Flew into Peterson Air Force Base from MacDill on a C-37 - a very nice Gulf Stream 12 passenger jet with 6 seats released. The flight showed up at the last minute on the MacDill Facebook page, with a 4:00 in the morning show time on Monday - no one to call. So we went to MacDill hoping to get lucky.
An active duty family arrived at the same time we did. We are doomed! I thought. But their family was four, so we all flew. We had thought those planes had a 30 lb limit so packed light. We learned that they permit 50 lb bags.
We rented a car for a month. Stayed at Peterson, older quarters but nice. We drove to Pikes Peak, then Breckenridge to visit our friends. Then we drove slowly through the National Parks - Colorado National Monument. Then we visited the national Parks in southern Utah - Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion. Then on to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Photos at http://ruhu12.com/
We then went to San Diego, one of our favorite towns. Visited with friends, and attended a Marine Reunion - 50 year reunion of our Squadron from Vietnam. We met with current Squadron members - great fun. Photos and description at http://mass-3.blogspot.com/
Drove 4,700 miles. Too much!
Mighty 5 National Parks in Utah/ The southern half of the state is home to the so-called "Mighty 5"—a remarkable quintet made up of Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and
Map
An active duty family arrived at the same time we did. We are doomed! I thought. But their family was four, so we all flew. We had thought those planes had a 30 lb limit so packed light. We learned that they permit 50 lb bags.
We rented a car for a month. Stayed at Peterson, older quarters but nice. We drove to Pikes Peak, then Breckenridge to visit our friends. Then we drove slowly through the National Parks - Colorado National Monument. Then we visited the national Parks in southern Utah - Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion. Then on to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Photos at http://ruhu12.com/
We then went to San Diego, one of our favorite towns. Visited with friends, and attended a Marine Reunion - 50 year reunion of our Squadron from Vietnam. We met with current Squadron members - great fun. Photos and description at http://mass-3.blogspot.com/
After the reunion we drove slowly up the coast. Stayed at the Navy Base at Point Magu on the beach, and a few days in Carmel. Then the wine country near Travis AFB. Then up the California and Oregon Coast.
Drove 4,700 miles. Too much!
Visited our daughter in Seattle, stayed a Fort Lewis - very nice quarters. There was a KC-135 scheduled to fly back to MacDill, but the flight was scrubbed, so we waited for a C-17 to Werner Robins in Georgia, which was also cancelled. So we flew back commercial.
The day we left there were flights with lots of space going to Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe. We considered leaving Washington State for Hawaii, Alaska, or Europe, but were too tired.
The day we left there were flights with lots of space going to Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe. We considered leaving Washington State for Hawaii, Alaska, or Europe, but were too tired.
Spent over a month on the road, it was nice while it lasted but it is great to get back home.
Mighty 5 National Parks in Utah/ The southern half of the state is home to the so-called "Mighty 5"—a remarkable quintet made up of Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and
Capitol Reef. Together, they deliver an unrivaled opportunity for a getaway that delivers spectacular scenery and stargazing.
It's doable. You can easily visit all five national parks in a week, with enough time left over to make other incredible stops along the way.
It makes for an easy-peasy road trip. The distances between Utah's parks can be measured in hours, not days. You could see them all in a week or design a mini weekend road trip and take in just two parks that are near each other—say Zion and Bryce Canyon or Arches and Canyonlands.
Map your route by taking National Scenic Byway 12, which passes through some of the most spectacular scenery and natural wonders seen along any rural route in the nation, or Scenic Byway 24, which travels along rolling sagebrush desert and drops into high valley farmland.
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