OUT WEST- Northern California-Redwoods

OK, Northern California near the coast, is as far west as I can go. This is the home of the giant Redwood trees. I have seen them in pictures, but I can't imagine how magnificent these trees are. I do want to see them.

OUT WEST - Tombstone, Arizona

Everybody is familiar with the gunfight at the famous OK Corral and it's legend Wyatt Earp. I have watched several movies about this historical gunfight.(My husband loves westerns.) Tombstone started out as a old mining camp. A man named Ed Schieffelin settled there to mine for silver. His friends told him he would find his tombstone there instead of silver. When he had his first big claim, he called the spot Tombstone and after that it became a booming town between 1877-1890. During this time the town produced $40 to $85 million  in silver bullion. In the mid 1880's the silver mines started penetrating the water table causing the booming to come to a halt. This is a picture of Ed. Schieffelin in 1880.

 

It continues to be a popular spot today with many tourist due to it's infamous Wyatt Earp and the gunfight at the OK Corral.

* I have learned a lot of history by doing this blog.

OUT WEST- Sky City

Acoma, New Mexico is the home of Sky City. The city was bult on top of a monolith to be protected from waring neighbors and from the Spaniards. It has been claimed to be the oldest city in America, but in history I was taught that St. Augustine in Florida was the oldest city.

Did that say "inhabited 600 A.D.-FOR REAL!!!

If I am not mistakened, this city was featured in the western movie "My Name is Nobody" with Terrence Hill and Henry Fonda in 1975. When I was in New Mexico in 2004, I tried to take the tour to the city, but we were to late for the last tours that day and I was leaving the next day. I don't plan to miss it when I visit the area again.

There are a few people that continue to actually live there, most are older and this was their home. The city is still used for festivals and tribal ceremonies.

OUT WEST- Wounded Knee

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is a book I have attempted to complete on two different occassions. I have never been able to finish it. I don't believe I even got half way through the book. I do plan to finish the book one day. I would also love to visit the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the Wounded Knee Massacre took place. As a Native American myself, this incident matters to me and I consider the land to be sacred ground. I am from the Lumbee Tribe. We are located in the southeastern part of North Carolina. Thank goodness, my people were never made to live on a reservation, but many of my ancestors were not able to own land, they were sharecroppers. My grandfather on my mother's side was a sharecropper all of his life, but worked hard to send 7 of his 10 children to college. He always wanted his children to get an education and own land. Owning land was a great and an important accomplishment. Many of the tribes out west are still struggling tremendously. Many of the Native Indian churches in my area travel out west and  help build churches and witness to the Indians on the reservations. I would also love to work with these projects.

Lakoto Pine Ridge Indian Reservation(please watch)

Out West - Mt. Rushmore

You guessed it, and I am still in South Dakota. Mt. Rushmore is only 17 miles away from the Crazy Horse Monunment according to my research. I told you I probably wouldn't have to move the camper. Of course, this monument features four great presidents of our country: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Most of you guys knew who they were already. I decided to name them for those who didn't know. This is the world's largest mountain carving and began in 1927. This carving was completed in 14 years. Wonder why it is taking so long for Crazy Horse? Crazy Horse was started in 1948 and not completed yet, mmmm... Well anywho, they both are waiting for me. Enjoy this picture from the "Mt. Rushmore Attractions".

Out West- Crazy Horse

I have heard so much about the Crazy Horse Memorial. From my research, it is located in Custer County, South Dakota. I also understand that this memorial or monument has been in the construction mode since 1948. I am very anxious to see it.
Crazy Horse was a mighty Lakota Indian war leader. He fought against the US Federal Government to preserve to life of the Lakota Indians. He was also one of the main leaders in the war party at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. You can find out more about Crazy Horse at this site:

http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/crazyhorse.htm

I think my next stop will be another monument close by and I don't think I will need to move the camper. Bet you can guess it. Tune in to my next blog.

Oh, by the way the picture came from wikipedia.

Out West

My family started camping in 1998 when our son was in the Cub Scouts. We started tent camping with the group and we found out that we loved it. We decided that we were going to vacation that way from then on. I always worried about staying motels and hotels anyway because of sleeping in a bed other people had been in and using a bathroom other folks had used. My husband and I decided to buy a full sized camper with a bathroom at this time. My children have loved these types of vacations and we have accummulated many memories. We have only vacationed on the east coast. I visited New Mexico in 2004. My son was in a science competition there, but we had to fly and stay in a what?... Hotel. My ultimate dream vacation is to take our camper and travel out west for about a month and visit many places. I will start this blog on the different places I would like to visit. Of course, I have to visit the Grand Canyon. People that have been there say it is a magnificent site. Hope to see it one day.