Enjoying Santa Fe, NM - Nature, History, Family

November 3, 2015 - Santa Fe, NM - KOA Kampground

Rolled into town a couple of days ago.  We've already stopped and touched base with 2 Rugg cousins, Satto and Ken, and we'll see Aunt Bobby and Uncle Bill for lunch tomorrow!

The stunning, nearby snow-capped peaks, crystal clear 7,400 elevation air, days of 100% sunshine and mid-60's temps have been a real treat, despite being winded both walking and working-out.

The Native American, Spanish and other church History is amazing here.  What an approachable small city Santa Fe is, we had no idea.  We were able to roll right into town from our campground and park right close to the center of Old Santa Fe.  First stop, the Basilica of St. Francis Assisi

We've also had chances to visit the San Miguel Mission the oldest church structure in the USA (ca. 1610):

And enjoyed some peaceful moments in the Santuaria de Guadalupe:

Santa Fe is a cool Booming Arts town (number 2 Art market in the country).  Here's a sculpture buddy in Old Burro Alley:

Connie's favorites are the kinetic sculptures:

We've also visited both the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, and the New Mexico Museum of Art:  Great exhibits of both O'Keeffe, and other New Mexico artists:

Here's an O'Keeffe sculpture (she's really good on "folds")

And an homage to O'Keeffe by David Bradley a la 'Whistlers Mother' (which we just saw at the Clark in Williamstown, MA)

And I was particularly impressed with the Architecture, murals, and courtyards  of the New Mexico Museum of Art building itself:

We haven't even begun to investigate the History of the Santa Fe Trail that terminates here, and our campground is right on the Old Route 66!

What you see when you're driving

Santa Fe, NM - November 1, 2015

Came out of the "optically flat" plains of Western Oklahoma and North Texas, and into the High Desert Sage and Scrub of the approaches to Santa Fe, NM.  You never know what you'll see on the road:  Hawks hunting the roadside, lots of Meadowlarks, saw our first road Roadrunner this morning.  We saw our first pronghorn antelope yesterday, but saw bunches today:

And we are beginning to get into the rock formations I've been looking forward to of the desert SW

And you'll see other wildlife you may or may not expect.  Like Mule Deer for example:

Or Llamas!

But then you have to stop for lunch, and All of the Sudden, your "Big Rig" becomes Chang again (Chang is from Tikitikitembo No Sa Rembo, and means "little or nothing")

Beaver, Oklahoma - Cow Chip Capitol of the World!

October 31, 2015 - Beaver, Oklahoma

Camping at a little state park here, nothing to write home about EXCEPT!

Forgt a couple of other events over the past few days.

Barge traffic on the mighty Mississippi.

Exploring the geology and geography of Mammoth Cave, you could see the "Sinks" where the water was funneled down into the caves to do its stuff.

And in some places it comes back out in the form of Springs.

We had a great campsite there:

And I made the mistake of ordering the Especial Dinner at El Mazatlan in Cave City:

Also stayed at a nice National Recreation Area campground on the Buffalo River.

Stayed at some excellent Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) campgrounds in Oklahoma, one of which was probably our favorite so far.  On Fort Gibson Lake (Flattop Creek Campground)

Off to New Mexico, and side trips to Denver/Boulder/Lafayette.  Planning to see Bill and Bobby in Santa Fe, and Mark, Ally, and Sophie in Boulder.

Mammoth Cave National Park - South Central Kentucky

The world's longest cave system (over 400 miles discovered so far!) - October 26, 2015

Before we left Corbin, KY to travel here yesterday we did manage to hike to the Cumberland Falls - "Niagara Falls of the South" (but not nearly as impressive!

Con and I arrived here yesterday and found a very sparsely populated National Park campground, but great facilities (no hookups though so we are "boondock" camping).  Got the best site in the joint!

We took a 3pm Domes and Dripstones, 1 mile, 2 hour cave tour.  Great open caverns/domes, supported by sandstone roofs that divert water away, and we saw "dying" areas, "dormant" areas, and "active" areas (water still working at eroding, and growing stalactites and stalagmites.

Finished off the day having a favorite meal, Spam Musubi!  Thanks Ben!

New State - Kentucky! In the land of Daniel Boone!

October 24, 2015 - Cumberland Falls State Park - Corbin, KY

Did you know that Mountaineers (West Virginians, aka 'Eers') refer to chipmunks as "Fairy Diddles"?

We've had peaceful nights in State Parks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and now Kentucky!  Temperature still in the 70's. 

You can't believe how hilly, steep, winding the roads are across WV and Eastern KY coal country.  Just a wild roller-coaster ride.

In a shout out in memory of Louise Bassett Rugg we drove through Chambersburg, PA, and saw her alma mater

before arriving at Canaan Valley Resort State Park, near Davis, WV where we saw our first deer of the trip.

Between sunset and dark we counted 18 deer!  Luckily we found the camp's lodge and conference center on our afternoon hike, and discovered that it was Taco Thursday!  75 cents apiece!  Great feed!

Yesterday we made it (after a couple of wrong turns, and help from the local AAA office w/detailed city map) to Kanawha State Park just outside the State's capitol city of Charleston, WV.  Camped on steep hillside, down a long hollow.

In a very quiet campground.  T-bone, and skewered mixed vegetables over hardwood campfire coals, delish!

On the road again!

October, 21, 2015 – Rossville, PA – Gifford Pinchot State Park

“On the road again” – Got a good start to our Fall Tour yesterday departing Greenfield at 9:15 AM. Made our way SW across W. Mass and similarly across New York, just skirting the Shawangunks and crossing the Hudson at Poughkeepsie.

Had a nice picnic lunch at the Vanderbilt Mansion there.

On to Northern New Jersey and High Point State Park, marked by an impressive Monument, we were one of 2 parties staying at the campground, and we had the Premier lakeside spot.  Just beautiful!

Took a great 10 mile bike ride on rolling roads through the park and didn’t meet a soul.  Very relaxing.

Day 2 (today) had us up and out early, crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania and heading south toward Harrisburg.  We’re in the Gifford Pinchot State Park, which is about 20% full, again a nice lakeside campsite and another bike ride through the park.  72 degree weather and sunny skies is making this real easy so far.   

Off to West Virginia tomorrow!

Monhegan Island - Finally after 50+ Years, made it out to this lovely spot

September 19, 2015 - Owl's Head, Maine

Starting to gear up for the Fall R-Pod trip, but getting a little "sightseeing" in here locally as the summer winds down.  I've been coming to Mid-Coast Maine for about 54 years, but hadn't made the 10 mile crossing to Monhegan in all of that time.  What a gem I've been missing!

We took the Monhegan Boat Line, 10:30 am ferry from Port Clyde, to make the 1 hour crossing on a perfectly clear, sunny, hot, and calm day.

The local trail guide suggests hiking trails for day-trippers, such as ourselves, but we seemed to have plenty of time to circumnavigate the Island (we've been getting in shape with a lot of hiking, so maybe we're more athletic than the average visitor).

And even had time to finish up with a surprisingly good local brew!