CARL SANDBURG HOME OUR 25 STATE!! AND OUR 62 PARK!!

WITH THIS PARK WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OUR IRON BUTT CHALLENGE OF VISITING 50 PARKS IN 25 STATES IN ONE YEAR!!  WE VISITED OUR FIRST PARK, LINCOLN'S HOME IN SPRINGFIELD, IL ON JULY 3, 2012 AND FINISH WITH CARL SANDBURG'S HOME, JULY 2, 2013.

This has been a most rewarding adventure and one we will continue on with.  We are so lucky that someone had the foresight to preserve so many things for all of us to enjoy.

A Poet of the People

Carl Sandburg provided a popular voice for the American people of the twentieth century and still speaks to us through his words, songs and the beauty and serenity of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.

He and his wife moved here from Michigan because of the cold winters in Michigan

 My wife loves to read and this was one of her favorite parks.

When Carl Sandburg died his wife turned everything, as is, over to the preservationists.

 In one room there is even a cigar butt in the ashtray

Notice the container of goats milk on the table

 Lilian, his wife made history with the breeding of goats.  Mr Sandburg wanted everyone to acknowledge her as will as him.

 As with so many parks we have dedicated volunteers that are anxious to share their knowledge of  their park.

CARL SANDBURG HOME, FLAT ROCK, NC.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS Our 61st Park in our 24th State

A Wondrous Diversity of Life

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park.

 The Cherokee described these mountains as "shaconage" meaning "blue, like smoke."

No place this size in temperate climate can match the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's variety of plant and animal species.  Here are more tree species than in northern Europe, 1,500 flowering plants, dozens of native fish, and over 200 species of birds and 60 mammals.

MAMMOTH CAVE OUR 60TH PARK IN OUR 24TH STATE

The longest cave system know in the world!

Mammoth Cave, KY

It looks like the government has tried to buy all the land above the caves and this makes for some beautiful riding, driving, hiking and camping.

They have mapped 400 miles of caves and they are still mapping and caves are still forming!!

If you like caves, this is one of the best!!  Enjoy

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE

Our 59th Park in our 23rd State was the Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve near Mosca, CO

That tan area between us and the snow capped mountains is the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado!!

The tallest peak is Star Dune 750 feet high, above what I don't know the Visitor's Center is at an altitude of 8175 feet.  The Dunes cover 330 square miles!!  You are allowed to climb and slide all over it.  Those little specks way up high are PEOPLE.

I wanted to see if my motorcycle boots were really waterproof...they were!!

  

The formation of these Dunes is certainly a "freak of nature".  It is really worth the visit, hike, a picnic, camping, wading in the stream and bring the KIDS, old and young!!  Enjoy !!!!

CAPULIN VOLCANO NM

Our 58th Park in our 22 State was CAPULIN VOLCANO near Des Moines, NM

Capulin Volcano erupted into existence 60,000 years ago and has remained in active.  It is one of the few volcanos that show the "cone shape" rim.  In fact you can walk the entire rim.

The drive to the top provides a spectacular view. 

This is a picture of the Center of the Volcano.

 The are many volcanos that are visible in the area. 

Even the bike enjoyed the view from the top, but asked "Is that a storm in the distance?"

YES! That is a storm and radar showed that it was between us and where we were going.  Time to take cover.

The Park Ranger let us park under the Visitor's Center overhang.  Even the deer were looking of cover.

After about 4 hours of rain, thunder, lightning, wind and HAIL a rainbow appeared.  It was the perfect end to the "perfect storm".

Despite the storm, we really enjoyed over visit to Capulin Vocano.  There is a good explanation of a volcano, abundant wildlife and flowers, nice trail and nice people.  

The 26 mile ride from Capulin Volcano to Raton, NM was unbelievable.  This is a picture of the sunset.  I have never seen such vivid colors.  It was awesome.

As we were leaving the Visitor's Center a car stopped us and told us to watch the HIGH WATER, an accident, and the SNOW PLOW pushing the 6 inches of HAIL off the roads.  In the picture above we are approaching a wreck where a guy slid of the road because of the HAIL.

The temperature dropped from 80 degrees to 46 degrees almost instantly.

Yes, that is the snow plow and YES, that white stuff is HAIL!!

Because we stopped and waited for the storm to pass, we were never in danger.  What could have been fatal turned out be a most gorgeous and exciting adventure.