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July 29, 2014

Tuesday

At around 8:14 PM the Rawlins drove into their driveway after a 9,204 mile trip across and back the United States. We were so blessed to have no travel problems, no sickness, or murder along the way. :)

We are proud to be Americans and have been lucky to have seen the beautiful parts of our country.

I must confess, I never thought kudzu could look so good.

Thanks for following us on our journey. I plan to post pictures later.

Love to all!!

Country Roads, Take Me Home

Monday

July 28, 2014

Monday morning we arose early and hit the road again. Riding across Kansas, we noticed the green starting to come back into the scenery. There were farms on left and right but spaced far apart. No neighbors in this neck of the woods. If you need to borrow a cup of sugar, well, get in the car.

George had two stops left for us to visit. One was the Arabia Steamship Museum. I wasn't clear at all what it was but I thought it must be a steamship museum with stories and pieces of steamships that traveled the Missouri River. No. I do believe this was one of the most interesting museums I ever visited.

The steamship Arabia was travelling up the Missouri River in 1850 loaded with 20 tons of supplies to be sold and used by pioneers out west. Also on board were wives and children who were travelling to be with their husbands. The Missouri is a hard river to navigate and the boat hit an underwater log, took on water and sank. The upperdeck was above water and people were able to be evacuated. The only casualty was a mule. The entire bottom of the boat was underwater and in that day it was nearly impossible to recover the goods. Years passed. Over 100 years and the lore of the Arabia still was in the minds of some of the locals. In the early 1980's two brothers, their father, a friend, and one other were discussing the lost Arabia. They decided to look for it. Not an easy task. It would take money, time and a lost of work.  Check this out it will tell the rest of the fascinating story.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia_(steamboat). The museum was truly entertaining and amazing.

We also visited the Pioneer Trails Museum. It was a reminder to me that traveling west in a car for 29 days is not as bad as I thought. I sure wouldn't want to travel by wagon. The men, women, and children who expanded our country were tough, determined, and have my blessings.

We drove to Mt. Vernon, IL for the night to rest. Home is a little closer.

The Mile High City

Tuesday

July 28, 2014

Today we are going to tour Denver, CO by bus. We have two tours booked. One in the morning to see the country and surrounding areas of Denver and the afternoon ride will take us through the town of Denver.

Denver is a beautiful city. George booked our motel in an older area of Denver not realizing it was slipping into decay It's just like any city, parts of it grows and dies. We were in a nice motel but the surrounding area was a little questionable. There were homeless people, people lying on the sidewalk passed out or whatever, bars everywhere. OK, it opened the eyes of this Baptist girl that all IS NOT OK in USA. There are lots of hurting and searching people in this country. Many looking for happiness in the wrong places. I not saying all of Denver was like this however.

We rode all through the city and surrounding area and let me tell you there are a lot of healthy people there too. We saw people riding bikes everywhere, running, jogging, etc. Denver is blessed with many parks and they are well used. Hiking/walking/biking trails thread their way throughout the parks and people were out and about. We rode by the state capitol building and it had lush grounds too. People were lolling in the grass and enjoying the beautiful weather. On the other side of the capitol building we were greeted by a huge protest between Jews and Palestinians of Denver I guess. Both sides had flags and were yelling back and forth across the police barricade.

The dome of the capitol is covered in gold. In the past few years it has been regilted. Guide said that 72 ounces of gold was given to the state and it was sent to Italy to be pounded down and made into gold leaf. The end result was enough gold leaf to cover a football field.

We visited Wild Bill Cody's grave.  LOL George was telling some friends the story we had heard about his burial and the fight for his body after his death between Denver and Cody. There was an older lady there picking up coins off his grave and she promptly set the story straight that his body is interred in Denver and that all the info one is given in Cody is just for the benefit of storytelling by tour guides. LOL  She did not appreciate hearing George's story. :)

We did visit Red Rock Canyon and the amphitheater there. It was beautiful. Signs told visitors that they were setting up for a concert that night. We walked out and looked down over the seating area and it was full of people. Not sitting, however, but exercising. They were running, jumping skipping, walking up and down the bleachers. Some would step up on, do a pushup and a jumping jack, step up one more, etc., there were groups of five or more skipping in unison up the bleachers together, one group was doing a relay, a football team was there doing laps Whew! Who knew that you could use a facility like this for exercise. When we left, we saw a couple preparing for a wedding there.

We ended our day around 5 o'clock, got in the van and headed east. We spent the night in Colby, KS. It was a long and full day.

The farther east we come the sweeter home sounds.

Exercise is big in Denver

Red Rock Amphitheater

Red Rock Amphitheater

Wedding Preparations

LOL A surprise around every corner.

Colorado Capitol Building

Rocky Mountain High (No Marijuana)

Saturday

July 26, 2014

Today we woke up early and got on the road because we want to get to Pike's Peak before the predicted clouds and rain roll in this afternoon.

We had a great drive through the country. I salute George because he has picked some beautiful roads to travel on with great scenery. As we leave this morning, I am a little happy. We are facing the sun. That means we're heading back towards home. I love traveling but, I miss home, my friends, and of course Shannon and Caroline.

We did get a surprise this morning. As we topped the crest of a hill, we were greeted with a sky full of hot air balloons. What a beautiful sight.  I guess they had traveled over some of the mountain peaks and they were landing. The funny thing was that they were landing in a cow pasture and the cows didn't even seem to notice. Guess that was some good grass. I counted and there were thirteen balloons.

We made it to the top of Pike's Peak. What a drive. Nineteen miles going up with lots of switchbacks. I must admit I flinched a couple of times and the door handle got a workout. Our early departure was definitely in our favor. The sky was so clear at the top. There were a lot of people up there. Parking was at a minimum. The parking attendant was having a time getting everyone situated. We enjoyed the view and shopped around.

I must not forget to tell about the bikers. There were bicyclists going up that road. All just pedaling along at their own pace. Most looked happy. There were a few with grimaces on their faces. I don't think that they make a bike with enough gears to get me up a 14,000 mountain on 19 miles of highway. I know going down must be a lot easier.

When we left, we were met with a deluge of traffic going up the mountain. Cars, motorcycles, vans, buses, an emergency vehicle and then a ambulance. We were instructed to drive down the mountain in the lowest gear possible and not to ride the brakes. Well, we are doing just that and zoom there goes a bicyclist by us just a flying. Whew I mean he was making time. He passed two other cars and we continued down in first gear and not riding our brakes. I wonder about him. Midway down, we were stopped and the park ranger had a heat sensor gun and he checked our brakes to see if they were too hot. 300 was too hot, we were 170. Go George. Hmmm. Park Ranger did not check the temperature of my shoe on the right side. LOL

All in and all it was a great trip.

Voodoo Donuts for snack tonight and then a tour of Denver tomorrow.

Landing in the cow pasture

A morning surprise

A daffodil balloon

I'm a Yellow Bellied Chicken

Friday

July 25, 2014 (5 months till Christmas!!)

Today started out with a visit to the Colorado Monument. It is not a statue or memorial. It is actually another mountain range/cliffs/ big canyons. We enjoyed our visit and our time there. I did not go to all of the viewing points. George got out at most of them. This land feature was carved out over millions of years by time and erosion. We went for  a rim walk around the top. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. We met another couple and walked along with them for a while. They must be world travelers. They said they sorta were from California but, I think their roots are not down anywhere. They are next headed to Singapore.

Next on the agenda was the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It is a huge granite canyon that has been carved out by the Gunnison River. This canyon was different in the fact that the walls went straight down. If you fell off here, there was nothing to catch you or to grab on to. At our last stop on the loop tour, we saw two rock climbers going up the side of the canyon across from us. These are not the first ones we have encountered. There were some at Yosemite going up El Capitan but I couldn't see them. These two were wearing a white shirt and a red shirt. Easy to spot on a dark granite wall. Oh my gosh. The canyon wall is 2000 feet from top to bottom and they were in the middle. One was in the midst of pulling himself/herself up and the other one was  perched on a small ledge. These guys/gals certainly go with a different drummer than me. I can get my exhilaration from eating M&M's.

We then made our way to Grand Junction for the night. We had to pass through the Rocky Mountains. When we hit the pass we were at 11,400+ feet. We were looking down at the tops of trees. My brakes are working on the right side of the car and there are also some new finger/claw marks on the door handle.
We saw a lot of open range signs on the road. Watch out for them cows. We never did see any but, there were cow patties on the road so the sign is for real. Why did the cow cross the road? He followed the chicken....per George.

We passed by large cattle ranches along the way with lush green grass for the cows. It was a beautiful drive and a much needed and appreciated sight of green.

The drivers out here are insane. A motorcyclist went by us and about spun us around. We were only doing a paltry 70 MPH. More power to him. He was weaving in and out of cars and no helmet.

I'm such a wimp.

A Birds' Eye View

Thursday

July 24, 2014

Today was a good day full of challenges for me!! We are going to Canyonlands National Park. To be honest, I had no idea what we were going to see and do. That's called trusting your husband. I am beginning to think at times I may have to watch out for him and his adventures.

Canyonlands National Park is divided into three section The Needles, Island in the Sky, and the Maze. We were at Island in the sky. The reason for this name is you are up so high and looking down on beautiful rock towers, fins, and the river and canyon below. It really did feel like we were on an island and I truly got a feel for what it might feel like to be a bird flying up high.

I was trying to remember I wedding vows today. I don't think it included hiking with your husband up to see a huge canyon from the rim, Upheaval Dome. There were too many steps going up a steep incline. Next, we went to Mesa Arch. This hike wasn't as bad. Lastly, we went on a 1 1/2 mile rim walk. I again thank God that he has helped me overcome my fear of heights. We were walking along looking down into a huge canyon with the Green River in the bottom.The canyon was huge. There are no words to explain its beauty. It was one of those times I felt very small again.

We were very lucky with the weather. It was cool, low 80's with a good breeze. At the end of our three hikes, the sun came out and it became hotter. I will readily admit that I was not sorry to finish the last hike. I talked to God along the way praising him for the beauty of his creation and asking Him to give me the strength to get back. I was almost running on empty.

All I say is God is good, God is my creator, and His creation never ceases to amaze me.

Lord Lift Me Up....to Higher Ground

Wednesday

July 23, 2014

Wow, I can't believe that we have been gone from home 24 days. It has been an exhilarating journey. We have seen people, places, and things that we'll never forget. Today was another day I'll never forget.

We arrived in Moab, UT last night. Our plan was to get up really early on Wednesday and go to Arches National Park. This we did. We got up at 5:30 AM, got dressed, ate some breakfast, and then headed out. One reason we left so early was to beat the heat. The other reason is that the parking lot at the head of Delicate Arch fills up quite quickly. We made the trip in good time. We arrived around 6:00AM. Plenty of parking. As for the temperature, at 6:00 it was already 89 degrees.

We get on our way. It's an easy walk at the beginning. Nice dirt trail, bridge, some switchbacks. I'm thinking this is a piece of cake. Umm-No! We started gaining some elevation and more switchbacks. Soon we are on rocky ground the whole way with cairns guiding us. Around every corner I think we will see the arch. As we gained altitude, I had to sit down and rest quite a few times on rocks along the way. I think I left my carbon butt print on quite a few boulders going up. In my mind, I'm wondering what George has gotten me in to. I have truly trusted him on every detail of this trip. We finally get to the top around 7:15 or so. We(I) did not set any speed records going up. I did talk to God a lot. Give me strength, help me, I praise you for the beauty of the sunrise.

We spent some time at Delicate Arch. It is beautiful. I am so glad i made it to the top.

We enjoyed the view for a while and talked with some other hikers. We talked with some people from Asheville, NC and a girl who graduated from Carolina.

The hike back to the car wasn't quite as bad. LOL. Gravity does help sometimes. I didn't have to rest a single time. We met so many hikers going in the opposite direction. I thought to myself, "you got a long way to go." The heat was getting oppressive. It was 95 degrees when we reached the parking lot. We also visited several other Arches and viewpoints. Unbelievably there are over 2,000 arches in the park. We did not seek out that many. We were impressed with the stone formation The Fiery Furnace. You must have a guide to go in there. Many, many columns of sandstone close together to form mazes. It was huge. It's easy to see how one would get lost in there.

Here are a few other shots from this morning's adventure.

We had some lunch when we returned. Then we slept a l l afternoon.

The Highs and Lows

Tuesday

July 22, 2014

After I had posted last night, George and I went to find some supper. Believe it or not, there were more places to eat than you would think in Torrey. On the way in, I had seen a restaurant that I thought served Mexican food. It was called Cafe Diablo. It was a beautiful setting with outside seating. The weather was breezy and warm so we sat outside. When the menus came, we were in "sticker shock." Oh well. We started out with rattlesnake cakes. Two little patties made like salmon patties, served with served with three toppings. It wasn't bad. George then got a veal dish and I got a marinated chicken breast. It was all delicious and we loved sitting  outside enjoying the Utah weather.

Donna's chicken

George's meal

This morning we took a drive to see Capitol Reef National Park. We had already seen some of the beautiful rocks and cliffs but today we were in for a treat of an awesome nature. We have seen plenty of cliffs and beautiful valleys from the top but today we are seeing the beauty from the bottom. Capitol Reef is huge. There is a roadway that takes you through the more beautiful areas....a self guided tour. We thoroughly enjoyed our ride. We even went off road to take a hike to see the slot canyon. The walk was about 1 1/2 mile one way. As you looked up, there were huge walls of rock towering over us. We saw some huge rocks that looked like they were teetering on the edge of mounds of dirt/gravel and you wonder what was holding them there.

We then left Capitol Reef and headed towards Goblin Valley State Park. The ride there was something like being on the moon. The Colorado Plateau never stays the same. We passed huge expanses of gray looking dirt, rock, hills, red cliffs on the horizon, scrubs. We arrived at the entrance after going about 30 miles of deserted land. I thought Utah had gone totally wireless. There were no wires of any kind by the roads except for miles and miles of barbed wire. We went to the parking lot and started down. We had seen a few goblins on the way in. The valley floor is full of them. The temperature at the bottom was awful. It was so hot I know I felt my skin starting to sunburn. I told George lets get a few pictures and get out. The ground was packed white dirt/rock which reflected the heat. UGH We did get a few pictures. 

We arrived in Moab around 5:00. We were both tired and ready for showers. We're chilling right now.

Tomorrow we're going out early to see Arches National Park. The high temperature is projected to be 103. Right now it's 8:00 and the temperature is 98. I'm missing Reidsville and home.

Never Judge a Book by its Cover

Monday

July 21, 2014

Today we wake up in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are as George says, "smack dab in the middle of town." Yes we are. When the town was created Joseph Smith wanted the Temple to be in the middle so, all streets are North, South, East, West, and numbered 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 North, East, South or West. Hmmm.  We are situated at 2000 West.

We have a tour of the city booked at 9:00. We are picked up promptly and off we go. We are in a small group again. One lady from Oregon and one from Massachusetts. Our guide is very knowledgeable of the city. We drove through an old cemetery and the driver alerted us to the deer that lived there. We saw around 10 deer just lazing around in the shade. He said they used to come down and spend the winter there but now they live there year round. They are almost tame. They did not seem to mind at all our van coming through. Driver said sometimes the lawnmover man had to shoo them away so he could mow.

We make two stops on our trip. One is at the state capitol building. It is absolutely beautiful. It is all marble with beautiful murals in the rotunda. I will post a picture.

We then stopped at Temple Square. The flowers around in the gardens are beautiful. A mixture of all kinds and colors. They are watered and very lush. We went to LDS visitors center for a bit. One could spent many hours in there looking around. We then rode around Salt Lake City and enjoyed the sights. I was a little frustrated that our trip was so rushed. He kept talking on his cellphone and getting calls. Later he received a phone call and from his end of the conversation I deduced that someone in his family was quite sick. She had received her test results an the insurance company was calling him. I then felt bad for him and whispered a prayer.

After our tour finished at 11:45, we were lucky to get to go to the LDS Convention Center and hear an organ concert. They offer two concerts each day free to the public. A different organist each day with a different repertoire. The convention center looks just like a church. Had a huge choir loft and tremendous pipe organ. Reading the brochure, I found that this organ has around 78,000 pipes.  George said one side of the organ had over 100 stops and it had 5 keyboards. This was a special treat that we did not count on. The organist was very talented and played a couple of songs I even recognized.

Soon we left SLC and headed to Capitol Reef. After a little interstate race driving at 80+ mph we got on a more sedate highway. This road wound through a lush valley with lots of farms. Irrigation was everywhere, therefore, green!  As we neared our destination, we began to see beautiful red colored cliffs and mountains. We drove for miles to get to Torrey and the red cliffs lined the landscaped along the highway. We arrived around 6:00 PM. I am doing the laundry. :)

Tomorrow more exploring at Capitol Reef.

Utah State Capitol

LDS Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah

Pipe Organ
inside
LDS Convention Center
7,708 Pipes
More than 100 stops
5 keyboards

Inside the Great Hall, Utah State Capitol

What a Ride and We Weren't in a Raft!!

Sunday
July 20, 2014


We got up early and found the Krispy Kreme in the Excalibur and had breakfast. Then George and I bid Caroline goodbye. She is flying home today and we're heading on.

George had us a rafting adventure planned today in Marysvale, UT. Just a hop, skip, and a long jump from Las Vegas. We headed out around 7:30 AM. It was a long ride. We enjoyed it though. We are beginning to see a little more green vegetation. Farmers are certainly irrigating.

As we enter the Colorado Plateau  we are seeing the beautiful mountains with red colorization in them. George said it was a high iron content. I know these mountain ridges are connected in some way with Zion and Bryce which also has that beautiful red hue.

We are driving and not dawdling around as we have many miles to go to get to Marysvale. I-15 speed limit is 80!  We took full advantage of every little mph. My phone GPS has us arriving at the rafting area at 12:56. We are supposed to leave for rafting at 1:00. We followed the directions and were swinging around some curves. Lo and behold, the navigation system takes us to the middle of town and leaves us in the middle of a street. We call the rafting guide and we are 5 minutes out so, off we go again. I am the whole time thinking that there are several rafts full of people waiting for the slowpokes to get there. HA. When we finally arrived, there were 3 other people waiting. There was a grand total of 5 going on the trip.

The raft trip was fun. We went down the river which had class 2/3 rapids out of 8. We had a grand time, no one fell out, and we all got wet, just what the pamphlet guarantees.

We arrived in Salt Lake City tonight around 8:00 PM. There was the most beautiful rainbow over the city. You could see every single bit of ROY G BIV. Tomorrow we have a tour of the city.

I Stand Amazed at the Human Race

Saturday
July 19, 2014

This morning was beautiful as we got up to move on to our next destination. The sky was crystal clear and the temperature was 57 degrees. We drove down the mountain from the sky resort and ate breakfast at a restaurant called The Breakfast Club. It had just what we needed COFFEE.

The land out here continues to be endless. We were driving by a huge lake but I did not realize how big it was. I made the comment that the water was low and there were stumps sticking out of the water. When we were closer after driving several miles, Caroline told us it was boats!! The land is so wide out here that it is difficult to get a handle on how far away a mountain or anything might be. The mountain peaks today went on and on.

We have seen all kinds of farming since we left Reidsville. Today we were surprised to see a huge herd of sheep. I remember watching a movie once where a lady was bringing sheep in to cattle country. John Wayne was in it I think.

One stop today was at Manzanar State Park. It is the site of a Japanese American internment camp which the US established at the beginning of WWII. All persons which Japanese connections were taken from their homes with only what they could carry in a suitcase and taken to this place. It was totally out in the desert. Flat land all around with nothing but shrubs. Manzanar was home to over 12,000 internees during the war. They hadn't done anything wrong but after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, US was afraid of spies, etc. It was not like a prison camp. They could come and go as they pleased on the ground had activities such as dances, school plays, baseball, etc but they were surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers. We watched an informational film and I was in tears by the end. I read a really good book that sort of went along with this. It is entitled "The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet."

We then topped off the tank with gas and headed towards Death Valley. I sat there wondering what I had let George get us in to. LOL. I was relieved to see cars meeting us coming out and that there were some vehicles behind.
 Let me tell you there is nothing out there except rocks, cliffs, mountains, shrubs, Joshua Trees and heat!! We watched the thermometer go up and up on the car. Our car thermometer reached 118 degrees. At the visitor center it was 116.5/117 degrees. There was a stiff wind blowing but it was hot!

We finally exited that hot place and headed towards Las Vegas. After quite a long ride in which there is nothing and bam....there are casinos. Las Vegas continues to grow and old casinos are coming down and new ones are being erected. We had two things to do before we went to our room. Caroline is coming home tomorrow, so went went by the airport to pick up her boarding pass. We then went to the iconic "Welcome to Fantastic Las Vegas" sign and got our picture made. There was a huge crowd there getting their pictures made and having a good time.

We have reservations at the Excalibur. It has a castle theme. When we arrived at the front entrance, it was nothing like checking in at the Comfort Inn or Best Western. Four rows of cars/taxis all lined up and all in a hurry. George gave me the reservation papers and told me to go  register. I just jumped out of the car and forgot my cell phone. Well, when you walk in to this place it is huge!!!! I walked and walked before I found the reservation desk. The queue to register was full. I then realized that I didn't know how to get in touch with George or where he and Caroline were. I finally had my turn registering and came and stood our front of the motel waiting for George and Caroline. Thank heavens I look frazzled 'cause I sure didn't want to be mistaken for a girl looking for a job!! We finally caught up with each other.

Had dinner at the buffet. Caroline went her way and George and I headed to my dream store M&M World. Yes I did a little shopping but I kept my senses. Four floors of everything M&M.
Got this checked off my bucket list.

Needless to say, it was a Saturday night and downtown LV and the casinos were packed. I have never seen such a mishmash of people. I just wanted to stand out of the way and look. I know one thing CSI needs to get some more off the edge people in their crowds on their show. LOL

We did go to the casino and I had my $ to play slots. It just wasn't the same though. All you do is push a button. I always liked to yank the handle. Your credits or winnings come out on a piece of paper that you redeem. So much for the plastic cup with coins in it. I left with the $ I came with, except for what I left at the M&M Store.

Went to bed earlier than most of the rest of town.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

July 19

Friday

We were up and at 'em early this morning. 6:00 AM is a little dark down in the valley when you're surrounded by these mountains. It took a little longer to load the car since we had to protect our car and food from those hungry bears. We then had a breakfast of champions.....chocolate milk and a chocolate chip Clif Bar, It was sad to leave this beautiful sanctuary created by God but, we must move on.

We left Yosemite from the east side. We passed through Tuoloume Meadows. It was such a lovely, peaceful drive with lakes, creeks and wildlife. George and I got a great surprise going down Hwy 140. We both looked at the same time and saw a large bear standing in the middle of the highway. He was about a 1/4 mile away. He then loped off the road into the brush.

Yesterday our bus driver told George about a neat place to visit. It is the town of Body. Oh I might mention it is a ghost town. It is a state park. In the MID 1800's it was the site of a gold strike and part of the gold rush. At one time the population  swelled to 10,000 residents. After the gold tapped out, the people moved out too. Fires at different times took  out some of the buildings and the remaining buildings sat untended for quite a while. In later years, it became a state park. It was really intriguing to go there. Things were left in place wherever they were. Broken wheelbarrows, old cars, organ in the church, caskets at the funeral home, fire engines in fire house. It's like people just disappeared.

I purchased a book, "The Story of Bodie," and I can't wait to read it. After this trip, I will need a bookcase for all my books. I'm getting books instead of t-shirts. I was really excited yesterday to find there was a book entitled "Death at Yosemite." It will go on my shelf with "Death in the Grand Canyon" and "Death at Yellowstone." I know I'm a little morbid but, I look at it as a way to prepare myself not to do something stupid like many victims did.

We arrived in Mammoth Lake, CA around 4:00 PM.  Our motel is directly across from the ski slopes and the lifts. Not too much happening on the slopes now. I can imagine what it's like in the winter with all the snow.

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Finger of God

Thursday

July 17, 2014

We are up early this morning. We have a tour of Yosemite that leaves at 8:45 AM. It is an all day tour. I am glad George has booked this. Now he can ride and look. I wouldn't let him look too much when we were coming in.
Our bus arrived right on time and we all loaded up. Before we left, the driver asked us to tell where we were all from. It was truly a mixed group. Uraquay, Japan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, California, and Denmark.
Herb was our driver. He has been driving buses at Yosemite for 18 years. I relaxed a lot. :)

Our first stop was at Glacier Point. You had the most beautiful view of the valley. You could see forever. The mountains, cliffs, and waterfalls. Looking down you could see the tops of trees and the green valley below. We stayed here for an hour and we enjoyed every minute of it.

We then went to the area where we would have lunch. Wawana Lodge was nestled in the forest. It had a large lawn with idarondack chairs, a fountain, and places to relax. We met a couple from Columbia, SC. They were our lunch partners. We had a wonderful time talking with them and sharing traveling experiences.

The tour then took us to Mariposa Grove. It is Yosemite's largest grove of Redwoods. They were huge. We took an hour long tram ride through the grove enjoying the cool breeze and admiring all the trees. The Redwood is one of the biggest trees in the forest and it has one of the smallest pine cones. It is about the size of a hen egg. The sugar coated fir has a pine cone the size of a loaf of bread. These hang from the tips of the topmost branches. Seeing these trees that are hundreds, no thousands of years old gives me renewed faith that God is taking care of this universe.

On the return trip we got take pictures at the end of a tunnel going in to Yosemite. We had been told by Ron Boswell this was the best place to get pictures and he was not wrong. When you come through the tunnel at the end it's like the majesty of God is opened up to you

Now for me crawling over those huge rocks to me was challenging but there are people here who love Half Dome and El Capitan. Rock climbers were going up and down all while we were there.  At one of our stops our bus driver was trying to point out some climbers going up the face of Half Dome. Goodness, I never did see them, even though I said I did. If you're climbing a mountain that big and you want people to see and pray for you, you need to wear a red shirt. When we returned from our trip we stopped and observed several more. Herb said some of them climbed with no ropes, hooks,  or nothing. All free hand.

To add to our excitement we saw a juvenile bear on the return trip over in the meadow.

At the end of the day, we walked over to near the bottom of Yosemite Falls. The riverbed was filled with huge boulder. Down near the bridge where we were there was a small current of water. Children and adults were climbing and jumping over these rocks having the grandest of times. George, Caroline and I found us a little private area and sat and enjoyed the water and watched the sun set on El Capitan.

He told us several interesting stories about life in Yosemite. He said once there was a slide and a piece of granite the size of two football fields slide off the mountain. He said it caused a gush of wind over 160 mph and it blew down trees. He also told of the 100 year flood and the damage that it caused.

Early supper and we returned to our room.

As I reflect at all the beauty I saw today, I truly believe there is a God. How all this could have happened with a big bang is beyond me. I truly saw God's finger and majesty in His creation today.

National Park Internet is S L O W !!

The posts for Wednesday and Thursday are late due to internet connection/non connection/partial connection

Wednesday

July 16, 2014

We got an early start this beautiful Wednesday morning. We are bidding Truckee, CA goodbye and heading to Yosemite.

Our first part of the trip included a drive around picturesque Lake Tahoe. The water was a beautiful blue and pretty calm. There were some boaters out and about on the lake but, the water is too cold to swim in. George and I considered several homes that were for sale there but, decided we wanted to stay close to Reidsville. LOL (sarcasm..We couldn't afford the front porch of one.) It is always fun to see how the other people live. Sometimes you get a little envious but, then I think of how lucky I am and all the worries they must have and I find myself satisfied. I don't have to deal with tourists (LOL), bears in the trash can, high gas prices, etc. We stopped at our favorite overlook, the one we used several years ago, and made a few pictures.

Next we rode to Marshal Gold Discovery State Park. Let me tell you, this place was off the map. We traveled down, down, down, going left, then right for what seemed forever. We did see some grape vineyards. When we arrived, it was sorta a disappointment. It was hot, no bathrooms, summer camp kids and counselors everywhere (ugh it reminded me of school field trips.) We walked around a little, went down to the memorial to Mr. Sutter, got our feet wet in the river, and decided to leave. We did not even get to pan for gold as the kids were taking up all the time with the sluice. No problem.

What an incredible drive it was going into the park. First we noticed how drought stricken they are in this area. The lake outside Yosemite was really, really low. We have been constantly warned by signs that the fire danger is very high in this area. I can see why. The mountains and valleys are covered in brown grass. It's pretty to look at but certainly it is extremely flammable.

We entered the park from the  end. We could see remnants and evidence of past forest fires. It was disheartening to see the devastation but, again we are reminded that it is the cycle of life out here. As we climbed in altitude and mountains became less wooded and more rocky. The tops got higher too. We rode along the Merced River and it was filled with boulders left over from the glaciers. These rocks were as big as buses and small cars. The are piled up all over the place. Signs along the way reminded us of the possibility of rock slides. That I can believe. The mountainsides are covered with slabs of granite and loose rocks. I wonders when looking at some of those large boulders how in the world they got there. They are teetering in one special spot. It's no telling how long they have been there.

Our biggest surprise came when we got our first glimpse of Half Dome and El Capitan. Talk about big!! and so, so beautiful. We were coming into the park in the late evening and the sun was setting on the two peaks. As we descended into the valley there, we really got a feel for how big these mountains are. We certainly rode in with our mouths hanging open. We checked in to our room, had some supper, and then konked out for the evening.

The worst part of this was we had to bring everything out of the car that was food related. We weren't traveling with a load of groceries but anything with scent, deodorant, car air fresheners,  or resembling food had to be stored in our room.They warn that bears will break out windows to get to food. If one does break into your car, your car is messed up and you get a ticket from the park ranger.

Can't wait till tomorrow to explore the park.

From dark black to bright blinking lights

It was a beautiful morning that greeted us when we awoke this morning. It was sunny and cool. We were up and going around 7:00 AM. We had several stops to make today and then some driving.

Our first stop was at a beautiful waterfall at McArthur Burney State Park. I don't know what it is about the sound of water that just fills my soul. I am so relaxed and at peace. 

Next we headed to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lassen Volcano erupted in the early 1900's. I had never heard of it. We first visited a huge lava tube. It is a cave that was made by lava. Open at both ends. We went inside with our flashlights and went from one end to the other. Now I will be the first to say, my rods and cones, don't work too well when it comes to navigating in the dark. My big ole flashlight looked like a lightning bug's tail in that dark, black hole. George and Caroline were moving along. I was stumbling along trying to see and not fall over the uneven ground. Poor me. George had planned a possible hike to see some mudpots and fumeroles but, the girls opted out. I saw plenty at Yellowstone. We ended up riding up to the highest elevation the road would take us. We stopped at one scenic overlook and the valley was beautiful (see picture)

We had lunch at the visitor's center and then headed towards Truckee, CA. We were just leaving the park and I told George I would drive if he needed me to. Well he pulled over and I said, "Now?" and he said, "No, I think I'm getting pulled over." I looked back and there was a CHIP in a car. It wasn't Ponch. He was very nice and told us that our brake lights were not working. How weird that both would burn out at the same time. He let us go. I think he was amused at seeing our NC license tag. Then I got to drive.

Today we have passed through lush valleys with farms that reminded me of BIG VALLEY and BONANZA, twisting and turning roads through the mountains, rocks and boulders, plenty of beautiful evergreens, a doe and her baby, and two lizards.

We got our trusty phone gps to navigate us to the local auto shop and got us two lights. Yes, they were both burnt out, got our supper at the slowest pizza place we have ever been in. I thought one waitress would surely have her baby before our food was ready. LOL

Caroline has decided to fly home on Sunday. She has had enough riding to last her for a lifetime I think. She will be flying out of  Las Vegas and returning to the homefront late Sunday. She's been a trooper hanging out with us old folks. love her to pieces. She is also worried about getting all her stuff ready to move back to Boone August 1/2.

Tomorrow.....Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

Please excuse typos and English goofs in these posts. I am writing them after a long day and sometimes my finger, brain, and this computer are not in sync.

Burney Falls

B

Into the deep of a lava tube

Turn Right, Turn Left, Go Straight - It's Not Mother May I

Today was a good day. We were up and on the road by 6:45 AM. Don’t ask how we looked and about our lovely conversation. It took large cups of McDonald’s coffee to get us going. It was another cloudy and foggy morning as we left Brookings. The temperature was 53 degrees. Another hoodie day in July.

Our first stop on our ride today was an overlook that was said to have a fantastic view of the mountains and the coast of Oregon. We drove on down and turned on Requa Road. As we go up the winding and twisting road, there isn’t too much to see except a couple of residences. I had to stop on the way up to let a dog get up out of the road. He was lying there napping. We finally made it to the top and the weather had us all socked in. We couldn’t see anything. So we turned around and went back down the mountain, stopping for the dog to get out of the road again. I guess they don’t get too much traffic up that way if he sleeps in the road.

Our next adventure was at Klamath where we went to see a giant redwood that you can drive your car through. I did it! It was a tight squeeze but there are no scratches on the van or the tree.

On we went to Redwood National Forest. There are no words to describe the feeling one gets when you walk into that forest of majestic giants. It is unbelievable the size of these trees. The path was lined with lush plants and ferns. It was like walking in a magical garden and there were the trees. We made pictures but of course that’s like looking at a picture through a straw.

We stopped by the Redwood Forest Visitor Center and while there heard a walkie talkie say that there was a missing hiker. Oh my gosh. They called other rangers in to assist. A lady came in later and she had been crying. They had found him. Her son had gotten lost somehow. I can’t imagine what she must have been feeling.

We later took the scenic route (299) to Burney. It went through the Salmon Mountains. What a drive. It was turn right, turn left, go straight, turn right, turn left, go straight……NASCAR drivers could not do this road with those wicked right turns. We were also blessed with much road construction and road work. Mowing, cleaning ditches, laying guardrails, cleaning slide areas. We spent a lot of time waiting for the pilot truck to come get us.

I noticed as we traveled on that the temperature was rising. I was happy that I could take off my hoodie. The higher we went, the higher the temperature. I looked and it was 99, then 100, 101,……peaked at 114 degrees. I don’t know how accurate our thermometer is on the car. It usually runs about 3 degrees nigh. Regardless, it was HOT. When we arrived in Burney at 6:00 PM it was 99 degrees. I guess that’s what I get for posting a picture on Facebook with the thermometer reading 53 degrees. Gosh, we doubled it!

On a side note, George’s reputation with the seagulls continues. While we were at the Redwoods Welcome Center, I wanted to go out and stand in the Pacific Ocean so he went we me. When we got back to the car, he was wearing a lovely white seagull badge on his shirt sleeve. Poor guy.

Let the Sun Shine

Sunday
July 13, 2014

We have had a good day today. Of course as we got up this morning it was still gray, cloudy, and cool (low 60's). I am not complaining. I hear that it's hot back home.

We continued our drive down highway 101. We made several stops along the way. We stopped and looked at two lighthouses. One at  at Cape Meares and Cape Blanco. It was cloudy at both stops. I felt like I was in a moorish movie as the clouds and mist blowing across the landscape. Lighthouses have always fascinated me. I realize that lighthouse keepers led long, hard, and dangerous lives. Living with or without family in an almost solitary situation must be very difficult.

We also stopped at Sea Lion Caves. We went down the elevator into the caves and there were many to see and hear. We then went to the outside viewing area. Looking down at the rocks below, there were many sea lions just lying around basking in what sun there was. Some were swimming and of course the males were making their presence known.

As we traveled on, the sun kept trying to break through the clouds and mists. Finally as we rounded a curve, the sun broke through and reflected off the ocean. We had a beautiful view of the oceans, rocks, and beaches. What a surprise!!

We made our last stop at an area which George found in the Oregon Hiking Book. It was called Secret Beach. The entrance is nestled just off the highway. There was room for only about four or five cars. The hike down was listed at .2 miles. It was easy peazy going down. The trail was narrow and wet but nothing I couldn't navigate. Then we came to the end. We are still up above the beach by about 30 feet. Now we get to climb down the rocks. George and Caroline headed on down. I just sat there. Hmmm Did I want to risk neck? I finally headed down the embankment doing my famous crab crawl. Feet, bottom, hands, feet, bottom, hands. It was wonderful to touch that sand. The surroundings were gorgeous.  There were of course huge rocks in the ocean and the waves were crashing. A beautiful waterfall was coursing out of the woods and fed into the ocean. It was such a peaceful and beautiful place. I immediately thought of the song "How Great Thou Art." We have certainly seen the beauty of God's creation this weekend. I know there are more to come.

We are in Brookings, OR tonight. Supper is calling.

Secret Beach
Brookings, OR

Donna at Secret Beach
Brookings, OR

g.

Secret Beach
Brookings, OR

Sea Lions

Beach, Mountains, and Seagulls

Saturday
July 12, 2014



Today has been a fun day. We awoke to cloudy and foggy skies and temperatures in the low 60's. We headed down the coast going south. We do not have specific plans for today but, we'll stop wherever or whenever we get the urge.

George did want to stop and see the Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon. We found a parking spot and headed out to the beach. It was till very gray and foggy. We walked for 1 1/2 miles give or take before we finally saw the shape of the rock appearing. The fog and clouds were hanging very low. The rock was awesome.  A huge rock in the ocean is just not something you see on the Atlantic coast. I will post a picture.
The walk along the beach was great. I love hearing the waves and water birds. The drive we took carried us through forests of evergreens and other trees, mountains, cliffs where you looked down at the ocean and then we would be on the same level. You never knew what to expect around each curve.

Riding down the highway there are constant reminders that we're not close to home. We saw warning signs on the side of the road for: dip - 500 feet, watch for ice, drifting sand, snow area,  tsunami area. Oregon takes the tsunami safety very seriously. It is my understanding that this area along the coast was inundated by one after a quake in Alaska in the early 60's. We even have evacuation plans in our room which tells us where to go just in case. UGH

We continue down the Three Capes Highway. We passed Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, Cape Foulweather.

We arrived in Yachats around 6;00 PM. Our room is facing the ocean. I am sitting on the porch typing this. Life couldn't get much better. Well yes, it would be if Shannon was with us.

George went out to get ice. He passed by two baby seagulls that were newly hatched. He said they still had their down on them. Mama seagull did not take kindly to his being too close. She swooped down at him. He said finally there were four seagulls after him. One did the poop bomb! He came in all out of breath. I asked what happened. He said he had been running from them. We sat on the porch later and Mama Seagull was still diving after people walking the seawalk. She's get a Mother of the Year award.

We had supper at a local seafood restaurant that was small but owned and operated by the fisherman. The food was wonderful. I had delicious clam strips and George and Caroline had "Slugmullion" which was a big bowl of clam chowder with cheese, shrimp and crab. Well left quite full.

We'll miss the super moon tonight but, we have seen beautiful sights today that will make up for it.

"Lush"ious and Green

Thursday
July 11, 2014



Today we checked out of our dream hotel and headed to the coast. We are going to Cape Disappointment, where Lewis and Clark finally found the Pacific Ocean years ago. Our main stop will be Astoria, OR.

We had several places George wanted to check out. They were: 1. the house of the Goonies (a movie); 2.  Jessie's house from Free Willy;  and 3. the sea wall where Willy jumped over Jesse in the movie. All of the locations were easily located with Google maps. Caroline and George went to the sea wall so Caroline could reenact the part where Willy jumped over Jesse and get a picture. There were huge rocks piled up and they were climbing all over them. I just got my book and read as I did not want to see them fall in the brink. LOL

We also visited Astoria Column. It is a beautiful structure which told the history of Astoria through pictures and words on the outside. Visitors could go up to the top if they wished. It was 164 steps up and a platform around the top. My fear of heights got the best of me. I did not go up. George and Caroline said it was very crowded and kids were running amok. Hmmm. Glad I stayed on ground level.

I don't want to forget the temperature. It was in low 60's all day. I loved wearing my hoodie today. It is also cloudy. I guess the locals are used to it. They're going around in shorts and t-shirts. We rode by the beachfront and saw some small children who were in bathing suits. Swimming in that cold water...not me. It was 59 degrees when we got back from eating.

I must say everything is so green here. The lawns, the trees, and flowers are beautiful. Hanging baskets are overflowing with petunias and we have seen some flowers indigenous to this area that are absolutely beautiful. The hygrangeas  (sp)  are deep, deep purple and blue. I guess the long days of light and rainfall are a gardener's best friend.


We are in Seaside, OR tonight. Tomorrow is a free day. We're going down the coast and stop wherever.

On Our Way to Portland Riding Down the Highway US 30

Wednesday
July 10, 2014

On Our Way to Portland Riding Down the Highway US 30
We spent a good part of the day driving today. We had such beautiful views as we entered Oregon. There were huge wind farms, apple orchard, grape vineyards, and of course all the other beautiful scenery.

We drove down the Columbia River on the Washington State side and got a beautiful view of the river. We saw many wind surfers when we passed through Hood, WA. The wind was really moving them along.

As we are going down the highway, we saw our first coyote. He ran across the road in front of us. He stopped on the hill and looked back. He had his lunch in his mouth.

We got our first glimpse of Mt. Hood as we drove down the river gorge. It was way off in the distance but, still was quite imposing.

George took us to a World War I memorial. It was really neat. It was created by one man and it is a true replica of the Stonehenge.

We visited some beautiful waterfalls, We then went up to an observation area in the park. You could see five snow capped volcanoes. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood,  Mt. Adams, and  Mt. Jefferson. We were so high up we were looking down at the evergreen treetops below us. Spectacular view which made the hike to the top very worthwhile.

We got into Portland, OR around 4:00 PM. As with all large towns, there was road construction going on and of course our exit was blocked. Caroline came to the rescue again with her GPS on her phone.

We arrived in downtown Portland after trying to find our way. We stayed at the Mark Spencer Hotel. It had a concierge, who met us as we pulled up, asked our name and told their front desk that we had arrived. I felt like royalty. We parked in hotel parking deck and went to our room.t had a sitting room with a kitchen, flat screen TV and a huge bedroom with wonderful beds and TV. Country folk had come to the big city.
We were even offered wine in the lobby while we waited for information at the front desk.

We had dinner at Jake's Seafood per recommendation of Van Moore. It was delicious. We enjoyed peeled scrimp, calamari, and chicken wings.

Our first visit to Portland left us greatly impressed.

Idaho is HOT, HOT, HOT

Wednesday
July 9, 2014



Today George had an excursion planned for us. We went to Craters of the Moon National Monument. George has always been into science stuff and he had heard of this place. When NASA was training the astronauts to go to the moon, they worked there in preparation. Craters of the Moon is actually a huge lava and volcanic debris field. It was huge. They say the field is the result of several eruptions the last being over 2000 years ago. There paved paths that led out to different points. We hiked out to several spots and even went down into a lava tube. We had to go down steps and then maneuver over huge boulders. Inside it was very dark and we had to use flashlights to see. The cave was weird and a little neat too. Caroline and George went on to several other spots. I went back to car. It was getting hot. Black rock and black asphalt mean hot temperatures.  When we left, you could see volcanic debris way on down from the original area. That means a volcano can spew stuff out a long way.

We hit 3000 miles on the odometer just after lunch.


We then started our killer drive for the day. We went by more sagebrush, rocky land, and barbed wire.  I looked up at the temperature and it was 102 degrees on car thermometer. I'm not sure about the accuracy but, when it gets over 95 it's HOT.




We had lunch at a diner called Fudge Factory Diner.  The food was good. I had my first ever cone of huckleberry ice cream and it was very good. The waitress was new to the area.  The population went up by one to 1,042. She was from Texas I think. She said she had moved to be with her brother. Another tiny little town. I think these little towns would be good places for the Witness Protection Program to send people.  I would be crazy. No shopping center or Walmart.

We visited the Oregon Trail Museum in Baker, Oregon. It was great. I'm just glad I did not have to experience going west in a covered wagon. I would have "seen the elephant" before I got out of North Carolina.

We got into Hermiston, OR around 9:00 PM. Settled in for the night.

Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play... No Thanks

Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play...

No Thanks

Tuesday

July 8, 2014

We got up early this morning and pretty much packed up. We got ourselves all ready to go for a hike. We went over to the restaurant to get some breakfast. It was 7:00 AM. Early for us. After we have ordered our coffee, Caroline noticed on the menu that there is an eleven mile float trip down the Snake River offered in the mornings at 7:30 AM and in the late afternoon. She says it would be fun. Well, George reads it and we’re off to get on board. I pay for our coffee that we did not drink and we race back to the room while George goes to lodge to get us on the list. After much rushing around, we got in the van and arrived just in time.

We were on the trip with a couple from New Jersey and a couple from Maryland. We had a twenty minute ride to the put in location. Soon we were off and floating down the Snake River. How beautiful floating on a river with majestic, snow covered mountains in the background!! I think we made a terrific decision….. hike up a mountain or float lazily down a river…. Yes, we’re smart. Our guide, Mark, had much experience and was very, very knowledgeable about the river and the Teton Mountains. He was quite the wild life spotter. We saw three different bald eagle nests and. They are so majestic. One nest had juveniles. Mother was there flapping her wings. We also saw some mule deer and some Canadian geese. The best part was the scenery and the cool temperatures.

Floating down the Snake River

Two adult eagles

Donna and Caroline

Oh I forgot to mention we had a disaster of sorts on Monday. Caroline’s cell phone stopped charging. It was not the fuse in car.  Now young people these days depend on their cell phone for life. Between that and the fuse going out earlier on the car, she was not a happy camper. I located a Verizon store in Jackson, WY and we headed there to see if we could get any help. They tried to charge it in the store and it did work with their charger. We then decided to purchase a new one. When they tried it out, it would not work. Good grief. We ended up getting a new phone. We were lucky that we were able to upgrade. All is good now.

We then packed up the van and started our drive to Idaho. We noticed right away how dry it was. In talking with locals they say it hadn’t rained in two years…I don’t know when they last had rain but, a truck going down a dirt road caused a major dust trail. I also noticed when I was driving, that the horizon seemed to be cloudy when in reality it was dust in the air.  Dust, sagebrush, dust, sagebrush. Today was a first for me. I rain over tumbleweed twice.

We stayed in the little town of Arco. I think it might be a good town to disappear in.

There were some tall cliffs behind the town. There were huge numbers painted all over the rock faces. We were told that graduating seniors went up and painted their class year. Said some of them hung down the side on a tire suspended by a rope. Ahh, the bravery/stupidity of youth. It's a tradition though. The earliest number I saw was '29.

Arco is a historic town in its own right. It is the first town in US to be completely powered electrically by atomic power. We went by the plant but they were closed. Geez I
was so disappointed.

Off to bed. Long day tomorrow.

You Have Company, It's not Avon

Monday
July 7, 2014



We packed up early this morning. It was a beautiful day. As we're going in and out of cabin we hear the sounds of mule deer up on the mountains. They were out all around. We were in the second cabin from the side of the mountain. I looked out and there was a mother mule deer and three little ones along with another adult. They are much bigger than our deer in North Carolina. One adult came down between the cabins eating grass. (I posted a picture on my Facebook page.

Note, I have read all the warning signs about not getting close to the wild life....bears, moose, mule deer. Some people just don't get it. I stayed way back and used my trusty little camera's zoom. It's amazing that some people get up real close for that perfect picture. We learned later that some tourists did not pay attention to the warning papers they handed out about this problem so now they have a video in the park stores that shows people getting gored/knocked down/etc. We also heard that the doctors in one town had a pool in guessing what day the first animal attack victim would come in.

Signs were everywhere warning about bears and so was the bear spray. People were encouraged to buy it if you were hiking.  I had already decided I would push George first. Not really, I know he would sacrifice himself for me.Well, we did not see Yogi or Booboo.

We spent the rest of morning driving through Yellowstone to get to the southern part. The mountains were beautiful, wildflowers were profuse, and the weather cool. There is still evidence of forest fires in the past several years. Tree trunks were sticking up like pick up sticks all over some of the mountains. Signs of new growth is everywhere. The lodge pole pine has a seed that will not sprout unless it is exposed to 110 degree temperatures. New trees are growing right up to the edge of the road. I guess it's the circle of life.

When we arrived at Old Faithful Lodge, the place was packed. We rode around and around searching for a parking place.Finally, we found one. Then we went out and watched Old Faithful erupt.  There were thousands of people lined up all around her watching. Just as the time neared the people got really quiet. Caroline said it was like a golf tournament. Old Faithful
puffed out several sporadic plumes of steam and got everyone all excited and then she blew. She was right on schedule.

Later we went to an area where George wanted to take us on a hike. I was all prepared with my hiking boots, pants, hat, and stick. Well it was HOT!!! We got just a little way up the trail and I said I was going back. We had also forgotten the bug spray and it was needed,  so we all went back. George and Caroline got the bug spray and went on their hike. I got a blanket out of the car and my book, found me some shade under a tree by the Yellowstone River and relaxed and read. I don't think it could have gotten any better.

We spent the night at Grand Tetons National Park.We had a nice cabin. The mountains were awesome and still had snow on them. Their reflection in the lake was beautiful.