Not your kind

Maybe they knew I was going to be here

The Grand Canyon

This trip is a compressed blur if experiences. We left Moab and made our way to Monument Valley. We stopped at the point in the road where Forrest Gump was running in he middle of no where. There were tons of cars stopped to take a photo. It is a true testament of the power of movies and media when icons are manufactured. I refused to snap a shmarmy photo of the scene. I did however get a photo without the road in it.

Hen went onto Page AZ, a little town along the way with a good supermarket and some eateries. Then at midnight we were on our way to the Grand Canyon.

I was way too tired to do anything when we arrived, due to the fact I drive most of the night with slumbering guests. So today I play tourist at one of our nations greatest national parks...The Grand Canyon!

I found it!!

As with any trip this one is not without it's challenges. I have managed to loose a tent stake, a tip of one of the tent poles and most heart breaking, a half load of laundry.

Here is the rest of this entry that was lost from the iPhone.

Just when you thought you were having troubles, the universe shows off in wonderful ways.  I stumbled across the pole tip, the tent stake was under the tent, and when we went back to Moab to do some more shopping the next day, I went into the laundry mat and there it was...my bag of clean socks and undies. Yippie!  SEE! What a wonderful world! Plus, I got free cherries form one of our passengers! Yummy! 

Dusk at Bryce.

Bryce Canyon at dusk

Dinner is served

Bryce

Quick shot at Bryce

Bryce and a shower

Sometimes I get to a great spot on the trip and miss all the hiking. Today is one of those days. No worries, because I get to come back in a out three weeks. I am at Bryce Canyon NP. The clouds are starting to develop, the guests are out in their hikes, and I am taking my required rest period. I got a few gifts for a few special people and retting comfortable in 90f degree heat on the bus. What I CAN do is take a much needed shower to get some of the stink off me.

Sent from my iPhone

Kodachrome to Zion NP!!!!!!!!!!!

From the in the middle of nowhere of camping at Kodachrome we went on DOWN into Zion NP. With the small window like cut outs in the 1.5 mile long tunnel approaching the canyon. You get small teases of what is inshore for you.
I sure would like to have some real photographic equipment to capture its essence... or perhaps the video crew from No Reservations. I was unable to go hiking since we met another GT bus for a passenger exchange. And sadly we are going to loose seven folks but get to pick up 12 new ones to get to know over the remainder of the trip...eight more days.

Mystic

A much needed night of showers, rest, and most importantly long soaks in the natural hot springs at Mystic Hot Springs. I actually got a real shower!!!

It is a funky place to hang out perhaps anytime of year. It's located near Monroe, UT. I'd keep this place a secret but in this economy everyone needs a little help. Mystic Mike is a real character and all around great guy. You can rent parked buses to "camp" in, pitch your tent on the cool lawn, or bring your own SMALL camper.
This stop really hit the "reset button" for most to include myself.

Caught in the act

I'm not into photos of myself, but a passenger snapped this while we were in Yellowstone. It captures the mood of the moment. A surreal landscape...with a smile.

Yellowstone

Well, the first of many bucket list goals are being checked off. The first night after a long drive on the parts of myself and the other driver we were in an obscure canyon in Nevada. It looked like a mini version of the Swiss Alps...well at least in my eyes.
After basking in the sun that day we went to a private spot which sports a natural springs. It was a great feeling to soak for a while. I could see by the expressions on our guest's faces that they shared the same feeling.

Day two was yet again a difficult night drive. I had to make it to Idaho Falls to complete my appointed task. A very long, dark, stinky drive with convoluted construction cone placement and horrible roads. Did I mention it stank?

Anyway, we got into Jackson, WY and the group went white water rafting. Since I drove I spent most of the day resting, which is certainly needed, but also mandated by law. The law is forcing me to sleep!! Well, ok... zzzzzzz.

Then off to Grand Tetons NP. This is a spectacular display of mother nature,s ability to awe strike just about anyone. We hiked around June Lake and drank in all the glory of it.

Off to Yellowstone NP. Old Faithful was interesting but not the highlight by any means. The thermal activity of the area is like out of a made up land one would find in a movie. To walk along the established boardwalks and see the earth spitting out hot water, steam, and mud is pretty awesome to see.

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Yellowstone

Two days in Yellowstone. Great views and amazing times.

On our way

On our way for 16 days with 30 or peeps!

$1400. No, no, no...much more!!!

First stop. Almost filled up the van. Now only two more food stops then load the dry stuff on board. The second stop was about half as much in value and volume.  I am amazed we got all this in and on the bus.  It is like putting loading up a submarine...except we don't have several hands to help...we are on our own baby! I am a bit tired but glad to get this all done and have the first half of Friday to rest. Rest is the most important thing at this point because we have some serious miles ahead and I want to be ready in every aspect.

Calm before the storm

I'm sitting by myself at the GT bus yard. The mechanical inspections are complete. It is odd this moment of solitude with morning coffee in hand that in just a few hours every fiber of my reality will be assaulted...in a good way. I will have 30 guests upon me while I attempt to answer their repeated questions.
We leave and make our way east bound toward Yellowstone...with a few stops along the way.
Back to the yard. It is far from glamorous. In fact it is really truck shop-esque. But the high level of maintenance thrown at these highway coaches IS impressive.
Blogging from a phone is slow for me for sure. I think I'll take my laptop along...the photos would be better too.
Sent from my iPhone

Yosemite and more!

I went one my first trip with the Green Tortoise last week. It is a three day trip..but it really longer for the drivers.  We did not pick up the guests until 9pm, but I had to show up at the yard at 10am to help prepare for the trip.  Luckily, I was not required to drive. We inspected the bus (called the pre-trip) then we went off the do the shopping. Shopping for thirty people is a little more than I have done in the past, however, I was only there to help and...well hold the "smart end" of the measuring tape. :)

We got everything ready and made our way off to San Francisco. The traffic was a bit intense since it was the evening of the 4th of July.  In fact, SF was a mad house.  While we were loading the passengers it sounded like a war zone with all the huge fire works going off.  I wish I could have paid it more attention, but I was focused on our guests.  We loaded and were on our way to Yosemite. After about an hour we stop at a local supermarket to allow the passengers to prepare to sleep on the bus.  With the help of the passengers the bus is converted to "sleep mode"  and then guests enjoy a relaxing ride during the night in a fully reclined position.

We made a few stops along the way for fuel, propane, and then stopping early in the morning to allow the driver to rest and wait for the proper time to enter Yosemite Park.  With that, it was time to wake everyone  and get their first meal ready.  The Green Tortoise experience is different than any other adventure tour or trip.  The guests help in all aspects of the kitchen.  This is essential for several reasons.  It increases in the speed of meals, cooking, cleaning, etc., it promotes team building and group continuity, and it enables everyone to feel the sense of importance by having a hand in feeding their fellow passengers.   And the results...are wonderful!                                                                    
                                            

Trail made French Toast, fluffy Eggs, Strawberries, and yummy Blueberries.

Not even ten hours on the trip and he had figured out how to have a great time. 

Classic view of the Valley and Half Dome.

Devils Postpile.

Tufa spires at Mono Lake

Apparently battling bats are an issue.

If only I had better photographic equipment.

There was a lot of pride shown here by the cooks.

It was a jamb packed week. We went to Yosemite Valley, climbed upper falls, drove over Tuolumne Pass over to Mono Lake, Mamouth Lakes area to see Devil's Post Pile, and much more. In three days we accomplished more that most vacations I have ever been on. 


Stay tuned for more.  I am getting ready for a 16 day tour of the National Parks of the west.
 

Camping, then camping, then camping!

Wet laundry and fog.

I bid my farewells to the old job and hurried home to pack up the truck and do a quick three day camping trip in the Sierra. There were two catches. One, I don't have a shell for the truck, so everything is exposed. And two...it was pouring. I mean pouring.  We drove for two hours to get to the campground and all the while it poured.  We arrived to the camp spot and it dumped.  I suddenly realized for decades and decades I have been very lucky and always managed to miss some of the rain.  Not this time.  We had to set the tent up in the rain, on soggy soil, and attempt to build a drying fire in the downpour. We succeeded in the former, and failed in with the latter.  What a great experience.  The tent was set, the weather broke, and then it was carefree camping.

 Amazingly, this $30 tent kept us 99% dry in an all night down pour. I was waiting for it to fail in a catastrophic way...but it did not. Dry, dry, dry. Hew!







  I have had the tent for a few years now and it has performed way beyond my expectations. In fact, I slept comfortably and dry in a huge storm in Lassen National Park one year. It rained all night then too and when I removed the tent in the morning, there was the dry footprint of the tent surrounded by soggy soil all around.

Worth the five minute wait!

When camping or backpacking I tent not to need too many creature comforts...except for my coffee. I don't know everything there is to know about coffee, but I love my morning beverage and like it fresh, strong, with a little half n half. Tricks are to preheat the cup, have great beans, grind on a daily basis, keep beans in a cool dry environment...yeah, like that's going to happen when backpacking. OK, so I am a coffee Prima Donna, big deal.

One entertaining sound we heard thought out the week was the constant whine of small pumps inflating those sleeping mattresses. Count me out on that one. When camping, that is to say car camping, I bring the extra futon. Needs no inflation, never lets you down in the middle of the night, and is not very much bigger than a deflated mattress. Besides, with all them BIG houses out there, with all dem BIG vehicles, I don't buy the idea that an air mattress is going to save space...just leak.


All in all the week camping was fun and relaxing.  It is an awesome prelude to the weeks and months to come.  Next week I will embark on a preliminary trip with the Green Tortoise then the week after start as a Driver with all of responsibilities and benefits. I invite you come along with me to not only explore the country in a really cool bus with really cool people, but to also experience, via the net here, my thoughts, challenges, successes, and maybe even setbacks, as I go from a background of cold calling sales to vagabonding driver.  Moreover, if you really want to come along  you can book a trip and see it all first hand. My goal, to get you there safe and sound. Take you to places to blow your mind. And facilitate a life changing trip for you and your friends.

With that, we all can be happy campers!

Special thanks to Boogabaah Weesnaah for her photographs on this entry of me, the french press, and wet laundry.