ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD

 WELCOME TO OUR NEW TRAVEL BLOG

The title of this blog, SpeakGrace46, is a reminder from the Bible, in Colossians 4:6 ...

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.   -Colossians 4:6

Last year, Steve and I bought a travel trailer in preparation to be able to see more of our United States, especially the National Parks and to be able to take more time to visit other sites and destinations. We invite you to follow along on our ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD, as we document it through the words and pictures in this travel blog!

 

2020: Even in the midst of the pandemic we were able to enjoy many adventurous trips. Traveling in Utah we drove through Escalante-Grand Staircase, and stayed near and visited Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, where we not only enjoyed the rim views, but also hiked down among the hoodoos! This was the first time we did that and it was so amazing to change our perspective and see the towering rock formations from below.

This is the view overlooking Zion from the end of the Canyon Overlook Trail. We managed to find a spot to park our trailer before entering the tunnels and hiked up the rocky trail along the canyon walls.  After we drove on through the tunnels onto the road you can see below us in the distance, we could see that the cliff that drops away behind where we were sitting in this picture, had an amazing Arch in it where a large amount of rock had fallen away. It was so inspiring to just sit on the edge of this cliff and overlook this amazing valley.  A great beginning to our time in Zion!

 

In Arizona we visited Grand Canyon National Park. Though we had been there a long time ago, the views do not disappoint for a return visit. Traveling north, Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ, offers different views of the Colorado River which has etched out a horseshoe shaped section of canyon walls. Elsewhere in Arizona, we discovered some Regional Parks in Maricopa County, that had some interesting hikes among the native cactus. These parks also had camping sites, where we stayed a couple of nights. 

Our favorite reason to visit Arizona, though is to visit with Brent, Abbie, Hannah and Ava.  We are able to park our trailer at Brent's house and in January we got snowed in with the family! We also enjoyed Ava's first birthday party.

 

 

 

 

In California we visited Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks with some long time friends. While we were taking these pictures we experienced a pretty strong earthquake, but no troubles with any rock fall along the road.

 

We also traveled to the coastal area of Central California with another couple who are friends from church. They have the same travel trailer that we bought. They have been so helpful in trouble shooting, suggesting improvements in the trailer and teaching us how to boondock (camp off grid in national forests).

 

 

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

On our recent trip to Missouri we visited in the Springfield area and discovered a National Battlefield from the Civil War. This was my first time to be on a Civil War Battlefield and it was a very somber experience. To learn of the experiences of the Union and Confederate troops battling in the fields and trees around the area will leave a lasting memory of the men who battled for their convictions there. The Family who awoke to the realization that a battle would soon be waged on their farm, first hid in their cellar, but after the battle ministered to the wounded regardless of the color of their uniforms. Below is a brief overview from the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield website: Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and the site of the death of Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused national attention on the war in Missouri. Wilson’s Creek NB commemorates and interprets the battle within the context of the war in the Trans-Mississippi West.