Durango/Creede - June 13 - 23

When we're in Durango, we like to stay at the United Campground because the Silverton/Durango train comes through the campground 6 times a day - about 30 feet from our motorhome. Abby literally hates it. As soon as she hears the bell ringing she heads for her bed because she knows they will blow the whistle right in front of us. I kept expecting to see her with her forepaws over her ears.


Honeyville is a store that specializes in honey products (you could probably figure that one out for yourself!). So far, this is the only bear we've seen on our trip so Nancy wanted her picture taken with it. She will probably not be so willing if we run into a real one!

This is the hive which is actually inside the store. The bees travel to and from the hive through a hollow tube leading to the outside. It's fun to try and find the queen!

On our "annual trek" to Clear Lake - out of Silverton a few miles and up to 11,700 feet - we met with snow several times and finally got to a place where Russ needed to get out and assess the situation. We were within a mile of the lake! During these assessment times, Nancy stays in the jeep and prays, "Lord, help us make wise decisions." The decision this time was to turn around and go back!


The campground at Creede is in one of the prettiest locations we stay. There are mountains in every direction, some of them still have snow. There is a church service every Sunday and this was the first one of the summer. The multi-purpose building seats about 150 and within a week or so every chair will be filled. They even have a choir with rehearsals on Saturday morning! Since this was the first service and rehearsals had not started, the leader asked us to provide special music. There is no cross hanging in the front of the room, but there is a beautiful bull elk mounted on the wall above the pulpit in place of the baptistry! HA

We found a new jeep trail to Cascade Falls high in the mountains west of Creede. It is active only in the early summer when the snow melts. Here, we are standing at the very top of the falls - don't know how far down it goes 'cause we couldn't see the bottom!

This fine gentleman (on the left) was grazing in an area about an eighth of a mile from our motor home. He looked us over and then continued grazing as though we weren't even there. Last year when we were in Creede, we saw 3 moose in the wild. This year, the only moose we saw was standing on the corner in front of a gift shop!

Bryce Canyon - June 9 - 12

We spent 4 days at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. It was a little scary approaching the tunnels not knowing for sure whether or not we would knock something off the top of the motor home! It is amazing how the balanced rocks stay in place. This particular area was called Red Canyon and reminded us a lot of Sedona.


These particular formations are called "hoodoos" and are actually the walls of the canyon. We don't have pictures but we saw 99 antelope and numerous deer in the park.


Our purpose for going to Bryce Canyon was to attend an FMCA Coaches for Christ rally. It was great to have David and Nancy join us there. Rallymaster Bill Marti cooked breakfast every morning and then led in a devotional. Can't say we have ever eaten breakfast outside in 40 degree weather. By the time he softened the butter and brought it out to the table, it was already too hard to spread on our cold waffles! Diana Marti (Bill's wife) was quick to give David advice about most everything. As you can see, its going in one ear and out the other!

Montrose/Grand Junction - May 31 - June 8

The Black Canyon of the
Gunnison was formed by the Gunnison River much like the Colorado formed the Grand Canyon. We were thankful we were not in our motor home when we came upon the 16% grade! It was a 3-mile descent to the bottom of the canyon. The critter on the right is a marmot (mounted in a cage in the visitors center). Several of you have asked what they are since we include them in our wildlife count.


There is a Russell Stover candy outlet store in Montrose. Some 10 years ago, while going through Montrose, Nancy wanted to stop at this store. As usual, Russ was so intent on keeping with the schedule and getting to the next campground on time, he just blew right on down the road. This time not only did we stop but we purchased several calories!


A day trip to Colorado National Monument, with a side jeeping trip to Rattlesnake Canyon, made us feel at home because of the similarities with Sedona and Monument Valley. We blew as hard as we could to topple the balanced rock, but it didn't happen! It was a beautiful 23-mile drive around the top of several different canyons.