10/4-10/2026 - Washington Trip with Kinsey

 At the beginning of the month of October 2026, I went up to Washington State to see my sister Kinsey and do some adventures.  We did a lot of sightseeing around Seattle. and some national parks.

10/4/2026 - After landing in Seattle my sister drove us up to Olympia to see the Washington State Capitol.  We walked around the campus and saw the other buildings. We went inside the building and walked around. Got my stamp for my collection.  Here is a picture of me and my sister Kinsey in front of the building. 

10/5/2026 - On the next day we went to Museum of History & Industry aka MOHAI near the water downtown Seattle.  It was interesting to learn about a lot of things that were from Washington.

Rainer Beer

Costco Seattle Warehouse

Great Northern Railway

There was a big fire in Seattle in 1889 that was caused by a glue pot left over a fire.

Seattle Supersonics

First Starbucks was open in 1971.

When we were leaving there was a bunch of geese eating the grass out on the big lawn in front of the museum. 

10/6/2026 - Today was a day to hang out along the boardwalk.  Here is a picture of me and sister along the boardwalk.  

We went to Ivar's for lunch and then to the Seattle Aquarium to see all the water wildlife in Washington.  There were so many to see.  One of my favorite pictures I took.

We also walked along Pike Place Market.  

10/7/2026 - We went to Spud's Fish & Chips for lunch.  

Then we went to Klondike Gold Rush NHP.  We learned about the gold rush in Alaska.  Seattle was one of the main spots to pick up supplies before heading to Alaska.  There were men, women and even children went to Alaska.  My dad Robert Spude wrote about the Gold Rush in Alaska.  

10/8/2026 - Today was a big day for me it was my #135 park.  The park we went to was Olympic National Park.  We took a ferry across to an island that the park was on.  That was fun to see and beautiful to see the water.  Driving along the roads to the park there was so much fall colors in the trees.  

We went to the visitor center and got my stamps.  We drove up the road to where another visitor center, but it caught fire.  It was very nice views and snow in the mountains.  It was a great day.  Here is a picture of me, my sister and our special guest NOI (Kinsey dog) in the picture with us.  

10/9/2026 - On the last full day, we went to Bainbridge Island.  We took another ferry to get there.  We went to Madison Diner for lunch. Very good.  We went to the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum and learned the history of the island.  Did you know that pickle ball started there?

Also, on the island there is a Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.  This is a part of my #136 park Minidoka NHS.  This park is also in Idaho.  When War World II happened, the Japanese were sent to camps in California and Idaho.  

10/10/2026 - My sister took me to the airport.  It was a great and fun trip.

PS: More info on all the places I went will be induvial blog post here soon.

Over 40 Years Later - Jerome State Historic Park

 When I was little my dad would take me on adventures to parks here in Arizona.  The park we went to was Jerome State Historic Park.

Here is a picture of me in front of a rock crusher in front of the park building.  I was about 3 or 4 years old.

In October of 2025, we went to Jerome State Historic Park, and the rock crusher was still there in the same spot.  I decided to take a newer picture of me in front of the rock crusher.

Over 40 years later.

Color Me National Parks Series - Yellowstone National Park

 This year for my birthday I got Color Me National Parks from my friend Jenn.  I decided to do a series of my park color pages.

Yellowstone National Park another park I colored.

I went to Yellowstone National Park in June 15th, 1992, with my dad Bob, stepmom Cathy and Boozer the dog.  The park is located in Wyoming.

7/19/2026 - Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area

This is a new National Heritage Area for me.  Journey Through Hallowed Ground NHA is located in Virigina.  This area fascinating glimpse into American history, teeming with Civil War battlefields, historic sites, charming towns, and breathtaking natural beauty.

I got this stamp at Chancellorsville Battlefield that is part of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.

 

8/1/2026 - Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area - Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center

Today me and my mom went to the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center.  I learned a lot about the Jewish community.  There were a lot of people that were Jewish that started some of the towns in Arizona.  They talked about the history and saw some really cool things.  They had an area where they talked about the Holocaust where millions of people got killed.  There was a lot of pictures of people that were connected to the Tucson community.  I didn't really know that it was really bad time.

I got the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area stamp there to add to my collection.

Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center

10/8/2022 - Four Corners (Arizona/Utah/Colorado/New Mexico)

On this trip around Arizona and New Mexico with my dad I got to see the Four Corners.  Where we got to stand if four different states: Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.  There are little booths around the area where you can buy things from the different states.  It was fun going there with my dad.  We had Navajo Tacos which were very good.

Color Me National Parks Series - Grand Canyon National Park

This year for my birthday I got Color Me National Parks from my friend Jenn.  I decided to do a series of my park color pages.

Grand Canyon National Park another park I colored.

So far in my lifetime I have been to the Grand Canyon National Park four times located in Arizona.

In the 1980's after moving from Illinois.

In 11/3/2007, mom won a train trip up to the Grand Canyon.

In 7/29/2020, we went up there during Covid.  It was quiet.

In 9/16/2022, This time was a totally different experience of a trip.

7/1992 - Pony Express National Historic Trail

 

In the summer of 1992, me, my dad Bob and stepmom Cathy went to Nebraska to see some parks.  We stopped at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park.  It is one of the stops for the Pony Express NHT.

Pony Express National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

Color Me National Parks Series - Denali National Park and Preserve

 This year for my birthday I got Color Me National Parks from my friend Jenn.  I decided to do a series of my park color pages.

Denali National Park and Preserve is the first park I colored.

I went to Denali NP&P in summer 8/1986.  My dad used to live in Alaska at the time.  I don't remember that much about the trip, but I do remember the train ride to the park.

1980's - Golden Gate National Recreation Area

 

We used to visit some friends that lived on the outskirts of San Francisco.  This is one of the times we got to see the Golden Gate bridge from an afar.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)

3/23/2026 - Barstow, California (Route 66)

 

Mojave River Valley Museum

Casa del Desierto Harvey House, The Barstow Harvey House was built at Barstow station in 1911.  It was used for the Santa Fe railroad station in 1975.

El Rancho Motel - 

100 units

100 private baths

$5.00 - 10.00

tv

telephones

showers

most air conditioned (some air cooled)

11 units with limited kitchenette privileges

restaurant & cocktail lounge

heated swimming pool

Route 66 Monument

Imperial 400 Motel, now Best Motel

Had a characteristic butterfly sun flap roof or gull-wing shaped roof. Space Age Googie style design typical of that period.

Vagabond Motor Hotel, now it is Economy Inn Motel

67 luxury units. Free TV. Room phones...customized furniture... Your midway stop between Los Angeles and Las Vegas

Town and Country Motel, now it is Econo Lodge

30 units

full-tile showers

swimming pool

Desert Inn

Opened 1956 with 97 units

singles to suites at reasonable rates.

TV, Refrigerated air

excellent food & cocktail lounge adjoining

Hillcrest Motel, now Budget Inn

In the 1950s, it was 15 units and one-story office

The 1970s motel had 17 units.

Original building is still there

Cactus Motel

A nicely furnished 13-unit motel

Some fully equipped kitchenettes

TV

Individually controlled heat and air-conditioning

Restaurant and shopping center nearby

Stardust Inn - cool sign

Village Hotel and Cafe

Village Hotel Fine Accommodation

Lowest Rates

Air Conditioned

The Route 66 Motel

dates back to 1922 when it was the Barstow Auto Court

14 family units.

16 hotel units

kitchenettes

The Torches Motel

Began as the Hollon Motel and changed its name to Torches Motel

New, modern, hotel-type air-cooled units

One-half block to cafes, theatre and drug stores

When it changed names, it had

15-units

T-V

A/C

Heated Pool

free coffee

pets

at door parking

Nites Inn Motel

3/23/2026 - Mojave National Preserve Headquarters

 When we got to Barstow we stopped at the Mojave National Preserve Headquarters to get some stamps for my collection.  This is what I got for the Mojave National Preserve.  I went to the Mojave National Preserve in 1/2022 but didn't get the stamps.

I also got a stamp for Castle Mountains National Monument.  This monument is on the outskirts of the Mojave.  There is no visitor center to stop at.