It was an emergency. I needed clothes. It wasn't my fault. I really tried to pack properly for the trip. Ron and I agreed we would each take one standard (carry on) size suit case, not counting shoes. I checked the weather ahead the night before we left. It was sunny and 74° at the Grand Canyon, and 9° and snowing in Glacier. Hmmmm. So I took a little of everything. One week into our trip, I conceded defeat - I was cold, and I needed warmer clothes. Ron suggested Walmart, conveniently located in Cortez. We were leaving today and had all day to get to Flagstaff. Hmmmm. We were only 45 miles from Durango, and I had been there once, a life time ago, on business. Given a choice between Walmart and Durango, well, that just isn't even fair.
So we left Cortez and headed east. Yes, east. We passed Mesa Verde, and the strangest thing happened. The desert disappeared and the land turned green. Tall evergreens appeared. Pockets of snow were visible along the roadside and at the tops of mountains, mountains that actually looked like mountains. Mountains with ski resorts, and ski lifts and ski runs.
We parked in the heart of historic Durango, in front of an eclectic looking store called "Second Time Around". I noticed very well-dressed women going INTO the store with their arms full of really nice looking stuff. Hmmmm. Soon, I was coming out with my arms full of really nice looking stuff!
Within a few blocks, I had totally supplemented my wardrobe. There was even a high-end Outdoor Outfitter consignment store. Ron almost bought an inflatable kayak, but we didn't have room in the trunk, especially now after my successful shopping spree.
We picnicked in the park, of course, and then were on our way to Flagstaff. Yes, we went right past Mesa Verde again, and through Cortez, but I didn't care. I was warm!!!! We were back in the now familiar desert. We passed from one Reservation to the next. Navajo. Ute. Hopi. After a few hours, Ron casually asked me if I knew what state we were in. I was actually wondering the same thing. The Reservations pay no mind to State boundaries. There were hardly any billboards at all, and those we saw often listed two locations, in two different states on the same billboard. Ron and I figured we could be in any one of five states: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, or Confusion. Turns out we spent some time in all five today!
We ended up in Flagstaff, which we were relatively confident is located in the state of Arizona. We rented a tiny 1920's era house in historic Flagstaff for the week. But then, we couldn't figure out what time it was. Arizona is in the Mountain time zone. Siri confirmed this. So all the clocks in our house were wrong. We changed them all. But now both of our I-phones were wrong. And our laptops. And the clock in the car. We were back in the state of Confusion! Fortunately, our neighbor Dave (a recently retired college professor) helped us out. Yes, Arizona is in the Mountain Time Zone, but Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Saving Time. However. the Navaho and Ute Nations do recognize Daylight Saving Time, so when you drive through their Rez, (proper local terminology is "Rez", not "Reservation") the time changes an hour, except for the Hopi Nation, whose Rez is literally in the middle of and surrounded by the Navajo Rez. The Hopi Nation doesn't observe Daylight Saving Timer, so the time changes again when you drive through the Hopi Rez. Dave grinned when he was explaining all this, like he was really enjoying it. We went back into the house and changed all the clocks again.
Car Talk
Distance 362.1
Driving Time - we have no idea
Average mileage 31.7 mpg
Average Speed 63 mph
Top Speed 115 mph. It was a long flat straight road in the desert. I had to do it. Don't tell Linda.
Total Trip Distance: 2,479.6
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