Colorado Destination

June 19, 2012 to July 4, 2012

We came to Colorado to visit with some new friends we met while in Quartzsite, Karen and Jack Winemiller.

The first couple of days we really didn't do much but work on the blog and visit with Jack and Karen.  We planned to do some sightseeing starting the 25th.....this is the site we saw so far...



Waldo Canyon Fire on first day



Waldo Canyon Fire on the third day



Waldo Canyon fire on the  third day

















On the fourth day, the wind shifted and we can really smell the smoke now.

So far there has been no loss of life or structures in this fire.  It has burned over 3500 acres of forest land at this time.  Such a shame, they think someone started this fire.

Other than that, Colorado is quite pretty.  There are trees and grass here!  Oh, did I mention, it was 100 degrees here on the 25th.

Jim is working on Jack's boat today.  We hope to take it to the lake near Pueblo on Saturday...where the temperature is 106 degrees!!!  I will have to let you know how that turns out.

Safe Travels to all.
Barb and Jim.

A Colorado Boondocking spot

June 16, 2012

We are now in Colorado...yes they really do have trees and grass!!

We stopped on our way over from Utah to our friends in Colorado at a really neat boondocking spot in the forest.  I mentioned before these boondocking spots just keep getting better and better.  This time we got a spot by a rushing stream.   Great sleeping weather!



Hi honey, we're home!!!



Colorado has blue sky too!

And now for the river folks:

The water was so clear!

We will definately come back to this spot sometime....I hope.

Until later....

Safe travels to you all,
Barb and Jim

Canyonlands National Park

June 15, 2012

Canyonlands National Park was unique. Jim thought it was better than the Grand Canyon, I just thought it was unique.

Lots of cracks in the ground:

If you look really close, there is a road going around all of the fishers in the canyon.  It takes two days to drive the canyon rim.  We did NOT do that!!!!  To close to the edge for me!

This is the Green River.  The Green River empties into the Colorado River in this National Park.

We spent 7 1/2 months in Arizona and only 19 days in Utah.......now on to Colorado.  Colorado has grass and trees!!!

Safe travels,

Barb and Jim

Arches National Park

June 14, 2012

One of the main reasons to go to the Moab, UT area was to go to Arches National Park. (Can we say "Senior Pass" free admission, kiddies?")  Needless to say you are about to see more pictures of more rocks.  (I also think it is time to see green grass and trees soon.)

There were Lots of Arches to see:

These were called the Petrified Dunes:

And I swear some of these rocks look like familiar shapes:

Another National Park down and LOTS and LOTS more to see!!!!

Safe Travels,

Barb and Jim.

Gold Bar Recreation Area

June 13-17, 2012

Gold Bar Recreation Area was really neat!!!  It was located about 15 miles from Moab, Ut and had a personality of it's own.  (Sorry, more rocks!)  We were told while we were there that the new "Lone Ranger" film was going to be filmed in that area.  They also used an area not far from our campsite for the movie of "Thema & Louise" where they drove off of the cliff in the car together.

Our campsite was right next to the Colorado River.



There we are, in the lower left of the picture!!!



In the evening we would sit out and watch the air show...
bats came out of the caves looking for bugs.



We were next to the Corona and Bow tie Arch trail head.

















The arches are in the upper right of the rocks.

Then there was the Indian Writings.....the sign says so.

When Indians do these pictures it is called "ancient art", when modern kids do it, it is called "graffiti".

We stayed at the Gold Bar camp spot for 5 nights for $20.00 (Senior Pass again)!!! Cheap living.

More things to see......off we go.

Until later....

Barb and Jim

Capital Reef National Park

June 11-12, 2012

We drove to Green River, UT and stayed in the Green River State Park for only two nights. The campground was nice and we talked to the Campground Hosts while we were there.  They told us they have been full-time RVers for the past 22 years and have been at that particular campground for the past 4 years.  I think we have a future in RVing!!!

The scenery was neat, as usual....

The main reason we were there was to go to Capital Reef National Park....with our little Senior Pass, again FREE!!!!

The park was described by early explorers as an "impassable reef" of rock, coining the parks' name.  One of the mountains also reminded them of the state capital building's dome.

Capital dome.



The visitor center for the park with the American Flagwith
the back drop of the mountains in the back ground.
This country is beautiful!!!



I took over 100 pictures in this park also, mostly of rocks!!!

Safe travels,

Barb and Jim

Off to Salt Lake City, UT

June 4-10, 2012

From Southern Utah we traveled to Salt Lake City area.  To West Jordan, a suburb of SLC, to be exact, to visit with an Army buddy of Jim's, Dave Barber.  Jim has been very lucky to have kept in touch with Dave over the years.  Dave was the pilot for the plane that Jim was the Crew Chief for while they were in Vietnam.  Dave and his wife, Lora, and two great kids were wonderful hosts to us for the week. 

(just click on the pictures to enlarge them)



Lora broke into singing"for Purple Mountain Majesty" in the
evening when the sun was setting.



We even had a view of the mountains!

Dave was the gracious host and took us to some local sites:
(click on the pictures and they will enlarge)



A local park with it's own water falls.


















We rode the Heber Valley scenic train
past the Heber Valley reservoir.



We also saw the Homestead Resort hot springs.







We went to the Red Butte Garden.

















We went to the Living Planet Aquarium.

 On Saturday the 10th, Dave and Lora invited us to join them at a fundraiser at their church.  It was a Mad Hatter tea party at 4PM.  Everyone that wanted to was asked to wear a hat.  I made one out of trash!!!!  I won second prize for my creation.  It was so much fun and the hats were such a hoot!



A Mad Hatter tea party!!!



 We had a wonderful time visiting with Dave and his family.  We hope to make it out to see them again next summer. 

On Monday the 11th, we set off to head south again......

 Until next time...

Barb and Jim

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

June 2-3, 2012

This place was so big it took us two days to cover just a small portion of it, after all it covers 1.9 million acres of America's public lands.  This national monument was established in 1996.  This place is massive to say the least.  I have narrowed the pictures to a few compared to the number that was actually taken.

(if you click on the pictures they will become larger.)



Grosvenor Arch




A neat slot canyon we happened upon.  We put on our water
walking shoes and off we went to explore.  Abby in the lead!!!

 

Scenery from Hwy 12





Hell's backbone.  A very unique off road experience.



The Road to Hell's backbone looked Innocent enough.....
looks are deceiving.

Please excuse me while I get on a political soap box for a few minutes.....while driving through Grand Staircase NM we came upon the following area.


I told Jim that it looked like coal mining country and I thought it odd that this would be part of the national monument area.  Well I found out that President Clinton had proclaimed it as part of the national monument after they found out there was enough coal in that region to last the United States 250 years.  It also killed the prospect of over 200 jobs for the area .  I am really not sure who's side our government is on....I don't think they are on the working class side.  Needless to say the people of Kanab, UT are not impressed with our government either.

Well, if you ever get the chance to visit this area hope you have lots of time because it is really, really big.

Until later,

Barb and Jim

Bryce National Park

June 1, 2012

OMG, more rocks!!!!  Pretty cool ones though.  Take a look.....

This arch was from Red Rock Canyon, on the way to Bryce.

This park was pretty neat.  You could even walk down into the canyon.  Since we had Abby with us, dogs were not permitted on the inter canyon trails.  Oh well, maybe another time.

I will never pass up the opportunity to take pictures of flowers!!!!

There was so much more to Bryce NP than we even got to experience.  Hopefully some day we will get to return to explore more of the park.

So much to see, so little time!!!!

Safe Travels,

Barb and Jim