TX, NM, CO, UT,

 Those initials are for the next part of our summer journey. Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah.

We are in Soap Lake, Washington for 2 weeks to visit the "Scablands"

Here's some highlights of our trip up to this point:

AMARILLO BOTANICAL GARDENS

Small but beautiful gardens in Amarillo. One of the best we've seen. Spent over 2 hours taking photos and enjoying the different parts of the garden.

Gorgeous Columbine display at the entrance.

Common Morning-Glory

Fishtail Palm Tree that was located in the indoor tropical part of the garden.

CHACO CANYON RUINS

We were here years ago but the last visit, we were stopped by the roads being washed away. This year, we got to get back here. Pueblo Bonito is the most thoroughly investigated and celebrated cultural site in Chaco Canyon. Planned and constructed in stages between AD 850 to AD 1150 by ancestral Puebloan peoples, this was the center of the Chacoan world.  More than 600 rooms towered four and five stories above the valley floor, covering 3 acres.

Present day aerial image.

Image showing how it became after construction years and years ago.

Notice the rock face that tumbled down to the upper left.

Here's what it looks like present day while walking through.

Original wall construction

Imagine placing each and every one of these rocks?

MESA VERDE

Even after coming here for five times, it's still amazing that people built and lived in these cliff dwellings.

MONUMENT VALLEY

Even though we've been here twice before, and swore we wouldn't take photos this time, we still took so many photos. It's difficult to only put in a few here. The place is just too gorgeous! 

Kayaking in the desert?

The clouds were magnificent this day

The dirt road is the best way to see the park. It's 17 miles and the worst road we've ever been on. It's gotten worse over the years. Potholes, side-to-side bumps...had to go 5 mph part of the way. But...it's was worth it.

More wonderful clouds

GOOSENECKS STATE PARK

This is an amazing view of three "goosenecks" on the San Juan River. It's over 1,000 feet to the river surface.

Don't get too close to the edge. It's over 1,000 feet down!

Okay....the rest of these highlights will have to wait until next blog entry.....too many fantastic sights to share.

VALLEY OF THE GODS

GOBLINS STATE PARK

CAPITOL REEF

BURNS TRAIL ROAD

HIGHWAY 12

DRUMHELLER CHANNELS (SCABLANDS)

KAYAKING

We trust you enjoyed this one. We sure are having a ball in our 13th year of RV travelling.

Steve/Kim/Katie

The Underappreciated Colorado National Monument

This is a park that is way underappreciated. You have Bryce, Zion, Canyonlands, Monument Valley but this one seems to be overlooked. We spent three days and still never exhausted the park. Amazing views around every corner. Not enough turnouts (or bathrooms !) to take more photos but those that were there were spectacular.  

Of course, you can click on a photo to see a larger version, then below, you'll see a "film strip" that you can click through all of them.

Here's the Rimrock road we travelled on while visiting the park.

Cap rocks that erode slower than layers underneath

Titled rock formation

Another tilted formation going into the earth

View of Grand Junction below...looking east.

Many many valleys that have been made by erosion over millions of years

The Rimrock Road travels above these so you can view them.

This illustration, at on overlook, shows how this very large rock slid instead of collapsing.

Here's the "slid rock"

...and a closer look.

Trail from below looking at the western entrance

There's a road above all that lighter rock

....and here's the road !

Trail led right down to one of these tall, tall rocks.

Looking at Independence Monument in the foreground

Here's the original route that was climbed

...and one climber near the top

almost there...

Closeup - About to get to the top 

You can see the person in red at the top...it's a lady and the man at the bottom belaying her in blue is her Dad

And here's what the rock looks like from our observation point.

Balanced Rock

Caused by years of water erosion

These are called the Coke Rocks because they resemble coke furnaces.

Cock Rocks from the other side

....and a closer look

Another boring magnificent valley

Now for some flora and nature shots...Spring is a great time to visit.

...and a few personal photos...

Katie using a fish-eye lens treatment

Man and his Dog

My Sweetie

Okay...that's it for this one...hope you enjoyed it.

Steve/Kim and Katie