TRIP JOURNAL - check out our new travel journal

I've started a new trip journal.  Feel free to check it out.  It includes a map so you actually see the ground we've covered.

I've set up a Personal Trip Journal at MyTripJournal.com. As I travel, I can send you an email notification each time I update it. However, you need to agree to receive my Update Notices.

To start the process, click the following link:

     http://www.mytripjournal.com/RequestUpdateNotice/patanddalesrvadventures

then follow the instructions.

Note: If the above URL does not appear as a link, you will have to copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser window.

Enjoy.....Pat

WE GOT A NEW TRUCK - Sept 2013

HERE'S OUR NEW TRUCK 2011 Ford F350

6.7 Power Stroke dually.....it did a great job getting us from

Aztec, NM to Alamo, TX

 

 

Dale while we were at Libby Dam

Pat in the Libby Dam gift shop

SOME DUFUR HISTORY - Aztec, NM 1909-1906

Dale's great-uncle, William T. Dufur was the San Juan county Sheriff in Aztec, NM from 1909 to 1916.  Two years as the territorial sheriff, then after New Mexico became a state in 1912 he was sheriff there for another 4 years.  Actually the longest serving sheriff in San Juan County history.
We went to the Aztec museum and they have a "Pioneer Village" with old buildings. They had a sheriff's office and on the desk in the "sheriff's office" was a photo of Sheriff Dufur.  It was a lot of fun.  When we came back to the museum part after our walk thru....the lady there had a file all set out for us to go through.  Lots of photos and documents even a copy of Dale's great-grandfathers homestead certificate for property in Arkansas.  Very interesting.....signed by Grover Cleveland.  Our trip to Aztec was motivated by the desire to get more family information.  We weren't disappointed.

AZTEC, NEW MEXICO August and Sept 2013

Geez.....I can't believe how much time has passed since my last update.  We left Libby, MT  August 10th and arrived at Aztec Ruins National Monument in Aztec, NM August 15th.  The put us to work right away.  It's amazing to me, that over 1000 years ago people built thriving communities.  I don't know what I was expecting for that time period.....maybe something more temporary....like Tepees....something that could be taken down and moved on to the next spot.  I don't know, but it wasn't the fabulous structures we saw in the Four Corners area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.  During our time in New Mexico we were able to visit other ruins besides the ones there in Aztec.  We went to Canyon de Chelly in AZ and Chaco Canyon in NM.  We had planned on going to Mesa Verde in CO but the Govt Shutdown put a stop to that.  We had intended on staying there in Aztec until the middle of October.  Effective Oct 1st when the shutdown went into effect we were given 48 hours notice to vacate the National Park property.  So that put an end to our exploration of that area.  All the ruins we visited were products of Ancestral Puebloans during that 850 to 1300 time period. In addition to the ruins we also visited Durango, CO and checked out the Silverton-Durango Railroad.
                                           SILVERTON-DURANGO RAILROAD, DURANGO, CO

 

CHACO CULTURE HISTORICAL PARK

                                           

 

AZTEC RUINS NATIONAL MONUMENT

 

CANYON DE CHELLY - Hogan

CANYON DE CHELLY (Arizona)

CANYON DE CHELLY Cliff Dwelling

TRAVELING.....LIBBY, MT TO AZTEC, NM August 2013

On August 8th we picked up granddaughters Sarah and Kat at the Spokane, WA airport.  On Saturday  morning the 10th, we hitched up the trailer and headed to West Glacier. We met Christine and the boys, there and camped there Saturday night.  We had a great time.  It was so good to see everyone again.  It may be awhile before we meet up with them again.  On Sunday morning the headed back home to Canada and we started our journey to Aztec, NM.  We stopped at Grants-Kehr a national park....one of the first cattle ranches in Montana and the next day we drove up to Yellowstone.  We'd never been there and just couldn't pass within 100 miles of it and not stop.  You just can't see it all in a day.  We went to a couple of the geyer basins and actually got to see Old Faithful do it's thing.  It wasn't as breathtaking as I was expecting but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

 

GRANT-KEHRS RANCH

YELLOWSTONE