Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Action shots of the Kids
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Sunday through Thursday: Hanging Around Camp
We stayed at the campground the first five days of the week. Every morning started with a walk around the lake, and most days I walked around the campground looking for photo opportunities. Jan did most of the camp host duties, Mitzy got a summer haircut as you will see in the pics, the young hawks were out and about playing, and I was lucky enough to photograph a hummingbird nest right before the two young ones left the next day.







I spent a lot of time on the computer doing work for a Swedish client, a client in Boston, preparing for an upcoming webinar, and working on my Sarasota partner project. Thursday evening our neighbors, David and Marjorie, took us out to the Feedlot, a steak house in Fruita, for a very nice meal.

Friday: Monument and Dinosaur



It was a pleasant 55 degrees when I took the Pups out early in the pre-dawn. By 6:05 Jan and I were out of the campground, and by 6:30 we were walking down Otto’s Trail in the Colorado National Monument (sadly, dogs aren’t allowed). It was a pleasant hike with a great view of the canyon, but since it was not a long trail and it was still early, we walked part of the Coke Ovens Trail, spent some time admiring the view from the Artist Points lookout, and then slowly drove back through the park looking for Desert Bighorn Sheep. Alas, no big critter sightings today.



Leaving the Monument we decided to stop at Dinosaur Hill, the location of the 1900 dig that led to excavating over six tons of dinosaur bones that were re-assembled as the very impressive display at the Chicago Field Museum that is still there today. We took the trail that walked around the hill showing where the excavation took place, all the while enjoying the views of the Monument, Grand Valley, and the McInnis National Conservation Area.

After a great breakfast of Jan’s, I spent the rest of the day working--spending time on my projects mentioned earlier.

That evening Jan made an outstanding dinner of grilled ribs, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes, and key lime pie with fresh whipped cream that we shared with David and Marjorie.

Saturday: Handsome Hoot and Wild Horses
Once again I took the dogs out very early, intending to take another hiking trail in the Monument. Just as I was leaving the campground, I saw two hawks chatting with a crow on the side of the road. I pulled the car off the road and spent the next half hour watching the two young Cooper’s Hawks taking lessons from one of their parents. What I observed was a lot of chasing each other from tree to tree, screaming at decibel levels ranging from loud to alarming, and, the most fun to watch, lots of hopping up and down one after another, each hop two to three feet, complete with the spreading of wings coupled with ferocious looks (my assumption is that this was training time--practicing the skills required for capturing prey). Great fun.

Back in the car I decided to bag the hike and scout around the park for some photo ops. Hence, I walked over to the group camping area along the tree line where Baby Hoot seems to enjoy warming himself in the sun in the early mornings. I did not spot him in the area I expected, so I decided to continue on a tad. Just as I was ready to give up, I located that big rectangular shape positioned in what appeared to be a perfect location (eye level, warm sunshine in his face, great background, and the possibility for me to get close). I gave him a morning greeting and kept up a quiet chatter as I slowly approached, one step at a time. I was able to get off a few shots before a loud noise scared him off. I’m quite pleased with image. See what you think. Sometimes persistence does pay off.



My plan was to work most of the day, as I have a lot of things going on, but an attack of laziness struck as I fired up the computer after breakfast. After several minutes of procrastination, I yielded to my internal strife and we jumped in the car for a quick get-away. We drove east on I-70 exiting at the Cameo exit past Palisade, where we headed north past the power plant onto dirt roads that headed off the beaten path into the 30,000-acre Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property of rugged canyons called the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Canyon. As the name implies, a herd of wild horses roams this large area. Although the odds were slim, we were hoping to get a glimpse of these equine beauties. As we proceeded north, the “road” got narrower and rougher. Our Element did an admirable job, however, we soon reached some areas impassable except for a four-wheel drive vehicle with lots of clearance. Reluctantly we turned around and headed back to more civilized terrain, but it was sure worth the effort.

Deciding to take a different route home, we turned off of I-70 west onto Highway 6 at Palisade. This is fruit country, and soon our back-road tour took us through dozens of orchards where peach harvesting was in full swing. We stopped at a local orchard where we picked up some fresh peaches, preserves and, after a quick taste, some local wine. Nice stop.



David and Marjorie were on camp host duty, but since they had personal issues back at their home in Montrose 80 miles away, we volunteered to substitute for them. The Pups were thrilled, as they enjoy nothing more than riding around on the official camp host golf cart, sitting smugly by our side, occasionally growling at a dog or a kid they don’t care for.

Pups Across America

As regular readers know, I enjoy taking action shots of the Kids. Here are a few more to look at.













Opinion Poll
As you can see, Mitzy has two sides to her “look,” fluffy and sleek. Which do you prefer? Drop me a note on which version of this pretty pup you like best and why. Interested in your thoughts.

NOTE: From Thursday afternoon, August 4, through Monday, August 8, we will have limited Internet and telephone service--please be patient, we will respond when we can.

Headlights

July 24 - August 3: Wrapping up our stay at Highline State Park
August 4 - 7: Vega State Park
August 8 - 11: Rifle Gap State Park
August 11 - 31: Exploring Colorado
September 1 - 15: Heading north and east
September 23 - October 7: Markin Glen County Park, Kalamazoo, MI
October 8 - 15: ???
October 16 - 31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1: Head back to Pine Island

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Rearview Mitzy and Hanna Pug
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Peace and Quiet

As a change of pace, the four of us decided to walk around the park instead of taking a trail. It was interesting to see things from a different perspective. We saw a doe and her fawn, and of course the usual cacophony of the meadow birds.

It was a busy camp host day, but Jan did the whole job as I was doing work on a report for a Swedish client. Because of the size of the documents involved and the slowness of my Internet, I had to drive to Fruita a couple of times and “borrow” the Internet signal from the La Quinta motel (oh, the challenges of roughing it :’>>>).

If you have read the blog before, you know that I’ve been watching and photographing a young owl, but I have not been happy of the quality of the shots. I’ve made it a personal quest to get at least one decent image of this handsome young avian while at the park. Jan had been doing some scouting for me, and when I returned to camp she informed me that Little Hoot was on a low, unobstructed branch, with a good background. I grabbed my camera and headed for the tree. Finally I got a decent picture! Yes, patience is a virtue. See what you think.



Jan also had been scouting a male flicker, and here is my first shot of this guy.



The weather here gets a little wild at times, bouncing from hot and dry to wet and wild, with lightning and strong winds. For example, early this evening the winds came up and the camper’s tent across from us came down, and within ten minutes of the occurrence they were packed up in their car and out of the campground.

Monday: Close to Home
My 6:00 a.m. European phone appointment was a no-show, so after scanning the papers and drinking coffee, the four of us went out for a hike. Here is a shot of a morning storm in the distance.



The neighbor’s cattle were out so I took advantage of this photo op and snapped a few close pics of the calves.


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Several small planes in the area regularly fly over the park. Here is a shot of a red one.



The rest of the day was quiet--doing more work on the computer and helping Jan now and then.

Tuesday: Ain’t Flying Grand? (Grand Junction to Grand Rapids that Is)



At 5:15 a.m., with coffee and Pups in hand, we were out into the dark heading for the Grand Junction airport. My flight to Salt Lake City was smooth, and I took a few shots through the scratched glass of some interesting patterns with my pocket camera.





The first 80 percent of the flight to Minneapolis was going well, but as we were just entering our landing pattern, our friends in the tower decided to put us in a holding pattern because of some growing local storms. After 30 minutes they diverted us to Sioux Falls, where we stopped for fuel. The weather eventually cleared as it always does, and we made it to the Twin Cities. I missed my flight, but my good friends at Delta got me on the next plane and I was in my hotel in Grand Rapids by 8:30.

Wednesday: Grand Rapids Client



I spent the morning working with my Grand Rapids client, helping them with their services strategy. On the leadership team was my old client and friend, Bruce. We had kept in contact every now and then, but we hadn’t seen each other in 20 years. The good news is that we are still the handsome devils we were back then. :’>>>.

After a really good session, I took a cab to the airport, but instead of flying back to Grand Junction I flew to Denver. While I was in the air, Jan and the Kids drove across the state and then picked me up from my flight. We drove the 30 minutes to Parker, where our grandson, Austin, his parents, and his pug greeted us.

Aaron had a great meal ready for us, and then we went outside to watch a lightning storm over the Rockies. Wonderful day.

Thursday: “Grandpa, Do You Want a Dog in Your Room?”
I had a conference call with a Sarasota business partner about a new venture we are working on. They are great people to work with, and I’d told them that I was visiting my grandson and also that I was working from the guest room. So, it came as no surprise that during the call they heard a young voice say, “Grandpa, do you want a dog in your room?” Gotta love it.

After wrapping up the call and taking the pups for a run, the Little Man was getting anxious because we promised him a trip to the water park. Hustling up, we passed through the entrance at 10:45 to be greeted by several hundred youngsters along with their parents and grandparents. Like many other parts of the U.S., it was hot, so people were attracted to the water like moths to a light. The sound of splashes from the flowing water and yelps from the youngsters combined with the smell of suntan lotion and the sights of sliding/running/swimming kids. Austie had a great time, and for close to three hours he played and played and played.









Friday: Playground and Aquarium
The day started with a nice Pup walk, and Austie helped me herd our two Kids and the boisterous Hanna Pug pup. If Jerry is likened to a thoroughbred, and Mitzy to a ranch pony, then Hanna Pug is a war horse, running straight ahead no matter who or what is in the way. She has a habit of escaping out the front door and running as fast as her stubby legs will go down the street and out of the neighborhood, mobilizing parents and kids alike in the chase.

Because another hot day was predicted, I took the Little Man down to the playground early. My job was to watch him play, and try to capture a “non-posed” picture or two when he wasn’t aware.





Soon, however, a five-year old Emily took a liking to Austie and soon had him doing her bidding. It was interesting to watch him because he obviously was unsure how to react to this flirtatious young female. Here is a shot I like of the two of them.



After lunch at Austie’s house, we’re in the car heading downtown. After 30 minutes we were in the impressive Denver Aquarium, exploring the exhibits and checking out the fish and other water life, plus spiders, snakes, tigers, and all other sorts of creatures, including mermaids. It was obvious Austie really liked this place, as he ran from place to place, coming back frequently to check out the tarantulas.









This was a big day for everyone! Back home I downloaded pics and caught up on work while Jan “re-built” Austie’s room. Later we hung outside in the neighborhood enjoying the cooling temperatures of the early evening.

Saturday: Drive-By Shootings



After saying goodbyes, we loaded up for a scenic road trip. From Parker we took I-25 north to 470 west where we stopped off at Chatfield State, as we wanted to scout it out for future camping. This is one big park and looks like a great place to camp (loop D) as there is lot’s to do, and it is close to Austie’s place. From there we got back on 470 west turning on 285 west. We drove through Jefferson and down to Fairplay stopping along the way to buy some of the best elk jerky in the West. Jerry heartily agreed, sticking his nose all the way into the package, gulping his piece, then looking longingly at the bag when I put it away. The drive was really pretty, but when we picked up 24 west near Buena Vista and headed NNW on this scenic byway, the quality of the vistas picked up a couple of notches. As we drove, our most common comments were “wow,” “jeez,” “look at that,” and so on.





Drive-By Shootings
When traffic is sparse or when pullouts are abundant, Jan goes very slowly or stops or pulls off for Kodak moments. However, when the opposite scenario is in place, drive-bys are required. Now, shooting out of a moving vehicle at 30 to 75 mph on curvy roads hanging partly out the window, trying to frame shot when the car is in the one-right position while keeping other cars and poles and trees out of the image is a challenge. However, is it a big enough challenge? Oh no, our dogs love to peer out the window, so when I anticipate an upcoming photo op I have to sneak the window down in hopes that both dogs won’t be on my lap, feet on the door and heads pointing at the desired image. This challenge is magnified when the Pups hear Jan shout (which happens often) when we are in picturesque locations. At the sound of her heightened voice my lap is full of dogs, my “window of opportunity” small, and my odds of a good pic diminished. So keep in mind that for the few drive-bys published in this blog, there are scores more with ears and noses that didn’t make it.

At Bailtown we took 82 west, the Independence Pass Scenic Drive. Still lots of snow in this 12,000-foot route and the scenery was wonderful. Not the kind of road we would take BERT on though, often being narrow and sometimes in poor shape. In addition, vehicles were limited to 35 feet in length, eliminating the possibility altogether. This route took us through the manicured and majestic Aspen and up to Basalt, where we stopped for some delicious Chinese. Then it was back on to 82 through El Jebel, Carbondale, then on to Glenwood Springs where we picked up I-70 west and headed back to camp at Highline State Park. After unpacking we ate popcorn while watching a Netflix flix and went to bed early.





Wonderful week.

Pups Across America

Here is a rearview mirror shot of Mitzy hanging out the window as she loves to do, plus a shot of Hanna Pug from one of our walks.

Headlights

July 24 - August 3: Camp hosting at Highline State Park with a side trip or two
August 4 - 7-11: Rifle Gap State Park
August 8 - 31: Exploring Colorado
September 1 - 15: Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan?
September 11 - 25: Visit Kalamazoo, MI friends and participate in Ribarama
October 16 - 31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1: Head back to Pine Island

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Denver Aquarium

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Sandy pup and new scarves
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Peace and Quiet
I awoke to the soothing sound of rain on the roof. I was prepared to take the Kids on our usual hike, but the sound of distant thunder changed Jerry’s mind. Therefore, I took both of them back to the coach and went back out to look for birds. Basically a quiet day made up of work, camp hosting, and hanging out.





Just for fun, here is a shot of Janny’s breakfast the other day.



Monday: Gateway Getaway



Leaving Janny to run the camp host show, Mers and I left Highline State Park, drove through Fruita and Grand Junction on I-70, took 50 east, then took 141 south for the 42 miles to Gateway (you may have guessed by now—another scenic byway!). We passed through a dozen miles of road construction, but the following scenery was worth the wait, as once again we were surrounded by red rock structures that looked as though they had been carefully sculpted by hand--a really big hand. The town of Gateway is similar to many others in Western Colorado, however, after passing through this rustic village we came upon a large, pristine, very modern compound--a conference center complete with lodging, restaurants, and our main destination, a world-class auto museum. We arrived a few minutes after 10:00 a.m., their first visitors of the day. There were only about 50 cars, but each and every one was fully restored to its original glory. Just a pleasure to walk through the Cords, Dusenburgs, early Cadillacs, and on and on. The paint jobs and detail were phenomenal.

After a highly enjoyable walk through, we talked for a few minutes with the manager. He was a local, and took great pride in the area. He shared some facts and folklore, such as how the Sundance Kid went from being an enforcer for the land barons, to how he robbed his first bank at Telluride riding a thoroughbred horse that he “exchanged” for another after the robbery. After listening to his story we decided to take the big loop back home instead of retracing our steps as originally planned.

So around noon we continued south on 141, driving through some very tall, very impressive canyons. We stopped and viewed the remnants of a flume built inside many miles of canyon walls to haul large quantities of water for the gold mines. It seems that to attach the flume to the canyon walls they lowered Chinese workers over the side and down the wall in rope baskets. Yikes!







We passed the sign showing where the uranium town of Uraven existed before the government completely unassembled everything and covered it up (both figuratively and literally). At Natursa we turned east on 145, passed through Redvale and stopped for lunch at Norwood. Then back on the scenic byway to Placerville where we turned east on 62. At Ridgeway we picked up 550 north, then at Montrose we turned on to 50 taking us back home. Big trip but a very nice trip.

Tuesday: Viva Las Vega



Mers departed early for her return to Michigan. After a hike around the lake, I worked the rest of the morning. Right before noon it was time for another road trip. Loading up the Kids, we took off heading the same way we had gone to Grand Mesa a few days earlier, exiting I-70 at exit 49 and heading east on 65. Instead of continuing on to Mesa, however, we took 330 through Molina, Collbran, eventually ending up at Vega State Park. A beautiful drive up a couple of thousand feet from where we started.

We oohed and aahed the whole trip with the intensity increasing as we drove around the park. Mountain bluebirds everywhere and the wildflowers out in mass and in full bloom.











I was unable to get a decent shot of a mature bluebird with its vibrant blue coloring, but got a shot of a young one.



Immediately upon returning back to camp, I got online and booked the first four nights after our planned departure from Highline.

Wednesday: Rifle Shot



After hiking and working in the morning, it was time to check out another possible camping location. We took I-70 east through DeBuque and Parachute, exiting at Rifle. Here we made our way north on 325 with our first stop being Rifle Gap State Park. The reservoir here holds back an enticing body of crystal blue water, and within minutes of our arrival we knew we wanted to camp at this modern park as well. We took our time driving around, checking out the campsites, and exploring the swim beach, boat launch, and visitor center.



Four miles north and 2,000 feet higher, is Rifle Gap’s sister state park, Rifle Falls. Named after the falls it contains, this older park is made up of a more primitive campground, caves, and trails. We decided that when we camped at Rifle Gap we would do some day-trips here for trail hikes. Should be fun.





Big Load
As everyone who has traveled the interstate has seen, there are plenty of really big trucks hauling really big loads on the road. Therefore, it was interesting to see this 18-wheeler and its Tonka Toy load!



As we made our trip home, the skies got darker and darker and the lightning strikes increased. Seven miles from home we pulled off the road with a southern view looking over the Colorado Monument. The dark skies darkened further, the lighting bolts increased in number and size, the rain started coming down, and the wind increased—up to sixty-mile-per-hour gusts. Jerry sat shaking in my lap as the rest of us enjoyed the show.

Thursday: Kestrels, Hawks, and Owls
Young Hawks
I was up quite early working, but a little after dawn I was standing on the road looking up at the Cooper Hawk nest. I was not disappointed, as soon I saw three bird outlines hopping and jumping from branch to branch. One stayed still for a while, and I enjoyed watching this youngster.



Young Owl
Next I walked around to owl country, and the youngster did not disappoint, sitting on a low branch and looking toward the sweet east light.



Kestrel Pair
Walking through the campground, I spotted this pair of Kestrels--cute and little, but fast and deadly, these two appear to be permanent residents.



New Hike



Jan suggested a new hiking route and I concurred. We checked out a new trail, enjoying the views, watching the Pups sniff and romp, and getting some nice exercise besides. Out on a barren tree we spotted a Red-Tailed Hawk, apparently looking for breakfast. Apparently he was not a welcome visitor to this territory as several smaller birds attacked him on his perch.



I spent most of the rest of the day working on the computer doing projects.

Friday
Colorado Monument Hike
Since the Pups couldn’t go on our hike, I took them out early in the chilly air. I also checked on the baby hawks and the young owl. Soon Jan and I were in the Colorado Monument once again, heading out on the Alcove Nature Trail. After completing this easy one-mile jaunt, we toured the rest of the monument before heading back to camp.

Horsethief Canyon
I worked till mid-afternoon, and then it was time for another road trip. Back close to the Fruita entrance to the Colorado Monument we turned west into Horsethief Canyon, a wilderness area run by the Bureau of Land Management. We traveled this gravel round for about ten miles, checking out the trails and vowing to return early in the morning to avoid the heat.

Saturday
I was out at 5:00 a.m. trying to capture a good shot of the full moon from our campsite. Nothing worth publishing so I took the Pups out for a quick walk.

6:00 a.m. Skype call with Kevin to start to wrap up our assignment with the Swedish company. Always a lot to do at the last moment.

Soon Jan was up and we took the Kids out on the Great Blue Heron Marsh Loop for a short hike. Very pretty, but a dozen or so very busy spiders (the kind that jump and bite) had cast webs across the trail, so we kept a close eye as we walked along.

The rest of the day was devoted to working on projects, and camp hosting.

Pups Across America

Here are pics of David and Sandy along with Jerry and Mitzy sporting their new Cabella scarves that Mers bought them.

Headlights

July 17 - 19: Camp hosting at Highline Lake State Park
July 20 - 23: Visiting our grandson Austie in Parker, CO
July 24 - August 3: Camp hosting at Highline State Park with a side trip or two
August 4 - 8: Vega State Park
August 8: Exploring Colorado
September 4 - 10: Camp with Scott and Deb in Northern Michigan?
September 11- 25: Visit Kalamazoo, MI friends and participate in Ribarama
October 16 - 31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1: Head back to Pine Island

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Bird photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Pics of the Kids at their best.
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: No Show Jo
We were on camp host duty all day so we hung around the park. I started the day with an early morning hike with the Pups and was able to get a few decent pics as the clouds freshened the light and added some interest to the scene.







Our friend, Jo, was supposed to fly in to visit, but called and said she missed her flight…bummer.

Monday: Independence Day Road Trip
Hike #1
I went out early taking the mile-plus Highline Lake hike down by the water. The Pups had a great time sniffing critter tracks.







Hike #2
At 7:30 Jan and I drove the short distance into the Colorado Monument stopping at the visitor center. We took a mile-and-a-half hike along the Canyon Rim trail that hugged the canyon. This is one impressive place.





Pick-up Jo
After breakfast and cleaning up, we drove to the Grand Junction airport, and this time Jo made her flight. After a few, quick, “Hi, how are you’s,” we were in the car heading east on I-70.

Grand Mesa
At Marker 49 we headed east on Highway 65. We took this Scenic Byway twelve miles into Mesa where we stopped for what turned out to be an interesting Independence Day lunch. The food was pretty good, however, it wasn’t what we ordered, it came out staggered over time, and napkins and condiments appeared to be valuable extras. Our poor waitress was challenged by either alcohol, drugs, or electrical shock treatment (my guess is the shock treatment), and try as she might, the end results of her actions never quite met her intent. The ambience was further vitalized by a herd of buzzing flies that invaded from the porch and the constant blood-curdling screams of a youngster in the corner.

Back in the car, we up and backed our way to the top of Grand Mesa, the tallest mesa in the world. Here snow appeared in the distance and at the roadsides as we wove through beautiful green woods complimented by deep blue lakes. As is Jan’s nature, she soon tired of the smooth paved roads and took off on the dirt. We meandered for miles until we came to the end of the road, aptly named The End of the Road. We got out to admire the view and came across some extremely tame chipmunk-like critters taking nuts and Fritos out of people’s hands. I took several pictures to turn into posters for Jerry’s room.













The prudent return from our passage would be to retrace our tracks back to Highway 65 and continue south for 30 miles or so, then take Highway 50 west on back to Grand Junction. However, an old sign by the side of the road at the End of The Road, said “18 Miles to Highway 50.” Aha! A chance to save at least 40 miles to get us home. Jan turned our nimble Honda Element to the right and straight down (so it seemed) on a narrow, switchback dirt road. The trip was just gorgeous, lined with wild flowers and view after view. My job was to hold on to Mitzy and Jerry, appear calm, and gaze as far ahead as I could see to warn Jan of incoming traffic. This was important because steep, narrow, loose-gravely roads made meeting cars a challenge. In less than an hour we were back on Highway 50 heading for camp.







However, the excitement of the day had not ended, because later that evening our friend Mers (pure trouble) arrived from an all-day jaunt from Michigan.



Tuesday: Arches National Park
We had been to Arches in the summer a couple years before, and it was hot, 115 degrees. So sharing that information and mentally preparing for oven-like temperatures, we got in the car a little after 8:00 and made our way to I-70, and then headed west for our 108-mile trek into Utah and into Arches National Park. With a decent road, hardly any traffic, and a 75-mph speed limit we made good time. At Marker 182 we turned south on 191. We drove past the entrance and down into Moab for a hearty breakfast. By 11:00 a.m. we were within the park, oohing and aahing as we drove along stopping for several short hikes. The Weather Gods smiled upon us the whole trip--constant cloud cover not only kept the arid temperatures in the comfortable 80s but also the lack of direct sunlight took away the harshness adding vibrancy to the sandstone structures, making for nicer images.

















After having our scenic fill, we headed back to Moab for a couple of pints and snacks at the Moab Brewery. From there we headed back to camp, though this time taking Highway 128, a scenic byway that borders the eastern side of the Park…excellent choice, Alex! Right on the edge of the Colorado River with huge red rock structures bordering our journey, the vistas were as gorgeous of those inside the park. Even after a mind-filling day of great scenery we still found ourselves pulling over for more photo ops.





Wonderful day.

Wednesday: Black Canyon Gunnison National Park
Once again around 8:00, the four of us plus the Pups loaded into the car for a big-day road trip. Out of camp we took 139 south to Loma, and got on I-70 east. After stopping for a wonderful breakfast in downtown Grand Junction at the Dream Café, we picked up Highway 50 and headed east/southeast through Delta, Olathe, and Montrose. Eight miles east of Montrose we took Highway 347 north the six miles into Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

The weather was quite warm but not super hot, so we trounced out for a few short hikes to get a better view of the deepest canyon in the world. This is one world-class canyon with breath-taking views all over the place. If you haven’t been there and you are into impressive scenery, put the Black Canyon on your bucket list.





On the trail to Painted Wall, we heard a guy yelling out at the top of his lungs to hear his echo. When we showed up and doubted his claim that he stood atop a rock overlooking the canyon, he immediately leaped onto his rock, assumed his super hero pose and yelled “Jan, Jan” into the canyon. Quite impressive.





On our return trek home, we stopped off at the cool, just re-built downtown of Grand Junction. We sat outside (along with the Pups) at the Rockslide Brewery for snacks and libation before heading back to enjoy a campfire and popcorn with our neighbors, Marjorie and David.

Thursday
Jan took Jamers and Jo out exploring the Colorado Monument before taking Jo to the Grand Junction airport for her flight back to LA. I spent the day working, including a selling services webinar (number six in a ten-session series) I put on in conjunction with my friend and colleague Hank. Pleased to say it went very well.

Friday
I started the day with an early morning coaching call with a client from Canada, then a hike along the bluffs of Highline Lake. I spent the day working and helping Jan with camp host chores.

Saturday
I guess I’m falling into a pattern, but it is a pattern I enjoy. Out for 75-minute hike with the kids along the water, over the hills and through the marshes. I got some great shots of the Kids, especially Jerry running full steam along the trails. Today, we came across something not seen before at Highline--a mud puddle. I mean a world-class mud puddle, where within minutes the mud turns to a concrete-like substance, something you could easily hold adobe homes together with. Hence both Pups ended up in our shower where Jan had to soak and scrub our Little Adventurers clean.





This time of year is called the monsoon season, and most every day we either receive a shower or the threat of a shower accompanied by black skies, thunder, and lightening.

Wonderful week.

Pups Across America

A few pics of the Kids at their best.

Headlights

July 10 - 19: Camp hosting at Highline Lake State Park with spontaneous side trips.
July 20 - 23: Visiting our grandson Austie in Parker, CO.
July 24 - August 7: Camp hosting at Highline State Park with a side trip or two.
August 8 on: Change of plans. Instead of going to Yellowstone and Glacier, our current plan is to spend most of August exploring Colorado.
September 4-10: Camp with Scott and Deb in Northern Michigan?
September 11-25: Visit Kalamazoo, MI friends and participate in Ribarama.
October 16-31: Visit Kentucky friends.
November 1: Head back to Pine Island.

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Arches National Park, Gunnison National Park, Highline Lake Park

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Pics of the Kids at their best
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Colorado National Monument
By 6:00 a.m. all the Alexanders were entering the Colorado National Monument in our car, only about 15 minutes away from our campground. Jan was driving, and I was in the co-pilot seat, camera on my lap along with one to two pups depending on their mood and what we were sighting. Our hope was to spot and photograph Bighorn Sheep, but I knew our probability was low as the entire herd within the park only amounted to 50. Yet, within 10 minutes we came across a yearly male, munching along the side of the road. He was oblivious to our car and me hanging out the window with camera pointed at him, and I got in several shots before he casually strolled away walking right past us.





We had a great time winding up and down the monument road, enjoying the canyons and rock formations--during our first half-hour in the park we only saw two other vehicles. By 8:30 we had traveled the 26-mile road through the park and had developed quite an appetite. Of course Jan already knew her way around Grand Junction, and soon we were down on Main Street selecting a restaurant with outside seating. After a great Mexican breakfast we re-traced our path re-entering the park the way we had exited. The Visitor Center was now open, so we went in to check out photo spots and hiking trails. When I asked about critters, the lady said that the last Bighorn sighting was over a month ago. We felt even better about our rookie success. Just as we were leaving the park Jan let out a yelp--she had seen a big ram move rapidly from the top of a mesa down a steep hill then disappear--she scored a double.



Monday: Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway
After getting up early and working for a few hours, the four of us took a three-and-a-half-mile hike around Highline Lake. We were joined by scooting rabbits, flitting birds along the marshes, and an occasional Great Blue Heron making his way across the lake.









Mid-afternoon I got tired of work, so we took a road trip 70 miles north on highway 139 through the desert, up through the mountains, then back down through the desert culminating at the town of Rangely. This stretch of road is part of the 650-mile diamond-shaped zone of Colorado and Utah that contains loads of dinosaur fossils. It was a very nice trip with lots of pretty contrasts from the lush green on some of the valleys, the variations of pinks, tans, and browns of the hills and mountains, set upon a vibrant deep blue sky accented by the occasional bright-white clouds.

Tuesday: Avian Alert
Got up very early, working on some projects, then all four of us went out at 6:40 a.m. and walked Highline Trail again.

Mid-morning, Jan interrupted my work for an “avian alert.” The momma Great Horned Owl and her “daughter” (we think she is a female as she is almost as big as her mother and female owls are larger than males) were both sitting in a tree about ten yards from our coach. They were hunkered down as an upset robin was buzzing them and a furious Cooper’s Hawk was conducting fly-bys coming within inches of the owls.







Inquiries of others who had observed what had happened earlier said that the momma owl had snatched and ate another bird, probably a young robin, possibly a baby hawk.

Anyway, it was quite the campground event with many people taking time to get a close-up view of the owls. Of course the kids were the most curious and the most excited.



Wednesday: Flat Tire and More Sheep
Once again I got up quite early working on business. By 6:30 a.m. we were all out on the Highline Trail enjoying the cloudy weather as we hiked along. When we got back I had a couple of conference calls, but then shifted to an issue of transportation.

Our Honda had a flat tire, so I diligently opened the spare tire compartment--my plan being to replace the flat with the mini-spare and drive to town for the repair. However, step one in a plan of 14, did not go well. I am not a world champion weight lifter like Jan’s brother Wayne*, but I’m fairly strong for an old guy. However, when I took the wrench to crack the wheel nuts, they did not budge. After borrowing from Dave a more substantial tool, I was able to crack one. As we headed the golf cart down to the maintenance shop to try and find an even bigger wrench, I spotted the solution to my problem--John, the new guy looked like he wrestled grizzlies and won. Telling him of the dilemma, he quickly volunteered to help. Without tensing a blood vessel he performed the entire task, having the damaged tire in the back of Dave’s pickup truck in five minutes. A quick drive to the Fruita Coop, ten minutes to fix it, and we were back in camp where John reversed the process--it’s all in knowing the right folks!

Later in the afternoon with storm clouds in the sky, we decided to head back into Colorado Monument. In 15 minutes we were through the gate and within ten more we had our next Bighorn sighting! The dark blue skies showed the magnificence of the monument at it’s best.

*No joke, he is the world champion in his age bracket at the bench press. He beat the Russians and the rest of his challengers a few weeks ago benching 352 pounds at the World Championship.

Thursday: Janny 911
Jan decided to go for a shorter walk, so she took the Pups her way and I headed out on the big trail. For the first time I came across a flock of Magpies, flitting about as if in a tizzy. I was able to get one shot I really liked. After about 20 minutes into the walk, I felt the temperature drop about 15 degrees or so. Looking up I saw the big thunderboomers I was expecting, dominating the sky in all directions. I quickened my pace, happy that I’d packed a large trash bag to cover my camera in case it rained. I made it back to the far-end of the lake when the rains started. Luckily a shelter was near by so I got under cover, sat down, and called Janny to rescue me. Within 10 minutes we were driving back to camp.





The rest of the day was split working on business and helping Janny with the camp host chores.



Friday
I awoke to a chilly 51-degree, long-sleeve morning and headed out early to get a walk in with the Pups prior to a 7:00 a.m. call. For the first time, I took the Blue Heron Marsh trail that was just gorgeous. I saw my first coyote in the park, a large-framed critter that looked in great condition. From then on I kept the Pups on a short leash.

Back at camp I helped Janny a little, but spent most all the day working in the coach.

Saturday: Heating Up
Up till now, the super-low humidity weather had been warm but quite pleasant. Now, with friends coming to visit soon, things are heating up! Prospects are 100 degrees for the next five days—thank goodness the humidity is supposed to continue to be crazy low.

A big walk with the Kids, then back to work. A very quiet campground as most all the campers are on the lake or picnicking by it.

Pups Across America

A few pics of the Kids at their best.

Headlights

July 3-July 9: Probable trips to Arches NP, Gunnison NP, and other cool places with friends Jo and Mers
July 10-July 19: Camp hosting at Highline Lake State Park
July 20-July 23: Visiting our grandson Austie in Parker, CO
July 24-August 7: Camp hosting at Highline State Park with a side trip or two
August 9: Yellowstone NP and possibly Glacier NP
September 4-10: Camp with Scott and Deb in Northern Michigan?
September 11-25: Visit Kalamazoo, MI friends and participate in Ribarama
October 16 to 31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1: Head back to Pine Island

Have questions or comments--send them in.

Next week should be loaded with pics, as we are going to Colorado National Monument a time or two.