Trip #80 (11): Colorado Tour II - first emergency room visit

** To see a photo slide show, just double-click on the first image and scroll through**

June 7 – 17, 2016

Colorado: Wolf Creek's Big Meadows, Creede, Lake City, Crawford, Carbondale, Leadville: and then it happened.

Tuesday, June 7
Copy to come later, but here's some pics...
Big Meadows, otherwise known as Little Texas. Most of the campers here were from Texas.

Camp Big Meadows. Not a lot of trees in camp due to the beetle kill, they had to cut most of them down.

Solo trip.

Pretty good spot, and a downhill drag to get the kayak to water.

The bugs and the bird.

How the surrounding area looks after the big fire South Fork a few years ago.

Doing what he does best.

A fish! a little fish, but a fish!

Creede

The coolest fence treatment I've ever seen, in Creede.

Me and a bluebird looking toward the town of Creede from the campground.

Creede Mountain Bluebird.

Love this fence. I think it was Creede, but unsure.

Apparently, this is a relaxing place to be.

For a bit of claustrophobia, an old jail cell from Creede. Trivia: Creede was the last silver boom town in Colorado in the 19th century. The town lept from a population of 600 in 1889 to more than 10,000 people in December 1891.

On the road to Lake City

Alllllllll dead trees. A very sad state of affairs on the road to Lake City.

The obligatory Airstream beauty shot in Lake City.

Lake City

Not sure it gets any better than this. Camping ON Lake San Cristobal in Lake City.

Taken from the kayak, looks so tiny!

Had time to put out a feed to work the hummer shots.

Lake San Cristobal in the morning.

Had dinner here. About the only place open this early in the season. BTW, Mr. Packer was a Lake City cannibal back in the late 1800s.

...no idea why...

On the way to Crawford...

The west Gunnison area, on the way to Crawford has to stop for this view: Curecanti

pano of shot above

Crawford

This is the real deal, just had to stitch two shots together to get it all in.

The most excitement of Crawford as far as we could tell, except for the biker bar full of seniors.

From Crawford, a drive over to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, way way way down there.

Carbondale
 

Celebrating our 27th Anniversary (half my life?!) in Carbondale. Were supposed to be in beautiful town of Glenwood Springs, but we didn't like the RV "resort" there, so found this place instead. Last spot she had.

The view from our very small campground in Carbondale. Had a nice bike ride on the great trail they have there; could have ridden all the way to Aspen but, well, we aren't 20 anymore.

Leadville

Well, we did it. Called 911 on the trail. Thankfully I had my phone. and it was charged. and had a signal too. and I remembered to take a picture!!!

Not a happy camper. Almost done getting wrapped up after a few hours in the emergency room.

The Killer Mountain Bike trail around Turquoise Lake we should have never taken. But we did. About 5 miles around it happened: Bill hit a rock, the bike stopped, and the brake lever stabbed him in the thigh. Blood gushed...

My Jackie O bike glove bloody from holding his bike glove over the "hole" while dialing 911 with the other hand. Glad I can multi-task while shaking...

Hobbling around town in Leadville the next day.

Trip #79 (10): Sedona

May 15 – 20, 2016

Arizona: Homolovi State Park and Oak Creek Canyon / Sedona

Truck passes 90,000 mile mark

Sunday, May 15
Me sick, so delayed departure by a day. To break up trip to Sedona, we stopped for one night at Homolovi State Park outside Winslow. Nice day but very windy. Arrived late in the day but managed to get in a quick walk around ruin #1 behind the campground. Not rebuilt but potsherds all over, what’s left over the years anyway. Super windy so not interested in riding bikes. Busier than expected but picked spot #31.

Junior archaeologists like to pick up pieces and leave them on display, as if the rest of us can't see them ourselves.

Always enjoy new additions to this billboard along I-40

Monday, May 16
Bill drove over for a look at ruin #2 while I took my time getting ready. Still feeling sick so moving slow. A drive down steep Oak Creek Canyon hwy 89A and we were at our campground, Pine Flats, #27. No electricity, but we have the generator. Dark canyons not my favorite. Drove down to the Village of “Old Creeps,” looking around to get the lay of the land. Slipped on a slick rock down by the creek, with sand, and smashed my knee good. Didn’t affect movement, but swelled up quick and ugly.



Tuesday, May 17
Had a rough night of sore throat and coughing, decided I am ready to visit urgent care, need the drugs. Rainy day today, looked at some houses for future reference. Lots of expensive old crap out there, not too encouraging. Found an urgent care on the west side of town, pretty quick in and out with diagnosis of sinus infection. What? Really? I have allergies? That’s what the PA said. On to Walgreens for Z-pak, I could have done that. Big dark clouds over the dark red sandstone, got caught in some rain as we made our way to Oxauca, for a late lunch-dinner. Bad service for us as always, my taco salad pretty gross; Bill said his flautas not bad. Back to the dark canyon...

through the skylight, rain rain rain

What you do when it rains in Sedona.

Wednesday, May 18
Another rainy day, so out driving again to check ’hoods, this time discovered Pine Valley, and the idea of a lot as an alt. Another awful night of coughing.

No need to saturate a photo when it's sunny in Sedona.

Thursday, May 19
Finally a sunny day! Planned on biking around Bell Rock area but busy and not a place to park so did some more touring. Turned out to be several open houses in Pine Valley so we checked out a few. Again, not too encouraging. Later went back to the trailhead and got a parking space. Rode about 1.5 miles uphill on the rocks, 84 degrees full sun, and I was dyin’. Rode back on the highway -- that was enough! Totally out of shape and still remnants of sinus breathing issues. Moving on... More driving around and a visit to the library for some wifi surfing--there is no signal to speak of at the trailer--thanks canyon. Then the final 20 minute drive back up the canyon to camp. Finally got to sit outside with a fire, only to add to all the other smoky campfires that stink up the canyon. Not one of my fave spots to park.

The very short (hot) bike ride.

Friday, May 20
Both of us awake at 5:30 AM so decided to start the day the earliest ever (for me)... Breakfast, packed up and on the road by 7:15 AM!!! 10 am as I write and we are almost to Kayenta. Plus we lose an hour due to DST -- AZ does not participate.

Mileage milestone. In not quite 5 years.

RIP: Morley Safer “60 Minutes” and Allan “Wilbur” Young of “Mr. Ed”

Trip #78 (9): Denver, Farewell to Sue

May 3 – 7, 2016

Tuesday, May 3
Left Durango, finally starting to warm up after two weekends of snow, going as far as Great Sand Dunes National Park for one night. Got a great spot though it took some jamming to get it in there, it's a smaller, older campground. Took a bike ride all downhill to get to the base of the dunes, that was chilly!! Windy too! A large herd of about 20 deer were crossing the road just as we rode down the hill, the last few hesitating to cross as we and a truck were approaching, but they made it. Bill looked like part of the herd. The two miles back was killer, especially considering we haven't ridden since...?
A nice little seasonal river was flowing alongside the base we had to cross, but the water was surprisingly warm, and the higher sands surprisingly hot. Didn't go far, it was about 4pm when we headed back to camp. Quite the uphill ride back. Into a headwind. Ran our now propane-powered generator as this camp has no electric, I'm sure everyone was thrilled with us. Today is the last open day before reservations start — talk about timing. It wasn't too crowded on a Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 4
Drove on to Denver, bypassing Alamosa -- and Starbucks (we forgot to pack coffee, ugh) -- and of course he kept going with only a stop for gas and a stop at Sam's for a return, the rest, nonstop. This trip we are "freestylin'" like Frankie and Mike (Am. Pickers), because reservations were unable to be made (need to do it three days in advance), so all we could secure was one night at Cherry Creek, and hope for the cancellation list. After talking to the front desk, Bill wasn't feeling too confident we'd get a spot so we looked into private campgrounds in Englewood, driving over during rush hour — about 45 minutes to go 11 miles in crawling traffic. Between the Flying Saucer and South Park Mobile Home Community, we chose South Park, off Federal. The joke was that it was 55+ but it was a whole lot nicer than the saucer. So tomorrow morning we will move from Cherry Creek. After being on the road all day with the bonus traffic crawl to Englewood, we decided to stay in for dinner, can't bear another drive. Warm day, low 80s.

Thursday, May 5
Happy Cinco de Mayo!

After a short bike ride we made the move of the day for the next two nights at South Park, which turned out to be quite nice. Super quiet except for traffic, not many people around, and lots of signs, and bunnies, robins and crows hopping around in the green space. Plus we knew we wouldn't be around much with the services for Sue. Set up then headed out for some lunch and shopping close by, knowing we would be meeting the family for dinner WAY over in Lowry — another 45 to an hour drive in traffic. oh joy. Good lunch and margarita at Chili's then some shopping. Met the Martin gang and Amy's family at a pizza place in Lowry, loud Latin celebration at Salty Rita's next door as we sat outside. Kids and dogs everywhere, all having fun. Nice day for it. Tomorrow we will meet again. Oh yeah -- our drive back to the camp turned out to be through the Mexican neighborhood so we got caught up in the Cinco Crawl on Federal, the party was on that night!

Friday, May 6
Long, sad day today. Met the family at Fairmount Cemetery for the ceremony of placing of the ashes into the niche (as Bill about the "ditch"). The four or so kids were running around playing at first, not understanding, but I think Sue would have liked that. After that we moved on to the memorial service at Augustana Lutheran Church, and finally to the reception at the Wellshire Inn at 3pm. All planned out by Sue, down to the tulips that were handed out to guests upon their departure. There was a huge turnout both at the church and reception. Sue was a notable force in the Rotary and greatly respected as evidenced by the speakers and attendance. It was a great farewell.

Sue Fox

August 28, 1946 — April 20, 2016

Saturday, May 7
Colorado being what it is, another storm is moving in, was hoping to take some days to see Shelley,  should we stay or should we go... Bill read the word HAIL, so yes we should go. So off we went, on the road by 8:30 and home by 4:30 — including an iffy drive over Wolf Creek Pass... blue skies south of Denver and west to South Fork, but the gray skies and obvious snow over the mountain had me spooked but he is determined so up the pass we went, then the flurries started half way up, then it went from 46 degrees down to 26, and all I can say is thank God the snow wasn't sticking yet and the roads were just wet, not icy, and we made it over safely — AND I NEVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN. I live by the "what if." 7 miles of downhill at 7%, even in second gear you have to brake a lot, especially when being pushed by a 7000 lb trailer... whew.

RIP: Shiprock girl; Trump becomes presumptive candidate

Trip #77 (8): Denver, visit Sue

April 8 – 15, 2016

Friday and Saturday: Two nights at a very windy Walsenburg, CO, at Lathrop State Park. Brought bikes, but no way riding them. Saturday took a drive over to La Veta.

Sunday, April 10
Arrived to blackening skies in Cherry Creek State Park. Stopped at Castle Rock Outlets but of course on the way up. Getting stormy out, went to dinner at Cheddars in Parker.

Monday, April 11
Shopped all morning, lunch at Macaroni Grill, then back for a nap! Went over to Bob and Sue’s later in the afternoon for a visit. Sue hasn't eaten in weeks and very weak, only sips water. Moves slow and very tired but able to sit out in the livingroom and visit, text and read the paper. Big beef dino rib night, hahaa

Tuesday, April 12
Over to Bob and Sue's to stay with her while Bob got out for some errands. In for a pizza night. Sue very weak and of course not joining us; naps often.

Wednesday, April 13
Cooked dinner at the house with Bob; Amy arrived that evening. Supposed to stay another night but we are keeping an eye on the weather...

Thursday, April 14 
Storm is brewing, gotta leave now!! Hit the road early and got home in time. Snowed all day on the weekend at home. Denver also got hit with a big storm.

Trip #76 (7): Arizona: Tucson & Cottonwood

 March 13 – 23, 2016



Sunday, March 13
Earliest start ever and on first day of time change, left house at 6am! OK technically 7am Durango time, but I'll call it 6. Cool 27 degrees in Durango but the day will warm as we get south. Got to RV storage around 2pm -- so early! Checked out the future campground across the street (instead of spending first nights at a casino) and then Bill pressure sprayed off the dust before we took off for Lost Dutchman. Gorgeous day, gorgeous sunset. Had dinner at Los Gringos, which was packed and had a very annoying woman laughing loudly with at everything—the whole table did for that matter, glad to get out of there, tho we did sit outside, it was nice out. Spot #24, on the outer ring, nice.

Monday, March 14
Drove down to Tucson on Highway 79 through Florence. Pinal Pioneers Parkway they call it. Arrived to a "Campground Full" sign at Catalina State Park, but sure didn't look like it inside. Either way, we have reservations for 5 days; Spot #B-9. Had a lady walk behind the site to say it was the best site in the campground. Really? as you walk through it? OK, thanks. Set up all over again, marveling that we've only been here for 24 hours... There are tons of small prairie dogs running all over the campground, loving the birdseed that falls from the many feeders throughout the park, so I decided to take their photos. They put on a show climbing the trees to get to the new leaves sprouting on the trees. Got some good shots. Later went to Trader Joe's and the Happy Saguaro, a Mexican imports shop with everything you could ever want -- and I don't need a thing. Maybe next time.

Tuesday, March 15
Today is a super Tuesday for the campaigns, listening to the media try to take down Trump; I hope they don't. They lie anyway. There is an In 'n Out Burger across the street here; perhaps today is the day...  : )  But after a bike ride. Yesterday I had no energy, I hope today is better.

Yes today was definitely better. We biked the paved trail across Oracle road, and tried to keep going, as this is our first outing in MONTHS; at least since December in Florida. We are sooooooo fat and out of shape…. anyway, fantastic trail so we finally turned around when we realized it was easy going because it had been a gradual downhill. As planned, our final stop was at the In 'n Out burger across the street! We did about 14 miles. And had my first flying dutchman -- didn't realize that meant no bun. The Atkins burger! Later we went to Trader Joe's and the Marketplace shopping across Oracle. This is a good spot. Spend some nice idle time watching and photographing the cute prairie dogs. Weather was warm but not killer. They say it's been 10 degrees over normal. High was in the low 80s.

Wednesday, March 16
Going to be warmer today so went for a hike/walk earlier, about 10 am here at the park on the 50 Year Trail. It's all a gradual uphill, and after we got past the horse part of it it was quite nice, lots of cactus and creatures. Saw a roadrunner and while searching for the pee spot higher up on a ridge I seemed to have spooked a, what I later learned, was a mountain sheep. All I saw was a wide rear-end, bigger than a dog and later read they have been introduced and that you should stay on the trail and not spook them because it's lambing season. oops. didn't know that. sorry. Turned around after a few miles and figure we did at least 5 miles. Pretty warm on the way down. Done by 12:30. Later drove south through downtown on our way to HF Coors to check off the pottery. Got two mugs for Susan, but I declined. Kinda big for me. And to be honest, not overly impressed with half of the stock, those mugs are the best things. Made in Tucson -- hiring the wrong artists for the other stuff if you ax me. Hit many shops on the way back to camp in search of a floor rug;  to no avail. But had dinner at El Charro and oh lucky us, Happy Hour. In camp we saw a scarlet tanager. Which in fact thanks to Kelsey was a Vermillion Flycatcher.

Thursday, March 17
Biked on the city bike trail for a ways today, ended up being 21 miles in total. Went as far as the Conquistadores golf tournament until Bill insisted we turn around.  Gorgeous day. It warming up, mid 80s, though not too bad. Had lunch at In 'n Out Burger (#2) then rode over to the marketplace to shop. Bill lasted a few stores then rode home, I on the other hand even made it to Walmart. Worked for over an hour, got a call from O'Connor, had happy hour and finally picked a place for dinner: High Falutin' down Oracle. Not bad, out of corned beef tho, and the loudest table of 6 I ever heard (except for the table of 4 last Sunday). People seem to have extremely boisterous laughs down here, man o man. Hit Trader Joe's on the way home. Not bad livin' down here in Tucson.

Friday, March 18
Art show today downtown at the museum of art. Got an early start and buzzed thru (all the elderly retirees); left empty-handed. Some nice things tho. Had lunch at an Italian place off Craycroft, sat outside on a perfect day, on to more shopping: hobby lobby, BBB, Borderlands, and Macy's and REI, and a Safeway. Got a set of grey towels for the trailer; no more second-hand mixed colors! We also got a new heater for the trailer. Had planned on taking a bike ride to end the day but my back tire was completely flat so didn't go anywhere. Happy hour with guacamole and called it dinner. Streamed a Netflix movie, it works!

Saturday, March 19
Packing up to move to Cottonwood. Bill found a huge cactus spike in my bike tire. Tire and tube. Fixed that too, after a trip to the bike shop. One more lunch at In 'n Out (#3) then we hit the road. Warmer today glad we are leaving. But sure was nice to be there 5 days. Had to use the blue boy twice. Said bye to Spot (prairie dog who shared our site). Right know sitting in traffic on I-10 for an accident. There goes the 3:30 arrival time probably. Oh wait, then there was another on I-17 north of Phoenix for another 30 minutes at lease so we arrived at 4:30 instead of 3:30. Very busy weekend, lots going on apparently. 88 degrees, then 92... glad we are moving north. Found Redtail campground and our Spot #69, and also a skateboard and bacci ball kit in the driveway... sloppy neighbors who think they own the joint. This will be fun. Hoping they move along tomorrow morning, since bacci balls are flying around as well as frisbees and they don't care if they hit trucks. guess this is karma for all the shit I did with mark and chris... and God knows what bill did with whom. Outside typing this with a very bright 5/8ths of a moon shining brightly overhead. I bet this will be a smoky camp tonight, doesn't look like our Tucson crown of retired quiet types!

RIP: Frank Sinatra Jr.