Sunday, June 30, 2013

Pic of the Day

Looking downstream into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, near Montrose, Co. View one from the rim and view two from the river. 



Saturday, June 29, 2013

Pic of the Day

Had a great day in the mountains today. Went for a hike at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. This is a view of the Florissant Valley from one of the trails. 


Friday, June 28, 2013

Pic of the Day

Okay, so technically, these are two pictures, not one, because I just couldn't decide. They are both from Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. 



Thursday, June 27, 2013

Pic of the Day

I didn't take too many snaps on my phone today, so the pickings are slim, but here is a shot of the Wyoming State Capitol. 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Pic of the Day

Love the cool rock formations, the blue sky, the white puffy clouds,and the deep green of the evergreens. This formation is called the Needle's Eye. 

Pic of the Day

Belated, because my campground last night had no service. 


This is the door to the 30-foot underground missile launch center in South Dakota. Really interesting place (and a pretty funny painting, too).

Monday, June 24, 2013

Pic of the Day

From the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Really great little museum. 


Saturday, June 22, 2013

Pic of the Day


Big fat moon (which will be a full moon at perigee tomorrow night) from my campground in Illinois. 


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Hyde Park on the Hudson

This past Sunday, I took a trip with my aunt and grandmother up to Hyde Park, NY. Located on the Hudson River, the town is the home of Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt as well as one of the many Vanderbilt mansions.

I love checking out presidential sites, so we went directly to FDR's home.


He was born in this very bed. (Hopefully with different sheets).


This was his bedroom. That handset wired into the wall was his special Commander-in-Chief direct line to Washington, which was especially important during the war.


He is also buried at Hyde Park, with his wife and two of his dogs, including the famous Fala.


The grounds also include a beautiful rose garden...

 

and a gorgeous, tree-lined drive (which I totally want one day, when I become the super-rich leader of the free world).


The presidential library & museum were closed for renovations, which was disappointing but also a great excuse to go back. They do have a sculpture outside that is made from a chunk of the Berlin wall and has the famous "four freedoms" at its base. It was done by Churchill's granddaughter.


By that point in the day, it was humid & looked ready to rain, so we headed home. But Hyde Park has a surprising number of interesting things going on; in addition to the FDR site, there's Eleanor's cottage ValKill, the Vanderbilt Mansion, the restaurants at the Culinary Institute of America, and pedestrian bridge across the Hudson. Which I'm sure will be gorgeous in the fall, or whenever I finally make it back.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

On the Road Again

Well, I have officially left my home and headed out for the summer. My car is packed, and I think I managed to remember everything. 

I'm spending about 10 days visiting family in NY & NJ before heading west. 

This evening, I went with my mom, stepdad, brother and sister to the Museum Mile Festival in NYC, which was cool, except the part where the lines to all the museums were super long. But we checked out Central Park, ate yummy street vendor food and saw several buskers. 

Here are some snaps from the event: