Tomorrow is another drive day so wont be as many pictures either.
TTFN,
Ashley
Friday, May 6, 2016
Day Eight: Limon,CO
We left Grand Junction this morning at 9am and arrived in Limon around 3pm. Today was just another drive day but we drove through Eisenhower Tunnel. This is an engineering masterpiece because unlike normal tunnels this one was constructed with long beams running the length of the tunnel. The Eisenhower Tunnel is made right along the Continental plates so the long beams shift with the movement.
Day Seven: Grand Junction,CO
Today was just a drive day to back track to get to Grand Junction. We literally jumped right back on the highway and headed towards Moab,UT. Stopped there for a delicious burger then back in the road.
When I Moab I went and shot some pool with a few locals. At the diner ran back into one of the people I played against. 
Tanner was absolutely hilarious and is a traveler himself. In fact Walt and I have added a few more sites to see on next years trip.
We arrived in Grand Junction earlier than planned so went a little further to Pallisades. Pallisades is where my Uncle Jack use to live before he passed. He is the cause of Walt and Mones road tripping adventures. Was kind of nice to see what his old place looked like. We also stopped at a winery and did a little tasting those what was really fun.
Tomorrow is just a drive day as well to Limon,CO. We are going to drive through the Eisenhower Tunnel which is an engineering marvel. So pictures of that tomorrow.
TTFN,
Ashley
(Come on hotels get some pictures on your walls.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Day 6: Bloomfield,NM
Today was amazing. I have a new love....Masonry. Chaco Canyon was absolutely phenomenal. Chaco Canyon hosts the densest and most preserved pueblos in the Southwest. The Chacoan Ruins were built between 850 A.D to 1150 A.D.
Now that you`ve had a brief history lesson let me tell you about our day. We arrived at the meet-up site at 8am. Then drove the 1.5hrs out to the canyon. Spent all day hiking around these different archeoligcal ruin sites (10ish miles total) then headed back to get car. This was an incredible trip and I would highly suggest getting a tour instead of trying to go out by yourself. The knowledge our guide Larry had was amazing. Speaking of Larry, here he is with Walt and I after our long day. ( I am so burnt)
We were able to not only walk around some of the kevas and housing structures but were able to step inside some of them as well. The Keva was where ceremonies and meetings were held and around that were large structures made up of 10-100 rooms for families to live in. One of the largest sites were were able to see was 3 acres in total and was 4 stories high. Sadly Giant rocks crushed the surviving 4th floor so you can only see a small bit of it standing.
The interesting thing was that we were mostly walking along the 2nd floor because the 1st was covered with so much dirt from the years. The people of this time era were short so some of us struggled to get through doorways. They were anywhere between 4`10 for women and 5`4 for men (my kind of people)
Now onto the part that I focused a majority of my day asking questions about...Masonry. The effort these people put in to make their structures was crazy. The stone work has lasted so long and we had the opportunity to also see a room that still had original plaster on the walls. There are 6 types of stones structure styles to be found along the ruins.
Type 1 and 2 are normally larger stones with large sections of mortar as well. In the empty parts there is chinking which are small pieces of stone.
Type 3 and 4 are a single line of large stone then two to three layers of smaller stone with mortar in between. This type most likely came about due to the lack of large stone available. The structures weren`t built all at once (over hundreds of years) and the Chacoans didn't have the means to face the canyon wall to get stone from there.
Type 5 and 6 is mostly small pieces of stone with very little mortar. This is thought to be because there was signs of a very long drought making mortar hard to make.
Each of these types can be seen throughout the ruins. It is amazing that after thousands of years these ruins are still standing. The roofs have since fallen apart as have most of the floors but the structure itself still stands. The Chacoans built a place to last and although they moved on their style and culture is preserved today.
I hope you enjoyed my long post for today. There was so much information and incredible views that its hard to get it all down in words. If you ever want to listen to me ramble about today's trip feel free to ask (or dont because i might just ramble anyways)
TTFN,
Ashley
Now that you`ve had a brief history lesson let me tell you about our day. We arrived at the meet-up site at 8am. Then drove the 1.5hrs out to the canyon. Spent all day hiking around these different archeoligcal ruin sites (10ish miles total) then headed back to get car. This was an incredible trip and I would highly suggest getting a tour instead of trying to go out by yourself. The knowledge our guide Larry had was amazing. Speaking of Larry, here he is with Walt and I after our long day. ( I am so burnt)
We were able to not only walk around some of the kevas and housing structures but were able to step inside some of them as well. The Keva was where ceremonies and meetings were held and around that were large structures made up of 10-100 rooms for families to live in. One of the largest sites were were able to see was 3 acres in total and was 4 stories high. Sadly Giant rocks crushed the surviving 4th floor so you can only see a small bit of it standing.
The interesting thing was that we were mostly walking along the 2nd floor because the 1st was covered with so much dirt from the years. The people of this time era were short so some of us struggled to get through doorways. They were anywhere between 4`10 for women and 5`4 for men (my kind of people)
The wood you see is part of an intact ceiling from a small room that I had to crawl into. Walt sacrificed me. Was incredible to look up and see preserved what people a thousand years ago would see.
Type 1 and 2 are normally larger stones with large sections of mortar as well. In the empty parts there is chinking which are small pieces of stone.
Type 3 and 4 are a single line of large stone then two to three layers of smaller stone with mortar in between. This type most likely came about due to the lack of large stone available. The structures weren`t built all at once (over hundreds of years) and the Chacoans didn't have the means to face the canyon wall to get stone from there.
Type 5 and 6 is mostly small pieces of stone with very little mortar. This is thought to be because there was signs of a very long drought making mortar hard to make.
I hope you enjoyed my long post for today. There was so much information and incredible views that its hard to get it all down in words. If you ever want to listen to me ramble about today's trip feel free to ask (or dont because i might just ramble anyways)
TTFN,
Ashley
Day 5: Bloomfield,NM
Today was a short drive from Moab,UT to here in New Mexico. Tomorrow is our guided tour of Chaco Canyon. Its an all day adventure and We are so ready to see some ruins.
TTFN,
Ashley
TTFN,
Ashley
Monday, May 2, 2016
Day Four: Moab.UT
Today was just a short hop and skip (300miles) over to Moab,UT. Just a drive day but nice to be back in Moab.
Moab was were Walt and I did our Jeep climbing ride two years ago as well as our hike in National Arches Park. The weather was super cloudy and rained part of the way. We are chasing a storm east and I hope it goes away soon, some bright weather would make picture taking a little easier as well the drive a little shorter.
Tomorrow we are off to Bloomsfeild,NM for the next two days.
TTFN,
Ashley
Moab was were Walt and I did our Jeep climbing ride two years ago as well as our hike in National Arches Park. The weather was super cloudy and rained part of the way. We are chasing a storm east and I hope it goes away soon, some bright weather would make picture taking a little easier as well the drive a little shorter.
Tomorrow we are off to Bloomsfeild,NM for the next two days.
TTFN,
Ashley
Day Three: Panguitch, UT and Bryce Canyon
We took off to the Bryce Canyon Lodge a little earlier than needed but arrived safely. When we got to the lodge we check in to our ride then went to the visitor center. Walt and I adopted a Utah Perrie Dog while there so that was interesting. Basically there is only a small amoutn left and last week two were hit by cars in the park. They want to raise awareness of these adorable little critters.
After the visitor center we headed down to the corrals a little early (we both were itching to start the ride) There was a least 50 horses and mules just relaxing against rails. I watched a feisty palomino try to untie himself and torture the poor mule next tot him. I told Walt it would be funny if thats who i got stuck with.
The weather was a little overcasty and chilly but I didnt care at all. I had two options when the guy asked how much riding experiance I had; I could tell him I rode all the time or just say very little. I went went with the first option. I was assigned Yellow Jacket a Golden Palomino (yes the evil one) and Walt was assigned a pokey tall mule. Her name was Ol` Red, Walt wanted a tall one. I was told Yellow Jacket was a little speedy adn would have to be ridden not the other way around. It felt nice being assigned a horse that wasnt just a "Typical dude ranch horse."
The ride was 9 miles and just over 3 hours long. The view was amazing as you can tell by the pictures. Im so glad we were able to do the ride instead of just drive around the canyon rim. OUr guide Eddy was absoultely hilarious and I would highly suggest riding out with him. THere was about 7 people in our small group with 3 other groups behind us.
I would go back on a ride again tomorrow if given the option to go. One the best ways to see the world is on the back of a magical creature. Yellow Jacket reminded me so much of my first horse Buddy so it was a little bittersweet.
Enjoy the small collage of photos of Bryce Canyon
TTFN,
Ashley
After the visitor center we headed down to the corrals a little early (we both were itching to start the ride) There was a least 50 horses and mules just relaxing against rails. I watched a feisty palomino try to untie himself and torture the poor mule next tot him. I told Walt it would be funny if thats who i got stuck with.
The weather was a little overcasty and chilly but I didnt care at all. I had two options when the guy asked how much riding experiance I had; I could tell him I rode all the time or just say very little. I went went with the first option. I was assigned Yellow Jacket a Golden Palomino (yes the evil one) and Walt was assigned a pokey tall mule. Her name was Ol` Red, Walt wanted a tall one. I was told Yellow Jacket was a little speedy adn would have to be ridden not the other way around. It felt nice being assigned a horse that wasnt just a "Typical dude ranch horse."
The ride was 9 miles and just over 3 hours long. The view was amazing as you can tell by the pictures. Im so glad we were able to do the ride instead of just drive around the canyon rim. OUr guide Eddy was absoultely hilarious and I would highly suggest riding out with him. THere was about 7 people in our small group with 3 other groups behind us.
I would go back on a ride again tomorrow if given the option to go. One the best ways to see the world is on the back of a magical creature. Yellow Jacket reminded me so much of my first horse Buddy so it was a little bittersweet.
Enjoy the small collage of photos of Bryce Canyon
TTFN,
Ashley
Day Two: Panguitch, UT
Day 2: Panguitch, UT
Today was just a drive day from Elko to Panguitch so nothing super exciting. Seemed to take forever driving though. Tomorrow is the ride through Bryce Canyon so I`m super stoked about that.
TTFN,
Ashley
(no photo above bed :/ )
Today was just a drive day from Elko to Panguitch so nothing super exciting. Seemed to take forever driving though. Tomorrow is the ride through Bryce Canyon so I`m super stoked about that.
TTFN,
Ashley
(no photo above bed :/ )
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