Vacation Road Trip September 12-20 2019

Page last updated 1-Oct-2019
 

Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado

 
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This was an incredible trip with all of the variety of Cities and National Parks visited.

Thursday, September 12, 2019 - Horseshoe Bay, TX

We left Houston around 6:30pm and headed for Horseshoe Bay, TX where we stayed the night.
 
1 View of country side going down towards the Horseshoe Bay
2 Chrysler 300 Sport rental car.  Chose it because it had very large trunk and plenty of room inside to stretch during the trip.

Friday, September 13, 2019 - Driving day to get out of Texas

Long day of driving from Horseshoe Bay, Tx to Albuquerque, NM.   Around 4pm, we were on a two lane interstate hi-way in the middle of farming land with not much in site when we got a flat tire, which turned out to be near Welch, TX.  I pulled the car over and was about to change the tire when a man and his wife in a truck pulled next to us and asked us if we need help.  I said yes and it turned out to be a gift of God.  The man's name was Royce and he was wearing a Trump Shirt which instantly made me know he could be trusted.  Royce's wife Lisa and Genia had a good time talking during the whole incident.  Royce got us to pull the car over a dirt road leading to a house of a friend of his named Mickey.  Royce then got on his phone and called a mobile tire repair service that came by and fixed the tire.  The experience probably took about an hour and was just a minor delay which was would have been a lot worse without Royce and Lisa stopping.  We exchanged phone numbers and addresses where Genia and I sent them a thank you card and a $50 gift card.
 
1 Keith looking at the flat tire.
2 Keith talking with Royce   Repair truck working on the tire.   Two punctures with the drill bit still stuck in tire.

Saturday, September 14, 2019 - Albuquerque, NM and Petrified Forest National Park, AZ

We had a fun day exploring a little bit of Albuquerque and taking the Sandia Peak Tramway up to the top of the Sandia Mountain Ski area.
 
1 Genia at the top of Sandia Mountain with the east facing trails to the Stone House
2 Keith and Genia standing with the gondola in the background.
3 Looking down on the ski run area with Genia down by the ski slope.
4 View from the observation deck looking down to the city of Albuquerque.
5 Another view from the observation deck looking down to the City.  The photo does not do the depth justice.
6 Gondola coming up to pick us up.

On the way to Flagstaff, AZ, we stopped and visited the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.
 
1 Genia in front of the Tourist Center for the Petrified Forest National Park
2 Genia at the Painted Park first stop
3 Genia at another location at one of the visit areas.
4 Keith and Genia at one of the locations in the park.
5 Keith crouching next to a rock assembly pilar.  Btw, these were all over the place in Alaska's National Parks.... love them.
6 Genia at the Big Picture tour stop.

Sunday, September 15, 2019 - Grand Canyon, AZ & Glen Canyon Dam, AZ

We had an awesome time visiting the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We brought some very high powered binoculars that we use for Astronomy which came in very handy to look at so many breathtaking views.

1 Keith and Genia at one of the observation points.
2 A view down on the Canyon from where we were standing in photo #1.
3 Genia sitting on an edge near a very high drop off.
4 One of the many view that stretch a distance of 20 to 50 miles to the other side of the Canyon.
5 Genia and Keith on another ledge with awesome view of the Canyon.
6 Keith and Genia near Mather Point on the Canyon.
7 View of the Canyon with one of the several trails that lead down to the Colorado River.  We were able to see people walking on it with the binoculars and there is also lodging.
8 Same view as #7 with some details on what was seen with binoculars.
9 Genia looking through binoculars at one of the points.
10 Keith sitting on one of the ledges looking through binoculars.
11 Genia making friends with a squirrel.  Genia actually got to pet the squirrel. 
12 Genia petting the squirrel.

Next we drove to Glen Canyon Dam and spent some time at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center

1 View of the dam with Lake Powell
2 View of the dam structure leading down to the base.
3 Genia walking across the bridge with the view of the dam.
4 View of the immense bridge we walked across that is next to the dam.
5 Genia walking into the Visitor Center.  Notice her reflection in the windows will show her smiling.
6 Dinosaur Tracks rock display in front of Visitor Center.

Monday, September 16, 2019 - Bryce Canyon, UT

We stayed the evening before at Ruby's Best Western Inn, with a view of the lake, which is literally down the street from the National Park.  We highly recommend this is the place to stay when going to Bryce Canyon because the Inn has a very large and wonderful souvenir center, full grocery store and two excellent restaurants.

Bryce Canyon was beautiful and the weather was perfect with a little bit of a chilly cold wind from the north.  We stopped at all of the great vantage points and walked around the top of the mountain at the top Canyon Viewing Area.

1 Genia looking at the map at one of the views
2 Natural Bridge
3 Genia looking out at Agua Canyon   (Spanish for water canyon)
4 Beautiful View to the left
5 Beautiful View to the right
6 Genia with view of the Agua Canyon
7 Genia and Keith at the top of the observatory area of the Canyon.  It got very cold and windy.
8 View on the backside at the top of the observatory area of the Canyon
9 Genia sitting on log barrier on one of the walking trails on the backside at the top

A few photos of the beautiful mountains, from the road while we were driving to Green River, Ut, that were probably carved out by the Great Flood.

1 Mountain Ridges 1
2 Mountain Ridges 2
3 Mountain Ridges 3
4 Mountain Ridges 4

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - Green River's River Terrace Inn, UT and Arches National Park, UT

The city of Green River is at the crossroads of many National Parks and major highways, so it a mecca for trucks and vacationers to fuel up and be on their way.  When entering the city, it can look somewhat old and industrialized, but there is an oasis there with the gorgeous and very romantic hotel called the River Terrace Inn which we would highly recommend to stay overnight or for a few days to travel to the National Parks like Arches National Park.

Below are some photos from the Inn's back courtyard which overlooks the river along with beautiful swimming pool with heated sitting pool.   We had a wonderful time sitting in the courtyard; and then swimming along with relaxing in the smaller hot pool.  The restaurant adjacent to the Inn is a must place to eat.

1 Genia at left side of courtyard
2 Genia sitting in the courtyard.   We took some time to just sit, relax and enjoy the nice breeze.
3 View of the river by the courtyard
4 Genia swimming in the nice pool.
5 Keith stepping into hot pool.  It was very hot.
6 View of the courtyard and pool from our 3rd floor terrace 1 to the left. and 2nd view to the right.

Arches National Park

1 Driving into the National Park with the immense walls as visitors have to drive up a winding road.
2 View of mountain on walk way to Sand Dune Arch
3 Trail to Sand Dune Arch
4 Genia walking up to entrance area of Sand Dune Arch
5 Keith and Genia going to Sand Dune Arch
6 Keith and Genia at the Devils Garden
7 One of the many arches in the park
8 Another one of the immense mountain mesas. 

Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - Breckenridge, CO

We had a wonderful time walking around the town, shopping and stopping at the local restaurants and bakeries.

1 Walking across one of the bridges going over the beautiful stream in the middle of downtown.
2 Genia standing at one of the crosswalks.  Beautiful flowers were everywhere.
3 Keith and Genia at another intersection.
4 Having some awesome bakery snacks and coffee at Mom's Bakery
5 Keith enjoying his coffee and fruit strudel.
6 Genia enjoying her tea and various bakery items.
7 Genia relaxing on one of the shop's couches.

Thursday, September 19, 2019 - Santa Fe, NM

A very fun town to visit and see the historic areas.  We visited the Museum District and had a lot of fun seeing the sites, being entertained by the local merchants in the center plaza area and getting some great food.

1 Santa Fe Plaza map of the area we walked.
2 Keith and Genia walking into the central park area across from the Palace of the Governors
3 Genia viewing some of the many beautiful Indian jewelry and crafts.
4 Genia looking at the vendors displays in the center plaza areas
5 Christmas Tree in a Santa Fe style from #4's photo.
6 The shops in the plaza area.
7 Genia standing next to Indian Chief wood carving.  I said he looks like he is wearing Scottish flag shoes.
8 Keith and Genia sitting outside enjoying the Santa Fe fusion food dishes with a view of the plaza.
9 Genia wanting to purchase a beautiful bronze dog statue.  Too big to purchase and take with us. 

As we were driving to Carlsbad, NM, we stopped in Roswell, NM to have a little fun visiting the UFO Museum.  If you are interested in UFOs, then read this link on what UFOs are possibly.  As you may know, Roswell has the famous case in July 1947, which many believe is a cover up by Brigadier General Roger M Ramey and the Majestic 12 (MJ-12)   If you ever visit Roswell, there are several UFO museums but only one is worthwhile with all of the technical information and photos.

1 Genia standing outside the entrance
2 Brigadier General Roger M Ramey photo at the museum
3 Majestic 12 chart at the museum
4 A proposed theory on a Interstellar Space Craft at the museum.  Popularized by Forbidden Planet, Day the Earth Stood Still (1945 release) and other movies is absolutely not tenable from the engineering drawing shown at the museum but none-the-less fun.
5 Genia and Keith standing in front of the Alien manikin exhibit.
6 Genia standing at the exit of the museum

Friday, September 20, 2019 - Carlsbad, NM

We had fun day visiting Carlsbad Cavern, taking the full walk through the cavern.  The temperature inside is 56 Degree Fahrenheit which can be cold under normal circumstances but with all of the walking, we quickly found ourselves perspiring.

1 A plaque at one of the nice local restaurants, "No Whiner Dinner", we ate dinner.  Thought it was awesome and funny.
2 Very nice Carlsbad Cavern visitor center.
3 Keith and Genia in front of the sign at the main visitors center.  2 photos pasted together. Sun was directly in my eyes ... squinting ; )
4 Genia on the sidewalk getting closer to the entrance.
5 Walking up to the immense entrance to the cavern.
6 The walkway down to the actual cavern.
7 Genia walking down the pathway after entering the cavern.  Beams of sunlight barely coming down.
8 Keith on one of the walkways
9 Genia at one of the junctions with routes to the Big Room
10 Genia and Keith on one of the routes
11 Fairyland Stalagmites
12 Huge Stalagmites that have merged with the Stalactites
13 Razor sharp appearing Stalactites coming off the top of the cavern walkway
14 Genia next to immense and beautiful Stalagmite that we nicknamed the Buddha
15 We looked down from the Bottomless Pit and it is intimidating and fascinating.  The Photo looking down
16 Genia on one of the routes that had very beautiful clear ponds
17 Very interesting Stalagmite that we nicknamed the Norwegian Norsemen