Saturday, June 27, 2026

This is the last post from our trip to Alaska. It covers the return drive through the lower 48 states. This has been a great trip right up to the very last day. And we hope that you have enjoyed that we have shared so many pictures.  




A Bald Eagle being chased away from a smaller birds nest. That little bird was really angry. 


Red Shafted Flicker


Farm on the Columbia River a mile or two below the Grand Coulee Dam.


Power line towers on the Grand Coulee grid.


At the Riverside Park in Spokane, Washington.














Rural eastern Washington state was an endless parade of green and yellow farms.


Wallowa Lake State Park, Oregon - another beautiful place that we had never heard of before. Clearly other people knew of it: It was crowded but a great spot anyway. 






Common Merganser with ducklings.




Southern Oregon - approaching Nevada


Pony Express rider statue along the old trail - north of Ely, Nevada.


We saw a surprising number of long distance bikers on the trip. This fellow was in the Great Basin National Park, east of Ely, Nevada. The good news for him was that as soon as he crosses that range of mountains before him there will be another basin and another range to cross. And then three more. 


Outside of Green River, Utah.


Rifle Gap Reservoir and campground, Rifle, Colorado.


Canada Geese








Rifle Falls










Magpie at the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery


Golden Eagle nest on the cliff wall above the hatchery. Our host said the the nest was not in use this year but had been used off and on for years - and they estimated it weighed about 2,000 pounds. Golden Eagles are big birds.


Broad Tailed Hummingbird


A Mink swimming in the fish hatchery pond. We were told that there were three families of Mink living on the grounds and one family of Ermine - which we did not see. 












Rifle Mountain Park - apparently known around the world for cliff climbing. Climbers were everywhere and made us feel very old.




Freshwater shells from the stream in Rifle Mountain.






The "Welcome to New Mexico" sign.


Early dawn at Bluewater State Park


Morning rain at Bluewater State Park.






11 comments:

  1. Awesome photos! Your blogs always bring a Smile to my face!!!
    Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful photos. Looks like you had a wonderful epic adventure. Love you both. Jimmer

    ReplyDelete
  3. Again, great stuff. You look a little weathered, Mike. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful photos, as I've come to expect. Thank you for documenting your adventure. Glad you're back home safely. Craig Newman

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing. Glad you had a good trip.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You have a good eye to see the beauty in the little things, the birds, plants, and flowers. Amazing pictures! Thanks for sharing๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ’• Fred J.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What fun and how beautiful! Karin and Alden

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the ride along! I love your sense of adventure and your talent for sharing it with others! Home at last! John K

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow! I think you should go on more trips so I can see more pictures ๐Ÿ˜‰

    ReplyDelete
  10. A 2,000 pound birds nest!!!!! Wow!!.Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Welcome home! I am happy you are home safely. What an adventure amazingly documented!! Phil

    ReplyDelete

This is the last post from our trip to Alaska. It covers the return drive through the lower 48 states. This has been a great trip right up t...