Head Back to Niagara Falls

Early this morning we left Albany and headed west making our way back to Niagara Falls. We had a few options of stopping along the way to see some things. Nothing was set in stone we would just play it by ear as we drove the New York State Thruway. Our first decision to stop was in Rome to visit Fort Stanwix National Monument. But before we made it to the Monument we decided to have breakfast. We stopped at Raspberries. When we arrived the place was empty and we were a little concerned if this was the right choice. But right after we placed our order four people walked in, then three more and then a bus load of students. I was glad we got there before the bus or it could have been a very long wait. Turned out that the food was delicious and the service was excellent. After breakfast was done we made our way to Fort Stanwix. We arrived just in time to join a guided tour that had just started. We got some history and information in the lobby and then headed into an exhibit and then off to the Fort itself. The tour lasted about half an hour and then we were free to roam around the Fort. After another half an hour we made our way back to the Visitor Center where I bought some postcards and got the Passport Stamps. Then it was time to hit the road again.

Before we reached I90 it started to rain. At first it was a soft rain that soon developed into a downpour. We had to slow down to about 30mph and the visibility was horrific. There were a few time we thought about pulling off but we continued to drive just going slow and being careful. The rain lasted for a little over an hour and then the sun came out and it turned into a beautiful day.

We made our next stop in Auburn to visit the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. Unfortunately, the Site isn't open on Mondays so we missed that and incidentally we also wanted to visit the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls but unfortunately they were only open on the weekends due to not having enough staff. After striking out on these two places we decided just to head to our hotel in Niagara Falls.

After checking in and getting settled in our room we thought we might head toward the Falls and walk around but we were both worn out. The pouring rain during the drive really exhausted us. So we read and rested until around 6:00pm when we decided to find something to eat. We ended up walking just a few blocks from our hotel to Villella's Italian Ristorante. Again, we worried because there wasn't anyone else there. Turned out we shouldn't have worried. The food was delicious and it was nice being in a quiet environment. It was also a nice way to end the day.

Once dinner was done we headed back to the hotel and relaxed. We have no plan for tomorrow - we will see what happens.

Spending the Day with the National Park Service

Our plans for today involved a drive from Albany to Hyde Park. We are going on a road trip to visit a few National Monuments. I had mapped out a drive that avoided any interstates, so we traveled state and US highways. It was a beautiful drive. We stopped in Hudson for some coffee and a snack about halfway through our drive. It took us about half an hour to arrive in Hyde Park.

And we made our first stop at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. The only way to visit the home is through a guided tour. We had about 45 minutes to wait until the next tour started so I made sure to grab my Passport Stamps and visit the gift shop for some postcards and a patch. Then we walked around the Visitor Center and looked at an exhibit until the tour began. The tour started with an introduction of the area through an inlaid mosaic map on the floor of the Visitor Center. Then we walked to Springwood (FDR's home) and we got a tour of the downstairs and more history and information. Then we were free to roam around the house and go upstairs. When we were done we could visit the grounds on our own. The views from the back of the house were incredible. We also toured the garden and graves of Franklin and Eleanor in the gardens. Our last stop here was FDR's Presidential Library and Museum. This was the first Presidential Library ever and it was opened while FDR was still President (he was the only President to be elected to four terms). Here is blurb about FDR felt about opening a library.

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed the idea of building a library to house his papers and memorabilia, detractors believed he was simply interested in constructing a monument to himself. Roosevelt, however, viewed the library as a solution to two problems – how to simultaneously preserve and provide public access to the records of his presidency. His was an attitude of “open government,” believing that the people of the United States were entitled to a better look at how their government was working, even at the executive level.                

We spent about an hour and a half in the Library and barely got through the main floor exhibits. We didn't have time to visit the lower level so we will definitely have to make a trip back here.

So we left the FDR's place and headed about a mile and a half away to the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. We stopped in at the Visitor Center and paid our fee, grabbed the Passport Stamps and some postcards and then took the guided tour of the house - Val-Kill. We had the most incredible tour guide. I think he is probably the best tour guide I have ever had at a National Park Unit. Not only was he knowledgeable and fun, he was also inspired and filled with emotion. You could tell that he truly loved everything about Eleanor Roosevelt. He brought her to life through his tour - it was an amazing time walking through the house and learning about this incredible woman. By the time we finished the tour it had started to rain and we still had a couple of things we wanted to see. So we left Val-Kill and began our drive back toward Albany. But while still in Hyde Park we made a stop at Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. When we got there we learned that the mansion was undergoing renovations and there was no furniture in the place. So we decided to skip the guided tour and just looked around the gift shop and at a couple of exhibits. I did get the Passport Stamps and some postcards before we were back on the road headed back to Albany.

We made another stop along the way at the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site. Here we wanted to take the tour of Lindenwald - his home. We made it to the Visitor Center just in time to get some postcards and the Passport Stamps before the last tour of the day started. The Ranger at the Visitor Center locked up and the escorted us to the house for the tour. Here we met a young man who gave us a 40 minute tour of the house. Such wonderful history and information. Ever since we had left Eleanor Roosevelt's place it had been raining and it was still raining when our tour ended at Lindenwald. Still I wanted to get a couple of pictures of the outside and thankfully the rain at this point was only a light drizzle and I was able to get a good picture before we returned to the car.

I have to say that his was one of the most enjoyable days of this trip. I learned so much about some incredible people and have a new appreciation of what they contributed to our country. I was most impressed with Eleanor Roosevelt - what a strong, intelligent, dedicated, caring, and hard working person. I think I have found a new hero.

We finished our drive back to Albany and decided to stop for a bite to eat before heading back to the hotel. It was around 6:30pm when we got dinner and it was almost 8:00pm when we arrive at the hotel. It has been a long day, full of information and history, very enjoyable.

Ruins and an Alligator

Today our plans included some ancient ruins and a big tree. We were up early this morning because we had plans to visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Yesterday on our drive on NM 35 we saw a sign that said it could take up to two hours to reach the park. We had also been told by some friends that the drive takes at least an hour and a half. We started our drive in Silver City and took NM 15 (we didn't see a sign on this road). There is incredible scenery along this drive and there is beauty around every curve (and there are quite a few curves).

View from NM 15

The road winds its way through mountain terrain and is narrow in some areas. You get fantastic views of the valleys below, you pass through pine forests and there are impressive rock formations as you make your way north. New Mexico highway 15 is also part of the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway. As we drove I asked Thomas to pull over and stop so I could take pictures. We also made two stops along the way to find letterboxes and you can read about that part of the trip at Boxing NM 15, Trial of the Mountain Spirits and Big Tree Trail. There is a scenic overlook with a short trail and interpretive signs at Copperas Vista (Senator Clinton P. Anderson Scenic Overlook). We stopped here long enough to read all the signs and take some pictures. Then we continued along the road and made another stop at a pullout with an interpretive sign for Alum Mountain. This spot also has some fantastic views. From this point we weren't too far from the Cliff Dwellings so we didn't make any stops until we reached the Visitor Center.

At the Visitor Center we got information from a woman working there, I collected my National Park Passport Cancellation Stamps and bought a couple of post cards, a patch and a small book about the Cliff Dwellings. Then Thomas and I watched the 15 minute video about the Mogollon Culture and looked at the exhibit of artifacts. Before we left the Visitor Center to head to the trail I asked the woman about their Senior Ranger program. She handed me a photocopied booklet and told me that when I finished it I could give it to any Ranger to get my patch. The trail to get to the Cliff Dwellings is not at the Visitor Center. You have to drive about two miles from the Visitor Center to the trailhead. There is also a small museum at this area.

Gila Cliff Dwellings

When we got to the trailhead we were handed a map and given a short orientation and then we could head out to the dwellings. The trail starts after you cross over a bridge. As we reached the end of the bridge a javelina ran across the trail and down a hill. Then we saw movement off to our left and saw three more javelinas. The trail starts out easy and you cross a few bridges over a creek and then the trail follows along the left side of the creek. This part of the trail is level and easy as you walk along the creek on your right and the cliff wall on your left. Eventually you reach some steps that take you up to the cliff dwellings. Once you reach the top of the steps the dwellings are just a short distance ahead. There are Rangers there that can guide you and answer questions. We had a great guide. Her name was Kess and she was volunteering as part of her college credit. She took us through the dwellings and answered all the questions we had. When we finished walking through the dwellings we headed down the trail back to the trailhead and museum. While on the trail and at the dwellings I filled out some of the Senior Ranger booklet and when I got back to the trailhead I finished it. When that was done Thomas and I walked through the small museum. Before we left the park we returned to the Visitor Center so I could turn in my booklet and get my patch.

After that we drove back down NM 15 to Silver City. In Silver City we went to the historic downtown area and walked around and the got something to eat. Now that we ate and were rested it was time to continue with our day.

Our next stop was past Fort Bayard at the Fort Bayard Administrative Site Trailhead. The goal for this trip was to see the Fort Bayard Big Juniper Tree.

Big Alligator Juniper Tree

This tree is the second largest alligator Juniper Tree. Its diameter is 70.2 in, circumference is 18 feet 4 inches, crown spread is 62 feet, and height is 63 feet. We took the Big Tree Trail and walked between two and two and a half miles to get to the tree. The trail is relatively easy. Along the trail we walked through a gate and crossed over the Wood Haul Trail and passed the intersection for the Sawmill Wagon Trail. During our walk we went through stands of oak and maple trees and saw beautiful meadows full of wildflowers. Actually there were wildflowers all along the trail. We finally reached the Big Tree and it is pretty impressive and worth the hike. We spent a little time hanging out at a picnic table next to the tree. After about 30 minutes we made our way back to the car. I guess we walked around five miles and it was a great way to spend the afternoon.

We returned to Silver City and decided we had earned the right to get ice cream. So we made a quick stop at Dairy Queen and got blizzards to take back to the hotel. Now that we have taken showers we are relaxing and discussing our day. We had a fantastic time at the Gila Cliff Dwellings and enjoyed the Big Tree.

  Silver City – Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument – Silver City – Fort Bayard Administrative Site – Silver City 113 miles | 3 hours 52 minutes

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Thomas and I decided to take a weekend get away to Alamosa, Colorado and visit the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve as well as the Zapata Falls Recreation Area. This morning we set out around 8:00am and made the 40 minute drive from Alamosa to the Park. We took US 160 and then CO 150 to get to the Dunes. When we arrived there was an electronic road sign announcing that today the National Park Service was celebrating its 100th Anniversary and admission for the day was 'FREE'. As we entered, a Ranger at the fee station welcomed us and gave us a Park Visitor Guide. We continued up the road and made a stop at the Visitor Center. While I got my National Park Cancellation Stamps Thomas looked around at the exhibits. This Park has four Cancellation Stamps out for you to stamp into your Passport Book. So I got those four and then asked the Ranger at the desk if they had any stamps saved in the back. They had three stamps so I took the time to stamp those into my book.

Once I was done stamping I asked the Ranger if they allowed adults to do the Junior Ranger Program. She said 'yes' and handed me a pencil and three booklets (Junior Rangers and Park Explorers, Centennial Junior Ranger Activity Book and Historic Preservation Junior Ranger Activity Book). Most of the National Parks allow adults to participate in the Junior Ranger Program. Some of them have Senior Ranger Programs as well. I first learned about this from a letterboxing friend. She and her husband have been to all the National Park Units in the lower 48 states and she even has a blog about the Junior Ranger Programs that is called Junior Ranger - Senior Friendly Programs.

The Junior Rangers and Park Explorers (specifically for Great Sand Dunes) book is divided into four age groups - Ages 3-6, Ages 7-9, Ages 10-12 and Ages 13 & up. Each age group has an icon (Kangaroo Rat, Bear, Elk and Binoculars) and each age group had to complete a certain number of activities that were marked with the icon for the age group. So I had to complete six activities marked with a binocular - these included things like Dunes Bingo Scavenger Hunt, Be an Artist (draw something you saw out on the dunes), Dunes Exploration (list animals and plants you saw and write a poem about how the dunes were formed), Draw the Arrowhead logo, Habitat Diversity (the different habitats of the Dunes) and Habitat Match (match animals and plants to there habitat).

The Centennial Junior Ranger Activity Book is divided into three age groups - Ages 6 and under, Ages 7-10 and Ages 11 and older. For this book I had to complete 10 activities in this book. This is a special ranger program to celebrate the National Parks 100th anniversary. There was nothing marking which activities I had to do - it just stated that 11 and older had to complete at least 10 activities in the book. Activities included National Park Service Symbols, Keeping a Journal of the day, Past and Present Native Cultures, Write a Cinquain Poem (a five line poem that does not rhyme), Rappin' with a Ranger (interviewing a Ranger about their job) and Protecting Special Places. I ended up 11 activities.

The Historic Preservation Junior Ranger Activity Book is divided into three age groups - Ages 7-9, Ages 10-12 and Ages 13 and up. For this book I had to complete 10 activities. This booklet had to do with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The activities in this book included Word Search, a Maze (matching people to places they helped to protect), Matching National Parks with their locations, Civilian Conservation Corps (write a letter home describing what your job is with the CCC), Unscrambling Park names, Crossword Puzzle and Solve a Code. I was able to 10 of the activities completed.

Now that I had these books I needed to find a place to sit and look at the books to see what I needed to look for and to do to complete the activites. But before this I wanted to get my squished pennies. The penny machine is located in the gift shop so I went there and got that done and then I found a bench and looked at the booklets. You can complete the books by looking around the Visitor Center, taking short hikes and walking out to the dunes.

So once I knew what I was looking for and the things I needed to complete the books Thomas and I drove up to the Dunes Parking and then headed out for a walk to and up the Dunes. The two highest points on the Dunes are High Dune (699 ft.) and Star Dune (755 ft.) and we decided to start walking and see how far we got. To get to the Dunes you have to walk across Medano Creek. Today the creek was almost non existent so it was easy to get across. At first the sand is level and easy enough to walk on. But as you get to the point when the the sand becomes hills it gets much harder to walk. The sand is deep and each time you take a step your foot sinks and slides back a little bit and it seems like you aren't getting anywhere. As we walked (with our sights set on making it up to High Dune) we started to think we may not make it. Our legs were getting a really good workout. But we kept trudging along and eventually (with a lot of rest breaks) we made it up to the top. We also thought that we might want to try to get to Star Dune but once we got to High Dune we just didn't have the energy. So we sat at the top and enjoyed the views for a while and then decided to head back to the car.

At the car we opened the back hatch and sat there and took off our shoes and socks and emptied out the sand. I was shocked how much sand we had collected in our shoes.  We got rid of the sand and put our shoes on and then found a bench to sit on and work on the Junior Ranger Books. I think we spent about an hour working on these. I didn't get everything completed but we decided to go see another part of the park. We drove out on a primitive road (very narrow and very sandy) to a spot called Point of No Return. We didn't get to stop here because the small parking area was packed. So we continued a short distance up the road to find a wider spot to turn around in. After this we headed back to the Visitor Center where I was able to finish my Junior Ranger booklets. When I was done I went and found a Ranger and turned in the booklets. The gentleman that helped me looked through all three books to check what I had done and then he signed my certificates and issued me the Junior Ranger oath. Then he gave me a wooden badge for the Centennial Junior Ranger, a plastic badge and a patch of the park for the Junior Ranger and Park Explorers. He couldn't give me the award for the Historic Preservation booklet because I have to go to a park with an historic building or ruins. I had a good time working on these booklets and I feel I learned much more by doing these programs than I would have with just visiting the park.

This is an incredible park and the dunes are amazing. I am glad we made the time for this trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. It was worth every minute and every mile.

Visiting the Moon

Today is our second day in Idaho and we have the whole day free - Thomas doesn't have anything until 6:30pm tonight, so we decided to take a road trip. We left Boise around 7:00am and headed east on I84 and then took US20 towards Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve between Arco & Carey, ID. Along the way we stopped at AJ's Restaurant in Mountain Home. After eating we continued our drive to the park. Before reaching the park we stopped at an historical marker about Goodale's Cutoff to look for a letterbox. Unfortunately we didn't have any luck! So we got back in the car and made our way to the visitor center at Craters of the Moon. Here I got my Passport stamp and bought some postcards and a patch. Then we left the center and entered the park - we paid our fee and got a map of the park and started the loop drive. This park is amazing - a completely different landscape from anything I have seen before and the name is very appropriate. We made our first stop at the North Crater Flow. Here we took a 0.3 mile loop walk through the lava flows. I was amazed to find out that there are many different types of lave flows. Spindle Bomb, Tree Mold, Pahoehoe Toe, Aa Lava and Pahoehoe Ropes are just a few of the different flows. We completed our short walk and then got back in the car and made our way to Devil's Orchard where we took a 0.5 mile nature trail walk. Next we stopped at Inferno Cone, Spatter Cones and Big Craters Area. There was lots to see and learn at this spot and the views from several locations was amazing. First we did a steep 0.4 mile walk up to one of the cones where we got our first views. Then we took a very short walk to an observation area and then we walked about half a mile up the North Crater Trail to the top of a hill for more incredible views. After this we returned to the car and made our last stop at the Cave Area. The walk to the caves was about a mile roundtrip. There are four caves here - Dewdrop Cave, Boy Scout Cave, Beauty Cave and Indian Tunnel. We went to all except Indian Tunnel. We looked into the caves but didn't actually go in since you need a permit and a flashlight and we didn't have either. I did look for a few letterboxes but came up empty handed each time. Not sure if I just missed them or if they were gone. Anyway, we really enjoyed this park and we were glad we decided to take the 2 hour and 45 minute drive. Our trip back to Boise was uneventful as we were just trying to get back to the hotel so Thomas could make his reception. I just had a relaxing eventing in the room. Now time to get some rest so I can explore Boise tomorrow.