Daryl & Jan's Vacation

The next morning, we were in Tombstone, AZ by 8am. We found out that all the shops don't open in off season till 9:30 or 10am! Needless to say we had the town pert near to ourselves, as you see in the pictures there is nobody else around almost. While there we went to the actual Boot hill Cemetery, as evidenced in the pictures. Anyone who has seen Tombstone the movie, will recognize some of the names on the tombstones.

After there, we ventured out west further, going through Phoenix (had Hawaiian BBQ for lunch!?), through Palm Springs and on to our destination of Palmdale to meet up with my daughter Lisa. Had dinner with her and the new grand baby, who we had not seen yet and she is 4 months old. Turns out she is already almost 20 pounds, so not really a tiny baby at all. Got up the next morning and went sight seeing in Palmdale, visited “Charlie Browns” trading post in Little Rock, anyone having the chance to see this place, it's a definite MUST see place with all they have in there. Room after room, of different themes. Met up with Lisa's boys and her ex husband Russ, then we went to Apollo Park to feed the ducks and geese and play with the kids. We stopped in at In & Out Burgers, JUST because there are no other burger joints like this one, and not found anywhere else besides Southern California. Proceeded from there to the outlet mall in Palmdale, where we found a pair of shoes for Daryl.

Next morning, after having breakfast with Ray and Lisa and the grand baby, we headed out even further west, to Paso Robles where Chris and Erin live now. We saw Vineyards everywhere and orchards of Pecans, Almonds, Pistachios, Black Walnuts and whatever else they were growing there. We had a great time with all their kids at Morro Bay, having a seafood lunch and touring the local shops there. We then went north a ways to San Simeon and watched and took pictures of the Elephant Seals, where every year they come to have their babies in January and February. At this time of year, only the younger seals who aren't quite adults, hang out on the beach playing. We then proceeded to Cambria ,CA where Erin spent some of her years growing up. Returned to their house where Chris made a great BBQ Chicken dinner. Spent some time on Erin's computer fixing some issues with it. Had a great time with the grand kids.

Next morning we went to Target with Chris and Erin and the grand kids and picked up some needed supplies. Then we headed to Las Vegas where we went over the Tehachapi mountains and then to Barstow, where we saw the largest McDonald's in the Country. We ate Asian Food and shopped in all the little stores around in the place. Got a good deal on a sweat shirt!!! Got into Vegas about 6:30pm and drove down the Las Vegas strip and saw all the beautiful Lights Wow!! After checking in at Circus Circus we walked down the strip checking out all the new places that are being built and have been built recently. We tried our hand at gambling at a few places, THAT didn't work out. Had fun any way. We split a foot long hot dog for a late night snack.

Got up the next Morning and did some last minute tourist shopping at the hotel gift shop. We Got some real Vegas chips to play with when people come over now! We stopped in “Sky Dive Las Vegas”, where Daryl use to work and checked out all the difference from years ago. It was a shame they were shut down for lunchtime, otherwise Jan could have got a skydive for herself! We then went to Hoover dam where Jan freaked out at the depths of the gorge. We checked it out, but didn't do the tour of the dam, more things in mind for our trip than that. Next, onto the Historic route 66, instead of going the Interstate. Very nice drive, wish roads were STILL like this today, too much hussle bussle on the interstates and it makes all the towns along the way just dry up with no more people going through them. After that, we were on the way to South Rim Grand Canyon. Our PLAN was to do the North Rim Grand Canyon, but found out right before we left, they close on October 15, and reopen on May 15 the next year. One BIG hole in the ground! Thank goodness they had guard rails, Jan stayed WAY back from the edge! We got there right before dusk, so many shadows in the pictures. They were also doing controlled burns around the rim, so a little hazy. VERY awesome to see in person! From there, in to Flagstaff for our 2 night stay.

Next day, it was on to the Indian Cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon National Monument. We kept saying that nobody could say we didn't get any exercise on this trip! 185 stairs down to a mile hike, at an altitude of 7,000 feet! Talk about NO oxygen to breath, let alone for the rigorous walking! Hardly any walkway too, felt like we could fall into the canyon at any time! A must see though if your ever in that area, ONLY 5 miles east of Flagstaff on I-40. After catching our breath, we then went over to look at Sunset Crater mountain, an extinct Volcano just north of there. Then onto Sedona, about an hours drive south on a WINDING road 89A. Jan did NOT like this road! Too many cliffs right next to her window. VERY picturesque town though, very Yuppy with shops everywhere. Beautiful little city with all the pretty red rock cliffs and bluffs. Lots of neat shops with Indian Jewelry at most of them. There were also Indians selling their Jewelry on the side of road, leading into Sedona, at 2 different places. Then we headed back to the motel for a late afternoon of RESTING after all this exercise!

Next morning, we went to Meteor Crater, about 50 miles east of Flagstaff, WHAT a BIG hole in the ground! Jan was pretty much over her fear of heights by this time, didn't bother her too much looking down into the crater! Amazing how this event happened, couldn't even imagine it happening today. We continued through the Arizona and New Mexico deserts enjoying the vistas of bluffs and cliffs along the way. We went through Tucamcari NM and then to our final destination that night of Amarillo TX. Nice place there, inside terrarium with all the rooms facing it. Had a nice dinner at the Outback Restaurant adjacent to it.

Next day was our final push to home. We ended up going by Wichita Falls, TX, just about 20 minutes behind Zach and DeDe (Jan's daughter and her husband), on their way down to Abilene for an interview for DeDe to get into a College to finish her masters degree in Physical therapy. She has been on a waiting list, since graduating College last year. Seems they only take the 4.0 graduates first, didn't matter she was Cum Ladde with her 3.57.

Pulled into home about 4pm on the 9th, GLAD to get away, and GLAD to get home too. Had a GREAT time overall, couldn't have asked for better weather and was a very safe trip.