Four Corners, Co

We left Cortez, Colorado on June 18 and continued west to California taking the backroads before we connected with the interstate. We couldn't resist a stop at Four Corners, if for no other reason than to see what was there.


Leon found the common point of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah interesting. But he also couldn't resist trying the Indian taco. We continued on 160 before connecting with Interstate 40. We were in the monument valley area and observed many of the giant rock formations along the road.

Cortez, CO

We left Arkansas in mid June heading to California with a planned stop in Cortez, Colorado. We were not on I 40 long before we opted for the back roads. Our first stop was at Boiling Springs State Park near Woodward, Oklahoma. It was a nice campground with a bike trail that we couldn't resist. From there we took the mountain route into New Mexico and enjoyed camping along the Red River at June Bug Campground near Red River, NM. It wasn't long before I was alongside the Red River with fly rod in hand.

We stopped in Cortez to visit with Leon's high school chum, Greg, and his wife Elaine. They showed us one fine time.

We accompanied Elaine, Greg, and their friends Sherman and Diane on this 66 mile ride in the San Juan National Forest north of Cortez.


The scenery in the mountains north of Cortez was absolutely awesome. We couldn't have found a better place to ride the quad or better people to ride with.

On June 15 the fab four packed a picnic and went to Mesa Verde National Park for the day. We learned about kivas, pithouses, monoliths and the culture of the Ancestral Puebloans, the politically correct term for the Indians that were called Anasazi.

We explored the Spruce House and some of the smaller sites and stopped at many of the overlooks viewing the abundant ruins along Chapin Mesa Road.

At the overlooks you could view many of the ruins across the canyon floor. Some are open for tours; others are not.


We took another day trip with the quads; this time to the canyonlands area west of Cortez. The scenery was quite different from our mountain ride but equally as interesting.

How excited we were to look across the river and spot our own ancient ruins.

It called for further investigation so through the river we went. Elaine loves to splash through mud puddles but sometimes she prefers to wade through the deeper waters!

No sooner had we crossed back through the river than Leon looked back and spotted another ruin. And again we had to take a closer look. We could only imagine what these ruins would look like if they were excavated.

We were obviously on a rarely traveled path. Greg led the way back to the road.


This ride was as close to a roller coaster ride as I care to get. It was another great day. You can see more photos of our Colorado trip.

Hot Springs, AR

Between trips we managed to spend several weeks in Hot Springs, Susan's home. This was Leon's first introduction to Bill Clinton's hometown. So of course he saw Bill's school, childhood barber shop, neighborhood hamburger joint, school, home, etc. Why even a trip to Little Rock was in order where we drove by the Presidential Museum. My daughter Kay and I had to catch up on phone calls while going to lunch at the River Walk alongside the Arkansas River.

Hot Springs is fortunate to have 3 man-made lakes that encircle the city along the Ouachita River. Here is a view of Lake Ouachita from the picnic spot on Hickory Nut Mountain.

We made several jaunts to the old down town where I enjoyed sharing some of the history of this well-known resort town and it's intriguing past. We once "bathed the world" and then took their money in gambling houses, auction houses, and even houses of ill repute! Since the 1960s when illegal gambling came to a halt, Hot Springs has become more of a family resort.

Leon is wading the creek below the falls on Falls Branch Trail at Lake Catherine State Park. We also hiked almost every trail on North Mountain.

Before leaving town on June 10 Leon and Kay shared a birthday cake while my son Jeff, sister Mary, and son-in-law John looked on. We were delighted that Leon's friend Bud showed up for a short visit also.

Then we stayed one more day when we learned Klara and Robert would be in town. So we celebrated with a meal at Back Porch Grill.

More photos: Hot Springs