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.

We're home! Arrived on Saturday night, the 13th. Larry was the happiest one to get home. He kept going in and out of the house all evening like he couldn't decide what to do first. We traveled a total of 9,464 miles. Time for new tires! Would we do it again? You bet. Every one should get to go to Alaska at least once.