Road Tripping

Chaco Canyon

2006-02-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Casa Rinconada Big Kiva, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After we spent the day driving in southwestern Colorado, we drove to Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico. The park contains ruins from the center of Chacoan culture, people who lived in northwestern New Mexico more than 1000 years ago. The ruins that were left behind, such as Chetro Ketl, and Pueblo Bonito, and Casa Rinconada, are interesting to walk through and imagine what this area was like 1000 years ago. One of the most famous features of the Chacoan Culture, are the giant kivas, like the one shown here. These were places of worship for the Chacoan people. Another interesting thing about this area are the smart ravens. They are so smart and coordinated, that they can open people’s tents.

Michelle & Ed at Molas Pass

2006-02-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

Michelle & Ed at Molas Pass, originally uploaded by Edgee.

During our short time in Colorado, we visited the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and drove on the mountain passes along Route 550 from Montrose to Durango. We reached 11, 075 feet above sea level at the Red Mountain Pass. We stopped for some photo opportunities at Molas Pass (10,899 feet) and played in the snow. We also stopped at Durango Mountain Resort (formally known as Purgatory) and watched the skiers on the slopes. It was very warm at 65 degrees. People were saying that the slopes were very slushy and much like spring skiing.

Canyonlands-Island in the Sky

2006-02-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

Grand View Point Overlook, originally uploaded by Edgee.

This is the view from the Grand View Point Overlook in the Island in the Sky district in Canyonlands National Park. This is one of the most awe-inspiring views in the world, in my opinion. The sky was cloudy, making the colors a little more muted than they would have been on a sunny day. Ed gave me a scare and sat on the edge of this rock ledge and looked out at the canyons in Canyonlands. He said that he experienced a bit of vertigo while he was standing on the edge.

Canyonlands-Needles District

2006-02-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

Needles 1, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Here is a picture of the sandstone “needles” in the Needles district of the park. The needles are sandstone spires formed through erosion processes. We took this picture from the sandstone cliffs towering near our campground. There are many trails to hike and four-wheel drive roads to drive on in this area. We plan to come back here someday and explore more of the park.

Canyonlands National Park

2006-02-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

Wheelie in the Canyonlands, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After Salt Lake City, we drove back to southeastern Utah and went camping in Canyonlands National Park. The park is divided into three districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. The three districts are divided by the Colorado and Green Rivers. These rivers are responsible for carving out the amazing landscape here in Canyonlands. Here is Ed doing a wheelie on his bike on the Colorado Overlook Road in the Needles section of the park. The road is 7 miles one-way, traveling through some beautiful scenery and ending at a spectacular overlook of the Colorado River.

Salt Lake City

2006-02-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

The Temple, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We decided to go on a brief side trip to Salt Lake City. Our tent zipper was malfunctioning so we had to get back to civilization to get it fixed before we continued camping. While we were in Salt Lake City, we decided to tour the Temple Square, which is considered the most popular place to visit in the city. The centerpiece of the square is the Salt Lake Temple. It was cloudy the whole day until the evening when the sun shined through the clouds to light up the temple in a brilliant way. It had snowed heavily a few days ago so there was a lot of snow on the yards throughout the city. Salt Lake City is a beautiful city to visit, especially in the winter.

Snow in Arches National Park

2006-02-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Snowy Misty Morning, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We had the wonderful opportunity to experience snow in Arches National Park. The skies had been threatening rain or snow all day, but it didn’t really snow until night. We woke up to a winter wonderland. The white snow covered the beautiful red sandstones of Arches and the contrast made everything even more magnificent. We highly recommend Arches in winter, even if it is very cold at night and windy during the day.

Our campsite after the snow.

Delicate Arch

2006-02-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Delicate Arch and Us, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Delicate Arch is the park’s most famous arch and is the unofficial symbol for the state of Utah. The best time to hike the trail to Delicate Arch is right before sunset. The views from Delicate Arch are spectacular, with the arch framing the snow-capped mountains.

Click on any photo to see more pictures of Delicate Arch.

Delicate Arch from the Delicate Arch Viewpoint.

Sun Behind Balanced Rock

2006-02-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Sun Behind Balanced Rock, originally uploaded by Edgee.

When I arrived at Arches National Park, my first impression was that the landscape was straight out of a Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon. One of the first things we saw was “Balanced Rock”. We will definitely stay here at the park for a little while.

Hiking among the Hoodoos

2006-02-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

hiking out of the canyon, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After spending a day at Bryce Canyon, viewing the canyon from above, it was time to hike down into the canyon among the hoodoos along the Navajo Loop trail. The icy and steep trail took us down to an area called Wall Street, which is a narrow area between the hoodoos. Surprisingly, there are large Douglas-fir trees growing in these tight spaces. You can get a sense of scale and see how large the hoodoos can be while walking among them.

Hoodoos from Bryce Point

2006-02-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hoodoos from Bryce Point, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We slept well despite the temperature going down in the high teens. The next day we went to all the viewpoints in the park. The main features in Bryce Canyon National Park are the tall thin spires of rock called hoodoos. Bryce has the biggest concentration of hoodoos in the world. For me, Bryce is an alien and beautiful landscape that you have to experience for yourself.

Camping in the Snow

2006-02-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

standing in the moonlit snow, originally uploaded by Edgee.

When we arrived at Bryce Canyon National Park, we found that the campground had a lot of snow on the ground. We found a dry spot under a tree to pitch our tent. We were able warm up next to the campfire. The moon was full and with the snow on the ground it was bright enough to take pictures without a flash. Actually, this photograph was taken on a tripod with a long exposure with the moon and the fire lighting the scene.

Canyon Overlook

2006-02-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Us at Canyon Overlook, originally uploaded by Edgee.

On our way out of the park, we stopped to hike on the Canyon Overlook Trail. It is a short trail that ends at a great overlook of a large side canyon. Zion National Park is a beautiful place. While hiking on the many trails in the park we saw a large herd of mule deer. These deer have huge ears and that is probably why they are called mule deer. We also saw wild turkeys walking along the roadside.

Weeping Rock

2006-02-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

Michelle Under Weeping Rock, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The next day, we visited a place in the park called Weeping Rock. The rock wall is “weeping” because groundwater is seeping through it almost constantly. It looks like it is raining under the overhang and the cold water splashes on park visitors as they walk close to the wall.

Ed at Zion National Park

2006-02-09T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ed with the tent, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We’re back on the road again after stopping in Phoenix to drop off our kayak. We won’t need it where we are going, at least in winter. We decided to head north into Utah and visit Zion National Park. We set up camp in the evening as the sun went down. The mountains change color to brilliant orange and red colors at sunset. The views from our campsite are spectacular.

Petrified Logs

2006-01-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Petrified Wood and Ed, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona to see the beautiful landscapes and the petrified wood that the park is named for. The landscape was reminiscent of Badlands National Park in South Dakota. We saw petroglyphs, which are drawings on the rock faces left by the people who lived here long ago. We also had the opportunity to observe a small group of pronghorns grazing for food. It was a windy and cold day, but the sky was clear and we could see miles in any direction.

UFO House

2006-01-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

UFO House, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We stayed in Albuquerque for a few days with some old friends. They were kind enough to show us around town. This building is commonly called the “UFO” house designed by the architect, Bart Prince. We also went into the mountains and we saw homes with old cars in the yard. On one property, there was a London style double-decker bus. I didn’t take as many photos that I would have wanted to, but maybe we’ll come back to Albuquerque so I can take some more pictures. As long as the cats we stay with don’t mind.

Above it all

2006-01-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Tramway car, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Today we went up into the Sandia Mountains the easy way, by tramway. We rode the world’s longest tramway to the top of the 10,378-foot Sandia Peak. It’s a great way to see the scenery of the mountains and the city of Albuquerque by floating above it all. On top of the peak, we rambled around the lodge and ski area. It was a clear day with a beautiful view, but there was little snow. There were only patches of ice in shady areas with no snow on the slopes.

White Sands National Monument

2006-01-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ed goes down, originally uploaded by Edgee.

I’m having a little fun at White Sands National Monument. The sand is made of gypsum, which makes it the softest sand that I ever jumped in. We were on our way to Albuquerque, New Mexico when we stopped here to play in the sand. We passed through a border patrol inspection station just before we arrived at White Sands. After seeing our large, orange kayak on the roof of our car, the border patrol agent kindly reminded us there is no water in White Sands. Our kayak is too large and dangerous to use on the dunes, but other visitors to the monument were sledding down the dunes with other equipment, even snowboards.

Ed and the mountain

2006-01-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Ed and the mountain, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We traveled to the Guadalupe Mountains from Austin to go camping again. After driving all day from Austin, we arrived at the National Park at night. It wasn’t until morning that we saw the beautiful surroundings. The area reminded me of the mountains around Tucson except without any Saguaro cacti. I’m standing in front of a large rock formation called El Capitan, which is part of the southernmost portion of the Guadalupe Mountain range. Behind El Capitan, out of view, is Guadalupe Peak, which is the highest peak in Texas with an elevation at 8,749 feet above sea level.

Austin, Texas

2006-01-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

Univ of Texas Tower, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The people of the University of Texas and the city of Austin are still celebrating UT’s victory at the Rose Bowl. The University Tower is illuminated in UT’s colors and the office lights are turned on to form the number 1. The tower was such an attraction that there were many people taking pictures of it. Go Longhorns!

Oklahoma City Snow

2006-01-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

Snow on Ed, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The day that we were leaving Oklahoma City, the weather treated us to a morning of snow. We were excited to see snow and Oklahoma was happy to see any precipitation at all. It hadn’t rained or snowed for many weeks in Oklahoma and the snow will help with the severe drought conditions here.

Oklahoma City

2006-01-06T22:57:00.000-07:00

Partying at Ednas, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We drove from Cape Haze to Oklahoma City via Tallahassee and Memphis. We were visiting our friend Al in Oklahoma City. Here we are having a good time at a bar called Edna’s.

Oklahoma City Memorial

2006-01-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma City Memorial Chairs, originally uploaded by Edgee.

While in Oklahoma City, we visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial on the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A domestic terrorist destroyed the building on April 19, 1995. The chairs represent the 168 people who perished in the attack.

View from Percy and Marvin's house

2006-01-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

view from Marvin's house, originally uploaded by Edgee.

A gorgeous sunset as seen from the porch of Percy and Marvin’s house on the Intercoastal Waterway.

Cape Haze, Florida

2006-01-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

paddling on the ICW, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We visited my aunt and uncle’s other house in Florida. Their house is right on the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW). Marvin took this picture of us paddling near their dock. We paddled to the Gulf of Mexico and through the mangroves. We saw dolphins, ospreys, and many boaters celebrating the New Year. Happy 2006!

Yard Work

2005-12-26T15:48:00.000-07:00

the three stooges, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We helped Ed’s dad out with some yard work. The guys cut down some trees and I mowed some of the lawn with the tractor. I’ve never had a large enough yard to use a riding lawn mower, so it was an exciting adventure in lawn mowing. It was all good family fun.

Annual Bonfire

2005-12-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

now thats a fire, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Throughout the year, Ed’s dad collects all of the dead trees and fallen branches from his yard and puts them in one or two large piles. He waits until Ed and his brothers come home for the holidays and they burn the piles. This year contained some trees that were damaged by the hurricanes and some old furniture. Here are some pictures of the annual bonfires.

Ed and Don at the Hard Rock Casino

2005-12-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Ed and Don at the hard rock casino, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We visited my brother Don and his fiancée, Amber, in Hollywood, Florida. They showed us the sights of South Florida, like Waffleworks and the Hard Rock Café Casino Resort Hotel.

Key Largo

2005-12-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

where the palm trees sway.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We camped on Key Largo at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. We were lucky to find a spot here because the campground was supposed to be full until April. We hung out at this little beach to catch the cool breezes from the water and escape the no-see-ums in the campground. You really can see them, but it is usually after they have bitten you. This campground was also home to the most aggressive raccoons we have ever seen.

Paddling Along the Mangrove Trail

2005-12-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

paddling in the mangrove forest.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We are finally paddling again! The last time was in South Carolina, so we were happy to get in the kayak and journey through the mangroves on Key Largo. There is a marked trail along different channels in the mangrove forest in John Pennekamp State Park. We didn’t see any manatees, but we did see a large iguana sunning in the parking lot next to the launching spot.

US Route 1 Mile Zero

2005-12-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

US Route Mile Zero.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Here I am at mile zero of US Route 1 in Key West. Although we didn’t always use Route 1 to drive from Maine to Key West, this is a significant landmark for us because this marks the end of this portion of our journey around North America.

Watching the sunset

2005-12-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

Watching the sunset.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

One of the highlights of Key West is the sunset. People gather in Mallory Square every evening and celebrate the setting sun. It is usually crowded in Key West in the winter when the weather is not so hot. Even though it is December, the weather was still warm and humid for us. We cooled off by visiting the many bars on Duval Street and taking a sunset sail on the Schooner Liberty. We left Key West just before Fantasy Fest started, which is a huge festival with parades, costumes, and partying. The festival usually occurs around Halloween, but it was postponed due to Hurricane Wilma.

Everglades National Park

2005-12-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

everglades.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Everglades National Park is not like any other national park that we have visited. The Everglades are essentially a broad and shallow “river of grass” with water depths less than a foot in most places. It supports many types of wild life; including alligators, American crocodiles, many bird species, and of course, mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are not as bad in the winter, which is the dry season. However, the “dry season” is still very humid and uncomfortable to me. Much of the park is closed to visitors right now because of damage caused by Hurricane Wilma, which passed through here in October.

Sunset Sail On the Freedom

2005-12-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

Ed and Michelle on the schooner Freedom.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We enjoyed our sunset sail on Matanzas Bay in St. Augustine. We sailed on the Schooner Freedom with only four other people and the crew. The waters were relatively calm, so we ventured out into the Atlantic Ocean for a little while. As the sun went down, we saw St. Augustine lit up with Christmas lights.

Ponce de León and Ed

2005-12-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Ponce de Leon and Ed pointing north.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Ponce de León of Spain discovered Florida in 1513 and Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine in 1565. It is considered to be the oldest permanent European settlement in the continental United States. St. Augustine is my favorite place in Florida with its rich history and beautiful setting on Matanzas Bay. Click on this picture to see more of St. Augustine.

Castillo de San Marcos

2005-12-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Ed with the 1740 soldier.jpg, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The Spanish started building the Castillo de San Marcos in 1672 in St. Augustine. The walls of the fort were very good at protecting the people inside because they were made from Coquina, a rock mainly made up of shell fragments. Cannon balls shot at the fort by invaders were “absorbed” by the rock and did not break through the walls. The fort is still standing and is now a National Monument. Here is Ed standing with a man dressed up as a Spanish soldier stationed in St. Augustine during the year 1740. During that year, the fort and the town of St. Augustine were under siege by British, Georgian, and South Carolina forces. St. Augustine and the fort survived.

Lakeland, Florida

2005-11-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

wetlands, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Lakeland, Florida is not only full of lakes as its name suggests, but it also has some wonderful parks. This is Ed attempting to ride his bike through the flooded Lakeland Highlands Scrub. It is home to many plants, some alligators, and birds. We think that the park's trail was partially flooded due to the heavy rains when Hurricane Wilma passed near the area.

Savannah, Georgia

2005-11-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

views from the cemetary, originally uploaded by Edgee.

This city is rich in history; it was founded in 1733. Evidence of Savannah’s colorful history is evident in the architecture, many squares and parks, and the Colonial Park Cemetery. We took a walking ghost tour. Ghosts appear to be a big draw to “Georgia’s First City”. In fact, we inadvertently stayed at what has been described to us as the most haunted bed and breakfast in Savannah. We stayed at the 17hundred90 house and had a great stay there, even though I didn’t get much sleep. The ghost, Anna, did not bother us. But I do have a very active imagination…

This picture shows the view from Colonial Park Cemetery. Click on the photo for more pictures from Savannah, including those taken during the walking ghost tour.

Savannah River Waterfront

2005-11-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

Savannah waterfront, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Savannah, Georgia is a great place to visit. But not only because people can walk around with a plastic cup full of beer.

Sunset on Lake Marion

2005-11-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Lake Marion, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After the Smoky Mountains, we drove to Santee State Park in South Carolina. This was a beautiful sunset over Lake Marion. Lake Marion is great for fishermen, but it was also wonderful paddling through a flooded forest of Cypress trees. We enjoyed watching the birds hanging out on the branches of the dead trees. Lake Marion was originally created in the early 1940s by the Santee Cooper Project. The lake is named after Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion.

Fall Colors

2005-11-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

big yellow tree, originally uploaded by Edgee.

This tree was at the Cades Cove visitor center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The visitor center had a working mill, called Cable Mill. It was grinding grains and is active spring through fall. The Cades Cove scenic loop offered beautiful views of pastureland with a backdrop of the colorful fall forests. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center’s Mountain Farm Museum had a farmhouse and other log structures typical of the people who lived in the Smoky Mountains before the park was formed.

Camping is Fun!

2005-11-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

Cleaning Dishes is Fun, originally uploaded by Edgee.

I just love this picture of Ed enthusiastically cleaning the dishes after lunch. We camped at Smokemont Campground, which is open all year long. The park service closes off more than half of the campground after October 31st, but there were many sites to choose from after the weekend was over.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

2005-11-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Smoky Fall Colors 3, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The fall colors are amazing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this time of year. We missed the fall colors in New England, but we certainly didn’t miss them in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Paddling Jordan Lake

2005-11-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Paddling Jordan Lake, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Here is our familiar pose paddling in our tandem kayak. Jordan Lake is only a short drive from the university in Chapel Hill. The water was smooth and there was abundant sunshine.

Halloween in Chapel Hill

2005-10-31T22:30:00.000-07:00

Mob of Halloween Partiers 2, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We had the opportunity to celebrate Halloween near the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The streets were crowded with people dressed up in Halloween costumes. We dressed up as ourselves and we stood out because we were some of the few people that didn’t dress up. We had a good time in Chapel Hill. We tasted some great southern cooking, enjoyed some disk golf, and paddled on Jordan Lake.

Beach on Ocracoke Island

2005-10-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

Beach on Ocracoke Island, originally uploaded by Edgee.

This is the beach near our campground site. We were able to have a campfire at night on the beach as long as we set it up below the high tide mark. It was very chilly at night on the island, but it was warm enough for us to have a picnic on the beach and kayak in Pamlico Sound. We were lucky with the weather because the sun was shining and the skies were clear. At night we could see many stars in the sky because the city lights are very far away from the island.

Ferry to Ocracoke Island

2005-10-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ferry to Ocracoke Island 2, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The only national park campground open this time of year on the Outer Banks was on Ocracoke Island. This is truly an island in that there are no bridges connecting it with the other barrier islands. There is a free ferry that takes people from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island all year. This is the first time that either of us has taken a car on a ferry. It was a pleasant experience because the weather was beautiful and you could get out of the car and walk around on the ferry. We were lucky we didn’t get here two days later, because the campground closed on October 31st.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

2005-10-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

Ed at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was built in 1870 and is the tallest brick lighthouse (208 feet) in the U.S. It was one of several others used to help vessels navigate through dangerous currents and storms near the barrier islands. The lighthouse was actually moved from its original location in 1999. Erosion of the fragile coastline of the barrier island was threatening to topple the lighthouse. It took less than a month to move the lighthouse after years of preparation. In all, it was moved about a half mile inland from its original location.

Assateague Island

2005-10-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

Pony by the Bay, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We visited Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland where the wild horses roam. We were able to see them grazing near our campground and while paddling in Chincoteague Bay. The horses on Assateague Island are thought to be descendents of domestic horses brought here in the late 17th century by mainland owners who were trying to avoid fencing laws and livestock taxes. They are smaller than domestic horses because of their poor diet of salt marsh and beach grasses.

Paddling by Horses

2005-10-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

Paddling by Horses, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Chincoteague Bay is between Assateague Island and the Maryland (and Virginia) mainland. It is relatively protected, so the waters were calm while we were paddling there. We were able to see many wild horses grazing on the salt grasses.

Sika Deer at Assateague

2005-10-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sika Deer Visitor 3, originally uploaded by Edgee.

While we were camping on Assateague Island, both Sika deer and white-tailed deer visited us. This is a picture of a Sika deer. These animals are actually small elk that were introduced from Asia into Maryland during the 1920s. The white-tailed deer are native to the island and are not as common as the Sika. We saw many deer of both kinds in our campground. They visit the campgrounds more this time of year because it is hunting season and many of them are aware that they are safer with campers than in other areas of the park.

The Capital with Ed and Michelle

2005-10-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Capital with Ed and Michelle, originally uploaded by Edgee.

My parents were visiting Washington DC along with several cousins. We went to many museums, including the National American Indian Museum, International Spy Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It was raining most of the time, but we did get some sun when we first got here on Wednesday and when we left on Sunday.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial

2005-10-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

Korean War Veterans Memorial 1, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We are back in Washington DC again for a few days. We visited many sites, this one is the Korean War Veterans Memorial. I was very impressed with this memorial and thought it was very moving. It has a ghostly feeling to it.

Monticello

2005-10-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Monticello Nickel, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We visited Monticello, which was the home of our third president, Thomas Jefferson. I had an old nickel in my pocket so I wanted to compare it to the real thing. The tours were very informative. We went on three tours. One in the house, another outside talking about Jefferson’s plants and trees, and a third talking about the lives of slaves at Monticello.

Ed at Great Falls Park

2005-10-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Ed with his shades, originally uploaded by Edgee.

There is a cool little park just outside the DC beltway called Great Falls. It’s on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, and there is another park on the Maryland side. We hiked around, looking at the ruins of the old Patowmack Canal and watched some kayakers paddling down a portion of the river.

Road Trip Map

2005-10-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

101705_map, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We are long overdue for a map showing our travels. Here is a map of where we have visited up until October 17, 2005. Click on the map for more details. Click on the boxes for names and web links to photos of some of the places we visited.

Shenandoah National Park

2005-10-13T16:07:00.000-07:00

Fighting Bucks, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We drove west of the Washington D.C. area to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It was very foggy the day we arrived in the park, so many of the views were obscured by the fog. There were not many people at the campground on Thursday; so many deer were grazing throughout the campground. Two deer bucks were even fighting each other with their antlers right near our campsite. It rained all night on Thursday and was still cloudy on Friday. We went on a hike through the forest to Overrun Falls. The campground was almost full with weekend campers by Friday night. The sun came out on Saturday and we could see more of Shenandoah Valley as we traveled down Skyline Drive through the park.

Close Encounters

2005-10-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Close Encounters, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We have been spending some time in the Washington D.C. area. We visited the Udvar-Hazy Center, which is part of the National Air and Space Museum. The center has many famous airplanes, such as the Enola Gay, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the Concorde. The Enterprise space shuttle and the Close Encounters space ship model are also located here. It only costs 12 dollars to park at the center and that cost covers you and anyone else in your car.

We also spent a day looking at the houses from the Solar Decathlon on Capital Mall in D.C. The houses were built by college students. The houses run entirely on solar power, which includes all of the appliances and the water heater.

Barnegat Light, New Jersey

2005-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Us at Barnegat Lighthouse, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Barnegat Light is located on the northern side of Long Beach Island on the Jersey shore. It is primarily a summer vacation spot, but it is still warm enough now to enjoy walks on the beach and visits to the Barnegat Lighthouse. The inlet here used to be one of the most dangerous places for ocean vessels on the east coast of the U.S. Visitors can now climb the lighthouse’s 217 steps and take in views of the ocean, bay, and inlet surrounding the town Barnegat Light.

Michelle and the Liberty Bell

2005-10-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Michelle and the Liberty Bell, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Philadelphia is about an hour’s drive from Wharton State Forest in New Jersey, so we decided to spend a day visiting some of our nation’s most important historical sites in Independence National Park. Philadelphia was where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed. The Constitution was also written here. We also enjoyed Philly Cheesesteak from a street vendor. All in all, we had a great day in the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Reflections of New Jersey

2005-10-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

Reflections on the Water, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We had a whole bunch of fun in Connecticut and New York, but we must move on south. I didn’t know what to expect of New Jersey, but once we got into the countryside we found that it was quite pleasant. There were lots of little farms with the little farm stands selling pumpkins and squash. We found a nice quiet campsite next to a small lake in Wharton State Forest. When I say quiet, I mean dead quiet. There was nobody around. We had the whole campground to ourselves. It was a little eerie. Atsion Lake was nice and calm with a few trees changing colors. We paddled around on the lake for a few hours in the evening. For us, New Jersey is living up to its “Garden State” nickname.

Us in Times Square

2005-10-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Us in Times Square, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We took a train into New York City from Greenwich. We enjoyed walking around and visiting tourist destinations such as the United Nations, Battery Park, and Times Square. Click on this photo to see what else we saw.

Sunset with the Statue of Liberty

2005-10-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

Sunset with Lady Liberty, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We took the Staten Island Ferry at sunset to see the city from a different perspective. Ed took this photo of the statue with the sun setting behind it.

Harwinton Fair

2005-10-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

White Silky, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We continued on to Greenwich, Connecticut to visit with some cousins. They showed us a good time at the Harwinton Fair in northwestern Connecticut. There were many booths with yummy food and interesting livestock to see. There was even a wood chopping competition. This chicken is most likely a White Silky and has a very exotic hair-do. (Ed thinks it is a living dust mop.) After a great day at the fair, we relaxed on the Mianus River Pond near our cousins' house in Greenwich.

Mystic Pizza

2005-09-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

Mystic Pizza, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After Newport, we ate some lunch at Mystic Pizza in Mystic, Connecticut. This is the place that the movie Mystic Pizza (1988) was based on and was one of Julia Roberts earlier roles. The pizza was good and there were lots of pictures from the movie all over the walls.

Newport Harbor

2005-09-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

The Madeleine and other ships, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Newport is famous for its many types of boats. Here is an enormous cruise ship and a sailboat.

Captain Ed

2005-09-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Ed steering the boat, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After drying out in Vermont, we traveled to Newport, Rhode Island where, of course, they were expecting rain. We still had an opportunity to sail on the “Sightseer” before the storm came in. Here is Ed, steering the 46-foot long sailboat. During the time he was steering, the waters seemed to get rougher. Seriously, he did a great job driving the boat.

Drying out in Vermont

2005-09-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

Drying out in Vermont, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Rain, rain, and more rain! We got caught in a storm for a couple of nights in the Green Mountain National Forest area in Vermont. We bought more tarps and we managed to set everything up in the pouring rain. We finally had clear skies and were able to dry out at our campsite in Branbury State Park.

Rain on Lake Dunmore

2005-09-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

Rain on Lake Dunmore, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Our first night in Vermont,we camped at Gifford Woods State Park. It was pouring the next morning, but we wanted to go to Lake Dunmore in Branbury State Park. Here is an "Adirondack Chair" sitting empty on the shores of the lake during the rain storm.

Michelle finds Lost Pond

2005-09-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Michelle finds Lost Pond, originally uploaded by Edgee.

There are many great hiking trails throughout the White Mountain National Forest. We hiked along the Lost Pond Trail, which is part of the Appalachian Trail. We started at Glen Ellis Falls on the Ellis River. For a while, we did think the pond was lost because the trail was not always marked.

Ed at Mount Washington Summit

2005-09-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Ed at Mt Washington Summit, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After Boston, we drove to New Hampshire and stayed in the White Mountain National Forest. We drove to the summit of Mount Washington on the auto road, which is a private and very steep road. The summit is at 6288 feet. The highest recorded winds on the ground were recorded in 1934 at 231 miles per hour. It was windy while we were visiting, but nowhere near that speed.

Liz, Andrew, and Southy

2005-09-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

Our Hosts, originally uploaded by Edgee.

These were our wonderful hosts during our week in Boston. Thank you so much for showing us around!

Old North Church

2005-09-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Old North Church, originally uploaded by Edgee.

This is the picture of the Old North Church in the North End area of Boston. The church was built in 1723 and is Boston’s oldest church building. It is still an active Episcopal Church. Ed took this picture and converted it to a black and white image.

Ed with Guy in Costume

2005-09-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ed with Guy in Colonial Costume, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We are staying in South Boston (Southie) with our friends Liz and Andrew. The Boston downtown area is only two “T” stops away on the subway. We wandered around Boston, ate food at the “Taste of Boston” festival, and walked along the Freedom Trail. There are so many historical places in Boston along the Freedom Trail. We saw the Paul Revere house, old burial grounds with grave markers dating back to the 1600’s, and the Old North Church.

Click on this picture to see more historical places.

Michelle, Ed, and Sailor in Newburyport

2005-09-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Michelle, Ed, and Sailor in Newburyport, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Although Hurricane Ophelia was supposed to hit the coast of Massachusetts today, it didn’t rain very much at all. Our friends, Liz and Andrew, took us to Newburyport where we met up with this guy. Newburyport is on the mouth of the Merrimack River in northeastern Massachusetts. On the way, we stopped at a farm store near Newbury and had a picnic lunch outside. We saw a mama llama and her baby. Buffy the Buffalo also lived on the farm. Newburyport has many fun shops and restaurants and we had a great time looking around the town. We worked up our appetite for ice cream at Hodgie’s in Amesbury. The portions were enormous; a ¼-kiddie cup is two huge scoops of yummy ice cream and a large is 5 scoops. It is good to know what the sizes mean when one orders ice cream at Hodgie’s.

The Friendship of Salem

2005-09-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

The Friendship of Salem, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The Friendship of Salem is a reconstruction of ship built in 1797. It is located at Derby Wharf, which is part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. The Custom House across the street from the wharf was where the custom inspectors worked, including Nathaniel Hawthorne who was an inspector from 1839-1840.

Salem was also the place of the famous witch trials of 1692. We visited the Witch Museum and learned about the trials. Twenty people were executed and hundreds jailed because they were thought to be witches. There were no witches in Salem at the time and all those prosecuted were innocent.

Portland Head Light

2005-09-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Portland Head Light, originally uploaded by Edgee.

On our way to Boston, we stopped in Portland, Maine. We visited the Portland Head Light House on Cape Elizabeth. The light was first lit in 1791 and is still used by the Coast Guard. The park around the lighthouse is maintained by the people of Cape Elizabeth.

Lobster Boats

2005-09-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Lobster Boats, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Ed took this great picture of the lobster boats in Bass Harbor near Thurston's Lobster Pound.

Paddling Eagle Lake

2005-09-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

Paddling Eagle Lake, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Here I am paddling Eagle Lake in Acadia National Park on my birthday. The water was smooth at first, but it became more and more wavy as we paddled south. We were splashed a lot, but the sun was warm so the cold water of the lake didn't bother us. I had a wonderful day of paddling, eating lobster, and talking to my family.

Sunset at Cadillac Mountain

2005-09-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Cadillac Mountain, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After a wonderful day of paddling off the Maine coast, we drove to Cadillac Mountain in the park. The mountain is 1530 feet above sea level and offers spectacular views of the Maine coast. If we were morning people, we could be the first people to see the sun rise in the United States during this time of year. But we are not morning people, so we “settled” for this gorgeous sunset as seen from the summit.

Paddling in Maine

2005-09-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

Having Fun Paddling, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Ed and I went on a guided kayak tour off the coast of Maine. We paddled on the western side of Acadia National Park. We started in Pretty Marsh and ended up in Seal Cove. It was a gorgeous day with temperatures in the high 60s and sunny skies. This was the first time that I paddled in a solo kayak. I was nervous at first, but I caught on quickly and enjoyed my first solo paddling experience. The water was smooth at first, but became choppy as the wind increased. It was a great work out and I highly recommend a paddling excursion on the Maine coast.

Acadia National Park

2005-09-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Ed at Eagle Lake, originally uploaded by Edgee.

The park has an extensive network of carriage roads, which can be walked or biked. The roads were originally constructed between 1913 and 1940 and were funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. We rode our bikes around Eagle Lake, Witch Hole Pond, and Paradise Hill. We were also able to see Frenchmans Bay from the overlooks. This picture is of Ed standing by Eagle Lake after we took a lunch break by the side of the carriage road.

Eating Maine Lobster

2005-09-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

Lobster and Corn Dinner, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We drove from Parc National du Bic in Québec through New Brunswick to Bangor, Maine. We were planning on camping in New Brunswick, but it was pouring rain and there was no gas to fill our car. There was a trucker strike in New Brunswick. The people were protesting against the high fuel costs. Canadian gas prices are even higher than those in the United States because of very high taxes on fuel. The protestors had set up blockades to stop most trucks from passing, which included those carrying gas. We went through four of these blockades, but we were allowed through. Most of the people at the blockades spoke only French, but we were able to figure out what was going on.

After Bangor, we drove to Acadia National Park. One of the first things we did was to eat some famous Maine lobster at a lobster pound near our campground. I have never eaten one before, so it was an interesting and yummy experience for me.

Parc National du Bic

2005-09-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ed and Michelle at Bic, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We left Montreal to explore other areas of Québec. We traveled along the St. Lawrence to Parc National du Bic. The park was beautiful with many bike trails, coves, and bays to explore. This picture was taken at the Cap a` l’Orignal shore during low tide. The difference between high and low tides is about ten feet. Many interesting rocks and sea creatures are exposed during low tide.

Low Tide at Ha! Ha! Bay

2005-09-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

Low Tide at Ha Ha Bay 1, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Ed is standing in the distance during low tide at Baie du Ha! Ha!

Baie du Ha! Ha!

2005-09-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Michelle biking to the bay, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Yes, the name of this bay in English is Ha! Ha! Bay. I'm not sure why it is called that, but it was a beautiful destination on our bikes in Parc National du Bic in Québec. The park was full of walking and bike trails.

St. Lawrence River

2005-09-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Ed and the Bridge, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We spent the day in Old Montreal. The area really felt very European with old buildings and churches along narrow roads. We went down to the waterfront and watch the boat traffic including jetboats and amphibious vehicles.

Ed Befriends a Canadian

2005-09-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

Ed befriends a Canadian, originally uploaded by Edgee.

These Canadians are so nice and friendly that you just want to go up and hug them. Well actually we saw a lot of street performers in the area, but the guy was offering hugs for free.

Montreal Greenhouse

2005-09-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Ed and Michelle in the Greenhouse, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We drove to Montreal from Ausable Point campground in New York. This picture is of us in the Greenhouse at the Botanical Gardens. We also visited the Insectarium, which is right next to the gardens. The workers at the museum were tagging Monarch butterflies before the butterflies leave to fly to Mexico and South America. This way they can track where the butterflies end up after their long journey south.

Sunrise on Lake Champlain

2005-09-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Sunrise on Lake Champlain 2, originally uploaded by Edgee.

This was the view from the front door of our tent when we woke up.

Lake Champlain

2005-09-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

Lake Reflections of Trees, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We stayed at the Ausable Point campground the night before last and experienced heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Katrina. It was still raining heavily in the morning, so we packed up and drove to Plattsburgh, New York about 15 miles north of the campground. After spending the day drying off in a hotel room, we drove back to the campground to enjoy the better weather. We paddled into Lake Champlain and up the Little Ausable River. This picture was taken in the “marsh” area near the place where the river flows into the lake. The fall colors are just starting to appear in the trees along the water.

Cranberry Lake

2005-08-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

Duck at sunset, originally uploaded by Edgee.

While we were in Adirondack Park in New York, we stayed at a campground on Cranberrry Lake. Although we had a lot of rain, we were able to paddle on the lake for a few hours. We saw lots of ducks on the water, like this one that was swimming near our campsite at sunset.

View from Rainbow Bridge

2005-08-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

On the Border Michelle, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We walked across Rainbow Bridge into Canada to see the falls from there. The view of the falls is better from the Canadian side of the river. Rainbow Bridge links the U.S. to Canada. I am technically standing in Canada in this photo. The U.S. is on the other side of the sign. The American Falls are closest to me and the Horseshoe falls are in the distance.

Niagara Falls Illuminated

2005-08-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

Niagara Falls Illuminated, originally uploaded by Edgee.

Ed took this picture of Horseshoe Falls from the “Journey Behind the Falls” in Niagara Falls, Ontario. At night, the park lights up the falls with different colors. They changed the colors even while we were standing there taking pictures.

Niagara Falls

2005-08-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Us at Niagara Falls, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We walked to Niagara Falls State Park from our hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. The falls were amazing. Here we are standing in front of American Falls and Bridalveil Falls. It was a very hot day, but the mist from the falls helped cool us off.

Maid of the Mist

2005-08-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

Michelle and the waterfalls, originally uploaded by Edgee.

We rode on the "Maid of the Mist" boat right up to Horseshoe Falls. The tour provided rain jackets because the falls produce so much mist it feels like you are standing in a rain shower. The boat rocked a bit while traveling through the churning water at the base of the falls.

Canadian Geese

2005-08-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

Geese invade campground, originally uploaded by Edgee.

After I returned to the Midwest from San Diego, we camped in this Ohio state park near lake Erie. The park was not full of campers, but it was full of Canadian Geese. They were walking all over the vacant campsites. They didn't bother us, but you did have to watch where you walked. They flew away at dusk, so we didn’t have to worry about running into these birds in the dark.

Hotel del Coronado

2005-08-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hotel Del Coronado, originally uploaded by Edgee.

I took a small detour in our trip through North America. I flew from Chicago to San Diego to visit with my parents. We stay in Coronado, which is home to the famous Hotel del Coronado and the Navy SEALS. The hotel was used in the film with Marilyn Monroe, Some Like it Hot. The weather is gorgeous with highs in the low 70s and sunny skies.

Winona Redux

2005-08-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Ed and Steve Paddling, originally uploaded by Edgee.

While Michelle is in San Diego, I have a new paddling partner. Steve and I went paddling on the backwaters of the Mississippi River. After venturing through lilly pads and weeds in the backwaters we raced across the main channel to avoid the boat traffic. We visited Steve's friend, Aaron, and tried a faster mode of water travel, when we finally got it working.