The Journey 2008: Day 4

We begin day 4 in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Ouray, CO. A day full of fun towns, beautiful scenery and more backroads.

Ouray is an old mining town right in the middle of the Colorado Mine Country.

The view from our Hotel. On the balcony rail it reads "Welcome to the Switzerland of America" Our Hotel also came complete with hot springs pool...quite a plus. The town also has it's own large hot springs pool for everyone to enjoy.

Box Canyon Falls is just a short hike from town.

A view of the Ouray after hiking above the falls

Another waterfall in the distance. I will have to go check that one out next.

Close up with the other waterfall

The wind was blowing the waterfall around, contantly changing the dynamic and beauty of the water.

Checking out the town.

The town is full of great little shops including a homemade candy shop, a good place to get fresh bagels and sandwiches, and great coffee/chocolate shop with something for everyone...at least on our trip...coffee for Morgan and chocolate for Amy and I.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - These pictures do not do the place justice. It was a beautiful lanscape, different than any other I had seen before. Deep but not wide like the Grand Canyon, with beautiful lines and coloring running along the rock walls.

The highest elevation on the road trip...and yes, it was pretty cold. Time to run back to the car.

Back in the nice warm car...I think the altitude is getting to at least me a little bit. Good thing I am driving.

With all this time in the historic Colorado mining country we have to show at least one mine, so here you go. Off to Denver for the night. We are still in Colorado and if you count our quick hello and good-bye to New Mexico on day 3 at the four corners we have 13 states left to go. No new states for day 4 but there will be for day 5. Stay tuned to see where we head off to next.

The Journey 2008: Day 3

Beginning in Bluff, Utah we head out for a day of backroads and adventures

Here is the little family run place we stayed at in Bluff, Utah...they even do slide shows if that is your thing.

Here we are at the Twin Rocks Cafe, one of the only 2 or 3 places to eat in Bluff. Can you tell where they got the name from?

Guarding the homestead from invaders


Playing a little twister in 4 different states


I had not been able to work out much on the road trip, so I gotta take it when I can get it...and why not do push ups in 4 different states at the same time?

We did a little hello...good-bye to New Mexico for now.

Off to Colorado. We will be back in New Mexico for more fun later in the road trip.

Mesa Verde National Park

We had stairs and ladders to get down there when we went, don't really know how they did it back when people actually lived in the cliff dwellings.

A view from the mesa with the Rockies in the distance.

Ted's Tacos in Mancos, CO...sad day because it was closed. What kind of taco place is only open for breakfast and lunch? I mean, we came all the way from California for this, haha...you know what this means? We will just have to road trip it through Mancos, CO again, but this time we will be there at breakfast or lunch time. :)

Next off to the Rockies and a night in Ouray, CO, complete with hot springs.

The Journey 2008: Day 2 Part 2

Day 2 Part 2 - Admiring more of God's beautiful creation

Just outside Page, AZ we find Horseshoe Bend

Here we are not too close to the edge for Morgan's comfort.

I could not get all of Horseshoe Bend into one shot, so I thought I would get a little creative

A drive through Monument Valley on our way back into Utah

Mexican Hat, Utah...Can you see the towns namesake?

Ending the day in Bluff, Utah with a double rainbow

Add Arizona to the mix and we have 15 states to go

The Journey 2008: Day 2 Part 1

There were so many beautiful pictures and too many adventures on Day 2 for one blog so I am going to split it into two, check back in a couple of days for the rest.

On the road again beginning in Utah...

Morgan is practicing her ski jump.

Night number one was at the Bob-Bon Inn in Kanab, UT

On to state #4 Arizona

It is the end of May, right? Who ordered the snow and the sub-freezing temperatures?

Grand Canyon North Rim, we will check out the other side at the end of the trip...enjoy

Here we are to prove we were there, and at least semi prepared for cold weather

More of the beautiful Grand Canyon with a little dusting of snow on the trees

The sun decided to come out and visit to warm us and the canyon up a little bit.

Three crazy people on the road, and trying to keep warm with the snow outside.

The Vermillion Cliffs on our way to Page, AZ

If you are ever in Page, AZ and in need of a bite to eat try R.D.'s Drive-in for good shakes and a great green chili cheeseburger.