We did not experience any crowds at any of the places we visited -- traffic on the road and finding a place to stay was much easier to deal with. The first point of interest on our trip east was a stop at Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. We arrived right after Labor Day. True to our expectations -- the place was nearly vacant. The photo to the left shows what thousands of years that dripping water will do. The problems with the photos taken in the cave is not that the photos were nearly black.... but, cannot totally show the immense size of the place.

After we left Carlsbad Caverns, we drove to Ft. Worth to visit my brother and his family. Then on to Memphis to visit the grand kids. Then on to Branson Missouri to check it out.

Boy, could I Kick myself -- I took several photos of Branson with the camera -- but never downloaded them to the Laptop. The photos are somewhere lost -- never to be seen -- here or anywhere else...

Well, we are probably the last couple to visit to Branson anyway... What did we think of the town??? Kind of like the poor man's version of Las Vegas. The town was over-built with too many theaters and tourist-trap shops but not enough roads. Even during the 'off-season',
the traffic in this town was terrible. Marsha and I joked about this was where the 'snowbirds' went when they were not here in Arizona. We did like the town, overall. From Branson, we traveled up to Kansas City -- then to Minnesota to see more relatives.

We just HAD to visit the new Cabin that my sister Sharon [and husband Pol] are building in northern Minnesota.

After visiting the cabin, we left Minnesota for the rest of the vacation starting with South Dakota's Black Hills.

Marsha would plan the next day's events from the comfort of the motel room. I would be handed the new driving assignment in the next morning.

We would begin each day by playing the game -- 'Bag the Cat' [catch him for the trip that day]. Once the Cat realized that we were up for the morning, he would hide under the bed . Each morning was a new round of this on-going game. We usually won ... but the Cat made a 'game' of it.

Lodging on the road can be indeed   modest. Marsha's unwavering standards guaranteed that we didn't stay at 'just any' place.

Onward, to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

We hit the usual spots -- Wall Drug, Rapid City... The highlight of the trip here was taking Hwy 16A south from the town of Keystone to Custer State Park. There, we took the wildlife loop through the park.

We were NOT disappointed seeing the herds of Buffalo grazing in the park.

Buffalo are shy creatures. I think that we were lucky for this random encounter. They did not mind walking among the cars on the highway. I didn't even have to leave the truck to get this close up shot of the herd.

We left the Black Hills of South Dakota for Colorado .

The first order of business when we hit Colorado was to visit the Budweiser brewery in Ft. Collins.

I expected to visit the 'tasting room' while there -- instead all we got was a tour of the Clydesdale's Stables.

Still in hopes of visiting the 'tasting room' we left the stables.

There at the tasting room, we were rudely informed that "Only the people who walked the tour were welcome in the tasting room".

Undaunted by this setback, we continued our quest.

We regrouped in the trusty 'War Wagon' and set out to the Rocky Mountains.

Before we left Loveland Colorado, we filled up with Sodas in our 54 ounce Mugs.

We headed west to Estes Park and beyond.

After what seemed 'forever', we made it to the summit on the eastern side.

Marsha took off to find the closest comfort station. She found that it was 'closed for the season'.....

Twenty minutes later, on the western side -- we could see as far as the next mountain.

Marsha had quit drinking her soda and looked for that 'open' comfort station -- in earnest. Oh-Oh.
We continued our quest...

Fifteen minutes later -- we found the 'Visitor Center' on the western end of the park. [Everyone else from the tour bus that had arrived just before us had found it too...]

Marsha [squirming now] had found the object of her quest !!!

My quest was to find the head waters of the Colorado River.

We followed the Colorado River to the Interstate I-70 Highway.

The fall colors made the trip worthwhile.

A few miles east of Glenwood Springs may be one of the longest Highway Tunnels I've ever seen.

Someone's tax money sure went into this baby.

We stopped off in Glenwood Springs for some refreshments.

Glenwood Springs is famous for the hot springs.

To the 'educated palate' Glen wood Springs is also famous for SMOKIN WILLIE'S BBQ.

Here is Smokin Willie [not his real name] and his son.

No kidding -- They have the BEST BBQ in several western states.

We meandered through Colorado's west slope for a couple of days as the weather was cooperating and the scenery was beautiful.

Our vacation could have not been more perfect. Colorado in September is perfect to visit.

We 'cut through' the state headed for the 'Four Corners' area.

The saying "You can not be everywhere at the same time! ", can be put to the test at Four Corners! Here Marsha proves that you indeed can be in four states at once.

The local Indians -- much to their credit charge a modest $1.50 per head to visit this Federal Monument.

They had set-up-shop with little stands to sell 'Genuine Indian Made Wares'. One sign said,
"We takem Master card".

The Home Stretch:

Twenty five days, two oil changes and thousands of miles later -- we were home. Ooh, for the comfort of your own bed! Marsha, the cat, the 'war wagon' and myself were glad to call it 'quits'.

And they lived happily after....                                                         The End