I could feel Brian’s excitement build as we were going to be riding the Durango to Silverton steam train the next day. We had booked our tickets online and there were few spots left when we did that. It was hard to know what coach to book but the lack of choice settled that for us.

We had booked the Doubletree hotel and were delighted our room was overlooking the street and across to the train station and historic downtown of Durango. Normally, I would have chosen a river view as the Animas River runs directly behind the hotel, but in this situation the ability to watch and listen to the train was more exciting.

The train was arriving as we crossed to the station area. The wail of the steam whistle set my heart beating faster with excitement. I could see the plume of smoke in the distance.

“You go ahead and take your pictures!”

Brian raced off to find his vantage point filled with excited energy. I knew this was one of his lifelong dreams and a very special part of this vacation adventure.  Thankfully, we live in a digital camera age when each shot can be viewed immediately and taking many shots is not more costly than taking one. Between our two cameras I knew there would be many great pictures and later trying to identify who took which one would be a challenge. We alternated the cameras from out larger Panasonic Lumix with the twelve time zoom to the smaller and lighter Canon that Brian carried in his organizer all the time. In this situation Brian had the larger camera. I was happy enjoying the experience of the huge puffing engine heading toward me. I knew our trip on the following day would give me lots of opportunities to take pictures.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

Brian pulled onto Interstate 10 and increased our speed. I knew I had missed our chance to find a spot to stop for lunch. There wasn’t going to be a place for more than an hour in Blythe. Speeding along the four lane Interstate I reached into our fridge and took out two cold bottles of water.

Finally seeing the green vegetation of Blythe we knew we were wise to fill our gas tank. Keeping above a half tank is wise when driving in areas where stations are far apart. Running out of gas in the desert would not be fun.

Interstate 10 And US 95

I found the outside of the Steaks ‘n Cakes attractive and we chose to stop in for lunch. The food was obviously real food made from scratch.

Steaks 'n Cakes

Driving through the majestic scenery on the highway we made good time. The delay of the morning detour was easily forgotten. I wondered; “Was that really just a few hours ago?”

Passing through different parts of a country in awareness of the local area can make time pass in easy flow. Sometimes Brian and I chat while at other times one of us naps. The one who sleeps was obviously the one not driving.

Majestic Scenery

I like to listen to music and audio books when we travel. Brian doesn’t like to follow the plots and has limited tolerance for music playing. My iPod is a great companion when driving long distances.

Grand Canyon Railroad

The steam train that goes to the Grand Canyon starts in Williams, Arizona about 30 miles west of Flagstaff, just off Interstate 40. Leaving at 9:30 a.m., the train travels almost due north to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, arriving at 11:45 a.m. The passengers were just leaving the station as we arrived. We’d previously seen the train when we visited the Grand Canyon several years before. Maybe it’s a trip we’ll take one day but for now we were off to ride a different train.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

Having timeshare provides the opportunity to trade a week and go to a different destination. I have travelled to many different destinations on timeshare exchanges so do not use my home weeks consistently year after year. I found it a wonderful way to discover new places while having a home away from home rather than just a hotel room. The kitchen and laundry facilities certainly help cut the costs of travel.

We headed north on Interstate 15 heading for Flagstaff, Arizona through Palm Desert. While we could have used the Interstate for the entire trip, we chose to go cross-country as we thought it would be more scenic.

Narrow Bridge Ahead

Turning east on Highway 79, a two-lane country road,  then picking up 371 for twenty-one miles, we planned that we would then meet Highway 74 to take us into Palm Springs. This would  travel south of the San Bernardino National Forest and over the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains.

There was almost no traffic. We were feeling confident that this would be a pleasant trip. Suddenly a sign was blocking the road ahead. We were advised by a Highway Patrol officer that there was a detour because a fire had necessitated closing the road.  He had no idea how long it will be closed but said it would be several hours. Waiting was not an option.

Passing Lane Ahead

Following the officers directions we retraced our route turning right at the first road. From the compass on our rearview mirror I could see we were now heading straight north instead of our intended direction of east. I searched the map to try and discover where we were since the intersections had no road names or numbers. I got some comfort in the fact that our navigation system was still registering the road we were on.  Neither the map nor the navigation system showed an alternate route. The recalculated route would take us back to the Interstate highway. That was not an option we wanted to consider.

It appeared that we would have to go all the way up to Hemet to join  Highway 74 and then cut back down to where we had originally intended to go. I could see that this was going to be a much longer trip than we intended. We had a reservation at a Hampton Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona. We knew we wanted to arrive before dark but that wasn’t a certainty as we had thought.

Coming to intersections and guessing which way to go increased our anxiety.  Trying to keep heading east and yet at times finding we were going west as we twisted and turned over the unfamiliar terrain was frustrating. Brian kept asking if there was anything on the map and even though I assured him there wasn’t he seemed to feel that if he looked at it he could see something I didn’t. I suggested that he take over the navigation and I take over the driving. He readily agreed.

The Navigation Screen

I had been starting to feel nauseous so getting behind the wheel and taking control of the driving rather than trying to follow a map helped considerably.

Arriving in Hemet and turning onto Highway 74  brought a great sense of relief as we now knew exactly where we were and where we were headed. We were a considerable distance out of our way and contemplated getting on the Interstate for a sense of moving more quickly. Choosing that option would take us further north and then back south while taking our original route was closer to how the crow would fly.

We chose to stick with our original cross-country route. The decision-making process can often become stalled when each person suggests the other make the decision. By being the one that makes the decision you could also be the one that has to accept the responsibility if it doesn’t turn out well. Fortunately in this tense situation we had agreed on what we wanted to do so stuck to our original plan.

Heading East In California

Part of the scenery was barren and no vegetation was growing. Other areas had low growing plants clinging around huge boulders. In some places the area around the road was all we could see while in others a long vista across rugged gullies and steep cliffs revealed that living would be close to impossible for people. I knew wildlife had adapted to live in such a desolate place.

Welcome Center

The highway descended down the steep valley side. Seeing in the distance the lush green of the Palm Desert resorts, golf courses and subdivisions that carpet the lower areas was a welcome sight.

Rattlesnakes

We stopped at the Welcome Center for a chance to stretch, use the toilets and explore the exhibits. I was glad that a warning sign alerted me to snakes but very relieved I didn’t encounter one. Eager to get on to our destination for the night we didn’t linger long.

Arriving In Palm Desert

Brian took over the driving. I accepted that I would look for a place to have something to eat that was interesting rather than one of a restaurant chain.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

Welk Resort San Diego California

We own a week of timeshare in the older part of the resort where the units are large with two bedrooms and two baths fully integrated.  The newer units are divided into two completely separate sections. One is larger than the other and a lockable adjoining door allows for sharing or using them as two individual units.

Golfing At Welk Resort

Our days usually start with orange juice, a coffee and cereal, toast or pastry depending on what we chose at the grocery store.

Watching golfers from the patio table or a chaise lounge on our wide deck usually produces some antic of interest. It is obvious that some take the sport very seriously while others chase the ball in and out of the roughs.

Using a golf cart is mandatory. Often the drivers speed along the paved paths with reckless abandon. I sometimes expect they will end up in the pond or up a tree.

Lawn Maintenance

While large mowers criss cross the fairways and special equipment is used to shear the greens there is also a lot of lawns needing mowing that a push mower is used. The noise of blowers, cutters and whippers are familiar at least once on every vacation week. The sound of the spraying water in the pond muffles the sound unless they are right outside our unit.

Family Fishing

The pond is stocked with fish and people often throw in a line. Children enjoy the sport although I always hope they have read the warning signs. The pond is not from a fresh mountain stream but comes from the sewage treatment system and is not suitable for drinking, swimming or eating the fish that live there. The water is used to irrigate the grounds through the sprinkler system. I do hope people wash their hands well after fishing.

Fun Fishing

Brian likes to have a visit with Lawrence Welk. We are old enough to recall his music shows on TV when we were kids.

Brian With Lawrence Welk

A swim in one of several pools, a speaker or owners meeting, a chance to check emails and people watching are other activities that help make a relaxing and interesting vacation.  Dinner and a show on site or a trip into the local shops and restaurants can easily involve several hours of enjoyment.

Couples who share interests can most easily choose vacation time that offers what they find enjoyable. Vacation time is a good time to confront conflicts when there is a misunderstanding or a difference in expectations.  Problems that arise on a vacation can be helpful in making different choices for the next one.

I was fascinated by a heavy fog one morning. Watching it swirl and settle then burn off as the sun rose higher in the sky held my attention. I was glad it wasn’t the morning we were leaving to drive through the mountains starting our return trip east.

A Foggy Morning

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Hotel Balcony View

It was warm and overcast and even though this was our second visit to San Diego we were eager to get out and about. We decided to head downtown and agreed that we’d have dinner while we were out rather than in the Ariana restaurant in the lobby.

San Diego Harbor View From Our Balcony.

We wanted to explore areas of the city by riding the Old Town Trolley, starting at Seaport Village.  The twenty-five mile loop takes about two hours. Taking a city tour is a great way to learn about a new place as it adds information to what is in the guidebooks, brochures and on maps.  Tours provide an overview so decisions can be made about where to spend the available time.

We had explored the city by car on our own several years ago but oftentimes the stories told on a tour enhance the flavor of the location. We were ready to be entertained.

Inside The Old Town Trolley

Our driver introduced himself and we set off. The orange and green trolley had open sides so there was a nice breeze once we got moving. The option to get off at any one of the eleven stops to explore an area and continue the tour on a later trolley was one we didn’t plan to use as it was late in the day. After the last run it would be our responsibility to get back to our desired destination.

For awhile we meandered down narrow streets viewing the huge Marriot Hotel and adjoining Convention Centre, the business and financial district and the Gaslamp Quarter.

The Old Town Market

Old Town San Diego

Old Town San Diego is a hub of tourist activity. The Spanish flavor is evident in the crafts and brightly colored wares. At one point the traffic in all directions stopped as railway tracks ran through the intersection and both the Amtrak train and the red MTS City Trolley crossed the road. Some people on board were impatient to get going while Brian and I were delighted to have a chance to watch the activity on the rails.

Rail Traffic Downtown San Diego

Suddenly that trolley driver turned onto a highway and increased the speed of our trip dramatically. The vehicle rattled and shook. I held on for dear life. I was previously not concerned about not wearing a seatbelt at the slow speeds we had been going. Suddenly, I realized that this open vehicle filled with people, none of them wearing seat belts, speeding along this busy road, could have a very sad ending. A number of people near me were exclaiming that they wished the driver would slow down and one man yelled, “Slow Down!” The driver took no heed.

Coronado Bay Bridge In The Distance

The steep climb up the Coronado Bay Bridge forced the vehicle to go more slowly. The views of the ship yards and naval base from the top of the bridge were amazing!

A View From The Bridge

The Hotel De Coronado was interesting as was the island settlement, the view of the Air and Space Museum and the outside of the Balboa Park Zoo. I knew I could spend a lot of time in San Diego and a new appreciation of why people rave about this city settled in on me.

As we passed along the harbour, the cruise ship terminal stimulated my desire to someday take a cruise. I turned to suggest the idea to Brian but he was intently focused on the Santa Fe Depot on the other side of the road. I should’ve guessed he’d be watching the rail lines. Passing the Maritime Museum I realized that the tall masts of the sailing ships were the ones I could see from our hotel balcony.

After walking around areas where Brian could take pictures of the commuter trolleys we found a restaurant for dinner. The temperature had cooled and the sky threatened rain so we chose to sit inside rather than on the patio. I was glad we had a comment card for the trolley tour and I filled it in with my concerns about the dangerous driving on a tour.

I looked forward to more fun in San Diego but not to another tourist trolley ride!

Brian Checks The Train And Trolley Timetables

With more time in town the next day we made plans to get the most of the time before we headed on to Escondido to check into our timeshare week there. It’s not hard to guess a rail trip is part of the agenda.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

We had planned our usual two hour trade off for driving but he was fast asleep at turnover time. I continued driving and ended up doing the entire trip from Escondido to Sedona myself. I was very tired the next day but whenever we thought of stopping to find a hotel I was still ready to drive on. At times like that our many years of independent living and doing everything on our own reminds us we have more stamina than we might use when the tasks are shared. Thankfully he was in fine form for this trip and eager to see what he had missed last time.

Union Pacific Engines 8212 9774

The railway is close beside the highway for a long stretch of flat terrain.  Snapping pictures from a moving car with the train moving toward us results in some good shots and others that are blurred or only part of an engine. Taking several pictures as quickly as the camera can handle them is a good way to get at least one that is worthwhile.

 Having travelled west on the 238 planning to join I-8 at Gila Bend we decided to stop for lunch while we could find a local restaurant rather than the usual chains we might find at interchanges. What a delight to find the Space Age restaurant attached to the Best Western Space Age Lodge. It’s a fun spot to stop if you are in the area.

Barren Pass Through Rockey Hills

Climbing through rocky passes the two directions of traffic are often not parallel to each other. In the steepest sections the grades are constructed to keep the heavy trucks moving as they climb and to ease brake use as they descend. There are many places not suitable to stop so having lots of gas and a vehicle in good working order is both wise and safe.

Sand Dunes Support Electrical Towers

Suddenly the landscape changed to windswept mountains of sand. This is what I had imagined the American desert would be like before my first visit.

The face of the desert constantly changed as we travelled west. I found the differences fascinating, each area having their own distinct character.

We had lost sight of the trains but marching electrical towers lined the road. Signs warned us stopping was prohibited except in designated areas. Our car thermometer was reading the outside temperature as 41 degrees Centigrade or about 105 Fahrenheit so we were not in a big hurry to take time to play in the sand.

Mexican Border

I was surprised to see the border with Mexico so close to the road. The long black wall that looked as if it could be made of plastic was all that divided the two countries. Signs warned to be on the lookout for pedestrians and not to pick up hitchhikers. On the last trip through here we had been stopped by the border patrol and highway patrol, questioned and had been asked to open our trunk, but this time the station was unmanned so we drove right on past.

Rocks Balanced On Each Other

Huge outcroppings of stones precariously perched on each other were fascinating to see. Any shake in the earth or even a strong wind might bring them toppling down. Brain and I speculated on how they came to be piled like that and marveled at the fact they were still standing.

Our next surprise was a vast array of windmills.

Windmills in California

There are many different viewpoints on the erection of wind turbines as a source of power. We saw our first one in Toronto but have since seen them across North America and Europe. I don’t have a strong opinion about them except I’m not at all hoping one will come to a spot near our home anytime soon.

Driving from Scottsdale to San Diego was both interesting and at times challenging. If you go be sure to have water and don’t expect a large selection of places to stop.

I’d love to do the drive or at least part of it at night as I am sure I would see more stars than I have ever imagined could be in the sky. Most of the places I visit and live have too much light pollution to get a really good display.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

Finding A Spot For Lunch In Cave Creek

The Horny Toad looked perfect for lunch. Stepping into the intense heat was a reminder that we hadn’t had anything to drink for awhile and we’d best order water with our meal. Getting dehydrated in the Arizona heat can happen quickly.

The Horny Toad

We stopped to note the no guns sign on the post where we  entered the restaurant area. A  couple coming out offered to take our picture. It’s nice to have some pictures of us together.  Offering to take pictures of other people as a couple or family has often been the beginning of conversations that can open up new places to visit that we might have missed.

Lunch At The Horny Toad

The interior was cool and rustic and the service efficient and the food good. We lingered over our meal and decided we’d stop in some of the shops we’d passed along the way.

I am not much for souvenirs but often find a practical item that I can use regularly to remind me of our travels.

Cave Creek AZ

Looking through the displays of candy and toys wasn’t as interesting as the outdoor displays.

I was surprised when my cell phone rang. A client who had not been in for several months was having a crisis over a relationship issue. I hadn’t expected to hear from her so hadn’t mentioned I would be travelling. I explained where I was and cautioned her that I didn’t have access to her file. She explained that she just needed to talk to someone who understood her situation.

Brian is very respectful of my client confidentiality  policies and while I headed for the car he returned to the shop. My conversation wasn’t very long.  I went into the shop to let Brian know my call was completed.

The gathering clouds indicated that we might have rain before long. After driving to the upper limits of Cave Creek and agreeing we had seen what we wanted to explore we retraced our steps back to our timeshare.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

Several years ago on a visit to Sedona he purchased his first black Stetson cowboy style hat.

Brian In Sedona AZ

The first time a child asked him if he was a real cowboy he replied;  “What do you think?” The little fellow then asked; “Where is your horse?” To which Brian replied: “I left him at home as there isn’t a good place to tie him up here.” As the child scampered off we laughed at Brian’s new image. It has created lots of stories and interactions with strangers since.

I loved Sedona with the long views of towering red rocks. Unfortunately on that trip I had a broken toe and wasn’t able to climb the rocks and venture as far as I would have liked.

Brian can be a reluctant shopper. He was procrastinating about a straw hat. When I suggested perhaps we could go to lunch as we’d been in  Heritage Hats for awhile he finally agreed to splurge and get a lighter hat more suitable for the intense heat of Phoenix.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

Using A Pass On LRT

When we returned to our resort Brian downloaded his pictures from the camera and presented a slide show on his portable computer.

Public Art In The Phoenix LRT System

I was pleased he had taken lots of shots so I could see a sampling of what I had missed. Knowing I would have wanted to see any examples of public art he took a close up of this piece attached to a fence.  Other pictures showed interesting pieces and most of them would never pass the negative criticisms of people who are vocal in Burlington. It is hard to teach people with a closed mind about artistic creations and the value that can be developed with a public art collection.

Sharing The Road

Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a method of reliable, accessible and comfortable transit. Higher capacity and greater speed than bus systems, modern electricity-powered Light Rail Vehicles (LRV) carry passengers mostly in reserved lanes with transit-priority traffic signals.  In some cases, sharing the roadway is necessary. Knowing the signs can be a big help in avoiding traffic tickets for violations.

Brian loves to watch out the front of the vehicle whenever he can get close.

More Than One Way To Get Downtown

The modern connecting busses expand the transit coverage into the suburbs of Phoenix.

Valley Metro Link

The historical transit exhibit at a prominent location in downtown Phoenix has an ex-Toronto Transit Commission PCC streetcar on display. Brian was delightfully surprised to discover it out the window as he passed.

TTC Streetcar in Phoenix

Enjoying A Book In The Garden

I was pleased Brian had enjoyed his adventure. He also enjoyed sharing the M&Ms he discovered when he returned to the car. We were happy to retreat to the garden with our books after a refreshing swim in the adult pool.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn

Brian had expressed enthusiasm for the light rail transit system of Phoenix called Valley Metro and wanted to take a ride. I had arranged to meet a woman I’d developed an interesting relationship with networking on my Internet.  Brian and I plotted my route from Scottsdale to Mountain Park Ranch area.  Brian chose a transit stop along my route. I planned the time it would probably take to make the drive after the rush of morning traffic and allowed a short amount of time to drop Brian off at a convenient transit station.

Valley Metro

I would have liked to ride along with Brian and see the city, however I had made my decision before coming west.

Keeping appointments and promises even when something that appears more interesting comes along is a sign of being responsible. Trustworthiness is established. If I had chosen not to meet the woman I had previously arranged to meet by either cancelling at the last minute on a whim or just not showing up, I would not only give her the message about my credibility but also know in my own concept of my Self that I was not trustworthy.  It is often the inner conflict between the way we’d like to see our Self and the inner knowledge of how and who we really are that causes anxiety.

LRT in Phoenix

Cutting off the freeway to drop Brian at a station the sight of the sleek LRT cars deepened my desire to ride. Seeing a new city from the comfort of public transit allows both the outside views and the chance to watch people going about their normal lives.  I believe a lot about the city can be learned by watching the way its citizens interact.

As I drew near my destination I felt the need of a toilet. I preferred to find one  before arriving as to say “Hello, may I use your toilet?” isn’t my idea of creating a good first impression. I saw a gas station ahead and pulled into the parking area near the front door. My gas level was showing close to full so getting gas was not an option to return some form of payment for the use of what I expected to be a clean easily available toilet. Most major gas company stations keep their washrooms clean and supplied with toilet tissue, soap and hand drying options. I wasn’t disappointed.

Scanning the candy section so I could make a token purchase in appreciation for the washroom use I was challenged to find something that wouldn’t be a messy melted blob after being left in the car in the hot Arizona sun. I was very near my meeting point so didn’t want to eat anything immediately.

As soon as my eyes saw the bright yellow packaging the slogan flew into my mind.  “Melt in your mouth, not in your hand.” M&Ms was the perfect choice. I had first heard that tag line many years before but it was one that stuck in my brain even though I rarely bought M&M candy.

I never realized that this would become our new candy of choice for our driving vacations.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments! Please use the share button to distribute my posts to your network.   Marilyn