THE LAST LEG HOME!

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	Isn't this something? It is called Balance Rock (what else!) and is in a wonderful park called Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO -- It is several stories high.
	To reach the summit of Pike's Peak, you have 3 choices, drive up a 19 mile dirt road, hike, or take the Cog RR -- you can see which we chose! It was a beautiful trip on a great spring day.
	Once you get to the top -- you can hardly breathe at 14,130'. The the view is breathtaking -- so to speak! We needed sweatshirts, but nothing more.
	The front of the train on our way back down. Some of the grades are 25% and the back of the train is actually 4 stories higher than the front (going down).
	The gold mine at Cripple Creek, CO is only mining tourists these days, but they give a great tour! You go 1000' down to see what went on in those days.
	The cars that carried the gold (and silver -- they are usually together) to the shaft where it was hoisted to the surface.
	Phil is learning about the various implements that were used to mine the gold. Our guide, Ed, was a miner himself and knew all the answers to our questions.
	Before the miners left for the day, they gathered in this spot for a "roll call" to make sure everyone was accounted for, before they went to the surface.
	A famous building -- do you recognize it? It is the chapel at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. 3 chapels are included -- a Protestant, a Catholic, and a Jewish. Really beautiful inside.
	The Falcon Stadium. You can see the "Air Force" emblazoned on the stands from the freeway, quite a distance away.
	One more Capital - Denver - beautiful marble, a gold dome, and nice artwork inside. But not much different than manyof the capitals we have seen. I think we are getting jaded.
	Vail - we were really captivated with this town squeezed into a narrow valley. Unfortuanately the freeway divides it in two pieces -- right down the middle of the valley. Too bad.
	The downtown area, and the whole town has really tight architectural controls which lends a very nice feeling to the town. This is their "downtown" area - very nice.
	The River running right through the main part of the town really adds to its charm.
	Arches National Park in Utah. A fabulous place that pictures can't really capture. Landscape Arch
	The sky has been so blue for the last couple of days, and it looks even more incredible against the greens of the vegetation and the red of the rocks. This is Capitol Reef NP.
	Phil enjoys the view from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. A really fabulous sight -- and the park here is so much calmer than the S. Rim.
	The lobby of the Grand Canyon Lodge. Built in the 20's and right on the rim of the canyon.
	A fun and funny little place we discovered on the way to Bryce. Out in the middle of nowhere, built by an artist to fulfill his dream. The view is awesome and the food and company delightful. The Kiva Koffeehouse.
	Phil lines up a shot at the Sunbrooke Golf Club in St. George. Beautiful day to be on the tees.
	The oasis in the middle of Death Valley. So inviting looking from our room down into the coolness of the trees and water. Furnace Creek Inn.
	Another view from our patio with some of the rooms in the background.
	Ahhh, Palm Springs and the Estrella Inn, another inviting oasis in a different desert. This place was built in the 30's and was often the home of celebrities in its hey day. A great location just a block off of Palm Canyon Drive, right in downtown Palm Springs.
	Looking up from our room, instead of down to the pool. Those mountains are always so pretty in the background -- ever changing as the sun changes position during the day.
	Miss Maddie tries her hand at bowling at ESPN Sportszone at downtown Disney. They were having a ball!
	The boys with the kids just waiting for the parade in front of The Castle at Disneyland
	A family pic after a long day.....
	The Jacks on the Monorail...
	The end of a quick but fun visit with Paul and Tara -- we enjoyed the VIP Tour at Warner Bros Studios.
	Our day trip to the Channel Islands NP -- our boat prepares to leave us for the day.
	Phil checking out the view on one of our hikes during the day -- the water is so clear and the sky was so blue!
	The arch off Anapaca Island. We were on our way to check out the whales playing near the island.
	Phil needed a little nap after lunch to renew for the afternoon hike! The picnic table provided the only place for his siesta!
	Our view from our room at Pismo Beach. Right on the pool with the ocean in the background. This was a great place!
	The oldest things on earth -- the Sequoias. This isn't the largest tree, but one of the largest -- The Grant Tree in Sequoia NP.
	They used to use this tree as a ssnack bar -- you can still walk all the way through it. Phil is just in the entrance.
	Can you believe the blue sky behind Mt. Lassen. This is the 2d most recent volcano to explode in the US, next to Mt. St. Helens. This one last erupted in 1915.
	Our last night -- same as the first night! Back to the same RV Park in Graants Pass and the same space we were in!! We decided it was a fitting end to a fabulous year!
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!