2015 - Idaho

We had to visit Boise, Idaho to finish off our Capitols Collection - the Idaho capitol was our fiftieth capitol! When we tell people that we have visited all the state capitols, they always ask which was our favorite.  We tell them that after a while our memories of the buildings tend to fade and it’s hard to single out specific things we like or dislike about the buildings.  But we always remember people and/or events that made our visits memorable.

Kentucky was our first stamp.  We had been introduced to the Capitol Collection book by another RVing couple when we bought our motorhome in 2008 but we didn’t really think too much about it until we stopped at the Kentucky capitol.  We didn’t find a book in the gift shop, but one of volunteers   remembered vaguely seeing one “around somewhere.”  So the two women pulled out a couple boxes from under the cabinet and after rummaging around for 15 or 20 minutes, triumphantly pulled out one book AND the stamp.   Since it was just a sample book and at that time they weren't stocking them in the store, they gave us the book and, of course, stamped it.  Our first stamp, Kentucky, dated October 27 2008.

Our visit to the Colorado capitol in Denver was truly something out of the ordinary for us!  Although not actually part of our tour, when we were on the front steps of the capitol, we noticed white tents and heard music coming from across the street.   Thinking it was a festival of some sort, or perhaps an arts/crafts fair, we went to see what was going on.  Much to our surprise, it was a rally to legalize marijuana.  A lot of people were smoking joints and the smell was overpowering!  Vendors were hawking their ‘accessories’ and trying to sign up supporters.  Numerous police officers were visible, but they were only there for crowd control.  We didn’t stay long – not really our type of gathering.  I told Don to drive carefully when we left – if we got stopped, we would definitely be arrested as the smell had penetrated all our clothing.   This was well before marijuana was legal.  April 20, 2010

In Connecticut, we originally started a tour with a group of first graders.  The tour guide introduced the class and us to their local representative who t0ok pity on us and after talking briefly to the children, took us on a personal tour of the capitol.  She was a wonderful guide and took us into places not normally included on the tour.  She even introduced us to Ms. World who happened to be visiting the governor that day.  October 8, 2010

In Vermont, we learned that the state legislators were paid $1/year and received no additional benefits – no office, no staff, no travel allowances.  Good idea for all.  October 12, 2010

In Hawaii, we happened to be there when a young boy with native Hawaiian heritage arrived for a prearranged personal tour.  He and his parents invited us to come along.  Great tour and a very nice family.  April 29, 2013

Our last stamp here in Idaho was memorable, not only because it was our last capitol, but also because of the very nice people we met.  While waiting to pay for our parking at a kiosk, I mentioned to the women behind us that it was our first time in Boise and that it was our last capitol.  The woman ahead of us in line to pay heard me, and turning around, handed me a 3-hour parking pass that she had paid for.  She congratulated us on finishing our quest, and said she wanted us to remember Boise.  What a very pleasant surprise.  In addition, it was a Saturday and the capitol gift shop was closed and no one was at the visitors desk.  A guard walking by asked if he could help us, and when told it was our last capitol and that we were hoping to get the stamp, he unlocked the gift shop, went in and stamped our book.   April 15, 2015

So now we are done.  We learned a lot about all the states’ histories, saw wonderful artifacts, and, of course, met many wonderful people.  We have bought a book for our daughter and she will be starting her collection with a visit to Juneau in June.

We made Twin Falls our home base for several days, but toured around much of the south western part of the state.  The first couple days were sunny and fairly warm.  We took advantage of the good weather and visited the Hagerman Fossil Fields National Monument, Craters of the Moon National Monument, and Balance Rock State Park.  

But then the temperatures plummeted again, and the clouds and winds moved in.  We went from the mid-70s and sunny on Tuesday, to below freezing, snow, and 40 mph winds on Wednesday.  Other than a quick trip to the grocery store, we didn't venture out much on Wednesday.   The next couple days were cloudy and cold, but at least the wind subsided.

We drove to City of Rocks National Monument.  It is normally filled with campers and rock climbers.  Even though the temperatures were in the mid-30s, we still found tent campers but no climbers.   The Oregon Trail went through the City of Rocks and many of the travelers left their names and messages on the rocks.  

                 We happened to stop for a few groceries at the original Albertson's grocery store.  

 And of course, a visit to Twin Falls wasn't complete without a trip to Shoshone Falls.  Beautiful.

2015 - Nevada

This was our fourth visit to Nellis AFB FamCamp in Las Vegas.  It is a very nice RV park, especially the full hookup sites.  We came in the day before Easter and the park was almost full so we had to settle for partial hookups, 50 amp and water.  But still a great location.





While there we visited Lake Mead Recreation Area, again.  It is amazing how low the water level is.  No wonder California has implemented severe water conservation efforts and Nevada is looking into the same.

We went looking for one of the newest national monuments, Tule Springs Fossil Beds.  It was just established in December 2014 and there is very little information about it available.

We started at the Las Vegas BLM office which provided us with a map and directions to the Corn Creek Visitors Center for the Desert Wildlife Refuge.  Not much to see at the fossil beds but the visitors' center was beautiful.  Unfortunately, it was closed on the day we were there but we enjoyed the short hikes near the center.





Leaving the desert behind us, we headed up into the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.  
There were wonderful vistas but the most interesting facts, for us, was the history regarding the atomic testing that was conducted on the desert floor below.

   Beginning in 1951 , the Department of Defense and today, the Department of Energy, have used this area for the development and testing of weapons, including nuclear detonations.  In fact, Las Vegas was knows as 'Atomic city, USA' with over 900 tests of atomic weapons between 1951 and 1963.  Residents and visitors would flock to the Spring Mountains to view the mushroom cloud, hear the explosions, and occasionally, even feel the heat from the explosions.  It hard to image this happening today!

The day before we left, I visited Red Rock Canyon and hiked three miles into a canyon and climbed to an overlook with an outstanding view of Las Vegas in the desert below.  It was more strenuous and took longer than I expected but the view as worth it.  Next time we are in Las Vegas, I'll be back to do another hike.







Our last stop in Nevada was Great Basin National Park.  We got a beautiful campsite in the park, no hookups but only $3/night.  We planned to stay for 2 or 3 nights but waking up to 32 degrees in the morning with no heat changed our minds.  We drove the Wheeler Peak scenic drive but could only go about half way as the rest of the road was closed due to snow and ice.  We took the Lehman Cave tour and then packed up and headed down the mountain hoping it would warm up.





We spent one more night in Ely, Nevada.  Again it was 32 degrees in the morning but at least we had electricity, and heat!  We find it amusing that we went from over 100 degrees in Palm Springs to 32degrees in Great Basin, all within one week!

2015 - California - Barstow

Leaving Palm Springs, we headed up to Barstow for a couple days.  Barstow - where I-40 begins.  Only 2,554 miles to North Carolina.  At 60 mpr, we could have had breakfast with our kids in NC with just 45 hours of straight driving.  

While in Barstow, we visited the Cesar Chevaz National Historic Site.  It was a bit of a drive but I got one more stamp and crossed off one more park on our quest to visit all 410 national parks.  Only 109 to go.  

We also visited the Route 66, The Mother Road, Museum.  It was filled with all sorts of memorabilia from the old highway.  It brought back memories of our first road trip west, 1968, when we drove all the way from Rochester to San Jose in a 1967 Ford Fairlane.  It was a wonderful trip, even if we ran out of money for the return trip and had to drive straight through from Elko, NV to Rochester.  What memories are made of!  :-)  

Heading from Barstow to Las Vegas, we stopped at the Mohave National Preserve.   Another beautiful desert landscape.

2015 - California - Palm Springs Area

We spent a week in the Palm Springs area.  We stayed at a beautiful county park with full hookups for just $30/night, much cheaper than most of the RV resorts in the area.  Great time but we were not expecting the 100 degree days that we had the entire time.  The lake is used for drinking water so no swimming, and the beautiful pool would not open until the week after we left.  Oh well, we enjoyed our stay.



We had a wonderful time visiting with my cousins.  Rick lives in the area and his brother David was visiting from Michigan.  Don played golf with them (in spite of the heat) while I enjoyed the complex pool and Rick's beautiful condo overlooking the golf course.  We had dinner at Rick's a couple nights, and enjoyed two evenings out, including at one of our favorite place, the Indian Wells Golf Resort.

















We also attended one day of what we will always know as the Dinah Shore Open Tournament, where we watched many of the outstanding LPGA players, including Michelle Wei.

Don and I made a full day trip through the Joshua Tree National Park.










Many of the desert flowers were blooming adding to the incredible beauty of the desert.  And of course, the Joshua trees always dominate the landscape.



The view from Ryan Mountain Lookout was spectacular.   You can clearly see the San Andreas fault cutting across the desert floor below.

2015 - California - El Centro

While Don played golf in El Centro, I drove up to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  It was a longer drive than I expected, but worth the trip.

A barren desert but I found it beautiful.  Many of the desert flowers had already bloomed and were gone but a few remained.  This is the largest park in the California State Park system with 634,000 acres.  Most of the park is very remote and can only be accessed through long hikes.  Great trails but too hot to hike when I was there.  Perhaps next time.

Leaving the town of Borrego Springs, I spotted numerous metal sculptures  scattered throughout the desert on both sides of the road.

They were beautiful, and so unexpected.












Especially the wooly mammoth.

2015 - California - Cabrillo National Monument

We spent two days camped in El Centro, CA.  It was a very nice RV park with a large pool, golf course, and all the other amenities you could possibly want in an RV park.  As most of the snowbirds had already left, there was plenty of room and they honored the Passport America rate.  Very nice.





We took a long day-trip to San Diego to visit the Cabrillo National Monument.  It is located at Point Loma, overlooking San Diego Bay and Naval Air Station North Island.  Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to set foot on the west coast of what is now the United States.  He sailed north from Mexico in search of a route to the Spice Islands in Asia and on September 28, 1542, he stepped ashore somewhere near Point Loma.  

In addition to the visitors' center and Cabrillo Monument, the park includes the old Point Loma Lighthouse, a walking trail along the cliff top with overlooks and views of old coastal defense sites, and a parking area at the base of the cliffs with access to the rocky coast and tide pools.

2015 - Arizona part 2

After leaving Tucson, we spent five days in Wickenburg visiting family and friends.  My cousin lost her home in the Yarnell forest fire a couple years ago.  It was very sobering to seem the empty lot where the house had been and the burned trees in the surrounding area.










However, Dolly is moving forward with building a small home in what was originally the barn, and which miraculously survived the fire.  We spent a couple days doing what we could to help out - Don helped paint the new stone wall surrounding the old house foundation.

while I worked in one of the many gardens.  Good exercise.









We also visited our RV friends Pat and Howie Bates at their new home in Sun City.  We had a great time reminiscing about our travels and we enjoyed the tour of the many Sun City facilities.  Unfortunately, California agricultural inspectors confiscated the large bag of oranges that Howie gave us from his trees.  :-(



We stopped for just one night at the Yuma Proving Grounds RV Park to dump tanks, take on water, and do laundry.  Now on to California!