AKRANSAS

 

 FORT SMITH was a nice stop. Nice grounds, good museum and short film on its history.

 

 I was disappointed the ferris wheel was not open midweek. I really wanted to ride it. This is in downtown Fort Smith AR

 Van Buren is a Historical District in Van Buren AR

 Nice end to the day. A COE park in Ozark AR

OUR ROUTE

 YUMA TO PHOENIX

 PHOENIX TO ALBUQUREQUE

 FOLLOWED I-40 THRU TEXAS TO OKLAHOMA CITY THEN WITH A LITTLE DETOUR TO FORT SMITH ARKANSAS

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Cowboy Museum is absolutely wonderful. It doesn’t lack for anything. From art to every facet of cowboy life. Also including a replica of a western town. Don’t miss it. Do plan on a day. We spent 6 hours there.   

Off to the stockyards next. To late in the day perhaps as we didn’t see any cattle in the pens. Went into one of the stores in town. Boots boots everywhere.

Then on to Jim’s birthday dinner at the Cattlemen’s Cafe. Another DDD experience.

Oklahoma National Memorial & Museum. What can one say. It breaks your heart. So many lives lost in such a senseless attack. The museum was well done. Every hour accounted for on the timeline through the hours and days that followed. The grounds beautiful. The tree is called the Survivor Tree. It was remarkably still standing among all the devastation.

Traveling I-40

Traveling along I-40 takes some of us down memory lane as it parallels HWY 66. We remember the TV show, Do you?  Yes get your kicks on Hwy 66!

Murals on old buildings, histori c district   s in small towns now full of antique shops and restaurants.

Cadillac Ranch

Who can not stop to check this out. One can bring their own spray paint and become an instant artist.

ALBUQUERQUE NM

We visited Sun City Cultural Center in Acoma NM with its unique historical distinction as the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. It sits 370 feet above the desert floor. The Pueblo dates back to 1100A.D. There are over 300 structures made of adobe and sandstone. This area is about 15 miles off I-40 east of Albuquerque about 40 miles.

The tour guide was excellent, learning the history so informative. We rate this as a must see.

After the tour we had a very tasty lunch at the Cafe. Chicken stuffed frybread smothered with green sauce, side of rice & beans. Oh Yeah!

Then watched a film and went through the museum.

 

Onto our next destination, The Petroglyph National Monument. As it was getting late in the day we opted for the 3 shorter trails still seeing plenty of Petroglyphs . 

2013 SUMMER TRAVEL

Starting out: A stop in the Phoenix area. Had a fun visit with Ron & Carol at their friends Bev & Gene’s home.Second leg of trip. Phoenix to Acomita NM. From the desert To the Mountains at Show Low AZ

Hello New Mexico

and on to Pie Town for the NM Apple Pie, full of goodness like green chili’s and pine nuts. Unusual but tasty.

 

Long not so pretty drive on Hwy 117 was certainly rewarded near the end with these gorgeous cliffs. You just never know.

2012 OR to CA

Happened upon the Pendleton Round Up Days. Got there just in time for the parade. Been through here numerous times and didn’t even know about the Underground tour in Pendleton OR. It was well worth it. So very interesting. Great fun. Great drive along Hwy 395

Kam Wah Chung & Co. a Heritage Site  located John Day OR. is a ranger guided tour. A fascinating story of two enterprising young Chinese men during a time when there was a thriving Chinese community brought over to work as laborers. The hardships they endured is truly heartrending. 

Now really this what some hunter left behind in the Forest Service Campground we stayed in. YUK!!!!

Great day stop. Very nice 1 mile walk down the river and across & up & over the falls. Worth the entrance fee.