4 of 60 - Petroglyphs National Monument

As I drove along, another site popped up on the map. I stopped for gas and saw signs pointing the way, and decided I had time for a quick detour. Down near Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the Petroglyph National Monument. This includes a Visitors Center and a number of trails. There isn't any fee and you don't even need to check-in to visit. 

I took one of the shorter trails and walked for a little while -- but it's pretty hot mid-day, so I definitely recommend hitting this early in the day. (And take lots of water.) The petroglyphs are 400 to 700 years old, and drawn by Native Americans and Spanish settlers. 

I don't know how they drew these -- and some you can tell are definitely part of a story. And a few are even in some pretty tough-to-get-to-places. But to me it's amazing that these drawing have survived the harsh desert climate for hundreds of years -- when even my deck needs to be re-stained every few years because of the intensity of the desert sun.

3 of 60 - The Continental Divide

As I was driving along, I knew it would be a long, multi-day roadtrip -- so I wanted to find a few stops along the way, just to break things up. The first one was The Continental Divide. I'd heard of it before -- and might have even stopped somewhere along I-70 or I-80 at some point, but this was a little nothing-stop along I-40 -- and I was ready to get out and walk for a few minutes. I didn't realize what the Continental Divide even was: as the sign says, all the rain that falls West of it flows into the Pacific, and all the rain that falls East of it flows into the Atlantic. And it literally divides the continent -- from Alaska, through Canada, into the U.S. (Montana through Yellowstone and on through New Mexico) and continues south through Mexico, all the way to the tip of South America. 

You can see it, even from miles and miles away -- and it really is pretty amazing to think how intentional this amazing world is. Even down to the smallest detail, God planned it all perfectly for us. Even down to how the rain flows into the oceans -- God has a plan for it all, and for each one of us. And just like I didn't know how the Continental Divide works, still it works. And just like I don't always know what God's Plan is for me, that works too -- I just need to have faith in it. 

2 of 60 - Truck with Tree Growing Out of It

On the way home from the Hualapai Mountains, we passed this fun old truck -- with a big tree growing out of it. We both commented, so Cheri flipped the car around and we decided to take a couple of pictures. Because sometimes something cool shows up in your path. And it doesn't matter how busy your life is if you don't make the time to enjoy the cool things that come along. Enjoy the journey.

Cheri & Gena - June 2025

And then Cheri sent me this older picture (below) -- from the first time we met. We were in a Facebook group together, and I posted that I had an upcoming weeklong vacation, but little money -- so she invited me to come stay with her in SoCal. Her kids were terrified that she invited a stranger -- who could have turned out to be a serial killer -- to stay with her for a week. But we became instant friends. And a few years later she sent her daughter to come live with me for a while in Provo. And a few years later she drove 6-hours to surprise me for my 60th Birthday Party. 

Cheri & Gena - June 2017

Sometimes it's a truck with a tree growing out of it. Sometimes it's a stranger that becomes your best friend. Because things don't just happen by chance. God has a plan for each of us -- and we just need to be paying attention.

 

1 of 60 - Hualapai Mountain Resort

View at the top of the Hualapai Mountains

One of my best birthday presents this year, was that my friend Cheri Johnson spent 6-hours to drive up from San Diego to surprise me at my 60th Birthday Party -- and spend the whole weekend with me. After a very late night (or would that be a very early morning?), and sleeping out on my back patio, we woke up Saturday morning famished. There was a restaurant I'd always wanted to try -- and I'd heard had fabulous Saturday Morning Brunch, so off we went.

I live near Kingman, Arizona -- and it's usually pretty hot here. But less than an hour away are the Hualapai Mountains -- and they get quite a bit of snow in the winters. This was the perfect chance to get out and have breakfast with a friend while exploring these mountains. 

Cheri has a new car, so she drove and I navigated -- and we chatted and laughed and caught up on our lives. As much as I love a New Car smell, the smell of the fresh clean air up in the mountains was absolutely intoxicating. You couldn't help but take in big deep breaths of the cool air -- with just a hint of pine.

There's a lodge, cabins, and a couple of campgrounds at the top of the Hualapai Mountains. We stopped first in the cute little General Store, and met the nice lady that works there -- then headed to the restaurant. The buffet is simple, but good/fresh/clean -- so I loaded up on bacon, and Cheri dug into Biscuits & Gravy. And we chatted and laughed and caught up some more. Our poor waitress kept checking on us, because we were there for a while -- but eventually we were stuffed, and decided to head on out. 

Before we piled back into her car, we stopped again and took in the beautiful scenery. And, of course, snapped a few Selfies -- to commemorate the occasion. PRO TIP: You should always do the Selfies BEFORE a large breakfast. Trying to smile AND suck-in-your-gut is much tougher! 😉

If you're in the area, take a detour to the Hualapais -- the scenery alone is worth the drive. And the Saturday Morning Brunch is delish. More details: Hualapai Mountain Resort - https://hmresort.org/ 

Cheri and Gena - June 2025

60 New Places in My 60th Year

    I tend to get reflective around my birthday, and this year was a biggie -- so as I thought about the past 60 years, I decided to look forward to the next 60. (Yes, that IS optimism!)

    For this 60th year, I want to get out and see more of this great world. So I've set a goal to get to 60 New Places in My 60th Year. Fortunately, with a friend visiting, I got a couple of new places in over my birthday weekend. And I have a few roadtrips planned this year, so I'm going to try to rack up a few more.

    Because the best parts of this past 60 years has been LIVING this life -- and many of my best memories have been when I have taken a leap and did something outside of my comfort zone. And I'm not really very good at Selfies, but I'm gonna try. My mom always hated having her picture taken, so we have very few of her, especially over the age of 60 -- but I'm just going to muddle through some bad selfies and focus on LIVING. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The purpose of life, after all, is to LIVE it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

     

DAY 39 – SAYING GOODBYE TO EUROPE, FOR NOW

This is it – my last day in Europe. What a whirlwind – definitely the Trip of a Lifetime.

            I wake up early, hoping that will have me sleep on the long plane ride home. Then I finish packing. I haven’t picked up much along the way – but I do decide to discard a few things, just to make a bit more room in my luggage. Somehow it feels like I have a lot less stuff now, but I think I just keep getting better at packing as I go along.

            I check out of the hotel and head out early – just for a last bit of wandering. I know I need to plan to get to the airport early – it’s more crowded now, 5 weeks later. And officially it’s a 1-hour bus ride to the airport, but there’s a ton of construction at the airport so I’m leaving extra early.

            On the way to meet the Airport Shuttle, I hope to do a last little shopping along these Paris streets – but most of the shops are still closed this early, so I stop at a café for breakfast instead. They advertise Pizza Crepes, but I opt for a pastry and some fresh-squeezed orange juice. As I make my way post-breakfast, I am stopped by a Frenchman who asks me for directions – and (amazingly) I knew exactly where he needed to go.

            The airport shuttle starts at the beautiful Opera House, then winds its way on a lumpy bumpy ride through Paris streets to the airport.

            Charles de Gaulle Airport is humongous – and even just Terminal 2 has 13 sections, with 50 gates each. And, of course, I’m in the last section and at the very last gate. Even efficient as they are, there are just sooooo many people to process. I get to the airport early so I don’t risk running late – and so I have some time to chill out before the flight. Besides, the stores at the Paris Airport are Prada, Ferragamo, Fendi – so it’s a fun place to browse through.

            Although I’m ready to get home, there’s also a sadness that this amazing trip is coming to an end. I watch Paris fade into the distance – but I also know that I’ll be back. Europe has won over a piece of my heart.

DAY 38 – THE PALACE OF VERSAILLE

The sprawling gardens at Versailles

My last full day in Paris, so I decide to spend it at Versailles. After a quick breakfast of fruit & croissants, I hop a train to Versailles.

            The Village at Versailles is just what you picture for a quaint, high-end Parisian neighborhood. Lovely shops, stylish women, adorable older couples. Since it’s Saturday there is what we would call a Flea Market (in the U.S.) and it's set-up next to the permanent market halls. The city sets up dozens of the canopied booths each weekend, and merchants bring their wares of all types. And the 4 permanent halls have meats, cheeses, prepared foods, and all sorts of individual merchants – each selling their unique specialties.

            I continue on to the stunning park-like walking street, lined with hundreds-years-old trees – leading directly to the palace. It’s the hottest day I’ve had this trip – about 90+ degrees, and the trees provide some very welcomed shade.

            The Palace of Versailles is spectacular – massive, with a magnificent gold gleaning wrought iron fence encircling it. I hop in line and begin my wandering. No tour group this time, just the audio tour (which is really quite good). Within the palace there are sections filled with beautiful period art – a wonderful selection of tall marble sculptures along with a dizzying array of oil portraits. And room after room of exquisite and ornate furniture – lots of bedrooms, but many sitting rooms many of which have beautiful desks. There’s a stunning Library. And a Music Room with 2 Harpsichords that were sadly covered up. (I’ve always wanted a harpsichord.)

            After the palace, I then mosey out to the gardens. There are 800 hectares, which (according to Google) is nearly 2000 acres – including 50 fountains. It’s so sprawling that they provide a map of the gardens with suggested routes to take so that you are able to see everything efficiently. I chose my route and began strolling. In this heat I melt (the humidity is doing me in) – but I have a hat, sunglasses, and water so I persevere. A few hours later I’m a sweaty mess – and listening to the whining children around me helps me realize it’s time to get somewhere cool to grab a drink (since my water is long since gone). I head to the Tea Room, set in the Palace in the Suite of Louis Something-or-Other (I can’t remember which; there were a lot of Louis.) I order a sparkling water and yummy dessert, and just sit to cool and relax before heading back on the train.

            A perfect way to spend my last full day in Paris.