SENORITA CHEETAH

After purchasing a dress for Baylee in Mexico, the vortex in Sedona grabbed her one evening and this is what happened!

WARRIOR OF OAK CREEK CANYON

Traveled to Sedona after leaving the rock formations. It was a glorious sunny day and we camped next to Oak Creek. Went for a walk with the Bee and played in the creek. The rocks warmed the bottoms of our feet and the depths of our hearts.

ROCK FORMATIONS

We are never ceased to be amazed by the beauty of our country. After driving in the dark for numerous hours, we found a park to stay in for the night. In the morning we all went for a walk and found what an incredible area we had chosen in the dark. This is near Prescott Arizona.

MEXICAN SUNSET

We grabbed Baylee at the Phoenix airport and headed for Mexico. Camped just outside the border and

Baylee took this photo of the US flag flying in the evening sunset!

FIRST SUNRISE OF 2012

How can you see the last sunset of the year and not see the first sunrise of the next?  Not a chance! We made a fresh pot of coffee and left the warmth and comfort of our abode's and walked outside to a new dawn. The colors were again magnificent. It was the last sunrise we would experience at this place.

LAST SUNSET OF 2011

We had been camped at Brantley Lake State Park in Southeastern New Mexico just north of Carlsbad caverns. There we met our friends Ken and Mary from Oregon. Had a great time touring the incredible caverns, area museums and bike riding.The afternoon was warm and comforting. Toward sunset, it started clouding up. We knew we were in store for a colorful dusk. We watched the last sunset of 2011 together and wished all of our families and friends could be there with us!

OTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Many of the plants in the southwest are amazing. One in particular is the Sotol. It grows clumps of slender evergreen leaf blades with margins bordered by fine hooked teeth that angle toward the leaf tips, making the leaves look much like a double-edged saw. You certainly don't want to fall into one of these plants. But they are beautiful and colorful. You can see these all along the roads. But be sure to watch out for the Gigantus  Roadrunnerous. Run very fast if you happen to meet him on a trail!

VALLEY OF FIRES

This area is in the central part of New Mexico. It is just west of Carrizozo. Around 5000 years ago, Little Black Peak erupted like a volcano. It's childish spewing-fit created a river of lava that flowed 44 miles into the Tularosa Basin. Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett spent much time in this area. At the campsite there was a hill that we walked up where you could see 360 degrees. I am sure Billy spent time here as he could certainly see if anyone was coming for him. We were in awe of the landscape in any direction we looked.

BACKBONE OF THE EARTH

Driving down back roads of the planet is the most wonderful experience one can have. There you will see so many incredible places, roadside attractions and geologic formations. Everyone sees different things of each aspect of life. I saw the spine of the earth here in New Mexico. Then there is the contrast of the behemoth balancing power poles and an old service station within a few hundred yards of each other.