Exploring 2007

	TCom is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. They make aerostats for the government and specialty groups and functions. They are not blimps! We found one of the aerostats located on the border in Deming, New Mexico in September. This particular one is used by the U.S. Border Patrol.
In March 2007 we visited the devastated City of New Orleans. It looks like a war zone. One cannot appreciate the dilema without seeing this in person. People were still living in FEMA trailers in retail parking lots. We saw thousands of abandoned homes and hundreds of abandoned cars parked under the interstate. We also traveled on the makeshift IH 10 which was damaged from the huge wall of water.	View along a typical street in Chalmette, Louisiana. We recommend that this be a place that you venture to see.
During a trip across Missouri we made a stop at Wilson Creek National Battlefield near Springfield.	We also toured the birthplace of George Washington Carver near Diamond. You know, the peanut guy.
Everyone has heard of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, but it is only one of five missions in the City. We visited Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion. The San Jose mission was especially beautiful and a great place to get a taste of Texas history. Both locations still serve as Catholic churches.	The beautiful architecture of Mission San Jose makes this a lovely spot to visit while in the River City.
	Claimed to be the most beautiful place in Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to El Capitan. We hiked 4 1/2 miles to Devils Hall and the 7 plus mile hike through McKittrick Canyon. The Butterfield Overland Mail Route traverses the southern part of the park.
While in the Willcox, Arizona area we visited Ft. Bowie National Historic Site and Chiricahua National Monument. We hiked the 3.5 mile trail to see the ruins of Ft. Bowie. This fort's history includes the famous Apaches Geronimo and Cochise. Also this park preserves a section of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route.	Hiking along the Echo Canyon Loop Trail, Ed Riggs Trail and the Hailstone Trail in awesome Chiricahua National Monument. The Land of Standing Rocks! Incredible!
Okay, did someone say Cactus Festival? You can find it here at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona.	Years ago we visited Saguaro West and this year we visited Saguaro East. No grass to be found in Tucson, well maybe hidden in a back yard!
U.S. Border Patrol Station, Ajo/Why, Arizona The crew of a U.S. Army Black Hawk landed in Why and we stopped by and they were kind enough to let us tour the helicopter and talk to them about their jobs. They told us interesting stories about the people crossing the border. Like the TCom aerostat the helicopters aid in surveillance of the US/Mexican border.	While traveling in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California we went through a number of border patrol inspections and we saw many border patrol agents along the interstate looking for illegal aliens.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is located south of Ajo, Arizona on the Mexican border. After passing through the U.S. Border Patrol inspectors we toured this gorgeous park, which may have more saguaro cacti than Saguaro National Park. We spent the day there plus the evening where we found a hidden drive and hike which opened up a fabulous close on the day at Organ Pipe. And yes, those are cactus all across the mountainside.	The contrast of the blue sky, orange rock and healthy green cactus gave way in the evening to the pink and orange sunset.
Not what you would expect to see! But on this 3 mile hike in Joshua Tree National Park you can find the 49 Palm Oasis. As we hiked in the heat over the barren mountainside we caught this first glimpse of our destination. In the heart of the desert is a gorgeous oasis with water and huge palm trees. A view from the oasis floor is below.	Here you will find the Cholla Cactus Garden (shown here), Ocotilla Patches and Joshua Trees galore.
Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California and what a gem of a park it is. There are dozens of hikes to old mines, palm oases, mountain tops, through boulders, and around the unusual Joshua trees. We enjoyed many, many hikes here and were fortunate to see a desert tortoise along one of the hikes. We also saw a cougar along the roadside. We enjoyed hiking in the orange boulders of Hidden Valley, Skull Rock and Arch Rock. The San Andreas Fault and Salton Sea are nearby attractions.
Did he make it?	Fun on the trails in Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California. These shots are along the Tokopah Falls Trail near Lodgepole.

We had the chance to see a buck and this bear while at Sequoia National Park along the Congress Trail in the Giant Forest.
Roaring River Falls	While in Kings Canyon National Park we saw the Nation's Christmas Tree-General Grant. We also enjoyed a quick hike to the falls on the left near the terminus of the Kings Canyon road.
Now wait one minute. Yesterday we were in the desert and it was almost 100 degrees. Now we are in the North and its 32 degrees. Later that day we had to shift into 4WD and cross back over Kings Canyon from Cedar Grove in a snowstorm where 4 inches of snow already blanketed the road on the hairpin, park mountain road. Typical view along the narrow road to Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon. (to the right)
There were abandoned test pits and a few old buildings left at this site. Here evolutionary scientist pushed the date of mankind to around 200,000 years. Many say the "artifacts" that were found here were just rocks. That is what they looked like to us.	The Calico Early Man Archaeological Site is located east of Barstow. Evidence of "early" man was supposedly located here in the 50's and 60's. This site is the only location in the New World where Dr. Louis Leakey worked.
East of Daggett, California we found acres of abandoned solar panels. It is rumored that the failed energy plant was shut down after a fire from a lightning strike. The entire project has been redone at the intersection of Highway 395 and Highway 58 at Four Corners, California.
Steve and Paul going to the Kelso Depot. The renovated railroad in Mojave National Preserve served the surrounding area of Death Valley during the mining years. The old post office is also still standing. Mojave National Preserve is a wilderness park with a unique appeal. From sand dunes to Joshua Trees, from abandoned mines to incredible 4wd roads, this place is a huge treasure. This vast park has limited trails. We did two of the best: The Rings Trail and Teutonia Peak Trail. On the Rings Trail you can only climb out by using the steel rings placed into the rock walls.	The World's Tallest Thermometer read 65 degrees the day we were in Baker, California.
	This was fun!
This post office is located across from the Kelso Depot. The Kelso Dunes are located just south of here. Cinder Cones and Lava Beds are located to the north of here in the park too.	We spotted this owl hidden in the side wall of an abandoned mine shaft on the Teutonia Peak Trail. She dove straight down into the mine shaft.
The Manzanar War Relocation Site is one of 10 Japanese Internment camps built during World War II. Over 10,000 men, women, and children of Japanese descent abruptly called this home. The site became a full-fledged community. The only remaining building is the renovated high school.	The site is located on Hwy 395 known as the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway. There are many sites to see and places to enjoy along this roadway!
Just west of the town of Lone Pine is "Movie Flats". Many famous Western actors, movies and programs were filmed in part here. The scenery is incredible and there are a number of 4wd roads off the dirt road known as Movie Road. Hopefully, you can read this plaque and recognize many of the names. They have an annual film festival in Lone Pine and folks come from all over the world to celebrate the Western films of "Movie Flats" in the Alabama Hills off the Whitney Portal Road.
Northeast of Big Pine (along Highway 395) is the Schulman Grove in the Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest located in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest. This are is home to the ancient bristle cone pines which are over 4,000 years old. The hairpin road to the wonderful groves are said to have million dollar views. Well at least you hope you have that much insurance! You can travel to the sky-high summit at 14,246 ft! It is incredible to walk along the Discovery Trail and Methuselah Trail Loop through hundreds of these trees, which are some of the oldest plants on the earth.
The awesome ancients stand through the centuries since Noah's flood.	We are adding to the rock pile along the Discovery Trail in the Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest.
The Whitney Portal is located off of Highway 395 west of Lone Pine. Mt. Whitney is located in Sequoia National Park, but is accessed via this portal road from the eastern side of the Sierras. The views are spectacular. Within miles is the lowest point in the US-Badwater, Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level.	Traveling through the Alabama Hills you begin to find yourself on a hairpin road leading to the trails to Mt. Whitney (14,494 ft), the tallest mountain in the 48 continental states.
We went to Death Valley National Park. This park ranks #1 up there with Yellowstone National Park. They tie for the best. Everyone needs to spend at least 3 days in each of these parks. Death Valley is a hikers paradise. It is a beautiful place that is probably not what you imagine when you think of Death Valley. Because of the vast amount of pictures we want to have on our website for Death Valley, we have a page just for it.	Click the photo of Paul to display the Death Valley Page.
West of Las Vegas is the beautiful park of Red Rock Canyon. A hiker and rock climber's paradise. The cactus and scenery are spectacular.
We also took a trip out to Lake Mead. The lake was down almost 100 feet!
Homeland Security in action in the Grohman motorhome before we could cross the Hoover Dam!
	Crossing Hoover Dam to left and below.
The gorgeous painted desert on the north end of the Petrified Forest National Park in Holbrook, Arizona.	Broken up petrified logs along the Crystal Forest Trail.
During our stay in Holbrook we found the REAL "Cozy Cone". This motel has teepee rooms and the office is identical to Sally's. Steve is standing by a cleaned up "Mater" and Flo's sister is to the right. Other Cars memorabilia is found along the stretch of Route 66 through Arizona, including Wheel Well, the racetrack and the It Is Here Sign and Store in Joseph City, Arizona.
	Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site is the oldest continuously operating trading post in the Navajo Nation and is located near Ganado, Arizona.
We are at Tunnel Overlook on the South Rim.	Canyon de Chelly National Monument is nestled east of Chinle, Arizona in the Navajo Nation. Just like the Grand Canyon, photos do not do this park justice. This is a must stop for a southwestern traveler. The Navajo still live within the park boundaries. Therefore; visitors are restricted, unless they hire a Navajo guide.
	Via a 2.5 mile round trip treacherous downhill hike you will reach the spectacular White House Ruins as seen on the left. Ancient Puebloan people occupied these ruins around 1,000 years ago. We took this photo on the canyon floor. Above is another overlook view.
	This beautiful park is well hidden in southeast Utah. We hiked/scaled down the cliff side down to the base of the Sipapu Bridge.
	Photos of Steve and Paul climbing down tree limb ladders to the bottom. We did not realize what we were getting into on this trail. The view from the bottom of the bridge was well worth it-as shown on the left. But, remember what goes down must come up on a trail.
Scenic Hwy 261 - Utah This is the back way from Natural Bridge to Monument Valley.	And they aren't kidding. Hold on to your seats. Your knuckles will be white by the time you get down to the valley floor.
	Once you reach the bottom of Highway 261 you can venture on a 20 mile 4WD road through beautiful rock formation as shown on the left.
	This cool formation is called Mexican Hat Rock and is located in Monument Valley in southeast Utah.
	Hovenweep National Monument has an easily accessible site in Utah and other remote locations in Colorado. The park contains incredible rim canyon structures. This is an intriguing place to visit.
	Does it get any better than being in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico and at one time? We don't think so. Historic Four Corners, the only place in the US where 4 states meet. Above we are buying a gift from a Navajo artisan at Four Corners. The Navajo people have a flea market there.
Aztec Ruins National Monument is located in Aztec, New Mexico. The people native to the community were not Aztecs at all, but Anasazi Pueblo people who lived at these ruins in the 12th and 13th centuries. The west ruin which we went through contained 400 rooms and there is a Great Kiva also on the site.
Thank you for touring our website. We hope that these photos encourage you and your family to see the beauty that our country has to offer. If you are planning a trip and would like some input from us we would be more than glad to help. Just send us an email to:creation@ creationseminar. net.