Downsizing? The time is now.

July 23, 2014: The time has come for a little downsizing.

 The Moose and Caboose sitting on the ridge overlooking Lake Dillon last September.  The Moose barely squeezed into the very best campsite at Prospector Campground.

Moosling, Moosette, or Mini Moose? 

It’s been on my mind for several months: Downsizing to a “Moosling” or a “Moosette” or a “Mini Moose” in lieu of “THE Moose” – our 35’ Damon Astoria.  The Moose is big, and wide, and difficult to get in and out of gas stations and propane suppliers.  She doesn’t always fit easily into places we want to go.  She’s just a large, cumbersome – MOOSE. Oh yes, and I absolutely hate to drive it.  So, having shared a year of our lives with The Moose, it’s time for a change.  Jack’s open to new possibilities so I research the options, we determine what’s going to work for us, and then I search the internet to find our new “home” before we head out for a long stretch on the road.  I’ve never been sentimental about vehicles, and The Moose is no different.  It’s just time to say “goodbye”.

California or Bust!

To make a long story very short, we locate the motorhome we want on the north edge of Los Angeles.  Granted, it’s 1,000 miles away.  But, what’s 1,000 miles when you find the right motor home?  A couple of days driving out – a couple of days driving back.  Let’s clear out The Moose and get on the road. 

Five states in two days: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada … and finally, California.

We leave Charming Frisco behind and begin our 1,000 mile trek to California.  (Picture taken August 7, 2014: Lake Dillon with the Continental Divide in the background.)

The Moose merges onto I-70 West bound for California.  The terrain is familiar as we pass through Colorado and into Utah.  Once we pass the exit for Moab (Highway 191/163) it’s all new territory for us. 

Several miles west of Green River we see steeply tilted rock outcroppings in the distance.

I grab our Benchmark map to determine what formations we’re approaching.  It’s the San Rafael Reef. 

The closer we get to the reef the more dramatic it becomes.

I-70 cuts through the reef from the east onto the San Rafael Swell.  For nearly 50 miles we gaze to either side of the highway into deep, narrow canyons and across the landscape at stunning cliffs.  This area is all part of the Colorado Plateau.  It’s just gorgeous.  I wish we had time to stop and enjoy it, but we have an appointment in a couple of days.  Utah is such a beautiful state; we’ll need to get back to this area for an extended stay.

I-70 comes to an end out in the middle of Utah.  We pick up I-15 and drive southward.

South of Beaver we begin our drive through Parowan Valley.  Lush green fields line the highway.  The Red Hills rise to the west beyond the valley.

More gorgeous landscape as we head south on I-15.

A few miles south of St. George, Utah we enter a tiny little stretch of Arizona.

It’s less than 30 miles through the northwest corner of Arizona, but what a stunning stretch of highway.  We wind down through the Virgin River Gorge.

Through the construction cone obstacle course.  All of the construction we encounter during traveling will be easier in our little “Mini Moose”.

A good night’s sleep in Mesquite, Nevada we’re back on the road again.

Through Las Vegas and before long we cross the border into California.

Zzyzx, California (pronounced "Zye - Zex," rhyming with Isaac's).

Exit sign viewed through a very dirty windshield.

I had to look this one up.  It’s a crazy story about a charismatic radio evangelist (and quack doctor) that built a health resort at an oasis a few miles south of this interstate exit and named it "Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort".  The supposed "natural hot springs” supplying the mineral baths were totally artificial, heated by a hidden boiler.  He sold his “healing water” to gullible and unsuspecting people.  The evangelist pulled the wool over the eyes of many folks, and made a truck load of money along the way. 

In 1974, the government finally recognized that Dr. Quack had no legitimate claim to the land.  He was evicting and eventually the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) became stewards of the area.         

Onward through the desert, the San Gabriel Mountains … and down into the madhouse traffic of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles!  This is the stretch I’ve been dreading.  Thankfully, we make it through the city to the dealership without anyone hitting The Moose.  All the paperwork behind us and we have a “new baby”. 

The drive back to Charming Frisco is a great experience.  Now it’s time to whittle down what items will fit into a 10 foot shorter motor home.  We’re looking forward to starting our new adventures in the Mini Moose and Caboose.  Until next time – be safe.