A Note To Parents: We make every effort for Roxanne's blog to be a SAFE site for children. Whenever possible, activities are in pdf format or link to safe sites for children. Please feel free to use the information in these posts for homeschool studies! All rights reserved by author and nature photographer, Virginia Parker Staat.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Traveling Machine


We were up very early this morning. We drove for ten hours. We traveled 799 miles. It was a very long day!

We drove from Texas, through New Mexico, and across Colorado. We're spending the night in Casper, Wyoming.

We saw beautiful mountains. We saw flat top mesas in Texas. We saw the jagged Rocky Mountains in New Mexico and Colorado. Now we're seeing the buttes of Wyoming.

We have also seen a lot of wildlife today. Five antelope crossed the road right in front of us early this morning. This evening, Mom took this shot of an antelope. He was across the hill from our room.

Pronghorn antelope are amazing creatures. Antelopes are the second fastest land animal in the world. Only the cheetah can run faster than an antelope. Antelopes can run more than 60 miles per hour.

If you would like to learn more about antelopes, go to http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/pdf/pronghorn.pdf

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

North to Alaska!


We have spent the last week saying goodbyes, packing, and loading up the truck. This morning we started our adventure to Alaska.

We drove all day, and we're still in Texas!

We drove 560 miles today. It will take us 4,600 miles to get to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. That is a LOT of driving!

Tonight we are in Amarillo, Texas. It is a great place. Palo Duro Canyon is just a few miles away. We camped there a few years ago.

Palo Duro Canyo is the second largest canyon in the United States. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is the only canyon that is bigger.

We traveled across the high plains this afternoon. Palo Duro Canyon drops down 800 feet below the canyon rim. It is a wonderful place to watch the stars. Many animals also live in the canyon, including the Texas Horny Toad, deer, barbary sheep, and roadrunners.

To learn more about some of these wonderful Texas animals, visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4000_1181.pdf

Saturday, June 5, 2010

It's Crazy Around Here!

My Dear Friends,

I probably will not blog regularly the next few weeks. My mom is moving her mom back to Texas. Dad is retiring at the end of the month. We're getting ready for our Alaska trip. It's crazy around here!

We'll be back to writing again VERY soon! Until then, I'll miss you.

With love,

Roxanne