Grand Canyon Pictures - 6370 miles

We have been having a great time here at the Grand Canyons. A highlight was hiking down into the canyon a mile and a half. We met the mules coming back up from their trek to the river and the views were unbelievably beautiful. Everything is so enormous it is hard to comprehend. Got some pictures of the mules, the trails, a friendly squirrel, practically tame elk, a mule deer. Today we took pictures of the trail we hiked yesterday. It looks so tiny and far away in the photos... there is just no way these photos do justice to what we have been enjoying for the past few days. Tonight we are taking refuge in one of the lodges just a few yards from the rim. 40 mph winds combined with 30 degree temps is a little much for our tent! Will be staying here tomorrow night too with snow and wind in the forecast.

To see our pictures of the Grand Canyon, please copy and paste the following link into your browser bar:

http://photos2.walmart.com/slideshow/AlbumID=3269093002/PictureID=105446816002/a=3289786_3289786/

then select "Play Slideshow" or "Next"

NOTE: If you can't see all of the pics, let us know. We'll send you another link.

Day 60 - Grand Canyons, South Rim

We have been at the Grand Canyons for 3 days. So far, weather has been good. Cool nights... 33-37, but nice and sunny days in the 70s. The canyon looks great. Walked the rim for almost 5 miles yesterday. Housecleaning today, and short climb into the canyon tomorrow. Bad weather coming on Wednesday. What to do? Leaving here Thursday. Heading for Zion N.P. for three days, then Bryce for 2 days. All with no Wifi.

Had an elk prance through our campsite last night at supper time. We got plenty of pics. Can't post them now as we are at the library in the Grand Canyon park headquarters. Wanted to give you a quick update letting you know all is fine. We'll post pics in about a week or more, as none of the places we are going to have Wifi until May 6 in Idaho. You'll have to wait until then (may be able to get some in sooner).

Day 57 - Petrified Forest

The day started with the temp in the tent at 33 degrees. Very windy day also. But, sunny, which made the colors great. We were able to view both the Petrified Forest and some of the Painted Desert. The name Petrified Forest is a bit misleading. The trees existed long ago, and it is believed that they were washed here in a huge flood, and covered with silt. All you see is desert here now. But upon closer inspection you will see a forest's worth of petrified trees lying scattered everywhere. In some places the trees are partially uncovered as the soil around them is gradually washed away by the rain. The painted desert is made up of many layers of different minerals which are exposed as erosion takes its normal course, leaving behind beautifully striped, oddly shaped hills. Our day ended with a rain shower accompanied by 30 to 40 mph winds. Our tent held out pretty well, all things considered; only got a few puddles and were able to keep the sleeping bags dry. Hope it's done raining for the night! We'll see more of the Painted Desert tomorrow on our way to the Grand Canyons. By the way, we are in MST which is same as Pacific time.

We will be at the Canyons 4 days. Then Zion, Bryce, and Canyonlands. At all of these locations, internet is scarce. Not sure when we'll be able to send next update. When we do, it'll probably be without pictures, as they take a long time to upload if and when the Wifi has a healthy signal. We'll do the best we can. Stay tuned...



Painted Desert


Newspaper Rock


This log was about 130 feet in length


Some were over 5 feet thick


One of many thousands


Prong Horn Antelope in the wild





It was a chilly windy day


About 18 inches in diameter

Day 56 - 6,059 miles

First day in Arizona. First of all, they don't go by DST, so it is the same time zone as California. For those of you jealous snow bound people in Maine, you'll be happy to know that we hit snow today leaving NM and driving into AZ. Of course the altitude was close to 9000 feet, so that does make a difference. The terrain changes quickly from desert, to small forests, back to desert. We went through one area where all the boulders were black. In about three miles, all the boulders were light tan. Three miles from there all the boulders were bright red. Weird. We came around one curve near the NM/AZ border and found 3 wild boars on the roadside. Slowing down to take a picture, they quickly ran off. No pics. Sorry. First time we've ever seen that. We weren't about to go hoofing into the ditch to try and catch a better picture.

The other thing is that the wind is blowing, and it is cold. We bought a digital thermometer with memory to record the highs and lows of the day. We are expecting around 30 degrees tonight. It'll be a test to see if the sleeping bags really are able to keep us alive at the rated temperatures. Time will tell.

We arrived in town early enough to scope out one of the Petrified Forest gift shops. We looked at some slabs of petrified wood costing $24,000. However, this town is filled with rock shops. The further away you get from the N.P., the better the prices. We'll be checking out the N.P. all day tomorrow. We leave for the Grand Canyon on Saturday. It is only 250 miles away.



We actually caught these two in the act. Got the camera out too late. Thus this shot is rated G instead of R.


This spot looked like we were going to launch like an airplane


Snow at 9000 feet at the NM/AZ border


The cliffs are at the edge of the road. They use cement barriers to stop or slow the rock slides from getting into the road. Doesn't always work.

Day 55 - Gila National Park

Visited Gila NP today. The ride in was almost more fun than the visit. The narrow and VERY winding road had Judy on the edge of her seat for about 4 hours. We'll include one picture of a hairpin turn, typical of about 30-40 on route. Then of course, there was one way in, so, a repeat had to be driven on the way back. We did snap a couple of interesting road sign pics. One especially dear to us northerners who have to live around snow and snow removals. We also found the Continental Divide and decided to stand on the line separating the East from the West of this great US. The biggest challenge today was the 30+ mph winds. We were happy to find our tent still up, but now that we are in it, not sure how long it will stay on the ground. Starting to get really cold nights. The wind chill is not helping any. Getting into the 30s nights. We are testing our sleeping bags ratings. Sure hope the label wasn't a big selling exageration. Time will tell. We leave in the morning for the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Two days there, then it'll be the Grand Canyon.

p.s. from Judy: The road to Gila Cliffs was the scariest road I have ever been on in my life! It was very narrow and wound its way for 50 miles up and down very steep grades. The edge of the road dropped off only inches from the tar several hundred feet into canyons. AND THERE WERE NO GUARDRAILS! At several places we were up on top of ridges that were much higher than where we had crossed the continental divide. The worst part was that we had to go back out over the same road. My fingernail prints in the armrests are a lasting testament of how much I enjoyed that ride! But the scenery was beautiful. The Gila Cliff dwellings were anticlimactic after that!





Outside view of dwellings



Looking up the face of the dwellings



Did you ask how we got inside the dwellings from the face of the cliff?



Inside dwelling, looking out



Looking inside cave



At this point, we are about 1000 feet above Mt Washington



Hairpin turn - one of about 30. Road actually takes a sharp left turn if you look closely. Bet you thought it went straight, right?


This guy never made it around the turn (this was a car that Ron was inspecting about 50 feet down the very steep hill from the top)



Snowplow Rules... Commuting must be tough in the Winter

Day 54 - 5709 miles

We are now in Silver City, NM. Our goal is to visit Gila Cliff Dwellings tomorrow. We had to cross two mountain ranges to get here. Some of you will be happy to know that we saw snow today. We crossed through Cloudcroft, NM and there was snow on the ground. Elevation was over 8,000 feet... 2,000 feet higher than Mt Washington. Also crossed the mighty Rio Grande River. It's just as muddy as I remembered it. I think it should be called the muddy Rio Grande River. Also saw White Sands Missle Range. There was a picnic area that had an old NIKE Hercules Missle as part of the picnic table decor... all 25 feet of it. One place in NM we had to pull over for an illegal alien check... thus the border patrol photo.

Next stop after Gila will be the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Putting on the mileage now... woohoo.

Day 53- Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns is an awesome place. It is 750 feet deep in some places, and the "Big Room" is as large as 14 football fields. The entire cave system spans over a hundred miles, but the part that visitors enter is less than one percent of the entire cave system. Not all of the cave has been explored, and scientists are still studying the creatures that live there. We were hoping to see the bats, but it is still too early in the year, they haven't returned yet. We walked down the natural entrance, and were soon in near darkness, our way lit only by dim electric lights. There were stalagmites, and stalactites of every size imaginable, as well as giant columns and ceilings over a hundred feet high. Mini caves led off in all directions; park rangers frequent the trail to make sure no one gets off the trail and gets lost. After 4 hours of gawking, walking, and taking pictures, we made our way to the end of the trail and took the elevator up, a distance of 75 stories.



Guadelupe Mountains, location of Carlsbad Caverns - who would guess that underneath this bland countryside, a fairyland of caves lies hidden!


Natural opening of the caves as seen from the aphitheater


The view looking back up from where you come down the trail


Two huge columns


This explains how the columns, etc. are formed. (double click on the picture to enlarge)


This stalagmite called totem pole is 38 feet tall. (see above info)


Check out the ladder made from barbed wire and slats of wood - this was actually used to explore the cave by National Geographic scientists in the 1920s!


If you look carefully you can see Ron in the foreground - gives some perspective on the size of the column


This thing was huge!


A desert cactus in bloom


Ranger Judy


Ranger Ron


Cool gate to the campground where we stayed 2 nights

April 17th Tardifs get-together from TX, GA, and ME

One of the scheduled stops along the route of our trip-of-a-lifetime included a stop in Dallas to refresh acquaintances with our Dallas relatives. My brother Rick and his wife Susan from Atlanta joined us. Roughly guessing, we had over 40 people. Most of the second and third cousins we had not met. Aunt Norma looked great. It was a fun time getting to know all of them. Gail and Donald were super hosts. Thanks again Gail and Don.





Marc and his wife Brenda



Gary and his wife Diane


Four of Six cousins, with their mom, Aunt Norma
Karen, Cathy, Norma, Michelle, Gail