Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction

After a week of unscheduled happenings, we got back on our trip plans with a two day stop at Colorado National Monument.  Pulled into Saddle Horn Campground at the top of the mesa.  First we needed to climb 2,000 feet from the valley as the road wound up and went through two tunnels where we needed to drive down the center line to keep from knocking off our roof air conditioners...but fortunately little traffic.  We had reservations at Saddle Horn campground, but our chosen site was really unlevel.  We were able to swap with another open site, but a warning that this campground has a wonderful location on the top of the mesa, but few sites are level.

We then walked over to the visitor center, watched the video about how the CCC built the 11 mile "top of the mesa" road and most of the support buildings.....mostly with hand labor, and also listened to a Ranger talk on the geology of this region.  We learned that some of the exposed rock is some of the oldest in the world.

Driving along the road, we stopped to look down at the valley far below, and all of the unusual rock formations.  We also did a couple of short hikes back into the rocks.

Our Backpack trip to Big Sandy Lake

After months of planning, we finally did it!  With our friends the Zamostnys, we hiked to Big Sandy Lake in Wyoming's wild Wind River mountain range.  What was to be a 3 day trip to include a hike over Jackass Pass to the Cirque of Towers, became a shortened two day trip due to very cold (as in 19 degrees overnight) and snow from previous days of heavy rains.   We still marveled at the incredibly beautiful and majestic area.

Our hike started off with bright blue skies as we hiked the 5 miles to our base camp along the Big Sandy Lake.  Views of the snowy mountains and hiking along the Big Sandy River made this day of hiking, a wondrous event.  Since we knew we would need warm gear, we were packing in 40 lbs. on our backs.  Included were bear cannisters (picked up at the National Forest ranger station), our rated 20 degree sleeping bags (glad we had), and our food and supplies. 

Once arriving at the lake, we set up our camp.  A little challenging to locate tent sites where there was no snow, but we were able to find a site under the trees.  A little sloped as we discovered during the night as we kept sliding on our sleep pads toward the tent entrance.  Danny Z built a great camp fire that night that kept us warm until it was time to climb into our sleeping bags.   We stayed mostly warm and were glad to get up to another sunny day.  Hot coffee warmed us as we all agreed that one night was enough, but we still hiked around the lake and started to climb toward the pass for better views.

Then back to base camp where we packed up and hiked back the five miles to the trailhead.  And again incredible views.  What a great trip and a magnificent place!

A week in the Tetons

We've added the Tetons to our must "come back and spend time" list.  The Tetons are so dramatic when first viewed as you leave Yellowstone. The craggy mountains appear to rise out of the Teton Valley.

We chose Gros Ventre Campground as it is centrally located in this wondrous area.  We did arrive early in the morning so we would be sure to get a campsite.  GV is a large 300 site campground in the Teton Valley featuring Moose!  Everyday Moose were sighted...not just along the river where the
willows grow, but at the campgrounds amphitheater where they were showcased.

On our arrival we met again with the Zamostnys where we planned hikes into the Tetons.  We also met Dan's brother and his wife, and enjoyed sharing many of our adventures, including our first Teton hike, Taggart Lake.

On another day,  Ruthie headed out with Gail and Dan on the Cascade Canyon Trail following a short boat ride across Jenny Lake.  A beautiful day!

Morey stayed back at the campground as he needed a little R&R after his wisdom tooth was pulled,




On a rainy day, Morey & Ruthie, squeezed in a two hour bike ride between the rain drops, to Moose and the Visitor Center.   We wonder if the bike riders we passed on the well aintained paved trail knew we were riding E-bikes as us old guys passed the youngsters on the up hills!

Today we completed an 8 mile hike to Death Canyon which included over 1,600 feet in up hill hiking.  How magnificent, Phelps Lake, waterfalls, granite cliffs, and all of the foliage!  We're getting in shape for our upcoming 3 day backpack trip.

Yellowstone National Park

With our plans to meet up with our friends, the Zamostney's, at Gros Ventre Campground in the Tetons (prepare for our upcoming 3 day backpack trip), how could we not spend some time in Yellowstone.

This time we drove in at the northeast entrance, a much less traveled mountainous route.  The road lead us through the Lamar Valley.  We had hoped to see some native animals, but wow, did we hit it big!  Bison, Bison, and more Bison....herds along the valley and walking down the highway.

For our three days, we chose to stay at two new campgrounds for us.  First we spent a couple of days at Canyon Village Campground.  So happy to be back at elevations of 8,000 ft for cool nights.

Hiked to Point Sublime along Yellowstone Falls and Canyon with our friends.  Quintessential Yellowstone with the canyons and the rivers.  The second day we again got on our E-bikes and headed to Inspiration Point where we hiked our second trail on this brief sojourn.  Love hiking through the pines with incredible canyon views.

For our third day, we moved to Grant Village Campground, striking distance to the Tetons.  Waiting for us at check in was our replacement Pentax SLR (our old one died at the beginning of our trip).
A nice campground, and we again took advantage of our "free" shower tickets.

On the way to Grant, we stopped at a thermal area...………..how could we not?  We're in Yellowstone!

We both agree, that Yellowstone should always be a part of our western travels.  Now we have many great campgrounds to revisit.

A Promise Kept.....after over 30 years

Ruthie has been asking for a very long time to take a minor detour off of our western travels, to visit Laura Ingalls Wilder's home in DeSmet, South Dakota.  Little House on the Prairie, and all of her other books were favorites of Ruthie's; so DeSmet….here we come.

We checked out the Surveyor's House where the Ingalls family spent the first winter, and then visited the house that Pa built in town.  Hard to imagine a family coming out to South Dakota in the late 19th century, in the harsh Midwest weather to homestead.  Well worth the detour...





Then on to a rest stop for a couple of days at Sibley Lake in the Big Horn mountains.  A nice little National Forest campground that even had electricity.  Time to acclimate to higher altitudes, so camping at 8,000 feet was perfect.

Next to Bald Mountain NF campground positioning us for a very special visit to the Medicine Wheel.

We got out our E-Bikes and "pedaled" the 3 miles to the entrance, then a hike of another 2 miles to reach this estimated 1,500-6,000 year old native American Ceremonial site at an elevation over 10,000 ft.  The Medicine Wheel was constructed with 28 spokes (lunar days), 7 stone formations for the 4 directions, Mother Earth, Father Sky, and the Sacred Center.  To be on the peak of the Big Horn mountain range at this very special site was awesom  e.

After dropping over 5,000 feet with BIW, we made a stop at Big Horn Canyon.  Impressive, but not our favorite.  We had left behind the pine forests and the cool temperatures.

4 days and 1,500 miles across the Midwest

The drive to get to the West could be long and tiresome, but we had a better idea.  Even though we drove 400 miles every day, we always ended up at a great campsite and some great activities.

The first day ended at Outflow ACE campground in Confluence, PA.  This campground is right on the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) bike trail, so we got out our new E-bikes and biked 25 miles before the sun went down.


The next day we ended our day at Pokagon State Park in Indiana.  We hadn't camped here in over 30 years ago.  Such memories of our cabin tent collapsing in heavy rains (from this experience, we decided to buy a pop up camper).   This time we pulled in our motorhome and setup, and the sun was shining.  Then off for some hikes on the park's many trails.

Day 3 was particularly special.  First we stopped at Bonneyville Grist Mill, which is the oldest continuously operating Indiana Grist Mill from 1837 to 1967.

Then a stop at Portillos for a "real" Chicago hot dog.

For the night we were invited to camp and spend the evening with Connie and Ross, new friends that we met on our Alaska cruise last year.   We camped in their driveway, had a pontoon boat ride on Lake Wisconsin, and had a very very Wisconsin dinner.  Thank you!

And tonight we're camped at Big Sioux campground near Sioux Falls.  A nice state recreation area.  In fact a very nice campground.  We took a side trip to see the Palisades before setting up for the night.

Loading up & getting ready to hit the road

Took BIW out of storage and brought it home to start the cleaning and loading in preparation for our travels.  But then some added complications.....

Morey & Ruthie had ordered a new couch and love seat back in April, finally cancelled when it wasn't to arrive before August 1st.  Well, gosh,  the new seating showed up and was delivered on Tuesday, days before our travels to begin.  So what did we do with the old couch and love seat...Why, put them on the curb and label "FREE".  The only item taken was the cushions off of the love seat.

So, Morey had no choice but to saw up the love seat (sans cushions) and bag in black plastic bags and put in the trash.
And then, he added to the Craig's Listing, "Better than Free." as he offered $25 to pick up the couch for free.  It worked.... Phew.....

Then the new bike rack required a hitch extender, but the one secured didn't work but locked into the rack making the new bike rack unusable.  So, Ruthie made a quick stop at a local bike shop for another bike rack that will hold E-bikes.



Now, all was good, and we split town...……..after a goodbye to our wonderful Jersey Shore!