Goodbye, Colorado
We left Colorado for 2013 heading NE on I-76, picking up I-80 east at the Nebraska border. After spending a night in central Nebraska, we traveled across Iowa camping near Iowa City.



Sibling Stop
We stopped in eastern Iowa where my brother and two sisters drove down to meet us for dinner. It had been three years since our last get together, so it was great catching up.



Good Friends
Our next stop was to visit good friends who live NW of Chicago. All was fun, but the Kids especially liked the boat ride. Even though we explained the concept of fresh water to the Pups, Mitzy continued to hunt for dolphins. :’>







Door County
We had planned on heading down to the Homer Glen area to visit some other good friends. However, the weather forecast was not favorable for us going around the bottom of Lake Michigan. Hence, we headed north, stopping for two nights in Door County--the Wisconsin peninsula between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. We had a wonderful time driving/walking around this very pretty area.







Mackinaw Morning
From Door County we headed west to the town of Green Bay, and then north into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, taking Highway 2 east along Lake Michigan. After crossing the Mackinaw Bridge, we set up camp in Mackinaw City. The next morning, the pre-dawn sky was the rusty color of old trucks. I grabbed my camera, a couple of lenses, and Gorrilapod to take some pics. Just me and the seagulls.

Here are a few shots taken in pre-dawn light and a 30-second video clip.













Back to the Sleeping Bear
From Mackinaw City we headed south on I-75, at Gaylord we took 32 east and then snaked over to 131 via County Road C42. We took 72 west to Empire, and then north to D.H. Day Campground.



It was great to be back! We spent two months camp hosting here last year, and have returned to assume our old role. All of our previous camp-host friends from last year are here, as well as most of the professional and fun campground staff. Looking forward to a great stay.

Jan’s Old Signs
Here are two old signs that Jan selected and I shot.





Old Trucks
Here are five old trucks I shot along the way.











See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Old Signs, Old Trucks, Nature Photography

On to Breckinridge
From Highline Lake State Park, we rambled down to I-70 and headed east on one of the most picturesque interstates in the entire country. We arrived with snow-topped mountains surrounding us as we camped at 9,100 feet and 34 degrees.

Colorado Trail Hike
Adjoining the campground is a segment of the Colorado Trail, so at dawn one morning I hiked the steep trail for a two-hour round trip.

Return to Denver
Monday it was back to Denver, where we set up camp at Cherry Creek Park.

Quick Trip to Chicago
Tuesday morning I flew to Chicago where I spent most of the week working with a good client.

Jan’s Old Signs
Here are two old signs that Jan selected and I shot.





Slug Bug
While hunting old trucks we ran across this old VW bug.



Old Trucks
Here are five old trucks with both rust and style.











See you next week.

Tags: Old Cars, Old Trucks, Old Signs, Colorado

Salida to Buena Vista
If you like the outdoors, the area in Colorado we have been staying (Salida/Buena Vista) is just about Nirvana: rafting, hiking, paddling, kayaking, hot springing, goat milking, bingoing, mountain viewing, mountain climbing, duck racing, jeep off-roading, ATVing, fly fishing, and more can all be done via the Arkansas River, National Forests, and really big mountains. The people are colorful as well. Here is a pic of a couple of locals who stopped for “breakfast” at the Coyote Cantina, a joint we frequented.



Duck Race Revenge
Our campground sponsors an annual Memorial Day Duck Race and it is a blast. The rubber ducks navigate a narrow, skinny creek that goes right behind our RV site.

Now, Jan and I are no stranger to duck racing, having been involved in the Calusa Pine Island Duck Race for 15 years. During that time we have bought hundreds of tickets and never won squat. Here at Chalk Creek we both bought one ticket each, and I placed third and Jan won! Yes, young man, persistence does pay off! Here is a shot of Jan the winner and a few more.









PaddleFest
While we were there, Buena Vista hosted its annual PaddleFest.

Paddling Pups
Here are some pics of pups that attended, and one shot of Austie taking his first kayak paddle.











Hamster Balls
As part of the Paddlefest fundraising, there was a “hamster ball” concession, where kids (or anyone) could step into a plastic bag the size of a huge ziplock, have it blown up with air to form a ball, then be pushed into a pool of water and try to run like a hamster on a treadmill. Here is grandson Austie giving it a try.





Move to Crawford
After the Memorial Day crowds had dispersed, on Tuesday we broke camp and motored our way south from Nathan on 285 South, turning west on U.S. 50 at Poncha Springs, stopping at Gunnison for subs, continuing on through the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Instead of following the most direct route, we picked up 92, going west and north along the West Elk Scenic Byway and the east side of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The mountain roads where as crooked as a politician in an election year. Snowy mountains, gurgling creeks, greening hills, and black and deep canyons bordered our way the last 30 miles until we set up camp at Crawford State Park.













Black Canyon East Side
Late afternoon we drove the dozen miles to the east side of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park where we took a short hike and then drove the park road stopping at overlooks. This is one impressive gorge. We’d been to the west side twice before, but this side is superior--great views and very little traffic.



Black Canyon Hike
Early one morning we drove to the North Rim Ranger station to hike four miles at 7,700 feet on the North Vista Trail, going to Exclamation Point and back. On the way we saw deer and elk. The muddy trail took us through meadows and woods with several vistas overlooking the canyon. We shared the experience with bunnies, chips, meadow larks, magpies, and falcons as we wandered among lupine, larkspur, early paint, cannis, spring beauty, false lupine, and flowering cactus. There were no other humans in sight.













Foxes at Play
On the ride back to camp, we ran across six young foxes playing alongside the road. I was lucky enough to get a few shots of these playful pups as we watched them romp for a couple minutes.



Back to Highline Lake State Park
Two years ago we camp hosted at Highline Lake State Park about 30 miles northwest of Grand Junction, close to the Utah border. While there, we made great friends with our camp host colleagues and wanted to see them again. To get there, we decided to once again take the road less traveled, taking 65 North, the Grand Mesa Skyway.







After setting up camp at Highline, we reminisced over dinner and s’mores over a campfire. The next morning, I hiked the trail around Highline Lake along with my small buddies, Mitzy and Jerry.







Jan’s Old Signs
Here are two old signs that Jan selected and I shot.





Old Trucks
Here are five old trucks from Colorado.











See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Colorado, Buena Vista, Crawford, Gunnison National Park, Black Canyon, Highline Lake Park, Old Trucks, Old Signs

If you like to hunt and shoot old trucks, it is great to be in Colorado! Forty-eight new beauties have been added to the collection this week. See the last section of this blog post for a few of the distinguished old girls.

Over 7,700 feet in elevation, the mornings started cool in the low 40s, working up to high 60s/low 70s later in the day. We had an excellent variety of weather: calm and sunny, cold and windy, snowy and sleety, and thundering and lightning. Here is a view from our campground and a view of fishermen right behind our coach.





Sunday Truck Hunting Day
I took Sunday off, and by 8:15 a.m. Jan, the Pups, and I were out the door and in the car hunting old trucks and other good photo ops. We went west to Poncha, and then took highways, scenic byways, gravel and dirt roads north, east, west, south, and back, hard on the scent of rusted steel.



Scenics
Our constant guardians, the Collegiate Peaks, were always in the background, and their snowy tops combining with pillowy clouds and perfect light made for some pretty scenic photos.





We eventually made our way up to highway 24 and took that east, stopping off at the Antero Reservoir.

Antero Reservoir
The Antero Reservoir is deep blue water surrounded by mountains. Wrapping our coats up tight, we got out to enjoy the view. Here is that handsome devil Jerry breathing in the scenery.



Hartsel Lunch Break
At noon we stopped for lunch at the best place in Hartsel (the only place in Hartsel) and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of our meals (Jan had the burrito and I had the house special). Here is a shot of Cindy, the bartender/waitress/hostess/busboy/cashier (however, I don’t think she cooked).



Monday Mountain Thunder
I worked all day Monday, but late afternoon it was time for a family drive. We took the back roads and found more old trucks. In the outskirts of Salida, I took a few shots. Here is a fun one of a big smokestack from a smelting plant long closed down.



National Forest
After exploring the town, we took a county road that turned into a forest road--left and right, down and up, over and back in the San Isabel National Forest. We found the remnants of an old town called Turret and drove through blowing snow to view the mountains being engulfed in dark clouds lit by the occasional bolt of lightning. Every few minutes the almost-spooky quiet was interrupted by thunder that started as a moaning growl, grew to a rhythmic rumble, and then crescendoed into an angry bellow that commanded both respect and a little fear to all within earshot. Here the term “awesome” does perfectly apply.



Afternoon Trips
Cottonwood Pass
One late-afternoon family excursion took us up to Cottonwood Pass. At over 12,000 feet, spring had not yet sprung, and there was enough snow to fool you into thinking it was still February. Here are a couple pics from this trip.





Critters
Here are a few shots of pups and other critters.









Old Signs
Here are three old signs that Jan selected and I shot.







Old Trucks
Here are five old trucks (the others I shot are in the Old Truck Reserve for future weeks when the hunting is scarce).











See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Old Trucks, Antero Reservoir, Hartsel, San Isabel National Forest, Cottonwood Pass, Old Signs, Old Signs

In the Air
A busy business week started Sunday and ended Saturday with trips to Baltimore and Dallas. I had two excellent sessions with fun services personnel from a software client. Mostly my views on this trip were of flight attendants, hotel lobbies, and conference tables, but I did get to see some intriguing vistas outside my airplane windows, and the sharp crack of lightning striking the port wing widened some passengers’ eyes to the size of serving plates at an Amish restaurant.

Flights were smooth except for one glitch: A mechanical problem caused by a running toilet motor that wouldn’t stop triggered enough delay so that I could not get back until Saturday. Oh, well…



Baltimore Inner Harbor
My hotel in Baltimore was located in the Inner Harbor, so I did have a chance to enjoy a stroll or two by the water.





Move the Bus
Finally back to the motorhome, we broke camp at the Colorado Horse Park Saturday around 1 p.m. and took an enjoyable trip a couple hundred miles to our next location. Jan piloted the bus south on Colorado 83 and I-25 down to Colorado Springs. On Colorado 115, we drove by the area we stayed at last year among the smoke from the huge wildfire. We continued on down to Canon City, home site of the Royal Gorge, then ambled along side the Arkansas River another 60 some miles.



Salida
We are parked at the 4 Seasons RV Park, just three miles east of Salida. This is a magnificent location, as BERT’s (Big Expensive Road Traveler) behind almost hangs over the Arkansas River, while our view from the front of the coach is the Collegiate Peaks, home of eight of Colorado’s 14ers (mountains over 14,000 feet). Here is a shot of our campsite and a picture of a couple boaters floating down the river taken from our picnic table.





It is going to be a great stay!

Old Trucks
Here are three old trucks--two were parked at our campground.







See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Salida, 4 Seasons RV Park

Baseball Game
Sunday was a “boys-only” Colorado Rockies game. They lost to the Rays, but the weather was pleasant, the hot dogs were tasty, and our third-base view was a fun location for photography.









Quick Trip to New Orleans
I had a quick trip early in the week to New Orleans were I facilitated the U.S. pilot of a new engagement. Smart, fun group--should be a great project.

Redheads and Bubbles
Of course, we had a few times during the week to enjoy the grandkids. Here are pics of Austie and friends going red, Natty in the tub, Natty ‘fessing up, and Natty hanging with Charlie the Pug. And, here is a comic pic of Aaron doing some deep reflection on his future.

















Prairie Dog Hike
Late in the week the frost disappeared, the temperature rose, and the skies transitioned from rainy gray to vibrant blue. Jan and I took our first 2013 hike in Colorado, traipsing four miles among gentle hills with first spring flowers making their debut poking up reds, whites, and violets against the brown of the earth. Birds of all denominations sang for us and the brilliant plumage of bluebirds darted across the sky like smoke in a breeze.



The hike highlight, though, was a solid mile path right through the most impressive prairie dog town I have ever seen! Well-fed prairie dogs of varying sizes and hues greeted us at the rim of their dens chirping out their intruder alarm. Many times we were within 15 feet before these guardians of the plains scampered down their holes. In case you did not know, our rat terrier, Jerry, loves prairie dogs. He has leapt out of our car window to get close to these large, mobile gophers.

As Jerry tugged at his leash like a sailor weighing anchor, he sometimes drug Jan right to the top of the varmints’ dens. Standing proudly erect like a marine out of boot camp, a broad smile etched on his chiseled face as ripples of pleasure moved up and down his well-muscled physique. I don’ think life gets any better than this for a rat terrier. ☺



Hunting Old Trucks
Late one afternoon we piled into the car and headed east in a search of old trucks. There were dark clouds all around us as we drove through the occasional rain shower and watched a stray bolt or two of lightning dance across the horizon--perfect weather for photography! Here are a couple of old trucks from our hunt, plus a cool old truck sign.







See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Colorado Rockies Baseball, Old Trucks, prairie dogs

Fun Time, Full Time
Now that the house is behind us…



…we took off Sunday morning, heading out on the 2,000-mile journey north from St. James City, through Atlanta, Nashville, St. Louis, Kansas City, and on to Parker. Colorado, Friday afternoon as planned.









For the most part, our first full week of full-timing was uneventful with the usual road construction and a couple detours. However, we did experience the coldest, snowiest May day for 107 years across Kansas.



Coach Cat
Our efforts to find Chico, our 15-year-old, Mexican-born cat, a new home proved unsuccessful (many thanks to those of you who attempted to find him a home), so we brought him with us. I had envisioned cat-dog fights, hours of endless meowing, and unanticipated hassles. I could not have been more wrong. Chico adapted to coach life like a goat in a landfill. He now acts like he owns the place!



Birthday Bash
We arrived in time celebrate both grandkids’ birthdays. Here is a shot of Austin playing with his buddies, and Natty and her Mom.







Old Trucks
Here are a couple of old trucks for your review.





See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, pet photography, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Indiana to Alabama
After a brisk walk around our campground near Columbus, Indiana (the temperature was 39 degrees), Jan started the bus and we lumbered back on to I-65, making our way down through the country’s heartland and into the South. To pass the time, we listened to Agatha Christie’s Poirot mysteries. Nothing like listening to that brilliant Belgian to make the miles go by.

We arrived at our destination late afternoon, buttoned up the coach, and hunkered down for the night.





Monday: A Chilly Day in Red Bay
Red Bay, Alabama (population 3,500), is in the far northwest corner of Alabama, close to the Mississippi border. Its claim to fame is that it is the home of Tiffin Motorhomes, the manufacturer of our coach. Here is a picture of Jan behind the wheel of a vintage Tiffin motorhome, circa 1975.



After taking the factory tour and feasting on a local Mexican lunch buffet, we dropped off the coach for some warranty repairs (Tiffin will deliver it to us back in Florida when the work is finished), and then took our loaded Honda Element on back roads south and east, spending the evening in a motel in Tuscaloosa. Of course, we were hunting for old trucks to shoot as we drove through the country (see “Old Trucks” later for the results).



Tuesday: Apalachicola National Forest



We spent the day driving, ending up in the Apalachicola National Forest. We had never spent any time in this beautiful part of Florida, just a little southwest of Tallahassee.



Wednesday: On to Apopka
After exploring the Apalachicola National Forest in the morning, we headed southeast to Apopka, Florida. We had a nice evening chatting with Jan’s aunt while we re-acclimated to the Florida climate.

Thursday: Back to the Island



By mid-morning we were back on the road, arriving in St. James City to sunny 80-degree temperatures.

Friday and Saturday: Eagle Omen
As you’d guess, our focus on arriving back home was settling in and getting back into our island routine. Friday morning started with a great omen. On our first walk since returning back to the Island, we were greeted by a pair of mature eagles chattering away as only eagles can do. As we passed by they eyed the Pups with a knowing glare--it was good to hear their greeting…



Old Trucks
Here are a few old trucks we spotted traveling through the South.

Headlights

See you next week.

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Morning Hikes
Here is a view from our buddy’s window--just another day. As we hiked the woods, the forest floor revealed the Crayola colors of the fallen leaves.





Quick Trip to Vegas
On Monday I flew to Vegas to attend the annual symposium of my top-notch business partner. I stayed at the Belagio where the session was held--what an amazing place. Here are a couple of early evening shots from my room.





Great conference, but I was glad to be picked up at the Kalamazoo airport Friday afternoon by Janny and the Kids.





The once-brilliant fall colors were gone from the trees, replaced by brown leaves covering the ground like chocolate shavings on a trece leche cake. The moderate temperatures were starting to drop, with forecasts of future snows starting to make the nightly weather reports. Time to head South.



Heading South



Late Saturday morning we hooked the car to the coach and headed south on Highway 131 taking the back roads through the small towns of southern Michigan and the tiny bergs of northern, then central Indiana. When Jan and I got tired of driving, Mitzy was willing and able to take the wheel (she does have a heavy paw, though).



Old Trucks
As usual, here are some old trucks.

Headlights

October 28: Red Bay Alabama to visit Tiffin Motorcoach factory
October 29: Apalachicola, FL
October 30: Home on the Island

Tags: travel photography, Michigan, Las Vegas

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Walking in the Rain
Fall dominated the outdoors with falling temperatures, falling leaves, and falling rain. Yet, the colors remained vibrant and attitudes remained uplifted--who wouldn’t feel positive among all this beauty? Here are four photos taken along a walk at Markin Glen Park one chilly, wet morning.









Quick Trip to DC
Early in the week I had a short business trip to DC, working with a great client.

Pretty Lake Hike
Saturday morning we hiked with friends around Pretty Lake outside of Kalamazoo. Here are a few shots, including Jan showing off some really big leaves and a shot of Jan, Bobbie, and Deanna with Bobbie’s two pups.













This and That
During the week we visited Wheels (here are her two horses), celebrated a business housewarming for friends, and Mitzy got a haircut; here is a shot right before she went to the groomer.







Old Trucks
Here are a few old truck pictures taken from Kalamazoo and the surrounding area.























Another great week!

Headlights

October 21-26: Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 1: Appalachicola, Florida
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida

See you next week.

Tags: Kalamazoo, Nature Photography, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

The Color Continues
Even with the drop in temperature, daily rains, and high winds, the magical fall colors continued to paint Northern Michigan in their full magnificence. The colors are so intense, I have to de-saturate some of my photos in the computer so that they don’t look artificial--what a nice problem to have!













Quick Trip to Chicago: Pup Presentation
In the first part of the week, I participated in the Society for Service Executives (http://www.servicexecutives.com) annual symposium, giving a keynote speech on customer experience management. Just for fun (and as a personal challenge), I refrained from using any charts, graphs, or matrices, and used only photos of dogs that I have taken to tell my story. (Longtime readers would know most of these pix.) Response was excellent, and I had a blast--my speeches may never be the same! Here are a four that made the big screen...









Farewell to Sleeping Bear
After a great stay as camp hosts, our time was up and we said goodbye to this amazing place and the great bunch of folks we had the pleasure to work with. We have been to some really nice places, but this ranks right at the top. The good news is that we plan on coming back next year. Here is a photo of Ranger Maryellen and our boss, Ranger Dennis.





Important Note: If you decide to leave any comments about these words or pics, keep them nice, Dennis and Maryellen read the blog :’>>>

Back to Markin Glen
Friday around noonish we left Sleeping Bear and meandered over to 31 South to enjoy the views as we traveled south and a little west to Kalamazoo. Taking our time, we shot one old truck along the way and enjoyed the colors that this portion of Michigan offered. By late afternoon we were set up in Markin Glen County Park in 50-degree weather compared to the 100-degree climate we left a few months earlier.

Old Trucks
Here are this week’s old trucks...















Another great week.

Headlights

October 14-26: Markin Glenn, Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Old Trucks, pet photography, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

The fall colors were in full vibrancy in Northern Michigan, slowing traffic and cranking necks. Jan summed it up well, “It’s just like opening up a pack of Life Savers.”

Quick Trip to Southern California
I started the week on a Sunday morning airplane, taking a quick trip to Orange County. After a great session training service professionals, I returned home late Wednesday night.

Michigan in Raging Color
Here are some shots from our color-hunting day trips. Along with my attempts to capture this rainbow of flora is a shot of Jan shooting me shooting color.



































Big Waves and a Double Rainbow
Late in the week the wind started to howl, adding some six-foot-plus waves to Lake Michigan. Also, a double rainbow appeared for about three minutes Saturday morning, giving me just enough time to get in position and crank off a shot.





Campground Ambassadors
Mitzy and Jerry take their job of being campground ambassadors quite seriously. They make it their job to thoroughly check out the canines in the camp, doing background sniffs when appropriate. They also brave the harsh elements to make the rounds to build goodwill and maintain order.





Old Trucks
Here are few old trucks to gander.















Another great week.

Headlights

October 7-13: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 14-26: Probably at Markin Glenn in Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Michigan, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

A gorgeous week in Northern Michigan.

Sunrises
I was out on the beach before dawn most days this week, usually by myself. As always, I was not disappointed as the water and sky greeted the sun.







Visit from Auntie
Janny’s aunt came and visited for a few days. Auntie is from this North Country, and we revisited old haunts and discovered new ones as the leaves turned from green to red and gold, and the temperatures dropped from nice-and-warm to pleasantly chilly.



Trail Hiking
We kept active, hiking the following trails: Alligator Hill Trail, Windy Moraine, Bay View Farm Loop Trail, Empire Bluff Trail, Pyramid and Point Trail (bluff and back).











Morning Sun from Campsite
Most chilly mornings the smoke from campfires mimics fog. Here is an early morning shot from our campsite.





Day Trip
Here are a few other shots from day trips during the week.







Old Trucks
Here are few old (and not-so-old trucks). I especially like “Ain’t Got No Body.”





















Another great week.

Headlights

September 30-October 13: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 14-26: Probably at Markin Glenn in Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

As the thermometer has lowered, so has the attendance at the campground. The percentage of tents to hard-sided campers has flip-flopped, with canvas and screen being replaced with fiberglass and aluminum. Obviously, staying warm has risen in importance! Fall is truly here with multicolored leaves falling from the canopy to the forest floor, opening up cracks in nature’s privacy screen.

Sunrises
Changing weather patterns bright wind and clouds.











Trail Hiking
We hiked Bass Lake Trail for the first time and were not disappointed--another beautiful trail through deer- and other critter-populated woods alongside Bass Lake. Once again we hiked Windy Moraine Trail enjoying the solitude.

Quick Trip to DC
I had an engagement in DC facilitating a trusted advisor training session for my business partner. Great group of people who seemed to really enjoy the session. It had been a month since I had traveled, and it was a mini-culture shock as I went from the beauty and serenity of remote woods and water to the city frenzy of concrete and steel. Nice to have my feet in both “camps!”

Down and Around to Kalamazoo



We purposely set a route we hadn’t traveled so that we could do some old truck hunting. Great scenery and we were not disappointed--15 old trucks posed for my lens. (See the pics at the end of this blog post.)

Mers’ Menagerie
We stayed at Mers’ place in the woods, a menagerie of nature. Here is a shot of Max the cat, a feeding wild turkey, a woodpecker, and the southern cousin of our chips up north.









Feed Store
Just for fun we stopped at the local feed and supply where we were greeted by Penelope the pig, Tonka the pup, and Violet the rabbit.







Ribarama
Every year our good friend Jamers hosts an exclusive (well…kind of exclusive) feast for about 50 lucky people. Along with having a great time, the event raised $1,000 for the Kalamazoo Animal Rescue and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Good stuff.





(Note: Next week I’ll be posting several more Ribarama shots for those interested. Also, if you took an especially good one or two, send them to me and I’ll include them.)

Old Trucks
Here are a few of the trucks shot on our trip down and back to/from Kalamazoo…

Headlights

September 23-October 13: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 14-26: Probably at Markin Glenn in Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida



See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Michigan, Hiking, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Truck Hunting
The family headed SSE from Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore taking back roads that we had never traveled before. Our destination was Dimondale, just southwest of Lansing, but our purpose was to hunt for old trucks along the way. Along with lots of full-size old trucks (see the “Old Truck” section below), we ran across these two pint-sized beauties off a gravel road.



Dangerous Dog and Other Scenics
Here are a few other pics taken along the way to and from…





BD Party
We went to Dimondale to help celebrate Jan’s brother’s birthday (it ends in a zero). Here is a pic of Scott (that’s Debbie in the background) and a shot of Zeke, the low-clearance, garbage-eating, attention-howling, good-looking beagle-bassethound mix. Zeke is one awesome pup!





Trail Hiking
We hiked Otter Creek Trail for the first time, and just as we were at the end, a very large (probably female) adolescent Bald Eagle flew overhead--always a sign of good luck. We also revisited, Shauger Hill Trail and Windy Moraine Trail.





Sunrises
Here are a couple pics of pre-dawn skies over Lake Michigan.





Janny Art
Here is a pic dating back to Colorado, called Aspen Grove, it is one of my favorites. Lately Janny has been working on Autumn cards--here are a couple recent ones. For more, check out her web site at www.janalexanderart.com.





Chipper
As I mentioned last week, the chipmunks run the campground. Here is a picture that captures their audacity. While working outside, I made a snack of crackers and peanut butter. Within 18 seconds of sitting down, I had this little chipper crawling up my leg, looking for her piece of the peanut-butter action. In an attempt to gain my confidence, Chipper came up and introduced herself--hard to resist!





Old Trucks
Here are a few of the trucks shot on our trip down and back from Dimondale…

Headlights

September 16-October 13: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 14-26: Probably at Markin Glenn in Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Old Trucks, Michigan, Wildlife photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Double-Dipping Hikes
We started the week off by doing two hikes Sunday morning: Windy Moraine Trail and Shauger Hill Trail. Over the course of the week we had the chance for a couple more: Old Indian Trail…



…and back to Alligator Trail.





Sunrises
Always a great way to start the day--listening in solitude to the deep roar of the waves, watching the gulls float in the air, and spotting the first shimmerings of the pinks of first morning light. All this just a two-minute walk from our campsite.





Chips
Forget about the park rangers and the campground hosts, it is the chipmunks that run the campground. After hours of detailed observation and scrutinizing analysis, I’ve deduced that somewhere within Sleeping Bear Dunes there is a Master Chip, the Head Monk, the Top Rodent that manipulates all humans to her will. At her beckoning, the chips move ahead, two assigned to each campsite. We had two very aggressive chippers from the first hour we set up, but once they found out that we would not feed them, they became aloof. Over several days I attempted to capture one photographically, and this is the best I have done so far.



This and That







Old Trucks
Here are a few to check out:

Headlights

September 9-13: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 14-26: Probably at Markin Glenn in Kalamazoo, MI
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, FL

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Countryside Drives
When not on duty, we take late afternoon drives in the country searching for old trucks. We found some nice ones this week (See “Old Trucks” below) and also ran across some interesting structures.







Sunrise Walks
I try to walk the five minutes to the beach at pre-dawn to enjoy the serenity.





Early Morning Hikes
Almost every morning when we are not on duty, we take a different Sleeping Bear trail. This week we hiked Bay View Trail, Pyramid Point Trail, and Empire Bluff Trail--serene (as long as you are out first thing), wooded, and by Lake Michigan.











Leaves
Yes, I know it is still summer, but the leaves they are a-changing.





Campfire Cooking
Almost every evening, Jan starts a campfire and cooks our dinner over its flames. This past week we have had Camper’s Delight (hamburger, potatoes, carrots, onions, etc. cooked in tin foil), toasted garlic bread with cheese, steaks with roasted red peppers, grilled chicken with new potatoes and onions, and pizza. Below is the recipe for Perfect Campfire Pizza.

Ingredients:
Naan bread
Olive oil
Oregano
Fresh chopped garlic
Pizza sauce
Fresh mozzarella
Fresh basil
Fresh roma tomatoes
Shredded parmesan cheese

Sauté garlic in olive oil. Add fresh oregano and stir until it smells so good you can't stand it (maybe add some shallots, too) and then set aside.

Put pizza sauce, mozzarella, basil, roma tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and garlic mixture on the naan bread, and then wrap loosely In foil.

Place on grate with no fire, just burning embers, and bake until the mozzarella is melted.



South Manitou Island
I took the Pups out for an early morning hike, and then Jan and I drove to Leland. Here we took the 10 o’clock ferry for an hour-and-a-half voyage to South Manitou Island, part of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. On the island we took a tour that included seeing Florence Lake, an old growth of giant cedars, the wreck of the Marazon, and the lighthouse. A quiet island with a fragile ecosystem, and a very nice trip.





Wild Flowers
Here is a bouquet that Jan created from a bundle of sunflowers purchased at a roadside stand.



Old Trucks
Here are a few old trucks from this week’s searching.

Headlights

September 2-October 15: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 16 On: Heading South

See you next week.

Tags: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

You know you are having fun when all your clothes smell like a campfire and there is sand in the bed. We spent another great week at Sleeping Bear enjoying the magnificent weather, taking hikes through the trees, car rides exploring the country and looking for old trucks, walks along the beach, and cooking/relaxing/chatting around campfires.

Silos
Our late afternoon drives take us through farm country that is slowly starting the passage from summer into fall. Here are a couple old silos that caught my attention.





Old Toy Trucks (Real Old Trucks Later)
A young boy at the campground had a couple of toy trucks--thought I’d add them in.





Trail of Solitude
By 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning I was out the door and driving the short distance to the trailhead of Sleeping Bear Point Trail past the Maritime Museum. By 6:37 I was on the trail in time to see the pre-dawn pinks gently paint the eastern sky and cast a vibrancy upon the cool Lake Michigan waters. This 2.8-mile loop goes over the dunes along the big lake with an ending stretch wandering through a forest. Just as I like it, there were no people about. I was alone with only the comforting sounds of breezes over the dunes as my companion. The trail guide lists this trail as “strenuous,” and, yes, you do have to slog uphill a few times, but it is not difficult at all, especially if walked in the cool of the early morning. I was done by 7:30 a.m. and back in the motorhome by 7:45--magnificent way to start any day.

Bay View Trail
Thursday morning all of us drove to the Bay View Trailhead and hiked the Farm Loop with a side trip to Lookout Point. It was an easy 2.5-mile hike through woods, meadows, and along farm ground.

Day in the Life of a Sleeping Bear Camp Host
I have been asked the question, “Just what does a camp host do?” Here is my response: After our morning chores, including walking the Pups in light just bright enough not to need a flashlight if you know where you are going, Jan and I walk from BERT north toward Lake Michigan, pulling all camp permits that expire that day from the clips on the post by their sites.

At the north end of the campgrounds, we take the boardwalk to the beach just in time to view the morning sunrise over the water (our official reason for being there is to look for people sleeping on the beach). We walk back and continue off to the maintenance barn where we unlock the door, unplug the charging cord, and get into the official camp host golf cart. Then we continue going around the entire campground pulling all the permits that expire that day.

With that task completed, we drive down to the campground ranger station, first taking down the “full” signs from the road (if appropriate), and then turning in the expiring permits and helping with pre-registration of campers hoping for a site that day. Cars line up in order of arrival, and we walk up to each one gathering data to help register people once the ranger station door officially opens at 8:00 a.m.

We hang around for a while to help with registration if new campers pull up, and then Jan and I split up. She mans the station phone handling incoming calls, while I drive around the campground again, this time taking down old postings on yesterday’s weather and ranger events from the night before and putting up new ones. As I drive along, I’ll pick up some roadside trash, respond to camper questions, and address any other camper issues (e.g., cars needing jumpstarts from dead batteries, people asking directions, and so on).

Then we head back to BERT around 9:00 a.m. for breakfast. I (or we) along with the Pups make a round every hour or so, letting campers know we are there to help them, making sure their campsites are in good shape, and answering any questions. During the day we don’t stray far, and we keep the radio with us.

If the weather is nice, we spend a lot of time outside our motorcoach, again, letting people know that we are accessible. We respond to the occasional radio request from the park staff, but most of the time during the midday we are “on standby.” Jan may do some painting, and I’ll do some writing.

During the day it is usually very quiet, as most campers are at the beach or riding bikes or hiking or visiting other aspects of Sleeping Bear. Late afternoon it picks up as people return, and we continue making rounds, our last one between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. We tell boisterous/pre-boisterous/potentially boisterous groups that quiet time starts at 10:00, and most all groups, most all the time, are very cooperative.

Finally, we return the golf cart to its shed and walk back to BERT with a beam from our flashlight to guide the way. During the night when on duty we leave our weather radio on alert just in case there is a big storm warning requiring action on our part. That’s it…more on the campground and park in coming weeks.

Old Trucks
Here are a few from this week’s searching.

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Headlights

August 19-October 15: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 16 On: Heading South

See you next week.

Tags: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

River Cruise
We started the week cruising on Scott and Deb’s boat, taking trips that ranged from going through the locks for lunch in Cheboygan and on to Lake Huron to taking a nature route with lots of birds swimming, diving, and soaring among, above, and below the backwaters.















Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore



On Wednesday we departed Waterways Campground in Cheboygan and drove to the DH Day Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore northeast of Empire Michigan. Sleeping Bear is a national park with 65 miles of shoreline that receives around two million visitors a year. The campground is just gorgeous. We have a large wooded site that is an easy walk to a sandy beach on Lake Michigan. The water color ranges from Pacific to Caribbean blue, tempered by a constant wind, ranging from breezy to “I wish I had worn a heavier coat.”

Hikes and Drives
We had some up-front time off in which we got in some hiking and countryside drives. Although it is mid-August, the leaves are starting to turn and the farmland is peppered with roadside stands and handsome pups.















We started our first day of camp hosting on Saturday, quickly learning the ropes of the simple, well-thought-out procedures. The staff is friendly and helpful. I can tell already that this is going to be a great gig.

Wildflowers











Old Trucks

Headlights

August 19-October 15: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 16-On: Heading South

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Hanging in the Zoo
We stayed at our good friend Donna’s place Saturday evening after Janny’s reunion in Kalamazoo. Here is a pic of Donna and Janny as well as a very photogenic frog from Donna’s garden.





Old Truck Hunting
Mid-morning on Sunday we headed north. Our first stop was the Apple Store in Grand Rapids for some expert iCloud advice for synching our Apple “devices.” Thirty minutes at the Genius Bar and we were back in the car taking back roads and hunting down old trucks on our way back to East Jordan (see the Old Truck section toward the end of the blog).







Up and Over
After a great stay, we left East Jordan Monday morning and headed 89 miles to Cheboygan on the furthermost NE point on the Michigan lower peninsula.



We set up camp at Waterways Campground, a campground owned and run by our Pine Island, Florida, neighbors. This is one great place to RV: large, level grassy sites, with shade, full hook-ups plus cable and WiFi, right on the river with boat docks, 100 yards to a great trail, and on and on. http://www.waterwayscampground.com/

Camping Meet Up
Our good friend Jamers drove up from Kalamazoo to visit. In addition, Jan’s brother Scott and his wife Deb moved in to the site next to us, and the five of us (plus the Pups, of course) spent a few days enjoying the North Country. Rides up and down the river on Scott and Deb’s pontoon, going out to eat, and gabbing around campfires--good fun.

Top ‘O Michigan Marathon Boat Race
After enjoying a Waterways Campground-sponsored hot dog lunch, we went down to the dock to watch this 64th Annual Outboard Race sitting in Scott’s boat. The boats zipped by us on the river, turned around a couple miles later, and then zipped past going back. Here is our group and a few pics I took from the boat and from the nearby bridge.

















Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes
We are pleased to say that we will be camp hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Empire, Michigan, is headquarters) starting on August 15 and continuing through October 15. Should be a hoot...I need to practice up on my seascapes, beach sunrises, and Pups running on the sand. Much more to come.

Old Trucks

Headlights

August 12-14: Waterways Campground, Cheboygan, MI
August 15-October 15: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire MI
October 16: Start heading south toward Pine Island

See you next week.

Tags: Top ‘O Michigan Marathon Boat Race, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

This week we continued our stay in East Jordan, Michigan, spending time with Janny’s family, exploring the area, taking hikes, and shooting wildflowers, pups, and old trucks.

Volatile Vulture
Ten of us (six people and four pups) took a hike through Cousin Frank’s property. Great chance to run the pups, admire the flowers, and smell the sweet smell of wet grass and dewy trees. Just for fun we decided to climb a hill and check out a long-present deer blind. As I approached the structure, I heard a hissing noise that sounded like a snake. Cautiously opening the door while wondering if some creature was going to catapult/jump/run/fly/skidaddle out the opening and then attack me or flee, I was amazed to see this old vulture as I peeked in (from a distance). Obviously, this ancient buzzard had claimed this blind as his own…amazing.



Pampered Pups
Here are some pup pics taken over the week. Quite good-looking canines, wouldn’t you say?











Jan Reunion
On Saturday we drove the 250 miles back down to Kalamazoo so that Jan could participate in her high-school class reunion. You will notice no photos from me--this was a “women only” reunion!

Wildflowers
A few more flowers (plus a butterfly on a thistle) to gander.















Old Trucks
Jan and I took several trips hunting for old trucks. Here are a few shots from this week.

Headlights

August 5: East Jordan Tourist Park, East Jordan, MI
August 6-20: Waterways Campground, Cheboygan, MO
August 21-On: Exploring Northern Michigan







See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, pet photography, Michigan, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

East Jordan Tourist Park





This township park is a wonderful secret, known mainly just to the Locals. Our grass campsite is 30 feet from the South Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, and comes with full hook-ups and a fire ring full of complimentary firewood. Great place to run the dogs and walk along the beach. Across the water from our site is the famous East Jordan Ironworks, makers of most of the iron manhole covers worldwide.



Quick Trip to Denver
I drove the picturesque hour journey (actually it took a little longer as I stopped twice for old truck pics and once for a coyote) from our campground to the Traverse City airport and flew to Denver for business.



My workshop went very well, and, of course, being in Denver, I drove Friday afternoon to visit the Grandkids. Here is a pic of Granddaughter Natalie.



Family Get Together
Saturday night was a family get together at Frank and Sandy’s cottage on Lake Charlevoix. Everyone had a great time, including, of course, dogs and kids.









Flowers





Old Trucks
Here are some old Michigan truck shots from this week.

Headlights

July 22: Holiday Park Campground, Traverse City MI
July 29-August 5: East Jordan Tourist Park, East Jordan, MI
August 6-20: Waterways Campground, Cheyboygan, MO
August 21-On: Exploring Northern Michigan

See you next week.

Tags: Old Trucks, East Jordan Ironworks, Nature Photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Strolls Around Markin Glen
We very much enjoyed our stay at Markin Glen Park on the north section of Kalamazoo. Morning and evening strolls gave numerous photo ops along the water and through the wild flowers.









I was walking the pups early evening when I spotted a baby raccoon. While holding the Pup leashes in one hand, I took pics with my right. All of a sudden a grey streak entered the frame—Mitzy couldn’t stand it—she jumped across the path into the black oozing muck in pursuit of the masked bandit. Jan was kind enough to give her a “mud bath” upon our return—what a mess (however, Mitzy had no regrets).

Cool Cats
Here is a shot of Gus followed by Max. Both are distinguished felines that are not only handsome, but sophisticated in their tastes.





Wednesday
After a very nice stay, we closed up camp and moved on up to Traverse City to the Holiday Park Campground on the south end of Silver Lake.





Pine Island Friends
That afternoon we met up with good friends, Jack and Dee, from Pine Island and had a very nice time catching up.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park



This section of Michigan is beautiful, but one of the highlights is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. One cloudy afternoon we took a leisurely ride through the park enjoying the scenery. Here are a few pics.











Camp Hosting
Jan and I are pursuing camp hosting again this next year, and took the opportunity while we were in the area to check out the Sleeping Bear Dunes campgrounds. We were impressed with both the campgrounds themselves, the volunteers that supported them, and the management responsible for them. We put in our applications—wish us luck!

Point Betsy Lighthouse
There are many great places to see outside the park as well. Here is a shot of the Point Betsy Lighthouse.



More Friends
The timing worked out and we were able to meet Jan’s longtime friend since childhood, Eileen, and her husband, Bob, at local landmark restaurant, Boones.

Flowers
Beautiful flowers everywhere! Here is a small selection including a bouquet that Jan created for a friend.















Old Trucks
Here are some old Michigan truck shots from this week.

Headlights

July 22: Holiday Park Campground, Traverse City MI
July 23-29: East Jordan Tourist Park, East Jordan, MI
July 30: ??
August 6-20: Waterways Campground, Cheyboygan, MO
August 21-On: Exploring Northern Michigan

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Michigan

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Hot! Hot! Hot!
Markin Glen Park was hot, hot, hot, much like most of Michigan and most of the U.S., with temps in the 100s. How hot was it, you ask? Locals were asking the direction to Hell in an attempt to find a cooler location…now that’s hot! :’>

Morning Walks
This park has nice trails that loop around ponds with swimming swans and are bordered by vivid wildflowers and flitting birds. Here are a few pics from my early morning strolls with the Pups.









One Less Rose in the Garden



On Wednesday night, Janny’s mom, Nancy Nicolen, passed away at her home in Kalamazoo. She will be missed.

Deserved Tribute
On Saturday, our friend, Ronnie Kiracofe, was honored for his decades of work leading the Kalmazoo Amateur Athletic Federation, a nonprofit organization that supports local athletics and has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to college scholarships for local high-schoolers. Here is Ron in front of the quilt he was presented at the Annual Kiracofe Softball Tournament (the longest running softball tournament in the United States).



Old Trucks
Here are some old truck shots from this week.

Headlights

July 15-17: Markin Glen Park in Kalamazoo, MI
July 18-22: Holiday Park Campground, Traverse City MI
July 23-29: East Jordan Tourist Park, East Jordan, MI
July 30-August: Exploring Michigan

See you next week.

Tags: Michigan, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday
Sprague Lake Hike
Early up and out as Jo and I left camp at sunrise and drove to the Sprague Lake trailhead inside RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park). Beautiful morning as we first hiked a couple miles past the lake before taking the half-mile trek around the water. The air was fresh with the smell of high-country pines as we hiked by ourselves in the brisk 8,000-feet air. Along the way we saw deer and a Momma turkey with her young.





Trail Ridge Road Day Trip



Before 10:00 a.m., all of us (three adults and three Pups) were back in RMNP looking for critters and taking in the vistas. Soon we were on Trail Ridge Road, the scenic byway that goes up and up, and then over and around the park--a gorgeous drive with high mountain views of the snow-capped Rockies, mountain lakes, and deep green valleys. It was jacket weather at the top as we stopped and I took some photos of a herd of elk feasting on the newly sprouted wildflowers.





Monday



Mountain Hike
I had Jerry and Mitzy on the Lily Mountain Trail by 5:30 a.m. We watched the pre-dawn skies as we hiked the two miles up the steep trail toward the peak of Lily Mountain. The trail information called it “strenuous,” and they were quite accurate as it gained over 1,000 feet in elevation. It was a wonderful hike, but I was happiest when it was over.

Old Trail Ridge Road
Later in the morning we left the Pups to rest in BERT and headed back into RMNP. This time we took the Old Trail Ridge Road, a nine-mile, one-lane, bumpy, winding dirt road that weaved its way up to the Alpine Visitor Center--a nice and slow scenic trip that gave another perspective to RMNP. Right before the end of the trip we were rewarded with a group of a half-dozen mature male elk grazing right by the road. Naturally, I got out of the car and took a few pics.





Tuesday
Lake Gem Trail
Early morning we drove to the 1.7-mile Lake Gem Trail. Very nice hike through the forest surrounded by boulders with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. We were rewarded by viewing Gem Lake at the end of our uphill journey.

The Stanley
After a pleasant lunch outside at the Stanley, the world-famous historical site and hotel, we took the Ghost and History Tour. As you have guessed, not only was the Stanley the basis of the movie The Shining, it is haunted. If you are staying in the area (and not RVing), this is the choice for lodging.





Wednesday: Independence Day
Change of Plans
Janny’s Mom took a turn for the worse, so we decided to head to Michigan early. Hence, we drove to downtown Denver to drop Jo off and then continued on to Parker to drop off Charlie, the pug we had been babysitting. Then we returned back to Estes Park.



Thursday
Early Departure
We were on the road by 6:00 a.m. taking 34 East along the Big Thompson River. We saw a couple bighorn sheep ewes along the way.

Across the Plains
After 80 miles or so, we picked up I-76 east then I-80 east as we rumbled through eastern Colorado, across Nebraska, and into Iowa.

Old Trucks
Here are some old truck shots from this week.

















Wonderful week.

Headlights

July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-?: Traverse City, MI
???

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Old Trucks, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday
We hung around our campground in Larkspur until we could confirm that our next campground would be open.



The soon to be notorious Waldo Canyon fire had started the day before and was spreading like (you know what) wildfire. Cheyenne Mountain State Park is located just a few miles southeast of Waldo Canyon, so during our stay we had views and smells of the smoke from this growing fire.

Our good friend, Suzanne, flew in to camp with us and meet up with our other RV buddies from Oregon, Kathie and Gary. Here is a shot of, from left to right, Kathie, Suzanne, and Jan.



Monday
Morning Hike
Upon checking with park rangers, I learned that there had been a recent bobcat sighting, so early morning Suzanne and I did a three-mile hike on Blackmer Loop and Cougar’s Shadow seeking out these cats. The only critters we saw were a doe and a fawn deer, but a nice hike nonetheless.

Royal Gorge



After a late breakfast, the five of us drove south on 115 then west on 50 through Caynon City to the Royal Gorge. Over our couple-hour stay, we drove and walked the bridge plus took the tram.









Tuesday
Zoo
Although close to the fire, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo had not been closed, and we arrived shortly after the gates opened and just in time to help feed the giraffes.





Will Rogers Memorial
Above the zoo is a winding road that leads to the Will Rogers Memorial atop the mountain. Very tastefully done, the wall murals tell the story of this area of the West, and the photographs give a visual interpretation of one of America’s most famous icons. From this vista point we had a good view of the fire as well, and we watched the planes making drops in the hope of containing this cantankerous beast.











Wednesday
Sunset View of Fire
Sitting outside we enjoyed our first powerful sunset of the week.



Canine Courtship
We were pup-sitting Charlie, the distinguished pug of the Helman family. This fun-loving bulldozer of a pug fell head over curly tail for Gary and Kathie’s elegant Madeline. Here is a shot of this canine courtship.



Thursday
A Change of Plans
Originally our plan called for spending two days in the Pike National Forest. However, the wildfire took this option off the table, and we were lucky enough to be able to extend our Cheyenne Mountain stay a couple of days. We stayed close to home, though, just in case an evacuation was called.

Friday
Old Truck Shoot
Late afternoon we drove east of Colorado Springs out into the prairies in search of old truck photo ops. We were in luck--see a few of these shots toward the end of the blog.

Saturday
Hike
Jan and I were on the trail at sunrise for a three-plus mile excursion through wooded areas, and down across Prairie Dog Towns.







Pick Up Jo



We timed our departure out of Colorado Springs to pick up Jo in BERT at the Denver airport. It worked great--we swung through the Southwest departure area just as Jo walked out the door into the sunlight. From there we got back on the interstate, and headed west to Estes Park.

Old Trucks
Here are some old truck shots from this week.

















Wonderful week.

Headlights

July 1-4: Mary’s Campground, Estes Park
July 5-7: St. Vrain State Park
July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-?: Traverse City, MI
???

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Wildlife photography, Waldo Canyon Fire, Cheyenne Mountain, Royal Gorge

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Rough and narrow, steep and winding--the title of this week’s blog describes our road trip up and over Cumberland Pass at 12,000-plus feet. This week you’ll see a bighorn sheep that is helping out the postal service, a dedicated marmot with a mission, a Chihuahua that bites, a bird or two and, by popular demand, more old trucks.



Sunday
Gunnison National Forest
Mid-morning we pulled out of Montrose and drove the 115 miles to One Mile Camp in the Gunnison National Forest northeast of Almont (east of Gunnison). Yes, you have heard it multiple times from me, but it was a gorgeous trek along this stretch of West Elk Scenic Byway--tall mountains, lush valleys, gurgling streams…ho-hum….

Postal Service Cutbacks
As you all probably know, the U.S. Postal Service is in financial trouble. Here at Almont they are taking an innovative approach. They have sold all their mail trucks and are using bighorn sheep to pack the mail along the routes. Here is one guy who got his days mixed up and came to work on a Sunday.



Monday
Guardian of the Valley
Brrr…22 degrees when I awoke. I am all into this hiking thing, but that is a tad chilly. Hence, we all loaded into the car at 6:30 a.m. for a wildlife-spotting drive. We took the back roads leading to the Spring Creek Reservoir admiring the scenery as we drove. Several miles up the road we pulled off to let the Pups stretch their legs in a valley. I heard a shrill whistle, and then spotted a marmot on guard duty across the valley. After our walk on our drive out, I spotted this same fellow perched atop a boulder. He was attentively watching our every move, sounding his warning call at regular intervals and showed no intimidation as I photographed him. In fact, by the look on his face, I think he would have attacked if I got out of the car. Here he is sounding the alarm.



Crested Butte
That afternoon I needed to make a business call (no AT&T at the camp or nearby areas), so we drove back to Almont and then east to Crested Butte. This area is known for its beautiful wildflowers, and that is one of the reasons why we chose to stay in this area. Alas, lack of rainfall had a big negative impact on the flowers. After my call and a nice lunch, we both walked and then drove the streets of this attractive burg. Here is a shot of a home on a side street.



Gothic
From here we continued north, first through nearby Mt. Crested Butte, then along a dirt road to Gothic. On our return home, we took a ranching country shortcut where I shot these cowboys and their dogs having lunch along the river, and later I captured this bird of prey in flight.





Tuesday
Big-Time Road Trip
At 5:30 a.m. we were out of camp, heading up to the Taylor Reservoir. I shot a bighorn on the dam, but aside for chipmunks and a few birds, that was all the critters we saw for the first hour of our journey. We spent some time at the charming town of Tin Cup, first viewing its cemetery (complete with Protestant Ridge, Catholic Ridge, Jewish Ridge, and Boot Hill), and then back to town for a hardy breakfast at Frenchy’s. In town this handsome Violet-green Swallow posed for me. Also, here is a shot of a canoe at Frenchy’s.







From town we drove up the two rugged miles to Mirror Lake. We hiked around the lake, drove down the mountain, and continued on. As we ascended, our road gradually narrowed down to about a lane-and-a-third, the rocks enlarged from golf ball-sized to baseball-sized, and the switchback became more severe until we could see the back of our car trying to pass us around corners. However, the view from the more than 12,000-foot Cumberland Pass made it all worth it. Jan took this shot at an old mining camp on our return.



At Pitkin we stopped for snacks, and I took this shot of a boy and his beloved Chihuaha (he bites).



Here we picked up the road, continued on to Gunnison, then back to Almont, and then returned to camp completing our all-day, 100-mile journey.

Wednesday
Nathrop



After a nice hike along Taylor River, we broke camp and drove the 99 miles to Chalk Creek Campground in Nathrop, Colorado.

Thursday
Camping Grandkids
Our Grandkids (along with their parents and our Grandpup) arrived in the early afternoon for a mini-camping holiday. The highlight of the day (along with a campfire and S’mores) was a visit to the local hot springs.





Friday
Horseback Riding
Our big event on Friday was horseback riding. Here is another pic.



Saturday
We packed up and moved about 15 miles to the Snowy Peaks RV Park just north of Buena Vista. I kept my head down at the computer while Jan did her work.

Old Trucks
I’ve gotten several positive comments on my old truck shots, so I will make a regular blog entry.













Trivia Update on the Million Dollar Highway
Last week I mentioned the Million Dollar Highway south of Ouray. My friend Gene is a successful gold prospector and responded back to me with the real story of how the Million Dollar Highway was named: After the road was built, they discovered gold in the gravel, and someone estimated there was a million-dollar’s worth! Thanks, Gene.

Wonderful week.

Headlights

June 17: Snowy Peak RV Park, Buena Vista, CO
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28-29: Colorado Campground, Pike National Forest
June 30-July 4: Mary’s Campground, Estes Park
July 5-7: St. Vrain State Park
July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-?: Traverse City, MI
???...

RV Park Review
Check out www.rvparkreviews.com for my reviews and those of other travelers of recent campgrounds we have stayed at.

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Wildlife photography, Bird photography, Colorado, Gunnison National Park, Cumberland Pass, Old Trucks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Cowboy Country
Mid-morning we pulled out of Cortez and drove the 115 miles to Ridgway State Park, five miles north of the town of Ridgway. We took Highway 145 through Dolores, passed through Rico, passed by Telluride, turned east at Placer, and north at Ridgway. We were fortunate to reserve a site overlooking a pond adjacent to the Uncompahgre River--just gorgeous. We spent time relaxing outside admiring the fly fishermen and watching kids play around and in the water. There are trails all over and the mountain views are fantastic. This is one nice State Park. Fans of Western movies might recognize the Ridgway area from viewing How the West Was Won and John Wayne’s True Grit, which were filmed here.

Monday: Back to Durango



We had business that required us to go back Durango, so early Monday morning we got onto the San Juan Skyway and headed south. Just 19 miles down from our campground is the town of Ouray, billed as the American Switzerland--a beautiful town in a stunning setting. Just south of Ouray is the 12-mile stretch that is referred to as the Million Dollar Highway. I’m not sure of the reason behind the name, but it sure provided million-dollar views as we drove along, up and up around curve and curve with snowy mountains above, flowing waterfalls across, and deep valleys below. My hunch is that the contractor for this job started running out of money at this stretch of road. Many of the most extreme curves over really deep fall-offs had no guardrails, and, at some of the most door-handle-grabbing sections, the pavement seemed to be a couple feet narrower than normal. No wonder many RV drivers avoid this road like caster oil, preferring to detour many miles to travel less stressful roads! At over 11,000 feet we crossed Red Mountain Pass, later Coal Bank Pass, and finally Molas Pass before reaching Durango. This is one gorgeous drive. We stopped along the side of the road to shoot this old truck.



On our return trip just south of Coal Bank Pass, we saw a small bighorn sheep jump down from a rock onto Highway 550. The car in front of us luckily slowed way down, and I pulled off just 20 feet from this large lamb. He let me shoot him for at least five minutes before he methodically bound from rock to rock back up the mountain. Handsome fellow, isn’t he?



Little Molas Lake
Later in our journey we stopped at Little Molas Lake to enjoy the view of this postcard setting.



We then stopped in Silverton to check things out. Shortly after we finished lunch, the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge train pulled into town. We walked down and took a few photos. Here is my favorite.



The Million Dollar Highway always requires vigilance, but it is far less stressful going north rather than south, as you can hug the mountainside instead of treading on the edge. So this portion of road was child’s play compared to the morning’s trek.

We drove around Ouray, and when the lightning started we darted into the Historical Museum of Ouray County for an enjoyable and enlightening hour learning about the local area. They had some beautiful flowers showcasing their facility.



Tuesday: Really Big Cat
The day started with a brisk, one-hour walk starting at the edge of our campsite and winding up and back the Uncompahgre River. I took a few shots of flowers along the way. Here is one of a false lupine.



Later in the day, we took a scouting car ride into the Uncompahgre National Forest. I was hoping to find some potential trails for hikes later in the week--typical forest roads, rocky, narrow, and steep, with switchbacks that provided the occasional wonderful view. Fourteen miles up the road (close to an hour’s driving), we turned a sharp corner to see what first appeared to be a dead elk with its mother/sibling standing by its side.

As we approached within 30 feet, we discovered that the standing creature was not an elk but a really big mountain lion who had just made a kill. Finally noticing our presence, he slowly raised up from chomping on the carcass and looked our way as blood ran down his chin. This guy appeared to be in robust maturity, tall at the shoulders, square of head, and sporting a tail that looked long enough to jump rope with. Two big bounds and this master of the woods was out of sight, probably watching us and waiting to get back to his lunch. Although I had my big camera on my lap, the three-second or so delay in taking action meant it was too late!



Wednesday: One More Time
Although the odds of seeing the Big Cat again were phenomenally against us, we couldn’t resist the lure of trying. So before dawn we re-traced our steps to the location of our sighting the day before. No carcass, no cat, but we continued to drive up, seeing patches of snow and numerous deer and elk. At one point we saw a newborn baby elk hobble across the road testing its legs as it followed its mother in retreat from our presence. We drove past the pass and went on and on all the way to Silver Jack Reservoir.



Here we unloaded from the car, and with the Kids in the lead we hiked for an hour along the lake, through a meadow, and then up into the woods. Our path ended at the dam where we decided to walk the dirt road back to our point of origin. Another beautiful hike with head-turning sights everywhere.







Box Canyon
Late afternoon we went to Box Canyon, housed within the city limits of Ouray. Along with a beautiful waterfall, Box Canyon is one of those rare places on the planet where black swifts nest. Apparently the swifts had just returned from their winter migration in Brazil and had not yet started their nests. The photographic challenge is that the black swifts are black and swift--we didn’t see a one, but enjoyed our visit.





Thursday: Telluride



Another scenic drive took us to the famous ski town of Telluride. We started by driving the streets lined with quaint shops and well-groomed houses (and an old vehicle or two), and then drove to the edge of town by the old mill to take in the view of Bridal Veil Falls. Next, we parked and walked the streets before taking the free tram to Mountain Village, Telluride’s sister city. This was the Pups first tram ride and they handled the affair with calm and dignity, just as you would expect of these worldly canines.





On our return home we took a diversion off of 145 taking Fall Creek Road south, down to the Woods Lake recreation area, another isolated location. Driving into the campground we saw this marmot.



Friday: On to Montrose



We took the short but pretty drive to Montrose. Here we had a very enjoyable evening visiting with Marge and David, our camp host friends from last year at Highline Lake State Park.

Saturday: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Early in the morning we drove the 20 miles to Black Canyon National Park. We parked at the campground and took the two-mile Rim Rock Nature Trail along the canyon wall trek to the Visitor’s Center and back. The Pups enjoyed the walk, and we had some nice views of the canyon. After that we took the scenic park drive stopping at some of the lookouts. We ended our time in the park by taking the East Portal Road down to the bottom on the canyon and on to the dam. Just as we turned onto this stretch, we saw this female dusty grouse cross the road.



This is Jan’s kind of road--hairpin turns and 16 percent grades.

Once again we ended the day with a nice visit with Marge and David talking about old times and new adventures.

Bonus Pic
Here is a pic from last week’s Anastazi ruin, Lowry Pueblos, visit that I neglected to put in last week’s blog. I really like this image, as it communicates the feeling of isolation and foreboding.



RV Park Review--Great RV Resource
Before I book a park I find myself going more and more to www.rvparkreview.com to get opinions from others who have stayed there. In fact, this is now my main resource. I was starting to feel guilty about using this great tool without contributing anything, so I am now writing reviews after each stay. If you are an RVer, I strongly recommend it.

Wonderful week.

Headlights

June 10-12: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 13-15: Chalk Creek Park, Nathrop CO
June 16-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28-29: Colorado Campground, Pike National Forest
June 30 to July 4: Mary’s Campground, Estes Park
July 5 to 7: St. Vrain State Park
July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-???: Traverse City, MI

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Nature Photography, Colorado, Montrose, Ridgway State Park, Durango, telluride

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: The Six-Miler
We started off the week as we left off--ambitious hiking. From camp we drove the dirt roads around the Vallecito Lake for 25 minutes, ending at the Pine River Trailhead. This was a pretty trail. Our journey took us through green, sweet-smelling forests, over and along boisterous streams, among flowered meadows, and gently upward into wild mountains.

I was loaded down with gear, so when we came to a tricky stream requiring crossing/fording, Jan carried the Pups over the rocks and logs one by one. (The Kids are troopers, but they don’t like to get wet!)

As we approached our third mile up, we met a young couple descending the trail. Along with a large, obviously full backpack, the woman carried a two-month old baby papoose-style. This family had camped for three nights along a lake 17 miles up the trail! I was impressed. Their dog also had a job. It carried a pack on its back full of diapers--clean on the right and dirty on the left!

Six miles for us old-timers was very good, and back at camp Jan and I were satisfied with our efforts but tired, and Jerry and Mitzy were just plain exhausted.



Monday: Memorial Day
No hikes today! Just a couple of close-by walks.

Tuesday: No Luck
We were up early at the Ute Recreation Area hoping to shoot some birds down by the lake and around the marshes. Beautiful morning, but no keepers.







Wednesday: Quiet Day
We returned to the nearby Vallecito Creek Trail for a brisk morning trek, and then I stayed close to the rig working while Jan went into Durango for supplies.

Thursday: The Hunt for Anasazi



After an exercise walk, Jan pointed the bus south and then west on to Cortez. After setting up, we drove the short distance to Anasazi Center up by Dolores. This place was the headquarters for the Canyon of the Ancients--helpful staff, excellent resources, and an extremely well-done museum. If you are into geology, history, photography, or old Indians, stop here.

Friday: Trail of the Ancients



At 5:30 a.m. we departed camp, taking a gorgeous pre-dawn, 42-mile, one-hour-and-10-minute drive across the valleys and hills of southwest Colorado ranch country and into eastern Utah. Along the way we saw lots of equipment (some new, some old). As we entered Hovenweep National Monument we saw this female coyote scooting across the brush.







Our well-thought-out plan was to take the main two-mile trail starting at the visitor center, seeing the main ruins in the cool morning before things heated up. Of course, no one else was there.





The trail was steep, rocky, and narrow, but we enjoyed seeing the ruins and the surrounding rock structures. The Pups had a marvelous time leading the way.

At a junction of two trails, I took neither, leading us into what turned out to be a remote canyon. We took this difficult “trail less traveled” (it kinda, sorta looked like a trail) until we could go no further, and reluctantly re-traced our path. However, our “accident” led us to spot a “Category III” ruin (a ranger later told us that they purposely don’t tell the public of their existence), so that was kind of cool.





From then on, though, Jan took special care to make sure we followed the correct trail.



After three invigorating hours of hiking we returned to our starting point, the visitor center, were we talked with the lone ranger. Next, we drove four miles on a four-wheel-drive road, and then hiked again for a mile or so to observe the Holly Ruins. Not a soul shared our exploration--a common occurrence in these remote areas...well, except for this colorful collared lizard.





Back at the car it was 10:30 and already quite warm. We leisurely drove our way home, stopping every now and then to check-out and shoot birds and enjoy the scenery.

Saturday: Canyon of the Ancients
We first drove northwest of Dolores to the McPhee Reservoir. At the observation point, we took the Can Do Trail along the canyon walls through the junipers spotting lots of birds along the way. After driving through the rest of McPhee, we decided to head north and, since the light was good, check out the Lone Dome Wildlife Area for photo ops. As we headed northwest on 491, it got darker and darker with lightning coming from the west. When we saw a Canyon of the Ancients monument sign pointing into the storm’s direction, we made an executive change of plan, heading west into the storm hoping to get some cool shots of the weather over the ruins. Even though it was mid-morning on a weekend, there was not a soul at the national historic landmark. We wandered at will, taking lots of photos of the skies darkening over Lowry Pueblo--our bet had paid off.







From here we drove to the Dove Creek Diner in Dove Creek for lunch (Jan had a burrito with Pinto beans), filled with gas, and spent most of the rest of the day exploring, stopping at the beautiful Dolores Canyon Overlook, and then into Lone Dome and other dusty paths inside our good friend, the San Juan National Forest.











Wonderful week.

Headlights

June 3-7: Ridgway State Park, Ridgway, CO
June 8-9: Cedar Creek RV Park, Montrose, CO
June 10-12: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 13-15: Chalk Creek Park, Nathrop CO
June 16-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28-29: Colorado Campground, Pike National Forest
June 30-July 4: Mary’s Campground, Estes Park
July 5-7: St. Vrain State Park
July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-?: Traverse City, MI

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado State Parks, Utah, Colorado, Hovenweep, Cortez, Lowry Pueblo, Vallecito Lake, San Juan National Forest, Nature Photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Hikes and Day Trips
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Durango. Along with business, each day was filled with hikes and road trips (short and long). Here are a few shots from the first part of the week.



















Shooting Trains
The famous Durango-Silverton narrow-gauge train runs parallel to highway 550, just the other side of the road from our park. Twice in the morning we heard the train whistle as the 8:30 and 9:30 trains chugged and puffed their way to Durango. Twice each day in the afternoon we heard them return. Thursday morning Jan and I walked the five minutes from BERT to the train tracks and set up our photo gear (on the tracks) awaiting the train. At 8:50 a.m. as planned, this old steam engine chugged north and I took a few head-on shots while Jan shot me shooting the train.

Note: We thought of tying Jan on the tracks (just like in the movies), and I would take shots as the train approached. However, since I had no rope, we decided against it. :’>







On to Vallacito Lake
After shooting the train, we broke camp and were out of Alpen Rose by 10:15 taking the short trip to Vallacito Lake and Blue Spruce RV Park. We stayed here three years ago and just love the place--trees, mountains, water--it has it all.

After setting up, we drove the half-mile to the San Juan Forest Vallacito Creek Trail trailhead and headed out into the Weminuche Wilderness for an hour-and-half hike.

Friday: The Challenging Hike
By 6:17 a.m., the four of us were at the Lake Eileen trailhead. The air was heavy with the sweet smell of pines, and the temperature was holding the line between light and medium jacket attire. The literature said it was a “challenging” two-mile trek up the mountain, but well worth the effort to make it to Lake Eileen. The literature was right on both counts. Our four-mile round trip took a full four hours. We walked up and up the rocky path full of switchback turns, going over/under/around fallen trees that blocked our path. With the constant bubbling of Vallecito Creek in the background, we stopped several times straining to locate the source of the sounds of buzzing hummers, singing mountain bluebirds, and tapping three-toed woodpeckers.

Twice we had to cross the speedy creek--one time the only option for the Pups was to walk over the racing water about 20 feet on the top of a fallen pine. Mountain Mitzy and Jerry the Wild were up to the task, fearlessly walking the dead trunk in the same fashion of the Great Farini high-wire crossing Niagara Falls.



Here are a few more shots from this gorgeous, yet trying, hike.















Saturday: Even More Challenging Hike



After breakfast, we took a 20-mile driving tour to Lemon Reservoir to see the sights, scope out possible future campgrounds, and hike the Burnt Timber Trail. All we knew about the trail is that it eventually hooked up to the Colorado Trail. Well, if we thought the trip the day before was challenging, then this baby was grueling! After 50 minutes of what seemed like straight up, we turned around and found some meadow trails that were more to our liking.

Wonderful week.

Headlights

May 27-30: Blue Spruce Campground Vallacito, CO
May 31-June 2: Sundance RV Park, Cortez, CO
June 3-7: Ridgway State Park, Ridgway, CO
June 8-9: Cedar Creek RV Park, Montrose, CO
June 10-13: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 14-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28 on: ???

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Durango, Colorado State Parks, Bird photography, Vallacito Lake, Lake Eileen

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Mother’s Day Adventure
After a brisk walk in the 34-degree daylight and breakfast, everyone loaded into the car to celebrate Mother’s Day with a hike and a road trip.

Golden Eagle Encounter
Within 300 yards of leaving San Luis State Park, a mature (meaning really big) Golden Eagle swooped up from the desert directly to our right then cut across our path no more than six feet off the ground and within six feet of our car windshield. We could see every feather detail of this mottled brown giant as we barely missed a collision. I’d had my camera on my lap, but had no photo op during this three seconds of raw action. In my mind I hoped our new friend would circle back, but he kept on flying. Added to the consumption of a pot of strong coffee, I was buzzed for the day.

Zapata Falls Hike
Just five miles south of the Dunes is the Zapata Falls Recreation Area run by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). We took the three-mile path up the bumpy, curvy gravel road, ascending a couple thousand feet in the effort. At the trailhead we trekked up the old stream bed, stopping off to enjoy Zapata Falls. From here we continued up the mountain, climbing another mile before retracing our steps. Along the way we had panoramic views of the Dunes and the entire San Juan Valley. Wonderful hike.





Jan decided she’d like to see some yet-explored sights for Mother’s Day, so instead of turning south at Mosca we turned north.

Colorado Gator Farm
After careful but short deliberation, we passed on visiting the Colorado Gator Farm, continuing on past Hooper.

UFO
However, just a mile or so past Hooper we were “forced” to turn into the UFO Watchtower just as though a cosmic energy took possession of our Honda Element. What a place!



Ute Theater and Cultural Center
We continued going north on 17 with mountains on all sides to look at and not much else. We took a left at the junction of 285, deciding to explore the town of Saguache. As we turned down the main drag of this old town of 500 residents, I decided I wanted a cup of coffee to go. Pulling into a parking spot, I walked across the street to the local cafe. When I returned, Jan had found/created a new lifelong friend named Denise, the proprietor of the Ute Theater and Cultural Center. She had been drinking Mimosas outside of her establishment and had invited Jan inside to view the snack bar, wine bar, and old-time theatre…



Back in the car we returned home to the Park via Center, Hooper, and Mosca.

Monday: Breaking Camp
After four days, we had seen most all the sites in this area we had wanted to see. So by 7:45 a.m. we were on the road out in the brisk morning sun. We took the back roads all the way to Highway 160 West. As an example of the remoteness of our travels, even going 35 miles an hour for a big stretch, we drove over 30 miles with no one coming up behind us. Talk about stress-free driving.

Tuesday: Durango
We started the day with a downtown walk and stops at the Colorado Wildlife and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) offices to get ideas for hikes and locations for spotting wildlife. Later in the afternoon we took a road trip checking out both the town of Mancos and the Mancos State Park. Adjoining our campground is a ranch where horses run.



Wednesday: Junction Creek
By 6:45 a.m. we were at the Junction Creek trailhead of the Colorado Trail at the base of the San Juan Forest. We took a two-hour hike up Colorado’s most famous trail, then drove to the top of the world to Animas Overlook where we took in a vista of tall mountains, forests, and valleys.



Late afternoon we scouted out our hike for the next day.

Thursday: Hermosa Trail
This morning we took the high-altitude Hermosa Trail in the San Juan Forest.











Friday: Scenic Skyway Trip
Took an hour walk along the Animas River.





Early afternoon we took a 50-mile drive up Highway 550, part of the San Juan Scenic Skyway all the way to Silverton. Oh, yes, scenic it is! Made several stops along the way scouting out future hikes and future campgrounds.





Saturday: Navajo Country
Late morning we took a road trip south into the Ute Reservation, checking out Ignacious, Arboles, and driving through Navajo State Park, considering it for a stay in the future.

Wonderful week.

Headlights

May 20-23: Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, CO
May 24-30: Blue Spruce Campground, Vallacito, CO
May 31-June 2: Sundance RV Park, Cortez, CO
June 3-7: Ridgway State Park, Ridgway, CO
June 8-9: Cedar Creek RV Park, Montrose, CO
June 10-13: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 14-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28 on: ???

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Durango, Mosca, San Luis Valley, Nature Photography, Wildlife photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Baby Owls
Within 20 yards of our campsite at Chatfield State Park was an owl nest occupied by a momma Great Horned Owl and her two owlets. We could hear her hoots most early mornings.



Canada Work
On Sunday we traveled back to the Colorado Horse Park and set up camp. Early Monday morning, Jan and the Kids drove me to the Denver airport where I flew to Canada for work. My engagement went very well and I got back to Denver late Wednesday night.




San Luis Lake State Park
Thursday, after I conducted a webinar from BERT, Jan drove us to San Luis State Park in the San Luis Valley, just ten miles west of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was like we had the campground to ourselves--the busiest night of our stay had only four other campsites filled! From our site, 7,500 feet of elevation in the high desert, we had awesome views of both the Sangre de Christo Mountains to the east and San Juan Mountains in the west.



Friday: Dunes and Birds
Great Sand Dune National Park
We started the day by scoping things out, first stopping at the first-class visitor center at the Park to help us plan our priorities. We had visited here three years ago and this is one of our favorite places.





Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
We drove to the town of Alamaso, and after stopping at their visitor center and having a very nice Mexican lunch at Ninos, we drove to the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. Here we had a great time enjoying the marshes and lakes full of a variety of birds with the handsome mountains serving as a background. The evening brought the much-wanted sounds of a constant rain that soaked into the parched desert.









Saturday: Snowy Hike and Stormy Birds
Mosca Trail
Leaving the Kids to guard the coach, Jan and I headed out early driving back to the Dunes and up to the Mosca Pass Trailhead. We were the first ones at the trail and almost the first ones into the park. (Lots of slackers sleeping in, I guess. :,>)

Within a quarter mile, our topography changed, and a soft, white, and wet visitor joined us and stayed along as a companion throughout our upward journey. The snow added a strong visual contrast to the greens and blues of the surroundings and highlighted the occasional reds of a blooming prickly pear cactus. The senses were further heightened audibly with the constant gurgling of the creek that bordered the trail, spiked with a birdcall every now and then. In addition, the intense fresh smell of the forest after rain and snow added a feeling of newness as we ascended above 9,500 feet. Wonderful hike.







Medano Creek
From the trailhead, we drove down to Medano Creek to try and get a few pics while the light was still soft. We walked along and through the rushing water (only ankle deep) admiring the landscape and enjoying the families with kids and pups playing in the water or hiking up the dunes.







Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
Next, we drove back to Alamosa and had breakfast-lunch at a local diner. From here we took the back roads to the Monte Vista area, spending time exploring the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (associated with the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge we visited the day before). What a perfect day for finding/watching/photographing birds--a big storm was brewing in the mountains so all the birds were out in the air, swimming, flitting, and flying around, all alert to the possible dangers of the weather.













Wow, what a week!

Headlights

May 13: San Luis State Park, Alamosa, CO
May 14: Navajo State Park
May 15-24: Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, CO
May 25-31: Blue Spruce Campground Vallacito, CO
June 1-17: Ridgway? Montrose? Gunnison? Crested Butte?
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs
June 28 on: ???

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Colorado State Parks, Bird photography, San Luis Valley

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

We continued to camp at Chatfield State Park close to the grandkids, with Austin spending most of the time with us.

Netting Birds
One morning we drove to a nearby Audubon property to watch them net, examine, measure, weigh, tag, and release birds caught in their special nets. Austie got a big kick out of the whole procedure. Here are a few shots.











Early Birthday Present
Before the whole hullabaloo surrounding Austie’s upcoming birthday erupted, we decided to give Austin his present early. Here is a shot of him opening up his present--a waterproof, dust-proof, shockproof camera (we shall see). There’s also a shot of me shooting the box-opening action.





Afternoon at the Zoo
We took Austie to the Denver Zoo to let him try out his new camera. Here is a carousel shot of Austie and a couple of birds from the afternoon.







This and That
Here are a few odds-and-ends photos of this past week.













Baby Natalie
The little sweetie is getting cuter each day! Here is a shot of her alone and one with proud grandma. If you want to see more, click here.

Headlights

May 6-10: Colorado Horse Park
May 11-14: Great Sand Dunes National Monument?
May 15-24: Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, CO
May 25-31: Blue Spruce Campground Vallacito, CO
June 1-17: Ridgway? Montrose? Gunnison? Crested Butte?
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs
June 28 on ???

See you next week.

Tags: Bird photography, Colorado, Chatfield State Park, Denver Zoo

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Late Sunday morning we broke camp and drove for about an hour to Chatfield State Park, our home for two weeks.

Baby Natalie
Here are two pics of three-day-old Baby Natalie—she’s almost grown up already.





In case you missed them and have an interest, last week’s shots of just-born Natalie (all downloadable) are available by clicking here.

Austie Camping
For most days this week, Jan has picked up Austie from pre-school in the afternoon returning him back the next morning. During our time together, we walked the Pups several times a day, built superhero Legos every night, played at the park at all hours, and discussed world issues continually--good thing I’m in shape for an old guy.

Morning Hikes
I had the luxury of taking long morning hikes every day with a few photo ops.







Birding Walk
On Saturday morning, Jan and I joined a group of about ten for a birding walk inside the park. Joey, our leader, was a library of both avian and park knowledge, and he shared his favorite places for finding migratory birds. Also had the chance for a close-up with a mature bull snake.













Bath Night
Here is a picture of the always-feminine Mitzy on bath night.



Culinary Shot
All that hiking and fresh air takes a lot of energy. Here is a shot of Jan’s Thrasher Beef and Veggie Soup.

Headlights

April 29-May 5: Chatfield State Park
May 6-10: Colorado Horse Park
May 11-14: Travel south and west
May 15-24: Durango, CO (near Denver) to visit family
May 25-31: Blue Spruce Campground Vallacito, CO
June 1 On: ???

See you next week.

Tags: travel photography, Bird photography, Colorado

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Jerry in the prairie
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Island Walks
Early morning St. James City walks produced a few interesting pictures. Here are a couple of reflections taken from the pond behind the post office and two Wood Storks--one perched and one in flight. Also, here is a hawk that hangs around an eagle nest, a neighborhood orchid, a soaring osprey, a standing ibis, a really handsome vulture, plus the resting pose of Chico, the last of our Mexican gatos.

























The Pot Roast Caper
Our long-time friend Patrick has an interesting description of his ideal camping experience--he envisions traveling along the scenic highways of America, taking in the great vistas of our land while inhaling the all-American smells of a bubbling, cooking pot roast that will be his evening meal. So when Jamers brought up the idea of a Pot Roast Caper, Jan and I were all for it. Several false starts and changes in plans jeopardized the escapade, but it finally came together. Here is the scenario: Unbeknownst to Patrick and Friz, Jamers was down visiting us on the Island. Jamers told us when Friz and Patrick would be flying into Punta Gorda, so Jan phoned them saying that she had to go to Bonita Springs (where they have a home) anyway to shop for a rug, so why don’t they let us pick them up at the airport and drive them to Bonita? They readily agreed. Our plan was quickly formulated: Jamers, Jan, and I (along with the Pups) would drive BERT (our motor home) to the Punta Gorda rest stop, a mile from the Punta Gorda airport. While driving, the pot roast would be cooking in the slow cooker, accumulating the appropriate degree of doneness. At the rest stop we would unhook the car, Jan and I would drive to the airport to pick them up, tell them we needed to go to the bathroom, drive up to our coach, tell them to go in and be surprised by seeing Jamers sitting in the coach and smelling the cooking meats and veggies. Next we would hook the car back up and drive to our campground a little past Naples. Sounds like a great plan don’t you think?



However, we had a couple potholes on the path to pot roast progress: (1) We left the house early to prepare the coach for our trip (we keep the coach a few blocks away). When Jan pushed the button to raise the leveling jacks, one would not go all the way up--the coach would move but made a consistent, obnoxious, irritating alarm--not tolerable. We spent about an hour working on this problem (including lots of me laying under the coach urging it to act in the way I wanted it to). Finally, with Barry’s help, we used his jack to raise the coach jack enough to cancel the alarm. OK, we are running a little late, but all was still fine. (2) As we got ready to pull out, Jan smelled not the delectable odor of cooking pot roast but the metallic smell of burning wires--somehow the pot roast cooker got fried in the fix-the-jack melee. We stopped along the way to try and buy another cooker, but no luck. So Jamers and Jan modified the cooking methodology and polished the process to make things work. We arrived at the rest stop later than planned but luckily Patrick and Friz’s plane was late, so all worked out. We were there when their plane arrived, we loaded the car, lied about needing a potty break, and both of them were very surprised upon entering the coach. After a social break, we hooked up the car, drove to the Collier-Seminole State Park, set up camp in the dark, but by 9 p.m. we were enjoying the delicious, long-anticipated meal--MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.







Note that the planning for the original caper was much more complex and sophisticated. For example, it also included flying in PK Tours from the Caribbean.

Pups Across America

Here is a shot of Jerry, enjoying a romp in a meadow in the early morning light.

Headlights

See you next week.

Tags: Bird photography

Contents

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

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Perfect Porkies



Wow! The weather here in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was magnificent--cool in the morning gradually warming to a blue-sky, soft-breeze low 80s.

Just at sunrise we took the Pups on a hike starting close to our campground, a two-plus mile trek that went on both sides of the Preque Isle River. In the course of our hike, we came upon Manabezbo Falls, Mandino Falls, and also Nawadaha Falls. Gorgeous.









After breakfast, we all loaded up in our car and took the South Boundary Road east and north for 36 miles to the park Visitor Center (you guessed it--this is a big park (60,000 acres). At the Visitor Center, along with viewing the exhibits, we took advantage of the free Internet, a nice treat when there is virtually zip for cell phone signals for 30 miles. From there we turned east, leaving the park to go through Silver City and into Ontonagon, where we first fueled up the car and then we fueled up ourselves at a local café (I had the meatloaf plate special and Jan had a taco salad). We also bought a couple tomatoes the size of cantaloupe from an old geezer in a pick-up truck. After touring this interesting town, we headed back into the park, first driving through the modern campground to check it out. Like our primitive campground, this one is right on Lake Superior and has the same awesome views plus water and electricity. Several sites have ample room for BERT, so we would certainly consider staying there in the future.

Next we drove to Lake of the Clouds, one of Michigan’s main natural attractions. The view was nice, but the harsh light made it unacceptable for photos. From here we retraced our tracks and were back in camp by mid-afternoon. We sat outside enjoying the weather and watching our fellow campers.



Monday: Travel Day



We left the campground early, heading south for 16 miles on the same country road we had come in on. At Wakefield we turned east on 28 and drove it a couple hundred miles through the middle of the Upper Peninsula, driving through 26 small towns and one bigger one (Marquette) before settling in on Lake Superior at the Tourist Park Campground in Munising. We parked within 30 feet of the water with a wonderful view. This is about as good as it gets for our kind of camping--great view, full hook-ups, excellent WiFi, close to all sorts of things. We had fresh trout and whitefish at Dogpatch, a local restaurant, and then enjoyed our camp setting and the 82-degree afternoon.



Tuesday: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore



During the night the temperature dropped, the winds increased, and the rains started, so once again we awoke happy not to be tenters!

We loaded into the car and spent the entire day admiring and exploring Picture Rocks National Lakeshore. We took 28 east for just a few miles then connected with county road H58. My plan was for us to drive the entire 52 miles to the end of the park, and then slowly work our way back with the morning sun behind us. Well, there was no visible sun, but I stuck to the plan anyway. For the most part the road was level and smooth, and we were surrounded by trees just starting to show their fall color.

When we got to Grand Marais (this is a place we’d like to re-visit in the future), we got some coffee to go and drove around the town. On the north end we stopped at a viewing station of Lake Superior. We also drove through a campground on the lake that would also be fun to stay at on a future visit. We bypassed Sable Falls, but stopped at the Log Slide Overlook where we took the short trail ending at the site where they used to slide logs down off the bluffs. We drove along the lake and passed by the white sands of Twelvemile Beach. We would have liked to spend more time, but we had to get back to Munising in time for our appointment.











After getting back to BERT (our Big Expensive Road Traveler), having lunch, and walking the Pups, we drove down to the dock for our glass-bottom boat tour of sunken ships. Because the waters were quite rough offshore (12 to 16 footers), the cruise was cut to viewing just one sunken wreck and viewing one old lighthouse. The old wooden iron ore hauler was interesting, but the water was stirred up because of the winds so the viewing was not ideal. Anyway, it was nice to get on the water, and because of the limited cruise the price was cut in half.



Getting back to camp, we decided to go see the things on our driving tour that we’d missed in the morning. So, loading up the Kids, we headed back to Pictured Rock. We stopped at Munising Falls, then drove out to Sand Point to view the old coast guard station, which is now the park headquarters, and looked at the remains of a few wrecks that were torn up by the shore. Next we drove to Miners Falls, taking the mile-plus path down to watch the tumbling waters--very nice. From here we took another short trail overlooking the big lake and the rock structure called Miners Castle.











After that we went back to our campsite where the weather had warmed, the sun had appeared, and the winds lessened. Jan built a fire on the beach where we had dinner and watched the sun go down.

One busy day!





Wednesday: Brrrrrrr!
After a windy night, we awoke to 40 degrees and 35-mile-an-hour winds. Jan and I spent the entire day working and got a lot done. There was an incentive to stay inside as the wind never let up, the rain would start and stop intermittently, and it hailed a couple of times to boot.

The UP
I’d forgotten how pretty Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is. Lot and lots to see--one could easily spend the entire summer here--maybe we will.

Thursday: Heading South



The weather stayed the same so it was time to go. After doing an online services account management recording with my friends from Service Strategies, we rolled out of the campground at 10:15. Jan drove the bus east on 28 as I worked on the computer. At 123 we turned south and then turned south again on I-75. I drove the bus over the Mackinaw Bridge and down into the Lower Peninsula. I turned south on 31 then south again on 131. We took this all the way down to Manton where we found a campground for the night.

Friday: Our Old Stomping Grounds



Jan got us back on 131 south and we drove to Grand Rapids, stopped for fuel, and then continued on another 30 miles to the small town of Wayland. Here we stopped at an RV service center to get more warranty work done. We unhooked our tow car and headed south to stay with our good friend, Jamers, in Kalamazoo while the coach was being fixed up. It was nice to be back in our old stomping grounds. Jan is from the area, and the two of us spent 15 years or so living here.

Saturday: The Big Rivalry
Jan’s brother, Wayne, and his wife Anna invited us to the Big Game. They are big supporters of our old college, Western Michigan University, and have great seats eleven rows up on the 45-yard line. The weather was perfect for football, 70 degrees, and to top it off, this was The Big Game: Western was playing their arch rivals, Central Michigan University. Similar to the other big rivalries in football, e.g., Ohio State-Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma, etc., there is some bad blood between the two schools. Hence, lots of nasty cracks about the intelligence and integrity of Central was bantered about in the crowd around us. My favorite comment was, “How do you get a Central graduate off of your porch? Pay him for the pizza!”

Anyway, to put it mildly, Western stomped them 44 to 14. Here are a few pics of the afternoon. By the way, the fan with the big head is Western’s president. Also note that Western is known for its fashion sense and takes pride in starting clothing trends. Note the sophisticated WMU fan wearing a chicken hat, for example.

Pups Across America

Headlights

September 18-October 7: Kalamazoo, MIchigan
October 8 On: TBD

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: photography, Michigan, Upper Peninsula

Contents

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

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Devils Tower National Monument



I took the Pups out pre-dawn into the brisk 41-degree morning. Soon Jan and I drove the two miles to the Tower Trailhead, stopping to view a really big porcupine making his way up a hill. By 6:25 a.m. we were working our way up the trail that goes around Devils Tower. We were the only ones there (so we thought), which was totally opposite from the parking lot of the evening before when it was crowded with tour busses, motor homes, and cars full of tourists. We thoroughly enjoyed the easy 1.3-mile trek, stopping often to take pictures and watch the red squirrels gather pine cones for the upcoming winter. As we listened to the birds and critters we heard another noise, and looking up we saw three climbers halfway up the hill. We later found out that they had scaled the Tower the night before, camped on the peak, and were now making their way down--probably trying to avoid arrest!. Just a wonderful way to start the day.





Busted
When we drove back to camp, a brown note was on our windshield. Just as I pulled it off and before I could read it, up came the serious-looking camp host, decked out in full National Park attire. He ominously told us that our dogs had been barking non-stop for the two and a half hours we had been gone (actually it had been 65 minutes, but no sense arguing with an official of the law no matter what their lowly rank), and it was against regulations to leave them unattended. He also said that several of our camping neighbors had complained (it was Sunday morning you know), and he could hear the racket all the way across the campground. I apologized solemnly and vowed it would not happen again. Over the next hour, Jan and I apologized to all our neighbors. However, they all said they either hadn’t noticed or hadn’t cared. It seemed that a ranger driving through camp got all worked up and sounded the alarm. I really wish we had heard them though, as I guess they started to howl like the big savage canines they are and it set off coyotes from all around to start howling--could have loved to have recorded that. To give you an idea of how the Kids can howl, here is a 20-second movie, “Pups Gone Wild.”



I spent most of the rest of the morning finishing up last week’s blog, editing pictures, and planning out the next steps in our RV adventure. Jan did some painting and, of course, met several of our neighbors, all nice people with their own unique life stories to tell. Here is the “mini RV” of one of our neighbors.



Cowboy Poetry
Just like when we camped at Vega State Park in Colorado, by coincidence, our stay at Devils Tower occurred at the same time as their annual Cowboy Poetry event. We walked down and enjoyed the poetry of an 85-year-old local woman and the singing and joshing of a bunch of old cowboys and ranchers who belted out old cowboy songs. They were quite good actually. Here are a few pictures, including some young cowboys jostling on the grass.













Country Ride
Late in the afternoon we took a country ride (bumpy dirt roads, of course) to the Black Hills National Forest, and at Jerry’s request, we took one more trip to Prairie Dog Town.





Monday: Labor Day at Teddy Roosevelt National Monument
I took the pups out early to a much warmer morning. While I was away, Jan started getting the coach ready to go, and after breakfast we left the campground promptly at 7:57 a.m.



Stopping at the entrance to the park to get our mandatory picture of the park sign for the blog, we turned left on 24 and drove to Hewlett. We passed through the little town of Alva, population 50, and on through Alladin, where the posted sign said that there were 15 residents. At least according to the map our road turned into Wyoming 34 and we continued on east, turning north at the 85 junction. Soon we were in North Dakota, and we stopped for lunch in the coach at the tiny visitor center at Bowman, where I got my official state map and other information on what North Dakota had to offer. At Belfield we fueled up and then turned west on I-94 for the 15 miles to the entrance of Teddy Roosevelt National Monument in the town of Medora.



We set up camp, and late afternoon we drove the 36-mile scenic route, seeing a few wild horses and prairie dogs.



Tuesday: Wild Horses, Bison, and PDs
Returning from my morning Pup walk and within 100 yards of BERT, we spotted two wild horses, a stallion and a mare. I quickly took the Pups back to the coach, gathered my camera and tripod, and then returned taking pre-dawn pictures of these equines eating grass and small plants with purpose. I stood out there for 45 minutes taking photos and admiring this handsome couple.





After breakfast we returned to the 36-mile scenic route. In the early morning we had much better luck finding critters. In fact, we saw well over 100 bison, sometimes quite up close and personal. We had to stop a few times to let them cross the road. We also had great luck with the wild horses, viewing 50 or more during our trip. Of course the highlight for the Pups were the hundreds of prairie dogs.













Really Big Trucks



After working a few hours it was time to move on. While I worked in the passenger chair, Jan took us east on I-94, then north on 85. Here you would have sworn that the Really Big Truck Convention was going on with long trucks, wide trucks, and a vast assortment of really big trucks heading in all directions carrying equipment and supplies for energy and agriculture. I never saw so many signs saying, “Oversized Load” or “Wide Load.” At Walford City I had Jan turn east on 23--big mistake! There may have been concrete or asphalt below us, but you would never have known it. For close to 30 miles we shared the rough dirt paths with more really big trucks through a construction maze. Finally, we stopped and camped at the Van Hook Resort, in New Town, ND. Long day.

Wednesday: Lake Metigoshe



I worked till 10:00 a.m., and then it was time to head out. We took 23 east for about 50 miles and then took 83 north, passing by Minot. At Highway 5 we went east to Bottineau, north on a county road for six miles, and east again on 43 for six miles to the entrance of Lake Metigoshe State Park. We found a site, and set up in this picturesque setting. This very popular park was mostly empty (post-Labor Day), and we enjoyed the solitude. The weather was just about perfect, and we ended the day with a nice campfire.



Thursday: Peace Garden
While working on the computer in the wee hours, I suddenly heard a noise. I opened up the door and heard stereophonic howling--the coyotes were at full yap. This made me a little more careful of the Little Ones when I took them out a little later. This was followed with Jan and I hiking on the Old Oak Trail, a pretty walk through the woods.

At 8:00 a.m. the family loaded into the car and we drove the three miles south, 16 miles east, and three miles north to the North Dakota-Manitoba Canada border to visit the International Peace Garden. This joint collaboration of two governments is just a marvelous place to visit. The tranquil 2,300 acres include lakes, formal gardens, sunken gardens, memorial gardens, woods with hiking trails, a campground, a chapel, a 9-11 memorial, a museum, café, and more. Yes, it is a little isolated, but worth the visit. Check it out at www.peacegarden.com.













I worked the rest of the day while Jan did some more art--see what you think.



Friday: Minnesota
Jan and I took the Pups out for an early morning romp, and Jan found a live dragonfly partially iced over in the grass. Jerry was very interested in giving him a smell, while Mitzy tried to eat him! Luckily Jan saved him.



After computer work, and a Swedish Skype, we pulled out of Lake Metigoshe State Park for a 300-mile trek around 10:00 a.m. We took 43 east to 3 south down to Rugby, where we picked up 2 for the rest of day’s travel through Devil’s Lake and Grand Forks. At Grand Forks we stayed on 2, passing into Minnesota going all the way to Bemidji, where we camped for the night at the Royal Oaks RV Park.

Saturday: On to the Porkies



We were on the road at 8:00 a.m., back heading east on Highway 2 driving the 100 miles of Midwest prairie through Duluth and on into Wisconsin. After stopping for lunch (I had the special) in the little burg of Poplar, we stayed on 2, passing through Ashland and Hurley. We again crossed state lines and came into Ironwood. We stopped at the Michigan Visitor Center only to find it closed on weekends (great marketers those Michigan recreation folks). Not to worry, I had done my research online early that morning and had a good idea where I wanted to take us. So at Wakefield we turned east on 28 for just a couple of miles, and then turned north on County Road 5-9 for 16 miles through a canopy of just-starting-to-change-color trees. We turned into the Porcupine Mountains State Forest and found a huge campsite, not more than 50 yards to a bluff overlooking Lake Superior. Jan cooked over the campfire, and we ended the day watching the sunset over the big Lake.

Pups Across America

Headlights

September 11 to 24: Michigan TBD
September 23-October 7: Markin Glen County Park, Kalamazoo, MI
October 8-15: ???
October 16-31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1 to ???
??? to ???
???: Back on Pine Island

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Wyoming, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan

Contents

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

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday
The Pups and I took a big walk down to the marina, by the swim beach, and back to the coach under overcast skies. A little later Austie and I went out--him riding his Bat trike down to the playground. Here is a picture of him on his trike.



Photo Contest
I took an action shot of Austie I really like. Which version do you like best--the original color, black-and-white, infrared, haiku, sketch, or oil?













On our way back we startled a bull snake that politely scurried into the grass upon our arrival.

Late morning Jan and I plus the Little Man drove halfway to Parker to meet his parents for brunch. From there they took Austie home and Jan and I took the back roads back to camp.

Monday Morning: BERT Repairs
A little after 8:00 a.m. we pulled out of Boyd Lake State Park and drove five miles to an RV service facility where we are getting some warranty work done. From there we drove to Austie’s home in Parker.

Midday Monday until Midday Friday: Hanging at Austie’s
I set up work on the dining room table and the next few days fell into a routine. I walked the Kids plus HannaPug early morning, midday, and evening. I worked on projects most of the day, and Jan and I would go out for lunch. Jan kept busy doing laundry, preparing meals, and running errands. In the evenings we caught up with Aaron and Kelly and spent some time with Austie. Our stay went very well. Jan also did some art during the week. Check out her cool postcards.





Friday PM: Back Camping
Friday at 1:00 I got the call that our coach work was complete, and by 1:30 we were on the road, heading back to Loveland. We caught the beginnings of the holiday weekend rush-hour traffic, but by 4:30 we had picked up the coach and set up our campsite at the Loveland RV Resort (we got the last space available). We fueled up our car and bought provisions in preparation for heading north.

Saturday: North to Wyoming



At 8:00 we were on I-25 north. After 60 miles we stopped in Cheyenne for fuel and continued north. A few miles north of Cheyenne we turned ENE on 85 through LaGrange, Hawk Springs, and up to Torrington, through Lusk, and LaGrange. At Newcastle we picked up Highway 16 west, going through Upton and Moorcraft, where we headed east on 14. At Devils Tower Junction we took 24 north a few miles to the Devils Tower National Monument.

It was quite a pretty drive, however, the miles went even faster as we listened to The Great Gatzby most of the trip.



The campground at Devils Tower is beautiful with big sites, lots of trees, and plenty of room between campers. It is dry camping (no electricity or water) but not a problem in BERT. Plus the minimal $12 per day camping fee makes it all the more pleasant. It is one of the most enjoyable places we have camped, with a great view of the tower from our campsite.



That evening there was a dramatic performance, “Dakota Daughters” at the amphitheater, about a three minute walk from our campsite. Three talented women played Sitting Bull’s daughter, a rancher’s wife, and a young lady engaged to a Buffalo soldier, so one learned three quite different perspectives. The time frame was from after the Battle of Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn) to the Wounded Knee Massacre. Very, very well done. (Dakota Daughters, threevoices@rushmore.com, 605-393-2680.)







Across from the amphitheater is Prairie Dog Town. You could hear their background chirps during the performance. Also, I saw this young girl sitting in this meadow, intent on her surroundings.

Pups Across America

Headlights

September 4: Devils Tower National Monument
September 5-22: ???
September 23-October 7: Markin Glen County Park, Kalamazoo, MI
October 8-15: ???
October 16-31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1 to ???
??? to ???
???; Back on Pine Island

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado State Parks, Devils Tower Wyoming

Contents

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

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday
It was nice and quiet at the chilly State Forest State Park campground. The Pups were anxious to go out but maybe even more anxious to get back to the warm coach.

Soon the four of us were back in the car, driving along the same path that led us to observe the big male and the really big bull elk. Alas, not today. Back at camp we had breakfast, then the four of us took a different route on the Ranger Lakes trail. The chipmunks took great pleasure in teasing the Pups, knowing exactly how far the leashes would stretch until they become taut around their neck with a little gasp. Around the lake we saw many anglers, including several families attempting to lure and capture the abundant trout.

Back at BERT, I worked on an upcoming presentation while Janny readied us for the next leg of our trip.

By 10:45 we were off. Heading south on 14 over Cameron Pass, we slowly dropped over a 100 miles, from 9,100 feet down to 5,000. The three-dot scenic byway was, well, scenic, and we traveled parallel to mountains and fast-moving streams, glancing at anglers and rafters along this often curvy, narrow, and bumpy road. A seasoned veteran of Highway One in California, Jan took the driving challenges in stride, applying the engine brake, hugging the center line, slowing down for yahoos walking on the side of this very, very busy stretch of road. Like a flash, however, mountains turned to plains as we made it to the east side of the mountain ranges, complete with stores galore and malls for all.

By early PM we were set up at Boyd Lake State Park with a view of the lake on one side and the mountains on the other.

Monday: Quick Trip to Seattle
I took the Kids out pre-dawn so that I could let them run before the walkers and bicyclists dominated the paths. We watched the sunrise, took some really detailed sniffs, and got a very good run in before things got busy. After breakfast, packing, and preparing, Jan took me to the airport with the Kids as willing passengers. With no issues, I made it to Seattle.

Tuesday and Wednesday
I taught the services account management workshop sponsored by Service Strategies. Great group of folks who seemed to learn a lot. Just a pleasure to facilitate.

At the airport I boarded a flight to Chicago. All went well, but by the time I got to my room on the Magnificent Mile, it was 1:00 a.m.

Thursday
I had a two-hour session with the senior team of my Chicago client, and I was very pleased with the outcome; a fun group who is getting serious about services and I shared a few things I’ve learned over the years. From there it was back to O’Hare where I lucked out and was able to get back to Denver three hours earlier than planned. At DIA, Jan and the Kids picked me up and we went to Parker to visit our grandson, Austin, his dog HoneyPug, and his parents.

Friday
I took our Kids plus the Pug out for a morning run, then I spent the morning working on the computer. At 2:00 we picked up Austie from pre-school and we took him back to camp up at Boyd State Park. We spent a usual camping evening of playing at the playground, a few strolls and dog walks, and roasting weenies then ‘smores.

As you’ll see in the pics, Grandma showed Austie how to shoot a bow and arrow. Below you’ll see the coaching, then the results! Good thing it was a caricature of Mitzy and not the real girl.







Saturday
Busy morning! Dog walks, Austie walks, getting ready to go. Austie took his Bat Bike on the paths and down to the playground.





At 10:00 we headed for Rocky Mountain National Park, taking 34 east into the park. Gorgeous drive in a splendid park. We drove around, had a picnic, and then drove back to the coach.

We had two trips to playgrounds, a “swim” at dusk, and a campfire with Austie’s special ‘smores with bananas and peanut butter added.





Another great week roughing it smoothly.

Pups Across America

Headlights

August 28: Boyd Lake State Park
August 29-31: Parker, CO
September 1-15: Heading north and east
September 23-October 7: Markin Glen County Park, Kalamazoo, MI
October 8-15: ???
October 16 to 31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1 to ???:
??? to ???:
???: Back on 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! - Great Pyrenees and more
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Day of Rest (and Work)
Quiet day around the campsite. Did some walks (able to capture this handsome marmot) and I worked on my Sarasota project.







Late afternoon we did our normal drive looking for Kodak Moments. We took 40 west turning north on Elkhead Road down to Elkhead Reservoir State Park. We toured the facility by the lake then exited the park northbound on a gravel path under a cloudy sky and occasional drizzle of rain. No sooner had we turned the first corner when Jan pointed out a really big bird sitting on a fence post. I was driving and turned around on the narrow gravel road, fully expecting the bird to take off…nope, he was still there! Reluctantly he let me capture a few images before heading up the mountain for another perch. Within 100 feet we found another of this species sitting on the same fence and once again I took a few photos. I assumed she (larger bird) was his mate (sharing the same habitat). Later, back at camp we confirmed via our reference books that the two birds were Ferruginous hawks. I took advantage of the soft light for a couple other landscape shots.









Continuing up to Corral Gulch Road, we wound around and spotted several deer, grazing cattle, and horses. About a mile from Hayden, we were treated to the sight of a mature red fox in excellent condition shoot across the road in front of us.

Sitting at our campfire in the evening, I heard Janny say, “Alex, look!” I turned to see a stunningly vibrant rainbow, and quickly headed into the coach for my camera. Thirty seconds later I returned, however, the brilliance of the colors had diminished greatly. As I was standing there, disappointed in not getting the shot I wanted, Jan again said, “Look!” as she pointed overhead--a Golden Eagle flew directly over our camp. No time for a photo attempt, but an impressive sight nonetheless. Quite the day.

Monday: On to Steamboat Lake
Another quiet morning at Yampa River State Park. I took the Pups on a walk, and then got to work while Jan readied BERT for travel.



At 10:53 a.m. we left the gate, heading east on 40 through Hayden and Milner. At Steamboat Springs we turned north on 129 and the further we drove up this winding road, the prettier it got. At the Clark store, we turned north on 62 as Google Maps directed. I thought it funny that there was no brown sign indicating a state park was this direction, but I asked Jan to turn anyway. Within minutes our paved road turned to gravel. We pulled over and called the Visitor Center (luckily AT&T was strong). I explained my plight, and the guy on the other end of the line got a chuckle out of Google sending us the wrong way. He said, “Yes you can still get here, but you are on the scenic route.” Jan drove the bus about 20 miles and hour around the west side of the lake on the road less traveled. For the next 50 minutes we drove through hills and valleys covered with wildflowers with mountains acting as the backgrounds of our vistas. We pulled into our campsite and quickly set up. A great view of Hahns Peak was out our door.



The evening ended with a big storm with lots of thunder and lightning.



Tuesday: Strolling through a Bouquet of Flowers
I took the Pups out early into a dark morning with big black clouds overhead.



After making our best guess that no big rains were close by, Jan and I walked about 50 feet to the trailhead of the Willow Creek Trail and started on our way. The trail cut through the meadow along the lake, and we went up and down, over and around amidst summer flowers of every variety, shape, and color. Jan said it was just like walking through a bouquet o flowers--appropriately stated.











On the trail was a ripped open bag of sandwich meat (nothing remaining but the plastic) and the unmistakable print of a bear. I guess some camper was a little sloppy with food security. Field birds chirped and sang along our three-mile trek and this Song Sparrow was kind enough to pose.

I spent the majority of the day working on my Sarasota project along with preparing for my Chicago trip next week. Late afternoon the four of us piled into the car with Jan driving and me on the passenger seat holding my camera, a Schnauzer, and occasionally a Rat Terrier.

We first drove south on 129 for just a few miles and then turned left at 209, a dirt road that took us through some ranches before ending at Pearl Lake State Park. Here we drove through the park and through the campgrounds with their great views of the lake from the primitive sites. Then we drove back, turning north on 129 past our park. At National Forest Road 486 we turned west and took the trip back to Hahn’s Lake. The weather was getting interesting with occasional sheets of rain, and some impressive lightning and thunder that reverberated throughout the valleys. We saw some deer and wildflowers. It was a drive I’d recommend.





As we drove home a quite impressive rainbow formed, reaching across the entire valley, starting at a ranch house and ending on a mountain (or vice versa, depending on your point of view).

Wednesday: More Beauty



When I arose it was a chilly 45 degrees; cold enough for me to go to the closet and hunt my medium-weather jacket. I walked the Pups down to the marina where I let them go off-leash, as no one else was out.

By 6:30 a.m., Jan and I were in the car, retracing our tracks back to Pearl Lake. We parked at the trailhead and hiked Pearl Lake Trail through the forest along Pearl Lake. As the day before, we were surrounded and sometimes immersed in summer wild flowers. The trail was narrow and overgrown and we were soon soaked after the first few minutes. We walked over the dam and continued along till the trail ended. We took pictures along the way, including one of this jogger (she had a Pup but he didn’t make the blog!).











Back at BERT, I spent the day working on the Sarasota project.

Thursday: On to State Forest
It was a chilly 42 degrees when I walked the Pups down to the marina. When we got back, Jan and I drove to the Visitor’s Center for a hike. The trail we had chosen was closed, so we improvised and took the other end of the Willow Creek trail. I had an 8:30 a.m. Sweden call, and then I worked on my Sarasota project. After a 1:00 p.m. call with a Services Strategies client, Jan turned the bus and the adventure continued. We took 12 south, picking up 40 east at Steamboat Springs. At Muddy Pass we picked up 14 and headed NE, going through Spider and Hebron and on up to Walden, where 14 merges with 125. As we headed north through town, I noticed that the sign only said 125, and no 14. About five miles north of town I confirmed my fears--I had missed the turnoff. Consulting with Janny we pulled over and attempted to make a wide swing to turn back around. Note that there is always risk in this type of maneuver because when towing a car behind a motorhome you cannot back up. Well, you guessed it, Jan cranked BERT as tightly as possible, but the end result was that we completely blocked the highway, unable to move ahead. I jumped out and started to unhook our car, nervously glancing in both directions on the lookout for traffic. Luckily in this country traffic is light, however we did hold up a semi and a few cars for a short time. I would have completed my chore faster, but people kept coming up offering to help! After this small adventure, Jan and I drove separately the last 30 miles of Thursday’s journey. Back at Walden we found the sign to go back to 14 east (later I went into town to retrace our earlier steps and felt exonerated from my navigation error--there was no sign indicating the 14 turn). Looking on the map I saw the familiar Colorado dots, indicators of another scenic byway. So we made our way to State Forest State Park through more gorgeous Colorado scenery.

Moving Up in the World
Since our stay at Highline Lake (4,500 feet) we have been gradually moving up: 6,000 feet at Rifle Gap, 6,300 feet at Yampa, 8,100 feet at Steamboat Lake, and 9,100 feet at State Forest. At these altitudes you have to remember to let air out of your SleepRest mattress the higher up you go, be careful of shooting ketchup bottles from the frig, and you have to wait a little longer for the gas to reach the stovetop.

State Forest State Park is my kind of place, 71,000 acres of rustic beauty complete with mountains and meadows, rivers and lakes. Lots of critters (proclaimed the Moose Capitol of Colorado), scenic drives, and great hiking trails everywhere. I’m really glad we stopped.





Friday: Early Calls and Flying Hawks
I had a 7:00 a.m. phone call with my Chicago client, and since there was no AT&T or Verizon signal at our campground, I left at 6:30 driving the 20 miles on 14 north to the entrance to the Owl Creek ranch that had four bars on each device (iPhone and MacBook). Since I was only a few miles from Walden, I drove into town to fuel up our Element then returned to camp.

I worked on my Sarasota project in the motorcoach, and then later in the day we packed up for a family drive. We took 14 north to Walden where we took 12 west, past the Walden State Wildlife Area, eventually hooking up with 7 north then 7A north to the Lake John State Wildlife area and Lake John. From here we took 5 south to the Delaney Butte Lake State Wildlife Area, and then on past an unnamed/unnumbered road out through the valley. We could see for miles with mountains on all sides corralling us in.







Since it was prairie country we encountered several hawks on barns and bales and posts. The first was a Swainson’s Hawk standing on this hay bale. The second was a Rough-Legged Hawk, sitting on this fence post waiting for a meal opportunity. The flying hawk with the attitude is another Swainson’s Hawk.







Jan drove us until the public road ended, and then we retraced our steps back to Walden. Here we drove 125 south about five miles where we took the Wildlife Auto Tour through the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.



We just saw birds, but lots of them, especially ducks on the numerous lakes and a hundred or more white pelicans. We drove back to Walden once again to take 14 south. Here we went past our campground and up to Cameron Pass, 10,278 feet. Bull moose had been spotted there the last couple of weeks. We saw no big guys, but did see a cow and her calf. From there we headed back into the state park and drove the minutes of narrow, rough, steep, dirt road through the forest up to the Agnes Lake trailhead (we really have to get a Jeep). Past 6:00 p.m. and getting chilly, we decided against hiking, as we had not dressed for this activity. We drove back down and returned to camp after a big day.

Saturday: Moose Hunters
All of us were in the car and out of the campground by 6:05 a.m., and by 6:10 we saw a moose, a big bull about 50 yards parallel to the road we were on. That was the good news; the bad news was that it was way too dark (even with a tripod) to take any pictures. Reluctantly, we traveled on, going to Cameron Pass. When we saw only a cow and no bulls, we decided to head back and see if the bull we had spotted earlier was still within viewing range. After some careful scouring, we found him, but he had meandered much further away. I set up my tripod by the side of the road anyway and got a few long-distance shots. (Man it was cold. I have to remember to take gloves.) I only got one shot that shows the profile of the big guy. The lighting wasn’t the best and I had to crop it a lot, but it shows his profile and the large rack of his maleness well.



Next, we went back to Cameron Pass one more time with luck finally shining on us. There was a mature bull grazing away in a flower-covered field. Even with a tripod and using a high ISO, the shutter speed was low, but I stood out for a good 30 minutes firing away while Jan and the Kids watched from the warm car. Here is a shot of Mr. Moose.



Back at camp, we had breakfast, and then the four of us walked to the Ranger Lakes trailhead and hiked around the four lakes. Another gorgeous setting with the only other humans being a couple of fly fisherwomen.



Back at BERT, I spent a few hours developing a proposal for my Minneapolis client. We then went for our afternoon drive, first stopping off to shoot out my proposal and catch up on mail past the KOA, then east onto 41 to check out that countryside. From there we went back north on 14, turning west on the road to Rand, on through the Owl Mountain State Wildlife Refuge. Not finding a way to circle back, we retraced our steps and stopped off at Gould for dinner at The Drifter’s Cookhouse, (www.drifterscookhouse.com). This is a must-stop place if you are in the area. A great couple owns it, and the help provides good service in a comfortable atmosphere. Absolutely great food, and they have cabins complete with moose as well as a few RV sites. Next time we are in this area we hope to stay there.

Pups Across America

When returning from our Lake Pearl hike, this ranch dog, a Great Pyrenees, greeted us by the end of his lane. By his looks, I don’t think he sleeps on his master’s bed--maybe not even inside!

Headlights

August 21-28: Boyd Lake State Park
August 29-31: Parker, CO
September 1-15: Heading north and east
September 23-October 7: Markin Glen County Park, Kalamazoo, MI
October 8-15: ???
October 16 to 31: Visit Kentucky friends
November 1: Head back to Pine Island

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado State Parks

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Rock-Climbing Pup
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Day of Rest (and Work)
Nice peaceful day after a full week of action. Worked on pictures and did some business work as well. Had a nice walk with the Pups and a couple of rides both inside and outside the park. Our Vega State Park visit was wonderful, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes nature, pretty places, and nice people.

Monday: On to Rifle
It was chilly when I got up, so I donned wool socks, blue jeans, hiking boots, a long-sleeve shirt, vest, and green windbreaker. I sat at the computer working and drinking coffee for an hour or so before my hand reached up and to the left to turn on the furnace. After so many hot days, chilly felt quite good.

I took the Pups out early, and then got to work on the computer, finishing up an article for the Professional Services Journal that was due. While I was working, Jan got the bus ready to roll. By noon I was done, and we headed out of the park for the next leg of our journey.



We picked up 330 west then 65 west before turning east on I-70. We passed by DeBeque, Parachute, and Battlement Mesa before taking the Rifle exit. We proceeded north on 13 then turned off on 325 north. Just past the dam we turned into Rifle Gap State Park, our home for the next four days. Our large, modern, campsite provided a panoramic view of a deep blue lake surrounded by hills with mountains in the background. Within 15 minutes we were completely set up including a hummingbird feeder half full of syrup waiting for customers.

Alas, there is no AT&T signal, and Verizon (which we count on for Internet) is weak, but one must make some sacrifices when roughing it.

Jan made an awesome meatloaf dinner on the campfire, then after hanging outside to enjoy the lowering sun, we headed back inside to watch a Netflix movie.



Tuesday: Harvey Gap Park
When I awoke we had four customers at the hummingbird feeder this chilly morning. I took a hike all around the park, and was a little tired out upon my return from all the ups and downs. I then shifted into computer work while Jan got groceries at the City Market in Rifle. She also scouted out the nearest place with both a strong AT&T and Verizon signal, the Rifle Golf Course, just four miles from our camp.



Mid-afternoon it was time for the family drive, and we headed north on 325 turning east on Grass Valley Road. This road took us through ranch country and into Harvey Gap State Park. We drove through the park, watching people picnicking by the turquiose lake. After a few miles our road turned into Harvey Gap Road, and we wound our way south and east to the town of Silt (blog readers may remember our attempt to find Silt the back way). We picked up Highway 6 and headed east to the berg of New Castle. After driving around old town and a few neighborhoods, we headed back west on 6, north on 13, then north on 325 back to camp.

Jan grilled an awesome dinner of steak pinwheels with gruyere cheese and spinach, we read for awhile and went to bed.

Wednesday: Rifle Mountain Park
Our campground and our campsite are very nice--large and private with beautiful views. From our site we see no one else. Here is a photo of sunrise and afternoon sky taken from our campsite.





I drove the Pups down toward the western part of the park where I could let them loose. We took an old road into the high desert, sharing our experience with no one else. Saw a couple of bluebirds, but no other critters.

Next the four of us drove three miles back toward the village of Rifle, pulling into the Rifle golf course parking lot. Here I checked for voice messages and had a short Skype call with Kevin in Sweden regarding our mutual account. Then it was back to the coach where I worked away again on my Sarasota project.



Mid-afternoon it was time again for a family ride. We took 325 north past Rifle Falls State Park, on past the fish hatchery and into Rifle Mountain Park. “Mountain” is entirely descriptive. Run by either the city or the county, this high-altitude area is quite picturesque, with flowing streams, summer wildflowers, and dense tree stands throughout. One of the big attractions is rock climbing, and we saw a number of climbers in various stages of ascent/descent.



Within a few miles, state road 325 ended, turning into forest road 825 as we entered into the White River National Forest. Continuing on, the road started to deteriorate, becoming four-wheel drive country. However, Jan slowed down, kept a watchful eye, and weaved back and forth missing the largest potholes. We passed Sawmill Gulch, Rifle Creek, finally stopping, then turning around at the end of the road, Three Forks Trailhead. Well, actually there was another road of sorts, but Jan didn’t want to attempt it so I guess you know how challenging that path was :”>>>. We retraced our steps, and returned to camp.



We sat outside watching the hummers and discussing future trips. While I looked at maps, Jan grilled chicken for dinner. Astute observers will note that the picture below is not chicken, but a fish dish Jan had made earlier but I had forgotten to put it in the blog!



Thursday: Rifle Falls
I took the pups down by the lake and let them run. There was only one cloud in the sky, but it was a big one and it started to rain. Normally the Pups try to avoid rain, but this morning it seemed to invigorate both of them, and they started sprinting through the grass among the trees at high speed. After a quick trip to the golf course for calls, Jan and I headed up to Rifle Falls Park for a hike. We parked just by the entrance and took the Squirrel Trail. Through the woods, along a stream, up and up the curved mountain path. After 40 minutes or so we ended up by the Falls.









At the Falls we picked up Coyote Trail that walked through the caves and up out into a meadow with a pond. Here we admired a Pacific Forktail Damselfly and several Fiery Skipper Moths that were enamored with the purplish red flowers of the bull thistles. As we returned back into the woods we spotted a couple turkeys that shared our path.







Friday: On to Yampa
Friday morning was busy. I had a 6:30 a.m. call with a prospective client from Boca, so I took the Pups out early for a run, and then the three of us headed down to the golf course.

Back at the bus, Jan was ready, and the two of us got back in the car and drove back to Rifle Falls State Park. On the way we saw a couple taking an early morning horseback ride and some horses enjoying hay for breakfast.





We had enjoyed Squirrel Trail so much that we decided to hike it again, and it was just as enjoyable as the day before.







At 9:47 in the morning we pulled out of the park, headed south on 325, and then north on 13. The road was level and the weather perfect as we drove through Meeker and stopped at Craig to fuel up. Here we picked up 40 east, and two miles west of Hayden we pulled into the Yampa River State Park.





Nice and peaceful here with nothing behind us but green, and the Yampa River is about 30 yards from our door. For dinner Jan grilled an amazing vegetable kielbasa dish.

Saturday: Meteor Shower
At 4:00 a.m. I started coffee then quickly went outside to check out the meteor shower--the countryside was dark. Jan came out and we both stood there in the 51-degree cold. We went back inside and saw that we could check things out just as well--and whole lot warmer--by looking through our bedroom window at the eastern sky.

A little later I walked the Pups around the park, then Jan joined us and we did the trek again. While I worked on my Sarasota project, Jan did laundry. Quiet evening around the campfire.

Pups Across America

Here are two shots of a rock-climbing pup from Rifle Mountain Park. I like Jan’s shot the best (the one with the banana peel).





Walking back through the campground at Rifle Falls we spotted this handsome pup who appeared to be holding up the picnic table.

Headlights

August 14: Yampa State Park
August 15-17: Steamboat Lake State Park
August 18-20: State Forest State Park
August 21-28: Boyd Lake State Park
August 29-31: Parker, CO
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 State Parks

Contents

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

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

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Chasing the Sunrise





Upon rising, and while the water is heating for coffee, it is my normal habit to check the weather and forecast online. Although the temperature has risen each day to the low 90s the last week, each morning started in the very pleasant, light-jacket mid to high 50s. This morning, however, it was already 72 degrees at 4:30 a.m. with the promise of quickly heating up. Thus, I decided to walk the Pups quite early, when it was still an enjoyable task and not a bothersome toil. Thus, we were on the Highline Lake Bluffs trail about a half hour before sunrise, my favorite time to be outdoors. With clouds in the East, the colors started to roll in; pastels at first, transitioning to different orange hues, to bold reds and various combinations. Within 30 seconds the pre-sunrise scene you just viewed may have morphed into an entirely different composition.

The Kids seemed to have as much fun as I did on our walk, including a rabbit chase that I was able to at least catch a glimpse of with my camera. You’ll notice that “fast-as-the-wind” Mitzy is the lead chase Pup, hot on the trail--and the tail--of the bunny, with Jerry bolting from the back.



After breakfast I helped Jan pinch-hit for our camp host colleagues, and then I finalized my preparation for my Boston client and tackled some other lingering chores.

Monday: Quick Trip to Boston



Being it was to be a short trip, I left Jan carless and drove to the Grand Junction airport. I took the 6:35 a.m. flight to Dallas, and after a short layover hopped another flight to Boston. I detest driving in Boston, but the cab fare to my hotel and to my client would have been ridiculous, so I rented a car. Had a quiet evening including a nice soaker tub.

Tuesday: Boston
My “what it takes to build a services business” session went very well, and by noon I was back in my rental car arriving at Logan airport in time for lunch. Here I treated myself to a lobster roll and a glass of Sam Adams--there are some benefits of being in Boston! After a couple a flights and a short drive, I arrived back at camp by 9:30 that night.

Wednesday: Rainbows and Computer Screens
Today my hike around Highline was gorgeous. I couldn’t decide which of these two rainbow shots I liked best, so I included both. Which one do you like best?





I spent the rest of the day behind the computer screen, qualifying a new piece of business, giving feedback on a new online course I’m developing, and making and returning calls.

Thursday: Good-bye to Highline
Busy morning! I took the Pups on one last hike around the lake, and after 40-some days of looking, we finally saw the deer herd.



(Note that none of the shots I took this week at Highline had any saturation added--that’s just how awesome the light was those mornings.)

Upon returning I helped Jan get our motor home, BERT, ready to roll, and then headed down to the visitor center to put on a selling webinar (over the phone and Internet) for a couple hundred people in cooperation with my friend Hank from the Professional Services Journal. As soon as the session was over, I walked back and Jan and I finished up preparation for leaving. We said good-bye to friends David and Marjorie and wished them good luck with camp hosting (the new camp hosts replacing us appear to be quite the Butt Heads!).



By noon, Jan was driving, BERT was purring, and the Pups were alternating sitting on my lap, standing on the dash, or sleeping on the sofa. We had a gorgeous 70-mile drive, taking our time through Loma, onto I-75 east past Grand Junction and Palisade, turning east on 85 then east again onto 330. We meandered through Molina, puttered through Plateau City, climbed through Colilbran continuing our upward voyage into Vega Lake State Park.



Golden Eagle
About three miles from the Vega Park entrance, as we turned a corner, Jan and I both saw a large animal of some sort on the side of the road. Within seconds we made the ID—Golden Eagle! As we approached, this very big guy gave us a dismissing look, and then slowly beat his huge wings a couple of times and was gone. I had my camera on my lap, but there was no time for an attempted picture, but the experience was exhilarating. After checking in we got set up and sat outside overlooking the lake and watched the day come to an end.

Friday: Deer Galore
The first thing after coffee, we all piled into our Element and drove back from the park the way we came in hopes of finding the Golden Eagle. No luck this time, but we saw dozens of deer on our way down and back. Instead of returning to BERT we slowly drove around the lake looking for critters. Just before turning into our campground, Jan spotted a young buck on the edge of the forest chomping on leaves. He was not afraid of cars and he let me take several pictures of him less than 30 feet away.



Back at our campsite we had another cup of coffee, then leaving the Kids to finish their breakfast, Jan and I took off in the car once again. Our plan was to take an access road, Forest Road #262 (also called Park Creek Road) for the mile and a half into the Grand Mesa National Forest for some hiking. We slowly crept along the rough dirt road, but the heavy rains from the night before created a fast-running current across our path. After studying the possibility of proceeding, prudence stepped in and we retraced our tracks. Here is a chipmunk munching the top of a tree.



However, our backup plan was a good one, for we hiked the two-mile Vega Trail through an Aspen forest. We saw lots of pretty foliage, flowers, and mushrooms. The pretty but poisonous baneberry was everywhere along with a number of other plants that I couldn’t identify. This is bear country, so Jan carried our bear spray as we headed up and down the narrow overgrown trail that was covered by a thick, dark canopy. We saw no critters, but heard the noise of one very large animal along our way.

As an aside, Vega State Park is at 8,000 feet--it takes a little while getting use to the altitude.







After lunch, I spent time doing business. While I was working I asked Janny to go and find a spot where there was both a good AT&T and a Verizon signal. She came back a couple hours later having explored a large portion of real estate. Taking the Kids, we retraced her steps, driving the 11 miles back toward Collbran, stopping at Gandhi Park. Here I rejoined civilization (I guess), checking for voice messages, downloading e-mails, and responding to those messages requiring immediate action.

In the evening, Jan built a fire, and we sat around watching the activities of the lake and the campsite, smelling the pleasant odors of campfire cooking, and hearing the sound of thunder in the distance.

Saturday: Hungry Hummers, Marmot, and Another Eagle Sighting
I stood outside at dawn, watching the sky colors and the reflections on the lake. I took the Pups out early, down to the boat launch where they could run loose and stretch their little legs.

Hungry Hummers
As soon as we had set up camp the day before, Jan filled our hummingbird feeder and set it on our picnic table. Within five minutes (no kidding) we had a flock of hummers lining up to eat--reminded me of the opening of a new restaurant on the Island at 5:00 p.m. Blue Hair Special time!

By Saturday morning these petite, glutinous avians had devoured the entire contents of the feeder, a concoction of one cup sugar and four cups of water. Jan quickly went into action and filled up the feeder again. These live missiles were so ravenous that one was trying to feed out of the bowl that Jan was using to fill the feeder. Once refilled, we counted 15 hummers either eating or awaiting their turn. Here is not a great shot, but it sure shows the excitement at our picnic table.



A little later the four of us hopped into our car and made the circle of the lake, seeing the occasional deer and admiring the fields of summer flowers. I also took a shot of our campground from the other side of the lake.





At 8:00 a.m. we pulled into the Vega Lodge where we had breakfast overlooking the lake. From there we finished our circumnavigation, stopping to shoot yellow-bellied marmot at their digs. Cute little fellows.







Once back in the coach it was time to work. I’m fortunate in having lots to do, but it was really hard to get motivated to sit at the computer with a setting such as we have! Anyway, after stalling for a while downloading pics, I got to work on my Sarasota project.

Later in the afternoon we decided to go back and look for the Golden Eagle. Jan was driving, I had my camera set up for action on my lap and WHAM! There was the big guy surveying his territory, sailing on the wind over the valley. Jan let me out of the car and went to turn around while I followed this lord of the sky with my viewfinder. I probably got 50 shots off before he vanished from view. The first shot (18 megapixels) was what I saw in my camera, the 35mm equivalent of 640mm (or about 13X if you were looking through binoculars or a spotting scope). I severely cropped the second shot (2.5 MP) just to show a little more of what he looked like. Yes, the light was not the best and he/she was a long way away, but I got my first Golden Eagle photos! I was (and am) one happy camper.





Cowboy Poetry
By sheer luck, we chose to camp at Vega State Park during their annual Cowboy Poetry event. Attendees brought finger food to pass around (Jan made hot wings), and we all sat around on picnic tables and camping chairs listening to local artists playing cowboy songs, followed by readings by cowboy poets. It was really an enjoyable time. Here are a few pics from this event.











If you want to see more cowboy poetry pics, click here.

Pups Across America

Headlights

August 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: Highline Lake Park, Vega State Park, Colorado, Bird photography

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.


.
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.