Photos of the SouthWest
March 27th 2009.We started our road trip on March 16th driving a Southern route through Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Now, nearly two weeks later, we are in New Mexico seeing the Acoma Pueblo on top of the 367 foot high mesa in the distance.
After taking the short bus trip up we are now walking around on our guided tour.Only a small number of people actually live here.
Women artists selling their beautiful pottery.
Two story buildings. Note the ladders.
San Esteban del Rey Mission is the church in the background.
Adobe oven for baking bread.
Learn the Acoma language.
We had driven a few miles away from the Acoma mesa and saw this sign. Most of the Acoma people live and farm the ground for a few miles around.
Grand Canyon, AZ. March 30th.The magnificent Grand Canyon. Too awesome for words.
We were here from the late afternoon of March 30th through the morning of April 1st.
Frank
Bright Angel Lodge on the South rim just a few feet from the edge.Nancy was happy to get a room here having phoned just a two days before—but someone cancelled and we got it.
Built in 1935, the architect was Mary Colter working for the Sante Fe Railroad.
Inside the Bright Angel Lodge.
The Colorado River.Look for the bridge joining the North and South rims. The picture is not good but you might see a smudge across the river.
Colorado River, again.
We took the bus Sunset tour.
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On the following day, March 31st, I am walking down Bright Angel trail. How far should I walk?
The 1.5 mile point on the trail. Zoom the imagei, say 200%, to better see the small building there and the hikers along the trail.
The trail is maintained extremely well.But imagine riding a mule down this trail.
I made it to the three mile point! Here I decided to stop and I turned back to walk up. Back around the two mile point a guy passing me going up, somewhat younger than myself and puffing and sweating profusely, spoke to me warning me about how hard it is to walk back up.
Nancy stayed at the top enjoying an ice cream cone.
Met Bob Kraus, a trail guide for more than 30 years, after taking a party of two on a five day canyon hike. Google his name with the words "Grand Canyon" and you see him listed numerously.
Us.
The Watchtower. Built in 1933 and again the architect was Mary Colter.
Zion Canyon National Park, UT.
Midday April 2nd.We have left Arizona and have driven up to Utah. Here we are in the park.
Along the road.
Zion Canyon National Park, Utah. Midday April 2nd.
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Unlike Grand Canyon, here in Zion we are at the bottom.
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Cottonwood trees.It was really a beautiful warm (70's) day.
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Flowers.
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT.
April 2nd.It was very late. We found a motel in the center of Panguitch and then went to the park. We intended to see the park better in the morning.
So here are some early evening photos.
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Yahoo! Look at all the Hoodoos.They are these worn away "pillars?"
Hoodoo
This is the following day!
April 3rd.
Still in Bryce Canyon.
A snow storm.We stayed in Panguitch overnight.
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Cave
Along UT12.Please zoom the image to see it better.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT.
April 4th.Another National Park.
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Nancy
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Frank
Arches National Park, UT. April 5th
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Nancy
us
Landscape Arch
Mesa Verde, CO.
April 6th.Our next major stop and our first time in Colorado.
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Sun Temple
Ute Mountain Indian Reservation. On April 8th we had a guided tour seeing the archaelogical artifacts and cliff drawings.The reservation is to the South of Mesa Verde and what you see is Mesa Verde from the bottom.
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Guide
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Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Pike's Peak, Manitou Sprrings, CO. April 10th.View from train.
Us
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide, CO.We visited here going to Kate on April 9th and Nancy thought Kate would love it. So we revisited with Kate and Paul on April 11th taking their VIP tour in which we were able to interact with the animals.
Nancy
Paul
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Kate
Kate
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Snow at Kate's home. We were with Kate and Paul from the evening of April 9th through the morning of April 13th.
Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, CO. Pike's Peak in the distance.