Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

 Petrified Forest National Park was established 1906 as Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation creating the park.

There is petrified wood everywhere!

This is an area called newspaper rock, there were over 650 petroglyphs  in the area. Zoom in on this rock to see them better.

Painted Desert.

Double rainbow at the campground in Sun Valley Az.

Meteor Crater

 On the way out of Flagstaff Az. we ran across the Meteor Crater. The crater was/is 700 feet deep and over four thousand feet across. The crater is also 2.4 miles in circumference. It is estimated that this occurred over 50,000 years ago.

Sedona Arizona

Janet kissing a frog, guess she's hoping for a prince. Little does she know she already has one.

Mountain formations.

 Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built this home in Sedona Az. I believe it was five levels and estimated to be 30,000 Sq. Ft.

Bridge over a canyon going into Sedona. Have way to many pictures to be seen and definitely way to many to post.

Needles Ca.

Ate at an original Diner called the Wagon Wheel right on Route 66 and along the Colorado River, it was pretty good food.

Not much in Needles, they like their diesel fuel because they don't want to sell it . Most stations were charging $3.79 a gallon. Thanks goodness for gas buddy, found it for $2.35 a gallon, that is more acceptable.

Heading East

 When in California, do as they do, Smoked Duck and goat cheese pizza.......Awesome.....

Meet up with a good friend lately? I did, good ole Raymond Yee. We served together 30 years ago in the USAF and did a lot of fishing and hunting together. Even though we have not seen each other in thirty years we caught up quickly and it seemed only like yesterday. Thanks for the lunch Ray, till we meet again.
   
Our last night in Yuba City, Ca. Rhea and Jim had us over for dinner, Jim smoked some ribs, Janet made potato salad and Donna made mac and cheese. A meal for a king!
     We left Yuba City in the morning ( so said leaving Rhea) and drove to just below Fresno Ca. Got up and did another leg to Boron Ca. The truck did fine going through the mountains so far, I think they my have fixed it this time! So with good news, comes bad news, it's like you can't have a high if there wasn't a low.
    We get to Boron and I noticed a trailer tire is wearing uneven, further research reveals a bracket that hold the suspension system together had a broken weld. Great.......so a few phone calls later I find a mobile repair guy that does welding. He came out and when we jacked the trailer up to remove the tires, the bracket came off completely.  Long story short, he was able to make the repair and get us back on road.
    Next leg and our present location is Needles Ca. It is on Cal's East coast just before you cross over to Arizona. Not too far below Las Vegas ( I think). We are spending two nights here, so we can see something tomorrow before moving on. Oh I forgot to mention we are camping right on or along side the ole Route 66.

Bishops Pumpkin Patch

 How tall this fall?

 I love flower pictures.

Rhea and Rae took Janet and I to the pumpkin patch. It's hard to think fall when it is 100-plus degrees out. We got some California Pie and Pumpkin Walnut pie for dessert. Went back to Rhea's home and I burnt chicken on the grill, and it was raw. Who else can do that? That is what happens when you cook on some one else's grill and drink too much beer. Had a great time regardless of the dinner outcome. Making memories for sure!

Coloma Ca.

Actual Gold that was panned here.

Rhea, coming out of the Cullumah Saloon.

Rhea, Rae and Ryan (Aidan had to work and Jim too!) checking into the Doctor.

Gold was discovered on January 24, 1848 by James Wilson Marshall. The secret of the discovery got out and changed Coloma, California, and the world!

Pacific Ocean

Visited a small coastal town called Ferndale, nice shops to visit.

Janet heading toward the Pacific Ocean in anticipation,  

Janet running from the ocean water, it's too cold..........

Walking in the Redwoods.

 Tourists..........

 Drive through tree.

Big tree.

Immortal Tree

 At the Immortal Tree, Ancient Redwoods R.V. park.

World Famous Avenue of the Giants.

More sightseeing tomorrow!

Nice California

 Picture of Clear Lake, Nice California . It was not so nice to us, we had a blow out over the Sacramento river bridge on the way there. Had to change the tire on the side of Interstate 5, not fun. Got to Nice at the campground found out the EZ Flex system turned over because of the blowout, had to remove two more tires and adjust the shackles. Then went to Lakeport and bought a new tire to replace the blowout.  Engine overheated on the way too. Planning on getting to Yuba City early and getting the truck worked on, again.

 This is a cactus plant in Nice Ca,

Fruit of the cactus. Lots of mountains out here. Super dry here as well, lots of fires. Starting to have nose bleeds do to the lack of humidly. Strange, what we get use to.

Utah/Nevada

Me and my cousin Chuck Lloyd, had a great reunion.

Some information about the early travelers crossing the desert in Nevada, Traveling through Hell, I can imagine.

More Utah and some Nevada

 Sunrise over mountains in Salt Lake City Utah.

 Reno Nevada.

Went to the national automobile museum {in Reno} which contained hundreds of antique cars, mostly from the Harrah Collection, very nice. While there, they had a space suit and article about it being designed and made by ILC Dover.

Great Salt Lake City

In Utah, Salt Lake City leaving tomorrow for Nevada. Truck overheated climbing the mountains coming here. Hope we don't have any more Big inclines ahead.

Mountains, Mountains, Mountains.

What a stunning view here at Bear Lake/Garden City KOA. This deep 20 mile long natural lake straddling the Utah/Idaho border is nicknamed the "Caribbean of the Rockies" because of its turquoise water and white sand beaches. They are famous here for their Bear Lake raspberries and raspberries shakes. But I found a wild plum tree by the campground and they were delicious and sweet. The picture with the lake in it , if you zoom in , you can see our campground (barely). Heading for the Great Salt Lake today.