Transylvania to Pennsylvania and beyond! Day 8 – Canyon Lake, and flight to San Diego

[BONZO]

Tuesday 16th July 2019

Cast list (the usual):

Me: Shaun, Intrepid Traveller

Her: Alison, Slightly less intrepid traveller, but planner supreme and finds the good deals!

Trip Report Index HERE

Up early again as usual (well Alison was anyway!)

and we thought we go back down to SWB for a breakfast buffet as the last one worked out well for me in particular. Something didn’t seem quite right as we approached a very quiet restaurant and surprise, surprise – no buffet breakfast on a Monday!

Oh well, I guess we’ll have to À la carte then (the deal was either a buffet, or up to $60). I had the full cooked option and Alison had steel cut oats and a pastry basket (which I shared!)

It was all very nice but I still prefer a buffet breakfast and I guess this was a better or at least more filling option than available in the lounge. On our way back to the room there was a man standing near the check in desk dressed from head to toe in khaki. Not only was that strange it was the fact he had a bird of prey on his arm.

We stopped and chatted for a while as he explained he was from one of the nearby attractions and came into the hotel occasionally.

We arranged a late check out, then returned to the room and looked over our bucket list and considered what to do today with the time we had left. Doing a 2 or 3 hour drive somewhere was out of the question really so we looked for something a bit more local. I did spot the Dolly Steamboat trip on Canyon Lake but the there was only one trip scheduled at 12:00 but the time it finished would’ve been too late for us.

In the end we decided to take a drive out to Canyon Lake anyway and possibly stop at Tortilla Flat, the last surviving stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail for freight haulers going to the Roosevelt Dam construction site (completed in 1911) and a population of 6!

We drove out and then joined the Apache trail being careful not to look over the edge of the road as we climbed up and twisted around the roads this way and that – it felt a bit like being in the film Duel!

Anyway, with a few hundred yards to go a sign was on the road saying the road ahead was closed! Sheesh! What the hell! Why not tell us 9 miles back when we started!

We found the road closed just at the end of Tortilla Flat – which was also closed! Why oh why is so much shut on Mondays and Tuesdays? (Afterwards I thought they must work Saturday and Sunday so the start of the week is their weekend off). We looked around outside and took a few snaps whilst wondering how cold the beer would have been inside.

We took a slow drive back the way we had come and stopped by a picnic and lake swimming point and took in the views. I checked out the water temperature and it was like a bath! Oh well, didn’t even think about bringing swimming stuff with us but a possibility for another time then.

We made our way back to the hotel to freshen up and pack, before checking out.

We had an easy drive to the airport and dropped off the hire car with ease (having done about 1000 miles in total in a very comfortable car), again the car hire centre was very quiet.

We hopped on the transfer bus back to the airport terminal, checked in our luggage and settled down in the lounge. I had a G & T and some snacks before boarding, followed by the same again for both of us on the plane. It was just a short hop to San Diego, ready to pick up our long haul flight.

Goodbye Phoenix!

We touched down at San Diego at about 6:30 and settled into the Airspace lounge. It was slightly odd, as there was no food out other than a few nuts and crisps. All BA passengers were handed a menu and you could order at the bar. Alison ordered a chicken wrap with crisps – I didn’t bother ordering anything as I wasn’t too hungry.

Time passed as the sun went down – the flight was delayed a while due to the late incoming flight but it worked for us to shorten the wait time when we landed at Heathrow. When we got to the gate our names were called out and we approached expectantly – fingers crossed for an upgrade! No - it was just a passport check!

We boarded the plane promptly and the cabin crew were pleasant enough, efficient if not a bit corporate in their approach.

Erm, another Gin and tonic and nuts for us both

followed by soup to start and then a delicious risotto rice dish.

I finished off with cheese and biscuits, red win and a glass of port.

After that little lot I don’t remember much as I drifted off in a blissful sleep. Alison had prawns to start followed by risotto and slept/watched films etc.

Next stop Heathrow!

[Melbatb]

How strange that things are shut on a Monday!

Lovely scenery again!