We made a quick stop at Shepard State Park outside Biloxi Mississippi on our way to St. George Island in Florida. After the last 5 months in the desert, it’s nice to be around trees again!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
New Orleans, Louisiana
We took the ferry from Algiers to New Orleans, Canal Street Station and started exploring from there. Bourbon Street is a famous and historic street that spans the length of the French Quarter. The most popular section of Bourbon Street is "Upper Bourbon Street". The street is home to many bars, restaurants, as well as souvenir shops. Though largely quiet during the day, Bourbon Street comes alive at night, particularly during the French Quarter's many festivals. Most popular among these is the annual Mardi Gras celebration, when Bourbon Street teems with hundreds of thousands of tourists.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Howdy Partners!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Four States Fairgrounds, Texarkana Arkansas
Monday, October 11, 2010
Red Rock Canyon, Oklahoma
Located near Hinton in Caddo County, Oklahoma, was a favored winter camp for the Plains Indians. It was also landmark and camping area on the California Road. Settlers going west used this sandstone canyon for collection of fresh water and wagon repairs. On the west side of the canyon you still can see the wagon ruts. The canyon and the surrounding land were owned by Samuel Handley until his early death during the Depression/Dust Bowl. His widow sold the canyon and the rest of the lands and moved her family to California.
We found a nice spot for camping here. The park was empty, so we had it all to ourselves!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Dodge City, Kansas
The wickedest little city in the west
Dodge City is infamous for lawlessness and gun-slinging. There was no local law enforcement and the military had no jurisdiction over the town. Buffalo hunters, railroad workers, drifters and soldiers scrapped and fought, leading to the shootings where men died with their boots on. And that created a hasty need for a local burial place - Boot Hill Cemetery. The cemetery is now a part of downtown Dodge City. It was used until 1878. For six years before Boot Hill, Dodge City had no official cemetery. Persons dying who had friends, enough money or sufficient standing in the community were buried in the post cemetery at Fort Dodge. Others, penniless or unknown, were buried where it was convenient to dig a hole.
Dodge City was the Buffalo capital for three years until mass slaughter destroyed the huge herds and left the Prairie littered with decaying carcasses. An estimated 850,000 Buffalo hides were shipped from Dodge City in the years 1872-1874. Farmers, during hard times, gathered the Buffalo bones and sold them for six to eight dollars a ton. The bones were used in the manufacture of china and fertilizer. By 1875 the Buffalo were gone as a source of revenue, but the Longhorn cattle of Texas drove the dollars into town. For ten more years, over five million head were driven up the western branch of the Chisholm and Western Trails to Dodge City. Law and order came riding in to town with such respectable officers as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman and Charlie Bassett. Out of these personalities evolved the famous fictional character of Marshal Matt Dillon. The town these early men knew was laid out with two Front Streets, one on either side of the railroad tracks. The city passed an ordinance that guns could not be worn or carried north of the "deadline" which was the railroad tracks. The south side where "anything went" was wide open. In 1876 the population was 1,200 and nineteen businesses were licensed to sell liquor.
Dodge City is infamous for lawlessness and gun-slinging. There was no local law enforcement and the military had no jurisdiction over the town. Buffalo hunters, railroad workers, drifters and soldiers scrapped and fought, leading to the shootings where men died with their boots on. And that created a hasty need for a local burial place - Boot Hill Cemetery. The cemetery is now a part of downtown Dodge City. It was used until 1878. For six years before Boot Hill, Dodge City had no official cemetery. Persons dying who had friends, enough money or sufficient standing in the community were buried in the post cemetery at Fort Dodge. Others, penniless or unknown, were buried where it was convenient to dig a hole.
Dodge City was the Buffalo capital for three years until mass slaughter destroyed the huge herds and left the Prairie littered with decaying carcasses. An estimated 850,000 Buffalo hides were shipped from Dodge City in the years 1872-1874. Farmers, during hard times, gathered the Buffalo bones and sold them for six to eight dollars a ton. The bones were used in the manufacture of china and fertilizer. By 1875 the Buffalo were gone as a source of revenue, but the Longhorn cattle of Texas drove the dollars into town. For ten more years, over five million head were driven up the western branch of the Chisholm and Western Trails to Dodge City. Law and order came riding in to town with such respectable officers as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman and Charlie Bassett. Out of these personalities evolved the famous fictional character of Marshal Matt Dillon. The town these early men knew was laid out with two Front Streets, one on either side of the railroad tracks. The city passed an ordinance that guns could not be worn or carried north of the "deadline" which was the railroad tracks. The south side where "anything went" was wide open. In 1876 the population was 1,200 and nineteen businesses were licensed to sell liquor.
Our Google Map Location
Let's get the heck out of Dodge!! ;)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses approximately 265,770 acres of land in Colorado's northern Front Range. The park is split by the Continental Divide, which gives the eastern and western portions of the park a different character. The east side of the park tends to be drier, with heavily glaciated peaks and cirques. The west side of the park is wetter and more lush, with deep forests dominating
The park contains 359 miles of trails, 150 lakes, and 450 miles of streams. The park contains over 60 named peaks higher than 12,000 feet, and over one fourth of the park resides above tree line. The highest point of the park is Longs Peak, which rises to 14,259 feet above sea level.
The park contains 359 miles of trails, 150 lakes, and 450 miles of streams. The park contains over 60 named peaks higher than 12,000 feet, and over one fourth of the park resides above tree line. The highest point of the park is Longs Peak, which rises to 14,259 feet above sea level.
We found some Elk sunning in a meadow 
There are 5 active glaicers at Rocky Mountain Park, you can see some from the Trail Ridge Road at nearly 12,000 ft above sea level.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Stafford’s are On the Road again!
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