June 22, 2015, Monday, Mount Carmel, UT (Zion NP)
Day 53

An early visit to Zion NP where we spent most of the day.  We hiked at least 5 miles of trails one mile of which the park considered moderate but I would consider strenuous, especially since the day time high reached 103 after starting the morning in the 60's.  We saw waterfalls, river rapids and incredibly tall cliffs.  One trail was along side of the Virgin River which created the canyon where Zion is located.  After we worked up a sweat which doesn’t take long in these temps, we found a couple rocks to sit on next to the river and soaked our feet.  After about a minute my feet were almost numb from the cold water. The water actually cooled our bodies down.  Poor planning left us to dry off with a few napkins pilfered from lunch at the Zion Lodge.  Supper at Meme’s Café in Springdale just west of the park.   Back to the campground to discover that both a/c’s were still running and a cool coach.  Yay!

June 21, 2015, Sunday, Mount Carmel, UT (Zion NP)
Day 52

Wake up temp was 70 and both a/c’s working.  Hours spent on the phone trying to locate a replacement tire.  Of course, it had to be a Sunday.  Finally found Morton’s Truck Stop about 15 miles north who had the tire and also was open Sunday to install it.  We head to Morton’s with Rosemary driving the car.  Upon our arrival, good news.  The crack is determined to be cosmetic and the tire is in good shape.  Yippee!  Next exit we stopped at Pilot for diesel and noticed the check engine light is on.  The engine completely shut down on its own.  Called Freightliner 24/7 and after stumping the chump initially, we are talked through a manual exhaust regeneration. Thankful for computer diagnostics, we high tailed it out of Vegas near 3 pm and headed east to Utah and the Zion National Park.  Along the way we lost both a/c’s but not the auto a/c.  Still made for a hot ride.  We had a reservation at Zion RV Campground which is just east of Zion NP.  We did not realize that the only road to the campground is through the NP.  When we arrived at the NP, we are told we must detach the car as we are too long make all the switchback turns.  We also are required to have an escort through the tunnel built in 1927 to 1930 since the center height of the tunnel is 13'2" but the edges are 11'4".  Our height is 12'6" not counting the 2 spring antennas which are about 13'4". First obstacle was convincing Rosemary to drive the car.  I promised to go slow so she can maneuver the switchbacks easily.  We proceeded at 15 mph, not making any friends of those behind us.  There were a couple pullovers on the 3.6 mile drive to the tunnel at which 5-6 cars passed us each time.  When we got to the tunnel, opposing traffic was stopped and I proceeded down the middle of the “two” lane road.  The tunnel was dark and a mile long. I was not allowed to stop so the photos I took while driving may not be in focus.  Shortly after the tunnel we were able to attach the car and proceeded through the park making a few stops for photos.  By this time the canyon was in mostly shade and the temp was declining. Got checked into the campground about 7:30 pm after a long and trying day. No wifi, no cell signal at all.

June 20, 2015, Saturday, Las Vegas, NV

Day 51

Our last day headed west before we begin our journey back east.  Arrived at Hoover Dam early afternoon and the heat is really bad.  About a 10 minute walk to the entrance in the midday sun and too windy for the umbrellas.  Went on the power plant tour, a fascinating and cool (that’s describing the temperature) tour down some 50 stories below including a visit to the turbines that produce the electricity for millions of people.  Afterward, we headed to Las Vegas and the Duck Creek RV Park about a 30 mile drive.  We lost the front a/c even before the Dam.  On the way we lost the back a/c and with a few miles to go we lost the auto a/c.  Temp in Vegas a whopping 120 degrees. Our a/c’s were no match.  I discovered that our thermostat readout does indeed go to 3 digits as the coach temp was 103.  I don’t care what those folks who state that it is a dry heat when alleging Florida is just as hot due to high humidity.  Those folks are plain wrong.  Not even close.  This was the absolute hottest I have ever been.  We checked into the campground about 6 pm and I noticed a small crack in the passenger front tire - uh oh.  Coming into Vegas the temp in that tire was the highest I have ever experienced at 138 degrees.  Although still below the 158 degrees when one should be concerned, I have a sinking feeling that the tire needs replacing.  We are able to start the back a/c but abandon the coach and head to the strip.  Traffic is terrible and the Honda a/c never quite cools the car in the stop and go traffic.  Finally parked at the Bellagio and headed for cooler climes. Walked around Bellagio and settled into a café for supper.  We both had a 3 course special with a sea bass entree.  After we ate, we witnessed the Bellagio water fountain show and then walked around visiting Caesars Palace, Paris and the Venetian.  Even after the sun went down, the heat was still stifling.  We returned to the coach late and find the temp down to 89.  We are able to start the front a/c and after awhile we got the temp down to where we could sleep comfortably.

June 19, 2015, Friday, Williams, AZ
Day 50

Whoops, low temp last night was 46 degrees and I did not even think to set the heat last evening.  The result a cool 54 degrees in the coach at wake up.  After a brief telephone hearing, we headed north 51 miles to the Grand Canyon National Park.  My prose is not eloquent enough to describe it.  In one word, WOW! Rosemary’s one word after “wow” is dizzying!  We spent the day walking our feet off on paved and unpaved trails.  Lunch in the Bright Angel Restaurant in the park.  We see many elk and mule deer including a nursing baby while daddy stood guard. Back to Williams for supper at Station 66 Italian Bistro and an after supper walk around downtown Williams, the last city on Route 66 to be bypassed by I-40.  The entire place is a tourist town trapped in Route 66 memorabilia.

June 18, 2015, Thursday, Williams, AZ
Day 49

Morning spent at the Walnut Canyon National Monument.  This was a mile and a half hike along some cliffs leading down the canyon and along cliff dwellings occupied for over one hundred years until approximately 1250.  After lunch in the coach, we went to the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.  First hike was the Lennox Crater Trail, a strenuous half mile trail straight up.  The trail was made of black sand (imagine hiking in thick beach sand).  We made frequent stops in the over 7000 foot elevation but after 25 minutes we made it to the top.  Spectacular view of the San Francisco snow capped mountains 30 miles away and the lava cinders down the side of our mountain.  The lava cinders look like an asphalt parking lot down the whole side of the mountain.  It even surrounds the trees at the bottom.  Quite a strong breeze at the top which gave us a much needed cool down.  However, the best part of this hike is we were completely alone.  The only two fools on the hill.  Another less strenuous hike around the lava flow at the base of Sunset Crater and then back to the coach for a trip 30 miles west to the Canyon Motel & RV Park in Williams on Route 66, our base for the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

June 17, 2015, Wednesday, Flagstaff, AZ
Day 48

After a cool night without running a/c we arrive at Flagstaff Walmart and park coach.  Travel by car to the Lowell Observatory planning on a couple hours.  Guided tours lasted 2 hours covered the history of the discovery of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (which was discovered at this observatory in 1930) as well as the history of Percival Lowell and the Observatory.  Also observed the sun through telescope and saw sun spots and solar flares as they were happening, well at least about 8 minutes prior.  Viewed exhibits and suddenly it was 2 pm.  Lunch back at the coach and then a drive around historic Flagstaff.  Early supper on coach and back to the observatory for evening programs and telescope viewing.  Saw Jupiter, Saturn and a star cluster of some 300,000 stars 24 light years away.  Pretty neat day for this former astronomer wannabe.

June 16, 2015, Tuesday, Munds Park, AZ
Day 47

Departed Phoenix and parked at cousin Rosemary and Ron’s mountain cabin after a 2 hour drive.  Their driveway measures about 38 feet for my 37.5 foot coach.  Fortunately, not too much traffic on the road so coach shouldn’t be hit. Traveled by car to Sedona and spent the afternoon seeing the sights in Red Rock State Park and Sedona.  After boba teas, we visited the Trailhead Tea shop and Rosemary filled her tea supply.  About a 24 mile drive along the Oak Creek Canyon highway with some breathtaking views.  Breathtaking literally for Rosemary as she cringes on each mountain curve.  We end up in Flagstaff for some grocery shopping at Sprouts.  Dinner in the coach of leftover Asian.

June 15, 2015, Monday, Scottsdale, AZ
Day 46

Had a very nice visit in the morning with my Aunt Nanci, my dad’s sister.  Afternoon we visited the Musical Instrument Museum.  We could have spent a day or two here.  It was a great museum with each person given a headset and when viewing an instrument, you could watch a video and listen to the instrument being played.  All kinds of musical instruments from all over the world from many time periods.  If in Phoenix, I rate it a must see.  Dinner with cousin Rosemary and Ron at Jade Palace, another Asian place for my Rosemary. Although spending time with family is great, we decide it’s time to leave tomorrow and head to cooler climes.  If Tucson was the frying pan, Phoenix is the fire.  Highs around 110 are too much for the coach’s a/c’s which trip breakers by day but which have no problems by night.  This makes the coach mostly uninhabitable during the day.  Never again in southern Arizona in the summertime!

June 14, 2015, Sunday, Scottsdale, AZ
Day 45

Departed Tucson and arrived in Scottsdale (just north of Phoenix) to cousin Rosemary and Ron’s house.  Cousin Rosemary and Ron hosted a wonderful dinner and we were joined by cousins Hunter and Joni.  It was great seeing my first cousins but sad that we all live so far apart.

June 13, 2015, Saturday, Tucson, AZ
Day 44

Visited the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in the morning.  A “beat the heat” guided tour had a group of about a dozen following the umbrella holding guide.  Two others had umbrellas, Rosemary and I.  All the others told us how smart we were to bring the umbrellas.  The museum was virtually all outdoors - in the desert! In addition to the desert plants there were many animals exhibited.  A bird aviary and Rosemary’s favorite a hummingbird aviary were pretty neat.  The hummingbirds did stay seated on some branches allowing a close up visit to within about a foot.  The museum is next to the Saguaro National Park which was our next visit.  A bumpy five mile dirt loop road made sure we saw all the cactus we could ever desire. Afternoon boba teas and then a goodbye dinner with Staci, Jon and Avery at Avery’s favorite Thai restaurant.  Also included was a belated birthday celebration for Avery, and gelato!  We spent the entire day away from the coach, a mistake we will not repeat.  Both our a/c units had tripped their breakers and the coach temp was 99 degrees, and that is only because the gauge does not have three digits. Took about 75 minutes to get us cool.  No hot water heater needed this night.  The only casualty appeared to be Rosemary’s chocolate chips which became one chip, although a big one.