Author Archives: Joe and Sarah Gill

GEO-QUIZ #3:

The original name of the river flowing through this town is “El Rio de las Animas Perdidas,” which when translated from Spanish means “The River of Lost Souls.” The river was named after several Spanish explorers who were lost while traveling on the river. Their bodies were never found, and the remaining explorers believed the souls of the lost explorers would be relegated to Purgatory. The name of this town, founded in 1880, comes from the Basque word “Urango”, which means “water town”. Laborers were paid an average of $2.25/day.

Several well-known movies were made in this town, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, City Slickers, Cliffhanger, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Night Passage, Ticket to Tomahawk, Around the World in Eighty Days, How the West Was Won, and Tracker.

Where are we? Post your guess in the Comments Section!

NV
OK
FL
IN
MO
TN
NY
GA
HI
KY
ON*
NM
MA
OH
MI
WA
WI
OR
AR
IL
KS
ME
NC
NE
LA

Archeological evidence shows that people have lived here for nearly 5, 000 years. The first residents built no permanent homes, but remains of their campsites and images etched or painted on the canyon walls tell us their stories. Later, people built household compounds and storage facilities to store corn and beans. About 700 years ago, most of these people moved away. Most recently, Navajo tribes arrived and still live here, farming and practicing their cultural customs.

This National Monument is home to several periods of Indian culture dating from 350 A.D. to 1300 A.D. and the 26-mile canyon’s sheer cliffs range from 30 to more than 1, 000 feet, providing a spectacular backdrop for hundreds of Anasazi ruins, as well as modern Navajo homes and farms.*

It was too hot for us to do much hiking, besides the fact that dogs are not allowed on most of the trails. While Sarah was marveling at the incredible timeline of human connection to this seemingly inhospitable environment, Joe remarked how easy it is to remember the importance of water to human existence when confronted with this landscape on a sweltering summer day. How easily we take for granted in our contemporary homes that the twist of a tap will provide us life-giving H2O.

GEO-QUIZ #2: Where are we? Leave your guess in the Comments section. A reminder that the person with the most correct guesses at the end of July will win a prize! Prize still to be determined, but we promise it will be fabulous!

(*adapted from The Official Navajo Nation Visitor Guide)

GILLS’ GEO-QUIZ #1
We almost crashed an outdoor wedding this afternoon, but contented ourselves with watching from the street. When the distraction of Mike the Van started to divert the attention of the wedding guests away from the ceremony, we quietly moved further down the block of this small town founded in 1882. Its ideal geographical location in the high desert was a factor for the official Farmers Almanac to declare this destination as one of America’s Top 10 Best Weather Cities!

This is a photo of Joe & Shasta standing on a corner. Where are we?

CA
AZ
VA
DC
CO
UT
TX

Polar Products makes cooling wrap collars for dogs and other animals. We also bought a long-lasting Polar Pet Pad for Shasta to sit on while traveling through hot summer days. (Maybe we should have bought two more for us!) His pad stays cold for about 24 hours without ice or refrigeration. Recommended for vintage car pet passengers!

Mike received a “good to go” from his mechanic. Might need 4 new tires before crossing the desert. Joe installed a wicked awesome new stereo system! Also rigged up a battery-powered 10″ fan! Air conditioning! We are ready to rock and roll!

This summer, we are headed out on a month-long adventure in our 1972 VW camper van. Join us each day to see new photos and to guess where we are! We will post geography clues along the way and the person with the most correct guesses at the end of our trip will win a prize!*

Summer 2012 blast-off is set for Friday, June 29. Stay tuned!

*Prize to be determined but likely will include a tshirt designed by Sarah!