Jamie and Laura | Jamie and Laura | Travel Blog

Texas Trip Day 14 Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, White Sands National Park

North America » United States » New Mexico October 14th 2022

At the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, where we stopped for lunch, we saw a bobcat! Today we also saw, but were unable to snap a picture of, a northern harrier and a roadrunner.

Jamie and Laura

The highlights of today were critter sightings and White Sands National Park, where we got to see a glorious sunset amid a fascinating and unusual ecosystem and geology. Another unforgettable day!... read more

There were lots of birds at the Refuge, complete with blinds and platforms with spotting scopes to watch for them. It was pretty interesting!

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument was our next stop.

Texas Trip Day 13 Albuquerque

North America » United States » New Mexico October 13th 2022

A view of our tram ride up. It was really cool!

Jamie and Laura

We spent the whole day today in Albuquerque. In the morning we took a tram ride up to Sandia Peak at 10,300 feet. We then went to eat our lunch on the banks of the Rio Grande, and then spent the afternoon exploring Old Town Albuquerque. Another well spent day!... read more

The top of the mountain was full of sweeping vistas and fall colors.

There's a stone building at the top of this mountain called the "Kiwanis Cabin" that was built by the CCC.

We had a great hike along a trail that clung to the side of the mountain.

Texas Trip Day 12 Zuni Pueblo, El Moro, El Malpais

North America » United States » New Mexico October 12th 2022

The historic Spanish Catholic Church in Zuni Pueblo. We learned a lot about the history and culture here. The Spanish influence from hundreds of years ago is very prevalent.

Jamie and Laura

Every time we think that we have seen the most beautiful place ever, we go to a new one that is just as breathtaking. Today we spent our morning in the inhabited Zuni Pueblo and the rest of the day at National Monuments looking at more natural wonders. Another great day.... read more

We are standing on the roof of a kiva looking into the plaza where ceremonial dances take place.

which is a reliable pool of water in the middle of the desert.

Texas Trip Day 11 Painted Desert, Petrified Forest

North America » United States » Arizona October 11th 2022

The Painted Desert was amazing!

Jamie and Laura

This was another day of astounding geology and geography. The Painted Desert is exactly that. Pictures cannot capture the vastness of the area of rolling multicolored hills and surprisingly diverse vegetation. There have been autumn rains that have turned the desert green and filled it with blooming flowers, which was one of our hopes for traveling here at this time.... read more

There were, of course, many ravens keeping track of us.

The hills and valleys of color stretch from horizon to horizon.

The Painted Desert Inn is a beautiful building that is now a tourist information and ranger station. It was built out of plastered over petrified wood.

Texas Trip Day 10 Sedona, Red Rock State Park, Oak Creek Canyon Overlook, Walnut Canyon

North America » United States » Arizona October 10th 2022

Bell Rock in Sedona

Jamie and Laura

Yet another fantastic day! We said farewell to Susan and set out for Sedona. After gazing in awe at red cliffs for a while we moved on to cliff dwellings, where we wondered how on earth people got into and out of them. People are certainly creative and resilient.... read more

All these red rock formations are amazing!

There are more of them than are reasonable.

Texas Trip Day 9 Montezuma Castle and Well, Tuzigoot, Jerome

North America » United States » Arizona October 9th 2022

Our first stop for the day was Montezuma Castle

Jamie and Laura

Another fantastic day! We actually had some rain yesterday and today, but yesterday was a desert cloudburst that lasted just while we were driving on a good road with windshield wipers on high, and today was just a half dozen raindrops that made it to us from a shower further away that gave us a rainbow. We have had a good visit with my stepsister/Jamie's stepdaughter Susan. It was great to connect!... read more

The most interesting thing here was the comparison between the cliff dwelling, which was in really good shape,

Texas Trip Day 8 Grand Canyon, Little Colorado River, Wupatki, Sunset Crater

North America » United States » Arizona October 8th 2022

We took the scenic route out of the Grand Canyon

Jamie and Laura

Yet another gorgeous day! We spent the morning in the Grand Canyon and ended the day near Sedona with my stepsister Susan, with whom we will spend Sunday. As always, we had a fantastic time and saw a lot of interesting and beautiful sights.... read more

"Duck on a Rock" viewpoint. It does look an awful lot like a duck.

Every two minutes along the road was another scenic pull-out.

So there were lots of gorgeous views to start our day

Texas Trip Day 7 Grand Canyon

North America » United States » Arizona October 7th 2022

The sheer size of this canyon is incredible.

Jamie and Laura

We had another beautiful day, perfect for the Grand Canyon. I have, as I have mentioned, run out of superlatives, which is a real problem when faced with the grandeur that we saw here. The sheer size, colors, and sense of geologic time were overwhelming.... read more

We did a three mile hike along the canyon rim

Texas Trip Day 6 Helicopter Flight over the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Route 66 Motel

North America » United States » Arizona October 6th 2022

We got an early start out of Death Valley

Jamie and Laura

Today was the highlight day of our trip, a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon! It was absolutely fantastic! Another incredible day in a trip that has been full of awe inspiring days. I'm beginning to run out of superlatives.... read more

And arrived in Boulder City to take our helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon

Here is the shadow of our helicopter on the vast sagebrush plain!

Lake Meade, the Hoover Dam, the bypass bridge, and the Colorado River.

Texas Trip Day 5 Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest, Palmetto, Death Valley

North America » United States » California October 5th 2022

We started our day on Highway 168, which turned out to be narrow, windy, and ripply.

Jamie and Laura

Another full and fantastic day! We are spending our days constantly astounded by the beauty and magnificence of the sights we are seeing.... read more

Joined	September 26th 2022	Trips	2
Last Login	July 12th 2023	Followers	1
Status	BLOGGER	Follows	0
Blogs	56	Guestbook	2
Photos	1,188	Forum Posts	0