Bryce Canyon

So hard to pick...but I think Bryce Canyon is my favorite of the 6 national parks we have been to so far. Yesterday and today we took the park shuttle service around the park and got off at all the view points and some trails. This is another one that doesn't need much commentary - the pictures say it all.
Comments from Eldon: If they served pie here too this would be my favorite. But since they don't, it's one of my favorites. The first day here I knew I was in the West because I saw "the deer and the antelope play." There seem to be as many Europeans visiting the national parks as Americans.
Comments from Larry: I had a Steller jay visit me - they are a pretty bird. Apparently smart too - its said they can mimic cats. I nap well in high altitude when E & C are out on adventures.

Capitol Reef National Park to Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument to Bryce Canyon National Park

Unfortunately, it rained a lot at Capitol Reef. It is the least visited of the 5 national parks in southern Utah and the hardest to get to. Also, just as beautiful as Arches and Canyonlands. Some of its roads were closed due to flash flooding in the canyons. From Capitol Reef we took Scenic US 12 Byway to Petrified Forest State Park in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It is a huge, remote area and was the last part of the continental U.S. to be mapped. We were up and down the mountains all day - unfortunately it was rainy and foggy - a white knuckle ride at times. We stayed an extra day at the Petrified State Forest because of the rain (no flash floods). The petrified wood is interesting. Arrived at Bryce Canyon today. Staying at a RV place right outside the park - the park provides free shuttle service so the "Turtle" gets a rest for a few days.
Comments from Eldon:  I don't understand why Capitol Reef is the least visited. The Fruita heritage Mormon area in Capitol Reef was full of orchards and better yet the park service sells fruit pies from the orchards to support the park. What a good idea!!! The Mormons planted the trees in the 1880's and irrigated them from a creek. The park has maintained the orchard since taking over the area in the 1940's.  Because of the orchards, the campground was full of pretty tame deer. I have never saw so many deer in one place. What a good life for a deer in a desert climate - all those fruit trees and no hunters. The drive through the Escalante was wheel gripping. Both sides of the road went straight down - way down. I'm almost glad it was foggy so I couldn't see exactly how far down. Petrified Forest was cool.
Comments from Harry: I got to see deer eye-to-eye at Capitol Reef. They weren't scared of me and I wasn't scared of them. Deer are my friend.

Just traveled from Moab to Torrey today - about 150 miles. This part of Utah is very desolate. We had to be on I-70 for 30 miles - even the interstate didn't have gas for 100 miles. It is a marvel that anyone had the guts to travel this part of the country in a covered wagon. Saw part of Capitol Reed National Park - planning to go there tomorrow to camp 2 days.

Comments from Eldon: I've now eaten at 2 of the voted top 10 hamburger joints in Utah. After we do the national parks, I might try to do the other 8 (just joking)

Comments from Harry: I got nothin' today. Oh yea, it is cooler here - I like that.

Today was Canyonlands National Park. Yesterday we checked out Moab and did laundry and other chores. Moab is a nice little town with friendly, regular people who seem to enjoy the outdoors and life - a laid back atmosphere. We felt we were at the Grand Canyon today. The canyons were not as deep as the Grand and not as wide an area, but very impressive. On to our 5th national park tomorrow - Capital Reef.
Comments from Eldon: Moab is a nice, slow paced little community where I felt comfortable. A gentleman told me just to go slow in the 100 degree heat - I can do that very well. Canyonlands was not as awe inspiring as the Grand Canyon but still specacular - a nice mini-version.
Comments from Harry: It is thundering, lightning, and hailing - I don't like it.

Arches National Park - Moab, Utah

No commentary today. The pictures say all you need to know......

We spent Sunday and Monday at Mesa Verde National Park - an awesome place. It has the ancient Pueblo dwellings in the cliffs from the 1100's - 1300's. We went on ranger led hike to the Cliff Palace where about 90 people lived. Also, went to the Spruce Tree House. They are 75%-90% original dwellings. We saw two bear at our campsite plus many, many mule deer. All in all, a great experience. Today we went to Four Corners - where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona meet. The only place in U.S. where four states meet. We are now in Moab, Utah and visiting Arches National Park the next two days.
Comments from Eldon: I really liked Mesa Verde. There was a lot of wild life. The bears were brown and close. When I showed a ranger my pictures, he said one of them was Sugar and didn't know the other one. He told me the bears have found a new source of water - they bite the water hoses. The dwellings were in the alcove of a cliff made of sand stone and accessible by steps and ladders. Going down was a breeze; coming up sucked. I appreciated my new knee. Four Corners is a very remote, desolate place. The Navajo have found a way to make a living selling stuff to tourists, but it is nice stuff.
Comments from Harry: I saw bear, coyote, and my favorite, the mule deer. They were all over the place at Mesa Verde because we were camped near a chokecherry bush. I was a star at the ranger program about the Pueblos domestic animals. The ranger invited me because he had never seen a cat on a leash. I got to walk on the benches and the stage and children petted me - I think I'm pretty cool.

A lot has happened in our week without WIFI. To summarize, we made it through Kansas as best we could. We tried to keep it interesting with stops at the Pony Express Museum, the Prairie Museum of Art and History and the most exciting thing in Kansas ----- the world's largest Ball of Twine. We arrived in Colorado on Tuesday. We stayed in Mueller State Park for 2 days - our camp site was absolutely beautiful with views of Pikes Peak and surrounding mountains. We took the train to the top of Pike's Peak - at 14,110 feet our breathing was heavy and our heads a bit light. A fun trip both up and down. Yesterday we hit the road again. Stopped at the old mining town of Cripple Creek, drove through the stunning Royal Gorge and more of the beautiful Rockies. Today we went to Great Sand Dunes National Park - the biggest sand dunes in the country - something like 300 square miles. Also crossed the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass - 10,700 feet - that is mountain driving. If it sounds like we are having a great time - we are!
Comments from Eldon: The Turtle (our truck/camper) has been reliable and up to the task. The sand dunes had extreme vertical drop. Kids were sand boarding on the dunes - just like snowboarding. Even the same bindings. On our way out of the park,  a Subaru with snow skis on the rack was driving in. Wolf Creek Pass was as beautiful as I vaguely remembered it from the '70's. A great drive. In the gorge yesterday, we saw where wildfires burned last year - devastating. The bridge is still closed, which was a disappointment but found another beautiful way to go. The Arkansas River, rated III,IV, V rapids was full of rafters. Having   fun .......
Comments from Larry: I napped most of the day. Yesterday's campground was full of bunnies; today's is full of hummingbirds. They are thick as mosquitos. By the way, if any one is wondering, Cindy & Eldon make me wear a leash when I am outside, but I don't mind. Ever try to catch a hummingbird with a leash on????

We are in Hannibal, Missouri. We've been traveling on Route 24 since leaving Bryan, OH Friday afternoon. It's mostly two lane road. After passing through rural Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, we can verify a good corn crop for all farmers this year. I've never seen so much corn and soybeans in my life. For a little excitement, we are stopping at Mark Twain's home and museum in the morning before hitting the road.
Comments from Eldon: Crossing the Mississippi at Quincy, IL made me feel like now our newest adventure begins.
Comments from Harry: Enjoying finding some of Larry's hiding places in the camper.

On the road again

It's time to start the blog again after a two year hiatus. With a new knee, a new cat and a new daughter-in-law, we are headed out West. The plan is to hit the 8 remaining states we haven't toured yet. Hawaii will be the only remaining state we need to visit. The plan was to head out West US-2 today into Wisconsin, but Tom's (our brother-in-law) Mom died and we are going to her funeral first. So, today we had a leisurely lunch with Missy in Evart, MI and having breakfast with her tomorrow. Too bad she had school tonight. We are camped in the Evart City Park on the Pere Marquette River. Evart is a small, plain but nice little town near Missy's work at Eagle Village. The bonus was a party at the park tonight sponsored by the fire department with free hotdogs and chips. Being on a fixed income, we like free things.

Comments from Eldon: I don't have anything to say yet.

Comments from Harry: I don't have anything to say yet.