National Parks
April 22, 2018
“I want to take you higher….” No, we didn’t go to Colorado or California; we went to Williams, AZ, our jumping off point for the Grand Canyon. We departed Phoenix (elevation 1,086 ft.) on another day that was approaching 100 degrees. We drove only 175 miles and the change in weather was remarkable. As we got closer to Williams (elevation 6,766 ft.) we experienced snow flurries. In the evening, we disconnected the water hose for fear it might freeze. The air conditioner certainly had a rest.
“I want to take you higher….” No, we didn’t go to Colorado or California; we went to Williams, AZ, our jumping off point for the Grand Canyon. We departed Phoenix (elevation 1,086 ft.) on another day that was approaching 100 degrees. We drove only 175 miles and the change in weather was remarkable. As we got closer to Williams (elevation 6,766 ft.) we experienced snow flurries. In the evening, we disconnected the water hose for fear it might freeze. The air conditioner certainly had a rest.
Starting in 1901 visitors took the train to the Grand Canyon and made the town of Williams a tourist destination. When cars became more available, people drove to the Grand Canyon rather than take the train. Like many small towns, Williams began to fade away. The train was revived in 1989 and Williams again became the Gateway to the Grand Canyon. During the winter the Grand Canyon Railways run a special train at night called the Polar Express to the “North Pole.” The Polar Express, of course, a favorite children’s book for our and many families. With that kind of buildup, we had to take the train.
As a special event for Earth Day, the steam engine, which is used on special occasions, pulled the passengers to the Park. It was very exciting to see; unfortunately we were scheduled to go the following day on the regular train.
The two hour ride each way to the Grand Canyon was filled with information, live music and we were even robbed by bandits on horseback. Since we only had 3 hours before the train returned to Williams, we carefully planned our time with a hike and sightseeing. The following day we returned by car to see more of the sites by taking a longer hike. Hopefully our pictures will show what I could never put into words.
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April 22, 2018
During our travels, we have seen dozens of huge bronze statues; Mike always said he would love to see how they make them. He discovered that Bronze Smith, a fine art foundry and gallery, gave tours once a week in Prescott. It was everything he had hoped. We were shown step by step the procedure of taking a piece of art and turning it into bronze. Currently they were creating a 14 foot enlargement of George Phippen’s “Cowboy in a Storm.” There are pictures and videos at their website www.bronzesmith.com.
During our travels, we have seen dozens of huge bronze statues; Mike always said he would love to see how they make them. He discovered that Bronze Smith, a fine art foundry and gallery, gave tours once a week in Prescott. It was everything he had hoped. We were shown step by step the procedure of taking a piece of art and turning it into bronze. Currently they were creating a 14 foot enlargement of George Phippen’s “Cowboy in a Storm.” There are pictures and videos at their website www.bronzesmith.com.
April 27, 2018
Our next stop was several hundred miles north to Kanab, UT to visit Zion National Park whose east entrance was about 40 mile away. After entering the park we drove through a long tunnel and descended to the bottom of the canyon. The perspective is vastly different from the Grand Canyon where visitors viewed it from above. We hiked up to the Emerald Pools and waterfall and also followed the Virgin River to what is called the Narrows. We didn’t enter the Narrows since the only way to see it is to walk in the river. Sitting on a couple of rocks, we removed our shoes and experienced the numbing 46 degree water. That was enough for us. Again rather than describe, we will let the pictures show you.
Our next stop was several hundred miles north to Kanab, UT to visit Zion National Park whose east entrance was about 40 mile away. After entering the park we drove through a long tunnel and descended to the bottom of the canyon. The perspective is vastly different from the Grand Canyon where visitors viewed it from above. We hiked up to the Emerald Pools and waterfall and also followed the Virgin River to what is called the Narrows. We didn’t enter the Narrows since the only way to see it is to walk in the river. Sitting on a couple of rocks, we removed our shoes and experienced the numbing 46 degree water. That was enough for us. Again rather than describe, we will let the pictures show you.
Road to Wire Pass
April 29, 2018
So far our most spectacular canyon hike was on Bureau of Land Management property. Francie had read about Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch. The woman at the tourist center didn’t have much information, but told us that if we were going to hike it, we should do it that day. There was a prediction of rain for the following day. The 8 mile dirt road to the trail head easily washes out and even a ¼ inch of rain could be life threatening in the pass. To camp required a pass from BLM; even to hike the forms included a person to call in case of an emergence.
So far our most spectacular canyon hike was on Bureau of Land Management property. Francie had read about Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch. The woman at the tourist center didn’t have much information, but told us that if we were going to hike it, we should do it that day. There was a prediction of rain for the following day. The 8 mile dirt road to the trail head easily washes out and even a ¼ inch of rain could be life threatening in the pass. To camp required a pass from BLM; even to hike the forms included a person to call in case of an emergence.
The Wire Pass hike started along a dried river bed, but then emerged into a narrow canyon whose walls were between 100 to 150 feet tall. There were times that the canyon was only shoulder width. It was not hard to imagine what it would be like to have the water rushing toward Buckskin Gulch. Some of the hike was like walking on a red sandy beach derived from the red limestone and other times we were crawling over rocks. Again our pictures will tell the tale of our hike.
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The weather has changed again. There was snow in Bryce National Park which is north of us. Luckily there was room for us to stay a couple more days in Kanab which is a little warmer. By the time we leave Bryce would be much warmer.
Remnants of the set from the TV show Gunsmoke (near Kanab).
May 4, 2018
It is not easy to pick an RV park. They all look good from the pictures. Our current RV park, which is about 25 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, gave us cause to wonder. The gravel road leading to it is in the middle of nowhere. We slowly drove the RV over 3 cattle crossings and continued for another one and a half miles. The park is in its 2nd year of existence. Our site is pretty level, has great water, and even comes with its own Utah Prairie Dog and his home. We have become very accustomed to noise from roads and being parked feet away from other RVs. It was almost unnerving listening to silence. The sites are wide and the grounds are covered with sage brush and jackrabbits hopping all over the place. It couldn’t be more rural and picturesque.
It is not easy to pick an RV park. They all look good from the pictures. Our current RV park, which is about 25 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, gave us cause to wonder. The gravel road leading to it is in the middle of nowhere. We slowly drove the RV over 3 cattle crossings and continued for another one and a half miles. The park is in its 2nd year of existence. Our site is pretty level, has great water, and even comes with its own Utah Prairie Dog and his home. We have become very accustomed to noise from roads and being parked feet away from other RVs. It was almost unnerving listening to silence. The sites are wide and the grounds are covered with sage brush and jackrabbits hopping all over the place. It couldn’t be more rural and picturesque.
Since we were going to Bryce on the weekend, an early start was a must. We found lots of parking for our walk along the rim of the canyon. This is our 3rd national park canyon and each was so vastly different. Bryce is filled with spires and hoodoos. I love how that word rolls off my tongue. Again words are inadequate to describe its beauty.
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May 7, 2018
Driving to Lake Mead National Park was exciting – to say the least. Our GPS lead us on a narrow 2 lane road through Dixie National Forest up to an elevation of 9,600 feet. Since it was early morning there were few cars, but lots of deer. On the way up, we began to see a few patches of snow, as we neared the peak the patches became much more frequent and larger. What goes up must come down! Being in a 40 foot motorhome, towing a car on a narrow road, and descending 5,000 feet is exciting and nerve-racking. It was good to be at the bottom. Upon arriving at our Lake Mead camp ground, our outside temperature gauge read 99 degrees.
Driving to Lake Mead National Park was exciting – to say the least. Our GPS lead us on a narrow 2 lane road through Dixie National Forest up to an elevation of 9,600 feet. Since it was early morning there were few cars, but lots of deer. On the way up, we began to see a few patches of snow, as we neared the peak the patches became much more frequent and larger. What goes up must come down! Being in a 40 foot motorhome, towing a car on a narrow road, and descending 5,000 feet is exciting and nerve-racking. It was good to be at the bottom. Upon arriving at our Lake Mead camp ground, our outside temperature gauge read 99 degrees.
Weather, like it was on the boat, still plays a factor in our decision making. We were planning to spend the next day in Las Vegas, but the forecast called for wind gusts up to 50 mph, not great driving conditions for us. Since we had driven through the Las Vegas Strip the day before, we decided to leave for Desert Hot Springs, CA a day early. As it turned out, it was a good decision.
May 10. 2018
We finally made it to California, two years after buying the RV! Our home for the next two weeks includes a beautiful mineral spring swimming pool and giant hot tub. The new exercise room is also a big plus. Since this time of the year in the desert is off season, we practically have the place to ourselves. We have taken day trips to Palm Springs and surrounding towns plus a hike in the picturesque Joshua Tree National Park.
We finally made it to California, two years after buying the RV! Our home for the next two weeks includes a beautiful mineral spring swimming pool and giant hot tub. The new exercise room is also a big plus. Since this time of the year in the desert is off season, we practically have the place to ourselves. We have taken day trips to Palm Springs and surrounding towns plus a hike in the picturesque Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree
Palm Canyon near Palm Springs
Two of our children live near LA and we have a family wedding in a few weeks near San Jose. Once we made it to a small RV park on the shore in Long Beach, we spent part of each day with our kids, sharing meals and finding entertaining things to do with them.
Sailing on Resolute, a gaffe rigged wooden boat built in 1936, once owned by Spencer Tracy!
California Coast
June 25, 2018
We started our trip back to the Midwest with a right turn on I80 heading east, but not before visiting the State Capital of California and the impressive Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento. Both very nice tours, but we were fascinated by the Leland Stanford story as shared by our guide, a historian from the University. Did you know that Jane (the wealthy widow of Leland Stanford) was poisoned, allegedly by her personal secretary and the President of Stanford University, and the crime overlooked till the 1980’s?
We started our trip back to the Midwest with a right turn on I80 heading east, but not before visiting the State Capital of California and the impressive Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento. Both very nice tours, but we were fascinated by the Leland Stanford story as shared by our guide, a historian from the University. Did you know that Jane (the wealthy widow of Leland Stanford) was poisoned, allegedly by her personal secretary and the President of Stanford University, and the crime overlooked till the 1980’s?
July 1, 2018
We have been driving over 300 miles each day for three days and have arrived at Lake McConaughy in Ogallala Nebraska. Ogallala was the destination of many of the cattle drives in the old west and is mentioned in the TV series Lonesome Dove. It is the home of Boot Hill Cemetery; legend is the dead were buried with their boots on!
We have been driving over 300 miles each day for three days and have arrived at Lake McConaughy in Ogallala Nebraska. Ogallala was the destination of many of the cattle drives in the old west and is mentioned in the TV series Lonesome Dove. It is the home of Boot Hill Cemetery; legend is the dead were buried with their boots on!
Statue in Boot Hill Cemetary
"The Trail Boss"
July 8, 2018
Two more stops on the way home took us to Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, (the only State where the House & Senate are combined to form one representative body) and Des Moines, the capital of Iowa. That makes a total of 25 state capitals visited.
Two more stops on the way home took us to Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, (the only State where the House & Senate are combined to form one representative body) and Des Moines, the capital of Iowa. That makes a total of 25 state capitals visited.
Capital Building Lincoln Nebrasks
Capital Building Des Moines, Iowa
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Carved staircase - Des Moines Capital
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Summer will be spent in Berrien Springs, Michigan. This location allows us to spend time with our parents and our new grandbaby.