge

It was hot - 100+ hot.  It will cool by about 10-12 degrees as we head up (altitude) into Flagstaff this afternoon for the Indian cave dwellings at Walnut Canyon National Monument.  Our cool-gel neck wraps have gotten a workout today as have the "desert" hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen!

Traveling parts of Historic Route 66 has been fun.  We drove past the Teepee motel in Holbrook which inspired the Cozy Cones from the movie "Cars". Route 66 parallels I-40 most of the time - we have been traveling I-40 from somewhere east of Albuquerque and are driving by many of the towns listed in the   old Nat King Cole standard, "Get your Kicks on Route 66".

Crown Railroad Cafe on Historic Route 66 in Flagstaff, AZ is a great little All-American diner.  They have  trains running outside and model trains on a track encircling the diner's ceiling inside.  It was a fun place to refresh and renew before heading down to PHX 

Here are some sunset photos between Flagstaff and Phoenix on I-17:

Heading down into Phoenix.  Over the next 2hours, we will descend from over 7000 ft above sea level in Flagstaff to an altitude of 1000 ft in Phoenix.  The temperature will go up more than 10* in that time as well!!  Adventure is ours! (7:23p local / 10:23p Eastern)

At 8:30p local, the temperature is 107*F, about 45 minutes to our friends' house near Phoenix.

Day 8

Today marks the beginning of week two.  

Chiuauan desert and Guadaloupe mountains.

Following a Gran Torino up the mountain.

Flowers and a bee in the desert.

Isaac - Junior Ranger Extraordinaire!

Entering the Visitor Center at Carlsbad Cavern NP.

Hopefully, Ken will add a photo page later.  I did not take my iPad down into the cavern, he took our "big" camera to get photos.  We hiked the Natural Entrance to descend 850 feet into the Earth to experience awe-inspiring sights.  Then we took the elevator up and down and up again (we were having user error problems in the elevator!) to have some lunch.  The Junior Ranger books sent us on a nature hike outdoors for 1 mile to identify desert plants - normally, a one mile walk is no big deal, but, the desert is brutal!  We made it back to the visitor center without finding a single placard identifying the plants.  A Ranger later explained that all the placards had been lost in a fire and handed me some papers to assist with plant identification, but we did not re-attempt the hike. 

Carlsbad Cavern is a MUST see.  As we walked through over two miles of massive domes, breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites, soda straws, and so much more.  There are not enough words to describe the granduer of the largest known cave room (Big Room Tour) The vast expanse and diversity of formations of the cavern can only be understood by experience.

After earning another Junior Ranger badge, Aliza asked the Ranger how she could become a Park Ranger.  To say that she was impressed by Carlsbad Cavern would be a tremendous understatement.

Our timing was good with regard to visiting Carlsbad Cavern NP as it will be mostly closed to the public tomorrow due to a Presidential visit to commemmorate the National Parks Centennial.  Wednesday evening, one of the Rangers had advised us to see what we want to see on Thursday because Friday would be a challenge regarding visiting the Cavern.

We finished up around 4:30pm and headed back to Carlsbad RV park for the camper then began our journed north to Roswell.  

The road to Roswell.

Regarding the SUV, it seems to be okay now, but we are going to have it checked out and an oil change (other fluids too?). My cousin, Tarah, was able to secure an early morning appointment for us at a shop in Albuquerque on Saturday - which was not easy as most shops are closed on Saturdays.  Thank you so much, Tarah!

The UFO Museum in Roswell was closed when we arrived, Annie was disappointed about the museum as she really wanted to see it, but she is okay with Ken's plan to get to ABQ sooner rather than later.   We couldn't find the Crash Landing Cafe, so we ended up at this little Mexican place (we love Mexican food!)

Tapestry on the wall in the resteraunt in Roswell - there was live music as well.

Went to Roswell, got the t-shirt, and bumper sticker. 

Day 5

Mileage update

Day 1- 417mi. PA WV OH

Day 2- 383mi OH KY

Day 3- 323mi KY TN MS

Day 4- 301mi MS TN AR

~ 1400 mi so far of our projected ~7000 mi trip

Four National Parks in five days!

We are getting just over 8mpg, so it is a good thing we have a 40gal gas tank!

Last night, we stayed at Cloud 6 RV Park in Hot Springs, AR.  We got our laundry washed and everyone through the showers.  It is a Good Sam campground with water/elec/sewer/wifi for $25.  It sits on the flat top of a mountain with a nice view.  But, wow was there a thunderstorm in the night!  I was glad that it was not windy, but the thunder rolled in a magnificent symphony.  

Today we were in Hot Springs, AR.  It is absolutely charming and the NPS museum was quite a treasure, especially for someone who studies and practices natural wellness - hydrotherapy and massage therapy detailed from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  .Isaac was the only one to do the Junior Ranger here, the rest wanted a day off to just enjoy the sights.  It has rained on and off all day, we were pretty damp when we got lunch.

One of the pools of hot spring water - 143*F - yes, we stuck our hands in it.  There were also designated fountains of drinking water.  Annie filled an empty bottle with the hot springs fountain water.  We all had a drink from the fountain. 

One of the ladies' baths and the uniform of a bath attendant.

Verse on the wall near the entrance to the Bath.

Large hot bath with a lift.

One of the Park Rangers recommended eating lunch at Superior Bathhouse (on Bathhouse Row)- they are locally known for their home-brew root beer.  It was so good, we got a growler to go after lunch.

Parking was an issue in Hot Springs though, we ended up in metered street parking and having to feed two adjacent meters a few times.

When we got ready to leave, Ken decided to change our route and head through the Caddo Mountains into Oklahoma before cutting down into Texas for our next major stop at Carlsbad Cavern New Mexico.  We have a solid drive ahead this afternoon and evening, then a full day of driving tomorrow in order to get to Carlsbad on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

Note: Hot Springs would be a great honeymoon or anniversary spot with all of its delightful little shops and spas!  

We are currently driving through Choctaw Nation on US-70 in Oklahoma - more Trail of Tears markers. 

Once Ken gets tired, we will find a place to sleep at an RV park in OK or TX. My Next Exit book only details interstates, so we will rely on Google tonight.

We are staying at Cedars Edge RV Park near Ardmore, OK.  Again, full hookups/wifi for $25.  As a comparison, KOA and Jellystone parks run in the $50-90 range per night, so we are doing pretty well finding private campgrounds that are reasonable.

Day 3 - afternoon

After lunch at DQ, we headed to Shiloh National Military Park at Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River.  Four of the children barely completed the Junior Ranger program.  Note: it takes a whole day to really explore Shiloh NP and the Shiloh Indian Mounds.  There are also markers for the Trail of Tears along the highways surrounding Shiloh.

It was a very warm 93F, but it was not unbearable.  

Ken found more Civil War music CDs in the bookstore and I found a book on Native Herbal remedies.  

After the kids were sworn in as Junior Rangers, the Ranger pointed out the Pennsylvania monument on a map and we headed to see it and get some photos before saying goodbye to Shiloh.

We found a great little RV park in Corinth, MS to stay for the night -- Cross City RV.  Electric and water hookups and WiFi for $18/night plus the owner gave us lots of information about some fun local spots to see.

One more note from Day 2 - At the beginning of the Domes and Dripstones Tour, the Ranger gave a 10 minute talk about safety, etc., regarding the tour.  At the end of his talk, he asked if there were any questions, Isaac piped up and all hundred or so people heard him say, "Can you repeat that, please?" At which point the whole crowd chuckled, and our tour began.

Day 2

We got an early start and had breakfast at 6am and were on the road by 7:30am.  Today, we are en route to Mammoth Cave National Park in Mammoth Cave, KY.  

The "carsick tamer" aromatherapy stick I brought along is getting a lot of use as Zeke was vomiting during breakfast.  

The children are keeping busy finding license plates from various states and it is a beautiful morning in Ohio.

We aren't thrilled with our Magellen Roadmate GPS (RV); it freezes frequently when we attempt to enter a new location, modify the route or search for anything.  I plan to check if we can return it and get a different shipped to our friend's house in Arizona.

We are camping at Mammoth Cave Campground - my first NP campground.  It is a drydock site, but we are in the shade and it is peaceful.

At the National Park, we took the Domes and Dripstones Ranger guided tour.  Ken got some photos of the big camera which we will post at some later date.  The four younger children earned their Junior Ranger Badges at Mammoth Cave NP.