Gateway Arch National Park - St. Louis MO
First view of the Arch. Little did we know, en route to Big Bend N.P. in Texas, that this was actually the first national park we visited.
The Mississippi River flooding the river's edge walkway
so we spent the first two nights in motels along the old Route 66 through Illinois and Missouri - some of Abe Lincoln's old stomping grounds. (Here's Abe reading his law book situated in front of the Best Western Motel :) and an old courthouse in Lincoln IL that was on his traveling circuit.)
Horse racing at the KOA RV Park, Cherokee Casino & Will Rogers Downs, Claremore Oklahoma
The muddy Wichita River directly across from our second campsite
The wonders of RV Living! We made it to Wichita Falls, Texas.
Rest stop and fields of wind turbines - Texas...
Sand Hills State Park, Monahans, Texas. A desert in the middle of Texas - no Great Lakes on the other side of the dunes - just dunes!
Scenes along Hwy 385 south from Fort Stockton, Texas
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Inside Big Bend National Park, Texas, at the Rio Grande Overlook
First view of the Rio Grande...
Haha - our selfie video with the Rio Grande behind us... the wind was incredibly strong and completely obliterated our voices!
It's spring in Big Bend. The Blue Bonnets are blooming.
The Visitors Center at Panther Junction
A visit to Terlingua Ghost Town - first stop; the cemetery...
Celebrated dead, past and present...
Terlingua is just outside the northwest boundary of the park. It was a pleasant Sunday afternoon. Local musicians were playing music on the front porch of the general store. Mickey was recovering from a cold and we sat together on the porch and enjoyed the music.
Apparently the guitar player in the orange hat had retired from a recognized band and was now living in Terlingua and teaching music. Unfortunately I didn't catch his name or the name of his band. Sorry the videos aren't longer but it felt a little intrusive - these guys were just playing together and not actually performing.
Driving along Old Maverik Road from Terlingua to Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend NP
Santa Elena Canyon
After a couple of blown fuses, Mickey successfully reconnected the broken electrical cable between car and trailer. The next morning we felt very fortunate to find replacement fuses at the camp store! Our day's mission - to hike some of the trails in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend NP.
Driving into the Chisos Mountain Basin
Hiking the Basin Loop Trail and the Window View Trail in the Chisos Mountains
Views from Lost Mine Trail in the Chisos Mountains. The higher we hiked the more beautiful the view!
Hot Springs...
The sun is setting as we return to our campsite
The next day - a hike in Boquillas Canyon in Big Bend NP. There is a Port of Entry here where tourists can cross the river in a small boat or wade across to visit a village on the Mexico side for lunch and shopping. The Port of Entry was closed when we were there.
Beautiful cactus flowers
a photographer
Mexican Nationals rowing across the Rio Grande to sell their trinkets to tourists (illegally)
Leaving Big Bend
On the road toward El Paso, Texas
A stop in Marfa, Texas where we found some great homemade burritos for lunch.
A stop at Whole Foods in El Paso Texas after staying overnight in a hotel there, and a dust twister along the highway.
Scenes along the road in New Mexico
We drove north along hwy 180 up to Gila (Heela) National Forest in southwest New Mexico. Below - a spectacular sunset at Cosmic Night Sky Park where we camped and a view out our window the next morning.
A stop for breakfast (at Adobe Does) and to fill our propane tank in Reserve, New Mexico
Crossing the state line from New Mexico into Arizona where the mountains soon turn into flatlands and mesas
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Crystal Forest Walk
Blue Mesa hike in Petrified Forest
Another KOA in Holbrook, Arizona, nice facilities but not so scenic...
Hwy 40 toward Flagstaff, Arizona then north on Hwy 64 toward Grand Canyon Village
Grand Canyon National Park, celebrating it's 100 year anniversary
Mather Campground at Grand Canyon Village
views from the South Rim Trail
A series of sunset pictures at Hopi Point on the South Rim Trail
Walking east along the South Rim Trail and starting down the Kaibab Trail
Climbing down and up the Kaibab Trail
Mickey and the mule deer consider each other...
Bright Angel Trail
Mickey and other hikers on the Bright Angel Trail
Selfie-ish on the Bright Angel Trail
View from Bright Angel Trail
Lobby at the El Tovar Hotel, mule deer in Grand Canyon Village, views from the Desert View Watchtower at the east end of South Rim Trail
Rock formations on Hwy 89 & 20 en route to Page, Arizona & Glenn Canyon
Glenn Canyon National Recreation Area in northern Arizona and southern Utah
We stayed at Wahweap Campground on Lake Powell (reservoir)
Those white things in the water are houseboats.
A wild ride in an open-sided jeep, big enough for 20 people, through Navajo Indian land to tour a slot canyon
Our guide,Chance. He grew up on Navajo land and can trace his ancestors back for twelve generations in this area.
Glen Canyon Dam, Page Arizona
Horseshoe Bend Canyon south of Page, Arizona
Our view of Lake Powell in Glenn Canyon from Wahweap Campground at dusk
Bathroom facilities at Wahweap Campground, leaving Wahweap Campground
Hwy 89 north into Utah
Hwy 59 and 9 in Utah toward Zion National Park
Zion National Park, Utah
Made it to Zion!
Walking along the Watchman Trail following the Virgin River
along the trail...
flora...
Weeping Rock Trail
The Riverside Walk Trail goes up to the Zion Narrows, where the canyon narrows and the hike continues in the water. The Narrows Trail was closed due to snow melt and high water.
