Trip Finale of our Great Lakes Adventure

Overlooking Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

A nice quiet view of the Painted Desert from inside our vehicle.....outside the wind was howling. After battling a windy drive through the desert we made it to Flagstaff, Arizona and settled into a fun evening at Black Bart's Steakhouse and Dinner Theater.
Our final stop on the last day.......In-N-Out helped us make our re-entry a little easier.

We have arrived home and are very thankful for a fun and safe trip. Thank you for your prayers and for keeping in touch. We know the Lord was faithful in answering your prayers for safe travel because even with 3 flat tires, we never experinced any sense of danger or fear. We thank the Lord for His constant care and provision and for giving us this special time together to see the beautiful country we live in! We are blessed!

Marvelous Macro Images

Fun close ups.....
Give us your best guess of what they are.

Don't you think these would make a nice patchwork quilt?

Doin' Durango

Breath taking scenic drive through the San Juan Mountains to Durango

The narrow gauge train, an 1880 coal burning locamotive, "The Durango to Silverton", runs right through our camp ground. Wooo...wooo!

We had a great lunch in the Diamond Belle Saloon at the Strater Hotel in Durango's Historic Downtown.

A Day in the Badlands

First stop of the day....the infamous Corn Palace covered in designs made completely from corn.Close up the beautiful handy work. The South Dakota sky...God's creation is beyond description! We stopped to check out a 6 ton Praire Dog and then......

surprise........we discovered we'd been driving on a shredded tire!

We praise God for His protection!

After that we got a new travel friend..Billy Bob Bison.

The Badlands are not so bad after all.......actually they are

Amazing! per Tom's best Huell Howser impression..... Nice Buffalo....sweet Buffalo...tickle...tickle!

Friends in Colorado Springs

Today we had the joy of visiting with our dear friends Greg, Laura and Aubrey Melendes! They are from our church family but moved to Colorado Springs several years ago for a new ministry opportunity. What fun to get to spend time with them!

They took us on an afternoon hike to view the majestic Garden of the Gods
Hurry...take the picture, I can't hold this much longer.

Rocky Mountain High

View from the campsite.....not bad!!!Can you tell I love it here? Thank you Lord for letting us experince your glorious creation!

A herd of elk wander freely throughout the park and are very comfortable with people close by.
On an afternoon hike we happened upon a newborn elk. The Ranger told us it was only a few hours old....beautiful!!!We are lovin' it here, high in the Rockies!

From South Dakota to Colorado

When life comes at you like a herd of buffalos...........Don't panic....make buffalo burgers! Ummmm...delicious!

Our trip would not be complete if we didn't experience a cave. Tom's new name is " Hunchback" after exploring Wind Cave National Park, in South Dakota. Luckily, no bat guano this time! We arrived in Estes Park, Colorado just in time to watch a storm set in over the Rockies.Next morning was beautiful with sunshine and fresh snow on the mnts. Tom and his buddy Bob have already started a booming business in town!

Wild Life Loop Drive

Here are some photos taken from our motorhome window as we drove through Custer State Park today.

A very friendly wild donkey looking for some pie.Wild turkey...... hold the egg nog.

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam.....Buffalo calf giving himself a bath
Rush hour in the State ParkProof that the antelope still roam on the plains
Kootchy koo! Who are you?