Limestone Fenceposts

Limestone fenceposts are a unique feature seen primarily in rural north-central Kansas.  We saw them while driving US highway 281.

Early settlers needed a way to fence in their land, to protect it from roaming herds of buffalo.  However, the plains were nearly treeless, so wooden posts could not be used.  A layer of stone was located (the topmost layer of the Greenhorn Limestone formation) that was accessible to quarry. The stone could be drilled and split into post-like structures. It was not easy work, and the posts were heavy...at least 250 pounds each. 

Between 1884 and 1920 miles of these stone posts were cut and placed.  They are still visible today.

World's Only Corn Palace

On our way south this fall, we stopped in Mitchell, South Dakota to see the World's Only Corn Palace.

100 years ago the current Corn Palace was built on Main Street. Known world wide, the Palace attacts hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly. A new theme is selected each year for decorating the outer walls of the Palace. Thousands of bushels of colorful corn, grain, and grasses are used to cover the building.  There are up to 12 different colors of corn alone, all grown specially for the Palace.

But the Corn Palace is more than a visual point of interest. The indoor arena is adaptable for many purposes: exhibits, dances, stage shows, meetings & banquets, proms & graduations.  It boasts a regulation size basketball court, and hosts district, regional, and state tournaments.  The weekend we were there they had just held an event for 600+ pheasant hunters!

A New Winter Home

After leaving Gallup, New Mexico we entered Arizona and drove past Petrified Forest National Park. At Holbrook we turned south, crossing the Mogollon Plateau, over the Mogollon Rim and through parts of Tonto National Forest. A summer fire in the Saguaro Lake area had blackened the landscape; the damage to plants was still evident.  Then it was on through Phoenix and south to our winter campground.  

New this season is moving into a park model home at the RV resort.  This will be the first winter in about 10 years that we have not lived in our motorhome!   As with any move, the challenges of finding a new place for our old "stuff" soon became evident.  But we are gradually getting settled...

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Designated a National Monument in 1923, and a World Heritage Site in 1987, this large settlement planned and built by the ancestral Puebloans centuries ago rivals Chaco Canyon sites.  Located near Aztec, New Mexico along the Animas River, ruins include a huge Great House which may have been up to three stories high, and included some 400 individual rooms.  The Great Kiva has been reconstructed on the original site, so one can enter and observe the engineering used to form these great ceremonial structures.  

A self-guided walking tour takes one around the site, through the ancient doors and inside intact rooms.

Chimney Rock National Monument

 Designated a National Monument in 2012, the twin pinnacles of Chimney Rock can be seen for miles. Many centuries ago this land was home to ancestral Puebloans.  They left behind stone structures including a Great House Pueblo, a Great Kiva, multi-family dwellings and pit houses, all viewable from trails leading through the site.

In later years, the towering formations served as  landmarks for explorers, settlers, and prospectors heading into the rugged country now known as Colorado.

Located just 17 miles west of Pagosa Springs, a day trip offered us a chance to experience this unique monument.

Lobo Overlook Colorado

Lobo Overlook, advertised as being "as close to the top of the world as you can get by vehicle",  was a drive manageable even for our our CRV.  From the summit of Wolf Creek Pass on US highway 160 (elevation 10,857) access to the overlook area was via a 3 mile dirt, tower access road.  At the top, the Overlook elevation is nearly 12,000 feet above sea level.  A section of the Continental Divide Trail is accessible from here; picnic tables and a pit toilet are available.

Colorado Scenic Drives

 From Pagosa Springs there is access to numerous scenic drives taking one deep into the forests and wilderness areas.  Often access is via windy, narrow dirt roads that snake their way through the trees.

One drive took us south of town along the San Juan River, through rolling meadows, where we saw these deer.  Remnants of early settlements, no longer inhabited, were passed along the way. Often just a cemetery remained.

Another drive took us on Mill Creek Road, east toward the Nipple Mountain area, and panoramic views of the upper San Juan Valley.

Pagosa Springs Colorado

Pagosa Springs, located in southwestern Colorado, is know for its hot springs.  Deep geothermal hot springs provide pools for soaking; a rich sulfur smell is in the air.

The San Juan River runs through downtown; the San Juan Mountains and national forests surround the town.

About 20 miles east is Wolf Creek Ski area.

We spent about a week here, in a campground along the river just outside town.  The October weather was warm and sunny, with abundant golden foliage on trees nestled among the pines.

Munsinger and Clemens Gardens

Not far from our Minnesota campground is the city of St Cloud.  A short car ride led to Munsinger and Clemens Gardens, located along the Mississippi River across from St Cloud State University.

Munsinger Garden, built along the river on the site of an old sawmill, was started by Joseph Munsinger, first park superintendent. Plants were grown in an on-site greenhouse.  Shade loving hostas and other plants are nestled among the trees.  Paths, ponds, and stone fountains were built by the WPA in the 1930's.

Clemens Garden, started by William and Virginia Clemens, was donated to the city following the death of Virginia, who had a long battle with multiple sclerosis. The gardens are formally arranged, with paths and fountains interspersed among the flowers.  In 1990 the Rose Garden was constructed; roses being Virginia's favorites.

2020 Social Distancing & Facemasks

 It all started while we were still in Arizona for the winter...something called the corona virus.  First we were instructed to "social distance": keep at least 6 feet apart when socializing with friends.  Resort Activities were restricted to 20 people, then 6 people, then no activities at all.  Offices closed.  Residents started leaving to go back to their home country or state.  Facemasks were recommeded.

We stayed in Arizona until the end of April.  Finally we got word from Minnesota...our seasonal campground would be opening for the summer.  We drove the RV back, stopping at familiar campgrounds along the way.  We had no problems obtaining fuel, or picking up a few groceries along the way.  But, we could not stop to visit friends and relatives as we usually did.

When we arrived in Minnesota, we self-quarantined for 14 days.  Not too hard to do, when living in the RV.  We learned there would be no activities here either.  Facemasks were recommended. We have not traveled anywhere with the RV this summer, the year of  the pandemic.

Hoover Dam and Lake Mead

Hoover Dam, originally Boulder Dam, was constructed between 1931 and 1935.  Thousands of depression-era workers found jobs there. Many lost their lives.

This large concrete, arch-gravity dam is located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, between Nevada and Arizona. Powerful generators use water flow to produce electricity.  Lake Mead formed as a result of the dam. It is one of the largest reservoirs in the US, supplying water to western states, and providing a water-sports recreation area.

When we last visited 30+ years ago, the top of the dam was highway 93 across the river.   We stopped there to look at the dam over the edge of the railing...Now the landscape around the dam has changed.

 A new bridge completed in 2010 crosses the river downstream from the dam; viewing platforms, walkways, and observation areas line the top of the dam. Multiple parking areas are connected to the walkways. Tours are available.

Death Valley: Racetrack Playa

The mysterious sliding rocks of Racetrack Playa were one feature we were unable to see while in Death Valley National Park.  The Racetrack, a dried lakebed nestled in the mountains, contains boulders that leave tracks in the mud, indicating that they have wiggled, jiggled, slipped and slid across a perfectly flat area. These "sliding stones" have been studied by scientists, but no one has actually seen them move.  Recent observations using GPS and time-lapse photography have started to show some insight as to how the boulders move.

To get to this area one must drive 27 miles on an unpaved rocky dirt road. High-clearance vehicles with heavy-duty tires are recommended. And check with a park ranger for road conditions!

Death Valley: Mesquite Flat Dunes

Located near the village of Stovepipe Wells, Mesquite Flat Dunes area contains acres of white sand dunes, some as tall as 150 feet.
Sand that forms these dunes originates in the Cottonwood Mountains just north of the dunes field. Quartz and feldspar rocks are broken by erosion, and eventually become sand sized pieces.  Winds cause the sand to blow into ever changing piles.

 This area can be explored on foot, after parking in one of the access points along the way.

"Devil's Cornfield" is the name given these unusual looking formations that occur as sand dunes form around the mesquite plants that dot the area.

Death Valley: Furnace Creek Area

A variety of sights exist within the Furnace Creek Area of Death Valley National Park.  All the following are accessible by car, and fairly easy walks from parking to observation areas. A Visitor Center and Museum are located at Furnace Creek.


Artist's Drive exposes mineral deposits in a palette of colors in the volcanic formed rocks.  Pullouts are available for short term parking and photos.






Badwater Basin allows visitors a chance to stroll through the basin of an ancient lake.  What remains are layers of salt deposits.  At 282 feet below sea level, it is the lowest point in North America.






Dante's View, an observation area more than 5000 feet above sea level, allows one to view the expanse of Death Valley.  From high above it is easy to see the distinct valley between ranges of steep mountains. Access is via a steep, winding hard surface road. The last 1/4 mile is a 15% grade!





Zabriskie Point may be one of the most popular lookouts. A short uphill climb from the parking lot allows one to see a panoramic view of golden brown mudstone hills etched with gullies from the occasional intense rainfalls this area experiences.

Harmony Borax Works

Harmony Borax Works is one of the historic sites located with Death Valley National Park.  Borax was found in the hills by prospectors in 1881.  This processing plant operated from 1883 to 1888.  Forty workers produced 3 tons of borax daily.  Ten teams of 2 mules (the famed 20-mule teams) pulled the loaded wagons 165 miles to the nearest railroad town.  It took about 30 days to complete a round trip.  This site has rusty remains of buildings, machinery, and tanks used for processing the borax.
Informational signs explain the site; a museum is located at Furnace Creek Ranch.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is the largest national park outside of Alaska. The land started as a National Monument in 1933 then gained National Park designation in 1994. With over 3 million acres of wilderness, a diversity of scenery is there to explore.  Rocky peaks, twisted slot canyons, shifting sand dunes, and the below sea level salt flats are only some examples.  There are historic sites, hiking trails, visitor centers, lodging and camping.  Death Valley National Park is also a designated Dark Sky Park, for night sky viewing enthusiasts.  The park is open all year, but with summer temperatures frequently reaching 120 F or higher, the months of November to April provide more comfortable visiting conditions. 

Reno/Lake Tahoe

One day we drove through Reno, Nevada, then on to Lake Tahoe. Guide books stated Reno is the second most populated place in Nevada. University of Nevada, Reno occupies one section of the city. National Automobile Museum offers a chance to see vintage cars. And there are casinos for entertainment.

Lake Tahoe area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is known for winter sking and summer water activities.  We observed kayaks and fishing boats on the lake. We drove a winding mountain road to Mt. Rose Ski Area, elevation 8260 feet, and saw some snow...

Sundial Bridge

Sundial Bridge crosses the Sacramento River in Redding, California.  Opened in 2004, this glass decked suspension bridge spans 708 feet across the river. 

Redding's Civic Auditorium and Turtle Bay Exploration Park are nearby.  Walking and biking trails along the riverfront, botanical gardens, an arboretum, and natural history museum are linked by the bridge.

Avenue of the Giants

Scenic "Avenue of the Giants" is 31 miles of winding country highway that parallels hwy 101 between Pepperwood and Phillipsville, CA. Much of the route follows the Eel River, and enters Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to over 50,000 acres of tall ancient coastal redwoods and Douglas-firs.  

A Visitor Center with historical displays and interpretive kiosks is about half way into the drive.

Other attractions along the route include Shrine Drive Thru Tree, The Immortal Tree, The Eternal Tree, and Chimney Tree.  Hiking trails, horseback riding camps, camping facilities, lodging, shops and restaurants are also available.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

From our camp in Trinidad, CA we drove north to Kuchel Visitor Center near Orick.  After a short film, the park ranger pointed us toward Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway and a drive through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

This alternative to hwy 101 was definitely worthwhile. We found the 10 mile side trip to be yet another beautiful drive twisting and turning through giant trees.

A wayside sign with an arrow pointing to "Big Tree" encouraged us to stop. We walked a short trail, and there it was...the biggest redwood we had seen so far!







The information sign nearby stated it was 286 ft tall, 24 ft in diameter, and 75 ft in circumference. These two photos show the bottom and top of this giant.


This state park has many hiking trails that lead off into the forest.  One of the more difficult trails leads to Fern Canyon, a site used for filming parts of "Jurassic Park".