Looking back at Wolf Creek Pass from Del Norte – we had rainy weather but managed to miss the snow storm.We found a nice spot to park near Penitente Canyon to enjoy the cooler weather.The La Garita supervolcanic eruption, along with 17 other volcanic eruptions, millions of years ago left these special rock formations.There were little details like these lichen to enjoy as well.The Travato is in the rear view of the MINI – it is usually the other way around! The miles feel longer when we are each driving.Our same campsite at Sand Dunes National Park – but now with fresh snow on the mountains!And fall color! But the snow has refreshed Medano Creek so it is flowing this late in the year.Picturesque to walk along the creek.Especially at sunset.Enjoying the storm clouds build from our camp spot. Here is the link to other pictures from our last visit http://tealsky.com/2016/06/12/travato-is-welcomed-to-colorful-colorado/Revisiting Picketwire Canyon, we hiked to the Dinosaur Tracks again in Comanche National Grassland but didn’t stay at the same wonderful camp because of the threatening rain.The site is looking more like this today than a desert, but we didn’t see any dinosaurs!The tracks were not so visible as we saw last year. http://tealsky.com/2016/11/05/eastern-colorado-plains/The raging river kept us from crossing to the other side.But the tarantulas were crossing the roads. There were lots and lots of them: It is mating season!You want to cross the road: What is the magic word?We enjoyed a beautiful full harvest moon rise from our camp site.We went back for a morning hike in historic Vogel Canyon.The fog and full ponds of water made it different than last time – a real change from the dust bowl era.On the road again across the eastern plains to Kansas, under more threatening skies.
Chimney Rocks is a new national Monument in San Juan National Forest.It is on the Ancient road to Chaco Canyon.The sun shines between the chimney rocks on a neighboring hill at equinox.We had an excellent guided tour where we learned all bits and pieces of the native American history.Plus it was an awesome day to just be on the hilltop.The original wall is closest to the camera with the most texture while the rebuilt wall has less protruding rocks.Details, details, details.Mostly sandstone construction.This is the large kiva at the base of the chimney rocks.Nice to meet some other travelers – we had a great group.Storage rooms around the kiva with the orientation to the chimney’s.This is as close to them as we can venture as the sandstone is a bit fragile for too many visitors.There are faces looking north – perhaps the clouds have outlined them enough for you to see.A bit further south at Navajo Reservoir, we learned that the Dominguez – Escalante Expedition crossed the San Juan river here near Arboles, CO.This was a water tower that serviced the narrow gauge railroad – of which the Durango – Silverton portion is still operating.You can still see the Rio Grande name on this part of the tank.An old coal car of the Denver and Rio Grande Rail Road. And I realized we have taken no pictures of the Navajo Reservoir!
Now we feel like we are back in Colorado! We overnight parked the Travato next to Havelin Lake, a bit north of Durango on the Million Dollar Highway.We enjoyed relaxing by the lake and enjoying the scenery.And watched the Sun set and the lake become calm. All kinds of birds were present but we did not see any large animals.Just north of Ouray we spotted some waterfalls worth stopping the Travato to take a look.This is the road we just came down the mountain on and then stitched together this vertical panorama of the falls.We headed to Ridgeway, Montrose and then to a lunch hike at Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area.But the weather turned and we did not want to get stuck climbing out on the dirt road with the Travato. On we went to Grand Junction.And met up with our friends to hike this beautiful trail in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. (our pictures from last September)
Sep
The red tail hawk was waiting to pounce on some school kids! He is a bit stuffed… but was still pleasant to look at.Oh but this was alive alive Oh… coolWere we talking too much and not paying attention to where the trail turned?Photo at the mid point of the Devil’s Canyon trail.Should we check out this real estate? It is need of some TLC but the views are grand.Indian paintbrush – isn’t this lovely?!A full moon over Colorado National Monument after being guest chefs. http://thewesternwagon.blogspot.com/2017/05/colorado-national-monfruita-co-53-517.html
A beautiful day to enjoy this sacred area of the Four Corners region.We took a picnic lunch to the overlook of the cliff dwelling to enjoy the day.A cloud passed overhead and we were able to get this photo – there is a private led tour to give a sense of scale.We were able to get a top spot in he Sunset View campground.And it lived up to its name!
Last January we went to Sunset Crater and Wupatki NM and we returned again to enjoy the hikes and views.The Apache Plume was in bloom adding a bit of color to the landscape.It is so neat to see these ruins and imagine the lives that were lived here.In case you don’t look at the link to last’s years, this is another of the ruin on a hillside.This little lizard came out to enjoy the sunshine.Those are the sacred San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff.As always, Exit through the Gift Shop! Good thing we can not store much in the van.Grand Canyon! We dispersed south of Tusayan on FR 302 and took the free NPS shuttle into the park – a 15 minute ride to the new visitor center (at least, we had not seen it before).Some things never seem to change, like the Hopi House – wonderful Parkitecture!We did not remember ever seeing the canyon this green. Looking down into Indian Gardens.And this is the Bright Angle path I did oh so many years ago. WOW!John Wesley Powell and his expedition – a very nice monument to these early explorers.We took a ranger led history tour that showed us this heart placed in the wall by a CCC worker. One of the Harvey Girls he was sweet on looked at this part of the wall from her lodging window. Or maybe it was just for his love of the canyon.Either way, I like that it is in front of the Lookout. Another very cool building. Further on is the Kolb Brothers Studio which has a great little museum about their contribution to tourism.We took the shuttle bus to Yaki Point for sunset – worth the trip!Incredible! We stayed on for a star program at the Visitor Center before catching the 9:00 bus back to Tusayan.Early morning drive to Desert View side of the canyon.Very peaceful morning.Nice displays telling about the history like this one about Thomas Moran. He created his own interpretations to make the most of nature.You can see more of the Colorado River from this eastern end of the south rim.There are some rafters going around the bend.Can you see them now?Desert View Watchtower by Mary Ann Colter is another one of her fabulous parkitecture sites.Just fun to photograph and appreciate.I thought I would give you a sense of the scale of the detail.This is a great viewing deck on the roof of the lower round building.A fellow traveler took our picture.We stayed at the campground two nights in site #42 and were able to walk over for some great sunsets.A few of the cool sunset pictures over the canyon.A storm was moving in so the virga gave an interesting element to the sunset.Nice the sun went behind the cloud so you can see more of the Grand Canyon.The north rim is getting the storm. We did have a snow shower in the afternoon but it did not stick.Looking in the black mirror inside the Desert View Watch Tower for a polarized look of the canyon. This was a technique to sketch the canyon.Another sunset with a spectacular vista.Very interesting light to see the canyon in shades of blue.A perfectly clear quiet morning for our departure and final view of the south rim.
We were on the road in the rain on New Year’s Day leaving Green Valley in the rear view mirror. Glad we had packed the van the day before! We arrived in Organ Pipe Cactus with some nice low clouds but the sun shining on us.We picked a great site a bit further south than last year’s but an auspicious number….maybe?
Meeting up with our full time RV friends to start the New Year on the right foot! We toasted with champagne and had a mini-quiche happy hour after a pleasant stroll around the campground.We had a gourmet meal of crab cakes from the professional chef – graduate of Cordon Blu Pasadena! Followed with a cheese platter and port. I am intimidated but the next day, we fixed our Spanish Bean Soup with fresh baked rolls in the convection oven which was well received by all. Whew!A drive around Ajo Mountain and a hike to the arches. Who is blogging about who?Looking good coming up the mountain trail.The guys ready to tackle the arch.It is necessary to walk back down on the other side to see this view of the arch.It doesn’t seem this large – the distance is so deceiving.Back in time for wine o’clock on the picnic table.We all piled into Bill – a 4-wheel drive Ram pickup truck – to explore an area we had never been. On the Mexican border, the western side of the park.The rare little pupfish were in this pond – quite a surprise that it was so large.Wouldn’t you like to know Jose’s story of how he got from Brest, France to here and why?
We found this 2-bed/2-bath townhouse with a driveway 12″ longer than the van.It has this great patio with mountain view for our enjoyment.This roadrunner wants to be fed and he is persistent but we are more stubborn. We are however keeping the hummingbird feeder filled.Beautiful sunrises with real brewed coffee! What a great way to start the day. Water aerobics at 9 if you want to venture to the pool.Or go to watch the sunset over the Santa Rita’s.We met up with our friends for a hike at Saguaro National Park West followed by a concert on the patio to watch the full moon rise.Enjoying the sunset with our snacks before the concert.It is so nice to be among the saguaros again – they are just too picturesque!And the sunsets just so spectacular! The guitar music was also very good – wonderful evening tho the moon rose through clouds.White Christmas with snow in the Santa Rita’s.We enjoyed walking around the condo development on the way to an ice cream social with the neighbors we borrowed tools from.The next day our friends came down for some fresh pulled pork BBQ sandwiches on the back patio – we had a group walk first in McGee Ranch area. See our get together from last year’s visit to Canoa Ranch http://tealsky.com/2015/12/14/green-valley-arizona/A final sunset as we finish our month here – lots of good relaxing from our month out of the van!
South Eastern Arizona in the San Simon Valley – we dispersed on BM land near the town of Safford. We did not get a storm but enjoyed the clouds playing with the sun.Gila Box was a very beautiful area! We stayed at a BLM managed campground which was excellent.View of the Gila river walking back to our camp site.We found the skeleton of an old Model T buried in the pebbles – Don’t you wonder what was the story behind how it got here?Sunset on another beautiful day.Our Thanksgiving Feast at Stockton Pass, south of Safford in the Penaleno Mountains. Pass is named after Stockton Clanton, father of the brothers known in Tombstone.It is roasted chicken but we have turkey gravy, fresh bread, and nice Colorado wine.Cochise Stronghold – our favorite dispersed campsite in the Dragoon Mountains of Coronado National Forest.Is Batman overlooking the grave of Cochise? That is one of the mysteries of this mountain range. Here is the link to photos from last year’s hike and camp http://tealsky.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1691&action=editWe hiked again to the Stronghold Divide – much better weather than last year!Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area had a lot of cranes already here for the winter. This was amazing to see and hear so many of them.The cranes fly in to spend the night after feeding in the fields all day. They leave pre-dawn so we did not see any the next morning – we were too lazy to get out in the cold before our coffee.View of Mexico from Coronado National Monument – this was a challenging 3 mile drive to the top of the pass but great views. We spent a few nights near Sierra Vista in Miller Canyon and then Gardener Canyon.
