tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90313022344291485942024-03-13T22:09:10.684-04:00To Behold the BeautyOne thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.comBlogger657125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-63802576413452125692022-07-27T22:57:00.000-04:002022-07-27T22:57:34.859-04:00Dennis...A Long Overdue Update<div style="text-align: justify;">Doug's brother, Dennis, has been mentioned in several of my posts over the years; but I've recently felt that I needed to fill in the gap since my last mention of him. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To briefly summarize, Dennis had his left leg amputated below the knee in 2014, due to complications from diabetes. It meant that he couldn't return to his apartment in Coldwater, Michigan because the structure couldn't be modified to accommodate a wheelchair. It fell to Doug and me to find an apartment for him so he would have a place to live when he was released from the hospital. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were so blessed to find Silver Star Apartments in Battle Creek, Michigan, adjacent to the Veterans Administration Medical Center there. The fully furnished apartments had been built to accommodate homeless veterans, of which Dennis was now one. And the cost was subsidized according to ability to pay. It was an answer to prayer. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the help of Home Health Aides, Dennis was able to live on his own at Silver Star until September of 2020, when, after a fall in his apartment, he was hospitalized for a time. Then he had to go to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation. Things went downhill from there. He was back and forth between the rehab facility and the hospital, losing ground steadily. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He died on March 12, 2021. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dennis had three daughters but was divorced from their mother when the girls (who are now grown women but who we still refer to as "the girls") were about four and a half, two and a half, and one and a half. They moved to northern Michigan with their mother, and Doug and I had never really known them until all this began to happen with their dad. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When Dennis had his leg amputation, the two older daughters came to see him in the hospital. The youngest had never really had an opportunity to know Dennis very well and was okay with leaving things that way. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the final few months of Dennis' life, Doug and I used social media to keep the girls up to date with the changes in their dad's health. As a result, our relationship with them began to strengthen. Now, although we are separated by several hours of travel, a healthy relationship with our three nieces is developing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just recently, we all met at Dennis' gravesite, in commemoration of his birthday, after which we all went to Station 66, where we could sit at a picnic table in the shade of a tree and visit for as long as we liked over ice cream treats.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before we parted that day, the youngest daughter, who had been essentially estranged from our side of the family for most of her life, suggested that we get together again before winter. It made my heart beat with joy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Family is important!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvFwRYEOE115r8-Ly1ijgIbKPNjx7ejADV9lnvGGwfzasvMUfGwiZGPpEXS9nXfoHGk_jptI276yqw6Ct3hG-WmiDdr71UB2Pfn_x1uIaOCOa_ltquOh7aHad0x5KYFnH3miIHmaJDMllM-DlrfkrWF8TJrrDGoiqJe27gqGJ0UGS9S5wAU6dxzAR/s1530/20220716_Denise_Becky_Kathy_at_Dennis%27_Grave_Without_Last_Name..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="1145" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvFwRYEOE115r8-Ly1ijgIbKPNjx7ejADV9lnvGGwfzasvMUfGwiZGPpEXS9nXfoHGk_jptI276yqw6Ct3hG-WmiDdr71UB2Pfn_x1uIaOCOa_ltquOh7aHad0x5KYFnH3miIHmaJDMllM-DlrfkrWF8TJrrDGoiqJe27gqGJ0UGS9S5wAU6dxzAR/s400/20220716_Denise_Becky_Kathy_at_Dennis%27_Grave_Without_Last_Name..jpg" /></a><span style="color: black;">In the above photo, that furry little blob of black and white is the pet skunk of Daughter #1.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiVzWpir75_1BzHv0CLfHlxmGbc7BmWtiijm_Uxe4IPNyYuI9PGio93PX49kq2TjCYxVAv-S9svj0V1zRW1nZ6J2X-1z8K6aXDXV83beDUYa0Ct15_NP-TkZcU_RSCK5apI5gWK28g4z6uvfAidImfDEyS_boE21AmHQEX0FHfFzrNDBnwo4Z6vA_/s720/20220716_Becky_Linda_Doug_Kathy_Denise_at_Station_66.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiVzWpir75_1BzHv0CLfHlxmGbc7BmWtiijm_Uxe4IPNyYuI9PGio93PX49kq2TjCYxVAv-S9svj0V1zRW1nZ6J2X-1z8K6aXDXV83beDUYa0Ct15_NP-TkZcU_RSCK5apI5gWK28g4z6uvfAidImfDEyS_boE21AmHQEX0FHfFzrNDBnwo4Z6vA_/s400/20220716_Becky_Linda_Doug_Kathy_Denise_at_Station_66.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-57331809687101514722022-06-25T22:57:00.003-04:002022-06-25T23:17:14.697-04:00Catching Up<div style="text-align: justify;">This post will cover an assortment of pictures and life updates that haven't been mentioned here since I've cut way back on my blogging. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm going to begin with my oldest great-nephew, Curtis. The last time I posted anything about Curtis was in 2015, when he graduated from high school. That's largely because, with his involvement with college and the activities that go along with that period in the life of a young adult, I didn't see him again until his wedding last year. And now he's a daddy. I'm still trying to get my mind around that. But here are some pictures to prove the reality of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXC5_hsZKuLdxB8Hu8q0yJqgPovVzdVTo-jOGghBqTKMEpRHxBpomEtQAc3HmRqQvxdLRq9sY5-rAJZNlIDkpoWrFEJA5D0Lp6nV2L9Ddi9GddeFA3EeAbbViNp1RsRUq0wuTZuxEv4crVmJkZ93ZMGebdWEwJEqqjYp58Jq1G93q5LPsHJGdHb7d/s1601/241860532_5115082871840656_1664625757221777655_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="1168" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXC5_hsZKuLdxB8Hu8q0yJqgPovVzdVTo-jOGghBqTKMEpRHxBpomEtQAc3HmRqQvxdLRq9sY5-rAJZNlIDkpoWrFEJA5D0Lp6nV2L9Ddi9GddeFA3EeAbbViNp1RsRUq0wuTZuxEv4crVmJkZ93ZMGebdWEwJEqqjYp58Jq1G93q5LPsHJGdHb7d/w291-h400/241860532_5115082871840656_1664625757221777655_n.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curtis & Gaby on their wedding day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrFzZqICjH9dOr-YJnrjxLRAG-GLUV0kHNhHO2HEIOmdfY34h9mfaDPt0LiJPVcJBercjKSY8gWXN-iWpPO3skSTmPiJ-QKlh5Ba4bHap4mizo5ar-8xe1tFIEmTbiDv_yOjNl_MR0RUJTr29QNqKj7mLpyHo8xx-cA_Tivw1kaMqckgPEQI1CPxr/s480/20220601_IMG_1077_Curtis_Gaby_&_Newborn_Baby_Girl.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrFzZqICjH9dOr-YJnrjxLRAG-GLUV0kHNhHO2HEIOmdfY34h9mfaDPt0LiJPVcJBercjKSY8gWXN-iWpPO3skSTmPiJ-QKlh5Ba4bHap4mizo5ar-8xe1tFIEmTbiDv_yOjNl_MR0RUJTr29QNqKj7mLpyHo8xx-cA_Tivw1kaMqckgPEQI1CPxr/w300-h400/20220601_IMG_1077_Curtis_Gaby_&_Newborn_Baby_Girl.JPEG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud parents of newborn baby, Magnolia Thea</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLE_ZL5CXDgfLSKcgR604JA6GSLvr0g5MHH3UwIiFJWWV94YTOqsfdZHAlY8pCPHMzCviBonTnN-56Bosh1KkDuNUTNkG9myIFuxliRGPM39lCgQk_lP7nhguYprXJshto1Raf1BsHKavilBSLq5lVQS9JTytPShPoCpBkEmQg_6_-ZO1gUW8S6TQ/s2048/289260382_6029467137068887_5570678584382126588_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1866" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLE_ZL5CXDgfLSKcgR604JA6GSLvr0g5MHH3UwIiFJWWV94YTOqsfdZHAlY8pCPHMzCviBonTnN-56Bosh1KkDuNUTNkG9myIFuxliRGPM39lCgQk_lP7nhguYprXJshto1Raf1BsHKavilBSLq5lVQS9JTytPShPoCpBkEmQg_6_-ZO1gUW8S6TQ/w584-h640/289260382_6029467137068887_5570678584382126588_n.jpg" width="584" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curtis' First Father's Day as a Father</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaIVXq98MlqLmLrpLVhWC5Cv4mPm11MuflgojTi3q4yeJoQfQJm4SJN-ex1E486WZHByvwTOvoDw6NDaYitfmOS90e44fQ3zQnIJs7G2mT9d-hRZVUFCPgFXfNkrXIq-ME5Vv16mQEwBPO5nWhztkKwrbGO48ZAxobSP-rOmIrOMcPh7TD7ZPjDID/s2048/290003301_5217261895028039_3146986102717192171_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaIVXq98MlqLmLrpLVhWC5Cv4mPm11MuflgojTi3q4yeJoQfQJm4SJN-ex1E486WZHByvwTOvoDw6NDaYitfmOS90e44fQ3zQnIJs7G2mT9d-hRZVUFCPgFXfNkrXIq-ME5Vv16mQEwBPO5nWhztkKwrbGO48ZAxobSP-rOmIrOMcPh7TD7ZPjDID/w400-h268/290003301_5217261895028039_3146986102717192171_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaby and her new daughter</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The next three photos are from Ouabache State Park, one each from April, May, and June.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCjLIZ8LcImaVj8gFLYpAeIqBTHpoCCIYL0JFSei1iY5Z6owbG6PJlm1vwzy-xyZkDXnCUPX1UaydfXRCTwmxyjAI0-6FmTiBIPj_Poun-QHCwhhNHpuRKlerWx_LJGoxL4QDVjSQm66OdqVYvPW548frfQasA8Q4iQdk6A3l29OEXIqDM0s_ga6X/s4509/P1060384_Island_at_Ouabache.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3389" data-original-width="4509" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCjLIZ8LcImaVj8gFLYpAeIqBTHpoCCIYL0JFSei1iY5Z6owbG6PJlm1vwzy-xyZkDXnCUPX1UaydfXRCTwmxyjAI0-6FmTiBIPj_Poun-QHCwhhNHpuRKlerWx_LJGoxL4QDVjSQm66OdqVYvPW548frfQasA8Q4iQdk6A3l29OEXIqDM0s_ga6X/w400-h301/P1060384_Island_at_Ouabache.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Redbud trees are so glorious at the park in the spring.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs3Qh0zZGj3iRo7ytzcp-NrsKmHcIigMgZkdAgZsTzn12VV0-AMhfYqeT-1b5rn4IgI5UVRLuG8N8MHIikoNUDDJ-lbst9Hr7i0OU3VRvt5K_pyPNyFHGBkeyZjycw0xI7fGe6_LmJOIuLG-CZffXAvORCKgcqPGXOpR5oT4jYR0kpzxc12Rpwor5/s2048/IMG_0033_Linda_with_Walker_Footrest_at_Ouabache.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs3Qh0zZGj3iRo7ytzcp-NrsKmHcIigMgZkdAgZsTzn12VV0-AMhfYqeT-1b5rn4IgI5UVRLuG8N8MHIikoNUDDJ-lbst9Hr7i0OU3VRvt5K_pyPNyFHGBkeyZjycw0xI7fGe6_LmJOIuLG-CZffXAvORCKgcqPGXOpR5oT4jYR0kpzxc12Rpwor5/w400-h300/IMG_0033_Linda_with_Walker_Footrest_at_Ouabache.JPEG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;">This one was taken two and a half weeks after I'd had a total left hip replacement. Doug had fitted the walker with a footrest which allowed me to keep my feet elevated, thereby reducing the swelling.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JmKOvx096tKANuGY3gkOvGIzlIGzk6PAN_B2tBYyBL-esDjd6pCOoCWeupRC75VP__r99zF0j4C18cHkgrSVXpoD3ZXbGnMft8Xyit8Enm77zlxuczRjhP5G84uza979jcHt7m1K_iXLQmvY_dU8S4sNVfUEQJil01J3hhkJQ93o1m2JhRUa76Ka/s4616/P1060448_Bison_Calf_Born_2022_06_06.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3466" data-original-width="4616" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JmKOvx096tKANuGY3gkOvGIzlIGzk6PAN_B2tBYyBL-esDjd6pCOoCWeupRC75VP__r99zF0j4C18cHkgrSVXpoD3ZXbGnMft8Xyit8Enm77zlxuczRjhP5G84uza979jcHt7m1K_iXLQmvY_dU8S4sNVfUEQJil01J3hhkJQ93o1m2JhRUa76Ka/w400-h300/P1060448_Bison_Calf_Born_2022_06_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ouabache State Park is home to a small herd of American buffalo, the newest member of which is this little calf, born on June 6. She has become the most popular attraction at the park...or at least the most popular attraction in the buffalo pen.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>The next picture was taken alongside the street leading to our house in the retirement community where we live. It's not a great photo, but I include it because a quail is a relatively rare sighting for us. They're generally shy and not seen out in the open like this.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfrHv49_plygdeHu1c5ic_2rwrhW61qI751WEky7vq5-XSe0S9k7TSSyW4SxEI5MK4gr4mH5ZqyUldXR5NX0Jmu3Qm3fmVeZIcUeA5VOgFApRx5HAmP153J-LUfiMOBtxcoebsOFnMH_Py9QiozMIfAMtYCYmEMUkl5YUy4mdAlSowX7uLJ5WOU5w/s4896/P1060406_Bobwhite_Quail.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4896" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfrHv49_plygdeHu1c5ic_2rwrhW61qI751WEky7vq5-XSe0S9k7TSSyW4SxEI5MK4gr4mH5ZqyUldXR5NX0Jmu3Qm3fmVeZIcUeA5VOgFApRx5HAmP153J-LUfiMOBtxcoebsOFnMH_Py9QiozMIfAMtYCYmEMUkl5YUy4mdAlSowX7uLJ5WOU5w/w400-h266/P1060406_Bobwhite_Quail.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><br /></div></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-82382405536735022002022-03-21T22:20:00.001-04:002022-03-21T22:20:44.157-04:00Early Spring at Ouabache State Park<div style="text-align: justify;">The last couple of weeks have provided so many interesting sights at Ouabache State Park that I couldn't resist sharing them here.</div><p style="text-align: justify;">On March 5, about five o'clock in the evening, a pod of about 16 American White Pelicans floated majestically over our heads and settled on the park's Kunkel Lake. We had never seen pelicans in northeast Indiana, although I understand they do make appearances in the area during their spring migration. They stayed clustered together as a tight group, and the Canada geese that consider the lake their own didn't seem to know what to make of this invasion. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera; and my cell phone wasn't up to the low-light challenge and the zoom required for decent pictures of the pelicans. But I'll post two pictures here anyway. If you can't see the birds clearly...well, use your imagination.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxhJoSBbxlMVQ4ylPe_pDb2Pveoa3s3Zcwd40Zve-7cLHOII2Q6jTV2x075LC480T_34YVJzyx8J1wCXcpjRxWz9fpTcpD0CGu7SN6w_0zsiINCdMXyxqkx_cK4YQcQEfjAff_wTUKnb48g4hK8ayxfKUvkyXGuQ-sv3exE7RYmzHFXEJedzLHf53e=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxhJoSBbxlMVQ4ylPe_pDb2Pveoa3s3Zcwd40Zve-7cLHOII2Q6jTV2x075LC480T_34YVJzyx8J1wCXcpjRxWz9fpTcpD0CGu7SN6w_0zsiINCdMXyxqkx_cK4YQcQEfjAff_wTUKnb48g4hK8ayxfKUvkyXGuQ-sv3exE7RYmzHFXEJedzLHf53e=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_5aKPHdB3tcdjUr8aigYt1_1Kqaa_4baunMXfo9iCcXN5nIA0fIckh8WgovFKzB5yuvShwcxqJ5s2Uz_GQwL1LK6CCk4JrjsvT-Tvj2jVfSbZSN9IEXPKg0UcUeXTvOalQrOeN3Hps2n5cSMWP96Qfqr1YQ1kGIJz0_yyb_1s1W_YQvkDCK4N0V92=s3066" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2299" data-original-width="3066" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_5aKPHdB3tcdjUr8aigYt1_1Kqaa_4baunMXfo9iCcXN5nIA0fIckh8WgovFKzB5yuvShwcxqJ5s2Uz_GQwL1LK6CCk4JrjsvT-Tvj2jVfSbZSN9IEXPKg0UcUeXTvOalQrOeN3Hps2n5cSMWP96Qfqr1YQ1kGIJz0_yyb_1s1W_YQvkDCK4N0V92=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">During today's visit to the park, a Pileated Woodpecker stayed in one place long enough to provide a rare opportunity to get some photos and even a video.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7wF3UDI-0w0zc0GHLWkzWTBetQg5Z0L7qcMatohuLCcnqLnzpP3Np4O81Z7FBnJLpUYK2lqae43uDA0PKsxueBH1NyuX_akHzCWtmsdpN5FKwtxO0_Drk8B9sA_VyAUJChyMGwCivmUB-68k0YW4FfTKa-JOSMRm24rlvUz2m5yT0E8d3jhN0giPl=s4896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4896" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7wF3UDI-0w0zc0GHLWkzWTBetQg5Z0L7qcMatohuLCcnqLnzpP3Np4O81Z7FBnJLpUYK2lqae43uDA0PKsxueBH1NyuX_akHzCWtmsdpN5FKwtxO0_Drk8B9sA_VyAUJChyMGwCivmUB-68k0YW4FfTKa-JOSMRm24rlvUz2m5yT0E8d3jhN0giPl=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9ajm3GAnMptHWkDmCudLpZhYvW0k_GEig5Re40qOiN4sCO7EOvrfGSNm8JGozsBrjIKvdY3TW2_rrb88_ABtOopCuv1ZelRAMiVs3FdC5Nbx2MhuiSPKaKCgMZDl4Pl19Y1P4zIOAtUzAVlJ1tCzaUxHY-HkmfmC7KgO5Rg2CvNqmSPSs8KJICwT6=s4896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4896" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9ajm3GAnMptHWkDmCudLpZhYvW0k_GEig5Re40qOiN4sCO7EOvrfGSNm8JGozsBrjIKvdY3TW2_rrb88_ABtOopCuv1ZelRAMiVs3FdC5Nbx2MhuiSPKaKCgMZDl4Pl19Y1P4zIOAtUzAVlJ1tCzaUxHY-HkmfmC7KgO5Rg2CvNqmSPSs8KJICwT6=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lVantDaPtL4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When we reached our usual parking spot by the lake, we were astounded by a deafening chorus of frogs croaking. At first, we thought it must be tree frogs making all the noise; but, in the end, we discovered that the entire chorus was originating from an area where recent rains had left puddles of water. Following is a still photo of one frog and a video of the "chorus."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQc2Wc6aefWiJiRje8tV1AkfzfQTaklpXc6fix-FyVw6CjqnRLdmAL0MrMH-TWR8ECeV9a1dVGNfxlAjwfsmzWWPdTTwFK32qlyt-P8OYZil4VUacQUHngmFszPnljxATm8hfjmTieOcTm5lsZDWVtWSNlYt6uVVYj09FbA7VPE0ftnds9bj-8xuDi=s3558" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2373" data-original-width="3558" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQc2Wc6aefWiJiRje8tV1AkfzfQTaklpXc6fix-FyVw6CjqnRLdmAL0MrMH-TWR8ECeV9a1dVGNfxlAjwfsmzWWPdTTwFK32qlyt-P8OYZil4VUacQUHngmFszPnljxATm8hfjmTieOcTm5lsZDWVtWSNlYt6uVVYj09FbA7VPE0ftnds9bj-8xuDi=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JAB2DsrrsuI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have also been seeing some Ring-necked Ducks on the lake this spring. Here are a couple of images as well as a video. The video includes a small skirmish between two of the male ducks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitDox1XIfgT4CbDPwPHKs69CFP1d5G2AlbLdOmk_WixoKAC9yk8Oa19TkyL9EQjIapGzUCk6ozYVMdz_hwfUqGp87bFueXRqDLaNkenOXO_xUmKLdrvbUcbIEhaHuFZXxrfdd_8e5eeUzL-RupPAY-9lYzGmTne0Se3A6efW7I8a7NQWVSPG7IWUZn=s2470" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="2470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitDox1XIfgT4CbDPwPHKs69CFP1d5G2AlbLdOmk_WixoKAC9yk8Oa19TkyL9EQjIapGzUCk6ozYVMdz_hwfUqGp87bFueXRqDLaNkenOXO_xUmKLdrvbUcbIEhaHuFZXxrfdd_8e5eeUzL-RupPAY-9lYzGmTne0Se3A6efW7I8a7NQWVSPG7IWUZn=s400" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyGZHQglgTtb2HD5AB8U-tCxX0xkXygm7TtsmQN_io5eIoI7K6Uo3YnKUg-LuPAlhiZ1RQBXCBs-7QhuvLm7gFUBsiAr1RiJFZjppn7RJnhwq5zDY0AiOP8KebFQ3wglmjxi1lqyo1PyPIquzJt9aaGNJR-9JSOLj7KR1mQN8toxYBoUONddVLe4hE=s2565" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="2565" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyGZHQglgTtb2HD5AB8U-tCxX0xkXygm7TtsmQN_io5eIoI7K6Uo3YnKUg-LuPAlhiZ1RQBXCBs-7QhuvLm7gFUBsiAr1RiJFZjppn7RJnhwq5zDY0AiOP8KebFQ3wglmjxi1lqyo1PyPIquzJt9aaGNJR-9JSOLj7KR1mQN8toxYBoUONddVLe4hE=s400" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zYqqm8xMBhk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, lastly, Indiana's state bird, the Northern Cardinal, male and female.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZJBvKKdKsbZNBY0wouqDqm-6veAnAzA5pmnXOjFYWcHECngYiE6MmR_vAq4gFNMp9AL31fWJ-qZ_QpHAgn1PtMXLZWtHfXQpqDEV6bQhN02HUwVi3u1oTOdAfeySkJaA2hW8ipn1RFyozgrhLY8zJJo-Vb2_JaA4SetaddHGbhnhOv3zYReESOixa=s3813" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2542" data-original-width="3813" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZJBvKKdKsbZNBY0wouqDqm-6veAnAzA5pmnXOjFYWcHECngYiE6MmR_vAq4gFNMp9AL31fWJ-qZ_QpHAgn1PtMXLZWtHfXQpqDEV6bQhN02HUwVi3u1oTOdAfeySkJaA2hW8ipn1RFyozgrhLY8zJJo-Vb2_JaA4SetaddHGbhnhOv3zYReESOixa=s400" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN_ykHbC3WDALhZkcDO8DWa-CkVx6_zJpYpNlLgDq6rhP-kzkGecUWmMb22jDXVIRU0IYMncQ25FNOhpW1GIRYjJ3Rtwxjle63sXuIimZw0i43llTV-GAPFXsX8R5DWa0hemuZjxAps29qg44UWMiacSvK2phwGnsA8wizhUlCbIoFN0m4cLkCxS8I=s4115" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2743" data-original-width="4115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN_ykHbC3WDALhZkcDO8DWa-CkVx6_zJpYpNlLgDq6rhP-kzkGecUWmMb22jDXVIRU0IYMncQ25FNOhpW1GIRYjJ3Rtwxjle63sXuIimZw0i43llTV-GAPFXsX8R5DWa0hemuZjxAps29qg44UWMiacSvK2phwGnsA8wizhUlCbIoFN0m4cLkCxS8I=s400" width="400" /></a></div></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-14645492661512389312021-11-18T10:39:00.000-05:002021-11-18T10:39:26.520-05:00Autumn at Ouabache State Park<p>Just a few images from November 2, 2021, at Ouabache State Park, near Bluffton, Indiana, to remember the now-faded fall colors. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3eDz04qRnqM73bznBho4qvDL1MA6VS-KmNwzLblCisv9maH4ne7jmDEtabKACk6MAgqiWF_YU9HzU1vO1XR4DaDewuqYejHbQdCUVpoc2I1K2HRM5FyVN2x4oPMm4mPiYFqygXmevU0/s2755/IMG_0963_Ouabache_Firetower_in_the_Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2066" data-original-width="2755" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3eDz04qRnqM73bznBho4qvDL1MA6VS-KmNwzLblCisv9maH4ne7jmDEtabKACk6MAgqiWF_YU9HzU1vO1XR4DaDewuqYejHbQdCUVpoc2I1K2HRM5FyVN2x4oPMm4mPiYFqygXmevU0/w400-h300/IMG_0963_Ouabache_Firetower_in_the_Fall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8y1EoU8wb0CIMK8ZVC2mCFchEtfLfmHqRdZgbgwceOjYZBS_QCFqghi91WhtU_WUR4vB5bL1e_vlyqHMnjGPnurB5bkyLJupThPP1iExITyCbrOULbADepGw_AMXdLy4X06D5lPCoQs/s3420/IMG_0964_Ouabache_in_the_Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="3420" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8y1EoU8wb0CIMK8ZVC2mCFchEtfLfmHqRdZgbgwceOjYZBS_QCFqghi91WhtU_WUR4vB5bL1e_vlyqHMnjGPnurB5bkyLJupThPP1iExITyCbrOULbADepGw_AMXdLy4X06D5lPCoQs/w400-h285/IMG_0964_Ouabache_in_the_Fall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzesrrLQASnaUymRT1l89YRkLqY1UOEaKJc2OQh0waE84Z5RpQxhQipOcwAbU8TLZXfrskVLKI5gN1Tj4vOEj8Q50Jb9uYDJvk5MIgPUN6h87mLjIQk_PFQTyER5CzC52R1bhFV62s5do/s4032/IMG_0968_Ouabache_in_the_Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzesrrLQASnaUymRT1l89YRkLqY1UOEaKJc2OQh0waE84Z5RpQxhQipOcwAbU8TLZXfrskVLKI5gN1Tj4vOEj8Q50Jb9uYDJvk5MIgPUN6h87mLjIQk_PFQTyER5CzC52R1bhFV62s5do/w400-h300/IMG_0968_Ouabache_in_the_Fall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyrVK87RhsB5uBljyxMEGV9HY8aCdC2oePS1blisjH1vcB4P7peg6ZUcEl7se0fn-uMyPtk2WVFn7Hnb6YfWBgq73en8CFBfglajpRux3hAgh0PpbXyWQxKAEYmj0P6HHPcdoOhCD3ts/s4553/P1060241_Ouabache_in_the_Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3388" data-original-width="4553" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyrVK87RhsB5uBljyxMEGV9HY8aCdC2oePS1blisjH1vcB4P7peg6ZUcEl7se0fn-uMyPtk2WVFn7Hnb6YfWBgq73en8CFBfglajpRux3hAgh0PpbXyWQxKAEYmj0P6HHPcdoOhCD3ts/w400-h297/P1060241_Ouabache_in_the_Fall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-20201826900649192502021-05-09T21:36:00.001-04:002021-05-09T21:54:53.004-04:00Eastern Bluebird<p>Ouabache State Park is home to a fair number of Eastern Bluebirds; but, even though we go there frequently, it's rare for us to see one of these birds that is willing to pose for photographs. We were blessed last Thursday, when this little guy perched in one spot for several minutes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrI-TZs-DN6Q7fLoaUHdcWPiznxOCHh-GTQPEIc4DX-kV-z2-ovc1R7xZJcx0t6dXKnVNMqQ0ov63Y8aHnKmv4AwbLqK5cZsSDkOluo3IFgbjfQvsNioYXQfFZxBEoDkuY8kT_ZKgG04/s3000/Eastern_Bluebird_Collage3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrI-TZs-DN6Q7fLoaUHdcWPiznxOCHh-GTQPEIc4DX-kV-z2-ovc1R7xZJcx0t6dXKnVNMqQ0ov63Y8aHnKmv4AwbLqK5cZsSDkOluo3IFgbjfQvsNioYXQfFZxBEoDkuY8kT_ZKgG04/w400-h320/Eastern_Bluebird_Collage3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm so glad I had my camera close at hand.</p>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-61898035969997045502021-04-23T22:33:00.002-04:002021-04-23T22:45:02.886-04:00April Snow<p style="text-align: justify;">I abandoned this blog two years ago; and, for the most part, I've been content with that decision. Yet I sometimes had something that I would have liked to post here. Posting on Facebook just doesn't seem as satisfying to me as posting here on the blog. So I'm back. I don't know for how long or how often I'll post. I don't know if anyone else will see the photos or read the words; but this is something I enjoy doing, whether anyone else sees it or not.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We had a rare April snowfall this week. The snow came down the night of April 20. And the next day dawned brightly. I knew that I had to get out and get some pictures of the neighborhood before the sun melted the beauty away. Here are the results.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQnBWg1KTBSKi3VgW2Yqyn00V6VDN42wQFzyi9p1w6LYI-NH48d6d5iP4E8NpE2jKN3dPgx6zUr0ehYthvRESkc0kd6PHJzehwHH7lKn7UEtnJPBUq4XNnd8pOX7DLFLzX1VZsSUdS2E/s4912/P1050903_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3274" data-original-width="4912" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQnBWg1KTBSKi3VgW2Yqyn00V6VDN42wQFzyi9p1w6LYI-NH48d6d5iP4E8NpE2jKN3dPgx6zUr0ehYthvRESkc0kd6PHJzehwHH7lKn7UEtnJPBUq4XNnd8pOX7DLFLzX1VZsSUdS2E/w400-h266/P1050903_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgnh194ceWPcQOtKoX0hyLja5Cg01gXa8Zw2V-SJQuIbaeIM9Yinkq1HPqpFfAgBxqVPEGYJU4MLIl5vSQWfEBNKMaeD6tE-b2Iztc8qPc0QE6qT1qX8vSmCDfyDBZUT8x8wAIOkL06o/s4912/P1050886_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3274" data-original-width="4912" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgnh194ceWPcQOtKoX0hyLja5Cg01gXa8Zw2V-SJQuIbaeIM9Yinkq1HPqpFfAgBxqVPEGYJU4MLIl5vSQWfEBNKMaeD6tE-b2Iztc8qPc0QE6qT1qX8vSmCDfyDBZUT8x8wAIOkL06o/w400-h266/P1050886_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmMTATXciEAO2TZi88p7skp19Wn4oEfcLRH4EPiET8kstEJ170A0V_8Ha09qgRTIMrNCh3Ub5GEzI-vh2HmhINX4u8GZqJ5RnDPqJyDs_R1-bvQ7UWaTSyN_S6hsN3cO4Nk2tI2xGRoI/s4912/P1050889_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3274" data-original-width="4912" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmMTATXciEAO2TZi88p7skp19Wn4oEfcLRH4EPiET8kstEJ170A0V_8Ha09qgRTIMrNCh3Ub5GEzI-vh2HmhINX4u8GZqJ5RnDPqJyDs_R1-bvQ7UWaTSyN_S6hsN3cO4Nk2tI2xGRoI/w400-h266/P1050889_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hudd-a8Kh3ZqrjRe2bl6TFMiHjTgtzxKw8W9nzWXL56pLSjYrYzJ4zJZaa27-GqA_Yy-p16Ik2-_DwD7_hGKPq1YOZGPEBx-i4FCX2umTul5UB3Mczug8CVWO2LkWBxKxO-e7hSLrrA/s4912/P1050891_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3274" data-original-width="4912" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hudd-a8Kh3ZqrjRe2bl6TFMiHjTgtzxKw8W9nzWXL56pLSjYrYzJ4zJZaa27-GqA_Yy-p16Ik2-_DwD7_hGKPq1YOZGPEBx-i4FCX2umTul5UB3Mczug8CVWO2LkWBxKxO-e7hSLrrA/w400-h266/P1050891_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5oCE2jz035Aa7At_uWWo-_I6Y_ynPlgXd5eeepWqfO7E70UKheK5insX-yk72Ely8rx947-5IeESIXLjD7m02W0qip7wb-Kf7swWDsYh4V1DaWieZ5W1S3aulZuvHIGpu01VfXpDduM/s4912/P1050899_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3274" data-original-width="4912" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5oCE2jz035Aa7At_uWWo-_I6Y_ynPlgXd5eeepWqfO7E70UKheK5insX-yk72Ely8rx947-5IeESIXLjD7m02W0qip7wb-Kf7swWDsYh4V1DaWieZ5W1S3aulZuvHIGpu01VfXpDduM/w400-h266/P1050899_Cedars_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOIjzlPnMFPFoxR4_mAN2mDy_EQzpYsIUGEiOsxvbO6IMKpnnHxufTXgUf-nY_2J0N-V699C6mty0IFxojhJx9d7LDNpja6HNOdo2ZpcgUOFXmrbfVlAnifSgX6N49Xv8T-FBYf4egs4/s4912/P1050901_Cedars_Redbuds_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3274" data-original-width="4912" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOIjzlPnMFPFoxR4_mAN2mDy_EQzpYsIUGEiOsxvbO6IMKpnnHxufTXgUf-nY_2J0N-V699C6mty0IFxojhJx9d7LDNpja6HNOdo2ZpcgUOFXmrbfVlAnifSgX6N49Xv8T-FBYf4egs4/w400-h266/P1050901_Cedars_Redbuds_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LePLV-4YPoktc7jQxxiG8rfxvpRVJb9iM6LYLvh_UA-HHKaEB6KsQWRs6Ssl8YDg2md7GM0mipT0iIJ0i2JO60xAZeykPbFtKY6IG3pkpO6dCUEThHnnEx3bkq5rrpMcezM_SoyZhAo/s4706/P1050878_Our_House_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3131" data-original-width="4706" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LePLV-4YPoktc7jQxxiG8rfxvpRVJb9iM6LYLvh_UA-HHKaEB6KsQWRs6Ssl8YDg2md7GM0mipT0iIJ0i2JO60xAZeykPbFtKY6IG3pkpO6dCUEThHnnEx3bkq5rrpMcezM_SoyZhAo/w400-h266/P1050878_Our_House_Morning_After_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our House</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-91930309791117800942019-04-13T05:00:00.003-04:002021-02-20T22:07:40.786-05:00Great Sand Dunes National Park...And An Announcement<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our final sightseeing stop on our Last Hurrah trip out west in October was a very brief one at Great Sand Dunes National Park, near Alamosa, Colorado, on Monday, October 15. It was brief because we were homing. We'd had enough of motels to last us for awhile.</div>
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So, really, this visit to Great Sand Dunes involved only a few photos from the road to the Visitor Center and the scenery visible from the area around the Visitor Center. We didn't take time to do any deeper exploring.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuT2ovO0k-NRYwwjAmPB2fFQjS2yvUNirEfkDzXyquhtuDwi7iGb0KCvQHEZ783kISWPWszv_tvZ89R8p4a9WKgKR2kQk3cO4t0xREZ966B4FmIMngJjFR2osFdgBmbm82Kw3yPXzEvI/s4898/IMG_13610.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuT2ovO0k-NRYwwjAmPB2fFQjS2yvUNirEfkDzXyquhtuDwi7iGb0KCvQHEZ783kISWPWszv_tvZ89R8p4a9WKgKR2kQk3cO4t0xREZ966B4FmIMngJjFR2osFdgBmbm82Kw3yPXzEvI/s400/IMG_13610.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Approaching Great Sand Dunes<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">One doesn't normally expect to find sand dunes so far from large bodies of water or nestled at the base of snow-capped mountain peaks or containing dunes in excess of 700 feet tall, all of which combine to make this a special place indeed.</div>
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The main dune field, at its widest point, runs six miles and, at its greatest length, eight miles.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkdOGttQzvwqegyeyzwfJ993yEbOiCuBe8A-z1dshRWO5NEfDVdeo5wnOLvw0OGi457RoDz1BgYPKgyvqspOwNRwqAezutsmJF7REIE0h8YxEhwiD4zSm3fGu008ZhmkoNPejI4tjVMA/s5184/IMG_13612.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkdOGttQzvwqegyeyzwfJ993yEbOiCuBe8A-z1dshRWO5NEfDVdeo5wnOLvw0OGi457RoDz1BgYPKgyvqspOwNRwqAezutsmJF7REIE0h8YxEhwiD4zSm3fGu008ZhmkoNPejI4tjVMA/s400/IMG_13612.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">The Sangre de Cristo Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to the dunes.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDQ0-7M3_m6-4UbwprMSATfBtGaHCH1hEHce64nJnEjpBewB-O-F2QkO9Pb470PqDpNlfqQWh1EhboBFjxs67OOpCsTgmDSwv-2A0dmGdextARU9zN9xHIZV6HF5rkJyzO62Y7ygaXk8/s7396/IMG_13619-20a_Great_Sand_Dunes.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2163" data-original-width="7396" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDQ0-7M3_m6-4UbwprMSATfBtGaHCH1hEHce64nJnEjpBewB-O-F2QkO9Pb470PqDpNlfqQWh1EhboBFjxs67OOpCsTgmDSwv-2A0dmGdextARU9zN9xHIZV6HF5rkJyzO62Y7ygaXk8/w640-h187/IMG_13619-20a_Great_Sand_Dunes.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLigpWbFk9BfzGooFPFs3IH75x9XhVTagfkuVoO-bgONfxef5tbK8dpBODlkiMr3_7y2kAyXRvcGTdLpUUL9iy18lR_gVvlGUiB8Vd3AC6vfiHg4DW0bWis54_gLLqHHl7aY0jlwfBX78/s4898/IMG_13622.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLigpWbFk9BfzGooFPFs3IH75x9XhVTagfkuVoO-bgONfxef5tbK8dpBODlkiMr3_7y2kAyXRvcGTdLpUUL9iy18lR_gVvlGUiB8Vd3AC6vfiHg4DW0bWis54_gLLqHHl7aY0jlwfBX78/s400/IMG_13622.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To lend perspective to the size of the dunes, those tiny specks on and at the base of the dunes are people.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0hMbUzcFQPRkr0Avft0WlxU3s4HGPY8_8VhCeTgWN31PpXMCz1cMKVhSJeEAHPGITZeItGpvoi_V0zM39WWgMhasjbnBuVmmpvU24MdQB-UeB65qpwUJa7dGZ5BfGqOSGnXV6xcodGE/s4898/IMG_13621.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0hMbUzcFQPRkr0Avft0WlxU3s4HGPY8_8VhCeTgWN31PpXMCz1cMKVhSJeEAHPGITZeItGpvoi_V0zM39WWgMhasjbnBuVmmpvU24MdQB-UeB65qpwUJa7dGZ5BfGqOSGnXV6xcodGE/s400/IMG_13621.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhd_Yqxjz4P1YSfH4lEYyjEY8dkLFWXQwYjt70sYqruaiyfkoaiouZyzPLWUdHVrQJN7vKvh1YBNwuN6Eje4SrmQyvG4-UbZ2VlQNBAyxfLwDMse_KaySqcL5sSWxelkrm0twgfHXtr0/s4898/IMG_13624a.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhd_Yqxjz4P1YSfH4lEYyjEY8dkLFWXQwYjt70sYqruaiyfkoaiouZyzPLWUdHVrQJN7vKvh1YBNwuN6Eje4SrmQyvG4-UbZ2VlQNBAyxfLwDMse_KaySqcL5sSWxelkrm0twgfHXtr0/s400/IMG_13624a.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDgt7CwIE5YE8sn38gRbDZURSs64vVcJkpFCVwnoTPCZyyqFWr5BkgBBdUq43ce_oFI4O-gZ-OydLzq99OkMOmIvmJtVpTb7E2FZm1pQhIkI8PmUAnSqrt64yTKIm6x471EVasyH0IB8/s4898/IMG_13615.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDgt7CwIE5YE8sn38gRbDZURSs64vVcJkpFCVwnoTPCZyyqFWr5BkgBBdUq43ce_oFI4O-gZ-OydLzq99OkMOmIvmJtVpTb7E2FZm1pQhIkI8PmUAnSqrt64yTKIm6x471EVasyH0IB8/s400/IMG_13615.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And thus concludes the saga of our Last Hurrah trip out west. Thank you all for letting me share the memories with you.</div>
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And now the announcement. I've decided to retire from blogging. This will be my last post. It's impossible to adequately express my appreciation to all the bloggers who have encouraged and supported me since I started this journey back in 2010. Many of those special people are no longer blogging, and I've lost contact with them. Some of you, however, have been faithful encouragers almost from the beginning. Others have come along more recently. But all are truly appreciated. Each one has been a blessing, and I'll miss you.</div>
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As for the blog itself, my plan is to leave it active for now.</div>
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So my friends, thank you and farewell. May God greatly bless you and yours.</div>
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The End</div>
<br /><br />Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-45037873454368113582019-04-11T21:06:00.001-04:002021-02-20T21:43:21.101-05:00Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our tour of Monument Valley on October 14, 2018, was truly a highlight of our Last Hurrah trip in October. The drive from Blanding, Utah south to Monument Valley is, itself, stunningly beautiful.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT0PWLFs8IWbArHLbxn5-pbvcJ-tiH8jGvumMtcRheUTKg9TVQH17WMJDbGsbfpWszEY_Iycv1Ihc0lpzjyhwqGxtt5KSQ9aq_YZYSk8W49o8wPtW3ZP0m70_wu7m44WIPE0wkIKqhAE/s4898/IMG_13539a_Approaching_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT0PWLFs8IWbArHLbxn5-pbvcJ-tiH8jGvumMtcRheUTKg9TVQH17WMJDbGsbfpWszEY_Iycv1Ihc0lpzjyhwqGxtt5KSQ9aq_YZYSk8W49o8wPtW3ZP0m70_wu7m44WIPE0wkIKqhAE/s400/IMG_13539a_Approaching_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Monument Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Can you see the tour bus and all the people standing in the middle of the road in the above photo? That marks the exact location where Forrest Gump ended his cross-country run in the movie of the same name. Those folks standing in the middle of the road are attempting to capture that iconic image featured in the film.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0kXBjIDPibFqmqQ0kjeeQXM3DEWJSwUS3COIhkVz53mGtfn0J4bhnPPvQFdTSQEwRrpFyEjG0sr83hixpz0hA38ksfsy0AarFQmf_lxCTBigR2b_kD4Dv2F8OpDWCFN7irLzxA59-HE/s4898/IMG_13542_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0kXBjIDPibFqmqQ0kjeeQXM3DEWJSwUS3COIhkVz53mGtfn0J4bhnPPvQFdTSQEwRrpFyEjG0sr83hixpz0hA38ksfsy0AarFQmf_lxCTBigR2b_kD4Dv2F8OpDWCFN7irLzxA59-HE/s400/IMG_13542_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The View from the Visitor Center</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On a previous visit here, Doug and I opted not to spend the money for a tour of the valley that would get us up close and personal with these impressive sandstone monuments. But, since this was our Last Hurrah, we hired a tour guide this time. It was definitely worth it. The following images were captured on that tour. Look at how tiny the cars appear in the photos, to get a better perspective on the size of the monuments.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8wzhwV1o4sEsovOWa540eGPbTt-TOiOz1A_H7yglAKoICu4Qz8Pluz5L8w0Nxt_jvlMMFWmmKjYCY3rV8YqwQGdNpfE9fhrF5exKmLotAy0ttlTCy14di1CmVTiRMybqCp7mrBgwcX4/s4900/IMG_13559_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8wzhwV1o4sEsovOWa540eGPbTt-TOiOz1A_H7yglAKoICu4Qz8Pluz5L8w0Nxt_jvlMMFWmmKjYCY3rV8YqwQGdNpfE9fhrF5exKmLotAy0ttlTCy14di1CmVTiRMybqCp7mrBgwcX4/s400/IMG_13559_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7xL90JBBAo1h9Fhlk2E9qzryAuZo4gkJ1SSRNUaIyQIF2IKxJtU7WlMn8UcZTgYT0g3M1kwcn-kyfzAw-yVLWQoltChGZa2z5ZbyNZ2tB-ZZrWsatP4Xkn7vi8yHc5yfxLebDh-gKC8/s4857/IMG_13560_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3221" data-original-width="4857" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7xL90JBBAo1h9Fhlk2E9qzryAuZo4gkJ1SSRNUaIyQIF2IKxJtU7WlMn8UcZTgYT0g3M1kwcn-kyfzAw-yVLWQoltChGZa2z5ZbyNZ2tB-ZZrWsatP4Xkn7vi8yHc5yfxLebDh-gKC8/s400/IMG_13560_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hK4qqkuhUow-TzXJHtki2W3ZLCjYOZN0Be7Kh_K8rt9aM3uJh6bhJTBX1ILbDyNu_W0RU2eY2yGqRyKAt00uaUOzoTUrUZgeQ-nS3sBCIH3h45qTyABUJx6uJB1PvGlXojV2KZOekmk/s4902/IMG_13561_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3263" data-original-width="4902" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hK4qqkuhUow-TzXJHtki2W3ZLCjYOZN0Be7Kh_K8rt9aM3uJh6bhJTBX1ILbDyNu_W0RU2eY2yGqRyKAt00uaUOzoTUrUZgeQ-nS3sBCIH3h45qTyABUJx6uJB1PvGlXojV2KZOekmk/s400/IMG_13561_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOJidq8-An1YsN0yBIre6B_cP3MAKKddYjOWM_nBTDOY_BvKwImemr4CAlPSdQOX7xT0pKjv7pkc6UJscEvMsiiCVIsdF5GoNc1oW6ksG3lIBiu7ZQAokR14FPn4K3f71OZKUwjunVws/s2747/IMG_13564a_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="2747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOJidq8-An1YsN0yBIre6B_cP3MAKKddYjOWM_nBTDOY_BvKwImemr4CAlPSdQOX7xT0pKjv7pkc6UJscEvMsiiCVIsdF5GoNc1oW6ksG3lIBiu7ZQAokR14FPn4K3f71OZKUwjunVws/s400/IMG_13564a_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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The picture above isn't a great photo. I included it because it shows some Navajo hogans. There are a few Navajo families still living in Monument Valley in these traditional dwellings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYoon9TX9RDKLdC5hrJhj6HAdNzvhA8BPUZyuFF0jWgFvi-_toObkIWJR9pMCshtp2yAPzV8tOMzV24RcWI8yJwTuFOPCjFUdr5f6HpbBMPfQ_fm8zFaCszI3Qnv-NWzwhIazq3HpY5s/s4898/IMG_13565_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYoon9TX9RDKLdC5hrJhj6HAdNzvhA8BPUZyuFF0jWgFvi-_toObkIWJR9pMCshtp2yAPzV8tOMzV24RcWI8yJwTuFOPCjFUdr5f6HpbBMPfQ_fm8zFaCszI3Qnv-NWzwhIazq3HpY5s/s400/IMG_13565_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMa3gna7kmqZomcdZT68robSSGTdrcNQQSTtSiI4DCu27ZgtBnS5jRPgMGIsN5uIAVxkYTmzWcGNc7nIkAB_ZOmgg7Oj-GXhez5LGHaKjp7UR0gv7k-vjHGWqQM6lNSgR7WDNeBodDiM/s4898/IMG_13583_Big_Hogan_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMa3gna7kmqZomcdZT68robSSGTdrcNQQSTtSiI4DCu27ZgtBnS5jRPgMGIsN5uIAVxkYTmzWcGNc7nIkAB_ZOmgg7Oj-GXhez5LGHaKjp7UR0gv7k-vjHGWqQM6lNSgR7WDNeBodDiM/s400/IMG_13583_Big_Hogan_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Hogan</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We spent more time at Big Hogan than we did anywhere else on the tour. Our tour guide, Tony, had a drum and drumstick with him and played and sang a couple of Navajo songs here, where the acoustics were great. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NxtWG6S5E4niyZIW2e6SzFHmBU409fQpUQer0NSlURHfpagjK1Atd_-nbIdeV_XHhXMnha8IPQCKjYQ79Zy4ILGsX4iDRMUkd6Dbxwx2uYjzZvFw-dPdCzaTF8WhfBPuCOOgiXQZznM/s3300/Big_Hogan_Collage_HD+2019-04-11+18_54_39.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NxtWG6S5E4niyZIW2e6SzFHmBU409fQpUQer0NSlURHfpagjK1Atd_-nbIdeV_XHhXMnha8IPQCKjYQ79Zy4ILGsX4iDRMUkd6Dbxwx2uYjzZvFw-dPdCzaTF8WhfBPuCOOgiXQZznM/w640-h427/Big_Hogan_Collage_HD+2019-04-11+18_54_39.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlcONwoe3ItPe4-ycAJjssW4WJJHXcIghYD4IxvktiMwLLaqT0yy_17MWO1_1geYayaNVpO2CqVipd5muB3kou_lu-ZEA1LC3JtRFddpCyNyuKOoMsaBKd57goIuyFwSzTMpGhX3e4ZY/s4898/IMG_13592_Sun%2527s_Eye_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlcONwoe3ItPe4-ycAJjssW4WJJHXcIghYD4IxvktiMwLLaqT0yy_17MWO1_1geYayaNVpO2CqVipd5muB3kou_lu-ZEA1LC3JtRFddpCyNyuKOoMsaBKd57goIuyFwSzTMpGhX3e4ZY/s400/IMG_13592_Sun%2527s_Eye_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun's Eye</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7ICNZ0Hsfu_k6oIECtF9lEJ3yUyoADC1bUoZUgvdJHAmKl9uGlAY2dITPz0o2uVnDuTbVCspgf6JAQqP4MFY6cJafwypym0sC9JzSfYSgpeWfI8bJUDgtFhAAmEJyXkZrc-X-wxjAFE/s4898/IMG_13599_Ear-of-the-Wind_Monument_Valley.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7ICNZ0Hsfu_k6oIECtF9lEJ3yUyoADC1bUoZUgvdJHAmKl9uGlAY2dITPz0o2uVnDuTbVCspgf6JAQqP4MFY6cJafwypym0sC9JzSfYSgpeWfI8bJUDgtFhAAmEJyXkZrc-X-wxjAFE/s400/IMG_13599_Ear-of-the-Wind_Monument_Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ear-of-the-Wind</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoj-hvPEln8ITT18EI6_1SZB-OsKJb2lNIMQr3bplnV4unVgDZCMESd6VvZR4Hnw_zl4akWH9RCV7QwSYGgN3RRkERcxT2s-VXHFuhXzL4jPcS_z1DsaSyo4jpXQQYKLvJ4VDqOYkb2E/s3300/Collage_HD+2019-04-11+18_39_11.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoj-hvPEln8ITT18EI6_1SZB-OsKJb2lNIMQr3bplnV4unVgDZCMESd6VvZR4Hnw_zl4akWH9RCV7QwSYGgN3RRkERcxT2s-VXHFuhXzL4jPcS_z1DsaSyo4jpXQQYKLvJ4VDqOYkb2E/w640-h427/Collage_HD+2019-04-11+18_39_11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Totem Pole</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div>
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My left hip and both knees were in very bad shape during this entire trip, but they reached new levels of pain and stiffness on the day of our Monument Valley tour. Originally, the vehicle for the tour was to have been an open-air vehicle, but they substituted the truck seen in the photo of Tony, Doug, and me because of cold temperatures (46° F) and strong winds, creating blowing dust.</div>
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Six of us showed up for the tour. One couple dove for the two captains chairs in the middle. One tall man (Ed) took the front passenger seat for the leg room it offered. That left his wife (Wendee) and Doug and me to sit in the third-row bench seat. </div>
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It was so difficult for me to even get into the truck that Doug had to do some pushing and praying. Finally, I was on my knees on the floor of the middle section, trying to figure out how I was going to get to that third-row seat. With the other two people already in the center seats, I had nothing to grab onto to try to pull myself up, and there just wasn't much room to allow me to crawl through the opening between those two captains chairs. It was ugly, I tell you.</div>
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Finally, I was in the back seat, by the window on the left side. Wendee was by the window on the right side, and Doug sat between us. I was doing some self-talk by then. I knew I'd never be able to get out to take pictures at any of the scenic stops along the way, so I decided that I'd just stay in the truck and enjoy the views through the window. Doug had our video camera, so I knew I'd be able to relive the trip later through his video.</div>
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As the tour began, our driver's cell phone rang. It turned out that the couple who had grabbed the middle seats were on the wrong tour. So Tony turned around to take them back to the Visitor Center to pick up their correct tour. And the other two people who were supposed to be on our tour didn't show up. So that meant there would just be Tony and four passengers. Hallelujah!</div>
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Ed still stayed up front with Tony. Wendee insisted that Doug and I take the middle section. She didn't mind sitting in the back, and her much younger (and thinner) body could navigate the process of getting in and out better than my somewhat older and stiffer (and not so thin) one could.</div>
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The tour was wonderful after that. A portable step was found that made my getting in and out of the truck something that I could do without a push and a prayer. Well, there may still have been a prayer. Exiting the truck from that center seat was just a matter of hanging my feet over the edge and sliding out. So I got along fine, even without the helping hand that Ed offered me at every stop.</div>
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Just to let you know, virtually all that pain and misery left my body unexpectedly about five weeks later. I still have some residual effects, both in the hip and in the knees; but I'm so, so much better than I was that day at Monument Valley. And I'm working at dropping some pounds, in hopes that my joints will forgive me for the stress I've put them through in recent years and will be nice to me from now until the Lord returns or calls me home.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-62382713108239434982019-04-06T21:11:00.001-04:002021-02-20T21:26:30.594-05:00Canyonlands-Needles District<div style="text-align: justify;">
We weren't too pleased with our lodging accommodations in Moab this time; so we were glad to leave it behind on the morning of October 13, 2018, after two days there. Our ultimate destination for the day was Blanding, Utah, from which we would travel to Monument Valley for a tour of that area the next day. The route to Blanding passed the entrance to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, so we turned in and spent several hours there.</div>
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First, though, we had to stop for pictures of Church Rock, a very picturesque rock formation located near the entrance to Canyonlands. If you've been a long-time reader of this blog, you've seen this beautiful rock before. Today, the weather was perfect, and the snow-capped La Sal Mountains provided a beautiful backdrop for the photo.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOBdB7bim3qZvRYPtS3S99Z9Qdji_NIXqwMUk05Og_FlhJGypNeHteeAIvr2nw25_YBGM6n1EzV5dNRVPfZYJ33OyaaBYenELnrNCFRvvyof2z93fq4kCfAOwJH_tf7SrGRBjKA2q3kk/s4898/IMG_13426_Church_Rock.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOBdB7bim3qZvRYPtS3S99Z9Qdji_NIXqwMUk05Og_FlhJGypNeHteeAIvr2nw25_YBGM6n1EzV5dNRVPfZYJ33OyaaBYenELnrNCFRvvyof2z93fq4kCfAOwJH_tf7SrGRBjKA2q3kk/s400/IMG_13426_Church_Rock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Rock</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Canyonlands, we took a short hike to the Roadside Ruin, pictured below. A sign at the beginning of the trail dates the ruin about 700 years ago and attributes it to ancestral Puebloans. The use of such structures is thought to be for storage or for ceremonial purposes.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRMO1ZFTx_tqmAAZiiq8J0mKjrGeW3gcJr8R8dZoRHrZ6oEokguH-pkS-QH9T05YKlcd5NXo-aY4IykaTtzMRHEy-dvcI0p1jocaPYab9xTvvpbNCCG-JJgeDSQ9pjtegXK5yl8neYGE/s4898/IMG_13444_Roadside_Ruin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRMO1ZFTx_tqmAAZiiq8J0mKjrGeW3gcJr8R8dZoRHrZ6oEokguH-pkS-QH9T05YKlcd5NXo-aY4IykaTtzMRHEy-dvcI0p1jocaPYab9xTvvpbNCCG-JJgeDSQ9pjtegXK5yl8neYGE/s400/IMG_13444_Roadside_Ruin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadside Ruin</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Next, we took another short hike on Cave Spring trail. Interesting features along this trail include a Cowboy Camp, tucked under a rock ledge; a small spring, or seep, tucked under another rock ledge a short distance from the Cowboy Camp; and some pictographs on the rock wall near the spring. The trail passed several clumps of prickly pear cactus, which I found interesting, as well.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHkyjFmQMwEiQ3avzGbXFYfl_QZVKjXT92MJxvANC0JmbytgOUYHUzyJ3Hxty2p8aNUWoKwASzj82e-THt-MeBPIlkwfuFU_Jsz-CuQ5JLI6_paM5vUZojQDUP5bZ5hQgE5wL_pKsKUw/s3300/Cave_Spring_Trail_Collage_HD+2019-04-06+19_50_34.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHkyjFmQMwEiQ3avzGbXFYfl_QZVKjXT92MJxvANC0JmbytgOUYHUzyJ3Hxty2p8aNUWoKwASzj82e-THt-MeBPIlkwfuFU_Jsz-CuQ5JLI6_paM5vUZojQDUP5bZ5hQgE5wL_pKsKUw/w640-h427/Cave_Spring_Trail_Collage_HD+2019-04-06+19_50_34.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Cave Spring Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The collage above shows the ledge under which the Cowboy Camp is located, the Cowboy Camp itself, Cave Spring, pictographs of hands, a rusty pictograph of something, and a clump of prickly pear cactus.</div>
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An interesting rock formation in this part of Canyonlands is Wooden Shoe Arch, pictured in the collage below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ27qAJWeciMxbgiw5pCkux29DotncfVEwogYFad50Ga6Z9iQ5GDS_vu9m8OEskhbUK-ZIQdCS2AE4YupSTr5r4QbmLkxhCgb-Ul8j9sDxQ8w9EizdWIw3TNdjKk45x99y71opCqqxq4/s3300/Wooden_Shoe_Arch_Collage_HD+2019-04-06+19_56_44.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ27qAJWeciMxbgiw5pCkux29DotncfVEwogYFad50Ga6Z9iQ5GDS_vu9m8OEskhbUK-ZIQdCS2AE4YupSTr5r4QbmLkxhCgb-Ul8j9sDxQ8w9EizdWIw3TNdjKk45x99y71opCqqxq4/w640-h427/Wooden_Shoe_Arch_Collage_HD+2019-04-06+19_56_44.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Following are assorted images from a driving tour through this national park:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRF3JE7uhYBs_J4rxTJNL8YPz1DbUpY7CFqPkl6aPl0dq03BFxyGyLwayyiQlXcyfyk1pLN4VbfDUFXCZjo6IC9oeuJnvPFCyGGQ6ny1vRo2gfd9xYqAtpsMB7_irPTUpHKNgShIcICY/s4898/IMG_13507_Canyonlands.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRF3JE7uhYBs_J4rxTJNL8YPz1DbUpY7CFqPkl6aPl0dq03BFxyGyLwayyiQlXcyfyk1pLN4VbfDUFXCZjo6IC9oeuJnvPFCyGGQ6ny1vRo2gfd9xYqAtpsMB7_irPTUpHKNgShIcICY/s400/IMG_13507_Canyonlands.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53R-0aYuHRlQrdTGIEtlyZs8E0mRigNNY_nBn_9DlIyhFsM20vHJCSW_gpCIueI8Y0iBV6N-11BC9gw_Kvm9MW2b5fI3MXUE61VwiAeKoaz4cQl4XPZC5W3DwW9RgaZP08oNFL9_T_bE/s4898/IMG_13513_Canyonlands.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53R-0aYuHRlQrdTGIEtlyZs8E0mRigNNY_nBn_9DlIyhFsM20vHJCSW_gpCIueI8Y0iBV6N-11BC9gw_Kvm9MW2b5fI3MXUE61VwiAeKoaz4cQl4XPZC5W3DwW9RgaZP08oNFL9_T_bE/s400/IMG_13513_Canyonlands.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsomJ3oObqH2GuFKbVweDNeyJaDYn2CYzYCEjft7NP4evXwXi7zDbB7eky124XuWyupywF6hYmcSxw5bfiSIM_3JCX_n02oaxOR86qLmL7yiwvP1D0hlI9H-uuu0zlb12tSWzz2mNsGps/s4898/IMG_13515_Canyonlands.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsomJ3oObqH2GuFKbVweDNeyJaDYn2CYzYCEjft7NP4evXwXi7zDbB7eky124XuWyupywF6hYmcSxw5bfiSIM_3JCX_n02oaxOR86qLmL7yiwvP1D0hlI9H-uuu0zlb12tSWzz2mNsGps/s400/IMG_13515_Canyonlands.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CmpNRAJGuMpWyMGr3mx_bEe8oV48kAps0r0VCQ6AtbcVVMSSxFO0ORsN3OzWdZUSfrDHJS1Pg4fVgWWxeNTUhJlzU-FkrTUfWam91hu7Hewm9yZfLA_A6qCJ2EPDmjlXKXP9ooHgTYk/s4898/IMG_13517_Canyonlands.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CmpNRAJGuMpWyMGr3mx_bEe8oV48kAps0r0VCQ6AtbcVVMSSxFO0ORsN3OzWdZUSfrDHJS1Pg4fVgWWxeNTUhJlzU-FkrTUfWam91hu7Hewm9yZfLA_A6qCJ2EPDmjlXKXP9ooHgTYk/s400/IMG_13517_Canyonlands.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0B1IqcFMnh1S8khBldSgY-lUTlDPQaghG5iAIdN7xETWyyQpGtfXJ1OdwY5FgFqUYdXsOh2c7GlaCxHRwidlAyIMg1b0J400qg2GjisZBedYnFr0Ow5iDdWINnLp7HyM0z4tGKw4WJ0/s4898/IMG_13524_Canyonlands.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0B1IqcFMnh1S8khBldSgY-lUTlDPQaghG5iAIdN7xETWyyQpGtfXJ1OdwY5FgFqUYdXsOh2c7GlaCxHRwidlAyIMg1b0J400qg2GjisZBedYnFr0Ow5iDdWINnLp7HyM0z4tGKw4WJ0/s400/IMG_13524_Canyonlands.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqR4eoVNLltldKqEqPJdywUj1NEOlQ39BrdAH1YepktZwnYmCPliunpKMGnwAhXY7d29jrGVsbTir1d-RWHJk2Ak_vl-a83iYUZBVl1BYXSKG8Qex3NxMEvr-2VOTERVqYqZh89goZU4/s4898/IMG_13525_Canyonlands.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqR4eoVNLltldKqEqPJdywUj1NEOlQ39BrdAH1YepktZwnYmCPliunpKMGnwAhXY7d29jrGVsbTir1d-RWHJk2Ak_vl-a83iYUZBVl1BYXSKG8Qex3NxMEvr-2VOTERVqYqZh89goZU4/s400/IMG_13525_Canyonlands.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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Next up, Monument Valley, with iconic landscapes seen in numerous western films. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-17375020160707202042019-03-27T21:11:00.002-04:002021-02-20T21:09:35.188-05:00Canyonlands-Island In The Sky<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Friday, October 12, 2018, we spent the day touring Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky district. We have visited and documented this park before, so I won't try to include pictures of everything we saw, just some that are representative of the park.</div>
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A short hike leads to Mesa Arch, a must-see feature of Canyonlands. You may have seen photos of this arch on calendars or even as a Windows wallpaper, but those photos were always taken at just the right moment of a sunrise. It would be a glorious sight to see. Unfortunately, sunrise occurs way to early for me to make it to Mesa Arch to experience it.</div>
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<a href="https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPPv4ebS7VsZIKDu1P8gr_itqPhftguUhsEgT3U" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqT2n5smpqSmd2Nv0CgrVWHyXbo7K8xoKGV5H6MineYr6y35lB7ynek7bYMa7Dh8dnWRfZWkwpiPQhE4HaefElyfIg3VUSaYnWkNHHfOiScf6aocAE9wWuOFfEOoR6m5Q4qe3RHdWELY/w640-h427/Mesa_Arch_Collage_HD+2019-03-26+21_42_54.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The above collage shows Mesa Arch and the view through it, as well as the view from a scenic overlook a few feet to the side of the arch. (If you want to see these individual images in their full size, just click on the collage. That will take you to the album where they're stored.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBFkg4ZKVNs23eCdqIwZY1mZCZbDjxQiGQDQVj7hjTeRM-riwmqat-3s3E0E4gK9drWCc-U9K-2T1CemRsO1eh9ARVvcxDWgbxM-8RenMHCSgdQDaYD0OZTaGTH6b_-xJ1KFyBIvYXCI/s4898/IMG_13381_Green_River_Overlook.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBFkg4ZKVNs23eCdqIwZY1mZCZbDjxQiGQDQVj7hjTeRM-riwmqat-3s3E0E4gK9drWCc-U9K-2T1CemRsO1eh9ARVvcxDWgbxM-8RenMHCSgdQDaYD0OZTaGTH6b_-xJ1KFyBIvYXCI/s400/IMG_13381_Green_River_Overlook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green River Overlook</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gLWpW0Z6-QJHH01H_-GfeFH37E6mNM25-Yu7vHBEB0V5bhF_YnGlaO-4GJtbi1PcrojeepMp4J9oZ0B2VdqAVYSmdXZ-320tkdLsxjLlCB612Sp14XfhJgmqCp4umxIkoeCC4WZg6QM/s4898/IMG_13386_Buck_Canyon_Overlook.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gLWpW0Z6-QJHH01H_-GfeFH37E6mNM25-Yu7vHBEB0V5bhF_YnGlaO-4GJtbi1PcrojeepMp4J9oZ0B2VdqAVYSmdXZ-320tkdLsxjLlCB612Sp14XfhJgmqCp4umxIkoeCC4WZg6QM/s400/IMG_13386_Buck_Canyon_Overlook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck Canyon Overlook</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4cYTds1DxIcR-ZnivkF2wtJvxG0KF1MsyGq90zbVIGv1uBKcCQ0XBfGMR5bapJyKDzmte0xG5Z1a02fGm1FLNTNP2gnp9rbx8LZxtBjJW_ynV20PgGwO34UKuNaAryNyOqbXMgbsRPc/s4920/IMG_13402b_Grand_View_Point.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3278" data-original-width="4920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4cYTds1DxIcR-ZnivkF2wtJvxG0KF1MsyGq90zbVIGv1uBKcCQ0XBfGMR5bapJyKDzmte0xG5Z1a02fGm1FLNTNP2gnp9rbx8LZxtBjJW_ynV20PgGwO34UKuNaAryNyOqbXMgbsRPc/s400/IMG_13402b_Grand_View_Point.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand View Point</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6R4bo5alwneFMzFsGSzNs9A4Woz9XytC5fmTyEfE3vdqX2VLbnMLFLf7mt8zV84nefzBi9Hd8YBI-ThRQiXOj-gvuLotxMZ2qgx9CsGRgPpqYQwfxoOxZDoRuHJRFw4hPZTj03YBxdE/s4898/IMG_13401_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Grand_View_Point.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6R4bo5alwneFMzFsGSzNs9A4Woz9XytC5fmTyEfE3vdqX2VLbnMLFLf7mt8zV84nefzBi9Hd8YBI-ThRQiXOj-gvuLotxMZ2qgx9CsGRgPpqYQwfxoOxZDoRuHJRFw4hPZTj03YBxdE/s400/IMG_13401_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Grand_View_Point.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Doug and me at Grand View Point</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our first stop of the day had been at Shafer Canyon, and it was also our last stop of the day. I liked the late-afternoon lighting better, so that's the image that I chose for the blog.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcHBPEp3KjVn1uW5Wb4ztNOblDuq4PE-sDmmlyapSS1gHIcbGeIrW-7Hhyphenhyphen3LZu1KnehXOEhCwJ6BXBEqwn1FYeTCpeZW6NlUaqczQOVgU5-wD_GXnHLbewYuPrMeT8u3CI8fF8S02tJo/s4898/IMG_13408b_Shafer_Canyon.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcHBPEp3KjVn1uW5Wb4ztNOblDuq4PE-sDmmlyapSS1gHIcbGeIrW-7Hhyphenhyphen3LZu1KnehXOEhCwJ6BXBEqwn1FYeTCpeZW6NlUaqczQOVgU5-wD_GXnHLbewYuPrMeT8u3CI8fF8S02tJo/s400/IMG_13408b_Shafer_Canyon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shafer Canyon</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUKAOaq7g2nr4GcUqMxyQ5JKfkZz_O1beTTEwcLfvxVjygVNvcA4A1MFmtrrKjo9y8w_FW_f1m000V-oGGgNAexCWWCXNEqrUuq6mWBGc4uRHDY9fOxLmjb1vMOBNRr0mh9bAcaIFcpg/s4903/IMG_13413b_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Shafer_Canyon+%25281%2529.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3262" data-original-width="4903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUKAOaq7g2nr4GcUqMxyQ5JKfkZz_O1beTTEwcLfvxVjygVNvcA4A1MFmtrrKjo9y8w_FW_f1m000V-oGGgNAexCWWCXNEqrUuq6mWBGc4uRHDY9fOxLmjb1vMOBNRr0mh9bAcaIFcpg/s400/IMG_13413b_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Shafer_Canyon+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Doug and me at Shafer Canyon<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next day, we toured Canyonlands National Park, the Needles District. Stay tuned.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-66161440119135175992019-03-22T20:44:00.001-04:002021-02-20T20:38:05.806-05:00Arches National Park<div style="text-align: justify;">
Continuing the saga of last October's Last Hurrah trip, we awoke to rain in Moab, Utah on the morning of October 11. We decided to go ahead with our plans to visit Arches National Park. We'd been there several times before, so getting more photos wasn't critical. We reasoned that, if the rain continued, we would just enjoy a drive-through tour and then maybe find a place to park where we could enjoy the view and read for awhile. We bought some sandwiches at a local convenience store for a lunch to be eaten later at the national park.</div>
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By the time we arrived at the park, the rain had let up considerably, and we began hopping in and out of the car during the light drizzle to get a few photos.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4VVl6lWE-6QtPz2GIBI4qrfZebFAtpGCOj3QsIeRUuUSXxrqXEZzWwgU7h_HGOXN8MYSTTRiKSauqYrsYMj4LG9d2YvTpc530Z3gRIv2BeUs685J88jxC2R8nTkwMy-8_2mBSX7AY4/s5184/IMG_13210a_Park_Avenue_Trail.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4VVl6lWE-6QtPz2GIBI4qrfZebFAtpGCOj3QsIeRUuUSXxrqXEZzWwgU7h_HGOXN8MYSTTRiKSauqYrsYMj4LG9d2YvTpc530Z3gRIv2BeUs685J88jxC2R8nTkwMy-8_2mBSX7AY4/s400/IMG_13210a_Park_Avenue_Trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park Avenue, from the overlook</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenipKeovDrIQ5gnjg7w436jO4Vq3kCZId7e9inB286Q9mHJ2OHyxiKZ34L1z5dCg8ruxQ9BUn4u_-wUlPjjNAQGJN9pP9hZYyvh_ywcr0mRshAbbP_kjbDUDdtIvPHytqy-SdYZUGeAM/s4898/IMG_13223a_At_Arches.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenipKeovDrIQ5gnjg7w436jO4Vq3kCZId7e9inB286Q9mHJ2OHyxiKZ34L1z5dCg8ruxQ9BUn4u_-wUlPjjNAQGJN9pP9hZYyvh_ywcr0mRshAbbP_kjbDUDdtIvPHytqy-SdYZUGeAM/s400/IMG_13223a_At_Arches.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ship Rock</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXwTeZ1cQftTDDI7OMLyL31djNMI5DYbYjumYKJgYnrciLV3oFDrUHKQ7f9GlrOydzzFP501w1j5hqFAnwfw2UrDQqEojhikWa3NMgZWcLP_8UveLa_QL8U8Q9xqpniz4O7y0VYEa6XE/s4898/IMG_13250_Balanced_Rock_At_Arches.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXwTeZ1cQftTDDI7OMLyL31djNMI5DYbYjumYKJgYnrciLV3oFDrUHKQ7f9GlrOydzzFP501w1j5hqFAnwfw2UrDQqEojhikWa3NMgZWcLP_8UveLa_QL8U8Q9xqpniz4O7y0VYEa6XE/s400/IMG_13250_Balanced_Rock_At_Arches.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balanced Rock</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe-iRl6GMfEusLdwjiMUP_T-HCo9upPYku71IYP0aKKn0fHkLPXcyr5380syRNSKb9qLmosVa7d3FQ_sibc_bpQbAfe9uXREvbbkSAsHmzfjsbTnKeTX3dLM_9d9SBCZ0otm4gqNaC7U/s4899/IMG_13264a_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Turret_Arch.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4899" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe-iRl6GMfEusLdwjiMUP_T-HCo9upPYku71IYP0aKKn0fHkLPXcyr5380syRNSKb9qLmosVa7d3FQ_sibc_bpQbAfe9uXREvbbkSAsHmzfjsbTnKeTX3dLM_9d9SBCZ0otm4gqNaC7U/s400/IMG_13264a_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Turret_Arch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug and Me at Turret Arch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezOjUkxid0oADf19PkLp_D1Qi9VVCCHzEwFvVeK3YGGx0Lpfb7yYRT926XK_RomaPZ-FGTQcl-l4xkJJDhr2uG85UpqYKZpBw0_aVD7rsnKB5MUTkAlBlTOfmQ3ENDWWl9gz84FbJcBU/s4898/IMG_13269_North_%2526_South_Windows.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezOjUkxid0oADf19PkLp_D1Qi9VVCCHzEwFvVeK3YGGx0Lpfb7yYRT926XK_RomaPZ-FGTQcl-l4xkJJDhr2uG85UpqYKZpBw0_aVD7rsnKB5MUTkAlBlTOfmQ3ENDWWl9gz84FbJcBU/s400/IMG_13269_North_%2526_South_Windows.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North and South Windows</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a number of people under the North Window, to the left. If you can find them in the photo, you'll get some perspective on the size of the arch.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX-pcYBK5BJAZxdpA0upnfD4ocmM16nMoPJMFsAPihyX7qOBkg65eMITX76lNYkuZn2J8FaG7Uuei8qTIlxOG6QrYpN84ZCwoLNGW3pV1geoekQPdrj6FU_jIYvHcp7Ru-2X_CB6CJD8/s4898/IMG_13278_Woman_on_Top_of_Turret_Arch.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX-pcYBK5BJAZxdpA0upnfD4ocmM16nMoPJMFsAPihyX7qOBkg65eMITX76lNYkuZn2J8FaG7Uuei8qTIlxOG6QrYpN84ZCwoLNGW3pV1geoekQPdrj6FU_jIYvHcp7Ru-2X_CB6CJD8/s400/IMG_13278_Woman_on_Top_of_Turret_Arch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turret Arch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That speck on the upper right of Turret Arch is a woman who decided to climb to the top. See the picture below for proof.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqs6JLBF99kveu3pmUDGHZAwjRyM7xeEB6zanjCnRUpzcbO-N-gfazGIn74ZAADeqMsS52ddU2xy443tFmkxK1j3qPlmiKeHLuk1awdem3j-QjaQGMknZPvjX_B0zrOSsETbgs6MRr78/s4898/IMG_13279_Woman_on_Top_of_Turret_Arch.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqs6JLBF99kveu3pmUDGHZAwjRyM7xeEB6zanjCnRUpzcbO-N-gfazGIn74ZAADeqMsS52ddU2xy443tFmkxK1j3qPlmiKeHLuk1awdem3j-QjaQGMknZPvjX_B0zrOSsETbgs6MRr78/s400/IMG_13279_Woman_on_Top_of_Turret_Arch.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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The top left photo in the following collage shows the entrance to Sand Dune Arch, between large sandstone "fins." Under that photo is a picture of the arch that is found in this cave-like setting. And, on the right, is the view when exiting. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3DM9jRXJ-zI6S6roxda-DifQbeYIqjdKLLbRZLl0vaEGvOetmHn8zHvxiV0t4wjUWSmG50IXnCEmH107VEkjGCyPZ26-tF1JSz1j8PUwA7KhRK9Z-lyie4CGj8FUxFjwwG0_7VduMmc/s3300/Sand_Dune_Arch_Collage_HD+2019-03-22+16_44_01.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3DM9jRXJ-zI6S6roxda-DifQbeYIqjdKLLbRZLl0vaEGvOetmHn8zHvxiV0t4wjUWSmG50IXnCEmH107VEkjGCyPZ26-tF1JSz1j8PUwA7KhRK9Z-lyie4CGj8FUxFjwwG0_7VduMmc/w640-h427/Sand_Dune_Arch_Collage_HD+2019-03-22+16_44_01.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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One thing that makes Sandstone Arch so special is that those tall sandstone fins keep the spot in shade almost all day. Arches National Park is usually a very hot place to visit. This time, it was so cool that we needed winter jackets. I loved it! Anyway, on those hot, hot days, the shade available at Sandstone Arch is truly a blessing.</div>
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When we exited Sandstone Arch, we found that the last of the rain had left; and the late-afternoon sun was lighting the rock formation directly opposite the entrance to Sandstone Arch. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IvObRTHhBy38jYza8zFfdo4N-z1M6p4yfwz6pTOJrtHfQULkyohCW2_Ap_qnX4_6oRnW8MGOfyrlIUnYvla4VGjVdLytr2Npsapaf-6JczbZjN5VErqMwFR7PfblkqBlQB1ojMioP80/s4825/IMG_13329a_At_Arches.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3212" data-original-width="4825" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IvObRTHhBy38jYza8zFfdo4N-z1M6p4yfwz6pTOJrtHfQULkyohCW2_Ap_qnX4_6oRnW8MGOfyrlIUnYvla4VGjVdLytr2Npsapaf-6JczbZjN5VErqMwFR7PfblkqBlQB1ojMioP80/s400/IMG_13329a_At_Arches.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Rocks Opposite Sandstone Arch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we were walking back to our car, Doug saw another path through more sandstone fins and just had to follow it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_XppeZ58pbmqeA3yxXfCnwzRPOL6PH_YyAJPnYpXQGWqrk29r6CaNHAHynYSWjAxv9Fh1Q35hh68ZNcSQXYUUvLKSvUe75uQkF-OsOkT_NN9xctNZu6C4uAhrCtVS64Ffz5SgEcsERs/s3300/Box_Canyon_Collage_HD+2019-03-22+16_19_34.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_XppeZ58pbmqeA3yxXfCnwzRPOL6PH_YyAJPnYpXQGWqrk29r6CaNHAHynYSWjAxv9Fh1Q35hh68ZNcSQXYUUvLKSvUe75uQkF-OsOkT_NN9xctNZu6C4uAhrCtVS64Ffz5SgEcsERs/w640-h427/Box_Canyon_Collage_HD+2019-03-22+16_19_34.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The photo on the left shows the path leading between the fins. The image on the top right shows Doug at the top of the path, just entering what we would refer to as a box canyon. The photo on the bottom right shows Doug at the back wall of the space.</div>
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A return visit to Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky, was on our agenda for the next day. More on that next time.<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-73754948957303852502019-03-18T10:09:00.001-04:002021-02-20T20:05:50.203-05:00Dead Horse Point State Park<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was raining in Vernal, Utah when we got up on the morning of October 10, 2018; and it looked as if the rain had come to stay for the day. We had planned to stay another day in Vernal but talked it over and decided that, if we could get a room in Moab, our next scheduled stop, we’d just go ahead and check out of the Dinosaur Inn and Suites in Vernal and move on to Moab for the next three nights. I found a room at the Super 8 in Moab and booked it.</div>
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We chose to take U. S. Highway 191 to Moab. Our GPS wanted to take us to Colorado on U. S. 40, then down Highway 139. It might have been shorter, but we liked the looks of 191 better. It was a beautiful drive, going up to 9,000 feet in elevation, with snow on the mountains around us but none on the road we were traveling.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkvKiSyQMYHw194WlDeKEuNk5PRViEOKVXAe4z_QieHVvNv6ZyJs2aGFEByQeCTX7LBW-SRrL_o-IqYS_fNAxxn6roUfWAvLm9NyTiA6GJkhYzZEIcdDJgNKol12th8X7i0JksEZFs9M/s4898/IMG_13141b_Hwy_191_Vernal_to_Moab.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkvKiSyQMYHw194WlDeKEuNk5PRViEOKVXAe4z_QieHVvNv6ZyJs2aGFEByQeCTX7LBW-SRrL_o-IqYS_fNAxxn6roUfWAvLm9NyTiA6GJkhYzZEIcdDJgNKol12th8X7i0JksEZFs9M/s400/IMG_13141b_Hwy_191_Vernal_to_Moab.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SMNLoSPvCBDDTO7sQKLDckzJla8FtaZZ50jFoGhL8MD2zDSc75O1YCqyrD13TbRWd_vDnKqTWKBBuB8fhryodqY0JKEi7_xtvBpZu1eSvwfzMfNuOxc0mSdNlnWmR1B8L8vc8viKW84/s4898/IMG_13142_Hwy_191_Vernal_to_Moab.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SMNLoSPvCBDDTO7sQKLDckzJla8FtaZZ50jFoGhL8MD2zDSc75O1YCqyrD13TbRWd_vDnKqTWKBBuB8fhryodqY0JKEi7_xtvBpZu1eSvwfzMfNuOxc0mSdNlnWmR1B8L8vc8viKW84/s400/IMG_13142_Hwy_191_Vernal_to_Moab.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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We arrived at Moab about 4 PM, and went out to do some sightseeing as soon as we'd gotten checked into our lodging. It was 22 miles to Dead Horse Point State Park, and we ran the risk that the fading afternoon light would make photography challenging; but we still managed to get several nice shots.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj984s3C_NLq7Rl8cc1ezTm9nBT1l-pc00OyhmO1wAay-0Brcks2fbsqYL6-NuX17qT7zRhDw8TVnFBIdBteAFl6hWdt98UUypwIMnnjn7_GO07u42KG6G2FYH4Ys_aK4OYlcyo4ebQmig/s4898/IMG_13160_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj984s3C_NLq7Rl8cc1ezTm9nBT1l-pc00OyhmO1wAay-0Brcks2fbsqYL6-NuX17qT7zRhDw8TVnFBIdBteAFl6hWdt98UUypwIMnnjn7_GO07u42KG6G2FYH4Ys_aK4OYlcyo4ebQmig/s400/IMG_13160_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTqsQ0TNwAd5PcvI8gtysMQBkUiWI08pTcxUVudenjIIoGzpwVnCyquTqWsOT6af8dSLdi_nAgpu71P9kg2iaSHtkpeW707aaDVKD-CuMhtKGYdSrFkqMCPbiUm5stYLL-hMcdVw0SA8/s4898/IMG_13161_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTqsQ0TNwAd5PcvI8gtysMQBkUiWI08pTcxUVudenjIIoGzpwVnCyquTqWsOT6af8dSLdi_nAgpu71P9kg2iaSHtkpeW707aaDVKD-CuMhtKGYdSrFkqMCPbiUm5stYLL-hMcdVw0SA8/s400/IMG_13161_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlHfbxNrv13Zr8hEuMiUO56gOiaQPEdhw0LF6v3CvowYrz7Pj082L_7DIzeBh0re_daQTicWoSBEI5OVgngWdqxHgWN686JgECXar5ERDE_FLlBMkUhmEVp70zvSJ7-BJ97yQ82JE428/s4898/IMG_13165c_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlHfbxNrv13Zr8hEuMiUO56gOiaQPEdhw0LF6v3CvowYrz7Pj082L_7DIzeBh0re_daQTicWoSBEI5OVgngWdqxHgWN686JgECXar5ERDE_FLlBMkUhmEVp70zvSJ7-BJ97yQ82JE428/s400/IMG_13165c_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9vhF3zmzUQcqeJ-7qnRvHAK0Rpufw8axi4i8e3bqsltTxq8adkfiQnnI1xbj43-0qkXP2J0oTiZ6qzF70Sbile4htR5ixHF9ytXxZRyCdi2vF5A9jsQUOgoi4fvbiJJAbO9BTz2AMEM/s4914/IMG_13172b_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3255" data-original-width="4914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9vhF3zmzUQcqeJ-7qnRvHAK0Rpufw8axi4i8e3bqsltTxq8adkfiQnnI1xbj43-0qkXP2J0oTiZ6qzF70Sbile4htR5ixHF9ytXxZRyCdi2vF5A9jsQUOgoi4fvbiJJAbO9BTz2AMEM/s400/IMG_13172b_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPl50gfcmpOZI4NjZ5vcBoojQAd4-KLHzE-9ez-22XYjmweFLBRFvYMQK8F585WYeujFk_DB_-yfLMfVpwLZEGxTL0r0qLoL1uzV3MJzj3CSVs7cq8vmbUU0lMpH85lPHrCG_uPLGCsc/s4905/IMG_13180_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="4905" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPl50gfcmpOZI4NjZ5vcBoojQAd4-KLHzE-9ez-22XYjmweFLBRFvYMQK8F585WYeujFk_DB_-yfLMfVpwLZEGxTL0r0qLoL1uzV3MJzj3CSVs7cq8vmbUU0lMpH85lPHrCG_uPLGCsc/s400/IMG_13180_Dead_Horse_Point_SP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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The light was fading fast by the time we left Dead Horse Point State Park, but Doug wanted to drive the three more miles to Canyonlands "Island in the Sky" National Park. There, we strolled out onto the rocks by the visitor center to take a few pictures of that view. </div>
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Then the setting sun caught our attention, and we dilly dallied around the area until it put on it’s final spectacle, taking some shots of its dying glory.<br />
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNbJ4pUc1eggsatY9kn5sqTPXjU5bDIEqhnGZC_YfHwC7EmLZgS1uF58rhEEvdCRjZEiN-dwrErl5b5kbQyIyHPeMfCbJ0WmvtVUAim5Qlv9EZmJvt-Z5XUViDZRpJsObpGFZvSQXy-I/s4898/IMG_13188.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNbJ4pUc1eggsatY9kn5sqTPXjU5bDIEqhnGZC_YfHwC7EmLZgS1uF58rhEEvdCRjZEiN-dwrErl5b5kbQyIyHPeMfCbJ0WmvtVUAim5Qlv9EZmJvt-Z5XUViDZRpJsObpGFZvSQXy-I/s400/IMG_13188.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPmwQd790Na8FdBi1zdRc5_Br258grbLvULjOp46ve3ybfjnBndxu-VP9nIOXv2uCYQ5QPloTPpw9T5vKSMyZf-jRshsjhnI6ZLMDklE7HQUy3_iZCLn97WPpuSJseWU63JklzVSf25s/s4903/IMG_13200_Sunset_at_Canyonlands.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3262" data-original-width="4903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPmwQd790Na8FdBi1zdRc5_Br258grbLvULjOp46ve3ybfjnBndxu-VP9nIOXv2uCYQ5QPloTPpw9T5vKSMyZf-jRshsjhnI6ZLMDklE7HQUy3_iZCLn97WPpuSJseWU63JklzVSf25s/s400/IMG_13200_Sunset_at_Canyonlands.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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We returned to Canyonlands a couple of days later, in the daylight. But that's another post for another day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-7019690698814890682019-03-14T21:42:00.002-04:002021-02-20T19:53:37.836-05:00Dinosaur National Monument<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, <i>THAT</i> was a long break, wasn't it? I just lost my blogging momentum there for awhile, even though I was enjoying sharing our "Last Hurrah" western adventure with you. But I'm back now, to begin sharing the last half of our three-week vacation to some of our western states last October.</div>
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Our lodging for this part of our trip was at the Dinosaur Inn & Suites in Vernal, Utah, and was, hands down, the best room, best breakfast, and best rates encountered at any other stop. I highly recommend this facility for anyone looking for a place to stay in Vernal.</div>
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Vernal was chosen for its proximity to Dinosaur National Monument, which was the focus of our activity on October 9, 2018. </div>
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Entering Dinosaur National Monument, the first stop is the Quarry Exhibit Hall. It's an enclosed exhibit, built around a rock face in which approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones are embedded and preserved where they were found. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2_Dvr8vE-3acv04ow5WaalkNUMRYOEvQh3ibgXnBlscfzW9aFHzmh2DAKOnCCsurJIVhkAzIFSSfQhQIqDx7z1L2FyfGlCRXaqV-c6EB8FsEWDz3cQLpevQywTN96SjAVdXOoXIly9k/s6930/IMG_13033a-34a_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="6930" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2_Dvr8vE-3acv04ow5WaalkNUMRYOEvQh3ibgXnBlscfzW9aFHzmh2DAKOnCCsurJIVhkAzIFSSfQhQIqDx7z1L2FyfGlCRXaqV-c6EB8FsEWDz3cQLpevQywTN96SjAVdXOoXIly9k/w640-h213/IMG_13033a-34a_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a view of the surrounding landscape as seen from the Quarry Exhibit Hall</td></tr></tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_zOYRVdRv3WWu6quZ_eW1LsDyoZpLl1Gq_oDYDfNVb6Zx673F4u-Ab9RBOjYj1rf6agaLh61-IleVM2dRM74o0ykEEmlBPy4LRTymAeavvtF_0emJ7dowuejuHxLL1aY7I5IdOfJU28/s3300/Dinosaur_NM_Collage_HD+2019-03-14+17_15_20.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_zOYRVdRv3WWu6quZ_eW1LsDyoZpLl1Gq_oDYDfNVb6Zx673F4u-Ab9RBOjYj1rf6agaLh61-IleVM2dRM74o0ykEEmlBPy4LRTymAeavvtF_0emJ7dowuejuHxLL1aY7I5IdOfJU28/w640-h427/Dinosaur_NM_Collage_HD+2019-03-14+17_15_20.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Exhibit Hall</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
Dinosaur National Monument encompasses more than 210,000 acres of rugged, colorful, and beautiful landscape. We were there on a perfect day, when the sunshine highlighted the gorgeous colors in the rocks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VceHbHG7eWhXrmCAX-nSPuKwNzPj5jlHppenyPZqzf0on7pbJtej1IYI7oOnmlru6Zsb0oOTK-5RjyYwF651Xc-cXm7dDTZKy3OUEEKC0DJYFiw2EcSDuViR9bzcqM5v_f3Riic5OEw/s4898/IMG_13061_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VceHbHG7eWhXrmCAX-nSPuKwNzPj5jlHppenyPZqzf0on7pbJtej1IYI7oOnmlru6Zsb0oOTK-5RjyYwF651Xc-cXm7dDTZKy3OUEEKC0DJYFiw2EcSDuViR9bzcqM5v_f3Riic5OEw/s400/IMG_13061_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws0-qcNMa-TY_ZyN6duko1VBXMZ2yh-spVceRVv5Gp70cSggPIM4zJn7m6BLIBfJWQ22z91KdZc20BHk_6AvbzQTD3e37XISBJqZOyxbxPQGTXxLNvxv96crs5Y1_VzZ72Tl6x-y46mQ/s6192/IMG_13066-67a_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM_Panorama.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2583" data-original-width="6192" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws0-qcNMa-TY_ZyN6duko1VBXMZ2yh-spVceRVv5Gp70cSggPIM4zJn7m6BLIBfJWQ22z91KdZc20BHk_6AvbzQTD3e37XISBJqZOyxbxPQGTXxLNvxv96crs5Y1_VzZ72Tl6x-y46mQ/w640-h267/IMG_13066-67a_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr3umPcYqKLh0xkWneBPeIyJrqjnwxf7XjQamS9ZxW0Xl2b37dGHhO5rjY-0EdwJGsUxp9IReCpabmz6pEDKsNfIKkXfk4hbtka9WUjLffJjR7Rx4WRbruDQJAiPlZQO1ae5DBEc4gg0/s4898/IMG_13073b_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr3umPcYqKLh0xkWneBPeIyJrqjnwxf7XjQamS9ZxW0Xl2b37dGHhO5rjY-0EdwJGsUxp9IReCpabmz6pEDKsNfIKkXfk4hbtka9WUjLffJjR7Rx4WRbruDQJAiPlZQO1ae5DBEc4gg0/s400/IMG_13073b_Scenery_at_Dinosaur_NM.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1W3ckx7PqaVRBCGEE0VvrS57LMOuF8z0IIqGMcxGm6uoJYeddogXQnaNHXfUMdBzXztpxEcAlT_LfjF7tZhcP86h6dgPhNFYE4Afy8Bs11e3PZhrAhyVKENUxDjQsQcCSs7e8Bdxj90/s5184/IMG_13085_Turtle_Rock.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1W3ckx7PqaVRBCGEE0VvrS57LMOuF8z0IIqGMcxGm6uoJYeddogXQnaNHXfUMdBzXztpxEcAlT_LfjF7tZhcP86h6dgPhNFYE4Afy8Bs11e3PZhrAhyVKENUxDjQsQcCSs7e8Bdxj90/s400/IMG_13085_Turtle_Rock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This one is called
"Turtle Rock."</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another fun place to visit within the National Monument is the Josie Morris homestead. Josie was a woman alone who, at the age of 40, established her home in this remote area in the 1900s. She wanted to be self-sufficient, raise some livestock, and grow some produce. Here, she found the water and other conditions she needed to survive. She built her cabin and lived there until she died in 1964, at the age of 90.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla5ATXPpJ8i3RAl1KlA2yZK4VJS5S7YcvbblezrL8O95CdEkuGgqPDki002YvCeYLC1Mu7fLhLEsa71QDZ4JB7EwrjK7xQc5NsVsDEnS1GF0ogfYDGndT79Tcn_BxDmqAlxv3ucK0F1U/s4898/IMG_13099_Sign_at_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla5ATXPpJ8i3RAl1KlA2yZK4VJS5S7YcvbblezrL8O95CdEkuGgqPDki002YvCeYLC1Mu7fLhLEsa71QDZ4JB7EwrjK7xQc5NsVsDEnS1GF0ogfYDGndT79Tcn_BxDmqAlxv3ucK0F1U/s400/IMG_13099_Sign_at_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_6YiT6NHfpjf00lrMZk8OPxdN6SxFItgB0oVESz68PatcTr8hP2he8lrIXlHCV-yLHjJdlPfRvoLbi0JC_aEhyphenhyphen7YeOoVKIZTghQqjrHqbRo_CEtB_UsNnOy9d1zq-7KmRUJNZk0Ifns/s4898/IMG_13100_Sign_at_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_6YiT6NHfpjf00lrMZk8OPxdN6SxFItgB0oVESz68PatcTr8hP2he8lrIXlHCV-yLHjJdlPfRvoLbi0JC_aEhyphenhyphen7YeOoVKIZTghQqjrHqbRo_CEtB_UsNnOy9d1zq-7KmRUJNZk0Ifns/s400/IMG_13100_Sign_at_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNDf6Y04AyCvbvf-129kDlFK5br3Z2D1KDkVc0owC1mGM5TywRKQQOJM-6MYD6bhSkIe_F6zYRYnMhlgu_M6xljaZtc_vuNwuB5jFIHI1F3BevMw63OnvewwR0_TbE6W4oNadA293dgU/s4898/IMG_13101_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNDf6Y04AyCvbvf-129kDlFK5br3Z2D1KDkVc0owC1mGM5TywRKQQOJM-6MYD6bhSkIe_F6zYRYnMhlgu_M6xljaZtc_vuNwuB5jFIHI1F3BevMw63OnvewwR0_TbE6W4oNadA293dgU/s400/IMG_13101_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/48828297@N07/40415338513/in/album-72157677196406777/" title="IMG_13111_Josie_Morris_Homestead"><img alt="IMG_13111_Josie_Morris_Homestead" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7833/40415338513_ebc228e968.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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A path from Josie's cabin led to one of two box canyons where she pastured her cattle. She was able to easily corral them with a simple fence over the narrow opening to the canyon.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSRPpxRR2tsv00qoWjfAZ0qg-4Q7GUlDAg74C3TT_WAo9sbzctz1MdWO2RtjcwZrUW6x-nXwBVza7VzIXk6SRQ2_z5qNc3UNhRKWMshUSQjYKrQN19CLrAU_DXx7_Cg1pOgW336QDvDk/s4898/IMG_13120_Box_Canyon_at_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4898" data-original-width="3265" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSRPpxRR2tsv00qoWjfAZ0qg-4Q7GUlDAg74C3TT_WAo9sbzctz1MdWO2RtjcwZrUW6x-nXwBVza7VzIXk6SRQ2_z5qNc3UNhRKWMshUSQjYKrQN19CLrAU_DXx7_Cg1pOgW336QDvDk/s400/IMG_13120_Box_Canyon_at_Josie_Morris_Homestead.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box Canyon</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were also a number of places where petroglyphs could be viewed on the rock faces in the National Monument. Petroglyphs are forms of rock art left by ancient peoples who created them by removing part of the rock surface.</div>
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I'm including the following image of one such rock wall and have added arrows pointing out the many petroglyphs I found in just this small area. Most are lizards. One appears to be a man. Our attention was drawn to this wall by the very clear representation of a large lizard in the middle of the photo. Then we began spotting several others in the same area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4tF0AIsqwME8CjkDAYQzvYZGOvqvpeF-nC8M-JrHKbhvJVksZgK_CBRz9eOSmYlu4dCoAsg4dmwQfOVC1av6ZPhLJ1GTDi6QcN_Rc02Mb2hyphenhyphentektVtrOOlf4aUQClTx_SNprZcmST_Q/s5184/IMG_13121_Lizard_Petroglyths_with_Arrows.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4tF0AIsqwME8CjkDAYQzvYZGOvqvpeF-nC8M-JrHKbhvJVksZgK_CBRz9eOSmYlu4dCoAsg4dmwQfOVC1av6ZPhLJ1GTDi6QcN_Rc02Mb2hyphenhyphentektVtrOOlf4aUQClTx_SNprZcmST_Q/s400/IMG_13121_Lizard_Petroglyths_with_Arrows.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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The next day, we drove to Moab, Utah, where we visited Dead Horse Point State Park, another amazingly beautiful place, that afternoon. But more on that next time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-78176357665552561482019-02-05T22:41:00.003-05:002021-02-20T18:06:30.036-05:00Wild Horse Loop and Sheep Creek Geological Loop<div style="text-align: justify;">
October 8, 2018, we awoke to blowing snow in Green River, Wyoming, seriously limiting visibility. We had booked our room at the Hampton Inn for two nights because we had anticipated going on a wild horse tour on this day. However, the man who I had hoped could take us on that tour wasn't able to do so. That meant that we were looking at a day in Green River with no plans.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAnHfCHokpXTAePQUMvbGFRLTxf5qi9CGZZEQfK2RoifYvXUanUMoAkDZ-tt2ZyIPfL_piRSpAvDOlajtOvMiLBohYd3SFLMYrv2sq87IVNxdwteWsVJaO2OjmW6rI0xIu7N3nzplY4k/s4898/IMG_12928a_Green_River_Hampton_Inn.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAnHfCHokpXTAePQUMvbGFRLTxf5qi9CGZZEQfK2RoifYvXUanUMoAkDZ-tt2ZyIPfL_piRSpAvDOlajtOvMiLBohYd3SFLMYrv2sq87IVNxdwteWsVJaO2OjmW6rI0xIu7N3nzplY4k/s400/IMG_12928a_Green_River_Hampton_Inn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hampton Inn - Green River, Wyoming</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We called the motel we had booked for the next night, in Vernal, Utah; and they could take us a day early. So we checked out of the Hampton Inn, then went to the Green River visitor center right across the street from the hotel. The very nice lady there told us that the first two miles of the wild horse loop road were suitable for our vehicle and that we could turn around at any time. She also said that we would probably see horses in that stretch. She even suggested some scenic things to see between Green River and Vernal.</div>
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The wild horse loop road began just past our hotel, and we saw a small herd of 11 horses at the very beginning of the gravel road. We continued on up the road and were rewarded with a sighting of two more horses near the road. We turned around after that and returned to Green River to get some lunch before starting the trip to Vernal, Utah.</div>
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I had so many pictures that I wanted to include in this post that I decided to put some of them into collages. If you'd like to see the individual photos, though, just click <a href="https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMhlhIns3I9HQSNGqrxoH8c3QUCVimebhdm1Bn9" target="_blank">here</a> to view the album which contains all the photos.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp61wA8pcWKkbby6k1svQGHZ91FvGtB0yZweidEkBOEiNmUb2pZS2fuwynLdPpCLMhX9y9HVYe-WDQN-xQXpGR4SjAVNKXpR2Hcaq7dPDZGz1mt73TzMCpE15Pw5H9PVnooO7ODl3d80U/s3300/Green_River_Wild_Horse_Loop_Collage_HD+2019-02-05+21_37_29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp61wA8pcWKkbby6k1svQGHZ91FvGtB0yZweidEkBOEiNmUb2pZS2fuwynLdPpCLMhX9y9HVYe-WDQN-xQXpGR4SjAVNKXpR2Hcaq7dPDZGz1mt73TzMCpE15Pw5H9PVnooO7ODl3d80U/w640-h427/Green_River_Wild_Horse_Loop_Collage_HD+2019-02-05+21_37_29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Horse Loop Collage</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first part of Highway 530, between Green River and Vernal, Utah, traveled through very arid and somewhat boring terrain. Driving makes us both tired without some good views. We stopped at a scenic overlook on a side road to the Lucerne Marina and took a nap. After our rest, we drove on to the Marina, seeing some Pronghorn antelope right beside the road and seemingly very unconcerned about us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlFb4BOlHh7nu7k3bmTvlr4BnCAVyl8GDlkxQoOeDv6Oxb-rYCtNQV28CNxHeXz8YFYGXJO5BPfcFfoM2WYq2r-ECMPKedyVJoS8dyyha7OvVxfj4lhStfa030uoOAuu8_9sL9HBzkxE/s4898/IMG_12951_Antelope_on_Hwy_530_Route_Green_River_to_Vernal_UT.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlFb4BOlHh7nu7k3bmTvlr4BnCAVyl8GDlkxQoOeDv6Oxb-rYCtNQV28CNxHeXz8YFYGXJO5BPfcFfoM2WYq2r-ECMPKedyVJoS8dyyha7OvVxfj4lhStfa030uoOAuu8_9sL9HBzkxE/s400/IMG_12951_Antelope_on_Hwy_530_Route_Green_River_to_Vernal_UT.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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At the recommendation of the woman at the Green River visitor center, we turned off onto the Sheep Creek Geological Loop. The scenery on that 13-mile loop was spectacular. The snow was heavy there, and the aspen were still showing off their yellow leaves, enhanced by all the evergreens in the area.</div>
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I've again used a collage to bundle several pictures together. This was such a stunningly beautiful side trip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5mMR04JjKViD6B519jzQCNVwqpTi-0fqVUqsWHDvWCOLdCHe1YitYmWwOXBH1WrP1IPMS3qwRIwSY7o-5E6wDqE3CreGLQjqXP1-H2Ii_iyGtNpkSspVjE2YLkuuK02ec4CrnM8sxVY/s3300/Sheep_Creek_Geological_Loop_Collage_HD+2019-02-05+21_26_17.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5mMR04JjKViD6B519jzQCNVwqpTi-0fqVUqsWHDvWCOLdCHe1YitYmWwOXBH1WrP1IPMS3qwRIwSY7o-5E6wDqE3CreGLQjqXP1-H2Ii_iyGtNpkSspVjE2YLkuuK02ec4CrnM8sxVY/w640-h427/Sheep_Creek_Geological_Loop_Collage_HD+2019-02-05+21_26_17.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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By the time we topped out at about 9,000 feet of elevation, the snow was about six inches deep.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xpYAY1eMH81z32YWxl6ZK6_u_PqiMNohsllfYXCizIuAgvRY0qUtj1qMlx4it3bNQ8mjRcEM4Up8mZolCe4dPf1o9kyPdAZ99xKzGkMX6wjP5JIVf5vFqH3YYzxlDuizpc3NpRFySUE/s4898/IMG_13000_Sheep_Creek_Geological_Loop.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xpYAY1eMH81z32YWxl6ZK6_u_PqiMNohsllfYXCizIuAgvRY0qUtj1qMlx4it3bNQ8mjRcEM4Up8mZolCe4dPf1o9kyPdAZ99xKzGkMX6wjP5JIVf5vFqH3YYzxlDuizpc3NpRFySUE/s400/IMG_13000_Sheep_Creek_Geological_Loop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">If you look closely, you can see the road we traveled to get this far.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We took another side trip to Cedar Canyon Lodge, which was closed for the season. We hadn't seen any wildlife in Sheep Creek Canyon, other than a few wild turkeys. But we came across some mule deer on our drive to Cedar Canyon Lodge.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d-p6UcyGR9UKfqdAbCi0eJdm2N9WbhKhlgzAYfL3Ue3pwlMomMBcOFNeLAWcZlviA_yFrJt3XIqGvltHMS-QS8QEwxPGhlFkwQr-fNLQaqAU6BGM_ijj6ClWBBsAAJAUtwLmAyvkfh4/s4898/IMG_13001_Mule_Deer_at_Red_Canyon_Lodge.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d-p6UcyGR9UKfqdAbCi0eJdm2N9WbhKhlgzAYfL3Ue3pwlMomMBcOFNeLAWcZlviA_yFrJt3XIqGvltHMS-QS8QEwxPGhlFkwQr-fNLQaqAU6BGM_ijj6ClWBBsAAJAUtwLmAyvkfh4/s400/IMG_13001_Mule_Deer_at_Red_Canyon_Lodge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZUP7XK7lfiWvwNjyk8E0JFg1mpiCwr9HKWdTRMf3jCY79Et_rh8YBIqWCLFO5KqAaObmHagUJwV_ACsNjwYLMFuf7mI8KYLDt9jwha9YWJdmIayEJJISxPyHh66cOVf0Kxf2rbpaSkk/s4898/IMG_13006_Mule_Deer.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZUP7XK7lfiWvwNjyk8E0JFg1mpiCwr9HKWdTRMf3jCY79Et_rh8YBIqWCLFO5KqAaObmHagUJwV_ACsNjwYLMFuf7mI8KYLDt9jwha9YWJdmIayEJJISxPyHh66cOVf0Kxf2rbpaSkk/s400/IMG_13006_Mule_Deer.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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Next stop was the flaming gorge dam, where we were finally out of the snow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLNIVTc_ty0yQOwOWJROwn3ywbbmTwhoHnNKMWKiCOeF6uLDjLl8AllkQGKlrrlc5YG7ndJUOHME_YtlesDZu64uiIELWGeK_SasT6FS1T9wX9bVjPubnLe7Fx2bKdeF-trtr_aUVN2g/s4898/IMG_13014a_At_Flaming_Gorge_Dam.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLNIVTc_ty0yQOwOWJROwn3ywbbmTwhoHnNKMWKiCOeF6uLDjLl8AllkQGKlrrlc5YG7ndJUOHME_YtlesDZu64uiIELWGeK_SasT6FS1T9wX9bVjPubnLe7Fx2bKdeF-trtr_aUVN2g/s400/IMG_13014a_At_Flaming_Gorge_Dam.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Flaming Gorge Dam</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>
And here is one final picture for this day. It's a scene we encountered between the dam and our destination for the night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMqiOCIxxUdW-BNUvFzWogcNDbi3NQVoNpSFo2dHRzln-XqcSmml_oxsXrW8U6ZVzFLMWh6eWrNkV91LuD2Qx4HgJTWcaz5j5iIQ8hXGmSvsmFRdYt2LMG6jfexermSBjbX1oEy2Gjck/s6616/IMG_13020-21_Between_Flaming_Gorge_Dam_and_Vernal_UT.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2418" data-original-width="6616" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMqiOCIxxUdW-BNUvFzWogcNDbi3NQVoNpSFo2dHRzln-XqcSmml_oxsXrW8U6ZVzFLMWh6eWrNkV91LuD2Qx4HgJTWcaz5j5iIQ8hXGmSvsmFRdYt2LMG6jfexermSBjbX1oEy2Gjck/w640-h234/IMG_13020-21_Between_Flaming_Gorge_Dam_and_Vernal_UT.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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We were so grateful for the tips given to us by the woman at the Green River visitor center. We would probably not have tried to see the wild horses on our own, and I doubt very much that we would have taken the trip through Sheep Creek Canyon without the advance information that she had provided.</div>
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Coming up next...the Dinosaur National Monument.<br /><br />Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-20011577695321570622019-01-30T05:00:00.001-05:002021-02-20T17:22:29.036-05:00From Yellowstone to Tetons to Green River <div style="text-align: justify;">
Continuing our Last Hurrah trip out west, we left our motel in West Yellowstone the morning of October 7, 2018, bound for Green River, Wyoming, where we had lodging reservations that night. Our route took us back into Yellowstone National Park, down the west side of the lower loop, and out the south entrance and into Grand Teton National Park.</div>
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Ravens are a common sight in many of our western national parks. They're intelligent and entertaining and shameless beggars. The one in the following picture was at one of the waterfalls we stopped to visit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdYQuJsubv51yXRzYCND9vpL72EeY9mR4rMeCyi0-2rKdZa6755N_c4k8c72w8zDldOVaiDFvx94ZZB9qP1jt2H9LlrY7M3N90ca_7uQauKVAsTgCsrDAlXKNqJPXTXlgoFLXMdzTV3s/s4898/IMG_12863a_Raven_at_Kepler_Cascades.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdYQuJsubv51yXRzYCND9vpL72EeY9mR4rMeCyi0-2rKdZa6755N_c4k8c72w8zDldOVaiDFvx94ZZB9qP1jt2H9LlrY7M3N90ca_7uQauKVAsTgCsrDAlXKNqJPXTXlgoFLXMdzTV3s/s400/IMG_12863a_Raven_at_Kepler_Cascades.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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It was a beautiful morning, with fresh snow on the trees lining the road.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5lsyfgtp7Kf9Bmc4BsVp5HF5vLzg17LhZ4ojqlSvd4vRJXmZm_VlfHXKlQbK2rs_Zf8veFE2g3mEQM5pU8kQRKzmUOF4ru91e3YQ-T6clPZHvR8PIq2wbSRBNWCvdhCcG3iYJW1okmc/s4255/IMG_12868a_Yellowstone_Snow.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2840" data-original-width="4255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5lsyfgtp7Kf9Bmc4BsVp5HF5vLzg17LhZ4ojqlSvd4vRJXmZm_VlfHXKlQbK2rs_Zf8veFE2g3mEQM5pU8kQRKzmUOF4ru91e3YQ-T6clPZHvR8PIq2wbSRBNWCvdhCcG3iYJW1okmc/s400/IMG_12868a_Yellowstone_Snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had a beautiful day for viewing the mountains in Grand Teton National Park, too. Often, they're hidden by clouds or haze from wildfires. But this time we could view them in all their glory.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYt8wb2o2lqhtx_CL2e4L_LFdqjUTjUs_JuHayJOeNPOnBf0Nysiyl5pQCB00uzPNGI4xjgrKovbM55Q0wQhfRrqZjGmX26UeBSc1chhspjTMwAjC8pN81ikqZBxA6KrUm3y7YADqlUo/s7818/IMG_12892a-94a_Tetons.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="7818" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYt8wb2o2lqhtx_CL2e4L_LFdqjUTjUs_JuHayJOeNPOnBf0Nysiyl5pQCB00uzPNGI4xjgrKovbM55Q0wQhfRrqZjGmX26UeBSc1chhspjTMwAjC8pN81ikqZBxA6KrUm3y7YADqlUo/w640-h168/IMG_12892a-94a_Tetons.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWkw2ayksY4vpUWxJFxEwRDG28kpBXOqtL_iNtRFIFgb167XK5UsbOG-8nWy4Z-yoiXZagtDFT2sDCfx4-oQ0j073zFPyVZa0-T8JK8lueCB-lOdSC8AjW22mQkqmMlsgbYILELVfx5M/s4898/IMG_12895c_Aspens_in_Tetons.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWkw2ayksY4vpUWxJFxEwRDG28kpBXOqtL_iNtRFIFgb167XK5UsbOG-8nWy4Z-yoiXZagtDFT2sDCfx4-oQ0j073zFPyVZa0-T8JK8lueCB-lOdSC8AjW22mQkqmMlsgbYILELVfx5M/s400/IMG_12895c_Aspens_in_Tetons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees sporting their fall colors were scattered among the evergreens.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlO3TZ3tUTZiZPqChZJAI2jEHMyoNgUQtWADoadRxwYSdGR6eAog453gjnRWftT1KhYpFgRHcxTdL8xYRpJWuAUhB5PyhssJlVOee47p_KMNzUHlhiqDZxe_2BAvWHvJ85vsc-IGTCjc/s4898/IMG_12897a_Tetons+%25282%2529.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlO3TZ3tUTZiZPqChZJAI2jEHMyoNgUQtWADoadRxwYSdGR6eAog453gjnRWftT1KhYpFgRHcxTdL8xYRpJWuAUhB5PyhssJlVOee47p_KMNzUHlhiqDZxe_2BAvWHvJ85vsc-IGTCjc/s400/IMG_12897a_Tetons+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhaxyKC8n8cMUmcUrJG_mJ-J2PKswqjVfxj4YKyI3jbMn1_ftR5iQdY8XHe7eb3zisCmaaxoTjaxHuvuFzFhsgVMP9lOv0vzJsR4Q-ynwFlRJU5SPaeFjdb51qgAlVWw9-q9D7qtCfnc/s4898/IMG_12900a_Oxbow_Bend_Tetons.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhaxyKC8n8cMUmcUrJG_mJ-J2PKswqjVfxj4YKyI3jbMn1_ftR5iQdY8XHe7eb3zisCmaaxoTjaxHuvuFzFhsgVMP9lOv0vzJsR4Q-ynwFlRJU5SPaeFjdb51qgAlVWw9-q9D7qtCfnc/s400/IMG_12900a_Oxbow_Bend_Tetons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Oxbow Bend at Grand Teton National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Leaving the Grand Tetons, we drove U. S. Route 191 south to Rock Springs, then I-80 from there to Green River. The following photos were taken along the very scenic Route 191, between Jackson and Pinedale. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7606-oMzvQ1NyObHNuTtLBbSU-DB3nyKRPsrS9m6SRZloGWI_ngCRGABbAt4fHODCYnfG8_8g3hsfGeQRyuZkAbhOBsMF1PYDGP4a_fc_5UO5ip6YGEu2_CGNaTMGiDvoEtw9_kCV5Q/s4898/IMG_12910a_Hwy_191_Jackson_to_Pinedale.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7606-oMzvQ1NyObHNuTtLBbSU-DB3nyKRPsrS9m6SRZloGWI_ngCRGABbAt4fHODCYnfG8_8g3hsfGeQRyuZkAbhOBsMF1PYDGP4a_fc_5UO5ip6YGEu2_CGNaTMGiDvoEtw9_kCV5Q/s400/IMG_12910a_Hwy_191_Jackson_to_Pinedale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0obaFBrhRu7_hQFqQrhCqEw_h_9auAgEkg71ah1PbmAe7HOyIcUmGHAb-ij0yontyfP7OpojqxnOWUz0rtykuCOXu2kQ3O-rwRXNg8abJKJxwMz5Z6qsKpoAiWuAKS1oPtzpogHOBmXc/s4898/IMG_12911a_Hwy_191_Jackson_to_Pinedale.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0obaFBrhRu7_hQFqQrhCqEw_h_9auAgEkg71ah1PbmAe7HOyIcUmGHAb-ij0yontyfP7OpojqxnOWUz0rtykuCOXu2kQ3O-rwRXNg8abJKJxwMz5Z6qsKpoAiWuAKS1oPtzpogHOBmXc/s400/IMG_12911a_Hwy_191_Jackson_to_Pinedale.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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The following photo is a zoomed-in version of the one above. I wanted to get a closer look at the house-sized haystack in the field. There were several of these in this area, apparently needed to help livestock survive harsh winters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBbJqAnjYEcvQVM-bKP4O0Cc-Q0-OLhgNfA6z3el6-kIAAijZpapyF-pJsGY6IJGOnQrJXxv9cQuCpp6JdwN7TF4cmpZktNZW89cAgQ6IFllNrhFKRhGz3LK_E5yldlXfeeA8knobpIs/s4898/IMG_12915a_Hwy_191_Jackson_to_Pinedale.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBbJqAnjYEcvQVM-bKP4O0Cc-Q0-OLhgNfA6z3el6-kIAAijZpapyF-pJsGY6IJGOnQrJXxv9cQuCpp6JdwN7TF4cmpZktNZW89cAgQ6IFllNrhFKRhGz3LK_E5yldlXfeeA8knobpIs/s400/IMG_12915a_Hwy_191_Jackson_to_Pinedale.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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A little further down the road, we passed a field where a group of cowboys and their cattle dogs were working some cattle. By the time we'd turned around and gone back for photos, they were pretty far off the road. So the photo isn't as good as I would have liked, but I couldn't help thinking how beautiful their workplace was.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_-EBfSwgSzEq6Pggf_pjkOhrs52_F_F3S_IDKmj30AFcQ64qXqQQ111OEAkKIAjWlAdugU09ynPPTrUHmA4w07UN-qahDRP9NFuT6DnYoazc4m52yddQ54ZjPZOjv8TVy7lVO8rb4c/s4898/IMG_12917a_Cowboys.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_-EBfSwgSzEq6Pggf_pjkOhrs52_F_F3S_IDKmj30AFcQ64qXqQQ111OEAkKIAjWlAdugU09ynPPTrUHmA4w07UN-qahDRP9NFuT6DnYoazc4m52yddQ54ZjPZOjv8TVy7lVO8rb4c/s400/IMG_12917a_Cowboys.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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More from our travels next time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-11926425284406306142019-01-22T16:48:00.006-05:002021-02-20T11:37:27.500-05:00Gibbon Falls, Yellowstone Canyon, and Steamboat Geyser<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was snowing in West Yellowstone when we got up on the morning of October 6, 2018, greatly reducing visibility, but so pretty.</div>
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Our chief goal for the day was to visit Yellowstone Canyon, particularly the Artist Point overlook, for views of Lower Falls. Our route to the canyon took us past Gibbon Falls, which always requires a photo stop.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OL2YMsV-JhvrPKoZKsajSlCLKV5o8Y-Ecm2l4KFrwhOYsTL_RDnMnM8Zh3AFMn4uZGl-RlYdfaAe7Xi0Hcy1P7Dx7klj5w2wtuByHtPt3ApEeWRWL_b9tNo_rOO-XJPA18nOHr7jObM/s4898/IMG_12809b_Gibbon_Falls.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OL2YMsV-JhvrPKoZKsajSlCLKV5o8Y-Ecm2l4KFrwhOYsTL_RDnMnM8Zh3AFMn4uZGl-RlYdfaAe7Xi0Hcy1P7Dx7klj5w2wtuByHtPt3ApEeWRWL_b9tNo_rOO-XJPA18nOHr7jObM/s400/IMG_12809b_Gibbon_Falls.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibbon Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A young woman traveling alone asked if we would take her picture at the falls. Of course, we were happy to oblige. And, when she offered to return the favor, we happily accepted. We rarely get pictures of ourselves on our vacations, so it's a treat when someone offers, especially someone with some knowledge of photography and cameras, as this woman evidenced.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff3DF7T3r4LMyTopeq_P9V7tlCGyUVSnQWlHF065ZogyDRJTyfA-IjUO4zHyYGcKe0ykLNwpr5BqnZsARNxf5MGUqdhOXoKxQHYnjDy5vjiNuMoAjBNINKdedXQ5xMFWd2MMwM6706_E/s4898/IMG_12814a_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Gibbon_Falls+%25281%2529.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff3DF7T3r4LMyTopeq_P9V7tlCGyUVSnQWlHF065ZogyDRJTyfA-IjUO4zHyYGcKe0ykLNwpr5BqnZsARNxf5MGUqdhOXoKxQHYnjDy5vjiNuMoAjBNINKdedXQ5xMFWd2MMwM6706_E/s400/IMG_12814a_Doug_%2526_Linda_at_Gibbon_Falls+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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As we continued on to the canyon area, we passed through the most beautiful snowy scenery.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlxX4vKDyAeZFF_JPuYDejZd40numLgl90TygVLSeGjepPddC8AblvUYXUDNsEEJSTmz4dL_kxuDrPZpKeexXkKhgXZPdrenbBkYF3JkPlBSMjxHF4XmjN_aU3K2g73YaQAPQQ1PvszU/s4898/IMG_12818a_Norris_to_Canyon.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlxX4vKDyAeZFF_JPuYDejZd40numLgl90TygVLSeGjepPddC8AblvUYXUDNsEEJSTmz4dL_kxuDrPZpKeexXkKhgXZPdrenbBkYF3JkPlBSMjxHF4XmjN_aU3K2g73YaQAPQQ1PvszU/s400/IMG_12818a_Norris_to_Canyon.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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Artist Point is almost always crowded with tourists, especially during the warmer months. But I was surprised at how many people were there on this cold and snowy day. We weren't the only crazies.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DGOh8o99oSW_5rlGwZB_z1cJ1-G68zrvf8y6CEfvUIOlLTw9JnmrDMdEhOlVDP7w2Zfz-dMAOImrOXd5GvcMm4kIKlz5WtGiCwaWCPm7C8aBE6PH88Wv67tsJ0CxO9WnqN2q19Qr9cM/s4898/IMG_12830a_Canyon_from_Artist_Point.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DGOh8o99oSW_5rlGwZB_z1cJ1-G68zrvf8y6CEfvUIOlLTw9JnmrDMdEhOlVDP7w2Zfz-dMAOImrOXd5GvcMm4kIKlz5WtGiCwaWCPm7C8aBE6PH88Wv67tsJ0CxO9WnqN2q19Qr9cM/s400/IMG_12830a_Canyon_from_Artist_Point.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The view down the
canyon, looking away from the falls, is also beautiful.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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On the way back to the parking lot, we met a couple that had asked us to take their picture at Gibbon Falls. After we had taken theirs, they offered to take ours; but we didn't accept their offer since the other young woman had already done us that favor. Meeting again here at Artist Point, though, we exchanged cameras and took pictures of each other, with Lower Falls in the background.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwKxg5mhTKhcTX_YqQYW1W3DhADkkYMRpDUbtfTmM-4_uKGORQ7mSvnvIVcKamkw_xHPQ09fXF62tvkpHRfVPeT5sgpbKSdTM2C3nSLsirwNgBOb2Tzf8QXNRllLYt5KcXXV_uQKeXgc/s4744/IMG_12833a_Doug_%2526_Linda_At_Artist_Point.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3156" data-original-width="4744" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwKxg5mhTKhcTX_YqQYW1W3DhADkkYMRpDUbtfTmM-4_uKGORQ7mSvnvIVcKamkw_xHPQ09fXF62tvkpHRfVPeT5sgpbKSdTM2C3nSLsirwNgBOb2Tzf8QXNRllLYt5KcXXV_uQKeXgc/s400/IMG_12833a_Doug_%2526_Linda_At_Artist_Point.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>Following is a short video clip of Lower Falls.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jmivHbNb3KI" width="560"></iframe><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Yellowstone National Park is home to Steamboat Geyser, the world's tallest currently-active geyser. A very unpredictable geyser, it was once quiet for 50 years, between 1911 and 1961. When it became "active" again, there were dormant periods of varying length, some as long as eight years, between eruptions. But, in 2018, Steamboat erupted 32 times, breaking its previous record of 29 eruptions in 1964. </div>
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With Steamboat's increased activity, it was definitely on our list of things to see in Yellowstone on this trip. When we arrived at the viewing area, we found several people bundled up in sleeping bags, protecting, as best they could, expensive camera equipment from the snowy day and steam from the geyser. It was believed that the next eruption was only a matter of hours away, and they were determined to be there when it happened.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjrit7ddvtbtx2qLeE-59IqqSWJY2oABMiATICYj5k5ajiwGAnqg0dth1EBiZl2J2rtJjZtarzPP2mgXbc2rGK8qxMXz2lvS9WIde32PWvuqOckyERjMIC1PDnJTj9GbLIA1FYjz_lc4/s4984/IMG_12837a_Steamboat_Geyser.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3295" data-original-width="4984" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjrit7ddvtbtx2qLeE-59IqqSWJY2oABMiATICYj5k5ajiwGAnqg0dth1EBiZl2J2rtJjZtarzPP2mgXbc2rGK8qxMXz2lvS9WIde32PWvuqOckyERjMIC1PDnJTj9GbLIA1FYjz_lc4/s400/IMG_12837a_Steamboat_Geyser.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFwEpW1cSGh5K2kWIkZ1GaqCoFe66Va8Z00blfUpLYmc4ZTPtVnqC2GbzYo7ZHQLwvm9p56YyrBj6LUmZLxf5JczNA7xctTZeZB4pknrA06lBeT7YQp7peDaggVZiykJm7RX5iVeXVss/s4898/IMG_12854_Steamboat_Geyser.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFwEpW1cSGh5K2kWIkZ1GaqCoFe66Va8Z00blfUpLYmc4ZTPtVnqC2GbzYo7ZHQLwvm9p56YyrBj6LUmZLxf5JczNA7xctTZeZB4pknrA06lBeT7YQp7peDaggVZiykJm7RX5iVeXVss/s400/IMG_12854_Steamboat_Geyser.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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We stayed for awhile, each burst of water from the hole giving us hope that we would see an eruption; but we lacked the patience of those with the sleeping bags. Besides, we needed to get back to the motel and pack up to leave West Yellowstone in the morning. So we left, not having been among those who had been privileged to view a full eruption of Steamboat in its most active year in history.</div>
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Checking on Steamboat's eruption history later, I learned that the eruption that was expected within a few hours didn't occur until two days later, on October 8. I'm glad we didn't wait.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-23240988310251351262019-01-18T05:00:00.001-05:002021-02-20T10:39:38.498-05:00Quake Lake and More from YellowstoneIt had snowed overnight in West Yellowstone, leaving a couple of inches of the white stuff on the roof of our vehicle on the morning of October 5, 2018. The roads were clear, though; and the sun was shining. The temperature was in the mid-thirties (1C).<br />
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We decided to take a side trip to Quake Lake before going into Yellowstone National Park. We didn't remember the route to Quake Lake and wound up going some extra miles to get there. But they were beautiful miles. Following are some scenes from that morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShj6XPF4D2bQVaZs1n2yAWGzSG1dKPUsxOzJDcqDd0p3T4F550jr0GUDE6_Cu9KQ7G6luF68rvus8fi-p0rVccpdouSPi-RYxSCrLh9uAw9ZO79Ccj32NyCCNS6VojC3JI7BpWLSDfps/s4898/IMG_12747a_Mtns_on_Hwy_89_in_Idaho.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShj6XPF4D2bQVaZs1n2yAWGzSG1dKPUsxOzJDcqDd0p3T4F550jr0GUDE6_Cu9KQ7G6luF68rvus8fi-p0rVccpdouSPi-RYxSCrLh9uAw9ZO79Ccj32NyCCNS6VojC3JI7BpWLSDfps/s400/IMG_12747a_Mtns_on_Hwy_89_in_Idaho.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeU4bCcozRWoREw2H3V-KZjUd1UG018TA3yevs-OqG4Z9PZ-ufCG3i676BE9Xl_y38T_YYPs44SbcDcFMzovfQWqrCz93I4Ol-6OcRG5RtjZvYL6Gkdc48foJcG_k-_bNyIajwrdaS0w/s5994/IMG_12750b-51a_Mtns_On_Way_to_Quake_Lake_from_West.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2669" data-original-width="5994" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeU4bCcozRWoREw2H3V-KZjUd1UG018TA3yevs-OqG4Z9PZ-ufCG3i676BE9Xl_y38T_YYPs44SbcDcFMzovfQWqrCz93I4Ol-6OcRG5RtjZvYL6Gkdc48foJcG_k-_bNyIajwrdaS0w/w640-h285/IMG_12750b-51a_Mtns_On_Way_to_Quake_Lake_from_West.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X4xSq5AN9uJulM9EFL9KU41hWAe0gqaQhfkZvwGoiPmxNXEEOTs5GLvHB3pmQ6K_AmlNqfc5hBoX0wTWzcqREaIGakxa3zcEX_5psAfT97Ps2bPFqaQQmSHGrDHcuAc3dWT7_VuoFII/s4898/IMG_12752a_Mtns_On_Way_to_Quake_Lake_from_West.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X4xSq5AN9uJulM9EFL9KU41hWAe0gqaQhfkZvwGoiPmxNXEEOTs5GLvHB3pmQ6K_AmlNqfc5hBoX0wTWzcqREaIGakxa3zcEX_5psAfT97Ps2bPFqaQQmSHGrDHcuAc3dWT7_VuoFII/s400/IMG_12752a_Mtns_On_Way_to_Quake_Lake_from_West.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dwbDR7M8j3jcy-cAQIrSqrdxQRgBuwfbo-w6jXIGT6AOral_F5Ih-seWbBgSAIWxATZqhMqL1wDCFlATPPlH3emMOFbPmIhcdgHH8dRPzf8OJ98tGWAayxH0tGMMeI1rickhSoCfpAM/s4898/IMG_12759a_At_Quake_Lake_Visitor_Center.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dwbDR7M8j3jcy-cAQIrSqrdxQRgBuwfbo-w6jXIGT6AOral_F5Ih-seWbBgSAIWxATZqhMqL1wDCFlATPPlH3emMOFbPmIhcdgHH8dRPzf8OJ98tGWAayxH0tGMMeI1rickhSoCfpAM/s400/IMG_12759a_At_Quake_Lake_Visitor_Center.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quake Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quake Lake was formed when a 7.2 earthquake struck the area in 1959, resulting in a landslide which blocked the flow of the Madison River, creating the new lake. Twenty-eight people lost their lives in that massive landslide.</div>
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Leaving Quake Lake, we continued on our way to Yellowstone National Park by way of the West Entrance Road. The snowfall of the previous night had left the trees lining the road with a beautiful covering of snow, as this short video shows:</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MSA2L16CWOQ" width="560"></iframe><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuivQhOw3wzi_MIIIqnyEC2WLuExSJVKM6EJUZ_4l_wBdKsyaBWXIuhWY9GHVZqDSblHuTEmqb2cnXps4dx8B6zfTxUYP2JtDjdkxG_4j1oo_Gcvv70wAXUNBTFPe9K-jM7lMp02xB22M/s6454/IMG_12766b-67b_Yellowstone_Steam.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="6454" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuivQhOw3wzi_MIIIqnyEC2WLuExSJVKM6EJUZ_4l_wBdKsyaBWXIuhWY9GHVZqDSblHuTEmqb2cnXps4dx8B6zfTxUYP2JtDjdkxG_4j1oo_Gcvv70wAXUNBTFPe9K-jM7lMp02xB22M/w640-h246/IMG_12766b-67b_Yellowstone_Steam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a view of steam vents and snow-covered trees on the distant hills, on the way to Old Faithful.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlJn1_y0do3tFDo3CvtDDMBV8GkBMxXQcfPJLo-9zLOL_47DyvxS3_4jgrmt7h20BUMi9p2Hh4zPI54ujTsNP7ftg9LPga4mmEhKa9NlZ-R0fbwyolOEZyCrspCdwr3sBlGdrbxP_wAs/s4898/IMG_12772a_Old_Faithful.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlJn1_y0do3tFDo3CvtDDMBV8GkBMxXQcfPJLo-9zLOL_47DyvxS3_4jgrmt7h20BUMi9p2Hh4zPI54ujTsNP7ftg9LPga4mmEhKa9NlZ-R0fbwyolOEZyCrspCdwr3sBlGdrbxP_wAs/s400/IMG_12772a_Old_Faithful.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This isn't a great picture of Old Faithful, but I couldn't document a Last Hurrah trip to Yellowstone without including a shot of Old Faithful.<br />
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Next, we drove to Midway Geyser Basin, the main feature of which is Grand Prismatic Spring.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRezMVpC9pk3D3W1inb8ygGkoOrynLp9UYeJt0cuUCo8Bb5U5LniuUa_PcDdjs6U4tRhEJPSKnYoTYHzHYUEXltdSYH62cGsCqULNcr7ZcRSwxkszO3AgT-en8UUTijBR-XORESmKBdOk/s5184/IMG_12776a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRezMVpC9pk3D3W1inb8ygGkoOrynLp9UYeJt0cuUCo8Bb5U5LniuUa_PcDdjs6U4tRhEJPSKnYoTYHzHYUEXltdSYH62cGsCqULNcr7ZcRSwxkszO3AgT-en8UUTijBR-XORESmKBdOk/s400/IMG_12776a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firehole River at Midway Geyser Basin</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIw3aQIcLbBUV_PJcZqoFDftUkxTfM4S_OsxmYdtTaZm1Lcwl1swNQWs5dTl3YKzNj5hkyoUpXl-amTDUggq7fGl_y6w8pYN06yUs-Ri7UPUAzgxxeRBUrqYvGj2fv49lcr_sznzhaL-A/s5184/IMG_12782a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIw3aQIcLbBUV_PJcZqoFDftUkxTfM4S_OsxmYdtTaZm1Lcwl1swNQWs5dTl3YKzNj5hkyoUpXl-amTDUggq7fGl_y6w8pYN06yUs-Ri7UPUAzgxxeRBUrqYvGj2fv49lcr_sznzhaL-A/s400/IMG_12782a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Steam is everywhere in Yellowstone, but not always with a backdrop of snow on the hillsides.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpFcz02p_MSSVlZqRmdtqjaXxNIP_bWef0riC9T22ubpnBYsqF8jRKFhSaYy-nqvz39fizFQ-1OA-me8J_Lo8ID273vNuLG84pLdH-3lxXjaSzUHzY4DPIHvPRXQoN8Xgj2IQk8dewic/s5184/IMG_12786a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpFcz02p_MSSVlZqRmdtqjaXxNIP_bWef0riC9T22ubpnBYsqF8jRKFhSaYy-nqvz39fizFQ-1OA-me8J_Lo8ID273vNuLG84pLdH-3lxXjaSzUHzY4DPIHvPRXQoN8Xgj2IQk8dewic/s400/IMG_12786a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">People lined up on the boardwalk to view Grand Prismatic Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY1pplAmcZu1ZKdiCxEDZ7DJf2-ni0b3PRh4c5Yb7WBnlbF-SWW98Hyf60cNSQx1NGDOO6-orEHhW7H7NiT4Q1mt9wqdeOq-5ojbGuFnXcAheJC4c9yYDKD1UMzDPfdYzArb3o-YNgVQ/s7054/IMG_12788a-89a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="7054" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY1pplAmcZu1ZKdiCxEDZ7DJf2-ni0b3PRh4c5Yb7WBnlbF-SWW98Hyf60cNSQx1NGDOO6-orEHhW7H7NiT4Q1mt9wqdeOq-5ojbGuFnXcAheJC4c9yYDKD1UMzDPfdYzArb3o-YNgVQ/w640-h205/IMG_12788a-89a_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Grand Prismatic Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcjuoXjbgEcfrqDbAB0iq7qV_8WCNmq_b17rRWdUbcBkrsk76tR4hQhbVIyEYMttm-mPIKlpTqgEp1xgygcsBJWDf3XT3q5CBUNh1tpWFR8WsxJMrGlTkNm2TaejHQkyzQShmC8Ba-KY/s4898/IMG_12792a_Sign_at_Grand_Prismatic_Spring_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcjuoXjbgEcfrqDbAB0iq7qV_8WCNmq_b17rRWdUbcBkrsk76tR4hQhbVIyEYMttm-mPIKlpTqgEp1xgygcsBJWDf3XT3q5CBUNh1tpWFR8WsxJMrGlTkNm2TaejHQkyzQShmC8Ba-KY/s400/IMG_12792a_Sign_at_Grand_Prismatic_Spring_At_Midway_Geyser_Basin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I include the picture of the sign to show what Grand Prismatic Spring looks like from above. There is a viewing area at the top of a steep hill, where I might have gotten a shot of my own, but I was in no shape to hike up there.</div>
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The sign itself explains that Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest and one of the most brilliant of Yellowstone's many colorful hot springs. It is approximately 200 feet (61m) across. The high temperature of its water - 160F° (70C°) - ensures that the spring is often cloaked in steam. It pours almost 500 gallons of hot water each minute into the Firehole River.</div>
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Leaving Midway Geyser Basin, we headed back to our lodging in West Yellowstone. The late-afternoon sun, enhanced the view of the river alongside the road. Even so, we might not have stopped but for the bald eagle that was perched in the small lone tree on the left side of the river. It was too far for me to get a decent shot of the eagle, but I liked the overall view.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkc2K1m-xTiV-dr3SB9BcMdxjdGVBR3hQi1NkkQZYa0yx5ba9D1f8dExBAFzUs5WkGhTVpy2twNVqH2TCmEtIzVKjbYC2VDwiNx0hOZY2pMt3JjTOYKeviCFdZ85EF6H7jATHRhGCXDI/s4898/IMG_12803a_Bald_Eagle_Along_West_Entrance_Road.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkc2K1m-xTiV-dr3SB9BcMdxjdGVBR3hQi1NkkQZYa0yx5ba9D1f8dExBAFzUs5WkGhTVpy2twNVqH2TCmEtIzVKjbYC2VDwiNx0hOZY2pMt3JjTOYKeviCFdZ85EF6H7jATHRhGCXDI/s400/IMG_12803a_Bald_Eagle_Along_West_Entrance_Road.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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We had one more day in Yellowstone. But more on that next time.<br /><br />Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-9767075152287247222019-01-15T05:00:00.001-05:002021-02-19T23:04:27.191-05:00From Cody to West Yellowstone<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we left Cody, Wyoming on the morning of October 4, 2018, we were headed for Yellowstone National Park by way of the East Entrance Road. First, though, a quick stop at the Buffalo Bill Dam in Cody. Unfortunately, the visitor's center was closed. I snapped a couple of quick photos, and then we were back on the road to Yellowstone.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXijOWV76x4orx_y9lUVYRdu1mJ50KfuRyJuziZsJdcypXWuyXlKYgkX39WLXYaK7sW3_bqflh7zDAtMGY97mP_uQFTc8G8I34IC913LB0EN2JQYLVoD4tor6ssVsfhRyocHr8wDgAhdg/s4898/IMG_12712_At_Buffalo_Bill_Dam.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXijOWV76x4orx_y9lUVYRdu1mJ50KfuRyJuziZsJdcypXWuyXlKYgkX39WLXYaK7sW3_bqflh7zDAtMGY97mP_uQFTc8G8I34IC913LB0EN2JQYLVoD4tor6ssVsfhRyocHr8wDgAhdg/s400/IMG_12712_At_Buffalo_Bill_Dam.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo Bill Dam</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZJNBDdu4o86fQO30_HK4YweDlwF47g0MGdzecnt6-bF_0FDooGeKuWb4lCFtRDeBmTvmrBr8g2oTdqpqVkHRp2fXc-MdLOMjGneLFDLuVHeIF1ur8G6IrqiNImgP83CAjMJ_PDOEGM/s4898/IMG_12713_At_Buffalo_Bill_Dam.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZJNBDdu4o86fQO30_HK4YweDlwF47g0MGdzecnt6-bF_0FDooGeKuWb4lCFtRDeBmTvmrBr8g2oTdqpqVkHRp2fXc-MdLOMjGneLFDLuVHeIF1ur8G6IrqiNImgP83CAjMJ_PDOEGM/s400/IMG_12713_At_Buffalo_Bill_Dam.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking away from the dam</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The overcast day soon turned to drizzle. By the time we reached the Park's entrance, we were in a pretty steady rain, with outside temperature of about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. So we didn't really stop at any of the Park's major attractions, just snapped a few photos of the scenery as we drove through.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-dBY_7Z6c4sMW4Oj-vAD-70Be2_XRRODlhjzy6ZRAqxj7f2dEnP1QlY45y38BNlE6fvezq17W36JBVgSxdMPyzpwvhaxp_dR3kyvU_Gza1UsTw_3PehCzEcfJAjNhdts-5KW3bC3Suo/s6960/IMG_12716-17b_Holy_City_Panorama.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2299" data-original-width="6960" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-dBY_7Z6c4sMW4Oj-vAD-70Be2_XRRODlhjzy6ZRAqxj7f2dEnP1QlY45y38BNlE6fvezq17W36JBVgSxdMPyzpwvhaxp_dR3kyvU_Gza1UsTw_3PehCzEcfJAjNhdts-5KW3bC3Suo/w640-h211/IMG_12716-17b_Holy_City_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nearby sign identified these rock formations as "The Holy City." (<i>Imagination required</i>.)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV5KyAnFPbVlPFYSvnUcWS5OJG1csU83z6dQFIXm90x_hyphenhyphen7W_MCxEzI3UFUoI_GkZfMKCUdyDzQY9tT79eKMJl4VbdBDS6KgFWQ-pO6K1ZIVrRGEknvlv_TJy_hE-KoTZIF5qEDU7YRM/s4898/IMG_12719_River_%2526_Aspen.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV5KyAnFPbVlPFYSvnUcWS5OJG1csU83z6dQFIXm90x_hyphenhyphen7W_MCxEzI3UFUoI_GkZfMKCUdyDzQY9tT79eKMJl4VbdBDS6KgFWQ-pO6K1ZIVrRGEknvlv_TJy_hE-KoTZIF5qEDU7YRM/s400/IMG_12719_River_%2526_Aspen.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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As we reached Yellowstone and drove through to our lodging in West Yellowstone, Montana, we were pleased to spot a coyote, buffalo, and elk in the meadows near the road.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjzKs6YuHCP8gZ2AE9cGUpYd9ANgMnKxjThzmd04cTXNoFjJapk-2mRoanPMlYsjAic5D9nnD_lNMND0UzzVbcYeQ3XolJk728cjyo4bxOFIxeLLKIgxiXDB9A2ir-OTLNSgE5aMMesA/s2479/IMG_12722_Coyote.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="2479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjzKs6YuHCP8gZ2AE9cGUpYd9ANgMnKxjThzmd04cTXNoFjJapk-2mRoanPMlYsjAic5D9nnD_lNMND0UzzVbcYeQ3XolJk728cjyo4bxOFIxeLLKIgxiXDB9A2ir-OTLNSgE5aMMesA/s400/IMG_12722_Coyote.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqVWIfBQLLvPtN0ChgNZjtRMhuMfnDnH8M8qzkvhxghV4YqC9fDF8A0lIzIt_a3qYyIzwoSDaV9D4J8KiZSl34UNYetrHWAUgsSnw53uv0yDHn4xH3GpeoXkyiZhGLqz_bcS4T9OREdc/s4415/IMG_12725_Bull_Elk.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2941" data-original-width="4415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqVWIfBQLLvPtN0ChgNZjtRMhuMfnDnH8M8qzkvhxghV4YqC9fDF8A0lIzIt_a3qYyIzwoSDaV9D4J8KiZSl34UNYetrHWAUgsSnw53uv0yDHn4xH3GpeoXkyiZhGLqz_bcS4T9OREdc/s400/IMG_12725_Bull_Elk.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQqq_5uLWl4Jw7J4CpZLHgr8C4AtbZkKAgAt0dqI971_Dc69eBKeMZtoFlzvGRoa4UFdeqiSfHsKXJHHYIDMGL6niuZdYLLCJb_kNqGVQ54_xXupcjHrZefmIVm2XZPRAAtCQieiYPSs/s4898/IMG_12726_Buffalo.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQqq_5uLWl4Jw7J4CpZLHgr8C4AtbZkKAgAt0dqI971_Dc69eBKeMZtoFlzvGRoa4UFdeqiSfHsKXJHHYIDMGL6niuZdYLLCJb_kNqGVQ54_xXupcjHrZefmIVm2XZPRAAtCQieiYPSs/s400/IMG_12726_Buffalo.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQuWWqER7EsHKAimQTY9Ip7TlSdEfgINjy___Z6oIPg6Y8ZMT0iilVaCTmIJnJ-4W4sG6ZV-gqZh4XrUYhk_JCgN_qZTYylHaBNkVGhwG96hLQPo2peQuGmk5-rJ_WzP_n9MjmTR3rw/s4898/IMG_12732_Elk.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQuWWqER7EsHKAimQTY9Ip7TlSdEfgINjy___Z6oIPg6Y8ZMT0iilVaCTmIJnJ-4W4sG6ZV-gqZh4XrUYhk_JCgN_qZTYylHaBNkVGhwG96hLQPo2peQuGmk5-rJ_WzP_n9MjmTR3rw/s400/IMG_12732_Elk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">There are a couple of elk in this picture, but I'm including this one more for the scenery than for the elk.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKVMdZEiLpk1pWGQULUt7nt24dyFRk0qCZpoZf4vtcpHxSrRuwhJpUVAzvl0RqpPn1b7JEOxyMtrQitUX8rkz0mPxK13SYMRCVRL-uKO4kGtnNRS979360-OnQYN2zybpISioFrb1ECQ/s4898/IMG_12745_Elk.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKVMdZEiLpk1pWGQULUt7nt24dyFRk0qCZpoZf4vtcpHxSrRuwhJpUVAzvl0RqpPn1b7JEOxyMtrQitUX8rkz0mPxK13SYMRCVRL-uKO4kGtnNRS979360-OnQYN2zybpISioFrb1ECQ/s400/IMG_12745_Elk.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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And I close this post with a photo of a mountain bluebird. There were a dozen or more flitting among the shrubs at one of the pullouts for viewing the elk and other wildlife. Finally, one of them settled long enough to allow me a shot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BivfLPTiTTB2mVPEsFqIReA-2xyMc1FDelR3qUAFxjkD66nboiFlztBSuc3DH0IlN78a-tFbP_1Fpu745uQAzll3sU3o5cRNevygHhXvVB4h_gkQRDicdEeoOjMosLTFWT3BoW5Fs0A/s2833/IMG_12737.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1891" data-original-width="2833" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BivfLPTiTTB2mVPEsFqIReA-2xyMc1FDelR3qUAFxjkD66nboiFlztBSuc3DH0IlN78a-tFbP_1Fpu745uQAzll3sU3o5cRNevygHhXvVB4h_gkQRDicdEeoOjMosLTFWT3BoW5Fs0A/s400/IMG_12737.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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We spent two more days in Yellowstone, so there will be more to come from that amazing place.</div>
<br /><br />Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-13998894952433942592019-01-09T05:00:00.001-05:002021-02-19T22:36:10.013-05:00Bighorn Medicine Wheel<div style="text-align: justify;">
High in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains, near the summit of Medicine Mountain, at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet (3,000m), lies an ancient Native American Medicine Wheel. </div>
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Doug and I are both fans of western stories by Louis L'Amour. It was in one of those books that we learned of the existence of the Bighorn Medicine Wheel. Our interest was piqued. We visited the site once, many years ago; but I can't find a single photograph to document that visit. </div>
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So, as we left the Black Hills on the morning of October 3, 2018, we pointed our minivan towards the Bighorn Mountains for one more visit to the Medicine Wheel on this, our Last Hurrah trip. </div>
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As is often the case, the journey was as interesting as the destination. Aside from high winds and cold temperatures, the day had been beautiful all the way to Sheridan, Wyoming. But as we started up Highway 14A, the clouds were so low that visibility was sometimes only about an eighth of a mile. To our great gratitude, however, we left the clouds behind us as we continued to climb. </div>
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Following are a few photos of the sights that greeted us when the clouds lifted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfkAqaWyxH1RBIvLkMhtQaAuWkn16ultC_wgGjfFRqWJ9bccLPLmqBuG2nwjcgxLg3rCMDmooH5CnTa2Cq2n67cVozh0092ZlxaEH4ayzycTGjTMIeBYNfqHtg_p49mnIbQ8tQsrcGLQ/s4898/IMG_12650a_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfkAqaWyxH1RBIvLkMhtQaAuWkn16ultC_wgGjfFRqWJ9bccLPLmqBuG2nwjcgxLg3rCMDmooH5CnTa2Cq2n67cVozh0092ZlxaEH4ayzycTGjTMIeBYNfqHtg_p49mnIbQ8tQsrcGLQ/s400/IMG_12650a_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG42Mc-1fz-PCrM0dlulHmRgrrXasbEiHulIvmwqvjKyiGpgWw2qUonrSqI0UTKfDkWmpOGh9k2hAmj-3fyukDWAtGcEw_Yzvvy9VC_W8wX6tYiuFnfyeL6NsjetKaS-nJxmBF3BfItGc/s4898/IMG_12653b_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG42Mc-1fz-PCrM0dlulHmRgrrXasbEiHulIvmwqvjKyiGpgWw2qUonrSqI0UTKfDkWmpOGh9k2hAmj-3fyukDWAtGcEw_Yzvvy9VC_W8wX6tYiuFnfyeL6NsjetKaS-nJxmBF3BfItGc/s400/IMG_12653b_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJB66CZc8rMOCpqz43Af_MB_G4jv6MHgp2S02_6AtoBuH5W-a-h7LVs53PT0zmo-CKe73YeJWF4Mg5wGcy8kp9jUPd6e78xY_w1Ojm-pO-kq6-K2F-eKlVD1JQTzakCZb-w1kXfA2ZqU/s4898/IMG_12657a_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJB66CZc8rMOCpqz43Af_MB_G4jv6MHgp2S02_6AtoBuH5W-a-h7LVs53PT0zmo-CKe73YeJWF4Mg5wGcy8kp9jUPd6e78xY_w1Ojm-pO-kq6-K2F-eKlVD1JQTzakCZb-w1kXfA2ZqU/s400/IMG_12657a_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYvDw933NQ-Qwt1gHx4-nFBiJtpNx0RGxKPOhebor7gTocobJqzMsd4Mt0qNlFhknxP091mvxolyOCSGky9J0mLdH3RAjwaJqzlDYhS80swoRd8LY0KJH_haoWzZcyLAaKUIOSgWiSl4/s4898/IMG_12661a_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYvDw933NQ-Qwt1gHx4-nFBiJtpNx0RGxKPOhebor7gTocobJqzMsd4Mt0qNlFhknxP091mvxolyOCSGky9J0mLdH3RAjwaJqzlDYhS80swoRd8LY0KJH_haoWzZcyLAaKUIOSgWiSl4/s400/IMG_12661a_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4s_yEJi1kdw2RWmhLPCnwOXha-jRaMFRheZ6gEeZs5n4Br0jSL89L-a6m8bO4Lp78w-hwlrqWSgTb64kMZowZWNX89ZaBN4LxKbWMLsrm18VnljyWcSDqoUwKGECYYaXGs_rDm2jCQ8/s4574/IMG_12665b_Sign_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3049" data-original-width="4574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4s_yEJi1kdw2RWmhLPCnwOXha-jRaMFRheZ6gEeZs5n4Br0jSL89L-a6m8bO4Lp78w-hwlrqWSgTb64kMZowZWNX89ZaBN4LxKbWMLsrm18VnljyWcSDqoUwKGECYYaXGs_rDm2jCQ8/s400/IMG_12665b_Sign_On_Way_to_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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Here is a transcription of the information contained on the sign pictured above:</div>
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<i>Medicine Mountain to your left, was named for the Medicine Wheel, a stone circle that lies atop a ridge below its summit. Designated a National Historic Landmark, this symbol remains a mystery as the builders and purpose of the Medicine Wheel remain unknown. There is a theory that the wheel is a replica of the Sun Dance Lodge of the Crow legend and was oriented to point to the summer solstice sunrise. In the Indians' religious life, peaks of the Big Horn Mountains were objects of respect. Indians journeyed into the mountain solitude to make or find their medicine. This wheel is an important symbol of Indian beliefs about man's relationship to the world. Modern Indians use the Medicine Wheel for religious ceremonies. At times, flags, or offerings are left about the wheel, signifying that a ceremony has taken place. A gravel road leads up Medicine Mountain to the site of the Medicine Wheel.</i></div>
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If you'd like to read more about it, I found an interesting article <a href="http://solar-center.stanford.edu/AO/bighorn.html">here</a>.</div>
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After exiting the highway, there is a three-mile gravel road that leads up to the parking area at the Medicine Wheel. It was recommended that cars be parked halfway up that road and that visitors hike the last mile and a half. </div>
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I'd been dealing with pain in my left hip and both knees, and I knew I couldn't walk that far uphill, especially at that elevation. So I convinced Doug to keep on driving. The next mile or so wasn't much worse than the first mile and a half. But then we rounded a curve and saw the last stretch of road ahead of us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDx_WEgiggjPAHsqDboz3ednO_6axAk6WqcBRoRhyphenhyphenrNuGf9_1dA2mIkSqL1PhDA_cPEJFTp2ZEyiTDQe6D_TwZp1wtzcLbmv8brJvLMQJmI6f955a27ndzilGLEIq06eTxO12lv2x5-E/s4898/IMG_12670c_Road_Up_Medicine_Mtn.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDx_WEgiggjPAHsqDboz3ednO_6axAk6WqcBRoRhyphenhyphenrNuGf9_1dA2mIkSqL1PhDA_cPEJFTp2ZEyiTDQe6D_TwZp1wtzcLbmv8brJvLMQJmI6f955a27ndzilGLEIq06eTxO12lv2x5-E/s400/IMG_12670c_Road_Up_Medicine_Mtn.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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It was narrow and very rough. I think it's a testimony of how much Doug loves me that he kept on going. Well, maybe that and there was no place to turn around.</div>
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Finally, we were there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYziG-6Bjim5PjYJEQ2reyCOL8VjZ-3SUdPO6oCgvlI3Sg4j81YDOwtXF7j-TNZh9GB956-M_iDc3dM_PlLERWtYd3twVNhuOxG4OUdjYOmAEBUiUSPdt8HqDrMBBZ6Vp85CL3L2oHli4/s4898/IMG_12683a_Big_Horn_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYziG-6Bjim5PjYJEQ2reyCOL8VjZ-3SUdPO6oCgvlI3Sg4j81YDOwtXF7j-TNZh9GB956-M_iDc3dM_PlLERWtYd3twVNhuOxG4OUdjYOmAEBUiUSPdt8HqDrMBBZ6Vp85CL3L2oHli4/s400/IMG_12683a_Big_Horn_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">A circular fence surrounds the Wheel, and a sign directed us to walk to the left to a high point at what would be the furthest distance from the parking area. That high point was the best place to view the Wheel and to take photos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQj2UTT4nHFdQipnQSlc8yDCPXy2C4A7Vs0N6opAyW2HO0b8SMExdg85rUmlgHVQcK-y49nDEC44RTM_0eVtWUXx_I7mBBaHcr2pIGD47yr5Kf8Ou0wXcQ3KN0TiXsZPYjfN0UueyEoo/s4898/IMG_12676a_Big_Horn_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQj2UTT4nHFdQipnQSlc8yDCPXy2C4A7Vs0N6opAyW2HO0b8SMExdg85rUmlgHVQcK-y49nDEC44RTM_0eVtWUXx_I7mBBaHcr2pIGD47yr5Kf8Ou0wXcQ3KN0TiXsZPYjfN0UueyEoo/s400/IMG_12676a_Big_Horn_Medicine_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p_-0OTbOmxquzdBmn-XVHsaK0YiwXe8gJyK_nc80U6CGle96kVCsBIMQipf34_WlQuqrvS05Ol4nUiyxreI0ojQoNeABSXqmzF9E0lgbvN8deEbDN927Hb2dPShPtu9rYuSYB-zXI-c/s7675/IMG_12673-75a_Medicine_Wheel_Panorama.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2085" data-original-width="7675" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p_-0OTbOmxquzdBmn-XVHsaK0YiwXe8gJyK_nc80U6CGle96kVCsBIMQipf34_WlQuqrvS05Ol4nUiyxreI0ojQoNeABSXqmzF9E0lgbvN8deEbDN927Hb2dPShPtu9rYuSYB-zXI-c/w640-h174/IMG_12673-75a_Medicine_Wheel_Panorama.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The drive back down to the highway and then on down to Cody, Wyoming, where we had a lodging reservation for that night, was beautiful. I'll close with one image from that drive. It's a panoramic shot of the Bighorn Basin.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tvkDPdCWLEO45ti2sLp-QzxPAkI2eeV4qeF4K06A-1SHjuGmb3UJz12g-dKUL3nmevQxGlqvZzaXr32uWis1LpW-8Ilr-uk9OQj6qU5t2SWIYAuH6e5ydUK1XdgyoPUJRB_pTTzRhyk/s6596/IMG_12684a-85a_Big_Horn_Basin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2426" data-original-width="6596" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tvkDPdCWLEO45ti2sLp-QzxPAkI2eeV4qeF4K06A-1SHjuGmb3UJz12g-dKUL3nmevQxGlqvZzaXr32uWis1LpW-8Ilr-uk9OQj6qU5t2SWIYAuH6e5ydUK1XdgyoPUJRB_pTTzRhyk/w640-h235/IMG_12684a-85a_Big_Horn_Basin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bighorn Basin</td></tr></tbody></table>
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The next day, we arrived at Yellowstone National Park, always one of our favorite destinations. But more on that next time.</div>
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<br />Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-6644660188546631172019-01-02T05:00:00.003-05:002021-02-19T22:37:01.340-05:00Black Hills<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Black Hills of South Dakota are so called because they appear to be black from a distance, especially upon approach from the east, across the Great Plains.<br />
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This area...Custer State Park, in particular...holds a special place in our hearts and our memories, so it was firmly on the list of places we wanted to include on our Last Hurrah trip and was our destination for October 2, 2018.</div>
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The first three photos were taken along the Wildlife Loop road in Custer State Park. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dNI-TTh2rvXpjRQA5BslgJr816NoYgSR8Y6oFQAd3fyIydYzDnz-uU_QbKN5J6SJDgYkWPjpTg_zNevJOI9CwpaVRFTkc7JWP9eMM6AHICb1lzUMlnsW1aNIYvKGflU53I8uauaWouM/s4898/IMG_12537b_Custer_State_Park_Wildlife_Loop.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dNI-TTh2rvXpjRQA5BslgJr816NoYgSR8Y6oFQAd3fyIydYzDnz-uU_QbKN5J6SJDgYkWPjpTg_zNevJOI9CwpaVRFTkc7JWP9eMM6AHICb1lzUMlnsW1aNIYvKGflU53I8uauaWouM/s400/IMG_12537b_Custer_State_Park_Wildlife_Loop.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUr1JyOQdtiuinD74B4DU2KivkzZg-Kpr1Aw249AKNWjdRKhGEZK1PQK3zaN9L8yEm-ORwlYefZIUFMRf1GIejEvvxM84v4JfYrXhOs4qPedTAtORO1rN2-bpxBOprhSS-X-AwNuEkV0/s4898/IMG_12545a_Antelope_on_Custer_State_Park_Wildlife_Loop.JPG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUr1JyOQdtiuinD74B4DU2KivkzZg-Kpr1Aw249AKNWjdRKhGEZK1PQK3zaN9L8yEm-ORwlYefZIUFMRf1GIejEvvxM84v4JfYrXhOs4qPedTAtORO1rN2-bpxBOprhSS-X-AwNuEkV0/s400/IMG_12545a_Antelope_on_Custer_State_Park_Wildlife_Loop.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Pronghorn Antelope</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQ_W9zrWCZIwOQGUR1lXYyIhJN5ATJxYjJERras2wDUi8oDO6_9uIyQtVF9EAFiDzAyEMErHgy3WtT8_0jY8chM46YUdUVASDrBGRCy9-j7Mrux_XlEVBSl6lfuKKaNV0kSdWy1sSxkQ/s4898/IMG_12550a_Buffalo_on_Custer_State_Park_Wildlife_Loop.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQ_W9zrWCZIwOQGUR1lXYyIhJN5ATJxYjJERras2wDUi8oDO6_9uIyQtVF9EAFiDzAyEMErHgy3WtT8_0jY8chM46YUdUVASDrBGRCy9-j7Mrux_XlEVBSl6lfuKKaNV0kSdWy1sSxkQ/s400/IMG_12550a_Buffalo_on_Custer_State_Park_Wildlife_Loop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A herd of buffalo was crossing a creek from the far meadow to the near one.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">After driving the Wildlife Loop, we followed the advice of the desk clerk at our motel and drove the scenic Iron Mountain Road. The scenery is a main attraction, of course; but the tunnels, through which Mount Rushmore is visible, are possibly the key feature of this drive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs2-7bzGyHZEim610sunqaFK14LD6VYkwX8393S9jEhpmRTS23HiRJu63p4brkSo975-tZ0XcM_niPRuHA2vKFMlgWhxkThlRN_tFYZ1MDWbb2KynEagS6VS-nH5zbpjbZhRKXUn7nec/s3370/IMG_12579a_View_of_Mt_Rushmore_Thru_Tunnel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2247" data-original-width="3370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs2-7bzGyHZEim610sunqaFK14LD6VYkwX8393S9jEhpmRTS23HiRJu63p4brkSo975-tZ0XcM_niPRuHA2vKFMlgWhxkThlRN_tFYZ1MDWbb2KynEagS6VS-nH5zbpjbZhRKXUn7nec/s400/IMG_12579a_View_of_Mt_Rushmore_Thru_Tunnel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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We didn't go to the official viewing site of Mount Rushmore, but there were plenty of views as we drove back to and through Custer State Park.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5xJNG1W-PlDF0TSiCPR6riYPFVEKeHk-G14QdaBg6992PDjjq-GFnQhuBaAy7UcENxWQE_4ouqPN_FBeO1iFWGHgEJh8-nXELH6oK2_EPVzxrkxVe967Y9Bi06GvbePA2CstJMX9B78/s3952/IMG_12605a_Mt_Rushmore.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2633" data-original-width="3952" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5xJNG1W-PlDF0TSiCPR6riYPFVEKeHk-G14QdaBg6992PDjjq-GFnQhuBaAy7UcENxWQE_4ouqPN_FBeO1iFWGHgEJh8-nXELH6oK2_EPVzxrkxVe967Y9Bi06GvbePA2CstJMX9B78/s400/IMG_12605a_Mt_Rushmore.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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The presidents whose likenesses have been carved into the side of the mountain at Mount Rushmore are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, representing the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States of America.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIKcMBJMd4LBV0ZE3RnmUU6Gd8GHlHi21Ln1jQiaOqQEf7oP6eg7tZgtnBosXdaIrOrvmC0ri-lely9EhtReoTs5MbbM6dXhYGdY3SvF7_h4fr7fD_o9ZQ1-mp_CnwBXA26L5PAUJcKU/s4898/IMG_12611a_Mt_Rushmore_Profile_View.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIKcMBJMd4LBV0ZE3RnmUU6Gd8GHlHi21Ln1jQiaOqQEf7oP6eg7tZgtnBosXdaIrOrvmC0ri-lely9EhtReoTs5MbbM6dXhYGdY3SvF7_h4fr7fD_o9ZQ1-mp_CnwBXA26L5PAUJcKU/s400/IMG_12611a_Mt_Rushmore_Profile_View.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The profile of George Washington is visible from the Profile View turnout.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwk-hYa1RKblwP2eWBlfftt1D3_QP1WbleHOqzPJsx45sWsgaJiOGAANQ5ydK45kb3thPPi8Zc6YEUYwc29bS2O_rbdSJdYULhhiU1TL1W3w-BIxzPmqoh1igAD04L_WzVFrI2ir7x-E/s4898/IMG_12613a_Sylvan_Lake_Custer_State_Park.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwk-hYa1RKblwP2eWBlfftt1D3_QP1WbleHOqzPJsx45sWsgaJiOGAANQ5ydK45kb3thPPi8Zc6YEUYwc29bS2O_rbdSJdYULhhiU1TL1W3w-BIxzPmqoh1igAD04L_WzVFrI2ir7x-E/s400/IMG_12613a_Sylvan_Lake_Custer_State_Park.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sylvan Lake is another beautiful spot in Custer State Park.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another very scenic part of Custer State Park is the Needles area. The rock formations there are something to see. The most popular feature of the the Needles is the Needles Eye Tunnel. Few can resist the challenge of driving a vehicle through the narrow opening. The following collage shows a vehicle going through to the other side, then the empty tunnel, then another vehicle entering the tunnel from the other side. Meanwhile, the small parking lots on each side are filled with people trying to get pictures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq_RUHejXYF50EkW7PFUC3bD29YlvT4hh6s0couiThJbQDBAxBq2Cz3OjdgUntymoD94xqIdK-5U0CvvL7crGYNYp-XsVNGV7bWhSH3NY5COZ93uJj7W0uYJ47nkNtkLRl6DM0-fsbTI/s3300/Needles_Tunnel_Collage_HD2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq_RUHejXYF50EkW7PFUC3bD29YlvT4hh6s0couiThJbQDBAxBq2Cz3OjdgUntymoD94xqIdK-5U0CvvL7crGYNYp-XsVNGV7bWhSH3NY5COZ93uJj7W0uYJ47nkNtkLRl6DM0-fsbTI/w640-h427/Needles_Tunnel_Collage_HD2.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh0ADS3WsXtmEgOCxuaDNdL28kPr8iWJWS0YtK6jNFctNStAfEWmQJFtqKcUUCvYJe2h3BNHbnCfjYJF-n7ozJ0tVJx_yCNje-78OvOfqShbR3ezMgSzgKfoobY3anMC15insx6Thpjg/s4898/IMG_12623a_Needles_Hwy_Custer_State_Park.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh0ADS3WsXtmEgOCxuaDNdL28kPr8iWJWS0YtK6jNFctNStAfEWmQJFtqKcUUCvYJe2h3BNHbnCfjYJF-n7ozJ0tVJx_yCNje-78OvOfqShbR3ezMgSzgKfoobY3anMC15insx6Thpjg/s400/IMG_12623a_Needles_Hwy_Custer_State_Park.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Another scene along the Needles Highway</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, a story about our very first visit to Custer State Park as a couple. I had been there many years before, traveling alone. I loved it and wanted to show it to Doug after we were married. So, on our first trip west in 1988, I planned a drive-through visit. I wasn't sure Doug would like it as much as I had, so I hadn't made any plans to stay overnight.</div>
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But Doug loved it, and we spent so much time taking in the sights that it was soon going on 9 PM. We hadn't had supper; we needed gasoline; and we didn't know where we'd find a place to stay that night.</div>
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The Blue Bell Lodge, located in Custer State Park, consisted of cabins, a restaurant, and a gas station. The gas station had just closed when we pulled up to the pumps, but someone was still inside. He came out and agreed to let us get some gas. We explained our situation and asked if he could recommend a place where we might stay for the night. </div>
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He said that Blue Bell Lodge had just had a cancellation on one of their cabins, and he would let us have that for a very modest price. And he even had the kitchen make us up a couple of sandwiches.</div>
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The cabin was wonderful, a real treat for us. We had a delicious breakfast at the restaurant the next morning before resuming our westward journey.</div>
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In the intervening years, we've taken many vacations out west, and I've often inquired about lodging at the Blue Bell. But the rates were always way out of our comfort zone.<br />
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It was a gift from the Lord that we were blessed with gas, food, and lodging there that night in 1988.</div>
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Anyway, we still couldn't afford to stay at the Blue Bell on this Last Hurrah trip, but we did eat at the restaurant that night, after all our sightseeing.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImCJWdCuaP2emc0U6Q_6VlsvZuGdVFH71qoJBwRR5QIZ-OQ4jsaizVEX87w8KPsnBNKyfip7P2Y2MP5VWKMyo3U6M2FHwyEIrqxQTPQF_0OQr8C_wgAdDDEAzb36aDMugrjF7V3Xtzj4/s4898/IMG_12640a_Blue_Bell_Resort_Dining_Room.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImCJWdCuaP2emc0U6Q_6VlsvZuGdVFH71qoJBwRR5QIZ-OQ4jsaizVEX87w8KPsnBNKyfip7P2Y2MP5VWKMyo3U6M2FHwyEIrqxQTPQF_0OQr8C_wgAdDDEAzb36aDMugrjF7V3Xtzj4/s400/IMG_12640a_Blue_Bell_Resort_Dining_Room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Doug entering the Blue Bell Lodge Dining Room</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiHlORBhgWN00R0HRKV8Q0uY_2Uv0em7su0YD7byiq_WnatHdP8pFaeHwAn6gvzFgyuW-C_SQ5yytHoe_54lWIb_FGxY0nwKl3M8i4djQJjYQQo4SOMw5j1T0gBgZFVAGCFVjtc9Dy98/s4898/IMG_12643a_Blue_Bell_Resort_Dining_Room.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiHlORBhgWN00R0HRKV8Q0uY_2Uv0em7su0YD7byiq_WnatHdP8pFaeHwAn6gvzFgyuW-C_SQ5yytHoe_54lWIb_FGxY0nwKl3M8i4djQJjYQQo4SOMw5j1T0gBgZFVAGCFVjtc9Dy98/s400/IMG_12643a_Blue_Bell_Resort_Dining_Room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Dining Room</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Supper at the Blue Bell was a perfect way to wrap up a wonderful day of sightseeing. Wyoming was next on our agenda. More on that next time.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-78698437561687829202018-12-26T05:00:00.002-05:002021-02-19T21:41:44.233-05:00Badlands<div style="text-align: justify;">
As we continued on our Last Hurrah trip, we left Mitchell, SD on the morning of October 1, 2018, headed ultimately for Custer, SD, where we had a lodging reservation for that night. Our primary sightseeing goal for the day was Badlands National Park, about a 200-mile drive from Mitchell.</div>
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Halfway between Mitchell and the Badlands, near Chamberlain, SD, is a rest area that should be a destination in itself, if for no other reason than the excellent Lewis and Clark museum located there. Since our last time through the area, a new feature has been added: a 50-foot-high stainless steel statue of a Native American woman. The statue, titled simply "Dignity" and situated on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, is an impressive sight.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7dM3ZkSLxVLTybJw_SERp_Y_RDrWC6AuHdHZmGNedFwumKVlNwWtvJtkKne-uLAhdNn_536CbQ2zjdB7Dlj4-SMS8EqkS3S3z5ywhhTUgzPQVSLdB1aCJRut7T4PrDzl-6eQqWT2q_4/s3300/IMG_12476a_12478a_Dignity_Collage_HD+2018-12-22+00_01_30.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3300" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7dM3ZkSLxVLTybJw_SERp_Y_RDrWC6AuHdHZmGNedFwumKVlNwWtvJtkKne-uLAhdNn_536CbQ2zjdB7Dlj4-SMS8EqkS3S3z5ywhhTUgzPQVSLdB1aCJRut7T4PrDzl-6eQqWT2q_4/w640-h427/IMG_12476a_12478a_Dignity_Collage_HD+2018-12-22+00_01_30.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dignity</td></tr></tbody></table>
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Near the entrance to Badlands National Park, something caught Doug's eye in a field beside the road. We stopped to get a closer look and saw what appeared to be a prairie dog town. But what really captured our attention was a little burrowing owl among the prairie dogs. We were too far away for me to get a good photo, but I was pleased to get even this.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloQTt3fEdPiLon3k8DmnJE9HCzdedIgNBYaaeE5E7Kzqr-kZQhRa5EG9DSl0ShvNT03qb0OmW7UqQCNhwY5CtX_2ESE12E27co4rSMFD02wIc0J-L7Ejyw13-KFgE8tTJ5uiDbOwZSSc/s2297/IMG_12489a_Burrowing_Owl_Near_Wall_SD.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="2297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloQTt3fEdPiLon3k8DmnJE9HCzdedIgNBYaaeE5E7Kzqr-kZQhRa5EG9DSl0ShvNT03qb0OmW7UqQCNhwY5CtX_2ESE12E27co4rSMFD02wIc0J-L7Ejyw13-KFgE8tTJ5uiDbOwZSSc/s400/IMG_12489a_Burrowing_Owl_Near_Wall_SD.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Burrowing Owl, with a Prairie Dog standing watch in the background</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">And then we entered Badlands National Park, which covers an area of 244,000 acres of geologic deposits and mixed-grass prairie. Its rugged beauty must be seen to be believed. Numerous overlooks along the loop road through the park provide great views. Trails are also available, including a Fossil Exhibit Trail, for a more up-close-and-personal experience.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdmk_MJOAOYRjnvbr-CkpbO-wi2nvosotSKcSqyxpdwv28GFJyePX3yf84m2ez8cmHLw94fmxXCFk8lC1JA7z1z9ERQ-yb-8KwMOTH75Icc9e34xow_prhkXIcr26D2c4zlIN87I92-4/s6117/IMG_12493-94a_Badlands_Panorama.JPG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2689" data-original-width="6117" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdmk_MJOAOYRjnvbr-CkpbO-wi2nvosotSKcSqyxpdwv28GFJyePX3yf84m2ez8cmHLw94fmxXCFk8lC1JA7z1z9ERQ-yb-8KwMOTH75Icc9e34xow_prhkXIcr26D2c4zlIN87I92-4/w640-h282/IMG_12493-94a_Badlands_Panorama.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A panoramic look at some of the landscape<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
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If you look very closely at the following image, you might be able to see the two dozen or so Bighorn Sheep lined up along the ridge. They were so far from us that we couldn't see them without binoculars. Another tourist pointed them out to us or we'd have missed them completely.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp7H4hXWybCDUMzvcSkFxvcFCbxYFfdwepMgKZ2Yob3TtMm2G37StrO6Edrv_pnK-8VjG9PxkL2bEVMa3Jjg9RjmyABzeHwaDH9qH35ra4v6006NnE7wDaVXDiI_JiDfAUPL7RWigeZo/s4898/IMG_12496a_Bighorn_Sheep_at_Badlands_NP.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp7H4hXWybCDUMzvcSkFxvcFCbxYFfdwepMgKZ2Yob3TtMm2G37StrO6Edrv_pnK-8VjG9PxkL2bEVMa3Jjg9RjmyABzeHwaDH9qH35ra4v6006NnE7wDaVXDiI_JiDfAUPL7RWigeZo/s400/IMG_12496a_Bighorn_Sheep_at_Badlands_NP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bighorn Sheep on ridge</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div> <div>The next four images show various views of the Badlands landscape:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE6q0iZwRjhpWx8GLpOCAWhH7F9UEAgCQYmpMtrhnOwRINubkFZtC4YbuPGB-WLnqGJXUUnFs-rxUWHUDYdXn962sIbJTZMLMdX-xe_jnBxxyCBW7CHd742fDavbp5d7yHCmBus2M0Es/s4898/IMG_12506b_Badlands_NP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE6q0iZwRjhpWx8GLpOCAWhH7F9UEAgCQYmpMtrhnOwRINubkFZtC4YbuPGB-WLnqGJXUUnFs-rxUWHUDYdXn962sIbJTZMLMdX-xe_jnBxxyCBW7CHd742fDavbp5d7yHCmBus2M0Es/s400/IMG_12506b_Badlands_NP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_56N8k6uGKUF4Ub3ELOPlIuA44_4nDgBx2-HkkVrjJ1YInjh2cNC2zJCj4UWeI4Z03KRQZOr9GMjWyqqN1TlhQ6T9gVBBolkQBekfprvRDJs3XUv2fmuPFEzgDpCxCSnLA8pBgSCqHRg/s4956/IMG_12511a_Badlands_NP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3291" data-original-width="4956" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_56N8k6uGKUF4Ub3ELOPlIuA44_4nDgBx2-HkkVrjJ1YInjh2cNC2zJCj4UWeI4Z03KRQZOr9GMjWyqqN1TlhQ6T9gVBBolkQBekfprvRDJs3XUv2fmuPFEzgDpCxCSnLA8pBgSCqHRg/s400/IMG_12511a_Badlands_NP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelfpbc-YCe54bz_TiXRmY-266TXpq-7uFViY3j9p5KQbPHu10zkepepVdDIMs6WMwNPqIO6hzg4KC4xu5PWQt9HOyU7TRlrDDD9ZS2vGSnhongZYLOsDDMEV5S5-og1mRNTDk9KxpH3g/s4905/IMG_12513a_Badlands_NP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3262" data-original-width="4905" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelfpbc-YCe54bz_TiXRmY-266TXpq-7uFViY3j9p5KQbPHu10zkepepVdDIMs6WMwNPqIO6hzg4KC4xu5PWQt9HOyU7TRlrDDD9ZS2vGSnhongZYLOsDDMEV5S5-og1mRNTDk9KxpH3g/s400/IMG_12513a_Badlands_NP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kyTiR2V9FsKgR4Kjwz6gCQ3easJCEXW7Lb-xaEdWXZ12FXK630llPhQAKzIwULcIQaDGc0_Ma6EINwV3vwdVqvikAux4PhNJgFD5P_wWs47sAMw3lPVPfzGFqqACDgLn3FksTjgEQ9E/s4898/IMG_12514a_Badlands_NP.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kyTiR2V9FsKgR4Kjwz6gCQ3easJCEXW7Lb-xaEdWXZ12FXK630llPhQAKzIwULcIQaDGc0_Ma6EINwV3vwdVqvikAux4PhNJgFD5P_wWs47sAMw3lPVPfzGFqqACDgLn3FksTjgEQ9E/s400/IMG_12514a_Badlands_NP.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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As we neared Custer, South Dakota that night, we were treated to a lovely sunset:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbul7b8et-NBg4tPbpocKsneGcTQUoXeznvlmvqznj5wVqhf07LKosZE-QTPV8YbYcyVZ8zra64Ljt-0pXfC_IASY6Z-T040FIxfSMEx-j0Mq3JQdN-qJNpyB1_91z-o5uMQN8JfKo4gk/s4898/IMG_12521a_Sunset_Near_Custer_SD.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbul7b8et-NBg4tPbpocKsneGcTQUoXeznvlmvqznj5wVqhf07LKosZE-QTPV8YbYcyVZ8zra64Ljt-0pXfC_IASY6Z-T040FIxfSMEx-j0Mq3JQdN-qJNpyB1_91z-o5uMQN8JfKo4gk/s400/IMG_12521a_Sunset_Near_Custer_SD.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">Sunset Near Custer, SD</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Today's video will help you get a better look at those sheep on the ridge:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sktdcUbgPaA" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Custer State Park, South Dakota, was our sightseeing destination for the next day. But more on that next time.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-7826364989359833472018-12-19T05:00:00.001-05:002021-02-19T00:33:23.320-05:00Sioux Falls<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the end of September, Doug and I set off on a three-week vacation that we dubbed our "Last Hurrah" trip. Lengthy road trips are getting harder for us, so we decided we'd head west one more time, to revisit some of our favorite places and see a few new ones, before giving up those long trips that we've been privileged to enjoy for so many years.</div>
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The timing of the Last Hurrah trip, while late in the season, was determined by a conference that we wanted to attend in the Minneapolis area on September 29. Once we'd traveled that far, it just made sense to keep on going westward. But we knew we were likely to run into some cold and snow on our route. The high winds and low temperatures in Minneapolis set the tone for much of what we would encounter in the days ahead.</div>
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Leaving Minneapolis on September 30th, our first destination was Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, featuring the Falls of the Big Sioux River. We'd visited this park once before, in 2012, and wanted to see it again. It was very warm when we stopped there in 2012; but it was <i>very</i> cold when we stopped this time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQM2l1jQn5v-2tUHJCKWonv38_FGCsVthhN1uH86-QgFxX9bssWsjbQhk1ANhgm1svKk2lJNT2J7TbXoMrUQHGgd8HrrQ3h1ALQVm7apqSTYpgKejtVU4IgkamrhfIOCG6JercIbBApI/s4898/IMG_12447_13_Sioux_Falls.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQM2l1jQn5v-2tUHJCKWonv38_FGCsVthhN1uH86-QgFxX9bssWsjbQhk1ANhgm1svKk2lJNT2J7TbXoMrUQHGgd8HrrQ3h1ALQVm7apqSTYpgKejtVU4IgkamrhfIOCG6JercIbBApI/s400/IMG_12447_13_Sioux_Falls.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVfddIO-ymaOChPVns3LmI6m93vBg0IEBdzN8uzJPOBXOmf3mrjiO7mAkrc_mO9v02Sk9sGIQroHQLr0IfJ_JZwYI6Sg1LGJmOzPs_xbgjn2KUx6OU_IJ8wFIKAWri4sTh87jDUpCe4c/s4898/IMG_12451_21_Sioux_Falls.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVfddIO-ymaOChPVns3LmI6m93vBg0IEBdzN8uzJPOBXOmf3mrjiO7mAkrc_mO9v02Sk9sGIQroHQLr0IfJ_JZwYI6Sg1LGJmOzPs_xbgjn2KUx6OU_IJ8wFIKAWri4sTh87jDUpCe4c/s400/IMG_12451_21_Sioux_Falls.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV6gx6B1wXG3ueD3xVFdLzkkjTUif5TdkIETZ7tc15QrFn7t6HExrIvv0_EtcgpK79gTlpGNsMBxWuvsIcEzm5AwtluTXLBQ68xgn3MvGzkY4hbCn6e0lgPPKb-cvE_tZhdZU80AJPIE/s4898/IMG_12461_16_Sioux_Falls.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV6gx6B1wXG3ueD3xVFdLzkkjTUif5TdkIETZ7tc15QrFn7t6HExrIvv0_EtcgpK79gTlpGNsMBxWuvsIcEzm5AwtluTXLBQ68xgn3MvGzkY4hbCn6e0lgPPKb-cvE_tZhdZU80AJPIE/s400/IMG_12461_16_Sioux_Falls.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbgQRMrFfQDrRD3NC9HikFMA6PzDi2JKuXgyTIfwjn5HzqsWonE9GpUV3VaZA9dzk_w65hCncNXmpgYYTkaxzD9YmBJrJjYNRCPg1y5rjZf3_5LbjSu_Yq7zn8fXo9HyQKOc1HLwyaCU/s4898/IMG_12462a_Sioux_Falls.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbgQRMrFfQDrRD3NC9HikFMA6PzDi2JKuXgyTIfwjn5HzqsWonE9GpUV3VaZA9dzk_w65hCncNXmpgYYTkaxzD9YmBJrJjYNRCPg1y5rjZf3_5LbjSu_Yq7zn8fXo9HyQKOc1HLwyaCU/s400/IMG_12462a_Sioux_Falls.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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And, lastly, a very short video clip of the falls:<div><br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3W7q2PwBxQo" width="400" youtube-src-id="3W7q2PwBxQo"></iframe></div>
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Falls Park is a beautiful place; but the cold temperatures and the miles yet to travel to that night's lodging in Mitchell, South Dakota caused us to cut this visit a little short.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-9246698042992328392018-12-12T16:35:00.002-05:002021-02-18T10:07:05.187-05:00Our New Villa<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, I decided that, if I waited to take pictures of the inside of the villa until everything was neat and tidy, it would never happen. So I'm just going to show it to you as it is.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ETbWPTdcvWPpIHiFjAdsA05P2Y5Eumq9zwc_BEkpx_RxuG1HYH2coAPIMBf-D59wQhXkBpRwJ9YVEMVNqUtMMSxh1ykzw4wv49P0MvN9x9wQnSmIFW0fB_3o9lOlr8t8wmLqrfehic/s3971/IMG_0184_Villa_Living_Room.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2979" data-original-width="3971" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ETbWPTdcvWPpIHiFjAdsA05P2Y5Eumq9zwc_BEkpx_RxuG1HYH2coAPIMBf-D59wQhXkBpRwJ9YVEMVNqUtMMSxh1ykzw4wv49P0MvN9x9wQnSmIFW0fB_3o9lOlr8t8wmLqrfehic/s400/IMG_0184_Villa_Living_Room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the living room as viewed from the entryway.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERS_Wh-r7gH1qi2IPwc-NIs_0HFr3k2LF8QkEM0CuXTNyVBW9rIxbR59HmnBAP4rJNg6ze-uGQV-cOnvnrceYMzHGwKf4bBtBP0Nzq36esrA96TAUtuTQbGusd06Ntr6oqT2Dmg8FO3w/s4032/IMG_0207_Villa_Dining_Area.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERS_Wh-r7gH1qi2IPwc-NIs_0HFr3k2LF8QkEM0CuXTNyVBW9rIxbR59HmnBAP4rJNg6ze-uGQV-cOnvnrceYMzHGwKf4bBtBP0Nzq36esrA96TAUtuTQbGusd06Ntr6oqT2Dmg8FO3w/s400/IMG_0207_Villa_Dining_Area.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the dining area, just off the living room.</td></tr></tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TfK1yKNhfFZ8X4ndry0hyphenhyphenBg6qP0KKJBBFB1X3RPNBgKR5kZKAB-yanymx261tU8Jvc-lBACwJXdOdUgdaCtXtLfd31EFtRJIg4XGsQbU7h0EK4DIxuYmo_ehyphenhyphenOzywIwYe-q0esEHTwE/s4032/IMG_0193_Villa_Kitchen.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TfK1yKNhfFZ8X4ndry0hyphenhyphenBg6qP0KKJBBFB1X3RPNBgKR5kZKAB-yanymx261tU8Jvc-lBACwJXdOdUgdaCtXtLfd31EFtRJIg4XGsQbU7h0EK4DIxuYmo_ehyphenhyphenOzywIwYe-q0esEHTwE/s400/IMG_0193_Villa_Kitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TuH5MoI2rAwQy9ybH6UsCXkOqKx_t8Ca-jGCb1XuEGpdcibTmFwbX1cjU4E9JgtZhzNQWyVcvu39klQWrH9ec25SrTWi_peNrW6q7HQjS_YUihUTgTTaMyn0KXEi7KPXiJVylO7b0i0/s4032/IMG_0196_Villa_Den.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TuH5MoI2rAwQy9ybH6UsCXkOqKx_t8Ca-jGCb1XuEGpdcibTmFwbX1cjU4E9JgtZhzNQWyVcvu39klQWrH9ec25SrTWi_peNrW6q7HQjS_YUihUTgTTaMyn0KXEi7KPXiJVylO7b0i0/s400/IMG_0196_Villa_Den.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're calling this the den, although it's officially the second bedroom.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "den" has been the big hold up in showing you pictures of the new house. As you can see, we still have a lot of organizing to do here. We each have a work area. Mine is in the corner on the right. Doug's is in the middle, beside the recliner.</div>
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Because the intended use of this room was as a bedroom, it has a closet on each end of the room. In addition to what you see in the above photo, we have two chests of drawers and a tall-but-narrow bookcase also in the room. Doug is using the closets and chests of drawers in this room for his things and letting me have the walk-in closet off the master bedroom for my things. Of course, the walk-in closet is also a catch all for everything that we haven't found another place for. I'm not showing you a picture of that!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojSdbgH9xqaNPBp3pltvnx18CUjya_kXf6RFVG1gARa-vHRKhkcRcqVLAkt57MwZxEBq08RDRUouyMrjZu-84m3_E6kbeu7BRh0xWUcOrM6zKgJ-2ybA8Z-Bo7h_cHEjrr0fxT_gQaW4/s4032/IMG_0201_Villa_Bedroom.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojSdbgH9xqaNPBp3pltvnx18CUjya_kXf6RFVG1gARa-vHRKhkcRcqVLAkt57MwZxEBq08RDRUouyMrjZu-84m3_E6kbeu7BRh0xWUcOrM6zKgJ-2ybA8Z-Bo7h_cHEjrr0fxT_gQaW4/s400/IMG_0201_Villa_Bedroom.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnOUjvF3FQl1guoyFAyralI-Dp4WUJoqZYW6IdPa9pu4xYVM0yesdoaMtXoQCExph-vML0UMHKTo3L5b7KYRBKT_VQRlkL7r4TDOgFAqyXmdo0M0Y7uB3hZomOurhKiVbA5vp8DE3mus/s4032/IMG_0202_Villa_Bedroom.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnOUjvF3FQl1guoyFAyralI-Dp4WUJoqZYW6IdPa9pu4xYVM0yesdoaMtXoQCExph-vML0UMHKTo3L5b7KYRBKT_VQRlkL7r4TDOgFAqyXmdo0M0Y7uB3hZomOurhKiVbA5vp8DE3mus/s400/IMG_0202_Villa_Bedroom.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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The two photos above show the master (translate that "only") bedroom. We had that large bedroom furniture in the old house, and it took careful planning to figure out how to make it fit in the new house. We didn't want to give it up, though, because of the storage it provides. We were thrilled with how well it turned out.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpMmBoMc9nbiQ8Yy2srZIMNZcFmQiPT41F3Vq8QdScf2z-B3-82QJJY3YS6_oyLCLy_4sNkR2Xb58Lk36FLUhqGrqIFPdyluegaM9qFIq_6P5EblqwerVUBGGUU5mzj7biJiI3T6qXe0/s4032/IMG_0203_Villa_Bedroom_to_Master_Bath.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpMmBoMc9nbiQ8Yy2srZIMNZcFmQiPT41F3Vq8QdScf2z-B3-82QJJY3YS6_oyLCLy_4sNkR2Xb58Lk36FLUhqGrqIFPdyluegaM9qFIq_6P5EblqwerVUBGGUU5mzj7biJiI3T6qXe0/s400/IMG_0203_Villa_Bedroom_to_Master_Bath.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the bathroom off the master bedroom. The walk-in closet is to the right.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v4JiKyeb590CVrfJ5bHq-2_oDNq4TTTFHR5xXVWoAUsG3ZRrEIBAXk5-zOhE0sNdMyXWZGyT3HvW5-a33sEZ8v0ZPYfx6ibpnBcY_bLzbcfcJZeXry3hO7cHJ-cy7kh6kqkAMohyntE/s4032/IMG_0204_Villa_2nd_Bath.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v4JiKyeb590CVrfJ5bHq-2_oDNq4TTTFHR5xXVWoAUsG3ZRrEIBAXk5-zOhE0sNdMyXWZGyT3HvW5-a33sEZ8v0ZPYfx6ibpnBcY_bLzbcfcJZeXry3hO7cHJ-cy7kh6kqkAMohyntE/s400/IMG_0204_Villa_2nd_Bath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the second bathroom.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this gives you an idea of our new living quarters. The villa is smaller, and it's sometimes challenging to get organized; but we're very happy that we made the move.</div>
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We've continued to be busy emptying the old house and finding homes for the things we can no longer keep or no longer need. The sale of that house will become final on Friday, and we'll be free to focus all our attention on our new house. We're looking forward to just enjoying it.</div>
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<div><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-21123283434753984892018-11-14T22:34:00.001-05:002021-02-18T09:51:31.050-05:00The Move<div style="text-align: justify;">
Life has been a little crazy around here during the last couple of months, as you may have guessed by my lack of posting lately. I just wanted to pop in and give you an update.</div>
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We closed the purchase of our new villa on September 12, and we left on a three-week vacation on September 27. We made arrangements to have the interior of the villa painted and new carpet installed while we were away.</div>
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We returned from vacation on October 17, and quickly began moving by carloads. Our new home is only six miles away from our old home, so we planned to do most of the moving ourselves, one carload at a time.</div>
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Our church has a large box truck with a lift which is used for the church's food ministry. Our senior pastor offered to get some guys together and use the lift truck to move our heavier things. When moving day arrived on November 2, though, the crew consisted of only the senior pastor and an associate pastor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzVYzHASEZeq5Npiv_oVJ62UTA66SKxKBxhjfGSKRqScHTinfWv_WJs3fJsO9eFZ_3hRrmUjIR1LVDTaYqv4ivqV9OFJCJGAmI5Yo9yogoQkZySHzJW2zZvvi3WCSkOTVQAwpQEAxypM/s4898/IMG_13665.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzVYzHASEZeq5Npiv_oVJ62UTA66SKxKBxhjfGSKRqScHTinfWv_WJs3fJsO9eFZ_3hRrmUjIR1LVDTaYqv4ivqV9OFJCJGAmI5Yo9yogoQkZySHzJW2zZvvi3WCSkOTVQAwpQEAxypM/s400/IMG_13665.JPG" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMDpHwA5QHFRLQYZ9xLfQI4rwRu9hr238pxKEufMmggedK25d7h8yEXR9MrxC6RQq6xmXzUk74ONO01LubGvC6g-uJFWKKGQoFS8aNV0CYDZgYfddRSnU_QKcEffhZBTaFbAMf8OiMJo/s4898/IMG_13668.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMDpHwA5QHFRLQYZ9xLfQI4rwRu9hr238pxKEufMmggedK25d7h8yEXR9MrxC6RQq6xmXzUk74ONO01LubGvC6g-uJFWKKGQoFS8aNV0CYDZgYfddRSnU_QKcEffhZBTaFbAMf8OiMJo/s400/IMG_13668.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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We could never have done this without these godly men. The furniture was heavy and the work was hard, and still they could smile as the job neared completion.</div>
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We're still living among boxes, but I'll post some pictures when we get the mess cleaned up.</div>
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And there will also be a travelogue of the three-week trip out west. That should take us through the winter. (Smiles)</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031302234429148594.post-36283523066600520792018-09-28T20:40:00.001-04:002021-02-18T09:42:33.124-05:00Squirrels and the New Villa<div style="text-align: justify;">
I find the antics of squirrels very entertaining sometimes. Here are a couple of pictures that I snapped of a squirrel in a tree outside my computer room window recently. They just make me smile. I hope they have the same effect on you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFD8_fIQEOrlR_QhAjEBvoYMjVPNDBYb7iAN-Eq7xV8bhpFfxpO_wGPCISBEk-kDdtOZEl4p8qT03SneXpDWpx268m0EaZIs1-fRKKUsfzFs-t979N2O_eD_W2gUnieCT-sFW7UvN1UI/s4898/IMG_12424a_Squirrel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFD8_fIQEOrlR_QhAjEBvoYMjVPNDBYb7iAN-Eq7xV8bhpFfxpO_wGPCISBEk-kDdtOZEl4p8qT03SneXpDWpx268m0EaZIs1-fRKKUsfzFs-t979N2O_eD_W2gUnieCT-sFW7UvN1UI/s400/IMG_12424a_Squirrel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-nVcM2-dpzIKgKHWR23SVVRD0sw4XaeJoYq1XysvKbwEhdFWRH45OJPZVgQ-mANKPip6i07ggGBsB5Oios4XugNIGu0-qROyWGaSMgoDEle2YkX1-WOvgUdqYule1CwdjONkWWS-yCU/s4898/IMG_12429a_Squirrel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-nVcM2-dpzIKgKHWR23SVVRD0sw4XaeJoYq1XysvKbwEhdFWRH45OJPZVgQ-mANKPip6i07ggGBsB5Oios4XugNIGu0-qROyWGaSMgoDEle2YkX1-WOvgUdqYule1CwdjONkWWS-yCU/s400/IMG_12429a_Squirrel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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I mentioned in my last post that we had recently purchased a villa in a nearby retirement community. I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0Teb-Oebwe3VJ23Sz20v69knak2y3lKCyFPAohG2wqiuiNzH5ONHnOpPKY407gKExQ3Epl2z7doyVM_GDDZSkv8petzPYTSaAQnE1GpXaZqvHtdUbCXgDm0F7tsn6mZphYO0jkX2wik/s5184/IMG_12377_14729_Aspen_View_Way.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0Teb-Oebwe3VJ23Sz20v69knak2y3lKCyFPAohG2wqiuiNzH5ONHnOpPKY407gKExQ3Epl2z7doyVM_GDDZSkv8petzPYTSaAQnE1GpXaZqvHtdUbCXgDm0F7tsn6mZphYO0jkX2wik/s400/IMG_12377_14729_Aspen_View_Way.JPG" width="400" /></a>
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We're getting some work done inside the villa, primarily painting and some new carpet; so I'll hold off posting pictures of the inside until that work is done. </div>
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Meanwhile, there's a lot of work to be done in downsizing and getting moved, then getting the current house ready to be put on the market. So it's a bit hectic around here right now.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Linda at To Behold The Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419060763634934217noreply@blogger.com18