Currently in Moab UT (Low 58 Sunny then Isolated Thunderstorms High 86)
We are way behind uploading photos to Flickr in our Photo Albums
We recently added albums for our 2016 travels to Chippewa Falls WI, Prior Lake MN, Clear Lake IA, Waukee IA, Peculiar MO and Claremore OK. Here are some of the great photos there.
We plan to go to Dead Horse Point State Park today.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Currently in Moab UT (Low 50 Sunny High 88)
Jo wants to know where the happy medium is. About a week ago the overnight temperatures were in the low 20s and we had some snow a couple of days. Today is supposed to be 88 and sunny. Would have been nice to gradually get to where we are. Although we are not in the 100s like our friends in the valley of the sun.
We have made some more changes to the blog in addition to revamping our foodie section that we blogged about earlier.
We got rid of the weather plugin because it was not showing the current weather conditions correctly and we haven't found a suitable replacement. It does help to reduce the clutter.
We also updated our travel history section showing our current up to date travels for 2017.
Finally we have added more states to 'Our Google Maps - Places to See and Eat' and moved it up to just below our 'States Visited Map'. The great thing for us is as we add a place on the map it is now automatically available on the linked map showing.
Some of the places to eat are on our foodie favorites section but some are not. These are ones we have noted somehow as being a place to try while in the area. We still have a few states (Mississippi, Tennessee, et al.) to add which we will do as we are heading that way. Bob uses the info as he is planning our travels to make sure we know about the area before we get there or to plan a stop.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Currently in Moab UT (Low 53 Sunny High 84)
After a week in Cortez Colorado we departed yesterday and headed to Moab Utah. It was another scenic drive. We really love the scenery in Utah.
We saw our first arch, Wilson Arch. Jo is getting real good taking photos on the drive over some bumpy roads.
It was approximately 112 miles, this is the route we took.
We are staying at OK RV Park.
We will be here a week and plan to visit nearby National and State Parks.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Currently in Cortez CO (Low 36 Currently Sunny 47)
Heading to Moab UT (Currently 52 Sunny High 80)
Our GPS devices brought us right to the KOA. The front desk was friendly and efficient. The interior roads and sites were gravel. We were in a long pull thru and it took a little jockeying since the power pedestal was at the front of the site and our cord connection is at the rear of the Lifestyle. We had to add our sewer hose extension. Once settled the hookups went smoothly. We had a great view out our back window.
Here is the Lifestyle from the front.
To the right.
To the left.
From the rear.
We got some nice views of the snow capped San Juan Mountains, storms approaching, and sunsets from our back window.
This is a very nice park in a great location. We would stay here again.
We depart Cortez today heading to Moab Utah.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Currently in Cortez CO (Low 43 Mostly Sunny High 71)
Here is a view of the mesa as we headed into the park.
There are more than just cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) were present in the region from about 400 AD to 1300 AD. Not all of the Anasazi were cliff dwellers as evidenced by other sites across the southwest. Mesa Verde National Park is somewhat unique in that the various dwellings are present. The first settlers in this area were basket makers and dug a shallow Pithouse with a wood frame covered by mud shell. Here is one of the earliest ones preserved in the park.
From the web we got a drawing of what the Pithouse would have looked like.
They then dug deeper pits for the Pithouses showing here.
From Pithouses they then began developing above ground pueblos as well as pottery.
With below ground common rooms for sharing food showing here.
And the Kivas which were ceremonial.
For a reason currently unknown they then moved to building cliff dwellings patching stones together. Here are some of the ones built into Navajo Canyon.
Then a great drought hit and about 1300 AD they left the area moving south to Arizona and New Mexico. As we were leaving we saw a storm in the distance.
We had some very strong winds but no rain from that system.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Currently in Cortez CO (Low 46 Sunny High 74)
All we can say is WOW! Mesa Verde National Park is amazing, so amazing with a lo of photos that we are going to break our visit into 2 blogs. Today we will cover the road into the park and Navajo Canyon. Tomorrow we will cover the ruins at the park.
Although the entrance is only 8 miles from the KOA the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum is about 20 miles from the entrance. We did a lot of climbing and switchbacks with a tunnel and some pullouts. Here is the tunnel.
The road sign for one of the many switchbacks followed by a photo where you can see the road below the road we are on.
The pullouts were scenic.
Evidence of a recent forest fire.
We got to the Museum and watched the orientation film, which like other national park videos was great. We then drove the Mesa Top Loop where we saw the Navajo Canyon which was gorgeous.
Here is the side of the canyon that has the cliff dwellings we will cover tomorrow.
We were blown away by Mesa Verde National Park and highly recommend it as a place to visit. Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
