Plateau states . . .

Although we're temporarily back in Washington, I wanted to share some thoughts and images of the Colorado plateau before we leave the area, and I forget!!!  (Could that really ever happen???:)

What we have seen and experienced in this area of the country is truly amazing.  Deep canyons, sandstone cliffs, monuments, deep river valleys, red rock, native peoples and ancient ruins abound.  It was hard for me to get my head around a landscape this unique.  I look forward to returning and finishing our exploration of the parks and monuments that we missed due to my untimely illness.

People who live in the plateau states really seem to enjoy and take advantage of all the recreation opportunities that are available.  In addition to river running, rock climbing, mountain biking, ATVing, and four-wheeling in the back country, hiking seems to take front and center position.  In fact, we discovered that hiking is so popular, even the insects get in the act!  While staying near Moab, UT, we awoke to a trailer full of small ants that had invaded during the night.  They were everywhere, and seemed to be 'hiking' in random circles - - not in a line like ants usually do.  We could not find their point of entry until Jerry went outside and discovered that our electrical cord was touching the ground, allowing the entire ant population of Moab to 'hike' up the cord, right into the trailer!  Quick and effective fix - - pick up the cord from the ground - - problem solved.  Five minutes later, not an ant to be seen!

The mountain bikers are not of this world!  On many occasions, I found myself driving up to very high elevations in a park or monument, only to look over and find that some bikers were going up the mountain at nearly the same speed as 'Kermit', all the while talking and laughing among themselves.  I would have expected them to be breathing very hard, traveling at a very slow speed, with their tongues wrapped in their spokes like the old playing cards we used to install when we were kids.  Not so!  I have to imagine they were training for the Tour de 'something' to accomplish these feats!  Show-offs all!

The national parks and monuments that we did have an opportunity to visit took our breath away!  Arches and Canyonlands were almost unworldly.  We could not get enough of these landscapes and visited many different times at various periods of the day.  Because we were there during 'monsoon', we experienced many thunder storms and a variety of weather conditions which made the scenery even more amazing.  The lighting was astounding during these times.

While in Monument Valley we were lucky enough to be visiting during the August full/super moon. Both the evening and nighttime images were there for the 'taking' - - literally!  Mesa Verde is a most amazing example of early people's stamina and resourcefulness and leaves one with a real sense of wonder at how they accomplished building villages in the tall cliffs - - ruins that are still standing after hundreds of years! Very difficult to imagine, even with explanations from the experts.

When we return to Mesa, AZ, where 'Kermit' and 'Kodi' are taking a break and undergoing some needed maintenance, we hope to explore Arizona and then 'winter' in the southeastern part of California where we plan to meet up with some Washington friends and play in places like Joshua Tree National Park, Anza Borrego State Park, Lake Havasu  and all parts in-between.  We also hope to see some family members in south CA while we are there.  Then, its off to Utah to visit the national parks and monuments our cameras have not yet experienced!

Thanks for all the good wishes, thoughts and prayers during my illness this past few months.  It appears that most of this is behind me, but I'm still waiting for the surgeried foot to complete it's healing process. I'm learning patience like never before!!!!  (I still can't avoid some whining, but trying to keep it to a minimum.  Ha!)  Hope to see and/or talk to all our Washington friends while we're here for several weeks, and hope to be back 'on the road' in no time!

In the meantime, happy holidays to all . . .

 

Here we are again, just eight weeks into our journey.  When I think about all we have seen, and learned, it seems a lot longer.  Not feeling so much like a vacation anymore . . .

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks - - well, let me tell you that these two 'old dogs' have had many new lessons during the last three weeks!  Some (including me) might say too many . . .

We have learned to appreciate nightly thunderstorms since they cool the 90+ temperatures we have had for more than a month now.  And, those storms usually end with amazing skies, like the one over the lake below, on our last night in Wyoming.  However, there are down sides to these storms as well, like when the lightning knocks out the power at the campground resulting in a fried wire at the junction box in our trailer.  (Of course, until that was fixed we had no A/C.)  While waiting for the fix-it person we decided it was wwwaaayyy too hot to sit in Kodie the trailer, so we went into the little town of Craig, CO, to try to stay cool in museums and stores.  All was fine until we came out to Kermit the Tahoe, only to find that the A/C had died in the car!  Since that happened on a Sunday, we had to drive to our next destination (Glenwood Springs, CO) to find a fix.  $1,100.00 later, we were back in business!!! :(

While we were in Glenwood Springs we drove up to Aspen, the most expensive city in the country, where we purchased a latte and an americano for a mere $10.50!!!  Obviously, we didn't stay there long, but went up to Maroon Bells for the afternoon instead.  Incredible place - - apparently the most photographed mountain peaks in the US.  I can see why, however, it was cloudy that day (still in the 90's though), which did not make for great photos.  Took 'em anyway - - got to do it!

We've also learned that bikers in CO are a little on the shady side of crazy!  While we've been visiting the area on the west slopes of the Rockies, every 'scenic' excursion we take is UP, UP, UP - - sometimes up to 10,000 feet.  Each and every time we're on the road to one of these marvelous locations, I look out my car window, and there are bikers riding the same speed as I am going, all the while talking and laughing and breathing!!!  We decided they are all 'show offs', just trying to make us feel old.  If we tried that they'd have to pull our tongues out of the spokes at the very first turn:).  Speaking of elevations, we learned that all the walk-about paths at these beautiful spots are a little ways from the car, and walking just short distances made us aware of how little air there is at those heights.  We were thinking of shopping for a scrapper, like they make for boots, except the one we need is to get the dirt and rocks off our tongues after these little high-altitude walks!!

The image below is taken some 2,000 feet above the Gunnison River at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  The park is already well over 8,000 feet elevation, and the little white specks you can see in the river are 20-foot waterfalls!

The day we went to the Black Canyon we learned another lesson.  It is always a good idea to turn the water off at the spigot when leaving the campsite for the day.  If you don't, you run the risk of having the water filter inside come lose and when you return, you will see water pouring from every corner of the bottom of the trailer.  Quite a sight, I must say!!!  Quick fix, and no damage - - just another lesson.  A little heavy breathing on my sidekick's part, however.

We've learned that the Colorado River is much smaller than we expected, at least in this area.  Our creeks in WA are as large.  We also learned to appreciate the CO State Parks folk who decided it was prudent to close the park where we were to stay, until they trapped the bear that was harassing the campers.  This resulted in a change of camping venue to one of the best spots we're ever stayed at.  Thank you, thank you!

This past few weeks have been family time for us.  Saw my Colorado brother, a cousin of Jerry's and his wife, and met the aunt and uncle and cousin of our son-in-law, John.  Marvelous folks all - - John's relatives own and operate a winery in Palisade, near where we are staying.  Really enjoyed meeting them and visiting their winery.  It was great to re-connect with Pat and Tiye and really appreciated their hospitality!  Great dinners and delicious local-made candy.  They say when you are on the road full-time, it is important to stay connected, so this was a great time for us.

John's relatives, Davy and Bennett, and cousin Theresa, taught us all about Moscow Mule - - a most wonderful hot weather refreshment.  (Rick and Bob - - you gotta try this one!)  THANK YOU to the Price's for that, as well as some great wines and beautiful copper mugs!   Another wonderful lesson learned:)

We learned that they have very weird road names in this area of CO!  I totally understand the concept of letters going one direction and numbers the other.  However, it you ever get lost in this neck of the woods, I hope you can count - - their numbered roads go in fractions!  For example, there is 29 Road, 29.3 Road, 29 5/8 Road, 29 3/4 Road - - well, you get the picture.  I guess it all has to do with distances - - I personally think their traffic engineers have been enjoying too many Moscow Mules!!!

Oh, and we also learned that when PINTA (stands for 'Pain In The A- -'; that's what we named our GPS lady!) doesn't agree with the route we're taking, she constantly tries to correct our direction - - thought she was going to have a meltdown - - but we control the "off" button!!  However, when we turn her back on, there she goes again - - same ol' lecture . . . cell phone GPS is much quieter:)

I hope we're through with our lessons for a little while.  We have learned to appreciate the incredible beauty of this area, though, and feel that what we have seen here has just whetted (Marian - - is that a word???) our appetite for what is in store in Utah - - our next stop - - Arches and Canyonlands National Parks coming up beginning tomorrow.  Still expect the heat to continue, but hopefully the photo ops will keep us sane (well, that, and functioning A/C and a pool to dive into!).

The photo below is an example of the kind of scenery these Colorado folks see every day!  This bluff overlooks the wine country of Palisade - - pretty nice to look at, I must say.
 

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