Trip #51 (19): Florida for Christmas

December 5, 2012 - Jan 14, 2013

Durango to Florida, by way of Phoenix, El Paso, San Antonio, New Orleans and St Pete.
Return through Ocala, Santa Rosa Beach, Baton Rouge, Rodeo, Tombstone, Tucson.

Trip #50 (18): Grand Canyon, Prescott & Phoenix

November 4 - 12, 2012

Grand Canyon, Prescott and Phoenix

Trip #49 (17): Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico

October 4 - 9, 2012

Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Trip #48 (16): Moab & Bluff, Utah

September 29 – October 3, 2012

Moab 4x4 & Bluff's Comb Ridge

Saturday, Sept. 29

Beating up a perfectly good car.

Heading for the edge to see the Colorado River below.

Along the Chicken Corners trail, outside Moab, Utah

Visions of what the Anasazi might have looked like.

Trip #47 (15): Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah & Colorado

August 15 - September 8, 2012
June 3 - 15, 2012

Montana: Big Sky, Custer Battlefield,
Wyoming: Yellowstone, Cody Historical Center
South Dakota: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Deadwood, Custer State Park, Missile Site; Utah, Idaho

Utah: Utah Lake, Provo, the Mormon Trail
Idaho: Mesa Falls
Montana: Wade Lake Fly Fishing, Bozeman, Hutterite Farmer's Market, Gallatin River
Wyoming: Yellowstone NP, Cody: Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Crow Agency: Bighorn/Custer Battlefield, Devil's Tower, Fort Laramie, Oregon Trail Wagon Ruts
South Dakota: Deadwood, The Badlands, Minuteman Missile Site, Wall Drug, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial
Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park

Wednesday, August 15
Did a full day's drive of 352 miles through Moab, making it all the way to Provo, Utah, where we camped at Utah Lake State Park (B-23) for the night. It was OK just a few campers, but a little buggy along the grassy shores. Arrived around 4 so had time to get in a little shopping (a mall!) and dinner at PF Changs.

Thursday, August 16
Got an early start leaving Provo heading toward the east to take the scenic and slower winding route toward Evanston, Wyoming and onward. We would cross the Idaho-Wyoming border numerous times, nice drive. Stopped for lunch along the road next to the city park in the little town of Randolph, Utah. Suddenly we were surrounded with a wagon train of white boxes who liked our idea of a nice place to lunch. Continued on to our final destination of Palisades Reservoir in Idaho for the night. Small campground, good for fishermen. A little on the warm side but we got in some walks. The water was way down in the rez. Saw a deer checking us out in the am. Had to drive across the one-lane dam to get to it, that was exciting. We would have six state border crossings this day, driving 89. 262 miles today

Friday, August 17
Today we're driving on the west side of the Grand Tetons, which we could barely see due to the smoke of some distant fires. Stopped for breakfast in Driggs, a cute little town which happened to be having their farmer's market as well. Because we were walking past it we had breakfast in O'Rourke's Irish Pub, not exactly the organic bistro... but it was good altho salty but what isn't in the restaurant world. Enjoyed the little farmer's market, got some breakfast bread to take to the O'C's. Drove on with one more stop at Mesa Falls for some pics, it was a nice stop but a tad warm out in the sun. Shade was a relief. Cute little museum there too where Bill had a black bear attack. Drove on now about 3pm finally making our way toward Big Sky where we would spend the next 5 nights off-wheels at the Chateau Niblick, located inside the world famous O-C Ranch. After settling down we went up the meadow for dinner then did a drive around to some defunct developments which are experience major settling problems.....  217 miles today.

Saturday, August 18
Big day in town -- we all piled in the Ranch mobile to visit the very large Bozeman Farmer's Market and Hutterite veggie stand at the Four Corners. Saw what he had and would come back later. Got some great Flathead cherries which we ate as we walked and some other fun things and food. We also went to the Manhattan Potato Festival which was HOT, crowded and had no potatoes! So we left and had lunch at the old Stacy's bar in Gallatin Gateway. Neat old bar with a good burger. Got out of for a short hike up above the ranch and got a good 360 view of the beautiful mountain scenery. Stayed in for dinner and make a beer can chicken for dinner and had lots of laughs.

Sunday, August 19
Fishing day! Drove south to Wade Lake and our host hauled his raft down for some fly fishing on an alpine lake. Stopped for Bill to get a license and I decided I'd rather row. And I loved it by the way. The day was overcast so the temps were just right. Another couple came along with their little one-man raft so we spent the day on the lake shores, floating, rowing, knitting and not catching any fish. The wind picked up later in the day, the smoke rolled in, and the temps dropped so we left to have dinner at the Grizzly restaurant and headed home.

Monday, August 20
Ladies Shopping Day! The men did whatever, but we gals had a list of destinations and spent the whole day checking off the list in Bozeman. Yarn shops, furniture, clothing, and an unexpected lunch date at the Over Easy. Got back late, like after 5, so we ate in having Mojo crock pot pork. Introduced our hosts to Bananagrams and staying up late to play a special game and laughed myself to sleep with words I cannot repeat here.

Tuesday, August 21
One last day of fishing along the Gallatin River just a few miles from the O'C Ranch. He said he caught one up the river, but we gals were knitting and didn't see it. Went to a final dinner at the Buck's 4T and tomorrow we would head out.

Wednesay, August 22
Hit the road by 8:30, stopped for provisions (and a yarn shop) in West Yellowstone and headed to our campground at Bay Bridge taking the west drive around the lower park loop. At first we weren't too thrilled with the look of the campground, but later we would find it had a new charm: Bison! they roam all through the campground, it was amazing! And freakin' scary when we walked in the dark to the 9pm Ranger Program and could just make them out in the distance. Coming back, in pitch dark, not sure where to walk with just a little flashlight, we heard a snort and I freaked! Where are they??!!! You can't see them but just ahead I could make out bumps and there they were, we were walking right toward them! I don't know their behavior and didn't know if the flashlight would scare them and make them well, stampede our way, so yeah I was freaking and we headed toward the left hoping they weren't there too. That was a SCARY walk back, just a quarter of a moon up there not helping for sight. I will NOT do that walk again tonight: and the talk is on Bisons. There's signs about not approaching bison but I didn't thing they'd surround a camper! wow, really strange. We had spent the later part of the afternoon driving around the park (I actually took an unplanned nap after we got here about 1:30) and got some good shots of buff along the road. They were all over and cars were stopping all over. Sometimes they had to because the buffs were crossing the road.  We need to get an early start and maybe we could see some wolves in the Lamar Valley. Right now I smell sulphur which could be from the mud pots up the road. P U. Gotta get ready for a hike now, it's 54 degrees and sunny. The campground isn't very crowded which is nice.

Wed - after nap drove around up the canyon to the canyon village

Thursday - 42 in the am
Hiked nearby up Elephant Back about a 5 mile round trip. Nice hike but up tho it allows a view of the lake up there but it was smoked in. Next to Prismatic thermal to climb the ashy hill behind it for the overhead shot. climbed as high as we could and took as many pics as we could before practically sliding down to leave. Next we stopped at Biscuit Basin for more thermals, adding an unplanned two mile RT hike to Mystic Falls, very pretty. Upon leaving, we were getting a drink at the truck when we heard an explosion and turned to see the Black Diamond Pool EXPLODE in a huge geyser burst, throwing black crud and steam I bet 30 feet in the air. People along the shore were astounded to say the least. I'm so glad we got to see that -- we asked around to the rangers to see how often it goes off and were told it has no schedule but maybe every few days. extra cool. Decided to skip Old Faithful this time, it was getting warm, maybe 80 but hotter in the sun, so we came back to hang out. While sitting outside I could hear the low growls of the buffalo approaching when I knew they were coming in. Bill was in the shower, and the guy next door says you're not goin in are you? Of course not i said, as I warned bill and got another camera. Went to bison talk at 9, no buffs on trail home,

Friday
got a burly to go to Hayden Valley for animal spotting, but saw nothing. Some people think they saw a wolf but I think it was a rock. We did a 2+ mile RT hike to Wapiti (where a man was eaten last yer BTW) so I was very nervous and on high alert as well. Other trails off this were closed which made me more nervous not knowing why (more bears?) but later was told it was to protect wolf dens. so ok. It lead us to Clear Lake, a stinky sulfur lake that you didn't want to stick around long for. Coming back was better, I felt safer and we were on a high open plain and had some ravens and a big hawk flying overhead. We were pooped from yesterday and though we decided that was enough hiking, we then hiked from Upper Falls to Artist Point, another 2 miles RT, and very steep. Carrying that camera backpack was HEAVY. Just so I could get some hazy smoky shots, poo, but had to try. Next went to Canyon Village to poke around, then to Fishing Bridge Village (where they say you can spot grizzly but we didn't) and noticed "our" herd of bison were roaming there. Must have been because they didn't come back to camp this night. But they sure do like to go where the people are. Came back, napped, then walked over to the marina here and along the lake and back. After dinner the talk to night was on wolves at 9 -- too tired so instead we watched some Dances with Wolves.

Saturday,
Today we leave and head for Cody, Wyoming. Drove over Sylvan Pass out of the park where we noticed many more signs warning of grizzly action, but saw none. Stopped at the end of the pass to pee when a car pulled ahead of us and started asking about the trailer. Sheesh the grinning old man was creepy but excited about the trailer I guess. All I could think of was Deliverance. Cody was a small town but we walked around downtown and had lunch at a Mexican place. Finally got to the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum and was blown away! It was fabulous, 5 museums under one roof: Buffalo Bill, Yellowstone, firearms, western art, and plains Indians. Saw them all, quickly by the time they closed at 6. too bad the gift shop was so overpriced so I left with no souvenirs. Camped at BB state park on the big lake, but a good spot, no electric, but collected some nice smooth driftwood from the shores.

Sunday,
Left Cody for Custer Battlefield. Warming up, after a stop at a Ranger station we changed our route to stay out of the mountains to go back up to Montana for Custer. Went east before Billings but did manage to do a little damage at Cabelas. Arrived at the Crow Agency but decided to move on past the battlefield site and camped at 7th Ranch private RV place with electric and wifi. Though not much wifi as free wifi usually is. But, we got free ice cream bars! woo hoo! Nice location and now we know we might have been on ground the troops passed over back in 1876, as in the distance we could see cars driving along the battle ridge of the monument to the north. I alone walked up hill behind the campground to where the flag was and surveyed the terrain; so much history here ...and my kingdom for my metal detector. Alas I don't want to do the time for that. We arranged for a late checkout so we could go to the park tomorrow. Getting warmer, which is why we wanted a CG with electric, need to run the a/c.

Mon Aug 27
Left for the battlefield about 8am, it was just down the road about 6 miles. We sat for the ranger talk first which really helped with our understanding of what happened. He mentioned several misconceptions, one of which I had: that Custer was surprised by the number of Indians present. Here they told us he was informed by scouts about the size of the village and he disregarded the info. He was also told to take more troops and he didn't think he'd need them. And he was following orders; it wasn't his idea to do this in the first place. He just thought fighting Indians was a sure thing for the US. Well it wasn't, as we stood on the last-stand hill seeing all the white marble markers showing where soldiers fell. And also red marble ones to show where Indians fell. Excavations were done in 1954 (even a body was found then) and 1984 with ballistics so more of the story could be put together. So basically we were looking at this wide open, undulating landscape, trying to imagine two forces clashing, which is hard to do, until you start picturing a Hollywood movie. Like, Joey Bishop as the Indian (and by the way, they do say “Indians" up here.) So I guess the best thing to do would be to come back at the end of June (this happened around June 25-26) for the re-enactment. wow, that would be something to see I'd think. I'll have to read more about that. So for now we just did the drive to the other end, which is on private land now, tried to follow all the details from our borrowed cassette tape but soon just drove back and more enjoyed the small herd of horses which just passed through. The Crow students also offer they own tour with the Indian side of the story but we didn't have time to do both. Next time. So for now I left with a sad and depressed feeling, walking on that very ground... guess I better not go to Gettysburg anytime soon. And did I mention it was 95º by noon? We left the RV camp about 1:30 for a longer drive to our next stop: Keyhole Lake State Park. We didn't arrive until about 5pm but did get an electric spot. Good thing: the car thermometer read 98 degrees most of the day. It actually read 105 after a fuel stop in Sheridan. That was a bigger town, population 30,000 and a larger downtown area, but it was only a drive-by for us. Nice little park here but it's only a one-nighter so wont get to see much. Tomorrow it's Devil's Tower and Deadwood.

Tuesday, August 28
Drove through beautiful open land, once home to roaming Indians and buffalo I imagine, to get to Deadwood in the Black Hills. A little bummed that it turned out to be mostly casinos with some history. (where's all the coffee shops???) Very hot today so we picked a private RV campground with electric but without shade and 95º this little Airstream does not cool off at all. Do you go outside and bake? or stay inside and stifle? Bill had a conference call with the film board scheduled for 5:30 so after driving up to see the Deadwood cemetery to see Wild Bill Hickcock's and Calamity Jane's graves and many more, plus a trip up to Lead for groceries, he got ready for that at camp and I hoofed it the mile or so to town. We decided he would meet me there later for dinner and we'd take the trolley back. Well, I made it to town on the lovely Mickelson Rail to Trail, continued to walk all over this small town, now it's 6:45 and he's still in his meeting! Running out of things to do at this hour,  I walked all the way back, and it was still hot. Thank goodness it was a dry heat so I only felt like the bread baking in the oven rather than a rice steamer.... No matter, it just sucks when you have no place to go to really cool off. Our coolest place has been the truck! We drove in to town to for dinner at Hickcock's steakhouse, eating in a faux mine-shaft type basement but food not bad for a casino. And a smoke-free casino at that -- also enjoyed $1 worth of fun on a penny machine! Bill had enough of that so when that was gone (appx. 12 minutes) we had to leave. So that was Deadwood. Can't say we'd hurry back.

Wednesday, Aug 29 - The Hottest Day
Left Deadwood earlyish, getting hot already. I think it was 90 by 10:30am. We are scheduled for two nights in the Badlands, but with this heat we are reconsidering that plan. It's a short drive—maybe 70 miles from Deadwood to the Badlands—and knowing how hot it will be we were trying to find ways to kill time... Went to the Rapid City Best Buy where I got a new little camera! My four-year-old one is spotting and we can't clean it so maybe it's time. Next stop the famous Wall Drug, a huge complex along the lines of South of the Border and See Rock City I guess. Shop after shop in the middle of nowhere along I-90. So now it's bouncing between 107 and 109, we get to Wall and PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THEIR DOGS IN THEIR CARS IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THEIR WINDOWS CRACKED. I freaked at the sight of the first one -- should have called the police, but another couple was watching so we went on in, but my mind was on all the barking I heard. Nothing could last long in this incredible heat. Quite the tourist place, we buzzed through (actually their western store was pretty good) and moved on to some other shops. Across the way I learned from a shop owner that I can go get the police if I see a dog in the car. None of the dumbasses at Wall told me that when I asked how many dogs die out there each year. So I was ready to go get the fuzz but now there was no more barking. I only hope that's because they moved on.

110+ now and we're stopping just north of the Badlands to the Minuteman Missile sites visitor center to find out about the tour. The heat is beyond words: to be out in that HOT blowing heat with no shade -- pure hades -- how do the animals do it? I have no idea. So the tour only takes 6 at a time to the site, there's one ticket left, and when I heard you cram into a small elevator to go down in the ground I quickly decided I'd sit this one out, not a problem. Now we had to kill an hour before that tour so we loitered in a convenience store then drove the 6 miles back on I-90 to the exit. You would never know what was under the ground there a quarter mile from the highway. But I saw a bunch of horses and thought this could be my chance to photograph a hose in the wind, something i've been trying to do since Utah. So after standing around with the tour people trying to find the shade of a telephone pole... forget it, have fun, I'm going up to where we parked the trailer and where the horses are. Where the horses, it turned out, are not confined by a fence and were soon coming over to visit! agh! It was still 110 and here they each come by to check out me and the trailer. It was so cool, but did't know if I'd get bit or what as some just came straight at me. Sweat is pouring out but still I shot and shot. This had to be way better than cramming into a small elevator!

The tour is of the Delta-01 Minuteman Launch Control Facility where 3 Launch Control officers and 6 Security officers lived for 24 hours a day for 30 years watching and waiting to launch 10 Minuteman missiles spread out over the prairie in case of a nuclear attack. There were non-descript buildings on the surface and a metal capsule buried in concrete below where the launch control operations were protected by a 5' thick metal door. Russia had missiles trained on these locations so they need to be able to withstand a nuclear blast. It's a very small capsule and it is somewhat eerie to think about the destructive force capable of being unleashed by the turn of two launch keys.

On to the Badlands, blew through at 5pm and at 109 too hot to stop to photograph. We'll save that for tomorrow. Got a shady spot but again, the hot trailer can't cool down fast so we did laundry -- oh good, a hot room to hang around in near the dryer. Don't have words for this place except it is a bad land... ugh. No place for relief except the KOA store where we wandered in often. Just wanted this day to be over because I think heat stroke is one degree away.

Thursday, Aug 30
Got out of the Badlands -- did I mention we just happened to hit this friggin' heat wave? -- as soon as we could. Will have to come back in the spring or fall sometime, but it was not too interesting anyway, much like our Bisti Badlands. One photo can suffice. The history here is that Sioux chief Bigfoot and his band made a trek through here on his way down to Wounded Knee where he and hundreds of others were killed. So we left and were looking for more ways to beat the heat because if we get to a campground it's too hot to do anything, so I conned him into taking me to the Rapid City Mall. Our filler-night would be at Sheridan Lake, south of us, where we got a nice, yet steep spot above the lake #53. A state park in the trees back in the Black HIlls with no hookups but a little cooler so not as bad as open land. With the help of a squirrel, I gave the new Canon SX 260 a real trial and my worse fears were realized: I don't like this camera. I don't like the focus, how it's held, the purple tint to the images, the high contrast i got shooting white goat butts in the Badlands and the 20x zoom isn't that much more than my old 10x. The decision has now been made: it's going back.

Friday, Aug 31
Left Sheridan Lake to move on to Custer Park for the big 5-day stay. Spot #14E with electric! No water, but we're close to the spigot. Very quiet spot, that is, until we arrived... This is the park where Custer was sent west to survey the land, secretly hoping to find gold, which they did. So much for the Fort Laramie Treaty with the Indians. Hope there's enough to do or we'll move on. Today's high was around 88, too hot to hike. Did the short drive south to the park. Saw Crazy Horse Monument from the highway off in the distance, will go see that soon. Noticing a lot of large and small patches of dead trees from the beetle damage here in the Black Hills, very sad. Saw on the news they're trying to stay ahead of it but it's not easy, as every other state knows. We are camped at Stockade South Campground, near the west entrance, and also hear a small rebuilt historic stockade from the gold rush days when the whites were illegally entering Sioux land to start panning. They needed the stockade for when the injun attacks started; 7 very small cabins inside the walls. Doesn't look like it was much fun. Once again I was hit by a wave of TIRED so after setting up in the warm, with no where to cool off I pretty much just tried to nap off a few hours. Finally by about 4 we hit the road for the park's lower loop, the wildlife drive loop, which looked huge on the map but wasn't too bad, and did the drive. It took about an hour with many stops to photograph buffalo, deer, female bighorn sheep (with shorter horns), pronghorn antelope, and some wild burros, which used to work hauling visitors up to Harney peak and were then released into the wild. They come right up to you very friendly-like, covered in flies poor things, but I think are looking for a handout. Cute anyway. Didn't look like they were short of food. Blue full moon tonight.

Saturday, Sept. 1
This is supposed to be the last hot day: 90. Therefore, as much as we want to hike it will be a car day to visit Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Took the park road north to Rushmore but had a short holdup: some guy chickened out of taking his trailer through a tunnel, tried to back up, and got stuck cross-ways in front of a one-way tunnel. How embarrassing; I noticed his wife wouldn't get out of the car.The rest of us made snide remarks and took pics. Finally got to Mt. Rushmore, packed with visitors but well worth the trip. It really was amazing.
Lunch at Hill City, warm but not killer. bad Mexican at Rico.
On to crazy horse, awesome, good museums, Indian art sales, kitty came out of the artist studio
To Custer for groceries and look around. discovered Dark canyon Highland glug delicious.
watched Lonesome Dove part 1.

Sunday, Sept. 2
Hike day. Chose Sylvan Lake hike #9 to Harney Peak for the overlook of whole area. Very crowded and I couldn't believe who was making the 6-mile round trip hike: all ages, from infants to 70+. Came back down on trail #4 so all together we probably did 7.2 miles. I was pooped. We came out at an unexpected trailhead, Little Devil Tower, and Bill checked his GPS to see where we were and he said the milage was 6.66. SWEAR well he swears. Went to town for a Studebaker car show in Custer but only a few left. Looked around -- they pipe music over speakers on main street, weird -- and came back for the night. Watched Lonesome Dove part 2.

Monday, Sept. 3
Decided to leave Custer a few days early, we've done what we wanted so far. Planned to drive as far as Guernsey, but ended up in Loveland Colorado today! Visited Fort Laramie -- it was 89 hot and sunny degrees --  but wandered around the grounds going in and out of the restored buildings. This place started as Fort William for the fur trade in 1839? and was purchased by the government to become a military post in 1849 to protect travelers on the Oregon Trail. But most importantly, it was the site of the start of the Indian wars with the Gratton massacre, and also the site of the signing of the Treaty of 1868 promising the Black Hills to the Indians, which was never enforced after gold was discovered. Also the Bozeman Trail was part of this. After that, in another 10 miles, we were in Guernsey and saw a sign about Oregon Trail wagon ruts! GO THERE! From there we checked out the state campground and decided it was too hot and continued driving down to Cheyenne. The only campground we found was also hot (on the interstate and jammed), so we kept on driving to Loveland and Boyd Lake State Park. Very nice! We must be back in CO: paved level sites and grass. A nice change. Still so hot today I want to go to RMNP tomorrow where it will only reach 77. So we booked it. Went to Dinner at McGraffs and very tired from a long, baking day.

Tuesday, Sept. 4
Nice short stay in Loveland, and hopefully the last hot day (didn't I say that before?). Moved 35 west to Rocky Mountain National Park for the next 2 nights. A wonderful 75 degrees up here at 8,000 feet and my first headache in weeks.... hmmm is it the altitude? If so, I'm in trouble. But it didn't last, must have been the nauseating curvy drive to get here. Once here, we were able to secure a different spot than we had reserved and it's fabulous! Opens to a big meadow and is surrounded with aspens. Couldn't ax for more. Hiked 6.75 miles from the campground to the Cub Lake. Once at the lake the gray jays, aka camp robbers, started to appear. So we got out a bar and sure enough they'd fly down and sit on your hand for some food. First it was one jay, then came a stellar's jay, then three more camp robbers, then a few ground squirrels, a chipmunk and finally, two DUCKS! I guess everyone gets fed, and expects to get fed, at this point. Felt like Dr. Dolittle. Or Noah. or Ace Ventura in his livingroom. Also saw a snake. But best of all was the elk on the trail coming back. Everyone was tiptoeing around taking pics, including me, but really we just wanted to get back! Hurry up and eat. Came back and it's nice and cool FINALLY outside here as I type this.

Wednesday, Sept. 5
Four nice young bucks (the kind with antlers) came through camp this morning, followed by a gaggle of deer papparazzi who followed them down the road for an hour. Geez you would have thought (? didn’t finish sentence). Today we took an old, one-way gravel Fall River Trail up to the top visitor center, had a cappacino. Pretty busy up there even now after Labor Day. Kinda cool with the wind blowing too, about 58 degrees. Coming back down on the Alpine Drive road when we decided to stop and check out an overlook. Walking out I noticed a man in a Touareg Rally 2010 sweatshirt -- what -- he turns around and it's Rick Smith! Walking toward me is Ann! Talk about a small world. Just a chance meeting at 12,000 feet! They were visiting from Lubbock, like they do every year. Needless to say, we were all dumbfounded. Went to town for a bit, and came back and hiked about two miles on the Fern Trail. Weather not as warm today and by now it was 4pm. Came back to find a note from the Ranger: they had confiscated the Pam spray we left on the picnic table (it was empty), and also chastised us for attracting black bears by leaving out the can, and "burning pine cones and collecting wood." What? We had made a fire last night, with wood we brought, in the dark, and in the morning I had noticed the pine cones around the pit, but they weren't from us -- they were from the previous campers. And we got the sh*t for it! I could tell by the handwriting on the card it was a female ranger, with all her talk on the back that "if everyone burned pine cones then the squirrels would have nothing to eat…" Oh brother! So I wrote on the card, yes we forgot the spray, but the pine cones and wood were there when we got here. The Host did not clean up." There, back at ya! We were so glad to burn our own wood -- we've been dragging it around since the trip to Arizona and haven't been able to burn it due to fire bans all over the place. I didn't mention the picnic table was also pulled way close to the front and propped up on rocks. Oh well, spot #135 was a great one to remember, but make sure your space is clean if you have a fire. They are watching. Took a walk at dusk after dinner and that was Wednesday.

Thursday, Sept. 6
Moving on today to Denver. While packing up the bucks came through again but no one was following them. I thought they'd be back. This time they were more in the sun so I could get a better shot. Short drive to Denver, and it would get up to 92 today. Bill did his heroic job driving the interstates in traffic getting us to Cherry Creek State Park for the night. Did some shopping. Returned the camera, and met Sue for dinner at Saharas, middle eastern cuisine. Part III of Lonesome Dove. Supposed to be cooler tomorrow. That would be nice. We're almost home, figures.

Friday, Sept. 7
Yes it's cooler so far, and overcast.

[end of story, writer did not finish, dumb bitch…]


 

Trip #46 (14): Telluride, CO

July 27 - 30, 2012

Telluride Long Weekend

Friday, July 27
Arrived at the Sunshine campground outside Telluride about 2pm and immediately I could feel the altitude. The campground is at 9,500 feet and all I wanted to do was sleep. So I did, for a few minutes. We just hung around this first night, nothing exciting. We were in spot #2 and Bill had to grill in the rain.

Saturday, July 28
Woke to more gray skies but it let up in time for a great hike at Lizard Head Pass. Really liked this hike, at least the first part, then it got steeper but we plodded on to the Lizard Head view point. We could have gone another mile down to Wilson’s Meadow, but that would have required hiking back UP to return, so we left it at that, all in all a little over 6 miles total. Had dinner in town -- arriving just in time for yet another downpour right as we parked, so bee-lined to Floradora for a quick bite. With this weather we needed more movies, so we now have a Telluride Library Card (and they have a great selection of DVDs).

Looking down toward Trout Lake below.

Clear lake way up there.

Huge Indian paintbrush.

Forget what these are but they were all over.

Finally, a view of the Lizard Head.

And came back to more rain...

Sunday, July 29

Gray skies again this morning…but again it cleared in time for a hike. This time it was Cross Mountain Hike, as suggested by the librarian. Another beautiful hike, just two miles south of the Lizard Head Pass hike, but she neglected to tell us it was ALLLLL uphill. When you finally get to an almost level area, you looking at that lizard head again. We found a place to have lunch and… it started raining again. But it stopped quick and then sun came out. Weird, one minute it looks like January and the next you’re peeling off layers. Coming back down was almost as tiring, though much quicker -- but you had to put on the brakes the whole way down it was so steep. More rain later, but it broke at sunset so I could get out and get some pics from the campground. It’s a nice and small campground, but there’s no where else to go closeby as it’s right off the highway.

So we climbed over 1000 feet in two miles. I felt like the old mule.

Just finished raining, really pretty up there. Such a different feel from even Durango. So close, yet so different.

The other side of the Lizard Head. We just couldn't get ourselves to do this last climb, up up up.

Vermillion Peak from the Cross Mountain Hike. The sun was out long enough to brighten it up.

Aspens through the rain streaked trailer windows.

Sunset from the campground.

 
Monday, July 30
We’re heading home today which is probably why we woke to blue skies. Drove into Telluride before 8am to get breakfast and return the DVDs, and got an interesting shot of the meadow before the sun flooded it with light. Looks like winter. Also saw a herd of elk lounging in the meadow. Nice place, but gotta go. 

Morning in the meadow.

Elk grazing in the meadow.

Aftermath of the Weber Canyon fire near Mancos...I bet the price on that lot is real cheap now.

Trip #45 (13): Colorado Mountain Towns

June 3 - 15, 2012

Colorado mountain towns: Denver, Leadville, Gunnison, Crested Butte & Ridgway

Sunday, June 3
Our northern-most destination this trip will be Denver but today we’d go as far as Walsenburg in southeast Colorado. Nice weather, though warm, but smooth sailing. The NM wildfire is blazing north of Silver City, but we drove thru some heavy smoke west of Pagosa where they have their own wilderness fire burning away -- the Little Sand Fire. Along the way we stopped at a craft and river fest in Alamosa; well, that took about 12 minutes to do. Arrived at Walsenburg by 3 pm, and it was HOT. I remember seeing 88 on the thermometer so we stayed inside and watched the one of two TV channels with the a/c. This place has electric. Then we watched the clouds build for a potential storm that we never got, but we sure got some winds.  

The Spanish Peaks

The lake at morning at Lathrop State Park

Dang hitchhikers.

The big gravel spill detour at Pueblo

Camp Cherry Creek -- say hi to Jed!

Monday, June 4
Today we head for Castle Rock outlet mall, I mean Denver, with a stop at the mall first. All was well on I-25 until we had to detour off the highway due to a gravel spill. The cops ushered us off the road to no specific detour, so we followed a semi which got us back on the highway north of the spill but not before a long tour of the suburbs of Pueblo. Had planned on a stop at Table Rock Llamas outside Colorado Springs in lieu of the Estes Wool Market, but they’re not open Mondays. But the mall was, and we arrived around noon. Took a few hours to do some good damage considering the horrid fashions that abound. (With all this traveling, our wardrobes are mostly souvenir T-shirts, not that I'm complaining.) That done, it was the short drive to Cherry Creek State Park in Denver where we’d park for the next four nights. Got the same place we had last time, Coyote Loop, #35, where the magpies scream. There were six babies and two adults, all yakking at once. Dinner with Bob & Sue in their beautiful new home, and after much wine I came home with a major migraine. It was gone by morning, but that was a rough one. Decapitation was considered as a relief option.

Tuesday, June 5

A prism of color streaked the sky at the Denver capital building. It was built in the 1890s, and in 1908,
the dome was plated in 24-karat gold. 

The nights are not cold here, and the days will be warming during our stay, great. Today we toured the new Colorado History Museum, had lunch outside at the lunch trucks, then hit the downtown streets, including the Brown Palace and the 16th Street Mall, taking the bus down to LoDo and checking out Rockmount for western wear—the real western wear that buttons up like cowboys wear. Fun to look, but so hot in there that the thought of trying something on was out of the question. Back to bob and sues, and we went to dinner at Nana’s Italian. 

Lunch out of a truck. We opted for the Brazilian sandwiches.

Free bus ride to 16th Street Mall! oh boy on this hot day, count me in. 

Work on The Brown Palace began in 1888, designed in the Italian Renaissance style, using Colorado red granite and Arizona sandstone for the building's exterior. For a finishing touch, artist James Whitehouse was commissioned to create 26 medallions carved in stone, each depicting a native Rocky Mountain animal. The hotel's “silent guests” can still be seen between the seventh floor windows on the hotel’s exterior (wish I'd known to look up at the time)... After an expenditure of $1.6 million and another $400,000 for furniture, The Brown Palace Hotel opened on Aug. 12, 1892. It had 400 guest rooms (compared to 241 today) that rented for between $3 and $5 a night. The hotel was hailed as the second fire-proof building in America.

Wednesday June 6 - the Hailstorm

Got a late start today because we took a longer-than-planned bike ride in the morning. Thought we’d ride around the park, and we ended up riding AROUND the park, including the dam along the interstate! Good ride, about 12 miles, and it was early so it wasn’t too hot. Lots of people out riding on a Wednesday; doesn’t anyone work in this town? Next we drove way west to the foothills to see the Red Rocks Amphitheater and museum, and a peek at The Fort Restaurant, but they didn’t open until 5:30 and it was 5 and my driver wasn’t interested in waiting. We got a few raindrop at Red Rocks and the clouds continued to build, oh boy would we be in for it later. Our last stop of the day would be the new “hip swinging trendy” Highlands neighborhood, which was none of that. But it was a revived old neighborhood-business area, and we had dinner there at El Camino (Mexican of course) -- it was pretty good! I’d go back, so that’s a good sign (good margaritas). Back home at camp I snapped some pics of the darkening clouds but it wasn’t until 11:30 that the ran began, then the hail, and inside this tin can, let me tell you it’s loud. The rain is -- imagine the sound of the hail that soon started. All we could do is sit there and wonder what the truck and trailer would look like in the am. I tried to peek out but it was hard to tell the size, but it looked small so I went back to bed. Then it started again at 1:05, LOUDER, and I tried to go back to sleep, depressed at the thought of what we might really see in the morning...

If you think of Red Rocks Park as just a beautiful place to see a concert, think again! Around you are 868 acres of deer, dinosaurs, pines and prairie, geological wonders and spectacular vistas. At 6,450 feet above sea level, Red Rocks Park is a unique transitional zone where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a geological phenomenon – the only naturally-occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheatre in the world. (Yeah sure, dinos, whatever -- BONO was here!)

El Camino in The Highlands. I'd give it four stars.

This park flood after last night's big storm cut our bike ride short today.

Thursday, June 7
Nothing! It was fine. I expected to see a hammered truck hood and trailer, but somehow we escaped a pounding. In fact, the sun was peeking out so we decided to take another bike ride, but this time with a camera to shoot those red-winged blackbirds we passed yesterday in the wetlands. But, after the big storm last night, we noticed a river where there was only grass the day before, and the road was flooded out and closed off. So much for that; so we just fed some mosquitos and went back. For the rest of the day we braved the traffic of the big city to get in some more shopping. After a stop at Cherry Creek Mall we took a stroll around the lake at Washington Park, which was a lovely spot in town. What a neat neighborhood. Lots of geese, families and dogs. One last dinner with Bob and Sue, they are great hosts, and we always enjoy drinking, I mean visiting, with them.

Turquoise Lake

Friday, June 8
Left Cherry Creek for Leadville. Good thing because Denver would be in the low 90s today; Leadville was about 70, whew. Our campground was about 8 miles out of Leadville at Turquoise Lake May Queen campground, #19. Small campground but liked by the fishermen, always someone walking by with a pole. Loaded the bikes on the truck and went back to town to check out the area. Rode up and down the streets looking at old homes. Found a nice vintage Airstream tho not for sale. Bill had a flat tire so we stopped to get a tube, and managed to get She’s bike gears adjusted at 4:45. WOW, now she’s ready to ride. (15 minutes and $20 and it’s like a new bike -- no more slipping gears.) Went to the Pastime Bar for a margarita and that ended our bike riding so we headed back to camp. Neighbor campers showed up (rafters) and must have been drinking, as they just walked over (crashing through the bushes and scaring sheila to death: one gal, then a man, then a teenager) and said they were here for the Airstream tour. Whaa? Sheila hemmed and hawed until they got the message and left. Communal campers, 5 cars and two Harleys showed up to share their spot. Cooked a steak dinner and retired early. Could get cell service here with our antenna which was nice. Also had a view of Leadville at the far end of the lake.

Camp Leadville

The town of Leadville was on the other side of the lake.

What a town: No locks on these bikes!

Built in 1879 by Horace Austin Warner Tabor, one of Colorado's most well known mining magnates, Leadville's Tabor Opera House was acclaimed "the largest and best, West of the Mississippi!"  The Tabor was completed in only 100 days from the date of ground-breaking which was a record time. 

Saturday, June 9
Today we headed up Hagerman Pass for a hike UP to Windsor Lake and the highest railroad tunnel in the U.S. at 11,520 ft., the Ivanhoe Tunnel. On the way up we passed thru the remains of Douglass City, where Italian railroad workers lived when building the tunnel, laying track and laying the soiled doves (hey, Bill must have written this one). Way up at the top came a friendly golden retriever named Blue who had a ball rolling in the old snow. Entered the tunnel past the fallen rock and got a feel of it; nice because usually they don't let you enter much of the old tunnels as far as I've seen. This hike was two slow miles up and a fast two miles down, but tiring enough to have us hang around camp the rest of the day. Finding this lack of oxygen makes one very lazy, or at least it's a good excuse. A little too high for Sheila. 

Part of what's left of Douglass City

The old rail bed to the tunnel

In the tunnel, still full of ice. Like the sign says, Do Not Enter. Except you Billy.

Blue! This dog can hike! Just another doggie on the trail enjoying a face-plant in snow.

Pardon the huge image, but it deserves it, don't you agree? Except it was full of mosquitos! Run! BTW, that is the real sky, I did not retouch it!

Camp Gunnison

Sunday, June 10
Beautiful day for a drive south on 285 as we head for the Gunnison-Crested Butte area. Opted for a campground in the Taylor River Valley, one of many, but unfortunately the entire roadway was under construction for five miles so it was a slow drive up. After a few missteps, we landed at Lottis Campground, newly redone with electric spots. Basically empty so we chose the very lovely #17 pull through. And after this one, we’re thinking back-in spots are easier for us when it comes time to hook up again. Curves are confining. We had a choice between two campgrounds but chose the more open loop so we could see the mountains that surrounded us, just beautiful. Texan Al Goldberg was the camp host, and his extended family and their multitude of yappy dogs were in residence. Kind of annoying but what can you do. They also had a boil water order in effect but we took our chances on a few sips after learning that was because it was well water and the state requires it to be chlorinated, which it hadn’t been yet. Of course we bought water as soon as we could for the duration. Took a drive later further up the road to see the Lake View campground -- niiiiice. Took a little extra drive to see the tiny town of Tin Cup.  We’ll have to come back sometime when the construction is over. This wasn’t simple road work: there was tree removal for widening, boulder breaking; paving will be the least of it. Tried a little mountain biking near the campground, but very rocky and not a lot of fun for us smooth-road types. Got down to 27 degrees that night, a cold one.

Tin Cup's Welcome Sign

Outside of Tin Cup.

A Tin Cup cabin window

What I'll always remember about the Taylor River Valley...

Cute little town of Crested Butte

Monday, June 11
Once we warmed up -- the sun took a while to reach us from behind the mountain -- we took a drive up to Crested Butte. Could this place be more beautiful, I don’t know. Probably because it was early Monday morning, about 11 am, the town was nice and quiet, but it would get busier by the time we left. Found the Montanya rum distillery at the other end of town and did a tasting -- hoo-ha, great way to start the day, before lunch -- fumes! They shared their kitchen with a baker so we left with a bottle of Oro rum and two loaves of bread. My kinda town. Next we drove up to a lake with the most beautiful and quiet campground (again, maybe cuz it’s a Monday), toured an old cemetery, watched some ravens from a bridge (ok, just I did that) and finally went over an old railroad pass to come out in the farmland of Gunnison. Did a little window shopping in Gunnison and had a happy hour margarita at a mexican place there, nice, got to sit outside. It seemed weak but dang if we both weren’t feelin’ that paint thinner buzz on the way back to camp. And through the construction once again. It was a good day.

A unique use of old car bumpers... I guess....

Mr. Bluebird, though not on my shoulder, was sure pretty in his natural setting.

Tuesday, June 12
Time to move on again, this is the time we had some issues hooking on with the curvature of the spot. A pain, but he finally got it. Took almost an hour of sitting at construction halts to get through the first 17 miles of our journey. sheesh. Finally on Hwy. 50 out of town, where our trip would take us past Blue Mesa Reservoir to our next stop which would be Black Canyon National Park. No cell service at camp but maybe 10 TV channels and lucked out getting the last usable spot in Loop B #17 with electric. Love this spot, it’s like a bird sanctuary out back, robins running all over and others singing in the trees and bushes, a deer wandering through, a hummer found my little feeder AND I put out water so everyone is hydrated on my watch. Not hot out, maybe low or mid 80s, but in the sun it feels so much hotter so we decided to do the park drive and check out the overlooks. Nice deep canyon but it’s got nuttin’ on the Grand Canyon. Caught a red-tailed hawk soaring through the canyon, that was a nice photo op. After that, about 5pm, we drove the 5-mile, 16% grade road down into the canyon to see the river. After dinner we took a little walk and later accidentally slept with the windows open, oops, not too cold so not bad, except those birds were extra loud this am. Now we know why.

Camp Black Canyon, the birder's spot

Lucky shot of that day: caught this red-tailed hawk soaring through the canyon.

The 16% grade drive down into the canyon

The Gunnison River.

The river from above.

Shot of the Day: Boy, tough mothers in this park.

Wednesday, June 13 Thought we’d get out early today before the heat, and also to photograph the canyon walls that needed morning light. But first -- the camp deer walked through for a snack; Bill was able to shoot him, if I can say that. Now of course, “early” for me is 10 am... But it was good, saw better light on the walls plus a cottontail bunny, and two collared lizards were not shy. Did the 1.5 mile hike at Warner’s Point, and though it was only 80 degrees, wow, in the sun it felt like 250. But it was worth it, got some good photos.

Bill gets credit for catching this shot of the day. Here the deer pretends to like eating leaves.

A park ranger told me it's a healthy environment when the bunnies are around; because they feed everyone.
awwwwwww

What? Another shot of the day? Yes! Got the cottontail on the run! and look at that fuzzy tail.

Overlook south from the hike at Gunnison. That's Ouray or Telluride way, close enough

A Collared Lizard along the trail

Thursday, June 14

One last stop for a night in Ridgway before we head home. Camped at Dutch Charlie campground and managed to get a spot with electric. Went to town for lunch and a bike ride along the river, beautiful ride, and even saw a curious spotted llama. 

What an interesting skein he'd make....

Naturally, the movie was filmed around these parts.

Friday, June 15

Time to head home: another fun ride down the Million Dollar Highway towing the hot dog. Got home pretty early in the day. 

Saw some new Colorado territory this trip, one place is more scenic than the next. Crested Butte is ranking up there for now:

The ends.