Some have told us that they felt that this was our best trip
yet; quite possibly. The weather was in
our favor, we were fortunate to get some great campsites – and we visited eight
U.S. national parks. That, really, says
it all.
Each national park is unique and special. The Joshua trees, in the park of that name, look like something out of Dr. Seuss. The Grand Canyon is breathtaking; just a “hole in the ground,” it looks different from every angle and changes from morning through evening as the sun and clouds move over it. Lehman Caves in Great Basin are a world beneath the surface. About Crater Lake it has been said that no one ever forgets their first sight of the lake, and that is true. Mt. Rainier is formidable. Olympic is simply beautiful and the Hoh Rain Forest is something we did not expect in North America. The Redwoods are humbling. Lassen Volcanic has it all – mountains, snow, ice, wildflowers, and lakes.
And our first time experiencing the magnificence of the
Pacific Ocean.
But equally fulfilling was being together, just the two of
us, in our home on wheels (we sometimes refer to it as Bozin West), traveling.
After reviewing the many hundreds of pictures we took (we
are so thankful for the invention of digital photography), we have whittled
down our choices to “only” 111.
Hope you enjoy the journey,
Bill and Sima
1. Map2. Mojave National Preserve, California3. Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California 4. Joshua Tree National Park, California5. Joshua Tree National Park, California6. Joshua Tree Campground, California 7. Jumbo Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park, California 8. Jumbo Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park, California9. Cottonwood Spring, Joshua Tree National Park, California10. Ryan Ranch, Joshua Tree National Park, California11. Ryan Ranch, Joshua Tree National Park, California 12. Ryan Ranch, Joshua Tree National Park, California 13. Jerome, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood Historic Road, Arizona 14. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona15. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona16. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona17. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona18. Red Rock State Park, Arizona19. Red Rock State Park, Arizona20. Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona21. Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona22. Montezuma Well National Monument, Arizona23. Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona24. Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, Sedona, Arizona25. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona26. Elk next to our campsite, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona27. Trail to Visitors Center, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona28. Hopi House, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona29. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona30. Bright Angel Trail descending into canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona31. Bright Angel Trail descending into canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona32. Bright Angel Trail descending into canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona33. Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona34. Elk Family at Water Spigot, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona35. Great Basin National Park, Nevada36. Great Basin National Park, Nevada37. Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada38. Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada39. Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada40. Wheeler Peak Overlook, Great Basin National Park, Nevada41. Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Trail, Great Basin National Park, Nevada42. Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Trail, Great Basin National Park, Nevada43. Stella Lake, Great Basin National Park, Nevada44. Campground, Great Basin National Park, Nevada45. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon46. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon47. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon48. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon49. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon50. Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon51. Pinnacles Trailhead, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon 52. Waterwheel Campground, Oregon53. Elk Ridge Campground, Washington54. Elk Ridge Campground, Washington55. Elk Ridge Campground, Washington56. Road to Mt. Rainier, Washington57. White River, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington58. Christine Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington59. Christine Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington60. Narada Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington61. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington62. Marmot, Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington63. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington64. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington65. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington66. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington67. Olympic National Park, Washington68. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington69. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington70. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington71. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington72. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington73. Merrymere Falls Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington74. Merrymere Falls Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington75. Merrymere Falls Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington76. Elwa Dam Campground, Washington77. Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington78. River Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington79. River Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington80. Hoh River, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington81. River Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington82. Hall of Mosses Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington83. Pacific Ocean, First View, Washington84. Pacific Ocean at Nehalem Bay State Park, Washington85. View from Highway 101, Oregon86. View from Highway 101, Oregon87. Redwood National and State Parks, California88. River Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California89. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California90. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California91. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California92. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California93. Beneath the Giants Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California94. Cathedral Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California95. Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California96. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California97. Paradise Meadow Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California98. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California99. Lake Helen, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California 100. Earth Scope Plate Boundary Observatory Station, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California101. Mud Pot, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California 102. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California 103. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California104. Emerald Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California105. Lassen Peak Trailhead, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California106. Lassen Peak Trailhead, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California107. Summit Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California108. Manzanita Campground, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California109. Manzanita Lake Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California110. Manzanita Lake Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California111. Drive back to Las Vegas
We read today of the fire at Congregation Adas Israel in Duluth, Minnesota early Monday morning, September 9, 2019. For those who have been following this blog from the beginning, you may remember our post from Shabbat, June 24, 2017 – the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, 5777. We parked our RV in the parking lot of this beautiful synagogue, built in 1901-1902 (the congregation was established in the late 19th century), and had the honor of spending a Shabbat with the members of this shul. Over the years, as small towns in Minnesota and Wisconsin closed their doors for lack of members, several sent their books, Sifrei Torah, Aronot Kodesh, and memorial plaques to be housed here.
Original members of the congregationCornerstone of the shul (building began in 1901)
Upstairs shul:
Bill and David Sher, life-long member of the shul and our host
Downstairs shul:
One of the cupboards:
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Eight of the 14 Sifrei Torah were saved.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the wonderful members of
this congregation who opened their doors to us and with whom we shared a very
special Shabbat.
