Going to Buena Vista, CO

The burnt, eroded roots of a ponderosa pine,

I thought Bill Markwalt might find this

a bit artsy! This was taken in the

North Cheyenne Canyon.

Helen Hunt Falls.

She was a poet in the middle 1800's

who was not allowed to publish

under her own name.

Looking up the Canyon 

towards Pike's Peak.

This is loosely packed sedimentary

rock that is easily eroded.  I love

that Colorado blue sky!

A view of the south side of

Pike's Peak.

A distant view of the 

Sawatch Range, heading to

Buena Vista (beautiful view).

The middle peak reminds us of'

Bear Tooth Mountain, MT.

Bill likes the basalt monolith

in the center of the picture.

Bill found a new friend in Buena Vista.

Love the pink shades!  Reminds me

of the shades Bill put on Pastor

Sue's dog, Farley!!

Eastern CO to Colorado Springs, CO

I am back "home" in Colorado!

Farms are found in Eastern CO.

Here you see granaries.

Cattle are also found in Eastern

CO pastures.

Good morning, Pike's Peak!

Another view taken from

the side of the hotel in

Colorado Springs.

"Kissing Camels", on North Gateway

Rock, in The Garden of the Gods.

 

Not all of the rock formations

are red in The Garden of the Gods.

One last view of red

rock pinnacles.

 

Casey, IL & Wentzville, MO

This is our third time stopping in Casey, IL.

This town has the largest wind chime, rocking

chair, golf tee and other items

in the world.  Today we saw the largest

pitchfork in the world with Bill.

The largest mailbox.  I purposely included

the utility poles to see its size.

The world's largest pencil.  I wonder

what new things might be added

down the road?

As an Eagles fan, and Carson Wentz

fan, I just had to take a picture of the

water tower in Wentzville, MO

on Wentzville Parkway!

Air Force Museum, Dayton, OH: May 2, 2018

Another side trip!  We went to the Air Force 

Museum in Dayton, OH.  We had been

there 15 years ago.  It's nearly twice as 

big, and yes, I walked the entire way.

Here you see a bi-plane from the

early 1920's.

A World War II personalized plane.

Welcome to the Space Shuttle!

I have always wanted to go into

space.  This was the closest I

would come.

I had a wonderful gentleman give me a 

tour.  Here is where supplies and experiments

were kept.  The blue bags on the right

side are sleeping bags.  Do you see

the hooks in the ceiling?  They

are used to keep the bags in place and

not float around due to weightlessness.

Looking through the port hole, you can see

the toilet seat.  Once an astronaut is in place,

they push a lever to keep them in place!

There are over 2,000 switches of all kinds

in the cockpit.  The squares you see are

velcro pads to keep papers and such in place.

A super sonic jet above a circular

classroom.

This Stealth can reach Mach 4, which is

four times the speed of sound.

 

This Presidential Plane was used by Kennedy

through Clinton. 

Let's climb on board!

Everything is behind glass with very little

walking room.  Here is the communications

room.

One of the many rooms.  Check out the

old TV and phones!

Yes! I made it!  The entire day was

spectacular.  The volunteers, retired

Air Force men and women, have

such wonderful information to share.

Thanks for your service!

 

Mt. Washington, PA: May 1, 2018

On Tuesday I persuaded Bill to take me

to see Mt. Washington, which overlooks

Pittsburgh.  Here is Heinz Field, where

the Steelers play.  The Allegheny River

flows in the foreground.

PNC Park, where the Pirates play.

Looking up the Monongahela River.

The downtown section of Pittsburgh.

These are the Fort Pitt bridges in yellow.  This

is called "The Point" because it is the place

where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers

join to form the Ohio River.

Bill and Jean at the Mt. Washington

observation deck.

Beautiful flowers in West Virginia.

2017 Enlargement Possibilities

This photo plus the next two I am

planning on putting into a single

frame of 5 x 7's...

calling it...

"Sunset at Silt, CO.  That is,

indeed, the Colorado River!

"Delicate Arch"

Arches National Park, UT

This is on the UT license plates.

Goosenecks State Park, UT

So pleased to finally see this sight!

"Moki Dugway"

Definitely one of the highlights

of this trip.  Scenic Route 261

in UT.  Must do this if possible!!!

A Bryce National Park configuration

on Scenic Route 143, UT.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State

Park, Kanab, UT.

Canyon De Chelly, AZ

"Cliff Palace"

Mesa Verde National Park,

Cortez, CO.

Footbridge over the Rio Grande

River on Scenic Route 149

in CO.. Another must see if

you are in "God's Country"!

Just past Monarch Pass in CO.  This

seems like a black and white photo, but

it is not.  Just over the mine shaft

you can see a small weather balloon

on the left side.

"Pike's Peak"

Framed by the red rock at 

"Garden of the Gods".

Thanks be to God!!!