Dory transits cross country

[Ronnie]

No ancestral connection to the Navajo, at least that I am aware of. However there is an International gathering of healers in Window rock each year and I have attended.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

The thunderstorm from the evening before gave a nice rainbow. The kids did the junior ranger thing and we hiked into the canyon. Dogs not allowed...reason ??..the locals that are selling art in the canyon have their dogs running loose.. It is amazing how fast the last 14 yrs have gone by.
On the way out we stopped at the burger king and got coffee and free WiFi. Then we moved on and boon docked at a gas station / burgerking n Burnside. Bought a couple of Navajo local newspapers to get a feel for the atmosphere. Can't say that they painted a rosy picture about life and opportunities. The native Indian bond must be very strong that only 17% of their population moves out of the reservation. Do like the T shirt.." Fighting terrorism since 1492 "

storms in the desert are just Fantastic!! nothing quite like it.. as is driving toward the beautiful lightning patterns in a summer sky.. that you never see mto reach but they keep you awake on those all night drives!

[joeblack5]

Uneventful night at the souvenir shop camp ground. Besides that it was for free of course. No water , no restrooms.
The south side entrance visitor has geology exposition. Dinos and so.... Fun and interesting .
After that we did a hike on a petrified forest trail. Dogs welcome. So that was refreshing. There was a super relaxed lizard..pretty as well.

In the afternoon we left on the south side with a plan to meet up with jdonthego but unfortunately that fell thru. So we revised to go 191 north in St Johns. And take the 53 thru Zuni into elmalpais. Boom docked along the road before Zuni. Not alot of traffick. ( last pic)

[Native]

I recall my first trip driving through the petrified forrest. It was erie to me, a child at the time. The thought that all those rocks and stump-rocks were once living trees and now are rocks! It left a little chill in me. I loved it, but is felt strange. Later trips did not have that same feeling and the feeling of discovery and awe was the overriding emotion.

[gs1949]

@ Native, I had a similar experience visiting the Petrified Forest with my parents and younger brothers when I was 11. I don't remember if I used the term eery then, but I would now. Seeing all those once magnificent trees made it clear to me that nothing is permanent. This visit strongly impressed upon me the idea that everything changes; nothing stays the same. I've never been back to the Petrified Forest, but intend to correct that omission as soon as I can.

[joeblack5]

Haha. Right you are. According to cosmic calendar where the life of the universe is compressed in one year. Our last 437 year is the last second of the whole year.

The petrified forest makes me feel a little sad. Almost like a graveyard. All the lush life has gone. Maybe petrified is also not really a " happy" word.

Kids had no thoughts about it.

We followed our road and did visit Zuni. First the public library to do some home work. After a 1/2 hour a police lady showed up who's bus was parked on the side street and that it was blocking traffic. I walked outside with her and she pointed to the parking lot of the library that obvious could not facilitate Dory and toad. There was no way we were blocking traffick and I suggested that I would get the kids out of the library and leave Zuni . impressive for a cop she changed her approach. I guess she did not want Zuni to come over as uninviting and after reassessing thought also that Dory was not restricting traffic. All was good so with renewed believe that least some of the police force can be reasonable we visited the Zuni heritage center. it is amazing how unpleasant the spanish invading forces treated the locals. Not to speak about religious atrocities. I felt a lot better about the native zuni cop that she did not take the history out on me the invading tourist.

We continued and bought some Zuni bread at the trading post and then came along El Morro national monument. Essential a waterhole for the travelers. Very pleasant staff. Decided to take the long hike. Most is made of name / date engraving of the Spanish and " normal" travelers.

Funny enough ran into a fellow from Philadelphia with a 1984 Mercedes diesel wagon. We have a couple of those so we had to say hi.

[joeblack5]

In the morning the kids finished their El Morro junior ranger work and we drove to El Malpais. Just before the park we found a road 49 that is a shortcut to Grants. We found a nice private boon dock spot of the road. Had to do some good spotting g and reconnaissance to get Dory in the middle of boulders and trees. Funny enough we were almost at the continental divide. El malpais has some nice lava caves and tubes. The park requires you to get permits before exploring them. As they claim to prevent the spread of bat white nose disease. Some of the caves were closed. We got permits at El Morro since the Malpais visitor center is on the other side of the park. That afternoon we checked out the dirt road to the caves. The foot path to the caves has a peroxide walk thru shoe cleaner that of course was empty. Did not seem that the NPS takes there responsibility very serious themselves....
The path was also hard for Rosie and she was freaking out when she saw us going in a cave. So we aborted and went back to Dory. In the night we got up to see the meteor shower that was peaking...eta aquarid.
Besides that the milky way was good to see.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

In the morning the kids finished their El Morro junior ranger work and we drove to El Malpais. Just before the park we found a road 49 that is a shortcut to Grants. We found a nice private boon dock spot of the road. Had to do some good spotting g and reconnaissance to get Dory in the middle of boulders and trees. Funny enough we were almost at the continental divide. El malpais has some nice lava caves and tubes. The park requires you to get permits before exploring them. As they claim to prevent the spread of bat white nose disease. Some of the caves were closed. We got permits at El Morro since the Malpais visitor center is on the other side of the park. That afternoon we checked out the dirt road to the caves. The foot path to the caves has a peroxide walk thru shoe cleaner that of course was empty. Did not seem that the NPS takes there responsibility very serious themselves....
The path was also hard for Rosie and she was freaking out when she saw us going in a cave. So we aborted and went back to Dory. In the night we got up to see the meteor shower that was peaking...eta aquarid.
Besides that the milky way was good to see.

'always look forward to seeing pictures of your adventure

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

In the morning the kids finished their El Morro junior ranger work and we drove to El Malpais. Just before the park we found a road 49 that is a shortcut to Grants. We found a nice private boon dock spot of the road. Had to do some good spotting g and reconnaissance to get Dory in the middle of boulders and trees. Funny enough we were almost at the continental divide. El malpais has some nice lava caves and tubes. The park requires you to get permits before exploring them. As they claim to prevent the spread of bat white nose disease. Some of the caves were closed. We got permits at El Morro since the Malpais visitor center is on the other side of the park. That afternoon we checked out the dirt road to the caves. The foot path to the caves has a peroxide walk thru shoe cleaner that of course was empty. Did not seem that the NPS takes there responsibility very serious themselves....
The path was also hard for Rosie and she was freaking out when she saw us going in a cave. So we aborted and went back to Dory. In the night we got up to see the meteor shower that was peaking...eta aquarid.
Besides that the milky way was good to see.

being abkle to view the stars FAR away from anmy cities is so incredible!! I have forogtten abouit doign that... mskes me want ot drive away and go stargazing way out where its cool and clear!!

[Mountain Gnome]

Again, thanks for your posts! I should pull out my AZ and NM maps and mark the good spots you have listed.



White nose disease is devastating. I saw it around when it first started spreading. Went down to the bottom of a 800-foot deep cave one winter (hibernation season), and there were thousands of bats covered in white mold hanging from the ceiling everywhere, some fallen to the ground. The mold starts on their nose while they are alive.


My black lab used to love to go cavin'! She was always the first one in the cave, and last one out. I even built her a padded rappelling harness and would take her on vertical caving trips (she would hang below me). My other dog simply didn't mind one way or the other. She would go anywhere I went. But for the lab, cavin' was fun! The caves here are muddy, and she would come out a solid mud-ball sometimes. Great for fleas in the summer! The pic is her about to rappel down a 160' pit with me.


I actually got out this weekend to the mountains! Stuck in the city for 7.5 months was really stressing me out! Wish I had realized to look for meteors. But it was the full moon, a bit hazy, and the nearby city lights are getting worse. Used to be you couldn't see your hand in front of your face on a moonless night there. Now you can night hike without a flashlight and no moon. One time I realized I could see INSIDE my tent with no moon. I could see a couple of the brighter stars this past trip, though!

[joeblack5]

Stardate. Sunday may 5. 2119

We did not get up to early after watching the meteor shower. Around 11.30 we headed back in. Left Rosie in Dory and kids equipped with helmets and flashlights we made it to the same location.

We had a great time. These caves are not real difficult but enough that with a mistake you might easily break something that might include your neck.
Slightly stressful with younger kids and mom at the same time.
Had nice lunch in between and were surprised after we were caved out that it was 6 pm.
So we stayed at our camp for another night.

[joeblack5]

Monday..Broke up camp early and drove into Grants , NM to have breakfast. Not many places in business but we found one.
After that we visited the uranium mining museum. It has a nice representation of an actual mine. It was fun. There was an actual old miner. I had just read that the epa had made 220 million available to cleanup the contamination and asked him about it. He thought it wax rediculous. ...." That stuff was laying around for years now and had not hurt anyone... Certainly not him... Asked him about the lost Navajo miner generation... Lung cancer and worse. He shrugged and added that he smoked all his life and he was healthy as can be. When he left the lady behind the counter who was native gave me a little more nuanced answer.
It was a nice museum not to biased even though part if it was sponsored by the coal industry.
See pic of ore uranium percentage counter.
Kids liked it.

After that we drove on rt 66 to I40 and took 117 back into el malpais to finish the junior ranger stuff at the visitor center. Then back to I40 and kept following old rt 66. Ultimately had to go back on I40 . stopped at the route 66 casino for fuel, laundry and boon docking.
The next day we wanted to drive early thru Albuquerque to avoid the traffic .

[cadillackid]

Wow I didn’t know you could even be near that stuff without a hazmat suit on.. is there something they mix it with that makes it actually emit radiation?

[plfking]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

Wow I didn’t know you could even be near that stuff without a hazmat suit on.. is there something they mix it with that makes it actually emit radiation?

Uranium in its natural state doesn't emit that much radiation. Undergoing the fission process is what makes it hugely radioactive.

[Rovobay]

I have a dosimeter that reads out in Roentgen units. If I head down that way I will make sure to bring it. fun little work toy! fun travels!!!

[joeblack5]

If it is R and not mRem then it is not that useful unless you are in survival mode after a nuclear attack.

In the uranium mines there are a lot of decay products.
Radon gas is one . the gov who needed the uranium did not force the mining companies to have miners wear respirators and or ventilate the mines so that they would be safe for humans. The mining companies did not inform their workers. Nothing new here.

In PA and VA we have now a return of coal mining black lung epidemic . because conveniently they forgot to include the silica component in the regulations.

People get screwed everywhere.

[joeblack5]

Got up early with the help of an alarm. Figured that we had to reach the I40 / I26 intersection in Albuquerque before 5AM to stay out of traffic jams.

So quickly drove off and pulled on the interstate. My scangauge device did not come on. It turns on when the battery voltage makes a quick jump because the alternator starts charging. A quick look at my voltage gauge showed indeed 24.3Volt..indeed no charging. My second check with some cursing sounds was the Ah gauge that showed that 45Ah of the 100 Ah was used. We figured that we could make it thru to Albuquerque on what was left in the battery.

Drove I40 to where central ave meets I40 on the east side. First stop a health food store. We were early and got breakfast at the waffle shop.

While Smita and kids were food shopping I measured if I had field voltage. That was not there. Bypassed the field diode trio. That brought the alternator back on line but it reacted strange that the charge current was pretty low and also the current went down at higher rpm. I expected one phase was out??

By now the sun was up and that took care of the charging. Our house and starter battery are the same.

We had a spare alternator with us but with the wrong pulley. At a surplus store on central ave I got a socket that fitted the main but. So in their parking lot we putzed around trying to remove the pulley from the alternator shaft. It looked that they were happily in love ...it took a long time before I had them pried apart.

By that time we decided that we could make it to Santa Fe where a friend of us lived and that it was better to figure it out in Santa Fe.
So we continued with our museum plan.
The nuclear science museum in Albuquerque. Great place to go. Nice science experiments for the kids and nice indoor and outdoor exhibition.

At 4 PM we got back on the interstate on the way to SantaFe to meet up with our friend Paul.
I had rigged the alternator and at a first stop and check disconnected it. It was super hot and smelled burned.
In between some cloudy moments the solar charged enough to keep us going.
It is nice to have redundancy.

Next morning Paul, Rosie and me went to a local junk / collectors yard in his nice Mercedes 280te. He had revived the mechanical Bosch k jetronics ( for the people in the know) . the yard sure had an amazing amount of old Mercedes vehicles. I realize that others here would find the other oldies more interesting.... Rosie found a nice treat on the trunk of another beauty.

We had parked Dory on a small back street and had another peaceful night.
Next day we spent time town seeing and second hand store shopping.
Paul had to get back to work and so Smita and kids took a bus ( not ours) to town while Rosie and me tore Dory apart.

Well the replacement alternator did work but the voltage adjustment potmeter was damaged. So in a second attempt ... I was pretty handy now with removing g alternators. ...I took the regulator from the broken alternator and mounted that on the spare.

We were back online and left in the afternoon.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by plfking

Uranium in its natural state doesn't emit that much radiation. Undergoing the fission process is what makes it hugely radioactive.

It used to be included in some kids' science playsets.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Rovobay

I have a dosimeter that reads out in Roentgen units. If I head down that way I will make sure to bring it. fun little work toy! fun travels!!!

Is that standard equipment for LEO's these days??

[Rovobay]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Is that standard equipment for LEO's these days??

In my particular case, yes. It is a PRD. Personal Radiation Detector. It even picks up the small amount of radiation while on a plane. Always picks up on folks who have undergone medical treatments like Iodine 131 for various procedures.


Dory keeps you on your toes!!! glad you take it in stride. could be worse places to need to fix a bus, or worse weather (rain, snow...)