Williams, AZ and the Grand Canyon

Heading back to Ventura for Matthew and Jasmine's wedding we stopped for a couple days in Williams, AZ at the Canyon Motel & RV Park. This is a Passport America Park so we get charged half price.

Canyon Motel & RV Park

Because we are fairly close to the Grand Canyon we decided to drive up to it. We have been to it dozens of times, but it is always worth the effort. Actually the last time we were here was when we came with Scott and Terri. Matthew and Scott hiked to the bottom of the canyon and stayed the night hiking out the next morning. 

We had to leave early because Patty's mother Eileen had some medical problems. She passed before we could get back, but it was important that we did to get back. 

Always a beautiful view!

Grand Canyon

We walked a few miles along the Rim Trail.

Rim Trail

depending what day and what time of the day the view is always different. There are rock formations everywhere.

Rock Formations

The Colorado River has created this huge canyon. It still runs through!

Colorado River

It looks like this rock fell here . As I said the canyon is always interesting.

Falling Rock

about half way between Williams and the Grand Canyon in Valle, Arizona is the Planes of Fame Air Museum.

Planes of Fame

Planes of Fame Air Museum was founded by Edward T. Maloney on January 12, 1957 in Claremont, California, to save historically important aircraft. At that time, it was called "The Air Museum". A small group of volunteers, including future Museum president Steve Hinton, set out to make the museum's aircraft flyable.

As the Museum's collection of aircraft and memorabilia continued to grow, it became necessary to find a new home with enough space to house everything. In 1962 the museum relocated to nearby Ontario Airport, Ontario, California.

A few years later, in 1970, redevelopment of the airport at Ontario forced The Air Museum to move again. The non-flyable aircraft became part of the "Movie World: Cars of the Stars and Planes of Fame Museum" in Buena Park, California, located near Knott's Berry Farm, while the flyable aircraft relocated to Chino Airport, about 30 miles away. When Movie World closed, the name "Planes of Fame" stayed.

Planes of Fame consolidated in 1973, with its static aircraft joining the flying examples at historic Chino Airport in Chino, California. This was fitting as the airport was formerly the home of Cal-Aero Academy, which was an Army Air Corp flight training facility. The academy trained more than 10,000 pilots prior to the end of World War II, making it a perfect location in which to restore and give new life to the aircraft these men had flown into combat more than three decades earlier. As more and more aircraft were restored and the collection grew, an additional display facility was opened in 1995 at Valle, Arizona, it houses more than 40 of the Museum’s aircraft, many of which are also flyable.

They are also working on a bunch of planes outside. They are far from complete.

We got a Groupon so the fee was very reasonable.

Well that's it for today,

Continue to pray for Avery Huffman.

God Bless and thanks for reading,

Brian and Patty

Mesa Verde Part II

We went to the Long House Ranger led tour. Long House is considered the second largest cliff dwelling in the park. The sheer beauty of the site makes the trip out to Wetherill Mesa worth the time and effort.
Starting at the Wetherill Mesa information kiosk, this two-hour ranger-guided tour involves hiking at least 2.25 miles round-trip, and climbing two 15-foot  ladders within the site. The hike has an elevation gain of about 130 feet.

Long House Trail

After about a mile  you get a view of Long House!!

Long House

These are the two 15 foot ladders you need to climb to get into the ruins.

Ladders into the Ruins

You are not supposed to touch any of the walls when you get into the ruins. Climb the ladders but don't touch anything! LOL.

Climbing the Ladders

Here is looking down from the ladders. Kinda a long way up!

Woaaa!!

We got to spend some time up in the dwelling. This was pretty cool. The Ranger gave a talk.

Ranger Talk

This is a stockpile of 900 year old wood.

900 Year Old Wood

Had to take our selfie at Long House before we left. We really liked Long House. What was nice about it was that you could get up and walk around it more than you could at Cliff Palace.

Selfie

We walked the mile back. We talked to the Ranger and found out that he had worked at Channel Islands. He knew Ventura County very well. Small world!

As we were driving out we came across a herd of wild horses. In our travels we have come across hundreds of wild horses signs, but these are the first actual wild horses we have seen! Lots of Wild Burros, but no Horses!

Wild Horses

The next day we went to Four Corners Monument. This is where four states come together, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Four Corners, NM

Since it sits on an Indian Reservation, my question is it really four states coming together??? Hmmmmmm!!!

Because it sits on the reservation they charge $5.00 per person (not per car) to visit. You can take a picture standing on the four states.

Four Corners

We worked out a deal with another family to take their pictures if they would take ours. Worked out fine.

Then of course I had to take a selfie in all four states!

Standing on all Corners

After hiking all four states in just a few minutes we were famished so we decided we had to eat an Indian Fry Bread. It was Yummy!!!!

Indian Fry Bread

Well that's it for today.

Continue to pray for Avery.

God Bless you!

Brian and Patty