Go Gladys

When we leave Mesa Verde I realize there are several stops that we want to make, so I program the final destination and all the "via" stops into Gladys.  First Walmart (sorry, there was a reason), then the Four Corners national monument, then Bluff and finally Goose Neck State park.  

Ok, so we had a special reason to go to Walmart.  We have decided that once we hand the camper van back we will hire a car to take us through California.  We have enjoyed the campsites so much that we have decided to try proper camping on the next part of the trip.  So for the price of one night in a hotel we are now fully equipped to go camping in California.  (I am not yet convinced that this is a good idea!)

Next to the Four Corners national monument.  This is the only point in the US where four states meet. We were surprised to find a $5 per person entry fee.  We didn't stay long.

Next to Bluff, where we had been told by one traveller that there was very nice coffee, and then we were told by a friend that there they had the worst coffee ever.  Unsurprisingly when we tried the coffee it was quite average.

Gladys safely delivers us to our final destination with no navigation problems at all.  She is a star! 

We arrive at Goose Neck State park to find that we can choose from any camp spot that we want. 

For quite a while it looks like we are going to be the only residents in the park this night, but eventually a couple of other cars turn up.

We are parked right on the edge of a cliff, and this is the view just beneath our camper.

One of the other camp residents for the night is a Dutch couple who are cycling coast to coast, back to back!  Stuart and I agreed a long time ago that a tandem would not work for us, I like control and he likes to go down hills fast, not an ideal combination.  Even this specialized bicycle would be unlikely to work for us!

We make our second attempt at cooking over a fire pit (but once again, we bring our own special smoke making skills to the fore).  We are attempting to cook jacket potatoes, and the last time I tried this I ended up with ash lumps.  This time however, we lay a number of flat stones at the bottom of the fire pit, put the jacket spuds on top and surround with firewood

Success!  Jacket potatoes with reheated chilli.  Marvellous!

We are in a very remote location, with no ambient light and the skies are cloudless, so we see the most amazing night sky.  It was like being covered with a blanket of stars.