Larry and Teddy's Excellent Adventure

Today, Thurs. 9/27/07 was a go to town day for us. At 8:45 am I had an appointment at Dr. Peters' (my knee surgeon) office in Traverse for a final check-up.

First I had to go down this hall and get some X-rays taken.







Luckily this didn't apply to me.











Then they sent us into an examination room down this hall.



When we entered the exam room I saw that they already had my x-rays on display for the Doc. to see.





Then we settled in for the long wait for the Doctor to arrive.





Here are some of the things that I saw while we were waiting.






Finally, Doctor Peters entered. He seemed quite pleased with my progress and wants to see me next May when we come back to Northern Michigsan.




So we stopped at the "Check Out" window and made an appointment for next May







It was still quite early so we decided to go to McDonalds for breakfast.


Teddy had a breakfast burrito & a senior coffee...




...and I had an order of scrambled eggs & a senior decaf.






After a while it was time to go Meijer's grocery as Teddy had made a date to meet one of her old High School chums there at the lunch concession.



While Teddy and Carol were hashing over old times, I finished the daily newspaper crossword and then wandered around the store with my camera. After I took these pictures I got 'busted' by management and was told that I couldn't take photos in the store.


So finally after resisting the opportunity to obtain "Instant Credit" we headed for home.
All in all it was a pretty good day and I got some pretty good pictures...don't you think?

Triking

In my younger years Teddy and I used to enjoy riding our Greenspeed recumbent trikes together. But over the years as my knees got progressively worse I lost enough flexibility in my right knee joint that I could no longer rotate the pedals. So about four years ago, although Teddy continued to ride her Greenspeed, I had to sell mine. I was envious of Teddy, Deb, & Fred when they returned from their trike rides here in Leelanau County but I really did not have hopes of ever riding a bike or trike again. However, with the added flexibility of my new knee joint, Teddy suggested that I just might be able to ride again. So...last month, with this in mind, we drove to the WizWheelz Company near Grand Rapids, MI to try out one of their trikes. Not in the same league as a Greenspeed but not as expensive either. Well...I ended up purchasing a trike when I found that I could sustain complete revolutions, albeit with some wincing pain with each turn of the pedals. The pain hopefully, should abate over time as my new knee increases flexibility. In fact, pedaling is the very exercise that should help in this regard.
Here I am on my new WizWheelz Power Cruiser ready to set out with Teddy for a five-mile ride this afternoon. The pain is quite extreme at the beginning of each ride but lessens somewhat after about 1/2 mile. I'm hoping that over time I'll be able to go with her on some of her 25 mile rides. Teddy is, of course, delighted that I can once again accompany her.

A long weekend in Wisconsin

Last weekend we hooked up the "Roadhouse" and visited our friends and family in Appleton. We left Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 23 and returned here to Cedar on the following Wednesday the 29th. Of course since it hadn't rained hardly a smidgen all summer, "Mother Nature" chose to pick our week in Wisconsin to make up for lost rainfall. But, we didn't let a little rain dampen our spirits. We had Lunch with Tony, Becky, & Rose on Friday and spent some time visiting with our friends, the Schemms, Heims, & Eskews from our old neighborhood on Saturday. Here are Teddy, Margi, Joanne & Barb hashing over old times on Heim's deck.
On Monday evening Dick & Jenny Orr hosted a welcome back "Martini Club" cookout for us and we were able to visit with Dick, Jen, Greg, Sue, Tom, Carol, Kate & Wes. I will have to admit that I broke my diet slightly that evening but have since recovered nicely. I also enjoyed my first Martini since my surgery. Cumiden be dammed!! We also were able to spend some time with Mike & Toni between their busy work schedules.
We had a great time and unlike the rainy trip over, the trip back was under fair and sunny skys. Here's a shot of Lake Michigan at a rest stop near the northernmost point of the lake.

A visit from Dan & Pat

Our good friends, Dan & Pat Martenson from Escanaba, Michigan came Sunday afternoon and spent three days visiting. They camped with their 5th wheel in an RV park about eight miles from here on Lake Leelanau. We met Dan & Pat two winters ago in Lake Havasu City, AZ and discovered that we lived only about 150 miles from each other and had passed within two blocks of their home countless times on our trips back and forth to Traverse City from Appleton. We Had a great time showing them around Leelanau county and Traverse City. Last night we shared dinner at their trailer and then spent the evening playing "Mexican Train". Teddy won and I came in dead last.Here we are having lunch on Tuesday at "Dick's Pour House" in the village of Lake Leelanau.

Tar Babes

Since late June Teddy has been working part time for Fred & Deb at their "M-72 Self Storage & U-Haul" facility.




She has been helping with the annual job of applying asphalt sealer on all of their drives and parking areas.





On Thursday, Aug 16 they finally finished. Here are some glamour shots of two hot tar babes on their last day.








The Photographer gets no respect at all!    :-(





.

Triking to Mom's

Since we arrived here in late April Teddy has been making almost daily weekday trips over to her 91 year old Mom's house. While there she works around the yard, visits with Mom and then before she returns they watch the CBS soap "The Young and the Restless" togather. Weather permitting, she usually rides her Greenspeed trike and the weather has been pretty permitting this summer with little rain.





Here she is getting ready to leave on one sunny morning.





Click on picture for larger view.

Painting etc.

Teddy, ever the obsessive compulsive work addict, has been helping Fred & Deb paint their house/cottage here at "Sugarloaf" as well as helping with the asphalt sealing at their storage business near Traverse City
Fred did all of the scraping & calking over the past couple of months and then the three of them have been priming and painting.
The job is finally done, here is Teddy finally finishing up with the last coat.

Nazzie

Nazzie's always having fun,
Aint he cute,
He's only one.

No more home visits

My therapist (Kal Farrell) has been coming three times a week and putting me through a regimen of exercises; my knee has now progressed to the point that I no longer need him to make home visits. Teddy & I pretty much know the routine and those that I can't do alone she can help me with. I now walk well without my cane and have started using my right leg to lift me up steps. My mobility is progressing slowly to the point that I can bend my knee to 100 degrees. My goal is 110 degrees so that I can ride a bike again. With Teddy's help I have also been sticking to a strict diet and have dropped 25 lbs. since the surgery.Here is Kal working on my knee during one of his recent visits. You will note from my expression that I am not exactly enjoying it.

Teddy's Birthday (part 2)

Yesterday, Saturday the 28th, was Teddy's 63rd birthday. So in addition to last Saturday's suprise "Moody Blues" concert at Interlochen we celebrated yesterday afternoon with a beans & brats cookout with Teddy's mom and Fred & Deb. I had previously ordered this cake from Bunting's in Cedar and had Fred & Deb pick it up for me on their way back from work yesterday afternoon.
Teddy had insisted that she did not want a present beyond the MB concert so I presented her with a sealed box to open that contained absolutely nothing. After protesting that I should have not gotten her anything, she open the box and much to her (and Deb & Fred's) suprise there was nothing in the box. I then explained that was exactly what she had asked for. (nervous laughs all around)Then, Presto-Exchango, I pulled a jewlery box from my pocket and presented her with these Ruby & Diamond earrings. Ruby being her birthstone.
If I do say so myself, I think I did good! (grin)

The Moody Blues aka Teddy's Birthday (part 1)

One of Teddy's favorite music groups from the 60s is The Moody Blues. About two months ago, just before we came back to Michigan from Arizona, Teddy's sister, Deb called me with the news that The Moody Blues had been booked into The Interlochen Center for the Arts 4000 seat Kresge Auditorium for a tour concert. The concert date was for Saturday July 21 which coincidently was exactly one week before Teddy's birthday on the 28th. So as a suprise birthday treat I had Deb get tickets. I don't know how, but we managed to keep it a secret right up until Saturday afternoon. Last night was the concert and Teddy was delighted. Oue seats were pretty far back

as you can see from this seating chart, but we could see well and the sound was very good.
Oddly enough, I noticed the the audience contained a lot of "Senior Citizens". ;-)

Knee Update

Yesterday I saw my surgeon for a one month follow-up exam. This is the first time I've seen him since I was discharged from the hospital. He seemed pleased with my progress.
Here is one of the several x-ray pictures that they took. You can see how they drilled a hole in the bone on either side for the knee componets to seat into.
I'm thinking that if I ever get shot in the knee that the bullets will just bounce off like superman.


.

The Cherry Harvest (continued)

.

Here in Leelanau County the sweet cherry harvest is winding down.
Here is our nephew Freddy Lawrence hauling one of the last loads of sweets.












Teddy's brother, John Schlueter is now finishing up with the sweets and has now started with the "Tart" harvest.
In the nation, Leelanau County leads with the largest Cherry Acreage, with 12,250 acres in cherry production and 1,303,465 trees!
Michigan dominates the red tart cherry marketplace, producing about 75% of the U.S. crop. There are more than 30,000 acres of red tart cherries in the state with a total of about 37,000 acres nationwide. In addition, sweet cherry acreage accounts for 15,700 acres in Michigan; there are about 47,000 acres nationwide.
These facts reflect Michigan's favorable soil and climatic conditions for growing cherries. The climate is unique because of its location on the east side of Lake Michigan. The lake has a moderating effect, which results in long, frost-free autumns and a delayed spring bloom period.
While the sweets are hauled dry, the sours (tarts) are hauled in large one ton tanks of cold water. The shakers remove the cherries from the trees and move them into the tanks of chilled water. As each tank is filled it is then forklifted to trucks for transport to the cooling pad where constantly moving chilled water is circulated through the cherries.

The cooling pad can also hold cherries overnight if necessary.





At the end of the day a large tractor-trailer semi is then loaded with the tanks for transport to the proscessor.

Q: What's Shakin'?

A: Cherries!
.
The favorable weather this spring here in Leelanau county has produced a bumper crop that is about a week earlier than usual. Teddy's brother, John started shaking sweets Thursday the 5th and the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City is in full swing.
Here are some of the varieties that he grows.
Photos are by Teddy Page using an Olympus Stylus 800 digital camera.
These are "Golds".
When ripe they are this light yellow color. Although they have excellent flavor they are sold as brining cherries for Maraschinos.
Maraschinos are a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries. They are first preserved in a brine solution (usually sulfur dioxide), then soaked in a suspension of food coloring, sugar syrup, artificial and natural flavors.




These are "Emperor Francis", because of their light color they are also used for Maraschinos.













...and these are "Hedelfingens". Although they are also used in the fresh fruit market, John hauls his to a processor for canning. John also grows "Ulsters" & "Sams" which are simular in appearance.






.

This & That

Not much to report. My knee rehab is coming along on schedule. I now walk about inside w/o the cane but still use it outdoors. I can now do the 100 yard dash in about 3 1/2 minutes. ;-)
Teddy is working this afternoon at Deb & Fred's (sister & brother-in-law) storage facility spreading asphalt topping so I am alone & watching golf on TV. Managed to snap this pict of one of the Rubythroats that have been frequenting our feeder.




This morning Teddy came back from her walk with these wild raspberries.
She found them a couple of weeks ago and has been waiting for them to ripen.



In only four more days I'll be celebrating observing my 70th birthday. It's kinda hard to get my mind around that. I don't necessarily feel bad about it, just amazed.
We are still planning on our traditional 4th of July cookout. It'll start around noon as usual but instead of being at Calumet County Park it will be here. Those coming from Wisconsin should start out at around 4am as it takes about 8 hours to get here.

Surgery Update

Well it’s been ten days since my knee surgery by Dr. Michael J. Peters of The Great Lakes Orthopaedic Center. I’m coming along nicely (I’m told, as I have no frame of reference). I stayed in Munson Hospital in Traverse City for three days and then was discharged to The Orchard Creek Nursing Home. While there I began the daily PT regimen. They really put the hurt on you but it has to happen if you are to recover normally. I was pretty freaked out while there and could not wait to get back to the trailer…finally convincing the Dr. to let me out on Tuesday the 19th. I feel so much better psychologically just being home here in the Cardinal. I have a Physical Therapist, Kal Farrell, who comes out three times a week and puts me through a really painful session to the point that he makes you scream like a little girl. I don’t complain though as I know that I have to go through this. I like Kal but as I told Teddy, I feel like a kid that has broken the garage window…you are happy to see your Dad when he comes home but you know that you are going to be punished.
I go into Traverse this afternoon to have the staples (shown in this pict) removed. All in all I'm glad that I had it done but I'm gonna' wait a while till the memory fades before I think about doing the other one.

My %@#$^&*ing knee

Tomorrow, 6/12, I report to Munson Hospital in Traverse City to have my right knee replaced. I’ve put it off as long as I could but time has finally caught up with me. Afterward, they say that I will have to spend some time in a nursing home for rehab.
Are magnets attracted to titanium? I’m thinking that I’ll be able to stick small notes to my knee with refrigerator magnets.


In other news, last night I went out and watched the International space station pass overhead. You can find out when it passes over where you are and where to look in the sky by clicking here .

Fishtown

Yesterday afternoon we went for a "Sunday Drive" (on a Tuesday) and ended up in "Fishtown" in Leland. Fishtown is an assortment of old commercial fisherman buildings built along the waterfront now turned into gift shops along with numerous charter fishermen and a fish store that sells various kinds of smoked fish.
The waterfront is built along the Carp River outlet canal from Lake Leelanau into Lake Michigan. There is a small dam on the river and a large marina where it emptys into Lake Michigan.
We wandered around for a while and finally ended up buying an Ice Cream from our Niece, Johanna Schlueter who has a summer job working in the "Dam Candy Store". Johanna just completed her freshman year at Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, MI.

.

Full frontal nude

Here's a photo of our adopted four legged friend and traveling companion, Nasdaq Havasu Cat Page. This is his favorite resting position. He has no shame.





.

4th of July

Calumet County Park 4th of July Outing CANCELLED
Made reservations for our annual July 4th celebration at Calumet County Park, at which time I'll be celebrating my 70th birthday. It seems like it was only 20 years or so ago that I was celebrating my 50th. We'll be in site #46 this year on the far end of the park near the ski hill. Everyone is welcome, friends, relatives, and strangers alike. Bring your own drink(s) and something to cook on the grill.
Here's the map. We'll see you there if not before.

Unfortunately this year we won't be able to host our traditional July 4th outing at CCP.
Last week one night I got up to go to the bathroom and my right knee just flat gave out. I couldn't walk at all for about two days but now for the time being I can get around with a cane. Went to the hospital emergency and ultimately to the "Great Lakes Orthopedic Center" here in Traverse City and they want to do a total knee replacement.
Surgery is scheduled for June 12. My thinking was...OK I can still make it to Appleton July 4 but the doctors said, "No way! No traveling for eight weeks" Bummer. Apparently there is a danger of blood clots and stroke unless leg is elevated most of the time. :-(
Sooooo...that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

lep




.

Morels

It's Morel time here in northern Lower Michigan and the mushroom hunters are out scouring the woods for these delectable fungi. The serious hunters all have their own theory on the best places to look and guard their locations as if they were top government national security secrets. Teddy and our nephew, Freddy Lawrence found this fine bunch this morning in a secret location right here on the farm. There are hundreds of recipes for cooking morels but we like them just simply fried in butter and lightly salted, as an accompaniment to grilled New York Strip steaks.

Pie

The ruhbarb is up here on the farm and Teddy made this rhubarb/custard pie this morning. We enjoyed a piece tonight after dinner. This is the third one that she has made in the past week as she can't stand to see the rhubarb go to waste. I hope it goes on all summer. ;-)

Blossom time in Leelenau County

We took a Sunday drive yesterday afternoon, ending up in Suttons Bay. The cherry orchards here in Leelanau County are in full bloom. First the sweets bloom and then about 3 or 4 days later the sours come out. They last about a week while the honeybees go about their work pollinating them so that they can set fruit. In about two months they will be red with cherries. While in Suttons Bay we visited some gift shops and took advantage of one of the Ice Cream shops that are now open for the summer visitors. Teddy had a "Black Cherry" cone and I had a "Raspberry Truffle". Yummm!

2nd Year Fulltiming Anniversary

As of May 1 we have now completed our second year of RV Fulltiming.
Here is a map of our travels since May 1, 2005 with year one outlined in blue and year two in green.
Highlights of the year include trading in our older "Fifth Avenue" trailer for a brand new bigger, better and larger home on wheels, a 37 foot Cardinal fifth wheel with three slides. Sadly we lost our two feline travel companions, Minou and Simba both due to advancing age, however in November we adopted a kitten from the Lake Havasu Humane society. Nasdaq is a black & white "Tuxedo" cat. He has grown into a beautiful big guy and totally rules the trailer. His main interests are eating, sleeping and Ornothology.

Comfort Food follow-up

As promise here are some of the comfort foods that others have emailed me.

Rebecca in Michigan says, "My comfort food is "Sweedish Pancakes" Mom or Dad would make them for breakfast on Sunday mornings. It was the BEST way to wake up as a kid."
(She even included a picture of them.) Well, Rebecca, I must admit that "Sweedish Pancakes" are also a favorite of mine. Teddy just made a pan the other morning.

Laurie in Michigan says, "I'm very sorry, but your milktoast and poached eggs look and sound revolting. I almost got the heaves looking at the blog.......For me, I guess stuff like Kraft macaroni and cheese, sandwich spread at the deli with "mystery meat" leftovers, pizza rolls..... the more processed, the better!"
Sorry Laurie! And as for processed cheese...I don't think so! Give me an aged cheddar or some English Stilton.

Pat in Wisconsin says,"...ice cream is a good comfort food."
Agreed! How about a double dip of Leelanau black cherry ice cream on a waffle cone?

And finally Anonymous in Michigan says,"...I've had many a 'milk toast/poached egg'...'Must be our mothers knew each other, huh?"
Hmmmm, maybe!

So apparently it's just "different strokes for different folks."

North for the Summer

Just got an e-mail from our good friend Sallie Majerlie in Traverse City saying that she was concerned for our well being as hadn't seen a blog post since April 16th.
Oops...sorry Sallie but we have been off-line for the last few weeks as have been traveling north to our summer digs here in Michigan. Problem was further complicated by the fact that we only get dial-up internet out here in Cedar; my notebook doesn't have a built in modem and I somehow misplaced my external one...so had to buy a new dial modem which just arrived today by Fed-X. However, we are now firmly ensconced in our usual spot behind Deb's cottage near Sugarloaf and receiving visitors.
We left Lake Havasu on April 17 for an uneventful five-day trip to Appleton, WI. We overnighted along the way in Gallup, NM - Amarillo, TX - Miami, OK & Springfield, IL, arriving in Appleton on Saturday the 21st. On Sunday we visited with Mike & Toni and went out to dinner with them Sunday evening. We had an appointment at Appleton Camping to have a fireplace installed in the Cardinal so were there to greet them when they opened on Monday morning. After retrieving the Cardinal Monday afternoon we parked at the Snug-Inn for three days while making a round of Doctor appointments and visits with all of our Appleton friends & neighbors. We were able to see the Schemms from the old neighborhood, and our dear friend Marilyn Anderson. Had lunch Tuesday with Tony, Becky & Rose Welhouse. Tuesday evening Jen & Dick Orr hosted a special “Martini Group” dinner in our honor so we were able to see Tom & Carol Sykes, Greg & Sue Madson, Wes Evans, and Kate Ewing.
We finally left Appleton Thursday for the final leg of our journey to our summer home here in Cedar, MI (near Traverse City).
After traveling close to 2500 miles without incident, a low hanging branch over our driveway caught the refer vent cover and tore it off. Damage was mostly to my ego, I should have been watching more closely. Oh well, $15.85 for a new cover and all’s well. Needless to say, the branch now resides in the brush pile. My baby brother, Lyle has volunteered to climb up on my roof and install the new one as I don't climb so well anymore. One of the benefits of getting old is you can get other people to do jobs that you would normally have to do yourself. ;-)

Comfort Food

When I was a boy and became ill my mother would fix me milktoast and poached egg. I suppose that the theory was that it was bland and easy to digest. It consisted of warm milk poured over of two slices of buttered toast arranged on a plate each topped with a poached egg. It ultimately became, and still is, my comfort food for whenever I am not feeling well. I suppose it’s my version of chicken soup. I can still remember the little “oil slicks” floating on the milk from the butter.
At any rate, I have been under the weather for the past few days with a massive head cold consisting of a stuffed up head, lung congestion and a hacking chough and this morning, per my request, Teddy fixed me milktoast and egg shown here.
I already feel better.
It got me thinking, though, that many of us probably have some sort of security blanket and/or comfort food for when they are feeling blue or under the weather.
So my proposal is this: If any readers of this blog should feel inclined to send me their own version of a comfort food, etc. I will list them in a subsequent blog. If you wish to be anonymous please indicate so and I will not include your name otherwise I will give credit where credit is due using first names only.
I think it will be fun.
Hope to hear from you.
Send to: comfortfood@larryandteddy.com

MASA

Since we are full-time RVers we are faced with the question of what to do if one or both of us should become incapacitated through accident or illness. In view of this we recently opted to take out a lifetime membership in MASA's Air & Ground Ambulance Service.
Over the past 29 years Medical Air Services Association has been dedicated to providing life-saving emergency assistance from home, while traveling, on or off the job. The coverage is designed to protect members against catastrophic financial loss when emergencies arise.
The Platinum Membership offers the following 13 services: Emergency Air Transportation • Helicopter Transportation • Ground Ambulance Transportation • Organ Retrieval • Organ Recipient Transportation • Recuperation/Repatriation • Return Transportation • Escort Transportation • Non-Injury Transportation • Minor Children/Grandchildren Return • Mortal Remains • Vehicle Return • World Wide Coverage
Should either Teddy or I suffer a serious illness or injury requiring medical treatment not available locally, MASA will fly us to the nearest medical facility capable of providing the specialized treatment required, providing that it is more than 100 miles from the point of departure. Following hospitalization MASA will then return us to the airport nearest our permanent residence, either by air ambulance transport or commercial, depending upon our particular circumstances. Our permanent residence can be either Appleton or Traverse City or whatever we decide on at the time. In addition, if one of us were hospitalized away from home for more than seven days, MASA will fly a family member or friend, via round trip airfare, to visit us and will also provide a bonded driver to return our RV to our permanent residence and will pay for the gas and oil to do so. 
MASA provides this service to absolutely free, with no deductibles, no out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, since we are Lifetime Platinum Members, helicopter services are also provided from the site of an accident or illness to the nearest medical facility capable of rendering treatment.
The average cost of a retail air ambulance transport is $6,000, but can be as high as $25,000 or even more. As a MASA member, this service is provided free of charge. MASA's aircraft are strategically placed throughout various regions in the western hemisphere. All MASA aircraft are medically equipped and depending upon the medical requirements of the individual member/patient, appropriate medial personnel may accompany the member on the flight free of charge. 
If one or both of us should die MASA will arrange and pay for the return of our remains to the airport nearest our permanent residence. MASA's services are provided in the continental United States of America, Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda.
It was expensive but in the long run we feel that it was worth it

Z-Coil

One of the other winter campers here at Havasu Falls was wearing Z-Coil shoes which peaked my natural curiosity. He claimed that they had helped his back pain tremendously. So a couple of weeks ago, Teddy and I drove up to Bullhead City to the nearest Z-Coil shoe store to try them out. I felt that they might make a difference in my knee and Achilles tendon pain. We tried them in the store and finally decided to purchase a pair for each of us. Teddy adapted to hers immediately and says that they make a world of difference on her daily five-mile walk. For me, however it took about a week to adapt to them. My Achilles tendon pain in my right ankle went away immediately but they caused some shin pain which went away after about a week. I was told to expect this, however.
I don’t know if it is my imagination or not but my knees seem better as well.
Only time will tell.

The Grand Canyon

On Thursday 3/27 Teddy & I with two other couples drove to the only spot in the Grand Canyon National Park where it is possible to drive a vehicle down to the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon. The track down to the Colorado starts from the end of a residential street at the northeast edge of the town of Peach Springs, AZ and is owned by the Hualapai (wall-uh-pie) Indian tribe. A permit is required and it cost us $12.50 for each person in the truck. for the first few miles, the road passes along a dry, dusty stream bed in a small canyon, past clumps of trees and bushes, and then crosses more open land with scattered cacti - close to the springs after which canyon and town are named. The canyon proper starts 6 miles from town - the road is a bumpy, unpaved track (Indian Reservation Route 6). The stone & gravel surface was fine for my truck although it got progressively worse near the bottom. As the canyon deepens, the types of cacti and other plants changed noticeably, especially now in early summer when they are in flower. The surrounding cliffs became steadily higher and more impressive, and several side canyons joined from both sides, including the ominous-sounding Hells Canyon. The last branch was Diamond Creek Canyon, which has water flowing through all year round. The road then crosses the creek about 6 times, and for a short distance ran in the streambed. The water was at most 4 inches deep, but might of course be much deeper at other times. There is a car park and camping area just before the first stream crossing. 1.5 miles after the creek is first encountered, the road emerges onto a wide, sandy beach beside the Colorado river,
a total journey time of almost 2 hours to traverse the 21 miles. The road is mostly used to take rafting parties in and out of the river.






On the way back we decided to take old route 66 instead of route 40. The section between Kingman and Oatman crosses a mountain range and is a narrow two track highway hacked out of the sides of cliffs with many hairpin switchbacks. I'm sure that it is the road where they filmed Desi & Lucy in the movie "The Long Long Trailer".