More of Hotel Monaco

 

 

 

Hotel Monaco, Salt Lake City, Utah

 

 

SWEET! Need I say more? But, watch for specials on the internet, otherwise it's pretty pricey. You know the old adage,"You get what you pay for."

Moscow, Russia

 

 

This bust is of Field Marshall Kutuzov who was the leader of the Russian forces when Napoleon tried to take Moscow. The little izba is where the partisans met with the Russian forces to decide whether to fight Napoleon or turn over the city. In the end, the partisans united to fight with the Russian army. Napoleon left, and the Russian winter won. It is a fascinating part of history to read and study.

Lead, South Dakota

 

 

Lead is located in the Black Hills in the western part of the state, close to the Wyoming border. The shop shown in the top picture occupies what was once the Finnish Luthern church. A prominent man-made feature of Lead's geography is the giant open cut, seen in the bottom photo. It was used for surface gold mining by the Homestake Mine.

Dances with Wolves

 

 

 

 

We came upon this spot quite by accident while traveling through Spearfish Canyon in South Dakota. It was filmed in a really beautiful area. The movie came out twenty years ago, staring Kevin Costner.

Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota

Originally, a great sea covered the area where Spearfish Canyon now lies. When the waters started to subside, the canyon was carved out by water eroding away the softer rock. The land was also pushed up from underneath by volcanic action. After many years, the water carved out the channel we have come to call "Spearfish Canyon".

Spearfish Canyon is full of Ponderosa and Spruce Pine trees. The pine trees are adept at finding any little crevice or crack and putting down roots. Some of them look as if they are growing right out of the rocks themselves! The banks of Spearfish Creek support Aspen, Birch and Oak trees.

Roughlock Falls, South Dakota

 

 

 

Roughlock Falls is one of the Black Hills favorite sites. Water from springs upstream in Little Spearfish Creek cascade down the falls. The surrounding limestone cliffs tower over the falls as high as 2000 feet in some areas. The stream is usually exceptionally clear. Wild brown trout dart in an out of the shadows.

You can get there on 14A coming from near either Lead or Spearfish. The turnoff from Spearfish Canyon to get to the falls is at Savoy. When you get to the Latchstring Inn on the east, or Spearfish Canyon Lodge on the west, you're near the turnoff. It's gravel road for a couple miles to Roughlock Falls.

Powder River Pass, Wyoming

 

 

 

 

This mountain pass is in the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, traversed by U.S. Highway 16. It is between the towns of Buffalo and Ten Sleep. The elevation is 9666 feet. Beautiful!

Wilson's Arch, Utah

 

 

Williams, Arizona

 

 

 

 

In 1926, US Highway 66 was established through Williams and served the automobile-touring public as part of the "Main Street of America". Williams became the last "Route 66" town to be by-passed by Interstate 40 in 1984, the same year the downtown business district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

More of Route 66

 

 

 

Cool Springs is located about 20 miles west of Kingman, Arizona on the Oatman Road (Old Route 66). This stretch of Route 66 is one of the most unique to be found anywhere. Just before the road climbs into the Black Mountains up Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman, you will see Cool Springs on your right. Hey, don't miss those buzzards. Pretty cool, huh?

Devil's Tower National Monument

 

America's First National Monument

Devils Tower rises 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River.

This 1347 acre park is covered with pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife are seen.

Also known as Bears Lodge, it is a sacred site for many American Indians.

President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.

What an amazing place! It's just one of those things you've got to see.

Starvation Reservior, Utah