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

Friday, April 20, 2012

Fort Davis, Davis Mountain, and the Davis Observatories

 2012-04-16 - TX, Fort Davis (8)       2012-04-16 - TX, Fort Davis (7)

From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis afforded protection from the Comanche and Apaches to mail coaches, travelers and freight wagons on the San Antonio – El Paso Road.  Many of the structures still stand today as one of the best examples of an Indian Wars frontier military post in the Southwest.

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There are several officer residences that are fully furnished.

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Of course the accommodations for enlisted men were much more spartan.

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Fort Davis stands at the base of Davis Mountain.

The Davis Mountain Scenic Loop is perhaps as well known as Fort Davis.  This 75 mile loop traverses the mountain, changing 2,000 feet in elevation with scenery ranging from grasslands to Ponderosa forests.

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We took our time on the Loop, stopping about half way for a picnic lunch.

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As we continued on our drive, the Davis Observatories came into view long before we reached them.

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2012-04-16 - TX, Davis Mountain, -2- McDonald Observatory (27) 

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We drove up the steep incline to the first of the large facilities.

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We walked the grounds, marveling at the size of the huge telescope.

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The road to the second observatory culminates at the highest point on a highway in Texas, at 6,791 feet.

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 2012-04-16 - TX, Davis Mountain, -2- McDonald Observatory (24)

Having spent most of the day on the drive, there was not time to participate in the Observatory Visitor Program available, but we promised ourselves to return at a later date.

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