The Last Leg of the Journey...for now.

Waking early, the first rays of sunlight hit the window. I welcomed the warmth and pulled back the window blanket, a tightly woven red blanket with blue thunderbirds. I bought it down in Taos at that place next to Michael's Kitchen. The thickness helps block out the chill of the night resting on the single-phase window. I pull the red blanket off fully, and Buena sits up, attentively looking outside. The sun rises through the back window, and within half an hour, the bedroom is warm.

I make my tea, yerba mate today, and pull the blankets off the living room windows. These blankets, rusty-orange, white and black patterns, came from Mexico. They're not as thick as the red blanket, but they're my favorite color. They match the color scheme in the living room.

A large box sits next to the couch-bench. It's the fifty-nine dollar toaster oven that air fries food. I got it last night at Walmart. The food--quick meals for after long work days--is in the fridge and freezer. I've got one month to live off all the food in this RV. There may be no grocery stores near where I'm going, and the restaurants will want tourist-prices for food. I'm going to need to make money, not spend it. Once I get to my camp site, I'll figure out how to run an electric line and plug it in. I don't think I can run it through the RV. It will probably trip the circuit breaker.

With all the food in the fridge, I worry about the propane-mode shutting off. It did that for a few days after leaving Havasu. It would shut off while I was driving. Or...out by the Joshua trees, the propane would shut off in the middle of the night. When I get there, I'll probably plug the RV into electric to run the fridge; then, I'll run a separate line through the front window when I want to cook using the big toaster oven.

Such were my thoughts as I drove down the big hill from Page and into the heart of Navajo country.

In Cameron, I stopped at the rest area and spent some time in the museum. Back in the day, the sign said the gringos and Navajo had a working relationship. Both cultures lived in survival mode and we're not hostile to each other. Instead, they bartered and pawned things until the government stepped in and started regulating transactions.

From Cameron, I enter on the east end of the Grand Canyon's south rim. The RV putt-putts along, moving slowly. As such, I'm able to maintain the temperature and not overheat. I pull to the side and drive slowly, letting other vehicles pass. Most people give me a wave, a light flash, or a little "toot toot thank you."

The tower on the east end of the park invites my curiosity. I've been here before, but I don't remember too much about it, so I determine to check it out. The watchtower itself is closed. It opens next week, but the bottom portion is open now. The large stone room features huge windows to give a bird's-eye view onto the canyon below. The air inside is dark and chilly, so I hurry back outside into the sunlight.

I drive on to the main area--lodge, restaurant, and gift shop--of the south rim. It's a little after one in the afternoon, and I can't find parking on any of the three lots. Eh! I give up and drive to where I'm supposed to be working.

On the way, I check my text messages to see if anyone sent directions yet. All I know is that it's near the Grand Canyon airport.

I find the airport, park in the lot, and watch the technology of flight while I wait. Several helicopters fly over. More take off. What's that little propeller on the back do?

BossMan calls me. He directs me where to park. He tells me: "We'll get the water turned on tomorrow. There's a sewer there. I'm not sure when we'll get electric, but we're working on it."

I look across the room at my Black & Decker Crisp 'n Bake. I don't think I'll be using that any time soon. What will I do with all the frozen meals? Do I try using the stove? The RV place said they repaired the lines.

Now...I wait. BossMan says I'll be working tomorrow. I sure hope so!