Along Lake Superior, Cascade River State Park, Minnesota

Our next stop was about half way up the shore of Lake Superior at Cascade River State Park, another spectacular place. Beautiful hiking in the hills and along the lake. Lots of rivers, streams, and soggy hiking, very different from dry California. The mosquitos were typical from what we remember of living in Minnesota so we had an opportunity to try our our new screen tent, nice! Nice to drink our evening wine outside without being eating by critters.

Cascade River State Park, Minnesota

Lake Superior water, Cascade River State Park, Minnesota

Cascade River State Park, Minnesota

Lake Superior, Cascade River State Park, Minnesota

Cascade River State Park, Minnesota

Grand Marais, Minnesota

Grand Marais, Minnesota

Camp site, Cascade River State Park

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota

Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth, Minnesota

After leaving John and Teri’s, we drove to Duluth, Minnesota and stayed at a beautiful campground – Jay Cooke State Park. We drove to Duluth and walked the harbor, locks, and museum. The next day we rode our bikes on the Munger trail to Duluth. Although we grew up in Minnesota, this was my first trip to Duluth, Judy was there on a construction job with her family many years ago.

Ari at Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth, Minnesota

Lighthouse, Duluth, Minnesota Waterfront

Duluth, Minnesota Waterfront

Munger Bike Trail, Duluth, Minnesota

St. Louis river, Jay Cooke State Park

Jay Cooke State Park

The Canadian Prairies to Minnesota

We left Radium Hot Springs and took off east for the Canadian Prairies. Steve suggested we take the south route, to Cranbrook, Highway 3 to Fernie, Crowsnest Pass, Franklin Slide, Fort MacLeod, and on to Medicine Hat where we stayed for the night. Along the way we saw the worlds biggest dump truck in Sparwood and the tallest teepee in Medicine Hat. Along the way, we toured Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO site. A very interesting place! http://www.history.alberta.ca/headsmashedin/

Canadian Prairie

Canadian Prairie

Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump

Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump

Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump

Spokane Valley, KOA

Bridge in Lethbridge

The next day we continued across the prairie to Moose Jaw where we stayed for the night. We toured the downtown tunnels used by the Chinese and later for liquor during the US prohibition. We also met with Marj and Len, Airstream friends who shared some wonderful homemade goodies with us.

More prairie was still ahead! We drove next to a KOA just outside Winnipeg for the night and on to John and Teri’s house on Crookneck Lake.

Ari at John and Teri’s

After the rain at John and Teri’s

After the rain at John & Teri’s

Ethan, Abby, & Elliot

John & Teri’s house

JJ & Amber

Minnesota rain

We’re in Minnesota

John & Teri’s dock

Canadian Prairie

Radium Hot Springs, BC

In Radium Hot Springs we stayed in the Radium Valley Vacation Resort, a place with most sites owned and a few for us travelers. It is a short walk to Steve’s beautiful home. We hiked, visited Kootenay National Park. Below are some of our images while enjoying the beautiful landscape.

Lunch at Baker Creek

Canadian grouse

Colorado River

Colorado River

Marble Canyon

Marble Canyon

Marble Canyon

Radium Hot Springs

Kootenay National Park

On The Way

On our trip to Radium Hot Springs, BC, Canada we stopped to Angela, Steve, Nick and Alex in Sparks, Nevada for a night. Our next stop was Farewell Bend State Park in Oregon, a beautiful location along the Snake River. From here we went to Spokane Valley, Washington for a night and then to Radium Hot Springs.

Farewell Bend SP, Snake River

Angela’s house, Sparks, NV

Farewell Bend SP

Pendleton, Oregon

Spokane Valley, KOA

The Start

We’re on the road again, on to Nova Scotia, Canada. We are going the long way, heading first to Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia to get together with Steve and Donna, Lu and Joe, and Dave and Nancy. Then across Canada, dropping into Minnesota to see John and Teri, up the North Shore of Lake Superior,  Montreal, Quebec City, and then on to Nova Scotia. We have reservations through Nova Scotia and we will wing it without reservations on our way back through Minnesota again and on to California.

As we were getting ready to go, actually two days before we left, I noticed fresh water leaking on the pavement. After checking for obvious places for water to come out, I called on Toscano RV Saturday morning and they said they could take a look Monday morning at 7:30! So, Sunday afternoon we parked in their “guest” lot waiting for Monday morning. Monday came, they found a leak and we were on the road again at 10:00! Talk about service! We are on our way!

Our first night, waiting for service – Toscano RV, Los Banos, CA

Our final stop was Valley of Fire State Park, east of Las Vegas about 30 miles. Judy and I visited here several years ago but it was very hot and we did not explore very much. This trip the temperatures were reasonable and we hiked many of the trails. This is a park worth a stop if you are in the area.

Valley of Fire SP, cooking

Valley of Fire SP, cooking again

Valley of Fire SP

Valley of Fire SP, near Las Vegas, NV

Valley of Fire SP, duck formation

Valley of Fire SP

Valley of Fire SP

Valley of Fire SP

Valley of Fire SP, petroglyphs

Valley of Fire SP, petroglyphs

Valley of Fire SP, Judy, Bruce, & Walt

Valley of Fire SP

Valley of Fire SP, Bruce & Walt in the hole

Valley of Fire SP

Valley of Fire SP

Valley of Fire SP

The next stop was Zion National Park, also one of our favorites. As we left Kodachrome, we went past Bryce on Highway 12, through Red Canyon (a spectacular drive and camping to try next trip), across the mountains on Highway 14 to Cedar City, and Interstate 15 to Zion. Highway 14 goes by the road to Cedar Breaks National Monument at almost 10,000 feet, it was still closed due to snow!

In Zion, we hiked Observation Point, up 2,200 feet, and Hidden Canyon. We had wonderful, warm weather as you will see in the photos.

Zion NP, Observation Point Trail

Zion NP, Hidden Canyon Arch

Zion NP, Observation Point Trail

Zion NP, Hidden Canyon

Zion NP, hike down from Observation Point

Zion NP, Bruce and Judy on Observation Point

Zion NP, view from Observation Point

Zion NP, hike to Observation Point

Zion NP, hike to Observation Point

Zion NP, view from Observation Point

The next stop on the trip was Kodachrome Basin State Park, near Bryce Canyon National Park. We traveled Highway 12 through Escalante Staircase, a beautiful road with incredible views. We found Kodachrome a couple of years ago, a beautiful park and since it was close to Byrce, we spend a day there with the Hoodoos. The weather was quite windy, but no rain.

Bryce NP

Bryce NP

Bryce NP, Walt, Judy, Ann, Bruce

Kodachrome SP, sunset

Kodachrome SP, sedimentary pipes

Bryce Canyon NP

Bryce Canyon NP

Kodachrome SP

Kodachrome Basin SP, sedimentary pipe

Kodachrome Basin SP

Needing our Utah National Park fix, we took off for Capital Reef National Park with our friends Ann and Bruce. It was new experience for them and it always feels like home to us. We left SLO, stopped in Las Vegas for the night, then on to Richfield, Utah and then Capital Reef. We had early spring rains but it didn’t slow us down.

Las Vegas, Fremont Street

Capital Reef NP, Judy & Walt

Capital Reef NP, Ann & Bruce

Capital Reef NP, petroglyphs

Capital Reef NP trail

Capital Reef NP, Golden Throne

Along Escalante Staircase

Capital Reef NP, lunch on the Chimney Rock Trail

Capital Reef NP, Golden Throne, Ann, Bruce, Judy

Capital Reef, NP, Chimney Rock Trail

Capital Reef NP, Chimney Rock

Capital Reef NP, the tanks