Posts:
Our new home away from home; where we hang our hats.
Our generous hosts on Marrowstone Island – Barb and Mark Colter
May 4, 2020 Sunset at Skow Bay off Marrowstone Island.
Blue Camas in preserved camas prairie field in Port Townsend WA.
Ground cone plant @Fort Flagler, Port Townsend WA.
May 3, 2020 Rib dinner, including social distancing and homemade rhubarb pie.
1000 Trails Campground, Swinomish Tribal lands near La Conner WA.
Sunset at Swinomish.
Padilla Bay walk, Skagit county.
Circle of Life for Dad’s 90th birthday.
Dennis and Lorna Parent in Bayside WA for a quintessential Pacific NW evening of wine n cheese, the bay and social distancing.
Lone Tree – a navigational and cultural marker for Swinomish tribe and explorers.
May 31, 2020 Astoria OR where outside dining and limited seating is allowed.
Civic Greenway along Columbia River. Can’t see them, but you can hear the sea lions!!
Citizen protestors in Astoria for Black Lives Matter and George Floyd.
Sunset on the Columbia River.
June 1, 2020 Driving south on Hwy 101, overlooking Oswald State Park, Oregon coast.
Visiting family in Eugene, Lane County OR – Aunt Jane and cousin Adelka.
Hand made Mother’s Day card from Hannah.
Florence OR – South Jetty Oregon Dunes.
The Dunes.
The Oregon beach.
Heceta Head beach enroute to Yachats OR.
Caves under the Heceta Head lighthouse.
Rock jetty near mouth of the Siuslaw River OR.
Mole crabs, Florence OR. Live about 18 months, reproduce in Spring. No pinchers, instead paddles for burrowing into sand. Just a few inches long.
5′ tall dune grass en route to beach.
Spokane River WA. Tweaks being done of the RV in Spokane at Northwest RV.
Spokane Regional Felts Field Airport.
June 8, 2020 Restored Pan Am passenger airplane – 1940’s.
Visit with Suzanne at Skyway Cafe, Felts Field, Spokane Regional Airport.
Lindsay Cellars Winery, outside Lewiston ID
McIntosh family wheat farm. Location of Lindsay Cellars Winery.
Sunset at the winery. Sauvignon Blanc was delicious.
Tsceminicum/Mother Earth sculpture in bronze by NN Dreyer in 1978-79. At the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, Lewiston ID.
Salmon River National Recreation Area, site of Cooper’s Ferry archeological dig. BLM and Univ. of Oregon discovered human artifacts that challenged the Clovis theory of human habitation coming to North America over the Siberian bridge. Artifacts dated to 15,000-16,000 years and suggested first humanoids arrived via water travel from Japan.
Mammoth tusk and femar found in Tolo Lake near Hamilton MT. From these and other replicated bones, a reconstructed Mammoth is on display at Hamilton’s Visitor Center.
Driving MT Hwys 12 & 13 in Nez Perce reservation. This site describes how Coyote, the spirit animal for the Nez Perce, outsmarted the Monster and created the various Native American tribes in the area. It was hailing as we were listening to the story of Coyote.
This is the heart of the Monster that the Coyote used to create the various Native American tribes. This site can be found along MT Hwy 13. Another beautiful drive is Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, which provides information on Lewis & Clark expedition from both the exploders’ and Natives’ perspective.
Rock formation at stop along Lochsa River. It’s a lot bigger than it looks.
Visited Robert Hoppa in Corvalis MT. Behind us is his lawnmower.
View of Bitteroot Mountains from Corvalis MT.
Daly Mansion in Hamilton MT
Entry of Marcus Daly mansion. Nine fireplaces in house. Daly made his millions in copper mining in Butte MT. This was the family’s summer home in Hamilton.
Dining room in Daly Mansion. A lot of class in the middle of nowhere at the turn of the 19th century. Wife lived in house until 1941, when it was boarded up for over 30 years. Local effort to restore manor.
Bandit Brewing in Darby MT. Great popcorn, hard cider and free popcorn. Outside seating.
Trapper’s Peak Winery and part of the Harvest Host program. K. Smith was marvelous host, serving up some yummy smoked fish spread and delicious Gold Buckle Cabernet Sauvignon. Great talking in the garage. Topped off with some home made dried huckleberry chocolates from local confectionary. Very nice stay.
Our campsite at Trails Creek CG near Victor WY.
Visiting sister, Brigid and her daughter Lena in Jackson WY. Enjoyed talking with Paul about hiking adventures in Colorado and Appalacian Trails.
River rafters on Snake River Hwy 189 Hoback Junction.
Rock wall along Snake River showing geology.
Wall mural in Pinedale WY.
Merv and Ruth Boyer, Green River WY. Merv and I worked at Glenrock Coal Company in the 80’s. I was there as a reclamationist and he was a diesel cat operator. We shared a love for the outdoors and alfalfa sprouts.
Merv and Ruth were our tour guides through the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway.
The Flaming Gorge with the Green River in foreground.
Spectacular views throughout the gorge.
A must see side road tour for anyone who loves rocks.
View of Snake (?) River from the Red Canyon Lodge, Flaming Gorge. Also saw mountain sheep and baby grazing in nearby grasslands.
View from Fire Hole Campground, Flaming Gorge.
Jim Bridger Coal powered Electric Plant. The facility can burn up to 1200 tons of coal per day. In the next few years, the electric grid of this coal plant will be augmented by power provided by wind turbines.
One of 2 signs on 478,000 acres of BLM land directing us to proposed Adobe Town Wilderness area.
The outskirts of Adobe Town.
Flora in area – Prickly pear cactus.
Fauna in area – Prong horn Antelope.
A rock overhang observed in our day of scouting Adobe Town. BLM road 4412 washed out to valley floor and tried to find alternate route to no avail. Great day of exploring and seeing the wilds of Wyoming.
Riverside WY July 1, 2020
We finally found adequate internet connection to update and publish our website/Blog – Pierson’s Rolling Retirement.com. And the comos celebrated because that day was also the day the Schwann Dairy truck came through the Lazy Acres CG and we bought ICE CREAM BARS!!
July 1, 2020, Medicine Bow National Forest on Hwy 130 west of Laramie WY.
Mars Marigold (?), Alpine Sunflower and Alpine Lilies in Medicine Bow NF.
Medicine Bow Peak at elevation of 12013 feet. Lake Marie in the foreground.
Observatory constructed by locals of Medicine Bow and made from native rocks, including schist and phylite. Dial in center shows 360 degrees of major peaks and their elevations.
7_3_20 On the road again and came across this sign on Hwy 87 near Mansville WY. The horses legs move and yes, the price of gasoline (ethanol-free and unleaded) is $2.09/gallon.
7_3_20 Visited Glenrock WY where I worked as a summer reclamationist in the early 1980s. At that time it was an active coal strip mine providing coal for the nearby electricity generating plants. Since 2016 the mine has been closed and reclamation completed. All we saw today were wind turbines, sheep and cattle.
7_3_20 Visited the Ayers Natural Bridge, located south of Glenrock. the sandstone bridge covers the North Fork of the Platte River. Really pretty park with folks swimming and kids rafting.
7_3_20 Douglas WY. THE home of the legendary Jackalope. We didn’t see any during our travels, but the operator at the Douglas Golf Course gave me a commemorative golf ball with the Jackalope image on it. Gin and Tonics at 5:00 pm overlooking Mt. Laramie. Very pleasant.
Trials and tribulations of BBQing on the road. Steve on the Fourth of July in Lusk WY. Wyoming is noted for its late afternoon winds and today was no exception. That night, along with a spectacular fireworks display in the town of Lusk, Mother Nature provided an equally spectacular thunder and lightening show. Oh yes, and it was nearly a full moon. Quite the show for marking our country’s Independence Day.
July 5, 2020
One more park to visit before leaving WY. We visited Guernsey State Park, a scenic recreational area with three significant structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s.
The three structures are the Guernsey State Park museum, The Castle and the $5 Million privy. The museum was excellent with great displays of geological activities, rock specimens, Native American tribes living in area, Explorers, the engineering the dam on the Platte River. These pictures are of The Castle. Beautiful architecture. The privy was costly because it took so long to construct.
July 5, 2020 Hot Springs, S. Dakota.
A cute town with a number of restored or being restored turn of century Limestone (?) buildings. Minnekahta (Lakota word for “warm water”) was the original name of the town until 1883 when it was renamed Hot Springs. We’ll be visiting the town and local springs on Friday. There will be NO selfies.
July 7, 2020 Custer S. Dakota.
Big Pine RV and Campground outside of Custer SD had so many points of interest, we decided to stay 5 days. Some of the places and things to do: Mt. Rushmore Memorial, Custer State Park, Needles Hwy, Black Elk Wilderness, Crazy Horse Monument, Fairburn agate hunting, Jewel Cave National Monument. There is a lot to see and do here!
Mount Rushmore National Monument. The first image is Rushmore viewed from the Norbeck Overlook. Peter Norbeck (1870-1936) was the visionary who conceived of Mount Rushmore. He was a well driller, Statesman, Governor of SD, US Senator, founder of Custer State Park, road builder. One of his quotes went along the lines of “Give me enough dynamite and I’ll build you as many roads as you want.” Google the Needles Highway and you’ll recognize the reference.
These are the Cathedral Spires in the Black Elk Wilderness. I can’t even explain the magnificence of them.
Black Elk was a Oglala Sioux Holy Man. This wilderness was named in his honor. One of his quotes: “When a vision comes from the thunder beings of the west, it comes with terror like a thunder storm; but when the storm of vision has passed, the world is greenier and happier; for wherever the truth of vision comes upon the world, it is like rain. The world, you see, is happier after the terror of the storm.”
July 8, 2020 Crazy Horse Memorial, between Hill City and Custer SD.
The face of CH was finished in 2018. His arm, as shown in the 1/34th scale version, will extend over 200′. Begun in the 1940s by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, the family continues to carve the memorial. Lots to see at cultural center.
July 9, 2020 White Mntn formation, Badlands SD.
We find ourselves once again driving miles of backroads looking for…rocks. This time we are in the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Today we are discovering the White Mntn formation with School of Mining guide, Daniel.
The White mountain formation dates to about 35 million years ago. During the day we came across exposed fossil bones and teeth enamel likely of predecessor to current-day Rhinoceros. See bone in bottom center.
Our prize for the day was finding two specimens of Fairburn agate. Once plentiful in the 1940-50s, the agates are becoming increasingly rare. Fairburn agate is the state rock.
View of the Badlands National Park from the White Mountain formation near Rapid City and Scenic, South Dakota.
July 12, 2020 South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). Picture of Little Missouri River winding through expanse of Sand and Siltstone formations. “I have always said that I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota”. TR 1918
Driving back from TRNP along Hiway 85, followed two Harley Davidson bikers into Mo’s Bunker Bar. A little intimidating in that customers have to walk down old wood steps into the cellar of a past building to access the Bunker Bar. But once inside the doors, GREAT stop for the road weary. Best cold beer ever!! Great photos of Rock n Roll greats. Bar food available and nice couple running bar and campground.
July 13, 2020 Drove into Dickinson ND to visit Dakota Dinosaur Museum with great specimens of minerals and precious stones. Especially like the fluorescent room. Drove home on the Enchanted Highway, a creative effort of Gary Greff who’s built and erected several scrap metal sculptures to attract visitors to small towns of ND like Gladstone and Regent.
There are miles and miles of relatively straight road between towns here in western North Dakota. We didn’t get back to the Butte View CG, Bowman until sunset. We were seeing several farmers either finishing or slowly driving home equipment after a full day of working in the hot sun. “Making hay while the sun shines” really hit home.
July 14, 2020 North Unit Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). The northern portion seemed greener to Steve and I, plus lots more wildlife and fewer tourists. Keeping my distance, this is a picture of Longhorn Steers who are kept in the park as a reminder of the Badlands cattle industry.
Rocks, rocks, rocks – lichen covered sandstone used in the foundation of building near Juniper picnic area; cannonball concretions in TRNP.
So pretty cool video!! Ourselves and about 5 other vehicles (we were 2nd car back) followed a herd/gang of bison about 15 minutes up a road until they climbed up and over a hill. It was so cool. Males and females and baby calves.
This is another example of a Civilian Conservation Corps structure at River Bend Outlook, North Unit TRNP.
Steve pointing out the neck of the first documented fossilized dinosaur geoduck. The wildlife is phenomenal in this area (smile)!
At Oxbow Overlook in North Unit of TRNP. This was the end of the paved road for sightseers like us. But there are hiking trails throughout the area. And yes, that is a resting bison in the foreground. Pretty cool.
7/18/2020 Outside Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in Stanton SD. Note sign in foreground and plants nearby? Tobacco plants were grown for the enjoyment of the elders, primarily men over 60. Younger men did not want to jeopardize their lungs for running and fighting. The blossoms of the tobacco plant were the best smoke.
The Knife River Villages NHS showcases the geological indentations as well as reconstructed lodges of the Hidatsa and Mandan tribes. One of three sites is identified as the Sakakawea site because it was here that Lewis and Clark met Charbonneau and his wife Sakakawea (Sacajawea) who became L&C’s guides and translators heading west. The tribes built earth-lodges and grew corn, squash, sunflowers and beans, hunted bison and fished.
The Cache Pit above was dug into the floor of the Earth-Lodge and acted like a cellar. The decorated box in this picture is referred to as a Parfleche and was made of rawhide, and used to store seasonal items like clothes, dried foods, trade items, craft materials and hides. Brightly painted, there was a disc of rawhide placed above the box to keep rodents from climbing into the parfleche and also preventing water damage from leaky roofs.
7/20/2020
Between Bismarck and Minot SD, Garrison Dam is one of the world’s largest earthen dams. Built 1947-1954, at a cost of $300M, the dam separates the Missouri river and Lake Sakakawea.
Garrison Dam is 2.5 miles long, 0.5 miles wide at the base, 60′ wide at top and 210 feet high.
New Town, SD Site of existing Affiliated Three Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara) museum, which unfortunately was not open due to COVID concerns. Several metal relief structures dot the hillsides near New Visitors Center which is under construction. There is a tribal casino in area.
Contrasting view of the beautiful countryside (excuse dirty windshield) to the gas flares observed at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
Last night at Stanton, ND’s Sakakawea City Park along the Knife River. Observed folks fishing for catfish, kids tubing and a bald eagle flying over the river. Very quiet, well-maintained city park. Nice park personnel.
July 23, 2020
Drove south into Lemmon, SD. Surprise, surprise. This town of 1,227 has pizazz!! A 3 block Petrified Wood Park that includes petrified wood, rose quartz, cannonball concretions and dinosaur bones gathered from the surrounding 25 mile radius and created in 1930-1932 to not only employ young men in the area, but also mark Lemmon SD on the Yellowstone Trail, see next slide.
I hope you all are able to enlarge this slide and read about the Yellowstone Trail which ran across the country from Boston MA to Seattle WA in 1906!! This was way before I-90. The Trail was marked by the yellow arrow signs and obelisks, as shown in the slide. The trail, no more than a dirt road, went right through two petrified wood pillars currently part of the Petrified Wood Park.
Along with fossilized plant matter, there are rocks containing fossilized pinecones, cannonball concretions, dinosaur bones and rocks scraped by dinosaurs’ claws. Both North and South Dakotas are rock hounds’ dream destinations. There is so much to see, for free!
John Lopez, local artist and sculptor who this last decade has gone from bronze sculpture to scrap metal sculptures. This is his studio in Lemmon SD and the Ed Lemmon commemorative statue. Ed Lemmon the Boss Cowboy.
The Last Stand (Sitting Bull and Custer), John Lopez’s signature and Triceratops Cowboy
July 24, 2020
Shadehill Reservoir, Summerville SD. The Hugh Glass Monument is erected at the site where trapper/scout Hugh Glass was mauled by a she Grizzly and then left for dead. Glass trekked 200 miles to Fort Kiowa, and lived. Sound familiar? The movie Revenant was based on his story.
July 25, 2020 Petrified Wood Park Museum, Lemmon SD. A little bit of everything from turn of century farm life – farming equipment, pottery, kitchen utensils and tins, rocks, dinosaur bones, the fossilized turtle brought in by the Baumeisters, and lots of pictures dating to the late 1800s, early 1900s.
The Grand River museum, a privately funded museum, featured this recovered head of a triceratops which was excavated at a privately owned ranch. It’s name is Garth. The museum also features John Lopez’s sculpture of Hugh Glass (see above). The fossil portion of the museum begins with this description of Creation Science. Interesting.
Crops of corn and hay are everywhere; sweet corn and corn for silage. Sunflowers, canola, wheat…
July 27, 2020
The Castles Registered Natural Landmark near Reva Gap, SD. Out of nowhere, these rock formations appeared. Nice Forest Service campground nearby.
More of The Castles, Registered Natural Landmark near Reva, SD
July 28, 2020
Devils Tower. Our country’s first National Monument, designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.
The story of Devils Tower or Bear Lodge as told by the Kiowa people: “Eight children were there at play, seven sisters and their brother. Suddenly the boy was struck dumb; he trembled and began to run upon his hands and feet. His fingers became claws, and his body was covered with fur. Directly there was a bear where the boy had been. The sisters were terrified; they ran, and the bear after them. They came to the stump of a great tree, and the tree spoke to them. It bade them climb upon it, and as they did so it began to rise into the air. The bear came to kill them, but they were just beyond its reach. It reared against the tree and scored the bark all around with its claws. The seven sisters were borne into the sky, and they became the stars of the Pleiades.”
July 29, 2020 Another great stay through the Harvest Host program. This time at a grape and fruit wine vineyard. The hosts, Bob and Marilyn, have worked with University of Minnesota to cultivate Frontenac, Marquette and La Crescent grapes that can grow in very cold temps. Plus they have a variety of fruit wines including: Apple, rhubarb, Chokecherry, Plum and if you haven’t tried this, check it out – Haskap berry!
July 31, 2020 Saco MT
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs. If it weren’t for Google, you’d miss the turn off for the hot springs. Established by a rancher in the 1920’s, this facility offers three pools – a small hot pool (105degrees), a large swimming pool (90 degrees) and a cold plunge pool (45 degrees), plus a cedar sauna. Well maintained facility. Site also offers a hotel for overnight accommodations. Worth the drive.
This sign is next to a shed containing two big rocks. Yes, rocks again. But please read the story. There were all sorts of trinkets left by the rocks – coins, prayer bundles, ribbons, potato chips. The rocks are located on Hwy 2, which at one point extended from Portland Maine to Portland Oregon and was earlier named the Roosevelt Highway in recognition of the late president Theodore Roosevelt.
Golden wheat crops everywhere. As we drive from Dakotas into Montana, there are turbines on the fields and wheat harvest workers everywhere. There were miles of rail cars lined up on the tracks near Lindsay MT and the Montana landscape is dotted with tall metal silos, instead of cattle, on the farms.
August 3, 2020
The town of Fort Benton MT is considered the birthplace of Montana. First explored by Lewis and Clark in 1805, inhabited by the Blackfeet Indians and then established as a trade center with trappers, the original settlement was called Fort Clay. In 1850, the settlement was renamed Fort Benton.
The bronze sculpture is in honor of the Cowboy. The statue is situated with the Missouri River in the background.
Burial site of Shep, the dog that waited nearly 5 years for his shepherd owner to return to Fort Benton. Read the full story by googling Wikipedia/Shep/American dog/History.
August 6, 2020
The US/Canadian border town of Sweet Grass MT. This is the town where I was to have my interview for a Nexus pass on June 16th*. (why the interview could not take place in Seattle is a long story involving WA state legislature who would not provide voter registration information to DHS). Not that I’ve ever been a proponent of “The Wall”, but the US/Canadian border is literally yellow and red ribbons on fence posts in a grass field. Note the Canadian flag in the window on “the other side”.
The Visitor Center directed us to Little Jerusalem Hoo Doo formation near Sweet grass, MT. This is one of three similar formations found in Sweet Grass, Sunburst and Valier, MT. It was beautiful to walk the ridge, look at rocks (and wheat fields) and listen for rattle snakes.
August 10, 2020
Staying at Glacier Meadows RV park located east of Glacier National Park. Stopped at Marias Pass, 5213 ft. elevation. The obelisk marks the Continental Divide enroute to Glacier National Park (GNP).
The famed Going-to-the-Sun Mountain of GNP at 9647′ elev. along Sun Road. Quite a 2-way road getting to the pass with rock walls on one side and STEEP cliffs on the other.
Despite the throngs of cars, or in spite of them (?), wildlife made themselves available for the visitor’s camera. We saw this Big Horn Sheep along Sun Road, but none of the black-horned, white furred Mountain Goats.
This was our lunch spot along the Flathead River on the outskirts of GNP. One of the consequences of Climate Change is that a number of glaciers in GNP are slowly disappearing. Imagine naming a National Park after an environmental feature that no longer exists?
Throughout Glacier National Park and environs are horse trails. Turn of the century guided tours through the park were done on horseback. Not sure if that’s still the case, but this is an artifact of that time, a separate horse tunnel under the Sun Road to allow for safe passage of horse teams away from noisy vehicles.
East of Glacier NP (Essex, MT) is a small enclave called Izaak Walton Inn. A year-round facility that offers accommodations in retrofitted caboose cars. There’s also the Inn, with additional rooms, restaurant and bar. The Inn was built for Great Northern railroad workers back in the late 1930s. Unique and intriguing spot.
August 11, 2020
Drove to Hungry Horse MT, the capital of all things huckleberries. The Huckleberry Patch had great ice cream cones. At last count, between Steve and I, we’d consumed 5 cones in two days.
Near the Glacier Meadows RV park, we hiked along the Big River Trail and picked about 6 cups of wild huckleberries. A treat to have huckleberries from Glacier in the freezer
August 13, 2020
Bonners Ferry ID, Myrtle Falls. A nice little falls that had once supported a small dam generating electricity.
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge.
In the same vicinity as Myrtle Falls is the Kootenai NWR, an approximate 6 mile loop around the refuge. We saw geese, California condors and twenty or so turtles on a log in the middle of a pond. (Yurtle the turtle sort-of-thing). But I found this interpretive sign interesting in that it states that migratory birds will determine WHEN to migrate depending upon the length of day and the sun’s angle. And migratory birds will navigate WHERE using internal sensors detecting the position of the sun and stars, various landforms like mountain ranges and rivers, and the ability to sense the earth’s magnetic fields.
August 16, 2020 Bonner’s Ferry ID
Staying at Hemlocks RV park outside Bonner’s Ferry (see pics below. Look for serpent’s head) No internet access for a week. Visited Kootenai Falls and Suspension Bridge.
Also, Bonner’s Ferry is location of Mennonite community which operates a great bakery called Bread Basket Bakery. And if you’re looking for a great meal, locally sourced foods and restful outside dining experience, try Two Tone Cafe in Bonner’s Ferry.
August 17, 2020 Dworshak Reservoir, Ahsahka (near Orofino) ID
US Army Corps of Engineers recreation facility (Dent Acres) built on the reservoir created by Dworshak Dam. Full service RV and tent camping, boat launch, quiet, but no internet. Note osprey or eagle nests on suspension bridge trusses.
The reservoir’s water level begins to drop approx. 12″ each day after July 4th. Exposed reservoir banks reveal various precious stones, including these garnets. By September the rains begin again and cover the banks until next summer.
Animals observed along our trip…barely visible ring-necked snake, Dvorshak Reserv., ID; Doe and fawns Devil’s Tower WY; Moth caterpillar, Glacier MT; “Brad” the bat and Bunny Rabbit, Shelby MT; Rattlesnake skins, Dworshak Reserv., ID; Pronghorn antelope, Adobe Town WY; Ground squirrels, Lolo Pass MT; Flock geese, Challis ID; Bison, Hot Springs SD, Praying Mantis, Nez Perce Visitors Center, Spalding ID.
August 23, 2020 West Hwy 12
Enroute to Spokane, WA , stopped briefly at Spalding ID for the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) National Historical Park. The site has a huge collection of Native American artifacts located underground in temperature sensitive rooms. Our time was too short, but there’s a museum. walking trails and maps to ancient places.
August 24, 2020 Chelan WA
Drove Hwy 172 from Spokane to Chelan WA. Interesting geology along the way including big, black basalt erratics (boulders) scattered amongst the rolling hills. Stayed with Greg and Cheryle Donald in Chelan WA. We are blessed with friends who exceed in hospitality and love of life.
August 27, 2020 LaConner WA
We are back in the Pacific NW and staying at Port of Skagit RV Park in LaConner. Late August and September are spectacular months to be in the Puget Sound area. Here until the end of September and then heading East again.
September 2020 LaConner WA
Every other RV pad closed thru Labor Day due to COVID 19 social distancing requirements at Port of Skagit RV Park. The Port offers 10 miles of Nature Trails, with Chuckanut Brewery providing incentive! Drinking a cold one, outside, on a September afternoon, Life is good!
September 3, 2020 LaConner WA
Have been visiting family, friends, running errands but still observing the beauty of the area. Reminding ourselves that even though this has been home base for the last 60+ years, there’s something new to discover everyday.
September 13, 2020
Continuing to visit family and friends in Western Washington, LaConner. This is one of the trails in the Port of Skagit 10 miles of Nature Trails. Also within the Port property is the Heritage Flight Museum and the Bread Lab and Cooking School funded by King Arthur (Flour) Baking Company.
The Kukutali Preserve with Flagstaff Point in foreground and Skagit Island in the distance. The Kukutali Preserve is property of the Swinomish Tribe operated by the WA State Parks. This arrangement was the first of its kind in the USA when created in 2010. Gentle trails, quiet, and wonderful interpretive signage makes this a special place.
September 23, 2020 Kukutali Preserve, LaConner WA
Our last walk along the shores of western Washington beaches for a while. After much “serious negotiations”, we’ve decided to try again to get to WA DC by the 2020 Presidential election. We say good bye to family and friends, especially my Mom and Steve’s Dad. We’ve so enjoyed September in Puget Sound – abundant produce stands in Skagit Valley, great ice cream cones at LaConner’s Tower Ice Cream, loaves of fresh bread from Edison’s Bread Farm and great outdoor dining at Anelina’s. Body and souls satiated, we venture on.
September 27, 2020 Stanfield, OR
Evidence of Fall harvest. On our fast-track to East coast, stayed at Pilot RV Park, a very well maintained RV park, but next to a truck stop. Lessons learned: trucks run their engines 24/7; a lot of truckers start their day at 4:oo AM; diesel engines can be heard and felt a mile away.
Hiked at Hat Rock State Park near Hermiston OR with a gorgeous trail along the Columbia River and bordering lands of the Confederate Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
September 29, 2020 Boise ID
Forgot to mention, that the BEST milkshakes are in Echo ID at H & P Café. They feature chocolate, vanilla and berry of the season. We had Huckleberry and chocolate mix. Worth getting off the highway!!
Visited Boise State University, where our daughter is pursuing her on-line Master’s in Social Work degree (MSW). Pretty campus with the Boise River marking the Eastern border.
Crossed the Boise River on Friendship Bridge, and who is staring at us on the other side from Zoo Boise, but …..
Giraffe #1 and Giraffe #2. So cute!
For the inquisitive minds out there, a giraffe’s antler-like protuberances are called ossicones. That should be worth 20 points in a Scrabble game.
In the evening, visited downtown Boise, the capital city of Idaho. Went to the Basque Block which features all things Basque including a Cultural Center, Market and three great restaurants. We recommend Leku Ona.
October 1, 2020 Promontory UT
Visited the Golden Spike National Historic Site, where the Central Pacific RR from Sacramento CA met the Union Pacific RR from Omaha NE in Promontory UT on May 10, 1869. The original golden spike, the last spike to be pounded into the transcontinental track, is displayed at Stanford University. However, there is a commemorative plate marking the location of the last railroad tie laid at the completion of the Pacific Railroad on tracks in Promontory.
These are replicas of the Jupiter Engine (Sacramento, CA) and Engine #119 (Omaha, NE) commissioned by the National Park Service and built by O’Connor Engineering Laboratories of Costa Mesa, CA in mid 1970s. O’Connor Laboratories had no plans or blueprints of the engines, so used instead an 1870 locomotive design engineer’s handbook and micrometer scalings of enlarged 1869 photographs to build the replicas. On May 10, 1979, both engines were at Promontory to celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremony.
October 3, 2020 Nephi, UT
Drove I-15 south from Snowville to Nephi, past the Great Salt Lake, Ogden and Salt Lake City, following the Wasatch Mountains along the way. What was so disappointing, sad actually, was the smog. The smog smeared the views of this spectacular mountain range, and instead of a backdrop of blue sky, the visitor cannot see the details of the mountains through this veil of smog-haze.
Pictured below are the Autumn colors of Oak, Maple and Aspen trees with a backdrop of the Wasatch Mnts, and a rock conglomerate referred to as Devil’s Kitchen.
October 5, 2020 Mesquite NV
Driving south on I-15 from St. George, UT into Arizona and popping out at Mesquite NV, we were spellbound at the majesty of the rock formations in the Virgin River Canyon Gorge. The Bureau of Reclamation operates a Recreation Area in the canyon, which was unfortunately closed while we were in area, but necessitates a return. Steve and I drove this stretch 5 times, never tiring of the beauty. Happy 89th birthday Mom!!!!
October 7, 2020 Mesquite, NV
Started the day early to take a hike in the Foothills Trailhead located just outside Mesquite. There were 3 inter-connecting trails that meandered along a riverbed, along ridgetops and to Eagle Ridge trail that took the hiker to the top. That’s where you’ll see Steve.
The area is habitat for the desert Tortoise, which remained elusive during our visit. But we did see several little lizards scurry over the path. Temperature was 98 degrees F today.
October 8, 2020 Flagstaff, AZ
Internet is sporadic here in the great Wild, Wild West. Lots of huge rock formations through AZ and NM though. “It’s all big country” as quoted by my dear, former Arizonian, friend Janet Welch. The image to the left are the Vermillion Cliffs which Steve and I promise we’ll revisit. Pictured below is a formation outside Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona AZ, and an example of Magnetite, a ferrimagnetic rock found in the parking lot at the RV park in Gallup NM.
October 10, 2020 Gallup, NM
Steve and I hiked what was advertised as an easy hike to Church Rock. It was anything but easy, about 4.5 hours, steps notched into the steep, smooth rock faces, hot, poor signage. Thank God for cairns and Milo, a young doctor at the nearby Native American Health Clinic who helped us stay safe. Overall, a great hike though and the gin & tonics afterwards were the best ever!!
October 12, 2020 Santa Rosa NM
Fast tracking across the country is not what Steve and I prefer, but it’s how we’re able to get to WA DC by the end of this month. We’ve been travelling on Interstate 40 which overlaps Historic Route 66. We had to stop at the iconic 1959 Silver Moon Cafe. But, what was more interesting was the Blue Hole, an 81′ underwater cavern fed by an artesian spring. The buoys are there for divers and here’s a peek at the cavern’s side wall.
October 14, 2020 Amarillo TX
We only drove through the panhandle of Texas and visited Amarillo, and what a great town!! You’ve got the Second Amendment Cowboy with the placard reciting the right to bear arms at his feet on one side of Historic Route 66, and the Cadillac Ranch on the other side paying tribute to the hippie days of yester year. But it’s all artistic expression and that is a theme in what we saw during our short stay. The area reminds me of Pioneer Square, Seattle during its days of artistic expression and tolerance in the 70s and 80s.
October 15, 2020 Amarillo TX
Celebrated Steve’s 66th birthday on Historic Route 66 in Amarillo TX. The murals were painted on various buildings in the Artistic/Historic district and the posted poem speaks for itself. We had to replace the rear axle of the trailer and two new tires in Amarillo (Steve’s birthday present), but it’s all good. Stopping next in Weatherford OK, then Sallisaw OK.
October 17, 2020 Sallisaw OK
While getting gas on I 40 East, noticed sign for birthplace of Woody Guthrie, folksong writer and singer. “This land is your land, This land is my land” and “Roll on Columbia, roll on”, and many others.
Dinner at local catfish diner in Sallisaw OK.
October 20, 2020 Little Rock AR
Too short of a stay, but did explore the River Trail that borders the Arkansas River, both along the North Little Rock side as well as south into downtown LR. Here are pictures of the State House, the Arkansas River, the pig at River Market (COVID closed), and signage for the Trail of Tears. With the passage of the 1830 Indian Removal Act, 1000s of Native Americans, including members of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole tribes walked the land, or paddled rivers from their Southeastern states’ homelands to a government designated Indian Territory in Oklahoma.
October 22, 2020 Parker’s Crossroads, TN
Walked the Natchez Trace Trail. A quiet day.
October 23, 2020 Monterey TN
A small town with great spirit. Halloween decorations lining Main street. This Day of the Dead decoration was outside the Mexican restaurant we visited. Interesting twist was that City of Monterey is in Putnam County, which is a dry county, so no Margaritas, only beers.
October 24, 2020 Monterey TN
The Standing Stone Historical Society celebrates each October (Corn Moon) the significance of Native American culture in the region. The Cherokee tribes, and those that proceeded them for over two centuries, used this monolith as a milestone when travelling from one tribal community to another. A short parade and tribal dancing commemorated the festival.
October 24, 2020 Belle Ridge Retreat, Monterey TN
October 30, 2020
After driving from NC to VA and through the outskirts of Hurricane Zeta’s 25-30 mph winds, we welcomed our stay at Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville VA and prepared our entry into DC the next day. It was a little disconcerting to get off the subway and see boarded buildings everywhere. It was explained that some boarding was remaining from the Black Lives Matter protests and some in anticipation of Election Day.
October 30, 2020 @ 10:30 am
The White House Tour. Three tiers of Secret Service review, after having made an on-line application for tickets 90 days in advance, including passport number and SS number. But it was worth the effort. The self-guided tour has visitors enter from the East Wing and exit at the North Portico. The grounds and various rooms are immaculate. The ambiance was rich, in history and pride in country. Highly recommend as a bucket list experience.
Afternoon of 10/30/2020
Steve and I visited the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial, the South Korea Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial (Leonard Peter Sparkman). The weather was superb, the grounds well maintained, and more international than an airport. At least 5 different languages overheard as we walked the grounds.
October 31, 2020 Halloween
Bull Run Regional Park organizes family events, including Trick n Treating for Park campers. Steve put together our Halloween pumpkin from food in the refrig – blueberry eyes, corn kernel mouth, acorn nut nose and dried apple ears.
November 1, 2020 WA DC
Met my first cousin, once removed Sean Chalk at the International Spy Museum. He and his wife, Maggie live and work in DC. A great visit to the museum, which emphasized that international dangers to our country’s security exist every day, and then a stroll down to the Fish Market along the Potomac River, established in 1805 for fish n chips, beer and Irish Coffee.
November 3, 2020 National Museum of Air and Space, Dulles Airport
Steve was in his element. Pictures include Lockheed’s SR-71 Blackbird stealth aircraft, and the Space Shuttle Discovery which operated for 27 years and went into space 39 times. The museum also show cased the early Wright Brothers’ planes, WWI and WWII aircraft, the Enola Gay bomber and most interesting (for me) was the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar. Be prepared to spend the day with your hubby.
But what is all work and no play? Boring, so we visited a local Virginia winery. The state of Virginia is noted for its white Viognier wines, delicious. At this particular winery, they also grow exclusively the red Norton grape, America’s oldest wine grape dating to 1820s.
November 4, 2020 Mt. Vernon, VA
Met up with my first cousin, Dennis and wife Lisa O’Reilly at George and Martha Washington’s Mt. Vernon Manor. Another gorgeous day to tour both the manor house and the grounds. Pictures include President’s Washington’s study (note the pedal pushed fan chair), the key from the Bastille prison gifted by Marquis de Lafayette, the tombs of G & M Washington and the black American slaves’ burial grounds.
November 6, 2020 WA DC
Steve and I using our SmarTrip app to get on Orange subway into DC, today visiting the Capital building grounds, the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Gallery of Art (West Building). The sculpture atop the dome of the Capital Building is the Statue of Freedom. On the day we visited, work was underway in constructing the platform for Inauguration Day. Pictures include a woven cape, former Washington State Senator “Scoop” Jackson with Forrest J. Gerard (Blackfeet) discussing Indian issues in 1976, and a Lakota wapaha, or eagle-feathered headdress.
National Gallery of Art, West building
The bronze sculpture of Mercury by Giovanni Bologna (1529-1608) positioned in the gallery’s foray surrounded by green marble columns. 18 – 19th Century Spanish, French and British art. My Impressionist favorites and their self-portraits are Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh.
November 8, 2020 WA DC
What my Mom was fond of calling “the party after the party”. Steve, his first cousin, once removed, Jackson Shawn-Hayes (recent George Washington University graduate and excellent guide) and I met in WA DC the day after the election was called in favor of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. There were still plenty of supporters celebrating in the streets. We also visited the Renwick Gallery, featuring display of textile art, and finished the day with good beers and mojitos at local Cuban restaurant.
Note: the Cinderella carriage is made from sugar.
November 11-12, 2020 Holden Beach and Bird Island, NC
Even in November, the beaches of North Carolina are beautiful. They are also varied, Holden Beach’s shelf dropping off substantially within a few feet of the waves, contrasting with the wide expanse of Bird Island beach, which resembles the Pacific Ocean beaches at Ocean Shores WA. What is sooo much fun is hunting for seashells – Scotch bonnets, scallops, murex, whelks and conch shells to name a few. Got caught in a swale of rain and wind from outskirts of Hurricane Eta that lasted 12 hours. Fortunately safe and snug in our home away from home.
November 16, 2020 Extended our stay at Holden Beach NC through 11/21/20. Sea shell collecting and golf at the local range, plus reading and knitting. Retirement is sweet!!
Shell types include sand dollars, olive shells, jingles, augurs, scallops, sea biscuit, coral, whelks, oyster and clams.
Golf includes honesty.
November 17, 2020 Myrtle Beach SC
There are a lot of beautiful sand covered beaches in North and South Carolinas. Today we ventured to Myrtle Beach SC. Definitely more commercialized than Holden or Ocean Isle beaches in NC. but based on architecture and historical signage, Myrtle Beach has been a vacation destination since the 1940s. Great 2.5 mile boardwalk up from the beach, past volleyball courts. Saw dolphins for the first time and also the big pelicans flying over the surf.
November 18, 2020 Ocean Isle Beach, SC.
Back to quieter SC beaches with lots of interesting shells. This is a knobbed whelk shell.
November 20, 2020 Bald Island Beach, SC
Visited the island with shell hunters extraordinaire – Bambi and John Teates. A unique beach experience, in that a ferry ride is required and once on the island, golf carts are used to tour the island. We didn’t see much in terms of sea shells, but we did experience standing at the southern most point of NC coastline and have ocean waves come in from the North and from the West. Also saw some spectacular seafront homes. Ended the day by driving to historic Southport NC, eating seafood and watching the sunset.
November 22, 2020 Santee State Park, SC
Headed inland to Camden SC, NE of state capital, Columbia. Took a 7 mile walk through the forested state park along Lake Marion. First time I’ve ever hiked a trailhead with an alligator advisory. Not sure, but Steve and I thought that limestone deposits contribute to swamp-like conditions. Daytime temperature was 65-67 degrees and 40% humidity. Lake Marion boasts over 200 species of birds.
We’ve been seeing cotton fields since Tennessee, but this was the first time I was able to get a good picture. Just like hay, you’ll see big round bales of cotton, wrapped in yellow, out in the fields. Also seeing fresh produce stands selling sweet potatoes, collard greens and boiled peanuts.
November 24, 2020 Congaree National Park, SC
A relatively small National Park at 27,000 acres, the CNP protects the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest in the US. Sweetgum, American Beech, Swamp chestnut oak, Loblolly pine and the Bald Cypress to name a few of the tree species. The Bald Cypress “knees” can be seen growing alongside the base of the Bald Cypress trees and are thought to help stabilize the often 100′ + tall trees. The Cofitachequi, the Congaree and the Catawba tribes inhabited this area. The swamps also provided sanctuary for slaves, and cover for moonshiners.
November 25, 2020 Historic Camden SC
The town of Camden, SC was the center of some of the hardest fighting between the American Patriots, and the British and American Loyalists during the Revolutionary War. Two significant battles included the Battle of Camden in August 1780 and the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill in April 1781. Being able to walk the battle fields, read the interpretive signage, brought our American history to life. Pictured are the Kershaw House, which served as post headquarters for Lord Charles Cornwallis (Brit) during the British occupation (1780-81) and the Pillory and Stocks where offenders’ ears were often nailed to the boards.
Long leaf Pine reforestation Project and The Camden Revolutionary War Trails.
Along side a series of trails with markers explaining key elements of the two major battles, is a reforestation project for the long leaf pine. This tree averages over 150′, can be 400 years old and requires specific growing conditions to survive – frequent fires, open space and savanna grasslands. It was over harvested for its pitch, turpentine and tar as some of the nation’s first exports, and it’s ecosystem was compromised over the centuries by opportunists hard wood trees and shrubs.
November 29 – December 7, 2020 Charleston and Hardeeville SC
Arrived at Lake Jasper RV Campground in Hardeeville SC, and next day drove to Charleston SC for an overnight stay in the city. Both Steve and I enjoyed the vibe of the city, genuine people, parts of downtown and in-city residential areas being renovated, also great bars and intimate restaurants with great food (Blind Tiger Pub, ask the bartender for the Barrister, and definitely try the oysters). We stayed at the renovated Citadel, built in 1842, used as a military academy until 1922. We visited the Old Slave Mart Museum (Ryan’s Slave Mart), actively selling slaves until 1865, and then had a fish dinner at Hyman’s Fish Market – fourth generation strong.
In a big city, there’s always so much to see. I’m just going to post some pictures that we took as we walked Meeting Street and King Street. But visitors are constantly reminded about how old this city is; dates in the 1600s-1800s, not uncommon. Yes, those are cobblestone streets. Oh, BTW, the temperature is sunny and in the mid-60’s.
December 2, 2020 Fort Sumter
I am not a history buff, it was my second least favorite subject in school. But visiting the SE coast of the United States, and particularly North and South Carolina, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War come alive. Fort Sumter was built on an island in the middle of Charleston Harbor. The Confederate Army fired the first cannon ball (April 12, 1861) from nearby Fort Moultrie onto the Union-held Fort Sumter. That first cannon blast signaled other Confederate troops to open fire. Within 2 days, Union/Federal Major Anderson, commander at Ft. Sumter, was capture along with 100+ Union soldiers. The Civil War continued for four years, including the surrender of city of Charleston, February 1865 and the eventual surrender of General Lee to General Grant on April 9, 1865. (If only Sr. Callistus could see me now!)
December 2 &3, 2020 Caw Caw Interpretive Center and Jasper Lake County Park
On the return trip from Charleston, we stopeed at the Caw Caw Interpretive Center. This is a wildlife and bird sanctuary built on former plantation rice fields. We saw Snowy Egrets, White Ibis, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Pileated woodpecker. Also, heard an owl.
At Jasper Lake, we saw some sort of white Crane with black tipped wings, and we got up close and personal with a big Great Blue Heron. Fortunately, no American Alligators. This time of year, they are brumating and not much interested in moving around.
December 7, 2020 Hardeeville SC
Started our day by driving to Bluffton SC and Alljoy Donut Co.. Delicious donuts that provided all the nourishment needed for our day of exploring – beachcombing at Edisto Beach and then to Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalew Island. It was pretty impressive to learn that Bigelow Tea Co. uses no insect or pesticides and is able to harvest their tea leaves and have them packaged within 20 hours. The site also has the annual First Flush Festival each Spring – some traditional Southern Hospitality.
December 9, 2020 Blythe Island Regional Park GA, Jekyll Island
This was a great island to explore – beaches, history, retail, educational (Georgia Sea Turtle Center) and residential. We started at Driftwood beach, a dynamic repository of all sizes and shapes of drift wood washed ashore. While wiggling our toes in the sand, one of many shrimp (?) boats observed hauling in their nets, with the accompaniment of pelicans and seagulls.
Jekyll Island GA continued.
We visited St. Andrew’s Beach where in 1858 a ship called The Wanderer unloaded 407 of the original 487 Africans, captured along the Congo River and transported to the Georgia coast, for the purpose of slave trade. This type of import-trade was banned by the US Congress in 1808. Some of the families from these early Black Americans still live in the area.
Jekyll Island, GA continued.
A visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, where sea turtles, tortoises and terrapins from around the county are treated for various injuries, diseases, ailments and then returned either to nature or to other protective facilities like zoos. At the time of our visit, there were 16 turtles flown in from New England suffering from cold stunning, where turtles are exposed to cold water over extended period of time, leading to shock, pneumonia, frostbite and potentially death. The Loggerhead sea turtle is the most common turtle found in Georgia.
December 11, 2020 Savannah GA
Drove to Savannah for a day. What a beautiful city with 17th and 18th century architecture and good eats everywhere. The city of Savannah was spared destruction during the Civil War because food chains were diverted from feeding Confederate soldiers and redirected to feed Union soldiers. Some of the sites we visited were the Owens-Thomas House (English Regency style) built in 1819 and the first to have running water and toilets. The tour illustrated how Negro slaves and their owners negotiated daily life between the most and the least powerful in GA society, and the Cathedral Basilica of John the Baptist (1876).
Walking through the city there are several squares, each different in their feature of statues, fountains, trees and sitting benches. We walked to the historic River Walk along the Savannah River as well as the under-renovation Plant Riverside District. The walk back to Forsyth Park was through the historic district and the pictures are just a glimpse of the architectural styles available for viewing and admiring.
December 15, 2020 Manatee Hammock Park in Titusville, FL. At first when I heard we were staying at Manatee Hammock Park, I thought the park name was intended as Manatee IN A Hammock. No, a “Hammock refers to a stand of trees that form an ecological island within a contrasting ecosystem.” And we’ve seen all sorts of hammocks since touring the area. For instance, in Enchanted Forest Sanctuary we walked through a Mesic Hammock and a Hydric Hammock. What surprised me was the abundance of hard wood trees like Oak, Pine, Walnut surrounded by swamps.
December 16, 2020 Jetty Island Park near Cape Canaveral FL
Intending to watch a SpaceX rocket launch in the early morning, the weather soured and instead we walked the park and beach. That is a Wood Stork, a Federally Threated bird that didn’t seem to be affected by the people around it. On the beach there were a lot of silver-haired “surfer dudes” having way too much fun!
December 18, 2020 Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL
Initially put off by a Disneyland vibe, the Kennedy Space Center was a great introduction to the history of space exploration and the decades of dedication, bravery and talent that has allowed the USA to send astronauts to the Moon, to orbit the Earth and an introduction to new programs, such as Artemis and Orion, that will revisit the Moon and experiment with living on Mars.
From the early one man Mercury missions, to the two men Gemini missions to the 4-6 person Apollo missions, we’ve come a long way baby!! The Saturn 8 rocket was in the Rocket garden to illustrate how NASA learned that for the bigger rockets, they had to hold the rocket on the platform for the liquid fuel engines to build up enough thrust to safely lift off. We also saw the Atlantis Space Shuttle, one of six shuttles used to build and supply the International Space Center – (Challenger disintegrated), Enterprise, Columbia, Discovery and Endeavour.
December 20, 2020 Jetty Park, FL
Today, a beautiful morning and Steve and I saw the SpaceX rocket launch of NROL mission 108, the launch of a spy satellite into earth’s orbit. (NROL – National Reconnaissance Office). The rocket launches, bringing the rocket and satellite cargo outside of earth’s atmosphere. Then the satellite is released into an orbit around the earth and the first stage rocket returns to the ground near the launch site, at a speed significant enough to create a sonic boom. I hope the pictures due justice to this feat of engineering.
December 21, 2020 Merritt Island NWR
Wilderness area set aside near Cape Canaveral. A haven for wild fowl, with salty marshes and islands of mangrove trees. Roseate Spoonbills, osprey, tri-colored herons, ibis, egrets, wood storks, pelicans. We saw multiple American alligators, but this one was most impressive.
December 25, 2020 Everglades National Park
It was a most unique Christmas. Low 70 degrees F, in Florida, in the Everglades!!, but without family. We started the day with an air boat ride by one of the NP concessionaires into the northern portion of the Everglades. Pictured is the River of Grass, which is the source of water (post treatment) for the Miami area. Our driver was Jim, who had a combination of a Cajun twang and raspy smoker’s voice. Quite the entertaining fellow.
Christmas Day 2020, continued…
Drove to the Everglades National Park. Glad we did the airboat in the morning because although this is the 3rd largest NP in the country, it is mostly marshes and best seen by boat. We drove to Flamingo in the park where there were all types of boat rentals available. Camping is also permitted in the park, but the mosquitoes have a nefarious reputation.
Pictures include a air plants on a live oak tree and a moat filled with Periphyton algae surrounding Mahogany Hammock.
Christmas in Homestead FL.
December 26, 2020 Key West FL
There’s a fair amount of driving along Hwy 1 to get to Key West, but its the only road in and the only road out, so you’re committed. The drive includes The 7 Mile Bridge and multiple islands, some bigger than others. Key West was 85 degrees F, windy with lots of tourists. Roosters run free and are the descendants of fighting chickens brought to US by Cubans. When rooster fighting became illegal, the birds were left to roam. Cuban cigars are been part of the Key West culture since the late 1800s. The architecture in historic district has multiple examples of Art Deco architecture.
December 27, 2020 Wynwood FL
Wynwood Walls, and the surrounding blocks of graffitied buildings, is an urban graffiti capital located within Miami and features artists’ work from all over the world. We happen to be there on a weekend where there was some sort of car show. I’ll let you peruse the art.
December 28, 2020 Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Beach FL
This has been the prettiest beach thus far on our trip. Folks fishing, sea shells, not very crowded, the sand was warm and the sound of the waves lulled you to rest. Plus, this is a National Park, so wildlife is protected. We saw an Atlantic Ghost Crab, a (?) turtle and an armadillo.
December 31, 2020 St. Augustine FL
We end the year by visiting the oldest European settlement in the United States, the city of St. Augustine discovered by Juan Ponce De Leon in 1513 and established in 1565. Pictures include the remains of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the last known Constitutional Monument (1813) in the US which Spain required of all its Spanish Colonies, and the commemorated steps taken by Civil Rights leaders in 1964.
Last 2 pictures are the Ponce de Leon hotel built in 1887, and currently the site for Flagler College and finishing the day at St. Augustine distillery which sells crafted vodka, rum, gin and bourbon.
