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We went up the St. Louis Arch on Tuesday morning (over 600 feet) and got some wonderful views of downtown and the Mississippi River.  We then started home and made an overnight stop in Indiana.  After a long day of travel, we arrived home on Wedsnesday evening.  We travelled 7,700 miles (and Rich did ALL the driving) using over 700 gallons of gas, saw seven National Parks, three Memorials and one Monument, went through 19 states in 37 days.  We thank God for an absolutely beautiful and safe trip.

Rich and Dottie

St Louis

We have made progress east since we last posted. Friday we were in Amarillo, Texas for the night.  Saturday we moved on to Oklahoma City and visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.  A very moving tribute to those who lost their lives that day.  There was a race track and casino very close to where we were staying so we stopped to see the horses race for awhile that evening.  Sunday we travelled most of the day and stayed in a very small campground in the middle of Missouri.  Today we drove to St. Louis and toured the Budweiser brewery ( where it all started).  Visited downtown and went thru the museum below the Arch.  However we have to return there first thing in the morning to ride the tram because the tickets for today were all sold out.

Albuquerque, NM

We spent all day Wednesday at the Grand Canyon.  It was just as beautiful as we remembered when we visited here several years ago.  We stayed until sunset then returned to Williams.  On Thursday we set out on our journey toward home.  We stopped and visited Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona and it was interesting to learn about the petrified trees.  We continued on and are spending the night just outside of Albuquerque.  Tomorrow we will continue to head eastward.

Grand Canyon

We are staying at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Resort.  Today we rode the train from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon.  It was a good day, beautiful weather.  Enjoyed the train ride, the wild west show, the music, the train robbery and of course the views of the Grand Canyon.  Amazing!!!  Going back again tomorrow, this time driving, to enjoy more of the beauty.

Las Vegas

We've been staying at the Las Vegas RV Resort which is a very nice place but there is no shade.  It's hot here in the upper 90's.  We have gone to visit a lot of the hotel/casinos along the strip.  They are huge pieces of property.  Very impressive.  And there are a lot of people here which makes it interesting to people watch.  Also visited Hoover Dam today.  Tomorrow we will leave for the Grand Canyon - back to the beauty of God's creation. 

Zion and Bryce Canyon

We are now in Las Vegas with better internet connection.  Spent the past 4 days divided between Zion & Bryce Parks.  Already gave you a brief description of Monday and Tuesday in prevous posts.  Wednesday we spent at Zion hiking more "strenuous" trails.  Did the hike to the Emerald Pools which was very nice.  Also hiked some on the bottom portion of the West Rim Trail heading towards Angels Landing but it got really steep so we turned around but not until we saw many wondrous views of the canyon.  Good thing we did stop because a heavy storm came along.  But we had a great day taking in the sights of Zion.  Thursday we returned to Bryce to finish seeing the rest of the park.  We went to Inspiration and Bryce Points to overlook the canyon where we had ridden the mules.  We were able to pick out some of the trails we had ridden.  Good thing we did the mule ride because I don't think we would have been able to hike to far down into the canyon.  They say "remember, when you go down, you must come up to return".  We drove along the park road stopping at all the overlooks which presented such wonderful views - you could see for miles!!!  It was only in the 50's there all day.  Now we are in Vegas where it is close to 90.

Bryce Canyon pictures