tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59892870968211574982024-03-06T12:02:55.734-08:00rvrookiesandwhaletalesFirst time RV'ers. Recently retired. Bought a used 31ft Winnebago affectionately called the Whale. A bit overwhelming, so much to learn. Excited for the adventure ahead. rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-43321630862926904432019-04-19T08:31:00.001-07:002019-04-19T08:31:31.412-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Silos and Magnolia Market</span></div>
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April 2019 - WACO, TX </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Magnolia store. <br />Stunning displays and decorating.<br />Owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines, best known for the HGTV show Fixer Uppers.<br /></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOykQ6EELc_9oEKh9Tt5ue25KZQjvReK79nWNI5YLqrq3YwQHOEthRWYPBUYac4_uPZ1zN-mp33GroO1EBhViWWxGtr7hCSQhhJhp7m28zMRDDbuIRzwfYY870MumqJmEtVEoS9J70P65e/s1600/IMG_1383.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOykQ6EELc_9oEKh9Tt5ue25KZQjvReK79nWNI5YLqrq3YwQHOEthRWYPBUYac4_uPZ1zN-mp33GroO1EBhViWWxGtr7hCSQhhJhp7m28zMRDDbuIRzwfYY870MumqJmEtVEoS9J70P65e/s640/IMG_1383.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A very relaxed family atmosphere out back.<br />Kids playing games, bean bags chairs, picnic tables, flowers and music.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Picnic tables await.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Unique food trucks surround the perimeter. We ordered lunch from the Cheddar Box. We had a gourmet grilled cheese and the most delicious Mac & Cheese EVER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(The white building on the right is the marketplace.) </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course I enjoyed the gardens and beautiful raised beds.</span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">A quick trip to CT.... and a spring walk....</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">While in TX, we took a quick trip to CT to visit our kids and grandson. Quick trip means flying (out of San </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Antonio), not driving the motor home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">CT is a very beautiful state, although crowded along the coast, there are many rural areas filled with huge trees, old farms, old rock walls, lakes and rivers. The coast is beautiful as well with many quaint little towns filled with Victorian houses. It's an expensive state but very beautiful. </span></div>
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Fredericksburg, TX...</h3>
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We made 2 stops (stays) in Fredericksburg, a fun filled tourist town, famous for it's German roots. Great German food, old stone buildings, wineries and music. Will include more on Fredericksburg in a later post. We made a return visit specifically to attend the Vintage motorcycle show and flat track races. It was such a fun weekend, especially since we were able to camp next to the event and were joined by friends (Judie & Mark) who camped next to us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My dream bike, an old little Honda to putt around on. <br />I remember when these were cheap and easy to come by, not so much anymore. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Flat track racing...all vintage motorcycles dating from the 1970's back to almost 100 years old. </span></div>
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It was amazing to watch.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Getting ready for a drag race. </span></div>
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This was more of a fun event for bragging rights than a highly competitive event. Remarkable that these guys keep their bikes in such fine working condition. Very Impressive. </div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-25359127013341065182019-03-15T14:41:00.004-07:002019-03-15T14:41:58.479-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BOQUILLAS DEL CARMEN, MEXICO, </span><span style="font-size: small;">Feb 2019</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">a memorable Valentine's Day...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>U. S. Port of Entry at Boquillas Crossing. Great Bend National Park.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The crossing is open during daytime hours and only certain days of the week. You must be back by 5:00 when this border officially closes. It is staffed by an armed Park Ranger. He was very helpful with our first time crossing and in getting our passports checked when returning, another interesting process. When returning, you place your passport under a scanner which is viewed by a border patrol agent in El Paso. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">You’re instructed to pick up the phone handset next to the scanner which connects you with the agent viewing at your passport. A camera allows the agent is see you. It seemed to work well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> The River Crossing "ferry". </span></div>
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A small rowboat takes tourists back and forth during the hours the border is officially open. </div>
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Reaching the American Side.<br />
After getting off the boat, it's a short hike up a dirt path to the U.S. Port of Entry building. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Once in Mexico, it's about a mile into town. You can pay to ride a burro, a horse, ride in a truck or walk. Men from Boquillas offer to take visitors around town, a tour guide of sorts, they work for tips. The people were very welcoming and low key. We opted to walk, we thoroughly enjoyed the walking and being able to take our time. Next time (and I hope there is) it would be fun to have a guide, I'm sure we'd learn more and have somebody answer our many questions. Some residents we talked to were semi fluent in English, others <span style="background-color: yellow;">not so much.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">While walking into town we met burros heading back to the river crossing, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">nobody leading them, apparently </span><span style="font-size: small;">they knew the routine. (I think the driver in the white truck was keeping an eye on them).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We went with another couple that were camping next to us. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Really fun people, we had a great day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boquillas in site. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The village was originally founded as a mining town in the early 1900’s, mining ceased in 1919 at which time the population greatly declined. It’s incredible to me that this village even survived, the nearest town is 160 miles away over a dirt road, these people are isolated, living in their own world. Approximately 300 residents still make Boquillas their home.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;"> They have a school and a medical clinic where a doctor makes scheduled visits. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-kerning: none;">A solar power station was installed in 2015, up until that time there was no electricity in the village. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the edge of town.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxytybLE6oAF0TVNlAM3GK5no5LKoQA-g_33Trq2guW_z3IGCarYZ9BvYMGsWl1nq7DXkUHRePZpMkQ5HsWJi_jeUb65ar60g2tTkK-mV7EXO1JQDRXGoqcgTf1j5Nu6h-w0APtg4gCHz/s1600/IMG_0421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxytybLE6oAF0TVNlAM3GK5no5LKoQA-g_33Trq2guW_z3IGCarYZ9BvYMGsWl1nq7DXkUHRePZpMkQ5HsWJi_jeUb65ar60g2tTkK-mV7EXO1JQDRXGoqcgTf1j5Nu6h-w0APtg4gCHz/s640/IMG_0421.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had lunch at one of only two restaurants. Food, service, cleanliness...all wonderful, totally surpassed expectations. The Boquillas people are very happy to have the tourists visit, it's their main source of income. They are very friendly and welcoming all in a good way. It didn't feel at all like a remember my visit to Nogales years ago. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Informaiton sign in English and Spanish when entering the town. </span><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Needlework, can cozzies, woven braclets and trinkets made of wire and beads were the <br />main items for sale. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Items for sale are displayed outside villagers homes. This is the only store we saw, it also serves as a home. The needlework is beautifully stitched with colorful threads and beads. I'm not sure what is sold in this store, I think it was more for villiagers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This was such an interesting day for us. We couldn't help but think how fortunate we are to be born in the U.S. We have so much, so much of everything...food, gadgets, clothes, do-dads, toys, stores, choices of medical care, schools, recreation. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw where you were born that defines your life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">In Big Bend Park...</span></i></span></h4>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few villagers cross the river (illegally) and place trinkets on rocks along hiking trails close to the river. A plastic bottle next to the souvenirs asks tourists to leave money for whatever souvenirs they take. It’s an honor system, although many times you’re being watched from vantage points across the river. It is technically an illegal crossing, they only stay long enough to put out their trinkets and collect the money. We watched them make quick trips across the river, by canoe or horses. The Park Rangers don’t do much about it unless it gets to be a problem. However, the park newspaper states not to buy these items because they’re illegal and considered contraband that can be confiscated by officials. It’s best to support the people in Boquillas by buying items in their village from people who are following the rules. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Boquillas villager keeping an eye on his trinket stash. I shot this photo with a telephoto lens, the river is below me, the horse is on the Mexican side of the river.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
Great Bend National Park has been a great visit, the Blue Bonnets were blooming, the roadsides filled with fragrant flowers. There's high enough mountains here that on a couple hikes we were in pine trees, we even came across deer and a black bear, who would've thought??? Not us. </div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-5117477034984072562019-03-04T09:04:00.000-08:002019-03-04T09:04:12.413-08:00<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Black Hills, South Dakota</span>, September 2018</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Visiting the Black Hills required a stop in Mitchell to check out the famed Corn Palace.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">This has to be one of our best campsites, right on the edge of the Bad Lands, the view was spectacular.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Early morning....Big Horn Sheep in front of our RV. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of our hikes... a steep shear drop off ends the trail at this point. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH-fLpIGmORKJVrFCm24UwBkLQ-qoTQlhEuIB0d478KRnr_zXhXx3mcuIIE8N73fzMJzQj1aRSOAg4k3kEc-wmFgZkC8NmgScJm01HgYd-MbMa7z-QqJWC2xR-_tHOL68rLyyirgKegl2/s1600/IMG_8575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH-fLpIGmORKJVrFCm24UwBkLQ-qoTQlhEuIB0d478KRnr_zXhXx3mcuIIE8N73fzMJzQj1aRSOAg4k3kEc-wmFgZkC8NmgScJm01HgYd-MbMa7z-QqJWC2xR-_tHOL68rLyyirgKegl2/s400/IMG_8575.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were so fortunate to be in Sturgis the day the Cannonball Run came to town. A 2 week ride from Portland Maine to Portland Oregon. Approximately 100 motorcycles built before 1930 set out on the journey. The ride takes place every other year with a different route. We'd love to meet their route again in 2020. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So impressive to see these old motorcycles in such good condition.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPs5gvhrkup6GBK20C81_w2_3OkvB4sHh00m78Ws3N17-tTZvxGKyfgOhyphenhyphen2z1uC4JiwtXK_y6K35uYpO-KrUmd-4yPbVXbglRDkDupFUvYa98NRghBOMg9WhB5npnXZu8GoCkkxAyLsg3/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1e92.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPs5gvhrkup6GBK20C81_w2_3OkvB4sHh00m78Ws3N17-tTZvxGKyfgOhyphenhyphen2z1uC4JiwtXK_y6K35uYpO-KrUmd-4yPbVXbglRDkDupFUvYa98NRghBOMg9WhB5npnXZu8GoCkkxAyLsg3/s640/fullsizeoutput_1e92.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The day in Sturgis was their only rest day...the riders used the time to wrench on their bikes and relax a bit. A perfect day for us to walk around and look at the bikes and talk with the riders and crew. This man is the proud owner of his great grandfather's old Harley. If the riders weren't busy fixing something, they were happy to answer questions and talk of their adventure. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsePoeMeotCvwT69kvgzHVOHzVl-Jpn1lplWPXyHNjVE9IdVo-5or_VmUtl_4vxQZh4J5wpzaV2vMn6N-sQ388uqEjfHlKmcJQsncjfOCRQjaQPxETqiRywOTZpWcIIBUoFkb5xXU9i-Cj/s1600/DSC01392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsePoeMeotCvwT69kvgzHVOHzVl-Jpn1lplWPXyHNjVE9IdVo-5or_VmUtl_4vxQZh4J5wpzaV2vMn6N-sQ388uqEjfHlKmcJQsncjfOCRQjaQPxETqiRywOTZpWcIIBUoFkb5xXU9i-Cj/s400/DSC01392.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Patience and mechanical skill keep these motorcycles running. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNP8JqQImb3-Nz6zguTcfvPlx23yHXeUAcKeaX4uZ0C8qr76KUmm7uzAwjv-9cmt6C2ewN3QzPmGxjZsw1QUxyvua-26mpjfujyIvs5hH3OEPF63R-2E0DyEMRdo_TQz2-4M48XY30qvd/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1e75.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNP8JqQImb3-Nz6zguTcfvPlx23yHXeUAcKeaX4uZ0C8qr76KUmm7uzAwjv-9cmt6C2ewN3QzPmGxjZsw1QUxyvua-26mpjfujyIvs5hH3OEPF63R-2E0DyEMRdo_TQz2-4M48XY30qvd/s640/fullsizeoutput_1e75.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Lining up before the chilly early morning start. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We got up early and drove an hour from Custer to Sturgis just to see their 7am start. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMuKjo1XlzCsaFGTwlGXNOm45NtvCZwBQwDQhaL_G58d4zOdX9NGj7vJBOMy0wGtXkeZKU_fxdu2NWcxMmmaNlKu3geeh37IGSxsScwTE1HlSoMAywLqhU3kDv5SkLpHOYy2fpG-hZBwK/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1e76.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMuKjo1XlzCsaFGTwlGXNOm45NtvCZwBQwDQhaL_G58d4zOdX9NGj7vJBOMy0wGtXkeZKU_fxdu2NWcxMmmaNlKu3geeh37IGSxsScwTE1HlSoMAywLqhU3kDv5SkLpHOYy2fpG-hZBwK/s640/fullsizeoutput_1e76.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And they're off. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAmeszY51cGlYj8fH0Sf_n-dObKbred6YRCirvu3M8cET3F-xSlDpInrHddkt2lwqV-vsBjF2R5lnzaLAbGm6QJOJyy_xez8GgD8DogDGEn64YAGySdZTrpdFWe02UsYq-hwpWD1HCkLJ/s1600/DSC01556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAmeszY51cGlYj8fH0Sf_n-dObKbred6YRCirvu3M8cET3F-xSlDpInrHddkt2lwqV-vsBjF2R5lnzaLAbGm6QJOJyy_xez8GgD8DogDGEn64YAGySdZTrpdFWe02UsYq-hwpWD1HCkLJ/s640/DSC01556.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">The Buffalo Roundup. </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The roundup takes place every Sept. in Custer State Park. Here buffalo are nearing corrals at the end of the roundup. (Approximately 1,000 buffalo). We had a good view from a hill above. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcxQqRSHOyek00N1Ua2CbcYIvKMRpWOW0lp66XHOnRE8JPZaO9Uxet2DSFrw4zLNaWFdopuqFZiH5XEivR3W2PQVJWMDckf7YwGI-gm-eAfWtsU6GvVri_geu_DmReYQPrj453M8rMK99/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f24.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcxQqRSHOyek00N1Ua2CbcYIvKMRpWOW0lp66XHOnRE8JPZaO9Uxet2DSFrw4zLNaWFdopuqFZiH5XEivR3W2PQVJWMDckf7YwGI-gm-eAfWtsU6GvVri_geu_DmReYQPrj453M8rMK99/s640/fullsizeoutput_1f24.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The roundup attracts many photographers, news reporters and spectators. The trucks in the roundup area are a safety provision for cowboys, if charged by a buffalo the truck can be used as a diversion or block. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3GWztggF15lIKtuxKvROoa09n93hYgS9o2PubUKSoUZFvTfA9988iQ7tjyWv5viLDKadavdnwKftSu2drzR3IQ88y-6F6lIyFm_YuXoxV7rKtBNTxG0rsWo9CNSRoJWky3gCUXikUNCA/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1ef4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3GWztggF15lIKtuxKvROoa09n93hYgS9o2PubUKSoUZFvTfA9988iQ7tjyWv5viLDKadavdnwKftSu2drzR3IQ88y-6F6lIyFm_YuXoxV7rKtBNTxG0rsWo9CNSRoJWky3gCUXikUNCA/s640/fullsizeoutput_1ef4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This guy looks so sweet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">They don't look like it but a buffalo can run as fast as 35 mph (comparable to a horse), they can turn quickly and even jump a fence, very agile. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwELmtM0IRHb_Spfs3aYe_bthLAMDCpEJ6dYz_b_4qt4dN22WJ77u532rbT7bO29j2Vo-1nBf1sco9dhoKHBnmzgItcD0csNf74-wkGEskFI2V-PGsvVGy305kl8dkC6KvsksEp6aTqxQ/s1600/DSC01574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwELmtM0IRHb_Spfs3aYe_bthLAMDCpEJ6dYz_b_4qt4dN22WJ77u532rbT7bO29j2Vo-1nBf1sco9dhoKHBnmzgItcD0csNf74-wkGEskFI2V-PGsvVGy305kl8dkC6KvsksEp6aTqxQ/s640/DSC01574.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The roundup is part of Custer Park's management plan to maintain a healthy balance between number of bison and available grassland for grazing. The park can only sustain a certain number based on current conditions. Once in the corrals the buffalo are sorted out, some sent to a pasture for sale, cows are checked for pregnancy, vaccinations administered and new calves branded. A very interesting process to watch. It takes about 4 days to complete the herd. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cowboys after the roundup. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Such a beautiful sight with the mountains and fall colors in the background. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Volunteer cowboys (experienced riders only) are selected each year through an application process, several park rangers also ride. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwMRcdeXz-kXV-VMNN1EtWXOJd1XOmm9LZPvd6yWlz5zVFFd87gGPGQttd9Lxa8SpVPy0VQg1kU0uTNtt04NcFK6WyHT2d8YA5-qsCFhR0845v8Id1LLQZjop6kp8vozaVyiIPLgE6ua8/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f1e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwMRcdeXz-kXV-VMNN1EtWXOJd1XOmm9LZPvd6yWlz5zVFFd87gGPGQttd9Lxa8SpVPy0VQg1kU0uTNtt04NcFK6WyHT2d8YA5-qsCFhR0845v8Id1LLQZjop6kp8vozaVyiIPLgE6ua8/s640/fullsizeoutput_1f1e.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Black Hills fog moving in.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The end of September, we woke up to a covering of snow. Time to move further south. </span></td></tr>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-16989148316490338772018-11-13T09:01:00.000-08:002018-11-13T09:01:54.402-08:00<h2>
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Oct. 2018</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2_Vmz6uRmmP0IWoFlCo6JLo1zMrj0OofSzY-Ha2DtfmzYT9AQubHiO-HXG_0Dvvu0qr6W7dQwKNfympmGAHVpLK6SI5gNmcpQ7dVr8e1b3xpLE8R0eduPDd9lXvUlo3cIwRG3xymj98f/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2_Vmz6uRmmP0IWoFlCo6JLo1zMrj0OofSzY-Ha2DtfmzYT9AQubHiO-HXG_0Dvvu0qr6W7dQwKNfympmGAHVpLK6SI5gNmcpQ7dVr8e1b3xpLE8R0eduPDd9lXvUlo3cIwRG3xymj98f/s640/fullsizeoutput_1f41.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every October balloon enthusiasts from around the world converge in Albuquerque, NM. This year 600+ balloons from 16 different countries were in attendance. Spectators in the thousands, traffic backed up for miles every morning beginning at 4:30am. Fortunately for us, we were in an RV parking area, only 1/2 mile walk to the launch field. The RV parking area had over 1,000 sites, lots of people walking, plus bus and golf cart shuttles. We usually walked, although some mornings we lucked out...a nice golf cart driver would pull up to us and ask if we wanted a lift. At 5:30 in the morning, dark and chilly out, and rushing to the field, we eagerly jumped in. Those devoted shuttle drivers (volunteers) start at 4am in the morning. The festival was very well organized and supported by many many volunteers. As part of a balloon crew, we too were volunteers. Volunteers receive a weekly pass into the event. It's such an exciting place to be. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5EtHV53AE4sZZEny8fzI6mH7BcFkIc2Ky6xbMCyrT7hJ_CNDCWQ97YpGQxkYrwQgWnXbsp5q5mbUkEQ-HGHIk-lNcE9cnTABYFs0is-_YT7-NtuP4_YDcIFdERp6zXMy4UR-eAM9ERAg/s1600/DSC01616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5EtHV53AE4sZZEny8fzI6mH7BcFkIc2Ky6xbMCyrT7hJ_CNDCWQ97YpGQxkYrwQgWnXbsp5q5mbUkEQ-HGHIk-lNcE9cnTABYFs0is-_YT7-NtuP4_YDcIFdERp6zXMy4UR-eAM9ERAg/s640/DSC01616.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Morning Dawn Patrol</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We were at the launch field every morning by 6:00am. Pilot briefing was at 6:15, sometimes we went to the briefing, other times got a cup of Pinon coffee and went to our chase vehicle loaded with balloon and gear. Dawn Patrol launched about 6:30; a small number of selected balloons launch before sunrise, it's a beautiful sight when they glow. Dawn patrol is a scouting flight of sorts, it helps watchful pilots determine wind aloft conditions and plan for their flight. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCf7m0dHK74OSc8lgTQaSOjI9ZmCasBTu1c4xUPxQgQQiIaRh57xDSMShGz1YvKUp3D8Mvuoqhipn8rR6kWGpXXWQV1r2kSIAV2GWL5av-HnaO-UkgAyFjAvPFjtDt6QmyLaV2mduc5eq/s1600/DSC01673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCf7m0dHK74OSc8lgTQaSOjI9ZmCasBTu1c4xUPxQgQQiIaRh57xDSMShGz1YvKUp3D8Mvuoqhipn8rR6kWGpXXWQV1r2kSIAV2GWL5av-HnaO-UkgAyFjAvPFjtDt6QmyLaV2mduc5eq/s640/DSC01673.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vincent Van Gogh from the Netherlands was one of my favorite balloons. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So artistic and creative. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcN1fjpK2f4kr3ZagRhpI8cINijIJWH7fQ12TFOnBQLkIT6pFKwRnxv0x1M7qFjqaNXAeM6D5rt6EWFP4ogCeuzRx3AlfvrjTtAIUKUaJYKhyphenhyphenuKPkd5DR7IszRWfLceUsx-OHKmm7NeIO/s1600/DSC01673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcN1fjpK2f4kr3ZagRhpI8cINijIJWH7fQ12TFOnBQLkIT6pFKwRnxv0x1M7qFjqaNXAeM6D5rt6EWFP4ogCeuzRx3AlfvrjTtAIUKUaJYKhyphenhyphenuKPkd5DR7IszRWfLceUsx-OHKmm7NeIO/s400/DSC01673.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This evening was too windy to fly or inflate. With so many people being at the field, the pilots set up their baskets and fire up their burners. At least the people get to see something and talk to the pilots. The pilots all have balloon cards much the same as football cards, the kids are so excited about the balloons and have a good time collecting cards. Handing out cards was another of our crew duties. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlnel9kAYU1iX-skgP0CqyOOwp5ddsYeeIHxGiITE3H3ZnRp1HhQapMBJa-QGhxr__B7p636-An9ddaCYPiDFw3Crtet56J6Sw8SQiHtM95rqg6smdJBsEcE9dlEDXMS7OfCrPuwJn7FN/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f3f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlnel9kAYU1iX-skgP0CqyOOwp5ddsYeeIHxGiITE3H3ZnRp1HhQapMBJa-QGhxr__B7p636-An9ddaCYPiDFw3Crtet56J6Sw8SQiHtM95rqg6smdJBsEcE9dlEDXMS7OfCrPuwJn7FN/s640/fullsizeoutput_1f3f.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Airabelle. Another favorite. She's ginormous! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The basket is under her belly, can't see it in this photo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">All the balloons have creative names, this old gal is Airabelle, the CreamLand Cow, she's from British Columbia. Balloons of this sort are in a category appropriately called Special Shapes. Although all air worthy, we only saw Airabelle fly one day, usually she was inflated and tethered. After working on our balloon with our crew of 5, I can't imagine having to pack up and lug her around. Some of the special shapes balloons have a crew of 25 or more. I also noticed the larger balloons used wheeled carts, where as </span><span style="font-size: small;">our balloon was moved by crew power. Our pilot did have a lift tailgate on the back of her truck, was nice.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDye-JVy-7sdzyfCmfZqG4UllyYYF06Ss_dNKiyR2TGFPmHyTQXdR_kQTF-plZGXaN-5vcsXhQzkuiUV6FG2cW0JmqJrt5EkkGvqP47N5yCVYW55vGtA8iqurllmn9WQ2NPpBsQUqSkC2/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f4e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDye-JVy-7sdzyfCmfZqG4UllyYYF06Ss_dNKiyR2TGFPmHyTQXdR_kQTF-plZGXaN-5vcsXhQzkuiUV6FG2cW0JmqJrt5EkkGvqP47N5yCVYW55vGtA8iqurllmn9WQ2NPpBsQUqSkC2/s400/fullsizeoutput_1f4e.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our pilot brought 2 balloons. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Here we're laying out the balloon, "MyAir FlyAir" getting ready to inflate. She also had a little smaller balloon, a racer, that she used in competition flying, it was easier to inflate and pack up. We liked it better.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNxARClO4uab6ZOuFdEYg9705G-jU7vCMLTRckQYqJ6rmnO-mhyZ0aCDpiB3t5E3fHN3aFVKYcRgQlEca04eNlOl4SvueyJiZVeUtjajT4EYu9-CWLewjpxs9xmoDtxY2ouMfx6lXcNl7/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f48.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNxARClO4uab6ZOuFdEYg9705G-jU7vCMLTRckQYqJ6rmnO-mhyZ0aCDpiB3t5E3fHN3aFVKYcRgQlEca04eNlOl4SvueyJiZVeUtjajT4EYu9-CWLewjpxs9xmoDtxY2ouMfx6lXcNl7/s400/fullsizeoutput_1f48.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our pilot Myia checking things over before the inflating. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk1RE3v48xhupBnY191DeZKDkz082z7QzYi9CdQIlQLNU2NrQokeybldYFxk6Uk5A78F7gUeJF5Jms5o0RepCXRtYTgHtc6sABQKqNFMS2BMrlrWDf8-vxWPqAzZt_cP8M80Fp54K5d36/s1600/IMG_3027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk1RE3v48xhupBnY191DeZKDkz082z7QzYi9CdQIlQLNU2NrQokeybldYFxk6Uk5A78F7gUeJF5Jms5o0RepCXRtYTgHtc6sABQKqNFMS2BMrlrWDf8-vxWPqAzZt_cP8M80Fp54K5d36/s400/IMG_3027.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Our pilot's balloon, </span><span style="font-size: small;">Rik Rak, a racer balloon, the envelope size being 65,000 cubic feet, or 65,000 basketballs would fit in the envelope (balloon). It's a little smaller than her other balloon and more maneuverable, she uses Rik Rak for competetion flying. It's also the balloon Tom and I got to fly in. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The highlight of our week was getting to fly, it was unexpected, just before lift off pilot Myia shouted "jump in now!"...no time for second thoughts, I jumped in.</span> Tom got to fly the next day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfpzm4VPZCxmU_SDOj8Q32RTwkODjV8DNgfakVHGLb264TrjOJsOVV1hhUqjrq87T2FuXl1_EJ5tNEjNmmYr2FFSVCBwp7RppPoHMqurBPH6rnMKUZHEczaI31g39xJPkZIeDbMEuM-Fw/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfpzm4VPZCxmU_SDOj8Q32RTwkODjV8DNgfakVHGLb264TrjOJsOVV1hhUqjrq87T2FuXl1_EJ5tNEjNmmYr2FFSVCBwp7RppPoHMqurBPH6rnMKUZHEczaI31g39xJPkZIeDbMEuM-Fw/s640/fullsizeoutput_1f57.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My flight with Myia took us over the Rio Grande River...</span><span style="font-size: small;">never knew the Rio Grande went through Albuquerque. Our flight lasted over an hour, it went by all too fast. IT WAS TOTALLY AMAZING, JUST FLOATING, SO QUIET AWAY FROM THE NOISE AND TRAFFIC BELOW. Tom got to fly the next day. We've been bragging about our flights ever since, ha ha. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Pilots have fun dipping down and touching the water, known as a "splash and dash", sometimes getting their feet wet inside the basket, t</span><span style="font-size: small;">he balloon Hearts of Fire is getting ready to Splash.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Too windy. Once the meteorologist fly the green flag, pilots have the ok to fly, however, it's still up to pilot's discretion. This day was iffy, already a delayed start, the green flag finally went up. Our pilot decided not to fly or even unpack, I think a good choice. This pilot started to set up, the wind was whipping the envelope around, others join in holding down the basket. After this wind gust, the pilot decided not to fly. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Night Glow. The Special shape balloons are creative and amazing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgz8mJ9_ZNTvkHf4N40yggtKxMpXK3d2BLyl4j3Lzgi_jTIu7BIEVtWujWyVhpdNFtoe6oODr7iBq2tOveBRyf5UU6KoTp6hPk_ki4gPT6j7AngdqbaoTVjS8mdMpuaJ6xap7dGUB-he3/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1fe0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgz8mJ9_ZNTvkHf4N40yggtKxMpXK3d2BLyl4j3Lzgi_jTIu7BIEVtWujWyVhpdNFtoe6oODr7iBq2tOveBRyf5UU6KoTp6hPk_ki4gPT6j7AngdqbaoTVjS8mdMpuaJ6xap7dGUB-he3/s640/fullsizeoutput_1fe0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset at the launch field. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpPay6GoTCBBS89hujnsHX78sttQ8T3VVmHCk27WDe6Ea1JIoLSTXPZQx-kDVqwDHYGK0an2ntdmTBLtMztc1S9LSLfKb7W0JogW_4My-luoP97R5r7HKPAFIQoBCV3DTeByL3tacb8sF/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1fe1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpPay6GoTCBBS89hujnsHX78sttQ8T3VVmHCk27WDe6Ea1JIoLSTXPZQx-kDVqwDHYGK0an2ntdmTBLtMztc1S9LSLfKb7W0JogW_4My-luoP97R5r7HKPAFIQoBCV3DTeByL3tacb8sF/s400/fullsizeoutput_1fe1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Night glow. Balloons inflate for static display. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ49g5ZHvbKQAJkp825iXiAzNrQaVaMvRKVySEKzoGYVG7KavkaQVxyrnE-opBXTkY81QvgWwHiWd8ET5arfUiy5ZBX2dGlOUVbja3kdVm2tUl6bnqCrvkXyMkMt0rwjesj8hyJHPr3xwg/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1fe5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1582" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ49g5ZHvbKQAJkp825iXiAzNrQaVaMvRKVySEKzoGYVG7KavkaQVxyrnE-opBXTkY81QvgWwHiWd8ET5arfUiy5ZBX2dGlOUVbja3kdVm2tUl6bnqCrvkXyMkMt0rwjesj8hyJHPr3xwg/s640/fullsizeoutput_1fe5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning launch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Mass Ascension, balloons launch in 2 waves. It's well organized, there are trained launch directors on the field, each responsible for a group of balloons. They're dressed like referees and referred to as Zebras, some of the ladies are very creative with their outfits. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christ the Redeemer from South America.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">My favorite balloon. Very huge, was quite the sight in the air. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another special shape balloon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More special shapes that got a lot of attention.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of our landing spots. I took this shot as we finished packing up. The white sheet on the field indicated it was an balloon friendly field to land in. Some of the locals mark their property to be seen from the air. Always fun riding back to the launch field, everything piled in the back of the truck, with a few of us piled on top or in the basket. Spectators, other crews and traffic directors all waving to each other, fly day is a festive day. During the festival it's permissible to have balloon crews riding in truck beds.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It was a tiring week but oh so great. </span></div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-12440264920653285602018-04-16T19:49:00.000-07:002018-04-16T19:49:08.136-07:00<h2>
New Mexico, April 2018</h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Three Rivers Petroglyphs (near White Sands)<br />and Trinity Site.</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1_M4cT2SMJff1sx6zaKISAySvk2ibtscR3sMSILJdjiMPS8a1LmcpPyEdIJggTgWp8M-8eNNBMTYN5YZlp61Ygx64PmvvCOHFW6a5-uyJEaMpQplJobrnsLK-mXJS11P-KvBrpKvAapW/s1600/DSC00353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1_M4cT2SMJff1sx6zaKISAySvk2ibtscR3sMSILJdjiMPS8a1LmcpPyEdIJggTgWp8M-8eNNBMTYN5YZlp61Ygx64PmvvCOHFW6a5-uyJEaMpQplJobrnsLK-mXJS11P-KvBrpKvAapW/s400/DSC00353.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanks to a fellow camper, we took a drive to this quaint country chapel several miles down a gravel road in the middle of no where.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Services are still held here, must be mostly ranchers because there are no towns for miles around. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qOmaQ4ZYLrCEXBamOUyVm6fBIh-7c8FGEc8Xsx_agA_-eq-FQsmCWhUYgi5rQiaENJrMY_uAnnELkeekDO2a137txPo5RMsuYNVtcS34zBuRdGKKGpuiFda4TSGihu67CqXTxJid6OZb/s1600/DSC00365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qOmaQ4ZYLrCEXBamOUyVm6fBIh-7c8FGEc8Xsx_agA_-eq-FQsmCWhUYgi5rQiaENJrMY_uAnnELkeekDO2a137txPo5RMsuYNVtcS34zBuRdGKKGpuiFda4TSGihu67CqXTxJid6OZb/s640/DSC00365.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">About a mile from the church are stations of the cross with a large cross perched on top a small mountain. The large cross can be seen for miles. We hiked up to several stations. Beautiful and serene.</span></td></tr>
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Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site...</h2>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking at the map and our route to White Sands we saw the White River Petroglyph Site, decided to stop and check it out. Several miles off the highway, we were surprised to find out they had camping sites, one was available. Our plan was to stay closer to White Sands but this little spot was just too good to pass up. The small camping area was very peaceful, beautiful views and easy hiking to the petroglyphs. Our camping site was very spacious, we loved it so much that we ended up extending our stay. We’ve seen petroglyphs in the past but not like this. The vast numbers, interesting art and accessibility all incredible. We hiked that ridge several times and found new petroglyphs every time. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxThcAHvxBSArM07lCPixmUfq9eE6n4TvucfPotCy1AOwFGSwBg_t3Ihl2U2fCERG7rFzF0zPE0ivxXfDZ4lOClLYCtBhLhKgSPON5poPgvCoTYCLDRcHWMgK99Xzs9slUcSJ6nEtWMOb/s1600/DSC00376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxThcAHvxBSArM07lCPixmUfq9eE6n4TvucfPotCy1AOwFGSwBg_t3Ihl2U2fCERG7rFzF0zPE0ivxXfDZ4lOClLYCtBhLhKgSPON5poPgvCoTYCLDRcHWMgK99Xzs9slUcSJ6nEtWMOb/s640/DSC00376.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The rocky ridges rising above the Three Rivers Valley contain over 21,000 petroglyphs, including masks, sunburst, wildlife, handprints and geometric designs. These petroglyphs were made by a group of Native Americans that archeologists determined to have lived here 1,000 years ago. The rock art seems to reflect a strong supernatural and religious connection to their environment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Above appears to be a big horn sheep pierced with arrows. Maybe communicating hunting grounds. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">High up on a boulder was one of my favorites.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I like the eyes up on the boulder top, they're overlooking the valley below. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Researchers are quite certain who made the petroglyphs </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">but what they mean is up for much debate. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another of my favorites. This figure was drawn with ear rings.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">McDonald House - Trinity Site</span> </div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The world’s first nuclear bomb was assembled and tested here at the Trinity site on the White Sands Missile Range. The bomb was assembled at the McDonald ranch house about 2 miles from where it was detonated on July 16, 1945. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The McDonald Ranch house was taken over by the Army as part of their training grounds. The McDonalds were paid a minimal amount and vacated the ranch under protest, they hoped the ranch would be returned to them after the war (which did not happen).</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Army opens the Trinity Site to the public two days a year, once in spring and once in fall. We were camping a couple hours away but decided a unique opportunity to visit, we were on the road at 5:30am as we heard cars line up for miles to get through the security gate. The gates close at 2:00 sharp, if you’re still in line and waiting to get through, too bad. Not your typical tourist attraction, but very interesting and historic. There were informational signs posted on fences and volunteer guides to answer questions. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The cone shaped monument is ground zero where the bomb was detonated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interesting side note…On our drive to Trinity we saw a very out-of-place looking animal, we later learned it was an Oryx. The Oryx is an African gazelle, quite large, black and white in color with long straight horns. We later learned the Oryx was released in the white sands area back in the late 60’s as an idea to attract big game hunters. The Oryx has since multiplied to the point where numbers are considered problematic by ranchers. They have no natural predators in the White Sands area. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ending the day with a sunset from the top of the petroglyph ridge.</span></td></tr>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-56756788308443984892018-04-10T19:50:00.003-07:002018-04-10T19:50:42.353-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
New Mexico, April 2018</h2>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">April 4, after spending much of the winter in AZ, it’s good to be on the road again. Heading east on NM Hwy 60 we found Pie Town, curiosity got the best of us and we do love pie…we just had to stop. Pie Town has a population of 60, we saw 3 little diners, all highlighting their pies. That’s about all there is to Pie Town, didn’t see any stores or gas stations. When we first walked into the Gathering Place diner we thought we entered through the wrong door, we were in the midst of ladies covered in flour rolling pie crusts and assembling pies. The ladies were joyfully welcoming and assured us we were in the right place. We bought a small white chocolate cherry pie for the road, however once we got out to the RV (Shorty) we just had to sample it. The pie was the most delicious cherry pie we've ever tasted, so good we went back in and bought a butterscotch blueberry. This is going to require some hiking.</span></span></div>
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<h3>
White Sands National Monument...</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">White Sands....best kind of "snow", looks like snow, glistens in the sun like snow, and is plowed with a road grader like snow. Kids bring their flying saucers and slide down the dunes. BEST PART, it's warm, no boots, mittens or long johns needed. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI6mcupSNAwFANo-0ogotSZOVDDdD9d-a_5jy7pP-5umLN8kftApM9fuBhlI7oDtH56l46YQzrVBUctNed3kNhOEl3CTh_BW9p5RKV8rQMWc9Zs3kugmsHn5dzoUo9_tMbmjvVY6MQfgp/s1600/IMG_6655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI6mcupSNAwFANo-0ogotSZOVDDdD9d-a_5jy7pP-5umLN8kftApM9fuBhlI7oDtH56l46YQzrVBUctNed3kNhOEl3CTh_BW9p5RKV8rQMWc9Zs3kugmsHn5dzoUo9_tMbmjvVY6MQfgp/s640/IMG_6655.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We welcomed the partly cloudy skies, the sun reflecting off the white sand is very bright. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Little vegetation survives on the wind blown dunes. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The sand has blown around this lone clump of bushes making for an interesting scene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The sand is irresistible to scoop up and let it run through your fingers, it feels like a mix of sugar and flour. According to the park brochure, i</span><span style="font-size: small;">t's actually not sand but gypsum, the water table is shallow which keeps the dunes cooler compared to sand dunes in other parts of the country. One can go barefoot hiking in these dunes. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">So much white, climbing each dune only left us with more ahead.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w7bTwwMyawqk1-3ddEzjCUFkICkNYWpa_LO6MYrUnMJFO9GHT_bE5rqEQkGbZ0Ki5B-2cUBQAxBO-h3drVGQr0RMCeKmoOPy_qNriFlCloMXNA_nsd0uuleCj_gYdQxObt5Q8fNZCGJh/s1600/IMG_6679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w7bTwwMyawqk1-3ddEzjCUFkICkNYWpa_LO6MYrUnMJFO9GHT_bE5rqEQkGbZ0Ki5B-2cUBQAxBO-h3drVGQr0RMCeKmoOPy_qNriFlCloMXNA_nsd0uuleCj_gYdQxObt5Q8fNZCGJh/s640/IMG_6679.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">A fellow hiker.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46YZi-ci5vsQl3gMNXcZMRlAisdXQQJnrBmdCbqsiPksHsTvpnABaLXGA5PH63QC7PugsDfvNLKRPcZUeCCo_kmbAWy7hyGXYrCMqQIm2hGRbdZNapMCrMLpGZ4zn9qrfXUl4e56bI_6z/s1600/IMG_6694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46YZi-ci5vsQl3gMNXcZMRlAisdXQQJnrBmdCbqsiPksHsTvpnABaLXGA5PH63QC7PugsDfvNLKRPcZUeCCo_kmbAWy7hyGXYrCMqQIm2hGRbdZNapMCrMLpGZ4zn9qrfXUl4e56bI_6z/s640/IMG_6694.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The red stakes mark a trail. There are miles of dunes, up and down hiking. After the first dune we lost sight of the parking lot, it would be easy to get turned around.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The outskirts of the dunes are more suitable for vegetation growth. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />All for now.</span></td></tr>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-66616032316008533622017-09-12T20:08:00.001-07:002017-09-12T20:11:23.588-07:00<h2>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is Wisconsin - Aug/Sept 2017</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once again my blog is falling behind, but have no fear, we're still traveling, living full time in our motorhome and loving this adventure we're on. I plan to go back and post a few blogs from our time after San Diego to present here in WI. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those travels included time in Yosemite, Sequoia Nat Park and the Owens Valley in northern CA. We spent a week in Bishop and attended Mule Days. Explored ghost towns and found some great hikes. These were amazing travels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is WISCONSIN, born and raised, and will always be home. 💗</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My brother in law checking his corn back in July. Now in Sept it is well over our heads. The crops look very good this fall. Maybe too good, we hear corn prices are down. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Camping at the home farm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My sister and brother in law always offer us a spot to camp at the farm. They have switched to crop farming...the cows are gone and the old barn sits empty. Sad to see the small dairy farms becoming a thing of the past. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">DOOR COUNTY, one of the most beautiful places in WI. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cave Point County Park on the Michigan Shoreline has beautifully colored turquoise water. The caves in the limestone cliffs make it a popular spot for kayaking.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">PEACEFUL....my favorite cairn along the Cave Point shoreline. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">DULUTH MN, Canal Park is a great place to watch ships come into port. <br />The Indiana Harbor is a 1,000 foot long ship, one of the longest on the Great Lakes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As a thunderstorm was brewing, this dramatic sky unfolded. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">WI is known for small town festivals, horse pulls and tractor pulls.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Being die hard Packer fans, a trip to Green Bay was in order. The Packer's open practices are popular and draw a huge crowd. <br />A favorite tradition is the players riding kids bikes back and forth from the stadium to the practice field. Bikes are lined up waiting for the end of practice. As practice ends, kids stand by their bikes and hope to be chosen. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One happy young lady.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Said to be the world's largest scrap metal sculpture...standing amid a collection of sculptures in the middle of WI. <br />We enjoy the unusual, and this sculpture garden fit the bill. Tom Every worked as an industrial wrecker taking down old factories and buildings. He retired in 1983 and decided to create from what was considered trash. He earned the nickname Dr. Evermor and named this massive sculpture the Forevertron. One could spend hours looking at all the different pieces incorporated into his art. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My favorite bird. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL2pIoQtpIOYZkx8JxM_fmqg_nlJZGrxmQ7AEh7cBrHYomSc4l1lneRgX6gLOkAy9jGlHJgUjHGldZh27MPWeFti8gIPH9yo957rfxzuy1pA_vy1KHeHQjIeo9WC6JcT_QsEAi-h63PwL/s1600/IMG_4705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1227" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL2pIoQtpIOYZkx8JxM_fmqg_nlJZGrxmQ7AEh7cBrHYomSc4l1lneRgX6gLOkAy9jGlHJgUjHGldZh27MPWeFti8gIPH9yo957rfxzuy1pA_vy1KHeHQjIeo9WC6JcT_QsEAi-h63PwL/s640/IMG_4705.jpg" width="489" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">There is a full orchestra of creatures with different instruments.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tha's all for now, will be heading southward soon, fall weather is setting in. </span></td></tr>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-8929981772090136422017-06-25T16:41:00.001-07:002017-06-25T16:48:36.608-07:00<h2>
San Diego, May 2017</h2>
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My blog is lagging behind...will try to do some catching up. </div>
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The first week in May we met up with our son, his wife and our little grandson in San Diego. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our campground at Carlsbad State Park...our rig sitting on top the cliff.<br />What an amazing view we had. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carlsbad beach. <br />This beautiful beach goes on forever and we walked and walked daily.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nV8P0RuwWfYRizBRlhzDtY2fLrTDrdX6h4Lk3906Ny8ML36AWKt1iG1YF95C9f5QJxSPtXeBTpk_moRRfRFz4sbECoV1QuvDfXnd3ZgGT9h1VLVmPzJTi0PD1vtb4KIR-txSASW7v74V/s1600/IMG_1981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nV8P0RuwWfYRizBRlhzDtY2fLrTDrdX6h4Lk3906Ny8ML36AWKt1iG1YF95C9f5QJxSPtXeBTpk_moRRfRFz4sbECoV1QuvDfXnd3ZgGT9h1VLVmPzJTi0PD1vtb4KIR-txSASW7v74V/s400/IMG_1981.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our son is always up for quirky things (actually we are too)...so we set out for a day trip to Salvation Mountain and Slab City. Slab City is hard to describe...it's inhabited mostly by free spirits (hippy type) squatters living on an abandoned navy base. All that's left of the base is the cement slabs where buildings once stood, hence the name Slab City. People living there are often referred to as Slabbers. Slab City is totally off the grid, no running water, electric or garbage pick up. The "yard art" displayed throughout is apocalyptic, creative, mad-max, twilight zone and interesting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rnIsjuPHiyrFPSpBC3W1mYSAHj2KshKuk2LsVC7IdornN8zODC-KnAIrd6sWPRboYoiLvTrrCdSRB50NiLUDsJUtVT9SNC5M9blwWlxniWo30tujCidkL5V86if9DSwQ4NgfXUOzG_b4/s1600/IMG_1991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rnIsjuPHiyrFPSpBC3W1mYSAHj2KshKuk2LsVC7IdornN8zODC-KnAIrd6sWPRboYoiLvTrrCdSRB50NiLUDsJUtVT9SNC5M9blwWlxniWo30tujCidkL5V86if9DSwQ4NgfXUOzG_b4/s640/IMG_1991.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The library at Slab City. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Quite a selection of books, albeit a bit dusty. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSj3gGHmESs-IdUl7a9Tprt1uIebdOgkhKnskaXPgeL-MGBpPrjzwK6Ld6OgBob8TSbZPSa01JTgP-eWLgKUN5t31VrA25951AK84R5OU4zcvAUi0WBvF181OpvTiksP99dU2vgVRez7g/s1600/IMG_1988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSj3gGHmESs-IdUl7a9Tprt1uIebdOgkhKnskaXPgeL-MGBpPrjzwK6Ld6OgBob8TSbZPSa01JTgP-eWLgKUN5t31VrA25951AK84R5OU4zcvAUi0WBvF181OpvTiksP99dU2vgVRez7g/s640/IMG_1988.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of my favorites at Slab City is the wall of old TV's and computer screens. Interesting notes painted on the screens. The row of chairs all had remotes on them :).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Just so happened a man was sitting there reading the screens when I snapped this photo. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKm0ekHSDD99HKLainZf11vuguXzu0JqpxAIf_T3orH5w6OX6kZERJiasSkMPYEtyYNZ8mIOpWrNtZnDg0XjYvLToMW8eGn3pdQbwAxQk6KrG1Ct5UwPFcc_I-JumA-6EL9lLejIA_wN-/s1600/IMG_1958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="1600" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKm0ekHSDD99HKLainZf11vuguXzu0JqpxAIf_T3orH5w6OX6kZERJiasSkMPYEtyYNZ8mIOpWrNtZnDg0XjYvLToMW8eGn3pdQbwAxQk6KrG1Ct5UwPFcc_I-JumA-6EL9lLejIA_wN-/s640/IMG_1958.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Around the corner from Slab City is Salvation Mountain. The work of a very dedicated Leonard Knight who built a mountain with his own hands and funds, all to share his faith. There's a pathway with steps one can climb to the top by the cross. The mountain is made from straw, tree limbs, old tires, windows and adobe clay. Knight passed away in 2014. <br />A quote fom a brochure I picked up...Leonard often said, "Love is universal, Love God, Love one another and just keep it simple." </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZOCJadFoOf6SW124huYesWzza8YFLp3BeQ3Q_aPSsbFOrLx9VdRUMrTeWHGnVRXXx0WuCDaSvm_NBWLQSyYfVUWCo7pV133DkWSNMuJFTR36IX33coF1iPMCBUhxV2Zou1H5dUMWCKJ5/s1600/IMG_1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZOCJadFoOf6SW124huYesWzza8YFLp3BeQ3Q_aPSsbFOrLx9VdRUMrTeWHGnVRXXx0WuCDaSvm_NBWLQSyYfVUWCo7pV133DkWSNMuJFTR36IX33coF1iPMCBUhxV2Zou1H5dUMWCKJ5/s400/IMG_1976.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It takes alot of paint and volunteers to maintain the mountain. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our next interesting stop was the Jacobs School of Engineering. The campus has several unique "sculptures" that were commissioned by the school. This tiny house rests on top a 7 story building. I couldn't stop looking at it.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEogWKQywFwf12ojdeeqYmcOhV1TiJtjQ0C3m19np3Y36gnCA2hKtNtmnV0RiVl6dYc7kBf-FrJL3sEoW0knjXADTL5R_wgvb1yEGxuzTyWi3ymAfaymZo2gXJekzoA0Rn_VqNgWDlFR1v/s1600/IMG_2167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEogWKQywFwf12ojdeeqYmcOhV1TiJtjQ0C3m19np3Y36gnCA2hKtNtmnV0RiVl6dYc7kBf-FrJL3sEoW0knjXADTL5R_wgvb1yEGxuzTyWi3ymAfaymZo2gXJekzoA0Rn_VqNgWDlFR1v/s640/IMG_2167.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were intrigued and made our way up to the 7th floor. Unfortunately, the door going out to the tiny house was locked. There are set times that it is open for tours, how cool would that be. I loved the garden and yard. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another work of art "sculpture" on the Engineering campus.<br /><br />All from San Diego. It's on to Owens Valley and Bishop CA. in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. </span></td></tr>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-10270239709484534982017-05-23T21:16:00.002-07:002017-05-23T21:16:51.387-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Boron CA & Laughlin, NV... <span style="font-size: small;">April, 2017</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjHEfaNyArRSBM9CUO1qDBgVGGVoDhjdk9efWdbDlnVqSEDRsDBSFCJ1wxhs11F4etn-BCBxLct7_JM9vv1uBlZo7Jbeds1xL-RGtQyBDXqgU0Yeo5w_s1szI18VDttAdBjzfrfVDXp77/s1600/IMG_1424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjHEfaNyArRSBM9CUO1qDBgVGGVoDhjdk9efWdbDlnVqSEDRsDBSFCJ1wxhs11F4etn-BCBxLct7_JM9vv1uBlZo7Jbeds1xL-RGtQyBDXqgU0Yeo5w_s1szI18VDttAdBjzfrfVDXp77/s640/IMG_1424.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Viewpoint overlooking mine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">The small town of Boron is famous for borax mining. It's an older town with a museum/visitors center that's worth a stop. The museum highlights local and mining history. We had lunch at the 20 Mule diner across the street...tasty Mexican food. After lunch we drove to the mine a few miles out of town. The mine also has a visitors center with informational displays and a short video about this huge mining operation. Viewpoints outside provide an overlook of the mine…a massive hole in the ground. I liked the piles of rocks in the parking lot…rocks/minerals from the mine, visitors could take a favorite or two. I was in rock heaven…but our RV and DH (dear husband) keep me in check. I did get a couple small ones to add to my rock jar. :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">We learned a great deal about borax that day...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">1881- Borax is discovered in Death Valley and mining begins.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Borax was transported out of Death Valley to a railroad hub near Boron using mule power. These were the 20 Mule Team years. These great mule teams traveled 162 miles from Death Valley to the railroad point. Their route took them through some of the most forbidding land on earth, summer temperatures ranged from 136-150 degrees. They covered approximately 16-18 miles a day, the one way trip took about 10 days. The wagons were built big and strong, the rear wheels being 7 ft high with steel tires 8” wide. A mule train consisted of two big ore wagons, a water tank wagon holding 1,200 gallons and necessary supplies. A fully loaded wagon train weighed approximately 36 tons. The Harmony Mine in Death Valley was closed after rich deposits were found in the Boron area, close to the rail lines. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Borates (borax) are used in cleaning products, glass to increase strength, fertilizers, fiberglass, wood treatments, nutrition and additives in many other products.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The mine in Boron is California’s largest open-pit mine and the largest borax mine in the world. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4wBSIuwuF6_-x0diBJJpfQmXc3iPI4xQ8Q4t76c0RX4PKuda0ECZtZUmlpVhfkjbmSiI-jQcXBJpA2rmXL9jfBl_POSROjUfno1-mj4U-p0raO-4gNGucQUunvylPeS_21ACFcHtDPvz/s1600/IMG_1407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4wBSIuwuF6_-x0diBJJpfQmXc3iPI4xQ8Q4t76c0RX4PKuda0ECZtZUmlpVhfkjbmSiI-jQcXBJpA2rmXL9jfBl_POSROjUfno1-mj4U-p0raO-4gNGucQUunvylPeS_21ACFcHtDPvz/s400/IMG_1407.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Retired truck from the mine, on display at the town museum. The museum host told us this is a "baby" truck compared to what they're using today.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have you ever seen a speed limit at 37 1/2? </span></div>
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Caught our attention which is probably the point. </div>
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<h2>
Laughlin, NV</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGi_s1KDj3pyKA9KkN9pYmVgywHEoMcYKB-XFSsV4mMqtVEyphE9CidqMf3uPmqgDiVjj6sRSS8tzSKRpzcPeypTazOno2Wf-wiVNW3_uS7CkYS-bYDzIc59gbMZ6msRXVHyZaZcs7ySM/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGi_s1KDj3pyKA9KkN9pYmVgywHEoMcYKB-XFSsV4mMqtVEyphE9CidqMf3uPmqgDiVjj6sRSS8tzSKRpzcPeypTazOno2Wf-wiVNW3_uS7CkYS-bYDzIc59gbMZ6msRXVHyZaZcs7ySM/s400/IMG_1339.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Davis Dam on the Colorado River in Laughlin. There was a beautiful walking and bike trial from the casino strip to the Davis Dam, the city has done a nice job providing outdoor recreation as well as the casino attractions. The road across the top of the dam is closed to vehicle traffic, it's open to pedestrians and bikes. We rode to the top and found a good view and informative signs about the dam. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">We loved talking evening strolls along the River walk, it runs between the casinos and the river. Many of the casinos have large outdoor patio areas, we enjoyed a blues music festival one evening.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took a narrated cruise on the Colorado, beautiful evening skyline.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Laughlin has an interesting history, the town was started in 1966, hard to believe looking at the hustle and bustle today and think we’re older than this town! Yikes. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1964 Don Laughlin (from Minnesota) bought a boarded up 8 room motel and built it into the Riverside Resort which opened in 1966. The area was once home to the construction crews that built the Davis Dam, when the dam was completed the workers moved on, the little settlements dried up. Old foundations can still be explored along the walking/biking trail. From what we’ve read, Don Laughlin has donated millions to the community in which he still lives and can be seen frequenting his establishment and chatting with customers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">A most legendary story about a Laughlin resident. Mrs Lafferty, in her 70’s, had a home on the Colorado River. Happened to be on the strip where casinos were building. A casino/resort wanting that bit of property offered her $250,000, then $500,000 and later $1million tax free, all to which she refused. It was said she loved her home on the river and claimed there was no place she’d rather be. Then came a offer she couldn’t refuse…$2.5 million tax free, plus a suite on the top floor of a yet-to-be-built hotel tower at the Edgewater Casino, where she could live rent free for life. While the Edgewater was being built she spent some of her new fortune traveling the world and picking out furnishing for her new home. But she was never able to enjoy her new suite, she died a couple weeks before work was completed in 1991. Out of respect for her, the suite has never been rented on a permanent basis, it sits empty most the time. Her suite has the only balcony on the river side. (At the top left and you can make out her balcony.)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">Grapevine Canyon…</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few miles out of town is a great little hike into Grapevine Canyon, a natural spring flows thru the canyon keeping it lush and provides a water source for birds and big horn sheep. On the higher canyon walls are some well preserved petroglyphs that indicate the presence of ancient inhabitants. </span></span></div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-15527992914951604752017-04-23T22:21:00.001-07:002017-04-23T22:21:55.684-07:00<h2>
Lake Roosevelt AZ to Stonington CT</h2>
<h3>
March, April 2017 </h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The largest and most beautiful barrel cactus we've ever seen, they almost looked artificial. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Boyce Thompson Arboretum near the mining town of Superior AZ. Thousands of different cactus and plants from deserts around the world. Three miles of hiking trails and garden paths throughout. A beautiful relaxing day. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boojum tree in the arboretum. <br />These unusual tress are found in Baja California. <br />So intriguing, they looked like upside down carrots. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roosevelt Dam bridge, a favorite scenic viewpoint. The bridge is next to the Roosevelt Dam, it was built to take traffic off the Roosevelt Dam. Along with the Golden Gate and Brooklyn Bridges it was named one of the top 12 bridges in the nation for overall design, size and eye-appeal. It is the longest 2-lane, single span, steel arch bridge in North America. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sunset over Roosevelt Lake in Tonto Basin. Photo taken from our campground. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">How fortunate we are to be able to stay in beautiful places like this. More rain than usual this year has the lake up to 70% capacity. We remember last year it was down in the 40% range. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here we are at the Flagstaff airport waiting for our flight out to CT to visit our kids and grandson.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The San Francisco peaks are a stand-out in Flagstaff especially when snow capped. There's been more snow than normal this year which is a welcome event for the water shortages in AZ, the forests and deserts are very lush this spring. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Our kids live in Stonington Burough, the Burough is a very quaint Victorian village set on a spit of land jetting out into the Atlantic. I totally loved walking here. The old massive Victorian houses are spectacular. We walked to the ocean daily, only blocks away in three different directions. March was still a bit chilly, I kept thinking how beautiful it will be in summer. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A walk to the ocean and commercial fishing harbor. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many of the historic houses have plaques on them with dates they were built. This house was built in 1836 by a Captain Willcox, a crew member on a ship that had a part in discovering Antarctica.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amtrak runs close to their house, our grandson liked standing on the walking bridge over the tracks and watching the trains. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr5gPTvRu9Ojge_VLW56Q9x4iJNaPQClaX-dkOE2cs64A0Wl7dcyz4rtMvfJSDHijWH2nczWgIuTnfWTcrrgU2VAZwSPGMrcHBVVdzCS2hsYFgPsBescAgAgTbXUfSlp7WGXNEc5Je95f/s1600/IMG_1167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr5gPTvRu9Ojge_VLW56Q9x4iJNaPQClaX-dkOE2cs64A0Wl7dcyz4rtMvfJSDHijWH2nczWgIuTnfWTcrrgU2VAZwSPGMrcHBVVdzCS2hsYFgPsBescAgAgTbXUfSlp7WGXNEc5Je95f/s640/IMG_1167.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">About an hour north of Stonington is Newport, RI. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We took a drive to Newport and toured a couple of these old mansions along the coast. <span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Inside the famous Breakers Mansion built by Cornelius </span>Vanderbilt in 1895. Hard to fathom it was built as a summer cottage. Built on a cliff that overlooks the ocean with 70 rooms (many the size of a basketball court). The interior is decorated with marble, rare woods, gold leaf trims...you name it. Whatever it took to make a statement of wealth and status. It was something to see. Although I must say, it was very much for show, over-the-top, and a place I couldn't imagine living in...but then we're far from rich and live in a 30 ft motorhome...and yup, we're very happy. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such a great neighborhood for walks. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcNH1GdlXCooqzNZse2H3tbLtbopZJn10v-9Y1s3lq3sz-lQJ2fM09XgrvsmdgB6b-adTXi5ObXBc-MxLYAsv4LqY7rtdajzqrTmdJh5QHQO6xIJBsEEn6BvtnsIdeno5y2W3uG4BYyIZ/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcNH1GdlXCooqzNZse2H3tbLtbopZJn10v-9Y1s3lq3sz-lQJ2fM09XgrvsmdgB6b-adTXi5ObXBc-MxLYAsv4LqY7rtdajzqrTmdJh5QHQO6xIJBsEEn6BvtnsIdeno5y2W3uG4BYyIZ/s640/IMG_1248.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ocean is a block away. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Back in Arizona.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our new toy...looking forward to doing some "wheeling" in AZ this summer. </span></div>
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Our first little drive to the old ghost town of Two Guns. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidccAa485gBSb9R4RDCP_99ptVsouoL57OcxmSFCWqjsXdk1gPM7MBROhiFuLHrVefz5cyjrbj90OwgSwjDUTNZby_6XaVdqa34WU5PaF2XmJhniF8RERk9SYTEomUnTM2n3krWDc58FQI/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidccAa485gBSb9R4RDCP_99ptVsouoL57OcxmSFCWqjsXdk1gPM7MBROhiFuLHrVefz5cyjrbj90OwgSwjDUTNZby_6XaVdqa34WU5PaF2XmJhniF8RERk9SYTEomUnTM2n3krWDc58FQI/s400/IMG_1296.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I-40 is always a busy route, lots of semi trucks. </span></div>
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Today we got stuck in a traffic back-up near Kingman AZ, a bad accident miles ahead, three semi's had tangled and all rolled over. When we finally got to the scene, it was evicent one was carrying beer...Miller beer all over the highway. </div>
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We're onto to Boron CA, going to check out the Borax mine. </div>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-43554846304336593812017-04-08T09:16:00.003-07:002017-04-08T09:20:43.882-07:00<h2>
Lake Havasu, AZ: Winter Blast, Pyrotechnics Show (2/2017)</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAsH1eL5pd6255OYytmQCacVniw4yx3HVuv-B9lvHz9-jpjk2FjS6CJxeszD4JD6eKGc_OAzEROI822el-ILhC-hqQu1Q2MmCCUtdW27QR1pgIyL_qx-7CH7AXAhCSy8SZojGSbyputBe/s1600/Frame-20-02-2017-04-04-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAsH1eL5pd6255OYytmQCacVniw4yx3HVuv-B9lvHz9-jpjk2FjS6CJxeszD4JD6eKGc_OAzEROI822el-ILhC-hqQu1Q2MmCCUtdW27QR1pgIyL_qx-7CH7AXAhCSy8SZojGSbyputBe/s640/Frame-20-02-2017-04-04-32.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAsH1eL5pd6255OYytmQCacVniw4yx3HVuv-B9lvHz9-jpjk2FjS6CJxeszD4JD6eKGc_OAzEROI822el-ILhC-hqQu1Q2MmCCUtdW27QR1pgIyL_qx-7CH7AXAhCSy8SZojGSbyputBe/s1600/Frame-20-02-2017-04-04-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZiEzeZpPgo_jJrHAHQku5AQa_znCqsAtG_kg3UuFezdRm98P0DcC2uWc8dxFAPoZlXZbxmA0NgMi9CDMb9WFGZLBOUzMzKqc_ADEgdeZ0lrwVEE8yqdkcAf334kBC3IQ87XfI17LpbYk/s1600/Frame-20-02-2017-04-04-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZiEzeZpPgo_jJrHAHQku5AQa_znCqsAtG_kg3UuFezdRm98P0DcC2uWc8dxFAPoZlXZbxmA0NgMi9CDMb9WFGZLBOUzMzKqc_ADEgdeZ0lrwVEE8yqdkcAf334kBC3IQ87XfI17LpbYk/s640/Frame-20-02-2017-04-04-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The pyrotechnics show is a gathering of pyrotechnic (fireworks) manufacturers showing off and testing some of their new and most dazzling creations. </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Fireworks 4 nights in a row beginning about 6:00 and going until 10:00. </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The colors and different types were some like we'd never seen before. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">We camped at the Rodeo grounds in Lake Havasu which offers great viewing for the fireworks. Our campsite was located inside an arena, one of our more unusual spots to set up camp. The attendant showing us to our site opened up the gate and ushered us in. I can almost hear some in my family saying....."they finally locked em up", ha ha. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hiking with a friend we've met in our travels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hike appropriately named "the crack". Thanks to whoever propped up a ladder here. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hike ends with a beautiful view of Lake Havasu.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We plan to return to this event again next year. </span></td></tr>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-33328362552077272642017-02-17T13:28:00.001-08:002017-02-17T13:32:59.944-08:00<h2>
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Quartzsite, AZ, 1/2017</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The evening show from our campsite. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We look forward to the sunsets every night.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtX4MuqoqMqX0uBtD_zaAZnZ8rurLVBlwHrzoEqLTn5wzgtXt7jX8pSvppFTHf840pMR-wJ5RTdJPts-X1l5pn1e4SxwIWIKlLGxSwFnUCpLHpEqNXRCClRh0dzxBXMR0eoITYYBEYQuNf/s1600/IMG_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtX4MuqoqMqX0uBtD_zaAZnZ8rurLVBlwHrzoEqLTn5wzgtXt7jX8pSvppFTHf840pMR-wJ5RTdJPts-X1l5pn1e4SxwIWIKlLGxSwFnUCpLHpEqNXRCClRh0dzxBXMR0eoITYYBEYQuNf/s320/IMG_0205.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We had so much fun in Quartzsite last January, we decided to make a return visit. This year we boon-docked out in the Quartzsite desert with the Escapees, an organization made up of RV'ers, many are full-timers. The Boomers (baby-boomers) are a group within Escapees, they </span><span style="font-size: small;">have been boon-docking in this same desert spot for years. Also known as Boomerville.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Shake, rattle and roll....a bumpy rocky desert road on the way out to Boomerville. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I had a few things fall off the counter that have never fallen before. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boomerville...we're camped to the left behind the small Palo Verde trees. <br />We had a great time at Boomerville, met many fun people and some old friends we had met previously on the road. This is a very active group, there was always something going on. </span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many of the saguaros in this area looked like they were dying, not sure if it's from natural causes, past droughts or disease. This one however was most beautiful, especially in the late afternoon sunlight. We were impressed by the circumference of it's trunk. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Live for the moments you can't put in words."</span></span></div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-74507329586940863852017-02-02T19:53:00.000-08:002017-02-02T20:00:52.501-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lake Havasu AZ, 1/2017</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpKw0pPpEfJUhSbVZJYadabzK963XshbUJZPGK6BKvLcP6XjTbtNkWSSB9DtqrPNZvFt5lmLdQul8lIVPqTsRCWmIJ4mWHnxSRzkUn5hEWkd0oSYcyTeGLslocm-upq3vP-0H8sbUp2fk/s1600/IMG_9782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpKw0pPpEfJUhSbVZJYadabzK963XshbUJZPGK6BKvLcP6XjTbtNkWSSB9DtqrPNZvFt5lmLdQul8lIVPqTsRCWmIJ4mWHnxSRzkUn5hEWkd0oSYcyTeGLslocm-upq3vP-0H8sbUp2fk/s640/IMG_9782.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We enjoyed the Lake Havasu Balloon Festival so much so that we're seriously thinking about going to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival in October. This shot was taken from our camping area. Saturday was windy and rainy... a no fly day, disappointing. But Sunday made up for it, we awoke to this beautiful morning, balloons were up at sunrise. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sunrise over Lake Havasu. Pilots thrill on-lookers by touching their baskets on the water.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Lake Havasu is a beautiful city to visit. There are walking trails and nice parks on both sides of this channel which we took advantage of daily. The London Bridge crosses over the channel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">An evening at the London Bridge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interesting history...this is the original London Bridge from England. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">London planned to replace the bridge when it was falling in disrepair, a businessman and founder of Lake Havasu bought the bridge in 1968. As the bridge was torn down, each granite brick and was numbered and charted, it was shipped to CA then trucked to Havasu where it was reassembled. The bridge was dedicated in 1971, it's a big attraction for tourists who appreciate it's beauty and to walk across the historic London Bridge. The bridge also serves as access to a good sized island where we camped. The ballon festival was also on the island. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Desert Bar...very unique and so worth the drive into the Buckskin mountains on a rough desert road. It was built from the ruins of an old mining camp. It's been a labor of love for the owner/builder who has spent years adding to what began as a small "watering hole". The saloon is on the right, the slanted roof is solar panels. The saloon is completely powered by solar, it is only open Saturday and Sundays from noon until sundown. The owner lives on the property so visitors are only welcome when the saloon is open for business. Weather was a bit iffy this day, but no rain. After having a bite to eat and listening to the live music, we hiked around the surrounding hills where evidence of old mining can be seen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another creation at the Desert Bar is the iconic steel church. It's basically a walk-thru arch with a steeple, it's very cool looking from a distance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a popular backdrop for wedding photos <i>and</i> for taking a photo of our jeep. :)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another event at the balloon festival was the night glow, also referred to as<br />"fire in the sky". <br />The pilots fill their ballons and at a set time the music starts and the announcer gives the word to "light em up".</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another event on the same weekend was "Buses at the Bridge", VW owners with their buses camp at the state park by the London Bridge. It's a weekend car show of VW buses dating back to the 1950's. I've always had a fondness for VW's of any kind. This bus was very cool with it's matching pull behind trailer. There were also buses that looked like rust buckets but they still had charm and character. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We stopped by on Sunday when the show was wrapping up, perfect timing...was like a parade as we watched all the buses heading out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">How cool is this bus...love the windows and sun roof.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">All from Lake Havasu...next stop Quartzite and boon-docking at Boomerville. </span></span></div>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-68257747315298184332017-01-19T19:13:00.002-08:002017-01-19T19:40:41.726-08:00<h2>
Bisbee, AZ 11/16</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A day trip while staying in Benson was to the town of Bisbee, a mining town founded in the late 1900's. Copper, gold and silver were mined in this area. After mining operations ceased in 1975 Bisbee became a popular place for artists and tourists. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We were told the streets were narrow but we didn't expect this narrow, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having little flat land to work with, the town grew up on a mountainside, stairs were often built on the hillsides instead of building streets. Most of the staircases found in Bisbee today started as dirt paths uses by residents and mules to carry supplies to the houses perched on steep hillsides. The stairs go from one street level to the next. There are still many houses in Bisbee that are only accessible by stairs. (Interesting side note…moving companies delivering to Bisbee check the house location before agreeing to deliver.)</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Each year Bisbee has a running race/stair climb called the Bisbee 1000. The race includes a total of 1,034 stairs spread over 9 different stair cases. We got a workout just sight seeing in this town. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stair rails between the green house and corner of white deck lead upward to the level above where you can see the deck of another house. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Loved walking around town with the old buildings, eclectic eateries and shops. Many of the houses have unique art incorporated into their yards, some creative upscaling here, note the car door used for a gate </span></span></span></div>
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The old town of Lowell...</h2>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When looking for a lunch spot and checking reviews, a diner called the Bisbee Breakfast Club was our choice, “good food, reasonable, a favorite of locals” and just a couple miles from down town Bisbee. We plugged the address into our GPS and low and behold we ended up in this strange looking neighborhood. It was as if we were morphed back into the 1950’s. The street, only a couple blocks long, seemed frozen in time and deserted…old buildings, cars and stores closed up. The once open-pit copper mine (over 800 ft deep and 5,000 ft long) is directly behind this street. We looked around somewhat bewildered, thinking our GPS was craaazzzy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then we spotted the Bisbee Breakfast Club at the end of the block. The outside didn’t look like much, but it seemed busy, the inside was a nice surprise. The decor was eclectic, modern and clean, as were the patrons. Much different than the outside appearance. Food was very good, yeah for Trip Advisor reviews. After doing some research we learned Lowell was once a mining town bordering Bisbee. Most the original town site was consumed by the excavation of the open-pit copper mine. Many houses were moved or torn down. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">All that’s left of downtown Lowell is the few blocks of Erie Street. Now that I know more of the history, I’d like to go back again, it was a great place for photography, not knowing any of the history beforehand, our first impression of Erie street was frankly little “eerie”.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This picture isn't the greatest, however, I think interesting. The buildings in the background sit on the edge of the large open pit copper mine which closed in the 1970's. The old town of Lowell, where we found our diner sits behind the buildings.<br />That's all from Bisbee...a great place to visit. </span></td></tr>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-27414118795947212752017-01-10T19:51:00.003-08:002017-01-10T20:15:23.792-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Benson, AZ 11/16</h2>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the Escapees park we stayed at while in Benson. Escapees is a club made up of RV people, we joined Escapees about a year ago, a good move on our part. This Co-op park is managed and owned by the Escapee members that are lease holders in the park. It ranks high on our list with great amenities, activities and fun friendly people. We hope to return. </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Our site had a cement pad for parking the RV and a casita (Spanish for small dwelling). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We enjoyed having the patio to use. The lots in the park are all different, most have casitas decorated beautifully with nice landscaping. It was fun walking around just looking at all the creative things people did with their lots.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is what you do if you have a snake at your site. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wondered who volunteered to take care of the "deposits".</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">A visit to Tombstone...</span><span style="font-size: small;">a short drive from Benson. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gunfight at the OK Corral.</span></div>
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Perhaps the most famous shootout in the history of the Wild West. The gunfight was the end result of a feud between a band of outlaw cowboys and the Earps. The Earps had been the target of repeated death threats because of their interference in the cowboy’s illegal activities. On an October afternoon in 1881 things came to a head and the gunfight went down in history. When the the smoke cleared, three of the outlaws were killed. Doc Holiday, Virgil and Morgan Earp (the marshall) were wounded, Wyatt was unharmed.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">The ghost town of Fairbank. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Fairbank was occupied from 1881-1973. It was founded during the Tombtone silver rush.Fairbank became a railroad hub and served as Tombstone’s train depot. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the years, the town had a hotel, saloons, post office, school, businesses and a stagecoach stop. The train depot closed in 1966 at that point most the jobs in town also dried up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were amazed to learn the Mercantile continued as a store, post office and gas station until 1972. When it finally closed…so did Fairbank.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Post office at Fairbank.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">The Boquillas Ranch</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The Boquillas Ranch was a large cattle ranch near Fairbank that dates back well over 100 years. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Now abandoned, the land was acquired in 1986 by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). It’s now part of a large conservation area with wetlands and the San Pedro river running through it.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 2 mile hike down an old dirt 2-track road revealed the old ranch. The dirt track is closed to motorized traffic but open to hikers and bikers. We were blown away when we reached the ranch, remains of what was once a large ranch stood quiet, in a tall grassy field, subcoming to age. The old weathered barn is much larger than we expected and more beautiful. The ranch house is boarded up. It was so peaceful here. How nice to explore with no vandelisim or grafetti in sight. It’s a ways off the beaten path and not much publized. A volunteer at the little schoolhouse museum told us about it when we asked about hiking. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Feeding area in the barn.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Old gas pump at the ranch. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I love old buildings and the weathered wood. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">I hope preservation of this ranch takes place, it’s so historic and beautiful.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">About a 40 minute drive from Benson is Tucson and the Saguaro National Park. The park consists of thousands of acres...full of saguaros and hiking trails. We love hiking in the desert and among the majestic saguaros. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Before leaving Benson we visited Bisbee an old mining town...tune in for next blog on Bisbee. </span></span><br />
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-71684310324509923612016-11-12T15:08:00.004-08:002016-11-12T15:12:06.782-08:00<h2>
Congress, AZ Oct. 2016</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">This was our first time Congress and surrounding area. We were pleasantly surprised. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">I think we were expecting desert with not much else around. We met some great people here and started doing things together from day one. From Cowboy church to learning to play Pickle Ball.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Sunsets were a highlight everyday. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another sunset...view from our campground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">On our way to hike (climb) Vulture Peak near Wickenburg. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The last couple miles on a dirt road to the trailhead pass by this Cholla field. The needles of the Cholla are incredibly sharp. It's often referred to as Jumping Cholla because the tiniest touch against the cactus will have a bunch break off and stick to whatever touched it. Shoe, pant leg or if really unlucky your arm. I read where areas like this are a sign of over grazing from years back, the cactus takes over like an invasive weed. With that being said, it had a beauty of it's own. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Vulture Peak, the rounded dome, that's our destination. <br />I took this picture from the trailhead, our hike starts here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The main trail leads to the "saddle" middle area between the two mountains. The views in the saddle were awesome. However we learned there was a scramble of a path that would get us to the very top. </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">At the top a metal box with a notebook awaits for successful hikers to sign. We were determined. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Continuing upward to the top of Vulture Peak, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">View from Vulture Peak. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Signing the book on Vulture Peak. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Next stop, the Chamber of Commerce in Wickenburg. They give hikers a certificate for climbing to the top. (Doesn't take much to get us excited, ha ha). </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Downtown Wickenburg has several statues, the detail is incredible on these works of art. <br />This statue named "Thanks for the rain." <br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> We really like the town of Wickenburg, about 12 miles from our Congress campground. It's a cowboy town, the team roping capital of the world. The roping season was just beginning, it runs from Nov -April. There are several arenas in town that hold weekly events. Many signs around town are welcoming the ropers back, it's a big deal here.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Another statue in Wickenburg, a tribute to the miners. <br />Again, the detail so impressive and realistic. It felt like this guy was looking right at us.<br />All for now from Congress and Wickenburg, our next stop will be Benson. </span></td></tr>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-34708472624613138162016-11-12T15:08:00.002-08:002016-11-12T15:08:44.993-08:00<h2>
Congress, AZ Oct. 2016</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">This was our first time Congress and surrounding area. We were pleasantly surprised. I think we were expecting desert with not much else around. We met some great people here and started doing things together from day one. From Cowboy church to learning to play Pickle Ball.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Sunsets were a highlight everyday. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another sunset...view from our campground.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">On our way to hike (climb) Vulture Peak near Wickenburg. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The last couple miles on a dirt road to the trailhead pass by this Cholla field. The needles of the Cholla are incredibly sharp. It's often referred to as Jumping Cholla because the tiniest touch against the cactus will have a bunch break off and stick to whatever touched it. Shoe, pant leg or if really unlucky your arm. I read where areas like this are a sign of over grazing from years back, the cactus takes over like an invasive weed. With that being said, it had a beauty of it's own. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vulture Peak, the rounded dome, that's our destination. <br />I took this picture from the trailhead, our hike starts here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small; text-align: left;">The main trail leads to the "saddle" middle area between the two mountains. The views in the saddle were awesome. However we learned there was a scramble of a path that would get us to the very top. </span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small; text-align: left;">At the top a metal box with a notebook awaits for successful hikers to sign. We were determined. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Continuing upward to the top of Vulture Peak, </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Signing the book on Vulture Peak. <br /><div style="text-align: left;">
Next stop, the Chamber of Commerce in Wickenburg. They give hikers a certificate for climbing to the top. (Doesn't take much to get us excited, ha ha). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Downtown Wickenburg has several statues, the detail is incredible on these works of art. <br />This statue named "Thanks for the rain." <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
We really like the town of Wickenburg, about 12 miles from our Congress campground. It's a cowboy town, the team roping capital of the world. The roping season was just beginning, it runs from Nov -April. There are several arenas in town that hold weekly events. Many signs around town are welcoming the ropers back, it's a big deal here.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another statue in Wickenburg, a tribute to the miners. <br />Again, the detail so impressive and realistic. It felt like this guy was looking right at us.<br />All for now from Congress and Wickenburg, our next stop will be Benson. </span></td></tr>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-72436803706616225782016-11-08T15:39:00.001-08:002016-11-08T15:39:52.137-08:00<h2>
Fall, 2016...Wisconsin -Two Guns - Rt 66 - Prescott </h2>
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Since I haven't been keeping up on our blog, I'll be doing some catch up.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had a wonderful time in WI visiting family and friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Beaver Dam Lake in Cumberland is one of our all time favorite spots, it's peaceful, beautiful and the water crystal clear. Nice sunsets too! </span><br />
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Lambeau Field... a very special place for us Cheeseheads. </div>
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WI Badgers - LSU game (WI wins!)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iowa, Pikes Peak State Park - Our first night's stop after leaving northern WI.<br />Bluff overlooking the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers where they join together. <br />There's a very nice campground here.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">While staying at Meteor Crater RV park near Winslow, we often walked old Rt 66, now abandoned and part of a ranch. </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Rt 66, (a.k.a The Mother Road), made it’s way from the midwest, thru Arizona, to the CA coast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The owner of the ranch allows people from the park to walk here. We found an old rusted headlight, the type that would be mounted on top a big fender. I was envisioning people traveling this rutted dusty road back in the 1930’s. It was a major pathway for those migrating westward especially during the dust bowl, later years more vacation travel. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ruins from Two Guns on old Rt 66</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Businesses sprang up along the way, gas stations, diners and tourist attractions. About 5 miles from our campground on old Rt 66 is the ghost town of Two Guns situated on the edge Canyon Diablo. We rode our bikes to Two Guns, explored and again imagined what it must have been like back in the day. There’s a great deal of history here, some not so good. Dating back to 1878, the Apaches and Navajos had a very deadly confrontation here. Later years a trading post was built, then a lodge overlooking the canyon. With travel becoming popular, a make shift zoo was added to attract more tourists. Crumbling adobe buildings, busted wire cages, a faded Mountain Lion sign all remain. A gas station and campground were later additions, also in a crumbling state. When I-40 bypassed Two Guns (I think in the 60’s) and other small towns along Rt 66, these tourist towns dried up. Over the years, Two Guns had several people attempt to open new ventures, fires and other mis-adventures all led to failures, according to Indian lore it’s a haunted and cursed ground. There are entire books written about Two Guns and it’s history. We love this kind of exploring and learning about past history of these unique locations. What’s really cool about Two Guns is it’s a ghost town not a tourist trap, there are no signs, no paved sidewalks or souvenir shops.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As we're riding back from Two Guns, cattle cross old Rt 66. One rule for using this road is if a gate is closed be sure to close it behind you. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The trees on the far horizon is our RV park. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">While staying in Prescott, we found a great bike trail along Watson Lake, the Peavine Trail. Beautiful scenery! I had to slam on my brakes when we came upon a large snake sunning itself on the trail. It wasn't a rattler, but the size freaked me out, especially since I didn't see it until my better half (riding behind me) yelled "SNAKE!" that's when I hit the brakes and stopped just a few feet short of it. (Our son and wife might remember hiking here in the boulders a few years back when they visited us.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMdE6BEHFTMMYAm7ZWLDvX6p9hiV1z8a28cCYoQ5NVyUI1VXfJJ3UNQab8YmO3PUjjwHXaEdbJ6egWtQvLl3A1QApF__AyB6S399UPHn4LovYNG-9tl9jMqmtBQjkYYsBBlCS3aI7XePa/s1600/IMG_8772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMdE6BEHFTMMYAm7ZWLDvX6p9hiV1z8a28cCYoQ5NVyUI1VXfJJ3UNQab8YmO3PUjjwHXaEdbJ6egWtQvLl3A1QApF__AyB6S399UPHn4LovYNG-9tl9jMqmtBQjkYYsBBlCS3aI7XePa/s400/IMG_8772.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">We really like Prescott. It’s an old cowboy town that has maintained it’s feel of days gone by. Lovely quaint downtown with a courthouse square, huge white courthouse in the middle, very enjoyable place to walk. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">One side of the square is named Whiskey Row as it was back in the late 1800’s, it’s now listed as a Historic District. The street was lined with saloons. One in particular was quite famous, The Palace. In 1900 a massive fire burned the entire block of whiskey row, the wooden buildings had little chance of surviving. The locals knew there was no hope in putting out the fire so they carried the beautiful wooden bar and a large wooden ice chest out of the Palace across the street to where the courthouse sits today. Rebuilding started soon after the fire, this time using brick as building material. The original bar was put back into the newly constructed Palace which was completed in 1901. The Palace remains in operation today and looks very much like it did 100 years ago. Entering through the wooden swinging bar doors reminded me of the Gunsmoke shows we watched. On weekends there are people that (volunteer) dress in attire of that period. Civil war soldiers, lawmen etc. These guys greet patrons and talk history, they’re very knowledgeable historians and so interesting. We talked to an older “lawman” for quite some time, come to find out, he really was a lawman, retired police officer from Massachusetts. We learned Virgil Earp lived in Prescott. His brother Wyatt and Doc Holiday spent a lot of time in Prescott with Virgil, this was before they headed to Tombstone where the famous Shoot out at the OK Corral took place. The lawman/historian told us as we sat at the bar (eating our cheese curds), that Wyatt Earp, Virgil and Doc Holiday had all leaned on the very same bar. I just thought that was so cool as my mind wandered back 100 years. He also said they wouldn’t have been sitting on bar stools as we were, the patrons back then all stood at the bar. (I do remember watching the old westerns, most the cowboys did stand.) </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">At White Spar, our Prescott Campground</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Acorn Woodpeckers peck holes in the bark of these tall pines then fill them with acorns to store up for the winter. We have a couple trees by our campsite that must have a thousand holes in. They only penetrate deep enough into the thick bark to hold an acorn, it does not kill the tree. It was entertaining watching them as they fly back and forth filling the holes with acorns. Was quite the scene when a squirrel climbed the tree and tried to steal an acorn, the woodpeckers won, they chased that squirrel around and squawked like crazy. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The abandoned Senator Mine near Prescott</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the longest operating mines in the region, 1860's -1918. Gold, silver and copper were all mined here. The tunnel leads deep into the mountain, a stream of water seeps out of the opening. At one time there was a small settlement here with a post office and other businesses. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An steel skeleton remains at the mine site. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It was a mill of some sort to process the ore before it was transported down the mountain. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We continued on past the Senator Mine, the road turns into a 4 wheel drive road. <br />The views spectacular. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A young couple at our campground in Prescott build this 5th wheel. They're very talented. </span></div>
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The interior even more awesome. They've had such an interest in their "home" that they're considering building units to sell. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Visiting Don Robinson's Gold King Mine Collection.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">While in Prescott, we drove up Mingus Mountain to the old mining town of Jerome. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Our destination was to revisit the long closed Gold King Mine located a short drive from downtown Jerome. We first visited this place when Ryan and Erin were with us several years ago. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Story goes….about 30 years ago an interesting fella (Don Robinson) bought the closed mine and started his ever growing collection of old mining equipment, unique old trucks, tractors and whatever else. He opened the old mine grounds to the public to share his collection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Being a master mechanic he kept many things in his collection in running order. He had a couple saw mills, one powered by a 1943 submarine engine he bought from a military sale. (The sawmills are still sawing wood.) He had a beautiful vintage race car, which he started up for us with the crank start. At one time he raced this car in vintage car races. He certainly looks like an old miner; hat, beard and all…he even had a mule on the property, named Pedro. There are rows of faded rusted trucks, (he liked Studebakers), fuel tankers, dump trucks, old buses and firetrucks. I quickly changed my first impression of thinking this was a junk yard to thinking this is a vehicle heaven, where vehicles can die peacefully on a mountain top and not succumb to the crusher. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">There’s something about seeing an old rusted truck resting peacefully among the wildflowers and trees. On this return visit we were so looking forward to visiting with Mr Robinson again, but we sadly learned he had turned very ill and passed away only weeks ago. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">He charged very little to get into his wonder land, his enjoyment came from talking to people and showing them around. I don’t know how anybody can carry on as he did… we wonder what will become of his collection and gold mine. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">His vintage race car. </span></td></tr>
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Truck named "The Other Woman"</div>
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A sign along the driveway into this place says <span style="font-size: large;">"Rust in Peace"</span>.<br />
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-32359930092436544222016-11-02T20:49:00.000-07:002016-11-02T20:53:01.594-07:00<h2>
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Flagstaff & Prescott AZ, 10/2016</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were fortunate to be in northern Arizona to catch some fall colors.<br />The view from Flagstaff's Snow Bowl Ski area. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Loved walking in the stands of Aspen trees.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Williams AZ, an old Rt 66 town. <br />Old gas stations, motels and diners line old Rt 66, which is the main street through Williams. The town has done a great job preserving the old buildings which gives it a western cowboy town feel. Outdoor dining, musicians playing on outdoor patios and the train depot where the Grand Canyon Excursion train departs daily makes this a great town to visit and walk around. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Ponderosa Pine at our campsite in Prescott. If you look closely you'll see hundreds of small round holes in the bark. Here we learned about the Acorn Woodpecker. They peck round holes in the thick part of the bark, only penetrating deep enough to stuff an acorn in. It does not kill the tree. The woodpeckers fill the holes with acorns for the upcoming winter months. We enjoyed watching them at work, they're very busy this time of year. Funniest was when a squirrel climbed the tree and took an acorn, he had several woodpeckers squawking and chasing him, it was quite a commotion.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYiZV74pLNCOutlLMTzm2tyiMsOAxaoaq9Sxa0lHaGzPopBIwq4rYkcoVgnHmt8ihoBU1nK68_s3fu712XywQO314p7d85TF-l5w49Nwjko3dvVEXkuUVbKdYDxlM1ga1vpT1xA4HFR5X/s1600/IMG_8841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYiZV74pLNCOutlLMTzm2tyiMsOAxaoaq9Sxa0lHaGzPopBIwq4rYkcoVgnHmt8ihoBU1nK68_s3fu712XywQO314p7d85TF-l5w49Nwjko3dvVEXkuUVbKdYDxlM1ga1vpT1xA4HFR5X/s640/IMG_8841.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My favorite RV so far! I could live in this one forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A young, very talented, couple built this 5th wheel, it's amazing. Note all the little windows across the top, they fashioned it to take on the look of an old railroad car. The interior even more impressive, rustic and so well done. They were the talk ("rock stars") of the campground. </span></div>
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rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-67996604274716339712016-10-16T10:03:00.001-07:002016-10-16T10:08:22.275-07:00rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-88683820452464846602016-10-16T10:03:00.000-07:002016-10-16T10:08:09.989-07:00<h2>
Sunrise at the Grand Canyon, Oct. 2016</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunrise at the Grand Canyon...another check-off on the bucket list.<br />We got up at 5:00am for the drive to the Grand Canyon to watch the sunrise. We were amazed to see a line of cars at the entrance gate when we arrived. Simply put, the sunrise was beautiful. Even with all the people, it was so quiet and peaceful...we were in church...we were in awe of this place. Couldn't help but look up and praise God. The sunrise show slips by quickly, the colors in every direction change by the minutes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mather Point, a popular overlook at the visitors center. <br />People were perched on every view point that was accessible. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">After sunrise we started our hike into the Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail, our destination being Skeleton Point. Above is a pit toilet at Cedar Point about 1.5 miles down from the rim. The cowboys did some cleaning and maintenance checks, the toilets are composting using solar power and other creative practices. (Much better than my initial thought of having to haul the "stuff" out.) One mule was loaded with several white buckets, not sure what they were used for? There weren't many open spots on the trail, most of the trail is narrow with rock walls on the inner side and a drop off on the canyon side. It's a beautiful trail, very scenic in all directions. We chose this trail over the more popular Bright Angel trail because it is less traveled and used by the mule trains. We had lunch at Skeleton Point, the views amazing with our first view of the Colorado River at the bottom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Yellow caution sign posted on the building reads: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"CAUTION, DOWN IS OPTIONAL </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">UP IS MANDATORY"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mule trains haul supplies to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. There is also a service that hauls overnight hikers gear into the canyon. There is a $70.00 fee per backpack each way, the weight limit being 30lbs. We were thrilled to meet the mule trains. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mule train takes a short rest at Cedar Point.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If there's a negative about this trail, it's the trail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Going down was enjoyable and quite easy. Going up not so much. Not only is it a steep climb for </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3 miles, but many stretches are very rutted with uneven steps, the ruts are from all the mule traffic. Instead of looking about at the views, one had to look down and watch where your feet were landing. Funny thing...I didn't notice all the steep switchbacks going down. </span></div>
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A 7 mile hike... another challenging trek completed, so worth it!</div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-85923511646336128232016-05-18T18:35:00.001-07:002016-07-14T09:39:40.745-07:00<h3>
Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River, 5/2016</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Staging area... Rafters preparing for their raft trip down the canyon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Lee’s Ferry - located about 8 miles south of Page AZ (& the Glen Canyon Dam) on the Colorado River. Here the river begins it’s twisting journey into the Grand Canyon. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Rafters “Running the Colorado River” begin their trip here. To protect the Grand Canyon and it’s beauty, permits are required to raft down the river, only a limited number are issued. There are 2 types of rafting trips, private and commercial. Private rafters can wait as long as 10 years for a permit. Trips last from 3 to 18 days. The 3 day trips involve a people exchange at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. A tour company flies people in and out of the canyon by helicopter to make the exchange.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Lee’s Ferry got it’s beginning in the early 1870’s, the leaders of the Mormon church in Utah wanted to colonize Arizona, but the Colorado River blocked the way. Lee’s Ferry was the only place for hundreds of miles that a trail could be built to access the river (the Colorado for the most part has steep cliffs on both sides). In 1871 John Lee began his ferry operation and started a small settlement nearby. John Lee was actually running from the law due to his involvement in a massacre spearheaded by Mormons in Utah. He was arrested, tried and executed 6 years later. The ferry operation was passed onto another Mormon, the ferry </span>service operated <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">for 40+ more years. Ferry service ended as a bridge was completed over the Colorado. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raft loaded with food and camping gear. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tour companies supply the food (even prepare the meals) and all the camping gear needed for the trip, the gear is carried on seperate rafts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">I talked to a rafter preparing for departure down the river the next morning. He was part of a private group with several rafters. They expected to be on the river 18 days, 225 miles to their take-out point. What an adventure. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bridge over the Colorado near Lee's Ferry.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hiking Cathedral Wash at Lee's Ferry. Great hike with part being in a slot canyon, some boulder scrambling required. The canyon hike was about 2 miles down to the Colorado River. Our timing was perfect, we reached the river just as several rafters were passing by.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lonely Dell Ranch - a Mormon settlement and home to families who operated Lee’s Ferry. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">The last private owners planted an orchard back in the 60’s. Today it is still maintained by the National Park Service, visitors are allowed to pick ripe fruit for their eating enjoyment. (Within limits and not to be re-sold). We picked apricots, the trees were loaded with the fruit, the orchard was beautiful and well maintained. </span></span></div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-1572301578514654802016-04-19T21:02:00.001-07:002016-04-19T21:02:41.290-07:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Zion National Park, April 2016</h2>
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I haven't been keeping up with our blog all that well...we've had such a great visit in Zion that I decided to do a Zion blog. At some point I will back track and catch up...we have seen some amazing places since the last blog from Quartzite until now. </div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwt1_jI7eNMDLQE_7jIOrTVQO60wUjq7AQf2_GGD1Fb-lnfChWC7UZ8lXwyaZmUAUEdh9tymt1Pg_vWPNvABa3Ftn8YcZ8PxKakaQykvOQs-e0JBU3TGh-38oO7xEzvkVwioXn3Q5IGQrb/s1600/IMG_5773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwt1_jI7eNMDLQE_7jIOrTVQO60wUjq7AQf2_GGD1Fb-lnfChWC7UZ8lXwyaZmUAUEdh9tymt1Pg_vWPNvABa3Ftn8YcZ8PxKakaQykvOQs-e0JBU3TGh-38oO7xEzvkVwioXn3Q5IGQrb/s400/IMG_5773.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Watchman Campground in Zion Park. </span><span style="font-size: small;">We lucked out, due to a cancellation, we landed this site. The Virgin River is right below the split rail fence with mountains behind it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Can't beat this for a dinner table with a view!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Along the trail on one of our hikes in Zion. I look pretty small amidst the huge rocks. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another beautiful view on one of our hikes. The Virgin River flows through the canyon, this is the same river that's behind our campsite. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Angels Landing, probably the most challenging hike we've ever done. This area was called Scouts Lookout, many people turn around at this point. The brave (or crazy) continue on another mile up the ridge to the very top. The views are breathtaking to say the least. Although most the time I couldn't look down, sheer cliffs of 1,000 ft drops on both sides of the ridge. Yup, we were pretty proud of ourselves. Checked it off our bucket list. Great hike but we probably wouldn't do it again, once is enough.<br />Back in the day...before the trail was developed...it was said nobody could make it to the top except the angels...thus the name, Angels Landing. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chains in certain areas help with scrambling up the rocks and hanging onto the mountain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Near the top...sheer cliff over the edge. <br />The Virgin River can be seen below.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The hikers (red shirts) below are making their way upward through a series of 21 switchbacks called Walter's Wiggles. Named after a man who helped develop this trail many years ago. I was thinking of my dad when on Walter's Wiggles. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6gFF5CyTRdjZMC0ePUkU4SnBgjG0gnhki76k6kK7zRjGe0c1GbZyYbiRxxXTXrN15BBA7IQfXlw8hVIz9GsvUzBJjVJSUaAgDTiL2NmpsnlRKtCG4pBhmH4eIoXfQ30jUmjnwoClFrl0/s1600/IMG_5604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6gFF5CyTRdjZMC0ePUkU4SnBgjG0gnhki76k6kK7zRjGe0c1GbZyYbiRxxXTXrN15BBA7IQfXlw8hVIz9GsvUzBJjVJSUaAgDTiL2NmpsnlRKtCG4pBhmH4eIoXfQ30jUmjnwoClFrl0/s640/IMG_5604.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Zion is beauty beyond words, so colorful, one of the most beautiful places we've had the privilege of visiting. This entire adventure is such a privilege and blessing. </span></td></tr>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-22060120744965730882016-03-02T20:17:00.000-08:002016-03-02T20:17:24.260-08:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<u>More from Quartzsite AZ, (Jan 2016)</u></h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Day trip to Yuma from Quartzsite.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">While visiting our friends in Yuma, they gave us the grand tour of this city. Much agriculture here, the fields were brilliant green with several different kinds of lettuce growing. Other produce growing included spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and onions. We stopped at a farmers market and bought some fresh fruit and vegetables. </span></div>
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They drove us a little further south to the border town of San Luis. We were surprised to see this border wall, it's 20 feet high, a steel curtain of sorts. They say it's effective here, although a wall of this type only exists in certain areas on the border. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Another day trip was a drive north to Parker AZ, we followed the Colorado River which separates California and Arizona. We found these wild burros in a little wayside on the river. They didn't seem too wild, although this was as close as we got. I think they're looking for a hand out or picnic left overs. They were fun to watch. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Colorado River.<br />We were surprised at how clean the water is and such a beautiful blue color.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr8lX2qBaKkQ35PaWFEAuQv8V0L_RrI09FJn40Cb8QlSupy7Z1OZ1_OV-lLRZ54KlkTiKktR2PwQyv-BTYzqIBUxr_sjbFAXxq6caFPos9y1-x9q7CY8LkesMAng70-YtdBqQiqP1fYOO/s1600/IMG_4247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr8lX2qBaKkQ35PaWFEAuQv8V0L_RrI09FJn40Cb8QlSupy7Z1OZ1_OV-lLRZ54KlkTiKktR2PwQyv-BTYzqIBUxr_sjbFAXxq6caFPos9y1-x9q7CY8LkesMAng70-YtdBqQiqP1fYOO/s400/IMG_4247.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We drove to Parker to see what the "Parker 425, Blast in the Desert" was all about. <br />It's an off-road race that covers 425 miles in the desert, it was exciting and amazing to see. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AtFzVUay4gFqWVDpCV_i2SWYJOR4eMs5TOyY5tBH5aH4OJHfOGiP2eGkWiHKYtirbvtcTSS49EW5UukTCIoMpLesoQyit_w0i9o376WuaZ_n4ghDkCKTB6Gd34osC4TfxTCl_ZJphgOt/s1600/IMG_3996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AtFzVUay4gFqWVDpCV_i2SWYJOR4eMs5TOyY5tBH5aH4OJHfOGiP2eGkWiHKYtirbvtcTSS49EW5UukTCIoMpLesoQyit_w0i9o376WuaZ_n4ghDkCKTB6Gd34osC4TfxTCl_ZJphgOt/s400/IMG_3996.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remnants of another abandoned mine near Quartzsite.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEo2szQ1K3jwgSdhISTNangvK3AJY6hkUvkZlWL0e6RWnKmpQ_1kstO5eKNg0r45wJ_bL7IezHFHG_UrOqvee7SEIZMz3t9dwYMMqZmcvR9_9bq6o_Ujp2h3QUbSjKYXLuC1Ok_K8Zdpf/s1600/IMG_4062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEo2szQ1K3jwgSdhISTNangvK3AJY6hkUvkZlWL0e6RWnKmpQ_1kstO5eKNg0r45wJ_bL7IezHFHG_UrOqvee7SEIZMz3t9dwYMMqZmcvR9_9bq6o_Ujp2h3QUbSjKYXLuC1Ok_K8Zdpf/s320/IMG_4062.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Native American grinding holes near Quartzsite. <br /><div style="text-align: left;">
We joined in a group tour with the Escapees Geocachers. (More on Geocaching later. ) My friend and I are demonstrating how the Native American women ground corn into flour. This is the site of an ancient settlement, the surrounding cliffs have interesting petroglyphs.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DF3Xt4K8eFfYLIS47m4iC4lWUS22LQsYGI2Ev5KOMXjfYdzNtRGv7OhgMQ5_WIW5bcYXNmH5HhPNJEX8VkbqiEysVXC45TpLxyCSQZQ6Ilea_Gh7qPlhWIhpXppldjaU6FOAaPmq6iQe/s1600/IMG_4077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DF3Xt4K8eFfYLIS47m4iC4lWUS22LQsYGI2Ev5KOMXjfYdzNtRGv7OhgMQ5_WIW5bcYXNmH5HhPNJEX8VkbqiEysVXC45TpLxyCSQZQ6Ilea_Gh7qPlhWIhpXppldjaU6FOAaPmq6iQe/s400/IMG_4077.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've been learning about geocaching and are thoroughly enjoying this new activity. Geocaches have taken us to places we wouldn't have discovered on our own, often times interesting history is associated with the placement of the geocache. Here is one of our first geocache finds, (see tin box under stump), somebody put a fake snake there which got quite a reaction out of me. ha ha.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY4MGgnZYedycd_HPHsQzcf8FKsYY0T4KNu0b8MmrIuHj6nGSomW_01kqQfNdVwq1ESJrvG2uQHzNZ58INWha9DIt1I2gAmQ-mwfNsIpo9lUYGTHIwTqcFld4w_EfeQY-Z1_CKPb4OPZR/s1600/IMG_4079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY4MGgnZYedycd_HPHsQzcf8FKsYY0T4KNu0b8MmrIuHj6nGSomW_01kqQfNdVwq1ESJrvG2uQHzNZ58INWha9DIt1I2gAmQ-mwfNsIpo9lUYGTHIwTqcFld4w_EfeQY-Z1_CKPb4OPZR/s400/IMG_4079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">We found another geocache a few miles out of Quartzite, this desert area is known as Company B. It was a training ground for the military during WWII, General Patton was stationed here for a time. Rocks served as boundaries for roads or tent placements. We also found a big letter "B" drawn out with rocks. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another day trip was to the abandoned mining town of Swansea. The town once had a population near 300 residents. The mines first closed in 1912. New owners restarted the mining operations and continued on for several years. The post office closed in 1924 as population decreased, by 1937 the mines were shut down for good and Swansea became a ghost town. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Huge metal cover over one of the deep mine shafts at Swansea.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
The shaft goes straight down, we couldn't see the bottom. Swansea is listed as a Historic Town Site, interesting signage tells of the history and the layout of the town. Some of the old housing units are being restored, others have crumbled to the ground and all that remains is an outline of adobe rubble. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful colors in rocks at Swansea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I don't know what the minerals are in these rocks </span><span style="font-size: small;">but the colors were outstanding. Wondering if the turquoise color is from copper since Swansea processed copper ore from area mines. </span></div>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5989287096821157498.post-77259790338132814502016-03-02T09:28:00.001-08:002016-03-02T09:28:56.344-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Quartzsite Arizona, (Jan. 2016):</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaOftukcgz0rEhJ6n3jUuQ-54caAZ8c729N7dRvhytq3cAx_l8TyDN1m_iRgL4a03OMJusDI4bqAVK6yBU4hrAjBxf52qYVr0UJ-u39RDpUiZwU307hinvHEPSqbAMrNCNngVCoZeI8wy/s1600/IMG_3695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaOftukcgz0rEhJ6n3jUuQ-54caAZ8c729N7dRvhytq3cAx_l8TyDN1m_iRgL4a03OMJusDI4bqAVK6yBU4hrAjBxf52qYVr0UJ-u39RDpUiZwU307hinvHEPSqbAMrNCNngVCoZeI8wy/s400/IMG_3695.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Memorial to Hi Jolly. </span><span style="font-size: small;">There are many references to camels in Quartzite. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In 1857, a man named Hadji Ali, (later </span><span style="font-size: small;">nick-named Hi Jolly) a camel driver brought a company of camels from the Middle East to be used as pack animals for the U.S. military. They were under the command of the U.S Camel Corps. The camels could go without water longer than horses and the desert environment suited them. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The experiment was terminated early due to the Civil War. Hi Jolly bought a couple camels and operated a freight route between the Colorado River and mining towns. Other camels were sold or ended up in the wild fending for themselves. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The camels eventually died out, however as late as the 1930's there were reports of camels spotted in the wild. Legends still exist about the camels including one about a ghost of a camel that roamed the desert. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Hi Jolly remained in Quartzsite and was buried there in 1902. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Quartz crystal, a sought after find by rock collectors. There is a ton of quartz in this area, but difficult to find the clear formed pieces as in the photo (taken at a rock shop). The quartz we found is a more of a solid white rock, but still pretty and worth carrying a couple rocks home in my backpack.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crystal Hill is located south of Quartzsite in the Kofa National Refuge. Crystal and mineral collecting is permitted in the Crystal Hill area but restrictions have been put in place due to the severe digging that's taken place over the years. These deep caves have been dug by collectors in the past. Today it's very picked over, only surface collecting is permitted, no picks or hammers. We did find some very small pieces of crystal which added to the fun of hiking in this area and enjoying the views from the top of Crystal Hill. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Palm Canyon Hike in the Kofa National Refuge</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">An unusual site on a desert trail...clumped together high up between the canyon walls, a stand of 30+ native palm trees are growing. (Might be hard to see in the photo, they look like little yellow dots half way up the mountain). Being in the canyon, the palms get some moisture and are protected from the hot desert sun. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Flea Market all about rocks. This photo is for my Mom and husband who laugh those of us who like to go rock hounding and collect rocks. Here's proof...there's money in rocks, hee hee. (Can you imagine hauling this inventory around?. )</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love these colors... another flea market stand.<br />There are several different flea markets in Quartszite. <br />We found things we never knew we "needed". ha ha</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-ewm0SoXt22JKY3UZ5a3Djpium3E7P86HMYxzjNOwjOU3ku3WmhaydHvbdKAV-GQuhbgm_9oPxvXuGxOz38GWUxpKecn30P310XqFVf3eK7Y2-KhT2gkxO5cqqL5CRNfQRxfsf9osVeT/s1600/IMG_3934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-ewm0SoXt22JKY3UZ5a3Djpium3E7P86HMYxzjNOwjOU3ku3WmhaydHvbdKAV-GQuhbgm_9oPxvXuGxOz38GWUxpKecn30P310XqFVf3eK7Y2-KhT2gkxO5cqqL5CRNfQRxfsf9osVeT/s400/IMG_3934.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">On the right is the RV Pit Stop, The Scenic Road RV Park (where we stayed) is across the highway. The Pit Stop is a very popular spot in Quartzite, RV's often lined up on the highway waiting to turn in. The Pit Stop had water for drinking and for water tanks, propane and a dump station. There are so many RV'ers that dry camp out on the BLM land...they have to come into town regularly to take on water or to dump. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_n5UYhf8fM7Mm01v_e3J2olWG-yyY_HtAftdVhjKqX6eHmMJeWWotEaIYRic1N5aLnydK2yvWimeNGP2Hlp9N22RFvCbli4IXkD3_u9eV8AP0oGReku3vNdLdB59OVirhMAS18uwDWRg/s1600/IMG_3964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_n5UYhf8fM7Mm01v_e3J2olWG-yyY_HtAftdVhjKqX6eHmMJeWWotEaIYRic1N5aLnydK2yvWimeNGP2Hlp9N22RFvCbli4IXkD3_u9eV8AP0oGReku3vNdLdB59OVirhMAS18uwDWRg/s320/IMG_3964.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Filling water jugs at the Pit Stop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our grandparents would be in disbelief to see us all buying water these days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Water (especially if it's free) is one of our many blessings to be thankful for but often taken for granted. </span><span style="font-size: small;">To our family and friends in WI, you have the best drinking water ever!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYvb6aOBvh-nd0j8zv36MVeCejnUcw-wLOB2vq0FwaXM7PPqBSoMxNhdVlGNsu85zeiFlEO1E-Uq-VlvZ1CTGf18Atu1hAPy5aj3HF6VIlHd1yr0GnIOp6w2TLXa7kmyD7NFWd50vgwvW/s1600/IMG_3819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYvb6aOBvh-nd0j8zv36MVeCejnUcw-wLOB2vq0FwaXM7PPqBSoMxNhdVlGNsu85zeiFlEO1E-Uq-VlvZ1CTGf18Atu1hAPy5aj3HF6VIlHd1yr0GnIOp6w2TLXa7kmyD7NFWd50vgwvW/s640/IMG_3819.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Old miners homestead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We met a prospector here who we talked to for some time about the area's mining history. We were amazed at all the mining that had taken place, all the open mines that still remain and all the claims that are still visibly staked out. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnykEaWbwh7Ap3D6oLI-rbEUYVGCxMOPQ0qQFj8TU7mOPEx1iAiyEsAcMTRWRTXbljzp0gylP57kFEJIES0qpPGOx0eBRprVO7exiz0HKh4heJ4eRMG8uBdyK0L0avclRQkEZ49n9ef8A/s1600/IMG_3831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnykEaWbwh7Ap3D6oLI-rbEUYVGCxMOPQ0qQFj8TU7mOPEx1iAiyEsAcMTRWRTXbljzp0gylP57kFEJIES0qpPGOx0eBRprVO7exiz0HKh4heJ4eRMG8uBdyK0L0avclRQkEZ49n9ef8A/s400/IMG_3831.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are so many open abandoned mines in this area, the ground underneath must be like swiss cheese. We could not see the bottom of this shaft, yikes. One needs to exercise caution in exploring these areas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFOIi2RoI1HN5QV1hX3gcfEpVomDuq1PTF-51y1lAN0s8qTOUtfmHvo71dtKdKwrrtr5TmGAJxsivLCvLTb0gzKS4thzbG-93xbBL86JF5j1oLeNUSiCxoRf8xF1WkO-AGJt15rON4mnm/s1600/IMG_3906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFOIi2RoI1HN5QV1hX3gcfEpVomDuq1PTF-51y1lAN0s8qTOUtfmHvo71dtKdKwrrtr5TmGAJxsivLCvLTb0gzKS4thzbG-93xbBL86JF5j1oLeNUSiCxoRf8xF1WkO-AGJt15rON4mnm/s400/IMG_3906.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Joseph Cone's Cabins</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are two cabins on this site, one in which Mr Cone lived in, the other was his workshop. He was an artist and woodworker, turning ironwood into beautiful bowls and lamps. I loved the beautiful rocks he used in building his cabins and how he used white quartz to border the door frame and bottom of the cabin. (I could see living in a cabin like this.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkF0a8ZmgIObROVo5IOZGiOBcZArCiNfJdVjRhDZO2CFg8mxE0nwS6f7U6Uppxh-Ox82TC7mUKOCC-AzXvVjAgE-EUNnKiuaP4HTJavLdzcqtyvSmVNygHr3fJrKIG36w7XDvxe6jUEZ9/s1600/IMG_3912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkF0a8ZmgIObROVo5IOZGiOBcZArCiNfJdVjRhDZO2CFg8mxE0nwS6f7U6Uppxh-Ox82TC7mUKOCC-AzXvVjAgE-EUNnKiuaP4HTJavLdzcqtyvSmVNygHr3fJrKIG36w7XDvxe6jUEZ9/s400/IMG_3912.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inside the cabin Mr Cone used for his workshop. According to the history accounts, <br />he lived here into the 1960's when he died at the age of 75. We saw some of his woodworking pieces at the little museum in town, very beautiful.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvvk6Qr5ykFOECg2ZdWmQ3RsaQEU2CSDLF4fAD9bHo7ynTE5RCKB3CpNYikUJAGOgYWxD4kK6e9hlhdF1nctxWCoKWDNLIwGwPdI1MvtICcxAmZMho-AV1IVNFyO0sHo1hb1bqbFtqVDv/s1600/IMG_3938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvvk6Qr5ykFOECg2ZdWmQ3RsaQEU2CSDLF4fAD9bHo7ynTE5RCKB3CpNYikUJAGOgYWxD4kK6e9hlhdF1nctxWCoKWDNLIwGwPdI1MvtICcxAmZMho-AV1IVNFyO0sHo1hb1bqbFtqVDv/s400/IMG_3938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Celia's Rainbow Garden, it's a peaceful place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This beautiful memorial park in Quartszite covers several acres, it is dedicated to a local girl named Celia who died at the age of 8. People create memorials in remembrance of their loved ones, the above dedicated to a local musician.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApmbOWOESjHBFRYbVeuR8-EEsF4k95wiMozkSizqIgqP90kzQE6qjEkODKdCyb8nuWm2ESnnhShjWvKB-OISNSeZ0tTBhdj4srojxUGerKDTy48Rhye0ployJfZSoY1RHkBu1eR2eWW8u/s1600/IMG_3939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApmbOWOESjHBFRYbVeuR8-EEsF4k95wiMozkSizqIgqP90kzQE6qjEkODKdCyb8nuWm2ESnnhShjWvKB-OISNSeZ0tTBhdj4srojxUGerKDTy48Rhye0ployJfZSoY1RHkBu1eR2eWW8u/s400/IMG_3939.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Another memorial in the Rainbow Garden. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Thinking Roy must have liked sitting around a campfire. Many of the memorials were so creative and a reflection of their loved one. There were some with bird houses and statues, hiking boots, military signage and family handprints.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Good Night from our RV Park in Quartzsite.</span></td></tr>
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<br />rvrookiesandwhaletaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665798962874174487noreply@blogger.com0