Wow, that Casa Es Grande!

Brain cancer is...

...appreciating humans.

Today was our last non-California stop:  Casa Grande (above) outside Phoenix.  Darrell appreciated human universals like the need for farming to sustain larger populations, the drive to create art, and the need to play. (Casa Grande has a ball pit adjacent to it.)

We also appreciated the humans who, in the 1930’s and 40’s, recognized the need to pursue preservation of this prehistoric community.  (That’s when the above shelter roof was built.)

And we appreciated the humans of today who reburied other ruins at the site in order to study them

with less destructive techniques.  See that mound in the distance?

Reburied ruins.  We humans so often make a mess of things, but at least we keep on trying.

We said hello to our good ole friend, the Colorado River as we crossed back into California.

There you are, Colorado River! You've calmed down and warmed up a little since we saw you last.

Now for some fun a little closer to home.

Happy Leap Saturday, Team D!

Achieving Reentry Velocity (Or: Darrell's Bonus Day)

Brain cancer is...

 ...hanging out poolside.

Last night at dinner I was preparing to pull out my spreadsheets and maps to begin negotiations for today's possible excursions.  Darrell said, "But first, I'd like to share my fantasy."  I closed my folder and responded, "Oh, this is going to be good!"  Darrell's fantasy was to spend today relaxing and spend another night (tonight) at our Tucson resort, El Conquistador.  A couple phone calls and it was done!

Darrell was wise to consider this bonus day.  It really doesn't feel like a bonus.  It feels necessary to reduce our vacation velocity and reenter the earth's non vacation atmosphere without burning up on contact.  Very smart, Darrell Guillaume.

We slept in then had a great hike in the surrounding Sonoran Desert in view of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Next we drove nowhere, poolside.  This afternoon, we moved into a casita with fireplace and ordered in pizza and flourless chocolate torte.

I don't know...I might need another day to reach reentry velocity...

Today's Workout Video

If you (like Curt) like to get your steps via video, here's a slideshow of today.  The theme:  Cactus hike.  It'll get you 14,362 steps.  (Click here.)

Sky Islands, Chiricahua, and Coati: So Many Questions!

Brain cancer is...

...wondering!

Today we learned that southeast Arizona is famous for its sky islands. (Wait.  What?) We visited one sky island:  the Chiricahua National Monument.  (Why did we not know about this place?) After a very scenic hike, we were leaving the Monument when a coati ran across the road.  (Did anyone know that coati live in North America? Not just in the tropics?)  

So many questions!  So many great sights!  Here are a few (not including the coati):

Here's a three-minute slideshow with a myriad of rock pictures, in case you wonder too. (Click here.)

Thanks for coming with us, Team D.  We love you.

(PS:  True to form for Darrell, we've had a slight--pleasant--change in vacation schedule. More info tomorrow.)

Sure, More Sand, but with Some Twists!

Brain cancer is...

...settled in for the night in Las Cruces.

We went from one dunefield to the next as we headed south to White Sands, New Mexico today.  More sand!  Lots more!  

Some things were the same with the two National Parks.  Namely, the same forces created and sustain the dunes.  The dunes at White Sands are, just like the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, nestled at the base of mountains and anchored and rejuvenated by water. Another similarity is that plant and animal life is highly specialized to live in the dunes.  Finally, both locales were named National Monuments by President Herbert Hoover.

A few of twists are that...

• It was a very pleasant 48 degrees today at White Sands.  My hands functioned the entire visit.
• White Sands are composed of more homogeneous particles:  All gypsum.  That's why they are white. It's also why they are cooler and harder than other dunes.  (We learned that the sand surface at Great Sand Dunes can reach 150 degrees, even when the air temperature is pleasant.)
• White Sands are younger dunes, only about 10,000 years old, compared with more than 100,000 years old for the Great Sand Dunes.
• Fun fact:  Gypsum is a widely used mineral (and thus a lucrative resource).  We learned today that the average person eats 28 pounds of gypsum over a lifetime. Yum!

 Okay, enough of that.  Here are some images of our romp through the White Sands.

We call this piece, "What Would Georgia Do?"

Buenas noches...

...Las Cruces!

 

Hey, these Sand Dunes Are Great!

Brain cancer is...

 ...impressed.

Today was a beautiful ride to Great Sand Dunes National Park, our last stop in Colorado.  The dunes were fascinating and huge, settled in against the Sangre de Cristo mountains.  We learned how the forces of erosion, wind, and water keep the dunes where they are and rejuvenate them every year.

Okay, two pics for people who don't view videos:

By means of context, it was 12 degrees during our visit.  My hands stopped working after about 10 minutes on the dunes.  Worth it!

We headed farther south to tonight's stop, Sante Fe, where it was still cold at about 24 degrees. The locals were complaining bitterly.  Hey, at least it wasn't 12!

We had time for the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and so appreciated seeing the world--and the Southwest--through her eyes.  We embraced her feeling of being enthralled with the "wideness and wonder of the world."  Well said, Georgia.

Here's a slideshow of today, with lots of scenery to represent our beautiful ride.  You'll see a few of our images of O'Keeffe's paintings interspersed to show how she helped us reframe some of what we saw today (and all along this trip).  (Click here.)

Here's to the wideness and wonder of the world!

Let's Go, Pueblo!

Brain cancer is...

 ...spending the night in jail.

It may sound surprising, but spending the night in Cell 2 is just about the only part of the day we planned. Tonight is our last night in Colorado.  We're in Pueblo, staying at the Station at the Riverwalk on our trek south.  That's really our hotel, above: the converted police station and jail.

The rest of the day was filled with surprises (again!).  We ate eggs Benedict during a snow flurry in Greeley, we saw Pikes Peak and the US Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs.  And we hung out with the Gods in their Garden.

We learned important things.  For example:  Did you know that America the Beautiful was written by Katherine Lee Bates, a professor who was awed by the sights from atop Pikes Peak?  Did you know that the Garden of the Gods has its own dinosaur, Theiophytalia kerri?  Did you know that the Arkansas River starts in Colorado?  New to us and all true!

Here's a two-minute slideshow of the day with supporting evidence.  (Click here.)

Today's dessert choice:  A single lemon macaroon from a local bakery.  Here here.

Signing off from Cell 2.

Farewell Summer and Zach. (For Now.)

Brain cancer is...

...so grateful for family.

Early in our day we Face Timed with Nova (and her Dad).  It was great, almost as great as squeezing her in person.  She's such a character.

We had one more meal with Summer and Zach, this one at their favorite sushi spot.

Check out our cool UNC shirts.  (Recall that both Summer and Zach are grad students at University of Northern Colorado.)   We continued our dessert quest.

Banana rolls?  Splendid. Great choice, Summer.

One last selfie with the Yoast Guillaumes (for now).

 One last glimpse through the windshield...

...for now.

Fort Collins, Cheese, and Chocolate

Brain cancer is...

...enjoying more time with the kids and their dog.

If it's Greeley, it must be the Poudre!   Darrell and I started the day with five miles on the Poudre River Trail as Zach and Summer worked.

It was warm enough for standard Darrell attire.

We all headed for nearby Fort Collins for cheese and chocolate.  Yes, delicious.  Yes, right before dinner.

We ended the day with dinner at our local favorite, the Greeley Chophouse.  Such a great atmosphere.  So many great flavors.  Such fun being together.  

Here we are on our way to the restaurant.

Good night, from Greeley!

Photo credit:  A couple photos by Zach and Summer.

Glimpses into the Yoast Guillaume World

Brain cancer is...

 ...enjoying a little of Summer, Mousse, and Zach's world.

We had a great time sneaking a few glimpses into Summer and Zach's world today.  Above you see our efforts to get a family portrait with Mousse at home.  He was more interested in his gift, a bone.

We ended up with this:

The bone won out.

Mousse looks as good as always.  See how shiny? 

Earlier in the day Andi had the privilege to be welcomed into Zachary's ninth-grade algebra class by the administration, Zach, and his students.  Here's a stealth shot of Zach at the board, working with  the slope-intercept formula for a line.

Teary moments for one middle school teacher mom, watching her son in his own classroom?  Confirmed.  The most uplifting (but not at all surprising) thing was to see what an authentic, caring relationship Zach has with his students.  It was pretty clear they would do anything for their teacher.  One student waited late to meet Zach's mom...because he cared about Zach.  It was a pretty special afternoon.

Summer and Zach treated us to a seafood dinner, where about five of our shared dishes featured lobster.  Yum.  We camped at our table with great conversations that provided more glimpses into Zach and Summer's professional and academic worlds.

Lucky us.

Greetings from Greeley!

Brain cancer is...

 ...hugging our son Zach.

Hurrah!  Day Eight of our Southwest Adventure landed us in Greeley, Colorado.  We hugged Zach for the first time in six months.  Tomorrow Summer (who worked late tonight) will get her hugs.  The three of us started our visit with great conversation over dinner.

Don't let that backdrop in the top picture trick you.  Yes, Zach is at the end of that particular rainbow, but it was about 18 degrees this evening.  Who cares about the weather though?  We have time with our kids!

The trip north from Grand Junction took us over the Rockies and was just beautiful.  Surprise!  Another day of gorgeous scenery!  Here are a few pics of the 300-mile drive.

The Colorado River kept us company much of the way.

Up we went!

We saw ski areas we'd only heard of, like Vail and Breckenridge.

At the summit, nearly 11,000 feet.

Our first "fresh powder" rest area.

Snow plowed?  Enough.

Today was a day of particular beauty.  We hope your day had loveliness too.