I'm home!

17 days, 12 states, and 5,064 miles later I've made it back to the state of Illinois.  I'm visiting my parents for a few days - to prove to them I'm still alive and for some homemade meals fresh from the garden.  Corn on the cob and peaches, yum!!

I'm also hanging out with my old "bubby" and taking in the country sunsets (a close second to the Grand Canyon).

The Gateway Arch

It had been several years since I'd been to the Arch (ok, like 30, but it shouldn't be so long ago) so I didn't remember too much about it.  Really my only memory is my brother asking when we were going to go up in it as we were leaving because he thought we'd go up the outside like they did in the movie.  This time the movie was the most interesting part.  And instead of going up in the tram car, I want to go inside the "legs" to see how they did everything.  How is it ventilated?  And who came up with how to build it?  Is that means and methods?  Can you tell I'm an architect?

Corn fields, wheat fields and Monument Rocks

Yes, I am in Kansas.  (Finally, I've seen it many times from across the Missouri River, but never set foot in it.)  I don't think it's as flat as everyone says.  There are rolling hills and trees (in some places anyway).  A lot like Illinois. . . in fact I think central Illinois is flatter.

I went off the paved roads today to see Monument Rocks, several large rock formations out in the middle of a cow pasture.  There was 7 miles of dirt roads (not even gravel roads) and dodging cows to get there, but I finally made it.  St. Louis, here I come!

Pike's Peak. . .

was a bust!  Here's the view I had from the top:

Oh, and that's not just fog or rain; it's grapple (basically sleet but not exactly).  I had prepared for the cold, but didn't think about snow!  I'm glad I took the cog rail to the top, but it could stay a little longer.  Even without having a view to look at, there wasn't enough time to do anything before the train left again - only 30 minutes for a 3 hour round trip.  It didn't seem worth it to me.  (I just remembered that the train did leave 10-15 minutes late so that would have helped.)

Back at the base the weather was slightly better so I went to Garden of the Gods.



I think I must be tired of unique landscapes because I didn't stay that long.  (Now I know how my sister felt in Europe looking at all the churches I drug her to.)

Albuquerque

After several long days, it was time to take it easy (sort of).  I took a tram ride to the top of Sandia Peak (over 10,000 feet in elevation), and then did some more hiking.  I thought I would be out of shape when I got back home, but I don't think so anymore especially with the altitude difference. 

 View of the Sandia mountains

View into Albuquerque

I tried to go to another Triple D restaurant, but I couldn't find it.  I went to another restaurant instead and had "New Mexican" food.  It was good too.

2 Unexpected Stops

On my way east from the Grand Canyon, I saw a sign for Meteor Crater.  It sounded interesting and was fairly close to the interstate so I decided to stop.  It's exactly what the name suggests.  A crater caused by a meteorite.  The first one to be confirmed that it was created that way.  (Before that everyone thought all craters were made by volcanoes.)  It's a mile in diameter and 550 feet deep.

The second stop was the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest (one national park).  Again some odd landscapes and beautiful too.

Guess I'll see Albuquerque tomorrow!

The GRAND Canyon

When I first saw the Grand Canyon, it almost didn't look real.  I think it's too big for my brain to process what it was seeing.  Plus it seemed like I would fall off the edge.  There were people sitting on rocks jutting out into nothing, but I couldn't do it.  (I don't know that I'm afraid of heights; it's the falling part.  Besides, I trip enough when the ground is flat  One loose rock and. . .)

I hiked around about a quarter of it.  (The shuttles were too full, and you don't get to see all the views and wildlife.)  On the west end there are views of the Colorado river.  I didn't expect it to be brown.  

The highlight was staying around for sunset. It was beautiful!  (My pictures don't do it justice.)  The best part was the little French girl saying good-bye as it sunk below the horizon.