Days 26 & 27 - Heading home!

Our 26 day trip turned into a 27 day trip as we slipped into Albany at 3:12 a.m.  This was an awesome experience! What a beautiful country! Pat and I have traveled all over the world, and the USA is definitely one of the most beautiful and diverse. It is so BIG! I encourage everyone to get out there and see as much as possible - not to be missed are Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore (especially if you are from the US) and Bryce! What always strikes me is how many foreign visitors there are in our National Parks - people come from all over the world, many from Europe. It seems that only about half of the visitors are American. Our total milage for the entire trip, including side trips, was 7,615 miles. We are already planning our next trip!

Day 25 - Dodge City!

Welcome to Dodge!

Our B & B

The Museum

During our breakfast at the Boot Hill B & B (they buried them with their boots on!) we were treated to a visit from a local historian and Deputy US Marshal! What a delight! Then we visited Wyatt Earp Street and the Dodge House before heading out of town. Great City sign!

Pat with Deputy US Marshal Charlie Meade! 

Day 24 - Durango to Dodge via Great Sand Dunes NP

After spending a great night at the Historic Strater Hotel in Durango, we walked the charming main street down to the train depot. What a delightful little town - a must-see in the Colorado. Our Elk and Trout dinner was to die for and the Crème Brulé at the Mahogany Grill was the best we have ever had! Next we headed east towards Kansas. On the way we stopped at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. So cool and unexpected so far from the Ocean! It's right in the middle of Colorado! Then we arrived late in Dodge City Kansas at the Boot Hill B & B. 

Near the Train Depot!

French Bakery! 

All you need to outfit a western home! 

Elk! 

Dunes in Colorado!

Day 23 - Natural Bridges & Mesa Verde

GPS showing the switchbacks - terrifying! 

One of the scariest roads we have ever driven! 

The aptly named Valley of the Gods!

Natural Bridges!

Pat loves these trees! 

Only wish we had more time. What a great park! 

Cliff Palace!

So cool! 

They built their homes under the cliff so they would have more space to farm on the plateau! 

Day 22 - Utah - Arizona - Utah

We left Utah and headed across northern Arizona through Page and Navajo country and then back into southern Utah - Mexican Hat - to be exact. Crossed Monument Valley and headed into the Valley of the Gods.

Monument Valley

Our self-sustaining B & B in the heart of the Valley of the Gods

Hanging on our private porch!

Looks small but there is an underground floor beneath - the old root cellar!

The view we awoke to see! 

Day 21 - Bryce Canyon!

After 2 years of lamenting not stopping, we finally made it!

This park really lived up to our expectations...  Take a look...

Look at all the Hoodoos behind us!

Pat and his tree! 

Utah really rocks!!!

Some great afternoon sun in Sunset Canyon!

View from Bryce Point.