Almost Home

I am so ready to be home.  Seeing the Welcome to Arizona sign was a sight for sore eyes.  My right leg has started to ache so  I guess it's also tired of being in the car.  I made a few stops to walk around and make my leg happy.

The first one is Lake Powell at the Wahweap Bay Overlook. Welcome to Arizona. It was raining on me so I did a little happy dance in the parking lot. But then I looked at the lake. So sad and depressing at how low the water levels are. Still a beautiful place.

The two young ladies in the next picture must be influencers or wanna bes. They were busy standing in the rain changing clothes and posing. They did have an umbrella but I'm not sure they even saw the beauty all around them. 

About 30 miles south of Page, the clouds and rain went away and the temperature started to rise. Glad I stopped in Page and picked up a couple of bottles of water.

Next stop. Strawberry Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was built of pine logs in 1885 and is said to be the oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona. It became a historical Monument in 1981. 

The Old

The New

My next stop was Zane Grey's Cabin in Payson. The original cabin that he built, was destroyed in the 1990 Dude Fire. In 2005 they rebuilt an exact replica of the cabin using the original blueprints. He was known to write 10,000 words a day when he had a story he wanted to get on paper. He had a typewriter but preferred pen and paper. No pictures were allowed inside but it contains personal belongings as well as original first editions of some of his books. 

In 1929 Zane brought a film crew to AZ to film a bear hunt. However, he was unaware that the hunting season had been changed. He attempted to get a special license from the Governor but was denied. Grey vowed to never return to Arizona and his cabin was left abandoned for 30 years. Talk about holding a grudge. 

I was ready to call it quits and my hotel room was beckoning me. Now there are some people who know that Payson is only about an hour and a half drive from Apache Junction. Why in the world get a hotel room when you could easily make the drive. You must remember that AJ is still experiencing SUMMER!! I wanted to get home in the early hours of the day so I could unload the car when it wasn't 100 degrees. And I was tired. Worth the cost of a hotel room.

Salt Lake to Kanab

 Had a good breakfast at the hotel while waiting for rush hour traffic to calm down (as if that was going to happen).  Since the hotel is located on the beltway around Salt Lake, it was easy to get going in the right direction - south. Lots of traffic but I just picked a lane and stayed there for many miles. 

My first stop was Fairview, UT. I wanted to stop at the Corner Station which offers deli foods as well as local crafts in a renovated 1921 gas station. I definitely wished I had skipped the hotel breakfast because the Station menu looked so good. They were really busy as I wandered around looking at all the crafts. Next time I'll stop here for breakfast or lunch.

This deli was awarded a $50,000 grant in August from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Be interesting to see what changes they make. 

I only stopped long enough to take a picture of this beautiful temple in Manti, UT. I didn't plan far enough ahead to be able to go through a session. And I also discovered it's quite a walk from the parking lot to the temple entrance. But what a beautiful building.

One more stop before I call it quits for the day. (I made this stop before Robert Redford died.)

Butch Cassidy's childhood home is just south of Circleville, UT. I fell in love with Robert Redford when I saw the movie, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid back in 1969. I know a lot of girls fell for Paul Newman's blue eyes, but Robert was it for me. Only time I have ever had a crush on a celebrity.  So I knew I needed to make a stop here. 

Butch's name was Robert LeRoy Parker and he was born in 1866. He took up bank robbing when he was quite young and became very successful. He and the Sundance Kid were really good friends and led The Wild Bunch on many successful train and bank robberies. 

When I look at this house, I learn all over again how much I appreciate the comforts we have in our own homes.

I spent the night in Kanab, UT. Jim and I camped here several times and explored the area. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located here and we took their tour a couple of times. 

Heading South

My first stop after leaving Helena was in Whitehall, MT at the Montana Western Legacy Center. It is a museum that offers an experience to celebrate the diversity of Montana, the Treasure State. It is a new museum, still growing and looking forward to many more hands on exhibits.  

 Jim would have loved this one.

They also have a wonderful gift shop that carries nothing but "Made in Montana" items.  

From there I  continued south to Dillon where I got on I-15. Didn't stop at Clark Canyon Reservoir where Jim and I used to camp quite often, but the water level is scary low. 

Next stop is the Potato Museum in Blackfoot, ID. Jim and I stopped here when we first started full time rving. It has grown a lot and has become more expensive. I did luck out as I arrived, a bus load of school kids was just leaving.

It was fun to learn everything you ever wanted to know about potatoes. 

A giant potato

Got to Pocatello, ID and checked into the hotel. I was ready to collapse at this point so it was an early bed time.

The next day was a short drive. I was going to meet up for lunch with a friend who had recently moved from Arizona to Utah but her elderly Mom fell during the night and she was at the hospital with her. Hopefully next year.

So I wandered on to Salt Lake City. I was really proud of myself. I actually made my reservation at the correct Crystal Inn. The one in West Valley, not the one downtown.

My friend, Janet, joined me at the hotel when she got off work. We went out to dinner and talked for hours. I spent two nights in SLC so we could have more time to catch up. Last year when I was here, we did a lot of sight seeing. This year we didn't do any. Just got to be friends. 

 Tomorrow is another day on the road. See ya there.

Billings to Great Falls

 After saying goodbye I headed out through central Montana to get to Great Falls. My good friend, Wendi, lives there and I was really looking forward to visiting with her for a couple of days. Central Montana is farm country and this year it is green and gold and beautiful because of the rain they've had. Just a few pictures along the way.

 

The Garneill Monument is dedicated to the pioneers of Ubet which was located in the "gap" between the Big Snowy Mountains and the Little Belt Mountains.

 

Had a wonderful visit with Wendi. We went to Rib and Chop House for dinner cause a hamburger really sounded good. Take a good look at this one (it was Wendi's).

Left Friday to Helena. My sister and her hubby just moved into a senior living apartment. This has been a really big adjustment for them. Definitely not enough room for their stuff. But it sure was good to see them. Don is really doing great. He fell and broke his hip back in June at his 90th birthday party. You'd never know it.

Their apartment is a two bedroom, two bath place. Not very large but cozy. They have a fridge but not really a kitchen. No stove or oven. Very little cupboard space. They eat three meals a day in the dining room. This is not an assisted living place. If you need help, you have to hire someone to come in and help out. But they do come in once a week to change the bed and wash the sheets which is nice. 

Their apartment is the corner on the third floor.

Judy's son, Wade, and part of his family came from Idaho to spend some time with Judy and Don. So she got to see grandkids and great grands. They have a beautiful family.

I spent Labor Day Weekend in Helena but on Monday morning it was time for me to start the trek south. My recliner is calling me.

Goodbye For Now Elias

This whole goodbye thing is not easy. I won't be seeing the kids until next year and by then, there will be a fourth member of their family. I am really grateful for the technology that allows us to visit with face time. I so love hearing grammie grammie. But I have spent more than enough time in their home and lives. I really did not plan on moving in with them. So one last post of pictures.

Lola

Look at those eyelashes. I am so jealous.

Haircut - before and after

  

Fair Time

 

I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything.