Dale’s Adventuring We Will Go

10/04/2024

Day 7 and 8 wrap up this adventure! Day 7 was the day (Wednesday) we made it to Arches National Park. Our timed entry was for 10 am but the ranger let us sneak in a half hour early. I have to say, Arches was our best park on this trip. The magnitude of the geological events that happened to creat this beautiful landscape over such a huge area is remarkable! Although neither one of us do a lot of hiking anymore, we did get out several times and walked to the overlooks. So worth it. We stayed about 3 hours before stopping at the visitor center then heading on our way back to Flagstaff, AZ for day 8 our last day.

Day (today) started off nice and cool, in the low 50s I believe and we were soaking it up as it is still over 110 at home where we were headed by end of today.

I might have to make 2 posts for all our Arches National Park pictures so keep a look out.

Our next adventure starts in just 3 weeks so stay tuned! 😎

10/02/2024

Day 6 was a success. Started the day off in Grand Junction, CO. Left the hotel around 9am and headed to Colorado National Monument. (thanks. Karen Evan’s for the suggestion). Julie and i have lived in Colorado for may years before moving to California and had never visited this Monument. We were very impressed and spent several hours there driving through from East to West and stopping at a number of overlooks and the visitors center.. So many pictures and such an amazing history of the area. The pictures we captured do not do it justice. You have to see it first hand to appreciate the magnitude of the monument.

After leaving there around noon, we headed to our next stop, Arches National park in Utah. Once we got there and were headed to the entrance, realized that this is one of the parks requiring a timed entry which we did not have. The line was long so no since in sitting to be turned away. we changed our plans and headed back to Canyonlands National Park (about 20 miles back) and. Spent the afternoon there. Also a truly amazing sited. Many pictures and the expanse of that park and the vistas were beyond anything we expected.

Once done there, we headed to Moab, UT where we are staying the night. Had dinner at a place across the street from the Best Western Hotel called “Spokes on Center”. Nice little bar and grill. Julie had their homemade meatloaf and i had the fish and chips. Both very good. Would recommend the place to anyone passing through.

We did secure a timed entry to Arches National Park for tomorrow morning at 10am. Will be in line and make sure we get in. Once done there we are headed down to Flagstaff, AZ for the evening. We will see what we do after that. LOL.
The first set of pics is the Monument. The second part is of the Canyonlands NP.

10/01/2024

Day 5 is a wrap. Started the day in Durango Co. Left around 9am heading north to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. may stops along the way to catch pics of all the colors. We took Hwy 550 out of Durango and headed over several passes including Red Mountain pass on the Million Dollar Highway. The colors were spectacular,

We finally arrived at the National Park around 1pm. Had some lunch we had packed in the car and then started our exploring. Mostly car driving as Julie is still working on her balance and walking after landing on her knees a few months ago.

Wrapped that up after a couple of hours and then headed to our destination in Grand Junction, CO for the night.

On to another park tomorrow. 🙂

09/30/2024

Day 3 started when we left Cortez, CO on our way to the days adventure in Mesa Verde National Park. Started at the Visitors Center then into the park for several hours with many stops, overlooks and small hikes to see the ruins. We even tried some Navajo Fry Bread. Very tasty.

These are the resulting pictures from that day (Saturday)

09/30/2024

Day 4 of the “leaf Peeping” Adventure.
This day (Sunday) started out in Durango, CO. We boarded the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for our days adventure at around 9:30am. It is a 3 hour train ride to Silverton through the most beautiful scenery you can imagine. Lots of colorful leaves today. A beautiful day, sunny till we got to Silverton then overcast until we were halfway back.
Temps were in the 60s most of the day, cooling off into the upper 50s by the time we returned to Durango around 7pm. We did have some excitement on the way back as the steam engine broke down about 10 miles from our destination at the end of the day. After about 30 minutes, the Engineer was able to get the problem solved so we could make it to the depot. (Lost the compressor meaning no breaks). Glad they got that fixed before we actually needed them. Ha!

These are the picture from today’s trip. New destinations tomorrow. Stay tuned!!

09/30/2024

These are the pictures from the Petrified Forest National Park
part of the drive.

09/30/2024

OK now for some pictures from the first 3 days of the “leaf peeping” adventure.

This first set is from day 2. We stayed in Williams AZ on the first night and started day 2 from there. After leaving Williams, we drove I40 to Flagstaff. Made a brief stop there then on to Walnut Canyon National Monument. We wouldn’t even know it existed if not for our new National Park Road Atlas. Julie was the navigator so off we went. After leaving there we traveled east to our primary objective, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park. We spent several hours there before finally leaving for our 2nd evening in. Cortez Colorado, wrapping up day two.

These are the pictures from the Walnut Canyon
part of the drive.

09/28/2024

Days 1 and 2 in the books. Day 1 was just driving through the desert to Williams AZ with dinner at the hotel restaurant. Day 2 started off with a stop at Walnit Canyon National Monument just outside of Flagstaff AZ. If we hadn’t been looking at our our new National Parks Road Atlas would have never known it was there. Very cool history dating back 1000s of years. Next stop was Petrified Forest National Park on the eastern AZ border. Spent several hours there taking in the Painted Desert National Park as well. Fascinating history as to how these trees turned to stone. From there it was a 3 hour drive north to Cortez CO where we spent the night. The adventure continues today. On our way to Mesa Verde National Park then on to Durango Colorado for a few days of “leaf peeping” and train riding.
I’ll try to get the pictures posted tonight after I download them from the camera.

Stay tuned!😎

09/20/2024

A new adventure begins next week! Stay tuned.. 🍁🍂🍃⛰️🗻🏔️🏜️

07/27/2024

Day 6, Ketchikan, Alaska. The ship arrived on time (7 am) and we disembarked around 7:30. First stop was to find a good cup of coffee. Success! A few T-Shirts and off to explore. We walked from pier #1 to the west end of the harbor area. Sight seeing and additional retail therapy of course. From there we headed to the Ketchikan historic Creek Street where we found more shopping, some interesting buildings and history as well as salmon swimming up stream to spawn.
Around 11 we headed to the “Ketchikan Crab and Go” restaurant on the third floor overlooking the harbor. Great food including crab legs, some crab chowder, salmon salad and more. All fresh of course. As we ate there was a huge eruption of excitement and lo and behold, two humpback whales were bubble feeding right by the pier not 100 feet away from us. The restaurant staff was excited as they said very seldom do whales come into that harbor that close to the pier. Awesome way to end this Port of Call.
Back to the ship for naps and pre packing, then one last nice dinner at the Italian Restaurant on board the ship. All fresh made pasta daily as well as shrimp and lobster. Yummy. We celebrated our grandson’s birthday with a nice big piece of chocolate cake the wait staff put together for him. They all sang to him and he was in heaven. 7 years old already.
At sea tomorrow with a last minor stop in Victoria BC before heading to Seattle to end the cruise Sunday morning! Pics below.

07/25/2024

Day 4. Glacier day. Sail past SumDum Glacier on our way to Dawes Glacier. The day started with lots of rain and overcast skies. As we sailed up Tracy’s Arm Fjord towards Dawes Glacier (approximately 30 miles) the rain ended and the clouds started to lift. Beautiful! Once we got closer, lots of small icebergs floating and very calm waters. Temp was in the low 50s all day. Hundreds of waterfalls coming down the mountains into the sea!
Sitka tomorrow. More pics and I’m sure more shopping.🙄

07/23/2024

2nd morning about 6 hours from our first port-Juneau. Slightly overcast and about 52 degrees. Beautiful!

07/06/2024

Temp in San Diego today compared to temp in La Quinta

07/06/2024

07/06/2024

Saturday in San Diego.
75 cool breezy degrees here this morning. After a little breakfast in the hotel it was off to Coronado we go. Some walking, some shopping and of course some great lunch at the Bluewater Boathouse and Seafood Grill. Calamari, some Clam Chowder and of course some Fish and Chips. The grandson had to have his “Shark Attack” drink. (Video below). LOL.

Geppetto’s toy store and a candy shop to finish it off.

Sure beats the 118+ degrees in the desert!

Now for a nap!

07/05/2024

Checked in and ready to enjoy this 75 degree weather!