Trying to get back

Well we thought about fast tracking home after the Great sand Dunes---but here we go again found a couple of more great places.Travelling thru Mo. we stumbled into Big Spring national forest what a find-- beautiful place--largest spring in the country water pours out from underground 250 million gallons a day --CCC did a great job buildindg this place.Moved over to Kentucky three days ago after we found Mammouth Caves--Woowee we went down 350 feet into the caves--so glad the Chelians made it out before this venture --350 miles of caves have been mapped out here.Another great find --weather here has been the best.

So tempting to take a right hand turn after leaving here down to Tennessee-go west thru Arkansas ,Oklohoma and on and on .But time to get home to see all the young ones. So after leaving here it will be the last 1000 mile push back to NH. Stoppin in PA to see a great friend.So hard to give this up--all the miles sights,places,people hiking biking kayaking.Many folks ask us what were the best places- it was all so good ---what a great country we live in--Living in the box on wheels has given us new insights of how little we need-- and how much the two of us continue to be hooked to the hip and loving it. Thanks everyone for following us on this trip it was a ball--love to all of you M&M On The Go

More pictures of The Great Sand Dunes of Colorado

Could not add enough sand dune pictures last time so heres more we took alot of pictures .

Colorado has it all

So much to do here--can spend a whole summer here no problem never been a problem no problem--guy I worked with Ernie Manville had that saying --hung on to it.In the middle of Colorado -bunches of mountains-wildlife-farming-great folks and also the hugegest sand dunes in the country .Seven hundred and fifty feet high.So we thought that must be tough to walk in --use to Cape Cod dunes worn out after 5 steps--well we made it almost to the top Mim higher.Sand it's packed it so hard wind blown --sorta like walking up a trail and not sinking in.The Great Sand Dunes 30 Sq miles --another sleeper Nat Park- we loved it gotta come back.This morning pulling out on a Sat morning families were there with flying saucers and Plastic sleds to ride the dunes-not a problem messing them up the wind pulls it all back together.Refiguring our mapping home finding nice places in Kansas even-- still staying low and catching the sun. Gotta send more picture of the dunes tommorow

Outa Utah into Colorado

Gotta get home and see the new babe and all the young ones back in NE!!What a struggle--- go a couple of hundred miles and its whole new adventure.Stayed two days in Mersa Verde to see the cliff dwellings the Puebloans lived back many-many centuries ago --to get down and outa there lots of ladders and footholes in the ledges crawled thru rock tunnels--not good for the vertigo --It was amazing to see how these folks lived under the protection of the the overhanging ledges. Never need to reshingle.Best history we got slapped with cant get enough of it.

Went over Wolf Creek Pass Continental divide in the Rockies Woowie! 10 miles of going up 20 miles an hour pulling the house on wheels .Stopped today in a small farming town lots of potatoes Monte Vista in the San Juan valley to eat again -small walk up to the counter and order Italian food -had the Raviolis the best--would you know it the guy was born in Boston Left at 5 years old and inherited those cooking skills.. One of those kind of towns you can sit down and chat with everyone --guy next table --huge --tried out for the Denver cowboys came back to the best farming!Today going to the Great Sand Dunes NP--highest ones in north america

Canyon lands utah

Hiked many trails in canyonland---tried to do early mornings --climbed to the 90"s in the afternoon and lots of lightning. Climbed over lots of rock formations and through canyons .Wonder how many rattlesnakes we passed by and did not see--plenty of them here.Lots of jeeping roads and mountain biking.Could stay here for weeks lots to do .On to Mersa Verde today-heading east on the slow crawl

Tues --great day new grandaughter arrived WOOWEE Quinn Sullivan ---gotta get home now.Did not have much motivation to leave this area until that event--great place Utah.Kayaked the Colorado river today for about 10 miles through canyons--amazing all the rock towers --monuments--spheres-and sculptures and face figures--maybe NH can come here to get a new one to replace the one that fell down.Check out picsee the one we found.

Arches Nat Park Utah

1. If you think you need to see the Grand Canyon and other places and think do i have the time to see it all __Skip GC --and come to Arches and Canyon Lands. Gotta tell ya more view points and hiking trails.--Did some yesterday in arches 3 mile hike into delicate arch pictures of Mim under the the best one.Today into Canyonlands--next day --float the Colorado river in the kayaks --Moab great small town no walmarts and that stuff.

Calif is beautiful east of the coast before SanFrancisco --traveled thru lots of miles of farmland we saw hundreds of miles of almonds trees,grapes veggies fruits--stop anywhere get the tomatoes get ova here 39 cents a pound.We made salsa for the rest of the trip--whole bucket.Now we get to the Sierra Nevada mountain range. WoooWee up the hill lots of switchbacks --temp went up in the truck pulling the house on wheels--was sticking out a bit on the wrong side of the road going around one of those sharp curves--truck driver hauling gas needed to screech to a stop to avoid hitting the ass end of our house--want to meet him some day at least buy him a beer a hug ? or give him our house! Got to Yosemite stayed 2 nites lots of places to hike --the Valley is the best --woke up in the morning at 29 deg .Ok time to bail lets find our summer.Outa Calif-into Nevada wow this has its own beauty-lots of flat scrub prairies -no problem going 70 plus found a remote pull off to camp for the nite very quiet --maybe two cars we heard go by all nite.

While heading to Utah passed a Nat Park Great Basin never heard of it --like lots of them. got 5 miles past and said lets go.Gotta tell ya one of the best --best camping--best stars --mountain to climb and the bonus --CAVES with stalagamites and lots of tight passages WooWee .Travelling thru Utah it just continues to be-- see that and see that --stop take a picture! Wow dont let this stop.

Outa Oregon into the Redwoods

This is amazing --going from dunes that go inland 3 miles to the tallest and biggest trees in the world .So the big guy is over 23 feet in diameter and is older than most of the people we know.Walking the trails and travelling the avenue of the giants that go back 2000 years was that before JC was born--not you John C--they are hanging in there.As we drove down some of the narrow tree lined back roads they used chain saws to cut back part of the trees as they grew to allow the cars to pass instead of cutting the trees down .Thought my mirrors were going to scrape a couple of them.We thought about going to San Fran --but Eureka was enough tomorrow move thru Sacramento in the morning-- wave to Arnold and move on to Yosemite--then pick a way back east to hold the new baby.

OUTA OREGON AND TO CALIF

Yep like we said Oreganians love the outdoors and they Hang in there rain or shine --now its the rain but does not stop the dune buggies on --just like NH with snow machines go when you can.Three miles of dunes from the wood line to the ocean We are in Florence on the coast would take a whole day to get to the water-- I know a couple of guys Scott Reagan and Gary Morse would love this --no snow boots or gloves and go all nite.Heading to the Redwoods in Calif --gonna pass thru Larry Franke country down south of Calif-and chase the sun east somehow make it back to NH

m&m on the go in Oregon

These Oraganians love the outdoors --they are all out here enjoying what is left of the good stuff before the rains come .Came down the coast and past thru Portland to Detroit Lake --big resoirvoir for Salem and power dam.One of the best kayak floats around the island--The best was getting together with Mim's niece Liz and her love Joe-what a great visit with family folks--Liz made the rasberry jam to not share the Best!! . Geez they can still sleep on camp pads in the tent. We held back and did not turn on the heater in the box on wheels.We can see why they are making this home for now --wish all of our families and fokks we know were here--its the east coast magnifiedX100.Sort of winding down now --but hanging in there for more to come.

Moved on back to the Oregon coast today --gobbling down as many peaches and blackberries ya can grab a hold of..

Today--back on the beach-lots of trails to get lost on and figure out whos right to get back --and as we always love -more crabs for supper- So last nite we heard barking all nite --dogs no --seal lions all over the haba--no Rs

outa wash into oregon

Could have stayed in Wash for another month but time to move on. Woowee --Oregon crossed the Columbia River today Astoria/Melger bridge did not look down --vertigo--Mim said it was high. On the beach again in Astoria.Fort Stevens State Park --they set up bunkers here with the artillery during WW2 expecting the Japan invansion on the west coast didnt happen so now its now a beauteous place to come to the ocean.So today we past thru South Bend Wash "The capital of Oysters of the world --hey JC they got that wrong. They have plenty but not the best! So tommorow get more of the ocean and get some more of the dungeonese crabs--they are the best --picture 1967 volks we had but beige

Here are the pictures that were suppose to accompany the the texted.

hunkering down on the Wash coast

Moved out of the Ocean city state park -loved it --and on to the Quinaut restodayervation rv park next to the marina on the Gray harbor-much better packed in but lots of great folks-mim does not like these places as well as I do --but she likes this,Hey we got electric and water.Biked along the shore today lots of places for sale Salamies I think or lack of bucks.In touch with Liz -the Oregon lady niece of the west--gonna do some camping with her and Joe and learn the lay of the land.Yep won 30 bucks at the casino and flew the frog kite.So we did not find the biggest spool of string but the huggest spurce tree in america Also next to us pulling a 1967 VW like the one had in 1969 So mim and I drove back in that in 1969 and here we are today. We took a spin around the campground in this 19678 VW for old time sake. talke about bring back memories.

Ocean city wash

What a change up from the woods to the ocean--we can hear the surf from our camp spot .Sirens and and evac routes all over the place for salamies warnings in case the big earthquake comes off shore--even the vendors work-- it up salamies jewlery-- salamies gift shop -lots of places for sale here --must have a prediction in the air.What a great coast --got to spend more time here.Bought a new kite today T shirt for the new babe coming.Rode the beach with the TRUCK yahoo! drove along the surf got more sandollars-- never done that before!Listened to the 60's music out there.Folks write on the hard pack dunes --best one I saw

MOM with a heart--Tommorow up to olypmia--FISHING yippie ya ya ya

from the mountains to the beach

Ocean City Wash --got a great spot here for 5 days walking distance to the ocean.Snarley yesterday so spent the day in Tacoma VA hospital for a tune up --not enough water and too much driving. What a place in room with a 92 year old more combative then he was in the So Pacific during WW2.Though he was in POW camp and he was busting out--What a hot shit he was. Biked out 0n the beach five miles today on the hard packed sand it was the best ---found sand dollars and flew a kit --much too busy need to slow down.Tonite put on the new chinos and go pull the slots at the casino --if the big one comes in well- who knows where that would take us next. Fijis for thanksgiving.Tomorrow ride the giddy ups--heehaws on the beach--then drive the truck down park and listen to the Beach Boys on XM radio.

Wowee Got to see what Mt St Helen looks like after 30 years it blew it side side off.Amazing what the devastation it caused for miles out Researchers were watching 5 miles away because they knew it was coming and the did not make it because it blew sideways instead of up see pics of whats left of volcano and trees it blew out.We were heading to mt Rainer but rain moving in so we are going to the beach west Washington then down to Oregon.All looking good from here

Spent the last few on the beach remote tidal water inlet next to Tofino--Kyaked out to a couple of remote islands hit some wavy moments on the way back need the big boats out here . Lots of clams for digging and oysters lying all over the place--nice way to spend our annirversary.Planning to cross the inlet over to Wash Olympic park in the next few days --onward to new adventures.out here 3 months now still want more and more

Vancover BC

L eft Hyder Alaska several days ago headed south in BC got past a town Smithers and the smoke appears --forest fires about 400 hundred of them burning in the province.Like driving in a heavy fog.We wanted to get down into the Okaganan valley heard alot about it vinyards --orchards the lush of BC.Smoke turned us west to Vancover and it cleared up.Yahoo headed down Rte 99 ended up in Frazier canyon BC"s grand canyon --beautiful-- but hairy drive brakes caught on fire on the way down had to use the fire estinguisher.All set now had to reset the trailer brakes to work harder

So today is our 40th annniversary and we are on Vancover Island as we were on our honeymoon back then.They changed the island around a bit did not keep it the same for us.Heading to the west side of the Island today to be on the ocean side and hunker down there for a few days.Still a blast and loving all of it

Hyder Alaska

We found the costa Rica of Alaska--what a funky little town Staying at Camp Run A Muck .Last accesible southern Alaskan town by hyway.You come into Stewart BC down this long windy road thru many avallance passes ,river on one side and glaciers.Visiting Englishman stoppped at rest pic stop no emerg brake not in park to take pic and over the rental rv goes over the bank into the river below the glacier--geez.Now the canadians call england to make sure the wife was not inthe rv --suspence--she was still in england --they let him go.Also driving down the mountain into Stewart we noticed this incredible smell earthy glacier river who knows --but bottle it wow! One of the best places got to come back here again seafood we are getting dungeoness crabs every nite --much better than the lobo.So we are camped close to Fish creek the best viewing spot for the bears running up or down the creek catching the salmom .Yesterday had a Griizz and cub in sight for an hour in the creek chowing down.Today twenty mile trip north gravel road up 4000 ft to many glaciers including Salmon glacier one of canada's big one. Woowee it was a great trip.Also saw lots of copper silver mining operations.Tommorow out with Capt Jim down the Portland channel for six hour motor and sail.cant believe it we show up at 5pm today and make a resv for tommorow just mim and I.Gosh we love this please dont let this end!

Goodbye Alaska and the Yukon hello British Columbia .After some regreats we made the right decision to chase the sun and found it.Stayed in a Provencial park last two nites Boya Lake ---incredible --like kayaking in a corn maze check out pic of lake map.Blue green water like the Carrabeing--mim thought she was in a swim pool --then all the reflections of the mountains and clouds in the water woowee went into scenic overdrive Moving on the Heider alaska right on the BC border tommorow to the grizz bear salmon feasting in the river.then to southern BC

0n the move again

Well we decided to pull the plug on Alaska.As much as we are still fascinated with everything we see and the ever changing scenery-meeeting people on the move like us.We are going to chase some sun and start heading down to British Columbia and Washington state in the morning.We had mixed feelings about doing this but after waking up this am at 42 deg pushed the decision.We will take a week to get back into the lower 48 and still will like to travel more down there.Cant believe we have been on the road over two months now and stll loving it.Make ya realize how little of stuff you need .

Woowee --Denali Nat Park this place has to be the best of the best .Stayed here four nites that last about four hours --black curtains are back up.Weather has changed nice and sunny .Got to see some Grizzlies and lots of Caibou.Took the 60 mile bus ride into the end of the park to Wonder Lake.Other two days we hiked into the backcountry--just amazing when you get off the main and only road through the park and hike behind the mountains you start believing you are the only ones that have ever been there.Gonna miss this place now heading to Tangle Lakes for kayaking and fishing then maybe to Valdez