Month: September 2025

Towaoc, Colorado to Reno, Nevada

Duke and I are home. We drove from southwestern Colorado to Midway, Utah, where we spent two nights with Duke’s brother and his wife. From Midway we drove home.

Soon after leaving Ute Mountain Casino where we spent the night in Towaoc we stopped for coffee and bagels in nearby Cortez, Colorado.

Silver Bean Coffee

Then we spent an hour exploring a bit of Arches National Park.

Balancing Rock in Arches National Park
Arches National Park
We had probably the best meal of the trip with Bill and Berna, in Midway, at Midway Mercantile.

Monday we drove 570 miles west, along Interstate 80, home to Reno.

At the Bonneville Salt Flats Rest Area on Interstate 80.

We travelled a total of 6,458 miles, were in 13 states, saw some great sites and had wonderful visits with friends and family. It was a great four and a half week road trip. Now we only have three weeks to catch up at home, then it’s off to Argentina!

Santa Rosa, New Mexico to Towaoc, Colorado

This morning, before leaving Santa Rosa, we stopped to see The Blue Hole. It is a spring fed pool almost 80 feet deep. It is used for swimming and scuba diving.

The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico
The Blue Hole sign

Just before we left New Mexico we stopped at Aztec Ruins National Monument. We watched the movie and did the half mile trail through the Great House. The national monument a large group of big structures and houses built by the ancestors of the native Americans in this area. It was built about 1100 AD.

A circular kiva that originally had a domed wooden roof.
A reconstructed Great Kiva
Inside one of the buildings
Another view of the buildings. I don’t have a picture that really gives you scale.

When we crossed into Colorado the skies became threatening as we passed through some beautiful terrain. It rained hard for a few minutes just before we got to Our destination.

Near the Colorado / New Mexico Border
One of several “towers we saw”

Tonight we are spending the night at Ute Mountain Casino.

Winters, Texas to Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Today we continues west across Texas. We stopped in Lubbock at the American Windmill Museum. It was fabulous. they have more than 160 windmills on display, a big collection of miniatures, and several model train layouts. The captions and descriptions were all very interesting.

Outside the Windmill Museum
They have a 6000 square foot mural and give you a seek and find list of things to find in the mural
All the windmills in the mural were identified.
A double windmilll
The main display hall
They had a big collection of miniatures
And all kinds of big and small model train layouts

We also stopped at a couple of road side signs and at Billy the Kids grave. Tonight we are in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

A train derailment and massive explosion happened here during WW II
Billy the Kid’s grave in Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Bryan to Winters, Texas

Today we drove from Bryan 100 miles west to the Texas capital, Austin. First we visited the LB J Presidential Library. Johnson accomplished so much in his 5 years 2 months in office. It was interesting to be reminded of it all. Johnson was a master persuader.

Duke being given the Johnson treatment
LBJ legislation list

As we approached the library we passed an ICE raid in progress. Duke saw a Hispanic man in handcuffs.

We parked and walked over to observe but they were pulling out. Three unmarked black cars with opaque windows.

Next we went to the state capital. It is big and we had a good 40 minutes tour. They have a special legislative session going on for redistricting.

Texas Capital
The Texas house chamber. The sign says that they will convene at 6pm.

Then we drove 175 miles northwest to Winters where we are tonight. it’s a tiny town of 2,500 people.

Greenville to Bryan, Texas

Today we we visited the George W. Bush Presidential Center and the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and museum. The George W. Bush Center is in Dallas about 50 miles west of where we stayed last night. The museum was very well done it reminded us about all that happened during the eight years of his presidency and what a good man he was.

Girders from the World Trade Center
About the No Child Left Behind act
Duke buying our tickets

Next we drove about 190 miles south to the campus of Texas A & M University where we visited the George H.W. Bush museum.

Duke with the two Bushes.
A section of the Berlin Wall. The wall came down during his presidency
A TBM Avenger like the one Bush was shot down in during WWII
The graves of George and Barbara Bush and their daughter Robin who died at the age of 4.

There are 13 presidential libraries. Now we have been to 7 of the 13 Presidential libraries.