Celebrating!

We stayed longer in Arizona this year because both kids
moved to the Phoenix area! 

Joel moved here in November and Stephen & Julia
moved the last week of December. 

Thrilled beyond comprehension is how we are feeling to have
them only about two hours away.
Lots of family time the last six months.

Another thing on our bucket list was accomplished
on my 60th birthday!

Five zip lines ranging from 400 feet to 1500 feet
in Oracle, Arizona was a blast!

Julia & Stephen met us in Telluride, Colorado for four days.

Beautiful country!

Free Gondola rides with a fantastic view of Telluride. 

We stayed in Cayton Campground just south of Telluride,

 right along the river. No cell service, tv, or radio.
The nights were cold at 8,750 ft. elevation.  

Then on to a very quick stop in Des Moines for a 

50^th Wedding Anniversary and a surprise 70^th birthday party. 

Since we went to the Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 

last year we thought we should stop to see a few of
Iowa’s music attractions.

 First, we stopped at the Surf Ballroom & Museum
in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Wow! The history and all the great performers who walked
through those doors was overwhelming!

 Those who know us well, will be surprised that

we even danced on the ballroom floor to music.

Even a connection to the Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Green Room was amazing!

Don McLean even wrote out part of "American Pie" on the wall!

 Because of the rain we didn’t walk the quarter mile to see
the actual crash site.  

Their music still lives.

 Take the time to go to the Surf. You won’t be disappointed!

Next stop was the Iowa Rock n’ Roll Music Association
in Arnolds Park.

Small but we still enjoyed looking up a few famous
Iowa band members that we have enjoyed over the years.

They also have two theaters with videos about the history of the 

Roof Garden and the many ballrooms around Iowa.

Does this bring back any memories? Let us know.

Since we don’t know who views this blog,
We wanted to get some interaction. 

This will be difficult!
Can you tell us the name and where these
rock formations are located? 

You can post a comment on the blog, text or email the answer.

 No prizes, just knowing that you are as crazy as us, is all you receive.

We will reveal the answer in the next blog.

The Desert is in bloom!

Desert Meadows Park is 10 minutes from our house. 

 These amazing blooms are about six inches across!

All shapes and sizes. 

This prickly pear cactus is at our house. 

Beautiful time of year in Arizona! 

Back in Arizona

 On our way back home we stopped at the 
north rim of the Grand Canyon.

We camped two nights on BLM land and
experienced the best star show ever!

At 8,803 ft elevation, Point Imperial Vista is the 

highest place to view the canyon.

From Walhalla Overlook it was cool that we could see 

Desert View Watchtower on the south rim. 

The Aspen trees were glowing.

After leaving the Grand Canyon we drove on Alt 89 along
the Vermilion Cliffs and

over Navajo Bridge that crosses the Colorado River. 

The water is green because of the minerals and algae. 

After spending the night in Springerville we took 191 

on the eastern side of Arizona to Clifton. 

It is a very challenging, curvy road!

Don't take this road unless you have several hours, 

lots of patience, and a good vehicle. 

We pulled off the road at a scenic view and 

almost stepped on this Horned Frog! Great camouflage!

The scenery is beautiful but then the road takes you 

right through Morenci Mine! Unbelievable!

Clifton is an old mining town where homes or shacks are

built on the hillsides and some are still occupied.

After a drive around Clifton we came home to some
grazing cows! After dark one kept bawling around the back of
the camper. Life is an adventure. Not coming back here again. 

Clifton Cliff Jail.
That was how it was done in the old west!

Our last camping spot was in Safford, Arizona. We participated
 in the Safford Salsa Festival where Mexican restaurants
from miles around converge and gave out samples of their salsa
for you to taste with chips of course.  A Mariachi band was
playing on the stage which added to the festivities.
A good way to end our summer travels!
This will be our last blog while we enjoy Arizona for the
next several months!
We hoped you learned something from reading our blog!

Attractions Around Zion

North of Zion is the city of Parowon.

There are hundreds of petroglyphs at Parowan Gap.

This large wall of petroglyph is several feet tall!

It is worth the drive just off Interstate 15.

Next we drove up to Cedar Breaks National Monument

 and saw several trees turning colors. At over 10,000 feet
in elevation the temperature was 43 degrees!

Okay, we just had our fall and winter lets go down to a lower
 elevation and some warmer temperatures!

Navajo Lake
Mountain lakes are so beautiful!

The hike to Cascade Falls was cool. 

It included this wonderful bench to sit, relax 

and enjoy the scenery.

Spectacular!

Cascade Falls

Not very impressive this time of year. 

I love this photo of Scott taking in the beauty of God's country!
We are so blessed!

Another day trip that we took was to Grafton ghost town.

To find it we had to look for this little sign in Rockville, 

which is on the way into Zion.

Cross over this old bridge and go down a back road

where you see interesting art.
Chairway to heaven.

 Just around the corner we found Grafton.

 This building, made with handmade adobe bricks,
was used for school, church and meeting house.

Alonzo Russel home circa 1862 

is in the process of being restored.

The back door was open so we went inside and upstairs.
It was amazing to see and touch something over a hundred
and fifty years old.

 John and Ella Wood home circa 1877.

We stopped by the cemetery on the way out of town.
1866 was a bad year. Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, two girls died
on a swing accident, and several residents were killed by Indians.