Home
Site Map
Photo Albums and Movies


2001 - Mount Rushmore
2002 - Desert Ghost Towns
2003 - Eastern & Southern USA
2005 - Western Road Trip
2006 - Death Valley
2007 - New Orleans
2008 - Route 66 & Tombstone
2009 - Family, Friends & Foliage
2010 - Destination Unknown
2011 - St. Augustine
2012 - Guernsey Ancestry Tour
2013 - Western Giants
2014 - Every Which Way
2015 - Mystery Tour
2016 - Double Trouble
2017 - North to Alaska
2020-22 - Trail of the Ancients
2023 - Torrey/Capitol Reef NP

Been There Did That
2006 - Vegas Connection
2009 - Glacier National Park
2009 - Kelowna
2011 - Patched
2011 - Sprng Breakout
2012 - Spring Breakout
2014 - Las Vegas
2014 - Summer Sizzler
2014 - Fall Fling
2015 - Winter Shop Hop
2015 - Quilt Away
2016 - Quilt Away
2017 - Quilt Away
2017 - Temple Square
2018 - Quilt Away
2019 - Quilt Away


Ghost Towns
Hwy 261
Monument Valley
National Parks
Oatman
Valley of the Gods
Vegas


Favourite Links
Highway Collection
Miss Kitty
Miss Rikki
Miss Snoop
Row by Row™
Travel Plates


Sign my Guestbook
Read my Guestbook


Western Giants

Road Trip - June, 2013


We missed our annual road trip in 2012. Karen went to England and France and I went on my Ancestry Tour to the Channel Islands. In between, we've managed to do some quick trips - Kalispell in April, 2012, Jackpot for a Jeff Foxworthy concert in September, 2012, and a weekend in Edmonton for the Pool Tournament in February, 2013. A few days here and there are fun, but a true road trip is still the best. Karen has been renovating her house and isn't quite sure if she wants to run away or stay home and finish putting things back together. Running away wins.

It's time to go and we still haven't really decided what we are doing. We have an idea we are going to work our way from Washington to California zigzagging over the mountain passes. Over the last couple of years in my Spring Breakouts I've found pretty spectacular routes through the mountains and really want Karen to see some of them. We are looking at a few highways - Golden Chain (SR-49), Lassen Loop (SR 89), and McKenzie Highway (Route 242 Bend). Due to snow, I wasn't able to go over the McKenzie Highway and Lassen Loop. At this point Lassen Loop is open but the McKenzie Highway is still closed.

Whatever we end up doing, one thing is for sure - we are not heading east. Pretty well everything east of Colorado is being bombarded by tornados, flooding and fires.

2013 - Western Giants Photo Album


Friday, June 14, 2013 - Calgary to Kalispell, MT

Karen wound up working until noon and was ready to go by 1:15 - I wasn't. There's something wrong with my speed in retirement. It was 3:30 before we headed out - in the pouring rain. Have we ever left Calgary when it wasn't raining? We didn't do our usual back to the house this year although Karen forgot her travel mug and the GPS (Fifi) car plug. Traffic was so bad we bought her a new cup at Timmies and will buy a plug somewhere along the way.

We decided to go west on the Trans Canada and south on hwy 93 through Radium and Fairmont for a change of route. It was about 50 miles more but certainly worth it. Our stops along the way added about 2 extra hours. We didn't see much wildlife until north of Whitefish.


Saturday, June 15, 2013 - Kalispell to Christina Lake, BC

All good intentions to reach Oroville today fell by the wayside. It was nearly noon before we got out of Kalispell. First we had to visit Jeff Fleming's Gallery and buy some Bearfoots. Next we had to hit McDonalds for lunch. At Libby, a whole 88 miles later, we stopped to take some pictures of the eagle sculptures, stopped again at Radio Shack to get the car plug for Fifi, turned around and went back to McDonalds, took some more pictures and finally headed west. We had been on the road for 4 hours.

Highway routes today, in retrospect, seem a bit convoluted - but made perfect sense to us at the time. From Kalispell we headed west on hwy 2. Just before Troy, we turned south on hwy 56 down to hwy 200 west to Sandpoint where is picked up hwy 2 again. At Newport we left hwy 2 and headed north on hwy 20 through Colville and Kettle Falls to Replublic. It was obvious at this point we needed to find a hotel for the night. We drove the 35 miles north into Canada on hwy 21, then hwy 41 to Grand Forks, and hwy 3 to Christina Lake. Google Map

Bear Country Gallery

Karen bought Lazy Bear, Ernest and The Helper. I bought Forest Sitting Bear and Timber Basket. We left our treasures at the studio to be picked up on our way home.

Bear Country Gallery features Jeff Fleming's full collection of artwork from the loveable Bearfoots to his bronze sculptures, and one of a kind wood and steel sculptures.

Libby, Montana - City of Eagles

Libby is located in the Kootenai National Forest and is the county seat of Lincoln County, Montana. The population was 2,628 at the 2010 census. The Eagles of Libby are iron and steel eagle sculptures with win spans ranging from 6 feet to 40 feet. The dedication of the City of Eagles gateway sculpture in 2007 was part of the Libby Mainstreet Program. The eagles, large and small, are now displayed all over town.

Kootenai Falls Park

Between Libby and Troy, the Kootenai River enters a canyon and flows over Kootenai Falls, one of the largest free-flowing waterfalls in the northwest. The trailhead had picnic tables where the local bears played host for your enjoyment. A forest trail leads from the highway parking lot down to the swinging bridge which was probably very nice but you're never going to find me swinging on a bridge over 30 foot falls. We just continued on our way.

Fields of Flowers

We've noticed this year that there seem to be more flowers along the roadsides. It has been raining quite heavily and now the sun is shining. We assume this is the reason for the flora abundance. Some fields were completely in bloom with daisies.

Along hwy 20 and on our final stretch on hwy 21 to the Canadian border, we saw a lot of deer. They were grazing in the large meadows and didn't pay too much attention to us when we stopped. We were driving slow but very few were actually on the road.

Grand Forks & Christina Lake

Crossing the border was interesting. When the agent asked why we were going to Christina Lake I answered "so we can have borsch at Grand Forks". He agreed that it's the best and sent us on our way. I was happy as a lark being able to stop for supper at Grand Forks for some borsch and bread. Karen had spaghetti. Now you tell me - why would anyone want Italian spaghetti at a Russian restaurant?

Between the years of 1909 and 1913, a group of pacifist Russian immigrants known as Doukhobors settled in the area because of the fertile farm land. Today, many residents of Grand Forks are descendents of the Doukhobors. Thankfully, they still prepare their traditional food!


Sunday, June 16, 2013 - Christina Lake to Bothell, Washington
Several highways again today. Hwy 3 and hwy 41 from Christina Lake to the US Border then hwy 21 and Chesaw Road to Oroville with a detour on the Molson Road. South on hwy 97 to Okanogan, west on hwy 20, south on hwy 9, west on route 538 and south on hwys 5, 405, and 527 into Bothell. Google Map

We got off to a late start this morning. It was nearly 10:30 by the time we stopped at the Omega Restaurant in Grand Forks for breakfast - well at least Karen had breakfast - I had more borsch. Karen cant understand why I would want soup for breakfast.

The border crossing was a bit unusual. The agent spent a lot of time on his computer and then he asked us twice when we would be returning. He asked Karen if she had a meeting at work that she had to go back for. He ask if we had ever been refused entry into the United States which set off a bit of an alarm. The usual things he didn't ask were about money and my previous occupation. He certainly wasn't friendly enough to ask what my license plate means. After searching our car, I guess he figured we were OK and sent us on our way. Without even going inside, we were there a good 15 minutes.

We continue to be quite amazed by the amount of foliage this year. There are flowers we've never seen before so can't even begin to name them. We can only assume that the heavy moisture followed by warm sunshine is the reason. These wild roses were growing all along the road along with daisies and an abundance of other flowers. The effect is quite colourful.

Chesaw, Washington

Chesaw is a ghost town in Okanogan County, Washington. Chesaw was named for the Chinese settler Chee Saw, who arrived in the mid-1890s and married a Native American woman. The town sprang up and thrived during a brief gold rush from 1896 to 1900.

Two buildings on main street are still functioning businesses - the Chesaw Store and the Chesaw Tavern. We drove around the town a bit but didn't stop. The few people still living in Chesaw watched us and waved. They didn't seem to mind that we were gawking.

Molson Ghost Town

The main event for today was Molson Ghost Town just a few miles off the Chesaw road. I visited this site about 30 years ago and was wanting to find it again. There was barely anything left the last time I was there in the 1980s so we wondered if there would be anything left at all now.

After all our careful planning to get to Molson, we figured we would be either pleasantly surprised or extremely disappointed. We were more than surprised. Since my visit, the site has been put under the protection of the Molson County Historical Society. Restorations actually began in the 1960's. The school was ready for the public by 1982 and Old Molson was ready by 1986.

Old Molson

Old Molson was founded in 1900. It was a lively Mining Camp until a farmer claimed the whole town was part of his homestead. While the dispute raged, disgusted citizens founded New Molson half-a-mile north. People, businesses, the Post Office - everything moved to New Molson. It's railroad station, elevation 3708 feet, was the highest in the State. The original Molson faded away, but it's memories linger in these weather-worn buildings.

Molson's Newest Entertainers

We had a great time at the keys of the old pianos. I actually managed to pump out some tunes on the player piano and Karen played her version of the Wedding March for our enjoyment. Actually, that was the only thing she could remember which meant she was one song up on me. We managed to pick out a duet - our rendition of Heart and Soul. I was given a quick lesson on the player piano. It is quite hard to push the pedals so you have to grip the handles under the keyboard for leverage.

Canada/USA Border

After leaving Molson we took the gravel road west that paralleled hwy 3 in Canada. It felt strange to be that close to the border watching traffic move in Canada while sitting on a gravel road in the US.

It was also hard to believe that we were three days on the road and still looking at Canada.

Liberty Bell Mountain

Highway 20 Washington - Cascade Range

Once we turned west we were quickly in the mountains again. We crested two passes - the Washington Pass at an elevation of 5477 feet and Rainy Pass at an elevation of 4855 feet. Most of this road is closed during the winter and there was still lots of snow left. The Ross Dam is on the west side of the summit.

North Cascades National Park

The park features rugged mountain peaks and protects portions of the North Cascades range. Some of the names of the mountains and peaks are quite forbidding - Mount Formidable, Mount Challenger, Mount Fury, Mount Terror, Mount Despair, Damnation Peak, Mount Redoubt, Devils Dome, Desolation Peak, and Forbidden Peak.

In 1971, the park had 318 glaciers. All the glaciers in the park have retreated significantly from 1980 to 2005 and the rate is increasing. The recent warmer climate has led to more summer melting and more winter melting events, reducing winter snowpack. Several glaciers in the range have melted away in the last decade. Boston Glacier, on the north slope of Boston Peak, is the largest glacier in the park.

We arrived in Bothell about 10:30. Approaching from the north was a bit confusing for us but with Willie riding shotgun and Fifi leading the way we arrived without a hitch. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn - the same hotel we stayed in last time we visited Bothell.

Monday, June 17, 2013 - Bothell to Chehalis, Washington
We travelled south on the I-405, east on hwy 169 to Enumclaw, east on hwy 410, and south on hwy 123 to the entrance of Mount Rainier Park. We drove west through the park on hwy 706, then south on hwy 7 to Morton, west on hwy 12, and south on I-5. Once on I-5 we started our search for a hotel, went as far south as Kelso, then turned around and headed north 35 miles to Chehalis. After 9 hours, 275 miles, and 8 different highways, we ended up a mere 100 miles south of Bothell. Google Map

Country Village - Bothell, Washington

Our first stop this morning was at the Country Village and The Weed Patch where Karen straightened out her valance problem and I purchased a new Rooster for my "coop". I named him Molson. We spent some time wandering around the village visiting with the ducks and roosters. It was after noon before we finally left Bothell.

Mount Rainier National Park

The rest of our day was spent in Mount Rainier National Park area. By the time we exited on the south side we had travelled past three sides of the mountain. Mount Rainier holds the world record for the most snow in a one year period - 102 feet. (Feb 19, 1971 - Feb 18, 1972).

Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located 54 miles southeast of Seattle. With a summit elevation of 14,411 feet, it is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc. The most recent recorded volcanic eruption was between 1820 and 1854, but many eyewitnesses reported eruptive activity in 1858, 1870, 1879, 1882 and 1894 as well.

Mount Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, and it is is currently listed as a Decade Volcano, one of the 16 volcanoes in the world with the greatest likelihood of causing great loss of life and property if eruptive activity resumes. Because of its large amount of glacial ice, Mt. Rainier could potentially produce massive lahars that would threaten the whole Puyallup River valley.

Ironically, when we stopped for the night we were only 100 miles south of Bothell. We even joked about returning to Bothell for the night so we could call this day "Bothell to Bothell". We are staying at the Best Western in Chehalis tonight. We want to go into the Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument tomorrow before heading over the coast.


Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - Chehalis to Lincoln City, Oregon
Hwys today were I-5 south to Castle Rock, state route 504 to Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument and return, I-5 south to Kelso, hwy 4 west to Naselle, hwy 401 over the Astoria Bridge spanning the Columbia River and hwy 101 south to Lincoln City where we stopped for the night. Google Map

Mount St. Helens

The main event today was our visit to Mount St. Helens. We arrived at the visitors center just in time to take in the Park Ranger's narrative and immediately after, the filmography in the theatre. Both were very informative. No amount of driving around could give us the same feel for the area.

Karen was in the states when Mount St. Helens blew in 1980. She changed her route home to avoid the area so wasn't in any danger but at the time all she wanted was to get home. It was quite frightening.
Mount St. Helens - 1 Day Before Eruption
Mount St. Helens - 2 Years Later
Mount St. Helens is most notorious for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. PDT, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States. Fifty-seven people were killed; 250 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles of railways, and 185 miles of highway were destroyed.
A massive debris avalanche triggered by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale caused an eruption that reduced the elevation of the mountain's summit from 9,677 feet to 8,365 feet, replacing it with a 1 mile wide horseshoe-shaped crater. The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was created to preserve the volcano and allow for its aftermath to be scientifically studied.

The Blast Area

We then went to the Johnson's Ridge Observatory right below the crater. The mountain is still covered with glaciers and the area was quite cold so we did not leave the car for very long. It was still easy to see the blow down area.

American Native Lore - Bridge of the Gods

American Indian lore contains numerous legends to explain the eruptions of Mount St. Helens and other Cascade volcanoes. The most famous of these is the Bridge of the Gods legend told by the Klickitats. In their tale, the chief of all the gods and his two sons, Pahto (also called Klickitat) and Wy'east, traveled down the Columbia River from the Far North in search for a suitable area to settle.

They came upon an area that is now called The Dalles and thought they had never seen a land so beautiful. The sons quarreled over the land, so to solve the dispute their father shot two arrows from his mighty bow — one to the north and the other to the south. Pahto followed the arrow to the north and settled there while Wy'east did the same for the arrow to the south. The chief of the gods then built the Bridge of the Gods, so his family could meet periodically.

When the two sons of the chief of the gods fell in love with a beautiful maiden named Loowit, she could not choose between them. The two young chiefs fought over her, burying villages and forests in the process. The area was devastated and the earth shook so violently that the huge bridge fell into the river, creating the cascades of the Columbia River Gorge.

For punishment, the chief of the gods struck down each of the lovers and transformed them into great mountains where they fell. Wy'east, with his head lifted in pride, became the volcano known today as Mount Hood. Pahto, with his head bent toward his fallen love, was turned into Mount Adams. The fair Loowit became Mount St. Helens, known to the Klickitats as Louwala-Clough, which means "smoking or fire mountain" in their language (the Sahaptin called the mountain Loowit)

Grays River, WA Covered Bridge

Grays River Covered Bridge just off hwy 401 was placed on the National Registry of Historical Places on November 23, 1971 by the National Park Service. It is the last covered bridge in Washington State.

Coastal Highway 101

We spent a leisurely 4 hours driving down Coastal Highway 101 stopping at the viewpoints and overlooks. It rained on and off most of the route. Although each rain was heavy, it didn't last more than a couple of minutes. The sunshine was never more than a few minutes away.

Best Western Sands, Lincoln City

We stopped first at Tillamook and registered at a hotel, took one look at the room, promptly unregistered, and left. We drove another 45 miles to Lincoln City and managed to find a fabulous Best Western right on the ocean. The rooms were perfect and the view was incredible. This is the view from our room.


Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - Lincoln City to Sisters, Oregon
Only three highways today. Hwy 101 south to Florence, hwy 126 east, and hwy 242 east to Sisters, Oregon. Google Map

Tsunami Siren

Another late start. Just as we heading south out of town at exactly 11:00 am the Tsunami Siren went off. It scared the hell out of us. Karen just about jumped out of the car and started to run until we looked around and realized no one seemed to notice but us. We then figured it must be a regular test.

Sea Stacks and Beaches

Today was mostly about scenery. We spent another 72 miles down the coast to Florence stopping at several of the lookouts along the way. There are so many beaches and State Parks along this route it would take two or three days to visit them all. There are hundreds of Sea Stacks along the coast.

Heceta Lighthouse

The Heceta Head Lighthouse and Light Keeper’s house are circa 1894. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Heceta Head Keeper’s House is perched on a cliff with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and the beach below. Paths from the Keeper’s House lead both to the beach and to the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is a working lighthouse. From a height of 205 feet above the ocean, its “first order” Fresnel lens, casts it’s beams some 21 miles out to sea. It is the brightest light on the Oregon coast. It is said to be the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. The Queen Anne style Keeper’s House has been restored to its original splendor. It now serves as an Interpretive Center by day and a Bed and Breakfast by night

Florence Sand Dunes

We were able to find the huge sand dunes we visited in 2005. All we could remember was they were behind a shopping center. We recognized them instantly. It took us a while but we managed to crawl to the top. They go on for miles. What a view! This pictures is taken from the edge of the shopping center parking lot.

Hwy 242 - McKenzie Highway

Oregon Route 242, known as a portion of the McKenzie Highway, runs from Belknap Springs through McKenzie Pass in the Cascades, to Sisters. The McKenzie Highway was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February, 2011.

In 1862 Felix Scott led a crew of 50 men who blazed a trail across the Cascade Mountains following an old Indian trail which skirted lava flows. Scott hoped to use the new route to take supplied to gold fields in Idaho. His trail was difficult for wagon trains, and in 1866 an easier route was found which is now the approximate of the present state highway across McKenzie Pass. In Scott's day this area was known as Summit Prairie. Portions of his old trail, found 1,000 feet north of this point, are still maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and are used by hikers and horsemen.

McKenzie Pass Summit Elevation 5325 Feet

At the summit of the pass, Oregon Route 242 crosses a 65-square-mile lava flow. Highway 242 is not recommended for large trucks, trailers or motor homes due to numerous tight switchbacks. The pass is closed from November to July due to snow.

Belknap Crater

Belknap volcano is a Holocene example of the process which built the High Cascade Platform during the Pleistocene. It is a small shield volcano with a capping cinder cone.

A number of other eruptions also occurred in the general area during roughly the same time period. About 1,300 years ago a series of small spatter cones formed between Belknap and Blue Lake. North of these, a phreatic explosion blasted out the crater which is today occupied by Blue Lake. To the south are several cinder cones and associated lava flows, including Collier, Four-in-One, and Yapoah cones. Four-in-One Cone has been dated at about 1,900 years old while Collier is dated at about 1,500 years old.

Three Sisters

The Three Sisters are three volcanic peaks of the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the Cascade Range, each of which exceeds 10,000 feet in elevation. They are the third, fourth, and fifth highest peaks in the state of Oregon and are located in the Three Sisters Wilderness, about 15 miles southwest from the town of Sisters, Oregon.

Bronco Billy's - Hotel Sisters

The Hotel Sisters was built in 1912. Since 1985 it's been home to Bronco Billy’s Ranch Grill & Saloon. Upstairs, the old hotel rooms have been renovated into private dining rooms, each with its own theme.

Best Western Ponderosa, Sisters, Oregon

We stopped early tonight so we could do laundry. We are staying at the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge in Sisters.


Thursday, June 20, 2013 - Sisters to Yreka, California
We left Sisters heading west on hwy 20/126 and we stayed on hwy 126 when they split. At Rainbow we turned south on State Route 19, then east on hwy 58, south on hwy 97 into California and finally north on I-5. We drove first to Mount Shasta but there were no hotels so we turned went north to Yreka where we are staying for the night. Other than the fact that it took us 4 hours to drive the 62 miles of State Route 19, we made good time today. Google Map Note: This map is not quite accurate. When drawing our route it forces us to go to Eugene but we did not. We actually left hwy 126 at Rainbow and connected with hwy 58 east at Oakridge.

B & B Complex Fire

The B & B Complex Fires were a linked pair of wildfires caused by lightening strikes that together burned 90,769 acres of Oregon forest during the summer of 2003. The fire complex began on August 19th, 2003 as two separate fires, the Bear Butte Fire and the Booth Fire. The two fires eventually burned together, forming a single fire area in the central Cascades, west of Sisters, Oregon.

Between September 9 and September 26, modest rainfall and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to construct containment lines. Crews then shifted focus from fire suppression to mop-up and rehabilitation throughout the B & B fire area.

Cougar Dam and Lake

Cougar Dam is a 519-foot tall rockfill hydroelectric dam. It has concrete spillway and a powerhouse with two turbines. The dam impounds the South Fork McKenzie River creating Cougar Reservoir. The purpose of Cougar Dam is to provide flood risk management, hydropower, water quality improvement, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, storage, and navigation.

It's a good thing Karen wasn't driving or she would have had us driving up the side of this cliff. It's also a good thing we couldn't figure out how to actually get on this road or she just might have convinced me to do it.

Fish Collection and Sorting Facility

When the Cougar Dam was originally constructed, it contained adult and juvenile fish passage facilities that helped fish move past the dam. However, fish no longer migrated to the facility, and it became ineffective. In an effort to recover endangered salmon and bull trout populations, the Army Corps of Engineers decided to construct a collection and sorting facility to transport fish upstream and downstream of the dam. The facility includes a fish ladder, presort pool, sorting facility, and two pump structures for water supply.

Westfir Office Covered Bridge

I was sitting crosswise in the middle of the road totally blocking both lanes so Karen could take a "straight on" picture out of her window. While she was busy doing that, I casually looked over my left shoulder and was shocked to see that I was blocking the path of a stopped State Patrol SUV. I quickly backed up into the parking lot so he could pass. Thankfully he just smiled and went on his way.

The Office Bridge in Westfir crosses the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River at the south end of the Aufderheide National Scenic Byway and edge of the Willamette National Forest. It is Oregon's longest covered bridge at 180 feet. It is the only covered bridge west of the Mississippi River which has a separate pedestrian walkway.

The bridge is a replacement for a 1941 bridge which washed away. It was built in 1944 by the Westfir Lumber Company to carry logging trucks and lumber trucks to the company's lumber mill and mill pond.

Weed Rest Stop

This little fellow entertained Karen for about 10 minutes while she fed him nacho chips. Two seagulls and three crows tried to get into the action but Karen kept them away. She called the Chipmunk "Puffer" because he kept filling his cheeks with the treats. He appeared to be quite tame and would get really close to her - just not close enough for her to touch him.

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta is an active volcano. During the last 4,500 years the volcano has erupted an average of every 600 years. The last significant eruption on Mount Shasta may have occurred about two centuries ago. The historic eruption of Mount Shasta in 1786 may have been observed by Lapérouse, but this is disputed.

The Battle of Skell & Llao

The lore of some of the Klamath Tribes in the area held that Mount Shasta is inhabited by the Spirit of the Above-World, Skell, who descended from heaven to the mountain's summit at the request of a Klamath Chief. Skell fought with Spirit of the Below-World, Llao, who resided at Mt. Mazama by throwing hot rocks and lava, probably representing the volcanic eruptions at both mountains.

Mount Shasta is located at the southern end of the Cascade Range and at 14,179 feet is the second highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth highest in California. Mount Shasta dominates the northern California landscape. On a clear winter day snowy Mount Shasta can be seen for 140 miles. The mountain has attracted the attention of poets, authors, and presidents.

Friday, June 21, 2013 - Yreka to Eureka, California
Three highways today. We started south from Yreka on hwy 3, west on hwy 36 and north on hwy 101 to Eureka. Travel was very slow. Lots of curves - just what we love. At one point I commented - "this is hard work- but total fun!". Google Map

Oregon Stage Road

A pack trail by 1851, Greathouse & Co. muled passengers by 1854. James F. Carr, contracted by the California Stage Co., finished the last six miles of road from Trinity River to here, Sept. 14, 1860. The first daily mail and passenger stage, driven by Williamson Lyncoya Smith, crossed over two days later. A stage stop and 100 mule barn, for lodging, meals and relief teams was located here.

The winter road was kept open by oxen to break trails and sleighs to carry passengers and express. Known as the Western Branch of the California-Oregon Trail, safer from Indian raids than trails to the east. This old toll road fell to disuse by completion of the railroad in the Sacramento River Canyon, in 1887. Dedicated by Humbug Chapter 73 and Trinitarianus Chapter 62 E Clampus Vitus, Sept. 13, 1986

Bucket Line Dredges

I first learned about the dredging when I visited Virginia City and Nevada City last summer but that was small compared to the dredges along this river bed and all the way into the lake. I had told Karen about the mess that dredging makes but this one was way beyond anyone's imagination.

Gold Dredging turned the Trinity River upside down for over 50 years, leaving behind mounds of rock tailings. The first operation, in 1889, was the Kise Bros. Dredge. The Carryville Dredge, at this site was the last dredge operating for a few years before and after World War II, then sat idle until shipped to Brazil in 1965.

The Valdor Dredge mined the Trinity River between the old Junction City Powerhouse and Lime Point until dismantled in 1922. It was reassembled as the Lewiston Dredge near Eastmen Gulch. The Pacific Dredge failed at Coffee Creek, then was moved south to the Graves Ranch at Stringtown.

The world's largest wood hull dredge was the Estabrook, located near Trinity Center, excavating more than 250,000 tons per month. The Trinity Dredge, operated by Mary E. Smith, was the richest, dredging over $2,700,000 in gold from areas now covered by Lewiston Lake. The Junction City (Yuba) was dismantled and rebuilt as the Fairview at Minersville in 1948, but it failed to float and remains at the bottom of Trinity Lake. Other dredges included The Madrona, Galvin, Poker Bar, Gardella, Gold Bar, and Alta Bert #1 and #2. Dedicated July 22, 2000, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Trinity Country Historical Society by the Trinitarianus Chapter E. Clampus Vitus.

Shasta Trinity National Forest

The Shasta–Trinity National Forest is a federally designated forest. With 2,210,485 acres, it is the largest National Forest in California. It encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles of streams and rivers. Major features include Shasta Lake, the largest man-made lake in California and Mount Shasta, elevation 14,179 feet.

Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park

When I traveled through this area in the spring of 2012 there was a sign saying closed due to no funds. That was quite disturbing to think that many State Parks were going to go on unprotected. It was a relief to see that the State Park status was back into full swing.

They reopened it when they realized they were losing more tourism money than the parks costs to keep. They hadn't done the math when they closed it.

Elk Pasture - Orick

After registering in our hotel, we decided to head north for a drive through the Redwood National Park. As we passed through Orick we encountered a herd of Roosevelt Elk grazing at the side of the road. They were aware of the cars and people around them. It almost seemed like they were posing for the pictures. We saw another herd south of town on the way back.

Redwood National and State Parks

The Redwood National and State Parks are located along the coast of northern California. Comprising Redwood National Park (established 1968) and California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks (dating from the 1920s), the combined Parks contain 133,000 acres.

Located entirely within Del Norte and Humboldt Counties, the four parks, together, protect 45% of all remaining coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) old-growth forests, totaling at least 38,982 acres.

Sunset

Just as we were heading back to Eureka we stopped along the beach to take in the sunset. We were not alone. This lady and her dog and an other couple were also sitting peacefully until the sun finally dipped behind the ocean.


Saturday, June 22, 2013 - Eureka to Ukiah, California
Another in and out day - and not too many miles. We left Eureka south on hwy 101 to State Route 254 Avenue of the Giants, hwy 101 to Leggett, hwy 1 to Albion, State Route 128 to Boonville, and hwy 253 to Ukiah. When all was said and done we travelled as the bird flies as grand total of 157 miles. We've decided at this rate it is going to take us 20 days to get home. We just might have to go back to the drawing board. Google Map

Avenue of the Giants

The Avenue of the Giants scenic highway runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It is an old alignment of U.S. Route 101, and continues to be maintained by the state as State Route 254. Being situated just off a major highway, and having attained some degree of international fame, the Avenue has many attractions for visitors, both natural and human-made.

Hank and Florence Saddler Grove, Humboldt Redwoods State Park

This grove must have some magic in it because it took 55 years off our lives and we were 10 years old again. Nobody told us we were not physical able. Don't ask how we got up on the log. I'm sure it wasn't pretty. I got to the top but quickly got back down. Karen was braver. She walked to the middle so I could take the picture of her.

Shrine Drive Through Tree

We continued being children and decided to drive through the tree. Karen wanted to do this 33 years ago. Today was the day. They obviously have had to make the tree wider to accommodate the larger vehicles today. It was a tight fit but I made it without a scratch. There were about 10 people watching and when I cleared the tree everyone cheered. What a fan club!!

The Shrine Drive-Thru Tree is one of California’s oldest tourist attractions and is located in Myers Flat off Hwy 101 on the Avenue of the Giants. It is said that teamsters in the late 1800s could pull their coaches through the tree. The tree has a diameter of 21 feet. When you stand inside you can see the natural tunnel, hollowed out by fire generations ago, and you can see the sky above. Your entry fee into the Shrine Tree Park also admits you to the Step-Thru Stump, Drive-On Tree, Rings of History, two-story tree houses for children and a gift shop.

Confusion Hill

We continued our fun day by stopping at Confusion Hill. We took the train tour up the mountain that consisted of several switchbacks. We then experienced the strange feeling in the gravity house.

We met Dave and Dena and their three dogs Tova, Esther and Little Wolf in the parking lot. They have been travelling the coast by bicycle for nearly a year.

Gravity House

Confusion Hill is a roadside attraction in Piercy, California. The attraction includes what is dubbed as a "gravity house," a structure built to give the interior visitors tilt-induced optical illusions, similar to the perspective on a gravity hill. Occupants experience the need to stand upright when they actually already are. Also included in the attraction is a 1½ mile narrow gauge railway built in a switchback layout along the side of a steep hill.

Since its opening in 1949 to 2009, Confusion Hill was directly along the heavily traveled US 101 Redwood Highway. Due to constant mudslides obstructing the road in this area, US 101 was realigned to the Confusion Hill Bridges in 2009, thereby bypassing the attraction and requiring motorists to exit the new roadway to visit it. In 2010 Confusion Hill was granted California Points of Historical Interest status by the California Historical Resources Commission.

Tony the Train Guy

Tony was a great guide adding a bit of humour to the historical information. His tattoos were fantastic. They included Laurel & Hardy, Clint Eastwood, Don Knotts, the Munster Family, Cat in the Hat, the Mad Guy, along with numerous cartoon characters including Popeye. His artwork put my little rose to shame.

Hwy 1 - Shoreline Highway

State Route 1 runs along most of the Pacific coastline of California. Highway 1 has several portions designated as either Pacific Coast Highway, Cabrillo Highway, Shoreline Highway, or Coast Highway. Its northern terminus is near Leggett and its southern terminus is Orange County.

California State Route 128 Wineries

Once we were on State Route 128 and out of the coastal mountains, we entered an area of vineyards and wineries. It was quite a change of scenery after the huge redwoods.


Sunday, June 23, 2013 - Ukiah to Sonora, California
Only two highways today. We were not pushing - just coasting along basically putting on some miles - well not too many miles (278 today) but better than the last few days. From Ukiah we went east on hwy 20 and south on hwy 49 all the way to Sonora. Google Map

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park near Placerville marks the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in 1848. The park grounds include much of the historic town of Coloma, California, which is now considered a ghost town as well as a National Historic Landmark District.

Sutter Mill

James W. Marshall found shining flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building for himself and John Sutter. This discovery in 1848 changed the course of California's and the nation's history.

Morman Cabin

The Morman members of the sawmill crew built a cabin near the mill during the winter of 1847. Earlier they had shared a cabin with the Wimmer family, but they became discontented with Mrs. Wimmer, the camp cook. They decided to build their own cabin and cook for themselves.

Henry Bigler, Azariah Smit, William Johnstun, Alexander Stephens, William Barger, and James S. Brown moved into their new cabin on Sunday, January 23, 1848. The very next day Bigler's diary recorded the momentous event: "This day some kind of mettle was found in the tailrace that looks like gold."

Mark Twain's Cabin

Replica, with original chimney and fireplace. Here on Jackass Hill young Mark Twain while guest of Gillis Brothers, 1864-65, gathered material for "Jumping Frog of Calaveras" which first brought him fame, and for "Roughing It". Historical Landmark No. 138, Department of Public Works - Division of Highways

We stopped to chat with Mark and Vicky who purchased one of the original Gillis homes only a few yards from the cabin site. We were greeted by Mark who asked if we were going to the Twain cabin then promptly advised us "he doesn't live here anymore you know - he left the area". Mark and Vicky were more interesting than the cabin.

Apparently, Mark Twain never lived in a cabin on the property. The cabin's chimney (which is claimed to be from Twain's original cabin) was moved in with an old cabin from Tuttletown. It had nothing to do with Mark Twain. It is true though that Mark Twain did stay with someone in the Gillis family. They occupied the whole mountain top so who he stayed with and where is not known. Locals don't get concerned over whether he actually stayed in a cabin or in the big house - it's good for tourism in the area and it makes for a great story. Works for us too.

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County was based on a story he heard at Angels Hotel in Angels Camp California where he had spent some time as a miner. The short story brought international attention.

Mark Twain - Samuel Langhorne Clemens
(November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)

Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which provided the setting for Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. After an apprenticeship with a printer, he worked as a typesetter and contributed articles to his older brother Orion's newspaper.

He later became a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River before heading west. In 1861 Twain joined his brother, Orion and headed west. Twain and his brother traveled more than two weeks on a stagecoach.

Twain was born shortly after a visit by Halley's Comet, and he predicted that he would "go out with it," too. He died the day following the comet's subsequent return. He was lauded as the "greatest American humorist of his age," and William Faulkner called Twain "the father of American literature."

Sonora, California

We are staying at the Best Western Sonora Oaks tonight. This hotel is not going to get a good rating from us. Our room is very large and if the hotel was in good shape it would be great. The bedding does not fit the bed. I'm in a king size bed that has queen size bedding on it. I only hope the sheets will stay put the whole night. In addition, the room smells of sewer gas. It's not overpowering but the slight odor is all through the room.


Monday, June 24, 2013 - Sonora to Bakersfield, California
Several highways today. We continued on hwy 49 south, hwy 41 south, and hwy 180 east into Kings Canyon National Park. We then switched to hwy 198 through Sequoia National Park and west to connect with hwy 99 south to Bakersfield. Google Map

Hwy 49 - Golden Chain Highway

The first part of today was they slow winding trip down hwy 49 south from Sonora. State Route 49 passes through many historic mining communities of the 1849 California gold rush. Highway 49 is numbered after the "49ers", the waves of immigrants who swept into the area looking for gold.

We passed through several mining towns and historical areas in addition to the spectacular overlooks so it was very slow going for us.

Fruit Orchards

There are orchards as far as you can see. We stopped several times to try to identify the fruit we were looking at. We figured out the peaches, plums and oranges but there were a few we no idea what they were. We think they might be limes and pistachios but wouldn't bet the farm on it.

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are in the southern Sierra Nevada Range and are administered by the National Park Service as one park. The Parks are connected by the Generals Highway. We entered Kings Canyon National Park from the north and exited Sequoia National Park from the south.

Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940 and covers 461,901 acres. It incorporated General Grant National Park, established in 1890 to protect the General Grant Grove of giant sequoias.

Sequoia National Park was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans 404,063 acres. Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet, is the highest point in the United States.

General Grant Tree

The General Grant tree is the largest giant sequoia in the General Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park. Once thought to be well over 2,000 years old, recent estimates suggest the General Grant is closer to 1,650 years old. In 2012, it was determined that the General Grant was the third largest tree in the world, behind the General Sherman and the President.

General Sherman Tree

The General Sherman tree is located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth. The General Sherman tree holds no other distinctions. It is not the tallest, not the widest and not the oldest. It is 275 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter and is an estimated 2,300–2,700 years old.

Tunnel Rock

A huge granite boulder with a tunnel beneath was used for the roadway in 1938. The road now bypasses the tunnel but visitors can walk beneath this balanced rock. Tunnel rock is located just inside the south entrance to Sequoia National Park.

Mount Whitney

Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet. It is 84.6 miles from the lowest point in North America at Badwater in Death Valley National Park at 282 feet below sea level. The west slope of the mountain is in Sequoia National Park. The east slope is in the Inyo National Forest 15 miles west of Lone Pine.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - Bakersfield to Sedona, Arizona
A few highways today. Hwy 58 east from Bakersfield, hwy 40 to Topock, Route 66 to Kingman, hwy 40 to Flagstaff, hwys 17 and 89A south to Sedona where we are staying for the night. Google Map

Murray Family Farms

We stopped at Murray Family Farms about 20 miles east of Bakersfield on hwy 58. Their mission statement includes to surprise customers with the incredible flavor of fruits and vegetables and create a wonderful on-the-farm experience. Mission accomplished. We spent an enjoyable half hour wandering around the gardens and store. Murray Family Fruit Farm

Oatman, Arizona

Our highlight today was Oatman, Arizona. Every time we get here it's a highlight. This is the slow season for Oatman. Brenda was just starting her preparations for going home when we arrived but she didn't boot us out and we had a great visit for an hour or so. It's wonderful to see the new babies, reacquaint ourselves with the donkeys, and get caught up on the happenings in Oatman.

Dusty & Baby Ghost
Baby Hurricane
Peanut
Karen with Harley
Karen & Brenda with Duke

Zoology Lesson

Brenda giving Karen a zoology lesson - subject today - "the anatomy of the reproductive organs and behavioral interactions of the donkey". I think when the laughing finally subsided, Karen might have been a little more knowledgeable - might.

Williams Arizona

We stopped in Williams for supper at Pancho McGillicuddy's Mexican Restaurant. This restaurant is favourite of ours. Constructed in 1893, Pancho McGillicuddy's (then called The Cabinet Saloon) is one of the oldest buildings in Williams, Arizona.

In February, 1993, the building underwent a major renovation, and many of the historic features were restored utilizing the original materials where possible.

The film "Midnight Run" was filmed on this location in 1988. The cast included Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin who posed as U.S. Treasury agents in a scene filmed at the end of the bar.

Sedona, Arizona

It was dark by the time we reached the road to Sedona but we would be passing this way in the morning so we would be able to see everything then. We booked into the Best Western Inn of Sedona. There are two Best Westerns in Sedona. This one is out of the downtown core and absolutely beautiful. There are huge patios right outside the rooms with a view to die for.


Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - Sedona to Torrey, Utah
Several highways today. Hwy 89A north to hwy 17, I-40 east, 89 north, hwy 160 east to Kayenta, 163 north to Bluff and back to hwy261 north, hwy 95 west to Hanksville and hwy 24 west to Torrey. Google Map

Highway 163 - Monument Valley

We didn't stop in Monument Valley - just long enough on leaving to get the picture of hwy 163 looking back west. The highway forms part of the Trail of the Ancients, a National Scenic Byway. The highway cuts through the heart of Monument Valley and has been featured in numerous movies and commercials.

Highway 261 - We're Back!!

We have more pictures of hwy 261 that any other place we're travelled. With the exception of 2004, we have been on this road every year since 2002. I've been on it several times on extra trips. We don't even try to explain any more how this road makes us feel - it just does.

Utah State Route 261 is located in south-central San Juan County. It runs 34 miles north, from the junction of U.S. Route 163 north of Mexican Hat, to the junction with State Route 95, just east of Natural Bridges National Monument. The highway is part of the Utah section of the Trail of the Ancients, a National Scenic Byway. It includes steep switchbacks as it traverses the Moki Dugway.

The Moki Dugway was constructed in 1958 by Texas Zinc, a mining company, to transport uranium ore from the "Happy Jack" mine in Fry Canyon, UT. to the processing mill in Mexican Hat.

Willie's Cliff

We stopped at the top to let Willie view the cliff he dangled from in 2009. We put him in a different position (one that had a ledge on the other side) and held on to him tightly just in case he decided to take a flying leap for old times sake. It was a very wide ledge - I was actually standing on the other side of the guard rail.

Hite Overlook

Hite Overlook provides a spectacular view of the tiny village of Hite, Hite Crossing Bridge, the deep red rock surroundings and the confluence of the Colorado-Dirty Devil rivers.

Hite Crossing Bridge

The Hite Crossing Bridge carries Utah State Route 95 over the Colorado River and connects the area to the north side of the lake. It is the only road crossing of the Colorado for 300 miles between the Glen Canyon Dam west of Page and US 191 at Moab.

The Colorado River served as a major barrier to early settlers and explorers of the region. In 1880 a prospector named Cass Hite established a ford near the mouth of the Dirty Devil River, 2 miles downstream from the present-day bridge location. This ford, named "Dandy Crossing", served as one of the few locations in the region where travelers could cross the Colorado River.

The settlement which formed at the crossing location took the name of its founder, Hite. In 1946, a settler named Arthur Chaffin constructed an automobile ferry using an old car engine and a thick steel cable to hold it in place. The ferry operated for 20 years, before the rising waters of Lake Powell inundated the settlement of Hite.

We captured this sunset between Hanksville and Torrey. We didn't get many other sunsets this year but the two we did get were pretty dramatic.

Torrey, Utah

We stayed at our favourite motel in Torrey - Austin's Chuckwagon Motel. This is our fifth time here. We've now stayed in all three cabins. The cabins have two bedrooms, a living room, and kitchen. It's a great place to stay for the night or park for several days.


Thursday, June 27, 2013 - Torrey to Helena, Montana
700 miles and four highways today. Hwy 24 west, hwy 89 north, hwy 132 crossover to Nephi and I-15 to Helena. Google Map

Capital Reef National Park

Before leaving the Torrey area, we went east on highway 24 as far as Fruita. We entered Capitol Reef National Park to drive the 10 mile road through the wash area. We've seen parts of washes as they cross over or under roads, but this road drives right through the center of the wash. The labyrinth forming the wash is quite a sight.

Capitol Gorge

The road uses the deep cut that the wash has made through the rocks. You can see the scrapes and scratches on the corridor walls. There is no doubt how forceful the washes are. It's hard to imagine water rushing over this area when it's bone dry and 100°.

Oyler Uranium Mine

Before the atomic bomb and the uranium boom of the fifties, this claim was first filed in 1904. Here an early prospector started a stone building, and possibly a corral or pen. The Cliff is unstable and subject to rockfall, and potentially dangerous concentrations of radioactive materials may occur within the mine. Oyler Mine was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Harmful Cure? I think that if the disease didn't kill you the cure would.

In the 1920′s pieces of uranium ore from this mine were ground up and mixed in drinking water, or worn in packets in waistbands or on arthritic joints, to cure rheumatism and other ailments. There are no statistics to indicate which was more harmful – the disease or the cure.

Fruita Petroglyphs

The Petroglyphs pullout is about a mile east of the Visitors Center. These Petroglyphs are from the Freemont people who lived throughout Utah and adjacent areas of Idaho, Colorado and Nevada from 700 to 1300 AD. The culture was named for the Fremont River and its valley in which many of the first Fremont sites were discovered.

Click for Larger View Click for Larger View
Petroglyphs are depictions of people, animals and other shapes and forms left on rock surfaces. Human-like figures usually have trapezoidal shaped bodies with arms, legs and fingers. The figures are elaborately decorated with headdresses, ear bobs, necklaces, clothing items and facial expressions.

Headdresses or Helmets?

Something rather strange happened to this picture when I tried to enhance the clarity. The headdresses and other bobbles look more like alien helmets, antennae and space suits - or would that just be my imagination on drugs?

Click for Larger View

Friday, June 28, 2013 - Helena to Calgary
We managed to travel on 11 different highways today. First was west on hwy 12, then north on hwy 141, west on hwy 200, north on hwy 83, west on hwy 82, north on hwy 93, east on hwy 40, east on hwy 2, north into Glacier National Park on Going-to-the-Sun Road, north on hwy 89 (USA) becoming hwy 2 (Canada) to home. Google Map

Hwy 83, Montana

The scenic route between the Mission and Swan Mountain Ranges extends 91 miles through broad, forested valleys and along scenic lakeshores, It is sparsely settled, with a few small communities along the way. We prefer this route. The main traffic and trucks are on hwy 93. Although slower, Hwy 83 gives lots of opportunity to pull over, take in the view, and snap lots of pictures.

Salmon Lake is one of the beautiful links in the Clearwater River Chain. We've stopped before at Salmon Lake State Park just to take in the beauty. The highway passes by several lakes, the largest being Salmon Lake, Placid Lake, Seeley Lake, and Swan Lake.

Bearfoots Gallery

We had to stop at the gallery to pick up our purchases. It had been two weeks so of course we had to shop some more. I added Welcome Bear sign to my collection. Karen bought a bunch of small gifts and Christmas presents.

We stopped at the Best Western to cancel our reservation and headed home.

Glacier National Park

We've been through Glacier National Park several times in the summer and fall but never when it first opened in the spring. It was interesting to see the snow still left at this times of the year. It was 85° so there was a lot more water in the waterfalls and over the road. Most of the snow had not melted from the sides of the road and was still stacked quite high at the visitors center. In other years, by the time we reached the area, there was only one area where snow was left.

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses Glacier National Park going over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. It was completed in 1932. The road was named a National Historic Landmark in 1983 - Period of Significance: 1900-1949.

The road is named for Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, which dominates the eastbound view beyond Logan Pass. One mythological story tells of the deity Sour Spirit, who returned to the sun after teaching the Blackfeet to hunt.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most difficult roads in North America to snowplow in the spring. Up to 80 feet of snow can lie on top of Logan Pass, and more just east of the pass where the deepest snowfield has long been referred to as Big Drift. The road takes about ten weeks to plow, even with equipment that can move 4000 tons of snow in an hour. The road is generally open from early June to mid October, with its latest ever opening on July 13, 2011. I was there two weeks later and the snow was still piled high at the visitors center.

On the east side of the continental divide, there are few guardrails due to heavy snows and the resultant late winter avalanches that have repeatedly destroyed every protective barrier ever constructed.


Carway Border Crossing

We've done a lot of shopping. We both had Bears from Jeff Fleming. Karen bought a clothes tree from Bothell. (It didn't seem strange at the time.) I had my rooster (Molson) and a couple of books. We stocked up on Redwood Forest souvenirs and every other place along the way. Finally, at Kalispell, we hit Walmart for clothes. We figured we would have to pay duty at the border. I guess we weren't too far over our limit because we passed through without delay and arrived home about 9:30 pm.

Year of the Giants

This year turned out to be all about giants. From the giant Redwood and Sequoia trees to mountain passes, huge volcanoes, sea stacks, wide deserts and canyons - everything this year was big in it's own way. We passed through numerous State Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas and nine National Parks - Banff, Kootenay, North Cascades, Capitol Reef, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Redwood, Mount Rainier, and Glacier. It definitely was not the fast paced high mileage road trips we are used to but we still managed to put on 5,800 miles and take over 1,700 pictures.



Next - 2014 Las Vegas

 

©Jumpy 2008 - 2022