SEPTEMBER 16 - BUS TOUR TO MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 16, 2012

 

Today we boarded our mini-vans at 8 AM,

for a day at MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK.

What an experience it was!

 

It was my first exposure to the

 PUEBLOANS and their world.

As stated in the Mesa Verde NP Service

brochure:

 

"About 1,400 years ago, long before Europeans explored

North America, a group of people living in the

Four Corners region chose Mesa Verde for their home.

For more than 700 years they and their descendants

 lived and flourished here,

eventually building elaborate stone communities

 in the sheltered alcoves of canyon walls.

Then, in the late 1200s,

 in the span of a generation or two,

they left their homes and moved away.

 

Mesa Verde National Park

 preserves a spectacular

 reminder of this ancient culture."

 

For more information, go to: www.nps.gov/meve

 

Three memorable stops during our day included:

 

Far View House, Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House.

 

At Far View House we saw the first of many KIVAS.
One of our drivers, Aaron,

was a trained Archeologist and

held us spellbound

with fascinating information throughout the day.

 

 

 

 

"Kiva is a Hopi word for ceremonial room -

 here underground chambers that may be

comparable to later churches. 

Based on modern Pueblo practice,

Ancestral Puebloans may have used kivas

for healing rites or to pray for rain,

 luck in hunting, or a good crop."

per USPS brochure. 

 

 

 

I took an extra minute before getting

back on the bus, to take this

other visitor's picture.

I believe he is a

WESTERN FENCE LIZARD.

 

 

Our second stop was at Cliff Palace. 

The NPS brochure describes the walk:

"this one-hour Ranger guided tour involves descending

 uneven stone steps and climbing five ladders

 for a 100 foot vertical climb.

  Total walking distance is 0.25 miles."

 

It was described as Strenuous

on a yellow warning sign.

It neglected to say it was also

a "tight squeeze"

between cliffs

just wide enough for the

series of four ladders

leading back to the

 Visitors Center level. 

 

 

A view looking down on the

Cliff Palace.

 

 

Our Ranger guide,ABBY,

 telling us some of the

history, and pointing out

special things to notice,

up close.

 

 

Two RAVENS

visited the site while we were there.

 

 

Looking back as we

prepare to complete the loop

climbing back up to the Visitor's Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Can you imagine, trying

to climb this ladder holding

a CAMCORDER, as my

husband did?

 

 

 

I stored my CAMERA

 safely in a tote bag,

and waited to take this picture,

when I had made it to the top.

 

We all felt TRIUMPHANT when we put

our feet on the top rung

of the final ladder.

 

Our reward was a nice

 box lunch at a lovely

picnic site,

under a gorgious blue sky.

 

The afternoon walk to

SPRUCE TREE HOUSE,

was a 100 foot descent with steep grades,

on a paved path, with

four benches for the strenuous return trip.

It would have been self-guided

but once again,

one of our drivers,

AARON,

added greatly to our enjoyment of this

site with his very informative talk.

 

 

AARON,

looking every bit the Park Ranger,

was a wonderful gift to

all of us throughout the day.

 

FANTASY  blessed

us doubly when they provided him

as one of our Drivers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEPT. 14 - 15 - Travel to CORTEZ ,COLORADO & SILVERTON TRAIN RIDE

FRIDAY

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

 

Today was a short travel day of just 113 miles

to CORTEZ, COLORADO.

We actually arrived at the Mesa Verde KOA before noon.

That gave us the afternoon to go into town,

and stock up in Wal-Mart, and

get back to camp in time for a hot dog roast,

complete with entertainment by:

 

 

David Rickett,

Saxaphonist

 

 

Three more couples shared brief

stories from their lives, and

Traco was moved on to

 another RV.

 

 

 

SATURDAY

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

 

Saturday morning started at 7:15AM,

with all of us loading onto mini-vans

for a ride to DURANGO, to board the

DURANGO-SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD,

for a 45 mile train ride.

  We departed from Durango at 9:15 AM,

and arrived in Silverton at 12:45 PM.

Our Fantasy group occupied an entire car.

 

When we awoke this morning

the outside temperature was 42 degrees.

We had been advised to dress in layers

to assure our comfort throughout the day.

 

 

The scenic views alternated

 between the right side and

the left side of the train.

The above was on the right side.

 

 

I was blessed with this Rainbow

on the left side, after the Engineer

let off Steam which caused

a RAINBOW.

 

 

 

The rapids were beautiful along the ANIMAS RIVER.

This classic railroad bridge has been abandoned,

but still worthy of a picture.

 

 

I was so happy when the passengers behind me,

pointed out this abandoned Mine Shaft.

It added to the experience of riding on

our Steam Engine which was created in 1925,

at The Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia.

 

Keep in mind, however, the D&SNGR was

established in 1881.

You can read more about it at:

www.durangotrain.com

You can read about Silverton at:

www.silvertoncolorado.com

 

 

 

This idyllic view greeted us as

we approached Silverton, CO.

 

 

The train pulled into the center of town.

Some of the streets are still unpaved.

It is like stepping back in time.

 

 

Some buildings look like

 they belong on a movie set.

 

 

 

At least 20 of us headed to the

 Grand Imperial Hotel

to have lunch at GRUMPY's.

GRUMPY himself, came to chat with us,

and thank us for our patronage.

 

 

L to R:  Darryl Olson, Merrell and Bob Westrick,

and Linda Olson

 

Our mini-van drivers met us

in Silverton at 2:30 PM,

to take us back to Cortez, where we

arrived at 4:40 PM.  My guesstimate

is that it was approximately 100 miles.

 

This Autumn view capped off our

visit to Silverton, Colorado.

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 11-12-13 - ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

TUES, WED, and THURSDAY

SEPTEMBER 11, 12 and 13, 2012

 

On Monday, we took a drive into MOAB,

 and had lunch, went to the Post Office,

and spent an hour at the Visitor's Center where we

watched their information film, and bought some books.

We also grocery shopped and paid $1.50 per lb. for Gala Apples

and $1.29  per lb. for Peaches.

It did not take long to spend $100 plus.

So, folks back home, appreciate

the wonderful Orchards we have

in Wayne County.

Hopefully, the prices are less there.

 

WEDNESDAY

 

We drove over to ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

yesterday and today.  It is about 55 miles round trip,

and well worth the mileage.

On Wednesday we visited the Visitors Center

to view the Orientation video, and

ask the Ranger for suggestions on

what hiking to do at our skill level.

We chose to drive to the outer limits of

the park to LANDSCAPE ARCH,

and hiked the 1.6 mile RT trail,

taking 70 minutes total.

 

 

This arch is fragile at best.  In Sept. 1991,

a 60 ft. slab peeled away from the right side of the Arch.

160 tons of rock crashed to the ground.

It was video taped by a visitor

who heard the cracking which sounded like thunder,

prior to the separation.

His video was part of that which

we saw at the Visitors Center.

Believe me, when they tell you to stay

on the Trail, after seeing that video,

you do as told.

 

On the 27 mile return trip, we took a few pictures of

various rock formations.

 

The Three Gossips

 

 

The Balanced Rock

 

A footprint in the Sand

to let us know we are only

Visitors in someone's home.

 

 

THURSDAY

 

Today we earned our lunch by hiking

two trails before stopping at Wendy's in Moab.

In some respects we wished we had

picked up Salads before going to

the Park, as we did on Wednesday.

It is best to go prepared with food

as well as beverages, since this National Park

has no facilities.

 

The Double Arches were a short half mile walk,

round trip to see, up close. 

 

 

 

South and North Window Arches

from a considerable distance.

We walked  a mile trail to

the South Window Arch,

and are still wondering how we missed

the North Arch.

 

 

Rita with her Walking Sticks at

South Window Arch. 

I could not help but thank the lady,

in my mind,

who sold them to me, two years ago.

They more than paid for themselves

with the security they gave me.

I would highly recommend you invest

in Walking Sticks if you plan to

enjoy your visits to our National Parks,

where the opportunity to see great

vistas often involves some walking,

and uneven ground.

 

 

This view was from the Upper Viewpoint

of DELICATE ARCH trail.

It was a moderately strenuous

trail over slick rock.

We spent over an hour round trip.

We were thankful for a

steady breeze that cooled us,

and that we had taken water with us.

 

I learned what a Rock Cairn is

from the Arches Visitor Guide.

It acted as a trail marker to let

us know we were heading in the

right direction.



 

 

 

Rock Cairn

 

 

Juniper Arch

was just opposite the view

of the Delicate Arch

when I looked up.

 

What a joyous feeling to be at the

Summit, and know that it

would be all downhill

from there!!!

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 10 - Bus Tour of DEAD HORSE POINT ST. PK, CANYONLAND NP

MONDAY

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

 

This morning was like the first day of School.
We were up early, and rareing to go.
I even had time to take this picture at 6:50 AM.

 

 

Like school kids, we boarded our two mini-buses

at 8 AM to head to Dead Horse Point State Park.
 

We arrived at the visitors center by 9 AM,

and had time to walk to the top of Dead Horse Point

with our driver/guide,

between 9:30 and 10:05AM.

We had a magnificant view of the

Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.

Our driver, David pointed out the
"DEAD HORSE"
which is a rock formation
for which the Park is named.
See if you can see it in this photo.

I had to really use my imagination to
see a Bear that supposedly
frightened the horse
and caused him to go over the Cliff
to his death,
so I will not bore you with
that picture.

Our bus tour moved right along to
CANYONLAND NATIONAL PARK by 10:30 AM,
when we stopped at the Island District Visitors Center.

The view from there was gorgeous.

,   

Shafer Canyon from the Neck,
Island in the Sky,
Canyonland, NP.

"Views from Island in the Sky reach from the depths
 of the Green and Colorado rivers
 to the  mountaintops and above.
Across canyon after canyon,
they stretch  to the horizon 100 miles distant."
(quote in the NP brochure)



The grand finale of our Tour today was
our stop at Mesa Arch.
We walked a 1/2 mile trail to the
hilltop overlooking this
spectacular scene.
Of course we all wanted to have our
pictures taken in the frame of the Arch.

After that hike, we were so glad
Fantasy had bottles of
ice cold water for us.

We headed back to town for a
simple sandwich buffet lunch.
Another nice opportunity to get
better acquainted with our traveling
companions

.
In the afternoon,
our Western National Parks Band
 rehearsed in preparation
for entertaining us,
after our Steak Dinner,
tomorrow evening.

I took a much needed Nap,
and then spent time on the phone,
checking in with family and friends.

SEPTEMBER 9 - TRAVELING TO MOAB, UTAH via GOBLIN VALLEY

SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

 

 

We traveled 196 miles today, and I took 107 pictures.

The most fascinating and fun to take

were of the Goblins in Goblin Valley State Park.

 

You can let your imagination

run wild in "Naming"

the formations in Goblin Valley

which are red Sandstone formations.

 

Many looked like Mushrooms to me.

 

This grouping was called

The Three Sisters

Three ladies from Germany asked

us to take their pictures,

and then insisted on taking

one with our camera of us.

 

We have been amazed at the number of

European and Asian tourists

at our National Parks.

Interesting that they are bi-lingual

and have no difficulty communicating with us.

 

 

After traveling along the Pacific Coast,

Russ and I both thought of the

same description for this one.

It reminded us of the Harbor Seals we

saw in Monterey, California harbor.

 

Our second stop on our journey to MOAB, UTAH

was at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum,

located in Green River, Utah.

 

We watched the award winning film

 JOURNEY INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN,

which was a powerful documentary

of the fortitude of our early

explorers of the Colorado River

and the Green River region.

You can read more at:

www.jwprhm.com

 

We were on the road from 9 AM til 4 PM,

so were very happy that Fantasy had

Dinner and a Riverboat Excursion planned

for the evening.

 

The Cowboy Dinner Buffet was excellent,

and the Sight and Sound Show

on the Colorado River was unique.

 

The flat bottomed boat held at

least 150 people, and cruised gently

down the river to a quiet spot where

we were away from all the lights.

 

  We were totally immersed in darkness,

which allowed us to really appreciate the

beauty of the starry sky above us.

Then the Sight and Sound Show began.

CANYONLANDS by DAY and NIGHT,

presented this Show as our after dinner entertainment.

 

Tomorrow is another day,

beginning at 8 AM with a bus Tour,

to Dead Horse Point State Park,

and Canyonlands National Park.

 

 

 

SEPT.8 - CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

SATURDAY

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

 

This morning I watched the Birthing of a new day.

It was breath-taking in its Beauty.

I opened our RV door expecting to take

a picture of the Sunrise, and

saw the rays touching the red rocks to the West.

For the next few minutes I alternated between

East and West, taking 19 photos.

 

 

 

7:11:45 AM MT

Torrey, Utah

7:13:20 AM MT

7:13:53 AM MT

7:14:26 AM MT

 

7:15:40 AM MT

In the afternoon, we took a drive over to CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK.
after having lunch at SLACKER's,
 with three other Fantasy guests.
Slacker's Sweet Potato Fries were so good
we ordered a second batch.

 

CHIMNEY ROCK

PANORAMA POINT

I called these the STRIPED PAJAMA ROCKS 

THE CASTLE

MULE DEER and FAWN

At 5 PM we had an:
 A (Bring an Appetizer)
 B (Bring your own Beverage)
 C (Bring your own Chairs)
Gathering.

Bob and Penny briefed us on Travel Plans for Sunday,
and suggested activities we might want to
consider on the open days in MOAB, UTAH.

Jim Copeland entertained us with some
Fiddle tunes, and his wife, Kay joined him
for a couple of songs.

Our time together was concluded with three
couples sharing stories about their lives,
including Al and Betty Boysen,
who claimed to be the "SENIORS"
in the group since they have
been married 62 years.

They were a hard act to follow.