Finding our way home!

Beautiful Gulf of Mexico!

National Museum of Naval Aviation

"Tommy" plane

Naval aviation's first helicopter

Spanish water battery

Fort Barrancas



Pensacola Lighthouse

We arrived in Pensacola Florida yesterday!  Today we toured the National Museum of Naval Aviation but unfortunately we weren't able to see all of it as they had no power due to a blown transformer!  What we did see was totally amazing though!  We then went to Fort Barrancas and the Pensacola Lighthouse!  We saw the Gulf of Mexico and it was a wonderful sight!  Tomorrow we have an overnight  in Ocala at our usual stopping off place and then home Tuesday!  It has been cloudy and rainy the last few days but sunshine coming tomorrow. 

New Orleans

Steamboat Natchez

paddle wheel

colorful buildings in French Quarter

New Orleans skyline

We arrived here in New Orleans  yesterday to a downpour!  The campground provided a courtesy shuttle to the French Quarter so we took that today.  We took a steamboat ride which could have been a lot more fun if it didn't rain on us!  The Natchez is the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River.  I can cross that off my bucket list!  We got soaked but enjoyed ourselves anyway.  After the steamboat tour we got on a bus and toured the city.  At least that was dry!  We can't complain because this is the first day that it has rained on us since we left Ohio!  The rain we had in Las Vegas was at the end of the day so that doesn't count!  Off to Pensacola Florida tomorrow!

San Antonio, Texas

Alamo

cruising down the river

this building is a hospital

Tower of Americas

Church at San Jose' Mission

San Fernando Cathedral

We arrived here yesterday and spent the last two days touring the city.  Yesterday we visited the Alamo, took a River Barge ride, and did a lot of walking.  Today we returned to take a trolly tour to the missions, a cathedral, old settlements, and some more walking on the River Walk!  We ended the day at the Republic of Texas bar where we had margueritas and appetizers.  Yummy!  Off tomorrow with an overnight in Beaumont, Texas and then to New Orleans on Thursday. 

Along the road

Yesterday we arrived in Carlsbad, NM and expected to enter the Carlsbad Caverns but were disappointed to find out that their "winter" hours  meant that no one could enter after 3:30 and  we arrived at 4:15!  Our plan was to tour the caverns which are supposed to be very deep and very large and then watch the bats come out at dusk.  We did see the bats and there were thousands of them!  It was quite a sight to see.  We watched for 25 minutes and they were still coming out of the cave but in much smaller amounts.  Today we left the tall mountains and deep canyons of the west and entered the flat and desolate plains of Texas. We did find a couple of hills to climb but no mountains.   Our first stop is just an overnight in Ozona and off to San Antonio tomorrow.  When we arrived here we discovered a flat tire on the camper that neither one of us were aware of!  The tire was down to the rim but luckily no damage was done to the camper!  Our trip is winding down which is bittersweet!  We have had a blast and seen a lot of amazing stuff but we are both ready to plant our feet!  Off  to see the sights of San Antonio tomorrow and get a tire fixed!

White stuff!

big drift on this corner!

plow bank on side of road

mountain ridge looks like water!

another high plow bank!

lonely cottonwood tree

hill to slide on!

We arrived here in Las Cruces, New Mexico yesterday.  We went out touring this morning and came across all this white stuff!  Incredible! 

Cruising with Ben

Nieman family

Our tour guide

Traveling the back roads

yes, we went there!

winding thru the mountains

Roosevelt Dam

We have had a great time with the Nieman family!  Ben took us to his favorite place yesterday which was FAR out in the mountains and it was quite a ride!  Thanks for a fun and jaw dropping day!  Yes, that thin brown line in the pictures is the road we traveled!  Tomorrow we will be heading to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Bridge over Roosevelt Lake

Grand Canyon pictures

Grand Canyon

Looking far down!



lots of canyons

love the different colors1

A long way to the Colorado River!

Hiking path

We made it to Apache Junction, Arizona!  Getting settled and off to Ben and Michelle's later.  Here are the pictures from the Grand Canyon.  The Colorado River is brown due to recent rains.  Beautiful place!


Grand Canyon

Yesterday was a long and spectacular day spent in the Grand Canyon!  We didn't get home until 8pm but had a wonderful day exploring more gorgeous but different views!  Today we went to Sedona and saw more red rock.  Internet access has been sporadic here near the canyon so that is why the delay in my post.  Off to Mesa tomorrow to spend a few days visiting with family, Ben, Michelle, Austin, Andrew and Jack.  Can't wait!  I will post pictures tomorrow when I have better service. 

Valley of Fire State Park

What are all them people doing here?

Lake Mead

This reminds us of a man's head

Natural Bridge



Rainbow Vista

Today we ventured out and drove around the north end of  Lake Mead and went into the Valley of Fire State Park.  Another amazing place!  These red rock formations were sand dunes  that over millions of years and weather formed them into rocks.  We weren't able to see all of Lake Mead as it is 110 miles long!  Our plans to go to the strip were again cancelled because the President was in town!  We figure it wasn't meant for us to go there!  Off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow!

Hoover Dam

Looking at bottom of dam

Hoover Dam

Intake towers from Lake Mead

Yesterday was a travel day and we landed in Boulder City, Nevada.  Checked out one of the Seven Wonders of the World today.  The Hoover Dam is another amazing example of engineering and hard work done for the good of mankind. This  afternoon we had a severe thunderstorm which dropped 2 inches of rain on the city of Las Vegas in less than an hour.  Las Vegas is in a valley surrounded by mountains so there was serious  flash flooding.   Luckily, we are up high so didn't have to worry about that but weren't able to go to the "strip" tonight as planned.  Maybe tomorrow!



We will drive over bridge in background

Rainbow after the thunderstorm