HIKING IN ARIZONA!

Yesterday we spent the day doing a little sight-seeing around the area.  Our first stop was to Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center where we viewed part of Lake Powell and the Colorado River. . .

 Bridge going from Page, AZ to Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center and beyond!

 View of the Colorado River from the bridge

Another view from the bridge

From here, we drove back down Highway 89 to Horseshoe Bend Overlook for a nice hike down to view the Colorado River.  It is called Horseshoe Bend because the river does a "horseshoe bend" around this rock (?), cliff, whatever you want to call it!

 The start of the trail leading to Horseshoe Bend

 Looking down from the start of the trail

 BEFORE we hiked down. . . see the smiles!!!

 Part way down the trail. . .these people were on their way back UP!

 I took these pictures holding the camera out over the edge!

 We are STILL smiling after the hike down!

View of the trail back UP!!

It was a fun, but tiring day and we were glad to get back to the camper for a nap, supper and this beautiful sunset!

Then today we headed up for a hike behind the campground.  The couple that was camped beside us told us that there was a trail right behind the campground that actually went all the way around the town and over to Antelope Canyon . . . probably about 8 miles.  NO, we did not hike 8 miles!!!  As we got to the back of the campground, all we saw were hills that seemed straight up!!  After exploring a little, we finally decided we had found the trail and took off . . .

 View of campground from beginning of hike

 Looking out from top of mountain

 Our truck is the one WAY in the back near the trees to the left of the white-roofed building

Looking back up from our campsite to the spot on top where we took the picture of the truck

It's been another great day exploring, and yes, Max took another nap.  Now it's time for him to start "breaking down camp" so we can head to Zion National Park tomorrow!!

More of God's beautiful country. . .

On Thursday morning we headed up Highway 89 toward Page, AZ. Before we left the Flagstaff area completely, we took some pictures of the snow on top of the mountains.  Glad it did not snow down where we were!

 On the way, we stopped by Sunset Crater National Monument and Wupatki National Monument.  Wupatki is an area with some pueblo ruins.  When I was just a kid, I remember visiting some like these.  We weren't sure if the parking lots at the Visitor Centers at both places would have space for us, but we had no problem.   We only drove through the area of Sunset Crater because some of the areas would definitely not hold our camper.

The lava along the road at Sunset Crater National Monument Park

Although the weather was a little chilly, we enjoyed walking around the ruins at Wupatki.

Our next stop was Page Lake Powell Campground where we would spend the weekend.

Friday was our rest, laundry and Walmart-run day!!

Saturday was a sight-seeing day and will be the next blog!  Aren't you excited??  Until then. . .

Just a little of why we love our life on the road

While driving from Lubbock to Flagstaff, we realized anew why we love this vagabond life!!  One minute we are looking at rocky cliffs. .

. . . watching trains go by beneath those cliffs . . .

. . . staying in campgrounds with terrible (insert smirk here) views . . .

. . . driving another day and seeing views like these . . .

. . . and wondering how anyone could deny there is a Creator!  Then reminding ourselves that this very same Creator loves us unconditionally.  What a blessing to be able to enjoy His mighty works!  Thank You, Lord!!

Now we are snuggled inside the camper trying to stay warm in 40-degree, rainy weather!  We are staying in Flagstaff, AZ spending a couple of days resting before moving on toward Zion National Park in Utah.

The above pictures were taken between thunderstorms.   Here is a picture of one of our "neighbors"!  Never know what is creeping around!

"Mr. Fox Squirrel"

Livin' It Up in Lubbock. . . part 2

Lubbock is one of our favorite stops on the way West because we get to see long-lost relatives.  My Uncle Earl, my Aunt Edith and my Cousin Mike and his wife, Kristen, all live here.  Uncle Earl recently lost my dear Aunt Louise, so this was a very special visit for us.  Earl is my mom's only brother (guess he was probably spoiled rotten by the girls, or they were tormented by him...depends on who you talk to!).  My Aunt Edith is my mom's oldest sister and is 90 years "young"!   I think she is going to outlive all of us.  Uncle Earl, Max and I all went over to the Assisted Living Facility to visit with her.  She is always so gracious and loving when we get a chance to visit.  I didn't think she was going to let go of me.  I think she is always glad to see girls since she only had boys to raise...lol.  It's hard for us to believe that she is still going strong (well as strong as a 90 year old can go) since she was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was younger.  Once she got rid of that thing, she has outlived two younger sisters.  

 Aunt Edith with her baby brother, Uncle earl

 Love these two special people

I asked them if they were getting ready to race!

On Tuesday, my "Cuz" Mike and his wife, Kristen, came over to the Camper for supper.  We had a great visit telling tales to Max & Kristen about our adventures as kids.  Mike and the rest of the "boy cousins" all lived here in Lubbock while growing up.  When we lived in California, Janice and I always had fun when we would come back for our yearly visit.  Then we added Susan and Jan to the mix for even more fun.  Mike said that after we moved to NC, he would always wonder which accent we would show up with!!  I think we missed out on a lot of mischief also since Mike loves to tell the story of all the boys spending the night in the jailhouse with Papaw!  Papaw was my mom's dad, who was a Deputy Sheriff!!!  Jan told me, when we visited her in Oklahoma, that she was always jealous because SHE didn't get to go with them!!  

Kris and Mike

"Kissin' Cousins"?....hmm, maybe!!

Max didn't make the picture...somebody had to take it!!

Thanks, guys, for making this trip so special.  Hope to see you again soon!!!

Livin' It Up In Lubbock!!

It's been a while since I've posted because we have been busy, busy, busy visiting family in Lubbock, TX!  After leaving Oklahoma City and a wonderful visit with Jan, we headed West on I-40.  Our first stop was West 40 RV Park in Shamrock, TX.  We arrived a little before dark, didn't even unhook the camper, and settled in for the night....we THOUGHT!  We knew the weather was "iffy", but had no idea just HOW "iffy"!!  Max took this picture as a storm began to rumble in.

We ended up in the laundry room of the campground while waiting out a Tornado Warning only about 10 miles from us!  We don't like to take any chances these days.  Guess we were the only cautious people, we were totally alone in the laundry/TV room!!

The next stop was on I-40 on the way toward Amarillo.  This amazing place is called Cross of The Christ and has some of the most beautiful sculptures we have ever seen.  These were some of the newest additions...

If you ever are driving west on I-40, you really need to make this one of your stops.

Next overnight stop was at Palo Duro RV Park in Canyon, TX.  We were going to stop at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, but it was a little bit further than we wanted to go PLUS the drive down into the Canyon with a camper is interesting, to say the least!!  Later we found out that it had flooded quite a bit from the storm!  The RV Park was right on Highway 27 on our way to Lubbock, so that worked out better for us.

We finally made it to Lubbock and were in the process of setting up the camper at Lubbock RV Park when Uncle Earl came riding in!!!  I think he was ready to see us!!

I'll blog later about our visit with all the extended family, but just HAD to add these last pictures!  Seems like we can't get away from unusual weather!  We were in Lubbock this week during the Haboob (new word for SANDSTORM)...what a way to end our visit!  I'm not even going to guess as to what is ahead for us.  Our life is never dull, that's for sure!

Yep, that's RED dust blowing all around...