Colorado w/family then on to Gig Harbor, Port Townsend and Sequim, Wa

After leaving NM on July 9 I drove into Colorado, over Monarch Pass, ...

and stopped in Crested Butte, CO to visit my family--Devin and Kris, grandkids Owen, who turned 12 on the 13th, and Maeve, 9.  Also, coming in from California was my brother, Richard and his wife Aase.  I opted to stay at the ONLY RV park in CB and was rewarded with this beautiful view.

View from Crested Butte RV Park

My fantastic family!!

My brother and his wife in CB.

Grandkids, Maeve 9, and Owen, who at 12 is taller than me.   Agh...

The whole family at top of Mt. Crested Butte chairlift.

Owen with the famous birthday hat.

Then after a nice dinner in Grand Junction with my brother and wife, 

niece Kim and her husband Steve, I drove through a lot of desolate

landscapes like this north of Green River, Utah.

Some days later, in Oregon I saw what appeared to be 

a huge fire...

and it was.  Where circled there were cattle gathered to avoid the fire.

Later I heard on the news that this fire had burned to the road, 

closing I-84 for several hours.  

Along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon I saw the first view of Mount Hood.

At last, 1800 miles after leaving NM I met up with the WINs

at Gig Harbor, WA.  We stayed on Mel Wick's property and

this was my view.  

One day I took the ferry over to Seattle to meet a friend from Parker days.

On the way to Pikes Place Market.

Wanted to see the seafood market and men literally throwing

the fish.  Ah ha, the fish is blurred but the other guy did catch it.

Back at Gig Harbor we went clamming and oystering

on another member's property,

One bag of several we collected.

While Brian and Mel shucked oysters, Barbara steamed the clams, 

and we all enjoyed a good meal.

Although I'm not a big fan of raw oysters I did enjoy a few.

On the 24th we moved on to Port Townsend, WA.  This

sign was on a building in downtown PT.  "Best for three

generations"-- perhaps, but they all died young.

Port Townsend downtown.

Several of us got aboard the Glacier Spirit for a

whale watching trip into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Never saw a whale... so these seals (or sea lions) had to do.

It was a nice (but expensive) boat ride and stop over in Port

Friday for lunch.

From the boat we saw the lighthouse and surrounding

buildings at Fort Worden--now a State  Park.

At Fort Worden State Park the buildings are very

similar to those at Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska.

How's this for the county building?

On the 27th we moved on to Sequim, WA, adjacent to 

Olympic National Park where we drove to

Hurricane Ridge.

This is a beautiful area with lots of hiking trails.  At one time

this was all an underwater mountain range--not formed 

by volcanoes. 

Saw this called "folded rock".

The wildflowers were beautiful--as they were in

Crested Butte.

Back in Sequim several of us enjoyed a "rails to trails" bike ride.

We went out to the Dungeness Spit one day and

several of us walked the 5 miles out to the end.

Looking back from the spit to the mountains of 

Olympic Natl Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Several WINs took an overnight trip to Victoria, BC which

included a bus tour of the city, plus a trip out to 

Bushard Gardens and fireworks.  

Now we are in Forks, WA for the week.  More in the next blog.

Stay tuned.  

Santa Fe through Eagle Nest, NM June 5-July 4, 2014

While in Santa Fe, one of my favorite cities, I missed out on several

activities the WINs enjoyed as I had repairs done on my RV.

However, I did go along on a trip to El Rancho de las Golondrinas--

Ranch of the Swallows.  Built in 1710 it is now a Living History museum

depicting 18th Century Spanish Colonial ranch life.  We visited on

a festival day where the guides were dressed in period costumes.

Our guide on the mule drawn wagon was nice enough to

let me drive for a little bit.  Yeehaw!!

I know it looks like I'm driving off the road but actually we were

starting a turn around.

Among the many demonstrations was this man throwing an

atlati, or spear thrower.  It uses leverage to achieve greater velocity.

The lady dancers were beautiful in their colorful flowing skirts.

The youngest dancers were adorable--even though

the movements were not always coordinated.

The current chapel was once a barn.

So after missing out on most of Santa Fe a few of us moved on to:

Here there were trees!!

We were in a beautiful valley with Coyote Creek and its

many beaver dams.  If you look close you can see Parker as

we walked up the valley.

On a nearby hillside we noticed this large nest.  On the first day

it was occupied.

On the next day the hawk, or falcon, or eagle, or osprey, had ventured out

to a nearby limb.  Never saw him (her) again.

On a day trip to Taos we drove on out to the 

Rio Grande Gorge bridge.  This is a rift valley

and the river flows on the path of least resistance.

Taken from the bridge.  Just out of the photo were several rafts.

Then on to lunch at The Gorge on the Taos Plaza.

Moving on again to Eagle Nest Lake State Park.  My RV (circled)

has a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding mountains.  

Elevation here is 8300.

Parker and I went on a nice hike in Cimarron Canyon.

Then driving a little further we saw the Palisades.

Amazing!!

Still amazing!

Another day a few of us drove over to Red River ski area

and rode the chairlift.  (70 and over FREE)

From the top looking into the town of Red River.

And still closer to town.

Back near Eagle Nest is the ski town of Angle Fire and

this wonderful memorial to veterans of Vietnam.  It is now 

a New Mexico State Park.

I was moved to tears many times as I walked through the museum.

Built from 1968-1971 this was the first major Vietnam memorial

in the United States.  First built by Dr. and Mrs. Westphall as a memorial

for their son,

David Westphall, who was killed in action in 1968.

The chapel remains open 24/7 for all who wish to visit.

Three soldiers.

Outside in the gardens is a Huey helicopter.

From the backside looking toward the Angel Fire ski slopes.

A view from my campsite over the lake on a foggy morning.

Our campsites each had a covered picnic table and of course, great views.

On another morning 4 of us took the kayaks out on the lake.

This flock of pelicans watched us carefully.

Then slowly scattered.

The 4th of July we watched the parade in Eagle Nest.

Population 290-- except for the parade when thousands came

from neighboring communities.

There were even hour long fireworks over the lake with threatening skies.

Quite the displays for such a small town.  

I also watched on PBS the fireworks from Washington, D.C.

It was amazing--the Capitol, the Washington Monument,

the Lincoln Memorial, and reflections in the Potomac River.

I have stayed on a few more days before heading to Crested Butte, CO

for a family gathering to celebrate grandson Owens 12th birthday.

Then since this New Mexico tour has ended I will be heading to

Washington state to join the WINs there as they travel 

down the coast through Oregon and into California.

Stay tuned.