Week 12 - Final Post

June 24

Travel day from Raton Pass, NM to Amarillo, TX

 

Besides going to the grocery store, the only thing we checked out in the Amarillo area was Cadillac Ranch.  Standing along Route 66 west of Amarillo, Texas, Cadillac Ranch was invented and built by a group of art-hippies imported from San Francisco. They called themselves The Ant Farm, and their silent partner was Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh 3. He wanted a piece of public art that would baffle the locals, and the hippies came up with a tribute to the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin. Ten Caddies were driven into one of Stanley Marsh 3's fields, then half-buried, nose-down, in the dirt (supposedly at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza). They faced west in a line, from the 1949 Club Sedan to the 1963 Sedan de Ville, their tail fins held high for all to see on the empty Texas panhandle.  That was back in 1974 and it's still as popular today as it was back then!

 

June 25

Travel day from Amarillo to San Angelo, TX

We camped at San Angelo State Park because there was a huge lake close by, but it didn't take us long to figure out that the lake was completely dried up.

This was the boat ramp that used to lead into the water!!!

 Then spotted this cute "little" rabbit in the campground. 

 

June 26

 Travel day from San Angelo to Fredericksburg, TX

 

June 27

 Today we played golf at Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course in Fredericksburg.  This is one of our favorite courses.

 

June 28

 Travel day from Fredericksburg to Blue, TX

Larry and I are spending the weekend with friends Gary and Paula Bailey.  Usually we start our trip off at their place, but this time we're ending our trip with them.

 

June 29

 We always have a good time at Gary and Paula's place, especially all the great food!  It was really hot this weekend -- 107 with 100 on the back porch even with a mister going!!

 Enjoying a ice cold watermelon.

The RV on the Bailey property. 

 

June 30

Travel day from Blue to Dickinson, TX -- home sweet home!

To round out the end of our trip we surprised Madison driving up in the motorhome to their house and honking the horn.  She was thrilled beyond imagination.  After visiting with Eric and Kristina for a bit, we headed to Galveston for our last hoorah of our trip with Madison in tow. 



 She's ready to go!

 

We're parking the RV at our friend's Lloyd and Sylvia Jewell's place on the beach.   Having fun in the pool.

 Sea shelling with Paw Paw.

July 1

Having fun at the beach.  What a great day!

 Relaxing and goofing off in the middle of the day.



July 2

Sylvia's uncle, aunt and granddaughter came down in the afternoon and Hailey and Madison quickly became best friends.  The morning started off with no surf and little wind.

 So what to do but make mud pies!

 Having to say goodbye to Hailey.

 

Signing out -- till next trip.



 



Week 11

June 17

Travel day from Grand Tetons National Park to Rock Springs, WY.  Once we reached the RV park we took care of much needed chores.

 

June 18

Our road trip today takes us back south into Utah to Dinosaur National Monument and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.



Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Aspen trees

This was quite an interesting park.  There was such a large area of fossil bones in this area that they literally enclosed the side of the mountain for all to see.  

Fossilized dinosaur bones

Camarasaurus femur

In the picture below you can see how the enclosure is connected to the side of the mountain.

Allosaurus Skull

 

Green River in the park.



Isn't she cute!!

Flaming Gorge Recreation Area - as far as sightseeing goes, this was the best shot of the whole gorge.  We were a bit disappointed.

 

June 19

Travel day from Rock Springs, WY to Fort Collins, CO

Driving across I-80 in Wyoming is much like driving on I-10 west in Texas -- nothing for miles and miles.  We saw lots and lots of snow breaks on this interstate.  I would hate to be driving this road in the winter!!

 

June 20

 This evening we have company joining us for dinner so we just did a Wal-Mart run and relaxed a good part of the day.  Larry's cousin, Vicki and husband Gary (who live in Cody, WY but were in Texas City while we were in their area) and Larry's 2nd cousin, Shailey and boyfriend, Michael all stopped by for hamburgers on their way to their appointed destinations.  We had a nice visit; it just wasn't long enough.

Cathy, Gary, Larry, Vicki, Michael, Shailey

 

June 21

 Today we headed out to Rocky Mountain National Park - the top of the world for everybody.  The highest major highway in North America tops out at 12,183 feet above sea level.  Here is one of the most expansive areas of alpine terrain in the United States.  Nearly 1/3 of the park is above treeline - 11,400 feet.  RMNP holds 72 named peaks above 12,000 feet.

Big Thompson River Canyon on the way to RMNP.

 Heading into Estes Park (Larry and I always thought Estes Park was a park -- its a city!!)

 Views in RMNP

 Alpine area

 Up around the 12,000 foot range the temps were 54 with a biting wind blowing about 50 mph.  Brrrrr!!

 These two yellow-bellied marmots were sunning on the warm rocks.

 Love the little flowers

 Larry on the snow.  I didn't even get out of the car!

 More alpine views

 Poudre Lake

 Milner Pass - which creek goes where??

 Lake Irene

 Hiking around the snow.

First moose sighting at RMNP.  We saw three more but didn't get pictures.

 Stellar's Jay

 Same moose

 Beaver Ponds - Did you notice all the dead pines?  Result of the pine bark beetle.

 Colorado River running through the valley

 These elk were laying in the grass.  Look at the racks on those guys!

 Shadow Mountain Lake

 Once we reached the lake, we turned around and went back the same way we came.  More alpine views.

 Lots of elk grazing in the distance.

 There was a small fire in the backcountry.  The smoke is evident here.

 Alluvial Fan Falls

 Our parting shot of RMNP.  We weren't able to see the whole park in a day.  Our trip took us on the Trail Ridge Road.  Next time, Bear Lake Road.

 

June 22

 Travel day from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, CO.

I'm sure most of you have heard that there are numerous wildfires in Colorado.  The smoke was very thick driving into Colorado Springs.

 This afternoon we're trying for the third time to reach the top of Pikes Peak.  Back in 1976 the snow was not completely plowed off the top.  In 2006 the winds at the top were 70 mph.  This time because of all the wildfires we thought we wouldn't make it either but tried anyway and lo and behold we made it.  Third times a charm!!!

 At the top of Pikes Peak

 With exception of the smoke, the views were breathtaking.  The track below is for the Cog Railway that goes up the mountain from Manitou Springs.

 Note the road below.  This drive is not for the faint at heart.  I have to tell you I was freaking out a little bit.  Very few guardrails.  We started our ascent at 7,800 feet and reached the peak after 19 miles at 14,100 feet.

 

 June 23

 Travel day from Fort Collins, CO to Raton Pass, NM

Along I-25 we passed this fire bearing down on the town of Walsenburg.

 Our drive over Raton Pass.

 After we settled in, we drove back into Trinidad, CO to visit with my cousin, Peggy and her friend Ann.  We talked non-stop for about 4 hours trying to catch up on each others lives since we hadn't seen each other in about 15 years.

Peggy, Cathy, Ann

 

Till next week...