Glenwood Canyon

The first time I drove through this canyon, it was 1979 and this was the final 12-mile stretch of the Interstate Highway system that was not 4-lanes. The engineering feat of cramming four lanes of highway through this canyon is mind-boggling. One of the first completed features in the canyon was the Grizzly Creek Rest Area. Then, it served as a staging area for construction equipment and supplies, now it's a shady respite from the road. When I first drove through it, it was a muddy single track.

Potawatomi Trading Post

Tonight, I stayed at a Harvest Host in Palisades CO. When I saw the Potawatomi Trading Post in the HH listings, I recalled that they had a presence in Kalamazoo. My curiosity was answered when I met the proprietor who was sixth generation. I bought a book that describes their involuntary expulsion from Michigan, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma, before ending up on Colorado's Grand Mesa.
11/27/2023

Utah Looks Weird

This is the Black Dragon. It can be seen from one of dozens of rest areas along I-70. They're all worth stopping to see, but this is the first trip through here that I had the time to do so.
11/28/23

Southern Utah RV Park

This HH basically offers a "first night free" deal for HH guests. It's a full-on RV resort with pool, hot tubs, pickle-ball courts (of course), and a recreation hall/restaurant. Only downside: It's only about 100 feet from I-15. I upgraded to full hookups for $20. Such a deal!

Vegas Baby!

I wanted to spend a few nights in Vegas, but with zero HH sites and RV parks either 25 miles out, or $200+ per night, the best option was a Motel 6 one block off the strip. Old. Clean. $70/night.

Vegas Baby!

I hit the casinos for the early shift. After breakfast at the MGM Grand, I hit them up for $210 at the craps table. Mornings are strange in casinos. Not really sad, so much as interesting - like everyone you see could be living the first paragraph of a mystery novel. As for witnesses to my big win at the table, there was the crew, and one old drunk dude who was just letting the stick man place his bets. I wonder if this is the first paragraph of his story... or mine.

Vegas Baby!

With two crisp, new $100 bills in my pocket, I crossed the street to New York, New York. I hit number twice, racking up about another $75, but then a new shooter stepped up to the table in front of me, took the dice and crapped out 3 times in a row. I should have seen the sign and cashed out, but I wanted to throw the dice, so I stayed in the game long enough to loose $150. Easy come...

Vegas Baby!

A short ride on the Monorail took me to Luxor, where I proceeded to lose another $90, leaving me about $45 to the good. I was alone with the crew at this table, and I got the feeling that they were enjoying watching me lose. See ya next time Vegas!
12/1/2023

Revere Golf Club, Henderson, NV

An old (emphasis) USMC buddy of mine lived in Henderson for years, and we played these courses a few times, so when I saw them in the HH listings, I jumped at the chance to play them again. There are two courses, Concord and Lexington, of which Lexington is harder, in better condition, more costly, and harder to get a tee time. I played with a fellow retiree who lived nearby and played here often. We played the front nine at Concord in about an hour, but when we came to the 10th tee, there was a three group backup. My partner spoke in hushed tones to the starter, and then motioned me to follow him. He had gotten us switched to Lexington, where we enjoyed another 1.25 hour round on the better course.
12/2/2023

Lake Mead RV Park...

...is in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (so National Parks passes work). It has everything an RV park needs. But, if I had it to do over again, I might stay right next door at the South Boulder Beach Campsite. The spots over there are spaced out with vegetation and views of the lake. Downside: no power sites, but I could make it several days on solar alone. Next time. As it is, I made good use of the facilities to watch football most of Saturday and Sunday between loads of laundry, and taking Augie on a 2.5 mile hike to the beach (it looked a lot closer).

Lake Mead RV Park...

...does have some nice views though. This was mine. It's a mobile home park out of the 50s, but most of the old homes have been transformed into truly amazing hillbilly mansions. Triple and quad wide trailers with boat storage and parking built in. Also several snowbird class A motorcoaches parked 'till spring.
12/3/2023

San Diego KOA Resort

This was the first reservation I made for my travels in Gravytrain. I wanted some target date to help me stay on pace to end up in The Florida Keys at the end of February. This is a great place with resort-quality facilities including pools, hot tubs, and restaurants. I'm here for three days to soak up the sun, use better than average wifi to get this journal caught up, and get some ball sessions in. Oh... and to enjoy shorts and shirt-sleeves weather.
12/4/2023

San Diego KOA Resort

Biscuit and I took a cruise down to the marina (bike path), then on to Walmart (city streets) for some supplies. About 15 miles total RT. We both made it unscathed, but it did call for riding through a few intersections with cars - so it was not without a few nervous moments.
12/5/2023

Fancy Meeting You Here...

While I was visiting friends in Denver, they asked where I was headed next. When I said California, we quickly realized that we were going to be there at the same time in roughly the same place. A few quick modifications to my very loose plans, and we were booked for three days of California golf!

Twin Oaks Golf Club, San Marcos, CA

This was a great little course and we had great weather too!
12/8/2023

Encinitas Ranch Golf Club, Encinitas, CA

Another wonderful day, another wonderful course. Ocean views on most of the holes. Had a great day - everyone in the group had a birdie... except me.
12/9/2023

The Crossings at Carlsbad, Clarlsbad, CA

This was the hardest of the courses we played, but it had some amazing holes, including this one that had a 200 ft elevated tee,  and seven miles of cart paths. Oh, and I got my birdie - one day late.
12/10/2023

Serendipity Doo Dah!

It was such a treat to meet these two in California for some golf. See you again soon!