Must Fish

Laid back Halloween here at Les and Kathy's,  their grandson, Jaxen 16mo, came over as James Bond and Les took him around to the neighbors where he was quite a success.  Earlier today Les and I checked out the new Orvis shop here and a local fly shop, so we have new stuff to take to the stream Tues.  Tomorrow Teri and I go back to Evergreen for the afternoon.  Fall is treating the Denver area well, it was over 70 today clear and calm.

Here is some shots of the drive from Albuquerque to Pueblo via Angel Fire.

Antelope on the wrong side of the fence didn't seem to realize how easily they could jump the fence.

 We stopped at the Vietnam memorial at Angel Fire.  It was the site of the beginning of a documentary film that featured Jim Coleman and the family of a friend of ours from our unit in Vietnam who died shortly after I left.  The film is titled "In The Shadow of The Blade" and is quite stirring.  They restored a Huey and flew it around the country to let survivors of KIA vets ride in it to experience a common link all Vietnam vets had.  The unique WOP WOP of that rotor blade.  Here's a link to the web site about the movie.   click here  I ordered a new copy of the DVD as I left my old one with the VA in Kenai

Vietnam memorial at Angel Fire

Some cool over passes north of Santa Fe

 Hope you all had a great Halloween!

Safe in Parker

We took two days to get from Albuquerque to Denver.  We decided that I should take the tram ride out of Albuquerque up to Sandia Peak by myself.  So Teri stayed at the base station while I made the 50 min round trip with instructions to take pictures.  The Tram rises nearly 4000 ft in 15 minutes.  With only two towers between, the span between tower two and the top is 1 1/2 miles and the highest point above the ground would clear the Eiffel Tower. Here is a link to more details should you be interested.  click here
Here is a quick fact sheet.fact sheet  Here are a few pics.

Starting at the top, this is the ski area on the back side.

About 1/3 of the view from the deck.  The black line in the middle is a shadow from a contrail.

View from car just before docking at the top.  Can you find the shadow of the car?

View between tower two and top.  The black line on the left is the jet contrail shadow.

View from just below tower one.  Contrail shadow is mostly horizontal here.

Base station

Gotta go to breakfast, show you the rest of the trip later.

Yet Another Beautlful Day

Went on a 200 mile jaunt covering 2 scenic drives.  First, the Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway.  It starts at Hwy 25 north of Albuquerque and wanders northwest before returning to Hwy 285 north of Santa Fe.  Surprisingly varied and beautiful terrain.  We only took a few short walks but there are many good hikes along the way.  Here are just a couple of pics.

Called the Valles Caldera, this enormous bowl was created when the magma below vented nearby and the, well it's a long story that took place a long time ago.  The geology lesson explaining all of it is at this link: click here right now it is one huge  Elk pasture.

This small stream is dammed by the ridge of rock on the right, called Soda Dam, the whole place reeks of sulfur.  The downstream side of the ridge, below, shows very fluid looking strata of crystal strewn rock.

The Aspens in the area are mostly done, but the Cotton Woods and other shrubs are still in the first or second quarter of their fall colors

The second half to our driving tour took us south of Santa Fe to Albuquerque on the Turquoise Trail.  Rather disappointing unless you were looking for art galleries and trinkets.

Tomorrow I try to talk Teri into a tram ride up to the top of the Manzano Mountains East of Albuquerque.  Then we turn north, stay tuned!

Another Beaufiful Day in Albuqueruqe

Albuquerque is just starting to show some fall colors, mostly along the banks of the Rio Grande.  I'll see if I can capture it tomorrow.  We met with Casey, Cassie and her mother last night.  They are beginning an exciting phase of settling in Albuquerque and starting a family.  Looks to us like they are in for a busy and fun time.

We walked around old town then saw some ancient graffiti and are headed to Five Guys for burgers.  Tough day!

Can you find the petroglyphs?

Gallup to Albuquerque

Woke up to absolutely clear skies, not a breath of wind and temp in the high 30's.  The front that went through us yesterday has moved on, making headlines and tornadoes in the mid west.  Took a small side trip to a natural arch in the El Mapias National Monument/Conservation Area.  More striking scenery

One of Teri's favorite pastimes, hiking along cliffs and long drop offs.

Spending the afternoon reading and doing nothing; we're meeting Casey & Cassie Moores for dinner, unless their baby decides to make his/her first appearance outside (the womb, I mean).

Petrified Forest

Short day with blustery weather.  Winds were 35+ all day with moderate thunder storms (we only hit one and that was after all the sight seeing).  We did cut one hike short and pass up others due to the wind.  It was most impressive how much the terrain would change as we drove.  Arizona has a surprising variety of climates.  Here are some pics of very hard wood and painted deserts.

Today we got as far as Gallup, NM.  Tomorrow on to Albuquerque.

Grand Canyon Day

But first, laundry.  Simply partially dry two loads then ask the front desk for a drying rack.  We settled for the folding crib spread between two beds.

Or simply dry everything in the hotel dryer and it will be 2 sizes smaller.  Our stuff is shrinking fast enough as it is.

We got on the road north after 11 and took the scenic route.  Flagstaff is really beautiful, we could like it here if it wasn't at 7000 ft.  Was broken to overcast at the Canyon, but awesome just the same.

I swear, that wall was cracked before I sat down!

First changing Aspens we've seen, and it is Oct 24th.

Tomorrow on to Petrified Forrest after getting the 10,000 mile check up on the Prius.  Then we are headed for New Mexico; provided we can get across the border.  Teri just notified me that we won't need the passports once we get out of Arizona.

Oak Creek Canyon

Took the day for a trip down Oak Creek Canyon, over to Prescott and east to Hwy 17 and back to Flagstaff.  It was more than 25 years since we had been there.  The canyon changed little but Prescott has grown a bit.  Still leftover thunder showers but basically beautiful weather.  Here are some photos of the canyon walls.  We had to shoot from the car due to traffic and the lack of stopping places.  Seems like a popular drive for the weekend.

Here is a 3ft dia boulder at the state park in Jerome.

Tomorrow we plan an afternoon up to the Grand Canyon.  Weather should be good.

Leaving Sin City behind

10/22

Had a very un Vegas day yesterday.  Breakfast at Denny’s on the strip, not recommended.   A trifle crowded, with high density seating.  A good way to meet people though, they’ll all be at your table.  Met Ryan for lunch and checked out the Bellagio and vegged till dinner.  Worked out posting problems with the I touch and called in with Tony Z in Soldotna for a snow depth report.  None yet. 


On our last elevator ride up to Ryan’s room an older Asian man remarked that Ryan looked just like one of the characters on the cable TV show where they build a custom street bike every episode (American Chopper).  Ryan replied “I’m just a hippie from Portland, but thanks anyway, you’re helping build up my creds”.

We really enjoyed our time with Ryan; we’re thinking that we should schedule more frequent visits if only for an IT tune up.  Vegas wasn’t our kind of town; what bugged me the most was the press of humanity and cigarette smoke, I felt like I couldn’t breathe or wished I didn’t have to.

Got out of Vegas after breakfast and stopped at Hoover dam after walking out on the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.  Quite a project to complete in less than three years.  Planning began in 2001 and it opened to traffic this month. 

Marina on Lake Mead with very long launch ramp due to low water

Bridge from dam road

Dam from Bridge, before the bridge this view required an aircraft

Halloween spirit at the Bellagio

In Flagstaff now, where we’ll spend a few days at least.