The Catwalk

We are in Glenwood, NM, home of the catwalk. This old miners route has bridges that follow a canyon up and up, hugging the sheer walls and crossing the river multiple times. Due to severe flood potential the USFS took the bridges down. Daniel and Walnut were disappointed that the trail ended after about a half mile. But the hike to the turn around point was still great! Daniel was also able to throw rocks in the river and fallen cottonwood leaves high in the air! It was a great walk this morning on a perfect fall day.

Tonight is a Halloween Carnival and tomorrow we go home. A nice weekend trip and visit with the Evans Family. Daniel is loving playtime with Garrett, Brett, and Wyatt. And the boys enjoyed trying to tire Daniel out last night. Thanks guys!

Since I'm posting from my iPhone, pictures for some reason get out of order. But you get the general idea!

Holbrook Playground

These are just a few shots of Daniel playing on the playground equipment here in Holbrook. It took him a while to actually want to play! He still doesn't swing, but he loves to run and to slide. And if any other kids are there, they are automatically his "friend" if they will just run and slide with him! We've had pretty good luck with some of the other kids, but all too often we have the playground to ourselves. Now that the weather is getting cooler, it's easier for me to go on a bike ride to the park with Daniel in the trailer. Then we both get a good workout! I'll get some bike trailer pics one of these days!

This is a plastic "fossil" on the underside of a climbing structure. Daniel loves to point out all the bones!

Since playing in Holbrook includes our daily walks with Walnut, here are some pictures from the "dump" - an open area just over the hill from our house. A lot of petrified wood is eroding out, but a lot of trash is out there, too. Both Daniel and Walnut love the walks in the "sand" since there are rocks to throw and rabbits to scare out of the bushes! We follow the "roads" made by 4-wheelers and motorbikes and trucks that are doing I-don't-want-to-know-what. Other folks use the area, especially to walk their dogs, but we almost never see anyone when we go in the mornings.

Holding a piece of petrified wood! 

North Rim

This past weekend we all went to the North Rim of Grand Canyon. It's been a while since we've visited the more remote side! And the best time, of course, is in the early fall when the aspens and maples change colors, and it's not too cold yet. We crashed at the home of our friend Steve Bridgehouse. He lives in an historic cabin at the entrance to the park. Next time you see a bottle of Log Cabin Syrup, look closely. The cabin on the label is based on Steve's cabin!

We stopped at Navajo Bridge on the drive up. There is one bridge that you drive across, but they've retained the historic bridge directly across from it for pedestrian traffic. It has a wonderful view of the Colorado River as it begins to cut deep into the canyon walls. It's also a great place to watch river trips that are just getting started on their journey through the canyon! These pictures are from the trip to and from the canyon. We stopped at the bridge on our way home, too! A great scenic stretch break for everyone.

Daniel loved the drainage holes all along both sides of the bridge. He could look straight through to the river below. A long, long way below!

 As we approached Jacob Lake, high up on the Kaibab Plateau, the snow began. It didn't last terribly long, but it kept spitting snow the rest of of the day and that night. Saturday morning the clouds blew out and the day was crystal clear! Still a bit cool, but wonderful for sight seeing! We left Steve's and went to the Grand Canyon Lodge, down the Bright Angel Point Trail, and then had a picnic right on the rim.

 Steve's house is at about 9,000 feet, so we had a bit more snow than some areas. 

Those footprints under Daniel's tiny boots are mine! This is on Steve's front porch the first evening when we went out for a stroll. Breaking in the winter boots!

Steve was so great with Daniel! Reading books, playing cars and trucks, and dancing!

The Bright Angel Point Trail was a little exposed, but worth the walk! Daniel learned to step aside to let others pass and did pretty good about walking rather than running. Whew!

Daniel loves to look at signs! He'll be reading the words soon, rather than just numbers and letters.

Daniel enjoyed sharing his snack and water with Daddy!

We did a walk from the cabin at sunset. Can't get enough walking these days!

 Sunday was another beautiful day, so back to the canyon views we went. First stop was Point Imperial and a short walk on the Ken Patrick Trail. Then we drove over for a walk to Angel's Window and another picnic lunch on the rim. Daniel was exhausted every afternoon!

Hi Mommy!

Running beats walking any day!

Steve's cabin. The Log Cabin Syrup label cut off the kitchen on the left. The company paid for a big rehab on the cabin a number of years ago, which is why it's on the syrup label.

Nap time in the car is still a regular part of any road trip, even if it's just from the canyon rim to Steve's house!

 Thank you Steve for your wonderful hospitality, for letting us take over your home, for playing with Daniel (even in the mud room), and for all the great pictures!

Hidden Cove Petroglyphs

Another October excursion was to the Hidden Cove Petroglyphs. Holbrook is part of a very large area where Ancestral Puebloan peoples lived and traveled through. Archaeological sites are everywhere! These petroglyphs (pecked figures on the rocks) are on city property (luckily) and really a wonderful resource. Because they are down a dirt road, past the golf course, and through two sometimes locked gates, they have actually been pretty well protected. We found only two pieces of trash! Of course, the main gate to get in was locked and I don't know for how long that has been the case. We just jumped over it (sssssshhhhhhh!).

We went with our friends Sarah, Matt, and their 4-year old son Isaac. Daniel and Isaac led the way up the steep mesa side to the top! Don't worry Granny! We had a close hand ready at every moment!

The mommies kept a close hand near the kids!

Looking at a pack rat nest. If you look closely, you can see some petroglyphs on the rock above Matt and Isaac.

We had a great view!

Matt and Isaac were the only ones to squeeze through this little cave!

The mesa we were climbing on is behind the boys. It wasn't too far up there!

An example of elk or deer petroglyphs.