GREAT SAND DUNES

we left mesa verde heading towards the great sand dunes n/p and arrived about 4 or so...and wanted to stay in the national park..found ourselves a spot as there were only a hand full left and most not big enough for us so we settled in on number 1...then unhook to go to the visitors center to get info and watch the movie and of course work on another junior range badge..we only had enough time to really watch the movie and get the info for the badge then the kies opened up and it started not only to rain but pour so back to the rig.. let me tell you about the trip over the MOLUNTIAN we climbed to over 10,000 feet so up-up-up we went and of course lar was driving knowing he was safer with his driving than mine...I crocheted all the way up and down not looking up much at the scenery lar kept saying oh is this just beautiful look at this and look at that I just kept my eyes on my work...then of course after reaching the top we had to come down...oh my..we made it just fine and lar said he is sure glad we bought a new truck with a jack brake on it...he hardly had to use the brake on the way down and the jack brake did all the work,,so that is a good thing... pictures are of the scenery and of course the dunes..

MESA VERDE N/P

yesterday we arrived in cortez, co and go set up then took off to see the yucca

house..not sure why it is part of the national park as there is NO visitors center nor stamp but out in no where land...had to cross a ranchers land to find it..no signs nor anything else to really mark it but we found it.. today we took off for mesa verde n/p to see the sights...only to find out if we really wanted to see some of the cliff dwelllings we had to climb ladders (now most of you know I don't do ladders maybe 2 rungs up but that's all)...so we found out we could see some of the sights by car/truck...short hikes to some of the sights so that is what we elected to do...maybe we missed some things but I didn't have to climb any ladders... the ride up and down was sure impressive we climbed up to over 7,000 feet...not sure why the Indians wanted to build their homes up where they did... a most interesting park...lots of people around so it was hard to see some of the exhibits but we have now added mesa verde n/p to out to do list...

ARCHES N/P

OK WE HAVE BEEN TO ARCHES NATIONAL PARK AND HAD A GREAT TIME LOOKING AT ALL THE ARCHES AND ROCK FORMATIONS..oops.....what wonderful formations...if anyone has been to Bryce or zion you know one you look down and the other one is up...that's the way it is between canyonlands and arches .....we saw the famous Utah arch the balancing rock--three gossips--arches and there is over 2,000 in the park..they have to have at least a three foot opening in order to have it earmarked as an arch... now is it is of to mesa verde and the cave dwellers...

this is only 5 of the more than 1,ooo we both shot with our camers while there....so be glad I didn't try to put all of them on this post ahhahahahaah...(don't think I could nor would I want to take the time)

CANYONLANDS N/P

this morning we started out going out to breakfast which we haven't done in a long time...lar wanted bisquits and gravy so out we went.. then on to canyonlands national park....if you have been to the grand canyon you know what I am talking about but this park is more wide spread and I think larger/wider...we spent several hrs checking out all the view areas and took a couple of short hikes (way to hot for long ones )...all I can say it that it is awesome scenery...oh we both took tons of pictures but they will never do it justice..you just have to see it with your own eyes...around each bend in the road and each view area it was different... then we headed to dead horse state park where we again saw some awesome sights...we were told we should be there for sunset but at 5 we knew there was NO way we would stay thazt long...we have had an exhausting day...not sure if it is the heat or the altitude... there are pictures but thre is no way you can get the whole picture...

STORM

last night just before we went to bed the skies opened up with lightening and thunder..and NO rain where we are...do you know how hard it is to take a picture of lightening strikes....inabout 5 minutes we took maybe 75 pictures (glad we have a digital)...so you are going to look at some of the best..

TRAVELING DAY

WE LEFT SALT LAKE CITY NORTH THIS MORNING AROUND 9:30 (oops)...heading to arches national park...the ride was one that was out of sight...just beautiful with every turn in the road...we drove thru some very heavy rain for some long stretches no hail for hard heavy rain... the scenery was unbelievable every turn there was a different vista and mountain range of different shapes and sizes.... there isn't much to report today but the ride to arches national park...right now we are parked outside the park and tomorrow we plan on touring it....it is one park we've been told be=y several friends is a must so here we are...and of course will let you know if it is a must...b=the sites coming it indicates that what we've heard is true..... last night after dinner we went to bud and ying's to watch the sunset with was good... god sure made a wonderful USA to tour and enjoy all the different sights that are out there....and we are

enjoying them all or at least all that we can do.. pictures are from bud and ying's back deck...and of course one of them--overlooking our campground---and sites along the way and there's many more but don't want to burden anyone with them...

WILD HORSES

yesterday lar's cousin bud took us out into the desert to look for wild horses...and some 4-wheeling...we took off on some dirt road to who knows where... lar looked out the window and said I think there are a couple of stallions fighting over there so we stopped and saw the horses...then there were more..we watched them run across the desert and the dirt road we were on...it was fun watching them and then stop and turn around to look at us as we were looking at them... traveling out to the desert we drove along salt lake and all the salt beds along the way...even a morton salt plant ...along the highway the ground look white like salt...so the old lake produces plenty of salt (which we aren't suppose to have any more (ahahha)... back to the rig around 4 to get ready to go out to dinner..so a fine day it was