Category: USA

This page contains pictures and information about camping trips and other travel within the US. It also includes visits that family members and others made to our area and home. It is arranged chronologically starting with the most recent trip/visit. Scroll down to see all the entries. One of my lifetime goals has been to visit all the national parks in the US. When Donna & I travel, we also go out of our way to visit national monuments, seashores, memorials, battlefields, preserves, parkways, recreation areas, rivers, scenic trails, lakeshores and national historic sites. So, you may wonder ‐ why have I chosen this as a goal? The answer is simple – as a citizen of this great country, I, like you, am one of the many owners of these national treasures. As such, I consider it a priority to go visit what I own and enjoy the scenic wonders, the incredible memorials, and the cherished wilderness that so many have fought and died to give us this privilege. Having said that, I dedicate this section of my website to my parents, my kids and grandkids; and the rest of my family, especially my wife, who have honored my traveling addiction over the last several decades.

Solvang, Las Vegas RV Trip – April 2011

We took this camping trip to Solvang, California to meet the RVF (Recreational Vehicle Fellowship) group from the Pacific zone. Solvang is a beautiful little Danish city nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley of California. On the way we stopped to visit Donna’s brother Carl & his family in Vista for a few days. We spent 4 days with the RVF group at Solvang, touring various areas, including a local Air Force base, then headed home by way of Las Vegas. We wanted to see the new bridge near Hoover Dam. After we took the bridge tour we returned to our camper for the trip home.

Relaxing during the hike with our RVF friends

York, PA Family Trip – November 2010

This was one of the first trips Donna took by herself to visit her parents, Kevin & Steph and the grandkids in York, Pa. She really enjoys these visits.

Sedona / Zion RV Trip – October 2010

We took this trip in the camper to get away for a while. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery at Sedona and did some hiking and sightseeing in Zion National Park.

Ontario RFE – October 2010

A distinguished contingent of Rotarians hailing from El Paso, TX and Clovis, NM embarked on a Rotary Friendship Exchange journey to Deep River, Ontario, Canada. During our visit, we were graciously welcomed by fellow members of various Rotary Clubs in the region. Our time there was nothing short of exceptional, and it was during this visit that we became acquainted with a Rotary project aimed at constructing homes in El Salvador. This discovery led us to actively engage in the project, and we participated in two missions—one in November 2010 and another in November 2011.

Northeast Rolling Adventure – June 2010

This was a 5-week trip in our camper, which began in New Mexico (home), then to Branson, MO, then to State College, PA to attend Chris’s graduation from Penn State. From there we visited the family in York, Harrisburg and Lebanon, Pa. after which we headed up the northeast coast to Plymouth, MA where we met my friend Jim Maxon. He traveled with us along the coast, up to Maine. After Jim went home, Donna & I headed further north to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, then back through Vermont where we met began the RFE visit with the Canadian team. We spent 10 days with them traveling all over southeast Ontario, Ottowa, Montreal & Niagara Falls, after which we went back to PA for a short visit then headed home by way of Georgia and Florida. It was quite a trip.

State College, PA – Chris’ graduation – On our way to New England

Clovis, NM Trip – September 2009

Donna & I went to Clovis to visit our friends Lonnie & Ardeth Leslie who we traveled with several times on Rotary RFE trips. This was our first visit to their home. They treated us to a tour of the area, including a night at the Clovis Music Festival. It was fun. Lonnie is an RC airplane collector and flyer. We are also both Rotarians and we spoke to his Rotary Club about one of our RFE trips.

Lonnie & Ardeth took us to a local dairy farm to observe the young cows

Durango / Skywalk – August 2009

This is a trip we took with our local camping group to Durango. We spent a week with them, toured the Durango and Silverton areas, then headed west to the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The campground at Durango was a beautiful spot right on the river, and the trip to Silverton was incredible.

Canada (Alberta – RFE), Colorado – July 2008

The reason for this trip was to participate in the Alberta, Canada Rotary Friendship Exchange. We decided to take our camper and drive all the way to Canada to join the RFE team. Our first stop was Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, then to Yellowstone NP, each of which we spent several days sightseeing and touring. From there we went to Banff NP in Alberta, the to our first RFE host in Camrose. From Camrose, we went with the team to Ft. McMurray, Edson, Jasper NP, and Edmonton which was our final stop with the team. After the RFE Donna & I headed south to Calgary, then to Glacier & Grand Teton NP, passing through Denver on our way back home. What an awesome trip!

Canola filed in Alberta, Canada with 2 fellow Rotarians

Testing the fire dept equipment in Camrose, Alberta

Wyler Aerial Tramway Hike- March 2008

Donna & I decided to hike in the desert with the El Paso hiking club to the top of the Wyler Aerial Tramway.

Timberon, NM RV Trip – August 2007

We took this trip with our local camping group – Bordertown Sam’s. The town is about 30 miles from Ruidoso, NM and hidden in the mountains. We shared food and fellowship and did some hiking with the group. The deer came right up to the food pavilion. We took my Mom & Dad along with us on this trip.