And The ADVENTURE Continues...: March 2016

Sunday, March 20, 2016

March 19, 2016 Trip to Petrified Forest National Park.

Saturday, March 19, 2016 Trip to Petrified Forest National Park.

It was a 40 minute drive to the entrance and we were very surprised on how much there was to see at this park. We traveled 25 miles from one end of the park to another. We traveled down a path through all sizes of petrified wood, we saw some ancestral Puebloan homes and petroglyphs. Saw the Agate Bridge which was a large petrified log spanning over a gully. The grand finale was the Painted Desert. Nice way to spend 4 hours.

We got back to the campground mid afternoon and then toured the ruins in the park. It was very nicely laid out and we saw lots of pottery shards.

Agate Bridge

The Teepees

Look at all the Petroglphs

My favorite picture of a Raven trying to get every last drop

This looks like a stork carrying a new baby-right?

PAINTED DESERT

This is called Wigwam Motel but check out the old vehicles

Shards of pottery

Kiva

Our site

March, 17, 2016 Anthem Veteran's Memorial and March 18, 2016 Trip to Winslow, Arizona

Thursday, March, 17, 2016 Anthem Veteran's Memorial

We left around 9 am and headed toward Phoenix. We planned a stop just north of there to see a Veteran's Memorial in the town of Anthem that we had read about last year. We arrived at Pioneer RV Park and headed out to the park where the memorial is located. This memorial has 5 pillars (1 for each of the military services). There is a hole in each of the pillars and each year on Veteran's Day the sun casts a shadow and at 11:11 am the sun shines through the holes and illuminates the Seal of the United States that is on the ground in front of the pillars. It was really cool.

We visited with our niece Jennifer, her family and inlaw's in Phoenix and had dinner with them. They were visiting from Texas.

Tomorrow we head to Winslow.

Friday, March 18, 2016 Trip to Winslow, Arizona

On the way to Winslow we saw how the desert changed to mountains and trees. We also saw the snow capped peaks of the San Francisco Mountain. It was a nice view.

We had to make this trip so we could at least say that we went and stood on the corner in Winslow, AZ. Thank you Eagles for making this a destination.

We first checked into the Homolovi Ruins State Park. Upon checking in we found out that we wouldn't have water at our site. A main pipe broke so there is only water at the bath house and there is a place to get fresh water but we were ok as our fresh water tank was full so we just had to conserve for the couple of days here. There are Hopi ruins here at the state park and we
plan on seeing them later. After setting up we headed into Winslow.

The town was very quaint. The first thing that we did was take a picture on the corner with the red flatbed ford.We walked through a very nice park where we came across a cool wood sculpture of an Indian. The history of this artist is amazing. His name is Peter "wolf" Toth. He has carved these "totems" as a tribute to Honor All Native Americans in all 50 states. So look up your state and see one for yourself. We also treated ourselves to a couple of wonderful chocolate shakes at SippShoppe. We enjoyed the afternoon in this town.

A new type of sign-didn't see any

San Francisco Peak near Flagstaff

STANDING ON THE CORNER

Our chocolate shakes

Indian "totem" There is one in Virginia Beach VA, one in Springfield, MA, one in Loconia NH, Fort Lauderdale FL

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

March 15, 2016 Trip to Tombstone, AZ

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Trip to Tombstone, AZ

After our 8 plus mile hike the other day we decided to relax on Sunday. We were going to go on another hike but my muscles and body said no way so we took Monday as a rest day too.

We realized that we had messed up our reservations for our next stop which was Tombstone. We extended our stay at the fairgrounds and we drove the car and spent the day in Tombstone. Our first stop was Boot Hill Grave Yard. It has over 250 graves and the most famous of course were the graves of Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank Mclaury who were killed at in O.K. Corral gunfight in 1881 with the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday. There were some interesting markers on some of the graves. I am glad that some people thought that this was important enough to save for historical purposes.

Next we saw the O.K. Corral and an reenactment of the famous gunfight. We also saw the Old West's famous newspaper The Tombstone Epitaph and had lunch at Big Nose Kate's Saloon. We really enjoyed the saloon.

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Stagecoach going down Main Street

Reenactment of OK Corral

Doc Holliday, Virgil, Wyatt and Morgan Earp

Aftermath

The actual site

Big Nose Kate's Saloon

Inside saloon

Street in Tombstone

Sunday, March 13, 2016

March 12, 2016 Hike to 7 Falls in Bear Canyon

Saturday, March 12, 2016 Hike to 7 Falls in Bear Canyon

Wow, this turned out to be an interesting hike. Pat had in her mind that this was only a 4 mile round trip hike and Mike stated that it was a 5 mile round trip after we take the trolley that took care of 1.9 miles. Not bad right, WRONG!!! After the trolley ride for 1.9 miles the hike to the falls was 4.2 miles. So for the day we hiked 8.5 miles in rocky desert terrain. We crossed over water 14 times and not falling into the water once. I think that there were more than 7 falls but who cares. It turned out to be a wonderful hike and I was completely wiped out by the time we got home. Tomorrow is a Rest Day for sure.

Happy Birthday to our Daughter Michelle!

Beginning of the trail

Seven Falls a few pools

Canyon we walked into and trail on left

One of the 7 water crossings

March 11, 2016 Day spent at The Desert Museum

Friday, March 11, 2016 Day spent at The Desert Museum

I was excited to go to this place as thay had a program at 10 am showing some birds of prey in flight. These birds literally flew just above your head. We first saw a Coopers Hawk that wasn't part of the show but was just hanging about. They showed us a couple of ravens (not birds of prey), a Great Horned Owl and a Prairie Falcon. I wish there had been more but I am satisfied. This place was very well laid out and you walked about the desert for 2.5 miles. We saw some Javelina's and a Coyote on the walk. The rest of the animals that we saw were in enclosures built for them that looked like their nature habitat. Another one of my favorites was the Hummingbird Aviary, especially when I get to see a hummingbird's nest with an egg in it.It was the size of a jelly bean. We also saw one sitting on her egg in another bush. It was pretty cool. We really enjoyed our day.