SPS:The prehoneymoon parks

I still have one hour to post for SPS, I decided to post a photo from each of the national parks/monuments we traveled to directly before the wedding.

We left Texas early in the morning, because I woke up at 2 am ready to roll on out. So we got to the campground in Carlsbad New Mexico early in the afternoon. After 5th wheel set up and some food we decided to go to Guadalupe Mts NP. We did a couple short trails then headed back home. The next morning we were up early and were part of the rush to be first to go down into Carlsbad Caverns NP. We choose to go in the natural entrance which drops 740 feet in a mile and a quarter. Then we hiked around the big room, and used the elevators to head up to the
visitors center.

We made it to camp before noon, packed up in record time and drove to our next stop in Alamogordo NM. We spent two nights in a wonderful campground just outside town. We made it in time to hit White Sands NM for sunset. Then we got up early and made it there the next morning just after sunrise. I must say, it is an amazing park.

The next day, still being sore from Carlsbad, we decided to do a smaller scenic loop of the area near Alamogordo. North of town we stopped for Three Rivers Petroglyph area. We made it to the top of the ridge line and enjoyed many amazing petroglyphs along the way. This was an unplanned part of the trip, and it was a tiny little area, a jewel few people know about. We found it by the red dot on my atlas! There were no visitor brochures to be had! We also stopped by Valley of Fires State Park. (no photo)

The new morning we packed up and headed to Albuquerque NM for the last campground. The next morning, off to Petroglyph NM. Three days before the wedding, we were hiking to the top of a mesa to find some very cool petroglyphs. It was the last stop on our short but exciting trip back to Colorado Springs.

A fulfilled promise

While on my 6 day road trip, I was driving south to Flagstaff, Arizona to take a very southern route back to Pueblo due to a big snow storm. I had my trusty atlas with me, and saw Sunset Crater National Monument not far from my planned route. So I called my favorite friend Amy, and asked her about the park. I wanted to know if it would be worth it to go, because it would be pretty dark by the time I would have gotten there. She said it seemed like a cool place and that I should go if I got the chance. She also told me to take a photo of the sign, because it was a cool looking one! I did get there pretty late and managed to see a small portion of the park, and got some interesting sunset photos. Ironic?

You can see the crater in this last photo. I have plans to go back because it is an awesome looking park and my photos of the lava flows did not turn out so well in the dark. It is on the list for my my next extended leave from work.

What do you you think he is pointing at?

I have been away from the internet for a few days, had to stay in town to make sure I could get to work in the big ice/snow storm that hit. Unfortunately, all the pretty ice on all the trees melted today before I could run outside and photograph them as I was stuck inside all day working. So I decided to post another Gettysburg Battlefield statue, taken the same day as the previous 2 posts. I wonder what it was made to be pointing at?

statue in snow

It snowed a few days ago, I was dying to get outside and take some photos, but had to work. I work 12 hour shifts, so I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. Today, was my first day off post snow. I had to attend an in-service at work, and then had the rest of the day free. I went to work armed with my camera to stop at a state park on my way home. On a whim, I took a side road that led through part of the Gettysburg Battlefield. There were snow flurries today, so the sky was gray, and all of my photos had this eerie monotone look to them. At first I was not happy, then I looked again and discovered that they had the appearance of a black and white photo even when in color. This monument was just beautiful with the snow on it, and then to my surprise you see just a hint of color. It's a small flag peaking out from under the arm of the soldier.