Wednesday 22 - Friday 24 October 2003:   Oakdale!

We share a lovely three days with Dave, Sandy, Erika & Julie.

David & Charles sing at piano A satisfied David with his presents A bewildered Charles with his presents
Julie waves Hi Sandy smiles Erika braids Julie's hair

 

Friday 24 - Monday 27 October 2003:   Santa Cruz!

Our cross-country adventure begins!

A view of Karen & Charles looking rearvanward, with Storage Facility in the background

a True Power Seminar
with Dr. H. Pendle...

and alpacas with Alison
and a sushi dinner too!

 Dr. H. Pendle (in red & black) leads the True Power seminar
Karen & Alison look upon two young alpacas What a curious photo-optical device, thinks the Alpaca A marvelous sushi dinner for three
Mary & Charles & Karen at the beach in Santa Cruz A walk on the beach with Mary A Harbor Seal in Santa Cruz
Karen & Charles & Mark & Joan enjoy the fine cookery at Gayle's in Capitola

a visit to Gayle's and
Land of Medicine Buddha
with Joan & Mark

and a Birthday Cake
baked by Lisa
to celebrate Charles' birthday.

 Mark & Joan at the Prayer Wheel in Land of Medicine Buddha
Lisa & Karen in a festive mood HAPPY BIRTHDAy spell the glowing candles Charles makes a wish...

 

Monday 27 - Tuesday 28 October 2003:  Eastward Ho!

We drive across California (on Route 5) towards Arizona!

A view of the reservoir just south of Route 152
charles in the Cotton Karen in the Cotton Charles by a purple classic car (also a 1956 model) in Borax, CA; we almost ran out of gas... and the gas stations didn't open until the morning.

 

Tuesday 28 October - Saturday November 1, 2003:   Arizona!

Williams, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Indian ruins, a volcano!

Karen faces the truck Hot sun on desert landscape Rock Spirits
On the road again...
Entering Williams; Elevation 6762; Founded 1881 Welcome to Williams, AZ! The Dead are honored in WIlliams, AZ.
A Creepy Craggy Tree To the Souls of our dead Who on the fields of France are Sleeping, let the Message Now be sped ~~ that We their Faith are keeping ----Our Lady of Guadaloupe Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Charles & Karen & a Buffalo

We explore the cemetery,

and then enjoy the local cuisine.

 Charles & Karen at a local restaurant
Steak & Potatoes: Charles says: Yummm!! Salmon & Rice: Karen, how nice! Two Chocolate Milkshakes: Karen says Mmmmmmmm! Charles Enjoys the Cool Confection.
Charles and the Big Engine

Wednesday 28 October 2003

We explore a haunted train
on the Grand Canyon Railway.

And then we visit an Animal Farm,
and make many friends
with our cup o' pellets.

 Karen and the Little Red Caboose
Charles Feeds the Masses...
... and Gains a Following
i challenge you to a Spitting Context... i'm especially good at expectorating!
Oh Dear -- I Smell Something...
Karen Snuggles With a Deer
A Baleful Look from a Deer in a Pen
We approach Sedona through a long lovely canyon. At a vista point in the canyon, we buy handmade gifts for our nieces from local Native Americans. As we get closer to Sedona, the rocks get wilder and more colorful.
Charles & Karen hike up to the Energy Vortex

We arrive in Sedona!

A visit to the local Energy Vortex...

A fine dinner...

And a beautiful Inn.

 A Night View of One of Sedona's Energy Vortices
Spinach Salad at the Heartline Cafe Karen & Charles Dine at the Heartline Cafe Roasted Red Pepper Soup at the Heartline Cafe
Karen Loves the Room

Southwest Inn at Sedona

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Olson

 Charles Enjoys the Paper
A Wild and Wonderful Skyline of Sedona
Map of the West Fork Trail Bridge to the West Fork Trail
Charles at the Start of the West Fork Trail

Welcome to the

West Fork Trail!
Karen at the Start of the West Fork Trail
Magnificent rock view Another magnificent rock view Karen crosses a stream Autumn leaves changing colors
Charles crosses stream Karen & Charles kiss under tree archway Spirit faces in the rocks
Karen hikes the trail A scenic view Charles bridges waterway Beautfil Sedona cliffs
Red and orange leaves Red leaves and green clover A beautiful spotted butterfly
Water erodes teh rock Karen under cliff Karen with horse tails Changing fall leaves
Charles rests on a log A precariously placed boulder We reach the end of the trail
The end of the trail turns to water

The trail now turns to water...

We'd like to continue...

but it's time for our Jeep tour,
so back we go!

 We race back down to make our jeep ride
Charles enjoys the wind in his hair Our faithful jeep Karen enjoys her hair in the wind
Charles and Karen in the desert landscape Cathedral rock Charles and Karen and Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock The sun starts to set
Desert Cactus Another variety of desert cactus Karen enjoys the view
Amazing colors More amazing colors Rich red hues of rocks
Breathtaking rock colors Karen with a view A hairy tarantula
Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset
Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset
Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset
Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset Sedona Sunset
Charles with photos of the Old West A cactus margarita Frog Sculpture
The drive to the Grand Canyon Post forest fire Charles and Fred Flintstone; Charles is riding Fred's car!
Charles at an overlook

Welcome to
the Grand Canyon!

 Karen and Charles view the Grand Canyon for the first time
What a view!
View from the South Rim View from the South Rim View from the South Rim
Charles and Karen hike the upper trail Charles and Karen take a guided tour of the rock geology A kiss with a view
A twisted tree Lykins galore The Colorado River
The Colorado River close-up Karen makes a wish Karen poses at the edge
A magical view 6 million years in the making! Another amazing view
Charles with a view Sunset over the Grand Canyon A spectacular sky
Map of our trail Charles enjoys We Cook Pizza We Cook Pizza was one of our favorite restaurants; it is on the right side of the road just before you enter the park from the south
We return a second day for more breathtaking views Charles with binoculars Shadows of Clouds move across the Canyon
Karen and Charles at overlook More stunning views Amazing rock formations
The colors reflect the different rock layers Karen and Charles on the trail The Little Colorado River

We relectantly leave the Grand Canyon,
and explore some ruins of Native American civilization...

Kivas and Petroglyphs and Spirits -- oh my!
A Naive American Kiva The Kiva tradition explained Driving to the Painted Dessert
We approach the ruins of a Native American settlement Can you see the Petroglyph? i can't either. These settlements thrived until the climate dried up.
Our three-legged shadow on the wall of the ruins
The settlement was an organic blend of natural rock and human wall-building. The sun is setting upon the ruins.
Day wanes

And as the sun dips slowly
toward the horizon,
we make our way towards
Mount Doom...
the lava and cone of
the great ancient volcano!

 As we approach the volcano, the earth becomes grey.
The desolate landscape around the volcano lichens were the most common colonizers of the lava. A Sea of Desolation
Charles listens to a rock Is that the volcano in the distance? life amidst the lava
Karen and a craggy tree looking up a tree trunk As we approach the volcano, desolation, desolation.
Karen & Charles in the twilight Karen meditates in a tree branch charles meditates in a tree branch
Moon rises over tree silhouette Goodnight, Volcano. Moon Through Tree Silhouette in Darkness

Thank you, our dear viewer, for sharing our adventure!

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary8Greece.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary7Venice.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary6SouthernFrance.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary5Germany.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary4Belgium.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary3France.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary2England.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/HoneymoonDiary1Ireland.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/wedding.htm

www.charlesOlson.com/CBOWhatsNew.html

www.charlesOlson.com

or email us at charles@CSMNL.com and/or karen@senffner.net