We started to search down an even longer path to an area called "Coyote Village" We didn't stay long because at this point I was getting real worried.
So Josh, Aaron and myself started our search for our lost loved ones. We headed down a path toward the Pipe Shrine House which was made up of a lot of these circular "kiva" as shown in the above picture. They were circular rooms used for family gatherings and religious ceremonies. Needless to say after walking down this long path and finding no one around, I started to get worried and was less interested in visiting the sites. I told the boys we had to keep looking and went to look in another area of the village.

So as you can see, Aaron is standing alone at our first stop. You notice that Kristen and Tony are no where to be found. I was starting to get a little worried so I called the boys back together and told them we should look for Kristen and Dad. We then started out on our search.
We stopped at the visitors center and purchased tickets for the 4:30 pm tour of the Cliff Palace. They also have a lot of free cliff dwelling area to visit on your own. We decided to visit an area called "Far View" an Ancient Farming Community on our own to use up some time before our scheduled visit. As we got out of the car, I thought Tony heard me say we should visit this building that was right in front of us first. I guess he didn't hear what I said and the boys and I went ahead to do some site seeing on our own. Above is one of the first pictures I took of Josh and Aaron visiting the site which was right by our car. We were able to climb inside of this building. I kept waiting for Kristen and Tony to show up to join us an they never did. We kept going and I started to get a little worried. Where was Tony and Kristen. I turned my back and they were gone.
We made it to Mesa Verde National Park on Tuesday July 21, 09. We stayed at Mesa Verde RV Resort which was really nice. Swimming pool and the cleanest showers, laundry, and bathrooms I have ever seen. The Park entrance was only 1/2 mile from where we were staying. One surprise though was you had to drive 20 miles through mountains to get to see the Indians cliff dwellings.

Our campground where we stayed at in William, AZ. right out side the Grand Canyon about 30 miles away. Not like a parking lot, more like a real campground we are used to except we were surrounded by mountains.

One more windy shot. We came home covered in sand/dirt.

Josh posing in the wind.

Before we boarded the bus at Powell Point, we stopped for one more view. It was still very windy up there.

Walking from Hopi Point to Powell Point to get the bus heading eastward back to where we began.

We took the bus us to Hopi Point 6800 feet elevation. Suppose to be the highest point. We were warned that it was extremely windy there. We got off the bus and found out for ourselves how windy it was. Tony and Kristen are pictured here shielding themselves from the wind. Tony got hit in the eye with a pine needle. Kristen complained of getting sand in her eye.
Another picture of beauty!!!!

Josh, Kristen, Tony and Aaron stopped for a pose.

I zoomed in with my camera to take this picture of guys below. There was no way I was gonna climb down there to get my picture taken.

Just breath taking!!!

The beginning of our adventure.

The best way to see the park it to take the free bus to different areas and walk around. We boarded the bus and started to see the park.

On Sunday, July 19th 2009, we finally made it to the Grand Canyon. What Beauty!!! We forgot to stop at the sign and get our picture taken. We thought we'd do it on the way out but we forgot.
We parked on the side of the road because the parking lot was full. We didn't know how to get around but we soon figured it out after finding the visitor center.

On Saturday we spent the day with my cousins, visiting Flagstaff AZ. We did some shopping and ate lunch at a very slow Italian restaurant. It was nice and relaxing. My cousins did want want to return back to the heat, they stayed as long as they could.

After dinner, we walked the streets of old Route 66, we stopped and had some ice cream. It gets dark here very fast. On our way back to the camp ground, I realized that we needed some milk. Not realizing that the Safeway store was right in the center of town, we started driving back on Route 40 towards the campground. I asked the GPS for the nearest grocery store so we followed it on the GPS. It took us in a circle and we eneded up back to where were were previously walking down the street. The town was so small, we didn't realize how close our campground was to the center of the town.

We met up with my cousins Barb Yuschik and Diane Tone in Williams AZ. They traveled up from Phoenix and Gilbert AZ to escaspe the 115 degree weather. We had a great dinner together, got caught up with family news and walked thru the old Route 66 streets.

We then headed toward Williams AZ. Josh enjoying the fresh air.

Kristen doing what she loves the most.

Large logs of the Petrified Forest trail we followed. The heat was getting very hot at this time, around 100 degrees.

Some of the cool petrified wood we saw.

Josh and Aaron posing for a picture on some petrified wood.

More of the Painted Desert. You first start out visiting the Painted Desert before you drive thru the Petrified Forest.

Josh enjoying the view of the Painted Desert.

Here we are at the begining of the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

We headed out toward the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. Just Beautiful.

Josh found a great piece of rebar which we can use for our fires, too bad you can't have a fire any where on our trip for fear of buring down the town. Holbrook AZ. OK RV Park.

Holbrook Arizona, enjoying the cooler air in the evening and the sunset at the OK RV Park.

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Most of the campground look like a parking lot. They are nothing like the ones back in Ohio. We are glad we have Wi-fi at most of the places we have stayed.