Thursday, July 19, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Beach bumming
We spent last week camping at San Simeon beach campground with my family. I LOVE beach camping!! We had a fabulous time enjoying the family -- everyone got to be there together except for my bro-in-law Chris :-(
Jason thought this pelican looked like it was trying to sell watches or something...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ0IlPCi8Kx__sU4fkRM7VIkogKZJOCN8USSF2Y43-LA9fF_l7A-MP_ZiT03YUdvJzPRkoc3ACHvhiW0sB0yMjCXJUq5XIodGufdqbqQVHZA5Beb0Emj4Eu61SYYX5Xrf6_Uf_icLlnw/s320/SAM_3984.jpg)
Elephant seals come every year to use the nearby beaches. They aren't the most beautiful of creatures, but completely interesting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfDsxjU7JeqMDOA4CXUmIaW-fE167ZGpfxSIVWOnUdbw0LZykRrvYLBYHzttGaJfB4c9KHIJN6yF_2qTzncdPIuunzx23t4zqa6OolRHpznHYuOkmRPoSYcPomQSJAjU994jResJXS8w/s640/SAM_3992.jpg)
Grandpa gets some help from the grandkids setting up the tent.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8FCAN54VC9oO36xnfBnJiabEYeuvsU8n2w6WYLUVyBwj5jRXShkBz0-_EioRR4YfjpWbSSCbi1YTyvEuIzr8z0byukvujG_osfudFqUD3estk7NwZ02dakQO-efqlpiUpJZed7Fbtvs/s320/SAM_4064.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEDK1HLYKWPmhSNalHpZCDEbtDvifYiV4x9n6R-Isj8FIY3yGKrym9RRCejF7PCngGN0qL9pUnLlT09N97VKg5pkX98CWilxVce6_0c24qhkwHoMJ8YEZX5CgpH-bzSYkupdXNMRvZN4/s320/SAM_4041.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbMICBJr5HTkRJzUAiMQjPO_gZcgcLfZneJKyfkBB0TTpr6KzctQk4Zyg_h07qAPxbedVe4BQLuPM6w_4pr2GFINYi3R8teHDv1UC2s4-onMVPpkaaH2IWCmaQ1kXQ69HWEm4f6fViHw/s320/SAM_4037.jpg)
S'more-time!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxznFRGS5S5K5J-ztBFKHOgxKssE18NADQ3Gi-Qpp82XVO9-9HolJk3TkGC6veIx77spVf4YDzGpeoZoZRqaAy3RE3WitZBFmnqdAW3eaGSkOa17gsJcgl5qQONOH_LPqpEfaC6JvSh8/s400/SAM_4088.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI08HydtfToiulIB8jI_QIAYk6DxZw6ZUwAGcLZKzjWhGRzuCwkRrVrJg8u_z9xW_O2YvWIvkv0VXsJib1tJz6mF6QLr_F6fHSY5vYrQBDRjCZFFzbNkh2mXJwmCI5qCSG3f4jAvnvQ8/s400/SAM_4092.jpg)
Jason thought this pelican looked like it was trying to sell watches or something...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ0IlPCi8Kx__sU4fkRM7VIkogKZJOCN8USSF2Y43-LA9fF_l7A-MP_ZiT03YUdvJzPRkoc3ACHvhiW0sB0yMjCXJUq5XIodGufdqbqQVHZA5Beb0Emj4Eu61SYYX5Xrf6_Uf_icLlnw/s320/SAM_3984.jpg)
Elephant seals come every year to use the nearby beaches. They aren't the most beautiful of creatures, but completely interesting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfDsxjU7JeqMDOA4CXUmIaW-fE167ZGpfxSIVWOnUdbw0LZykRrvYLBYHzttGaJfB4c9KHIJN6yF_2qTzncdPIuunzx23t4zqa6OolRHpznHYuOkmRPoSYcPomQSJAjU994jResJXS8w/s640/SAM_3992.jpg)
Grandpa gets some help from the grandkids setting up the tent.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8FCAN54VC9oO36xnfBnJiabEYeuvsU8n2w6WYLUVyBwj5jRXShkBz0-_EioRR4YfjpWbSSCbi1YTyvEuIzr8z0byukvujG_osfudFqUD3estk7NwZ02dakQO-efqlpiUpJZed7Fbtvs/s320/SAM_4064.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEDK1HLYKWPmhSNalHpZCDEbtDvifYiV4x9n6R-Isj8FIY3yGKrym9RRCejF7PCngGN0qL9pUnLlT09N97VKg5pkX98CWilxVce6_0c24qhkwHoMJ8YEZX5CgpH-bzSYkupdXNMRvZN4/s320/SAM_4041.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbMICBJr5HTkRJzUAiMQjPO_gZcgcLfZneJKyfkBB0TTpr6KzctQk4Zyg_h07qAPxbedVe4BQLuPM6w_4pr2GFINYi3R8teHDv1UC2s4-onMVPpkaaH2IWCmaQ1kXQ69HWEm4f6fViHw/s320/SAM_4037.jpg)
S'more-time!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxznFRGS5S5K5J-ztBFKHOgxKssE18NADQ3Gi-Qpp82XVO9-9HolJk3TkGC6veIx77spVf4YDzGpeoZoZRqaAy3RE3WitZBFmnqdAW3eaGSkOa17gsJcgl5qQONOH_LPqpEfaC6JvSh8/s400/SAM_4088.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI08HydtfToiulIB8jI_QIAYk6DxZw6ZUwAGcLZKzjWhGRzuCwkRrVrJg8u_z9xW_O2YvWIvkv0VXsJib1tJz6mF6QLr_F6fHSY5vYrQBDRjCZFFzbNkh2mXJwmCI5qCSG3f4jAvnvQ8/s400/SAM_4092.jpg)
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Death Valley National Park
My Mom says I was here as a small child, but I have no recollection of that. It's possible I blocked it out ... this place is HOT and we came through on a cooler day. Although I don't know that I'll ever need to go again, I am glad to have seen the interesting landscape and been below sea level while on dry ground.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqSnnzcQndiKOEBf5gznHlISrA17ITaOmoZIUX_-HGkb4UtK9Fp0lRbZq6iI6zcGzS5mrF5wCmOL1b8hhAeMpb16R1xpoxNvma5pVwrHMtreOaxgkt_uALmV9QL0LNw2sl_jBjgV0GHM/s400/SAM_3915.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqSnnzcQndiKOEBf5gznHlISrA17ITaOmoZIUX_-HGkb4UtK9Fp0lRbZq6iI6zcGzS5mrF5wCmOL1b8hhAeMpb16R1xpoxNvma5pVwrHMtreOaxgkt_uALmV9QL0LNw2sl_jBjgV0GHM/s400/SAM_3915.jpg)
Monday, July 2, 2012
NM --> AZ --> NV = Las Vegas (via the Grand Canyon)
Our drive from New Mexico to Nevada was another long day, and although there were a lot of desolate parts, there were some beautiful places too. We added a detour to the Grand Canyon into our journey -- it was just too close-by to pass up. We joined the many other tourists for a gander at the big canyon, then ended our day in Las Vegas at the home of my college friend (& awesome post-college travel partner) Brett and her sweet family.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
TX --> NM = Albuquerque & Santa Fe
We had the pleasure of stopping in New Mexico at the house of a Peace Corps friend who we had not seen since we left Tonga 5 1/2 years ago when we looked like this:
Rose was an excellent tour guide of first Santa Fe & then Albuquerque. We tried some New Mexican food -- Sopapillas & also Frito Pies. Delish!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvWvVpb_BdTWDQ-VHDsFqaci_sL3BFc3n0BGrAf7TJFCfAuA1L_IrU1DI1zpf9Ix_a1x5fm2U_ZDiiNDt0LR8ZXKfOsL6g4s84ozAl9kN3YuWMrW01Q0fc_YLRjM2OzwKdY-EvKOW8c1K/s400/SAM_3822.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM1RGPU4sK9UZbX9QJX6pYqgYFgczxuaQWJQfeVJcHfh86FlSGHQzqEZylW8tVJmyBdF2xa_GZyhTYNxbKrJazKWYXCCnwBEQoDrjdsNBytKn1LJRZHsEsES-AMV0Jt1zpevt7VmUHfqC/s400/SAM_3831.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7O7VvixF9T3_iAFt63srAdJKkebft2Ls2RmYCWMYtmrMPm4igJpG4YoZLwM7ti5tzcSJbvfoq7-RMmAKsNU13LK8qZxSXXGYAue87l0r7H8LpRWW9hzq3hLr12wO7yzM8DuBwUytij8sJ/s400/SAM_3855.jpg)
Rose was an excellent tour guide of first Santa Fe & then Albuquerque. We tried some New Mexican food -- Sopapillas & also Frito Pies. Delish!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvWvVpb_BdTWDQ-VHDsFqaci_sL3BFc3n0BGrAf7TJFCfAuA1L_IrU1DI1zpf9Ix_a1x5fm2U_ZDiiNDt0LR8ZXKfOsL6g4s84ozAl9kN3YuWMrW01Q0fc_YLRjM2OzwKdY-EvKOW8c1K/s400/SAM_3822.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM1RGPU4sK9UZbX9QJX6pYqgYFgczxuaQWJQfeVJcHfh86FlSGHQzqEZylW8tVJmyBdF2xa_GZyhTYNxbKrJazKWYXCCnwBEQoDrjdsNBytKn1LJRZHsEsES-AMV0Jt1zpevt7VmUHfqC/s400/SAM_3831.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7O7VvixF9T3_iAFt63srAdJKkebft2Ls2RmYCWMYtmrMPm4igJpG4YoZLwM7ti5tzcSJbvfoq7-RMmAKsNU13LK8qZxSXXGYAue87l0r7H8LpRWW9hzq3hLr12wO7yzM8DuBwUytij8sJ/s400/SAM_3855.jpg)
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A roadrunner - A LOT smaller than I expected! |
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