Southwest US National Parks and Sante Fe, NM
Introduction
I have touched, driven through, or stayed in all but 3 of the 50 states in the U.S. However, I have never visited the National Parks in the West. The trip described with text and photos below is my first adventure to these magnificent sites. I chose the Southwestern part of our country because of the Grand Canyon and the many photos I have seen of other parks in the four states of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. This trip took place over the last two weeks of September. The weather, except for one or two days was perfect. We had little rain to contend with and the temperatures were most pleasant. Hopefully the text and the photos combine to tell my own adventure and the adventure of others in our traveling group organized by Grand Circle Tours. Our guide for the entire trip was Dawn Kenner, and she provided lots of humor and good advice along the way.
September, 15: Travel Day
I flew United from Charleston to Houston, then Houston to Albuquerque. The flights were great, but I had a luggage problem at the end In Albuquerque. The bagging crew left my bag along with several others on the plane and it took an hour to figure out what happened. Someone forgot to check one of the luggage compartments on the plane. It was also confusing as to what to do after I had obtained my luggage. Fortunately, I was booked at the Airport Sheraton, only a five-minute walk down the road. I had a restless night, but I still got about 5 hours of sleep. Breakfast was delicious and I began to meet the people on the trip. I am concerned about the size of the group. On OAT trips which consist of much smaller groups, I have found it easier to establish a bond with members of the group There are many couples on the trip, but also enough single travelers to allow for conversation and connection. Time will tell how that goes.
September 16: Day 2, Albuquerque to Durango
We are now on the bus to Durango at the moment with the beautiful Sandis Mountains to the east in New Mexico. The country is a rolling, dry, partial dessert with lots of brush. l try to take a photo from the bus, but the glare is difficult. Later I did notice that a number of photos I had taken were absent of significant glare. We stopped in a little town called Cuba, inhabited by Navajos and Pueblo Native Americans. It was nothing special, but I was able to shoot some yellow flowers and had a nice talk with a woman from New Jersey about photos and traveling. We got back on the bus and proceeded toward Durango. The landscape became much more of a plateau, probably because we are going up in altitude. Dawn put a movie on about fighting forest fires with planes, but I had seen it before. As I looked out the window, new outcroppings begin to appear out of the flatness. It is interesting to note that there so many natural sculptures at work that often have the appearance of animals or a human face. However, as many interesting shapes as I found, alas there were few recognizable animals and faces.
We stopped in Farmington, New Mexico for lunch where we enjoyed a sandwich and an ice tea at the Three Rivers Brewery. I was able to take a short walk around the downtown area before getting on the bus for the last leg of the day’s journey to Durango, Colorado. On our arrival into Durango, we stopped at the Silverton RR. Station and Museum for a quick tour of the old time machine shop and roundhouse where the 12 gauge locomotives and Silverton Trains have their home. We spent about an hour visiting the museum and listening to a informative presentation about the railroad. We arrived at the Doubleday Hilton Hotel on the Animis River where I paid a visit to the Garden Brewery on site and got ready for our trip to dinner at a local ranch.
James Ranch is a real live ranch where everything is farm to table and organic. My trout was delicious and the presentation by one of the daughter’s was both informative and interesting. I was impressed by the strong family culture that was at the foundation of this successful ranch. The woman talked about the members of her family and how they collaborate in performing various duties at the ranch. The presentation provided a wonderful context for the homemade dinner that followed.
I bought some homemade James Ranch cheese made with raw milk and some wooden earrings for Gina made by one of the ranch employees. I truly like these highly personal GCT/OAT home visits that are part of all of their trips. We arrived back to the Doubletree Inn around 8:30 where I made another attempt at a night’s sleep. I took many great photos of the landscapes of New Mexico and Colorado during the day as well as photos of local color. I hope to make my future entries more episodic rather than journalistic, but it was a good first day on this adventure to the National Parks.
Introduction
I have touched, driven through, or stayed in all but 3 of the 50 states in the U.S. However, I have never visited the National Parks in the West. The trip described with text and photos below is my first adventure to these magnificent sites. I chose the Southwestern part of our country because of the Grand Canyon and the many photos I have seen of other parks in the four states of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. This trip took place over the last two weeks of September. The weather, except for one or two days was perfect. We had little rain to contend with and the temperatures were most pleasant. Hopefully the text and the photos combine to tell my own adventure and the adventure of others in our traveling group organized by Grand Circle Tours. Our guide for the entire trip was Dawn Kenner, and she provided lots of humor and good advice along the way.
September, 15: Travel Day
I flew United from Charleston to Houston, then Houston to Albuquerque. The flights were great, but I had a luggage problem at the end In Albuquerque. The bagging crew left my bag along with several others on the plane and it took an hour to figure out what happened. Someone forgot to check one of the luggage compartments on the plane. It was also confusing as to what to do after I had obtained my luggage. Fortunately, I was booked at the Airport Sheraton, only a five-minute walk down the road. I had a restless night, but I still got about 5 hours of sleep. Breakfast was delicious and I began to meet the people on the trip. I am concerned about the size of the group. On OAT trips which consist of much smaller groups, I have found it easier to establish a bond with members of the group There are many couples on the trip, but also enough single travelers to allow for conversation and connection. Time will tell how that goes.
September 16: Day 2, Albuquerque to Durango
We are now on the bus to Durango at the moment with the beautiful Sandis Mountains to the east in New Mexico. The country is a rolling, dry, partial dessert with lots of brush. l try to take a photo from the bus, but the glare is difficult. Later I did notice that a number of photos I had taken were absent of significant glare. We stopped in a little town called Cuba, inhabited by Navajos and Pueblo Native Americans. It was nothing special, but I was able to shoot some yellow flowers and had a nice talk with a woman from New Jersey about photos and traveling. We got back on the bus and proceeded toward Durango. The landscape became much more of a plateau, probably because we are going up in altitude. Dawn put a movie on about fighting forest fires with planes, but I had seen it before. As I looked out the window, new outcroppings begin to appear out of the flatness. It is interesting to note that there so many natural sculptures at work that often have the appearance of animals or a human face. However, as many interesting shapes as I found, alas there were few recognizable animals and faces.
We stopped in Farmington, New Mexico for lunch where we enjoyed a sandwich and an ice tea at the Three Rivers Brewery. I was able to take a short walk around the downtown area before getting on the bus for the last leg of the day’s journey to Durango, Colorado. On our arrival into Durango, we stopped at the Silverton RR. Station and Museum for a quick tour of the old time machine shop and roundhouse where the 12 gauge locomotives and Silverton Trains have their home. We spent about an hour visiting the museum and listening to a informative presentation about the railroad. We arrived at the Doubleday Hilton Hotel on the Animis River where I paid a visit to the Garden Brewery on site and got ready for our trip to dinner at a local ranch.
James Ranch is a real live ranch where everything is farm to table and organic. My trout was delicious and the presentation by one of the daughter’s was both informative and interesting. I was impressed by the strong family culture that was at the foundation of this successful ranch. The woman talked about the members of her family and how they collaborate in performing various duties at the ranch. The presentation provided a wonderful context for the homemade dinner that followed.
I bought some homemade James Ranch cheese made with raw milk and some wooden earrings for Gina made by one of the ranch employees. I truly like these highly personal GCT/OAT home visits that are part of all of their trips. We arrived back to the Doubletree Inn around 8:30 where I made another attempt at a night’s sleep. I took many great photos of the landscapes of New Mexico and Colorado during the day as well as photos of local color. I hope to make my future entries more episodic rather than journalistic, but it was a good first day on this adventure to the National Parks.
September 17: A Ride on Silverton Railroad and a Visit to Durango
We left on the Silverton Train from the Durango Train Station at 8:30 and spent the first hour just traveling the valley, but for the next two hours we railed through some incredible scenery with high moutains in the San Juan range alongside and sometimes far above a fairly fast flowing Animis River flowing down steep hills and dramatic gorges as we looked out of open windows to shoot a variety of photos. The trip took 3 hours as the train moved slowly up the mountain’s 12 gauge tracks, stopping several times to pick up hikers or let them off along the way. I have a portfolio of photos that I took with both my Panasonic hand held zoom camera and my iPhone 12 Pro. I spent an hour walking around Silverton stopping in for some ice cream and some unsuccessful shopping. I shot some more photos from the vantage of this mountain, mining village. We traveled down the moutain in our coach bus, which was quite windy, with dramatic mountains and valleys. It was a much quicker trip than on the train, but one that had its own inspirational views.
We had the rest of the day to wander around Durango, so I returned for to the Overland leather store to find the leather coin purse for my sister, Lynn. Early in the evening I attended Mass at Sacred Heart, about a mile and half walking distance from my hotel. It was not crowded at the Saturday night service. An added benefit to the spiritual exposure was adding about 4000 steps to my walking total for the day. The parish had a two person choir and a priest with a foreign accent, perhaps Hispanic, but with a deep resonate voice. It was relatively easy to understand him. I walked back to the Doubletree Inn and decided just to sit in the lounge and get a sandwich and a glass of wine. I watched some football on a large screen and stayed to my self. The chicken wrap that I ordered was terrible, but the wine was OK. When I was leaving the lounge, I saw a younger woman wearing a Wisconsin Badger hat and so we had a brief conversation about the Badgers winning big against Mexico State earlier in the day. At least my alma mater played a really good game before meeting Ohio State next week in Columbus.
I am OK with how the trip is going three days in. The train ride up to the mountain to Silverton was a good experience with an overwhelming amount of beautiful and dramatic scenery and the bus ride down the mountain was equally as dramatic. I think the highlight so far was our presentation and dinner at the James Ranch the night before. It was special and I thought of it again as we passed the ranch on our way back to Durango from Silverton. Our guide, Dawn, is working hard to make our trip enjoyable by adding many options. She communicates often and well, which is a real plus for a tour director.
It occurred to me that the Animus River which begins way up in the mountains and flows through the James Ranch. Their irrigation system can actually slow the river down when the snow melts in the spring and the river flows faster and with more power than what we saw yesterday. Nature is connected in so many fascinating ways and this river to farm to table connection is one of those systems.
We left on the Silverton Train from the Durango Train Station at 8:30 and spent the first hour just traveling the valley, but for the next two hours we railed through some incredible scenery with high moutains in the San Juan range alongside and sometimes far above a fairly fast flowing Animis River flowing down steep hills and dramatic gorges as we looked out of open windows to shoot a variety of photos. The trip took 3 hours as the train moved slowly up the mountain’s 12 gauge tracks, stopping several times to pick up hikers or let them off along the way. I have a portfolio of photos that I took with both my Panasonic hand held zoom camera and my iPhone 12 Pro. I spent an hour walking around Silverton stopping in for some ice cream and some unsuccessful shopping. I shot some more photos from the vantage of this mountain, mining village. We traveled down the moutain in our coach bus, which was quite windy, with dramatic mountains and valleys. It was a much quicker trip than on the train, but one that had its own inspirational views.
We had the rest of the day to wander around Durango, so I returned for to the Overland leather store to find the leather coin purse for my sister, Lynn. Early in the evening I attended Mass at Sacred Heart, about a mile and half walking distance from my hotel. It was not crowded at the Saturday night service. An added benefit to the spiritual exposure was adding about 4000 steps to my walking total for the day. The parish had a two person choir and a priest with a foreign accent, perhaps Hispanic, but with a deep resonate voice. It was relatively easy to understand him. I walked back to the Doubletree Inn and decided just to sit in the lounge and get a sandwich and a glass of wine. I watched some football on a large screen and stayed to my self. The chicken wrap that I ordered was terrible, but the wine was OK. When I was leaving the lounge, I saw a younger woman wearing a Wisconsin Badger hat and so we had a brief conversation about the Badgers winning big against Mexico State earlier in the day. At least my alma mater played a really good game before meeting Ohio State next week in Columbus.
I am OK with how the trip is going three days in. The train ride up to the mountain to Silverton was a good experience with an overwhelming amount of beautiful and dramatic scenery and the bus ride down the mountain was equally as dramatic. I think the highlight so far was our presentation and dinner at the James Ranch the night before. It was special and I thought of it again as we passed the ranch on our way back to Durango from Silverton. Our guide, Dawn, is working hard to make our trip enjoyable by adding many options. She communicates often and well, which is a real plus for a tour director.
It occurred to me that the Animus River which begins way up in the mountains and flows through the James Ranch. Their irrigation system can actually slow the river down when the snow melts in the spring and the river flows faster and with more power than what we saw yesterday. Nature is connected in so many fascinating ways and this river to farm to table connection is one of those systems.
September 18: From Durango to Mesa Verdi and Moab
We left for a rather long day on the bus around 8:30 AM. Our first stop was at Mesa Verde where I hope the photos tell the story of this beautiful national park in southwest Colorado. Our guide was Jonathan and he did a marvelous job describing the various Native American tribes who have lived for centuries in the area. The Pueblos and the Navajos are probably the most famous, but Jonathan talked to us about the milleniums of early inhabitants of this incredible country, of scenes that go on for a hundred miles to the naked eye and beyond. We struggled a bit walking up some fairly steep paved pathways, but the walk was worth it as the photos will attest. Jonathan then took us to see where the Pueblo cliff dwellers carved out their homes in the sandstone cliffs. I took a number of photos of these caves that clearly show the creativity and tenacious efforts of an ancient culture. It was a 150 minute adventure topped off with a lunch at one of the lodges that grace the park. We stopped at the park entrance on our way out where I purchased a National Park Passbook where we can stamp all the parks that we have visited.
While driving from Mesa Verde to Moab, Utah. We got lost for a short bit when the bus driver took a wrong turn. I happened to be looking at my Apple Maps on my iPhone when I saw us going the wrong direction. We lost a few minutes, but it was a bit of humor along the way. We arrived at our hotel I’m Moab about 6:30.
After getting settled, I wandered up to Woody’s Tavern to watch the Packer game. I met Dr. Michelle from Augusta GA at the bar who was also a Packer fan. She was out here for a family gathering, taking a vacation from her role as a radiologist and medical researcher. Her daughter is at the UW at Madison. We had a very nice chat as we watched the Packers and the Bears on Sunday night football. Interestingly enough, our bartender was a young woman named, Stella (my granddaughter's name). It is not often that I engage in conversation while sitting by myself at the bar, but the hour social connection between Dr. Michelle and myself added an additional dimension to the day of sightseeing. I left after the third quarter and returned to my hotel where I watched the final moments of the game, a victory for the Packers. Yea!
My room here at the Home Suites by Hilton is huge with the ability to cook in and just spread out. Not bad digs for three nights on this trip of many wonders.
Sept. 19: The Canyonland National Park and the Boat Ride
It is amazing that each day brings new scenery to the table. Southeastern Utah is one mountain and outcropping after another composed of thousands of years of sandstone accumulation. The scenery is overwhelming. Every time we get off the bus at a viewing point in a National Park we are met with scenic vistas and dramatic landscapes. The photos show the majesty of it all much better than I can describe. I have been impressed with the Canadian Rockies, the various green landscapes of Ireland, and particular expressions of nature in other places that I have been to, but these landscapes are spectacular in their scope and breadth. It is difficult to comprehend the vastness of it all. In addition to Canyonlands National Park, we visited Dead Horse Canyon, a Utah state park. It too, though smaller in scope than Canyonlands, was equally dramatic in its steep cliffs and incredible rock formations.
In the evening we took a boat ride on the Colorado River just outside of Moab. We just cruised north on the river for about a mile so we could observe the dramatic cliffs on either side of the river. There were all sorts of interesting shapes and natural designs on the walls of the cliffs. We were entertained with country music from a three-piece local band. They were very entertaining and it was nice to see the dramatic landscapes from the perspective of the river. We drank a little wine and then, after the boat trip, enjoyed a buffet dinner provided from the boat company. They fed a rather large group of people, but the whole early evening was enjoyable.
We returned to the hotel for the evening. We are anticipating rain over the next two days so our excursions may be curtailed. There is a threat of flash flooding. Let us hope that does not happen. I am enjoying our guide, Dawn. She has a sense of humor and a sort of flair in the clothes she wears and the local expressions she uses. She constantly tries to explain what is going to happen over the next hours and days, but we have to remain flexible because things can change for all sorts of reasons. I am impressed that people in our group make a sincere effort to get to the bus on time, particularly since we get off and on the bus sometimes three or four times on an excursion.
It is amazing that each day brings new scenery to the table. Southeastern Utah is one mountain and outcropping after another composed of thousands of years of sandstone accumulation. The scenery is overwhelming. Every time we get off the bus at a viewing point in a National Park we are met with scenic vistas and dramatic landscapes. The photos show the majesty of it all much better than I can describe. I have been impressed with the Canadian Rockies, the various green landscapes of Ireland, and particular expressions of nature in other places that I have been to, but these landscapes are spectacular in their scope and breadth. It is difficult to comprehend the vastness of it all. In addition to Canyonlands National Park, we visited Dead Horse Canyon, a Utah state park. It too, though smaller in scope than Canyonlands, was equally dramatic in its steep cliffs and incredible rock formations.
In the evening we took a boat ride on the Colorado River just outside of Moab. We just cruised north on the river for about a mile so we could observe the dramatic cliffs on either side of the river. There were all sorts of interesting shapes and natural designs on the walls of the cliffs. We were entertained with country music from a three-piece local band. They were very entertaining and it was nice to see the dramatic landscapes from the perspective of the river. We drank a little wine and then, after the boat trip, enjoyed a buffet dinner provided from the boat company. They fed a rather large group of people, but the whole early evening was enjoyable.
We returned to the hotel for the evening. We are anticipating rain over the next two days so our excursions may be curtailed. There is a threat of flash flooding. Let us hope that does not happen. I am enjoying our guide, Dawn. She has a sense of humor and a sort of flair in the clothes she wears and the local expressions she uses. She constantly tries to explain what is going to happen over the next hours and days, but we have to remain flexible because things can change for all sorts of reasons. I am impressed that people in our group make a sincere effort to get to the bus on time, particularly since we get off and on the bus sometimes three or four times on an excursion.
Sept. 20: The Arches and Lots of Free Time, while singing in the Rain
Today was our trip to the Arches National Park just outside of Moab. It was filled with unquantifiable landscapes of beauty and managed trails for exploring. The blank verse along with my photo perspective follows below. We experienced a few rain showers, but nothing heavy and nothing that made the journey difficult. It was a day of majesty and wonder. We spent a significant amount of time checking out various points in Arches National Park before actually arriving at the main attraction. It is is important to observers the vast area of this park and the marvelous places for hiking. It is always fun to take some of the color photos and process them in Black and White for more dramatic effects. I did a bit of that in the slide program that follows the poem.
The Arches on a Cooler, Slightly Rainy Day in September
Jay Voss
An arch is a circular line
Between two points of connection
Its roundness is artistic
While its center is open space
Is there a spiritual metaphor here?
I cannot think of one
But among the many
Sandstone shapes at this park
Of beauty and drama
The arch distinguishes itself
Among many of the lines, crevices,
And solid structures stretching
To the sky in various shapes and forms.
We climb to see it better
With these old bones
And unsteady limbs
Over steps built by hand and stone
And paths carved by nature
I attempted to reach the top
Where the view of the
Roundness and open space
Would be perfect.
I chose not to go the last distance
For reasons of altitude
And steps both up and down.
There are photos of this arch
In many books and pamphlets
I have seen the arch many times before
But my photo, an unsatisfactory
One at best still motivates
My upward climb for as far as I can go.
And gives me a certain pride
In making the walk.
Will my photo be printed in a book?
No, but it is my photo
One taken in a once-in-a-lifetime visit
To one of Nature’s wonders
I am thankful for the visit
And I will view my photo
Of the arch with special pride
But also as one photo among so
Vast a number of God’s shapes.
Fashioned by water, wind, and time,
Captured in pixels and pixie dust.
The remainder of my day was spent with a short nap and a pleasant dinner with several people from the tour at a delightful sandwich bar just next to our hotel. No more long walks on sore feet from the day’s treks among the obelisks.
Today was our trip to the Arches National Park just outside of Moab. It was filled with unquantifiable landscapes of beauty and managed trails for exploring. The blank verse along with my photo perspective follows below. We experienced a few rain showers, but nothing heavy and nothing that made the journey difficult. It was a day of majesty and wonder. We spent a significant amount of time checking out various points in Arches National Park before actually arriving at the main attraction. It is is important to observers the vast area of this park and the marvelous places for hiking. It is always fun to take some of the color photos and process them in Black and White for more dramatic effects. I did a bit of that in the slide program that follows the poem.
The Arches on a Cooler, Slightly Rainy Day in September
Jay Voss
An arch is a circular line
Between two points of connection
Its roundness is artistic
While its center is open space
Is there a spiritual metaphor here?
I cannot think of one
But among the many
Sandstone shapes at this park
Of beauty and drama
The arch distinguishes itself
Among many of the lines, crevices,
And solid structures stretching
To the sky in various shapes and forms.
We climb to see it better
With these old bones
And unsteady limbs
Over steps built by hand and stone
And paths carved by nature
I attempted to reach the top
Where the view of the
Roundness and open space
Would be perfect.
I chose not to go the last distance
For reasons of altitude
And steps both up and down.
There are photos of this arch
In many books and pamphlets
I have seen the arch many times before
But my photo, an unsatisfactory
One at best still motivates
My upward climb for as far as I can go.
And gives me a certain pride
In making the walk.
Will my photo be printed in a book?
No, but it is my photo
One taken in a once-in-a-lifetime visit
To one of Nature’s wonders
I am thankful for the visit
And I will view my photo
Of the arch with special pride
But also as one photo among so
Vast a number of God’s shapes.
Fashioned by water, wind, and time,
Captured in pixels and pixie dust.
The remainder of my day was spent with a short nap and a pleasant dinner with several people from the tour at a delightful sandwich bar just next to our hotel. No more long walks on sore feet from the day’s treks among the obelisks.
September 21: Travel Day via Monument Valley
On the road again…. This time on a very rainy day and a somewhat longer trip from Moab to Page Arizona, north of the Grand Canyon. Our stops today were not as strenuous as the day before largely because of the rain, which kept us from entering the parklands. We stopped at Bear Ears Monument established originally during the Obama administration, cut back significantly during the Trump years, and then reinstated by President Biden. We received a very informative talk from a Young Navajo woman who explained the origins of the vast acreage designated as a monument with many natural structures shooting skyward from the red-colored soil. Because of the wet terrain,, we were unable to hike in the park.
From there, we traveled through Monument Mountain where Dawn graciously stopped the bus along the way so that we could shoot photos. Magic Hat was a structure of particular interest to all of us and somehow a hat-shaped object rested on the top of a long narrow sandstone structure aimed at the sky. In some respects, we are photographing similar objects everywhere we go, but it is awesome how the territory of the Four Corners of the U.S. is dotted with these wonders of nature.
In between, there is plenty of high desert and most of it is on reservations given over to the Native Americans who ironically lived on the land much earlier than we. A 94-year-old WWII Veteran member of the Navajo Coders gave an impressive presentation on how the U.S. government recruited 400 Navajo brave souls to create a code in the Navajo language that was never broken by the Japanese, resulting in many victories in the war of the Pacific. He shared a number of numerous anecdotes about the translation from the Navajo language to English. It was a fascinating story. It spoke to me of the commitment of this man and his compatriots who fought for this country despite the way our government had treated their people over several hundred years, relegating them to arid and unproductive reservations around the country, usually at the expense of many deaths. Even today, this man with his two surviving buddies are working to establish a museum honoring the contribution of the Navajo Coders in World War II.
Hopefully, it will not rain tomorrow. We have some interesting trips planned. I continue to have more conversations with a great number of people in our group. Darrell and Mary live in the New York City area. Mary was an English teacher, and Darrell was and is a musician. Mary sings so they perform together usually at nursing homes, but Darrell also performs at a well-known bistro in Manhattan. It continues to be fun to meet more and more people on this trip. Many of them are former educators, so we have some common life experiences.
On the road again…. This time on a very rainy day and a somewhat longer trip from Moab to Page Arizona, north of the Grand Canyon. Our stops today were not as strenuous as the day before largely because of the rain, which kept us from entering the parklands. We stopped at Bear Ears Monument established originally during the Obama administration, cut back significantly during the Trump years, and then reinstated by President Biden. We received a very informative talk from a Young Navajo woman who explained the origins of the vast acreage designated as a monument with many natural structures shooting skyward from the red-colored soil. Because of the wet terrain,, we were unable to hike in the park.
From there, we traveled through Monument Mountain where Dawn graciously stopped the bus along the way so that we could shoot photos. Magic Hat was a structure of particular interest to all of us and somehow a hat-shaped object rested on the top of a long narrow sandstone structure aimed at the sky. In some respects, we are photographing similar objects everywhere we go, but it is awesome how the territory of the Four Corners of the U.S. is dotted with these wonders of nature.
In between, there is plenty of high desert and most of it is on reservations given over to the Native Americans who ironically lived on the land much earlier than we. A 94-year-old WWII Veteran member of the Navajo Coders gave an impressive presentation on how the U.S. government recruited 400 Navajo brave souls to create a code in the Navajo language that was never broken by the Japanese, resulting in many victories in the war of the Pacific. He shared a number of numerous anecdotes about the translation from the Navajo language to English. It was a fascinating story. It spoke to me of the commitment of this man and his compatriots who fought for this country despite the way our government had treated their people over several hundred years, relegating them to arid and unproductive reservations around the country, usually at the expense of many deaths. Even today, this man with his two surviving buddies are working to establish a museum honoring the contribution of the Navajo Coders in World War II.
Hopefully, it will not rain tomorrow. We have some interesting trips planned. I continue to have more conversations with a great number of people in our group. Darrell and Mary live in the New York City area. Mary was an English teacher, and Darrell was and is a musician. Mary sings so they perform together usually at nursing homes, but Darrell also performs at a well-known bistro in Manhattan. It continues to be fun to meet more and more people on this trip. Many of them are former educators, so we have some common life experiences.
Sept. 22: Lake Powell and the Antelope Canyon
This was a very busy day. We were at Lake Powell near Page, Arizona at 9:00 AM. We all rode in a tram or a golf cart down to the dock where we boarded the Blue Bird tour boat. It was hot sitting on the top deck with a very bright sun beating down. I sat in the cool cabin below with sliding glass windows and the opportunity to wander outside in the front or the back of the boat to shoot photos and soak up a little sun. The trip lasted for about two hours and I took many photos of the cliffs and rocks that border the lake, and also photos of the recreational vehicles that populate Lake Powell in abundance. Although the lake is receding, it is still almost 200 feet deep in places, so it has some time left before it may dry up some decades or centuries in the future. Our Captain/Guide drove and gave us a little background, but mostly he just let us observe the beauty around us.
My camera every so often without my obvious knowledge shifts to a bracketing mode where each push of the shutter gives me three versions of the same shot with varied lighting. It is annoying because it takes up space on the memory card and I know that sometime later in the day, I will have to go in and delete the bad photos, but also two versions of each photo due to bracketing. It took about an hour to do the deletion process later in the day, but I downloaded the manual for my Lumex camera and fixed the problem. I wish I knew how I inadvertently activated the bracketing process, but at least I know how to correct it.
After our boat ride, the group and I ate a delicious lunch in the restaurant of the Lake Powell Center which sits high above the lake and offers beautiful views of the dam and the bridge that spans the waterway through which the Colorado River flows to Arizona. Apparently, California owns the water in Lake Powel and it is a major reservoir for Southern California. The people of Utah, Arizona, and Colorado have no claim to this water.
After lunch, we went to Antelope Canyon, a walk through a very narrow canyon with ancient sandstone walls that seem to close in on you as you walk through. When you look up, you see the bright sky, but the sinewy shapes of the side walls of the canyon lend themselves to taking incredible abstract photos of colors, shapes, and mystery. Our guide explained to us the history of the canyon but more importantly tutored us on how to take the best photos. The series of photos below demonstrate the random creativity that comes from shapes, shadows, light, and the random perspective of the photographer. It was an awesome one-way journey in and through the canyon. We had to do some climbing to go back to the truck that brought us into the canyon, but there were plenty of ramps, metal steps, and railings to provide support to these old bones. It was a great journey and I hope the photos reflect the beauty of Antelope Canyon.
We arrived back at the hotel around 4 and I was exhausted. I decided to skip the evening Native American show and stay at the hotel and relax in anticipation of the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canon tomorrow. I sat at the bar and had a couple of local amber brews with some very average calamari. I talked with Darrell and Mary until they left for the show. I also had a nice conversation with a couple from Phoenix Arizona who were returning from a visit to Park City, Utah. Another woman sat next to me at the bar and we had a nice conversation about the southwest before I gave up the ship around 7:30 and called it an evening.
It was a long and tiring day, but one filled with beautiful scenes unlike others we have witnessed on this trip.
This was a very busy day. We were at Lake Powell near Page, Arizona at 9:00 AM. We all rode in a tram or a golf cart down to the dock where we boarded the Blue Bird tour boat. It was hot sitting on the top deck with a very bright sun beating down. I sat in the cool cabin below with sliding glass windows and the opportunity to wander outside in the front or the back of the boat to shoot photos and soak up a little sun. The trip lasted for about two hours and I took many photos of the cliffs and rocks that border the lake, and also photos of the recreational vehicles that populate Lake Powell in abundance. Although the lake is receding, it is still almost 200 feet deep in places, so it has some time left before it may dry up some decades or centuries in the future. Our Captain/Guide drove and gave us a little background, but mostly he just let us observe the beauty around us.
My camera every so often without my obvious knowledge shifts to a bracketing mode where each push of the shutter gives me three versions of the same shot with varied lighting. It is annoying because it takes up space on the memory card and I know that sometime later in the day, I will have to go in and delete the bad photos, but also two versions of each photo due to bracketing. It took about an hour to do the deletion process later in the day, but I downloaded the manual for my Lumex camera and fixed the problem. I wish I knew how I inadvertently activated the bracketing process, but at least I know how to correct it.
After our boat ride, the group and I ate a delicious lunch in the restaurant of the Lake Powell Center which sits high above the lake and offers beautiful views of the dam and the bridge that spans the waterway through which the Colorado River flows to Arizona. Apparently, California owns the water in Lake Powel and it is a major reservoir for Southern California. The people of Utah, Arizona, and Colorado have no claim to this water.
After lunch, we went to Antelope Canyon, a walk through a very narrow canyon with ancient sandstone walls that seem to close in on you as you walk through. When you look up, you see the bright sky, but the sinewy shapes of the side walls of the canyon lend themselves to taking incredible abstract photos of colors, shapes, and mystery. Our guide explained to us the history of the canyon but more importantly tutored us on how to take the best photos. The series of photos below demonstrate the random creativity that comes from shapes, shadows, light, and the random perspective of the photographer. It was an awesome one-way journey in and through the canyon. We had to do some climbing to go back to the truck that brought us into the canyon, but there were plenty of ramps, metal steps, and railings to provide support to these old bones. It was a great journey and I hope the photos reflect the beauty of Antelope Canyon.
We arrived back at the hotel around 4 and I was exhausted. I decided to skip the evening Native American show and stay at the hotel and relax in anticipation of the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canon tomorrow. I sat at the bar and had a couple of local amber brews with some very average calamari. I talked with Darrell and Mary until they left for the show. I also had a nice conversation with a couple from Phoenix Arizona who were returning from a visit to Park City, Utah. Another woman sat next to me at the bar and we had a nice conversation about the southwest before I gave up the ship around 7:30 and called it an evening.
It was a long and tiring day, but one filled with beautiful scenes unlike others we have witnessed on this trip.
September 23: Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon
Today was another long, but interesting travel day. We stopped at the Navajo Bridge which crosses the Colorado River near the border of Utah and Arizona. We had driven south and then north from Page, Arizona to get to the bridge which was north of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, our next destination. The bridge was an interesting walk and we took photos of a rather slow-moving green-colored river that did not look too inviting. We then drove south and picked up the road leading into the north rim of the canyon. It was a lengthy drive. We saw a smoldering fire going in and thought it was a minor incident that our guide, Dawn, said happens from time to time. The fires of the past stay as embers in the roots of trees and sometimes appear above ground.
We drove on to the North Rim and arrived around noon. It was fairly busy, but we were able to collect our bag lunches. I sat on a flat rock next to Abby and we devoured the rather huge sandwich that was prepared for us ahead of time. After lunch, I walked through the lodge and down to two separate vantage points where I could shoot numerous photos of the vast canyon scenery. The photos capture those views more accurately than I can describe them but trust me that the views were awesome and a bit scary as I attempted to look down over the railing. I had bought a walking stick at the bridge, so it was easier for me to descend and climb stairs, and to walk the gravely, sometimes uneven paths. There was a path that wound around the North Rim, but the 1.5-mile walk was a bit too far for me on my weary feet. We left the canyon around 1:30 and saw on our way out of the park that the fire had grown significantly while were at the North Rim. We passed it at a distance but could see it very clearly from the road about a mile away. Shortly after we passed the fire, the rangers closed the road to traffic in and out while they deployed fire fighters to put out the fire that was burning on 730 acres of land. I am not sure where this all ended, but we were lucky to get out of the park and head to our destination, the town of Bryce Canyon.
We arrived at our Best Western Plus hotel at about 6:15. After checking in, I took the shuttle across the street to Ruby’s for an old-fashioned cowboy buffet. I sat with Frank and Carol from Wisconsin and Robert. We discussed our various travels, where we have been, and where we plan to go. I returned to my room across the street after a nice discussion with the shuttle driver and was in bed by 9. The end of another long, but productive and interesting day.
Today was another long, but interesting travel day. We stopped at the Navajo Bridge which crosses the Colorado River near the border of Utah and Arizona. We had driven south and then north from Page, Arizona to get to the bridge which was north of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, our next destination. The bridge was an interesting walk and we took photos of a rather slow-moving green-colored river that did not look too inviting. We then drove south and picked up the road leading into the north rim of the canyon. It was a lengthy drive. We saw a smoldering fire going in and thought it was a minor incident that our guide, Dawn, said happens from time to time. The fires of the past stay as embers in the roots of trees and sometimes appear above ground.
We drove on to the North Rim and arrived around noon. It was fairly busy, but we were able to collect our bag lunches. I sat on a flat rock next to Abby and we devoured the rather huge sandwich that was prepared for us ahead of time. After lunch, I walked through the lodge and down to two separate vantage points where I could shoot numerous photos of the vast canyon scenery. The photos capture those views more accurately than I can describe them but trust me that the views were awesome and a bit scary as I attempted to look down over the railing. I had bought a walking stick at the bridge, so it was easier for me to descend and climb stairs, and to walk the gravely, sometimes uneven paths. There was a path that wound around the North Rim, but the 1.5-mile walk was a bit too far for me on my weary feet. We left the canyon around 1:30 and saw on our way out of the park that the fire had grown significantly while were at the North Rim. We passed it at a distance but could see it very clearly from the road about a mile away. Shortly after we passed the fire, the rangers closed the road to traffic in and out while they deployed fire fighters to put out the fire that was burning on 730 acres of land. I am not sure where this all ended, but we were lucky to get out of the park and head to our destination, the town of Bryce Canyon.
We arrived at our Best Western Plus hotel at about 6:15. After checking in, I took the shuttle across the street to Ruby’s for an old-fashioned cowboy buffet. I sat with Frank and Carol from Wisconsin and Robert. We discussed our various travels, where we have been, and where we plan to go. I returned to my room across the street after a nice discussion with the shuttle driver and was in bed by 9. The end of another long, but productive and interesting day.
Sept. 24: A Visit to Zion National Park
This was a fun day. It took us about two hours to get to Zion National Park, a panorama of incredible sandstone edifices that stretch to the sky. I am getting tired of the long bus rides, but this day was worth it. We spent from around 10 AM to 1:30 PM in the park. I hiked from the Lodge where the bus dropped us off to the Lower Pool for about an hour along a mostly concrete path that had a few ups and downs, but was quite manageable for me with my new walking stick. I saw some squirrels and deer along the way and several interesting plant varieties. There was a mountain cactus with an interesting purple flower blooming from its treacherous leaves. And a white flower that looked like a day lily, but seemed almost out of place in this western high country environment. My first half of the walk ended at the Lower Pool where a very minimal amount of water fell from the rocks above. The water felt refreshing on my semi-warm body, the result of some uphill climbs. I took many photos along the way, some of which are shared below.
My walk back was slow but steady and I met many people along the way, some from my bus who asked how far it was to the pool, and others speaking one foreign language or another, but who were willing to say “Hello,” “Hi,” or “Good Morning.” When I got to the bridge across the River from where my hike began, I wandered a bit longer down the path beyond the bridge and along the quick-flowing, but shallow river. There was a nice observation point just a hundred yards down the path that gave me a couple of good photos of the creek and the hiker-filled lodge grounds beyond.
I wandered back to the Lodge, visited the Rest Room, and patiently waited in a shady spot for the call to lunch. It does feel like we are being herded from one place to another for lunch and for presentations, but our lunch on this day consisted of a delicious vegetable soup and half a turkey sandwich that seemed just right after a satisfying walk on the trail. The lunch was capped with some delicious vanilla ice cream. At 1:30, we found our way back to the bus and took the long and windy, climbing road out of Zion. The vistas and interesting roadside views continued to inspire as they did on the way into the park.
After a couple of brief stops and my purchase of some T-shirts, we arrived back in Bryce Canyon village at about 4:40 PM. I rested while trying to watch the hapless Badgers take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. It was quite frustrating. The Badgers need a quarterback and an overall better offense. At 7:00 PM, we joined other visiting bus loads at the Ebenezer Restaurant owned by the same people who run Ruby’s and our Best Western Hotel. “Ruby” has passed on, but his legacy still lives. We had a very efficiently served buffet dinner with our bus colleagues at six round tables. Dawn sprung for our first drink and the food was fine. Soon after all were finished with dinner, we were treated to a country and western concert by the Bryce Canyon Wranglers, a group of three guys and a girl. They were good musicians and along with the slides in the background put on a good show. I was back in my room at 9 and asleep after a long and fun day on the trail.
Utah is an interesting state. The Mormons seem in control everywhere and they in a sense dictate the entertainment of the people who visit. However, they are well organized and do a good job of giving visitors a taste of the panoramic west. After a visit to Bryce Canyon tomorrow morning, we head to the center of the Mormon world in Salt Lake City where this first part of my journey comes to an end. I will not make it physically to Mass this week, because of the timing and our location. There are very few Mass times and my only shot is at noon tomorrow when we will be on our way to Salt Lake City.
This was a fun day. It took us about two hours to get to Zion National Park, a panorama of incredible sandstone edifices that stretch to the sky. I am getting tired of the long bus rides, but this day was worth it. We spent from around 10 AM to 1:30 PM in the park. I hiked from the Lodge where the bus dropped us off to the Lower Pool for about an hour along a mostly concrete path that had a few ups and downs, but was quite manageable for me with my new walking stick. I saw some squirrels and deer along the way and several interesting plant varieties. There was a mountain cactus with an interesting purple flower blooming from its treacherous leaves. And a white flower that looked like a day lily, but seemed almost out of place in this western high country environment. My first half of the walk ended at the Lower Pool where a very minimal amount of water fell from the rocks above. The water felt refreshing on my semi-warm body, the result of some uphill climbs. I took many photos along the way, some of which are shared below.
My walk back was slow but steady and I met many people along the way, some from my bus who asked how far it was to the pool, and others speaking one foreign language or another, but who were willing to say “Hello,” “Hi,” or “Good Morning.” When I got to the bridge across the River from where my hike began, I wandered a bit longer down the path beyond the bridge and along the quick-flowing, but shallow river. There was a nice observation point just a hundred yards down the path that gave me a couple of good photos of the creek and the hiker-filled lodge grounds beyond.
I wandered back to the Lodge, visited the Rest Room, and patiently waited in a shady spot for the call to lunch. It does feel like we are being herded from one place to another for lunch and for presentations, but our lunch on this day consisted of a delicious vegetable soup and half a turkey sandwich that seemed just right after a satisfying walk on the trail. The lunch was capped with some delicious vanilla ice cream. At 1:30, we found our way back to the bus and took the long and windy, climbing road out of Zion. The vistas and interesting roadside views continued to inspire as they did on the way into the park.
After a couple of brief stops and my purchase of some T-shirts, we arrived back in Bryce Canyon village at about 4:40 PM. I rested while trying to watch the hapless Badgers take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. It was quite frustrating. The Badgers need a quarterback and an overall better offense. At 7:00 PM, we joined other visiting bus loads at the Ebenezer Restaurant owned by the same people who run Ruby’s and our Best Western Hotel. “Ruby” has passed on, but his legacy still lives. We had a very efficiently served buffet dinner with our bus colleagues at six round tables. Dawn sprung for our first drink and the food was fine. Soon after all were finished with dinner, we were treated to a country and western concert by the Bryce Canyon Wranglers, a group of three guys and a girl. They were good musicians and along with the slides in the background put on a good show. I was back in my room at 9 and asleep after a long and fun day on the trail.
Utah is an interesting state. The Mormons seem in control everywhere and they in a sense dictate the entertainment of the people who visit. However, they are well organized and do a good job of giving visitors a taste of the panoramic west. After a visit to Bryce Canyon tomorrow morning, we head to the center of the Mormon world in Salt Lake City where this first part of my journey comes to an end. I will not make it physically to Mass this week, because of the timing and our location. There are very few Mass times and my only shot is at noon tomorrow when we will be on our way to Salt Lake City.
Sept. 25: Bryce Canyon and Salt Lake City
Our morning began at Bryce Canyon where I chose to stay on the bus and stop at various lookout points around the park. Our driver, Robin, drove the bus to these various spots and we had anywhere from 5-15 minutes to take photos. Those longer stops allowed us to walk for a short distance to the viewing point. In every case, we were greeted with incredible scenery, consisting of eroded sandstone in various shapes and colors. Hoodoos are the most common results of nature’s creative deconstruction with the assistance of water and ice that form cracks and eventually cause the parts of a sandstone cliff to erode. The photos below give some expression of the views we observed. After a couple of hours of stopping and starting, observing and shooting digital reflections of the views, we stopped for lunch at the Canyon Lodge where we enjoyed a buffet. I continue to try and choose wisely when the food is so plentiful.
We left the park around 1:30 PM and proceeded to go the wrong way again based on a faulty GPS route. We lost about 30 minutes, but we still arrived in Salt Lake City around 5:45. It was one more very long bus ride, which for several on the trip, including me, is quite tiring. We had about 30 minutes to get ready for our Farewell Dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant. We squeezed into very close quarters so that we hardly had room to move our elbows without touching our neighbors to either side. The wine and food were fine. The close quarters made it difficult for our final dinner together as a big group. We said our goodbyes to many of our traveling colleagues and returned to the hotel.
We are staying in Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, which is spread out causing long walks from the lobby to my room. My room is large and beautiful, so that counters the long walks, but there has to be a shorter way to the lobby. We are here for two nights and then 10 of our original group will go on to Sante Fe for three days. I am going to continue the journal through the extension and will continue to add photographs, although I hope the quantity decreases. I have taken so many dramatic and beautiful shots over the past 12 days, that I have reached about 1000 photos.
I am very. happy that I chose this trip to see our Nations’s natural wonders in the southwest. It is beyond understanding how nature could carve out such beauty over millions of years. There is a spiritual wonderment that characterizes these scenes. It is hard to explain, but you feel the power in your own insignificance as you peer into the vast spaces.
Our morning began at Bryce Canyon where I chose to stay on the bus and stop at various lookout points around the park. Our driver, Robin, drove the bus to these various spots and we had anywhere from 5-15 minutes to take photos. Those longer stops allowed us to walk for a short distance to the viewing point. In every case, we were greeted with incredible scenery, consisting of eroded sandstone in various shapes and colors. Hoodoos are the most common results of nature’s creative deconstruction with the assistance of water and ice that form cracks and eventually cause the parts of a sandstone cliff to erode. The photos below give some expression of the views we observed. After a couple of hours of stopping and starting, observing and shooting digital reflections of the views, we stopped for lunch at the Canyon Lodge where we enjoyed a buffet. I continue to try and choose wisely when the food is so plentiful.
We left the park around 1:30 PM and proceeded to go the wrong way again based on a faulty GPS route. We lost about 30 minutes, but we still arrived in Salt Lake City around 5:45. It was one more very long bus ride, which for several on the trip, including me, is quite tiring. We had about 30 minutes to get ready for our Farewell Dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant. We squeezed into very close quarters so that we hardly had room to move our elbows without touching our neighbors to either side. The wine and food were fine. The close quarters made it difficult for our final dinner together as a big group. We said our goodbyes to many of our traveling colleagues and returned to the hotel.
We are staying in Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, which is spread out causing long walks from the lobby to my room. My room is large and beautiful, so that counters the long walks, but there has to be a shorter way to the lobby. We are here for two nights and then 10 of our original group will go on to Sante Fe for three days. I am going to continue the journal through the extension and will continue to add photographs, although I hope the quantity decreases. I have taken so many dramatic and beautiful shots over the past 12 days, that I have reached about 1000 photos.
I am very. happy that I chose this trip to see our Nations’s natural wonders in the southwest. It is beyond understanding how nature could carve out such beauty over millions of years. There is a spiritual wonderment that characterizes these scenes. It is hard to explain, but you feel the power in your own insignificance as you peer into the vast spaces.
Sept. 26: A Day in Salt Lake City
This was a morning to explore Salt Lake City, We hopped on our bus with a new driver and a guide for the morning. We drove up the city street to the University of Utah campus. Our guide works there in researching construction projects, but her boss allows her to give tours around the city, This a Mormon town so she gave us a lot of background on the Mormon Church and her own belief system under its umbrella. It bordered on proselytizing, but I did not find it overdone or offensive. She took us to the Great Salt Lake, which is drying up and presenting some interesting problems for the city. Some of the residue has arsenic in it and the citizens of Salt Lake are concerned that strong winds could blow those particles around in the atmosphere. They are trying to work on the problem, but so far they have not come up with a solution. It is not unlike Charleston’s problem of potential flooding in the future due to rising ocean levels. There needs to be a proactive approach. People on our tour who had been to Salt Lake two or three decades ago remember floating in the lake supported by the heavy salt content in the water. You cannot as easily swim in the lake these days and people were expressing their sadness about that.
We then drove back downtown and stopped at the State Capitol. It reminded me of the Capitol in Madison, WI, with a similar dome and marble floors and walls throughout. I took some photos of statutes hanging in the rotunda and the murals on the wall. I was even able to capture the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court but was unable to view the Senate Chamber.
Our next and last stop was the Mormon Temple where we heard an organ concert played in the magnificent building that houses the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We did not hear the choir, but the organist gave us a vivid demonstration of the power of the organ, the acoustics of the space, and the beautiful display in a variety of colors of the backdrop to the organ pipes that stretch to the heavens in this marvelous place.
The flowers in Temple Park caught my eye and the eye of my camera, so I broke off from my group of nine fellow travelers on the post-trip. After my adventure in flower photography, I walked to a Walgreens where I could purchase a couple of things and use the All Points ATM to replenish my cash. The ATM was out of order, so I tried another location listed on my phone to find an ATM. No luck. In the meantime, I was walking quite a bit and my legs and feet were really feeling it. I walked 13000 steps today, which for me is a lot. I am currently paying the price for all that walking with sore knees and my chronic foot problems.
This was the first day of the extended tour and tomorrow we fly to Sante Fe, NM. We have three days there and then home. Dawn is still our guide for the 10 souls of the original 38 that have chosen this option. So this saga will continue for a few days.
This was a morning to explore Salt Lake City, We hopped on our bus with a new driver and a guide for the morning. We drove up the city street to the University of Utah campus. Our guide works there in researching construction projects, but her boss allows her to give tours around the city, This a Mormon town so she gave us a lot of background on the Mormon Church and her own belief system under its umbrella. It bordered on proselytizing, but I did not find it overdone or offensive. She took us to the Great Salt Lake, which is drying up and presenting some interesting problems for the city. Some of the residue has arsenic in it and the citizens of Salt Lake are concerned that strong winds could blow those particles around in the atmosphere. They are trying to work on the problem, but so far they have not come up with a solution. It is not unlike Charleston’s problem of potential flooding in the future due to rising ocean levels. There needs to be a proactive approach. People on our tour who had been to Salt Lake two or three decades ago remember floating in the lake supported by the heavy salt content in the water. You cannot as easily swim in the lake these days and people were expressing their sadness about that.
We then drove back downtown and stopped at the State Capitol. It reminded me of the Capitol in Madison, WI, with a similar dome and marble floors and walls throughout. I took some photos of statutes hanging in the rotunda and the murals on the wall. I was even able to capture the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court but was unable to view the Senate Chamber.
Our next and last stop was the Mormon Temple where we heard an organ concert played in the magnificent building that houses the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We did not hear the choir, but the organist gave us a vivid demonstration of the power of the organ, the acoustics of the space, and the beautiful display in a variety of colors of the backdrop to the organ pipes that stretch to the heavens in this marvelous place.
The flowers in Temple Park caught my eye and the eye of my camera, so I broke off from my group of nine fellow travelers on the post-trip. After my adventure in flower photography, I walked to a Walgreens where I could purchase a couple of things and use the All Points ATM to replenish my cash. The ATM was out of order, so I tried another location listed on my phone to find an ATM. No luck. In the meantime, I was walking quite a bit and my legs and feet were really feeling it. I walked 13000 steps today, which for me is a lot. I am currently paying the price for all that walking with sore knees and my chronic foot problems.
This was the first day of the extended tour and tomorrow we fly to Sante Fe, NM. We have three days there and then home. Dawn is still our guide for the 10 souls of the original 38 that have chosen this option. So this saga will continue for a few days.
Sept. 27, On to Sante Fe
This was a travel day. We went to the airport and I made it through security and found that my Gate was B28. Well at Salt Lake City Airport, the walk to B28 is over a mile. There was some assistance with people walkers, but I do not think I ever walked so far to an airport gate. There are usually Trams that take you long distances, but not at this airport. I finally got to the gate and we began loading on time, but there was now a walk and a bus ride to the plane. The long walk was quite upsetting to all 10 of us who were flying on to Sante Fe. However, the flight was smooth and we arrived early. Unlike my earlier experience in Alburquerque where they could not locate my checked bag for over an hour, my bag was almost waiting for me at the transom. Our driver was there to meet us and we took off for a visit to the Pueblo Museum of Culture where we browsed through the exhibits, checked out the gift store, and had lunch. At 2:30 we piled into our small van and began the journey to Sante Fe, a little over an hour away.
We arrived at 4:40 PM and checked into our Hilton Hotel, which has the look and feel of Old Sante Fe. It has been remodeled and my room is very pleasant with a comfortable king-size bed. I had set up a meeting with a friend from my college years, Mary Ellen, who I had not seen for almost 60 years. Mary Ellen and her husband Dan joined me for a drink and some small plate food across the street at the famous El Dorado Hotel. We talked for an hour and a half and retraced some old times, but also talked about our lives and how we have spent them. Dan and Mary Ellen are moving to New Jersey for an Independent living situation and are in the midst of downsizing. I commiserated with them about how tough a job it is to throw out artifacts of your life, most of which have been sitting around unnoticed for years. It was a true joy to reconnect even if just for a short time. I like when these opportunities arise for me because it is one more way we can share our lives with those, unseen for many years, but still part of our memories. Mary Ellen is beautiful in her elderly years, just like she was when we were in our early twenties. She and Dan have been together for all of that time and it is clear that they have made a good and loving life together. Later reflection caused me to conclude that this was the highlight of my extended trip to Sante Fe. Seeing an old friend who I once cared about has its own value next to all of the timeless eroded shapes that I have seen on this trip. We are eroded too, but still standing tall.
Unfortunately, I am suffering from a bout of sinus drainage, which makes me difficult to be around. I hope this passes in the next few days. I went to bed at 8:30 and here I am at 3:30 AM working on this journal. Oh, well, maybe I can crawl back into bed and catch a little more sleep.
Sept. 28: A Day of Rest
I decided to take the day off today from traveling with the group. My sinus issue coupled with riding in a van all day easily convinced me to not go along. They were going to Los Alamos and to Pueblo Museum and I felt I could miss that. Later, several shared that it was a good day, but I was still happy with my decision to stay in Sante Fe and walk around on my own. Although I understand the historical significance of the atomic bomb in bringing an end to World War II in the Pacific theater, I worry about the long-term problem of nuclear war which is very much a threat as I write this today. I would have enjoyed the visit to the Pueblo, but I had seen one many years ago on my first trip to Sante Fe. I needed a day of rest. However, I used the day to explore a portion of Sante Fe.
I started out by going where Lynn and Paul were married, the Loretto Chapel. It is a quaint old church that has lots of history and is a museum. There was a $4.00 charge to enter the body of the church. I thought I might be paying entry fees all day long, but this was the only one. I lit a candle for Terry and Lynn in the old church and took a number of photos.
From the Chapel, I went to the St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral where I took more photos. They were planning a formal photography shoot for the church, so after about 10 minutes of wandering around, we were asked to move to the vestibule of the Church. I left the church and walked around to the Stations of the Cross Garden with dramatic sculptures of Christ’s march to Calvary and eventual hanging on the cross. After about 20 minutes of doing that, I set out for the Historic Plaza This is the place that I most remember from my visit 54 years earlier in 1968. There were still Native Americans sitting on the ground in front of their various creations on display for sale, but the whole place seemed much more commercial with storefronts and shops everywhere. In fact, there seems to be very little space in this downtown area that is not filled with shops of jewelry, wood carvings, beautiful woven fabrics, and art galleries. It is easy to see that the primary economic focus of Sante Fe is tourism. Fed Ex could become rich just here alone. All of these shops do not take away from the joy of walking around this historic town.
Along the way, I am 99% sure that I saw Jane Fonda walking down the street toward me. For some reason, she stopped and turned around, and walked back to the parking ramp with her younger female companion. I found out with a little later research that she owns a ranch just east of Sante Fe which she is selling at an asking price in excess of 17 million dollars. That bit of information convinced me that I did in fact, see Jane Fonda in downtown Sante Fe. Her exit was into the parking ramp for the La Fonda shopping area, which I believe has no connection with her. The irony of it all.
I found a shop that sold quartz stones for a very reasonable amount, so I bought three stones for Gina’s kids based on her recommendation. So, I felt good that I had accomplished one more goal on the trip. I stopped for some ice cream around 11:30 and then went back to the Hilton where I spent the afternoon resting. I wanted to find a pharmacy to buy some OTC medications for my sinus problem. Thanks to information provided by the hotel clerk, there was a Five and Dime just up the street that had what I needed.
At around 4:45, I wandered into the Ortiz bar for a Happy Hour Drink. I ordered a Manhattan. The reason that I mention this is that there was a new bartender in training and he was directed to make my Manhattan. I watched with interest as the drink took shape. It turned out quite well and I enjoyed sipping it.
I joined our group for dinner and we walked to Thomasita’s for some Mexican fare. Many of the people in the group had Margaritas, but I chose a Mexican Modelo on draft. I ordered a taco salad with beef which was very good. My table talked a lot about apples from Washington State, which I knew nothing about. I was still coughing way too much and the topics of conversation allowed me to bow out of participation, which was a good thing.
When we got back to the hotel, I invited Dawn to join me for a drink. We had a nice conversation about her family and her love of leading travel groups around the country. When I got back to my room, I took the cold and flu Tylenol, which seemed to help get me some sleep. We have a day of choosing what to do on our last day in Sante Fe. The hurricane raging in the southeast may prevent me from flying from Chicago to Charleston on Friday, but I have talked to Lynn who is willing to put me up for a few days. Brant is heading home today from my Condo to avoid the storm. He had at least two beach days, so I hope that he and my twin granddaughters found his trip worthwhile.
This was a travel day. We went to the airport and I made it through security and found that my Gate was B28. Well at Salt Lake City Airport, the walk to B28 is over a mile. There was some assistance with people walkers, but I do not think I ever walked so far to an airport gate. There are usually Trams that take you long distances, but not at this airport. I finally got to the gate and we began loading on time, but there was now a walk and a bus ride to the plane. The long walk was quite upsetting to all 10 of us who were flying on to Sante Fe. However, the flight was smooth and we arrived early. Unlike my earlier experience in Alburquerque where they could not locate my checked bag for over an hour, my bag was almost waiting for me at the transom. Our driver was there to meet us and we took off for a visit to the Pueblo Museum of Culture where we browsed through the exhibits, checked out the gift store, and had lunch. At 2:30 we piled into our small van and began the journey to Sante Fe, a little over an hour away.
We arrived at 4:40 PM and checked into our Hilton Hotel, which has the look and feel of Old Sante Fe. It has been remodeled and my room is very pleasant with a comfortable king-size bed. I had set up a meeting with a friend from my college years, Mary Ellen, who I had not seen for almost 60 years. Mary Ellen and her husband Dan joined me for a drink and some small plate food across the street at the famous El Dorado Hotel. We talked for an hour and a half and retraced some old times, but also talked about our lives and how we have spent them. Dan and Mary Ellen are moving to New Jersey for an Independent living situation and are in the midst of downsizing. I commiserated with them about how tough a job it is to throw out artifacts of your life, most of which have been sitting around unnoticed for years. It was a true joy to reconnect even if just for a short time. I like when these opportunities arise for me because it is one more way we can share our lives with those, unseen for many years, but still part of our memories. Mary Ellen is beautiful in her elderly years, just like she was when we were in our early twenties. She and Dan have been together for all of that time and it is clear that they have made a good and loving life together. Later reflection caused me to conclude that this was the highlight of my extended trip to Sante Fe. Seeing an old friend who I once cared about has its own value next to all of the timeless eroded shapes that I have seen on this trip. We are eroded too, but still standing tall.
Unfortunately, I am suffering from a bout of sinus drainage, which makes me difficult to be around. I hope this passes in the next few days. I went to bed at 8:30 and here I am at 3:30 AM working on this journal. Oh, well, maybe I can crawl back into bed and catch a little more sleep.
Sept. 28: A Day of Rest
I decided to take the day off today from traveling with the group. My sinus issue coupled with riding in a van all day easily convinced me to not go along. They were going to Los Alamos and to Pueblo Museum and I felt I could miss that. Later, several shared that it was a good day, but I was still happy with my decision to stay in Sante Fe and walk around on my own. Although I understand the historical significance of the atomic bomb in bringing an end to World War II in the Pacific theater, I worry about the long-term problem of nuclear war which is very much a threat as I write this today. I would have enjoyed the visit to the Pueblo, but I had seen one many years ago on my first trip to Sante Fe. I needed a day of rest. However, I used the day to explore a portion of Sante Fe.
I started out by going where Lynn and Paul were married, the Loretto Chapel. It is a quaint old church that has lots of history and is a museum. There was a $4.00 charge to enter the body of the church. I thought I might be paying entry fees all day long, but this was the only one. I lit a candle for Terry and Lynn in the old church and took a number of photos.
From the Chapel, I went to the St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral where I took more photos. They were planning a formal photography shoot for the church, so after about 10 minutes of wandering around, we were asked to move to the vestibule of the Church. I left the church and walked around to the Stations of the Cross Garden with dramatic sculptures of Christ’s march to Calvary and eventual hanging on the cross. After about 20 minutes of doing that, I set out for the Historic Plaza This is the place that I most remember from my visit 54 years earlier in 1968. There were still Native Americans sitting on the ground in front of their various creations on display for sale, but the whole place seemed much more commercial with storefronts and shops everywhere. In fact, there seems to be very little space in this downtown area that is not filled with shops of jewelry, wood carvings, beautiful woven fabrics, and art galleries. It is easy to see that the primary economic focus of Sante Fe is tourism. Fed Ex could become rich just here alone. All of these shops do not take away from the joy of walking around this historic town.
Along the way, I am 99% sure that I saw Jane Fonda walking down the street toward me. For some reason, she stopped and turned around, and walked back to the parking ramp with her younger female companion. I found out with a little later research that she owns a ranch just east of Sante Fe which she is selling at an asking price in excess of 17 million dollars. That bit of information convinced me that I did in fact, see Jane Fonda in downtown Sante Fe. Her exit was into the parking ramp for the La Fonda shopping area, which I believe has no connection with her. The irony of it all.
I found a shop that sold quartz stones for a very reasonable amount, so I bought three stones for Gina’s kids based on her recommendation. So, I felt good that I had accomplished one more goal on the trip. I stopped for some ice cream around 11:30 and then went back to the Hilton where I spent the afternoon resting. I wanted to find a pharmacy to buy some OTC medications for my sinus problem. Thanks to information provided by the hotel clerk, there was a Five and Dime just up the street that had what I needed.
At around 4:45, I wandered into the Ortiz bar for a Happy Hour Drink. I ordered a Manhattan. The reason that I mention this is that there was a new bartender in training and he was directed to make my Manhattan. I watched with interest as the drink took shape. It turned out quite well and I enjoyed sipping it.
I joined our group for dinner and we walked to Thomasita’s for some Mexican fare. Many of the people in the group had Margaritas, but I chose a Mexican Modelo on draft. I ordered a taco salad with beef which was very good. My table talked a lot about apples from Washington State, which I knew nothing about. I was still coughing way too much and the topics of conversation allowed me to bow out of participation, which was a good thing.
When we got back to the hotel, I invited Dawn to join me for a drink. We had a nice conversation about her family and her love of leading travel groups around the country. When I got back to my room, I took the cold and flu Tylenol, which seemed to help get me some sleep. We have a day of choosing what to do on our last day in Sante Fe. The hurricane raging in the southeast may prevent me from flying from Chicago to Charleston on Friday, but I have talked to Lynn who is willing to put me up for a few days. Brant is heading home today from my Condo to avoid the storm. He had at least two beach days, so I hope that he and my twin granddaughters found his trip worthwhile.
Sept. 29: Last Day in Sante Fe
Well, it is turning into my typical travel scenario of struggling to get home. I found out this morning that due to the hurricane hitting near Charleston, my flight for Friday has been canceled and I have been rerouted through Denver on Oct. 1. I let Lynn know that I would not be coming to Chicago. In the meantime, Hurricane Ian is scheduled to hit the Charleston area around mid-morning on Friday as a Category 1 Hurricane. My sinus drainage and post-nasal drip cough continue to affect my sleep. I am coming off a great trip where I saw extraordinarily beautiful parts of this country, but I cannot get home on time. The only thing to do is go with the flow as best I can.
I spent my last day in Sante Fe on a brief walking tour with Dawn and the group to St. Francis Basilica, the museum district, and the historic plaza. These are places I wandered to the day before, but Dawn gave us her perspective and I was able to discuss some of the places with group members. I ventured back to the Hotel late morning and took it easy the rest of the day. Duane, Pat, Steven, and Rose invited me to join them for dinner at a nearby pizza place. We had a nice discussion about traveling and other aspects of our lives. We all travel to Albuquerque on Friday, but I will spend another day waiting at the Airport Best Western, hopefully returning home on Saturday. My body is tired, my sinuses are rebelling against the dryness of the climate here, and it is just time to return home and get on with my life. Brant and the twins made it home safely on Thursday and all I can hope for is that my condo survives Ian. I am writing this at 2 AM and I need to get a couple of hours more sleep. Hopefully, that will happen. In my next entry, I will try to do a wrap-up of the trip. I am glad I went. I just want to get home.
Rather than give you a day by day photo montage in Sante Fe, I have grouped several days of photos together that hopefully add to the narrative.
Well, it is turning into my typical travel scenario of struggling to get home. I found out this morning that due to the hurricane hitting near Charleston, my flight for Friday has been canceled and I have been rerouted through Denver on Oct. 1. I let Lynn know that I would not be coming to Chicago. In the meantime, Hurricane Ian is scheduled to hit the Charleston area around mid-morning on Friday as a Category 1 Hurricane. My sinus drainage and post-nasal drip cough continue to affect my sleep. I am coming off a great trip where I saw extraordinarily beautiful parts of this country, but I cannot get home on time. The only thing to do is go with the flow as best I can.
I spent my last day in Sante Fe on a brief walking tour with Dawn and the group to St. Francis Basilica, the museum district, and the historic plaza. These are places I wandered to the day before, but Dawn gave us her perspective and I was able to discuss some of the places with group members. I ventured back to the Hotel late morning and took it easy the rest of the day. Duane, Pat, Steven, and Rose invited me to join them for dinner at a nearby pizza place. We had a nice discussion about traveling and other aspects of our lives. We all travel to Albuquerque on Friday, but I will spend another day waiting at the Airport Best Western, hopefully returning home on Saturday. My body is tired, my sinuses are rebelling against the dryness of the climate here, and it is just time to return home and get on with my life. Brant and the twins made it home safely on Thursday and all I can hope for is that my condo survives Ian. I am writing this at 2 AM and I need to get a couple of hours more sleep. Hopefully, that will happen. In my next entry, I will try to do a wrap-up of the trip. I am glad I went. I just want to get home.
Rather than give you a day by day photo montage in Sante Fe, I have grouped several days of photos together that hopefully add to the narrative.
Sept 30-Oct 1: Going Home
The drive in the van with the remainder of my group went smoothly and I arrived at the Best Western at around 10:15. My room was a large suite, consisting of two large rooms with two baths. The room was not ready, so I took Bus 50 which stopped in front of the hotel downtown for a look around. I realized how much I struggle with the philosophy of St. Francis, which was all about peace and love for everyone, particularly the poor. I saw a lot of homeless in downtown Albuquerque and I understand why Richard Rohr whose Center is located in Albuquerque is so articulate about the needs that they have. The downtown bus terminal is a great study for any sociologist. The people not only know the system, but they work it to their advantage. For a person like me who is foreign to most of their ways, it is uncomfortable and I am terrible at responding in a compassionate and helpful way. It is my problem, not theirs. I have a long way to go in becoming a compassionate support to the poor. I would later share this discomfort with my men’s group at our Wednesday meeting on Oct. 5.
I got back to the hotel around 12:30 and stopped for a piece of key lime pie at the Village Diner. It served as my lunch. The rest of the day was uneventful. However, I did get a beer and a hamburger at Applebee’s and hoped for a good night’s sleep and luck in getting home tomorrow. Two of my neighbors told me via texts that my condo survived Ian. The eye of the Category I storm hit about 50 miles north of Mt. Pleasant and did considerable damage in Georgetown. I am lucky and feel much compassion and sorrow for the people of western Florida and others who lost their homes in the flooding. I have been to Fort Myers and Sanibel Island. They are beautiful spots but have been devastated by the hurricane. My friend Sally and her friend Mike suffered some damage to their property near Naples.
I had a restful night at the Best Western and made the first leg of my flight home to Denver. I am writing this on the plane. The Balloon Festival is in Albuquerque this weekend and the balloons were taking off as we took off. I did get a hint of the balloons with my iPhone camera from the plane. We are supposed to land in Denver in about 30 minutes and I have about an hour to make my connection to Charleston. My intent is to stop at this point and resume later this morning, hopefully on the next flight. It is getting a bit choppy, so my typing is getting even shakier than usual.
The change of planes in Denver was smooth. It is 90 minutes after I landed in Denver and we are well on our way to Charleston. It is a full plane, unlike the earlier one, so I do not have access to a window seat. I am not sure how my seating happened on this trip, but I need to be more specific next time I travel as to seat preferences. This is almost a three-hour flight, so I will have to pace myself. I am going to try and work on some photos or perhaps get the template going for the Condo Newsletter. I will come back to this journal at the end of the day when I am finally home. I sat next to Shelly on the plane who lives in Bakersfield, CA. We talked about traveling, Charleston, and family. Our conversation helped to make the 3-hour flight more tolerable.
Well, United Airlines cannot just make it happen. We had perfect flights until we landed in Charleston and we had to wait for a gate. Once we got there, the ramp would not connect with the door of the plane and we were delayed again. It was almost 50 minutes from the time we landed until the time we got off the plane. Everything else with the flight was great, and I was home. Land transportation connected me with Michael and his taxi. We made it to my humble home around 4:30 PM. Although I have some minor cleanup of small fallen tree limbs, there was no significant damage from the storm. I was glad to be home.
Post Script: October 9
Since I have been home, I have walked with my walking group at the senior center and had some opportunities to share stories from my trip with fellow walkers. I am so glad that I chose to go on this trip and see the beautiful sites of our southwestern national parks with all of the geology, geography, and culture. I have over 1100 photos that I have selected as favorites and somehow I must reduce that figure to a more manageable amount for my website travelogue. The good news is that this journal is complete and weathered an initial edit. I am so fortunate that I have been able to travel and keep a visual and written record of my trips and the memories of the wonderful people that I have met along the way. I set this goal to travel for myself over a decade ago and I feel a sense of satisfaction that I have strived to meet the goal. I hope that I have a few more trips in me before this old body argues to just stay at home. When I look at the photos from Antelope Canyon and the combinations of shapes, edges, earth colors, light and dark, I can only marvel at the beauty of the world all around us.
The drive in the van with the remainder of my group went smoothly and I arrived at the Best Western at around 10:15. My room was a large suite, consisting of two large rooms with two baths. The room was not ready, so I took Bus 50 which stopped in front of the hotel downtown for a look around. I realized how much I struggle with the philosophy of St. Francis, which was all about peace and love for everyone, particularly the poor. I saw a lot of homeless in downtown Albuquerque and I understand why Richard Rohr whose Center is located in Albuquerque is so articulate about the needs that they have. The downtown bus terminal is a great study for any sociologist. The people not only know the system, but they work it to their advantage. For a person like me who is foreign to most of their ways, it is uncomfortable and I am terrible at responding in a compassionate and helpful way. It is my problem, not theirs. I have a long way to go in becoming a compassionate support to the poor. I would later share this discomfort with my men’s group at our Wednesday meeting on Oct. 5.
I got back to the hotel around 12:30 and stopped for a piece of key lime pie at the Village Diner. It served as my lunch. The rest of the day was uneventful. However, I did get a beer and a hamburger at Applebee’s and hoped for a good night’s sleep and luck in getting home tomorrow. Two of my neighbors told me via texts that my condo survived Ian. The eye of the Category I storm hit about 50 miles north of Mt. Pleasant and did considerable damage in Georgetown. I am lucky and feel much compassion and sorrow for the people of western Florida and others who lost their homes in the flooding. I have been to Fort Myers and Sanibel Island. They are beautiful spots but have been devastated by the hurricane. My friend Sally and her friend Mike suffered some damage to their property near Naples.
I had a restful night at the Best Western and made the first leg of my flight home to Denver. I am writing this on the plane. The Balloon Festival is in Albuquerque this weekend and the balloons were taking off as we took off. I did get a hint of the balloons with my iPhone camera from the plane. We are supposed to land in Denver in about 30 minutes and I have about an hour to make my connection to Charleston. My intent is to stop at this point and resume later this morning, hopefully on the next flight. It is getting a bit choppy, so my typing is getting even shakier than usual.
The change of planes in Denver was smooth. It is 90 minutes after I landed in Denver and we are well on our way to Charleston. It is a full plane, unlike the earlier one, so I do not have access to a window seat. I am not sure how my seating happened on this trip, but I need to be more specific next time I travel as to seat preferences. This is almost a three-hour flight, so I will have to pace myself. I am going to try and work on some photos or perhaps get the template going for the Condo Newsletter. I will come back to this journal at the end of the day when I am finally home. I sat next to Shelly on the plane who lives in Bakersfield, CA. We talked about traveling, Charleston, and family. Our conversation helped to make the 3-hour flight more tolerable.
Well, United Airlines cannot just make it happen. We had perfect flights until we landed in Charleston and we had to wait for a gate. Once we got there, the ramp would not connect with the door of the plane and we were delayed again. It was almost 50 minutes from the time we landed until the time we got off the plane. Everything else with the flight was great, and I was home. Land transportation connected me with Michael and his taxi. We made it to my humble home around 4:30 PM. Although I have some minor cleanup of small fallen tree limbs, there was no significant damage from the storm. I was glad to be home.
Post Script: October 9
Since I have been home, I have walked with my walking group at the senior center and had some opportunities to share stories from my trip with fellow walkers. I am so glad that I chose to go on this trip and see the beautiful sites of our southwestern national parks with all of the geology, geography, and culture. I have over 1100 photos that I have selected as favorites and somehow I must reduce that figure to a more manageable amount for my website travelogue. The good news is that this journal is complete and weathered an initial edit. I am so fortunate that I have been able to travel and keep a visual and written record of my trips and the memories of the wonderful people that I have met along the way. I set this goal to travel for myself over a decade ago and I feel a sense of satisfaction that I have strived to meet the goal. I hope that I have a few more trips in me before this old body argues to just stay at home. When I look at the photos from Antelope Canyon and the combinations of shapes, edges, earth colors, light and dark, I can only marvel at the beauty of the world all around us.
