(Remember that you can click on the photos to enlarge them - and you can click on the captions to see all the text)
On the Way Out
On the road trip out to Las Vegas, I stopped by a few places…
Big Bend National Park,
Stayed for only a day (camping full) and did two runs/hikes along the Rio Grande.
First run area after entrance to park
The view arriving to the Rio Grande
Went for run along the right wall trail (US)…
Sunset view leaving park
Calsbad Caverns National
Walked the entire underground trail (a few miles) and left through the same entrance as above.
Drove past the VLA (very large array) radio telescope. Covered miles of desert. Very cool and reminiscent of the movie Arrival.
Arizona
Stopped by my property in Arizona for a few days. Ate lunch at the west wall of the Grande Canyon, one of the days. This is where the rafts take out of the Colorado river; about 7 miles, downhill, from my property.
The photos are of the cool birds that came by to say hello…
Las Vegas, Nevada (Red
Did some mountain biking in the area until my climbing partner (Tim) arrived. This is at the high point of the Red Rock 13 mile scenic drive. I did it by bike.
The first three photos are mine. The rest are Tim’s. Thanks Tim.
View from the start of the climb (first day).…
View from the start of the climb (second day…
View from the start of the climb (third day).…
Yes, I climb with my backpack most of the…
Rapelling
This is what is used to stop us, if we fall.
Second day climb. Second pitch.
I'm at the end of this rope. If you look close…
This is an anchor for belaying. It is at one of…
Notice the ledge Tim is standing on. This is…
I have no idea why there is so much chalk o…
Rapelling
On the Way Back
Headed back a little early since the weather was still too cold for canyoneering.
Utah
Bison. had to stop and take some photos…
Arizona (again)
Stopped by Lower Antelope canyon - just to take some photos…
I know there are a lot of them, but everyone tends to like these photos.
Kansas
Last stop before heading home. Stopped by to see one of my students.
The interesting thing about Kansas (and the plain states) is that there are literally hundreds of miles of plains, with the occasional house. The above picture is an example.
After the above, I quickly passed through Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina (to check on my other property), Georgia and back to Florida. Because there was no canyoneering, I got back five days early.
I think I’m going to do another road trip to just the east and central US fairly soon. Missouri and Kentucky were very pretty.
The toughest state to stay in was Kansas. Almost no parks or rest areas. Just a lot of flat, extremely large farms and plains. In contrast, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Missouri were all very easy to find places to stay. In total, I think I spent about $40 for places to stay in - mostly state parks (like in the photo above). The rest was BLM land, forests, picnic or rest areas (i.e. free).