tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41111761719599894962024-03-19T09:01:35.819-07:00The Adventures of Wes and SuzannePickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-71713793328394917442017-10-23T18:26:00.001-07:002017-10-26T12:13:02.816-07:00FSC #3 - Lithia So I have discovered that I am now being trolled, or maybe my bike is. For the second week in a row the same guy has found me in the race and calls me the "26er guy." Same message as before, "the 26er guy, you're still killing me." How is it that what was once the standard for Mtn Bikes is now relegated to trolling. My bike got the same treatment by a group of middle schoolers at the start of our very first race (time trial) at Hailes Trails. "Wow those are 26ers, you're really going to race with those" and on it went. For now I am stuck with my 26er until I have an extra $4-5k to dish out on a 29er. <p/>
<P> The race at Alafia Trails this week was a blast until the heat got to me. It wasn't just me either, a lot of guys were commenting on the heat and how it effected them. At least we all had the same disadvantage. For me it started with chills which I haven't felt in the heat since the last time I ended up dehydrated. Of course this was going thru my mind as I pounded along. Ultimately I finished 15th out of 20 guys in my age group. <p/>
<P>Joy Jameson raced as well finishing second with third place right on her wheel. The boy that one went out like a rocket on a really nice fat tire bike for a 5 year old. With this win she shoots to the top spot in the overall series. <P/>
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<p>There were two races, one Saturday evening and the other Sunday morning. Saturday was a short track, less than a mile. We raced for ten minutes plus one lap. In total we did 5 laps. It was a fast paced race which started with a downhill sprint that bottle-necked into a one lane gate after about 150 yards. I stayed toward the back because I knew I wasn’t going to be in contention for one of the 4 top spots which get 5,4,3,2 points added to their overall points in the series. All riders after the fourth get one point each. With 16 riders in my group I know where I stand and it’s toward the back for now. Most of the guys, if not all of them, have been riding for years based on what I’ve seen on Strava.com. I really only started riding again in April of this year but nonetheless I’m having fun. Back to the gate. In my group I luckily had a rider on either side of me trying to push me over. This meant I was the one guy in the middle who had the advantage of not having to break to fall in line. For the rest of the race I definitely went too hard for 1 point that I knew I was going to get just as long as I finished. </p>
<p>Day two was the long race (10+ miles). I don’t have a lot to say about this race except it was a fast course with a solid amount of elevation change. One of the lighter moments during the race came from a guy racing behind me. He spotted my wheels and yelled out “Are those 26’s?” I replied “Yep.” to which he yelled out “You’re killing me.” My bike is a SPECIALIZED EPIC which is a nice bike but it only has 26” wheels where the new standard in racing is 29” wheels. The larger size is faster and handles obstacles much better than a 26. I’m probably one of less than five guys racing 26’s in the series. But that is not why I’m in the back of the pack. It’s the engine that needs more power. Overall I ended up 15th out of 19, but more importantly I didn’t crash. I probably wouldn’t even be talking about crashes if I didn’t go over the handle bars within 5 minutes of the first race of this series. It now seems to be my only goal since top 5 is definitely out of reach this season. Paul finished 5th for the second week in a row for his group (19-29). He’s sitting 5th overall after two races and is only 2 points behind 4th with plenty of more racing to come.
</p>
<p>Joy Jameson had her second race as well. For the second week in a row she came in second. This time losing first to a boy. The course was beyond challenging for 3-5 year olds. I think I was the only parent running next to their kid. All the other parents opted to ride their bikes next to their kids which made it very difficult for them to help their kids over the roots and rocks on the course, not to mention the hill climb at the end. JJ did much better this race than last. Her first race she had no idea what she was getting into. As I ran next to her in that race she was verbalizing her fears. In this race she knew I was there to help her in the scary parts so she just hammered on. I was very proud of her. The course was no joke. After the race was over she was back at our tent playing with Wyatt. She place a toy of Wyatt's between her tenth to tease him and he yanked it out along with one of her front bottom teeth. The tooth had been loose for a while and we knew it was coming out soon. We could never had predicted that Wyatt would help with that. She was not in any pain but as the hole bled she was smiling ear to ear because that meant she could now place it under her pillow and get some money from the tooth fairy. More on the tooth fairy in another post. </p> ,.
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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jLV33QNgP7WWDFQhAOdZzk28JTybbmPL5T6YLCOegCaefopbKCETPjYrLKyipxhTtJjomuabf7lADyTaz4foe25ZuGStZAtUthxygMW4UjDRYg8G1OqyzZQh0Pr01Pn-6DBDjlFXbgP9/s1600/IMG_4238.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jLV33QNgP7WWDFQhAOdZzk28JTybbmPL5T6YLCOegCaefopbKCETPjYrLKyipxhTtJjomuabf7lADyTaz4foe25ZuGStZAtUthxygMW4UjDRYg8G1OqyzZQh0Pr01Pn-6DBDjlFXbgP9/s400/IMG_4238.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTN8tEvvRrgeYImlb45kNwSaHSlSMsvaQT251nUYYA8_IGHe6vmH6TRJIBtM_YA8wD1aCkpUvpFnCTE_YYOYML60x5CRXU2l4GxsgBE7qcKUQUPOYsWFw1er4UHskdS7LcmcQMaF_FHaMw/s1600/IMG_4245.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTN8tEvvRrgeYImlb45kNwSaHSlSMsvaQT251nUYYA8_IGHe6vmH6TRJIBtM_YA8wD1aCkpUvpFnCTE_YYOYML60x5CRXU2l4GxsgBE7qcKUQUPOYsWFw1er4UHskdS7LcmcQMaF_FHaMw/s400/IMG_4245.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-76807543346012051202017-09-26T20:03:00.000-07:002017-09-29T12:49:46.169-07:00HAILES TRAILS - FSC RACE #1 In June of this year Paul Cox and I were doing a race at the end of a series called The Hump Day Hustle. There was a series of 5 races on consecutive Wednesdays at the Santos trails in Ocala. At the last awards ceremony Paul and I found out about a 10 race series that happens all over the state each fall called the FLORIDA STATE MTN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. We looked and each other and thought... that would be fun... so we started training and working out all the logistics. The first obstacle was getting the wives on board. Much to our surprise they both said yes, mostly surprising because we both have babies. Next step was finding a pop up camper we could both buy and both families could stay in. After months of looking we found the right one in Atlanta not far from the Zapata's.
<p>Our first race was this past weekend in Newberry FL just NW of Gainesville at a trail system called Hailes Trails. You cannot ride these trails unless there is a race and my understanding is that there are only 2 races on these trails per year. This allows them to stay pristine and well packed. The trails surround an old quarry mine with deep pits with pools. You can see from the pictures how deep they are. Unfortunately I don't have any video or pictures on the trails which were pretty challenging.</p>
<p>This was Joy Jameson's first bike race and she was pretty excited about it. There were only two total in her age group but it didn't matter to her once the race was on. Part of the rules for the 3-5 year olds is that a parent runs with them. This was fine with me because I knew that if they were going on the trails she would need my help. What I didn't think about was how challenging that would be on the legs just before my race. They didn't tell us how long the route was but if I was to guess I would say it was a 1/4 mile. I was just a little winded at the end from keeping up with her and making sure she stayed upright. She landed in 2nd place and it was a close race to the end. I'm sure she will be more than willing to do another race since she received a goodie bag with lots of candy, a fidget spinner and a medal for making the podium.</p>
<p>My luck wasn't as good. The two days of racing started on Saturday night with a time trial route of 4 miles. It only took me about 5 minutes into that race before I hit an obstacle and ended up over my handle bars hitting my head and laying flat on the trail. The next rider behind me was Paul. He started just one minute back so I knew I had to get up fast and keep moving. I stood up. I checked all the places that were in pain and it seemed as though no bones were broken so I let Paul pass and then hopped back on my bike and continued the race. I ended up with a sore neck, scrape on the back of my calf, and bumps and bruises all over.</p>
<p>The next day was the cross country group race which was two laps of the time trial course plus some extra for a total of 10 miles. I decided I should start out in the back to make sure I could handle the same obstacle that I crashed on the day before without the pressure of riders behind me. Once I faced it and was able to successfully get over it my confidence came back and I began to get more aggressive while staying within my capabilities. What I learned the day before is that the course was harder than I thought and the competition was better than I expected. So I knew I had to ride my own race or I would blow up trying to keep up with the faster riders. I ended up passing 3 riders by the end which put me in 19th of 22 riders. It's probably the worst place I've ever finished in a race but I was more proud of myself than I can remember racing in any other race including triathlons, runs, and adventure races.</p>
<p>Suzanne was the champion of the weekend. She had all three of our girls to feed and keep and eye on as well as a friend the JJ made (Romena) whose parents were both racing at the same time. I'm not sure what there plan was, maybe to leave her in their camper but she ended up spending a lot of time running around with JJ, which was fine with her. Overall the girls (Nora and JJ) had a blast. They loved camping in the camper and being outdoors. It's such a natural thing for them to enjoy which I feel like gets lost in our concrete jungle known as suburbia.</p>
Next race is next weekend so no time to lick my wounds, it's back to the bike. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZT_myfa15SuV6OHVpQs7y4x3UOfFAsrpRst_bDmLuRtV-Sy9o8XPszMrxTXZkXYOWgKrr2dr69h91733MwvuOwhFSOLxv6ah2OHDaU1THJBChtnwFBMpFJUEBgIvmgciA73RK1ebxClD/s1600/IMG_4145.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZT_myfa15SuV6OHVpQs7y4x3UOfFAsrpRst_bDmLuRtV-Sy9o8XPszMrxTXZkXYOWgKrr2dr69h91733MwvuOwhFSOLxv6ah2OHDaU1THJBChtnwFBMpFJUEBgIvmgciA73RK1ebxClD/s320/IMG_4145.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeO6OPJBwDozS_tJfOW9y_G2D20yH3veyw1FVIDuS8rvf2lY_XfBzYYhIZ4LhmodCCfWCU3zotDReUHrBmZ4K_xrhK25GtzHECgTJ4n0v_LqVp61E7pPolg01I28gzSeDmO9ljAUmCXfr/s1600/IMG_4135.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="1600" height="114" 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Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-21745763573557698742011-09-26T05:09:00.000-07:002011-09-26T05:22:02.884-07:00Sailing in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)Here is our 8 day trip sailing the British Virgin Islands. This gives you a great idea of what is underwater at a couple of the good snorkling destinations.<br /><br />Must see dive sites:<br />The Baths<br />Diamond reef > at Marina Cay<br />Monkey Point<br />Norman Island<br /><br /><iframe width="450" height="259" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zYeGwhFdhPA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-77834337291211125692008-08-05T15:55:00.001-07:002008-12-08T23:57:51.797-08:00The RockiesTo see the whole Trip start with "July" which is the link just to the right>>>>><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdIiS0EooMbObW0GNpJ6bJISR0rna82Qwl72mgEeXhuNGe7WBb3BSbqqV_8eKeniG_V9UgUhtMgfWCgYtjbGllKRxwvAlPw3o6r8QUUe3soafKEH0Jzuf39xFz5cs6g9Oqy7W1q52hsHp/s1600-h/DSC_0149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdIiS0EooMbObW0GNpJ6bJISR0rna82Qwl72mgEeXhuNGe7WBb3BSbqqV_8eKeniG_V9UgUhtMgfWCgYtjbGllKRxwvAlPw3o6r8QUUe3soafKEH0Jzuf39xFz5cs6g9Oqy7W1q52hsHp/s320/DSC_0149.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231171863214884402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jRM0JuPlYEC8lGuqXN8I1QPdP37H3WdZpyZelpSSn_SZeHZypPDcjlcm51gl-X8mLkgZikjiUQVMr5mdzWEN1ElbXLHYSSzNBh-n4bz2rRZUcqMb-3AFr_L8T1EbZ5u-E-pHOdB6qTOT/s1600-h/DSC_0156.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cvH2jFKs8EevO1-ik_06Jxikq_qCu6-rP_uLMKH1q8gAYXnwNl87hlkGCLEXiWB94331EyAVbtN5Ydm41qYzKOdXfHfEPDiD2dR-gIx03X6u_4KNpSmcLOXL8SO1GP2p0mvtWYune_Yw/s320/DSC_0226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231356329425651058" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-7478261393562316592008-08-05T15:39:00.001-07:002008-12-08T23:57:53.064-08:00Arches National ParkArches was not on our list of site to see however it was a short 3 hour detour for us on our way to the Rockies. We didn't spend much time out of the car rather flying past the sites while Suzanne hung out the window snaping pictures.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWOPXxDNM-kHFWhrxVTjIWGgsH4poPeAYDgDmNATQEwyDUh1eQ2onbzGuZId4H2ULQLXqjNYGsRHnwCmoCOtFD_8dZSOmAN2RYY-l35MOVPxFeG9PrICF48tiaAefrxpVmNsdETE-Ois9/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWOPXxDNM-kHFWhrxVTjIWGgsH4poPeAYDgDmNATQEwyDUh1eQ2onbzGuZId4H2ULQLXqjNYGsRHnwCmoCOtFD_8dZSOmAN2RYY-l35MOVPxFeG9PrICF48tiaAefrxpVmNsdETE-Ois9/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231167705245969682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEHIf1DxrGOPneLOc7Onm3Vikdr2SLpSK2oVaZB5K0ytffGvay0OuKqMWbGx3-5t7VydpYYN-edwfacIRUaKmjDQQsuVDC9PSsXf_ZALpWHfUKauTx2jSGPkSCIKNBXCtaj42Hhq6EHLR/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DEd4qoZVngZPdrbJ-FaYYqbXKaVReQPQzHdZj9u7RwYF9qifKsZ5FVipvbC4B6X-UshdjkU7_z7hreWHrjbmwViELLcfLhyRp4FqRdFYNzdwgRU8pMzF84m8U4a1Y5w8ZZDZrqStrqZH/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231168083036477506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-RrWlX5Cu88FghMzPy0RXBt-A-FHweZ_uW9XSJdOngYZF7S7JZv-wt90-iMThoue5vn9F8ofLINGAY9w1xtOUR6sny9h3xHy1IVttZyXm-GRKo_7Hbhr7rewvaPK8koXm9cBl3JXw1RH/s1600-h/DSC_0053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-RrWlX5Cu88FghMzPy0RXBt-A-FHweZ_uW9XSJdOngYZF7S7JZv-wt90-iMThoue5vn9F8ofLINGAY9w1xtOUR6sny9h3xHy1IVttZyXm-GRKo_7Hbhr7rewvaPK8koXm9cBl3JXw1RH/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231168096828673298" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-49391573650137281632008-08-04T19:14:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:57:54.356-08:00More Yosemite<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodWWvJsEWjQQwBiifGfhd2857ElPjH6DTba3QZTARQfIveRhKXnng3KPWT_peAzBSo92VDfN94iJ4ssxz-_0ISQX_6kTDleYlEYObDE1EVE-B70P_WvZqtiLLR5abUasxnFayU5Hj0lJp/s1600-h/DSC_0294.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodWWvJsEWjQQwBiifGfhd2857ElPjH6DTba3QZTARQfIveRhKXnng3KPWT_peAzBSo92VDfN94iJ4ssxz-_0ISQX_6kTDleYlEYObDE1EVE-B70P_WvZqtiLLR5abUasxnFayU5Hj0lJp/s320/DSC_0294.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231163894164449618" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzzNSM9PSLzVjXhvXpHFkLfZBiXFglT8SrtMIXvpzvHmOVU6f9OW0Lh2T_zR-DreW-k1gU9ooSs6yrtIDOiiAeRx15qBPhI-orr1SUEjRVwmJzj8P-VLJpADxwfrrTLIAsjj8HtJk5TGg/s1600-h/DSC_0296.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzzNSM9PSLzVjXhvXpHFkLfZBiXFglT8SrtMIXvpzvHmOVU6f9OW0Lh2T_zR-DreW-k1gU9ooSs6yrtIDOiiAeRx15qBPhI-orr1SUEjRVwmJzj8P-VLJpADxwfrrTLIAsjj8HtJk5TGg/s320/DSC_0296.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231165034010461778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3-81XfMG88l1y14vlXW33CAyGAvkaFtiVtzPeItfetnI9r1FxoF_mpBzwYJznb3f6oqba36rR13A9cgvaCZx-DaH88yuhnGVJd0B49nCWzEgbfpx3LTT9Pe9w1Ui8pDEMrFNULOLmk_F/s1600-h/DSC_0292.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68BcC7EPrpCsL1KYJrupd-dDnenj3YCypRC-dhzV1cLU_rfMiNCdWb8XxkV7CuvrPrl0Ww_UNH15fdHLEQmErrp3xBwf28BSRfpOAZAAV7Me-DjJAvP0bvHQvUrYcEkGLXBPw5OnCVmUD/s320/DSC_0237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231004090789616322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit-RWR-JqdA1rt8gSG2pD1UMzQ9uPQcs8AgmwAUD0Qu2nqaFuQ8BdnRcYM3wA4szYz3dRtCOi_8D0PgpDfISubtkcCUUcVKvqYypx7Nc-Ipkf2CDl2koH4UT-rgt1hdFOAyEAfmU_RYpl/s1600-h/DSC_0248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit-RWR-JqdA1rt8gSG2pD1UMzQ9uPQcs8AgmwAUD0Qu2nqaFuQ8BdnRcYM3wA4szYz3dRtCOi_8D0PgpDfISubtkcCUUcVKvqYypx7Nc-Ipkf2CDl2koH4UT-rgt1hdFOAyEAfmU_RYpl/s320/DSC_0248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231005294391522594" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-7471427588807305942008-07-29T12:57:00.001-07:002008-07-29T12:59:57.034-07:00Cattle GuardsSuzanne and I find it fascinating at how many Cattle Guards we have passed in California, Nevada and Utah. There are cattle guards entering and exiting highways and we have crossed several on the highways. The interesting thing about it is that we haven’t seen that many cattle in those states. In fact I would dare to say we have seen more cattle guards than cattle. <br /><br />Yeah, my count is that we have crossed 57. (Suzanne)Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-57789598167942741912008-07-29T11:48:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:57:55.363-08:00Tuolomne Meadows!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX_vBT0KVGF27jgVLibH8TTCbWMYk6LJAaXtuvRvgSK7BLSrO1BS_J22jTqBT4XpYbzy5OFWkGP_M28F2G0xv9ifpom_LS8o65dc9Sfc8tmQ8idizwgM6zlHYTJfrTqGSBMetmuhq73oZ/s1600-h/DSC_0747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX_vBT0KVGF27jgVLibH8TTCbWMYk6LJAaXtuvRvgSK7BLSrO1BS_J22jTqBT4XpYbzy5OFWkGP_M28F2G0xv9ifpom_LS8o65dc9Sfc8tmQ8idizwgM6zlHYTJfrTqGSBMetmuhq73oZ/s320/DSC_0747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228523048350071042" /></a><br />The spring and the beautiful meadow! The spring is the red bubbly part in the front of the picture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6odxo_Cj1JG0jxMnTD6rUTopQcql4VqAW16ZUxj0ppF72e6X3VFeodItdzD82z77qSdmU9QVTxGQ2xCTitoB8Gl2tMoNQwxC_xi4QMyC875SBfijIvNp-SlK7gfASSPp_ixgCwn7Z7j2w/s1600-h/DSC_0751.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6odxo_Cj1JG0jxMnTD6rUTopQcql4VqAW16ZUxj0ppF72e6X3VFeodItdzD82z77qSdmU9QVTxGQ2xCTitoB8Gl2tMoNQwxC_xi4QMyC875SBfijIvNp-SlK7gfASSPp_ixgCwn7Z7j2w/s320/DSC_0751.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228525473294269586" /></a><br />The guy in the cowboy hat is definitely the one who gave us the lemonade. The largest part of the spring where we dipped for water was where Wes is hanging.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PqFgjV_pKo9I9yGlQJikE4BK1hj2l1WyxmLLCImrYn68TO0BiLhP57Z5GtkeJDiv3-oUl4b0nzsQj1_nX7PXW9brEbo_9KH-lK8kHw9hguK7BiShLHueaTnDA5uJ47YJQXWcHFxEN7v6/s1600-h/DSC_0764.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PqFgjV_pKo9I9yGlQJikE4BK1hj2l1WyxmLLCImrYn68TO0BiLhP57Z5GtkeJDiv3-oUl4b0nzsQj1_nX7PXW9brEbo_9KH-lK8kHw9hguK7BiShLHueaTnDA5uJ47YJQXWcHFxEN7v6/s320/DSC_0764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228525235988267458" /></a><br />The bridge with 100 splinters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f-7rm4CNiQVFPV1BUmDH5mGquM4w1EMWGsOnGkvQ9B1YgUK_G6TAHcRIAU0SmJrUPGCA9h2SUN42srZKr_b0jKQeZ0Hg1KdZQdOP5jpzC9iqsmM-LkPkY5wlU-Q1y_H71KLLiKWUxGeJ/s1600-h/DSC_0762.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f-7rm4CNiQVFPV1BUmDH5mGquM4w1EMWGsOnGkvQ9B1YgUK_G6TAHcRIAU0SmJrUPGCA9h2SUN42srZKr_b0jKQeZ0Hg1KdZQdOP5jpzC9iqsmM-LkPkY5wlU-Q1y_H71KLLiKWUxGeJ/s320/DSC_0762.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228524967367353538" /></a><br />The water was crytal clear!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUoICOTGJRAlb99ydoaP6QkS0FElKhXtQf59OAC2CK6DTyYXEPeDxq6st5j9j61r5QAcY4SyTf1uXbFbQbu-tJcLeDpHDeQNIQk3ov7shcBOURTw9_UKa5US3jVqBvAGbuz_LLmFf0dfq/s1600-h/DSC_0809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUoICOTGJRAlb99ydoaP6QkS0FElKhXtQf59OAC2CK6DTyYXEPeDxq6st5j9j61r5QAcY4SyTf1uXbFbQbu-tJcLeDpHDeQNIQk3ov7shcBOURTw9_UKa5US3jVqBvAGbuz_LLmFf0dfq/s320/DSC_0809.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228524679407243826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16jPK0A0uSmwpotpDNVJxYfi_Jfi5crPh9H-IxJwiwHGg-hRrpuz5u3JW-DbrkgrUjMLCRxGlbTunaipZ23GjE31Hz1kvusgQrw7NXgomKf0hN4fgsi4zRV8YNGxK_tCc856gkouWCIZK/s1600-h/DSC_0759.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16jPK0A0uSmwpotpDNVJxYfi_Jfi5crPh9H-IxJwiwHGg-hRrpuz5u3JW-DbrkgrUjMLCRxGlbTunaipZ23GjE31Hz1kvusgQrw7NXgomKf0hN4fgsi4zRV8YNGxK_tCc856gkouWCIZK/s320/DSC_0759.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228524432431432066" /></a><br />Flowers! Purple flowers!<br /><br /><br />Upon another one of Michael Barker’s brilliant Yosemite suggestions, we spent the first half of the next day in Tuolumne Meadows. The drive there was 45 minutes of unbelievable beauty with lakes, mountains and flowers!<br /><br />Oh beautiful meadows! We “scrambled” up a dome in the middle of the valley and were surrounded on all sides with the HUGE meadow enclosed in trees and bordered by mountains. Some of the mountains still had snow!<br /><br />We meandered through the meadows taking in the cool fresh air, the flowers and the limitless shades of green that made us feel so alive! There were several streams and a river that calmly wandered through the meadow with seemingly no destination. It was BEAUTIFUL! A spring on one side of the meadow releases naturally carbonated water. It was so cool to see it bubbling out of the ground! Although Dad and Aaron would have enjoyed the water naturally, fortunately for us another visitor brought lemonade powder which we added to the bottle we had filled. It was one of the best drinks we have ever had! <br /><br />We took a picture on a bridge in the middle of the magnificent meadow and Wes got some splinters in the back of his leg. He had to find a tree, strip down to his boxers in the middle of the meadow and lie down in the tree’s shadow (Need I mention there are not many trees in a meadow?) while I tried to discreetly and quickly get the splinter out with the tweezers from his swiss army knife. I don’t think I will ever forget that moment.Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-67689131528813335342008-07-29T11:17:00.000-07:002008-07-29T11:47:05.245-07:00Day three of YosemiteOur last day was a packed one. We kicked it of with a short 3 mile stroll through the woods where we saw a deer and two fawns that could not have been more than two weeks old. One could barely stand correctly. Our walk ended at the Ahwanee Hotel, which is a historical site and its 1920’s architecture is beautiful. After lunch we took a quick 4 mile hike up to a view of Yosemite falls. After the Half Dome hike the legs were pretty much useless but we still pressed on up the 48 switch backs to see the falls (one of the tallest in the world) and the valley from a different perspective. It was totally worth the trip. (Wes)<br /><br />(Suzanne)<br />Wes and I ran down the switchbacks from Yosemite Falls which was a rush! I could not stop laughing. We said “cheers” to someone instead of “thanks” for letting us pass. Someone had said that to us earlier and I couldn’t wait to use it. It was all quite silly! We rented a raft and floated down the river that ran through the valley. Again we were one of the last to secure a raft. We were very close to floating down in lifejackets. I’m glad we did not have to resort to that since the many shallow sections would have made for more walking than floating, and we would have been completely numb by the end. Wes really wanted to paddle down and I had just wanted to float on a tube, so we compromised. Wes paddled the raft and I laid out in the front dangling hands and feet in the water like a queen! I've never felt more royal (except of course when I remember that I am a daughter of THE KING!) We jumped in and walked through the river on occasion marveling at the rock faces that rose thousands of feet on both sides. It was amazing! We finished the day with a sunset, hotdogs over the fire (which according to Wes were the best he had ever tasted), hot chocolate, and smores! Yum!Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-75795605869553193932008-07-29T11:16:00.000-07:002008-07-29T11:17:00.177-07:00MeadowsSuzanne has become a Meadow freak. Forget the 3000 foot cliffs and amazing views she wants to play in the Meadows. I think we have 50 pictures of just meadows.Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-41077099709159031682008-07-23T08:18:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:57:58.892-08:00Yosemite<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3uj_za3IqMPWVgcJ5DEraBnqtS0X2m2QIDZ2A_t4oGGKZ4bdymhIE_eOx9ZFUYigM0OlSz_shLpxiddQ_YjYtRee_iP6Hue8hA8reCFLQZE_3W99R7mAX9LN-ryWNeO-b14tU13TyuXV/s1600-h/DSC_0675.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226963865962968994 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3uj_za3IqMPWVgcJ5DEraBnqtS0X2m2QIDZ2A_t4oGGKZ4bdymhIE_eOx9ZFUYigM0OlSz_shLpxiddQ_YjYtRee_iP6Hue8hA8reCFLQZE_3W99R7mAX9LN-ryWNeO-b14tU13TyuXV/s320/DSC_0675.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76lN_1gpGZpltBSIrtIipSuja_rHarIsX6UlngyNEIU0edYCmKjnJCf6qKXghgPgNuvTymMA6Z69lSnOZQZqyqnxSGOU8SP1pa6wwfgHdazGDUZZv9GWldCUfDIUi0gNZkkWoIpKGEKS6/s1600-h/DSC_0685.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226971700119270306 style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRVvxpyFVCoW_7F9-WTWme1zR3-LbWmeUCvNSQTtuGahaIf0yhtoTW3m9V5-lNalbrqJP1y9k5wC7LbfZnN3r_jHRSntTnEAVYfGmR707gX57JFAWiQfPdiuh45xBjVF4DFGbEOJsr2LE/s320/DSC_0201.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT8L_l9YBGZh_UWHqJ9PPp1hFlkIGXikjWEIDftJOPk1mWMVaWOjTEMyStQ3VhEp970dmmpToF6Re2B16hwB-jdh53F4XY1Rq0hPoh4mLPwp6xr5WYWyy0ZQYzt0OCaa42BkapMCXNMef/s1600-h/DSC_0193.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226981914172066338 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT8L_l9YBGZh_UWHqJ9PPp1hFlkIGXikjWEIDftJOPk1mWMVaWOjTEMyStQ3VhEp970dmmpToF6Re2B16hwB-jdh53F4XY1Rq0hPoh4mLPwp6xr5WYWyy0ZQYzt0OCaa42BkapMCXNMef/s320/DSC_0193.JPG" border=0></A> From Sequoia we ventured north to Yosemite. I’ve seen many pictures of Yosemite but nothing comes close to the experience of being there and seeing its majesty and wonder. Our first glimpse of Yosemite was from tunnel point, which is a parking lot right at the end of a tunnel. “AMAZING.” It’s a breathtaking view of the whole valley highlighting El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls and Half Dome. Our first stop was Camp 4. There are no Camps 1-3 just a Camp 4 which is a name left over from the military days. The nice thing about Camp 4 is that it’s first-come first-served. Since you can’t make reservation we arrived when the doors opened at 8:30 and by 11:00am we secure the last 2 spots of the 72 vacancies. The time in line was well spent getting to know 4 Austrian teachers who did not get a spot. I could write pages and pages of about Yosemite but I will do my best to summarize. After we set up camp we rented mountain bikes which were pretty much glorified beach cruisers with a fixed gear. It’s not fun riding up hills with one gear and taking pictures at the same time, but it made for so good laughs. After a few hours enjoying the valley we decided to take a dip in the river since Camp 4 is not equipped with showers. I should also mention that Camp 4 is where most of the rock climbers stay since it is really cheap and there is great bouldering within the camp. The river is quite beautiful as it meanders down the valley with 3000 foot rock walls on either side. Since the temperature in the valley was around 99 degrees a dip in the water sounded refreshing however it was a little more refreshing than I expected with its freezing water, so I was in and out quickly. Suzanne however swam around like an Eskimo while I snapped a few pictures. We ended our day with a moonlight tour around the valley. It was awesome seeing the rocks, falls and forest with a silver glow and learning the history and geology of Yosemite. On the side of El Capitan, which takes 3-4 days to climb, we saw the glowing lights of a few climbers 2,500 feet up! <br /><br />Our second day had one item on the agenda, hike to the top of Half Dome. It’s a 15 mile round trip hike that gains somewhere in the ball park of 4500 feet from the valley floor. I have to add that the weather was overcast the morning of our hike and I wasn’t too keen on the hike because I didn’t want to hike 15 miles and not be able to enjoy the amazing view from the top. Suzanne, however was pumped for the hike. So reluctantly I started the hike in the rain. Well I’m glad we did because it was much cooler and it cleared up enough by the time we reached the top to enjoy it. On the way up we saw two of the most amazing waterfalls we have ever seen. The pictures might give you a little taste, but could not possibly capture their glory. The last climb to the top was not for the faint of heart. It felt like a 75 degree angle and definitely could not be done without the cables that run up the side. If you stand up straight your face almost touches the rock. <br /><br />Squirrels<br /> The squirrels in Camp 4 are the most aggressive creatures I’ve ever seen and the fattest squirrels I’ve ever seen. They have no problem jumping on the picnic table while you are sitting there. Salt and vinegar chips we found to be the best at drawing them in because of the strong smell, so much so that one came right up to Suzanne on the picnic table and tried to get into the bag.<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-4676903fd2408202 height=266 width=320 contentId="4676903fd2408202"></OBJECT>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-18651311600490505962008-07-23T07:55:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:57:59.960-08:00Gulliver's Travels<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aux1MDMGufK0pNAIoznU0tchekG_iEXjtF8uYYJAtMdsqUzp4rprwO_cnnlk2MtgK_guswhoaca76NDSSr5qncAns_d1Tshbp5nVSN0LhHPqwpF1CYeccaOxbstvFAhPwaj65s7mJwwb/s1600-h/DSC_0391.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aux1MDMGufK0pNAIoznU0tchekG_iEXjtF8uYYJAtMdsqUzp4rprwO_cnnlk2MtgK_guswhoaca76NDSSr5qncAns_d1Tshbp5nVSN0LhHPqwpF1CYeccaOxbstvFAhPwaj65s7mJwwb/s200/DSC_0391.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226225503529675058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2Brt690V86yo7EoP9TifWkjDGEXbFd_p5dhDA4yRUjKiuekJ-yDZ_7KcF4lx6PgGt1cYPJpcdj6PEUvZF3OGyr40b8penJlxL7WYAVvVtSrFSSVD2yecki5A_bnX9pPmroC1gF39dMJK/s1600-h/DSC_0452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2Brt690V86yo7EoP9TifWkjDGEXbFd_p5dhDA4yRUjKiuekJ-yDZ_7KcF4lx6PgGt1cYPJpcdj6PEUvZF3OGyr40b8penJlxL7WYAVvVtSrFSSVD2yecki5A_bnX9pPmroC1gF39dMJK/s200/DSC_0452.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226225505019846034" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV6Y8R-GkQKk70PIFmy21DaxMXfmMx8vgFc77AmSXTP_1PO0vHhhCStkO-_cIPJH_3jMYpXU67NyDkKrd35ZO3YDBUa3DWEPswvT9PjySJkcIdLQEiajTub9Hk1O9a507LIffYT27eyuh/s1600-h/DSC_0495.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV6Y8R-GkQKk70PIFmy21DaxMXfmMx8vgFc77AmSXTP_1PO0vHhhCStkO-_cIPJH_3jMYpXU67NyDkKrd35ZO3YDBUa3DWEPswvT9PjySJkcIdLQEiajTub9Hk1O9a507LIffYT27eyuh/s200/DSC_0495.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226225513261018642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sLaxj5qO75j50d8Uk29FZvtF5qy1_UH-lhCmQutnaX2eaMYl_hjBEpkA4-BnGuzIv93vTcfcVH7MY8XJMWP5gQIEezuDtnOjtE0YDJ0LxTO5wxLdAyKw3zHa7Dnt2qF6_4W0MzVeAbdP/s1600-h/DSC_0510.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sLaxj5qO75j50d8Uk29FZvtF5qy1_UH-lhCmQutnaX2eaMYl_hjBEpkA4-BnGuzIv93vTcfcVH7MY8XJMWP5gQIEezuDtnOjtE0YDJ0LxTO5wxLdAyKw3zHa7Dnt2qF6_4W0MzVeAbdP/s200/DSC_0510.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226225524267468754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77wYUHj9YytXKmamlzxtynj2-brrd1pk7M1Xm8FlVf9czkI6_CRcrf_z1e-rbKzjISPU9dwE3OmYum-qCeAHzezrONIHkYmZIspriqHksXMxPhHZut9zsjZEvPgJWe_PZOm_sPDLSE592/s1600-h/DSC_0533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77wYUHj9YytXKmamlzxtynj2-brrd1pk7M1Xm8FlVf9czkI6_CRcrf_z1e-rbKzjISPU9dwE3OmYum-qCeAHzezrONIHkYmZIspriqHksXMxPhHZut9zsjZEvPgJWe_PZOm_sPDLSE592/s200/DSC_0533.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226225533129651298" /></a><br />Walking among the giant trees of Sequoia National Forest makes one feel a bit like a Lilliputian. The majestic evergreens tower above all else in the forest. We walked through a few sequoias and even drove through one! One man even built his house inside the trunk of a down tree! They had fun names for the largest such as General Sherman, Roosevelt, Sentinel, and Booker T. General Sherman is the largest tree in the world by volume. It is 52,500 cubic feet! My favorite depiction of its size was that filling the tree with water would fill 10,000 bath tubs! We hugged many trees and our arms did not measure even ¼ of their circumferences. Hiking around we marveled over and over again at the colossal trees! I could go on and on about the details of their fire-resistance, the way they hollow out, their need for fire and their measurements, but you could probably care less or you have already seen them and know all this. They were just really big dwarfing everything around them including the huge sugar pines that now get no attention because they cower under the grandeur of the great sequoia. <br /><br />We saw a beautiful view from Moro Rock up 400 steep steps. We also walked around a meadow! Meadows are my new favorite! They are so amazing in the summer and I’m sure in spring as well. Flowers and all things green, outlined in trees and teeming with life, they are so peaceful and beckon a stroll, a picnic, and a dance from any passer-by. <br /><br />We saw a baby bear and it was incredible to watch it dig for food. It tore apart a few fallen trees and unsuccessfully tried to keep its balance. It fell backwards and sideways, rolling and awkwardly walking around. He was a really cute little grizzly! <br /><br />We drove out of the park toward Yosemite and Wes found a great campsite on Lake Kaweah right outside the park. We set up in the dark under a full moon and the lake made for a beautiful morning!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor-hJ-T0yZTneKo-wyU0woFeEBABf503nVNrX4lIc2y7KOdksuy8VI6IoOs_LFG1mHPbLthL7iQyTK9Q7ggZztzGdyoUadm9jOtvCvVN5tXLdsxbA6knc5K8eIeUfF-DHWoP-tzx8HyY0/s1600-h/DSC_0570.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor-hJ-T0yZTneKo-wyU0woFeEBABf503nVNrX4lIc2y7KOdksuy8VI6IoOs_LFG1mHPbLthL7iQyTK9Q7ggZztzGdyoUadm9jOtvCvVN5tXLdsxbA6knc5K8eIeUfF-DHWoP-tzx8HyY0/s200/DSC_0570.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226226485931501586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-20-A0zPOEQrlR05WEkU6NvgnGpdKI_DS3ZoM12qOxA7ZWn5sU9XbpzOq0GAMeCwXXV1s-M0bYEC2mIUnAbqfoTqqzA1jV125yO-Nmk0psdA8S01Jarrgd2ex0_esXOZWqfjOwy_0eLJ/s1600-h/DSC_0632.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-20-A0zPOEQrlR05WEkU6NvgnGpdKI_DS3ZoM12qOxA7ZWn5sU9XbpzOq0GAMeCwXXV1s-M0bYEC2mIUnAbqfoTqqzA1jV125yO-Nmk0psdA8S01Jarrgd2ex0_esXOZWqfjOwy_0eLJ/s200/DSC_0632.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226226494759527314" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-45701105545072631202008-07-23T07:36:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:58:00.637-08:00Death Valley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizALq2Rv3ofO5UN2FLWA-EwjmwVRaJXmWpfzxagSRHF-dr3SOE1OKRhV5Zll-zvpj_G693GJ6jkhG3XdKrLwQw_sPd-3vF45UeY11NsMp5wfZ5GQIYmYtoEK267zbVjzrNy_uzqyjnYcyy/s1600-h/DSC_0660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizALq2Rv3ofO5UN2FLWA-EwjmwVRaJXmWpfzxagSRHF-dr3SOE1OKRhV5Zll-zvpj_G693GJ6jkhG3XdKrLwQw_sPd-3vF45UeY11NsMp5wfZ5GQIYmYtoEK267zbVjzrNy_uzqyjnYcyy/s200/DSC_0660.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226220144371325570" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGE68CPU1VPVuHmVF3fgpoI2P_k1K5w8hTT6zGaJUJFado7FdAUzKPEKEthEmq0I0wh9mAsUREIBFqnY8kHp-46XiZrxytCw9putH00rG2xNCtChvfXkwusz9t5RK5O9fiNIyojrBchT3/s1600-h/DSC_0657.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGu31HneYZiXdljMJmHxwtmHurQv0DMAlk51Jg6BAt1VLZAXVcDmJtQcfI_pFMdsp_U-qHG1rH0HwQin7ov1p7xjQBfO5-PhEMlcXb841N2fHvXUfwPk4jz3FwddTRSO0LCRNS7p2d75cT/s200/DSC_0679.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226220163681782946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkr6G9REvsjck-GcEkCtPJF-atfTTq887Waey5iy9mnNyCTV9AEoXOflr3kHN_xUDKf0CIhWGj0nxZcH_S8lxd6XeGFTarirUnjlbIwQ1nufyBntsbi1NCFt_GpKWatvbjKuepb51kYic/s1600-h/DSC_0675.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkr6G9REvsjck-GcEkCtPJF-atfTTq887Waey5iy9mnNyCTV9AEoXOflr3kHN_xUDKf0CIhWGj0nxZcH_S8lxd6XeGFTarirUnjlbIwQ1nufyBntsbi1NCFt_GpKWatvbjKuepb51kYic/s200/DSC_0675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226220167171650146" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-9971658452525760942008-07-23T07:31:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:58:01.369-08:00Bryce Canyon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m3yJhTrPD95Trm8jno3-eM6H0M3L0LiRoVl6yqFXfLOjnbnONWBXANxvvbGWlAAHiBdU_nt-exZ5O9KtU9moBqKfEJUwGn51c1EZ0JeIDeHBO0mWTQq8mn_d5BzmlDAY_-RWdEWw9Jyd/s1600-h/DSC_0543.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoZ54aodKoEN3njoNqbMxF6lM-8bHQpYYXePE-eg_dxurg_skCbZzFJmt0HWU8GGcPYWlT_tHiT2jv6OQrVZQa1j5CwQc0sG4O1hJm2q5SCbAdsNShPRvOS5o_U9YfyQMdBP4gNaI_C9Q/s200/DSC_0417.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w0Bx-PsrN5nW_j9YGaQjk4Yd9VnXixnAjSbpC3Vs-KjsJmSzRL82_cDF8I-zWBzj0VUjRMgwp-oiqQEMvD3rkxeTPXVgfM6vCCk8mX7hcmGoHtz9wvVQubmhpkillbbxMHlH_ZtmX5Yy/s1600-h/DSC_0435.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226209743336933106 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w0Bx-PsrN5nW_j9YGaQjk4Yd9VnXixnAjSbpC3Vs-KjsJmSzRL82_cDF8I-zWBzj0VUjRMgwp-oiqQEMvD3rkxeTPXVgfM6vCCk8mX7hcmGoHtz9wvVQubmhpkillbbxMHlH_ZtmX5Yy/s200/DSC_0435.JPG" border=0></A><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-7a07ba9fee523363 height=266 width=320 contentId="7a07ba9fee523363"></OBJECT>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-42625744299661080292008-07-19T06:41:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:58:03.189-08:00Pictures on the way to Page<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqucHUPcpe_IT145xOUCV9Vr7ElCPPcro6cbjOsgFqilp4IpVoxx6cyZgPMf4PBAs_RfGPf6dytXKjGqdauBOA93gXP5INsCS8BzzMefqQDWeUD3WJ5OYQYI9x5qKtzkPF5v3vVMWj9LV/s1600-h/DSC_0314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqucHUPcpe_IT145xOUCV9Vr7ElCPPcro6cbjOsgFqilp4IpVoxx6cyZgPMf4PBAs_RfGPf6dytXKjGqdauBOA93gXP5INsCS8BzzMefqQDWeUD3WJ5OYQYI9x5qKtzkPF5v3vVMWj9LV/s200/DSC_0314.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226205960877530018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZWLkdTBpkPZhJXcqWs3VtF3nYvGqZooW7osGSKKuN4pqeaU2omoUXIoBQxXfG95Kn4q__Tqq209ARBWYT6McMdoN2aSgU_E2BMH6EtIH230qAoVAS1Eex2-VOojX-WEUzBXCMr0WWFXh/s1600-h/DSC_0317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZWLkdTBpkPZhJXcqWs3VtF3nYvGqZooW7osGSKKuN4pqeaU2omoUXIoBQxXfG95Kn4q__Tqq209ARBWYT6McMdoN2aSgU_E2BMH6EtIH230qAoVAS1Eex2-VOojX-WEUzBXCMr0WWFXh/s200/DSC_0317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226205967096415810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZQmpFmw2jyoRFKR-w7e24TyzJfljjG-GPAsUTXKn51RQwcSa5GaOCSRk_I37KzKVQY8QK9P37Zr6zyd3lo7z9yLcTvb_VddL57rGy6xxuQfBhHL86ai07X0aCITVqo52Nd1BQ0IRMlEj/s1600-h/DSC_0366.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZQmpFmw2jyoRFKR-w7e24TyzJfljjG-GPAsUTXKn51RQwcSa5GaOCSRk_I37KzKVQY8QK9P37Zr6zyd3lo7z9yLcTvb_VddL57rGy6xxuQfBhHL86ai07X0aCITVqo52Nd1BQ0IRMlEj/s200/DSC_0366.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226205971124270418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQxi-Wb6JRlBbNioU2b-ki4JLGl5B-GlKGaLyFpCoDW89TwhWWzyb_6c4eZFzLnqb6sLAlPwycrjR4yzFhTlMGD9shZwg5IhZVhQhrpX6rbd9__VkS6pMgZL1_0o-1UcZOMMeD8aYIpWH/s1600-h/DSC_0381.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQxi-Wb6JRlBbNioU2b-ki4JLGl5B-GlKGaLyFpCoDW89TwhWWzyb_6c4eZFzLnqb6sLAlPwycrjR4yzFhTlMGD9shZwg5IhZVhQhrpX6rbd9__VkS6pMgZL1_0o-1UcZOMMeD8aYIpWH/s200/DSC_0381.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226205982261777234" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-7393714752458801492008-07-18T07:56:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:58:04.740-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXudz-wo-0nxA8ADbFZfsMb3GrqJ9NqOgREht4_r1STvmO8WpHyXJ2g-JRPknNCUw_8dtkB5xwAmu47etx8Zqh_7daZ6S_KVchl9woJ6mAMxRiktwRzMksv0ME3ZvcbqilkVMSKm18DfDN/s1600-h/DSC_0295.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXudz-wo-0nxA8ADbFZfsMb3GrqJ9NqOgREht4_r1STvmO8WpHyXJ2g-JRPknNCUw_8dtkB5xwAmu47etx8Zqh_7daZ6S_KVchl9woJ6mAMxRiktwRzMksv0ME3ZvcbqilkVMSKm18DfDN/s200/DSC_0295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224390294673235650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5TMrvWbU_kN2Htza18wVvYckRK8hcISg10oakyWRhjAThdpwzJftF0FQiX4vgP8PYUfs32r6N94njJoTmJB8kp3ZBC_-mnHNrr8HXkbxHCdlp6WBdSqLq96w_rKSCfJOuVwbsHNCfDOz/s1600-h/DSC_0300.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5TMrvWbU_kN2Htza18wVvYckRK8hcISg10oakyWRhjAThdpwzJftF0FQiX4vgP8PYUfs32r6N94njJoTmJB8kp3ZBC_-mnHNrr8HXkbxHCdlp6WBdSqLq96w_rKSCfJOuVwbsHNCfDOz/s200/DSC_0300.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224390306427084098" /></a><br />We hit a rain storm since it is "monsoon season" out here. This just means it rains for about 60 seconds sometimes, but you can see the storm moving through! We had lost one winshield wiper! Wes rigged it This is looking back at Sedona. The scenery changes so quickly! All the sudden there were trees! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeLVD6_K7tHIDEsgazyo7jEIZGlznb8I3HnVDgbH09eKMzOuQnyfoa3QoySagh0zR_tntOtHf1becGsqWM6yoAJBKM24YYdP0TooBWtlGNlhyjT-RvNf65GXlGc2ubzy7OTs5-gmSkboT/s1600-h/DSC_0164.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeLVD6_K7tHIDEsgazyo7jEIZGlznb8I3HnVDgbH09eKMzOuQnyfoa3QoySagh0zR_tntOtHf1becGsqWM6yoAJBKM24YYdP0TooBWtlGNlhyjT-RvNf65GXlGc2ubzy7OTs5-gmSkboT/s200/DSC_0164.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224388097991845410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd4qBR3hJjnZOdsCWn8NJaEDXiA87dVB2mgK3lsIyVxISuTP10cq4YJDUqH06WOUAyo4MZVzkL4ApmdByS9hDs1CkYEkhm-SR1Q-NKapajxITJchfa-qgGIsUj_vtSmSk5WLN78LYClnv/s1600-h/DSC_0168.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd4qBR3hJjnZOdsCWn8NJaEDXiA87dVB2mgK3lsIyVxISuTP10cq4YJDUqH06WOUAyo4MZVzkL4ApmdByS9hDs1CkYEkhm-SR1Q-NKapajxITJchfa-qgGIsUj_vtSmSk5WLN78LYClnv/s200/DSC_0168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224388100076187538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGox8Y0CIQalN9EwDrAD95n97VbtrfGDItCTw1A6V_G49GZTUYgKja9yuiqXdf96sxWh4XcecL3JeAYfY8iE36ZVeRUFtzgVdye7gzj5Zlv2CXDDpL7G7M_JtphWVJxdL0zoUoXGns3eDS/s1600-h/DSC_0171.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGox8Y0CIQalN9EwDrAD95n97VbtrfGDItCTw1A6V_G49GZTUYgKja9yuiqXdf96sxWh4XcecL3JeAYfY8iE36ZVeRUFtzgVdye7gzj5Zlv2CXDDpL7G7M_JtphWVJxdL0zoUoXGns3eDS/s200/DSC_0171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224388114098942082" /></a><br /><br />We found blackberries at the top of the Tonto Bridge! I have missed picking blackberries for a while, especially this summer, so it was such a blessed surprise!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXeP2ucliNNj2-cvuZ7DDBLRw2QFmYICFkkX_GlXuhpmUSpEj0H0C9rSEC_qVY8mDrwg3jDacz0bTjijAT6HtYmvkLjrFw0VxMdDHl0SSVncwtnMxgP6-wnKTah54KAKpbBR9DOMZ8ggW/s1600-h/DSC_0130.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXeP2ucliNNj2-cvuZ7DDBLRw2QFmYICFkkX_GlXuhpmUSpEj0H0C9rSEC_qVY8mDrwg3jDacz0bTjijAT6HtYmvkLjrFw0VxMdDHl0SSVncwtnMxgP6-wnKTah54KAKpbBR9DOMZ8ggW/s200/DSC_0130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224384391933773746" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc1SfQ88sOLnFVkfHh4-OO6Gtyz6FBpYV3FAaP0sJ-bZ-fdWeKgoE_iO5up_YdaVYXsfBgtBQzlR8mqISbXvIBPA55THLB_xDawn2OqsD0F6i60mErxq2GllS9oEo4M4nWrPHpLy_k-2W/s1600-h/DSC_0154.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc1SfQ88sOLnFVkfHh4-OO6Gtyz6FBpYV3FAaP0sJ-bZ-fdWeKgoE_iO5up_YdaVYXsfBgtBQzlR8mqISbXvIBPA55THLB_xDawn2OqsD0F6i60mErxq2GllS9oEo4M4nWrPHpLy_k-2W/s200/DSC_0154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224385097798552082" /></a><br /><br />These are from the bottom and top of the Tonto National Monument which was a fun little find on the way to Page! It was a huge land bridge and we had to climb through the rocks and stream to get through. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwncpycZF5-f2uplXpqbmArhR86u9s1htFqEjSIfZr7BhXds9kB02TKsFOgBL733o4QKdILxvcitrcrEpo1ec0zTXTNnUAW1r0AaR-rO2LhcwXxiJ2qw-Xh7ohHq7ls1ahXSV-OxGOLIoX/s1600-h/DSC_0201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwncpycZF5-f2uplXpqbmArhR86u9s1htFqEjSIfZr7BhXds9kB02TKsFOgBL733o4QKdILxvcitrcrEpo1ec0zTXTNnUAW1r0AaR-rO2LhcwXxiJ2qw-Xh7ohHq7ls1ahXSV-OxGOLIoX/s200/DSC_0201.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224380611412983090" /></a><br /><br />having fun on our way to Page<br />We rode along the ridge of some mountain range!<br />We also saw a dead deer on the side of this road with no indication of poaching. It is the first dead deer I have ever seen that had not been purposefully killed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6sXBzi8i5awn2WOmQE6z-YkBlXba_nQ5IR2-YimeUZMr95QPTwJf1daC2TwwmuafEGWUfbu62xekY8zIFlbyMM8ylNtMsFaxMHY-104LqOKVGO7HB4pdGWXF996O_B7VsRuzjrFrwPpW/s1600-h/DSC_0221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6sXBzi8i5awn2WOmQE6z-YkBlXba_nQ5IR2-YimeUZMr95QPTwJf1daC2TwwmuafEGWUfbu62xekY8zIFlbyMM8ylNtMsFaxMHY-104LqOKVGO7HB4pdGWXF996O_B7VsRuzjrFrwPpW/s200/DSC_0221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224380618734703522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHYq7KJChMmeh-TtMxnQdo264uZ6_qRqT73C4zM2VHi7gogPuD-n83SvIQnGz6hSehr8Zo4Q-i3GjnYXeJ6sdS0iWA0ep7Iukmtb839YtrjJF35vxCAm95m_GZp7zJqms6yE4V2YvutOV/s1600-h/DSC_0245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHYq7KJChMmeh-TtMxnQdo264uZ6_qRqT73C4zM2VHi7gogPuD-n83SvIQnGz6hSehr8Zo4Q-i3GjnYXeJ6sdS0iWA0ep7Iukmtb839YtrjJF35vxCAm95m_GZp7zJqms6yE4V2YvutOV/s200/DSC_0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224380626562200802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fIQKck7E26R0ZUNiU330rcZq1hz7t2cAN_V-a8lzmCxNlcBVT9TkP4m18Pg8H1yDozARuVEkjCybcR8WRakuFdbGDzXq9dVqJv_NWYk3VR0Kzi-JOPbbn5f2JhHTQLJlfq_dg7enOKQw/s1600-h/DSC_0258.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fIQKck7E26R0ZUNiU330rcZq1hz7t2cAN_V-a8lzmCxNlcBVT9TkP4m18Pg8H1yDozARuVEkjCybcR8WRakuFdbGDzXq9dVqJv_NWYk3VR0Kzi-JOPbbn5f2JhHTQLJlfq_dg7enOKQw/s200/DSC_0258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224390287027708018" /></a><br />- a cool rock in Sedona<br />- outside our airplane resataurant in Sedona<br />- We had homemade ice cream in Sedona! Wes said is was the best he had ever tasted. Mom, your peach still beats it by a mile!<br /><br /><br />We went mountain biking around the rim of a huge canyon in Page for about 2 hours. It was amazing and a great introduction for me (Suzanne) into the sport. Wes said it was his favorite thing we have done. The guy at the shop was the typical outdoorsman in that he directed us away from the populated slot canyons and out to a more private one 9 miles down some dirt road over a creek. The road was a "shortcut" to Bryce Canyon which we had wanted to see, but cut out of our trip due to time constraints. After taking a dip in the non-shark infested, non-gator infested Lake Powell, we drove and wandered around the desert for a while, but never found the canyon. We decided to stay on the road and head to Bryce having no idea what we were in for...50 miles of washboards going 15mph in the most incredible scenic area! One side of the road would be completely different than the other and around every bend or over every hill we would be surprised again and again! My favorite comment of the day was upon cresting a hill Wes yelling, "Oh, civilization!" only to discover they were huge mounds of dirt.<br /><br />The biggest blessing of our mishap adventure was Bryce Canyon, which is my favorite part of the trip so far!! We hiked down into the canyon and I have never felt smaller. Our God is so big and so in control! The carefully crafted canyon testified to His beauty. I could almost see Him smiling as He painted and shaped knowing I would stand one day marveling at His grandeur! The towers of rock in the canyon were replicated by many who passed through so we piled some stones and prayed remembering who our God is and how much He has blessed us. <br /><br />We continued our journey to Vegas where we stayed with Kent and Renee. Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality! It was great to see you! Wes was craving hot breakfast so we ate some excellent pancakes at IHOP at the end of the strip. (Yes we cruised the strip.) After passing a "Prison Area, Hitchhiking Prohibited" sign, and buying the best beef jerky we have ever had from the side of the road, we were on our way into the desert. Death Valley was hot to the degree of 118! Per the sign, we turned our AC off so the engine wouldn't overheat. The sand dunes were neat and the veiws were beautiful, but we didn't get out of the car for long. The quick changes in elevation were probably the coolest part! We went up the mountains (4500 ft) down to sea level and back up the mountains. It was awesome to be in the valley and see the mountains so abruptly and rigidly shoot out of the earth! What contrast! We rode along the Sierra Nevada range and Wes found us a great campsite right on Lake Kaweah outside of Sequoia National Park. We are just entering the park now where we will spend the night and then journey on to Yosemite tomorrow! Thanks for all the comments! We love you guys!Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-67973460594438423392008-07-17T19:07:00.001-07:002008-12-08T23:58:05.134-08:00New Mexico<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8hyphenhyphenyauM1uPjc24It5nP4wBr45PWpCpxaeWqNrTHZhwYLdDaybgK7PhRp4keDRXhnr79UAls2oY7QSFVjAym9cspJ1MmjT8ZIzcnph3EhfImRf7s_1wolkxA21xiemLl0Nqp-1e7HzozV/s1600-h/DSC_0104.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8hyphenhyphenyauM1uPjc24It5nP4wBr45PWpCpxaeWqNrTHZhwYLdDaybgK7PhRp4keDRXhnr79UAls2oY7QSFVjAym9cspJ1MmjT8ZIzcnph3EhfImRf7s_1wolkxA21xiemLl0Nqp-1e7HzozV/s200/DSC_0104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224198709754743186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZVTVYxTzAqpbhnMCXrGygx2emJcsR0AmPxxAocoiVScEHx40-6bRV-2rsx3kn5-0RjucdJy0BtXURjEpPRp7J9_kkv_E_BwWKvy9TpV4NTC4mZzQAARlFwFa5TvursNS6pomK0vZQ0gv/s1600-h/DSC_0066.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZVTVYxTzAqpbhnMCXrGygx2emJcsR0AmPxxAocoiVScEHx40-6bRV-2rsx3kn5-0RjucdJy0BtXURjEpPRp7J9_kkv_E_BwWKvy9TpV4NTC4mZzQAARlFwFa5TvursNS6pomK0vZQ0gv/s200/DSC_0066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224187483121834114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSpRi_hNotEsMffHloyqJL-R85z1awxlkBzX4JYQdinbyJKuF_Q8jtQB3MQ4TwJ75ojV4VuYccA5OjAjTJpT-A4JxMeykqRuwEaQLvJflBwQRItoALXoqiufPyoolEFeRONA0FjpIVtya/s1600-h/DSC_0048.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSpRi_hNotEsMffHloyqJL-R85z1awxlkBzX4JYQdinbyJKuF_Q8jtQB3MQ4TwJ75ojV4VuYccA5OjAjTJpT-A4JxMeykqRuwEaQLvJflBwQRItoALXoqiufPyoolEFeRONA0FjpIVtya/s200/DSC_0048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224186048199113026" /></a><br /><br />New Mexico brought a whole set of new challenges. Apparently New Mexico and Arizona have a period of time know as the Monsoon season. July would be that season. It’s pretty amazing to watch from a distance since you can see for what seems 100 miles. As we hit our first storm I turned of the wind shield wipers and the first swipe of the blades was the last for the passenger side blade. I’m not sure what happen but it pretty much ejected its self from its fixed position on the wiper bar. It’s not easy driving in the rain without wipers but I managed. The next town we rolled into I stopped to pick up a new blade to find out that auto zone doesn’t carry the new blade mount for a 2008 Suburban. Well since the skies cleared up I decided to press on. Thankfully no more rain showed up. NM was the state I decided to take our first “Off the Beaten path” journey. Our destination for the night was a small town called Roosevelt where I thought we would stop for the night at one of the many camp grounds. Well since we made so many stops along the way we didn’t end up arriving in Roosevelt till around 11:00pm local time. I figured that the camp grounds would be closed for the night to new guests so we would have to get a hotel room. Not a big deal except for that fact that there are no hotels in Roosevelt. In fact there is nothing in Roosevelt except for camp grounds, a Marina and a Tonto Cliff Dwelling. So once again we had to crash in the back of the Suburban. Holy hotness.<br /><br />The next morning I was up early to watch the sunrise over the man made Roosevelt Lake and once Suzanne woke up we were off to Page. The surrounding have finally taken on a whole new look of which I will let the pictures do the taking. On our way to Page AZ we took another off beaten path thru Sedona which has some really amazing rock formations and beautiful colors. We stopped and had lunch at the air port which is on top of a plateau with incredible views. I had a buffalo burger with fried cactus and cheese. Definitely one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. The ride from Sadona to Page was amazing and very diverse. Again I’ll let the pictures do the talking. We finally rolled into Page around 6:00pm and had dinner at a local Mexican place. After our previous nights stay in the back of the truck we decided to splurge on a hotel room. Well after an hour or so of searching we finally found the last hotel room in town at the exquisite Motel 6. At that point we really didn’t care, it was just nice to have a hot shower and bed.Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-15485465423021776662008-07-14T17:50:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:58:05.429-08:00More of Texas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCSZhceEbcm5Oh_2uq8l7HPsm05lnttKftR3AUAeULCWPB85EN-QRD2g1giCLSTUeAPRLpfAUW6krvgbjIzWkeV5Ue_1ycXPHUEZJIVtkavgkbTkAVrqFKKJLB0mDQcIwKmVBSD3hLG_H/s1600-h/road+warrior.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCSZhceEbcm5Oh_2uq8l7HPsm05lnttKftR3AUAeULCWPB85EN-QRD2g1giCLSTUeAPRLpfAUW6krvgbjIzWkeV5Ue_1ycXPHUEZJIVtkavgkbTkAVrqFKKJLB0mDQcIwKmVBSD3hLG_H/s200/road+warrior.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223641407459909938" /></a><br />Texas keeps rolling like a tumbleweed. We just crossed the state line into New Mexico after driving for about 7 hours (I think). Although Laura thought my impression of Tejas would quickly deteriorate during today's desert experience, I have to stay I am still amazed. I love traveling where there are no billboards, and no power lines are even better! I realize this means there is almost nothing at all, but you can actually see the landscape with nothing to disrupt the view! The speed limit is 80mph (nice) and there are beautiful rolling hills and plateaus! I have never seen plateaus!!! They are amazing! Who knew that there could be so much land that just dropped off! We could see the rock lines too! God is so creative. We also saw oil being drilled! There is so much land I am tempted to pull a Green Acres and live here (not really).<br /><br />Wes made lunch on the other side of the house while I was driving. I knew he was making PBBJ (PBJ with bananas) and when he mentioned there might be a surprise I told him I didn't want M&Ms on mine he smiled like a 12-year-old boy shyly asking, "How did you know?" It was awesome!<br /><br />We also saw the Rio Grande. It is not so grand or grande, whichever you say. However, the shacks on the other side in the small window where we could actually see Mexico made me feel blessed!! It was cool and Wes was patient at my continual questioning as to his surety that we would see it.<br /><br />We saw a rainstorm coming into the plains and cool funnels of sand swirling several feet high. We passed the biggest cow ranch or dairy farm I have ever seen and it was not on my side so Wes is now winning the cow counting game and I will never catch up. We also took a picture of this old man's truck because his dog was riding on the toolbox. It pretty much flashed in his face at which time Wes hit the gas seriously thinking he may pull out a shotgun. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuqzFWYbiLf10CFmVmGVqo0WS2NL7ucqdU1aQQoYLDpd3yGPvwL0i5Y92q0FPmZ8i04FGhxEwy1QsdRmL0hI55l7cjE7kNhtRYH72pENI_uO-d8vNsE-zQo3Of0wsNMIrdukjngAc0ED3/s1600-h/dog.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuqzFWYbiLf10CFmVmGVqo0WS2NL7ucqdU1aQQoYLDpd3yGPvwL0i5Y92q0FPmZ8i04FGhxEwy1QsdRmL0hI55l7cjE7kNhtRYH72pENI_uO-d8vNsE-zQo3Of0wsNMIrdukjngAc0ED3/s200/dog.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223641416455533314" /></a> We have listened to dad's "Be my Valentine" sermon, raced a train, counted train cars (142!), mastered picture taking from the driver's seat, and listened to some appropriate Mexican inspired music. In regards to stops, Texas and NM have rest stops that have fun shapes (some without bathrooms and why you would want to picnic in the middle of a hot desert of nowhereland is way too creepy ConAir guy). There are teepees, huge (Texas size) wagons, and adobe huts. Fun!<br /><br />We are headed through New Mexico for a while before we stop to sleep. We are starting to see mountains which are incredible in shape and size! Nonetheless, Wes thinks Texas was much more interesting than New Mexico. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the road that is completely straight for miles and miles...amazing. As the mountains creep closer Wes's 12-year-old boy excitement grows. We will get in so late to Roosevelt that our plan to camp may be spoiled so we may be camping out in the back room again! My only regret so far is that I did not buy a shirt that said, "Don't mess with Texas." I liked the saying before our adventure and it has now solidified it's meaning in my heart and is quite inspiring to me (as is, "Remember the Alamo!").Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-70944475901431042582008-07-14T17:21:00.001-07:002008-12-08T23:58:06.825-08:00San Antonio!!After chasing daylight for a few more hours and driving through Houston (which is oh so big and neat) we arrived in San Antonio. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JTY0qjU0EPbKQflvrSN2wiXk7Qh2OdrKi-ceOigcXLSCQaVbyJ9plOr0_yx6EtSBgTF6_I1_EVgeqrcSARJUlIlQHiBGT6Tu7igQ2lnHlafVTBJJ003K_BMlwlTOV-53XZOomBGKhQ4m/s1600-h/burger.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JTY0qjU0EPbKQflvrSN2wiXk7Qh2OdrKi-ceOigcXLSCQaVbyJ9plOr0_yx6EtSBgTF6_I1_EVgeqrcSARJUlIlQHiBGT6Tu7igQ2lnHlafVTBJJ003K_BMlwlTOV-53XZOomBGKhQ4m/s200/burger.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223634900964256194" /></a> We tried to cook burgers on the engine, but after over an hour they were still raw and we were hungry so we ate at Texas Burger.<br /><br /><br />Texas...<br />Everything really is bigger in Texas: the roads (one was 14 lanes), the lanes on the roads, the trucks that everyone drives on the big laned roads, the overpasses, the open range, the sky, the homes, the flags, the biggest star ever upon entry, welcome signs (which proudly admitted to being George W's home), and the smiles. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF_ftwImwSTqFYA_3sOe580o6vEjw88wjaXhO_22tfFZSo4aRzdg9k23lcCofqa8R7ncVNb_g4qOwdUqU1JI3GjC8_bLYWtlVgq2mspGvlGuPFtw5Pn-2sueHwRDxIcbsEgumTtEZ3dcl/s1600-h/texas.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF_ftwImwSTqFYA_3sOe580o6vEjw88wjaXhO_22tfFZSo4aRzdg9k23lcCofqa8R7ncVNb_g4qOwdUqU1JI3GjC8_bLYWtlVgq2mspGvlGuPFtw5Pn-2sueHwRDxIcbsEgumTtEZ3dcl/s200/texas.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223635455926552818" /></a> Everyone had we met had a Texas size personality which means fun! (Yes, I realize that not everyone in Texas may not have a Texas size personality, but they were laid back and fun!)<br /><br /><br />San Antonio...<br />We stayed in a hotel that stood between the Alamo and the Riverwalk. A fountain/river ran through the bottom floor from one to the other. CRAZY! I have always wanted a stream flowing through my house! The Alamo was awesome and my NC rebel blood was so proud that 13 North Carolinians had volunteered for the fight! We know so much more about Texas now! I love that Travis answered Santa Anna's truce talks with a cannon shot! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-69VhaspLT89W1b0HMKhWBR5Th7jD60VEAoT8jWcOuUEKN1facahpUfsIhPjihYvfgLZypPcRr58tY1LDYaWgcOo-zGf68Imwp8zZXFmVxpAwgwLLyZyZf5Sgng01HoN0SuWZLAW3iQl/s1600-h/alamo.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-69VhaspLT89W1b0HMKhWBR5Th7jD60VEAoT8jWcOuUEKN1facahpUfsIhPjihYvfgLZypPcRr58tY1LDYaWgcOo-zGf68Imwp8zZXFmVxpAwgwLLyZyZf5Sgng01HoN0SuWZLAW3iQl/s200/alamo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223639709535179506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_q6bW3B91-AY0zzK7AbHbtDpKqSUXWfhjHK-Wyb4fgKm8-cn9_gMzLhckaLh_BG7k-d5oReyOm2H1xzt8BMbbSETkCPSJVue-PrqYmSKQAMgU9cOoJ-4M7nNEiUxQKlWXYbP2pmZMCpLJ/s1600-h/cannon.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_q6bW3B91-AY0zzK7AbHbtDpKqSUXWfhjHK-Wyb4fgKm8-cn9_gMzLhckaLh_BG7k-d5oReyOm2H1xzt8BMbbSETkCPSJVue-PrqYmSKQAMgU9cOoJ-4M7nNEiUxQKlWXYbP2pmZMCpLJ/s200/cannon.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223639717614334722" /></a><br /><br />We visited Market Square and I was amazed at the Christian, mainly Catholic, influence. Creatively crafted crosses and cricifixes combined with multi-cultural nativity scenes were on every corner. There seemed to be a lot of Christians in the city and at night the Riverwalk was not full of drunken craziness. How refreshing! We also saw traditional Mexican dances at the market which I have been wanting to see live since watching MI-2. It did not disappoing with great stomping and skirt swishing! We also played in a fountain which I have always dreamt of doing! I danced through it several times!<br /><br />Scenes from San Antonio...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyB1U285hTjMa4SNDYHo1Z_SCi5U7MF6fPauZB6_KUBh2z0q-Ec1G0f7UWN7rb3-wD_Kudf47vkiVcndtG1ZvB5u8ZmmKirG9fR2A2Lp6NHM7CTzsp4cAT0hXYvE3Wg7oms23k-MpwGbu/s1600-h/river.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyB1U285hTjMa4SNDYHo1Z_SCi5U7MF6fPauZB6_KUBh2z0q-Ec1G0f7UWN7rb3-wD_Kudf47vkiVcndtG1ZvB5u8ZmmKirG9fR2A2Lp6NHM7CTzsp4cAT0hXYvE3Wg7oms23k-MpwGbu/s200/river.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223637560465007074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKThh84oPABsfZ6KK8NZLPYpjxqu115d3IuGa71LTSHBd7a9anW6Dx9s8SjYSzcrv1u8BRf-4vk42uMbUW003MdVviUz8S-IeWU4iTdX6OGJZ8Lxpsj7lkPeFvk_5aZPI2cQk2Y-7a4Ql/s1600-h/river2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKThh84oPABsfZ6KK8NZLPYpjxqu115d3IuGa71LTSHBd7a9anW6Dx9s8SjYSzcrv1u8BRf-4vk42uMbUW003MdVviUz8S-IeWU4iTdX6OGJZ8Lxpsj7lkPeFvk_5aZPI2cQk2Y-7a4Ql/s200/river2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223637573091165506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpB8Vv1FPkSzRoRu2sU-6vLvaIZL6vHMOmEs1PuTkw-ayCmc9WdjgQ3rqt7NWqwxeEloHCPO93w81-0gaFS8FP8RG3OW3gASblwIH7Pdx0TWuzOMvHcpfwTOjpvJySqf6RRDa4U_n09Zm/s1600-h/river3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpB8Vv1FPkSzRoRu2sU-6vLvaIZL6vHMOmEs1PuTkw-ayCmc9WdjgQ3rqt7NWqwxeEloHCPO93w81-0gaFS8FP8RG3OW3gASblwIH7Pdx0TWuzOMvHcpfwTOjpvJySqf6RRDa4U_n09Zm/s200/river3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223637581081467986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8ceBiycTzBLinazzA-eICzy-Ck2anW1B4shsqOfvrWwA-q2JyD0rSS8hXdqIpO83aXFWSPYHroRDy83hFa8me0n4p20nNmOMgCpZ-z1hxfkxg07u7qeZsyDXi1fy6pJ7TsTKthepEOph/s1600-h/river4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8ceBiycTzBLinazzA-eICzy-Ck2anW1B4shsqOfvrWwA-q2JyD0rSS8hXdqIpO83aXFWSPYHroRDy83hFa8me0n4p20nNmOMgCpZ-z1hxfkxg07u7qeZsyDXi1fy6pJ7TsTKthepEOph/s200/river4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223637603934743842" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTbfTTQypLA8dMMv8reYx8ZgXc_PbWA9MEs8OgIv_20JcNNcSqRwhtWpO9wHFDyl92w1IX0CFdy411rP9-OdjZMFohaJ-Z2rHSPvFpB3wt-TwsBzXYjF4V4-8e5UjAe_OWKMYTtlPu25t/s1600-h/fountain.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTbfTTQypLA8dMMv8reYx8ZgXc_PbWA9MEs8OgIv_20JcNNcSqRwhtWpO9wHFDyl92w1IX0CFdy411rP9-OdjZMFohaJ-Z2rHSPvFpB3wt-TwsBzXYjF4V4-8e5UjAe_OWKMYTtlPu25t/s200/fountain.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223637615440053090" /></a><br />The Riverwalk was amazing! Wes thought the hand-carved signs were neat and was especially amused by the tree growing out of the building. He was amazed at the architecture and entertained by its history. We walked all the way around and took a riverboat ride. It was beautiful at night with all the lights!! We ate some great Mexican food on the water. Can you ever get enough chips and salsa? After dinner we went to the rooftop of our hotel where the pool and hot tub were unfortunately filled with children (they were all nice children, but it made us appreciate romantic adult places). Our sunset was not to be ruined as it dances with brilliant colors above a city coming alive. Wes described the Riverwalk area perfectly as "enchanting"! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjK-pt12s-nRBjLIK6dBQ3aIOykB3-JCU9_XgJ6jc-9BSX8Xuu3rx3d5_wPAKasPkg5YBnU6CURWZ-ezEGrj54abLd7DNog8ou4_2Bged23ndTJJk_sb8-7hyphenhyphencD_pZG84nVeA6dvyvBEjC/s1600-h/rooftop.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjK-pt12s-nRBjLIK6dBQ3aIOykB3-JCU9_XgJ6jc-9BSX8Xuu3rx3d5_wPAKasPkg5YBnU6CURWZ-ezEGrj54abLd7DNog8ou4_2Bged23ndTJJk_sb8-7hyphenhyphencD_pZG84nVeA6dvyvBEjC/s200/rooftop.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223639724767392146" /></a>Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111176171959989496.post-12327116895976533102008-07-12T15:16:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:58:07.040-08:00Road Trip Begins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_TIGOfNxnKno1UegotLi-63ixlsB7u0FbfIY3EtpigvqACvW1ckQ4qAkHohGesKMZ54fIoWdwHusDeIstEiuRx4pwocnHMHiW93vnssom2M5H7AE55_nqYeLGdikxqH1GJPeXmUDhkpy/s1600-h/bon+voyage.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_TIGOfNxnKno1UegotLi-63ixlsB7u0FbfIY3EtpigvqACvW1ckQ4qAkHohGesKMZ54fIoWdwHusDeIstEiuRx4pwocnHMHiW93vnssom2M5H7AE55_nqYeLGdikxqH1GJPeXmUDhkpy/s200/bon+voyage.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223631964948525554" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday, at 8:30pm, after the monsoon rain and lightening that struck so close to our outside wall that our alarm system and internet are completely blown to pieces, we were off! The coolest part was that the monsoon went into dry season when we were ready to load the car!<br /><br />The Suburban<br />Wes's parents have generously let us use their Suburban for our latest adventure! It is huge! I made a bed in the back that is quite comfortable. When I climb back there it is like I'm in a different room. I broke down giggling yesterday as I felt like I was in the back of a tractor trailer.<br /><br />Wes drove until midnight after working the I-Phone launch all day. What a champ! We slept at a rest stop with all the truckers! Although the bed I made was comfortable and Wes slept soundly, I woke up approximately 26 times...I'm really not exagerrating. At 6:30am I could not sleep any more and started driving while Wes was still sleeping in the "back room". My new short hair after being curly yesterday looks amazing. I definitely win the bedhead contest. Ahh...roughin it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzlCqdUuUh5DZi1GWD65dj3zRsE-wNCCjNvh7MfEzlYirWRK3161cVqL22tXGWFZavLWQmn8Bp0tC7zqddflQJPJWTiBzGBO06V4eA-39PvEv5sBfSdp-MRryuujGJBp-cPSmtso1Pe71/s1600-h/GG.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzlCqdUuUh5DZi1GWD65dj3zRsE-wNCCjNvh7MfEzlYirWRK3161cVqL22tXGWFZavLWQmn8Bp0tC7zqddflQJPJWTiBzGBO06V4eA-39PvEv5sBfSdp-MRryuujGJBp-cPSmtso1Pe71/s200/GG.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223632607670698946" /></a><br />When Wes woke up, we camped out in the back room and chowed down on Golden Grahams and we were quickly on the road again. Pensecola is beautiful! I've never been and I kept thinking, "Why haven't we vacationed here before?" Then I realized we can go so many other places in that driving time....like my parents! "Wish you were here!"<br /><br />My whole family plays cards and Wes brought a deck that was unusual...52 Fun Things to do in the Car. We randomly picked 3. In "Hot Words" we chose 5 words we were not allowed to say. Wes has said 2 of them already so I think I won. We also played "A-Counting" where you count cows on your side of the road. We were going to change it to tire tread, but after beginning we found I was at a severe disadvantage since everyone in trouble pulls off on the passanger side where Wes was sitting. I am totally winning with cows! The other game is a total Makinson (my maiden name) family road trip game. A color is chosen and each person takes turns naming objects of that color. Yeah, we decided to chuck that one since niether of us would be able to concentrate that long. We have also started filling in a book that asks lots of questions called, "All About You". We did not realize that it is supposed to be therapeutic and is definitely secular. I was happy to hear that Wes had never "had an ex throw a drink in his face". He is so lovable! Who could ever? We have selectively answered and have been blessed to realize that we have communicated almost everything that has been asked. Oh, happy marraige!<br /><br />Across state lines...<br />We planned to take pictures at every state line, but we distract each other so easily and have just taken our first one in Texas! We crossed a HUGE bridge to get into Mobile and we could see the whole city from the top. We also saw a city that was full of factories! I have never seen such an industrial city so it was neat. The landscape gradually changed to swampy bayou. It was so beautiful!!! I think I could drive through bayou for days. We took a detour into New Orleans and crossed a 5-mile bridge across Lake Pontchartrain. It was neat to see the city being rebuilt and amazing to see the damage that remains. It hurt me that we were so close to my little brother's soccer game in MS and couldn't go, but I'm sure he felt my love from 4 hours away. Still truckin...Pickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17558616523737734267noreply@blogger.com2