tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975317326316024472011-04-21T14:55:56.813-07:00without boundariesJean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comBlogger831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-62130736150826070602009-02-16T21:54:00.000-08:002009-02-16T22:53:28.990-08:00

Our trip to Europe after our 60th wedding Anniversary was part thanksgiving, part sharing our joy with friends, and part nostalgia.The last time we explored Paris was a 3 day weekend 50 years ago and we had a quick visit in 1964. We lived in London when Jean and I attended a academic quarter at the University of London in the fall of 1968 and then again when we made a quick visit in 1978.It was

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-16481671804793452242009-01-24T15:28:00.000-08:002009-01-27T16:38:09.262-08:00

Paris along with London was at the top of our list of places to visit because of nostalgia, filial connections, and artistic opportunities.In 1959, it was the first “foreign” city we visited at the beginning of our 20 year odyssey in Africa as missionary teachers for the Catholic Church. We had an exciting time in the City photographing round the clock for 3 days. The Metro was amazing to us: how

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-6847830475654082232008-12-20T21:14:00.001-08:002008-12-20T22:31:59.958-08:00

Christmas GreetingsJean and Bill wish for all of you the three values of Christmas: Thanksgiving that God has not forgotten man,Joy that a Child who will offer salvation to all has been born, and Peace to all men of good will.Some Views of the Most Unique Member of the European CommunityAfter a relaxing two days in Frankfurt, we hopped (as much as you can hop with a 25 and a 35 pound suitcase) on

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-18563087033932080322008-12-05T21:17:00.001-08:002008-12-05T22:07:16.489-08:00

After exchanging farewells with our fellow Medjugorje pilgrims, we landed in Frankfurt’s giant airport.Frankfurt is the transportation hub of Germany for flights, roads, & trains. That plus the fact that historically it has financed Kings and Emperors since medieval times has made it the seat of the German Federal Bank and home of the Euro (€)—The Central European Bank. It is still the wealthiest

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-38600887485689410182008-11-27T21:16:00.000-08:002008-11-27T22:41:38.312-08:00

This is the first of five blogs describing a three week European trip commemorating our 60 years of marriage. The blogs will show what we saw in four areas: Medjugorje, Bosnia-Hercegovina (part of the former Yugoslavia), Frankfurt, Germany, London, England, and Paris, France. The blogs will be mostly pictures with only a little text from guide books.We started on Thursday, October 2 on an 25 hour

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-21321481856599601352008-11-05T19:30:00.000-08:002008-11-05T20:41:25.013-08:00

We interrupt our travel blogs to present a very special one. This blog is about a different kind of trip—a trip thru time rather than traveling from place to place.This trip started with an innocent invitation to a ride home from the registration activities at the University of California in Berkeley, California, in August of 1945. When we saw a familiar face among the 2,000 would be freshman—we

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-4516147075852973892008-08-13T21:29:00.000-07:002008-08-13T23:33:18.224-07:00

Please check out the next blog below, "03/23/08-Camping in the Clouds at Fremont Peak State Park," before reading this one. "03/23/08" is Part I and this one is Part II.Part IIA funny thing happened as we continued on our way south to San Luis Obispo… Jean uses The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California produced at the Jepson Herbarium of the University of California, Berkeley as her main

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-67092922144815500712008-08-13T20:58:00.000-07:002008-08-13T21:21:31.137-07:00

A funny thing happened on the way to our March destination of Montaña de Oro State Park near San Luis Obispo, California (210 miles to the south). It was Sunday, March 23 and we left after Church at 1:30 p.m.; at 2:30, we were about 50 miles south on US 101, when Jean said, “We haven’t been to Fremont Peak State Park for a long time, why don’t we stop early and continue on to San Luis Obispo

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-10309403761504534472008-06-13T22:45:00.000-07:002008-06-13T23:57:58.212-07:00

Death Valley National Park is in a hot, dry, unfriendly desert as the name implies, but it does not follow that it is barren. Many plants and animals have become adapted to these harsh conditions, and are able to take advantage of the sporadic thunder storms in numerous microclimates. The winter of 2007–8, was not a particularly wet one, and some areas received practically no precipitation and

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-16523382248732059712008-06-03T20:06:00.001-07:002008-06-03T21:33:50.276-07:00

Pursuing our usual time table, we left early on the third Sunday of the month of February for Texas Springs Campground, Death Valley National Park, 509 miles to the east. Because of the longer distance than usual, we spent Sunday night at Red Rock Canyon State Park just north of Mojave. The next day, after passing through Trona and the Panamint Valley and stopping along the way for the many

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-50328441339602424642008-05-30T20:53:00.000-07:002008-05-30T22:32:00.280-07:00

This is the last blog of our memorable Octogenarian Odyssey. It shows how we got from Colorado to California on I-80 through Wyoming. Most of the pictures were taken through the windshield, therefore not up to our usual quality. At the end I will reveal some of the statistics of this 5 ½ month journey. If you have unanswered questions, feel free to e-mail us at bjpawek@comcast.net.We left Estes

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-60309624197503362482008-04-14T23:00:00.000-07:002008-04-14T23:50:18.574-07:00

Our last blog from Rocky Mountain National Park describes some of the many sparkling mountain lakes to be found in this most vertical park on the nation’s backbone. We start at 8,700 feet with sunrise at Sprague Lake and then go up as far Dream Lake at 10,000 feet.Flattop Mountain at over 12,300 feet watches overSprague Lake at sunrise.The warm light of sunriseenhances the fall color around the

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-79462872990810507612008-03-22T12:56:00.000-07:002008-03-22T15:23:03.336-07:00

The Trail Ridge Road (US 34) traverses 42 panoramic miles over the North American continent’s backbone from Estes Park on the east through Iceberg Pass over 12,000 feet elevation down to Grand Lake at the foot of the Never Summer Mountains on the west. It is an easy way to see the vistas of the “back country” from your car. Rocky Mountain National Park was created in 1915 (a year before the

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-87491422764456844412008-01-17T16:51:00.001-08:002008-01-17T17:27:37.145-08:00

Perhaps you thought we never went home or we got lost and are wandering around looking for “the way to San Jose.” The real situation is that we did make it home overcoming great challenges (chillingly related in an up-coming blog) only to find life at home is a lot more complicated than life as gypsies on the road. I have thought about it a lot since we have been back—I have decided that “

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-27943371779520136182007-12-20T22:41:00.000-08:002007-12-20T23:18:40.394-08:00

Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota, roadside rest, Ontario Province, CanadaOne of the loveliest sights of summer is dainty Queen Anne’s Lace or wild carrot, Daucus carota in grassy places and along roadsides. A native of Europe, it grows in every State of the U.S.A. Long in cultivation, the carrots we eat are the root of the same plant, var. sativa.Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota, Acadia National

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-18357486531884395652007-10-02T17:12:00.000-07:002007-10-02T17:48:55.414-07:00

Through the windshield—Chimney Rock from about 30 miles awayThe Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail, and California Trail following the North Platte River from the Missouri River passed by one of the most famous landmarks along the Trail: Chimney Rock. Some half million westbound emigrants used it as a beacon during the three to four days it was in view, signaling to them that the second phase of their

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-62173985547118529522007-09-29T09:33:00.001-07:002007-09-29T10:29:43.991-07:00

Iowa Corn FieldsAs we angled across Iowa on our way to Winnebago Industries in Forest City, we passed through miles and miles of fields of tall corn.Entering Chickasaw County, we made a brief detour through Nashua to The Little Brown Church with the Old Bradford Pioneer Village next door.The Little Brown Church in the ValeDedicated 1864The Little Brown Church has an interesting history. In June

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-79059431835799070232007-09-28T13:58:00.000-07:002007-09-28T16:49:02.914-07:00

Our Home Away from HomeSome wonder how Jean and I manage for such a long period in such a small house; after all, though Jean is rather petite, I am rather gargantuan. At a first glance such close proximity for 161 days (23 weeks) seems impossible, especially when you consider the places we have been that discourage enjoying the great outdoors: very hot and humid jungle weather, flies and hornets

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-60723268837927765522007-09-23T11:42:00.000-07:002007-09-23T12:49:37.940-07:00

[Photos and text mostly by Jean; adjustment of pictures and formating by Bill]We carry AAA CampBooks which list a few of the better (and more expensive) campgrounds. At every State border, we stop at their Welcome Center and pick up campground and state park literature.On Saturday night, we need laundry and showers, a dump station, and a Catholic Church nearby. Planning ahead is required and Bill

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-22333478611461204162007-09-22T23:14:00.000-07:002007-09-22T23:41:54.986-07:00

As we headed southwest toward the United States on autoroute 401, we left the Province of Quebec and entered Ontario Province. The Welcome Center had intriguing literature and we remembered photographs Jean’s sister and brother-in-law had shown us on Thousand Islands area in the St. Lawrence River. Deciding to spend a leisurely day along the Thousand Islands Parkway, we swung off the 401 just

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-35443271082488539752007-09-20T19:57:00.000-07:002007-09-20T21:02:28.480-07:00

Friday, August 24, we woke to heavy rain in our camp outside of Ville de Québec. Dallying for a few hours, hoping the weather would clear, Bill finally moved us over to the dump station for that necessary weekly chore, then set out at 11:30 a.m., for the first time on the trip in a westerly direction, toward Montréal. After driving in a gusting rain for an hour, it finally did clear so most of

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-73932243546706901232007-09-13T15:16:00.000-07:002007-09-13T16:26:24.478-07:00

Ville de QuébecVue sur Québec — Port of Québec on the Saint Lawrence River taken from De l’Observatire de la Capitale viewing tower725 feet above sea level.Our campground, Camping Juneau on Lake Augustine, was conveniently located just off of autoroute 40. Our camp hostess instructed us, “Don’t turn off anywhere, just go straight forward into ville de Québec." (only 18 km, about 12 miles, along

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-24126413849960502392007-09-13T14:03:00.000-07:002007-09-13T14:41:43.543-07:00

In 1604, Samuel de Champlain sighted Mount Desert (day SAIR) Island, and named it, “L’Isle des Monts Deserts,” which means island of the bare mountains.A Natural Seawall Protecting a Charming LagoonFinally, we had reached colder climes! It took a long time to get there; the cool made us into “happy campers.” Highway 95 north to Bangor was a dream, well paved, multi-laned and scenic, with wide

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-24194038572719408902007-09-08T07:52:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:00:53.180-07:00

00 The Main Fountain GardenOur hosts, Jim and Dora Gleeson in Wilmington, Delaware, friends from 1954 when we were together in the Army at Dugway, Utah, offered to take us to Longwood Gardens. It was a lovely drive on a small country road along Brandywine Creek.Jim guided us along the well shaded paths. The view from the conservatory wall above the main fountain garden shows some of the 380

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-71148475605239746842007-08-29T18:59:00.000-07:002007-08-29T20:33:15.480-07:00

We intended to visit only a few days with David & Arceli Suley, Lay Mission-Helpers, our neighbors in Mzuzu, Malawi from 1974-1978. But Bill began a toothache a few weeks prior, so we had e-mailed the Suleys and asked them to arrange a dental appointment. It turned out that Bill required a root canal, antibiotic series, then a cap on the infected tooth. In between dentist appointments over a

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-45296358888630231812007-08-23T20:58:00.000-07:002007-08-24T07:07:05.831-07:00

Cell phones are everywhere.People on line are so engrossed in conversation they don’t even notice a photographer. Here are a few I had fun capturing. Noted, but not caught: people in grocery stores, at library book sales, and those, too frequently seen, driving a car with half a mind and one hand.Photographs by Jean, picture enhancement by Bill.A busy office?St. Augustine, FloridaHe may drop

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-48972752848768710722007-08-21T18:37:00.000-07:002007-08-29T20:26:48.494-07:00

This is an unusual blog: for you to appreciate our experience in Williamsburg, I felt I had to include 17 pictures to tell the story, more than we have ever included before.You get a lot for your money at Colonial Williamsburg. From our “camp” at Anvil Campground, it was only 3 miles to the Visitor’s Center with its spacious free parking where we paid $47.00 each for 2-day passes. With

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-10658010233497391672007-08-04T12:46:00.000-07:002007-08-04T13:42:34.721-07:00

The Cypress Gardens were originally part of Dean Hall, one of the Cooper River’s largest and most prosperous rice plantations in the lowcountry. Beginning in about 1720, rice was grown by the “inland” method, using water from the reservoir (now the Cypress Gardens’ swamp) to flood the adjoining rice fields by a system of “trunks” and ditches. In the late 1700’s Dean Hall began to grow rice by the

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-90318426898192492882007-07-31T07:33:00.001-07:002007-07-31T07:59:31.525-07:00

Ponce de Leon StatueJuan Ponce de León sailed along the Atlantic coast searching for gold and the Fountain of Youth; he landed near St. Augustine on April 3, 1513 and took possession of the region for Spain. After 6 unsuccessful attempts to colonize “La Florida”, in 1565 King Phillip II of Spain sent Pedro Menéndez de Avilés to drive out the French Huguenots who had established Fort Caroline (

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-77132989006324476832007-07-30T21:34:00.000-07:002007-07-31T06:37:23.551-07:00

During the first hundred years, 1565–1665, nine wooden forts were built to protect St. Augustine and the Spanish territories. But English pirates, such as Francis Drake, 1586, and John Davis, 1668, after the Spanish galleons filled with gold from the New World, made surprise attacks and sacked the city. The Spanish Queen, Mariana, ordered a stone fort to be built. The massive Castillo de San

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-39763243343304422392007-07-30T17:27:00.000-07:002007-07-30T18:04:06.968-07:00

Reached Atlantic Ocean late afternoon July 18. (after 5,500 miles & 81 days from home)Guided by Nellie, our GPS Navigator, our trusty Dream Machine went over the Matanzas River bridge, onto Anastasia Island, the lighthouse ahead of us. Turning right, then right, we entered Anastasia State Park, with sand dunes and the Atlantic on our left. Finding our reserved site in the shelter of dense,

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-49891965640089161232007-07-25T17:19:00.000-07:002007-07-26T07:35:51.605-07:00

NATURES COAST RV RESORTAnthony Tocco, former manager of Sahara Village Park where we live, searched for several years for a piece of property to develop. He and his wife, Lavonne, looked all across the southern U.S., preferring a warm climate, near a body of water. They finally found a desirable place that would take all their skills in construction, management and business acumen: an abandoned

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-89888590165832440652007-07-23T20:43:00.000-07:002007-07-23T21:22:17.110-07:00

Once we crossed the Brazos River in Texas, we entered southeastern states' jungle-like vegetation and wetlands with alligators. Hot and humid? You bet! Daytime temperatures in the high 90’s, nights in the 80’s. A half-hour outside and sweat is rolling into your eyes and clothing is soaked through. The RV rooftop air-conditioner has been running almost continuously since July 1st, either powered

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-66966574107032658442007-07-23T08:36:00.000-07:002007-07-23T09:15:18.477-07:00

Has New Orleans lost its mystique? Are the icons still there?After being battered by hurricanes, scandals in high places, terrorist concerns, and gasoline prices going through the roof, are the tourists still coming to the Mecca of music, the carnival capers of Mardi Gras, the picturesque Vieux Carré? The answer appears to be, “yes.” We spent most of our time in the French Quarter and on the

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-9004458785158749472007-07-22T15:25:00.000-07:002007-07-22T16:48:37.956-07:00

Again, may I note these are twelve favorites, not necessarily the best, pictures from June. (If you believe I left out one you really like and wish to know details about it, note it in a comment.)I have included locations, technical details, and some notes on each picture. The photographs were taken with one of three cameras Jean’s fz8, my fz50, or my lx-2. All are Panasonic digital cameras with

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-79446908373533403872007-07-16T17:33:00.000-07:002007-07-16T19:33:00.552-07:00

We just published our 50th blog—so it seems appropriate to choose a top ten, but I have a favorite thirteen. I have also included our preliminary trip to Lone Pine, CA. (The favorites from June will be next.) They are not necessarily the best technically, but those I like the best.I have included locations, technical details, and some notes on each picture. The photographs were taken with one of

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-27355642589693034312007-07-09T20:01:00.000-07:002007-07-09T20:33:02.991-07:00

We haven’t done much driving in the rain, nor been delayed by flooding. The showers are sporadic and have been mostly in the late afternoon or during the night when we are comfortably settled. But since San Antonio, the ground everywhere is saturated to the maximum, standing water in every low spot. Stephen F. Austin State ParkOur campsite at Stephen F. Austin State Park, a few miles north of the

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-28131271130214438082007-07-09T15:38:00.000-07:002007-07-09T16:20:33.468-07:00

San Jose MissionFrom our overnight at Wal*Mart, we were only 0.6 of a mile from the old San Jose Mission Church, where we attended Sunday Mass. The extensive grounds is now part of a National Park, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. San Jose Mission was founded in 1720, and is largest and best known of the 5 Texas missions along the San Antonio River, especially notable for its Rose

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-35890860340592040612007-07-06T11:59:00.001-07:002007-07-06T12:32:00.643-07:00

We saved the best to last. We have shown you the beautiful scenery along Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and the lush verdant Rio Grande Village with its rich diversity of plants in the limestone hills. Each has camping, Castolon has Cottonwood C.G. at 2,200 feet and Rio Grande Village at 1,850 feet has two campgrounds. But for camping out of season (the season is November 15–April 15) two of the three

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-16504978717587229302007-07-05T22:11:00.000-07:002007-07-05T22:47:10.046-07:00

Sierra del Carmen Across the Rio Grande in MexicoFrom Rio Grande Village Overlook, we could see the Mexican Sierra del Carmen range overlooking the Boquillas Canyon of the Rio Grande. Rio Grande Village and Campground are in a SwampAfter a hot sweaty night and a quick breakfast, we took off for the Nature Walk from Rio Grande Village campground at the southeast end of Big Bend National Park.

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-4223873004650865802007-07-05T08:22:00.000-07:002007-07-05T09:48:34.254-07:00

Photographically and botanically, we have divided Big Bend National Park into three regions: the west as seen along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, the east along the road to Rio Grande Village, and finally the Chisos Basin. The Window (into Chisos Basin)This 4,600 foot notch allows one to see Casa Grande, 7,325 feet (square-shaped mountain farthest back), and the highest peak in the Park, Emory

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-81073921467819975632007-07-04T13:42:00.001-07:002007-07-04T15:53:29.086-07:00

Leaving Arizona and New Mexico behind , we crossed into the Kingdom of Texas at El Paso, Texas’ west-most outpost almost 900 miles via the I-10 from Beaumont on the eastern border. Considering the state is a little over 900 miles from Oklahoma in the north to Brownsville on the Mexican border, you have one big state. One doesn’t venture into Texas lightly; once you reach the interior, it takes a

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-85875042476736195392007-06-29T20:51:00.000-07:002007-06-30T08:36:50.927-07:00

The impressive New Mexico Space Museum along with outdoor exhibits and an Imax theater stands alone high in the foothills above the city of Alamogordo, NM The International Space Hall of Fame shows pictures and gives a bio of all the men and women from Greek times down through the ages to the present who have made important contributions to astronomy and space exploration.Little Joe II,a solid

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-39071075785423975282007-06-29T20:02:00.001-07:002007-06-29T20:45:17.622-07:00

View over badlands, Opuntia imbricata in foregroundWe headed south on the I-25 (speed limit 80 m.p.h.) from Santa Fe then turned almost due east on a lesser highway, the SR 380, to get over to the US 54 which would take us to Alamogordo and White Sands the following day.We had decided a convenient lay over would be Valley of Fires Recreation Area, 4 mi. west of Carrizozo. The BLM campground is

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-54695035633582963172007-06-28T16:24:00.000-07:002007-06-28T17:58:55.199-07:00

Located 7,000 feet above sea level against the slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe is the highest state capital in America. It is also the oldest, named The Royal City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi, in 1610 as the capital of New Mexico. Charles L. Cadieux (The New Mexico Guide) writes, “[Santa Fe] has been called one of the most interesting cities in America, along

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-58840391874962503422007-06-19T19:42:00.000-07:002007-07-20T12:10:58.305-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO DE ASISWe begin our journey on the “High Road” as opposed to the main Interstate highway, the “River Road”. At the edge of Taos is one of the most painted and/or photographed buildings in New Mexico, San Francisco de Assisi Church built in 1816 by the Rancho de Taos colony; it was made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings and Ansel Adam’s photographs.THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE OF A

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-87419521753858187642007-06-17T23:30:00.001-07:002007-06-18T08:43:22.869-07:00

Mom & Pop’s RV Park, Farmington, with model train layoutLeaving the southwest corner of Colorado, we headed south into New Mexico, planning to photograph Shiprock. As Bill drove through the 50 m.p.h. dry gale near Four Corners, there was so much dust in the air that Shiprock had disappeared from view. Instead, we turned east on Highway 64, to our reservation at Mom & Pop’s RV Park in Farmington,

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-79817672887158398522007-06-17T14:10:00.000-07:002007-06-17T15:18:40.620-07:00

Since the 1600’s all the Native Pueblo People living in northern New Mexico have had the added dimension of Spain and the Catholic Church The Spanish established a colony in 1617 two miles from the Taos Pueblo which later became the town of Taos. In the 1800’s, farmers came to what is now Rancho de Taos. Their mission church, San Francisco de Assisi, became one of the most frequently

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-47731341131699278172007-06-12T16:45:00.000-07:002007-06-12T17:53:34.072-07:00

THE TAOS THE SPANISH EXPLORER, FRANCISCO CORONADO, SAW IN 1540 This road leads us to the Taos Pueblo of the tourists and the present century.TAOS PUEBLO OF THE TOURISTS Almost 2,000 Native Americans live here speaking their native language, Tiwe, as well as English, and Spanish and perhaps a little of the languages of their Puebloan brothers: Tewa, Towa, Zuni, and Keres.Within the walls of the

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-47006680407999730912007-06-12T16:04:00.000-07:002007-06-12T17:44:28.878-07:00

FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT 
AZ, UT, CO, NM{For some reason as I write this blog, the scene in Walt Disney’s production Fantasia that amazed me in 1940 (the original Fantasia) where hippopotami wearing tutus are en pointe flashed before my mind. I think the music was from Swan Lake.} In 1912, when the New Mexico territory was split into Arizona and New Mexico in preparation for statehood, somebody had

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-73478192589107417492007-06-12T13:31:00.001-07:002007-06-12T17:47:39.263-07:00

We had visited this beautiful modern museum in the fall of 2002, during a Colorado thunderstorm, on our way to join the Winnebago tour for the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. We were very glad to have the opportunity to see it again, now with digital cameras in hand. Ten miles north of Cortez in the southwest corner of Colorado, the museum is situated between two pueblo sites; the one

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-79154826335372270622007-06-09T16:25:00.000-07:002007-06-12T12:49:59.318-07:00

Mesa Verde was truly verdant with a lush growth of foot-tall grasses, shiny new leaves on the Gambel Oaks which were regenerating very well from an extensive forest fire on the plateau in 1996, and new growth on the surviving Juniper and Pinyon Pine trees.Cliff Fendler-bush, Fendlera rupicola Among the many shades of green against red soils and cliffs, was a striking white shrub, Cliff

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-30002732564979039712007-06-08T13:33:00.000-07:002007-06-12T11:49:53.753-07:00

The Park is located on the Mesa Verde plateau at elevations from 7,000 feet to 8,500 feet. Nine miles by road from Cortez , we enter the Park. As we ascend to the plateau there are views to the North of the verdant Mancos Valley and snow-capped San Juan Mountains in the distance.In the late 1800’s, “pot collectors” from all over America and Europe learned of the rich archeological sites to be

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-68535027783612206712007-06-08T11:45:00.000-07:002007-06-12T11:43:25.798-07:00

After spending a week sweltering in Page, AZ, we headed east for a quick visit and lunch with the Floods near Inscription House, in the Navajo Nation. Our next campsite was only 32 miles away. Going up the side road to Navajo National Monument, a movable roadsign flashed “possible delays ahead”. Now what?We found no obstructions on the road and by three o’clock we arrived at relatively cool

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-84563922274157840712007-06-06T23:27:00.000-07:002007-06-07T00:11:09.534-07:00

Leaving Page, Arizona, we head east on SR 98 toward Navajo National Monument near Kayente, AZ; and we also plan to visit some old friends from Malawi living in the middle of the Navajo Reservation. “What are Baby Rocks?”, you ask. You’ll see in due time. So after a beautiful drive through “green” desert (It had rained all last week in this area.), we arrived at Bill and Nancy Flood’s house near

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-91845285503909550402007-06-06T22:57:00.000-07:002007-06-07T07:58:41.748-07:00

We settled into our reserved site at Page-Lake Powell RV Campground around 3:30 on Thursday, May 24th. Bill opened his laptop, expecting to immediately log on to the Internet to enter the new blogs he had ready. What? No signal! At the office, they explained their advertised internet service was only dial-up by phone. But they suggested that some people were able to access Days Inn free

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-5908597298904544262007-05-30T21:43:00.001-07:002007-05-30T22:25:18.394-07:00

Jean and I drove an extra couple of hundred miles to reach this “photographer’s Heaven” at Page, Arizona on the border of Utah and beside the shores of Lake Powell, the huge lake created by Glen Dam.Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon meaning it is very narrow and only a trickle of sunlight gets into the depths of the canyon. Slot canyons in “red rock” country present the photographer with a magic

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-59561636597089754052007-05-30T17:28:00.000-07:002007-05-30T18:31:54.362-07:00

Horseshoe Bend only 2 miles from Page, Arizona rivals its more famous brother, Dead Horse Point in Canyonlands, Utah. Actually, except for the 3/4 mile walk from the parking lot, it is more accessible. To my memory, Horseshoe Bend is more symmetrical and certainly every bit as colorful. Horseshoe BendThere is one problem with Horseshoe Bend, you are very, very close—right on top of it, thus

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-5232476254269436252007-05-30T16:43:00.000-07:002007-05-30T17:25:02.851-07:00

Nobody told us the ongoing road NF545 would be gravel. However, it was good gravel—wide, recently graded—still enough corrugations to rattle our teeth. As we gradually descended, we kept expecting the tarmac to resume. Not yet! Maybe around this bend? That one? Not yet! Well shook up after about 25 miles of gravel road, we arrive at the Monument Entrance Sign and the turn off to Wukoki Pueblo,

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-21009638046677346952007-05-28T21:26:00.000-07:002007-05-30T16:43:06.929-07:00

Since we didn’t want to reach Page before our reservation for Thursday night, we had a day to spare. After climbing the 4 miles to the Mogollon rim view and finding the weather overcast and rainy, we continued north, right through Flagstaff except for a quick stop at an Albertson’s to replenish our groceries. By eleven o’clock, after a total drive of 39 miles we arrived at Bonito campground at

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-34317427492694159522007-05-28T20:31:00.000-07:002007-05-28T21:24:44.154-07:00

OAK CREEK CANYON TOWARD SEDONA WITH SUN BATHERSRancho Sedona RV Park, well shaded by sycamores and poplars along Oak Creek, had been pleasant, each site with a bit of green lawn, with fantastic red cliffs barely visible through the leafy canopy. But it was hot, the days reaching over 100°, nights down to 75°. We cope by awakening at 6 a.m. to take advantage of the sweet morning light and cool

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-79736849370332980462007-05-26T20:59:00.000-07:002007-05-26T23:03:24.450-07:00

No matter what red— vermilion, scarlet, blood, rust, cardinal…—you choose, you will find it in Sedona—and pink jeeps as well. No matter which way you point your camera, what your film or white balance setting, the atmospheric condition, haze or polarizing filter, you will get red rocks. Of course, as usual, the best pictures are taken in the early morning or late afternoon. [I will note when

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-48311166349780890732007-05-26T20:16:00.000-07:002007-05-26T20:45:20.782-07:00

While at Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum the days were hot and sultry; temperatures near 100° wiped Jean out by 1 or 2 o’clock. Each afternoon we sought comfort with Dairy Queen cones in Superior on the short 7 mile drive past Magma Mine to primitive Oak Flat campground at 4,000 ft. which had day temperatures around a more comfortable 85°. We had been assured the overcast sky would not bring

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-65424995129431537322007-05-25T21:56:00.000-07:002007-05-25T22:51:52.489-07:00

Jean left out a few of her most pleasing, to me, images—so I am adding them without comment. Owl’s Eye Cactus SotolPitayo Cactus (Mexican)Blind Prickly Pear CactusStrawberry CactusTwo nteresting techniques: click on pictures for a larger image & click on "RSS" at right end of URL bar (Safari) or a little antenna icon (Firefox).

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-75530599348283713542007-05-25T18:58:00.000-07:002007-05-25T21:49:11.423-07:00

The Arboretum is 3 miles east of Superior AZ, in Queen Creek canyon. Mining magnate Col. Wm. Boyce Thompson (b. 1869 – d. 1930) established the Arboretum in the early 1920’s and funded the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Yonkers, NY. Among his many speculations, he had purchased the Magma Mine in Superior, AZ. After WWI he built a retirement home “Picket Post” on the cliffs

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-71269654210393623092007-05-25T14:42:00.000-07:002007-05-25T21:53:41.180-07:00

Many men died searching for it. “Where Weaver’s Needle casts its long shadow at four in the afternoon, there you will find a vein of rose quartz laced with gold wire—and you will be rich beyond your wildest dreams.” With this deathbed statement in 1891, Jacob Waltz tantalized treasure-seekers ever since. Legend has it that “Dutchman” [his nickname] Waltz—who was actually a German—was a loner

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-88720389948198963532007-05-22T11:39:00.000-07:002007-05-22T12:16:13.213-07:00

This is a wedding photograph of our grandparents in 1874.Bill McPhee is the third child of my father’s sister, my Aunt Bea McPhee. I spent many happy hours with Bill’s older brother, Anthony and sister Bea May in Minnesota fishing , playing, exploring the small town of Shevlin (pop. 200) near Bemidji in Northern Minnesota where they and our grandparents lived. Reminiscences of my grand parent’s

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-83278243789893161262007-05-21T15:01:00.000-07:002007-05-21T16:24:41.025-07:00

This is an environment dominated by cacti. The tallest plants around are saguaro. Other species of cacti and many shrubs are sparsely scattered about. If you are careful, you can walk almost anywhere, but it’s difficult to avoid getting stuck on a prickle, or stabbed by a thorn. The rule is: don’t let anything touch you!Wikepedia informs me that saguaro grow about one inch a year, so these tall

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-54129747883984364652007-05-21T14:22:00.001-07:002007-05-21T16:17:13.176-07:00

No movie Western would seem authentic without a few silhouettes of the majestic saguaro. The place to find a widest assortment of Arizona’s State Flower is in Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ. You will find all those grotesque shapes saguaros are noted for. Jean at work along the Ajo Mountain Drive. Because of the rather dry year, she did not find as many flowers as one could hope for. Only

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-7809896901096481892007-05-20T22:58:00.000-07:002007-05-21T14:21:48.055-07:00

You have to go just about to Mexico to find the home of the Organ Pipe Cactus in the Sonoran Desert.There are two main drives (that don’t go near the International Border): Puerto Blanco Drive (reduced to 5 miles) and (below) Ajo Mountain Drive, about 21 miles. Both are good gravel roads. Organ Pipe Cacti grow with Saguaro, Prickly Pear, and Cholla cacti. The dominant tree is the Palo

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-27159397443079945582007-05-14T00:52:00.000-07:002007-05-14T01:28:52.216-07:00

The Geometric Style goes back beyond 7500 BC. The Gila Style of petroglyphs is divided into four main groups: People, Animals, Anthropomorphs (human figures with animal features), Zoomorphs (animal figures with other animal or insect features). This style was extant from 350 BC to 1450 AD.Days 10 to 12 will find us in the cactus-land of Organ Pipe Desert National Monument, AZ.

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-51067039616044843752007-05-13T11:17:00.000-07:002007-05-13T23:01:28.758-07:00

With El Centro, California in my rearview mirror and a the Dream Machine’s toilette—sewer dump, fresh water, electrical hookups—completed, a recharge of our spirit in Church, and a nice visit with a missionary colleague from the 1960s, Elsie DeVann, we’re back on the road.BLUE SKIES AND CLEAR ROAD AHEAD! Life is good in RV-land. Rolling along on Interstate 8, engine purring nicely, generator

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-91554533335356981132007-05-12T20:33:00.000-07:002007-05-13T23:02:36.645-07:00

IT'S A HARD LIFE — THEY NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE[If you look just right at the large rock, you can see my face (long nose, small mouth).]200 million ago I was a happy, comfy sediment on the floor of a warm inland sea with all sorts of weird creatures splashing about overhead. Then when you would least expect it, up comes this hot melted rock from below—boy was it hot! It was so hot I was

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-42340381434789017542007-05-12T17:26:00.000-07:002007-05-13T22:54:13.082-07:00

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park includes a hugh area, close to the size of Rhode Island. The Park contains mountains over 6000 feet, colorful badlands, and shady palm oases, but it is most famous for its incredible wildflower displays in a wet year. 2007 is not a wet year, so only a botanist can appreciate the wide variety of plants that are adapted to the extreme aridity and temperatures to 125°F

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-61898785564818877342007-05-12T14:05:00.000-07:002007-05-12T14:56:49.008-07:00

Guess where we are (We did not make it to Borrego Springs in Anza-Borrego SP). Flowers were fairly abundant and the animals for the most part friendly—except for the mountain sheep; they would not come down from their lofty place on the rocky cliff. The Palm Desert is a reasonably priced alternative to Tucson, AZ’s Living Desert. After 6 1/2 hours, we took our 500 images (I did my share, esp.,

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-81923350495869634642007-05-05T21:18:00.000-07:002007-05-05T22:29:32.351-07:00

* * * * CALLIANDRA ERIOPHYLLAOff at 4:30 am to avoid joining the sea of commuters parked in parking lots 4 to 6 lanes wide and 10’s of miles long. It was a successful strategy on another account as well: I had gotten by Griffith Gardens in L.A. and Huntington Gardens in Pasadena before Jean woke up. (She usually travels Pullman when we leave early.) She was starting to think about the LA County

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-51019509387251981872007-05-05T19:51:00.000-07:002007-05-05T22:32:26.272-07:00

CALIFORNIA POPPIES ALWAYS PLEASE THE EYE By dawn’s early light, we swept over Pacheco Pass heading for the I5 artery to Southern California, commonly known as LaLa Land. FLYING J TRUCK STOP AT LEBEC, CA 3800' Just to prove we’re human, we always leave a few necessary items behind—it gives our friends a chance to earn a fewDRIVING THE PACHECO PASS IN THE EARLY MORN' brownie points. This time our

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-48504372198731950502007-04-28T22:24:00.000-07:002007-04-29T00:00:16.891-07:00

For tomorrow we leave at dawn…sounds good, but it will probably be more like 8 am. Countering the geese, we're headed South. Down the I5 towards Palm Springs to spend a couple nights at a botanical garden & zoo in Palm Desert. We will camp a few miles away up in San Jacinta Mountains Nat'l Mon (SR74 if you following on CA map) at 4000'. Since we may not update our blog before the 10th of May,

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-6139308060720356812007-04-19T23:36:00.000-07:002007-04-26T23:36:38.670-07:00

TO SEE THE TINY MITES ON THE FLOWER, CLICK ON THE PICTURE. THE WINNEBAGO RIALTA AT FOSSIL FALLSThis is the last day of the TRIAL RUN; the next day we headed home to put our affairs in order and prepare for the real TRIP, which begins on Sunday, April 29th. We will give details etc. in the first Blog to be published whenever we find an Internet connection.On the 13th , we headed up over Walker

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-25017321682512324912007-04-18T23:52:00.000-07:002007-04-19T01:00:26.244-07:00

After filling our tummies with buttermilk pancakes, we headed up US395 toward The Fossil Falls and the surrounding black lava flow. Jean found a few flowers tucked among the black rock. I liked her shot of Guterrezia microcephla (that's what she called it!) in the midst the black lava.We pulled into Lone Pine to find it was sprawling up and down the highway and the movie-struck town has a new

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-11040634446014498132007-04-17T23:07:00.000-07:002007-04-18T00:01:58.883-07:00

/Users/williampawek/Desktop/07.04.11 Red Rock Cyn SP - 18.jpgAfter climbing over wind-swept Tehachapi Pass at 3800', we dropped down to the equally windy Mojave Basin. A few miles up SR14 brought us to Red Rock Cyn SP and Ricardo CG at 2900' and 63°F, about 265 miles. The desert floor was dry as a bone, conditions in which most people would say, "There are no wildflowers; it's too dry." Of course

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-71494800055401671402007-04-16T23:30:00.000-07:002007-04-16T23:56:33.128-07:00

/Users/williampawek/Desktop/07.04.10 Basalt CG, SanLuis Res.jpgThese first few blogs are also "Trial Runs". After a leisurely start, we were passing by a refreshing scene of green hills and a deep blue lake on SR 252 headed for Tehachapi Pass just after noon, when Jean suggested, "Why don't we camp here?" I couldn't think of a good reason for not enjoying the spring day more intimately. So we

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397531732631602447.post-89406139357602352702007-04-09T23:22:00.000-07:002007-04-09T23:45:00.519-07:00

We're off Tues., 04/10, to see how the Dream Machine behaves with some hard & fast driving on the East Side from Mojave to Lone Pine. We also will test our solar pannel set-up to see if it really produces 1.2A under real life conditions. It will also be a time to check-out photo gear, computer equipment, and various miscellaneous improvements.

Jean & Bill Paweknoreply@blogger.com