Finalizing Trip Arrangements

Our dates are pretty well finalized for our trip to Jackson and starting work at the Virginian Lodge. We agreed that our start date would be May 24 this year. That gives us plenty of time to make a leisurely trip north and stop at a few places we have never been before.

The start of our trip will be Tuesday, May 13, and we will stay at the Camp Verde Thousand Trails preserve for one night. That gives us a short drive for the first day as we may need the extra hours in the AM to make sure everything is packed and secure in our on-site storage unit. It will also allow us to have one last shot at the Cliff Castle Casino before beginning the summer.

We will then travel about 235 miles to Gouldings Campground in Monument Valley, UT, and stay there for two nights. We have been looking forward to seeing this area for many years as we have seen most of the westerns made here that were produced and directed by John Ford.

The next leg is a short one - 150 miles - to Moab, UT, where we will spend another two nights exploring the Arches National Park, Canyonlands and other famous parks in that area. We could probably spend a lot more time there, but this will give us an introduction to the area.

On May 18 and 19, we will be in Vernal Utah - 218 miles north of Moab - and will see the Dinosaur National Monument and Fossil National Park. We will also be traveling through the Flaming Gorge area which is on the border of Utah and Wyoming.

Our final day is the longest for traveling - 284 miles - and we will arrive in Jackson on the 20th of May to give us time to settle in and acclimate to the area before starting work on the 24th. Of course, all of this is subject to change, but at least we have a plan to follow and a target to look forward to.

Josie had her doctor's appointment yesterday for her bone density exam and is almost done with her planned doctor visits. We also received a call from a couple we worked the spring training games with that asked us to come visit them before they head back to their home in Michigan this weekend. That visit will be Friday afternoon, and that about wraps it up for now...