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. Map
2. Mojave National Preserve, California
3. Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California
4. Joshua Tree National Park, California
5. Joshua Tree National Park, California
6. Joshua Tree Campground, California
7. Jumbo Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park, California
8. Jumbo Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park, California
9. Cottonwood Spring, Joshua Tree National Park, California
10. Ryan Ranch, Joshua Tree National Park, California
11. 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, Arizona
15. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona
16. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona
17. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona
18. Red Rock State Park, Arizona
19. Red Rock State Park, Arizona
20. Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona
21. Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona
22. Montezuma Well National Monument, Arizona
23. Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona
24. Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, Sedona, Arizona
25. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
26. Elk next to our campsite, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
27. Trail to Visitors Center, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
28. Hopi House, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
29. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
30. Bright Angel Trail descending into canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
31. Bright Angel Trail descending into canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
32. Bright Angel Trail descending into canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
33. Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
34. Elk Family at Water Spigot, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
35. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
36. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
37. Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
38. Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
39. Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
40. Wheeler Peak Overlook, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
41. Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Trail, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
42. Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Trail, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
43. Stella Lake, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
44. Campground, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
45. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
46. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
47. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
48. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
49. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
50. Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
51. Pinnacles Trailhead, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
52. Waterwheel Campground, Oregon
53. Elk Ridge Campground, Washington
54. Elk Ridge Campground, Washington
55. Elk Ridge Campground, Washington
56. Road to Mt. Rainier, Washington
57. White River, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
58. Christine Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
59. Christine Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
60. Narada Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
61. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
62. Marmot, Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
63. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
64. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
65. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
66. Skyline Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
67. Olympic National Park, Washington
68. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
69. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
70. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
71. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
72. Hurricane Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
73. Merrymere Falls Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
74. Merrymere Falls Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
75. Merrymere Falls Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
76. Elwa Dam Campground, Washington
77. Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
78. River Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
79. River Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
80. Hoh River, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
81. River Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
82. Hall of Mosses Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
83. Pacific Ocean, First View, Washington
84. Pacific Ocean at Nehalem Bay State Park, Washington
85. View from Highway 101, Oregon
86. View from Highway 101, Oregon
87. Redwood National and State Parks, California
88. River Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
89. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
90. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
91. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
92. Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
93. Beneath the Giants Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
94. Cathedral Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
95. Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, Redwood National and State Parks, California
96. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
97. Paradise Meadow Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
98. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
99. Lake Helen, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
100. Earth Scope Plate Boundary Observatory Station, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
101. Mud Pot, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
102. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
103. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
104. Emerald Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
105. Lassen Peak Trailhead, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
106. Lassen Peak Trailhead, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
107. Summit Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
108. Manzanita Campground, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
109. Manzanita Lake Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
110. Manzanita Lake Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
111. Drive back to Las Vegas