Going West with Ann and Fern

Jasper to Banff via the Icefields Parkway

2013-10-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Rockies are simply indescribable. We spent three nights in Jasper exploring the area, taking photographs, and saying look at that and that and that. Each scene was more beautiful than the one before it. We were there for our October 12th weekend and their Thanksgiving so we even enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at a local restaurant.

We traveled home through Canada to Minot, North Dakota then across Minnesota, Wisconsin. Michigan, Ontario, New York before arriving in Cornwall, New York five days later. After two nights with my brother Ted and his wife Jane spending time buying my favorite NY State apples for eating, applesauce, and pie and lunch at the wonderful German Restaurant in my hometown, we arrived home safely.

Columbia Icefield

Lake Louise

Outside of Banff

Seattle

2013-10-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier from the Road --Park Closed

Taurus Art

Native American Basket

Native American Art

Famous Pike Market (flying) Fish Market

Pike Market

View from the Ferry

1962 World's Fair Space Needle

Chihuly Museum and Garden

Monorail

Famous Seattle Public Library

Olympic Pennisula - Northwest Washington

2013-10-14T19:38:00.002-07:00

Restored Port Townsend

Sadly with the National Parks being closed, we did not get to see the beautiful interior of the Olympic National Park. We did see lots of beautiful scenery and experienced the on again off again showers of the rain forest.

Olympic Mountains

Rain Forest Near National Park

Along the Coastal Route

Los Gatos to Columbia River Gorge

2013-10-13T18:49:00.001-07:00

Finn and Mom Making Greta's Cake

We were lucky to be in California for Greta’s 6^th birthday. She was so excited. Everyone who came it contact with her knew it was going to be her birthday. Heather made a beautiful cake with a heart shaped center filled with raspberry crème. On the big day Grandma whipped up Greta’s favorite scrambled eggs for her special breakfast in bed.

Greta 6th Birthday Cake

Greta loves Breakfast in Bed on her Birthday

Dressing the Princesses and Fairies

When Greta and Finn headed out to school we headed North once again toward Crater Lake. We passed Mt. McLoughlin and photographed it from the side of the highway next to Klamath Lake. I actually climbed this mountain, probably in my Keds, in 1967 with a group of friends. It was steep and volcanic with lots of sliding rocks and I do remember it as a real challenge but I made it almost to the peak. In all the brochures about climbing the mountains in Oregon, this mountain is said to be difficult, only for well-equipped experienced hikers who should carry a GPS. Lucky we made it up and back with no losses.

The next mountain on our route was Crater Lake NP. There was beautiful weather and we saw the mountain from the highway but the National shut down closed this beautiful park and many more on our route. We continue through Eastern Oregon stopping briefly to see the Gilchrist Branch Library. When I worked for the County Library this a 97 mile for the monthly delivery. At that time Gilchrist http://www.gilchristoregon.com/ was still a company town owned by a timber company.

Passing thru Bend we entered the high sierra desert, a little populated area with all the beauty of the sage desert. Then we reached the beautiful Columbia River Gorge with its magnificent views and beautiful waterfalls.

Mount Shasta in Northern California

Klamath Lake and Mt McLoughlin

The High Sierra Desert of Eastern Oregon

Branch 97 miles from the Main Library

One of the Many Closed Signs We Saw

View of Columbia River Gorge

Early Morning on the Gorge at Cascade Locks

The Oregon Coast

2013-09-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

The Oregon Coast is magnificent as the mountains dip into the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The water is cold making the beaches perfect for walking and surfing but unfriendly for swimming. The drive down the coast is not one you will easily forget. We stopped along the way

and visited several lighthouses. We had a wonderful tour at one staffed with volunteers who obviously loved their jobs.

Lassen to Roseburg via Klamath Falls

2013-09-27T22:41:00.000-07:00

Mt. Shasta in California

In 1966-67, I lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon where from our house near Kingsley AFB on a clear day we could see Mount Shasta in all its glory. My favorite memory is parking the car on the side of the road and four of us snow coasted down the side of the mountain. When we returned in the summer we discovered we had been coasting over the tops of trees.

Northern California Lava Terrain

The First Library of my Career

My first position after the University of Illinois Library School was at the Klamath County Library. I was the Assistant Librarian and did everything from managing circulation, reference librarian, delivery in the 1955 VW van to the branch libraries to bookmobile librarian. It was quite a learning experience. We make a brief by the library. It is now double the size it was when I was there. Klamath Falls and the library survived the damage caused by a 1993 earthquake. I acquired yet another book bag, a Friends of the Library Fund Raiser.

After spending the night at the Crater Lake Inn and Retreat we headed early in the morning to Crater Lake National Park. This was one of my favorite places when I lived here. As park of my job I even delivered books to the Ranger Station and School. As we traveled from sunshine in Chiloquin to rain on the road to Crater Lake it turned into SNOW. The rangers were strongly discouraging visitors from continuing to the top of the crater where the lake was totally encased in snow and fog. It was disappointing as I was really looking forward to sharing Crater Lake with Fern. We are hoping for a return visit next week --weather permitting.

Snow falling at Crater Lake National Park

We continued over Route 62 through the Rogue River Valley past the rushing river flowing through old lava flows to Roseburg. We ended the day with visits to local wineries and dinner at a local brew pub.

Rogue River

Eastern Side of the Cascades

Oregon Wine Country near Roseburg

Los Gatos to Lassen National Park

2013-09-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

After nearly a week enjoying a visit with Heather's family in Los Gatos and trips to kindergarten with Greta, pre-school with Finn, Tae Kwon Do classes, gymnastics, soccer we headed to Northern California and Lassen National Park.

Finnegan ready for action

Greta protecting the Goal

We found our first snow at Lassen National Park where it had fallen the day before.
Mt. Lassen was covered in snow and some clouds.

This area is totally volcanic with hot spots and mud pots.

The Volcano last erupted in 1915 and remained active until 1921.

Fire damage from 2012

Mount Lassen on our way North - out of the clouds.

Lava Rocks

Burney Falls

Yosemite via Tioga Pass

2013-09-18T20:12:00.001-07:00

Yosemite has been my favorite National Park since my first visit 49 years ago. The beauty has been with me ever since. I always hesitated returning and perhaps being disappointed. But when we visited the Yosemite Valley last November, while in California for Thanksgiving, I was not disappointed and Fern joined me in my love for this area. We were to late in the season to travel the roads closed for the season due to the large snow fall.

This trip we planned to enter the Tioga Road from the East and cross the Park. Then the large forest fire struck the area and part of this Route was closed. We decided we would drive the part on the Eastern edge that was open and then back track on Route 120. But luck was in our favor and as we approached Mammoth Lakes on our drive from Arizona through the desert and mountains of Nevada, we saw signs that Route 120 had just reopened. We spent the night in Mammoth Lakes, a ski resort that averages 33 feet of snow each year. Our inn, Austria Hof, featured a German restaurant, our favorite.

Nevada Scenery

Our Gas Stop in Nevada

Nevada's Industry

Mammoth Lakes Ski Slopes

Entering Tioga Path

Tuolomne Meadows

Fissures!!

Glacier action

Half Dome above the Valley

2013 Forest Fire

View from the Rim of the Earth

The Vortex in Sedona

2013-09-17T17:39:00.001-07:00

Before leaving home I purchased a Groupon for a jeep ride in the red rocks of Sedona. Surprise, surprise!It turned out to be a tour with Earth Wisdom of Sedona tours to make contact with the Vortex. Fern claims to have felt absolutely nothing. I actually felt a magnetic pull in the circle of my hands. We made the best of it and enjoyed the red rocks and the magnificent views.

the best of this adventure and enjoyed being out among the rocks.

2013-09-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona is on the wish list for many. I am lucky enough to say I have been there four times including on my first cross country trip in 1964 during my college years. Fern and I visited together a few years ago and rode the mules down the Bright Angel trail. It was a great experience we will never forget.

We met people from all over the US and Europe last Tuesday. We took lots of photos. O. K. ----Too many, but with a digital camera why not click away. Just posting a select few from the gorgeous day we visited.

Petrified Forest National Park

2013-09-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

On our way west from Santa Fe to Flagstaff we drove the loop thru the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. The result of 25 million years of history this is definitely a Moon like experience!

The High Road to Taos, The Rio Grande River Gorge and the Enchanted Circle

2013-09-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

On Monday we had a beautiful day to explore the area north of Santa Fe around Taos. We started up the High Road to Taos stopping at Chimayo to visit El Santuario de Chimayo known locally as “Little Lourdes,” a site considered holy by many area residents. Every Good Friday, as many as 30,000 worshippers, make a walking pilgrimage here to celebrate the Easter season.

Next stop was the Ortega Weaving Compound that sells traditional Navaho weavings made in the homes of the local weavers. I had visited here on my last trip to Santa Fe and Taos but did not purchase a weaving. I kept trying to picture them in my New England home and I already had the two that my mother had purchased in the 1930’s. One already graced her piano and another a side table. Yesterday, I decided I wanted one on my wall, so we now have a Navaho Tree of Life hanging.

View on the High Road to Taos

El Santuario de Chimayo (1813-1816)

We continued to the US Park Service Rio Grande Visitor Center. While talking with a Ranger about the Gorge Bridge, he told us about a back way to reach the bridge if we did not mind the 14 mile back road that included two miles of rough gravel road. Feeling brave with our new Rav4 we headed down the road along the Rio Grande past several basic campgrounds and over a little bridge across the river. There the road changed to washboard with lots of bumps and holes. From there it was a two-mile climb with many hairpin turns and switchbacks up the Gorge cliff.

The Rio Grande River

The Road cut into the Gorge

Still climbing

One of the Hairpin turns

We felt a sense of achievement and relief when we reached the top. At the top we met a hiker who had just hiked 8 miles on the plateau without hearing or seeing any rattle snakes. On an earlier hike he had seen a number of big horned sheep. We continued along the plateau across an Indian Reservation to the Gorge Bridge. After the gorge climb the bridge, the 7^th highest in the US, was anticlimactic. We zipped across it with no fear.

A Dust Devil on the Plateau

The Gorge Bridge

The River from afar

We continued our drive to Questa on the “Enchanted Circle.” The scenery was totally different as we drove through the mountains up to over 11,000 feet. We saw lots of signs warning of falling rocks, elk and big-horned sheep in the road but saw none.

In the ski resort of Red River, we stopped for a sandwich at a local restaurant with “Reubens” as their specialty. We indulged in one and it was fantastic. We continued on this route with its constantly changing scenery toward Santa Fe and our snug little B & B.

Falling Rock Zone

Farm Land along the "Enchanted Circle"

2013-09-10T16:59:00.001-07:00

The Turquoise Trail

2013-09-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

We spent Sunday Sept 8^th continuing to follow Route 66 via Interstate 40 from Amarillo to New Mexico. Just before reaching Albuquerque we headed north on the scenic route to Santa Fe via the Turquoise Trail. We decided to take the side road to the Sandia Crest. This road is fourteen miles of hairpin turns taking us up to an altitude of over 10,000 feet. The views were spectacular including the city of Albuquerque far below.

As we descended we came upon the Tinkertown Museum, one man’s hobby creating scenes using trash and turning it into his concept of art.

Sandia Crest

Albuquerque in the distance

The Steel Forest on Sandia Crest

Bottle Recycling at Tinkertown

We headed North to Santa Fe along this beautiful scenic route surrounded by striking mountains. Our GPS brought us right to the door of our airbnb www.airbnb.com where our host Christy, an artist who rents out a little apartment attached to her home, greeted us. The apartment our home for three nights is adorable in an adobe style home with a little kitchen. Christy supplied us with breakfast treats making our stay even more enjoyable.

Along The Turquoise Trail

Our airbnb

Next adventure --The Rio Grande Gorge and the Enchanted Circle north of Taos.

Crossing Middle America

2013-09-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

The last three days we spent driving West toward our first destination - Santa Fe, New Mexico. So far we have covered over 1500 miles. Yesterday we traveled through Illinois, Missouri, and into Oklahoma.

We crossed the Mississippi at East St. Louis - St Louis. Saw the Arch www.gatewayarch.com/‎ but did not stop to actually go in it. It really does not look like that would be possible but I know my brother and his family did do it a number of years ago. There is a beautiful new bridge in the distance that reminds us of the Zakim www.leonardpzakimbunkerhillbridge.org/ in Boston.

We are sharing the highway on this trip with hundreds or maybe it is thousands of 18 wheelers hauling goods and food across country. It is amazing just how many are going both directions, lined up in the rest areas and the truck stops. Today going through southern Illinois and the Ozarks we saw hundreds of acres of corn and soybeans growing on beautiful farms.

Today across the rest of Oklahoma and into Texas. Our destination Amarillo.

Our Companions on the Interstate

Acres of Corn everywhere

Crossing the Mississippi

The Mobil Man with an Old Friend

Heading West

2013-08-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

It's September and we are heading West again. We leave just after Labor Day heading across country for our first real stop Santa Fe, New Mexico. This trip we will be staying in some Air B & B locations. In Santa Fe we will be staying in an apartment attached to an artist's home. I have visited this area before but it will be a first visit for Fern. I am hoping he will love it as much as I do.

Our trip has some grand destinations including a visit to my daughter Heather's family in California and the Pacific Northwest including Crater Lake National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park and heading from there to Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff in the Canadian Rockies.

Hope you will enjoy our posts and photos of our adventure.

more wonderful memories

2011-10-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Zion Sunrise

Zion's Glory

Bryce's Hoodoos

Grand Teton

Old Faithful

Glacier Stream

Glacier's Red Bus Tour

a few of our favorite memories

2011-10-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

Mackinaw Island

Painted Rocks National Park - Lake Superior- Michigan

Fish Boil - Door County

Corn Palace - South Dakota

Triangle Ranch - South Dakota

Mount Rushmore

The Badlands National Park

First Peoples Buffalo Jump - Montana

Custer State Park Bison - South Dakota

Rocky Mountain National Park

2011-09-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

The Aspens at peak color

Frost this morning

On a Walk in the Valley

Colorado River Headwaters

We began our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park at its Western side bordering Grand Lake. The scenery was stunning from the moment we began our drive Trail Ridge Road. It became even more spectacular as we climbed this longest and highest paved highway in the United States. We were literally clinging to the edge of the road that had no guardrails aside from the ten-foot poles to guide the snowplow drivers so they can stay on the road.

The Continental Divide

The Rockies

Imagine Biking to the 12,000' Summit

The Rocky Rockies

Snow Fields and Alpine Lake

The Tundra above the Tree Line

Mountain Splendor

We stopped often for short walks and views. One of the best was at the Alpine Visitors’ Center that is 11.796 feet above sea level. There we saw a herd of elk cows that were resting while their bull protected his harem from the young bulls that were trying to move in his place. His bugling came up from the valley below the Center.

Elk herd resting

Autumn's Splendor

With over 7,000 miles on our car, we now begin our journey eastward toward home and family. It will take a few days for us to add on the next 2,000 miles and reach Cape Cod. We will continue our blog as we complete our wonderful adventure.

Visiting Colorado Springs

2011-09-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

United States Air Force Academy Chapel

Cadets on their way to lunch

Chapel interior

Garden of the Gods

Among the rocks

Our friends Roberta and Roger

Roberta and Roger and their four children were my neighbors at North Truro Air Force Station in 1970. My daughter Jennifer at a year and a half began playing with their youngest son Andrew who was two and a half. They became best friends and we adopted all the Grandpres as family. When Heather was an infant, Jennifer became Roberta’s fifth child at the beach while Heather and her Mom bonded.

When we left the Air Force and the Grandpre family moved to Colorado Springs almost forty years ago, we remained friends. We have visited them in their winter Arizona home, and they always visit us when they come East. Finally, I made it to Colorado Springs with Fern. It was wonderful being together again. Andrew and his wife Shannon and sons Austin and Noah came to visit and have dinner with all of us. We are hoping they will visit us on Cape Cod soon.

We visited The Garden of the Gods and the Air Force Academy both highlights of Colorado Springs that I had visited on my first cross country trip while I was in college.

Then we headed North for to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Balance Rock

Noah Grandpre- 5 years old

Austin Grandpre - 10 years old

Durango to Silverton Railroad

2011-09-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

Engineer preparing for our trip

The Rails curves so we could see both ends at the same time

We had a perfect day for our planned trip on the narrow gauge railroad from Durango to Silverton Colorado. The steam engine was complete with soot and cinders that I remember from childhood trips to the Poughkeepsie Station. The train climbed it s way through the canyon with the Animas River far below. We were really on the edge.

The round trip was about seven hours of clickety clack. Silverton is an old mining town that is picturesque and depends on the passengers from this train for its economic survival. We helped out by having lunch and later ice cream.

On the ride back, the train stopped to let off two young hikers who were loaded down with their equipment for surviving the wilderness. We also met a couple from Colorado who were taking the ride for the first time. We enjoyed meeting these locals and getting their take on their state. We were reassured that Rocky Mountain National Park would be definitely worth the trip before we head our car toward the East.

We were so close to the Canyon's walls!

and so close to the edge of the cliffs and the Animas River

Photographers were everywhere

Rainbow over the River

Animas River Beauty

More River Beauty

The Beautiful Aspen in full color

Canyon Beauty

Mesa Verde National Park

2011-09-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

Fern in Four States at Four Corners
Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park

Cliff Palace

Cliff Palace Tour with the Ranger

In 1964, I was lucky enough to be invited by Maggie Seymour, a Guilford College friend, to join her and two other girls on a cross-country trip. My mother had spent time in the West in the summers and on a sabattical from her teaching position studying in Arizona. All her tales had made an impression on me so off I went. The trip was a wonderful introduction to our American West and left me with many wonderful memories.

One of the places my Mom suggested we visit was Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. We did visit Colorado but the group decision was to skip Mesa Verde and go on to the Grand Canyon. I always kept in the back of my mind the dream of seeing Mesa Verde. In 2000, I visited Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. It also has cliff dwellings left by the ancestors of today’s Indians. But it was not Mesa Verde.

Mesa Verde was everything my Mom had promised. She visited not long after the Civilian Conservation Corp had built steps and trails allowing access to the dwellings. The Museum was built in the twenties, and shows the years of wear and tear from visitors. A new Museum and Visitors Center is being built now to open next year. The dwellings have been maintained by the Park Rangers to keep them from further deterioration. It is amazing to be able to stand where an ancient people had built a society and had survived in the area for 1300 years. The archeologists have done a wonderful job uncovering the past in the canyon and on the land above it. We were able to join a ranger lead group to Cliff Palace where the only challenges were 130 steps down and a similar number up again that included three ladders, the altitude of 7,000 feet and the hot afternoon sun.

Fern and I have spent many days on this trip in our National Parks. They are an enormous treasure for all of us to enjoy. We can see the government cutbacks just by noticing how few Park Rangers were present. As a nation, we must continue to support these areas and visit them as often as possible.

Fern holding up an Ancient Ruin

Cliff Overhang

Cliff Palace 130 Steps Down and 130 Up to the Top

Four Story Construction

From Across the Canyon

On the Road Again to Canyon de Chelley

2011-09-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

Utah Ranch Land

Approaching Glen Canyon

We had a long drive from Springdale, Utah to Chinle, Arizona on Thursday. On the way we went through Glen Canyon and stopped to visit the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. We opted not to go into the dam and kept driving.

Lake Powell Glimpse

Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River

Pictograph on Canyon Wall

Petroglyphs

At the Bottom of the Canyon

Antelope Dwellings

White House Dwellings

A View from the Top

Our destination Chinle, Arizona is in the middle of Navaho Land and is the site of Canyon de Chelley (pronounced Shay). The contrast between this area and the Zion area we had come from is enormous. The Navaho are still living on bleak land in an area that does not seem to be able to support anything other than poverty.

Since the canyon is in the Navaho territory a tribal member escorts all visitors on jeep tours or hikes. We chose the red jeep route with our guide Kalvin and bounced our way down the canyon and back through land that had recently received a flash flood. Kalvin told us he had lived in the Canyon with his grandmother until he was 12 years old and had not attended school. Naturally we took many photos. We have tried to share a few that show some of the area’s beauty.

Guess who?

Swirls from Water Action

More Zion NP

2011-09-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

This was one of our favorite stops on our trip. So before we share the last few days when we were without a wireless connection, we decided to share a few more photos from Zion National Park.

Bryce Canyon

2011-09-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

Bryce Canyon Hoodoos

More Hoodoos

Bryce Canyon National Park is about a two-hour drive from Zion National Park. The first part of the trip takes you through a breathtaking section of Zion NP on a drive up a road of numerous hairpin turns with unprotected edges on the outer rims of the cliffs. In order to access this road you must pass through the park gates and pay admission.

One wonderful benefit of being a senior citizen in the USA is the ten-dollar lifetime pass to the National Parks. We have used it often since we purchased it at Acadia NP in Maine a number of years ago.

Bryce is a wonder. The thousands of hoodoos are created from the limestone rock by rain and ice. It is truly not a describable place. It is something to be experienced.

Magnificent View

Natural Bridge

Mountain Goat Blends in with the Stone

Mile Long Tunnel - Built in 1930

Window Cut into the Tunnel