Santa Fe Trail May 20,21,22&23, 2011



Rock inside the Mark Twain Cave

Mark Twain Park over looking the Missippi

Missippi River

River boat Dinner on Missippi River

Entrance to Mark Twains Home

Campsite at Hannibal Mark Twain Cave and RV Park


We spent the night in Russel and I thought our camper was going to dance. We had three thunder storms that night. They were the worst I had ever been in. On the 20th we arrived in Kansas City and stayed at a rv park along Rte 70. We had a little rain but no thunder . On the 21st of May we went to Hannibal MO and camped at the Mark Twain Cave and RV park. We toured the Mark Twain Cave. Jesse James outlaw gang stayed in this cave hidding from the law after robbing a bank in the area. We saw thousands of names on the cave wall where people had signed their names, which was allowed at one time years ago. The cave has beautiful rock formations and the cave is very narrow. There are several miles of the cave that you can not tour at this time. All of the cave channels have been mapped.  Next we took a trolley ride into Hannibal and toured the Mark Twain Home and several other historical sites, after finishing our site seeing we ate dinner at a dinner over looking the Missippi. They were calling for a tornato watch untl 9 pm so we went to Walmarts to wait out the storm.  We left 22 for Frankford Kentucky and got home the next day Sure was glad to see Lindside again. We had a great time and seen a lot of pretty country but none any better than home                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                               

Santa Fe Trail May 17,18&19, 2011

Summit on Rte 70 Rocky Mt in Colorada



Along Rte 70 in Colorada



Along Rte 70 in Colorada

Snow cover on Sumit in Colorada

May 17 We left Las Vegas for home. We had some vehicle problems and decided we should start toward home instead of more north. God has taken care of us as we were near a Ford dealer and they took care of our problem. We came though Cedar City, Utah. We saw some beautiful scenery in Utah. We traveled Rte 15 to Rte 70.  Janet was amazed with the views. She took a lot of pictures from the truck and did a good job. We stayed at Green River RV Park in Green River, Utah. May 18 we left Green River, Utah in the rain on and off mixed with sunshine for Denver,  CO. more of God's great works we seen. We crossed two summits on the Rocky Mountains, one was 11,656 feet and the second one was 12,040 feet, It is the highest of any interstate highway system. It was about 40 miles west of Denver. We traveled down a 6% grade for 12 miles, as we got close to the bottom it started sleeting, raining and snowing., traffic slowed to a snale pace and the road was covered with 2 to 4 inches of something. Ha Janet got pretty excited and wanted to get off of the road, but we only had 3 miles to get to our RV Park in Golden, CO. With Gods help we made it to the bottom and the roads cleared. Janet wouldn't even take a picture of the roads. Ha. May 19 We are our way to Hannibel, MS , as we traveled into Kansas we stopped at an information center and they told us that there tornado warnings ahead. It got windy but the thunder storms were north of our travel. God is still guiding us. We are staying in Russel Kansas tonight.  Keep praying for us and we will you.

Santa Fe Trail May 14, 15, & 16, 2011

Old store front in Williams, AZ

Esso Gas Station along Rte 66 Williams, AZ

Ford Crown Victoria Janet and I dated in one of these.

Hoover Dam in Boulder City, NV

Site on Las Vagas Blvd.

May 14 we spent resting and looking around Williams, AZ.  We were on the old Rte 66 in Williams which is about the only place the actual road is left. They have some of the old gas stations and building that were along the Historic Rte.  We ate at one of the buildings which is now a resterant. May 15 we hitched up and started to Las Vegas.  On the way we stopped at the Hoover Dam,  It was a site to see.  I know God helped with the plans on this for man could not have done it by himself.  We arrived Vegas about 4 PM. After setting up we rested awhile and then went into Vegas to see the lights. We arrived just as it was getting dark and it was pretty. Janet took some photo's with our cell phone as we forgot our camera. May 16 we went back to Vegas and toured some of the sites there. Janet out walked me today. The altitude was about the same as home. We had a good time just looking around. Keep us in your prayers and we will keep you in ours. Our bodies still have not got use to the time changes though. We are still on West Virginia time.

Santa Fe Trail May 12 & 13, 2011

At the Plaza area a rock with petroglyphs on them

May 12 left for Santa Fe for Williams, AZ.  We went thru more beautiful country.  We stopped by the Painted Desert National Park in AZ.  boy was it a site to see. We also an area called the Plaza where prehistoric people lived, maybe as many as 4000 in this one area. They had drawed on the rocks around the Plaza and believe it onr not I got a couple of pic's of them. We arrived at Williams and I was tired. We pick up another hour with the time change. Our body is use to Home time and doesn't know I shouldn't be tired. Today the 13 of May we went into the Conyon by train it was a 60 mile ride one way but we saw some wild horses and some antelope on the way up.  When we arrived at the Canyon we could not believe the beauty we saw. My feet tingled and Janet said it was scary due to no rails in a lot of the area you could look.  Please keep us in your prayers

Sante Fe Trail, May 10 & 11, 2011

We toured Santa Fe on Tuesday May 10 with a guide from Santa Fe, she was born near hear and knew about the area and people. She took us to several old homes and Churches. She showed us the end of the Santa Fe Trail which was interesting to us. Wed May 11, we did a auto tour of the Turquoise Trail and saw a lot of beautiful country. It was 40 degrees this morning. We also drove into Albuquerque, NM. Tomorrow May 12 will be a travel day to Williams, AZ. We will stay 3 nights to visit the Grand Canyon. Sorry could not get pictures to load today. Keep us in your prayers.

Santa Fe Trail May 8 &9 2011

Stair case at Loretta Church

The plasa area of Historical Santa Fe

Dust bowl area of Kansas

May 8, We traveled from Dodge City Kansas to Trinidad CO.  We were blessed with good weather and no wind today. I saw 5 prayrie dogs and one large deer on the way. We went though the dust bowl area of Kansas.  I wonder how many areas of ground it takes for one cow horse to make it. The grass is so brown. We made it into Trinidad, CO and I took Janet out to a Mexican Resterant for her Mothers Day dinner. We also went to Historical part of Trinidad and saw some nice old homes. Monday May we traveled to Santa Fe New Mexico. We could still see the snow covered Rocky Mt.s and went across Rowton Pass, some pretty good mountain ranges.  We got into Santa Fe and was able to take a bus from our RV Park into Santa Fe. The buildings are so different from ours but are beautiful. We saw the Church with the spriling stairs and that is amazing. We will go back tomorrow for some tours.  God Bless and Keep us in your prayers

Touring Dodge City and Santa Fe Trail May 7, 2011

Janet what did you do now.

Janet and I enjoyed the day in Dodge City touring Boot Hill and some of the few buildings saved from the 1870's and later years. We were lucky today. Our tour was free due to it being tourism weekend here and our guide was great. The trolly took us all over Dodge and she told us alot about the area, she was born and raised in Dodge City. Janet and I said Kansas is a good place to visit but would not want to live here. She said that she couldn't live any where else.  Home is Home I guess.  Tomorrow is a traveling and day and I will take Janet some where of her choice for a Mothers Day meal.  Jant got in trouble in Dodge an they sent a posse after her.  God Bless

Santa Fe Trail May 5 and 6, 2011

Santa Fe Trail May 5 and 6 2011

Campsite at Council Grove Army Corp of Engr. Lake

Windmills at Spearsville

 

Coucil Grove Oak wher treaty of signed

Dodge City Rv Park

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 Oak mail tree

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Campsite at Dodge City



May 5th arrived Council Grove, KS at the Army Corps of  Engr's Camp Ground. Beautiful campground and weather. Most of the wagon trains started here. We saw the remains of the Great Council Oak where a treaty was signed with the Osage and Kaw Indains. We saw the remains of the Post Office Oak tree where people would drop off their mail and people would stop by pick up the mail and deliver it destination. We saw the 2nd oldest house in the United States called the Tergwiller House and the Last Chance Store.

May 6th we left for Dodge City, KS. we travelled for miles across the Kansas Praire. The wind was blowing straight at us and the truck had to work even harder. We saw Spearsville the city of windmills, gas wells and giant grain silo's. When the wind blows around these silos it can cause probems with the tractor trialers and vehicles.  When we arrived at Dodge City the winds stopped and the temperture raised the 88 degrees the warmest weather we have seen.  God has blessed our trip to this point and we exspect it to continue. Keep the prayer going.

May 4th, 2011 Touring Independence, Mo

We spent the day tourning Independence Mo.  The weather today was nice but windy. We toured President Truman's Home, Frountier Trails Museum and the Bigham-Waggoner House.  We were amazed at the freedom we had at the Waggoner House.  Janet and I toured the home with a nice guide called Helen. She let us go in every room on all three floors She even let Janet touch some articles in the rooms.  The area is around the home is open to the public from 6 AM until 11 PM it is not gated and locked like most homes. People here are extremly friendly.

Independence, MO. Begin Santa Fe Trail

We made it to Independence Mo. today May 3rd 2011.  Our camp site is great and we walked down to the museum where the Santa Fe trial started. Museum was closed but we could walk the grounds. We saw the grass covered ruts that the wagons made. We will go back tomorrow for the tour. Weather here is great, sunny and 70 degrees.