2010 Fall Trip--10/20 Arches National Park

After two nights in Bluff, UT it was time to move on. Our next destination was Moab, UT and Arches National Park. Getting to Moab was a short drive of 2 hours north. After checking in at our campground we headed to Arches. I'm sure you've all seen pictures of the many natural arches formed by eon's of wind and water erosion so I'll only publish one here. We found an off road vantage point of an arch that Betsy wanted to sketch. While she did that I took a trail that went up a huge formation of rock. When I got to the top I found that I wasn't alone. There was a raven sitting on a rock next to a small cairn that someone had left. At first I thought the raven was injured since I could get quite close, but he would hop around and then fly to a different location but never really left. I would make a kissing sound and it would look at me and then make a response noise. Of course all this time I was taking pictures like mad. What a great treat.

2010 Fall Trip--10/19 Monument Valley II

Yesterday when we were in Monument Valley we had Starship Avion with us so our movement was limited to the parking lot. We wanted to return and drive the 17 mile loop road in the valley. So we headed back to Monument Valley and then later in the day we went through an area called Valley of the Gods. I have never seen such spectacular scenery!!

2010 Fall Trip--10/19 Bluff, UT

After our visit to Monument Valley yesterday we headed toward Bluff, UT where we had a campground reservation. Bluff is aptly named as it is truly surrounded by towering sandstone bluffs. There are 4 or 5 big old houses that are made out of sandstone blocks. According to one local the big houses were built back around the early 1900's by area ranchers. Bluff is very small but has some interesting businesses.
The Dairy Cafe is indeed a local eatery but has an extensive array of Native American jewelry. According to the owner, the artists bring the items in and they (the artist) put the prices on them. Several of the business use old trucks as a means of getting attention.

2010 Fall Trip--10/18 Monument Valley

I'm not going to do a lot of writing about our day today. Words just can't describe the beauty we saw today. (If you click on any of the pictures they will show as enlarged on your computer)

2010 Fall Trip--10/17 GV to Flagstaff

Ever since we arrived home from our last trip through NM and CO I've been looking forward to our current trip to Monument Valley and then into the never visited (for us) state of Utah. I guess it's all those old western movies that I watched as a kid that hooked me on the mystic of Monument Valley.
We left Green Valley this AM with Starship Avion in tow and Tipper in the back seat. For once, we got through Phoenix without any problems, however it was Sunday. Usually we seem to hit Phoenix at rush hour. One of the things I love about AZ is that we started in a low desert area (elevation 1800 ft), actually went lower when in Phoenix and then started climbing toward Flagstaff which is over 7000 feet in elevation and in a sub-alpine climatic zone. We have marveled at the Ponderosa Pine and actual hardwood tree's. Such a difference from what we're used to. We are somewhat familiar with Flagstaff, as son Jeff graduated from Northern Arizona University for his undergraduate degree.
I've always liked the story of how Flagstaff got it's name. Back in 1876 a group of pioneers were passing through and on July 4th they camped at a spring in the shadow of the San Francisco Peaks. To celebrate the centennial, they stripped the limbs of a large pine tree and hoisted up Old Glory. The flag staff stood for years and was known as a meeting place. When the town was settled it was decided to call the area what it had been called for years--Flagstaff. The first family of Flagstaff are the Babbits. In 1886 four Babbit brothers gave up the grocery business in Cincinnati, hopped on a train, and landed in Flagstaff. They came west to start a cattle ranch, which they did, however things were not going well on the ranch and their backer suggested that they try a business that they knew something about. They had a sandstone building erected and once again went into the grocery business. That business flourished and they soon expanded into hardware, saddles and harness and other ranch goods, and even operated several trading posts in northeast Arizona. And that cattle ranch?? Well, they managed to hang on to it and finally it prospered. It's still in the Babbit family and they continue to ranch without the assistance of modern machinery. And the original store is still in business. Many of you will remember that Bruce Babbit was govenor of Arizona from 1978 to 1987 and then served as Secretary of the Interior from 1993 to 2001. Quite a story.
We walked around in town, drove the Route 66 portion, and then headed back to the RV park. According to the radio the low temp tonight will be below 40 degree's! Earlier this evening we had a cold rain, but being a desert dweller now I have a new appreciation of rain. New territory tomorrow!!
Top Photo--Home Sweet Home with leaf's.
Bottom Photo--Babbit Brothers store
jmk

July 13, 2010 Old Fall River Rd, RMNP

Our trip today will be on the Old Fall River Road which was the first road through the park. It was started in 1913 and completed in 1920. It is only 9 miles but in that distance you travel from woodland through sub alpine to alpine tundra climatic zones. The road today is very much like it was years ago, except that it is one way today. I'm sure there were many tense moments when cars were allowed to travel both ways. Once you reach the summit and the Alpine Visitors Center you use the newer Trail Ridge Road to descend. I had thought that the trip might take 3 hours, but in actuality it took 7. We couldn't resist all the photo op's.
Top Photo--Bull Elk just below Alpine Visitors Center
Middle Photo--At about the half way point we had stopped to take pictures and up rolls a taxi. Photo also gives you a little glimpse of the actual road.
Bottom Photo--Just one of many spectacular views.

July 12th, 2010

We're finally at our destination just outside Estes Park, CO. Our friends Kay and Ernie's son in laws family has owned cabins up here for years. At one point some of them were rented to the summer help in the national park or shops in Estes Park or just vacationers. Several years ago one of the cabins burned so a vacant space exists and that's where Starship Avion has landed. In addition to Kay and Ernie another couple from Columbus have joined us. At one time we all lived in Columbus so it was fun to catch up on the happenings. Our camp is about 3 miles from Estes Park which is a total tourist town. There are the tee shirt shops, jewelry stores, candy and ice cream shops, etc, etc. You've been "there" I'm sure. Just outside town is Rocky Mountain National Park. Yes, the park is crowded now, but you know what, every once in a while you will look at a towering peak or a mountain meadow and the thought hits you "This is what it looked like 200 years ago when an Indian, mountain man, or trapper looked at the same sight". What a thrill.
Top Photo--Starship Avion at rest.
Bottom Photo--The Estes Park Gang.