Chaos Leaves Town

Cuba!? You might be confused by that article title but it’s referencing Cuba…New Mexico.

When I left Aztec, I wanted to visit the Chaco Canyon National Historic Park, because everything I’ve read about the Pueblo Culture indicated that evidence pointed to this settlement as the site of the original peoples that eventually settled much of the canyon lands in this part of the SW. This was the genesis of the culture. I’d tried to visit many times in the past but always set the trip aside, this time I was determined to make it to the ruins…which I have always understood to be very interesting while situated in an amazing, remote, area. So checking out this map, I could see that the ruins would be a bit difficult to access but I saw a satellite photo where I could zoom into the headquarters and saw that there were many RV spaces at the main park building. I wish I’d spent more time investigating that road leading in or the info about the ‘Gallo Campground’ which is along the Indian Service road but silly me, I just expected to be able to wing it. After all, who builds a paved parking area with RV spaces without expecting RVs to make it in there? Huh? Who?

The afternoon before I left, I did stop into a nice A&W Root beer stand there in Aztec close to the Ruins Road RV park and had a root beer float…yum!

That was some good Root Beer float lemme tell ya. Haven’t had one in years.

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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…

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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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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!