We’ve been retired for 10 years! This is a look back at our first couple of years.
April 1, 2010, was our first day of retirement. It was a Thursday. We had a pretty good idea where we were going
the next few months but after that . . . ????
Our first year: TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, WY, MT, Canada, ID,
WY, TX, NM, TX
April: We headed
out on our first trip as retirees on Monday, April 5, 2010. We spent our first month in Texas visiting
Goose Island State Park, all the birding hot spots in the Rio Grande Valley, Davis
Mountains State Park and a couple of one-night stops in a few other state
parks.
It is quite a drive to get out of Texas, especially if
you’re all the way down in Mission!
May: The month of
May was very busy.
We were in Silver City, New Mexico where we saw the Gila
Cliff Dwellings, and walked The Catwalk.
Gila Cliff Dwellings
We moved to Rodeo and visited Cave Creek, Rustler
Park, Walker House, S.W. Research station - all places we have visited many
times.
A week at Kartchner Cavern State Park was plenty of time
to see Chiricahua National Monument, Miller Canyon, San Pedro House, Fort Huachuca,
Joe French Canyon, and drive the Kartchner Loop trail.
Chiricahua National Monument
Having a snack on a hoodoo
By the middle of the month we were in Overgaard, Arizona. We only had five days here but we made the
most of our time going to the ice cave in Show Low, hiking the Chevelon Creek
Trail to Woods Canyon Lake, and even playing bocce ball for the first time at
the Elk Pine RV Resort.
We celebrated Mark’s birthday at Willow Springs Lake.
Mark’s birthday hike.
We spent the rest of the month in Utah. We stayed at Ruby’s RV Park, right outside
Bryce Canyon. Our friends Rick and
Sharon came to visit and we had a wonderful time in Red Canyon, Willis Creek
Slot Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Escalante Grande Staircase, and hiking many trails.
Red Canyon
Douglas Fir trees smell like butterscotch.
Slot Canyon
We even had a little snow!
Golden Wall Trail
With a few more days left in the month we moved to Green
River, Utah. We had never been to Arches
National Park. We spent two early
mornings in the park (early to avoid the crowds) and had fun seeing Delicate
Arch and Balanced Rock and climbing all over Devils Garden.
Delicate Rock
Balanced Rock
Landscape Arch
We did beat the crowds.
This is why we got to the park early!
June - We spent the month of June hiking around Rocky Mountain
National Park in Colorado and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Rifle Falls - Rifle Gap, Colorado
Fairyslipper - Rocky Mountain National Park
Grand Tetons
Grand Tetons
Green Mountains Falls - Wyoming
Sinks Canyon - Wyoming
July - In July we moved over to Yellowstone National Park. We saw Old Faithful, the Artist Paint Pots,
Lovers Falls, Wraith Falls, Slough Creek, Cascade Lake.
Yellowstone Bison
Lost Lake Trail
Old Faithful
Lovers Falls
What a fun look back. We have been to so many of those places too. Looking forward to more updates.
ReplyDeleteThanks Serene. More to come!
DeleteYou had a busy first year. We have been on the road for 12 years and don't have plans to slow down yet. Thanks for a look back at your first year. Hope Mark and you are all rested up and healed from your ills.
ReplyDeleteWe are doing great and are ready to hit the road!
ReplyDelete