Bowzer Slept Here - Arizona - TravelBlog

After a days drive across New Mexico, we enter Arizona. I don’t know much about Arizona only that the Grand Canyon lives here. Much to our surprise, there’s lots’ happening. Within the first twenty miles we see signs for the Petrified Forrest and the Painted Desert. As the Petrified Forrest is a state park we’re hoping there is camping there. We pull in just before five pm, only to find that the park closes at five, and there is no camping available. Sadness, as Bowzer was so looking forward to leaving his mark on a petrified tree.

There was a nice gift shop however. We learn that Petrified Wood is 180 million years old, and is the state fossil of Arizona. Who knew? I wonder if Tennessee has a state fossil? I guess ex Lt. Gov. Wilder would be as close as we could come. Also, some of the petrified wood is for sale (again, similar to some of our politicians).

So, now, I am a proud owner of “a piece of the rock”, which will be on display in our camper. I’ll bring it to the next show and tell, you kids will be so jealous.

The first city we pass the next morning is Winslow, Arizona. Its claim to fame is that all the girls drive flat bed Fords, as noted in the Eagles song, “Standin on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see. It’s a girl my lord in a flat bed Ford slowin down to take a look at me”. Actually they were lookin at Bowzer, with his upper body posing out the passenger side window, he’s such a fine sight to see.

Meteor Crater!!! Fifty thousand years ago, a meteor weighing several hundred thousand tons, speeding at 26,000 mph smacked down right here where we are now standing. Now’ if its one thing I am. It’s an outer-space junkie. I am thrilled, this is soooooo cool, to be standing at the exact impact site. This hole in the ground is 4000 ft. across and 700 ft. deep, and was created in less than a few seconds. To heck with the Grand Canyon, that took thousands of years to create. I’m all about this instant gratification thing.

They have a great museum here as well, with lots of displays and movie simulations of the event. Also, a gift shop! Imagine that. So, now I also own a piece of the outer space rock, which is proudly on display in our apartment on wheels.

Near by is "Meteor City", which consists of one building, a geodesic dome souvenir shop.
There is a nice cap I’m buying for my son, but all I have is a twenty, and the man doesn’t have any change.
“Pay me on your return trip”, he says. “Do you like smoked salmon?”’ I ask.
He smiles real big, “Of course”, he replies.
I brought two with me, for occasions just like this.
Boy scout motto: “Be prepared”.
Mal’s motto: “Smoked Salmon will get you through times of no money, better than money will get you through times of no Smoked Salmon”.
A win win situation, everybody is happy.
We zoom on.

Bowzer Slept Here - New Mexico

It’s late when we cross the Oklahoma, New Mexico border. We’ve been gaining elevation ever since Crowley’s Ridge in Rkansas. Now we’re on the “high plains”.

We begin to look for road signs with little tents on them as that indicates campsites are near. I spy one for an exit twenty miles away. Looks good. Then comes a notice that Santa Rosa Lake State Park is just one exit away. State parks usually mean campgrounds. The park is seven miles down a two-lane road that goes nowhere else. I hope its open, because if I have to turn around on this small road, we’re screwed.

The gates are open and the park is beautiful. It is 500 acres of lake and pine trees.

There are two other campers, a VW bug, and us. We pull into a site with a gorgeous view and begin to hook up to “shore water and power” to use boating terms. It begins to snow. HEAVILY.

As I am fooling with the various hookups, young dude in baggy shorts and no socks approaches. “You have any jumper cables?” he inquires. “But of course”, says I. Almost impossible to believe but none of the other campers with their very large RV’s have any cables, but it’s true. The kid and two buddies of his are in the VW with a dead battery. Seems I’m the only Boy Scout there who came prepared for a long cold night and dead car batteries (as a matter of fact I carry two spares).

Bowzer loves snow. If only there were deposits of coal jutting from the ground, he’d be perfectly camouflaged.
Interstate 40 runs parallel to the fabled Route 66. The most famous “Mother Road” is now used mostly as business loops through the small towns. We’ve gotten off a few times to investigate. Sadly the road that gave birth to Jack Kerouac’s book “On The Road”, and the saying “Get your kicks on route 66” , doesn’t seem to have much life left in it.

This is the most exciting place we find so you can now, “You can roll your balls on Route 66”.
And we roll on......

Bowzer Slept Here - In Texas

Texas
So far the best thing about Texas is the highway, very smooth. Big oil money equals big taxes. With gas prices at an all time high, it makes sense that they'd put a lot of bucks into the roads.

But wait, here we are passing by Groom, Tx., and ahead is a sign advertising "The Largest Cross In The Western Hemisphere". Not just in Texas, but on this whole side of the planet!!
It promises to be "the spiritual experience of a lifetime". Wow! Maybe on my spiritual quest, I've reached my destination. We investigate.
It is HUGE. I'll bet they can see it from the space station.

It towers over the plains like a ten-story sword thrust into the Earth.

And, there is nothing else here, no town, no souvenir shop, no restroom. Just this big cross. No people here either, only these bronze statues of figures bearing crosses , like they were somehow caught here and frozen in bronze forever to bear these crosses.
I feel like I'm in a Stephen King novel, something is about to get me, and its not the holy spirit. Way creepy, gives this young Jewish boy (who also claims minor carpentry skills) the willies. We take photos as evidence and quickly depart across the desert. The Promised Land must be elsewhere.

Within two miles we spy what could possibly be the cause for the giant cross. It has to be from "Close Encounters", yep, it is, it's Devils Peak. It all makes some kind of lopsided sense now.

Meanwhile Bowzer meditates. As his paws twitch and his eyes flutter, I can hear his mantra, "Taste the kitty, must taste the kitty".
Life is so uncomplicated for him.

later
m

Bowzer Slept Here – 3/3/08

BOOK I – Pre Flight Checklist

After weeks of preparation I am ready to depart. No, make that years of preparation. No, decades.
After a lifetime of preparation, I am ready to depart.

The jeep has passed the January shakedown cruise to New Orleans and Florida like a champ. It has been lubed, tuned, timed, and re-oiled. The camper has been redecorated, restocked, and parts have been replaced. Bowzer has had his monthly flea and tick treatment as well as his heartworm medication. Likewise, I have been to the dentist, the ear and nose doctor, the heart doctor, and I got a haircut. All systems are go.

(camper as purchased with BBQ pig)

Camper newly decorated

In the past week God has been speaking to me via fortune cookies. Friday 2/29, “ The stars will shine tonight. All is well”. Saturday 3/1, “A new environment makes all the difference in the world”.

I am in the right place, and this is the right time.


BOOK II – Departure

We know we are no longer in Kansas (Dorthy), because the big sign says Arkansas. Why this state is not spelled “R Can Saw” instead of “ArKansas” can only be attributed to the fact that the Native Americans of this area were very poor spellers.

Interstate 40 to Little Rock is a series of cracks, patches, and very rough spots. Anyone who believes Gov. Huckaby has done wonders for this state need only take a ride on this road to be convinced otherwise.

The sky is full of dark clouds and thunderstorms. WKNO is airing the original stoner RockManEnough. Kettledrums are booming, as is the thunder, lightning is flashing, violins are screaming, the rain is coming in sheets………Bowzer is sleeping.

I love storms; all is as it should be.



BOOK III Okalahoma

Our first night finds us in Sallisaw, Ok. about ½ inch of snow on the ground.
As we drive Hwy 40, we’re listening to Eckhart Tolle’s The Power Of Now. He urges us to stay in the present. The future’s not here, and the past is behind us. These words of wisdom have absolutely no use on the interstate. You’d better be looking at what’s coming towards you and be very aware of who you've past as well. I can see the future rushing towards me, and as long as it stays on it’s side of the highway all will be fine. In my rear view mirrors I see 18-wheelers I passed a while ago, gaining on me, the unseen air their forward momentum compresses and pushes to either side causes havoc with my stability. Put that in your pipe, Eckhart.

The next exit is Lotawatah Road. Now this in itself is a fairly absurd name, but it leads to lake Eufala !! We must inquire. We stop at the Quilt Barn and question the locals. Just where did these names come from? “They are Indian names”. Bowzer is snickering, and I suppress a guffaw. “Surely not” says I, “Oh yes” we are assured. So I’m to believe the Indians were trying to say – “you falla in a lotta wata”, or something like that. Perhaps these are the same Indians who named r-can-saw getting the last laugh. Just because they never invented the wheel, doesn’t mean they weren’t clever with their linguistics. No disrespect, but I now must believe that on the Trail of Tears some of those were tears of laughter. Dumb white man, he falla for anything.

The next town boasts a winery. “Just like California, but not as fruity”. Seems “Broke Back Mountain” never played here.

Next a very large sign declares that we are now at the home of Carrie Underwood 2005 American Idol winner, only to be followed another larger sign boasting of the home of Troy Aikman, famous football player. Well, I guess after the musical “Okalahoma”, faded from popularity these Sooners had to grasp for any tidbit of fame and tourist attraction.

Then we arrive at beautiful El Reno, Oklahoma.................

Brings back lots memories of time spent here, about six months worth. That’s a whole different trip and another story in itself.


Now, dotting the landscape surrounding El Reno, windmill turbines casually spin in the afternoon breezes. They look so majestic, so free.

I tip my lance in salute as Bowzer, Don Quixote and I are gone into the sunset.

mal 3/6