2023 Winter & Spring Part II

One of the reasons to go to CA is that Yosemite National Park has been on my (Jean's) bucket list for a long time. Again, we were in the right place at the right time. The waterfalls in the park were "gushing" because of all of the winter snowfall melt.  In fact, one of the major highways through the park was closed due to snowfall (and remained that way through most of the summer). We arrived in the area on Tuesday, visited the park on Wednesday and on Thursday they announced that the park would be temporarily closed on Friday due to flooding in the Merced River. Talk about timing! 

I love this picture with the reflection of the waterfall in the river. 

As I have said many times before, pictures don't do it justice. Yosemite did not disappoint!

While in Tuolumne, we found an old railroad museum to visit. This is the fun of RV'ing. Hadn't planned on it but when we went it was a pleasant surprise. The museum houses old locomotives, including rhe one that was used it the "Petticoat Junction" TV show. 

Leaving CA, we traveled through the Sierra Nevada Mountains heading to Colorado. We frequently stay overnight in Walmart parking lots when we are traveling. It's not often that you can get a picture like this from a Walmart parking lot!

Spring blooms on the tree with snow capped mountains in the background. 

Colorado beckoned again. We had planned to go back when I had new knees so I could walk on the trails at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This year we did both the north and south rims.  

Unfortunately, the road to the bottom of the canyon was closed due to repairs. Black Canyon is like the Grand Canyon but on a smaller scale as you can see across the canyon to the other side. It is one of our favorite places. 

Trees growing out of the rocks!

Gunnison River running through the canyon. 

The beauty of CO is everywhere. We were located near Glenwood Springs. Again, in the right place at the right time. We were treated to red and green mountains. Locals told us that five years ago, they were all brown due to drought. Again, because of heavy winter snowfall, the drought was gone and the mountains were vibrant instead of drab. 

This is the creek that was gushing through our campground. 

We were sad to leave CO behind. There is so much to see there. We want to go to the Royal Gorge and to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. That's for another trip. 

I'm including this picture as part of our ongoing saga to see bears in the wild. Yes these are bears not in a zoo, but at a wildlife sanctuary. 

From CO we headed to MN for our annual trek to Mayo Clinic for checkups. I was supposed to have hip surgery. However, before we left CO I had an accident with my bike (tipping over on a gravel road). I got a nasty gash in my knee right next to the incision from my knee surgery. My surgery was postponed because of the open wound. When I could get it scheduled it interfered with the rest of our summer and fall plans so it has been put off for a year. 

We did get to see granddaughter Mira perform in "Anything Goes" at the Mankato Playhouse. She did a great job! (We're not biased at all.) After that the family met for a get together - this is the second year in a row it has rained. Fear not, the grands just played in the rain while the adults talked. 

Having missed the east coast contingent of the family in '22 due to my first knee replacement, we were excited to reconnect in person with Andy's kids in MD. We were able to enjoy the National Aquarium in Baltimore with Sam and grandson Brickell. (A good reminder that 3 year olds don't walk, they run.) 

Allison and I went to the Barbie movie since the guys didn't want to see it. A good time was had by all just being together. We enjoyed going out on Allison and Vince's boat with them. 

Now we are back in Red Bay for annual maintenance on the RV and a few upgrades as well. We are looking forward to fall, cooler weather and the Albuquerque Balloon Festival!