Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Fiery Furnace of Arches – Our week in Moab, part 3

ff1 Perhaps one of the most strenuous hikes in Arches National Park is the one through the Fiery Furnace, so called from the vivid color of the stones in late day.  The Furnace is a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons and fins, created over the years by erosion.  The route requires scrambling and squeezing through tight spaces.  This relatively small area is one of the most incredible and spectacular places in the park.This hike can only be taken with a guide, or a special permit, as it is very easy to lose your orientation among the rocks and get lost, or to fall and get injured, or both.

ff2 We chose to take the morning hike, to avoid the heat of the day.   Over two dozen people  gathered early in the morning at the entrance to the area.

We spent the next three hours, walking and climbing on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs and in loose, sometimes wet, sand. There are cracks which must be stepped over and narrow places in the rock that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some of these places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet.

There is no trail, and due to the maze-like nature of the terrain, one is committed to completing the hike once they have entered the Fiery Furnace.  It was one of the most enjoyable hikes we’ve made.

As always, pictures speak much more eloquently than words.  Have a look at our hike:ff

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