Red Rock Balloon Rally, early December 2017

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The weather forecast the entire week leading up to the balloon rally has Gallup with lows in the teens to low 20’s for the weekend.  I am not cancelling this trip; I promised Lori I would help crew her balloon.  My initial plans were to go without electric for my camper, I have batteries and solar so I should be good, right?  Probably, but I am not taking any chances, Nicida is coming along and she was very cold the first time we went camping and it only got down to the upper 30’s.  The fact that I forgot to close one of the overhead vents may have had something to do with that.  I will hook up to the electric so I can have a small, quiet heater running all night if need be.  It actually only got to the upper 20’s each morning, still cold enough that I am glad I brought it along.

Sedona, AZ Dec 26-29. 2016

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Not wanting to sit at home over Christmas break I started looking for someplace to go for a few days.  I just finished trips to Greece and northern Wisconsin but I still have the urge to get away, but not so far that I have to fly.  There are quite a number of close options; Bisti Badlands, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon and Canyon de Chelly to start.  My friend and hiking partner, Laurie came up with Sedona.  She has a hiking and cycling friend that lives there, Don, who is always looking for an excuse to hike.