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T2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser Journeys
  • Two to Travel
May – Sep 2022

T2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser Journeys

The stories from our short getaways around Colorado … with a quick dip in and out of Utah. Read more
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  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    This "elk" near the visitor center welcomes us to Mueller State Park — Divide, CO.

    Welcome to Mueller State Park

    July 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    When we lost our spot at the Farish Rec Area, operated by the Air Force Academy, we weren’t sure if we would have a chance to get out again in the RV before we head up to the Canadian Arctic at the end of July.

    You see, we didn’t think we’d be able to find a spot at a state park campground since reservations open on a six-month rolling schedule and sites book up quickly. But we lucked out. So, here we are, at Mueller State Park … up in the mountains near Divide, Colorado.

    Our trip will be a short one … just three nights. But it will give us a break from the 90F+ temps that are expected to plague the Colorado Springs area this week.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Site 120 ... Mueller State Park — Divide, CO.
    Site 120 ... Mueller State Park — Divide, CO.Site 120 ... Mueller State Park — Divide, CO.

    Settled into Site 120

    July 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 73 °F

    All settled in … the patio is set up for us to enjoy the great outdoors … time to catch up.

    As I mentioned in the previous footprint, we lucked out with a last minute reservation that made this camping trip possible. Our luck was such that the site is one that we had marked as “preferred” when we last camped at Mueller State Park.

    #120 is a 30A electric site … no water or sewer hookups at this state park campground. No matter, we’re self sufficient and came prepared with a full fresh water tank, and empty black and grey tanks.

    Our location in the Grouse Mountain Loop — at the top of the campground — pretty much guarantees a 2- to 3-bar cell signal … which we can further boost with our antenna. In fact, the phone now shows full bar 5G. Doesn’t get much better than that!

    The campground is in a heavily wooded area. Though there are openings in the canopy for the light to stream through, the trees guarantee plenty of shade. We have a window into the southern sky for the satellite dish to grab unto a signal … Mui won’t have to miss the morning and evening news … and we can monitor the weather forecast, which will likely include daily afternoon and evening rain showers and thunderstorms since we are in the monsoon season. In fact, we’ve already had some sprinkles … thunder booms were audible, but quite distant. The sun is out at present.

    We’re settled in at 9,700 feet … about 2,500 feet higher than we are at home where the forecast is for 90F+ temps this week. The elevation here guarantees we’ll have cooler temps for our getaway. And, if we do have to run the A/C during the middle of the day … well, no problem since we have an electric hookup.

    The plan is to take it mostly easy while we are up here … though we do hope to take advantage of the cool mornings to do a hike or two. Gotta stretch those leg muscles !    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Our shade and privacy side panels are up and working.
    Sohappy to have the panels, which also cut down on the light glare.

    Shade and Privacy

    July 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Many of the Colorado State Parks have enough trees to provide shade at the campsites … and sometimes even plenty of privacy from neighbors. But we’ve also stayed in parks — state park and otherwise — that provide neither. So we bought some shade panels to add to the side of our awning as necessary. The panels are partially see through so we are not surprised by anyone approaching our site..

    One of the reasons we wanted to do this quick getaway to Mueller State Park was to customize the fit of the panels. Managed to get that done this morning. We can stake them down so they don’t blow in the breeze, but opted not to do so today … in case the afternoon monsoon rains come with stiff winds and we need to remove the panels quickly.

    In the photos, you’ll note a short panel on the front edge of the awning. It is for the zip-in shade and privacy panel we’ve had for a couple of years. Since our site overlooks the trees with no neighbors in that direction, we’re not using it on this trip. When we do, however, we’ll have a nice little enclosed patio.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    A "we stopped to check out Dynamite Cabin" selfie — Mueller State Park ... Divide, CO.
    A rusty old cast iron stove is all that remains of the furnishings at Dynamite Cabin — Mueller SP.A bee staking its claim on a Rocky Mountain Columbine ... Dynamite Cabin Trail — Mueller SP.One of the rare open areas on the trail that runs through the woodlands — Mueller SP.Colorful blooms from our hike on the Dynamite Cabin Trail — Mueller SP.

    Dynamite Cabin

    July 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 64 °F

    It’s nice to be able to sit out on the patio … enjoy the cooling breezes … listen to the distant thunder portending the arrival of this afternoon’s monsoon rains. Nary a drop has fallen yet.

    What’s not nice? All the black flies and other winged-insects making a pest of themselves. We’ve been here in the summer before and don’t remember it being quite so buggy. Oh well … part of being out in nature, I guess.

    Other than the work we did to customize our shade and privacy panels, we did go off to do a hike today. Since we didn’t bring our tow-vehicle on this short getaway, our trail options were limited to the ones at the top end of the campground.

    It’s been awhile since we last hiked at this elevation, so we settled on the Dynamite Cabin Trail … a loop of 1.2 miles or so. Down, down, down — with a few uphill stretches — on the outbound leg. Up, up, up — with a few downhill stretches — on the inbound leg. Did pretty good, I must say.

    Along the way, we took a short detour to the ruins of the cabin for which the trail is named. Turns out that back in the day, gold prospectors would use a stick or two of dynamite to blow a hole in the ground, dig in the hole to see if there was any “yellow” stuff, and move on if they didn’t find any gold. No, we didn’t follow suit by blasting a hole to try our luck.

    The hike isn’t what I would call entertaining. By that I mean that there are no expansive views to enjoy for much of the way. But we did get to stretch our legs without huffing and puffing too much, so that’s a good thing.

    Our reward for getting a bit of exercise today? Wine and snacks on the patio in lieu of dinner. Speaking of which …    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel

    We’re Home!

    July 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    What a doozy of a storm!

    It started raining just as we sat down to our wine and snacks on the patio at our Mueller campsite. At first it was a light rain. It got heavier and heavier … the pitter-patter louder. No problem … we remained dry under the awning. Thunder boomed more frequently … we heard some cracks of lightning, too. Both distant. The temp dropped like a rock … we bundled up and remained on the patio, enjoying the sounds of the storm as we sipped our wine and discussed which trail to hike tomorrow.

    So, if we were making hiking plans, why are we home now?

    We’d just finished watching an episode of Midsomer Murders when I started feeling unwell. I don’t know what it was. Allergies? I had taken my pills. Altitude? I’m not susceptible to adverse effects from being at high altitude. Something I ate? No idea. I couldn’t really describe it to Mui when he asked what was wrong. A hitch in my breath … my heart running a little faster than usual. In hindsight, I think the latter was a bit of a panic attack because I couldn’t pinpoint what the problem was. Stupid really since medical care wasn’t that far away should it come to that.

    Anyway, we decided to head home. It was a decision we didn’t make lightly since we prefer not to drive the RV at night. But it was the right decision. We quickly packed up and headed down the mountain. The pitch-dark skies above us were being rent by lightning that turned night into daylight. Thunder was booming. And just as we exited the park, rain started to fall again … a deluge that luckily was very short-lived. By the time we got to the intersection with US-24, the rain was over and we drove home under dry skies … the pavement most of the way back bone dry.

    So that’s the story of why we suddenly de-camped. I feel fine now. Making the decision to head home relieved the anxiety I was starting to experience. The rest of the symptoms are all but gone, too. Would they have dissipated had we stayed up at Mueller and continued our camping getaway? No way of knowing that, so I am not going to think on it. Instead, I’m off to get a good night’s rest.

    The Cruiser is going to rest now for a bit … until our fall road trip.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel

    Shiny and Ready for the Road

    September 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    It’s always nice to start a road trip with a clean and shiny rig … even if it doesn’t stay that way for long.

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    A beautiful day to get on the road — Colorado.

    Nice Day to Start a Road Trip

    September 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Sunshine … blue skies … a comfy 69F … Pikes Peak bidding us farewell.

    What more could we ask for as we begin a road trip that will take us to Southwestern Colorado with a dip into Utah.

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    A long line of vehicles ahead of us .... and a long line behind us — Colorado.

    A Glitch

    September 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    About two hours into our trip, we came to a standstill for about an hour. The Waze app reported an accident .5 miles ahead of us. Obviously serious enough to shut down I-25S.

    At times like this, we are always grateful to have everything we need in our Cruiser … including our own facilities 😊

    Rolling again now.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Spacious 50A FHU site for our stay at the Mesa Verde RV Park — Mancos, CO.
    2View from our site ... Mesa Verde RV Park — Mancos, CO.

    Settled in @ Mesa Verde RV Park

    September 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    Except for the one glitch I wrote about in the previous footprint, we had an uneventful drive to Mancos, Colorado. Uneventful but a long drive … made all the more so due to the hour we spent at a standstill while the accident site was cleared.

    We’re both whooped, but we took the time to properly settle into our site at the RV park. A light meal followed … the comfy temps allowed for an al fresco meal. Now to relax for a bit before calling it a night.

    I’m so glad I made no specific plans for tomorrow. I think we’ll use the day to rest up.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    I love setting up an al fresco office to do my work on the laptop — Mancos, CO.
    One of the western blue birds that stopped by to say hello — Mancos, CO.

    R&R @ the RV Park

    September 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Today was a much needed time of rest after our long day of driving yesterday.

    Our day of R&R started off with a late breakfast … during which we watched bits and pieces of the funeral for Queen Elizabeth from the segments we set to record on CNN.

    Next, I did what I love doing when we have downtime during a road trip … reading and writing on the patio. … when I wasn’t distracted by the western blue birds that stopped by to say hello throughout the day. Thanks to the shade provided by the trees at our site and our awning, I was able to stay out all day. I was especially glad that we have side panels that filtered the sun coming into the site midday from the back until the Cruiser was able to act as a sun break late in the afternoon.

    Mui’s never one to sit still, so he found things to do to keep himself busy … including a quick drive up to Cortez to do a bit of shopping at Walmart. We’ll be going up that way later this week, so I opted not to accompany him on his shopping trip.

    Both lunch and dinner was al fresco on the patio. Mui broke out the barbecue to grill some Turkish meat patties for lunch. Dinner consisted of wine and snacks instead of a full blown meal. Perfect, if you ask me.

    Our upcoming days will be a mix of hiking and drive-seeing around the area. I’m sure we’ll have some downtime along the way … but we’ll be squeezing that in between everything else we hope to do.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Lookout Point Butte — Mesa Verde NP, CO.
    "The Ancient Ones" ... at the Visitor Center — Mesa Verde NP, CO.House with Many Windows ... Cliff Palace Loop — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Hemenway House ... named for a woman who played a critical role in the creation of Mesa Verde NP.1From one of the Cliff Palace Loop overlooks — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Cliff Palace from the Overlook — Mesa Verde NP, CO.A "we did the Cliff Palace Hike" selfie — Mesa Verde NP, CO.View of the Cliff Palace from the trail — Mesa Verde NP, CO.A closer look at a portion of the Cliff Palace — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Cliff Palace thru the Window — Mesa Verde NP, CO.To get back to the top, first we have to squeeze through this narrow slot — Mesa Verde NP, CO.After the slot, we have to climb these two steep ladders — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Here I am at the base of the third and final ladder to the top of the cliff.Lunch with a view — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Spruce Tree House is another cliff dwelling — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Plateau Fence Lizard ... not the least bit shy — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Pipe Shrine House ... Far View Community — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Coyote Village ... Far View Community — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Far View Tower — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Roadside view — Mesa Verde NP, CO.

    Mesa Verde NP: Cliff Palace & More

    September 20, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Today was the first of the two days we set aside for visiting Mesa Verde National Park (MVNP) … and what a day it was. Not only did the weather cooperate — at least until mid-afternoon — but we also got to visit the amazing 150-room dwelling known as the Cliff Palace.

    MVNP was established in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. According to the signage at the visitor center, it is the only national park in the US that was created specifically to “… preserve Ancestral Pueblo culture and prehistoric architecture. … the extraordinary record of these Pueblo people who made Mesa Verde their home for over 750 years, from AD550 to AD1300.”

    While the Cliff Palace (accessible only with a ranger-assisted hike) was definitely the highlight of our day, we also explored other parts of the Chapin Mesa area.

    Our explorations took us to the Spruce Tree House, where we knew we’d get little more than a distant view because this cliff dwelling is closed for restoration. I had hoped to hike down to the petroglyphs from there, but the gathering storm clouds and the blazing heat put the kibosh on those plans. Maybe next time.

    We also stopped at the Far View Community … which predates the cliff dwellings. This was an Ancestral Puebloan farming community that supported dozens of families … starting around AD800. Despite the growing storm clouds, we headed off to walk the ¾-mile trail here. Alas, rain began to fall about halfway into our walk so we had to speed up our pace … not much dallying along the way.

    Our second day at MVNP will be spent exploring the Weatherill Mesa area. We will have to wait until Saturday to do that, however, as heavy rain is in the forecast for the next couple of days.

    P.S. Before you all ask! We skipped the Balcony House tour. My knees screamed that crawling through a 12-foot tunnel was going to be a no-no! Nor could I see my occasional bouts of vertigo allowing me to walk up the steps carved into the cliffside or climb a 32-foot ladder to get up to the top of the cliff.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Street art in Cortez, CO.
    Street art in Cortez, CO.Street art in Cortez, CO.Street art in Cortez, CO.Street art in Cortez, CO.Street art in Cortez, CO.Street art in Cortez, CO.

    Cortez: Murals

    September 21, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Rain, rain … go away! Unfortunately repeating those words did no good today. So, instead of going out for a hike, we took care a few things around the RV this morning.

    Taking advantage of a slight lull in the wet stuff, after lunch we headed over to Cortez. The plan was to check out the cultural center. But first, noting the blue skies and sunshine, we drove around to check out some of the murals we spied. That break in the weather did not last more than 20 minutes, so good timing on our part.Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Baby moccasins with Ute beadwork (circa 1880-1920) — Cortez Cultural Center, CO.
    Ak'u Beloved, Ancient Days (Ka'aimaisiwa Maurus Chino) — Cortez Cultural Center, CO.Painting at the Cortez Cultural Center, CO.Diné Ceremonial Basket — Cortez Cultural Center, CO.Papooses — Cortez Cultural Center, CO.Ute beadwork on man's elk skin vest — Cortez Cultural Center, CO.

    Cortez: Cultural Center

    September 21, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    With the skies clouding over and the rain beginning to fall, we drove over to the Cortez Cultural Center … the original reason we came to town.

    The center, which is housed in a mercantile building that dates back to 1909, bills itself as being a source of information for archaeology and American Indian culture. It has a few exhibits and there were some pieces of art on display in the back. Our visit was a short one, but it was worth a stop to check it out.Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    At the entrance to the Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.
    Jeddito Black-on-Yellow Pottery (Hopi, AD 1325-1600) ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Mesa Verde Black-on-White Canteen (AD 1180-1300) ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Dripline Shadow (by Arthur Short Bull) ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Sand Canyon #2 (by Carol Chamberland) ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Santo Domingo Pitcher (1885-1900) ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Boulder Castle Time Frame (by Lewis Williams) ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Two Young Women at the Tewa-Hopi Village ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Find the basket and corn cobs/kernels in the charred floor of a pithouse ... Anasazi Heritage CenterDouble Mug (Mesa Verde Black-on-White; AD 1180-1300) ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Goods traded by Four Corners cultures ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Shell Bracelets from the Saw Mill Junction site ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.Some of the colorful blooms in the garden ... Anasazi Heritage Center — Dolores, CO.

    Dolores: Anasazi Heritage Center

    September 21, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 61 °F

    Since the Cortez Cultural Center did not take up too much of our time, we decided to add the Anasazi Heritage Center to our afternoon outing … about 10 miles away.

    Located on the outskirts of Dolores, the center bills itself as Southwest Colorado’s premier archaeological museum, focusing on “… Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures in the Four Corners region.” Operated by the Bureau of Land Management, the facility also serves as the visitor center for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

    The rain let up just long enough for us to walk from our car to the building. And then the skies let loose again. No matter. There were two videos to keep us entertained, as well as a museum filled with interesting artifacts, and a special exhibit entitled “Sand, Stone, and Song … Ancient Lessons from a Living Landscape.”

    Definitely a “not-to-be missed” place to visit for anyone traveling in the region. In fact, we walked out of the center/visitor center discussing plans for a return visit to this part of the southwest as there is no way we’ll get to do on this road trip everything that has now captured our interest.

    The rain that accompanied us continued to fall throughout the evening and is still pitter-pattering as I wrap up today’s three-part story. If the local weather forecast is to be believed, there will be more of the same tomorrow.

    We are having to rethink some of our plans due to news reports of flooding and road closures. But we still have time before we have to solidify any jiggles. In the meantime, we’re looking forward to clearing weather starting on Friday 🤞🏻.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Lookout Point is an uconic landmark if Mesa Verde NP ... we get to see it from our campsite.

    Red Skies at Night

    September 22, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    It rained all through the night. It rained all through the morning … and through much of the afternoon. It wasn’t until 3:00p that the skies stopped shedding tears and the sun broke through the overcast. Yay!

    What is it they say about red skies at night being sailor’s delight? Well, we’re going to take it as a good omen for tomorrow.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    The Lowry Pueblo was excavated in the 1930s — Canyons of the Ancients Natl Monument, CO.
    A "we visited the Lowry Pueblo on a sunny day"selfie the 1930s — Canyons of the Ancients NM, CO.Kiva B is one of the eight kivas at the Lowry Pueblo the 1930s — Canyons of the Ancients NM, CO.Rubber Rabbitbrush growing in one of the rooms at the Lowry Pueblo — Canyons of the Ancients NM, CO.The Great Kiva @ the Lowry Pueblo — Canyons of the Ancients NM, CO.

    Lowry Pueblo

    September 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    After losing a day to rain that fell pretty-much nonstop yesterday, we had a full day of sightseeing on the agenda today.

    First up, the Lowry Pueblo, which is part of Colorado’s Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. It was constructed by the Ancestral Pueblo people around AD1060. Occupied for approximately 165 years, what began as a small village with just a few rooms and a kiva ended up becoming a pueblo with 40 rooms, 8 kivas, and a Great Kiva.Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Our first glimpse of some of the ruins from the rim overlook — Hovenweep NM, UT.
    Squeezing through some boulders on the way down to the canyon floor — Hovenweep NM, UT.Glimpse of the ruins high above us as we cross the canyon — Hovenweep NM, UT.A "Twin Towers " selfie — Hovenweep NM, UT.L to R: Hovenweep House, Square Tower, & Hovenweep Castle — Hovenweep NM, UT.Square Tower and Hovenweep Castle — Hovenweep NM, UT.A "Hovenweep Castle" selfie from across the canyon — Hovenweep NM, UT.Part of the Hovenweep Castle ruins — Hovenweep NM, UT.Tadpoles — Hovenweep NM, UT.Love this little tree we came across on the trail — Hovenweep NM, UT.L to R: Twin Towers, Eroded Boulder House (below the rim), and Rim Rock House — Hovenweep NM, UT.

    Hovenweep … aka Deserted Valley

    September 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    From the Lowry Monument, we followed the back roads for about 21 miles to cross the state line between Colorado and Utah.

    Our destination … the Hovenweep National Monument. The site was established in 1923 to preserve some of the finest examples of ancestral Puebloan masonry found anywhere. However, it was given its name — which means deserted valley in the Paiute and Ute language — in 1874.

    This national monument consists of six units that straddle the Colorado-Utah state line. On our way, in fact, we’d planned to visit at least one of the units in Colorado, but the side road was wet and muddy, with deep ruts that we didn’t want to negotiate. So, we focused on the Square Tower Unit in Utah instead.

    After checking in at the Visitor Center, we headed down the path to the overlook, which is the starting point for the Little Ruin Trail … a loop of just under 2.5 miles. It was fairly hot but there was a light breeze that kept us comfortable enough.

    We started out by crossing the canyon first — 80 feet down, across the canyon floor, and 80 feet up … not too difficult really. But by doing the trail this way, we got the most difficult section out of the way at the outset. The rest … well, it was a piece of cake. Of course, we stopped to photograph all the Puebloan ruins along the way, so it took us about two hours to get back to the visitor center.

    A quick lunch at one of the picnic tables at the site. And then we set off for the RV park … driving back via the McElmo Canyon to create a loop with new-to-us scenery to entertain us along the way.

    A great day … and we hope to have another one tomorrow as well.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Long House — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.
    A "we visited Long House" selfie — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.Long House — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.Climbing up the first of two 15-foot ladders at Long House — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.The two ladders we climbed to get inside Long House — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.View looking out from Long House — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.Kiva inside Long House — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.Water seeping thru the rock (mossy area) helped to sustain people living in Long House.Looking out from Long House — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.View of Long House from inside the dwelling — Mesa Verde National Park , CO.Long House from the overlook — Mesa Verde NP, CO.A type of lupine — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Reconstructed pithouse at the Step House — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Step House with the pithouses people lived in before Step House was constructed — Mesa Verde NP, CO.Petroglyphs at Step House — Mesa Verde NP, CO.

    Mesa Verde NP: Weatherill Mesa

    September 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Today, the second day we set aside for exploring Mesa Verde NP, we headed to the Wetherill Mesa area.

    First up was another ranger-assisted hike/tour … this time to the largest cliff dwelling on this mesa … Long House. It is believed that between 1150-1300, several generations of Ancestral Puebloan families lived together in this dwelling, which has 150 rooms and 21 kivas. What made this tour special was that we were able to enter the dwelling and walk in the footsteps of the ancients as we wandered through the rooms in which they lived.

    The hike to the dwelling is about 2 miles round-trip … all but .3 miles of that being on a paved path from the information kiosk. Once allowed through the trailhead gate, we went down concrete steps and followed a downhill dirt path to the dwelling. When we reached Long House, we then climbed up two 15-foot ladders. All doable with a bit of agility. I’m glad we opted for the 9:30a tour — and actually got on the 9:00a tour — as at that early hour, the temperature was still comfy.

    Once we got back to the top of the cliff, we decided to take a detour along the Long House Loop Trail … all paved. By doing so, not only did we not retrace our path back to the kiosk, but we also got to check out the views of Long House from the overlook, and take a peek at the ruins at the mesa-top Badger House community. Here we saw pithouses that are thought to date back to around 620-860.

    Back at the kiosk, we had a quick picnic lunch. Thus re-energized, we tackled the hike down to visit the Step House … the only cliff dwelling visitors are allowed to check out on their own. The ~ 1-mile paved zig-zag trail down to the dwelling is steep, but doable … with an elevation change of about 100 feet. This path is normally used to get back up to the top of the cliff, but we hiked it both ways since the trail down to the ruins — which includes some steep staircases — is closed for restoration.

    What makes Step House special is that one gets to see — side by side — a reconstructed pithouse that dates back to 620 as well as a multi-story pueblo that was built centuries later. Archaeologists have posited that the pit houses gradually developed into the circular rooms we know as kivas. In the pueblo, we also saw a panel with clearly defined petroglyphs chipped into the rock face … interpreted by modern Pueblo people as clan and migration symbols.

    It was 3:00p by the time we climbed back up to the kiosk and made our way to the car. Since our day had started at 7:00a, we were ready to call it quits. Turns out that was a good thing. Why? That story is for the next footprint.    Read more

  • Two to TravelT2Ts 2022 Phx Cruiser JourneysTwo to Travel
    Fall foliage along US-160 — Colorado.
    Fall foliage along US-160 — Colorado.Fall foliage along US-160 — Colorado.Fall foliage along US-160 — Colorado.

    Flexibility = Colorado Fall Colors

    September 25, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    We should be heading west to Monument Valley today.

    Instead, we are heading east … retracing our path from last Sunday via US-160. Once we get to I-25, we’ll be heading north … going back home.

    No worrries … nothing serious … no illness or any mechanical issues. It’s just a glitch with an expensive THY flight voucher that has us canceling our road trip.

    After spending considerable time going back and forth with THY these past few days, this morning we agreed to fly to Turkey on the 29th … that’s September 29th … four days hence.

    We’ll get home tonight; make whatever additional logistical arrangements that are required tomorrow — including winterizing the Cruiser; pack our bags on Tuesday; fly to YYZ on Wednesday — tickets on THY were priced closest to the amount of the voucher out of this airport in Toronto … half of what it would have cost to fly out of any of the USA gateways; fly to Turkey on Thursday. Whew!

    Now to figure out a way to get home from Turkey! But I need to wait until I have a steady cell signal to do my research. In the time, I’m going to enjoy the ride.

    Our reward for being flexible enough to make this switcheroo with our travel plans? Beautiful fall foliage colors. We weren't expecting to see these colors in our home state this year. It was amazing to see how much color has been added along US-160 in the short week since we passed this way … going west at the time.

    Thus ends this year’s Two to Travel’s RV journeys!    Read more

    Trip end
    September 25, 2022
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