tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35131972774501089532024-03-13T08:48:06.691-07:00A Rialta Kind of AdventureOne year, two people and a little RV. This will be the ongoing account of our journey to discover some of North America's most appealing places, people and things. Beginning from the Pacific NW, we will travel to where ever our imaginations invite and our noses may lead us. If you have some special places to suggest, please do!Jill and Thayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564758401953500856noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-53957059504811417612015-10-12T21:58:00.001-07:002020-01-15T19:50:27.556-08:00For more information go to.....<p><span style="font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;">If you go to</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://travel.jillandthayer.net">jillandthayer.net</a> y</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;">ou will find a <a href="http://travel.jillandthayer.net/images/map_w_track.jpg">map showing the complete route</a> of our trip, <a href="http://travel.jillandthayer.net/docs/jills_book/Time_Off.pdf">the book in an easy-to-read .pdf format</a> that Thayer created from this blog, and <a href="mailto:jillandthayer@yahoo.com?Subject=I%20have%20a question about your trip">our contact information</a>.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;">Thanks for visiting!!</span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-86158751161602154672014-06-14T16:46:00.001-07:002017-02-03T00:31:14.296-08:00The final leg...<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, I suppose all good things must eventually come to an end. As I start one of the final blogposts I have very mixed feelings. I feel sad that this wonderful trip is drawing to a close, but I look forward to seeing my friends and family. I bounce back and forth all day long during these final days. I usually get the "post trip blues", as I call them, even with a short trip. I have no doubt that I will have a serious case this time. Tommy and Alex's wedding will hopefully distract me in a wonderful way. The looming school year and a new granddaughter on the way will take care of August.</div>
<p><br /> <br /> <br /> <a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbxNl6kUQiI9nVkO1CxrgcAgpiC-_vYZLDvnSAxgGds2qbRr4-6O6AOMAJr-__lynSRv_ysIsUCt7hYEQcS4ZB1LiJTIWwr1Tb0bSU3Xz59OYMGoYGSTrojx7D-kncF3VZ9JaA4iC7ZU/s1600/P1060329.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbxNl6kUQiI9nVkO1CxrgcAgpiC-_vYZLDvnSAxgGds2qbRr4-6O6AOMAJr-__lynSRv_ysIsUCt7hYEQcS4ZB1LiJTIWwr1Tb0bSU3Xz59OYMGoYGSTrojx7D-kncF3VZ9JaA4iC7ZU/s1600/P1060329.JPG" alt="" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a>Ah well, not to get ahead of myself...<br /> <br /> </p>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkknLlNZz2DZIDPjslbidcbAbi73PfL-N672xTg-7-r6eDIAjYhGz33_Xs5dXK5dpGlddMkheOnCpGAZfdP5kkVSl_UPJ3TQ0TTShh3n7yvSA_MPWRAJx3qdOmBHNiq_zRperNgRXXnc/s1600/P1060336.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkknLlNZz2DZIDPjslbidcbAbi73PfL-N672xTg-7-r6eDIAjYhGz33_Xs5dXK5dpGlddMkheOnCpGAZfdP5kkVSl_UPJ3TQ0TTShh3n7yvSA_MPWRAJx3qdOmBHNiq_zRperNgRXXnc/s1600/P1060336.JPG" alt="" width="240" height="320" border="0" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Up and over stunning Tioga Pass into Yosemite we went! The road has only recently opened in the past couple of weeks, so the high country is still just coming out of the snow. Many areas and trails were still closed with the park employees working to open campgrounds and other services. The scenery is simply spectacular with glacier carved peaks, rounded domes, granite boulders dropped erratically across the landscape, rushing streams and sparkling lakes. We hiked up to the top of Lembert Dome and were treated to a 360 degree view across this wonderful gem of a park. I lazed in the warm springtime sun while Thayer occupied the time building a cool arch out of the native granite.<br /> <br />
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060353.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2l5LR4JmFDo/U5zd9k-ljMI/AAAAAAAABw0/m6V2gtQ1ig8/P1060353.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060353" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thayer's original arch ...</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcKwlWXa4GllPCC6qhTzVS9HvTOCDSYV4N4-uEeMJRNKBDdNNL2rIPrXCsErFTdyCYjJG-A0IDA-ziXc8qnQOXhFeRb5AqS9o_icJqA0kqF7eY8Yz2nPtNBQ9mtGbX8w3D6Msj4QuN1Q/s1600/P1020122a.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcKwlWXa4GllPCC6qhTzVS9HvTOCDSYV4N4-uEeMJRNKBDdNNL2rIPrXCsErFTdyCYjJG-A0IDA-ziXc8qnQOXhFeRb5AqS9o_icJqA0kqF7eY8Yz2nPtNBQ9mtGbX8w3D6Msj4QuN1Q/s1600/P1020122a.JPG" alt="" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...more impressive after a little Photoshop magic!</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin: 0px;"> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060384a.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U69Q2-ULPTM/U5zeBNbKxZI/AAAAAAAABxM/-d7iiy3Gusc/P1060384a.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="P1060384a" width="500" height="183" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama with glacial erratics</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
It is fun to imagine the mountains much higher than these that existed thousands of years ago but have since been eroded by wind, water and ice. Smooth glacial valleys perched high on the mountain peaks, showing the path of ancient glaciers, abound throughout the Sierra Nevadas. At Olmsted Point a short walk took us to another amazing overlook, down into Yosemite Valley with Half Dome anchoring the view. We spent most of that day stopping for streams, lakes and views as we headed west, aiming for the Valley.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060395.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YnU2xy9rHKc/U5zeDre53dI/AAAAAAAABxc/hRL9BRTynno/P1060395.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060395" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half Dome from scenic Olmsted Point</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060457.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IYSrRSlVc_A/U5zeElaLdhI/AAAAAAAABxk/3hw7aZtYq1g/P1060457.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060457" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half Dome from the valley</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060470.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wyYIA69aaoA/U5zeCb3KNyI/AAAAAAAABxU/7XHQT6XGH94/P1060470.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060470" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yosemite Valley and Falls</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-a8X12u0meHk/U5zeF-ecR2I/AAAAAAAABxs/q1YI-ny6Z7o/P1060432.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="text-align: justify;" title="P1060432.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a8X12u0meHk/U5zeF-ecR2I/AAAAAAAABxs/q1YI-ny6Z7o/P1060432.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060432" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Yosemite Falls</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KTZPD0pwjg38UMESwjAhx6n5qkfZb4hu0R7N-kDTFF06VcQEIouoEZb9F-HvMZe8w3wHkPHPb1-Gzcf7hqO6I861VmR35DhlewkaSquUTF_-14dlS5rMmDRFGRqaFPni0BIzHE5QvXk/s1600/P1020249.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KTZPD0pwjg38UMESwjAhx6n5qkfZb4hu0R7N-kDTFF06VcQEIouoEZb9F-HvMZe8w3wHkPHPb1-Gzcf7hqO6I861VmR35DhlewkaSquUTF_-14dlS5rMmDRFGRqaFPni0BIzHE5QvXk/s1600/P1020249.JPG" alt="" width="240" height="320" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafting the Merced River</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Yosemite is celebrating it's 150th birthday as a preserved area this year. In the midst of the the Civil War and at the urging of Galen Clark, Abraham Lincoln was the first president to take steps to preserve Yosemite for the people. Later, Theodore Roosevelt, with the prompting of John Muir, Gifford Pinchot and others, made it into the nation's second national park, after Yellowstone. We can thank Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot for most of our national parks and forests. If these guys hadn't done everything in their power to set these lands aside the land would have been ransacked by the logging, mining, cattle and railroad industries. John Muir wished to set the lands aside completely and parted ways with Roosevelt and Pinchot when they allowed multiple uses in the national forests. A very interesting history of this period of history, including the formation of what would become the US Forest Service, is <span style="font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">The Big Burn</span>, by Timothy Egan.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060482.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tNNBCwOiF2g/U5zeJavV50I/AAAAAAAAByE/9cMYOV-CLLg/P1060482.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060482" width="225" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Apron</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Back to our narrative... We spent two days roaming around the Valley, walking to waterfalls, scrambling around on "the Apron" where Thayer used to climb, and visiting the visitor center and museum. I dusted off my bike one day and had a nice ride along the bike trails through the valley. Yosemite has a great public transportation system, and once you find a parking spot you can then ride the clean, non stinking buses around all day for free. Bikes and rafts are available to rent and there are miles and miles of hiking trails with a large variety of terrains. Just sitting and watching the climbers can be pretty entertaining after a long day of walking.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwreH3eorT_W7rDgL1BBcZgx15T2blR8tH60UPaJg9iVNTaVQWb4Mi_sAiyGbFSoW8UJN88LYIvfZ-D3OSbl3rZ7sBo5Xg6QFHb8g6U2NuT5drAz0XAFWajrgO2M14XJttptW5BVA3F0/s1600/P1060515a.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwreH3eorT_W7rDgL1BBcZgx15T2blR8tH60UPaJg9iVNTaVQWb4Mi_sAiyGbFSoW8UJN88LYIvfZ-D3OSbl3rZ7sBo5Xg6QFHb8g6U2NuT5drAz0XAFWajrgO2M14XJttptW5BVA3F0/s1600/P1060515a.JPG" alt="" width="240" height="320" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing skill</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The park also offers opportunities to learn about the Native Americans who once inhabited the valley. We found their art, culture and history very interesting and were able to watch and talk with master basket weaver Julia Parker, 84, as she demonstrated her expertise. Creating a beautiful basket takes an amazing amount of time, skill and patience!<br /> <br />
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060534.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k6dCXZHNnSA/U5zeHIVjk7I/AAAAAAAABx0/AtRMpGVUyEQ/P1060534.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060534" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing baskets</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NiK_L1hQjFi7sPTH3lEtORjEZ1JAII-paG0XMvVCsJ1438gm5V-J69T1u8PA7u0K4E3T4tIdQRYn9jLiWQiRlgyuRdm6OWAz4_4TXoVnr50yHvgwDhi4RI5up0S3ecCJWgEPwJ2Zfis/s1600/P1060461.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NiK_L1hQjFi7sPTH3lEtORjEZ1JAII-paG0XMvVCsJ1438gm5V-J69T1u8PA7u0K4E3T4tIdQRYn9jLiWQiRlgyuRdm6OWAz4_4TXoVnr50yHvgwDhi4RI5up0S3ecCJWgEPwJ2Zfis/s1600/P1060461.JPG" alt="" width="240" height="320" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper & lower Yosemite Falls</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /> In addition, there is the history of the Sierra Club, which was born in this area, and the colorful biography of John Muir and other early protectors of the park.<br /> <br /> <br /> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060472.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vpzCLEer3CA/U5zeKlLZxLI/AAAAAAAAByM/ln8PQKIMrBI/P1060472.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060472" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yosemite Valley at sunset</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEI0hxSKvIULVbv1hzsvA4Pm9HG6gpWBzTAobuDIUOJx4BV8jeLBor-kMJE71F_JwThaxfp_56IkG2GpkyS7HVNeoOhy6l3YGQGqZkO9IVvwj5hofMHU5m0JnMpNO53d7OemzCbfyhoSE/s1600/P1060426a.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEI0hxSKvIULVbv1hzsvA4Pm9HG6gpWBzTAobuDIUOJx4BV8jeLBor-kMJE71F_JwThaxfp_56IkG2GpkyS7HVNeoOhy6l3YGQGqZkO9IVvwj5hofMHU5m0JnMpNO53d7OemzCbfyhoSE/s1600/P1060426a.JPG" alt="" width="240" height="320" border="0" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> One day we chatted with a volunteer who was meandering around answering people's questions. After he answered mine we began talking about what volunteers do in the park and how to get involved doing that. Turns out that if you can volunteer anywhere between one week to multiple months – and there are some neat things to do! In the winter, during Thanksgiving and Christmas, they need people to work in the information center, art museum and other areas, with indoor housing provided. During the summer there are many more things to do and they provide you a campsite in the campground, discounts at some of the eateries, and a cool shirt to wear. I am thinking pretty seriously about doing a month in the park during the summer. There is just so much to do there that you can't possibly see it all in just a few days, I think it would be really fun to spend a month there. Then it would just be a matter of deciding what next year's park would be, then the next year...<br /> <br /> <br /> Sadly, with time becoming our master, we turned our back on the lovely mountains and headed down the winding road to civilization. Next up was Santa Rosa, home of my nephew, Stuart, and his girlfriend, Chelsey. Stu has turned into quite the forager, taking after his Uncle Robb in a big way. He and Chelsey moved to Santa Rosa just 3 years ago but have quickly figured out how to live off the land. Stu chases the mighty abalone to great depths, free diving 30-40 feet to chase down the wily mollusk. On his way up and down from the ocean floor he spears a few rockfish or lingcod and comes up with a fantastic meal for a big group. Fortunately he had had a successful fishing trip just a few days before we arrived and we were treated to one heck of a meal. The prize abalone from the trip was about 12 inches across! They are also very interested in wine and have a large collection. In just driving through Sonoma County, I could tell that they have found their niche in life. It was great fun to have a short visit with them and we look forward to seeing them in August. I hope they can sneak some abalone on the airplane.<br /> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060543.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-v6m-t4MAAiw/U5zeLyzvOxI/AAAAAAAAByU/ie-l5_bpmb8/P1060543.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060543" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonoma vineyards</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060548.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Tg4CV0T4cT0/U5zeNN0LpoI/AAAAAAAAByc/b4lvxt-iAhA/P1060548.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060548" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chelsey, Stu and helper</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </div>
<p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">We proceeded towards the coast, stopping at beaches and overlooks as they came along. The views are stunning and expansive, including lovely beaches, tall cliffs, headlands and islands, windswept trees, and beautiful flowers and succulent plants. As we left Hwy. 101 the road became twisting and winding, steeply climbing up and dropping down, very narrow, and quite frightening in many places. We overnighted high up in the forest, close to the pounding surf, and in a few large turnouts.</div>
<p><br /> </p>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060551.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bVhX2e8K48I/U5zePvy-u6I/AAAAAAAAByo/6U85jGCpJYo/P1060551.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060551" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seals on the beach</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060580.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OElcp5OJSlk/U5zeSIw2zQI/AAAAAAAABy8/8_qKOZtKys8/P1060580.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060580" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal BLM lands</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060666.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xa1MSdmpB4s/U5zeW4Kjx-I/AAAAAAAABzY/he-1BurawAU/P1060666.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060666" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060561.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WTSQl4Hdh9o/U5zeQ44ZjaI/AAAAAAAABy0/PJEm30PfOA4/P1060561.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060561" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty coastal colors</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060624.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Alb_cLGMavQ/U5zeTQRCoiI/AAAAAAAABzE/TVMkfxVmwsE/P1060624.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060624" width="225" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More beautiful coastline</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060737.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--YdHBihG4ZI/U5zeas9rICI/AAAAAAAABz0/e7U6i8XfmLg/P1060737.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060737" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wave tossed rocks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060760.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4OoqfLgBFC0/U5zebxdZ3qI/AAAAAAAABz8/23XB5aPDfcI/P1060760.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060760" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from up high</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060630.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sQ0dDC4gfX4/U5zeUi1P8FI/AAAAAAAABzM/inJect_a2_Y/P1060630.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060630" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hardy succulents </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-UnTWQWtpi3E/U5zeVyn4z_I/AAAAAAAABzU/RklKDcenZ8Y/P1060646.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="text-align: justify;" title="P1060646.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UnTWQWtpi3E/U5zeVyn4z_I/AAAAAAAABzU/RklKDcenZ8Y/P1060646.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060646" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hardy succulents</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060787.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y67bemzhJjw/U5zedMY9rOI/AAAAAAAAB0E/s-uevmonU6k/P1060787.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060787" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060791.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HcD4ZJ786as/U5zeeS63MiI/AAAAAAAAB0M/yI46NhcsKaU/P1060791.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060791" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 geese hiking the Lost Coast Trail</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060795.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kgerMUiZICw/U5zefQCAl2I/AAAAAAAAB0U/fkcFhI2isvw/P1060795.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060795" width="240" height="320" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elegant cairn stones<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Finally we fell precipitously out of the clouds into the cool little town of Ferndale, just south of Eureka. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ferndale is a very quaint little town with some lovely old homes that are nicely turned out and maintained. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">It is surrounded by many square miles of beautiful farmland, estuaries, and rivers and t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">he people were really friendly and eager to share information about their big event, the K.G.C. </span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUcsBX_A0_GaAB9mM8BqfoA-hkoRt_ePxTpA00jcr2NLZ-jQVwG-kkn_LZpyb7T9Pecd6ydgFA5432Do7WVqwTlDBP168DIU9YM04Msk9y9lzl7Da3Wj2ENTlK1fjtdHJGy-EP33Fmgo/s1600/P1060825.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUcsBX_A0_GaAB9mM8BqfoA-hkoRt_ePxTpA00jcr2NLZ-jQVwG-kkn_LZpyb7T9Pecd6ydgFA5432Do7WVqwTlDBP168DIU9YM04Msk9y9lzl7Da3Wj2ENTlK1fjtdHJGy-EP33Fmgo/s1600/P1060825.JPG" alt="" width="240" height="320" border="0" /></a></div>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;"><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCjxclhHPf0UnM811eNcSMk8lQvjaN3W363Nq-gKbhssBTfPS_gyzTO3F3SpJ1n6lb2NtP3eWNaV_79nhA5c8WuvUphZgfbRaazJe6lIeNGIVmt2Q7Y0L9iT44wT58ZeBxsqrJGaU_tw/s1600/P1060853.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCjxclhHPf0UnM811eNcSMk8lQvjaN3W363Nq-gKbhssBTfPS_gyzTO3F3SpJ1n6lb2NtP3eWNaV_79nhA5c8WuvUphZgfbRaazJe6lIeNGIVmt2Q7Y0L9iT44wT58ZeBxsqrJGaU_tw/s1600/P1060853.JPG" alt="" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3>
<div><a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CR2vlkzQdaHYuQ0Ez7KzGeRNl9ab03N4F20BUUN2F9q_kJ3BrFtmF8BWXlaRGdu2cBTPVF9gHfY6swgelsT0uqHuwROR-czVGMD8FTdtt-L7c_c23vzTe_9PISfsxGWn2rYxMQC_LNg/s1600/P1060847a.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CR2vlkzQdaHYuQ0Ez7KzGeRNl9ab03N4F20BUUN2F9q_kJ3BrFtmF8BWXlaRGdu2cBTPVF9gHfY6swgelsT0uqHuwROR-czVGMD8FTdtt-L7c_c23vzTe_9PISfsxGWn2rYxMQC_LNg/s1600/P1060847a.JPG" alt="" width="238" height="320" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><a style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWyEAc7PQ_tXrkKjVIL7EuurZDcjT258BpmPIVmG8UrPZmgxkmZfDBGQUIAdxnIkr-XzkKW73XnQL_a24lqXhd8tnZh21iEUCEykp6MMRJXnsLXWCFU6gfELlJP_P99gXwQQ3nWBZK3Y/s1600/P1060824.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWyEAc7PQ_tXrkKjVIL7EuurZDcjT258BpmPIVmG8UrPZmgxkmZfDBGQUIAdxnIkr-XzkKW73XnQL_a24lqXhd8tnZh21iEUCEykp6MMRJXnsLXWCFU6gfELlJP_P99gXwQQ3nWBZK3Y/s1600/P1060824.JPG" alt="" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">This was another case of perfect timing on our part! Memorial Day turned out to be the third and final day of the Kinetic Grand Championship. I copied the following description from the website:</span></h3>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><em> The Kinetic Grand Championship is a 3-day, 42-mile bicycle race over land, sand, mud and water. (The "bicycles" are actually highly engineered sculptures.)</em></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><em>Kinetic Sculptures are all-terrain human-powered art sculptures that are engineered to race over road, water, mud and sand. Kinetic Sculptures are usually made from what some people consider “junk”. But one man’s junk is another racer’s raw material. Each Kinetic Sculpture is a work of art and each racing team has its own theme. The teams consist of pilots, pit crew and pee-ons. Kinetic Pilots pedal the sculpture and steer, the pit crew assists the pilots in transforming the vehicle for the various elements and fixing mechanical issues, and pee-ons, well, they do whatever is needed for the team to get glory. The teams give out “bribes” to their adoring spectators, judges and Rutabaga Royalty.</em><br /> <strong><br /></strong> <strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The day we arrived the whole town had turned out for the grand finale, incredible human powered crafts completing the grueling course and finishing in a blaze of glory. Everybody was dressed to the hilt and the alcohol was flowing freely. The event has been going on for 44 years and many of the participants have been involved for years and years. Winners of the event become the judges for subsequent years. </span></strong><br /> <strong><br /></strong></div>
<div align="left"><a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4NoPgHFI5E8Hg2MajnG_Q7FQLVOMVJlcIHCooQF84kH0BhYzdiollIztn9kOUf-6d-gYNRWca1CltkWinhzeZq5-ns_OowEUb_GOZAAvYPreZ6qbYBLheqmNkzdUGI2MwVxzL1o-TS8/s1600/P1060834a.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4NoPgHFI5E8Hg2MajnG_Q7FQLVOMVJlcIHCooQF84kH0BhYzdiollIztn9kOUf-6d-gYNRWca1CltkWinhzeZq5-ns_OowEUb_GOZAAvYPreZ6qbYBLheqmNkzdUGI2MwVxzL1o-TS8/s1600/P1060834a.JPG" alt="" width="320" height="244" border="0" /></a><strong><img style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1060818.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6jgzKK-hxzc/U5zegp-nsmI/AAAAAAAAB0c/2k8QLDhDr00/P1060818.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060818" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div align="left"><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-OUG0CVzmugA/U5zeh9TXL5I/AAAAAAAAB0k/lUgOLF-0pJw/P1060819.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="text-align: justify;" title="P1060819.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OUG0CVzmugA/U5zeh9TXL5I/AAAAAAAAB0k/lUgOLF-0pJw/P1060819.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060819" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-HlXXkrLgSf4/U5zekT-hBXI/AAAAAAAAB00/ZyE0eH4ZRNE/P1060833.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="text-align: justify;" title="P1060833.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HlXXkrLgSf4/U5zekT-hBXI/AAAAAAAAB00/ZyE0eH4ZRNE/P1060833.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060833" width="224" height="400" border="0" /></a></div>
<strong><img style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1060823.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kH4-POhvKes/U5zejJQiqlI/AAAAAAAAB0s/LOZ8IgtVdSU/P1060823.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060823" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></strong></div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br /></strong></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At Crescent City we entered an area of the Redwoods National Park, into a towering forest of ancient trees. There is something so peaceful and timeless about these special forests. I literally just absorb all that energy of the trees; feeling calmer, steadier and more patient for every moment I spend wandering among the giants. I am forever thankful to the individuals and groups who have fought to preserve these precious places, and hope that more people will understand and appreciate their true value.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060863.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OygDaMxmkH0/U5zepRMqH5I/AAAAAAAAB1U/c7QHWwLL9ls/P1060863.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060863" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monster nurse log</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060873.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-orAa7zNoQYE/U5zeqiYV8EI/AAAAAAAAB1c/tj_5fIV5btQ/P1060873.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060873" width="225" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoga amongst the redwoods</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060887.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GQS6-Ru622g/U5zesLDfV6I/AAAAAAAAB1k/B9k2bGBAp3Q/P1060887.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060887" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towering trees</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060896.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-awKRrHyML9c/U5zetaBLmUI/AAAAAAAAB1s/d-0aKTe8mj8/P1060896.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060896" width="224" height="400" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burned out relic (the tree)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060916.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S8PxuIKc6Qg/U5zeum2L8yI/AAAAAAAAB10/1qiK7FdLM4U/P1060916.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060916" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good ol' Oregon</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060931.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MpcB_DssbBo/U5zexZuGrGI/AAAAAAAAB18/vI9o9HjnxVA/P1060931.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1060931" width="400" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early evening stroll along the Oregon surf</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left">From there we meandered up half of the Oregon coast seeing the usual spectacular coastal scenery. The weather remained perfect as we cruised into Portland for a short overnight at the home of my long-time college buddy, Rosemary. The next day we made the final crossing back into Washington but only traveled a little way, spending the night at my cousin Cheryl's house. It was a great way to ease into the home stretch.<br /> <br />
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQvn3BdgvcaYHZszNcdeX0zc6z89TxOBS5_j4K-s53ALppvllLMD1tgQpbT8osh0_eef56EqL73wMnd_YaYWx_jwP7-gWPgFjwqdk7IFvPzifMAeeI55Mhj8jwu2PU7sTPBdlUCm3hsE/s1600/P1060718.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQvn3BdgvcaYHZszNcdeX0zc6z89TxOBS5_j4K-s53ALppvllLMD1tgQpbT8osh0_eef56EqL73wMnd_YaYWx_jwP7-gWPgFjwqdk7IFvPzifMAeeI55Mhj8jwu2PU7sTPBdlUCm3hsE/s1600/P1060718.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="217" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A secluded little beach hidden away somewhere on the Oregon coast</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /> <br /> After meandering 18,982 miles and more than 10 months on the road, I drove us the final leg home. I guess Thayer needed a rest. Handling the RV in busy big city traffic after so many months of backroad travel was a little hair raising but the rig just seemed to want to go faster as we got closer to Bothell.<br /> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VAoXrshraT-eKMVjI3bS4677XNJMrVVc7e83g22_GWg5b4QT8HoZBYZ08bvhhchWqew4xxQsRV3AJV1Jzh6iMmkTudyanMNNzib3Pz0r8FAR51mAJkrWmGYTCUiRFhitAoRvDKyYx-8/s1600/IMG_0998a.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VAoXrshraT-eKMVjI3bS4677XNJMrVVc7e83g22_GWg5b4QT8HoZBYZ08bvhhchWqew4xxQsRV3AJV1Jzh6iMmkTudyanMNNzib3Pz0r8FAR51mAJkrWmGYTCUiRFhitAoRvDKyYx-8/s1600/IMG_0998a.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="361" border="0" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;" align="left">And so, after hills and dales, highways, byways and skyways, rain and shine, beaches and mountains and desert and snow; and through hot and dry and humid and ice and cold; after caves and carnivals, hiking, biking, sailing, fear and fun; after getting stuck and near misses and minor breakdowns and fixing everything along the way; and remembering big starry nights, and glorious morning sunrises and warm welcoming sunsets throughout countryside and towns and cities across the US and Canada; and recalling all the museums, forts, historical towns, parks and visitor centers, bridges, towers, palaces, monuments, lighthouses, seaports, churches, farms, battlefields and more; and learning so much more about US & Canadian history; after having the opportunity to hook up with distant kinfolk and to meet and make new friends all along the way, plus having the special time and experiences and memories just between the two of us, ... we're home.<br /> <br /> <strong>PS</strong> - Within minutes of parking the rig, we had hopped into the car with Paul, Jackson, Sarah and Tour, and met Tommy at Sail Sand Point for a beautiful, sunny afternoon of sailing in our perfect Pacific NW. I guess it's reassuring that of all the places we've seen and experienced this past year, we still like it here the best.<br /> <br /> It's good to be back!</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F-OUG0CVzmugA%2FU5zeh9TXL5I%2FAAAAAAAAB0k%2FlUgOLF-0pJw%2FP1060819.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh3.ggpht.com/-OUG0CVzmugA/U5zeh9TXL5I/AAAAAAAAB0k/lUgOLF-0pJw/P1060819.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F-a8X12u0meHk%2FU5zeF-ecR2I%2FAAAAAAAABxs%2Fq1YI-ny6Z7o%2FP1060432.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh4.ggpht.com/-a8X12u0meHk/U5zeF-ecR2I/AAAAAAAABxs/q1YI-ny6Z7o/P1060432.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F-UnTWQWtpi3E%2FU5zeVyn4z_I%2FAAAAAAAABzU%2FRklKDcenZ8Y%2FP1060646.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh4.ggpht.com/-UnTWQWtpi3E/U5zeVyn4z_I/AAAAAAAABzU/RklKDcenZ8Y/P1060646.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F-HlXXkrLgSf4%2FU5zekT-hBXI%2FAAAAAAAAB00%2FZyE0eH4ZRNE%2FP1060833.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh3.ggpht.com/-HlXXkrLgSf4/U5zekT-hBXI/AAAAAAAAB00/ZyE0eH4ZRNE/P1060833.JPG?imgmax=800" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-42749236961780951362014-05-19T22:19:00.001-07:002014-06-18T15:09:42.026-07:00Bishop and beyondBishop is a great little town, all the stuff you need to get back into the forest and then some. Lots of bakeries, delis, and sporting goods stores. They have a beautiful city park where we spent some time, a good starting point for most places we needed to go. A few miles away is a great museum called Laws Railroad Museum. They have a big steam locomotive, other RR cars, a depot and two long rows of old little buildings for the little "town". They have a very active crew of volunteers who work many hours rebuilding and refurbishing old railroad cars, mining equipment, and many kinds of machinery. We arrived on a day when a couple of busloads of 4th graders were visiting so we had the bonus of many volunteers sharing their knowledge about the exhibits.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060046" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8DYCXZwvCgM/U3rk60-wLXI/AAAAAAAABrc/I7wi8iVj4Gk/P1060046.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060046.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fill 'er up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060064" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4PNv3qQQ9Xo/U3rk9Hbk4FI/AAAAAAAABrk/dUf9ZmvxNL8/P1060064.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060064.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laws Railroad Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060041" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y4DAMGFGNUw/U3rlBn_CfUI/AAAAAAAABr0/LhR4ZpHP8qE/P1060041.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060041.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over the Owen River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<img alt="P1060048" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eusSzEfVdf0/U3rk-LjM36I/AAAAAAAABrs/kVGAf5Hdqtw/P1060048.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060048.JPG" width="225" /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Laws RR Museum</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1050886" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-B4oniYEPvqQ/U3rlG9Lr_qI/AAAAAAAABr8/u82eaxL2wr4/P1050886.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1050886.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh snow in the Sierras</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Not far from Bishop, in the foothills of the Sierras is a unique area called Buttermilk Country. It is similar to the Alabama Hills in that it is a world class boulder climbing and scrambling area. We spent two nights here, taking long walks, scrambling around and watching the real climbers on the boulders presenting interesting problems. The nights were lovely, bright stars, cool temperatures and the dramatic backdrop of the soaring mountains to the west. We even saw a few snow flurries but they were very short lived. We hiked to where the river plunges through a steep bouldery canyon, very scenic.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1050898" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6-vNi4J7mp4/U3rlH8WM_YI/AAAAAAAABsE/uU0OiSb9X0w/P1050898.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1050898.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenic Buttermilk Country</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-smYnXmwPKvA/U3rlM7aTnGI/AAAAAAAABsU/0JAfQPmROuI/P1050994.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="P1050994" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-smYnXmwPKvA/U3rlM7aTnGI/AAAAAAAABsU/0JAfQPmROuI/P1050994.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1050994.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttermilk Country views</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060031" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gpabB59hzOY/U3rlUVCqmjI/AAAAAAAABsk/fRbhTCj_7Vk/P1060031.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060031.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun rock formations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060035" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8TbTVoyG4es/U3rlVaDBEjI/AAAAAAAABss/EfEgYuHc86s/P1060035.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060035.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real climbers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-t-jfp-N09AU/U3rlWejEfVI/AAAAAAAABs0/3_yngRXLzxE/P1060083.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="P1060083" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-t-jfp-N09AU/U3rlWejEfVI/AAAAAAAABs0/3_yngRXLzxE/P1060083.JPG?imgmax=800" height="150" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1060083.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert colors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Feeling pretty grungy, we headed into Hot Springs country. We stayed 2 nights at what we think is Crab Pot Hot Springs. Though not large pools, they are big enough for the 4-5 people that might show up. The water is heated underground by the hot magma that still exists after thousands of years of volcanic activity in this area. The ground is covered with pumice and small chunks of obsidian from the many explosive eruptions in the past. Talking to other folks, we learned about other springs in the area and ended up coming back to one called Sheepherder HS, also a beautiful pool overlooking a small lake. It felt really great to get cleaned up! Another short detour was to Hot Creek Geological site, with geysers and springs too hot for soaking and looking very much like Yellowstone.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060080" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MG41ABn6dGQ/U3rlXauH6XI/AAAAAAAABs8/JqGU-z-ig30/P1060080.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060080.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If we could only fit all this into our backyard!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<img alt="P1060203" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RMRlwLE9LKM/U3rlYaCaM6I/AAAAAAAABtE/SYM-BWe5cO0/P1060203.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060203.JPG" width="300" /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Hot Creek Geological Site</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060195" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qyxhQQJ-CQA/U3rlZKS-oeI/AAAAAAAABtM/gwimbueCnzc/P1060195.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060195.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheepherder Hot Spring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next up was Convict Lake, a pretty alpine lake carved by glaciers out of the ancient stone of the Sierras. There is a resort on one end of the lake and a nice trail going all the way around. We stayed one night most of two days so I was able to get in 2 laps around and then some. The path leading up to the pass was a bit too much but I did part of it. There was a nice beach and lots of sun for lazing around reading books and feeding chipmunks. The lake is surrounded by glacial moraines, one of the best examples of a glacier carved lake that I have seen. The lake is a fantastic shade of blue green. A typically colorful history involving escaped convicts, posse chases, murder and mayhem gave the lake it's name.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060095" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3McsrFqJNC4/U3rlxLZUs6I/AAAAAAAABvs/jK3GdXZPNaI/P1060095.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060095.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convict Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060106" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HZNOEOdQGkk/U3rlvqx0caI/AAAAAAAABvk/H9hw1BxZZgM/P1060106.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060106.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convict Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060127" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-srGExPy_6Ow/U3rlzd7MFyI/AAAAAAAABv0/WODQkf7CdmQ/P1060127.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1060127.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, still cold at night around here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mammoth Lakes is a ski town, still open though I could not see where they could be skiing, just didn't look like enough snow to me. I took a longer hike to Sherman Lakes than necessary since I missed the second lake and walked way past my destination. Is it possible to get blase about continuously scenic beauty? I have so many pictures of towering, snow topped mountains, stunning trees and rocks, gorgeous lakes and sights that I've almost stopped taking pictures! We made a quick stop at Obsidian Dome, a large outpouring of glassy volcanic material, a source for the Native Americans. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060211" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bbe5q0J12xw/U3rlaH_xzbI/AAAAAAAABtU/8Ut8dyJVP-o/P1060211.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060211.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherman Lakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060236" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FFkKq5f5WYg/U3rlbPj50FI/AAAAAAAABtc/cHV0Ed_a8DA/P1060236.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060236.JPG" width="168" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic Western Juniper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060248" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3MJk8BZyshY/U3rlcHza0KI/AAAAAAAABtk/h6YSjbjt63A/P1060248.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060248.JPG" width="168" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsidian Dome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
June Lakes Scenic loop is a short detour off of Hwy. 395, there are many resort and camping opportunities, some lakes and streams and cute little shops. We drove through all of that and ended up at Parker Lake, another dazzling alpine lake.... We spent two nights downstream on the creek, enjoying the sound of water rushing by and choruses of birds in the morning. The bugs started eating us however, so we moved along, counting the days til we have to actually be home.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060264" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--DJfLSg8Uew/U3rldWltZWI/AAAAAAAABts/7xrWiJtF11c/P1060264.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060264.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parker Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060271" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D-oeq6dn-gw/U3rlg-K_BII/AAAAAAAABuM/UMyBuy_eI1g/P1060271.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060271.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from Parker Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060279" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZUdLXLrKfOI/U3rlj9CHsJI/AAAAAAAABuk/T3VfLI554zg/P1060279.JPG?imgmax=800" height="253" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060279.JPG" width="700" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama from Punar Crater near Mono Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mono(MO-NO, not Ma-NO) Lake is a fascinating place, geologically, biologically, and historically. The lakebed is the remnant of a colossal volcanic eruption, certainly on the scale of the Yellowstone Supervolcano. it is riddled and surrounded by cinder cones, old craters and volcanic debris. We visited Punar Crater, a textbook example of a rhyolitic volcano. It had a huge initial explosion, then collapsed, sinking a mile into the ground. It then went through a period of cone building extruding loads of obsidian and glassy pumice. It is one of many craters in a chain stretching to the south of Mono Lake. Right on the edge of the lake are the Tufa formations, tall, intricate towers of limestone created by springs that used to be under the lake surface. As the lake level dropped the springs disappeared and the formations left behind are left to the forces of erosion. It was kind of like being outside in a cave, if that makes sense. A short distance away is Navy Beach, where there is another kind of tufa, called sand tufa. They are produced similarly to the other area but are much more delicate, constructed of thin walls of sand. They look like fantastic sand castles or Star Wars cities eroding into the sand.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060288" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2H-1W8_A4u0/U3rlkxq6zJI/AAAAAAAABus/W9mjbNaMEbM/P1060288.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060288.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Tufa area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060294" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R_ke_weNHuY/U3rll3fzWLI/AAAAAAAABu0/Q8AfNiafSlA/P1060294.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060294.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Tufa area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060298" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nj1-u5Mua7s/U3rlmjTuXVI/AAAAAAAABu8/JFUZZZEWXKI/P1060298.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060298.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Tufa area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060306" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OWtPBdUKi-8/U3rlng5mAxI/AAAAAAAABvE/y0bwY2HGtKw/P1060306.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060306.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Tufa, Navy Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060314" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vZt-URMZc-s/U3rls696woI/AAAAAAAABvM/ghzMxImMp64/P1060314.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060314.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Tufa, Navy Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1060305" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bTfoxyNdA3s/U3rlt1eCXlI/AAAAAAAABvU/fGg4cqLKmxA/P1060305.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1060305.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Tufa, Navy Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Mono Lake area has a very interesting history. The Paiute Indians lived prosperously and gently in this difficult environment for thousands of years, they were called the "fly eaters," because they ate the pupae of the tiny flies that line the shores.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The ecology of the lake is like no other on earth. Millions of birds use Mono Lake as a resting and feeding site on their migrations. There was a delicate balance in the populations of brine shrimp, brine flies and birds. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the 1930's the city of Los Angeles came along and secretly bought up all of the water rights in this great valley, called Long Valley. They started diverting the water to their aquaducts and sucking it dry, putting most of the farmers and ranchers out of business, and devastating the ecology of the watershed. The level of Mono Lake dropped precipitiously as the sources of it's water were diverted to the city. Creeks that used to flow to the lake dried up, killing the trees and plant life that fed the lake. Since the lake has no outlet, similar to the Great Salt Lake, the salinity increased, changing the whole food chain of the lake and severely impacting populations of insects, brine shrimp, and birds. A staggering 80% of California's seagulls make their nests on an island of Mono Lake. As the lake level dropped the island was no longer an island, and predators were able to get to the nests and devour the eggs. By the 1960's the ecosystem was on the verge of collapse.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
About that time, a small group of dedicated people began to fight back, working to restore historic levels of the lake, improve creek habitat and rebuild a devastated ecosystem. It wasn't until 1994 that the state of California decreed that LA had to limit the amount of water they were taking and begin to raise the level of the lake. Drought in current years has made this very difficult but they are slowly making some progress. There is an excellent visitor center in Lee Vining that relates the whole story and highlights the efforts of the individuals who made it happen. One that stuck in my head is the story of a LA Mother's group who spearheaded water conservation efforts in LA, providing low flush toilets to anyone who would install them. Because of this and many other efforts, LA has become a world leader in water conservation. There are massive educational programs for youth, trying to drive home the point that water is not free, it has to come from somewhere. Kids learn about the communities that are affected by their water usage and ways that they can protect this precious natural resource. Mono Lake is now one of the most studied places on the planet.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lee Vining was our turning point to the west, we are on to Yosemite and the coast, the final push for home.</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F-smYnXmwPKvA%2FU3rlM7aTnGI%2FAAAAAAAABsU%2F0JAfQPmROuI%2FP1050994.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh5.ggpht.com/-smYnXmwPKvA/U3rlM7aTnGI/AAAAAAAABsU/0JAfQPmROuI/P1050994.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F-t-jfp-N09AU%2FU3rlWejEfVI%2FAAAAAAAABs0%2F3_yngRXLzxE%2FP1060083.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh4.ggpht.com/-t-jfp-N09AU/U3rlWejEfVI/AAAAAAAABs0/3_yngRXLzxE/P1060083.JPG?imgmax=800" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-44275686809238165712014-05-05T16:37:00.001-07:002014-05-05T20:43:12.094-07:00Southern Sierra Nevada<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn74dGEXOxkQyv5IYOH2NjoJXZ3w_XwkNPPSePjypbLTK5dLiJQdFXO6W12704VIE9DqE4BV1IojChMhCXBSdAzn3BgG38ZxpJz_r9BwtdpJsulaJ5PcXs5u4Dik_bc3wiJGbZclQ26M/s1600/P1050359a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn74dGEXOxkQyv5IYOH2NjoJXZ3w_XwkNPPSePjypbLTK5dLiJQdFXO6W12704VIE9DqE4BV1IojChMhCXBSdAzn3BgG38ZxpJz_r9BwtdpJsulaJ5PcXs5u4Dik_bc3wiJGbZclQ26M/s1600/P1050359a.JPG" height="226" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey now, this is a great place! Blue skies, warm temps, balmy breezes and fantastic scenery! Yes, we do feel a little guilty hearing about our soggy friends & family back in the Pacific NW, but we're coping with that as best we can.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeJcT5Q0jJAuuTF_j5stQZGRhVGq2dHb1qw0gP-cj_4CAPdXi8XHYgSSD-pVmjoRDGk_kcJA6_Vz0l7g2iaw1uIV8w2kz2STgoTbXx6r20QQM30acmP9Y2V-uLJKwbbrNEqMFJe74mng/s1600/P1050282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeJcT5Q0jJAuuTF_j5stQZGRhVGq2dHb1qw0gP-cj_4CAPdXi8XHYgSSD-pVmjoRDGk_kcJA6_Vz0l7g2iaw1uIV8w2kz2STgoTbXx6r20QQM30acmP9Y2V-uLJKwbbrNEqMFJe74mng/s1600/P1050282.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past week we have visited several notable places, the first being Rainbow Basin, a BLM site north of Barstow. It is a crazy geologic site, eroded out of some vast sink hole, and I never did quite get the whole story of how it was created. There are layers of colorful rock going in every direction with an exciting (but not too exciting) wash-boardy, dusty, narrow loop road going through it that has been carved into the terrain. I like excitement, don't misunderstand, but I also want to feel we won't be stuck out in the middle of no-where. Manageable, controllable excitement is best, I think. Anyway, we spent a night at a scenic lookout, hiked around the next day and then drove on. And looming in the distance were the southernmost Sierra Nevadas, startling in their height and beauty. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVQRi3M8mUzTqwljHIg9p6DxgTc2F_fLD5fm4LOiPbjws9YbBZ6mSantJdBShFrCvKS3qhPtw7JJPhr0YFzYgKY4RXjaWMM45WGlGnjeiBkDzyFQHx0xeylfsPqQBT92sNKAK_sAOZ18/s1600/P1050453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVQRi3M8mUzTqwljHIg9p6DxgTc2F_fLD5fm4LOiPbjws9YbBZ6mSantJdBShFrCvKS3qhPtw7JJPhr0YFzYgKY4RXjaWMM45WGlGnjeiBkDzyFQHx0xeylfsPqQBT92sNKAK_sAOZ18/s1600/P1050453.JPG" height="136" width="640" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZONuVKqvmex66FRF9tTmse07E1E2Wv2qo0z4yqng9VQr_4a90hmZIIjmYLJnNUQ9M6__Ht2zjOII89z7Gu8ZX_1jqPjZpgyPPrJn1Y450oVfb3wcYQCejJSRQq9tp0Y_aFqJW5BNI1Sg/s1600/P1050322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZONuVKqvmex66FRF9tTmse07E1E2Wv2qo0z4yqng9VQr_4a90hmZIIjmYLJnNUQ9M6__Ht2zjOII89z7Gu8ZX_1jqPjZpgyPPrJn1Y450oVfb3wcYQCejJSRQq9tp0Y_aFqJW5BNI1Sg/s1600/P1050322.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of you old-timers, or folks who enjoy old B-westerns, would easily recognize this area. The main road going through it is called Movie Road, named for all the movies that were shot there back in the early days of action westerns. Thayer was sure he saw the exact spot where the Lone Ranger leaped off the rock onto the back of the bad guy as he galloped by on his horse.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfp_H72Ou_qe46seVhdSKutsa7-yUpdMi5eSKQ3h1Lf6AW6_aTT53Klf4ih3UKocsCg5tqix0BbR2g3HR2KXgLzza89qKiiCwoeOqBHZryU28cGXmqmYWZ4WJ1Mfv3IIXJ5Gkl4x5m9M/s1600/P1050400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfp_H72Ou_qe46seVhdSKutsa7-yUpdMi5eSKQ3h1Lf6AW6_aTT53Klf4ih3UKocsCg5tqix0BbR2g3HR2KXgLzza89qKiiCwoeOqBHZryU28cGXmqmYWZ4WJ1Mfv3IIXJ5Gkl4x5m9M/s1600/P1050400.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the City of Rocks was great, this area is even larger and better. The Alabama Hills are comprised of BLM land and designated for dispersed camping with sites are far apart and tucked in amongst the rocks. BLM usually equates to free with little-to-no amenities. That's fine with us!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbkPdQ4qhl6ZKWXY7C6NSixVLY_BqTjWVOu8h8wdXWnjcTm5mzOZpiYHoKxp0NY8IM3leSx2zWX83RI7MwCLNQ3FXfPMp_jLL6s8jY7hyphenhyphen1oohDTvBgCIW7qplftfInaUd9d82dEDD5lI/s1600/P1010633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbkPdQ4qhl6ZKWXY7C6NSixVLY_BqTjWVOu8h8wdXWnjcTm5mzOZpiYHoKxp0NY8IM3leSx2zWX83RI7MwCLNQ3FXfPMp_jLL6s8jY7hyphenhyphen1oohDTvBgCIW7qplftfInaUd9d82dEDD5lI/s1600/P1010633.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stayed for five nights, taking long walks, reading books, painting and sketching, taking pictures, and scrambling over and under the countless boulders and rock outcroppings. It did get hot during the few midday hours but the sun drops pretty quickly behind the wall of mountains and everything cools down to a perfectly nice temperature.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCephfXqdyDnumof5ZLVSrYr_4HurlVW4FNMtEfWKz02kfBWYEsPGd9c5p517d2EtxuCm5R3N64egzG5AJVOReHZlbzHQ7tgUNv3iggR6HdIM5y64H1aMVy6sCSh4-xWGHnbop2EroEg/s1600/P1050644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCephfXqdyDnumof5ZLVSrYr_4HurlVW4FNMtEfWKz02kfBWYEsPGd9c5p517d2EtxuCm5R3N64egzG5AJVOReHZlbzHQ7tgUNv3iggR6HdIM5y64H1aMVy6sCSh4-xWGHnbop2EroEg/s1600/P1050644.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8khcW1xBq5G32NDr1MyYZk1hI7XvmsWR1i-3ZK0rlg8aBbw1G4TcjxnI7eoeq-q9XK0VEmT8T5JMlOhuGYBTZ1rZfCaCkSm3S3SbEND37aGCPsS6YsrZ6hY1X_iY9aZwArgAvYUdLqA/s1600/P1010776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8khcW1xBq5G32NDr1MyYZk1hI7XvmsWR1i-3ZK0rlg8aBbw1G4TcjxnI7eoeq-q9XK0VEmT8T5JMlOhuGYBTZ1rZfCaCkSm3S3SbEND37aGCPsS6YsrZ6hY1X_iY9aZwArgAvYUdLqA/s1600/P1010776.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One hot day we drove the steep, winding 10 miles up the Whitney Portal road which leads to the trailheads for Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states at 14,510 feet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDzSzOXhK4bKDD0PgFqoMZqq774bUj_VEwEom6emGK9OThUBdBzrDWTk9m34MDC4N4xoexBf1fN6JjgOUe7xhs3jdaHkqLSRd2ELc6oyTs718p4MTKm-wQS_50rX5oabUVHZcqEfENHQ/s1600/P1010746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDzSzOXhK4bKDD0PgFqoMZqq774bUj_VEwEom6emGK9OThUBdBzrDWTk9m34MDC4N4xoexBf1fN6JjgOUe7xhs3jdaHkqLSRd2ELc6oyTs718p4MTKm-wQS_50rX5oabUVHZcqEfENHQ/s1600/P1010746.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hiked up a few thousand feet to still frozen Lone Pine Lake, passing through forests of BIG trees with many varieties, including some that I was unfamiliar with.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VbebZqeC-N2z7UphKIIZJ57E_54_OjZTRBtp0uYpgctl7EAeTdLgmBuOSHoz8-mwm1_40M8Eb85tq3AZQwbBTQiWH02Vr3hTFPmBaksmjgLOaVUueQSLO11Q9JDfAlG4Sa8B9QZkTfI/s1600/P1050619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VbebZqeC-N2z7UphKIIZJ57E_54_OjZTRBtp0uYpgctl7EAeTdLgmBuOSHoz8-mwm1_40M8Eb85tq3AZQwbBTQiWH02Vr3hTFPmBaksmjgLOaVUueQSLO11Q9JDfAlG4Sa8B9QZkTfI/s1600/P1050619.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKcARgqaRhJHSBTBQqCv3sSOLXq6P9PwiD0jaq9CZqfm9nvQtiKYCSjmyqBSpQkQdw4fHgcAi0UyYHBtzkeNXjaYYF0cPn8k63zwAtASmXk6GhojlVCnYbgqVybEHwF13YyRSMs8wd4Q/s1600/P1050630a.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKcARgqaRhJHSBTBQqCv3sSOLXq6P9PwiD0jaq9CZqfm9nvQtiKYCSjmyqBSpQkQdw4fHgcAi0UyYHBtzkeNXjaYYF0cPn8k63zwAtASmXk6GhojlVCnYbgqVybEHwF13YyRSMs8wd4Q/s1600/P1050630a.png" height="129" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Training the humans</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all our recent time in the desert it was really nice to get up into the cool trees and streams. This felt more like home and was a refreshing break from the hot & dry. We were stopped by snow above 10,000 feet but didn't really mind as we were plenty tired enough by then. Stopping on a sunny rock for lunch, we enjoyed the magnificent view and impromptu dinner show entertainment by the Stellar Jays hitting us up for a share of the grub. Then down the trail, down the scary road, and back to our little campsite next to Fred and Wilma's stone cave. We loved our stay in the Alabama Hills!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: Times; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IZVT5GIufl3MMG2J1i9s_SWsSmkWNi6bty7yzz_3x8773N_Vr4KPEkUq_KhvHOQPgssARtxHm3hluW5h0pfCa8m6JapdA7BGmXyz8WBc7lNT2rR_jC0QtBdXvUn0z1CRzmbl04PRGOo/s1600/P1050405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IZVT5GIufl3MMG2J1i9s_SWsSmkWNi6bty7yzz_3x8773N_Vr4KPEkUq_KhvHOQPgssARtxHm3hluW5h0pfCa8m6JapdA7BGmXyz8WBc7lNT2rR_jC0QtBdXvUn0z1CRzmbl04PRGOo/s1600/P1050405.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Modern day Flintstones</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DgK4nrpxpfb8oY242xhPogJog2UYWPOP03Yf53fBfSyec8LJRDNptpoGpEnCI05fSBgcYCdZE-hrS12jrpUoxrw34YVJ_kseK7uiO29HA_S9ob2fsxFC9qfpire9M0iOG4hCg2EzEbU/s1600/P1010683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DgK4nrpxpfb8oY242xhPogJog2UYWPOP03Yf53fBfSyec8LJRDNptpoGpEnCI05fSBgcYCdZE-hrS12jrpUoxrw34YVJ_kseK7uiO29HA_S9ob2fsxFC9qfpire9M0iOG4hCg2EzEbU/s1600/P1010683.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adaptive camouflage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFTpBxP2dWWTdmZmrAiDLP_z4jELBq2cqHLxeEprUlCfilxnydGvEIFFrEHpSYtvFv8k-hAEVyOTiHaYdREV8STc7EFtW7dKPPKo1Imxt39at7bPYp2Si5IWhL2AML8VTC3-RGxrMsHU/s1600/manzanar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFTpBxP2dWWTdmZmrAiDLP_z4jELBq2cqHLxeEprUlCfilxnydGvEIFFrEHpSYtvFv8k-hAEVyOTiHaYdREV8STc7EFtW7dKPPKo1Imxt39at7bPYp2Si5IWhL2AML8VTC3-RGxrMsHU/s1600/manzanar.jpg" height="164" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">War refugee in her own country</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESKkHXx6IjsTvp6PTHpw-0Yx8l_d07wV1xfA1pLgGFmp6_Tngae_4gqXwyrCTSml2hxKzOln23fzAKEG1jR1_FhJOhXPdnYOIxLq9AgZtIj4rXXNW4vYLq17uoJzFW2ktFVjz_mgIms4/s1600/P1050741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESKkHXx6IjsTvp6PTHpw-0Yx8l_d07wV1xfA1pLgGFmp6_Tngae_4gqXwyrCTSml2hxKzOln23fzAKEG1jR1_FhJOhXPdnYOIxLq9AgZtIj4rXXNW4vYLq17uoJzFW2ktFVjz_mgIms4/s1600/P1050741.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few miles farther along our journey we came to another must see site, the <b>Manzanar War Relocation Center</b>. Manzanar is one of ten internment centers created immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. With racial phobia growing in the US, the defined purpose was to inter, control and "watch" the Japanese Americans living in the west coast states. These citizens and whole families were unceremoniously uprooted from their homes and lives only because they were deemed a potential threat to the war effort.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though 2/3 of them were American citizens by birth, the government worried that they might retain some loyalty to the Japanese emperor. The other 1/3 of the prisoners were immigrants (mostly elders) from Japan who had been denied citizenship solely because they were Japanese!! Thus, 120,000 Japanese Americans, infants to elderly, were interred for 2-3 years, from 1942-1945, with about 10,000 of them at Manzanar. </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5WWUMD5acqDyn3byNPMQv2f-uDL5PMJAsRzdjgnh6cfBCGsfqDU0XSy7PcxSfuEXrKZVhbpLobXHPmy5oxpoNO0g2GBsprydprTDsX7zNEUDw8WAImba8wcSIyAHXsxbzq_NF5OoBWs/s1600/P1050755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5WWUMD5acqDyn3byNPMQv2f-uDL5PMJAsRzdjgnh6cfBCGsfqDU0XSy7PcxSfuEXrKZVhbpLobXHPmy5oxpoNO0g2GBsprydprTDsX7zNEUDw8WAImba8wcSIyAHXsxbzq_NF5OoBWs/s1600/P1050755.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a fascinating and sad chapter in American History, and only until recently (the Reagan Administration) did the US admit that an injustice was committed. With current events as they are it is even more sad that we seem doomed to repeat this horrible discrimination of imprisoning our people without due process. Lest we forget the tragedy, there are regular pilgrimages to the site by survivors and their families. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today the Manzanar site is mostly a ruin, though they have reconstructed several barracks and a mess hall for visitors. The visitor's center is very well done, presenting the concepts and events fairly and truthfully (I felt) but mostly focusing on the lives and experiences of the inmates.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Thomas Paine</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxTOtGMQJTUfg2PQ4bfamTia9JPoz39YRXHzg2gszqscjwKIx0z4YauaWdyP38LWDR3wBk7Xji-7mLnHQqDmmJXNxibP3F80osHoNz0Vv2sIonIDl7oqg2lH5Q2i1XnlF3V_9GqUX8_0/s1600/P1050830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxTOtGMQJTUfg2PQ4bfamTia9JPoz39YRXHzg2gszqscjwKIx0z4YauaWdyP38LWDR3wBk7Xji-7mLnHQqDmmJXNxibP3F80osHoNz0Vv2sIonIDl7oqg2lH5Q2i1XnlF3V_9GqUX8_0/s1600/P1050830.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving along to the north, our next couple of nights were spent at lovely, green Dehy Park in Independence. A pretty little stream flowed through the trees and we found quiet, private parking. We spent the afternoon in the East California Museum, enjoying the best Native American basket exhibit that I have ever seen. The designs and workmanship of the artisans were outstanding. They also had loads of arrowheads, worked points and tools, and one ceremonial point was about 14 inches long!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWUEGpzApYSy_uqBprcAJfz8V9BSDMDr_wo57mNMePU_7Wt6rx91tLM4zfHrLsHt5gPcLdbirJzMKKQf41N45FFCUzFtcNUwN2XlQ839fqOeO_GWg2j9qAkasRxJlxAEBCSGGYpva_CM/s1600/P1050796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWUEGpzApYSy_uqBprcAJfz8V9BSDMDr_wo57mNMePU_7Wt6rx91tLM4zfHrLsHt5gPcLdbirJzMKKQf41N45FFCUzFtcNUwN2XlQ839fqOeO_GWg2j9qAkasRxJlxAEBCSGGYpva_CM/s1600/P1050796.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a fan of Edward Curtis, I was excited to see about 20 beautifully framed prints of Native Americans. They were just stunning! Several months ago I read (and would recommend) a biography about him, a great book called <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher</span>. We owe much of what we know about the tribes from the early 1900's to Edward Curtis.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dDlrewjSubH-r7W_mxn3YjUui9BdPfqqFn0WQmM0pY-W_V8oRKb7_B43E_by5jGeCSwdA6NO2szvmYRHnoMuCBC4jQnCYBermrevWCRZZADUyYVWiNwoRfyz580uaxoodKxayWa7wqc/s1600/P1050811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dDlrewjSubH-r7W_mxn3YjUui9BdPfqqFn0WQmM0pY-W_V8oRKb7_B43E_by5jGeCSwdA6NO2szvmYRHnoMuCBC4jQnCYBermrevWCRZZADUyYVWiNwoRfyz580uaxoodKxayWa7wqc/s1600/P1050811.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outside the museum was the nicest collection of old wagons and rusty stuff that I've seen in a long time, most of it farm and mining equipment. The native plant garden was blooming like crazy and the scents were almost overwhelming. The path between the park and the museum went out into the sage, and I so wished I could take "pictures" or somehow capture the aromas wafting through the sage and lupines to share and remember. In the park we enjoyed sitting in the shade of the big trees with our feet in the water, watching yet another day draw to a close as the breeze wrapped its warm arms around us and fingers through our hair. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin07PE7x8RHRcljLCvKg15XbjiwNJKTfm4kYxIPfnwhuwgV0SCjTIIMo9ygnRHxkm4JqHTRJ0DWGFN2AhvzZtI3pnSHM2wt4afBckD5cjboD7ChvIVltr-DCGwSn6hyphenhyphen8zK69PZykxLsk/s1600/P1050772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin07PE7x8RHRcljLCvKg15XbjiwNJKTfm4kYxIPfnwhuwgV0SCjTIIMo9ygnRHxkm4JqHTRJ0DWGFN2AhvzZtI3pnSHM2wt4afBckD5cjboD7ChvIVltr-DCGwSn6hyphenhyphen8zK69PZykxLsk/s1600/P1050772.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You don't know how good you have it<br />until you've had it so good!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can bet I'll be recalling this day when I find myself back in a classroom next year!</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever northward we traveled, next taking in the surprisingly impressive and beautiful Fish Hatchery just north of Independence. Who would expect a large 3-story stone Tudor building, looking more like an old European monastery, to be California's first and greatest fish hatchery? It is a lovely building, situated on Oak Creek, and has a large pond loaded with the state fish, the golden trout.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Lsclpqf-hWnupsu4oAZov54Gb3umiD8V7s2EUZFH-Cc6VxJkz5H3s7UCnvarLeviydsTCjClFdE8XIBiMDbQfik9hiFJTT_PB5DtsI5FODQTv2CrF5AZMtbJgaU9EuuGtxSfWpRLr3A/s1600/P1050862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Lsclpqf-hWnupsu4oAZov54Gb3umiD8V7s2EUZFH-Cc6VxJkz5H3s7UCnvarLeviydsTCjClFdE8XIBiMDbQfik9hiFJTT_PB5DtsI5FODQTv2CrF5AZMtbJgaU9EuuGtxSfWpRLr3A/s1600/P1050862.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, there was a forest fire in 2007 which preceded a terrible flood in 2008, damaging the ponds and tanks badly enough that the state abandoned the site. Fortunately, there was a volunteer group already involved with the facility and they have taken it over and preserved the historic building and grounds. They raise a few fish for seeding, provide educational programs for area schools, tend the grounds and pond and keep it open for public visitations year round. It would be grand to see it returned as a fully functioning fish hatchery again. I can't fathom how bad the damage from the flooding was but it seems like there is so much already invested in the hatchery that they/we/you would want to keep it going. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ6FrsbJ9T7nk2XlmO_B0JmU1SA472rNp0N1BLtF9E9_Ci_6vVA34NshX-f13v18qPrOOS-Z98nrpv3IOeRfv5b8Fdsp1DZYn7On6NtwukINyCEQpDihBAfdJxtmHYIupcgkXUvGNpzs/s1600/P1050880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ6FrsbJ9T7nk2XlmO_B0JmU1SA472rNp0N1BLtF9E9_Ci_6vVA34NshX-f13v18qPrOOS-Z98nrpv3IOeRfv5b8Fdsp1DZYn7On6NtwukINyCEQpDihBAfdJxtmHYIupcgkXUvGNpzs/s1600/P1050880.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before heading on into Bishop for resupplying, we made one more stop. Keogh Hot Springs was right off the road and Thayer had memories of stopping there during one of his flying trips in this area. And goodness knows we can always use a bit of cleaning up! There is a little resort area with cement pools, camping, and "developed" stuff but we opted for the natural pools downriver. There are a series of semi-private pools that wind through the sage, rocks and grasses. They are a very pleasant temperature, nice even on a hot day. There were very few people and plenty of pools – a good ratio. One young family with children had the nicest pool. It had waterfalls, boulders and deep holes that the children were clearly enjoying. We also tried panning for gold in the gravel, using plastic cups, but had no luck. There were lots of little sparkles but they were pretty lightweight. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PTV-9J4O9R7PpGgqS2RcOZchAuk4z0ywVczYREt3P_X3SMMwXi-G3lR5JABrgUWq5KEqUoNdsKsSMS3W5XCtRLdacKEwOfvY-c68_dutQJcU8RHVOBblSBPu7195YiDLAVoPEehsErI/s1600/P1050827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PTV-9J4O9R7PpGgqS2RcOZchAuk4z0ywVczYREt3P_X3SMMwXi-G3lR5JABrgUWq5KEqUoNdsKsSMS3W5XCtRLdacKEwOfvY-c68_dutQJcU8RHVOBblSBPu7195YiDLAVoPEehsErI/s1600/P1050827.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will now be heading deeper into the Sierra Nevadas, then going up and over Yosemite National Park and on to the coastal areas. We have only about four more weeks before ending up in Seattle....Nooooooo! It can't end!!!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-21715451215579026902014-05-04T22:27:00.001-07:002014-05-05T00:26:03.859-07:00Turning the Corner<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwaJ9saFN2UFyqX-greTdJzS-ohHGA0N8d8nb8Z9ytn9j79oqImVT8cC4BfEQONoo2fojU997ckA_G1_VEt2-y5aqLJzjts_qzKEiy8GrZ5UMj31dKpirKAesrvrimKXXHE7QVttcNZ4/s1600/P1010369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwaJ9saFN2UFyqX-greTdJzS-ohHGA0N8d8nb8Z9ytn9j79oqImVT8cC4BfEQONoo2fojU997ckA_G1_VEt2-y5aqLJzjts_qzKEiy8GrZ5UMj31dKpirKAesrvrimKXXHE7QVttcNZ4/s1600/P1010369.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shady Lady</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thinking of our trip as a big rectangle, we are now getting close to turning the last corner and heading into the homestretch. Nine months into our odyssey finds us in the southwest, skipping quickly across the expanse of Arizona with three main stops of note. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59IW9S4Os2FJNG9VeYs0-u7qzZcyU7TlucOLWz-_kLXLbPfqsf3Pd24UTkoh4aeARsWgu_ggh_0gc7vTakzpOmgtvMYhdrzh7qCuns5rDOy9OCHbGBuia6B9cbAohaa6kl28zFoFuito/s1600/P1010375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59IW9S4Os2FJNG9VeYs0-u7qzZcyU7TlucOLWz-_kLXLbPfqsf3Pd24UTkoh4aeARsWgu_ggh_0gc7vTakzpOmgtvMYhdrzh7qCuns5rDOy9OCHbGBuia6B9cbAohaa6kl28zFoFuito/s1600/P1010375.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The OK Corral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnhoDm9KTWb1yJT1czfjCuCJXcvQMigvbzxLpicXWramI2IWlZIO0htSK8jIvewbRk_a8wyxt9cf_8-ZqPC6eut3pv1Cz9LbUvGQpJtcBYqosRHlHgmCG7TyKe7myh7jTi47pHfA0w7Q/s1600/P1010425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnhoDm9KTWb1yJT1czfjCuCJXcvQMigvbzxLpicXWramI2IWlZIO0htSK8jIvewbRk_a8wyxt9cf_8-ZqPC6eut3pv1Cz9LbUvGQpJtcBYqosRHlHgmCG7TyKe7myh7jTi47pHfA0w7Q/s1600/P1010425.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our first stop was Tombstone, site of the famous Shootout at the OK Corral. We wandered around the town in the early morning and enjoyed having the place pretty much to ourselves for a while. This interesting town offers many historic buildings, shops and re-enactments to attract and entertain visitors. We opted to attend a humorous “tongue in cheek” gunfighter show that also included a trolley ride around the town afterwards.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLx_DV3zsiVXQdI-l8Wm3RuKe4f5xpct64GVK_VjdfAvsx2y_YJI4u_1a_rX4EqU0g9dk0dE-riuD2FwqlAo1ng9tYPvOucWCqm2RozkvUqnC8cWi0J3Vyo8QoL7qvVqt4og4bavtXAE/s1600/P1010429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLx_DV3zsiVXQdI-l8Wm3RuKe4f5xpct64GVK_VjdfAvsx2y_YJI4u_1a_rX4EqU0g9dk0dE-riuD2FwqlAo1ng9tYPvOucWCqm2RozkvUqnC8cWi0J3Vyo8QoL7qvVqt4og4bavtXAE/s1600/P1010429.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHep-0C64u8qGptW5V847FVjopobHV6rGXS5plsOT5lrDRHdmwqhdVPCJ9uDPxd7xV1PVOE8L7mj7gwzTb_cTV3qm-NfW9iF5Oa2ZR7Espd1uD9ViX0h_F8qB6uViyXvkYtDaqODkpeMA/s1600/P1010434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHep-0C64u8qGptW5V847FVjopobHV6rGXS5plsOT5lrDRHdmwqhdVPCJ9uDPxd7xV1PVOE8L7mj7gwzTb_cTV3qm-NfW9iF5Oa2ZR7Espd1uD9ViX0h_F8qB6uViyXvkYtDaqODkpeMA/s1600/P1010434.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As you may know, things were pretty wild & crazy in the late 1800's southwest, and sometimes it is difficult to understand just who the bad guys and good guys were. They don't always wear the correctly colored hats! Before leaving town, we wandered around Boot Hill Cemetery and checked out the tombstones. The majority of the wooden grave markers indicated that the unfortunate occupant had been shot/murdered, and often by whom. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySFLvEyCkANDvTqrVFqlFlzAql8tKyb5qtNFZFzvGE0C9byGi7JrMgyTMk1z0QgNbIHejnWS_p-Nw-OaYSTnqndTlQIQrkc5m8T1Epmcix0J8dEnmZohmvZTp-3wKOfbg1Rh9O-uiM38/s1600/P1010417+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySFLvEyCkANDvTqrVFqlFlzAql8tKyb5qtNFZFzvGE0C9byGi7JrMgyTMk1z0QgNbIHejnWS_p-Nw-OaYSTnqndTlQIQrkc5m8T1Epmcix0J8dEnmZohmvZTp-3wKOfbg1Rh9O-uiM38/s1600/P1010417+copy.JPG" height="255" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Jill with her low-life, scum sucking gunslinger buddies she met in one of the saloons.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAZEU0YMaMmdXWxgZ3E44MGV0wFYMRU3fmkP5T4NytvWBUuyGyNMxvnKF8NEZMCX1V6dluKKCQJW6kLxRhm-9b8fZUmdp5EnZOgAcShyphenhyphenIrWVF1BwoiNdX-vXbYB1_p92FvGNQakTK0xY/s1600/P1050149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAZEU0YMaMmdXWxgZ3E44MGV0wFYMRU3fmkP5T4NytvWBUuyGyNMxvnKF8NEZMCX1V6dluKKCQJW6kLxRhm-9b8fZUmdp5EnZOgAcShyphenhyphenIrWVF1BwoiNdX-vXbYB1_p92FvGNQakTK0xY/s1600/P1050149.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVRyJgbc2sPmCobtnjy_5fgPnyXfttCx-4eILAHrt3AAiQbhFAuCNqEoN2Ytyexhuc6SgOCqj7FzJc94OAD4x5jxttOevpYt4RVd6oCYZ5zbAmTovdDc0NcVQJDiw1cU4_tL9R12h9mA/s1600/P1050124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVRyJgbc2sPmCobtnjy_5fgPnyXfttCx-4eILAHrt3AAiQbhFAuCNqEoN2Ytyexhuc6SgOCqj7FzJc94OAD4x5jxttOevpYt4RVd6oCYZ5zbAmTovdDc0NcVQJDiw1cU4_tL9R12h9mA/s1600/P1050124.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>Our next stop was Saguaro National Park, just west of Tucson. We arrived later in the afternoon so we could watch the sunset in the park. The cactus are fantastically shaped and varied and we wandered around for quite a while taking pictures. After the sun was well down we hopped back in the rig and hurried to my niece's home near Phoenix. Susan, husband Chris and their 14 month old Shay were there to welcome us to their lovely, air conditioned home. Long hot showers, a real bed, a swimming pool in the backyard, and fresh lemons and grapefruit from their trees was a really nice change for us.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRbMedJwjVO3-adasRKMSgX0iv-uzZdoy9MWsMnSBpfHRCWbuHyMiwq5RFK8EPZOCRqcSI8l2ndTfEjZdZRC1gzRFI9_zufgPtrBTY1cyWvi5DfZB9Dx05xAGa7W4ogpuofPXmUu3Ng8/s1600/P1050218+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRbMedJwjVO3-adasRKMSgX0iv-uzZdoy9MWsMnSBpfHRCWbuHyMiwq5RFK8EPZOCRqcSI8l2ndTfEjZdZRC1gzRFI9_zufgPtrBTY1cyWvi5DfZB9Dx05xAGa7W4ogpuofPXmUu3Ng8/s1600/P1050218+copy.JPG" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris, Shay & Susan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWIqjHWfEvJpD7mXeyR0qLf3fXD_YhYySWaMdRFD1yfCEcwmr7fh7OOgODMXqW1U6gSyQL5O3M45Sf2L-y9E8sHJqds_eEud-HPV-3RXWi-dw4dBVWclWj85YRHKjXhnw2UJ6u5bhSoI/s1600/P1050200a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWIqjHWfEvJpD7mXeyR0qLf3fXD_YhYySWaMdRFD1yfCEcwmr7fh7OOgODMXqW1U6gSyQL5O3M45Sf2L-y9E8sHJqds_eEud-HPV-3RXWi-dw4dBVWclWj85YRHKjXhnw2UJ6u5bhSoI/s1600/P1050200a.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dress-up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We spent several days as their guests, with much of the time just watching baby Shay and playing. It is such a fun age. With Chris away working, we were able to give Susie a few breaks (and got ourselves a little extra baby time). Thayer demonstrated his mastery at putting a crying child to sleep within 10 minutes and then both napping for 2 hours. He always teaches by example! </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DSyYjQn3TrmXIYTm2xXIquTdt4NNmSZQdm8ith7zrNbgq0OOHGOrgCI4PvdXgBQdD-tbksylpneSeHpo9sITtcPZmMD9JzTUkLuvQiID3-mEqrnyv03tk0hHe1aAVr9MhmMSMMWaZrE/s1600/P1050208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DSyYjQn3TrmXIYTm2xXIquTdt4NNmSZQdm8ith7zrNbgq0OOHGOrgCI4PvdXgBQdD-tbksylpneSeHpo9sITtcPZmMD9JzTUkLuvQiID3-mEqrnyv03tk0hHe1aAVr9MhmMSMMWaZrE/s1600/P1050208.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When life hands you lemons...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On one of our nights there we were able to hook up with my teaching buddy Jean Duncan and some of her friends for dinner and visiting. As far as we still are from home, it is really fun to see dear friends along the way!! Jean is in the home stretch of her career and will be retiring this summer. We hope to have inspired her to take a big trip! </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On Saturday Chris returned home and they scurried around getting ready to fly off to St. Louis to visit his sister. Thayer and I stayed two more days at their home, keeping watch over Zeus and Hera, their gentle giant dogs, and taking care of misc. business before continuing our trip. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Palm Springs was our next destination – to visit one of my very best of friends, Mary Lou Halfon and her husband Larry. We were treated to great food, soft beds, and a swimming pool in their wonderful condo on the golf course. This was pretty high living for the road tramps we’ve become over the past nine months! Mary Lou and I rode bikes everyday, cruising Palm Springs’ riverside trails, shopping, and getting caught up with each other's lives. She also whipped up some wonderful BBQ's for dinner while I made the salads. Another afternoon we visited the Art Museum, experienced the weekly street fair with all its activity and then out for dinner. We always had something fun to entertain us!</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_rCJsPNCREYtScsOUzyQo2YPg1e0NLcE0aix_k7IcYc_57JUorWX_2kY0-YDt-1RPL8e_xsFN2FuXPvX5uzg30hBvnZ1qkU4-ZZVpsgmpic3QSiR3i87PBB6mnpEAP54Hp8G1ZNG8oE/s1600/P1050223a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_rCJsPNCREYtScsOUzyQo2YPg1e0NLcE0aix_k7IcYc_57JUorWX_2kY0-YDt-1RPL8e_xsFN2FuXPvX5uzg30hBvnZ1qkU4-ZZVpsgmpic3QSiR3i87PBB6mnpEAP54Hp8G1ZNG8oE/s1600/P1050223a.JPG" height="400" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pam, Sue, Jill & Mary Lou</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Getting together with Sue Showman and Pam Laird, more Kenmore retirees, was definitely a high point of the visit for me! It had been years and years since I had seen Pam and I was amazed at how little she has changed – the same wonderful sense of humor, hearty laugh and cheerful nature that I remember so well. Sue has not looked back since retiring and also has a lovely home in Palm Desert. We stopped by her place one day to raid the lemon tree in her yard. I was also glad to learn that she remembered how to make tasty Carmelita bars for dessert! Mmmmmm!</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One day Mary Lou and Larry escorted us to the visitor center for the Annenberg Family home called "Sunnyside." It has extensive desert gardens, ponds and lawns, a solar array to provide power, and all surrounding the large "desert modern" home. It is difficult to obtain tickets for a home tour but visitor center had a good video and many displays showing the interiors and fabulous furnishings. When it was occupied by the Annenbergs they regularly entertained the political and Hollywood elite. Frank Sinatra even got married there. The Annenbergs were very active on the world stage, interested in politics and improving relations between nations by hosting visiting dignitaries and royalty. Sunnyside is now run by the Annenberg Foundation and their mission is to provide an elegant and historic place for world leaders to meet, problem-solve and discuss peace issues. It has been used by every president since the 60's and has hosted many leaders from around the world. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was so nice to spend some real quality time with my dear friend Mary Lou, we have so many great memories of working, playing and laughing together. In her retirement she stays very busy, has surpassed me in her technical wizardry, and keeps up with her busy family of whom almost all find a reason to visit her in Palm Springs during the spring months. And now we know why!</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty6z5wsbTTqJ_VZlCj4ASM6RgDCPcnI62NqbzpI__aYXO3mjiVXw3jEPgfh0yhyNdTNRyIqUTWp5r5X1NWi7QCtSKzTAJkA72Ey8maJ8AnO3lYkTxTud4mDBoxsiIisRGTZEFiyE_mLM/s1600/econ_oh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty6z5wsbTTqJ_VZlCj4ASM6RgDCPcnI62NqbzpI__aYXO3mjiVXw3jEPgfh0yhyNdTNRyIqUTWp5r5X1NWi7QCtSKzTAJkA72Ey8maJ8AnO3lYkTxTud4mDBoxsiIisRGTZEFiyE_mLM/s1600/econ_oh.gif" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On a more somber note, on Sat. April 26th we turned the corner and began heading north, with less than 1000 miles from home and about 5 weeks to do it. Oh-no! Where has the time gone?</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
Jill and Thayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564758401953500856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-60314414000091803312014-04-21T23:55:00.001-07:002014-04-22T02:25:09.246-07:00More fun in New Mexico<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After failing to drive the Rialta up a dry, sandy wash to a BLM site, we wisely and carefully turned around and went back, again being taught the same lesson about washboarded gravel roads and sand. We do not like!! I was sweating bullets and begging Thayer to turn around at the first opportunity. Getting stuck in the soft sandy riverbed would lead to a more serious problem if it rained! The only casualty was the muffler to the generator which rattled loose and was damaged as we maneuvered our retreat. All else was well as we pulled into a nice boondocking site near Belen, NM. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwTGPT03a6swzwM1cjzSHPoCsGhyrlVvxKrfV4lo_ssirnR7y01SU1khHOAbswhsodbYw9mgIYGT6dz21A4lAeHwK8hCvbR7PzCevCSHnznvjv_hyFmGeolHH71ycbZaLhZD1KBBS1IU/s1600/P1040660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwTGPT03a6swzwM1cjzSHPoCsGhyrlVvxKrfV4lo_ssirnR7y01SU1khHOAbswhsodbYw9mgIYGT6dz21A4lAeHwK8hCvbR7PzCevCSHnznvjv_hyFmGeolHH71ycbZaLhZD1KBBS1IU/s1600/P1040660.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortunately our nice host, Rex, had a shop with the extra tools and grinder Thayer needed to fix the parts up so that they could be welded back together again. Finding a welder to do the job was trickier than we expected, Rex drove us around to some places near his place but no one dared to try welding the lightweight stainless steel parts. Ultimately, we ended up in Albuquerque, chasing around all day until we finally found a custom welder dude who had the skills. Thayer reinstalled the muffler and we were back in business. (He's so handy, I'm glad I brought him along!)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPthZ2jfw6cpX50DVXv5ZJ9BrIdEuBdY56GVzG8IuM3XaiBF8TRMEo_rdNFDrm_QtzKwV04pPQY7gK7SXCyLTHvFlee7yBrQtYikFE_LMVvoczrAals9H_IwkV-wpTOt2y6x7BGgiT9lo/s1600/P1040683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPthZ2jfw6cpX50DVXv5ZJ9BrIdEuBdY56GVzG8IuM3XaiBF8TRMEo_rdNFDrm_QtzKwV04pPQY7gK7SXCyLTHvFlee7yBrQtYikFE_LMVvoczrAals9H_IwkV-wpTOt2y6x7BGgiT9lo/s1600/P1040683.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget3YTZQ_6Lde6xP0e1XTzMn1ouWm4cdkfC0UKsMSu8eAQVj14RYTGYsA4g8sQBCuIK65AuKHD-al185qhIpZ_UcjWRq7kF8Kp0VD0QNHV-FBfBkUVJlfM3742wQX_2zzoWDFXjRymFuQ/s1600/P1040671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget3YTZQ_6Lde6xP0e1XTzMn1ouWm4cdkfC0UKsMSu8eAQVj14RYTGYsA4g8sQBCuIK65AuKHD-al185qhIpZ_UcjWRq7kF8Kp0VD0QNHV-FBfBkUVJlfM3742wQX_2zzoWDFXjRymFuQ/s1600/P1040671.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent a short time at Petroglyphs NM, just outside of Albuquerque, but these petroglyphs were not quite as awesome as the ones in Three Rivers so we moved on. We overnighted at the Sky City Casino, our jumping off place to visit Sky City, the Acoma Tribe pueblo. The next morning we drove the short distance to the visitor center where we bought our tickets for the tour, which is the only way to see the pueblo up on the mesa. They also have a very nice museum, a fantastic pottery exhibit, and several videos demonstrating pottery techniques and the culture of the Acoma. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ7cZBNO7PAwUM6T-E9xfIj6o7fiUjQclRcrqFzbVDPwRWi0H5grltJ7RWf9ptrtZJ-hP7JX6Dd62yPb-jwpkltFbm7b_hHeWRinqS-JK9-2nziGIkh24mSFY1RiSNqaJ8i4Y5OLXPGs/s1600/P1000983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ7cZBNO7PAwUM6T-E9xfIj6o7fiUjQclRcrqFzbVDPwRWi0H5grltJ7RWf9ptrtZJ-hP7JX6Dd62yPb-jwpkltFbm7b_hHeWRinqS-JK9-2nziGIkh24mSFY1RiSNqaJ8i4Y5OLXPGs/s1600/P1000983.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0r-ObShSHHeAKW5QC5M3YRci0WjBpho7k_rnqqwVy94dhNOfec3wSniGQwHyFL-6cNtMkHw_x89YxrRnWgTQXTcf1_Cml7y0nNO6sHd1bb-S6MWdRpw_uOT1JqF-Nc2xI4ojAiqKvD4/s1600/P1010041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0r-ObShSHHeAKW5QC5M3YRci0WjBpho7k_rnqqwVy94dhNOfec3wSniGQwHyFL-6cNtMkHw_x89YxrRnWgTQXTcf1_Cml7y0nNO6sHd1bb-S6MWdRpw_uOT1JqF-Nc2xI4ojAiqKvD4/s1600/P1010041.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We rode a bus up to the mesa, 375 ft above the surrounding area for our 1.5 hour guided tour. Sky City is off the grid and the only full-time inhabitants are the spiritual elders of the tribe. Tribal members can drive their cars up the road to deliver food but no one else is allowed to drive to the city. Porta-potties ring the edges of the town but they are slowly replacing them with modern communal composting toilets. The city comes alive with activity during their festivals and celebrations several times per year. Sky City dates way back, possibly being one of the oldest continuously lived in cities in North America – dating back to around 1100 AD. Along our tour were tribal members selling pottery, jewelry, crafts and food. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGakdBZSN8cM6UwI4C3EieD2qrnAFEKLeSjmyUnJrDxRJs63nz1YgZRKsSvChRZ1LBemKGMN7gPz8Ci8k2Bbn6pwOPy_XdyJ-9UJmvxI6nywGf2ohE6eEtu3ioFxamxxdxs3hMfxFDM4/s1600/P1010005a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGakdBZSN8cM6UwI4C3EieD2qrnAFEKLeSjmyUnJrDxRJs63nz1YgZRKsSvChRZ1LBemKGMN7gPz8Ci8k2Bbn6pwOPy_XdyJ-9UJmvxI6nywGf2ohE6eEtu3ioFxamxxdxs3hMfxFDM4/s1600/P1010005a.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZm1DbBaXjK_lfR7d6MWrchdECYohzKKT-pa_0WukzN36THmoM1e_YhK6sm3EQD7_Ry9Hfo9R8jH3_o5287JZ4cExPu0rSOj7FvZk2mGrMiWaSc6hnu7EWrsS0bkHHY6hLWi-5BMb-zo/s1600/P1010037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZm1DbBaXjK_lfR7d6MWrchdECYohzKKT-pa_0WukzN36THmoM1e_YhK6sm3EQD7_Ry9Hfo9R8jH3_o5287JZ4cExPu0rSOj7FvZk2mGrMiWaSc6hnu7EWrsS0bkHHY6hLWi-5BMb-zo/s1600/P1010037.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have a heart-breaking history, as have all Native American tribes, but the Acoma Massacre involved some particularly hideous treatment from the Spanish. After being attacked and provoked, the rebellious Indians were punished by cutting off one foot of every man over the age of 25 and enslaving the women and children. Today they are a very organized and successful tribe, using their casino profits to improve their community and keep their traditions alive. I was surprised to see that alcohol was not allowed in their casino, I thought that was a staple in the casino world. It was a very educational experience and we enjoyed our knowledgable and gracious tour guide sharing her culture with us.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnBssTXidmhjveeXIKvJ9tS_le-DheY6S74XwxsZVXPl5mhuPmAbOWXGM2kuoomUhTNyVNG06azeaRrrPGqs4xTh3xbuWfo0kMeYd9O-Uu0fJTk0JidcXsr15QYAun8emmjdPAqZ-TcQ/s1600/P1010062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnBssTXidmhjveeXIKvJ9tS_le-DheY6S74XwxsZVXPl5mhuPmAbOWXGM2kuoomUhTNyVNG06azeaRrrPGqs4xTh3xbuWfo0kMeYd9O-Uu0fJTk0JidcXsr15QYAun8emmjdPAqZ-TcQ/s1600/P1010062.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcQM9xpygtxSj9L9DkfcBg9M6Vd62iYw4Xt1tU7LJbw8GtZW2GGiDYhUNypgNYK5y9fvEEGSL-jJoqgUUjaV1dAVTG6TtGFYYuMw0ySA5qCzp7nraRJ0rCcJOI_V5X75FKpgOZmXDATc/s1600/P1010072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcQM9xpygtxSj9L9DkfcBg9M6Vd62iYw4Xt1tU7LJbw8GtZW2GGiDYhUNypgNYK5y9fvEEGSL-jJoqgUUjaV1dAVTG6TtGFYYuMw0ySA5qCzp7nraRJ0rCcJOI_V5X75FKpgOZmXDATc/s1600/P1010072.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thayer and I decided to descend from the mesa by following the ancient foot path that is cut into the rock. Note the hand-holds to keep from falling. This is the means that the Acoma used to bring all their food, daily water and other materials up to the top!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing down the road and heading south we turned toward El Malpais National Monument. Well, if I thought the lava flows at River of Fires was impressive this flow was staggering! The ranger station was closed so I wasn't able to get the brochure so I'll do the best I can with the facts. The flows came from the south, filling the valley; the mountain range to the west is a chain of 100,000+ years old volcanoes and cinder cones; while the mountains to the east are sandstone formations dating back millions of years. Mt. Taylor, to the north, is an old composite volcano like our NW volcanoes, dating back about 3.5 million years. We found a good BLM campground, did a few short hikes, taking in the lava flow itself, a sandstone arch and beautiful sandstone cliffs. This state is just full of interesting and surprising landscapes!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno3ZLat_B5t0oC_alHpRypGUuWsVA2WBvdRFtzzgIQ4PaYi94eAGUr0mgZr__ZhyJxFjZdX4YPIHJVmBKb_lfb4z0_TJNmSV2oLpkXoz7riI4WHCjUV37WEq_xXL6O4BnmFbVPAQV07M/s1600/P1010176a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno3ZLat_B5t0oC_alHpRypGUuWsVA2WBvdRFtzzgIQ4PaYi94eAGUr0mgZr__ZhyJxFjZdX4YPIHJVmBKb_lfb4z0_TJNmSV2oLpkXoz7riI4WHCjUV37WEq_xXL6O4BnmFbVPAQV07M/s1600/P1010176a.JPG" height="264" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up was the VLA Radio Telescope located on the vast Plain of Augustin, west of the town of Socorro. VLA stands for Very Large Array and when they named it thusly they spoke the truth. This telescope doesn't capture the visible spectrum of light, it captures radio waves from planets, stars and galaxies. They needed a broad, flat, quiet, plain to set up 27 large telescopes in a Y shape, away from terrestrial radio interference. Using a dedicated rail system and lifter, the telescopes are portable, even though they weigh in at 200 tons each! Each telescope is 25 meters across and really tall. Because they can adjust the spacing between each dish, they can configure arrays from <1 mile across to 22 miles across. Four times a year they change the size of the array using the railroad tracks and specially designed hoists to lift and move the telescopes. The farther they are apart the more detailed the pictures they can produce. It can see 26,000 light-ye<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"></table>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ars into the universe! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v0ZmLuvgLAOGR6Rj4E8E4R10oRwhrqbmb0khCKXUHL5eMtrbS7fOgBBO7jmJlTnpHCzON1DJ1B8t2bkczTKOz10gYt2RPwc7IVoULaE9xdz3WTFLX-bh2zxphIj7QVDP4PVNdgH_qtw/s1600/P1040861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v0ZmLuvgLAOGR6Rj4E8E4R10oRwhrqbmb0khCKXUHL5eMtrbS7fOgBBO7jmJlTnpHCzON1DJ1B8t2bkczTKOz10gYt2RPwc7IVoULaE9xdz3WTFLX-bh2zxphIj7QVDP4PVNdgH_qtw/s1600/P1040861.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where's Thayer?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The VLA is one of the most productive telescopes in the world, operating 24/7 and scientists can access the data via the internet. It has one of the world's most powerful computers that can combine data from the 27 telescopes into a single images, save the data in huge data banks and make it available almost instantly. It was an amazing place, once more a small visitor center just packed with astounding information. It included incomprehensible (to me anyway) videos about the minute technical aspects of the telescope components and computers. And, if the VLA wasn't enough to blow my little mind, the VLBA just about did me in. The Very Long Baseline Array is a string of 10 giant telescopes stretching from Hawaii, across the continental US and ending up in the Virgin Islands. Working together, these telescopes give even more astonishing images of black holes, quasars, and galaxies. The technology involved with these instruments is mind boggling but really fascinating!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued along a very scenic drive southward toward our next big destination, Gila Cliff Dwellings N.M. The drive up into the Gila NF was a harrowing, twisting, climbing, dropping, convoluted 40 miles of coiled asphalt. Even using low gear, our brakes were just smoldering by the end. Turns out that this whole area is composed of ancient volcanic calderas, now very eroded and erratic!! Our first night we spent in a NF campground but quickly realized that this was the party campground for the weekend younger crowd. We decided to walk up the road to the Hot Springs to see what it was like and ended making friends with Martin (aka Jack, Jackass) who drove us up to the springs, stayed the day with us soaking and telling stories about treasure hunting. He also drove Thayer back to the NF campground so we could retrieve the rig to stay at the Hot Springs.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37HNMTNtAq1A9EcQR6HQOqF-DUM5s7CVw2CU94lTdf-FtcxytrLbTKld9sbCqlRyfqsl5uKZ-xZIfOg5HJftGS0CwKM2UqPTqETOD3_-QC3bZNenuwyHBz92v_uDvSCziENbpCzFcf0M/s1600/P1040876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37HNMTNtAq1A9EcQR6HQOqF-DUM5s7CVw2CU94lTdf-FtcxytrLbTKld9sbCqlRyfqsl5uKZ-xZIfOg5HJftGS0CwKM2UqPTqETOD3_-QC3bZNenuwyHBz92v_uDvSCziENbpCzFcf0M/s1600/P1040876.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need one of these in the RV!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The owner of the springs made us promise not to tell a lot of people about his campground because he doesn't want too many people showing up. I will say that it was a wonderful spot along the Gila River and, as you can guess, had some very nice hot springs. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tbzUnWkj2R1Vpz3XN6FP5OC3KzJlfW-Xt86J7AlCMz5eRxE5wGpDPGBb4P5d4QZ5-M2t4SD7yuqij9V4M1XGEHnXDiob7n_sQ_RfKDSbT3XD_uBD3b-LfM9kz7hzkVjkdfrCSUQmwys/s1600/P1040884a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tbzUnWkj2R1Vpz3XN6FP5OC3KzJlfW-Xt86J7AlCMz5eRxE5wGpDPGBb4P5d4QZ5-M2t4SD7yuqij9V4M1XGEHnXDiob7n_sQ_RfKDSbT3XD_uBD3b-LfM9kz7hzkVjkdfrCSUQmwys/s1600/P1040884a.JPG" height="121" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We met more really great people, including Erica and Gabe in their transformed school bus. They had purchased it in North Carolina, put lots of work into the bus, and are now on their way to the NW. They are doing a great job on the bus and were lots of fun to talk to, as Thayer and I have often discussed the merits of remodeling a school bus. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeANuZ8aMxHwxccE7uYtFm0c7_BhPZqQ0DIQHm7kfcWVG8-e5P8u-3PIVlGTA2V3U4NajY6lyFRBHEwHXvvBmMcghngaNOyDd5DWOSztODkj1XI8Qt5FqfryVe4RP8wNqDeF9aKuRozA/s1600/P1040890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeANuZ8aMxHwxccE7uYtFm0c7_BhPZqQ0DIQHm7kfcWVG8-e5P8u-3PIVlGTA2V3U4NajY6lyFRBHEwHXvvBmMcghngaNOyDd5DWOSztODkj1XI8Qt5FqfryVe4RP8wNqDeF9aKuRozA/s1600/P1040890.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day we met the Polaha family from California with 3 young boys and lots of energy. Turns out that Kris, the dad, is a successful TV actor who has played in quite a few recent TV shows. Since we don't ever watch TV, we didn't recognize him or know anything about the shows. A tad embarrassing to be so out of touch but he thought it was cool that we aren't tied to TV. They had just rented an RV and were on their way to Graceland to celebrate their 7 year old's birthday. They were having quite a steep learning curve in RVing but were doing just fine. We built a fire for 'smores and the next day toured Gila Cliff Dwellings with them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOHGnOUe-k71QLqFoWCSiK2LmbUUf0Hyqwi9vXKic3F0Utw0sxaHmY62FP-OJrKc73yCY8QM53X_tJcwO1BnfYpifySrbOMlgKOw_qC5zxly8n-2eWdTdYhAIYzVhCDdpNZGwdd-sF8c/s1600/P1040902a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOHGnOUe-k71QLqFoWCSiK2LmbUUf0Hyqwi9vXKic3F0Utw0sxaHmY62FP-OJrKc73yCY8QM53X_tJcwO1BnfYpifySrbOMlgKOw_qC5zxly8n-2eWdTdYhAIYzVhCDdpNZGwdd-sF8c/s1600/P1040902a.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ix5JuHEBZnijkHyb163GIdTaiWQ_qIP9rXgETRsj9K8vnLqm17VmC6h5eAa0Zk5iwzmLCGSI8X7lWWUlaX9c1LXzqhVVvj6TuhSZFL0PY0tZjKZ6O3TxV2EoDkeG1O8AHJMy6xU91eg/s1600/P1010223a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ix5JuHEBZnijkHyb163GIdTaiWQ_qIP9rXgETRsj9K8vnLqm17VmC6h5eAa0Zk5iwzmLCGSI8X7lWWUlaX9c1LXzqhVVvj6TuhSZFL0PY0tZjKZ6O3TxV2EoDkeG1O8AHJMy6xU91eg/s1600/P1010223a.JPG" height="130" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_qwo2z6Lh5b3tVjIPGxXhP_JGbdF46DWpFwCG6AlJHARH4nL9ZYeIKuH-P_19VgL2L-VXdH7KlEPEPGNz1iVwIqc7OhmkI-4S96uN-2rdiAwuUHwHQYTVpK2UhBzNWxdJRpjBu2Mbw8/s1600/P1010269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_qwo2z6Lh5b3tVjIPGxXhP_JGbdF46DWpFwCG6AlJHARH4nL9ZYeIKuH-P_19VgL2L-VXdH7KlEPEPGNz1iVwIqc7OhmkI-4S96uN-2rdiAwuUHwHQYTVpK2UhBzNWxdJRpjBu2Mbw8/s1600/P1010269.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gila Cliff Dwellings are a series of seven caves that were built between 1268-1287'ish and probably housed two clans of the Mogollon peoples. They were only occupied for about 30 years. They are located high on side of a ravine that drains to the Gila River. They were farmers, hunters and gatherers, growing squash, corn, beans and sunflowers in the fertile lands downstream of the dwelling site. It looked like a beautiful place to live with good water, soil and resources. It is a bit of a mystery as to why they moved on after such a short time. One ranger speculated that they were searching for their place of belonging and didn't believe that they had found it yet. To see the site you follow a very pretty and shady mile loop up the stream and the cliffside.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5t08fB_Fp2pdP3qOaxYlESjlWMg8MPZLIb68EUexVOPKa-aNT3jRnOw0wPtS9vgBcpPE7KRpzFhk9nwY0PR83IMCDF7zijoAH182CdtDoWJ3NVkkczvxmCIY71D56IzxIkv-Cb9XFDQ/s1600/P1050003a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5t08fB_Fp2pdP3qOaxYlESjlWMg8MPZLIb68EUexVOPKa-aNT3jRnOw0wPtS9vgBcpPE7KRpzFhk9nwY0PR83IMCDF7zijoAH182CdtDoWJ3NVkkczvxmCIY71D56IzxIkv-Cb9XFDQ/s1600/P1050003a.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4pvq2sCLaNUmLUPODiCJviAIPfIwO3kpgh0VB8Pnh1WWekdn_3DkV3ytNOO1FUqPcUotOGA1yqk4OBjQ55dI1ZjAXkFLUyEi9boyMDvb2sHPe0HX_HcNlN7z0jukoWPuSzasMu8-BFE/s1600/P1040977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4pvq2sCLaNUmLUPODiCJviAIPfIwO3kpgh0VB8Pnh1WWekdn_3DkV3ytNOO1FUqPcUotOGA1yqk4OBjQ55dI1ZjAXkFLUyEi9boyMDvb2sHPe0HX_HcNlN7z0jukoWPuSzasMu8-BFE/s1600/P1040977.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h3HaeylahQvXmDWqokmGuXOQZS8OeT6Q7CPl7xm2oK7YjvDKHHIgTtBJq-x55K2Cz6MnrAl1jaST3otlYqjMcf_xcu1x62DePVMQ_fz0BBFD6n6ihLSjCMvOdKL1oxQT0I53GjguBvk/s1600/P1040980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h3HaeylahQvXmDWqokmGuXOQZS8OeT6Q7CPl7xm2oK7YjvDKHHIgTtBJq-x55K2Cz6MnrAl1jaST3otlYqjMcf_xcu1x62DePVMQ_fz0BBFD6n6ihLSjCMvOdKL1oxQT0I53GjguBvk/s1600/P1040980.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our last stop before leaving New Mexico was the City of Rocks State Park, located SE of Silver City. Another volcanic surprise to explore! This area is an eroded, exposed flank of an ancient volcano that sticks up out of the surrounding flatlands. The rock is glassified ash and debris from the old volcano, quite soft and easily eroded into fantastic columns, hoodoos, and shapes of all sorts. The campground is immersed into the outcroppings with camping sites snuggled into rocky enclosures. We went clambering through the site for quite a while, eventually losing each other in the maze of rocks (this is not unusual for us, we generally lose each other within 5 minutes of entering a visitor center or museum). In one section there were about 8 -10 holes that had been ground into the soft rock by Native women grinding their corn. The spots were clearly located where they had a nice view, shade in the summer, or sun in the winter and having a nice rock to lean against. It was easy to imagine them sitting there, chatting with friends, minding the children and grinding their corn. A few of the holes were very shallow and I could imagine a young girl sitting and learning from the women. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshbbf15-zuSLRQ2r2WS1rY2GaoxibKeWVfOCXKxyEAKIXkPYRaGpcLE5xP1vafPGqX8jOiZp1qW_tZj7bi91jnoO1urqAh1gKg3-ETVNVA6ej8WAQBvtmjjotfKC66B8sWWM8e3_pOmI/s1600/P1040948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshbbf15-zuSLRQ2r2WS1rY2GaoxibKeWVfOCXKxyEAKIXkPYRaGpcLE5xP1vafPGqX8jOiZp1qW_tZj7bi91jnoO1urqAh1gKg3-ETVNVA6ej8WAQBvtmjjotfKC66B8sWWM8e3_pOmI/s1600/P1040948.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a beautiful sunset and moonrise, though the moon was not as red as we expected during the several days of eclipse. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcP1qF1j6P9dv80L_CrPQAH7vfoNaJZx-iOLyJ4B7PODeOJv6XF6ehAyeUTYQzdtzOfoT44cz3j1YOKMDEaZMsSBmmof6HBrXswcJS5Q7hYrfIrsKDrcC1CegvJHUZMFPqrHEzbDg-bc/s1600/P1040987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcP1qF1j6P9dv80L_CrPQAH7vfoNaJZx-iOLyJ4B7PODeOJv6XF6ehAyeUTYQzdtzOfoT44cz3j1YOKMDEaZMsSBmmof6HBrXswcJS5Q7hYrfIrsKDrcC1CegvJHUZMFPqrHEzbDg-bc/s1600/P1040987.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was sad to think that our time in New Mexico was running out, there was still so much to see! We didn't even touch the northern part of the state, though everyone we talked to said that it was fantastic. I just kept looking at the below freezing nighttime temperatures and so we decided to stay in the warmer areas. New Mexico is definitely at the top of the list for a repeat trip. Now on to Arizona and California and increasing heat (and gas prices)!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeerYTe4TCb_UfyKsnvTaZFjL2XmADe7ki_FIpe56R3cYJ6C-CoIGiVLOnt5omgNFJLkIfNBPDI1xUO1eaAFze_DjaJH_KuHkOvKXVqU_kRjaI3vKzbvySJpEOH-U0wEQjN5DfKI9eBsw/s1600/P1010308a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeerYTe4TCb_UfyKsnvTaZFjL2XmADe7ki_FIpe56R3cYJ6C-CoIGiVLOnt5omgNFJLkIfNBPDI1xUO1eaAFze_DjaJH_KuHkOvKXVqU_kRjaI3vKzbvySJpEOH-U0wEQjN5DfKI9eBsw/s1600/P1010308a.JPG" height="298" width="640" /></a></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-OZJVL9PuFmI%2FU1YZlyqfwqI%2FAAAAAAAAATQ%2F6sudPRotyFo%2Fs1600%2FP1010005a.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGakdBZSN8cM6UwI4C3EieD2qrnAFEKLeSjmyUnJrDxRJs63nz1YgZRKsSvChRZ1LBemKGMN7gPz8Ci8k2Bbn6pwOPy_XdyJ-9UJmvxI6nywGf2ohE6eEtu3ioFxamxxdxs3hMfxFDM4/s1600/P1010005a.JPG" -->Jill and Thayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564758401953500856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-39617809471367675302014-04-15T14:22:00.001-07:002014-04-18T13:19:34.762-07:00Camping in New Mexico<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="P1040286" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_C0_S_WhE5k/U02izmKlOSI/AAAAAAAABpY/07_eOQT3TsQ/P1040286.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1040286.JPG" width="150" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This has got to be the greatest deal in the U.S.! Free or very low cost campgrounds in spectacular county, hiking trails abounding for the restless, corrals for horses, sun shelters, fire pits, odor free pit toilets, garbage, even electricity in some of them. The water is a bit more scarce but we've had no problems with that. We spent 4 nights in a Lincoln NF campground called Argentina Campground. I went on several long hikes, climbing up toward 9000 ft. and the local peaks, just seeing the forest coming out of winter. There were still some patches of snow but the trees are starting to leaf out and a few dandelions were attracting butterflies. Lower down the fruit trees are blooming and grasses are greening up. We had some fun photographing the small waterfalls and building rock sculptures. </div>
<img alt="P1040245" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MOI_SHOS4oY/U02ijs3FhPI/AAAAAAAABoQ/6HwFV2w287g/P1040245.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: right; text-align: justify;" title="P1040245.JPG" width="168" /><br />
<img alt="P1040277" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DWFGFiE3_rE/U02ilnwnGiI/AAAAAAAABoY/SG2XZMW4FbQ/P1040277.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1040277.JPG" width="300" /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They must have some terrible forest fires around here, evidenced by the many burned slopes we've seen in our travels. Along with the fires go great floods in the small creeks coming down the mountains. The road crews keep pretty busy moving sand, gravel and rocks off of the roads. In Capitan you can tour the Smokey the Bear Historical Monument. The original bear cub was rescued after a fire, right here in Lincoln NF, and was the inspiration the Smokey the Bear "Only YOU can prevent forest fires!" campaign to educate the public about forest fires. The museum displays the founding and history of fire fighting and the stages it has gone through over the years. Smokey ended up living in the National Zoo in DC but is buried here in the monument.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040257" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zBghpB-DTOM/U02inIL7ggI/AAAAAAAABog/ynZWZa62d78/P1040257.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1040257.JPG" width="168" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Mountain NF</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040328" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XRLC_tyhKOg/U02iosO2FcI/AAAAAAAABoo/qm2-gbAcvTQ/P1040328.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1040328.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Mountain NF</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040345" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zH14c_9VPUk/U02iq4sFfpI/AAAAAAAABow/ruVu0-ZxAYs/P1040345.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1040345.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got my camos on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040361" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mU-Egar0KR0/U02isnssoqI/AAAAAAAABo4/QwMNyqdTCCk/P1040361.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1040361.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock people</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-GNx_6tjIB80/U02iuUbRAVI/AAAAAAAABpA/Wr_AZdTfE6A/P1040366.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="P1040366" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GNx_6tjIB80/U02iuUbRAVI/AAAAAAAABpA/Wr_AZdTfE6A/P1040366.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1040366.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lazy day fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
FYI, Teddy Bears are not the same thing, they were inspired by Theodore Roosevelt who was on a hunting trip in the south someplace. They were having trouble finding Teddy a bear but finally their dogs found one and the locals tied it to a tree to wait for Roosevelt to come and shoot it. Roosevelt spared the bear, not finding it sporting to shoot a bear tied to a tree. Well, that is a nice start to the story but the sad part was that after Teddy left the scene the other hunters went ahead and killed the bear. In one of the many books I've read on this trip, several about T.R., the author related how the Teddy Bear stuffed toy became an overnight sensation and of course we all know of it's continuing popularity. Someone came up with a brilliant follow up to the Teddy Bear and a chance to honor the new President of the US, William Taft. They chose the lowly opossum for the next stuffed toy! Needless to say the idea didn't take off quite like the Teddy Bear.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A short tour of Lincoln, NM taught us all about the rowdy nature of this place back in the 1880's. It was a lawless land, everyone settled their disputes with guns. There were too many conflicts for me to remember but it was a very violent period of history in this area. Fort Stanton, built in 1855, was built to protect settlers from the Apache Indians who were not at all happy about being displaced. The economy of the surrounding areas were dependent upon selling goods to the fort, mainly cattle. There were family feuds, business battles, assassinations, scheming, plotting, cattle and horse rustling, drunken brawls and silly squabbles that were fought to the death. Billy the Kid escaped from the Lincoln jail by killing two deputies on the way back from the outhouse. We have been following his trail for several hundred miles it seems. The Mexicans in Lincoln built their own circular fort to defend against Indian raids and to protect their animals. A lady we talked to said to imagine being shut up in this little fort with 50 of your neighbors surrounded by all the animals, with no water or toilets for several days.... not nice. This same lady was spinning wool at a little shop and took the time to show me a crochet pattern for a scarf. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040403" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1RnRTvrpvCQ/U02iwIXF6UI/AAAAAAAABpI/AQl6HYI_9BM/P1040403.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1040403.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexican fort protecting against the Apache</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040405" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Esdtswon6VA/U02ix9CCSjI/AAAAAAAABpQ/peC-RbSFX5w/P1040405.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1040405.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting our colors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We've stayed in 3 BLM campgrounds lately: Fort Stanton, Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site, and Valley of Fires. Fort Stanton was free and the other two very inexpensive. River of Fires even has nice bathrooms with showers! Happy day! I have been getting plenty of walking, each site has miles of trails. The Petroglyphs site was amazing, over 20,000 pictures spread out on basalt boulders along a ridge. The last inhabitants of this area were the Jornada Mogollon and about 1000 years ago they vanished mysteriously leaving no trace or heritage that anyone claims today. They also have the remains of the village with several dwelling styles present. We spent a lot of time photographing the rock art and imagining what inspired each artist. It has been very hard to choose the photos for this site, it was all so spectacular.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040428" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-19YW_HGgOBc/U02i1GWe2mI/AAAAAAAABpg/qcmLu6Jjc_A/P1040428.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040428.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040482" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZhBVd-bh2vk/U02i4viy4bI/AAAAAAAABpw/up6g2TVjjkc/P1040482.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040482.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040487" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3FVcOta5o6Y/U02i6RWX5zI/AAAAAAAABp4/qhVO5yX5KmE/P1040487.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040487.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040490" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2D_QRdWbZxw/U02i91q41uI/AAAAAAAABqI/1LlniNGG1Hw/P1040490.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040490.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040513" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vNbFLRd_tYw/U02i_Qee8wI/AAAAAAAABqQ/pvqMARD_h34/P1040513.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040513.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040524" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mwE3ytAhJmg/U02jBEUNGJI/AAAAAAAABqY/K0XOUVDY5gM/P1040524.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040524.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040574" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xO5Cc2Vmweo/U02jCyiC9qI/AAAAAAAABqg/I6byM38ptjo/P1040574.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040574.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040553" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s3rAoFT6MMo/U02jE9gib6I/AAAAAAAABqo/o8Bn3F-Q_zE/P1040553.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040553.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Rivers Petroglyph Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
River of Fires is an interesting site, 125 sq. miles of lava flow dating back only a few thousand years. It came from a shield volcano, simple fissures in the crust that oozed out gobs of molten rock. There are the usual lava tubes, pahoehoe, aa, and other cool volcanic features. What I find interesting is that there are more species of plants growing on the lava than there are in the surrounding desert! The convoluted surface is good at protecting plants, moderating temperatures and conserving water. There is also abundant wildlife, mule deer, bats, desert squirrels, tarantulas, and rodents of various kinds. Evolution is hard at work here, the same species that we saw down the road at White Sands in light shades are here as well, except they have much darker coloring to blend into the black lava. It is quite astonishing to see this volcanic site in the middle of this desert country. It is a very small site compared to Washington's "biggest on the planet" Columbia Plateau Basalts but New Mexico is very proud of their volcano. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040633" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UaUOdb2rCpQ/U02jGgSqTOI/AAAAAAAABqw/-m4pYpwvKzk/P1040633.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040633.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pohoehoe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040640" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CEwkPWzE5cQ/U02jIR--FRI/AAAAAAAABq4/CkEYj5zw-FU/P1040640.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040640.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient Pinon Pine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The last activity for this post is visiting the Trinity Site at the north end of the White Sands Missile Range. Trinity is the site of the world's first atomic blast on July 16, 1945. It is open only one day each year, down from two days in the past. We were glad we arrived early because by the time we left several hours later there was a huge line up at the gate. The site consists of a very shallow "crater" and a memorial oblisk to the event. Outside the fence were informational stands and vendors. We eavesdropped on a tour group to get some information, talked to a few guys who were enthusiasts, volunteering their time to answer questions and tell stories. It was interesting how casually the project was put together in the final stages. Most of the work was done by the scientists at Los Alamos to the north of Trinity, and the folks at Hanford who were creating the uranium needed for the bomb. Pieces of the bomb were delivered to Trinity in trucks and the uranium arrived in a car. They were assembled into the complete bomb in the farmhouse not far from the site. There were many observation sites around the countryside at varying distances. Unfortunately the farmhouse was closed for this one day affair so we were not able to see that part. This was the only bomb set off above ground in New Mexico during those early years of testing. The second and third bombs built were the ones dropped on Japan. The site has been cleaned up but you can still find plenty of trinitite, the glassy, green rock created by the intense heat of the bomb. Just for the record, I did not collect any. It was a great history lesson and a very interesting morning.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040649" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D9IIpUQ6O00/U02jJ2EhtTI/AAAAAAAABrA/YbzuTSZCywc/P1040649.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040649.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trinity bomb casing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040656" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YSMZE2ohElY/U02jLSj0bMI/AAAAAAAABrI/Eg9CbJIcfsw/P1040656.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040656.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trinity site memorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F-GNx_6tjIB80%2FU02iuUbRAVI%2FAAAAAAAABpA%2FWr_AZdTfE6A%2FP1040366.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh4.ggpht.com/-GNx_6tjIB80/U02iuUbRAVI/AAAAAAAABpA/Wr_AZdTfE6A/P1040366.JPG?imgmax=800" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-30915313353919420112014-04-02T13:44:00.001-07:002014-04-02T13:57:47.110-07:00New Mexico Outback!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our first camping spot was Aguirre Springs campground just over the mountains from Las Cruzes. It is a BLM campground with about 30 some sites and pit toilets. If you have a National Park annual pass the camping is free. There is no water or power at the campground but water is available 4 miles away at the host's site. With a 20 gallon tank we can go for a long time without water. The campground is nestled up under the cliffs of the Organ Mountains, with spectacular jagged peaks reaching into the sky. The sunrises are fantastic! There are two very nice hikes from the campground, one a loop hike through the rocks and cactus, the other going up to Baylor Pass to see the valley on the other side of the range. Both are about 4+ miles round trip. We met some nice people, one couple from the Netherlands who regularly come to the U.S. for RVing, renting a rig and spending a month at a time. They say there are good deals to be had if you do a delivery for the rental company, with rates as low as $10/day in some cases. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000621" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u0vIdTwONfM/Uzx05kdEiBI/AAAAAAAABis/tCcryoCAS_4/P1000621.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000621.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organ Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040042" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kzo5jXlc4aU/Uzx1iy02rbI/AAAAAAAABi8/FzfAvPwmEGA/P1040042.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040042.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aguirre Springs BLM Campground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040049" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vkd6s8nUNVU/Uzx1kt7R0SI/AAAAAAAABjE/Cq3ktztmRHw/P1040049.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040049.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organ Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040073" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lvpc7e33JYo/Uzx1mKpYpoI/AAAAAAAABjM/-4aeLgytd3Q/P1040073.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040073.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big trees even in the desert!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040108" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zr5hAuMR7SQ/Uzx1nYAH0HI/AAAAAAAABjU/vBFHWh0h1ZA/P1040108.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040108.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise, Organ Mountains </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040109" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-02PRUuvfENg/Uzx1o7ocOrI/AAAAAAAABjc/BOen6aM86LM/P1040109.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040109.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise, Organ Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040105" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H_cGTHZeKJc/Uzx1qRkOcNI/AAAAAAAABjk/63qSQ0-s4o4/P1040105.JPG?imgmax=800" height="150" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040105.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildlife</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040115" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AXrdZham5HI/Uzx1sVceZYI/AAAAAAAABjs/kPIim3gN0gs/P1040115.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040115.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organ Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040122" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2RMNPCoETds/Uzx1wSKQDCI/AAAAAAAABj8/Saclm_BTIzs/P1040122.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040122.JPG" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the tough life!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
White Sands National Monument was our next destination, just a few miles from the Springs. The dunes are simply amazing! We felt like we were driving up in the mountains in winter with piles of snow along the road and a hard packed dirty ice surface on the road. They also allow sledding on plastic disks on the dunes near the road so we saw crowds of people racing down the dunes on snow disks! These dunes are by far the largest gypsum dunes in the world, dwarfing other sites, with it's 275 square mile expanse. The next biggest is a mere smear 10 sq. miles in Mexico. The gypsum comes from the surrounding mountains which are just full of the stuff, dating back to the ancient sea beds that are the reason for most of the landscapes in this area. Gypsum is quite soluble in water, so it gets washed down the hills into the Tularosa Basin where it forms shallow lakes. These lakes have no outlet so the gypsum accumulates and concentrates. During dry periods the water evaporates leaving the gypsum which then crystallizes to form selenite, a soft mineral. For 10,000 years wind and weather have been breaking down these soft crystals and blowing them around to form dunes. The secret to these dunes is the water that exists right below the surface of the area. This high water table anchors the base of the dunes and keeps them from blowing away entirely. There are several kinds of dunes and they move at different rates and have different shapes. The youngest dunes romp along at up to 35 ft. per year, the older dunes get slowed down by plants anchoring themselves in the sand. As you can imagine, the plants and animals here have some pretty amazing adaptations which enable them to survive in a very harsh environment. The plants have varied and interesting ways of anchoring themselves and getting access to water. The animals have changed over the years to be light colored in order to blend into their blindingly white environment. The lizards actually have quite a blue tinge to them. We went for a nice long ramble in the dunes and did a very informative walk with a ranger at sunset, where we learned all about the adaptations of plants in the dunes.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000659" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A4dj5aTg__0/Uzx10PBWTMI/AAAAAAAABkM/qdgvPJkOqvY/P1000659.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000659.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Sands NM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000642" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wf20gjFJxmU/Uzx12Nhs1RI/AAAAAAAABkU/sCrwezyGcjQ/P1000642.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000642.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Sands NM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040123" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Tz88hJSRkdU/Uzx14rOgQiI/AAAAAAAABkc/RKXTN8Z5I6M/P1040123.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040123.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like snow, eh???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040136" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J3fIM10Z3SM/Uzx17ZZqdxI/AAAAAAAABkk/Cf6IEbLgt4o/P1040136.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040136.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Sands NM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040138" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7dPxSYCl850/Uzx188GhDgI/AAAAAAAABks/MZBPYzBFh3E/P1040138.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040138.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Sands NM, interdune area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040127" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-axYdGFqfT3A/Uzx1_pVVQnI/AAAAAAAABk0/whwEVLhqFb8/P1040127.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040127.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special camouflage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040150" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ctwLFgFuu7g/Uzx2A4qPLXI/AAAAAAAABk8/uRvrTIkvDCQ/P1040150.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040150.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not easy being a plant in a moving world!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By this time we were about ready for a real shower, so we found our way to Oliver Lee State Park, not far from White Sands. Showers, laundry by hand, charging up the batteries and some fabulous views were all available. Everything but trees! Fortunately it was not overly hot since there was not a lot of shade. I wandered around the historical areas of the park, enjoyed the cactus garden and scoped out the hikes for the next day. We got up early enough to beat the sun as we climbed the hill to get up Dog Canyon, topping out on a series of benches that wind up the canyon. We were treated to lovely canyon views and rugged cliffs all around. It was about a 3 mile hike into an old stone cabin built by ranchers in the 1930's. It is very hard to imagine cattle ranching in this country but when they started doing it here it was during a wetter climate and there was more food for the cows and water for orchards and farming. Dog Canyon still has spring water running down it, not a lot, but enough to create pretty pools, sculpted rocks and seeps filled with ferns and water plants. The original settlers built quite a large dam and irrigation canals to water their crops. One of the settlers built long primitive fences made of the stone blocks that are everywhere. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000713" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aN2Xh4weTLU/Uzx2CW3txpI/AAAAAAAABlE/q98mdDxM7So/P1000713.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000713.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver Lee SP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000747" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FDpi_prIu-E/Uzx2DgcHB_I/AAAAAAAABlM/x_fBVU4ZkGc/P1000747.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000747.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Tularosa Basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040174" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LnIiG9EyeSk/Uzx2FObtx_I/AAAAAAAABlU/l77K6v52oh4/P1040174.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040174.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring from Dog Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040172" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mMv1wv9uaQ0/Uzx2HeB0D4I/AAAAAAAABlc/QnAPB5Cd4MM/P1040172.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040172.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring from Dog Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040192" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p5ckRIPjZbU/Uzx2Jm-1EAI/AAAAAAAABlk/i7RYNsWIcuw/P1040192.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040192.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty springs in the desert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040201" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RfAxgDA2EUI/Uzx2Krc3nCI/AAAAAAAABls/zDA89VAdF-c/P1040201.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040201.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over Frenchy's homestead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040204" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MhmUv1NE0WU/Uzx2NiyXDVI/AAAAAAAABl8/ZZ0RjymMX5s/P1040204.JPG?imgmax=800" height="168" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040204.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in Dog Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="P1040218" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Zr7cGkYvxXs/Uzx2Qd81sfI/AAAAAAAABmM/yFH1nEM5jLw/P1040218.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1040218.JPG" width="112" /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We spent some time in Alamogordo, getting caught up with life on the internet, shopping, and getting organized. We visited the Space History Museum and spent a good part of the day there. I was quite impressed with how pivotal New Mexico was in the development of rockets, bombs and space exploration. Thayer showed off his piloting talents by landing the space shuttle, at the most difficult level on the simulator, on his second try. It is a very good museum! It was a lot of information to process.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000749" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bNixspAK-so/Uzx2SEadMVI/AAAAAAAABmU/vWQQSGS5xJ4/P1000749.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000749.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">History of Space Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="P1040233" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pq6e4qdbQWU/Uzx2ThVL6RI/AAAAAAAABmc/kWfoDyGvLKw/P1040233.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1040233.JPG" width="168" /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040226" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y0cjGMNs5ws/Uzx2VEfp1iI/AAAAAAAABmk/R4DVEr2f8jQ/P1040226.JPG?imgmax=800" height="168" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040226.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">History of Space Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040225" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KaBpp5t_2Sw/Uzx2XYP3SHI/AAAAAAAABms/C1uunFbzFcI/P1040225.JPG?imgmax=800" height="168" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040225.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">History of Space Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040227" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XpkdQP327Ko/Uzx2ZIX3I8I/AAAAAAAABm0/ueXkw2COxFA/P1040227.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040227.JPG" width="168" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rockets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next, we found ourselves heading up into the Sacramento Mountains east of Alamogordo, the first stop being the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, NM. They have a good visitor center with the most difficult information packed into the smallest space I have yet seen. It was very dense and took a long time to get through. They play a NOVA video which was very informative and had spectacular footage of the sun and it's wild and crazy activities. I'm not so worried about asteroids anymore, one giant burp from the sun and we'll all be toast. We then were able to see two of the big telescopes that scientists from all over the world come to for their research. Their most impressive telescope is the Dunn Solar Telescope, weighing in at 200 tons and measuring 136 ft above the surface and 228 ft. underground! The main part of the scope floats on a pool of mercury weighing 10 tons, this allows for smooth and easy movement of the scope as it tracks the sun across the sky. It was pretty amazing! The observatory is located on the top of Sacramento Peak, about 9200 ft. above sea level, still pretty chilly this time of year. We spent the night just down the road in a Lincoln NF campground.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040236" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZqwNS3AaYu0/Uzx2boW1WhI/AAAAAAAABnE/xle3-RHEa2A/P1040236.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040236.JPG" width="168" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunn Observatory</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040241" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-agNBd14kgIY/Uzx2hVPy_LI/AAAAAAAABnk/sbWuxJKAXwo/P1040241.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040241.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other Sunspot Observatories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000766" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-stXJiTDKquI/Uzx2frTVvDI/AAAAAAAABnc/TFtdwPrmzCI/P1000766.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000766.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">control room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000763" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7r33QJPhoUU/Uzx2dzvXrjI/AAAAAAAABnU/mRtDYk-boJ4/P1000763.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000763.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masses of electronics!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are high up in the mountains around here, the campgrounds are at about 7800 feet. Presently we are near the White Mountain Wilderness Area, lovely camping and great hiking. More on this in the next post!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-25033900236609285542014-04-02T13:26:00.001-07:002014-04-02T13:36:15.996-07:00Odds and Ends<div style="text-align: justify;">
Before leaving Texas I do have to mention the wonderful little town of San Elizario located about 20 miles south of El Paso. It is part of the Historic Mission Trail. It has one of the oldest churches on the trail, nicely preserved with a few blocks of the town including a very good museum, many art stores, the jail that Billy the Kid broke into to save his buddy, and some touristy shops. The lady at the museum invited us to stay in the church parking lot for the night and sweetened the deal by telling us about the live music at the local hangout, El Desperado. The people we met during the day were super friendly, almost all of them mentioning the musical evening and encouraging us to stay. The music was not great, a local garage band, but every person we had met during the day came up and talked with us during the evening. Rene, the group leader, introduced us and made a big deal so we felt very special. The next day we visited several more churches on the Historic Trail but they were closed.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030951" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ff-75V6LmFs/UzxyCXW89EI/AAAAAAAABgY/OtZsZKv4rrc/P1030951.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030951.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Mission Trail...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030962" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qRbT9gsMrPE/UzxyFPZqEQI/AAAAAAAABgg/FERrsJUDOSs/P1030962.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030962.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky Adobe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030945" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6RJi6m-cpcc/UzxyH167NHI/AAAAAAAABgw/cdEQePfA_0w/P1030945.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030945.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Elizario Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030971" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c5Hx8LLuxWw/UzxyJrGoQcI/AAAAAAAABg4/vF_beROhjp4/P1030971.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030971.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Elizario Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030949" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r8POWKnRK7o/UzxyLCta-NI/AAAAAAAABhA/RU23O3ISFxM/P1030949.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030949.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Elizario Jail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We spent 3 nights at a Boondocker just north of El Paso. They have a dusty 8 acre ranch with some horses and a cow. Thayer worked on getting a new hard drive up and running while I enjoyed the sun and read books. Just across the road is the Rio Grande River and it's Biking/Hiking Trail, a wide, smooth trail which follows the mighty Rio Grande down the valley. They haven't seen much water in the river in the past few years, no surprises there.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030974" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lRyjqeZG4Mo/UzxyMpUtEmI/AAAAAAAABhI/OMDKY5gF3Fc/P1030974.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030974.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We have had a very nice couple of weeks exploring New Mexico. The camping is free and easy in the many BLM sites, the state parks are cheap and have all the amenities, and the scenery is wonderful. It is still cool and there is quite a breeze every day. If any of you are thinking of trying RVing sometime this is the place to have a great experience. For $225 you can buy an annual state park pass which allows you access to all of the state parks and camping with no fees. We did not do this because we will only be here for a month but you could spend a lot of time here and never get bored. Not only is the natural beauty spectacular but the history of the state is really interesting, from the Native peoples, the Spanish explorers, the Missionaries, Billy the Kid, to the atomic age, rocket development and the beginnings of the space program.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000501" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JsBBX1Xwrhg/UzxyOCVWwfI/AAAAAAAABhQ/eABwwk2SKAM/P1000501.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000501.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outback macho rig!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our boondocker host, Robert, recommended a stop at Old Mesilla, located just south of the larger town of Las Cruzes. We were delighted to find an old town square, dating back to the mid 1800's, with an old church on one side, a plaza in the middle, surrounded by restored, old adobe buildings. They contain a variety of stores, tourist, art, jewelry, restaurants, and a wonderful book store filled with books about the SW. Robert had recommended the Double Eagle Restaurant and from the outside I was quite dubious, it was just an old adobe alley that led to the door. I went in though and was delighted to find an ornate old bar with sparkling chandeliers and a spacious, garden-like restaurant located in an interior atrium. In smaller rooms off the main atrium were dining areas beautifully decorated, where they could accommodate private parties. Later we both came back and had margaritas and a nice meal. I learned not to judge buildings from the outside! Especially adobe, they look very earthy and plain from the outside but are very beautiful and interesting inside. We spent the night on a quiet street nearby and in the morning went to Josephina's for breakfast, they have a wonderful outdoor patio with fountains and big shady trees.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000558" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GLOraXkZQms/UzxyPo3cy8I/AAAAAAAABhY/MUXCKQCgRlw/P1000558.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000558.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Mesilla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000564" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OLEEqlOgM4E/UzxyRb1fMYI/AAAAAAAABhg/OZy-a-Ew26w/P1000564.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000564.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Mesilla characters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000580" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wOtNupKAYvg/UzxySlFbeqI/AAAAAAAABho/SQN5enkg6Zo/P1000580.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000580.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Mesilla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000611" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--knDbCIZvuc/UzxyUwPNtKI/AAAAAAAABh4/QdUgexkoRy0/P1000611.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000611.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Mesilla church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030997" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-firLMIoTNow/UzxyWJ-jVGI/AAAAAAAABiA/prxSuFGZw78/P1030997.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030997.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Eagle Restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030982" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c51b5lbNuZA/UzxyXRHkVrI/AAAAAAAABiI/LdKuSN9xl8E/P1030982.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030982.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Eagle Restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030994" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Piq3d0zMfNo/UzxyYgEzrGI/AAAAAAAABiQ/PLoIfHxrmJ4/P1030994.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030994.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Eagle Restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030983" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TduhT0-L4qc/UzxyZ0nNzYI/AAAAAAAABiY/zmNdkVwx2V4/P1030983.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030983.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Eagle Bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1040017" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1p7ajxNOWhc/UzxybKZ-2XI/AAAAAAAABig/T3bFWRQRwjE/P1040017.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1040017.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josephina's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000571" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Zw9cuigANDc/UzxyTz7-ASI/AAAAAAAABhw/Cmkip6uMnZI/P1000571.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000571.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the colors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We've been having great weather, blue skies, reasonable temperatures, cool breezes and chilly nights. We are looking forward to getting into the National Forests and BLM sites for some real camping!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-54569662530958469442014-03-23T21:07:00.001-07:002014-03-23T21:28:00.702-07:00Carlsbad Cavern NP/ Guadalupe Mtn. NP<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="P1000350" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wuC_muWi7y0/Uy-uWa509mI/AAAAAAAABcw/a6wV1I-Rn2A/P1000350.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="float: right;" title="P1000350.JPG" width="300" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="P1000345" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4u6cM-wnxf8/Uy-uVAafR1I/AAAAAAAABck/Zw2e73_QCD8/P1000345.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: left;" title="P1000345.JPG" width="225" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-UGlfCFJeH94/Uy-uX9ha9OI/AAAAAAAABc4/yH038wZH9e4/P1000388.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000388" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UGlfCFJeH94/Uy-uX9ha9OI/AAAAAAAABc4/yH038wZH9e4/P1000388.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" title="P1000388.JPG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-l7AmXNuCpe0/Uy-ubNBaBXI/AAAAAAAABdI/eC0KgFYe1ZQ/P1000414.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000414" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l7AmXNuCpe0/Uy-ubNBaBXI/AAAAAAAABdI/eC0KgFYe1ZQ/P1000414.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" title="P1000414.JPG" width="225" /></a>You'll have to imagine how excited we were to see something that looked like mountains again! Coming out of the flatlands and into New Mexico gave us new energy and enthusiasm, just to see those mountains. And they aren't even all that big. After getting our bearings in Carlsbad, stopping at the BLM offices and Visitor center we were ready to go. There are some BLM lands near the entrance to Carlsbad and though it was noisy with oil trucks rolling by we endured one night there.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Carlsbad Caverns were splendid beyond words, I won't even try to describe them but I'll post a bunch of pictures. I will explain a little about the unusual geology of the area. Most caverns are located in large limestone formations created millions of years ago by industrious little sea creatures like algae, sponges and shellfish. Many caverns are created by water from the surface flowing through cracks in limestone formations, dissolving the soft rock, and creating the large rooms and passageways. Then, over hundreds of thousands of years, groundwater seeping into the spaces and dripping and flowing creates the stalactites and stalagmites that make up the amazing formations, including columns, chandeliers, crystals, sheets, curtains, and everything in between. What is unusual about Carlsbad is that the major work of hollowing out the ancient coral reef was not done by flowing water, but by hydrogen sulfide rich water seeping up from fossil fuel deposits below, reacting with the water in the limestone to create sulphuric acid. This acid ate away the limestone much faster than just flowing water and contributed to the many unusual and enormous rooms of Carlsbad. Most of the formations were then created in the usual way, water seeping into the caverns over millennia. Carlsbad is mostly a dry cavern now, there is very little dripping water, partly because is it located in a desert on a warming planet. The two and half miles of trails through the main part of the cavern are very easy and well planned and maintained. You can do side trips and additional sites for a fee but we found that two and a half miles was plenty. The NP works hard to preserve and protect the cavern and have pretty strict rules. What we really liked is that it is self guided and you can really take your time and enjoy the cave. Thayer and I had fun playing with our cameras and experimenting with different settings and effects. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000253" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-123gkelSpAQ/Uy-uNxbkLCI/AAAAAAAABcI/g4FDt1YtZBI/P1000253.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000253.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Entrance Carlsbad Caverns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000271" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gIYppFjP-NE/Uy-uPUJC1gI/AAAAAAAABcQ/TbBavOZt0SY/P1000271.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000271.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-1bpNKZt1Vhg/Uy-uZ1TkTuI/AAAAAAAABdA/Giw7dJnKl1w/P1000361.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000361" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1bpNKZt1Vhg/Uy-uZ1TkTuI/AAAAAAAABdA/Giw7dJnKl1w/P1000361.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" title="P1000361.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-1gXdjppHrX4/Uy-uQVGsa8I/AAAAAAAABcY/ZLZsVN1WVP4/P1000315.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="P1000315" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1gXdjppHrX4/Uy-uQVGsa8I/AAAAAAAABcY/ZLZsVN1WVP4/P1000315.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" title="P1000315.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030608" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TrfskCsyTzg/Uy-ukqxOKxI/AAAAAAAABdo/7NfTj9Ku_p0/P1030608.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030608.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000478" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZvuYfU-8MZA/Uy-ucRK5InI/AAAAAAAABdQ/0mBDKIu6fr4/P1000478.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000478.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="P1000432" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wEEE2eO0GcA/Uy-ufYNZxdI/AAAAAAAABdg/q8QALZycuJY/P1000432.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000432.JPG" width="225" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030541" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qhvmt-z48pE/Uy-ueK2Zv4I/AAAAAAAABdY/Ncgj97BYf90/P1030541.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030541.JPG" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030753" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IjUbGZyquWI/Uy-unuxeAaI/AAAAAAAABd4/dZ9voTtzYM0/P1030753.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030753.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030599" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RqwjalpD9e0/Uy-upawNgDI/AAAAAAAABeA/9Xu8WeXhE2A/P1030599.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030599.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<img alt="P1030622" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-20MuRahmGtI/Uy-umA_wPII/AAAAAAAABdw/UKqzixCF0uk/P1030622.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030622.JPG" width="225" /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Lion's tale formation</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030729" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Xjxl7cvXqFU/Uy-uqvU_G5I/AAAAAAAABeI/AR7YdjS_e9g/P1030729.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030729.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
Heading back into Texas (sigh) we drove a few miles down the road to Guadalupe Mtn. NP. These beautiful, rugged mountains are made of the same limestone as Carlsbad and probably even have caves and caverns underneath. The highland areas, at 8000 ft. resemble a northwest forest rather than a desert habitat. We didn't visit this area but it looked very beautiful in the video. There are two main entrances to the park, the first being McKittrick Canyon, arguably the most beautiful place in Texas. It has a very different ecology than the surrounding areas, many plants and animals are hold overs from way back when there was more water around. A stream flows through the canyon, though you can't always see it as it goes underground for long stretches. The gray and brown cliffs tower above the creek bed and forests of pine, cactus, maple and even Texas madrone trees fill in the low areas. What really stands out is that the stream bed is filled with white boulders, all rounded and shaped from tumbling downstream during the flash floods that happen fairly regularly. These white rocks came from the cliffs above but the brown and gray coloring gets worn off on the way downstream, exposing the white sandstone. It is quite beautiful. In 1930 Mr. McKittrick built a beautiful stone lodge about half way up the canyon, above the flood areas and lived in it for many years. He donated the lodge and the property in the 60's, initiating the formation the park. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030792" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-n89hBCO0UzU/Uy-urzQzBXI/AAAAAAAABeQ/rS7YeQ2mtUQ/P1030792.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030792.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guadalupe Mtn. NP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030838" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bYdLwS-5lIg/Uy-uuDjrm8I/AAAAAAAABeY/BQoUzp3L8Po/P1030838.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030838.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homesteader spread with springs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030812" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eiMWIImF6Ik/Uy-vIN3KhPI/AAAAAAAABek/PnTmOHJma2o/P1030812.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030812.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McKittrick Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030828" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GvE8A9StyII/Uy-vLLglMBI/AAAAAAAABes/7FakkZuqKt0/P1030828.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030828.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McKittrick's Lodge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030833" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dKSdUbOmG1c/Uy-vRQho7uI/AAAAAAAABfM/eOD--sFxYMc/P1030833.JPG?imgmax=800" height="250" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030833.JPG" width="166" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Frijole's </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030830" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GgVr8FlL5FM/Uy-vNbiUykI/AAAAAAAABe0/wy0oLE7K-JM/P1030830.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030830.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030870" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M_NRaf-j8lY/Uy-vTYZOtiI/AAAAAAAABfU/FJ6dN3enZTI/P1030870.JPG?imgmax=800" height="112" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030870.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The other entrance to the park has an old farm house and barns of one the earliest white settlers in the area. Many hiking trails start near the Visitor's center. We spent the night in the parking lot that they call a campground and had a fun evening with a young couple from Seattle on a 6 week jaunt in their old VW camper. Andrew works for Homestreet Bank and Andrea works for the Seattle Parks Dept. in Environmental Learning so we had lots to talk about. We had so much fun listening to their adventures at Mardi Gras in Eunice, LA. Totally different from our experience but it sounded wild and fun! Next time we are going there for Mardi Gras!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next morning I hiked up another canyon similar to McKittrick Canyon except it was a little more rugged with much of the trail in the empty streambed. The very best part was about 3/4 the way up where the water way wound its way down a steep stretch of canyon. It cut a slot canyon about 60 feet deep and 15 feet wide and 150 feet long, below that took several 90 degree turns, dropped into a pool, turned 90 degrees again and then flattened out. It would be awesome to see in a flood stage! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="P1030897" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q6YYCPS6jwQ/Uy-vVLXBWPI/AAAAAAAABfc/bd7dDOEFzLA/P1030897.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: left;" title="P1030897.JPG" width="168" /><br />
<img alt="P1030892" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iZZulwwCXmk/Uy-vYHPBiFI/AAAAAAAABfk/uAzQUP1WpxA/P1030892.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: right;" title="P1030892.JPG" width="172" /><br />
<img alt="P1030899" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ErSX3u6csC0/Uy-vbZNhRgI/AAAAAAAABfs/YBB8lPwDS7c/P1030899.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030899.JPG" width="168" /><br />
<img alt="P1030917" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jDGqykYg-Zk/Uy-vei_V8SI/AAAAAAAABf0/VzNgcFGIthc/P1030917.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: left;" title="P1030917.JPG" width="225" /><br />
<img alt="P1030915" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-78WG1BkENVA/Uy-viH2F2gI/AAAAAAAABf8/LM7vESK9qqk/P1030915.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: right;" title="P1030915.JPG" width="225" /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="P1030546" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-miQykEVuXtA/Uy-vkgTC8AI/AAAAAAAABgE/WNwSvgGydYE/P1030546.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030546.JPG" width="150" />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F-1bpNKZt1Vhg%2FUy-uZ1TkTuI%2FAAAAAAAABdA%2FGiw7dJnKl1w%2FP1000361.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh3.ggpht.com/-1bpNKZt1Vhg/Uy-uZ1TkTuI/AAAAAAAABdA/Giw7dJnKl1w/P1000361.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F-1gXdjppHrX4%2FUy-uQVGsa8I%2FAAAAAAAABcY%2FZLZsVN1WVP4%2FP1000315.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh5.ggpht.com/-1gXdjppHrX4/Uy-uQVGsa8I/AAAAAAAABcY/ZLZsVN1WVP4/P1000315.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F-UGlfCFJeH94%2FUy-uX9ha9OI%2FAAAAAAAABc4%2FyH038wZH9e4%2FP1000388.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh5.ggpht.com/-UGlfCFJeH94/Uy-uX9ha9OI/AAAAAAAABc4/yH038wZH9e4/P1000388.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F-l7AmXNuCpe0%2FUy-ubNBaBXI%2FAAAAAAAABdI%2FeC0KgFYe1ZQ%2FP1000414.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh6.ggpht.com/-l7AmXNuCpe0/Uy-ubNBaBXI/AAAAAAAABdI/eC0KgFYe1ZQ/P1000414.JPG?imgmax=800" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-40463618635028931362014-03-17T19:36:00.001-07:002014-03-26T17:12:05.991-07:00No, we're not lost!! We just had to get through Texas! <div style="text-align: justify;">I know it's been a while but here goes. I've had to look back through my notes to even get started!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">In the several days that we took driving to Texarkana we made several interesting historical stops. The first being the town of Natchez. This quaint little burg is located high on a bluff above the Mississippi River. Since 1716 is has been occupied by the French, Spanish, British and finally Americans. Early on it was important to control the towns along the River. Natchez features a lovely park at the edge of the bluff with good walking trails, historical information, and nature trails. It was once a very busy place, being a major shipping port for cotton and goods up and down the river. It has many lovely antebellum homes built by wealthy farmers and businessmen. Natchez was not involved in any Civil War battles so the homes have been preserved. In a more humble, but nice home is the Johnson House National Historic Park. It is the old home of one of the most successful free black families in the south. Johnson started as a barber and expanded his enterprises until he became quite a wealthy man. Strangely enough, he owned slaves. In general, he treated them well as long as they worked hard but was abusive when they did not. He was shot by a neighbor over a dispute and, because the neighbor claimed to have some white blood in him, and the only witnesses were black, was not punished. They had a great exhibit about the free blacks living alongside the privileged whites. There was also an upper and lower part of the town. The part down on the river, called Under the Hill, was not a safe place for decent folks. In 1816 William Richardson wrote: "From this filthy spot emanate all the contagious disorders that infest the town above."</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030194.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Uglc_JyVda4/UyevCbsiSEI/AAAAAAAABYA/BpldHxqgtRo/P1030194.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030194" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natchez </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030197.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZErMkNEX3Uk/UyevK8u5k0I/AAAAAAAABYQ/MurolJH47JY/P1030197.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030197" width="225" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the upper town</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030212.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k9XE6r0wnqk/UyevOKTw42I/AAAAAAAABYY/x2Gh4qSn5xc/P1030212.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030212" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Den of Iniquity Under the Hill</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030224.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2xVsP2_AIuE/UyevR30fPxI/AAAAAAAABYg/oDsAkQEsfao/P1030224.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030224" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antebellum home</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030233.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o19XXcj9QA8/UyevUw2i-VI/AAAAAAAABYo/1KtAxmJikk4/P1030233.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030233" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many churches</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Connecting Natchez to Vicksburg is the Natchez Trace Parkway which originally was the road the Native Americans used in their yearly migrations up and down the river. Now it is a scenic highway that winds through the hills and valleys through what I am sure are beautiful forests in the right time of year. We also took a side trip to Emerald Indian Mound, the second largest in the U.S. It was not a burial mound but was used for temples and such. Other side trips included an old farmstead and the Windsor Ruins, a fabulous ruined pre-civil war home.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030261.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M1ee6fnkqN8/UyevbveqcvI/AAAAAAAABYw/EG7PRq-vDZE/P1030261.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030261" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd largest in North America</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030276.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kLrTMooxmho/UyevkGvZY6I/AAAAAAAABZA/5t-Y5GGlTq8/P1030276.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030276" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homesteader's tools</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030296.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-drTCC-kpK0M/UyevnowvRiI/AAAAAAAABZI/Vydbg8n5ZVA/P1030296.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030296" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windsor ruins</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030301.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ufj3bvX3mP0/UyevqPByVxI/AAAAAAAABZQ/D4tRL3vvk7Q/P1030301.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030301" width="225" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windsor</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The next major stop was Vicksburg, MS, site of the battle that broke the Confederate Army's back and assured the Union victory in the Civil War. Gaining control of the Mississippi effectively cut off the South's supply lines. Though the Confederates had the high ground and were well entrenched they couldn't handle the siege that Gen. Grant set up around them. Grant had tried to attack but was beaten back several times. He was in a bit of a hurry because he was actually caught between two armies and feared attack from behind. The siege did the trick though. The Vicksburg National Battlefield is filled with monuments rivaling those found at Gettysburg. From the high ground you can almost see the action of the tremendous battle. Also part of the park is a museum featuring the Ironclad ship "<em>Cairo</em>." The <em>Cairo</em> was sunk in a tributary of the Mississippi by the Confederates using underwater mines. Years later it was carefully raised from the riverbed and preserved. They found many, many artifacts and have an excellent display.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030334.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NkRjYQM9eY8/UyevxQdMK-I/AAAAAAAABZY/-fR1SaYafxk/P1030334.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030334" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicksburg Union cannon</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030336.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OAMvnLyVDqE/Uyev2QEmPbI/AAAAAAAABZg/qnow4oF0eIk/P1030336.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030336" width="225" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicksburg Nat'l Battlefield</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030341.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hg6FCekRgWA/Uyev5MvSaUI/AAAAAAAABZo/WtbO_TSLA7s/P1030341.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030341" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thayer's approach- lots of digging</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> In the town are more beautiful homes and churches. Down on the river you can see the levees that have been built over the years, the largest wall has the flood levels recorded. The Army Corps of Engineers has a large center there which educates people as to what the ACE has been doing over the years to control and contain the River. They showed many of the models they have gone through over the years to figure out how the river runs and what effects the dredging and levees would have on it. Now they do it all with computers. It was extremely interesting and informative. Also on the site is the ship <em>Mississippi IV</em>, an A.C.E. working ship dating back to the 1960's. Like the <em>Ingham</em> in Key West, this ship is preserved just as it was when it was decommissioned. Not as old as the <em>Ingham</em>, it was in much better shape. In the pilot house they had a simulator where you had to guide the ship through various obstacles on the river. Thayer had a good time with that and even completed one of the missions. </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030364.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A7t_HpSGkxc/Uyev_QzasnI/AAAAAAAABZw/MytrWisY4l4/P1030364.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030364" width="300" height="168" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Ironclad ship <em>Cairo</em></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030359.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YpsJ0GSGrWs/UyewFaLBVvI/AAAAAAAABZ4/iGttbQw0IrA/P1030359.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030359" width="300" height="168" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Cairo</em> artifacts</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030377.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z6IwSRv7C6o/UyewKpI18fI/AAAAAAAABaI/BR2DNqcpEQA/P1030377.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030377" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flood levels through the years</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030391.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fp17CCXh8NA/UyewN5ddgnI/AAAAAAAABaQ/a7nBdIDJBOU/P1030391.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030391" width="225" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over Vicksburg</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030439.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_K1KaNPulyU/UyewQ6_hYTI/AAAAAAAABaY/IWEPgNaKvf4/P1030439.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030439" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simulator Captain on the <em>Mississippi IV</em></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030448.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OPkxdaNfZ_o/UyewTrZOoNI/AAAAAAAABag/a_hkIdiG60I/P1030448.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030448" width="300" height="168" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the larger models of the river</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The miles from Vicksburg to Doddridge flew by, where we were cheerfully greeted by Thayer's Aunt Vivian. We spent 10 days here, Thayer was mostly involved with collecting the family history, recording Vivian's stories about family, tagging faces and photos and listening endlessly. Vivian is 92 years old and has a remarkable memory of the extended family. Seeing a photo would unleash a torrent of stories about family, friends and neighbors. Thayer tried to keep her focused on family but it was hard. I walked everyday, I found about a 3 mile route through the woods that led to a little old cemetery. I also played hundreds of games of dominoes with Vivian as she chatted with Thayer. While Thayer typed up a little story we would play a few games, then she would talk some more. We met her grandson, John Paul and his family and spent some good times with them. They came out for dinner several times and we went to a Mardi Gras parade in town one afternoon. Vivian can still dish up some good southern cooking! Don't believe I've eaten that many carbohydrates in one meal in my life! She taught me how to make some awesome biscuits! We finally drove away, knowing in our hearts that we may never see her again. Thayer did a great job of collecting and organizing the family story.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030495.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aVEUyLK1cws/UyewXdrmS0I/AAAAAAAABao/q-GBG3GA3sk/P1030495.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030495" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Story collecting and dominoes</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000227.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oCHc1yqrrMc/Uyewm8ML5HI/AAAAAAAABbA/NACcUsQxu7A/P1000227.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000227" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of those wild Hughes's</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000099.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1ByX7n79p-w/Uyewq9fQcCI/AAAAAAAABbI/4O2hz02I6H4/P1000099.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000099" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, those are some real biscuits!</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000212.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MoWy_MDk6uA/Uyewu585a6I/AAAAAAAABbQ/yp2hEV-IKOo/P1000212.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000212" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Hughes</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">We then drove across the big part of Texas, staying 4 nights at boondocking sites. Next up: Carlsbad Caverns!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030511.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-M7CETsyluYA/Uyewg-9iISI/AAAAAAAABa4/lM6lPOu0too/P1030511.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030511" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right next to a rest stop and historical marker</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030509.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3Rki7n5KIlg/UyewzqHb8GI/AAAAAAAABbY/n31QLrvJ_BQ/P1030509.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030509" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everywhere you look</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030533.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uCIgKu7VxDI/Uyew5FkK9eI/AAAAAAAABbg/Xp6drbq9LIA/P1030533.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1030533" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, it's flat</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000245.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BK3w-R9P2Dw/Uyew_I5mikI/AAAAAAAABbo/0uRtS029rG0/P1000245.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000245" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First views of Guadalupe Mtns. from BLM lands</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-50475825728104030132014-02-24T14:32:00.001-08:002014-02-24T14:54:14.487-08:00Two weeks in Mandeville, LA<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="P1030088" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5BoDTyOdhM8/UwvHuf8UafI/AAAAAAAABVU/HCyVCDgoLdU/P1030088.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1030088.JPG" width="300" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="P1030093a" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9N1MW0rMgU4/UwvHjpKt4UI/AAAAAAAABU0/EAav9xKzHPg/P1030093a.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1030093a.jpg" width="221" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="P1020955" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jc1qv8EgQvM/UwvHcmyrUyI/AAAAAAAABUU/FYnLylbhgbw/P1020955.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1020955.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="P1020879" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NBesHkqXzFw/UwvHWFpFJzI/AAAAAAAABT0/oxrHJ7cuo0k/P1020879.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1020879.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our stay in Mandeville has been extended by new friends, sites to see, easy parking and hookups, better weather and just enjoying being in one spot for a while. The day after finishing up our H4H work we were invited by our fellow RVers to go plantation touring in the country west of New Orleans. There are two must see plantations that are close enough to each other to do both in one day. They are also very different from each other and each represent a different period of history important to Louisiana. Back when France was in charge of the area the acreages along the Mississippi were carved up into long narrow parcels of land and given to friends of the authorities. They all had frontage on the river for transporting the sugar cane products and other crops that they produced. Sugar cane was extremely profitable and as the French became richer they started building large homes within site of the river. All of the work on the plantations and most of the building was done by slaves.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020784" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GiFlRXCWqSs/UwvGvyZEraI/AAAAAAAABRs/q6oIyuOJ6z8/P1020784.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020784.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Mississippi Plantations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020778" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xwMYaUDy2RY/UwvGy_7xRHI/AAAAAAAABR0/8nsgfwh8ggU/P1020778.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020778.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Big House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020790" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6FcY2tUylRk/UwvG0_9_4TI/AAAAAAAABR8/Cm5pg20B2ZQ/P1020790.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020790.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheerful colors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020803" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cUbio1aYNRQ/UwvG5DX46VI/AAAAAAAABSM/i8i221JrlRs/P1020803.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020803.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slave quarters<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The first plantation we visited was the Laura Plantation, named for one of the last of the family who built it and lived there for 90 odd years. It was built in 1805 in the French Creole style, meaning it was not huge, but well built, off the ground and painted in the bright, vivid colors of the Caribbean. Business was conducted in the front side of the house facing the river, and, in this family, the business was run by the women. The head of the business was called the president and that person was chosen because they were the smartest in the family. Turns out the women had the brains of the family, though several of them were less than enthusiastic about being in charge. Their lives revolved around the business of growing and selling sugar. Buyers came and went, but it was not a social life, it was a lonely life, and it seems like the men would die young or not be worth the food they were fed. Life for the slaves was horrendous, watch the movie "12 Years a Slave" if you need a refresher course in slavery. Laura was the last of the line for the original family and she utterly rejected plantation life. She wanted to get an education, speak English and be American. She also hated slavery. In 1892 Laura sold the plantation for a pittance, moved to St. Louis and never looked back. The German family who bought the plantation ran it for another 95 years. In her latter years Laura wrote a memoir which was found in the 1990's by the man who wanted to restore the plantation, it was he who gave it her name. Laura's memoir paints a vivid picture of life on a plantation and the history of her proud and determined family. What a cast of colorful characters!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020810" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zDEFOU7Rxkk/UwvG8GFNV4I/AAAAAAAABSU/qjQftKsY9lI/P1020810.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020810.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New profession for Thayer?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020811" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WNUYaCaTcd8/UwvG-IAwD7I/AAAAAAAABSc/YiAISCcBHVU/P1020811.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020811.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slave quarters, Oak Alley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next plantation was very different, built in the<strong> </strong>Greek Revival style, the gracious plantation home that you have seen in movies and pictures. Oak Alley gets its name from two rows of Live Oaks, 28 of them in all, that stretch from the house to the lane in front of the river. These trees are 300 years old and no one knows who planted them way back in the 1700's. The big house was built about 1850. The plantation was built as a gift from a husband to his new bride. Unfortunately, he forgot to ask her if she would enjoy living in the country and it turns out that she did not enjoy the country. She stuck it out for a few years, bouncing back and forth to New Orleans for her socializing and shopping. Finally she just didn't come back but continued spending funds freely, entertaining and running a large home in the city. Her husband, down on the farm, was not able to keep up with her spending, got sick and died. She tried to run the farm for a few years, her son took over for a few more years but the debts were too great and they were forced to sell what they could to pay them off. Eventually a couple named Stewart bought the home, refurbished and improved it, and lived in it till they died.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020817" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W8kX898P9zI/UwvHD6N_t6I/AAAAAAAABSs/nmaNjH50scU/P1020817.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020817.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antebellum belles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020822" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mQCaPZnoYSo/UwvHHgk_2LI/AAAAAAAABS0/UgY5T4bVgIQ/P1020822.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020822.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak Alley, Big House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020825" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-riS0KD6iASY/UwvHJyNWc2I/AAAAAAAABS8/jZGokXKLGdU/P1020825.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020825.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful tour guide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020845" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Fj8Espg7AEY/UwvHMadZNnI/AAAAAAAABTE/UHnR7lrV7b4/P1020845.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020845.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak Alley, interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020835" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1DvKB2YG24Q/UwvHOJc_kRI/AAAAAAAABTM/cBozkLWqUig/P1020835.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020835.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak Alley, interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020854" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HFFUkf8ixnk/UwvHQDZMfZI/AAAAAAAABTU/TlLlI-ivqJw/P1020854.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020854.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mighty Live Oaks, 28 alongside the alley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today the home is a major tourist draw and is used for weddings, movies and special events. They have a restaurant, cafe and lodgings. The slave quarters were partly rebuilt to educate visitors and give them a good idea of the cramped living conditions and harsh treatment doled out to the slaves. The grounds and gardens were extensive and very beautiful, the huge Live Oaks dominating the landscape with their 130 ft. spreading branches. They can live to be 600 years old! At the Civil War tent we learned about major events of the War that happened in this area of Louisiana. There was a very learned young soldier manning the general's tent that day.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020869" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L7zuzqL0_-o/UwvHRu5Yj3I/AAAAAAAABTc/oYlYS4pO3cs/P1020869.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020869.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RV friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a great day, spent with Jim, Sandi, Betsy and Clark, some of our RV buddies here at the church. A little bit about the Mandeville Christian Church...it is a small church with only about 35-40 members. The building sits on several acres, just off the highway going into Mandeville. Lynn and Linn are the Boondocker couple that we contacted for our stay, they have been the temporary ministers here, off and on, for several years. They are full time RVers with some property in Oregon. Kevin is the church's young(27yo) paster who is currently living in the building. He is funny and can deliver a fine sermon as well as cook up a storm on Wednesday nights for the weekly church and RVer dinner. There are two other RVs here with us, two couples from the Southwest who have been traveling together for almost a year. We have had many meals together, carpooled to the grocery store, played Mexican Train dominoes into the night and just had a great time with them. One of them is having some medical problems which has been worrisome, but they are optimistic and hopeful about the outcome. Jim and Clark are both retired military, Jim was Army, Clark, Air Force, which turns out to be very important come parade day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thayer and I spent two days in New Orleans. The first was a cold foggy day, midweek. It was very quiet but that made it easier for us to get our bearings and do some exploring. We took a three hour guided van ride around the French Quarter, the Hurricane Katrina disaster area, and the Garden District.<strong> </strong>It gave us a great overview of the city and helped us decide what we wanted to do on our next visit. We also took in some music at the New Orleans Jazz National Park. They have two venues for live music, on this day we heard a fantastic pianist playing some wonderful jazz, boogie woogie, and more. We practiced riding the streetcar, walking safely in the French Quarter, and staying out of trouble. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020877" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_E1phA_cOms/UwvHS02L7aI/AAAAAAAABTk/fwHSYiujpUs/P1020877.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020877.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Quarter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020882" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5pFc62lZrgA/UwvHUtSb5cI/AAAAAAAABTs/_VEotFSBLtQ/P1020882.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020882.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting stores!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020893" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BvZery-R88Y/UwvHX28rXmI/AAAAAAAABT8/6qvJVTa6VCA/P1020893.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020893.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many cemeteries in N.O</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020883" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P8cHSiVCFK0/UwvIYAp8JQI/AAAAAAAABXc/C7SRXY6PEHg/P1020883.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020883.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">N.O. Jazz National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030025" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-n5kZi1-a4Wc/UwvIavD1icI/AAAAAAAABXk/xKhbxsEhRRc/P1030025.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1030025.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U.S. Army Brass Band at the Mint</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our second day in New Orleans was planned so that we could take in a Carnival Parade in the evening. It was a much busier day in N.O., a Saturday, a parade day, and NBA All Stars game day, it was a happening place! The streetcars and streets were full of loud, friendly people. We rode to the Garden District and did a self guided walking tour of the historic and beautiful homes of the neighborhood. So many to see, so many lovely architectural details and designs, wonderful ironwork and beautiful yards and gardens. The sidewalks are terrible so you must be careful to not fall on your head while ogling the houses. I think our favorite was Sandra Bullock's home, it just looked perfect. I don't think she spends much time there. Next, we visited the Mint, which is where the National Park has another music venue and a Jazz Museum. We were able to hear the U.S. Marine Brass Band playing loud jazz! It was fantastic, and they looked and sounded as precise you would expect of fine military musicians. We then enjoyed a wonderful Italian meal at Frankie's, located across the street from the French Market. I have never heard Thayer rave about any food the way he raved about his chicken alfredo! </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020907" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-etDVetX6Jpw/UwvHZQ3yCiI/AAAAAAAABUE/VGJthVCXrsk/P1020907.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020907.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden District, Sandra's house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020923" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u0VKMLs9q1g/UwvHbLO8FTI/AAAAAAAABUM/-fHXmbdx7Vc/P1020923.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020923.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden District</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020953" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CvrsIp-dXZg/UwvHeTrms4I/AAAAAAAABUc/vWe3QVqZsFw/P1020953.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020953.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden District</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020927" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MePR735bQ0s/UwvHf6yJ7mI/AAAAAAAABUk/TXMh-oSietE/P1020927.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020927.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden District</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020974" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OPoAZSV7ZUg/UwvHhkM6q1I/AAAAAAAABUs/r0nAO-lYN9A/P1020974.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020974.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden District</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next up was the big Carnival Parade, featuring the Krewe de Vieux.<strong> </strong>Probably most of you know all about Mardi Gras but I'm just learning so here is what I understand about this crazy event. It starts shortly after Christmas with the Carnival season, which lasts until Mardi Gras, which lasts until Lent, and is thusly based on the Easter calendar. Carnival season seems to be the warm up for the full blown craziness of Mardi Gras. During Mardi Gras you get all of your temptations and sinning out of your system because you know you gotta be good during Lent! And then, of course, all will be forgiven at Easter, so a couple months of partying and debauchery seems like a "reasonable" thing to do so you have something to be forgiven for! Anyway, it is BIG business and many, many people are totally into it. Various Krewes (organizations of like minded, creative folks) work all year long to come up with a themes, build their floats or contraptions and make costumes, gather throwing materials and start a booze collection. In the French Quarter, on their parade night, they drink their booze collection, put on their costumes, find their float and follow it through the narrow streets. There is lots of dancing, drinking, singing, horns, laughter and music. French Quarter themes are very adult but, to my surprise, there were lots of little kids there. Some of the Krewes have been around for 100 years! Apparently, since we are only in the Carnival season, this parade was fairly tame which was fine by me. The highlight of the night was catching up with Jaime Clarke and Marshall Weinstein, visiting New Orleans from Seattle, with Marshall's parents. Haven't seen them since last June and it was fun to stand on a noisy street 3000 miles from Kenmore and shout at each other for a bit. The only bling I scored was during the afternoon before the parade when some was being thrown from a balcony.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020989" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0MRWhj90zRQ/UwvH4fKptBI/AAAAAAAABV0/ZmU_LclyPho/P1020989.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020989.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street String Band</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030050" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9aPid3yf72U/UwvH6lr37LI/AAAAAAAABV8/NHq3MvptiEs/P1030050.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030050.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always love the mules</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030071" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HOoPTkMAQUw/UwvHpXvjDeI/AAAAAAAABVE/DbvccYYyfpE/P1030071.JPG?imgmax=800" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030071.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnival Parade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030080" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C-U4L4l9ZoI/UwvHw3OEs-I/AAAAAAAABVc/g0mOY0bO2PE/P1030080.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030080.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnival Parade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030074" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eHB_6Agcpa0/UwvHyzS8JNI/AAAAAAAABVk/NgEfmRHA7DE/P1030074.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030074.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnival Parade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030032" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-V5boF4thxck/UwvH9GY4jsI/AAAAAAAABWE/mEj04bQ1D_o/P1030032.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030032.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scales at the Mint</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By way of contrast, the next day we went to a small town called Slidell for the Krewe of Perseus parade. It was very family friendly and we were deluged with bling from the 20+ big floats. There were also emergency vehicles of all types, marching bands, drill teams galore, horsemen and women, rope jumpers, bagpipers, big and little girl beauty queens, clowns, and much more! It was a fantastic parade! Not much in the way of candy compared to your typical 4th of July parade though. Sitting on the sidewalk with two retired military guys wearing their hats is a sure fire way to get the most bling around here. Because Clark and Jim kept handing their bling to Sandi, the throwers didn't think they had any so they kept throwing more stuff to them. Many people came up to thank them for their service. I'm buying Thayer a Navy hat the first chance I get!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030114" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5ssGySF0dOM/UwvIG2CguYI/AAAAAAAABWk/CAMh9ZWDuOA/P1030114.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030114.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-parade entertainment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030127" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--E8FCVn-Yow/UwvII5g028I/AAAAAAAABWs/5dhHhWw2RaQ/P1030127.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030127.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute minis!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030138" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AQo2QhdKe1k/UwvILCkzU2I/AAAAAAAABW0/xZhgOTZKUss/P1030138.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030138.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slidell parade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030143" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v1Jk-k9aqMQ/UwvINqnHtGI/AAAAAAAABW8/ODNZx2YGnlM/P1030143.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030143.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slidell parade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030179" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JwCZpAle2ok/UwvICkDYpoI/AAAAAAAABWU/uB6uT9IwlSM/P1030179.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030179.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thayer, Jim, Clark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030178" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4dpaaDdQmEI/UwvIEzSfJyI/AAAAAAAABWc/hgMb8Abfggc/P1030178.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030178.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim, Sandi, me, Thayer and our haul of bling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030146" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GnXFeoNiWVk/UwvIQJh7kBI/AAAAAAAABXE/dhT_Cb4taUM/P1030146.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030146.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the horses love Mardi Gras!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1030165" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JretJQc5eMA/UwvISydcM8I/AAAAAAAABXM/LAwXDhfgyUI/P1030165.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1030165.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slidell parade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I spent several days exploring the Tammany Trace Bike Trail which stretches to the north and south of the trailhead closest to the church. Biking 5 miles to the south brought me to the Fountainbleu State Park on the shores of Lake Ponchatrain. Its a big park with many Live Oaks providing shady picnic areas, big fun fountains for the kids, and several miles of nature trails. Going to the north brought me near the H4H site that we had worked on so I stopped and did a couple of hours worth of painting. The highway and streets are miserable for biking because there is no shoulder and lots of traffic. I found that the drivers were very courteous and moved over for me and slowed down. The bike path was awesome, really flat and smooth, and no one else seems to use it. I didn't do the whole thing but it is 30+ miles in length.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020902" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SzEBDiDETcw/UwvIVp7wPDI/AAAAAAAABXU/jUcmJA673bY/P1020902.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020902.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little coffe shop siding along the Tammany Trace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our two weeks in Mandeville was a wonderful interlude in our trip. We met some wonderful people, contributed to the community, explored the city and countrysides, and had plenty of relaxing time. We were kind of sad to be leaving our lovely spot but the time had come, with warmer weather on the way, to find our way to Arkansas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-59270096596390464962014-02-07T20:08:00.001-08:002014-02-12T12:22:54.980-08:00Finishing Florida<div style="text-align: justify;">
The past few weeks have been a bit of a blur, ...we've just been moseying our way up the Gulf side of Florida. Along the way, we had a very nice afternoon with the manatees at Apollo Beach, near Tampa. As the Gulf waters cool down in the middle of winter the manatees abandon the estuaries and head up the many rivers and inlets searching for warmer waters. Some of the rivers have hot springs which the manatees have enjoyed for many years, but at Apollo Beach the slow motion mammals have found a hot tub of their own for their winter enjoyment – a toasty (70 degrees or so) inlet heated by the cooling water outflow of the nearby coal fired power plant! The visitor center had a large display and canned 'propaganda' about how efficient, wonderful and non-polluting the power plant is supposed to be but I had a hard time believing it all.<br />
<br />
The day we visited there were about 140-50 manatees lolling about and socializing in the outflow of the plant. The power company and some environmental groups have built a nice viewing platform and visitors center. We watched the manatees paddle about individually or swarm around in groups of 10-12. We couldn't tell what exactly they were doing but it was all very graceful and slow. Manatees are vegetarian, eating fresh water plants in large quantities, and face many challenges in the wild, the most dangerous being hit by speeding motor boat props. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020612" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QJus4przIBg/UvWpAv7bnJI/AAAAAAAABNY/9P97jWQcGuU/P1020612.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020612.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A thing of beauty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020602" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dD4C4EmRM7c/UvWpCHyJBCI/AAAAAAAABNg/XMaRpCqM7ts/P1020602.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020602.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surface shot, really, lots of them!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next up was a visit to Thayer's aunt Glenda, just outside of Tampa. She works horrendous hours at Disney but we found time for some very nice visits over our 3 day stay, and we ate out a lot! Thayer was also able to meet his two cousins, Kevin and Craig, that he had never seen before and they all really enjoyed sharing stories about the family. Their father, Jim, was Thayer's uncle and had succumbed to cancer about 12 years ago. As a lad, Thayer had spent quite a bit of time with Jim and had many fresh stories to tell Jim's boys that they had never heard. It was a great visit with some really nice folks.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020630" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vuFUsbkbDgQ/UvWpDcvtNjI/AAAAAAAABNo/GIDd3Ak_v_A/P1020630.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020630.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Glenda and the family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020626" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iw3W1LcgrsI/UvWpEvW_-cI/AAAAAAAABNw/QN4vm7_i0Bg/P1020626.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020626.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manatee hot tub heater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Continuing northward up the coast, we arrived at Tarpon Springs, sponging capital of the US. It is a neat little Greek outpost with many restaurants, stores, and (of course) sponges! We learned about the history of the town, the many varieties of sponges, and how they were/are harvested and prepared for sale. There was also a big artsy craftsy street fair happening on the waterfront with vendors selling all kinds of hand crafted items. We rode our bikes around the neighborhoods and saw some lovely old homes. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020635" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WvPWJAkxusY/UvWpF2sHiSI/AAAAAAAABN4/GNEQ19fuJbk/P1020635.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020635.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020645" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3cENwnuKZZU/UvWpHSsq8RI/AAAAAAAABOA/1PGiaO6jgF8/P1020645.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020645.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sponging boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020642" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vyuDCBAr1Zs/UvWpKEWtNjI/AAAAAAAABOI/5N56J1FFkPI/P1020642.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020642.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic homes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020646" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PYbo3EAqbgI/UvWpL0ak6KI/AAAAAAAABOQ/o69P-ltyc1g/P1020646.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020646.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Should've gotten one...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our next destination was Homosassa, where we had a boondocker host lined up for several nights. There were plenty of things to do around this little burg. The old Yulee Sugar Mill was a small site but pretty interesting, signage helped explain the process of turning sugar cane into sugar and molasses. The little town of Homosassa also has a unique island called Monkey Island and I'll bet you can't guess the ethnicity of its residents... That's right, monkeys! About 5 or 6 monkeys have their own playground island just offshore of the largest restaurant in town. There was also lots of boating going on: fishing, kayaking, and airboat tours. It seemed like there was a fish market around every corner.<br />
<br />
We also visited an Archeological Museum that was, unfortunately, closed. We were, however, able to wander around the site of quite complex earthen structures – constructied many years ago and comprised of about 10 Indian large mounds.<br />
<br />
We visited a Nature Preserve Center that was right on the water and although the center itself was not much we did discover this funny sailboat/barge that is made almost entirely out of square cut lumber. The only rounded piece I saw was the lower section of the main mast. Very clever and unique but also clunky looking. Definitely not built for going upwind or going fast but you could sure haul a large load of goats or crates!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020677" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_4xSDkhcdYI/UvWpNHjLVhI/AAAAAAAABOY/bXGtIGM6Ex4/P1020677.JPG?imgmax=800" height="250" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020677.JPG" width="250" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monkey Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020668" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w-zQ5lwPgFo/UvWpOVmpiEI/AAAAAAAABOg/guN4PxwooRY/P1020668.JPG?imgmax=800" height="250" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020668.JPG" width="250" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water, water, everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020687" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FTbMB6wUDMs/UvWpRcO-O9I/AAAAAAAABOw/dLkIMNHTvJs/P1020687.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020687.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square lumber boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020708" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b7Tq8iYGfms/UvWpU0NExaI/AAAAAAAABO4/9TIRWvWcKL0/P1020708.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020708.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salt works</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Cedar Key was a few more miles up the road; a very lovely little town perched out on the end of a peninsula. We rode our bikes around, enjoyed the warm weather and indulged on some very tasty Key Lime Pie. We were lucky enough to arrive just in time for a city parade held to kick off the homecoming celebration at the local high school. I'm sure there were more people in the parade than were watching the parade so we were able to recover lots of the candy treats that were being thrown to the, er, ...crowds.<br />
<br />
I found a nice farmers market and bought some great fish that we enjoyed over several nights. It has a funny name that I can't recollect right now but was a lot like Mahi-mahi. BTW, the seafood around here is fantastic. As we left the area we stopped by Shell Mound, the site of a 28 foot high mound of shells covering several acres and created by the Native Americans over the past several thousand years. The mounds create whole new environments and ecosystems out of the lowlands that they are built upon. These coastal areas supported a complex society of people who were master fishermen and harvesters of the sea, supplying all their needs. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020714" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z1mmnl7fZLw/UvWpWRLm74I/AAAAAAAABPA/TMJAX70pGpI/P1020714.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020714.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shell Mounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020711" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-e3z_pp5yf4g/UvWpX64S3II/AAAAAAAABPI/qYVJsF3mSNE/P1020711.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020711.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cedar Key man-made beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">With colder winter weather looming just to the north, our course turned westward into the panhandle of Florida. We spent a night in Apalachicola, which at one time was one of the largest cotton shipping towns in the US and is still one of the more prosperous small towns we have seen. The shops, restaurants and streets were quite busy without seeming really touristy. A local resident recommended Crooked Island as a favorite beach stop and, being along our way, we checked it out the following day. Crooked </span>Island<span class="Apple-style-span"> is located on a U.S. Air Force base and turned out to be very beautiful with white, sandy beaches stretching far in both directions. The panhandle coastline is much different than the west coast of Florida where there are very few beaches. We ended up spending two nights on the island and I finally spent some time painting and drawing and sitting still. Very challenging for me! I also had several nice long beach walks.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020730" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EJPMXSvfV70/UvWpZAUWuXI/AAAAAAAABPQ/1UAtwU0ltck/P1020730.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020730.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crooked Island beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020738" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FR7dUQCas0c/UvWpa24D36I/AAAAAAAABPY/U_ItrfFz3YI/P1020738.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020738.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strange shell casings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020742" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ygXBzzyXWAc/UvWpcOCzMcI/AAAAAAAABPg/bJ4gRX7Etc4/P1020742.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020742.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too bad it wasn't a little warmer!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020736" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RsBnsnGoYQw/UvWpdpMkb-I/AAAAAAAABPo/ad5hi948Cfw/P1020736.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020736.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotsa pretty little shells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the weather deteriorated and we headed into Georgia, the rain turned into ice when it touched anything, transforming the road into a skating rink and our antennas into crystal stalagmites. We wisely decided to layover at a nearby Walmart and spent two nights there, using our wonderful Wave 8000 propane catalytic heater to ward off the freezing cold and keep our rig warm and toasty inside. What are the chances that the one winter I spend in the southeast happens to be the coldest one they have had in 25 years? Just my luck. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020752" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7Xwej0ks0wI/UvWpejx5_kI/AAAAAAAABPw/1G4CBxr8B7s/P1020752.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020752.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the little icicles!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020754" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--3mb1Edyhrg/UvWpfwayXwI/AAAAAAAABP4/FfUMhSUHfr4/P1020754.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020754.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snow in Georgia!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020755" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9ffSJwE6Fwg/UvWphqC_LvI/AAAAAAAABQA/hOol5zBXvEA/P1020755.JPG?imgmax=800" height="150" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020755.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bring out the plows! Oh yeah, we don't have any!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After the Great Ice Storm of '14, we zipped along through the continuing cold, but clear, to Saucier, Mississippi. It is not pronounced the way it is spelled and heck if I can remember how they say it. "So-sha", I think. We spent two days there with our friends Larry and Wendy whom we met and stayed with on PEI. It was really great to see them again. In no time Wendy began whipping up wonderful food for us and Larry, being an advanced male, wasn't afraid to ask Thayer for help with his battery disconnect solenoid. Initially they thought it needed replacement but you might be surprised how hard it is to get simple RV parts from regular auto parts stores. So, Thayer just ended up taking it apart and fixing it good as new, saving $85.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">We cooked sausages over the fire, drank wine and Gin and tonics and had a lovely old time with them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Over the past few years they have migrated to the same small, private campground which </span><span class="Apple-style-span">includes</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> all the amenities for a reasonable price</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> and they've gotten know all the other campers, all five rigs worth, as friends</span><span class="Apple-style-span">. We've found this to be typical in the RV'ing community. </span>There aren't a lot of entertainment options nearby but I've discovered that not all people are like me – they don't mind sitting in the sun, reading and doodling around. Windy was also having computer issues that Thayer quickly solved by buying a Macbook online for them (their dime, obviously). We will rendezvous with the computer in Arkansas, Thayer will work his magic on it and then forward it to them. Sadly, Wendy will then really be able to dominate on 'Words with Friends'. I was nice enough to help her get started but now she just goes ahead and starts taking me to school! Once she gets that new machine there will be no stopping the carnage. Anyway, we had a really nice time reconnecting with some of our boondocking friends!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020759" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HqVHLs6HcXI/UvWpi08tPHI/AAAAAAAABQI/T30FDHCr9v8/P1020759.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020759.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wendy and Larry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020760" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hHGyO959zos/UvWpkgP2KcI/AAAAAAAABQQ/FOPisyvxYnw/P1020760.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020760.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An advanced male.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We continued west toward New Orleans but first there was work to do for Habitat for Humanity in Mandeville, just north of N.O. Inspired by Emerick, a SLC friend, I contacted the local H4H office, near the boondocking that we already had lined up. It took about 5 minutes to get on the schedule for this week. The three houses under construction are located less than 10 minutes away from our comfy camping spot, the Mandeville Christian Church, which has provided us with everything we need this whole week including electricity, showers, laundry, hot water, great company, dinner on Wednesday, recliners, cooking facilities.... It has been just wonderful. There are four other RVs parked here under the trees. On Super Bowl Sunday I whipped up a giant pot of gumbo and we enjoyed watching Seattle shame Denver on the big screen in the church sanctuary with our new friends (who included only one Bronco fan). We've had some cold weather, below freezing two nights in a row so having all of these conveniences has been terrific. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020762" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zj1Jt-hqCsg/UvWpnjIk4uI/AAAAAAAABQc/gkCs04Sx0co/P1020762.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020762.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandeville Christian Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020768" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KSJOgp6pY6U/UvWppImlL6I/AAAAAAAABQk/hPm0Cgqmn4I/P1020768.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020768.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building wheelchair ramps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The three houses under construction were all in the drywall phase so we were mudding and taping seams, windows, corners, walls and ceilings for four days. It was hard work! It was very tiring being on our feet all day and using muscles that haven't seen much action lately. One of the sorest areas was my left forearm, just from holding the heavy mud pan. We were working alongside a group of Mennonites, 10 young women accompanied by two couples from Ohio and Kentucky, and our H4H supervisors. We were a pretty hardy crew with some of us enjoying the relative warmth inside (unheated but out of the wind) while our other H4H folks were outside freezing! Yesterday was colder though and we could hardly feel our fingertips. At lunch Thayer and I put on long underwear and extra fleece up top. The girls were fun to work with as they chattered away in Dutch, sang songs and laughed a lot. They were strong and worked very hard for the most part, certainly harder than your "typical" teenager (boy OR girl). There was also an outside crew working on wheelchair ramps, siding and porch railings. The houses are not big but they are well laid out and will be very comfortable for the new owners. We enjoyed our experience but are very tired and sore. Now we can get back to lounging around and seeing the country! </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020776" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9TIAOG2lGw0/UvWpqxjVijI/AAAAAAAABQs/KFxjeQUMdEw/P1020776.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020776.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of three H4H houses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020774" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c0xEEUagHlU/UvWtwhy6QBI/AAAAAAAABRE/gwB6E6myEdI/P1020774.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020774.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud me!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020764" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7mdw1G8MnO0/UvWtxzzm4KI/AAAAAAAABRM/0dpOo2ZuVnc/P1020764.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020764.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knocking out windows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020766" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pHn_DBOg27c/UvWtzuQ3dYI/AAAAAAAABRU/hIve-QBT1P8/P1020766.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020766.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siding/handrail crew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-85253098267902601672014-01-17T08:10:00.000-08:002014-01-15T22:58:55.593-08:00Our Plan from Here...<div style="text-align: justify;">
We're visiting a relative of Thayer's near Tampa, then we'll be heading north up the west coast of Florida and along the lower US on our way towards Texarkana, Arkansas.<br />
<br />
Look for an upcoming entry for details.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Stay tuned!</div>
Jill and Thayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564758401953500856noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-84530228816829545172014-01-15T09:45:00.001-08:002014-01-17T09:13:47.882-08:00The Everglades<div style="text-align: justify;">
Southern Florida is where hard core northwesterners meet their match. Even though the temperatures are not high, only in the 70's and low 80's, the humidity makes it feel much hotter and very clammy. Sweating does nothing to cool you off, just makes you stickier. People must be able to acclimate to it because the folks who live here love it and wouldn't/couldn't live anywhere else. Go figure. That's evolution for you!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Everglades are an amazing ecosystem, covering a huge area of Florida. Over time it has been reduced to 1/5 of its original size. The digging of canals to drain the waters, and the development of agricultural and residential areas have nearly destroyed the functioning of the massive wetlands. The yearly cycle of flooding and "drying down" has been reduced to a fraction of historic levels. For years, in an effort to control flooding, create farmable and buildable land, and reduce mosquitos, canals were built to drain away the "excess water". Turns out that it isn't excess water at all to the plants and animals that live in the broad shallow river that is the Everglades. The Everglades are one of a kind on our planet, they are the most studied ecosystem in the US.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, efforts are underway to restore some of the waters to the Everglades. Whether these efforts will be in time or enough to save the wetlands remains to be seen. Many governmental agencies, conservation groups and community groups are working together to protect large areas of land that are important to the Everglades. They are building bridges to replace roadways that impede water flow, blocking old canals to redirect the water back to it's original course, and trying to educate people and businesses to improve the water quality of the water flowing into the system. It is vastly complex and costly but it gives me hope that this special place can be improved and protected. It is sad to think that it will never be what it once was. I guess that is true of any place that mankind touches for any length of time.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020451" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-78Bpx2dJ0oA/UtbI9gMSolI/AAAAAAAABKo/kPEFLJf7wPs/P1020451.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020451.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River of Grass with dormant cypress trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020474" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P_XKKGEtHB8/UtbI-yLRW-I/AAAAAAAABKw/2B-PnGVngGY/P1020474.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020474.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herons everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most or all of the roads and paths in the park have been created by dredging a canal to build up the road or path, which results in a canal, large or small, running along the way. The park has tried to minimize this effect but the pools of water have become habitat for many animals and visitors have access to the park. Needs must be balanced. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020480" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PuVuxCwHtc4/UtbJANtfmRI/AAAAAAAABK4/Ngh_xcz83pU/P1020480.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020480.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Royal Palms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020519" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vM2bLmmzYoQ/UtbJBDJxhgI/AAAAAAAABLA/IpreVMpb4w0/P1020519.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020519.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of MANY gators!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We explored several areas of the park, the "River of Grass" overlook at Pa-Hay-Okee, the Royal Palms boardwalk where we saw our first, very exciting alligator, and the Shark Valley bike loop and overlook. The tall overlooks are important because the elevation change in the park, from high to low amounts to a whopping 14 feet. That doesn't seem like much but it is the only thing that makes half the state of Florida a river, not a swamp. It flows very slowly but it is always moving. At one point we drove over Rock Reef Pass, the signage proudly announcing the elevation of 3 ft. From the overlooks you can see what looks like grasslands stretching to the horizon, dotted with groves of trees. These grasslands, in fact, have their roots in 6-12 inches of water that flows steadily to the south. The groups of trees are called hammocks and they are slightly higher than the river, only a few inches, just enough for trees and shrubs to grow. Each additional inch in elevation supports a new level of plants and animals. There are birds in every direction, herons, egrets, storks, anhinga, cormorants and so many more. What is sad is that the populations of wading birds are 1/10 of their former populations. I kept trying to imagine what 10 times more than what I was seeing would look like. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020461" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-K6kKM7XsACI/UtbJCe_x3VI/AAAAAAAABLI/JvqEB9q-aP0/P1020461.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020461.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was something new!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1120132" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I8pwPUS1xX8/UtbJDpsWVUI/AAAAAAAABLQ/pDe8l2o9bCo/P1120132.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1120132.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby gators</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020569" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UEzHmnUd0-g/UtbJE_olBFI/AAAAAAAABLY/zBJjsu8-8PY/P1020569.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020569.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foundation of the food chain-algae!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1120153" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Muf0AWebwZk/UtbJGE0ogPI/AAAAAAAABLg/hYF4b_TxNgU/P1120153.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1120153.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cute! Can we keep him?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pathway for our bike ride in the Shark Valley was actually reclaimed from an old oil exploration road from long ago. Our excitement and awe of the gators was diminished fairly quickly after passing about 100 trailside lounging gators in the 7 miles to the lookout tower. They ranged from about 4-12ft and they were just everywhere, even blocking the pathways. We also saw 6 baby crocodiles. The birds were fantastic, wading through the shallows, perched in trees, swimming underwater and riding the thermals. At the overlook there was a large pond filled with large fish, gar, a favorite food for the lounging gators. We could see at least a dozen gators dozing in the shadows from the overlook. There were turtles swimming about as well. On the way back we saw gators by the dozen and hundreds of birds.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1120134" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NxZMUjAYAik/UtbJHRGsgSI/AAAAAAAABLo/6jb9riYuacU/P1120134.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1120134.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocodile smiles!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020538" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FLyFoFV2eOo/UtbJIp05OmI/AAAAAAAABLw/Y-bV2mv3YMw/P1020538.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020538.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As we drove westward out of the NP we entered Big Cypress National Preserve, another invaluable wetland and important ecosystem of South Florida. It is different from the Everglades in that it is dominated by forests of Cypress trees. Water flows through the forest similarly to the Everglades but the trees tower over the clear waters. We went to the visitors center but didn't have time or energy for a walk into the forest. From the boardwalk at the center we were treated to views of our first manatee. These wonderful mammals are like watching slow motion water ballet. They just drift along, turning, spinning and surfacing quietly once in a while. They like coastal areas and warm water, salt or fresh. In the winter when the sea is cooler they move up into the rivers and fresh water inlets for some warmth. They really like the output waters from electric plants but we haven't visited one of those yet. By waiting patiently we saw several more manatees feeding on grasses in the river.<br />
<br />
Big Cypress is also home to the endangered Florida Panther. This big cat would probably be extinct by now without the efforts of people to introduce some new genes into the pool years ago. The native cats had gotten so scarce that inbreeding was affecting the babies. They brought in some Texas panthers for a few years to add some genetic variety and they have been doing better ever since. The foreign animals were removed and sent back to Texas after donating their genes. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020546" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_x94frT46pg/UtbJJ5SZbaI/AAAAAAAABL4/lxDX_UALwHM/P1020546.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020546.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Shark Valley overlook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1120148" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Or-17zRJaZQ/UtbJK-qGUOI/AAAAAAAABMA/JjMoXmHQT08/P1120148.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1120148.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the hunt...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately a National Preserve does not get the same protections as a National Park and Big Cypress is open to more uses. Folks can fish, hunt, there are some homes and fishing camps, and the activity that we disapprove of is the use of swamp buggies that can go out and thrash around with big tires and engines. I imagine that there are only certain areas where they can do this but it seems out of line with preserving and protecting habitat and wildlife. As we drove through the area Thayer got tired of my nearly continuous cry of "Croc!" whenever I saw one or three lounging on the shore of the canal. I did stop after a while.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020545" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SKp4A-Q7qlI/UtbJL4ScVpI/AAAAAAAABMI/gvT7EjUZWmw/P1020545.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020545.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shark Valley bike trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020467" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8kftZlKU38Y/UtbJNW_7w_I/AAAAAAAABMQ/HWpp3WDO7bc/P1020467.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020467.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make way for cormorants!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We stayed with some very nice boondockers for 2 nights outside of Naples. Linda and Paul are completely refurbishing an old Airstream trailer and hope to be traveling for real when Paul retires in a couple of years. We had fun with their little grandsons, Tucker and Wyatt, aged 4 and 2. They brought back many memories of having my two little boys. Their father, Matt, is into "mud trucks" which needs no further description than this photo. Somewhere in the community is a vast mud pit where they meet with friends to compete to see who can go the furthest and get the muddiest. When they get stuck they haul each other out and do it again! We sure don't have this kind of fun in Bellevue.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020572" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hRhLQjhDBP4/UtbJPD3spJI/AAAAAAAABMY/uWRugrzHPb0/P1020572.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020572.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt's mud truck!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020573" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7CjlBWJ-dLQ/UtbJRlsU2lI/AAAAAAAABMo/z-ntrPC4SZM/P1020573.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020573.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt (2) and Tucker (4)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The bugs in Southern Florida have been very excited and happy to have me visit. They told all their friends and relatives to meet and greet me. It takes every ounce of will power I have to resist scratching my feet right off the ends of my legs! I've included this picture just for those of you who imagine our trip as a total lark with everything always being awesome and fantastic. There is some suffering involved and I won't regret leaving these little Florida vampires behind!<br />
PS--found out several days later that I had gotten into a pile of fire ants! They are really miserable bites but I think I'm on the upswing with them, not quite so itchy today.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020577a" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CpaFERlhV0o/UtdWLKcrXRI/AAAAAAAABNM/ZNt6PK6BkR8/P1020577a.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1020577a.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Itchy, itchy, itchy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-27282718341077298672014-01-13T09:10:00.000-08:002014-01-15T23:12:56.641-08:00Florida Keys<div style="text-align: justify;">
We continued into Hollywood, FL. Most of the south eastern coast of Florida is continuous city, hugging the coast wherever the ground is solid enough to build on. We were visiting some of Thayer's close paragliding friends, Sven and Natasha, whom he hadn't seen for some time, and they enjoyed rehashing good 'ol days from the Lake Chelan fly-ins. Natasha brought out old photos and had many stories to tell. They showed us around the boardwalk/tourist areas, and other great places for people watching. We spent two nights with them, a slight change in plan since our friends from North Dakota got stuck in the blizzard and had to cancel their trip. As usual, it worked out for the best. We had a nice visit with Sven and Natasha and didn't have to brave the wilds of Miami trying to track down Carla and Larry. We were very sorry not to see them however. There is a chance we will meet up in the desert somewhere.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next up was the Florida Keys! It was driving rain and pleasantly cool as we headed south on to the Keys.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020194" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cz6BSqJuSPA/UtbAhVj8NnI/AAAAAAAABHs/dt2J7TYjsmQ/P1020194.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020194.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge to the Keys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020202" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uU68ejB77V0/UtbAi_8m40I/AAAAAAAABH0/RYkIIVZDJrs/P1020202.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020202.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key West mansion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the boondockers from Virginia Beach put us in touch with their parent, John. He lives at MP 21, that is, 21 miles north of Key West. He is a 90 year old retired Navy nuclear submarine captain. In spare time he has written at least 3 books on the history of the Keys and many articles for magazines and the local newspapers. Still very sharp, John continues to write and volunteer time on the <em>Ingham</em>, a 230 ft. decommissioned USCG ship in Key West. He was also a sailor for many of his civilian years and he cruised the Carribbean and Floridian waterways extensively with his wife. We stayed with him a total of 3 nights, treating him with my "homecooked" meals and we had many lively conversations about sailing, the Navy, submarines and the history of the Keys. Our visits with him were really the highpoint of our Keys stay.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020207" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jDwAsUr3RHY/UtbAjqOP19I/AAAAAAAABH8/6w54GIra1FI/P1020207.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020207.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning point!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020413" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SO4scpTXoeg/UtbAqWIJ9iI/AAAAAAAABIs/ugVr8y60eKs/P1020413.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020413.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many fine schooners for hire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Two of our days were spent in Key West, tourist mecca of the Keys. The first day we rode our bikes around the town and along the harbor. There are many beautiful old homes with wonderful tropical yards and landscaping. There were also a multitude of little funky shacks and bungalows each having lots of character. In the harbor we discovered an armada of large sailing vessels, trimarans, schooners and such, most of which take tourists out for tours of various lengths of time and providing different activities. Most were of the sunset cruise variety, serving lots of booze and blaring loud music. Key West is really for a younger crowd than we comfortably fit into anymore. If you don't drink much or enjoy partying all night the evening activities are limited.<br />
<br />
Having bicycles was definitely the way to go, the downtown streets are narrow and crowded. There are city blocks lined with touristy shops which, after six months on the road, are not very interesting. The one and only one I shopped in was the "$5 for Everything" store. Those of you who best know me can easily imagine my favorite kind of shopping!<br />
<br />
Although there for three days, we only spent one night actually in Key West, nervously parking in a residential area that turned out to be just fine. They don't welcome RVs all that much in Key West and have many restrictions on campers or vehicles over 20'. But that didn't stop us from having a good time and we had a nice dinner at a little Cuban restaurant, a local hangout that John recommended.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020220" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nlzoiKLmStY/UtbAmrkonwI/AAAAAAAABIM/dE6JlRRCIXY/P1020220.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020220.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and then the hurricane hit the coast....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020310" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HRUuJXumvtI/UtbAnmv-XbI/AAAAAAAABIU/i3d5luiQcMM/P1020310.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020310.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rialta in a few years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020240" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dsbnhzHevlw/UtbAooDjtMI/AAAAAAAABIc/y3wQds5P9eY/P1020240.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020240.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key Westian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020316" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kQLgP77nqmA/UtbApspHvvI/AAAAAAAABIk/GMJSOdF5A0A/P1020316.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020316.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key West Arts Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next day we met John at the <em>Ingham</em> and after he gave us the introduction to the boat we did a self guided tour. It certainly is a fascinating floating museum and a National Historic Landmark. In 1985, the I<em>ngham</em> became the oldest active duty and most decorated Naval ship serving the U.S. She was decommissioned in 1988 after 52 years of service, having cruised the Bering Sea, escorted 31 convoys across the North Atlantic in WWII, sank a U-Boat, led convoys to the Mediterranean and Africa, served in the Vietnam War, rescuing survivors of sunken boats & ships, and finally served as the command ship in the 7th Fleet in the Pacific. She was involved in a lot of actions and earned many citations and awards.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020212" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BtN1GtRio5k/UtbArc2QmZI/AAAAAAAABI0/uryeROiZ0zg/P1020212.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020212.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mighty<i> Ingham</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020327" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9kHcnC6rNy4/UtbAsUVvvzI/AAAAAAAABI8/YXYrrKtyD_U/P1020327.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020327.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the bow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The most interesting thing about the ship is that she has been preserved exactly as she was the day she was decommissioned. The Navy simply walked away, leaving all of the original equipment on board. For Thayer it was a walk down Memory Lane. He recognized much of the same equipment he had used during his years in the Navy. The I<em>ngham</em> is now operated by a struggling non-profit and her future is uncertain. It would be a sad thing to send this museum to the scrap yard, but the city of Key West would like to put a marina in its place on the waterfront. Not many cities can accommodate a ship of this size and it simply cannot generate the funds it needs to stay afloat.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After touring the <em>Ingham</em> we had tickets for the <em>Danger!,</em> a 50 foot sailing schooner that was going to take 13 of us out to the Marine Preserve for some sailing, snorkeling and kayaking. Nick, the captain, and Vic and Joe, the crewmen, were very entertaining and knowledgable. As we sailed out to the preserve Joe gave us an abbreviated account of the history of the Key, from Native Americans to modern times. He was funny and engaging and told some great stories of the Keys (which we were able to flesh out a little more with our own reading of John's books the following day). This Marine Preserve is not on the reef side of the Keys, it is on the gulf side which has a very different ecology. It is shallow and warm with beds of sea grasses in the shallowest areas and sponge beds in the slightly deeper areas. We were able to see quite a few fish, eels, lots of sponges of various shapes and sizes, though it was nothing at all like reef snorkeling. They provided good equipment, wetsuits, fins and snorkel gear that worked.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">After snorkeling for a while we launched the kayaks and went for a paddle around a mangrove island. We learned about the 3 kinds of mangroves, how they survive in salt water and the wildlife that depends upon them. The "islands" don't really have any land, just masses of mangrove tree roots. They are the basis for a host of living things, fish, turtles, and gobs of birds. We saw osprey, cormorants, egrets, gulls, and many others that I don't remember or were not identified. The mangroves have clever ways of excreting salt and getting enough air for their roots while standing in 2-3 ft. of saltwater. Afterwards, the crew served snacks, soft drinks, wine and beer the whole afternoon accompanied by their lively banter and cheerful conversations. B</span>eing the "quiet" boat in a flotilla of noisy sunset cruise party boats, w<span class="Apple-style-span">e cruised until the sun finally sank in a colorful display. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and evening on the schooner.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020355" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T6TDNIXSGFs/UtbAtjA0wSI/AAAAAAAABJE/vOWHXaif90k/P1020355.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020355.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Nick receiving some sailing tips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020365" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CHg_jd5E6zo/UtbAuhhV2KI/AAAAAAAABJM/mdDBMDu0XLw/P1020365.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020365.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much cooler after snorkeling!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020370" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HfwDw7lTkFg/UtbAvg96WOI/AAAAAAAABJU/64qdJyj9Qqo/P1020370.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020370.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">paddling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020385" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UKZ3Bj78TTI/UtbAyIETjUI/AAAAAAAABJk/qq7g-BKkAkc/P1020385.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020385.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aboard the <i>Danger!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020403" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-46Bf7vA6mHI/UtbAzoJpqOI/AAAAAAAABJs/p-w6IA2W0hE/P1020403.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020403.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in Key West</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020380" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8Cq-JzwNsxI/UtbA1NCSjLI/AAAAAAAABJ0/rfMnFViyiOE/P1020380.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020380.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fearless crew: Joe, Vic, Nick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We stayed at John's that night and planned to leave the next morning but when he invited us to stay for another night we jumped at the chance to have a beach day. Contrary to my preconceived ideas about the Keys, there are very few sandy beaches and even fewer that are open and free to the public. The mangroves dominate the shorelines and the beaches are far and in between. We borrowed several of John's books on the Keys and found Veteran's Beach about 20 miles up the road. It is a small but lovely beach and we had a perfect day and a shady spot to enjoy it. The waters are very shallow so it isn't really a swimming beach but I wandered around finding some fish and several large sea slugs of the non-decoratvie variety. The pelicans were actively diving for fish out beyond the shallows.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020417" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-c2dj7HMutP4/UtbA2D7tMVI/AAAAAAAABJ8/hBsu1Nbr9fg/P1020417.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020417.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booking and beaching at Veteran's Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020427" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Sutf5u7nXzk/UtbA3GuLZ3I/AAAAAAAABKE/xCJUzGS8cEU/P1020427.JPG?imgmax=800" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020427.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John, our wonderful host</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I read John's book on the history of the Keys while Thayer focused on the sea story collection. The Keys have a colorful history, many cycles of boom and bust, good ideas, bad ideas, greed, shipwrecks, pirates, smugglers & indians, naval battles, struggles for power and control, and people who busted their asses to survive and prosper in a difficult land. With very few fresh water sources but an endless supply of biting flies & bugs, the challenges for any enterprise were significant. Anybody who had a good idea, worked to get it off the ground and began to make a go of it was invariably wiped off the map by a hurricane. Most folks in the early shipping days made their living off of the shipwrecks that occurred very frequently on the eastern and southern reefs, for a time earning them the highest per-capita income in the US. It was a culture of greed and corruption at all levels. Channel markers, current tables and GPS technology has virtually eliminated shipwrecks so tourism is the main source of income for pirates these days.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020314" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DYngOok76H0/UtbA5ddTtoI/AAAAAAAABKU/c9R3uhrx19U/P1020314.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020314.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn around point!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1020433" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-em73j0mMCMA/UtbA6Z_DMyI/AAAAAAAABKc/XfWtJ8HvHwM/P1020433.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1020433.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrified coral at a quarry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After one more night with John we said our fond goodbyes. It seems that we have reached the turning point in our trip – we are almost 6 months into it, now at the farthest distance from Seattle (3,581 miles taking the short-cuts or 12,011 miles the route we came), and have begun heading back in a west and northerly direction. We hope this second half will be as wonderful as the first half has been!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-42413143165413980582014-01-05T12:38:00.001-08:002014-01-15T20:27:09.034-08:00Back to the Coast<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wlos.com/shared/news/features/absolute-le/stories//images/JOHN_11940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://wlos.com/shared/news/features/absolute-le/stories//images/JOHN_11940.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheila is a great story teller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our uneventful trip across North Carolina found our first destination to be the little town of Brevard. That evening we had a good time listening to some true-blue, authentic Blue Ridge story tellin' and music by Michael Reno Harrell and <em style="font-style: normal;">Sheila</em> Kay Adams. They related whimsical stories from their past about Christmas that were both very funny and touching. Shelia is a National Heritage Fellowship award winner and Michael has won the Recording Industry Association of America Platinum award. But sitting with them and listening to their tales was almost like casually being in a country kitchen or sitting around a fire – trying to discern just where the facts were buried beneath the <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">BS</span> er, ...fiction. It was very entertaining!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAK1uiOzpnCFxXI2Sf4Ew5ZFc00pXG4Qa-_0j9SaHiT4mvp4FzB0Iz1vNY8V5IlZH1DL3LUWz-P5ZhNh4h0nCwDmUWLbmwfTTPGc_56xGx2GApQo_wqrDrWv9S19Avsj32x83Y4gCx0s/s1600/P1020063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAK1uiOzpnCFxXI2Sf4Ew5ZFc00pXG4Qa-_0j9SaHiT4mvp4FzB0Iz1vNY8V5IlZH1DL3LUWz-P5ZhNh4h0nCwDmUWLbmwfTTPGc_56xGx2GApQo_wqrDrWv9S19Avsj32x83Y4gCx0s/s320/P1020063.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew & me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following morning we drove the short distance to Laurel Park (near Hendersonville) to see my ol' dear college sailing friend Andrew. While there, over the next 6 days, we enjoyed many wonderful family Christmas traditions with him, his wife Teresa and daughter Michelle. I also enjoyed the attending the rehearsal and performance of their church's youth Christmas program. Andrew volunteers as the driver for a bunch of lively kids who probably wouldn't attend church without the ride. The rehearsal was a little rough with shepherds dozing, angels wiggling and little lambs racing around, but they pulled it together for the big performance and did a great job telling the story of the birth of Jesus.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I probably won't get the rest of the events in order but we did a variety of other fine and festive things, including visiting Carl Sandburg's home. Nowadays, the Nat. Park Service continues to breed and raise the goats that Mrs. Sandburg became famous for. She took a very scientific approach, concentrating on three types of goats, and was mainly interested in improving milk production and quality – eventually breeding goats that produced record quantities of milk. The estate now covers about 200 acres and is still very beautiful.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA85oS2Oaa93TfdKgk64QC_qfKd_cFni4Wnv-7l14LLyqiBJEOixkSdRJhFXEogGhhPNw2tr7JesBAFhoSK9kVlaLgQ_897J_d-ddebWL2v92CYWyAOw5vFmxK_IF3ljDvLTImNGh0Xs/s1600/P1020047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA85oS2Oaa93TfdKgk64QC_qfKd_cFni4Wnv-7l14LLyqiBJEOixkSdRJhFXEogGhhPNw2tr7JesBAFhoSK9kVlaLgQ_897J_d-ddebWL2v92CYWyAOw5vFmxK_IF3ljDvLTImNGh0Xs/s320/P1020047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating was a main theme at Andrew's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While at Andrew's, we replaced the Rialta's house batteries, which sounds easy but really wasn't. The old batteries were getting a bit tired and we had purchased some new ones a few days earlier. The replacement batteries are a just teeny bit longer than the old one and Thayer had to do some delicate "modifications" with a BIG hammer and hacksaw to get them in. It is so nice to have such skilled technical staff traveling along! Now we can play on our computers and run our lights for much, much longer – important when we're confined inside on dark, rainy days & nights.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We did all the good Christmas gift stuff and, of course, the eating part. The Thompsons' follow a Danish tradition of making lots of cookies, appetizers, munchies and candies and then browsing all day long on Christmas, thus eliminating the thankless job of preparing a giant meal. But we also did that too on the following day when we were invited over to their friend Charlene's house. We had a wonderful meal followed by exchanging and receiving gifts. I was also happy to learn that the Thompsons enjoy reading Patrick McManus as much as the Sykes family, and we had some spirited reading and laughter that only comes with good old Pat and his gang of frightened wieners.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sainthelenaschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/biltmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sainthelenaschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/biltmore.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Biltmore really is built more!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alifewithoutborders.com/wp-content/uploads/Grand-Prize-Winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://alifewithoutborders.com/wp-content/uploads/Grand-Prize-Winner.jpg" height="129" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edible bears</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Andrew and Teresa took us out one day to show us the sights around Asheville, most notably a peek at the Rockefeller estate, the very grand Biltmore, but with a $45 entry fee we limited ourselves to the visitor information center and the video. We continued on to the Grove Park Inn, a massive hotel built of large, rough hewn granite boulders. We wandered the lobbies, admiring fantastical and prize winning gingerbread houses (and Pandas) on display. Entries to the annual contest and constructed by people of all ages, I don't know how anyone could single out the "best" one as there were so many stunning creations.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Near the inn are some historic buildings that showcase the crafts of the city. Ashville was once known for their fine woolen fabrics and had a booming weaving industry. Several of the building were stores carrying beautiful hand crafted glass art, pottery, fabric and paper arts, and amazing fine crafted wooden furniture. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Andrew and his family and were a bit sorry to be moving on.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mowryjournal.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/congaree-np-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://mowryjournal.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/congaree-np-04.jpg" height="142" width="320" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt_UAjD5wUE/UAYulY11_bI/AAAAAAAAAJk/QgtKS7b0OvY/w800-h800/congareecedarcreek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt_UAjD5wUE/UAYulY11_bI/AAAAAAAAAJk/QgtKS7b0OvY/w800-h800/congareecedarcreek.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congaree swamp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Traveling eastward again, we stopped at Congaree N.P., learning about the amazing swampland ecosystem of the Congaree River that covers a beautiful 26,000 acres. It was nearly destroyed by early logging, but the swampland was too difficult to manage and had so it had a better chance for preservation. It is the largest area of old growth bottomland hardwoods in the US and there are at least 80 species of trees, some towering 170 above the swamp. The seasonal flooding is the heartbeat of this unique park, bringing nutrients to the plants and animals of the swamp.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Farther down the road, a short visit to the Charles Pinckney N.H.S., homestead of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; and to Fort Moultrie, which gave us a look at yet another fort. I think we're becoming experts on early America forts. Just ask me a question!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItY-lpzUwxLOhda7ARRggFRPyd01gzxEP0ODU49P5_oeHOsihVD2es-dUkPhTc7q8TTedFhnZc0cd0QurkixThz9GfLNEAWW75CB-FVyZTa9oaoTlJQn5tKSrng-ZlLgMermPPbfiIng/s1600/P1020121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItY-lpzUwxLOhda7ARRggFRPyd01gzxEP0ODU49P5_oeHOsihVD2es-dUkPhTc7q8TTedFhnZc0cd0QurkixThz9GfLNEAWW75CB-FVyZTa9oaoTlJQn5tKSrng-ZlLgMermPPbfiIng/s320/P1020121.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grits are good for you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://95d697154be10da5b954-ce4fe94648ff84cbb4ed3592b7a68227.r39.cf1.rackcdn.com/2/1/large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://95d697154be10da5b954-ce4fe94648ff84cbb4ed3592b7a68227.r39.cf1.rackcdn.com/2/1/large.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is hard to pick out a favorite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We rode our bikes around historic Charleston, NC, and found easy parking on the southern waterfront. It is a lovely city just drenched with beautiful homes, colorful streets and interesting historical sites. Spending some time in the crafts market, I especially enjoyed watching men and women weaving beautiful baskets. The Hominy Cafe was recommended by a gentleman we'd met earlier, so we enjoyed a good southern cooked meal. The next day we found a local swimming pool and took full advantage of a long swim and a longer shower for only $2, ...a darn good deal by our standards!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We then "quietly" spent our New Years in Savannah, GA. The town had a street blocked off with some live music and lots of fun people to watch. We both mingled with the Georgian partygoers 'till about 10:30, and then retreated to a dark Walmart for a very quiet night.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_azNRlChROUKhBNC7tOrtNdSER56X6YNwzKknmC-2n0I5G9V1CiLlh3R02MPSrXcu1cEL-wjilK2jC7UU6BQDxDklVj-RNNR84eE2NbcuAbkrvV_EnU65H03vVdA9KcVRKUntdaDDpix/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_azNRlChROUKhBNC7tOrtNdSER56X6YNwzKknmC-2n0I5G9V1CiLlh3R02MPSrXcu1cEL-wjilK2jC7UU6BQDxDklVj-RNNR84eE2NbcuAbkrvV_EnU65H03vVdA9KcVRKUntdaDDpix/" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first attempt at Gumbo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Inspired by a book I just finished that included a gumbo recipe, I began gathering the ingredients and advice necessary to give it a try. I even had to ask a woman in the store to identify okra for me because I had no idea what it looked like. She gave me some good advice and during the next day, which was rainy and dreary, I gave it my best shot. I included shrimp and sausage for the meat, and lots of vegetables. The spices I'd bought previously in Charleston gave it a delightful spicy taste. Not bad for a beginner, and voted 'two-thumbs-up' by everyone who tasted it!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXWnk9m5253Qj768XpFdsxu3O-G7cS_TjAvAVmy7PBNv7LTh1saX5MEFl9nrkfyznb0RkQQ5kL7GMoQAuN7OKK9AZjo3_P0fwoPC50fSNMV2FjkbuD6LO5K03o6_RSz-Mq0G6jmavfig/s1600/P1020136+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXWnk9m5253Qj768XpFdsxu3O-G7cS_TjAvAVmy7PBNv7LTh1saX5MEFl9nrkfyznb0RkQQ5kL7GMoQAuN7OKK9AZjo3_P0fwoPC50fSNMV2FjkbuD6LO5K03o6_RSz-Mq0G6jmavfig/s1600/P1020136+copy.JPG" height="169" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Canaveral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next up as we worked our way down into Florida was Canaveral National Seashore. Sadly, it was raining sideways during our brief visit. I was happy to learn that they'd had a banner year for the number of sea turtles nesting in the park, almost double the usual number of nests were laid. That adds up to almost 8000 nests! I explored around an old Native American shell midden, which is a large hill of shells shucked from 1000's of years of oyster feasts. The midden has created a lovely little ecosystem that provides habitat for all kinds of plants and animals. I also discovered a tree just loaded with large, just-out-of-reach, oranges! Dang!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The next day we continued through the Merritt Island N.W.R., observing thousands of birds and a whole lot of wetlands. These parks were created after the land was gobbled up by NASA for Cape Canaveral and then given back as a wildlife refuge. They've done good things with the land, making a multitude of environments supporting an incredible amount of wildlife. There are so many opportunities to see birds wintering over here in Florida that I may just skip over the details.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We also had nice visits with a shirt tail relative (Cindy Sykes' cousin), and Mark and Beverly, a Stuart, FL. boondocker couple. Mark is an auto tech teacher at a high school and is both very accommodating AND a good cook! We are still hitting 100% with the boondocker crowd, and have yet to met one we haven't hit it off with instantly. A pretty good average, we think!</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-44662723894805123182013-12-29T05:56:00.001-08:002014-02-09T20:29:48.317-08:00North Carolina's Outer Banks<div style="text-align: justify;">
Heading south into North Carolina and warmth and sun seemed like a fine idea, and one that proved to be true! There are many long bridges across the many waterways and wetlands of this state and we crossed one of them and found ourselves on the famed Outer Banks, or OBX, as many signs indicate. OBX is a long chain of narrow islands of sand that protect the mainland from storm surges and big water erosion. On one side is the Atlantic Ocean and on the other is Currituck Sound to the north, and Albermarle and Pamlico Sounds in the middle and southern stretches. The chain runs for about 200 miles, which is most of North Carolina's coast. Our main stop was the Wright Brothers National Memorial near the tourist town of Kill Devil Hills. Kitty Hawk is the name of the area on the edge of town where the Wrights flew their amazing machines.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010705" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ch9YBWrwOwQ/UsAphyGv8bI/AAAAAAAABFM/47kI3HxgDK8/P1010705.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010705.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flyers Hall of Fame</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<img alt="P1010706" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dcoIgPgeVso/UsApjfCsnEI/AAAAAAAABFU/X-PibLgu0aQ/P1010706.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="float: right;" title="P1010706.JPG" width="200" /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010710" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AKTIyH8kkAU/UsAplHnrZdI/AAAAAAAABFc/OHNcur4RfTk/P1010710.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010710.JPG" width="133" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horseshoe crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the early 1900's there was fierce competition to be the first to build a machine that could carry a person, take off, be steered safely, and land, entirely under it's own power. The French had made some headway with the problem of lifting the thing, working on wing design and gliders, everyone thought they were the experts. Orville and Wilbur Wright, without a diploma between them, studied the problems and scientifically solved them, using the skills they had gained building and operating a printing press and running their own bicycle shop. First, they found that the French wings were not expertly designed at all, they didn't provide the required or expected amount of lift. They invented their own wind tunnel to test and study different wing shapes quickly and efficiently. The work they did in their primitive wind tunnel is still very close to what modern day engineers use for wing designs. Using this information they were able to build gliders that they tested and flew more than 2000 times from the top of the sand dunes at Kitty Hawk. With the problem of lift solved they tackled the remaining issues of steering and power. A fellow who worked in their shop designed and built a small 4 cylinder engine that would run long enough to make the first short flights and that was all. The next big problem was steering the craft, the major issues being roll, yaw, and pitch, the 3 dimensions that had to be mastered for safe steering. They came up with revolutionary mechanics that twisted the two wings(called wing warping) and operated the tail for right and left turning. This mechanism was operated by the pilot shifting his hips in a cradle attached to wires controlling the wings and tail. Another smaller wing was in front of the pilot, trimmed using a handle, that controlled the elevation, up or down(pitch.) </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010722" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CUybBuKRu-s/UsApm6Jzb4I/AAAAAAAABFk/8ksUn8yK-j4/P1010722.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010722.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steel Flyer sculpture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010733" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IJchtxuAWog/UsApoHYkryI/AAAAAAAABFs/FGiVq4hFT5U/P1010733.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010733.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheering helpers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Dec. 17, 1903, in the privacy of Kitty Hawk, they made 4 historic flights that demonstrated their progress toward solving most of the big problems of manned flight. They continued tweaking their designs, filing for patents and improving the performance of their airplanes. They were very smart, they kept things quiet, did not share their progress until they had their patents in place. They mistakenly thought the US government would be interested in financing their work and offered to show them their planes, if they had a contract. The government refused, financing Samuel Langley instead. Langley was not even close to powered flight and had some disastrous outcomes. The Wright Bros. took their machine to Europe and showed their stuff. They were declared the winner in the race to flight but it took some time in the States to have that status. Finally they received the financing and acclaim they deserved and became very successful. As with many inventors of the era, they had to fight to protect and profit from their patented ideas. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010751" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TAsMQQH1LKU/UsAppaKIx7I/AAAAAAAABF0/kRzJzscIEN8/P1010751.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010751.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not so famous 5th flight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010719" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AX1h9v0jTYg/UsApqx_BB9I/AAAAAAAABF8/LjfB9YO4OkM/P1010719.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010719.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice Job Orville!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We learned much about the brothers both here and the Museum of Air and Space in DC. At the visitor's center they have a replica of the first craft, a wind tunnel and a few other artifacts. (The Smithsonian got the original Flyer.) They also have a large sand dune with a massive stone memorial, the field marked with stones showing the exact location of the first 4 flights, and replicas of the two hangers the brothers lived in and used for their planes. There is a steel sculpture of the plane out in the field surrounded with the figures that were present on that historic day. Another large exhibit area was closed the days we were there in preparation for a big celebration on Dec. 17 commemorating 110 years of flight. Every few years they induct someone into their Flying Hall of Fame and this year the inductee is William Boeing, who started his company in 1916. Well, we all know how that worked out! </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010771" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BVAUyozkP-Q/UsAptR1J_xI/AAAAAAAABGM/d1-V3NRU0O0/P1010771.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010771.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First flight monument</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010776" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4Fr78bxvaeQ/UsApvOrxuvI/AAAAAAAABGU/syPcrv1fAvM/P1010776.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010776.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaque for first four flights</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We stayed several nights in Kill Devil Hills, enjoying the beach one morning and then moving southward. We could not continue to Cape Hatteras because the bridge to that island has been deemed unsafe at any speed and closed. They had a ferry service up and running but we decided it was too complicated. We continued on to Roanoke Is. and the historic town of Manteo. In 1585, the Roanoke Colony was the first to be established by Britain in the New World but it disappeared without a trace, so Jamestown got the honor of being the first successful colony. Manteo was establishing in 1870. We toured the visitor's center and focused on the building of a replica of the <em>Queen Elizabeth II</em>, one of the ships that carried early settlers. They built it in the old ways just a few years ago. That night we sat in our little home while the rain pounded down for several hours, we are so happy with our rig. A little further south in Beaufort there was a tornado that pulled the roof off of an elderly hardware store.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010786" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-thDPyiLwjK0/UsApwA8_H_I/AAAAAAAABGc/qlIsFlvD96s/P1010786.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010786.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Elizabeth II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010802" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gwD1U9ka718/UsApxXkAPbI/AAAAAAAABGk/pQThek69GEM/P1010802.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010802.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pirates booty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010804" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zzCbL45hY58/UsAp1f2PgzI/AAAAAAAABG8/hWS4I0En8H0/P1010804.JPG?imgmax=800" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010804.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tipper and Patty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010902" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c6puudlPczw/UsAp7hwWzLI/AAAAAAAABHc/kkOom2f-mSI/P1010902.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010902.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaufort, NC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back on the mainland we headed toward a Boondocker opportunity in another historic town, the above mentioned Beaufort, NC. We met Tipper, our host, got the tour of his jealousy inducing wood shop and saw pictures of the fine boat he built as a young man and sailed around on for 30 years. Tipper is a master craftsman and woodworker, working on many restorations, most notably Mount Vernon and some New England Grist Mills. He also puts in many hours for the local Historical Center and we really enjoyed the several hours he spent with us touring the town. He had the keys to some of the historic buildings he has worked on so we were treated to a private showing of some wonderful old buildings. He is trying to be retired but keeps getting lured back to interesting projects, good pay and appreciation of his skills. It is the best fun to be escorted around an interesting place like this with someone who is very involved with the community. We heard some great stories. His wife, Patty, has a shop full of nice things to buy in town. Tipper and Patty left us in charge while they visited Tipper's mom in DC, pretty dang trusting! We had a huge party and almost burned the place down, but I think it will pass inspection upon their return. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010840" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M2YwM2RgP5o/UsAp0EArIdI/AAAAAAAABG0/z8Xs2KFJO6g/P1010840.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010840.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild pony of Carrot Is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've had a hankering to see some of the wild horses that inhabit many of the Outer Banks islands. I had no idea there were so many! Right across the channel from Beaufort is a little island named Carrot Is. It is also the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge and is the home of about 30 wild horses. I rode the water taxi across the channel where I could see 3 horses browsing along the shore. These hardy little horses seem to thrive on the coarse grass that grows in the tidelands, most of them are fat and healthy looking. They don't seem to have a distinctive background, someone just turned some horses loose here in the early 1900's. To keep them from overpopulating the island many of the mares are issued birth control on a yearly basis. Fresh water is not plentiful, and when there isn't much on the surface from rain, they have to paw out a hole and drink the brackish ground water. I followed the first 3 I spotted up and over the island to a large tidal grassland where I was able to sit and watch about 20 horses grazing and drinking from a big rain puddle. They didn't mind me much at all, just watched when I moved around taking pictures. I sat in the sun and read my book for a while and just enjoyed having all of this to myself. I only saw 2 other people later in the day. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010867" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YNpK9Zb-gzM/UsAp2-ly0FI/AAAAAAAABHE/2sqbdWqp4eI/P1010867.JPG?imgmax=800" height="199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010867.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naptime</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010890" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ucck07ew3tk/UsAp4MZyQJI/AAAAAAAABHM/wgtfBV-S-5w/P1010890.JPG?imgmax=800" height="168" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010890.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading for the water hole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010896" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PDKYFb1ME7w/UsAp5QlKRHI/AAAAAAAABHU/Xh_3q7McxgM/P1010896.JPG?imgmax=800" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010896.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raccoons and pony tracks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We spent an afternoon at the very excellent NC Maritime Museum. Archeologists have been excavating Blackbeard's ship <em>Queen Anne's Revenge</em> since it was discovered in 1994 very near Beaufort. They had a great exhibit with a lot of information about pirates, their ships and their exciting lives. Most of them came to a very bad end, Blackbeard was killed by the British and his head hung from the bowsprit when they came into port. The display about the wreck, it's excavation, and the recovery of artifacts was very interesting. The museum also featured the forerunner of the Coast Guard, those heroic men of the US Life-saving Service. These fellows watched the dangerous shores of the east, even at night they patrolled the beaches, constantly on the alert for a ship run aground. When a ship struck the surfmen leaped into action with canon, lines, buckets, life boats and if the boat was lucky enough to be within about 400 yards of shore they had a shot at survival. It was all very interesting! Thayer got sucked into the library and I'm sure he would still be there if I didn't drag him out. We also really enjoyed the many sailing ship models they had, there has been a long line of working ships, all with features making them ideal for their purpose and beautiful as well. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A short trip to Cape Lookout Visitor Center and the Core Sound Museum on a beautiful, sunny day allowed us a nice nature walk and a fine lookout over the inland waters of the Inter-coastal Waterway. Fort Macon was right on the way so we stopped for a short visit, it is really a lovely place. All of the Atlantic forts are being to muddle together for me, there is a common theme among them all. Within the last 200 years they have all undergone the same transformations due to the changing weaponry they expected to be used against them. They are all located in prime locations for long views and lovely scenery. Someday maybe I'll count how many we have visited.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We then started our way 400 miles across the state to Andrew and Teresa Thompson's beautiful home near Hendersonville, NC. Andrew and I sailed on the UW Racing team many years ago and had many memories to rehash. It had been about 25 years since we'd seen each other so we were definitely due for a reunion. He lives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-5611701387283184522013-12-16T06:54:00.001-08:002013-12-17T05:21:13.271-08:00Historic Triangle<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Virginia certainly has a rich history. By visiting the Historic Triangle, we were able to retrace the British presence in North America from their first successful colony in Jamestown (1607), through the colonial period and revolution in Williamsburg and their surrender to George Washington in Yorktown in 1782. Each of these places has a different character and focus. The Jamestown area is a very active archeological site. For many, many years the opinion was that most of Jamestown had gone into the river and was lost. Then someone did some good research and independent thinking, using the known location of the church to figure out the location of the rest of the fort. The actual site of Jamestown was just determined in 1994 when they found where the logs making up the walls of the fort had been dug into the ground. They have just recently found other buildings and many graves. One woman's skull shows clear signs of having been carved and butchered during the "Starving Time" of 1609-10. Garbage heaps have been unearthed giving much information about those difficult days in the new land. They have a very impressive Archeology Museum and at least 4 active digs going on around the fort. We listened to an excellent ranger presentation about the new discoveries and learning that is going on. We walked around the fort, toured the museum, and walked the New Town area where townspeople built their homes and business eventually. They also have a glass works on the site of the original, one of their early money making ideas. Jamestown was a bustling town once they got through the rough early years and was the first capital of Virginia. It eventually moved to Williamsburg and then Richmond.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010445" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wYJXEYUuHDI/Uq8SmI_E4pI/AAAAAAAABC4/2TwU23jppCA/P1010445.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010445.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010446" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g5KJsXH_ei8/Uq8UGNobLvI/AAAAAAAABDU/Y2WRm8_XRZQ/P1010446.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010446.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamestown glassworks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010429" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kbTeNpj_v5Q/Uq8UHlkuC1I/AAAAAAAABDc/MdueGnba3go/P1010429.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010429.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First housing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Williamsburg has been preserved for many years, many blocks of the old town are right out of the 1700's. This enormous undertaking was begun in 1926, financed mostly by John D. and Abby Rockefeller. They quietly bought up the land and made their plans to preserve and rebuild the town. Of the nearly 500 buildings on the grounds 88 are original. The rest have been built in the period style. The Governor's Palace and the Capitol were reconstructed from the original plans. Every building not only looks totally authentic but they have been built authentically using the tools and methods from the 16-1700's. There is a combination of homes and museums, intermixed. The homes are used by employees of CW with many regulations: no electrical or modern devices can be visible or heard through windows, all decor must fit in with the museum buildings. The tourist trinket shops follow the same rules. The museum buildings are staffed with knowledgable and passionate people who visit with you and share their expertise for the trade or business they are in. For the most part they stay in character, using the vocabulary and language of the times. Some of the most interesting conversations happened when they stepped out of character. There were very few tourists so we were able to learn about each trade and activity by engaging the staff, they are really fantastic in their authentic clothing and using all traditional tools and skills. On each day a historical personage came to the stage to give a speech and answer questions. We heard George Washington and Thomas Jefferson chat away about their beliefs, background and activities. These guys did not break out of character! I loved it when Jefferson lambasted a fellow who obviously had an issue with the Koran and Muslims. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010553" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XBocUJ9cj3o/Uq8SRUplN8I/AAAAAAAABA4/2flyhnKPbus/P1010553.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010553.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Washington</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010606" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7nHYZHd3O4g/Uq8SXs3wfJI/AAAAAAAABBg/Va92UHvXzgo/P1010606.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010606.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoemaker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010619" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HwV2muUY01k/Uq8SYsfgDEI/AAAAAAAABBo/D2Bc7Ropf6I/P1010619.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010619.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dressmaking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010638" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-juKh_RZnBbg/Uq8SZ27UoWI/AAAAAAAABBw/M6ACSvd241o/P1010638.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010638.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas Jefferson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010632" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uk85wW8B_U0/Uq8SbfrhRII/AAAAAAAABB4/prKw8tm3uDM/P1010632.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010632.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seamstresses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010605" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KbvM6ISPaOw/Uq8SczYX8zI/AAAAAAAABCA/mkWysedKcO8/P1010605.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010605.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoemaker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010586" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-msJnVSt2BSo/Uq8SeS12_9I/AAAAAAAABCI/cby0Txb1XrM/P1010586.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010586.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weaver and cat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010532" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--9rtIzuYKt0/Uq8SgGrB_MI/AAAAAAAABCQ/ep3otDNpcj8/P1010532.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010532.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cocoa at the Coffeehouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010530" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jwuBjp-Erqk/Uq8Sholg53I/AAAAAAAABCY/PYYD1Rufhcs/P1010530.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010530.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We were there for 3 cold, rainy days and were able to visit almost every museum and store. Thayer was disappointed by some of the changes he noticed from the last time he visited, 40+ years ago. It doesn't seem like a lot to ask to have a working bakery, cranking out hot cookies and goodies on a cold rainy day. But no-oooo, plastic wrapped cookies and coolers full of bottled drinks were offered in the bakery. The town was dressed up in it's Christmas finery and the Great Illumination was on, unfortunately even the festive lights could hardly penetrate the rain and early darkness. We passed on the fireworks display. Despite the gloomy weather I enjoyed Williamsburg immensely and would recommend it highly to anyone visiting Virginia.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010497" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9sbYzFX4zWw/Uq8Si80FT4I/AAAAAAAABCg/1x0iekvPZRg/P1010497.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010497.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smithy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010459" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w2k7dXRRaVc/Uq8SkPgRfHI/AAAAAAAABCo/XhKJw9NK8s0/P1010459.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010459.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Governor's kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010473" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gIqCe-hm9Gg/Uq8SlQ-K3aI/AAAAAAAABCw/rdsRH6RDSdI/P1010473.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010473.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silversmith</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The last point of the Historic Triangle is Yorktown, a National Historic Site. It has a small visitor center and is mostly forests and a battlefield with lots of earthenworks where two wars were fought. It is the site of the surrender of the British to the Americans. One fact I found interesting was that Cornwallis did not surrender his sword to Washington, he was such a sore loser. He assigned the duty to his second-in-command. When Washington found out who was presenting the sword he sent his own second-in-command to receive it. Ah, gamesmanship! We got there late in the day and I didn't get any photos...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010688" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-32BHUjhA4X0/Uq8UIxv-kGI/AAAAAAAABDk/3ZvEIbj1O54/P1010688.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010688.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandparent's home, Hampton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was another trip down memory lane for Thayer when we visited the old home that his grandfather built 50 years ago in Hampton, VA. The nice young couple who lives there now was gracious enough to show us the inside. Thayer was disappointed to see the bright paint covering the wood panelling he loved. It is a sturdy house, well situated on the shore of the James River. With 3 children the family doesn't have much time (or maybe the inclination) for yardwork and the grounds are a bit unkept but you could imagine it's former glory.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We also visited nearby Fort Monroe, another National Historic Site, situated at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, protecting it from invaders of several wars. Something new here is that the parks are renting out townhomes and apartments fashioned from the beautiful old housing of the fort.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010693" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ntR9U0OSY1M/Uq8UKAmM4DI/AAAAAAAABDs/y73m_Z11NB8/P1010693.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1010693.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative housing at Ft. Monroe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-10FGZFB62GA/Uq8UM6XywFI/AAAAAAAABD8/2PYBOw4qR6Y/P1010694.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="P1010694" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-10FGZFB62GA/Uq8UM6XywFI/AAAAAAAABD8/2PYBOw4qR6Y/P1010694.JPG?imgmax=800" style="cursor: move;" title="P1010694.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCPp1W2Z9Yi2X7mhDE7eyiboXbvIg0ODJ904xd_edJbPP7ZUzV0gx0mfu9PLCaUjAB8TZZAmN8__4JTZmDrRARWxqpdkBv4DgFaPVBdPRjnMmJVy2Ec4nTx8yq56D8KW9gCdL8qVbxHw/s1600/P1010691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCPp1W2Z9Yi2X7mhDE7eyiboXbvIg0ODJ904xd_edJbPP7ZUzV0gx0mfu9PLCaUjAB8TZZAmN8__4JTZmDrRARWxqpdkBv4DgFaPVBdPRjnMmJVy2Ec4nTx8yq56D8KW9gCdL8qVbxHw/s320/P1010691.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casemate Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We had a nice stay with new boondocker friends, Pete and Phyllis, in Virginia Beach and they have given us a good contact for our Florida Keys expedition. Love the Boondockers! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-77966033039634848682013-12-11T07:53:00.001-08:002013-12-16T19:17:27.624-08:00Tobacco Country<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010338" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1LoxpWD5Pno/UqiKc-VH3MI/AAAAAAAAA-k/MeQq_qfeTy8/P1010338.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010338.JPG" width="300" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Virginia Hughes home</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="P1010374" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vTgJs3VvlNY/UqiKje-QC_I/AAAAAAAAA_Y/rg5PFcsAwKo/P1010374.JPG?imgmax=800" style="float: right; text-align: justify;" title="P1010374.JPG" width="225" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="P1010356" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rwiTpzNfaXY/UqiKkwsWKNI/AAAAAAAAA_o/bFXDPmNrfLs/P1010356.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010356.JPG" width="199" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While in DC we had begun to hear a slight squealing sound in the serpentine belt area of our engine. It didn't seem to be getting any worse so we purchased a new belt along the way in anticipation of replacing it and, after a little research, also decided to repack the bearing for good measure. Heading south, we first stopped at the home Thayer's parents owned in Virginia before they moved to Washington. The current owners, who bought it from Thayer Sr. and Betty, graciously gave us a tour and proudly displayed the many updates and improvements they have made to make the house even more lovely. Then, after our brief visit, we continued on towards the Brook's Family Farm, near the tiny town of Dundas, VA., skillfully timing our arrival for the day before Thanksgiving. What perfect planning!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We had thought to spend the holiday and an additional day or so before continuing down the road, but when Thayer checked out the noise and the engine belt he discovered that the tension bearing was completely gone, shredded beyond repair. He couldn't figure out how the belt had continued turning without the bearing, and we were VERY thankful that the engine hadn't died on us on the drive down as the weather had been horrendous and the traffic even worse. Are we just lucky or what?!! Needless to say we had to order the part, which did not arrive until the following Wednesday evening. Be wary when they promise expedited shipping over a weekend. We ordered the part Fri. morning and they didn't begin processing the order until Monday. Don't even get Thayer started on that debacle.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010350" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E-mP6NHlbmk/UqiKd_sK43I/AAAAAAAAA-s/c0u8HQvxspQ/P1010350.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010350.JPG" width="199" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weather Channel</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010386" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MiIcmOMVn44/UqiKfNvwvcI/AAAAAAAAA-4/COtaNJfNg6M/P1010386.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010386.JPG" width="300" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks Farm</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fortunately, thankfully, luckily we were in a great place to hang out for a week. Many years ago the Brooks' provided Thayer with a welcome haven during a trying teenage year, after his family moved here from Alaska. He can't recall his time in Virginia without mentioning his time with the Brooks. Even milking cows, picking and processing tobacco, and driving a tractor sound fun when he reminisces. Alison and Lenora were so tickled to see him, it had been 25 years at least. Their 4 children all managed to come by for a visit while we were here, two of them driving 5-6 hours to see Thayer. We ate about 5 Thanksgiving dinners, 4 pies, 2 cakes, mounds of sweet potatoes, home canned snaps and baked apples. It was non-stop eating for the first 3 days, then I think we were all worn out and toned it down a bit. We were able to help move chairs and tables around for Lenora's church group luncheon and other little projects. Lenora was pleasantly surprised and pleased that I knew how to do dishes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010375" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xfQHDvDZAYs/UqiKgltv1sI/AAAAAAAAA-8/sp2Fvp3rl10/P1010375.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010375.JPG" width="300" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobacco drying barn</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010405" border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yCbuBOETV5M/UqiKhdJVypI/AAAAAAAAA_E/ISE9rNm3K4k/P1010405.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010405.JPG" width="200" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squirt and Bea(st)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Alison is as quiet as Lenora is chatty, and Lenora just loves to tell stories! After hearing the escapades of every family member, friend and neighbor from the last 77 years (and some of the stories several times) I felt the need to get outside and explore. With no internet and a very warm house, I looked forward to my daily walks outside. Surrounded by acres and acres of farm and forestland, I walked 4-6 miles a day. Bea, their big brown lab, and Squirt, the little spotted beagle and I rambled around each field, checking out the sheds and drying barns that we kept finding. We sat and watched the bright red cardinals flitting through the bushes and tried to sneak up on a beaver in one of the ponds.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Though the Brooks don't actively run their farm anymore, the fellow who does grows a little tobacco, soybeans and winter wheat. The wheat is already 3 inches tall. They own about 280 acres and live in the house they built 55 years ago. I learned about tobacco farming, from planting and harvesting to processing and marketing. As with our farming friends in North Dakota, we heard about the good years and the bad years, weather, crops, prices, machinery, and lack of good help. We learned about growing up poor in southern Virginia.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk0u7JYBfS3l7Ceu-ay-AhfQz2uOGFn_QGEKczj3dJv39SQ8g58RRKoypNPvi5eySgGcvp87a3Bfp5ecoZ2V2iSvvbKLsBDqpD4U7jkjJGP3gjdnWx9h_S4GdaGpY5124qigdxtDGkUM/s1600/P1010422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk0u7JYBfS3l7Ceu-ay-AhfQz2uOGFn_QGEKczj3dJv39SQ8g58RRKoypNPvi5eySgGcvp87a3Bfp5ecoZ2V2iSvvbKLsBDqpD4U7jkjJGP3gjdnWx9h_S4GdaGpY5124qigdxtDGkUM/s320/P1010422.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alison and Lenora Brooks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lenora's family farmed and also ran a sawmill many years ago. As a young girl she plowed fields behind the family mule, slept in a windowless upstairs attic, and has been on the back end of large equipment since an early age. It certainly wasn't an easy life! But now she and Alison have a happy, cheerful relationship and have been a hard working team for 57 years. Its very sweet the way they look at each other with such a sparkle in their eyes. They are proud, determined and opinionated folks. I feel very fortunate to have met them.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a7LyEJp3nQI/UqiKkKFXuMI/AAAAAAAAA_g/4IyZ11YHt8M/P1010369.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="P1010369" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a7LyEJp3nQI/UqiKkKFXuMI/AAAAAAAAA_g/4IyZ11YHt8M/P1010369.JPG?imgmax=800" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1010369.JPG" width="225" /></a>With an arctic storm looming on the horizon, we said our goodbyes and trundled down the road (without a squeaking engine) toward Historic Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-76224444209989341932013-12-03T08:12:00.001-08:002013-12-11T09:15:56.660-08:00Shenadoah to Washington DC<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KwAf8P308y8/Up4CdsBDoiI/AAAAAAAAA7A/UsFY-HhCrdY/P1000970.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000970" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KwAf8P308y8/Up4CdsBDoiI/AAAAAAAAA7A/UsFY-HhCrdY/P1000970.JPG?imgmax=800" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1000970.JPG" width="300" /></a><img alt="P1000855" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sAfk8Eoib3s/Up4CPIK_YqI/AAAAAAAAA5I/K0Aqrnu4L0M/P1000855.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000855.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AFaonjaDGpo/Up4CYvvNQuI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/QpXtuDDfGNU/P1000938.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000938" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AFaonjaDGpo/Up4CYvvNQuI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/QpXtuDDfGNU/P1000938.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; text-align: justify;" title="P1000938.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
Thayer and Boots<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We found our way to Thayer's Aunt Boots' place in Stephens City, VA, eager for a shower and a home base for a few days. Boots is 85 years old and still very </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">independent and sharp. She and Thayer had a lot to catch up on. We tried to make ourselves useful by raking leaves and climbing ladders to change lightbulbs. We then continued our sampling of country buffets by going to the Butcher Block Buffet in Winchester. Lots of good food and even better desserts than in Amish country. We rolled out of there and walked it off by visiting the Shenadoah Museum nearby. They had a special exhibit about the life and times of Patsy Cline so I felt right at home. This is really pretty country, the Shenadoah River winds through a flat valley between the Massanutten Mountains and Shenadoah National Park. It seems like it might not have changed so much in the past hundred years. There are many historical battlefields dating back to the Civil War. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000874" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Mjl_QKCqznU/Up4CQOcnx4I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/QiC-cDQRtkk/P1000874.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000874.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Skyline Drive</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000877" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RDjmGeAvd0E/Up4CROnBEXI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/To3wsck9qN0/P1000877.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000877.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appalachian Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000870" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C8xshJuCBLI/Up4CT43qdJI/AAAAAAAAA5w/HTfZg-QJlts/P1000870.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000870.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We packed up after a few days and headed down to Skyline Drive in Shenadoah National Park. This road hugs the high ridge of the park with many pullouts for viewing to the east and the west. Most of the leaves have fallen by now but that actually improved the long views. The hiking trail along the ridge is the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine. We saw many deer and a black bear. Darkness comes early this time of year so we headed for the nearby town of Luray for the night.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_mvz4QOCngM/Up4CUoEZk_I/AAAAAAAAA54/aMJK6SS03eY/P1000884.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000884" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_mvz4QOCngM/Up4CUoEZk_I/AAAAAAAAA54/aMJK6SS03eY/P1000884.JPG?imgmax=800" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1000884.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000897" border="0" height="133" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NepXFHgIgu4/Up4CVpxpA2I/AAAAAAAAA6A/ts5bwFvWIfs/P1000897.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000897.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pool reflections</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KSwH4qZDFDI/Up4CWpLk3qI/AAAAAAAAA6I/_J8Ky2gUlLY/P1000906.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000906" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KSwH4qZDFDI/Up4CWpLk3qI/AAAAAAAAA6I/_J8Ky2gUlLY/P1000906.JPG?imgmax=800" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1000906.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next morning we started at Luray Caverns, a must see in the valley. These caverns were the first to be commercially exploited and opened to the public. The geology of the valley is very typical of cave country and there are several big cavern systems that you can visit. I was not excited about the $24 entrance fee but found that it was well worth the price. Our tour group consisted of 5 people and our guide, a young lady who spoke veerrrryyy slowly and repeated herself about 10 times to make sure all 5 of us understood. Our mile and a quarter walk through the cavern was delightful, there were many beautiful formations, quiet pools of water, and striking views through the columns and stalactites. Some creative genius even tuned up some of the stalactites to hook up to an organ and it plays a hymn, badly I might add. I'll let the pictures speak for the beauty of the caves. Also on the site was a fantastic antique automobile museum, many lovely old cars! Funny how my favorites were the Rolls Royce!</div>
<br />
<img alt="P1000927" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3v_N3374v3c/Up4CbpgI2OI/AAAAAAAAA6w/bm2GRCzvkzU/P1000927.JPG?imgmax=800" style="float: right; text-align: justify;" title="P1000927.JPG" width="199" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LjXr-BpM7VM/Up4CasdMJWI/AAAAAAAAA6o/kW1UBXN3Fe4/P1000947.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="P1000947" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LjXr-BpM7VM/Up4CasdMJWI/AAAAAAAAA6o/kW1UBXN3Fe4/P1000947.JPG?imgmax=800" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1000947.JPG" width="199" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010035" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7wLOxjTWfEI/Up4CgUPrnTI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/ss3s904XabM/P1010035.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010035.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishing well, $1000's donated to charity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7lVgHAp3t4w/Up4Cc7zU7SI/AAAAAAAAA64/X08FV_TSQ4Y/P1000956.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1000956" border="0" height="133" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7lVgHAp3t4w/Up4Cc7zU7SI/AAAAAAAAA64/X08FV_TSQ4Y/P1000956.JPG?imgmax=800" style="text-align: justify;" title="P1000956.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-InMfhgWtJsY/Up4CeRAq-0I/AAAAAAAAA7I/oSskYKKO4Ws/P1000987.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="P1000987" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-InMfhgWtJsY/Up4CeRAq-0I/AAAAAAAAA7I/oSskYKKO4Ws/P1000987.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; text-align: justify;" title="P1000987.JPG" width="199" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010074" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a8uDMuOzMbU/Up4ChczfKOI/AAAAAAAAA7g/E3E9f-t6pPE/P1010074.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010074.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fine old autos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the good weather holding we drove back up into Shenadoah NP, I was determined to hike a few miles of The Trail. Thayer dropped me off at one of the trailheads and I was going to hike the 3-4 miles to another trailhead, where Thayer would meet me. Well, long story short, it was about a 5 mile hike and it was quite cold, especially on the shady side of the ridge. I came upon one of the shelters where the long hikers could stop and, sure enough, there were 3 hikers on their way down from Maine. They looked cold but determined. The shelter had 3 walls, an open fireplace, and a sleeping platform. As the sun was getting close to the horizon I called Thayer from the first spot I could and was very thankful for my cell phone. After he picked my up, I found out that shortly after I had left the trailhead a young black bear had checked out Thayer in the rig and then followed me up the trail. I'm glad I didn't know! It was a beautiful trail and something I would like to do in warmer weather with more time.</div>
<img alt="P1010202" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9IjcKdVTQoM/Up4CvUOZpOI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/d_PgJLRBAWc/P1010202.JPG?imgmax=800" style="float: right; text-align: justify;" title="P1010202.JPG" width="300" /><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010235" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-041qV4TC0vY/Up4CwuJTxVI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/2QqYwyZJnYs/P1010235.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010235.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library of Congress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010082" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vPHVffww4wk/Up4CiT3_VYI/AAAAAAAAA7o/TC2bPY83rZ4/P1010082.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010082.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appalachian Trail view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010257" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xiMYN06-59Y/Up4Cx4jhchI/AAAAAAAAA9g/p0E66p8AeKA/P1010257.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010257.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading room, LOC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010076" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QxNzXKnzL0w/Up4CjY1GVeI/AAAAAAAAA7w/XdhArM2sksg/P1010076.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010076.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the bear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="P1010084" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WiL8iSwjdTU/Up4CkcvUqeI/AAAAAAAAA74/-I79e4K_Qgg/P1010084.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010084.JPG" width="300" /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next up was Washington, DC. Our first night was spent on a busy street in the parking lot of Mike's Carpets. We delivered a spare tire to Mike to use with his Rialta. We attempted to use the bus and subway to see DC but gave up on that right away. What really worked for us was driving into the city, parking for free at West Potomac Park, near the Jefferson monument, and riding our bikes. It was about an 8 minute ride to the Mall where we locked up the bikes and started in on museums. Having the bikes minimized the amount of walking we had to do to between venues and gave us relief from the standing and walking in the museums. We were lucky to have clear weather though it was fairly cold. When we got kicked out of the museums we biked back to the rig, loaded the bikes and drove about 7 miles to a quiet neighborhood in Arlington with easy access to a Starbucks and the internet. We were able to meet up with Thayer's cousin, Marilyn, for a few meals and some local color. She gave us a tour of her "office" in the Library of Congress. I cannot think of a greater contrast to my job in an elementary classroom. I loved the quiet and orderliness of the place! As most of you know there is nothing quite like the Museums of DC. I was able to to "do" the American Indian, Art, American History, Holocaust, Natural History and a bit of the Air and Space Museums. Thayer doesn't move as quickly as I do but he did a thorough job in the Air and Space and Natural History Museums. We also toured the Library of Congress and the US Capital, two buildings that make America look like a world class country! Our final stop on our last day we wandered through the Botanical Gardens for a warm tropical blast before heading out into the cold. After 5 days of sightseeing, we reluctantly drove on through the driving rain toward central Virginia to visit more of Thayer's people.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010110" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SsnsnfRnRew/Up4ClXZUllI/AAAAAAAAA8A/v6F59aYSuag/P1010110.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010110.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010129" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i5BwdU7Q-hE/Up4Cmb_HsUI/AAAAAAAAA8I/RRTi4rhMmzk/P1010129.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010129.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010135" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DqkdGEJ89-8/Up4CnZ4cVHI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/qRx4PGWv3iE/P1010135.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010135.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jefferson memorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010147" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F27rDjicMDA/Up4CoVA_E2I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/vasc0yd59Oc/P1010147.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010147.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jefferson at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010154" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jPLYKAZRxLA/Up4CrfEU0uI/AAAAAAAAA8w/vSJZUHcBAsQ/P1010154.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010154.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum of the Am. Indian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010316" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NRgQhVBLmVc/Up4C10qTiRI/AAAAAAAAA94/-xiEsJNV0kc/P1010316.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010316.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capitol Bldg.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010314" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e3tvvBYwwNw/Up4C0x9245I/AAAAAAAAA9w/PIXMDiDeNi8/P1010314.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010314.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supreme Court</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010207" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B__OkUN6NKI/Up4CuRRM2sI/AAAAAAAAA9I/cAwZ0dpkKmI/P1010207.JPG?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010207.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smithsonian Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010332" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fsKbjo9gVWE/Up4C4YG7AFI/AAAAAAAAA-I/V84dV3LP_rQ/P1010332.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010332.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Botanical Gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010162" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BHdkalmtUU8/Up4C5fjc6tI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/JLZfQSkXwKA/P1010162.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010162.JPG" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful NA doll exhibit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1010194" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KcyuH86kLI0/Up4C3BsJIzI/AAAAAAAAA-A/MH6LlS6l1bM/P1010194.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1010194.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only DaVinci in North America.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-55752691406207536562013-11-24T17:01:00.001-08:002013-11-24T18:58:09.228-08:00Amish Country to Gettysburg<div style="text-align: justify;">We were surprised to see snow outside when we woke up our first night away from Robb's place. It was cold enough for snowflakes but not cold enough to stick and be a problem. We were headed for Lancaster County, PA for a few more days of Amish enjoyment. On the way we went through Kittatinny National Recreation Area, which was probably much prettier a few weeks ago when there were more leaves on the trees. We hiked the short distance to Dingman Falls, one of many waterfalls cascading over the large rocky cliff on the west side of the area. The visitors center was closed so I never did learn the geology of the area, but it was the first thing to look like a rugged mountain that we have seen in a while.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000581.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GmZVNN86auU/UpKhKIwFj8I/AAAAAAAAA3k/KBUq-AKo6OY/P1000581.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000581" width="200" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dingman Falls - note the Rhodies!</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">We found our boondocking hosts right in the middle of the Amish and Mennonite communities. Don and Hettie were our hosts and they were really nice and very helpful in charting our course for the next couple of days. Don has lived there for 60 years and Hettie was raised in the Mennonite community. She left the church when she and Don decided to get married. We learned a great deal about the Amish and Mennonites from them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Some newly learned facts about the Amish:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Fall is the wedding season, ceremonies are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the month of November, though the season seems to come earlier and last longer according to our experts. A wedding is an all day affair, the bride's family serves up 3 meals during the day, to up to 500 people! They build on temporary structures made of wood and plastic to enlarge the home for the event. When its over they deconstruct it and move it to the next home for the next wedding.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000604.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KmYzb4VwiAo/UpKhLPxgI0I/AAAAAAAAA3s/3SLL9DcTQFg/P1000604.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000604" width="300" height="200" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amish farm near Lancaster</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Amish don't have a centralized church and they take turns hosting church services in their homes. When a church gets too big or there are divisions within a church a few families may splinter off and create a new group. About 3 years ago, a group of 30 families picked up and moved to Tennessee where they had purchased 3500 acres of land to begin their own community. The Mennonites have centralized churches around the community.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Amish are buying up any land that becomes available in Lancaster County for top dollar. Their population is growing quite steadily and they require more land for the up and coming families.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000632.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0eDsayBSTnU/UpKhMOVwPBI/AAAAAAAAA30/aH1J9SaLf3c/P1000632.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000632" width="300" height="168" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spreading manure</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">They are very industrious, not only working their farms with horses and simple machinery, but many farms have their own store where they sell preserves, quilts, fresh fruit and vegetables, and oodles of craft items. If they don't have their own store they make items to sell at the stores in town. The town of Intercourse has a large shopping area filled with Amish and Mennonite made goods. Many of the men run construction companies that build all over the NE. Because they are not union and are extremely skilled, wealthy people like to hire them to build barns and houses on their estates. The Amish do not drive cars or trucks so the owners of the construction companies hire a non-Amish ("English") to drive their trucks and transport them to and from the job sites. We did see them using cell phones, credit card scanners and electrical devices in their businesses but it varied from place to place. </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000645.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IMVywObBe0o/UpKhNKbc6FI/AAAAAAAAA34/YjdZVS-hE9s/P1000645.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000645" width="300" height="168" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy mule</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">We saw many horse and buggy rigs driving about the countryside and also learned that some antique and collectable buggies sell for up to $90,000! Its not cheap being simple!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Amish have their own schools for their children, though they aren't easily identifiable. We saw very few bicycles, most young people rode large wheel scooters, so they would have to push themselves along going uphill. Most kids walking along the roads wore bright orange safety vests.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000666.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o2IgmCYVYZc/UpKhN8pg46I/AAAAAAAAA4E/fExlYeJ3hNM/P1000666.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000666" width="300" height="199" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plowing the fields</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">We enjoyed our time with Don and Hettie, and on our second night we went out to dinner with them at Yoder's Buffet. Lots of good home cookin' and really easy to eat too much! Yoder's is one of the smaller buffet style restaurants in the area although they are very popular and people come from miles away to have a good meal. A larger buffet restaurant up the road from Yoder's serves busloads of tourists – up to 6000 folks a day!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The best part of Amish Country is driving around seeing the beautiful and productive farms and fields. Large houses are occupied by generations of a family, so you won't see elder care facilities in Amish Country, ...they take care of their own. Horses, mules, cows, and goats munch their way through fields carpeted with green grass. Horse and mule drawn teams were busy turning the soil and spreading manure. Lancaster County is very densely populated with these lovely farms and the contrast when you drive out of the county is quite amazing.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000693.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5kUNunyLJUE/UpKhO8dL8jI/AAAAAAAAA4M/8Pc7l3BwwMY/P1000693.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000693" width="300" height="199" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many covered bridges</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our next stop was Mechanicsburg, PA and the home of an old college friend of mine, Mike Guion. We sailed together at the UW over 30 years ago and spent a lot of time sailing, going to regattas, playing ping pong, running the UWYC, and having a lot of fun. He hasn't changed much over the years except that he has become quite the cook and fixed us a fine meal the night we arrived. Mike and Vicki gave us lots of advice about what to see as we headed into Virginia and Washington DC. We were really lucky to catch Mike in town, as his job now has him globe trotting all over the place, Asia, Russia, South America... I hope also to see another old friend in North Carolina from the same era, Andrew, but am not sure it will work into the current route we have planned. Its so hard to do it all!</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000715.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bwdDqea_Z-k/UpKhQOt9B7I/AAAAAAAAA4U/w-4SjRizYz8/P1000715.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000715" width="199" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicki and Mike Guion</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">From Mike's we drove the short distance to Gettysburg, a lovely, old historic town and, of course, the site of a huge Civil War battlefield that changed the course of that war. About 51,000 soldiers were killed, injured or missing during those 3 days in July, 1863. We toured the main battlefield, listened to a ranger describe the battle and I felt like I had a much better grasp of what had happened. We also visited the cemetery where the Union soldiers were buried, many, many of them in numbered graves. The cemetery was not laid out and used until several months after the battle so the remains were difficult to identify after the hasty burials immediately after the battle. We toured the site just as they were setting up to remember the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. We didn't find out exactly what was planned for the rememberence but I imagine it was a stirring event. What a marvelous speech, so concise and inspiring! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000762.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xe12ARVI1N0/UpKhRH-ctvI/AAAAAAAAA4c/LYcc128qcCE/P1000762.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000762" width="199" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pennsylvanian Memorial</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It was a gruesome battle and the memorials spread across the landscape and programs presented by the park service give you just an inkling of how horrifying and terrible it had to have been. There is a brand new, very large and fancy visitors center which we did not tour because it was a beautiful day and we wanted to be outside. They also charge quite a lot for admission. As always, we learned a great deal. My knowledge of US history is growing by leaps and bounds on this trip!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000808.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J4MHHkbvA7I/UpKhSKvRIcI/AAAAAAAAA4k/jHJhx3nXlYc/P1000808.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000808" width="300" height="199" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gettysburg Cemetery</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000814.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k2HXcBz-NP0/UpKhTPR9KhI/AAAAAAAAA4s/lYKmWFq5PpQ/P1000814.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000814" width="133" height="200" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abe Lincoln</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-66476139779376231622013-11-10T19:59:00.001-08:002013-11-24T19:05:16.054-08:00Cape Cod Interlude<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </div>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Ten days on Cape Cod was more than we had planned on, but as usual, it turned out to be a great time. Robb has a giant house that he rattles around in so we didn't feel too bad about filling it up for a bit. We had many projects to do on the Rialta, the biggest being getting new tires on all around and getting the front end aligned. Surprising how hard that turned out to be! Several shops said they could do it, then it turned out they couldn't. Finally we found someone, but he ended up keeping the rig over the weekend which limited what we could do on some of our other projects. I made a waterproof bike cover out of heavy duty gardening plastic, lots of duct tape and strong thin line. We'll see how it holds up to wintery conditions. We will also cover the whole mess with a blue tarp. I know, I know, it's going to look awesome! Thayer fixed fuses, drain pipes, and almost finished his website, yay for that!</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000455.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nlovh8lOsWs/UoBWH8j-Z6I/AAAAAAAAA2o/Okjv4owcKls/P1000455.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000455" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lingering colors in the yard</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000454.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VQdRe1_i97E/UoBWIg7uHmI/AAAAAAAAA2w/XIJ7_3KZFGE/P1000454.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000454" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jemma, head of ranch security</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000416.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xGKZjP7ugKg/UoBWKV1sY6I/AAAAAAAAA3A/t16Kjq3CVc4/P1000416.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000416" width="200" height="150" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption">Trying out my new camera</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My big project was helping Robb "daylight" his garden which had been covered with large sheets of black plastic for years. Weeds grow here like they do in the NW and the plastic was for weed control and watering of his vegetables. In the past he has had bumper crops of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, chard, arugala, rhubarb, and lots of berries. Production has slowed, indicating that the soil needs to be worked some, so it was time to lose the plastic. Also, Robb's two boys have flown the coop so he doesn't need all the food he grows and having a huge garden is a lot of work! So, his idea was to daylight the soil, level the garden, and plant a perfect croquet lawn. We had to clean up after last year's garden, stack the wire cages, unscrew a billion screws holding the plastic to boards, pick up a million bricks and stack them, roll up the plastic, haul the boards away, and finally transplant 40 raspberry plants and 28 blackberry bushes. It took us 4 days working about 4 hours per day. He has reduced the vegetable space from 50X100 feet to about 20X50 feet. I think he will still be able to grow all the vegies he can eat. If he can keep chickens from eating the grass seed after planting and keep it watered it will be fantastic fun come summer.</p>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000439.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L-PUxAlD8AY/UoBWCQFP_vI/AAAAAAAAA14/QjHdY3kbw6o/P1000439.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000439" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my big bro!</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000445.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CaPGb5P58MI/UoBWA8ck9EI/AAAAAAAAA1o/h1qoo2LHHBw/P1000445.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000445" width="300" height="225" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling plastic </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000451.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_KBN61ERy98/UoBWJv7W0rI/AAAAAAAAA24/nFpba_rIxZU/P1000451.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000451" width="200" height="150" border="0" /></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dFkmrP4zIHc/UoBVoYAsbDI/AAAAAAAAA1I/S7pFTprVNng/NewImage.png?imgmax=800"><img style="text-align: justify;" title="NewImage.png" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dFkmrP4zIHc/UoBVoYAsbDI/AAAAAAAAA1I/S7pFTprVNng/NewImage.png?imgmax=800" alt="NewImage" width="259" height="194" border="0" /></a><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dFkmrP4zIHc/UoBVoYAsbDI/AAAAAAAAA1I/S7pFTprVNng/NewImage.png?imgmax=800"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br /></span></a><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dFkmrP4zIHc/UoBVoYAsbDI/AAAAAAAAA1I/S7pFTprVNng/NewImage.png?imgmax=800"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br /></span></a><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dFkmrP4zIHc/UoBVoYAsbDI/AAAAAAAAA1I/S7pFTprVNng/NewImage.png?imgmax=800"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br /></span></a><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dFkmrP4zIHc/UoBVoYAsbDI/AAAAAAAAA1I/S7pFTprVNng/NewImage.png?imgmax=800"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br /></span></a>We also made some time for fun. One morning I got up early and Robb and I went to the beach for the opening day of oyster season. It is pretty weird how they do it around here. Instead of going to the rocky coast and prying your oysters off of the rocks like we do in the NW, you go out to the beach, which has been stocked with farm raised oysters. They do this by dumping truckloads of oysters along the beach. The next day everyone races out to the beach and picks them up! At least the oysters have a chance to get away..... Today we went to Robb's friend Michael's glassblowing studio to see the "giants" that Michael makes. The giants are large rebar/steel rod structures that people buy and then wrap with Christmas lights for the holiday season. They have become quite the thing out here and he can't keep up with the demand. He has made many different designs, a lighthouse, a glassblower, Ben Franklin, a knight on a horse, a peace dove with a rainbow, and a baseball player. His apprentice was making paperweights and some beautiful vases while we watched. I love watching glass blowers in action and it was fun to see all the different colors and designs. I bought a new glass ball for my collection. We also played some games, watched a few movies and ate a lot of great food. One night we were treated to fresh lobster, right out of the bay. Tonight it was fresh oysters and mahi-mahi. Sadly, it'll be back to my cooking soon....sigh.</div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000509.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q17n6X7g1p8/UoBWENUfEzI/AAAAAAAAA2I/j9elD1sNpVU/P1000509.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000509" width="300" height="200" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant construction project</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000542.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-azCQXbuEozk/UoBWDK8_f3I/AAAAAAAAA2A/3S5ahrMXFZA/P1000542.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000542" width="200" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael's studio</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000508a.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WjugLE59oV0/UoBWLeN2H3I/AAAAAAAAA3I/ScMtl5hZXNI/P1000508a.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="P1000508a" width="200" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant creators</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It has been really nice spending time with Robb. It seems like when the whole family gets together you don't get to talk as much because you are pulled in all directions. I really enjoy the one on one time I have been getting with my family as we travel by their homes. It is also nice to not have to be making decisions every few hours, where to go, where to overnight, what to see, what to eat, and so on. The large comfy bed and hot showers have been great too. Since we arrived I have taken over the chicken and geese routine in the morning. I let them out of their pens, give them some corn and then I get to gather eggs. It is just like Easter everyday! Jemma, the head of ranch security, helps by barking a lot and chasing the birds around. I've also eaten eggs every morning, they are so fresh and creamy!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">From here we are off to visit my old college friend in PA, Thayer's Aunt Boots in VA, possibly another college friend in NC, and friends of Thayer's in FL. There are lots of boondocker possibilities on the east coast so we will be taking advantage of them as well. There is some cold weather coming later this week but it really warms up as you head south. I would like to see some historical sites and some of the Intercoastal Waterway, which extends southward from Chesapeake Bay for hundreds of miles. We might get a day or two in DC if it works out that we can leave the rig outside the city and ride a bus or train into the city. </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="P1000563.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4HSOZnYCV_o/UoBWE44HC8I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/1pa2pxzfx_s/P1000563.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000563" width="200" height="300" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joanne, Robb, oysters on the half shell</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a class="rg_l" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cccccc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; clear: left; color: #dd4b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; height: 195px; left: 0px; line-height: 11px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 232px;" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=michael+magyar+glass&safe=off&biw=1436&bih=760&tbm=isch&tbnid=tZRM4u67XlRImM:&imgrefurl=http://blog.innatsandwich.com/2012/01/sandwich-cape-cod-ma-home-to-giants.html&docid=mFYlwy490TxDlM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwhxFpTrF21j4a82uau5mhdSvHKw07qj4dd5zmaJ7bgt7ldWq0GibiSDWXq34W0Df4o2i20cIJdcprYX-nAuDbjD0R0i-_87kIFutHFL7mpmkSCIUn5YjFfxCbsIizUyupnw2j8VN5W4/s1600/Family.jpg&w=350&h=263&ei=LlWAUrCQFLDMsQSN5oD4Cw&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:80,s:0,i:327&iact=rc&page=3&tbnh=195&tbnw=232&start=55&ndsp=29&tx=78&ty=114"><img class="rg_i" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; display: block; height: 195px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: -27px; margin-top: 0px; width: 259px; border-width: 0px;" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ-E-b6A4GJYdsBspc1ud85Qd_g6v-JcZvgbq6gFuXoljSrJ0dd1Q" alt="" name="tZRM4u67XlRImM:" width="400" height="301" data-src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ-E-b6A4GJYdsBspc1ud85Qd_g6v-JcZvgbq6gFuXoljSrJ0dd1Q" data-sz="f" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hx0-CKle0_E/UoBWFya2pvI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Ui4EhUWUOE0/P1000553.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="display: block;" title="P1000553.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hx0-CKle0_E/UoBWFya2pvI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Ui4EhUWUOE0/P1000553.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="P1000553" width="200" height="300" border="0" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy making a vase</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<p> </p>
<div class="rg_ilm rg_ilsm" style="bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11px; right: 0px; white-space: nowrap; width: 232px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-92194284230828349822013-11-06T16:57:00.001-08:002013-11-15T06:23:28.182-08:00Back in the USA!<div style="text-align: justify;">
We crossed the border into Maine in the morning and headed down the coast toward Bar Harbor and Acadia NP. We decided to take in a part of Acadia that many people miss, a chunk of land across the bay from Acadia, to the north, called the Schoodic Peninsula. It is a windswept hunk of granite where waves crash against the bedrock, shooting skyward with every impact. Interspersed in the granite are large veins (6-12 ft across) of basalt that were squeezed up through cracks in the granite. These "dikes" are softer and erode more quickly than the granite. Some of the "beaches" are covered with small round boulders, at first we thought they had been hauled in to act as a breakwater but then we found out that they are entirely normal boulder beaches, covered with tumbled granite balls. I would have collected a bunch if we weren't on NP property and so far from home. The thought of 20 lb. boulders rolling around the rig didn't sound exactly safe.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000242" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zHXdGHcDf88/UnrlRPuIYUI/AAAAAAAAAyE/fV3VLqYDVYc/P1000242.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000242.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crashing waves!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000254" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1_6OM4rdNGY/UnrlSGxFraI/AAAAAAAAAyM/b4dczn5LEMk/P1000254.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000254.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basalt dike on Schoodic Peninsula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After viewing the NP visitor center, we arrived in Bar Harbor in the late afternoon and decided to stay there for the night. Even this late in the season many shops were still open and there are many, many touristy shops, think of Seaside times 2, but nicer. On the drive into the town we saw some of the many lovely homes from the early part of the century. Many were lost in a large fire in 1947. It was still windy and quite chilly! Early the next morning we were on our way to see the park.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000277" border="0" height="150" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BOFdCcMuHQE/UnrlS1dowJI/AAAAAAAAAyU/wjqIpx2Jq3A/P1000277.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000277.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cottage"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000287" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CcsKuI4J-bk/UnrlVsCuDBI/AAAAAAAAAys/slAHexysM0o/P1000287.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000287.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One and only sandy beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000282" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HOwZ0iHgnn0/UnrlT7L94-I/AAAAAAAAAyc/M0AU7mtIozc/P1000282.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000282.JPG" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000329" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wJR4U3HrghY/UnrlWcKn86I/AAAAAAAAAy0/wT6fcLPQQh8/P1000329.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000329.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caretakers cottage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000345" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z9UaPw5ZfJE/UnrlXXzx78I/AAAAAAAAAy8/72kbleJ66_s/P1000345.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000345.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cairns on Cadillac Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLf4WpqDWh_UYLcMPld7JoOhTfbJIulSkjvB__z8J_8SSueG06bhRi5LyA5-ObtFgHwXi9nQSPHKK4kLVECv4jKdr0xmBRk3p3m7wJZ-4gEcr76do1dYlncnGA9KcmyvJk-enZOtCyNU/s1600/P1000261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLf4WpqDWh_UYLcMPld7JoOhTfbJIulSkjvB__z8J_8SSueG06bhRi5LyA5-ObtFgHwXi9nQSPHKK4kLVECv4jKdr0xmBRk3p3m7wJZ-4gEcr76do1dYlncnGA9KcmyvJk-enZOtCyNU/s200/P1000261.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
Acadia is a small but lovely park. It has spectacular ocean and bay views, a craggy, rugged coastline, beautiful hardy forests, lots of hiking trails and an interesting history. The area was first developed by the rich summer folks who built their "cottages" and spent their summers here. The area was also being pillaged for it's lumber and a few of the rich folks decided it would be a good idea to preserve it before it was gone. Acadia was the first NP established east of the Mississippi. Charles and George Dorr were instrumental in gathering up properties for preservation. It is the only national park that was created solely from donated land. The whole peninsula is not in the park but a good portion of it is. John D. Rockefeller and some friends were concerned about the impact of automobiles on the park and they established 45 miles of carriage lanes in the surrounding forests that were limited to horse drawn carriages and sleighs. Today these lanes are open for hiking, biking, horses, and cross country skiing. There is a concessionaire in the park who runs horsey activities. Most of the road going around the park is one way, which makes driving much more enjoyable, even the driver can relax a little and enjoy the many views to be seen. We stopped at Sand Beach, the only really nice sandy beach in the park. It sits in a lovely sheltered bay bookended by craggy outcroppings of basalt. These are the remnants of basalt left after the glaciers ground the rest of it off of the granite underneath. I almost thought I was going to get through a whole post without mentioning glaciers, but I guess not this time. Jordan Lake is the main facility in the park for meals and shopping. It sits on a pretty lake with many trails leading into the woods and carriage lanes.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydrHnKzVlbEobIxL-qqca0H1DpSoDiwrI_gieak7iILsELKT_-gpMzIP7S5zVoGjTHDZzbCqW7k8_T3N78yg5oDUg_jEO7tOd9OKbeduBOgfrHteChwAsUu8bpXR3bAl-LJDkawacVb8/s1600/P1000309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydrHnKzVlbEobIxL-qqca0H1DpSoDiwrI_gieak7iILsELKT_-gpMzIP7S5zVoGjTHDZzbCqW7k8_T3N78yg5oDUg_jEO7tOd9OKbeduBOgfrHteChwAsUu8bpXR3bAl-LJDkawacVb8/s320/P1000309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granite boulder beaches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrFWlWer9csxRARwTowxenz21ypEs70xDScldr5lu22Xzu6X5t06HvuXy-6ocg_enGGX6GHKDjdEHkcdUxlY0uDtZ5bcqe5vJNdaCiwcKpra2ixu1o1HwYQEq3Eu7Gk5the9hp1hScNw/s1600/P1000338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrFWlWer9csxRARwTowxenz21ypEs70xDScldr5lu22Xzu6X5t06HvuXy-6ocg_enGGX6GHKDjdEHkcdUxlY0uDtZ5bcqe5vJNdaCiwcKpra2ixu1o1HwYQEq3Eu7Gk5the9hp1hScNw/s320/P1000338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Cadillac Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Leaving the lower part of the park we climbed up to the highest point, a pink and gray granite knob called Cadillac Mountain. There are tremendous views all around from the top and the viewing trail winds over smooth, glacially carved granite. You can see up and down the coast for miles and miles. It was windy but sunny and we enjoyed the vistas from this viewpoint. I decided to walk down the mountain and meet Thayer and the rig on the road about 2 1/2 miles along. The trail was marked with large cairns and blue dots painted on the slickrock. They really like cairns in this park and put a lot of effort into them. It took me longer than I expected on the rocky trail but it was very beautiful and I enjoyed the sun, colors, and exercise. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After our day in the park we had a delightful dinner with my nephew, Mo Sykes, enjoying our first pizza in months and getting caught up with Mo. He is attending the Univ. of Maine in Orono and plans on following his old man's footsteps by becoming a surveyor. He is a wonderful, entertaining young man! I would have enjoyed spending more time in the park hiking and sightseeing but I was also looking forward to a shower and getting our tire situation fixed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next day we continued southward, taking one more jaunt out to the coast to see the town of Stonington, a fishing village on the peninsula just south of Acadia. It is a terribly quaint old village situated on a rocky, sheltered bay. The oldest piers and wharves are made out of gigantic blocks of granite quarried at the southern end of town. It has many lovely old homes, one main street with a few shops and restaurants but was not as touristy as many places we have visited. Fishing continues to be the main event here, the boats were out, the parking lots filled with pickup trucks, and most of the shops were closed for the season. We had a nice long walk, took lots of pictures and had a very good lunch.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000367" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_UFfA-u2vv8/UnrlYUDrUaI/AAAAAAAAAzE/6D1ojbj_AlU/P1000367.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000367.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonington</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000360" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QXOH9PFY8mA/UnrlZOSqN0I/AAAAAAAAAzM/QPvxfc1rSmc/P1000360.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000360.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the breakwater!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000351" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2y4uAorJRy4/UnrlZ7VFZoI/AAAAAAAAAzU/dzKHIv-hzvc/P1000351.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000351.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Stonington<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Southward we went, taking in a fantastic observation deck on a very tall bridge over the Penobscot River. It is over 400 ft. above the river! Next door was Fort Knox, another fort from the 1800's, this one built by the Americans to defend against the British. It was never finished, never completely armed, and never occupied by troops. The stone masons did an incredible job working with the native granite though and it is a beautiful and sturdy structure. It seemed a little anti-climatic after touring Ft. Louisburg and the Halifax Citadel but we decided that it's history was not nearly as splendid. We wandered around the fort, all by ourselves, once again stumbling upon a place on it's last day of operation. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000370" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xgUTMVzM0dM/Unrla9iXpMI/AAAAAAAAAzc/9-MYSesBTic/P1000370.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000370.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird's eye view from 400 ft. up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000375" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ujj7Zljmy74/UnrlckPTKiI/AAAAAAAAAzs/-Wl3vrkgg88/P1000375.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000375.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where's my wing??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000384" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bYRjocw6ySs/UnrlbmhcACI/AAAAAAAAAzk/q0lv6gfNaj8/P1000384.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000384.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fine stonework arches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That night we stayed with an elderly lady boondocker out in the woods. She couldn't offer a shower because she doesn't have one, heck, she just got a flush toilet a couple of years ago. She warms up some rainwater in a bucket and dumps it over head a few times in the summer and calls it good. These Mainers are a hardy bunch. She does have good internet however! Priorities! Made me feel like I could make it to Cape Cod for that shower. The next day we made a bad decision to stop in Portland, Maine. Driving in a strange city, even a small one, we find very stressful. Where should we go? What is there to see or do? Where can we park? Why are we here again? It was rainy and yucky by the time we got completely frustrated so we left. You would think we would have learned by now. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After a white knuckle, hair raising drive through Boston, the tunnel, the dark, the rain, we rolled into my brother Robb's yard about 8:30 and were really ready for a nice break!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513197277450108953.post-74143778640587848062013-10-27T07:56:00.001-07:002013-11-07T16:06:11.333-08:00O' Canada<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000197" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g91pVXsI8Qs/Um0pVmWPy-I/AAAAAAAAAwE/IjseGcM9va4/P1000197.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000197.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm, time for a new tire?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our final days in Canada involved a temporary fix for some tire trouble in St. John, followed by a quick dive into Maine for about 2 hours before arriving back in Canada for a boondocking site on Campobello Island.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Our front right tire has been wearing unevenly for some time and finally demanded immediate attention when the steel belts started showing and causing a front end wobble at low speeds. Way back in Michigan we had tried unsuccessfully to get an alignment done and had decided to wait until we were ready to put on new tires. Well, we are now ready to buy new tires. We have replaced the bad one with our spare, and have four new Continental 215/65R16Cs waiting at my brother's home on Cape Cod. The spare is a new tire, so I'm just hoping the other front tire lasts, as it is looking worn also. The roads we have traveled are not the lovely interstates, and tires can take a beating on the rough backroad potholes. Besides, most Rialta's come with four tires of two different sizes (yes, there is a reason) and we have been looking forward to getting all four tires and spare to a common size. Now is the time.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000211" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0eBszkx1hCE/Um0pWn5DJ4I/AAAAAAAAAwM/swUnP1phnx8/P1000211.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000211.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour guide Peter and me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Campobello Island is a small Canadian island that sits just off the eastern most tip of the United States. When the summer ferry isn't running you must drive through the US to get to it – sort of like Point Roberts back in our Pacific NW. Our hosts, Peter and Bea, are Europeans who have come through Norway and Alberta to Campobello, where they run a sight seeing business during the summer and migrate south in the winter. Upon arrival we were welcomed with tea and freshly baked cookies, which totally made my day. Peter then offered to guide us around the island and gave a marvelous tour, complete with historical facts and anecdotes, local color and current events. During the early part of the last century the island was the summering grounds for wealthy New Englanders who would flock to the area, many of them building summer "cottages" or staying in grand hotels. Most notable was the F.D. Roosevelt family. There is an international park here devoted to the family containing many beautiful acres of beaches, forests, bogs, miles of hiking, and a nice visitor center. The original Roosevelt home is now gone but they have created a nice representation of the home. Sadly, it was closed for the season and we were not able to visit. The next day, after it stopped raining, the four of us went for an excellent walk on several sections of the International Park trails. We saw seals and lots of birds, this area reminds me greatly of our own San Juan Islands.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjY4VvO_Z8Bf9g-gUc518IWI_sHvW-21fLkQ1E6trvihVcQ-u9qPHxWYVkqmdQw25uRaXrtC6Zi9MYAY0xHFTDn5qazBtZ8vpoO0YgaPJFRNL-o138X1QXXXYPzIVlefmoShvFTpZXrk/s1600/P1000225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjY4VvO_Z8Bf9g-gUc518IWI_sHvW-21fLkQ1E6trvihVcQ-u9qPHxWYVkqmdQw25uRaXrtC6Zi9MYAY0xHFTDn5qazBtZ8vpoO0YgaPJFRNL-o138X1QXXXYPzIVlefmoShvFTpZXrk/s320/P1000225.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter, Bea, Thayer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Much of the economy of the island is dependent upon tourism which is hardly enough, but many more locals still make their living from the sea. There is a salmon farm in a nearby bay and fishing boats tucked into snug harbors. A lighthouse at the north end has been adopted by the community and refurbished after years of neglect. You can only get to it during the low tide and must be very careful to get back before the tide turns. Even here the tides are tremendous.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000202" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UN-ZkW-oq1U/Um0pZCM6qrI/AAAAAAAAAwc/8EvIkUqlQ6o/P1000202.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000202.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach covered with beautiful rounded rocks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000214" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZNz1p9Y5r-Y/Um0pX5mJ5bI/AAAAAAAAAwU/XDYSAA2BXD0/P1000214.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000214.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head Harbor Light station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our time here in Canada, much longer than we anticipated, has been so wonderful. We have enjoyed each and every beautiful park, village and city that we have visited. The well tended, wonderfully tidy farms and homes are a joy and inspiration to see. The people have been so friendly and helpful at every stop, and are generous with their advice and time, taking a break from their day to visit and share what they know about their communities. We often drive away from a place saying "I could live here!", but happily move on after considering the frigid wintertime season. The National Parks and Historic Sites have opened our eyes to new and exciting landscapes, fascinating cultures and thousands of years of history. I am inspired to learn more about the people and places we have only just started to get to know. We have enjoyed expanses of wilderness, agricultural lands and seascapes, dotted with small cities and villages and flavored to perfection with friendly local people. Thank you Canada, for a wonderful 6 weeks!!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">It is with some trepidation that we journey into the northeastern part of the US. When I look at the map filled with criss-crossing highways, huge cities, and dense populations I can just feel my blood pressure rise. </span>Adding to my unease, t<span class="Apple-style-span">he weather is getting colder and wetter with temperatures dipping into the 20's later this week. Brrrrrrr! Where has our summer and early fall gone so suddenly? </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000142" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jia-XQK3vfY/Um0pb5Ch_8I/AAAAAAAAAws/GsK8vo_OlsY/P1000142.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000142.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mill Falls, KNP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1000115" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DHYWqCNESvw/Um0pdMK2txI/AAAAAAAAAw0/LXlA3_1twh4/P1000115.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1000115.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful, detailed doorway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1110510" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qzQvt3vzIuw/Um0pfCm8g3I/AAAAAAAAAw8/M1tbHW9FG_I/P1110510.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1110510.JPG" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Breton seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1110546" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a7D4_vkkB6E/Um0pgSe28nI/AAAAAAAAAxE/KeGUx9XxdzU/P1110546.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1110546.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Breton Highlands</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="P1110615" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OJyhdeucyK0/Um0phUBOz7I/AAAAAAAAAxM/3htB-pwn-iQ/P1110615.JPG?imgmax=800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1110615.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aspy River trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="P1110711" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GJMGKVczgYg/Um0pi-leEUI/AAAAAAAAAxU/kX6LBlT0gE4/P1110711.JPG?imgmax=800" style="float: right; text-align: justify;" title="P1110711.JPG" width="225" /><br />
<img alt="P1110785" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AUuPLOVwtJ4/Um0pj05jJAI/AAAAAAAAAxc/bFtTdIQ1qMY/P1110785.JPG?imgmax=800" style="float: left; text-align: justify;" title="P1110785.JPG" width="225" /><br />
<br />
<img alt="P1110787" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n301xQ3IL8I/Um0plMgmhkI/AAAAAAAAAxk/bFLsBcsdV64/P1110787.JPG?imgmax=800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;" title="P1110787.JPG" width="225" /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17008749042593458417noreply@blogger.com1