Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
Nov 19 ~ Day #193
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$19300
$31.47
$16915.10
$87.64
Miles by Road
Miles by Sea
Miles by Air
Miles by Train
Total Miles
16064.8
12056.7
7662
196
35979.5
Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
Nov 20 ~ Day #194
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$19400
$48.67
$16963.77
$87.44
Miles by Road
Miles by Sea
Miles by Air
Miles by Train
Total Miles
16064.8
12056.7
7662
196
35979.5
Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
Nov 21 ~ Day #195
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$19500
$31.47
$16995.24
$87.16
Miles by Road
Miles by Sea
Miles by Air
Miles by Train
Total Miles
16064.8
12056.7
7662
196
35979.5
Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
Nov 22 ~ Day #196
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$19600
$31.47
$17026.71
$86.87
Miles by Road
Miles by Sea
Miles by Air
Miles by Train
Total Miles
16064.8
12056.7
7662
196
35979.5
Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
Nov 23 ~ Day #197
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$19700
$15.00
$17041.71
$86.51
Miles by Road
Miles by Sea
Miles by Air
Miles by Train
Total Miles
16064.8+19.8=16084.6
12056.7
7662
196
35999.3
Current Location: Heading Home to Eleuthera, Bahamas
Combining Days
We have decided to combine our last few days into one post because we are really now just marking time until we head home to Eleuthera.
We will not be including our flight back to Eleuthera in our costs as we began our trip in Fort Lauderdale on May 11th and we will end it in Fort Lauderdale on November 23rd.
We will be including all the costs right up to our flight home, including the cost to get to the airport.
Each day’s expenses are itemized below and, of course, in the grids above that we have been including in each post.
We are trying to keep our grocery buying down to a minimum as we don’t want anything fresh left over on the day we leave.
Day 195, Sunday, November 21, 2010
Accommodations: $31.47 (Camping)
Day 196, Monday, November 22, 2010
Accommodations: $31.47 (Camping)
Day 197, Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Transportation: $18.00 consisting of:
Cab to TriRail – $15.00
TriRail to Airport $3.00
Mileage: 19.8
The Adventure Ends
It’s hard to believe that today is the last day of our almost seven month long adventure. And yet, it’s going to be good to get home.
One hundred and ninety-seven days is a long time to be traveling and living out of a suitcase or, in our case, backpacks.
We have had a terrific time and certainly enjoyed the journey. We will now enjoy the familiarity of our home in Eleuthera.
It will good to see old friends again and reconnect. Our very dear friends, V and B, will be picking us up at the airport when we arrive back in Eleuthera. It will be wonderful to see them again.
Recap Tomorrow
Stay tuned for the recap of our adventure in our post tomorrow.
Once again, we are combining a couple of days into one post.
We are camping again, for a couple of days, and are spending our time sorting out the stuff we had left in the car and the stuff we brought with us from our trip.
In addition to that we reconnected with a few friends we had made before we left and just relaxed around the pool and soaked up some Florida Sun.
Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
Nov 08 ~ Day #182
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$18200
$61.47
$16323.39
$89.69
Miles by Road
Miles by Sea
Miles by Air
Miles by Train
Total Miles
15551+15=15566
8185.5+3871.2=12056.7
7662
168+28=196
35480.7
Current Location: Davie, Florida
Today’s Total Expenses: $51.47
Transportation: $30.00
consisting of:
$10.00 – cab from cruise port to TriRail
$5.00 – TriRail
$15.00 – cab from TriRail to pick up our car
Accommodation: $31.47 (camping)
Miles Traveled Today:
Road Miles: 15 (Fort Lauderdale to Davie, Florida)
Sea Miles: 3871.2 (3364 Nautical Miles – La Palma to Miami)
Train Miles: 28 (TriRail Miami to Fort Lauderdale)
Disembarking in Miami
Our ship had actually arrived in Miami late last night, so the disembarkation process was able to start very early in the morning – 7:00am!
If you wanted your luggage taken off the ship for you, you needed to have it outside your stateroom door the night before.
Fortunately, we were traveling with backpacks so when we disembarked we were able to carry all our luggage with us and not have to wait for our group to be called. People that had put their luggage out the night before had been sorted into groups and had to leave their staterooms and wait in designated areas for their group to be called. We could get off when we liked because we could take our luggage with us.
Long Line Up for U.S. Customs and Immigration
After a leisurely breakfast, we headed back to our room, picked up our loaded backpacks, a carry-on bag and our laptop computer, also in its own bag, and headed to the gangway to leave the ship.
The line up for customs and immigration was HUGE!
Standing there with fully loaded backpacks got pretty tired after the first half hour. Mine wasn’t too bad as it is actually smaller than Geoff’s. However, Geoff has a bad back and just standing around is difficult for him. But, standing around with a heavy backpack was just too much. He needed to take his backpack off.
The line was pretty bunched up so I had to ask the people behind us to back up a little bit so Geoff could actually get his backpack off.
We then edged our way up to Immigration for the next little while, pushing our luggage along bit by bit.
Best U.S. Immigration Officer EVER
Some people may not know this, but the immigration lines that say U.S. Citizens can also be used by Canadians. That’s because Canadians don’t need to be finger printed or have their photos taken.
So, as we got closer to the front of the line, I mentioned to the person that was directing people to various immigration officers that we were Canadian.
We were immediately whisked out of the long line and right to an available immigration officer.
I think I’ve mentioned before that I never like dealing with government officials. You never know what they’ll be like. With some people, if you put them in a uniform, they feel like they have to be officious and obnoxious.
Well, not this guy. He was smiling and happy and pleasant.
As he scanned our passports he actually started joking with us. And then he said, “Oh, Wait a minute. We can’t let you through too fast. We can’t have any Americans thinking that Canadians can get through the lines faster than they can.” And he then started to tap his fingers on the counter and whistle. Then he said, smiling, “I guess that’s long enough.”
We told him that this was our best experience ever and he said he thought Canadians were great. He said, “I’ve never gotten any attitude from a Canadian.” And, after a short pause, a little smirk passed over his face and he said, “Of course, that could have something to do with the fact that I carry a gun!”
We all chuckled. Geoff and I thanked him again and we were on our way. He had even marked our card so that we didn’t have to stop at Customs.
Camping Again
Before leaving Florida in early September we had prepaid our camping fees so we didn’t have to worry when we came back. The receipt was a little cryptic, though, so I had said to the manager, “You had better be here when we get back.” And he had assured us that he would be.
Well, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, he wasn’t there any more.
It took a little sorting out but the new management accepted the receipt (that goodness we had one and that we’d kept it) and all was well.
Today we made the transition from a one-bedroom condo back to our tent. It actually isn’t as difficult as you might think.
With all the tenting we’ve done on this trip the tent and inflatable mattress have become quite familiar and comfortable.
Geoff is now an expert at setting the tent up quickly and getting the mattress in place in the back of the Jeep.
We are here now until we leave for Europe in just a little over a week’s time.
We’re staying in another naturist resort. Yes, we’re very comfortable with that and, hey, it means a lot less laundry!
However, this resort was established in the late 60s and at that time it was out in the middle of nowhere. Now it’s actually surrounded by subdivisions with lots of houses.
Trying to Find the Cheapest Gas
We always try to make sure we get the best deal on gas whenever we need to fill up but this time we left it a little late and spent a little too much time trying to find the best price.
We pushed it so far this time that we almost ran out of gas! And, the gas station we did stop at had pretty high prices compared to what we had seen in the Orlando area and on the drive down to Fort Lauderdale. So, we just put $30 worth and headed back to the campground.
We aren’t planning to do much in the way of driving during this stay anyway. I expect we’ll head out for groceries in a few days and then the car will go into storage while we’re in Europe.
Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
July 14 ~ Day #65
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$6500
$48.40
$6798.19
$104.58
Miles by Road
Nautical Miles
Miles by Air
Miles by Train
Total Statute Miles
8257
3856 [4437]
000
69
12763
Current Location: Campground, Sandstone, Minnesota
Rain
Sure glad we set up the tent yesterday because today the sky opened up and poured buckets of water on us – about 3 1/2 inches. The rain was accompanied by strong winds that did quite a bit of damage.
We came through OK in our Sportz SUV tent but the tent next to us got flattened when their support poles buckled under the weight of some trapped water. Also an RV nearby had an awning out and the support got twisted.
We stayed warm and dry but the ground underneath us turned pretty squishy and we had to lay some planks of wood around the outside to avoid slipping in the mud.
Road Repairs
The campground is on several levels and the rain managed to cut quite a few deep ruts in the access roads as the water poured down the hills. There are still many people arriving in huge RV’s and the staff have done a marvelous job of fixing the roads.
Fortunately the rain was all over by the afternoon and the sun came out to dry things up a bit.
Last night was a much more pleasant sleep as it didn’t get nearly as cold here as it did at the Grand Canyon.
Again, Geoff has breaking camp pretty much down to a science now. I help pack up, too, but he really does the bulk of getting the tent packed away.
After a quick breakfast and the essential cup of coffee we were off to view the amazing monoliths of Monument Valley. Geoff has taken lots of photos and video that he will, no doubt, be posting soon.
As we heeded north on highway 163, I checked out a regular, paper map to see if there was a scenic route we could take to Salt Lake City. It seems that Madge (our Magellan GPS) doesn’t have an option for “scenic route”.
As I continue, keep in the that it was ME that chose this route – you’ll understand later.
Gravel Roads and Switchbacks and Cliffs – Oh My!
From 163 we turned onto 261 which was marked on our paper map as a scenic route. It certainly was that. However, it was also a very steep route with a lot of switchbacks and sheer drops from cliffs well above the desert floor. Yes, you guessed it, sweaty palms and elevated heart rate again. I am soooo grateful that Geoff was driving. I would have simply been paralyzed. I would have made it, certainly, if I was the only one available to drive, but I would most likely have done it at 5 miles per hour.
I took some video from the car as Geoff drove. I think I may have had my eyes closed at some points, but hopefully the camera got everything.
If you are traveling with a trailer or in an RV DO NOT take this route. And that’s just not from me. There are signs along the route, before you get to the switchbacks telling you not to do that. Some larger vehicles just wouldn’t be able to make it around some of the switchback turns and the road gets quite narrow in several places.
It was no wonder that when we turned on the road, Madge (our Magellan GPS) kept saying, “As soon as possible, make a Legal U-turn.” Apparently she knew something we didn’t.
But we made it and I’m glad we went that way. It was quite an experience. We have video of parts of the road and of how high we actually were as well, so watch for the posts.
As we continued along the scenic route we saw such places as Glen Canyon and Dirty Devil River to name just a couple. The drive through the canyons was just so spectacular with many different kinds of rock formations and colors. Is it possible to get an overload of beautiful, incredible, awe-inspiring scenery? I don’t know, but if it can happen it would happen here. Every turn brought more oohs and aahs from both of us. One or the other was saying, “Wow! look at this.” or “Oh, my, that is so beautiful.” or even, “Pull over here so we can get a better look.”
We stopped for lunch along the Dirty Devil River. The Utah government has provided washroom facilities in various places as well as honor-system camping in this spots. The rate is pretty cheap – $6.00/night/person or $3.00/night/person for seniors, with a maximum charge per vehicle of $12.00 or $6.00 respectively. Not bad.
Again, it is difficult to describe the beauty of this route so my suggestion again is, go if you can and take the scenic route.
As we approached Salt Lake City the weather turned nasty and I swear I saw snow in the air even though the temperature gauge in the car was telling us it was still in the 60s.
Fortunately, we had planned to stay at a hotel anyway because this was not the kind of weather that either of us wanted to camp in. Even setting up the tent in such conditions would have been miserable and we would have most likely had to pack it up wet – not a good idea.
We picked up some highway hotel coupons along the way and I started searching for a good place to stay. One of the advertised accommodations was Sky Harbor Suites which seemed really reasonable at only $48/night and that included a suite with a full kitchen. I called ahead and mentioned the coupon. They told me that the rate on the coupon was a “walk-in” rate, meaning we couldn’t prebook it. But, they said they did have some available and we were only about a half hour away, so we took the chance and headed for them.
Sky Harbor Suites was a lovely place and very reminiscent of a timeshare resort. We were able to get the coupon rate of $48/night. Their regular rate is $79/night, so it was a really good deal.
The suite was small but lovely, with a queen size bed and a full kitchen as advertised. After checking in we headed to a local grocery store so we could take advantage of having a full kitchen available to us. We had a lovely dinner of boneless pork chops, baked potatoes and sauteed zucchini along with a glass of red wine. Who could ask for more?
As we watched a little TV and let supper digest we looked forward to a good night’s sleep protected from the cold rainy weather outside.
It was difficult to leave our friends in Phoenix and continue on our journey. It was such a pleasant visit and being back in Phoenix felt like being home. But, it was time to get back on the road again as we had a campground reservation at Mather Campground in the Grand Canyon Park. So we hit the road again and headed North to the Grand Canyon.
Before we left our friend reminded us that it would be much cooler at the Grand Canyon and so we thought it was wise to pick up an extra blanket along the way.
Rising elevation = lower temperatures
As we headed North on I-17 the temperature dropped as the elevation increased, but it was still pleasant and sunny all the way to Flagstaff. After a brief stop in Flagstaff for a few more groceries and, of course, the extra blanket, we continued on to the Grand Canyon.
The Park entrance fee for the Grand Canyon is $25.00 per vehicle. The pass is good for 7 days and for in-and-out during that seven day period. Not a bad price for a week-long pass but a bit steep if you only plan to stay overnight, which is what we were doing.
Senior citizens that are US citizens or permanent residents can get a considerable discount. If this applies to you, be sure to inquire as you can get discounts on both the park pass and the camping fees.
As we drove in we noticed that the Mather Campground was full, so we were glad that we had pre-booked our tent site online a couple of days earlier.
As it was still relatively early in the afternoon, we found our campsite and then headed off to take in some views of the Grand Canyon. As soon as we got near the rim I discovered that my fear of unprotected edges was still very much intact. My sweaty palms and elevated heart rate made that fact very clear. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the views and particularly enjoyed them when there was a nice, sturdy railing for me to hold on to.
It’s hard to describe the beauty and grandeur of the Grand Canyon. This is our second visit. I remember thinking, on our first visit, that we were just going to look at some big hole in the ground but I was totally awestruck when we got there and saw the canyon for the first time.
My only advice is, if you’ve never been – GO!
After taking in the view from several vantage points we headed back to our campsite and got the tent up in record time. Geoff is very good at getting it all together and – hey – I help some, too.
I started making preparations for dinner and the temperature continued to drop. It was really starting to feel quite cool. Living in a warm climate most of the time it’s easy to forget just how cold cold is
When I was packing for our trip I opted for a light cotton blouse to use as a jacket instead of a few warm fuzzy jackets that I actually have. What was I thinking? Well, obviously, I wasn’t thinking and I was now paying the price. But, Geoff to the rescue! He let me use his jacket while we were having dinner and watching a movie on the computer before settling down for the night.
I don’t know how cold it actually got through the night but we we’re both freezing, even with the extra blanket. We were both looking forward to morning when it would, hopefully, warm up again.
Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
May 16 ~ Day # 6
Budget to date
Spent today
Total to date
Daily average
Total
$600
$128.55
$705.06
$117.84
Current Location: Carlsbad, NM
Mileage: 472 Total: 1933
Total Expenses: $128.55
Transportation: $59.01
Accommodation: $44.75
Food: $24.79
Entertainment: $0.00
We slept in again this morning so had to scramble a little to get everything packed away. We did take a few minutes to check the level of the river and it looked like it had crested some time in the night. Areas where we had walked taking pictures yesterday were now under eight feet of muddy water.
I don’t remember when I first became aware of San Antonio but I do remember what did it. A photograph of a boatload of happy people gliding along past little boutiques apparently in the center of San Antonio. One of the reasons we chose the route we did is so that we could “do” Riverwalk – which is what this area is called.
We made a quick stop at a Wal-Mart Super Center then told “Madge” (the alter ego of our Magellan GPS) to take us downtown. Even on a Sunday finding somewhere to park is challenging. Sure there are lots of parking garages charging exorbitant rates but we are trying to bring this trip in under budget so we went around the block and found some space in front of the San Fernando Cathedral.
With luck this happened to be right by an entrance to Riverwalk. Shit brown is not a good color for water, especially when it is part of a tourist attraction. The recent rain had stirred up a lot of mud and I guess it will be several days for things to get back to normal.
Anyway, my imagination of the Riverwalk experience had far outstretched the reality. Unfortunately we were running late and did not have the time to take one of the boat tours but we did stroll a ways along the footpath. It’s OK but it certainly isn’t Venice.
In fact, I’m sorry to say it but San Antonio is a tired looking city. There may be many nice parts we didn’t see but downtown and the route to the highway was all buildings in need of repair and sidewalk grass waiting patiently to be cut and weeded.
Our next goal was Carlsbad Caverns and the drive from San Antonio was uneventful but because of our late start it was almost 10pm before we got to Carlsbad, NM. Since we had no prior reservation we decided to stay at a highway hotel for the night.
One of the things we want to do on this trip is evaluate the pros and cons of camping vs inexpensive hotels. Very often, particularly in major cities, you can find highway hotels for less than the cost of a camp site. In many states highway rest areas have magazines full of coupons for hotel discounts. You can also find these magazines in the fast food restaurant that cluster around the highway ramps.
The cheapest we could find in Carlsbad was $39 for the night. It was remarkably unspectacular but at least it had a working refrigerator so we could pre-cool some more water for our Koolatron cooler. It was also an opportunity to recharge all our electronic gadgets – computer, cell phone, movie camera, iPod, tooth brushes, etc. But the advertised free WiFi just wasn’t happening so catching up with our posting will have to wait until tomorrow when we head to the Carlsbad Caverns.
There is so much to see and do in the world and not enough time to cover it all. We don’t want to end up in the rocking chair at the old folks home complaining about all the things we wish we had done – so we are just going to do as much as we can from now on.
Money – there is never enough
Having the will is one thing but practically you have to be able to pay for it. With even a modest income you can do a lot of traveling and we are going to prove it.
