Friday, September 21, 2012

How long will we be traveling???? Contest


We've been busy.  Seen two National Parks in two days, a dinosaur museum (we got to go into the lab and see how they clean the bones), trip out to Rabbit Valley for walking along and seeing where they are excavating out dinosaur bones, and a Pow Wow.  I think I walked 5 miles in the last two days.  Photographing dancers at the Pow Wow tonight was like trying to get pictures of a whirling dervish.  We're pooped out, but can sleep in tomorrow.  That is exciting to even think about.

I started thinking about our trip today.  We are just about the luckiest people in the world.  To be able to just go and travel when, where we want.  It is just so neat and such a blessing.  I am overwhelmed.  I also started wondering when we will end up going home.  We could potentially keep going for as long as we are healthy, but will our desire to see things end, will we get tired of this, or will we just keep having fun and wanting to stay out on the trail?

I decided to have a contest and let people make a guess when they think we will go "home."  This would be the date that John and I just say, OK, we're done with this and we want to "settle down."  We are going to give a prize - $100 to the person closest to the date we call it quits.  This is for fun and hopefully you will follow our blog and keep up with our trials and tribulations, along with all the good times we are going to have.

So, if you want to play, submit your date that we will end our journey and I will keep a list and the closest date -- without going past the date will win the $100.  I will announce the winner.

Just to be fair I will tell you that we do have a travel schedule up to November 11th in Daytona Beach and you can be pretty sure we will keep going until then.

What is your guess?  Let me know.  I'll be curious to see what you are thinking.  Don't forget to send us ideas from your best places.  Someone shared they loved the arch in St. Louis, Missouri and we are now going there.

Hugs....................... and happy trails.

How long will we be traveling???? Contest


We've been busy.  Seen two National Parks in two days, a dinosaur museum (we got to go into the lab and see how they clean the bones), trip out to Rabbit Valley for walking along and seeing where they are excavating out dinosaur bones, and a Pow Wow.  I think I walked 5 miles in the last two days.  Photographing dancers at the Pow Wow tonight was like trying to get pictures of a whirling dervish.  We're pooped out, but can sleep in tomorrow.  That is exciting to even think about.

I started thinking about our trip today.  We are just about the luckiest people in the world.  To be able to just go and travel when, where we want.  It is just so neat and such a blessing.  I am overwhelmed.  I also started wondering when we will end up going home.  We could potentially keep going for as long as we are healthy, but will our desire to see things end, will we get tired of this, or will we just keep having fun and wanting to stay out on the trail?

I decided to have a contest and let people make a guess when they think we will go "home."  This would be the date that John and I just say, OK, we're done with this and we want to "settle down."  We are going to give a prize - $100 to the person closest to the date we call it quits.  This is for fun and hopefully you will follow our blog and keep up with our trials and tribulations, along with all the good times we are going to have.

So, if you want to play, submit your date that we will end our journey and I will keep a list and the closest date -- without going past the date will win the $100.  I will announce the winner.

Just to be fair I will tell you that we do have a travel schedule up to November 11th in Daytona Beach and you can be pretty sure we will keep going until then.

What is your guess?  Let me know.  I'll be curious to see what you are thinking.  Don't forget to send us ideas from your best places.  Someone shared they loved the arch in St. Louis, Missouri and we are now going there.

Hugs....................... and happy trails.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Rocky Mountain High - Colorado

Ouray is a beautiful historic town with buildings on Main Street dating from the 1850's.  Fall colors all around, friendly people and high prices.

We drove over to Telluride, a famous ski resort on Tuesday (9/19/12).  We took the free gondola ride up, up and it was fun looking down on the town.  Walked along the creek, and took some pictures of pretty victorian houses.

Made reservations for a Jeep Tour on Wednesday.  My friend who came here 25 years ago said if you come here you HAVE GOT TO TAKE A JEEP TOUR.  Had dinner at Ouray Brewery and had their beer which was pretty tasty.  Back to the room, I went to soak in the mineral hot tub, and John relaxed.

Up early (why do we have to get up early now? -- but seems we're always getting up early) to get ready, eat and be out front for tour pick up at 8:30 a.m.  We had to dress warm and today was the first time we had to wear our coats.  We were in an open air jeep and moving down the road and in the shade it was cold.  Our driver was excellent and the people we were with were very nice and it was a fun and very scenic trip.  We went on dirt, rocky, scary roads with overhangs and super drop offs and we were over 12,000 feet.

 
Now we'll grab some lunch, pack the car for heading to National Monument tomorrow where we meet our friends Kelly and Ken for a ranger tour at 10:00 a.m.  We have to get up at 6:00 a.m. to leave Ouray by 7:00 to get to meeting place.  Up early again.  I think we're doing something wrong???

Rocky Mountain High - Colorado

Ouray is a beautiful historic town with buildings on Main Street dating from the 1850's.  Fall colors all around, friendly people and high prices.

We drove over to Telluride, a famous ski resort on Tuesday (9/19/12).  We took the free gondola ride up, up and it was fun looking down on the town.  Walked along the creek, and took some pictures of pretty victorian houses.

Made reservations for a Jeep Tour on Wednesday.  My friend who came here 25 years ago said if you come here you HAVE GOT TO TAKE A JEEP TOUR.  Had dinner at Ouray Brewery and had their beer which was pretty tasty.  Back to the room, I went to soak in the mineral hot tub, and John relaxed.

Up early (why do we have to get up early now? -- but seems we're always getting up early) to get ready, eat and be out front for tour pick up at 8:30 a.m.  We had to dress warm and today was the first time we had to wear our coats.  We were in an open air jeep and moving down the road and in the shade it was cold.  Our driver was excellent and the people we were with were very nice and it was a fun and very scenic trip.  We went on dirt, rocky, scary roads with overhangs and super drop offs and we were over 12,000 feet.

 
Now we'll grab some lunch, pack the car for heading to National Monument tomorrow where we meet our friends Kelly and Ken for a ranger tour at 10:00 a.m.  We have to get up at 6:00 a.m. to leave Ouray by 7:00 to get to meeting place.  Up early again.  I think we're doing something wrong???

Monday, September 17, 2012

Utah - Land of Diversity



Utah/Colorado
9/15 - 9/17/12

Saturday we drove to Utah and of course stopped for lunch at La Gormandize French Bakery in SLC. We each had ½ sandwiches so we'd have room for dessert. Showing total restraint we each only had one pastry. It was sad to leave that bakery behind. I am betting it is the best one we find in our long travels. I'll be sure and report if we find a better one.

We enjoyed two nights and a day in Alpine, Utah with Rudy. He is John's friend from Long Beach and they grew up together. The three of us drove up to Homestead Resort on Sunday. I had read an article in Sunset Magazine about the crater/underground pool (I tore the picture out of the magazine) that has thermal (95 degree) water. I had my snorkel gear so had to take a swim. It was $17.00 (costly), but floating around in warm water was really like “the cure.” Being weightless was wonderful with no feet or hips hurting. I did not want to get out and when I did I felt like I weighed 400 lbs.

We found a memorial park, highest point in Midway, which was the Wasatch War Memorial. Beautiful memorial to all who had served and all who died from that county for all wars. The plates went all the way back to 1800's Mormon/Indian wars. They did a perfect job of paying respect to their service men and women.

This area was around Midway and we drove the road to Park City. Many trees were changing color and it was an interesting and lovely trip. I'm going to have to research the history of this area because there is past Swiss or German background, obvious from the architecture.

We came home and made some BBQ marinated pork, salad, french bread and beer. Pretty healthy dinner. We had breakfast out and somehow found a bakery with a few French delicacies and we even had some gelato.

Up early (for us) today and actually on the road at 8:00 a.m. Pretty steady driving since we are going all the way to Ouray, Colorado where we will spend a few nights. We stopped in Grand Junction and had a very good Mexican lunch at Azteca Restaurant (rating of 7.5). Now we may have salad for dinner. So far we haven't gained weight which is good. We haven't lost any either.

We're going to check out the Ouray Museum tomorrow and do a walking tour of the city. There are many beautiful and well kept and restored Victorians. We should learn a lot about the history of the town. Our hotel has a natural thermal temperature pool and whirlpool that we will enjoy after our day of walking.

We are traveling with our silent, but inspiring buddy Verde (Green) Gecko. We are photographing him in interesting spots along the way, so keep you eye peeled.

Hugs to our dear friends. The altitude seems to be OK on our old bodies. I was pretty worried about that. Thanks to Steve we are able to monitor our oxygen. Ouray is at about 7,750 feet. Some of the passes are 11,000 feet, so we're not sure which way we will take out of here, low or high.

We're having fun and so far we've not been arrested. Adios. If you have news, be sure and e-mail or Facebook us. We want to know what's going on with YOU too.

Utah - Land of Diversity



Utah/Colorado
9/15 - 9/17/12

Saturday we drove to Utah and of course stopped for lunch at La Gormandize French Bakery in SLC. We each had ½ sandwiches so we'd have room for dessert. Showing total restraint we each only had one pastry. It was sad to leave that bakery behind. I am betting it is the best one we find in our long travels. I'll be sure and report if we find a better one.

We enjoyed two nights and a day in Alpine, Utah with Rudy. He is John's friend from Long Beach and they grew up together. The three of us drove up to Homestead Resort on Sunday. I had read an article in Sunset Magazine about the crater/underground pool (I tore the picture out of the magazine) that has thermal (95 degree) water. I had my snorkel gear so had to take a swim. It was $17.00 (costly), but floating around in warm water was really like “the cure.” Being weightless was wonderful with no feet or hips hurting. I did not want to get out and when I did I felt like I weighed 400 lbs.

We found a memorial park, highest point in Midway, which was the Wasatch War Memorial. Beautiful memorial to all who had served and all who died from that county for all wars. The plates went all the way back to 1800's Mormon/Indian wars. They did a perfect job of paying respect to their service men and women.

This area was around Midway and we drove the road to Park City. Many trees were changing color and it was an interesting and lovely trip. I'm going to have to research the history of this area because there is past Swiss or German background, obvious from the architecture.

We came home and made some BBQ marinated pork, salad, french bread and beer. Pretty healthy dinner. We had breakfast out and somehow found a bakery with a few French delicacies and we even had some gelato.

Up early (for us) today and actually on the road at 8:00 a.m. Pretty steady driving since we are going all the way to Ouray, Colorado where we will spend a few nights. We stopped in Grand Junction and had a very good Mexican lunch at Azteca Restaurant (rating of 7.5). Now we may have salad for dinner. So far we haven't gained weight which is good. We haven't lost any either.

We're going to check out the Ouray Museum tomorrow and do a walking tour of the city. There are many beautiful and well kept and restored Victorians. We should learn a lot about the history of the town. Our hotel has a natural thermal temperature pool and whirlpool that we will enjoy after our day of walking.

We are traveling with our silent, but inspiring buddy Verde (Green) Gecko. We are photographing him in interesting spots along the way, so keep you eye peeled.

Hugs to our dear friends. The altitude seems to be OK on our old bodies. I was pretty worried about that. Thanks to Steve we are able to monitor our oxygen. Ouray is at about 7,750 feet. Some of the passes are 11,000 feet, so we're not sure which way we will take out of here, low or high.

We're having fun and so far we've not been arrested. Adios. If you have news, be sure and e-mail or Facebook us. We want to know what's going on with YOU too.