Visit to Canyonlands National Park…

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Jim@HiTek

My last article was about Dead Horse Point…and about when I took a short jaunt to the moon and back on one of NASA’s secret moon vehicles. This time I’ll take a left turn as I head out of the Dead Horse Point state park, drive a couple three miles and enter Canyonlands National Park (NP). This area is further west then Dead Horse but so close as to be considered part of the area. When I arrived at the entrance, I only had to show my NP pass and got in free, without having to pay the $30 per vehicle charge. I’ve mentioned it before but that NP pass is now $80 per YEAR for those not considered elders, $80 for a lifetime pass if you are 62 or older. Mine is a lifetime senior pass I got back in 2007 or so for $8, and that was a special price that year. My point is that you might consider getting one if you are planning any trips to NPs or are over 62, and I’ve read that there won’t be any more ‘specials’ with the card like when I got my pass.

Anyway, I see now that I screwed up last time and put both the Dead Horse SP and the Canyonlands NP pictures in the same post. So I don’t have anything else to show except this video for sure was a panorama of the Canyonlands NP. You can go here to the last article to see the Canyonland’s photos.

And here is the video that shows a panoramic sweep of the canyons…

DSCF6311

So that means no more pictures of canyons to show of that NP in this article. There will be more canyons as I head southerly on this trip to Amado, AZ and they will be in following articles.

Back to the story, as I returned to my RV that late afternoon, it was near 4 PM so I stopped at a quaint bar on the main drag through Moab for a beer and a rest. This is Woody’s World Famous Tavern.

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Dead Horse Point and beyond…

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Jim@HiTek

Last time I mentioned seeing that sign along the roadway…as I was pulling out of the dinosaur museum’s parking lot. That night, I investigated using google and the next day, I was back up here heading to Dead Horse Point. Has kind of a sad history. Seems that local cowboys herded a herd of wild horses through a choke point onto a large, very high bluff. Then they close off the choke point. It seems they were interrupted at that moment and either ran off or chose to leave. And all the horses on that bluff starved or died of thirst. Sad.

Anyway, there’s some spectacular views here so that’s why I visited. First some shots of the scenery along the way…just to my left in this first shot is the dino museum. Wasn’t much of interest along this route so no pictures until I got to the overlook. Well, maybe just one…

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Visit to a newer ghost town…

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Jim@HiTek

Continuing my trip up the Colorado River from last time…I drifted away from the river as I was following the road, ‘cus I had to. Here’s a map of the divergence. Follow it north a bit and you’ll see the ghost town of Cisco. My destination. And this article also contains Dinosaurs.

And once I got to the ‘T’ in the road, I turned east towards Cisco, only a few miles on, on Hwy 128, designated a Scenic Byway. First thing you pass as you reach the town is this crumbling ranch house. This is a crumbling half ghost town, half tourist attraction and I’ll just let the following pictures speak for themselves…

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Up the Colorado River…

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Jim@HiTek

Many don’t realize that the Colorado River is just north of Moab, Utah. I am (‘was’ now) one of those people. Wasn’t until I pulled up a google map of Moab while planning my excursions that I noticed it on the map. The bridge just north of town that crosses it, doesn’t have a sign that I recall. And it’s one of those bridges that discourages ‘gawking’ with cement barriers on the edges of the bridge so you can’t really see the river much.

Anyway, after you cross that bridge coming from Arches NP, you’ll notice a park on your left. The Lion’s Park and trail head. I had already passed that point several times while just driving around exploring so once I discovered it was the Colorado River, I decided it was worth a tour. Plus the map was showing many many RV parks right along the route and yeah, I wanted to explore those parks too, for future reference. And…it was on Highway-128 which was called a ‘Scenic Byway’ road. Then I found somewhere, dunno where, the mention of the town of Cisco, which according to what I read was turning into a ghost town…but had a dinosaur themed general store still open. And it was at the end of 128. So, I thought, yeah, I’ll drive up the Colorado River canyon, visit those RV parks and sights, then at the end, visit that ghost town and stop for an ice cream at the general store, which featured it. So that would make a pretty cool day long excursion. Then I could, if I wanted, jump onto the freeway and quickly go back to Moab that way, OR, choose to just retrace my route along the river. We’ll see!

We’ll start at the Lion’s park end of the journey and follow the river up the canyon…

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Around Moab, Utah…

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Jim@HiTek

I may have waited to long to publish this issue…but here it is. I’ll try to fill the empty spots in my memory with lots and lots of scenic pictures. How’s that sound?

After arriving in Moab on Nov. 9th, got settled in, found a nearby bar/restaurant/bowling alley that had recommendations galore so I would be able to watch the games I was interested in, and of course, drove around Moab to check things out. I initially paid for 2 nights at the OK RV Park but after perusing the internet for tourist activities in the area, I knew that wasn’t enough so I tacked 6 more days onto my stay for a total of 8 nights.

And since I’d arrived in Moab and settled in so early in the day, I unhooked the car and explored the nearby sports bar where I was able to watch a game and have dinner, then the next day…on a Wednesday…I headed for Arches National Park. I got there around 9:45 AM; I took this next picture at around 10:15 so I’d already been in line for 30 minutes. And still more to go. Only had to show my card and was waved through.

And here I stopped on the slope leading into the upper area of Arches to take a shot of the entrance below.

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Heading to points south…

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Jim@HiTek

——–Sorry to have taken so long to post this. I was unsettled for a while——

Early in November, it was starting to look like an early winter here in Milton Freewater, so I planned a trip south to warmer climes. And this time, instead of heading straight south, I planned on a slightly SE route to visit some of the SW area I’ve either missed or haven’t been to in ages. So I decided to visit Glenn’s Ferry, Idaho, then turn south there and pass through Salt Lake City, stay in an RV park south of there, then visit Cuba, NM which is a small town somewhat close to some interesting Indian ruins. Then onto Arches NP, after which I’d planned on another visit and stay in Aztec, NM, then onto points south where it would be warmer. Eventually ending up in Mexico somewhere.

So, that’s the plan, lets see how it went!

First I headed to Tollgate (instead of Pendleton) via OR-204 E which took me through Tollgate then on to the little town of Elgin. This was a test route for me, I wanted to try it out because it’s a less steep roadway overall. It’s slightly longer and there are some steep grades, but not like Dead Man’s Hill outside of Pendleton. And soon as I got a little height on this road, it started to rain. Much preferred over snow which is coming to this area soon. After a short steep hill or three, the country looks like this.

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Wrap up to the Walla Walla Valley stay…

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Jim@HiTek

Got here to Milton Freewater, Oregon in May, and have already headed south as of this article, so here is a wrap up of the few things I did in the valley other than day to day living…

Most Tuesdays were shopping days and I often drive the 8 miles to Walla Walla to shop. On the way back, I’d stop at this and another farm to pick up veggies. Can’t get any fresher, but even with these people you gotta be careful. Like if they have Kiwi fruit, you know they didn’t grow it here. Or if they have baskets of strawberries but never did before. But as with all of life in this country, you have to be constantly on your guard as ‘buyer beware’ is the watchword.

Anyway, this particular farm hasn’t failed me yet when I need fresh veggies and I enjoy coming here though it is way out in the boonies.

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Projects…

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Jim@HiTek

Once again, it’s time to list the projects I’ve been working on.

They keep me busy. I was just pondering today how it never seems to end. I still have two or three projects on the back burners. Nothing monumental or all that important that I can’t put them off for years if I want, but it’s been several lazy months as it is, so maybe time to get some things done. And I did get some things fixed, and some remodeling started and I’ve listed everything here for your perusal. Enjoy!

  1. Basement compartment lights…
  2. Entertainment – LR Remodel…
  3. Drinking Water Filter…
  4. Rooftop Antenna Upgrade…
  5. Water – Experiment with an Electronic Scale Reducer…

So that’s what I’ve been working on for the last 6 months with long lapses in activity. Like all of August was pretty much just sit in my AC’ed home and web surf. I did visit a few museums and things like that but sometimes that grows old.

Anyway, there you go, check out those projects around the RV that kept me somewhat busy. I’m enjoying the LR remodel the most so far. Still a bunch to do but the TV is mounted on an electric lift/lower and all the audio systems are connected and work well. I’m watching TV right now! Side eye like.

One main thing is I’ve still got on the ‘major’ remod list is the dishwasher (DW) install. I bought it at an equipment recovery business down in Pahrump. I was told it came out of a hotel. It’s one of those small 18″ wide DW’ers with stainless steel interior. Kind of DW you see in a hospitality room on a hotels upper floors near a bar or mini kitchen. I paid $80 for it, found it online at $2200, carried it in the back seat of my car up here then removed it and placed it next to the RV so I could use it. Have got to get that dishwasher into the house and bolted to the floor before I leave this area and as it’s rather heavy, it’ll take some thought on how to make it safe for travel in an RV. Right now I’ve got it set up outside but I’ve been using it regularly. Works great. Much rather have a dishwasher in the RV than a washer/dryer that’s for sure. I hate washing dishes but don’t mind going to the laundry. The DW will be a new project I’ll write up when I’ve got a handle on it…and I’ve actually started it. And of course, I’ll do a write up of the LR remodel as that becomes a bit more polished.

So for now, enjoy! these articles, unfinished as some of them may be. And thanks for reading!

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Old Time Farm in M-F…

Posted on September 30, 2021 by Jim@HiTek

Milton Freewater, Oregon has it’s share of pioneer history, and a portion of it is represented by the Frazier Farmstead Museum which I visited in the middle of August.

One of the first settlers in the area had lived for 4 years on the property the Frazier family bought in 1868. There were already, or perhaps ‘still’ would be more accurate, a few settlers in the valley even after the nearby Whitman Massacre that occurred in 1847. The previous owners of some of the land in this valley were well liked by the local natives as were several other families over on the Walla Walla river where they’d built cabins across from local Indian encampments so it’s not like the valley was empty. As long as the Indians felt they were treated fairly, and didn’t suspect individual settlers had caused any disease outbreak, they were tolerated in the area. Plus the nearby fort was finished building in 1868 so that gave some new settlers confidence to settle here instead of heading further west. Or to remain here if they’d already claimed land. This was during the ‘Manifest Destiny’ and the ‘Homestead Act’ period so whites believed that owning the land that Indians had occupied for thousands of years was their right. But even with that mindset, there were others that were tolerated or appreciated by the locals and allowed to settle without harassment.  There were even 6 brave Indians who turned themselves into the army, allowed themselves to be tried and executed by the US government for the massacre though some had nothing to do with it, in order to maintain the fragile peace.

With that background in mind, the Frazier family had traveled up from Texas on the Oregon trail looking to settle and chose this area. The Frazier’s first home was little more than a cabin and over the years turned into a ramshackle cabin. But for 24 years the family of 10 lived there until they eventually built themselves a grand estate. All those children the Frazier’s had really helped as they helped built the ‘big house’ in 1892.

“After purchasing land from Thomas Eldridge, one of the first settlers there, and laying claim to 320 acres, the Frazier’s built a log cabin on the property. They lived in the log cabin for 24 years before building the Southern-style Colonial home in 1882 that is now the Frazier Farmstead Museum.”

Nothing of the original farmstead cabin remains, but the remaining house is quite old and interesting. I toured the house on an overcast day so the pictures turned out very well as the camera didn’t have to adjust for excess sunshine. Anyway, enjoy the tour of the house and the grounds…

Here’s a google map of where the Farmstead is situated. Note as you zoom out that Walla Walla is around 10 miles north. Frazier Farmstead map…

The building itself looks to be more from the 1930’s than the 186o’s, doesn’t it?

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Whitman Mission…

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Jim@HiTek

The visit to the Fort last time begged for a visit to the reason the fort was constructed…

…and it was constructed because of the Whitman massacre that had occurred 11 years and ~7 miles away. And today we’ll visit the site of that old mission.

Here’s the satellite view of the mission grounds. Try to picture living here back in the early 1800’s. Zoom out to see the region…and where the Walla Walla river connects into the Columbia River.

The location for the fort was on a bluff above a meadow next to a year round creek, and the mission had been located in the same type of situation. On a nice meadow below a mound with a slightly larger creek nearby. After choosing the site, they began construction of a holding pond so they could use the water from Mill Creek to run a mill. Here’s some pictures and we’ll just amble around on the paved path provided.

Off in the distance on the hill is the mass grave. Only 13 died and 48 were captured and used for ransom.

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