Star Tracking

I know next to nothing about the heavens above us but there have been many a night, when we have been camping in the Arizona wilderness, when we have studied the stars and watched for satellites.  This has aroused my curiosity on how to photograph the stars.

With the purchase of my new Nikon DSLR and thought I’d give “star tracking” a try on a recent camping adventure.  We spent 10 days camped at an altitude of 7,200 feet and it was clear each night with no moon, so the conditions were just perfect.

I understood that the North Star is stationary and that the rest of the stars in our galaxy revolve around it.  So late at night I set up the camera on a tri-pod and found my way to a clearing in the middle of 90 foot trees about 100 yards from our campsite.

I was very excited with this first attempt, but as you can tell the North Star was out of the picture. (Upper left)  I thought it was located off the handle of the big dipper.  Over the period of three nights I shot several photos trying to get that full circle.
For you camera nuts the stats are: Manual mode, 801 seconds, 18mm, F3.5, ISO 400, Tungsten WB, EV 0.

The outside temperature was 34 degrees so I only took two or three shots per night as my hands and feet were cold, and to tell you the truth, it was a little spooky in the pitch black.  In this shot I was lucky enough to get a shooting star.  You can see the streak in the lower right 1/3 of the photo.  (Click on images for larger view.)  I am very pleased with the results, but so far I’m not finding the North Star and the above photo is even further away.  You can see the type of picture that I was striving for here.

I'll call it beginners luck that these shots turned out because there are so many variables with camera settings.

When we got back to Phoenix I could hardly wait to do some research on this and found out that the North Star is actually off the handle of the little dipper.  So, the next time we get out in the middle of no where, far away from city lights on a moonless night, maybe I can get that circular shot.  In the meantime I have found a new sideline to tie in with my love for photography!  See more shots on my Photo Site.

For an in depth look into the heavens, you might enjoy watching this video taken with the Hubble Telescope.  It’s mind boggling!

Adventure Trip to Utah

Last week we and another couple took our RVs and quads and travelled to Southern Utah.  We spent four days camped in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.  This is quite a unique and beautiful place and we had fun riding and taking photos.

During one of those days we took a side trip to Zion National Park.  It was only about a 30 minute drive from where we were camped and the weather was perfect.  Zion has many unusual features and provides a casual adventure, especially if you are into hiking.

We had an enjoyable lunch just outside of the South entrance and after spending the better part of the day, we headed an hour North to Bryce Canyon N.P.

This place is breathtaking!
There are lots of observa-
tion points from which you can take photos and enjoy the splendor that this place has to offer.  The altitude is over 8,000 feet so take your time walking from the parking lots.

We left the Coral Sand Dunes Friday and spent the weekend at the Lake Powell RV Resort. We used this as a base while we explored Glen Canyon Dam, Horseshoe Bend, and Lower Antelope Canyon.
The lower & upper slot canyons are located just 5 miles east of Page, Arizona on a Navaho Indian Reservation and as a photographer there is no greater thrill.

After parking your vehicle, you’ll transported by an Indian guide a couple of miles to the Upper Canyon.  It can be explored casually and is an easy walk through its beauty.

The Lower Canyon is a different story.  After paying a fee, you can walk a short distance to a slit in the ground.  You turn your shoulders sideways as you make your way into the bowls of the earth.  You’ll descent down many steep ladders, and on the canyon floor you will stop every few steps and take photos in all directions.  You will be in total awe of what your mind is trying to absorb.  This is a spectacle like no other, carved out over thousands of years by Mother Nature.

I have visited these canyons 4 times and have probably taken a thousand pictures.  It is hard to pick out one that describes the breathtaking beauty of this experience!

The canyon twists and turns and around every corner is another indescribable view.
At times the floor is so narrow that you have to put one foot in front of the other.  Each movement of your eyes captures beauty in your memory and then in your camera.

This was a week jam packed full of fun and adventure.  You can see a whole gallery of these canyons (more to be added soon) on my Photo Site.  Click on photos for larger view.

Life is good! 

Sedona, Arizona

Having an aviation career and flying to cities all over North America, I have to say that Sedona is maybe the most beautiful place of them all! 

 

Since moving to Phoenix 16 years ago I bet we have driven there close to 50 times.  It’s only an hour and a half north and we love to take visitors, or just go there to spend the day taking photos.

Two of the early settlers to this area where Theodore Schnebly and his wife.  When trying to establish a post office he submitted the name “Red Rock Crossing” but the Government said it was too long, so he tried his wife’s name, Sedona, and it was accepted.

A must stop on your visit to Sedona is the “Chapel of the Holy Cross.”  It was completed in 1956 and has attracted millions of people from all over the world.

This is a Catholic church but no matter what your religion, this is a very special place.  You will find spending a few minutes inside to be inspiring as you take in all the beauty that surrounds you.

 

You probably would enjoy the Sedona airport which is situated high above the city.  All kinds of airplanes land here and the view from up there is incredible!

Don’t even think about being in Sedona without your camera and if you really like taking photos, you will want to visit a place off the beaten path,  Red Rock State Park which is located a few miles south of town. 

The secret here is to park your car and hike the trail along the creek.  It’s easy walking and this is nature and beauty at its best! 

You can click on these pictures for a larger view, and see more photos I’ve taken in Sedona here.

American Idol

Back in January I wrote about American Idol and that I thought this was the best season of the past 10 years.

It was until last night!  The talent is better than ever but the producers of the show have to change the voting procedures.  With unlimited votes the tweens have taken over and the whole thing turns into a bust!

Pia Toscano has been a huge favorite since day one and most, including the judges, predicted her to be one of the last ones standing.

In my opinion if they are going to let the public vote then it should be limited to one vote per telephone number.  That’s the only fair way.

I am a music lover and consequently have enjoyed watching this show, but Thursday’s ending really made me mad and it took all the fun away from the season.  (Photo from www.Americanidol.com)

Our recent visit to Vegas

The world’s most exciting city, Las Vegas, is a fun place to visit and we like to do it at least once a year.  A lot can happen in that city in 12 months as it is constantly re-inventing itself.  One of the latest additions is “City Center,” and it is simply awesome!  The Aria Hotel is part of this complex and was featured on a recent episode of “The Bachelor.”  We spent the good part of a day exploring, shopping, having lunch, and taking photos.  When I took this photo it seemed like I was standing in the middle of Disney World! 

To Vegas and back home to Phoenix we drove across the new 240 million dollar Hoover Dam Bridge.  I was a little apprehensive the first time (because of my fear of heights) as the bridge is almost 1,000 above the Colorado River, but they put 4 foot walls on both sides so unless you are driving an 18 wheeler you don’t even realize you are on it. 

You do have the option of going just a little out of your way, parking, and hiking to the new bridge for a spectacular view of one of our National Treasures.  The hike was easy and wheel chair accessible.

The dam is located on the Arizona – Nevada border and you will experience a time change when crossing the bridge.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 3 day adventure!  Now I have to sift through over 500 photos and post a few of them on my Photo Site.
(You may click on the photos for a larger view.)

HP Shafted Me!

I have been involved in the world of technology most of my life and have experienced the magnificence of this ever changing industry.  Things are moving fast and I am one who tries to keep up with the latest computer, cell phone, etc.

The downfall in our society today is customer service for these products.  Manufacturers don’t seem to care whether you are happy or not.  I am in a position of recommending products, especially laptop and desktop computers and always steer customers toward HP.  I have a studio full of HP products and especially love the three HP monitors that I use.   My main monitor is a large 27” and in less than a year it failed.  I called HP and they sent me a new one.  That part of the story is good.  Then within 90 days the second one failed with the exact same problem, and HP refuses to do anything about it.

The first frustration was that I had to talk to several people with very broken English who were in India.  I was informed that the replacement has no warranty.  When I asked to speak to a supervisor I was put on hold for 30 minutes and just left hanging.  I’ve heard of that trick from other people.  Two different HP representatives said that someone would call me, but I’ve never heard a word.

The second frustration is that you’ll never get past that level one technician in India.  Talking to someone “higher up” is impossible.  I even tried to leave a comment on HP’s web site as to this situation, but couldn’t.  You can leave a positive comment about one of their products, but you can’t leave a negative comment.  I wonder what would happen if I drove to their corporate office in California and asked to speak to the CEO?  How about maybe I take a film crew with me?

So, Hewlett Packard you have cost me $350 to replace your monitor that worked for less than 3 months.  Thanks so much, as I have certainly lost all my enthusiasm for your company!

What I’d really like to do is to take that 27 inch monitor and bust it into a million pieces with a sledge hammer, then put the video on YouTube, for the world to see, but that would be wasting my time!  I’ve already wasted several hours on this project especially talking to people in India that can’t speak English and are computer illiterate!

The Possibilities of a Photograph

I just attended a two day Nikon Photography School 
and thoroughly enjoyed it.  No matter how much you think you know about a subject you never stop learning and after attending a seminar you are usually fired up. (Click on Photos to enlarge.)

So today, I was taking pictures of just about anything around the house.  I took this shot sitting in my studio at an overhead spotlight.  I started playing with it in my photo editor and came up with the ones below.

Once you start fiddling with a photo the possibilities are endless and this could have gone on all day.

It’s amazing what you can come up with if you do some creative thinking when you’re taking the shot and again in post editing.

These effects were achieved in Paint Shop Pro X3 with their built in special effects.  At other times I use filters from Topaz Labs.  They are very professional and a welcome addition to any photo buffs toolbox!  The “Photo Art” Gallery contains these pictures on my Photo Web Site.

American Idol

Back in March l wrote that I have always been a music lover and in my early years played the drums.  I was lucky enough to spend 12 years on the radio spinning records, so American Idol has always been a program that I have enjoyed.

I mentioned how boring the 2010 season was with four blabbering judges and the lack of talent from the contestants.  In order to keep a show like this on top, you have to keep it fresh and I think they have done that this year with two new judges 

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith has added flavor, and I like him.  His group has sold over 20 million albums, so he certainly has the credentials for this position.  Of course Jennifer Lopez is no slouch, and you know what?  I don’t miss Simon in the least bit.  His nasty comments and just the way he treated people was way over the top.

So far the pre-season auditions have been much more entertaining than in previous years.  More raw talent is being featured and not so much of the ridiculous stuff.  Some very heartwarming stories have been featured, such as this one from contestant Chris Medina.

In my opinion the glue that has held American Idol together for 10 years is Ryan Seacrest.  He has done a masterful job of being the MC.

I think this season of American Idol will be a good one!

What are your goals?

I try to be a better person each day of my life. Not saying that I'm always successful but at least it's on my mind.  Each year at this time people talk about New Year's resolutions, but few follow through.  Why?  Maybe it's because there was no road map, no strategic plan. 

We set goals such as "I will lose weight" but that's too general, we need to be more specific.  I will lose 10 pounds in the next 10 months and I will do that by not snacking while sitting on the couch.  Now that's a plan.


I like to associate life with the game of football.  There's a goal at the end of the field and you get there with a game plan.  On each down the quarterback calls a play and that play has a specific plan.  No plan, no goal!  You can do anything in this world, the only thing that will stop you will be you! 

I found a web site that is chocked full of good stuff to help us travel down the highway of life in the happy lane.  Lots of good articles such as "7 questions to find passion" or "A better person in 7 days."  This is a site where you could spend all day reading and getting motivated!

It’s that time of year!

Snow seems to be capturing the headlines this week, in Europe and the U.S.  I spent most of my life living in the Midwest and it was usually a white Christmas.  There is something special about the snow flakes falling outside the window as you sip some hot chocolate and enjoy the fireplace.

Now that we live in Phoenix we don’t see the white stuff unless we drive a couple of hours north which we will do this weekend just to take pictures.

I took this photo with my iPhone yesterday at Westgate which is right next to the University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the 2008 Super Bowl.  That is certainly a different scene than most of the country right now.

I kind of miss the snow at Christmas time, but I don’t miss the shoveling and bitter cold temperatures.  After blue skies, warm temps, and sunshine for the past 16 years it would be hard for me to endure the harshness of a cold winter.

Wherever you are and whatever the weather, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and that 2011 will be the best year of your life!

Have you heard of “Wordle?”

I recently found a site on the Internet where you can use your imagination to create some cool graphics.

I created this one to use as the opening page in Power Point for my Photo Seminars. 

First thing to do is to open Word or Word Pad and type in some words that go along with the theme you want to use.  If you repeat words they will have stronger emphasis.  Copy those words that you created and paste them into the space provided in Wordle.  The reason for creating your words externally is so you have a back-up and don’t have to start all over again if you make a mistake in Wordle.

Click the “Randomize Button” until you find an arrangement that you like.  You will find provisions to change the font, layout, and color, at the top of the page.  When finished I do a “Print Screen” and paste it into my photo editor for any further enhancement such as adding the camera in the corner.

This is a free service and the site is  http://www.wordle.net/

The iPad

This person is Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Computers.  The object that he is holding is an iPad that was released in April, 2010.  Since then the company has sold over 1.5 million a month!  This man, in my opinion, is a marketing genius. 

People stood in line at stores for days to be one of the first to purchase the iPhone, and the same thing happened with the iPad.

I was a hold off on the iPhone but soon joined the ranks of proud owners.  It is just a marvelous piece of technology and I have really enjoyed all it has to offer.  I will upgrade soon to the iPhone 4G.

I have been holding off on the iPad, but finally gave into the temptation today.  This too is a wonderful invention and I will use it, among other things, to enhance my passion for photography.

I’m still a PC man, and probably will always be, but never say never….

America Has Spoken!

The day after the election and America has spoken!  The majority of our Nation is disgusted with big government and the direction the current administration has taken us over the past two years.  We are faced with no jobs, huge national debt, an unhealthy housing market, continued wild spending, a nonchalant attitude toward securing our borders, and a health care bill that Nancy Pelosi said “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it!”  No matter who you are or your party affiliation I think you’ll agree that was a not an intelligent statement!  What she said was “we are cramming something down your throat whether you like it or not!”

Our President ran on a platform of “Hope and Change for America.”  The problem is that his agenda is not the change we had hoped for.  This election strongly voiced that we need to get back on track of common sense and responsibility.

Elected politicians need to represent the people and not their own selfish interests.  Now, with a lot of fresh faces, we will see change, change in another direction. 

Black, White, Hispanic, Indian, Republican, Democrat, Tea Party, or Independent, we need to find common ground for making America the Country that we have always been proud of!

Fake Security Alert

This is a picture of a fake security alert. If it appears on your screen do nothing. Don’t click on any of the buttons as it will only get you into deeper trouble.


If you have Malwarebytes installed, run it immediately to rid your computer of this scam.  If you don’t have Malwarebytes installed you probably won’t be able to get on the Internet because this infection changes browser settings.  You can download Malwarebytes from a clean computer to a flash drive, then install and run it to clear the problem on your infected machine.

If this is all too confusing then you can consult a computer expert.

Fall Colors

It’s fall again, and the colors of earth are changing!  It’s time to grab your camera and take some shots of all this beauty.

We recently spent some time travelling and took this shot in Waukesha, Wi. 

It’s a private driveway and I would have loved to have seen the home at the end.

The only problem with such a beautiful property is that somebody has to do a lot of yard work!

Photo Editing Software

Since I give Photo Seminars I like to acquaint myself with different photo editing programs.  There are lots of free editors on the market.  Some are packaged with your camera or printer. Some are good and some are bad.  Google’s Picasa seems to be a popular application and it’s free, so I gave it a try just so I could broaden my knowledge.

I downloaded the program, and installed it which went smoothly.  The problem started immediately after install when it scanned my computer for pictures.  Since I have over 50,000 this took a very long time.  I noticed that the photo folders were being duplicated and the reason was that it also scanned my external hard drive, without my permission I might add.  After that it started rescanning all the imported photos for face recognition which took forever.  This was also done without my permission. 

The nightmare was, that in the process of all this, some of my most valuable photo folders completely disappeared from my hard drive!  They had also been moved on my external hard drive.  This little experiment took me about a week to correct and get everything back to normal.

Long story short, I won’t recommend Picasa to any of my friends, customers or in my seminars.  There is no reason why any program has to be that invasive and do things without asking you first!

If you have upgraded to Windows 7 there is a program included called “Windows Live Photo Gallery” which is easy to use and gives you all the basic tools to edit your pictures.  Click the Start button, then All Programs and open the Windows Live Folder.

The most talked about photo program in the world is Adobe’s Photo Shop but it costs $700.  The learning curve is steep and so is the price.  There are two other alternatives for those who are more advanced with photography.  Adobe’s Photo Shop Elements which costs $80 to $100 and Corel’s Paint Shop Photo Pro, priced the same.

I have used this program to edit my photos since the day it was born, some 14 years ago, and believe it just can’t be beat.

No camera produces a perfect photo, no matter how expensive it is.  If you really want your photos to look the best they can look, then I highly recommend Paint Shop Photo Pro. You can download a fully functional 30 day trial Here.

There are those purists who claim that fixing a photo is cheating and to that I say “hog wash!” Post editing is half the fun of photography.  There’s a difference between taking a photo and making a photo.

California Adventure

We just returned to the heat of Phoenix from the cool temps of California. I have always wanted to travel up the coast on Route 1 and be a part of the magnificent beauty that the coastline has to offer.


We started in San Marcos where we stayed with friends for three days, spent a night in Hermosa Beach and a day a night with our niece and family in Santa Barbara.

Further up the road near San Simeon we made the discovery of Piedras Blancas Beach where the elephant seals hang out.  This was incredible!  In July the males swim from Alaska and stay here for over a month to shed their skin.  Some of them can weigh over 5,000 pounds!  You can read all about it Here.
We spent a night in Pismo Beach where the motels offer exceptional views.  This was sunset viewed from our room!


I love seagulls and they were plentiful along with pelicans.  It was offspring time so we saw lots of seagull babies.  When I see these beautiful birds it always brings back the memory of the movie "Johnathan Livingston Seagull. There wasn't a human being in the entire show and all the music was provided by Neil Diamond.





We spent all morning taking photos of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco from different sites.  It was foggy, cold, and windy, but we loved the time spent there.  The afternoon was an enjoyable experience at the Fisherman's Wharf.  I don't think I ever saw so many people in one place in my life.  Visitors from all over the world!

The day before we visited Monterrey Bay and had lunch at the Pebble Beach Country Club.  That was unique as only a couple of weeks previous it was the sight of the U.S. Open Golf Tournament. We spent a day in Napa Valley visiting wineries and enjoying the the sights of all the vineyards.

Next stop was Lake Tahoe where we took the time to drive around the entire lake, which took over 5 hours.  Wonderful small villages along the way and beautiful sights!  We also spent the night there.

Our last major stop was Yosemite National Park.  We were lucky enough to get this morning shot before the wind rippled the water and spoiled the reflection.  This may have been my favorite photo from the entire trip.

On our way back home we stopped for gas in Needles, California where the temperature was 122. Now that's hot!  It was a cool 114 when we arrived back in Phoenix.  Being semi-retired is nice because we can take off a lot in this terrifically hot weather.

This two week vacation was fantastic and consider ourselves very blessed for the experience.  I hope this summer is special for you!

You may click on the photos above for a larger view and I will be posting more pictures on my Photo Site, mostly in the "Misc Outdoor Shots" Gallery.

A City Unlike Any Other City in the World.

Las Vegas, in many ways, is one of the most intriguing cities in the world.  So much to see, the best entertainers, and just a fun place to visit.

We spent last weekend there and it's incredible how this city re-invents itself every year.  Buildings are constantly being torn down and bigger, taller, more beautiful ones are climbing to the sky.

Everyone's spirits are high when visiting this city because it's another world and far from everyday reality.  In one way it is very glamorous, and in another very sinful.

Gambling is fun as long as a person uses some common sense and thinks of it as entertainment.  What's shameful are the thousands who are pouring their money into the games and going home broke.  It can be very addicting waiting for that big jackpot.  They didn't erect all those buildings with their money!

The part of our trip that I found disgusting was walking along Las Vegas Boulevard and being hustled by hundreds of people handing out baseball cards.  The problem was that the cards weren't about baseball.  They had pictures of girls who were for hire.  The good part is that 99.9% of people discarded them but the bad part is that they ended up on the sidewalks and in the streets. Not a pretty site. I think the City Council would pass a law forbidding this.  All in all we had a great time and two days there was plenty for us.

The photo above was taken with my Iphone, believe it or not, as we were were waiting for the fountains to erupt in front of the Bellagio.  You may click on it for a larger view.  See my Las Vegas photos here.

What's going on in Arizona?

Arizona is one of the most beautiful states in America.  From the deserts of the South to the Grand Canyon in the North; it's a wonderful place to live and people move here by the thousands each year to enjoy their retirement.

Arizona is now being spoiled by thousands upon thousands of people entering our Country illegally.  This is happening because our southern border is not secured and the situation worsens by the day because our federal government will not take proper steps to alleviate the problem.

Recently our Governor signed a law that would enforce immigration guidelines, and all hell broke loose politically.  The Mexican President recently visited Washington, talked badly about Arizona, and spoke harshly against the law in front of Congress claiming it to be discriminatory.

Since when does the United States of America allow a foreign president to dictate to us what kind of laws we should implement?  And furthermore why did the Speaker of the House, the Vice President, the Director of Homeland Security and other members of Congress stand and applaud his derogatory statements?  I personally am appalled by these actions and ask our President to start standing up for America!

This Country of ours is filled with people from all nations and have been welcomed by the Statue of Liberty for decades.  People come to America because it is "The Land of Free" and offers unlimited opportunities for those who seek them.  If you want to live here you should become a legal resident, speak our language, fly the American flag, and abide by our laws. If you don't want to comply with this, then you are not welcome.  Why do you come here illegally and expect the world to be handed to you?  Why do you demand that we pay for your health care, your education, and teach YOUR language in our schools?  This is insanity!  Don't stand outside of our State Capitol and demonstrate for your rights.  You don't have rights in this Country unless you are a legal citizen!

If you cross the border of any other Country in the World, illegally, you are in deep trouble.  You could spend years in prison or even be shot on the spot.  But enter the U.S. illegally and we give you a job, a driver's license, social security card, welfare, food stamps, subsidized rent, free education, free health care, a lobbyist in Washington, billions of dollars worth of public documents printed in your language, and the right to carry your countries flag while you protest that you're not getting enough respect!

Actually, it's not your fault, it's us who have lost our minds.  It's the  bleeding heart liberals and extreme left wingers who are at fault, and come this November, they will be fired!

Here in Maricopa County, we have the best Sheriff in the world.  His name is Joe and he has done an outstanding job of protecting law abiding Arizona citizens for all the years he has been in office.  His job now has become very difficult because he is constantly accused of racial profiling.  Give me a break!  We have a great Governor who wants to "Build a Better Arizona" and uphold the laws of the land, but is now being severely criticized by certain "off the wall" jug heads in Congress.  Give me a break!

There are now three types of southern border infiltrators.  First there are hard working, honest, Mexicans who want a better life, and they are welcome to it if they go about it legally.  Secondly there is the fierce battle of the Mexican drug lords who are bringing drugs and terror into America.  Thirdly are the middle east extremists who are out to destroy our Nation.  Do we remember 911?

Phoenix is full of crime and is the number one city in America for kidnapping and it's all because of the Mexican drug lords.

If you think that only Arizona is effected by this problem, then you have a rude awakening!  It is effecting our whole Country. Here's a news report, not from Phoenix, Arizona but from Atlanta, Georgia, and it is a must watch!

This is what's going on in Arizona, but it's just the tip of the iceberg as to "What's going on in America!"

If you are reading this and feel as I do, then stand up and be bold!  Tell your Congressmen and Senators that we want our borders secured NOW, before it's too late!

Arizona Adventure

A Phoenix newspaper, last weekend, featured an article about Grand Falls.  Turns out that practically nobody has ever heard of it.  Located Northeast of Flagstaff on a Navajo Indian Reservation, this beautiful setting is out in the middle of nowhere!  The falls is actually taller than Niagara Falls and is sometimes referred to as "Chocolate Falls" because it's so muddy.  It only flows in March and April and gets its water from melting snow in the mountains.

Since we are always looking for adventure we loaded the cameras, made a picnic lunch, and headed out on Tuesday.  This was about a 3 hour trip with the last 10 miles on a rough and dusty dirt road.  We got there plenty early as to take advantage of the morning light.  We had the whole place to ourselves except for a father and son who were enjoying an outdoor breakfast.  This place is so unbelievable that you just don't show up, take a couple of pictures and leave.  We spent three and a half hours exploring this site from all angles and took hundreds of photos.  You can click on these pictures for a larger view and see more in my Arizona Photo Gallery.

Next, we headed for Sunset Crater which is just north of Flagstaff.  This is a place that we have passed many times but have never taken the time to visit.  1,000 years ago volcanoes erupted here leaving massive lava fields and a large crater.  Photos from this place can also be seen in the Arizona Photo Gallery.





The last stop of the day was Grand Canyon, which was an hours drive from Sunset Crater.  We have been here many times but never get tired of the breathtaking views of what has transpired over millions of years.  This is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth, and first time visitors are in total awe of their experience!

After 16 hours and 534 miles we were both tired out when we got home, but had much fun "making a memory." 

To see my tribute to the "Great American Southwest" click here.