The day started out a little chilly with frost on the windshields that had to be scraped. The hotel room bed was so comfortable that we slept late, but were on the road by 8AM after a quick bite at the breakfast provided.
Traffic was light as we were leaving the urban area while most of it was coming in to Salt Lake City. It was a bright sunny day, but the temperatures were right around the freezing mark for the first part of the trip. It warmed very slowly with our progress to the south.
We got to St George right around noon. It was 11C, so much warmer here. As it was the last place in Utah, we filled up with gas knowing it would be more in Nevada and as there was a car wash next door went in and washed the crud off the truck. Then we drove back into the area around the city where we used to store the motorhome and had lunch at Crackerbarrel. We had some extra time as we knew it would be a short travel day. It was kind of nostalgic as this restaurant was always our first stop when we went back in the winter to get our coach.
After lunch we continued south through Mesquite and made very good time, although the speed limit in Nevada isn't 80 like the previous 3 states, but still good at 75 mph [120 kmph]. When were driving through the Virgin River Gorge, Marg said next trip she is going to video it. It is one of the most scenic parts of the trip and hard to do justice to without pictures. The day continued to get warmer with clear sunny skies.
We were just about in Las Vegas when we encountered a massive traffic jam on both lanes of the interstate. It was probably more than 10 miles long and hard to know which lane to pick as neither were moving well. There were signs warning of a lane closure, but I opted for the wrong lane. When we got to the first exit road, I cut over with the large trucks leaving even though I had no idea where it went. When we got into the city I just followed along until the first red light. While we were stopped I jumped out and got the GPS and Marg had it running by the time we were moving. The road we were on intersected with Nellis Blvd and it took us east on Nellis. This was very lucky as Nellis intersects with the Boulder highway right at our hotel, Sam's Town.
It was about 3 PM when we arrived so it was late enough that we got a room right away. After settling in Marg went out and toured the casino, well a little more actually. By the time we broke to go for supper she was well up on the day, something like $300. We went for the buffet and because is was seniors day, that was a 2 for one, so $13 for supper. The buffet was pretty good, although not quite as good as weekends. The salad area and the bread pudding were amazing, so it was all good.
We played a bit after supper, but not enough to give them back any money. LOL Oh my luck at the casino, well nothing like Marg, but I think I only lost $20.
Oh the weather well it was 19C in Las Vegas, shirt sleeve weather. We look forward great weather from this point forward. For those of you keeping the statistics, we made 610 km's or 380 miles today, an easy travel day, making it 2,810 kms for the 3 days. We are well positioned to make it to Carefree tomorrow.
Wednesday 31 October 2018
Tuesday 30 October 2018
Day 2, Tuesday, Oct 30/18
We were up early and on the road in the dark, LOL. It was 7:40 when we rolled out of the hotel lot, filled with fuel and heading south. The gasoline was $2.80 per gallon, so the equivalent of about 62 cents a litre, not bad.
The highway was dry and bare, so great travel conditions. We made Helena in good time, but when got in to the mountain pass to the south we started to see snow in the high country. It was still early in the morning and the sun had not got high enough to start it's work on the road surface, so as we progressed there were snow accumulations on the road-side and shoulder. This part of the roadway has lots of grades and some very tight curves where the recommended speeds are about 25 mph under the normal limit all for a very good reason. Had to drive part of this way with the old foot feeder, rather than risk using the cruise control, but never encountered any slipping. It is the most scenic part of the journey, so that made up for the bit of wet and snow on the driving surface.
By the time we got through Butte it was still not noon, so filled up with that well priced Montana fuel. Then it was on to Dillon and the Monida pass. This is usually a daunting leg on the trip, but this year it was dry and bare roads with a bright sun filling the sky. In a word it was a breeze.
We got to Idaho Falls just after noon so stopped and ate a quick bite. Temperatures were below freezing until Idaho where we they were in the plus. We opted to eat in rather than get take away as we were making such good time. The fuel prices were not that good in Idaho and we were over a half tank, so we continued on. Traffic was light all the way from Great Falls, but we were beginning to see more snowbirds. Most in cars or trucks, but a few RV's. The Canadian contingent were mainly Alberta, but there were BC & Saskatchewan plates as well.
We stopped at a couple of places looking for the accommodation booklets, but when we found them, they had nothing in the area we saw ourselves stopping in for the day. So no discount coupons for these intrepid travelers. By the time we got to the outer limits of Salt Lake City [Ogden] the traffic was getting heavy. For several years now we have been spared the challenges of their never ending road construction project on the I-15. Well you can imagine our delight in finding about half of the 70 plus miles through there with lane compromises and lower speed limits, all contributing to a nasty experience. For our British family you won't understand our level of angst as it would have been quite familiar to you. There were times when we were just crawling on the 8 lane freeway that was down to 6 or less. As it was early in the afternoon we opted to go right through the major urban area of SLC, so we would not have to deal with it tomorrow. Our destination ended being Provo, where we found a bit of a collection of hotels and picked the Sleep-Inn. Our first time at one of these and it seems just fine. Our only concession was that in order to stay on the main floor we had to take a handicap room. It's great, lots of room, king size bed, it's giving me ideas for future bookings. LOL
Lots of dining options in the area around the hotel, but we opted for the buffet. The name caused a bit of anxiety for me: Chuck-A-Rama; but it was a pleasant surprise. There were two salad bars, 3 meats like a carvery: beef roast, ham & turkey. Best of all the bread pudding was very good and that was a small part of the desert offering.
Almost forgot the mileage. Today we only made 988 km's or 614 miles. So for the 2 days we are 2,200 km's from home.
The highway was dry and bare, so great travel conditions. We made Helena in good time, but when got in to the mountain pass to the south we started to see snow in the high country. It was still early in the morning and the sun had not got high enough to start it's work on the road surface, so as we progressed there were snow accumulations on the road-side and shoulder. This part of the roadway has lots of grades and some very tight curves where the recommended speeds are about 25 mph under the normal limit all for a very good reason. Had to drive part of this way with the old foot feeder, rather than risk using the cruise control, but never encountered any slipping. It is the most scenic part of the journey, so that made up for the bit of wet and snow on the driving surface.
By the time we got through Butte it was still not noon, so filled up with that well priced Montana fuel. Then it was on to Dillon and the Monida pass. This is usually a daunting leg on the trip, but this year it was dry and bare roads with a bright sun filling the sky. In a word it was a breeze.
We got to Idaho Falls just after noon so stopped and ate a quick bite. Temperatures were below freezing until Idaho where we they were in the plus. We opted to eat in rather than get take away as we were making such good time. The fuel prices were not that good in Idaho and we were over a half tank, so we continued on. Traffic was light all the way from Great Falls, but we were beginning to see more snowbirds. Most in cars or trucks, but a few RV's. The Canadian contingent were mainly Alberta, but there were BC & Saskatchewan plates as well.
We stopped at a couple of places looking for the accommodation booklets, but when we found them, they had nothing in the area we saw ourselves stopping in for the day. So no discount coupons for these intrepid travelers. By the time we got to the outer limits of Salt Lake City [Ogden] the traffic was getting heavy. For several years now we have been spared the challenges of their never ending road construction project on the I-15. Well you can imagine our delight in finding about half of the 70 plus miles through there with lane compromises and lower speed limits, all contributing to a nasty experience. For our British family you won't understand our level of angst as it would have been quite familiar to you. There were times when we were just crawling on the 8 lane freeway that was down to 6 or less. As it was early in the afternoon we opted to go right through the major urban area of SLC, so we would not have to deal with it tomorrow. Our destination ended being Provo, where we found a bit of a collection of hotels and picked the Sleep-Inn. Our first time at one of these and it seems just fine. Our only concession was that in order to stay on the main floor we had to take a handicap room. It's great, lots of room, king size bed, it's giving me ideas for future bookings. LOL
Lots of dining options in the area around the hotel, but we opted for the buffet. The name caused a bit of anxiety for me: Chuck-A-Rama; but it was a pleasant surprise. There were two salad bars, 3 meats like a carvery: beef roast, ham & turkey. Best of all the bread pudding was very good and that was a small part of the desert offering.
Almost forgot the mileage. Today we only made 988 km's or 614 miles. So for the 2 days we are 2,200 km's from home.
Monday 29 October 2018
Monday, October 29th, 2018
Day one of the incredible journey.
We were off to an early start as both of us were awake and out of the old fart sack about 6 AM. Quite an amazing feat for one of us. LOL As a result we were on the road by 7AM, although we did not totally winterize our home, knowing we will be back in December for Christmas and our family wedding. Well no Marg & I are not getting married, rather Bill & Patti.
It was cool [minus 6] and frosty when we left GP, had to scrape the windows on the truck this morning. Traffic was light and roads bare, so we made good time. The roads started to get a bit of snow & ice after Little Smoky and by Fox Creek we had winter-like conditions, although the roads were salted, so traction was very good. It was pretty much like that until around Sangudo, then bare and dry roads. We were able to use the cruise control most of the day at 120 kmph.
When we got to E town we were able to take the Henday southbound and it worked out pretty good, so in E town by 11 & on the QEW and in Leduc by 11:40. Pretty uneventful all the way to C town where the traffic on the bypass [Stony Trail] was light. Roads were pretty much as good as it gets with a stop in Red Deer for fuel. Again good time through Lethbridge where we got a coffee at Tims and down to the border crossing at Coutts by 5 PM. Picked up a couple of nice 1 litre bottles at the duty free and on to the border security.
We had a border security guard who was new on the job and very thorough. Asked every question in the manual, asked me to take my cap off so he could see my face better and waved us on. He asked if we had any plants to which I responded NO. Not sure if the dead branches I am taking to Smitty are plants or firewood, so may have erred on the side of caution.
Montana roads were great, some new paving on the I-15, so set the cruise on 130 kmph, that is the speed limit here and motored. Got to Great Falls where we drove through the city center in the dark and found a Best Western. Marg checked in and her BW rewards number worked, so here we sit. They had a nice restaurant/bar/casino in the place, so we had supper there. The food was very good, the beer very cold.
We made 1,215 km's [755 miles] today, so a good start on the trip. Pictures - none here, but Marg put some on her FB site.
We were off to an early start as both of us were awake and out of the old fart sack about 6 AM. Quite an amazing feat for one of us. LOL As a result we were on the road by 7AM, although we did not totally winterize our home, knowing we will be back in December for Christmas and our family wedding. Well no Marg & I are not getting married, rather Bill & Patti.
It was cool [minus 6] and frosty when we left GP, had to scrape the windows on the truck this morning. Traffic was light and roads bare, so we made good time. The roads started to get a bit of snow & ice after Little Smoky and by Fox Creek we had winter-like conditions, although the roads were salted, so traction was very good. It was pretty much like that until around Sangudo, then bare and dry roads. We were able to use the cruise control most of the day at 120 kmph.
When we got to E town we were able to take the Henday southbound and it worked out pretty good, so in E town by 11 & on the QEW and in Leduc by 11:40. Pretty uneventful all the way to C town where the traffic on the bypass [Stony Trail] was light. Roads were pretty much as good as it gets with a stop in Red Deer for fuel. Again good time through Lethbridge where we got a coffee at Tims and down to the border crossing at Coutts by 5 PM. Picked up a couple of nice 1 litre bottles at the duty free and on to the border security.
We had a border security guard who was new on the job and very thorough. Asked every question in the manual, asked me to take my cap off so he could see my face better and waved us on. He asked if we had any plants to which I responded NO. Not sure if the dead branches I am taking to Smitty are plants or firewood, so may have erred on the side of caution.
Montana roads were great, some new paving on the I-15, so set the cruise on 130 kmph, that is the speed limit here and motored. Got to Great Falls where we drove through the city center in the dark and found a Best Western. Marg checked in and her BW rewards number worked, so here we sit. They had a nice restaurant/bar/casino in the place, so we had supper there. The food was very good, the beer very cold.
We made 1,215 km's [755 miles] today, so a good start on the trip. Pictures - none here, but Marg put some on her FB site.
Saturday 27 October 2018
The countdown 2018 !
Well the countdown has begun, we are packing and sorting what to take. It appears I might need a bigger truck this year. LOL Estimated time of departure from home is Monday AM for a Nov 1st ETA in AJ, but we'll see.
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