Aspenglen Campground in June

Camped for a few days in Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was hot, too hot. It was hot and dry everywhere except the highest elevations.  The Colorado wildfire season was in full swing and a very appropriate fire ban in effect.  Visited with friends and family while there and ate at the Rock Inn (as depicted).  Drew myself some petroglyphs.

Utah In May

We were hiking in a the Capitol Gorge canyon, the wind was blowing, sand was flying around and sandblasting our faces.  We had only one bandanna with us. So, in true pioneering fashion we found a sharp rock, laid the bandanna on a flat rock and while I held it, Merle cut it in half.  

Here is a watercolor "map" of the trip we made in late May for two weeks.  It will hopefully help us remember the trip when the old gray cells start to wither away.

One hot day, we navigated Sulphur Creek for 5 miles of twisting turning canyon including slot canyon areas where we had to wade in the creek, waterfalls that we had to climb around and encounters with the occasional hiker.  It was a one way hike so when we arrived at the visitor center in Fruita, Utah we tried to hitch a ride back to our car up the highway.  No luck....until two hikers we had met in the canyon saw us walking along and gave us a lift.  There's a little red car with angel wings on it on the map - that's them - our guardian angels.  It was very hot and the walk would have been exhausting considering that we had been hiking most of the day in Sulphur Creek.  


Fruita Utah is beautiful  It is a old town once settled by Mormon pioneers and is now managed by the park service.  The campground is situated in a beautiful green valley with orchards.  It has to be one of the prettiest campgrounds we've stayed in.  However, due to the fact that we were there over Memorial Day weekend, it was way too crowded.  We would like to go back sometime in the fall.  Here are some pictures.

Wind was a factor during our stay in Capitol Reef National Park.  In Fruita we were protected by the trees, but before we went to Fruita, we stayed in a private RV park in Torrey.  Our site was a good one with fantastic views but the wind was too fierce.  Here is a picture and as you can see, we had a wonderful red mesa to look at each day.  But, the wind..............

One day we decided to drive to Boulder Town and drive on the BurrTrail and Notum-Bullfrog roads.  While crossing over the mountains to get to our destination in Boulder Town we encountered snow on the high pass but not enough to stick to the road.  Once in Boulder Town we ate at a wonderful little cafe called Hell's Backbone Grill.  It sat in a cool green oasis of flowers, grasses and tall trees.  The food was great.  After relaxing there, we drove through some lovely scenic areas that would eventually take us back to our campground, particularly on the Burr Trail portion.  The Notum-Bullfrog road was rife with washboard ruts and we were relieved to eventually get off of it.  Washboard roads are rough on cars.


A hiking trail just above the campground led to a fairyland canyon called Co Hab Canyon.  There were pockets in the rocks and old trees and we were so glad that we decided to climb the steep winding path that led to it from our campground.  It was like nothing we have ever seen.  

Our trip ended in Moab where we had a good time, as usual.  At one point, we were heading home and suddenly decided to go back.  It was Merle's idea.  So, we went back and stayed another two nights.  That's the fun of being free and easy.  I guess free isn't the exact word because it did cost us, but it was worth it.

Tucson

January 2012

When we travel, I bring my set of watercolor paints along and my little travel watercolor book.  I painted the picture above while staying in Tucson at MiCasita.  MiCasita was booked through Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO).

It was a trip planned a few months back when we were anticipating the usual cold winter that ensues during the month of January in Colorado.  However, when we left for the airport, the forecast for our front range area said  the day ahead was to be sunny and would reach a high temperature in the mid 50's.  

When we arrived in Phoenix from where we would drive to Tucson, we had to wear our jackets because it was cool.  Not as cool as at home, but cooler than we had anticipated.  Nevertheless, the sight of saguaro cactus never fails to make me feel warm and happy.  Actually, I love all of the wonderful southwestern vegetation.   Cactus are so architecturally appealing.  I have a few small varieties in my home and was wondering if I could grow a saguaro in the family room.......I'd be pretty old before it got to a reasonable height.  One foot in 15 years and 10 feet in about 75-100 years.


Here's the bike I rode some while there.  Rather different from my more sophisticated road bike at home.  It was called a "La Jolla Cruiser".  I adjusted the seat for my long "legature" (my own word) and oiled the noisy chain with virgin olive oil.

Day One:  Pima Air and Space Museum.  A plethora of planes. A jumble of jets. Husband went ape over it all.  Me, not so much, and so after about an hour of looking around, I left him there to ogle the goods.  I drove back to MiCasita and hung out, drank iced tea and started my little painting.

Day Two:  Sabino Canyon.  A delightful place, a sunny hike, lunch by the stream - we sat on a big warm rocky slab - and then back to MiCasita.  At this point, Husband discovered the loss of his cell phone.  After a call to notify the visitor center about it and a return call when someone turned it in, it was recovered.  Next morning he drove to get it.

Day Three:  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum......desert landscapes and a zoo....sort of. Most of the animals were hiding so we didn't see a lot of those.  The aviary was interesting and we did see birds.  The hummingbird aviary was probably the best part.  It was the first time either of us had ever seen a hummingbird nest - so, so tiny.  Watching people trying to capture hummingbirds on their camera phones was entertaining.  

This was our last day so once back to MiCasita, we packed, ate and went to bed early so we could wake up at 2a to drive the two hours to the Phoenix airport for our 6:30a flight.  In the future, if we decide to visit Tucson again, we will fly directly into the airport there.


Note:  you can click on the photos to enlarge them for better viewing.

Winter Biking

What is this picture you ask?  Well, it is a picture I took at the halfway point on one of my favorite road bike rides.  Mounted to my handlebars is an alligator squeaky horn given to me a couple of years ago by my youngest sister.  I am on a concrete boat ramp looking out over a partially frozen reservoir.  It is 5 days before Christmas in Colorado.  The temperature is 38F.  I had a beautiful ride.

Road biking has become something that I really enjoy.  I started doing it several years ago and it gets easier all of the time even though I am over 60 years of age.  I am not a hardcore road bike person by any means.   I typically ride around 8 - 10 miles a few times a week, weather permitting and the roads are clear of snow and ice.  Sometimes I ride on paved trails in town and then the miles increase to 15 - 20.  Riding established trails is easier so racking up the miles isn't difficult.  The paths are smooth, there are generally no traffic issues and usually any hills encountered are small.  

My favorite time to ride is in the fall.  I love the dry grasses and scrubby vegetation, the bare branches of the trees and cooler temperatures.  I always stop to take in and contemplate the scenery.  I find biking alone allows me to do this without interfering with the exercise expectations of fellow biking friends so I make a point to do solo riding sometimes.  

I have a couple of girlfriend biking buddies and go with one or the other upon occasion.  We always have a good time.  They both work jobs and I don't, so I have a lot more time and freedom to bike.

Winter is a challenge, though.  I have recently joined the health club where my husband goes and will do the stationary bike thing there when I can't be outside.  It's not pleasant.  I do not like indoor exercise, but I have to do it if I want to stay in any sort of physical condition.  Winter has just begun so I had better get used to it.

Me and my biking shadow

Sunrise Sunday

This morning a little before dawn I woke to the sound of the wind blowing.  At first I was thinking how much I disliked the wind especially when it interferes with my biking activities and this type of wind does do that.  Yesterday also it kept me indoors for most of the day.  However, once I got out of bed today and looked out of the window, I saw the sky and forgot all about the windy wind.  This sight greeted my eyes and said "capture me forever".  I did.


Now the windy wind day stretches before us and challenges me to say "the heck with you wind, I will be out in your windiness anyway - you will not keep me indoors on this day".  Possibly a walk in a forest would be a good thing.  Somewhere where the wind will not blow us around too much.   Wind in the pine trees is a good sound. 


The person I have been married to for over 20 years is drinking coffee and strumming his guitar in the other room.  It's a peaceful and soothing sound with the wind outside in accompaniment.  He cradles the guitar next to his body, leans over it slightly and plays variations on the handful of chords he has mastered.  


I watch out of the ground level window by my desk and see the tough little birds pecking at the bird seed I threw into the brambles for them.  They fight over their various  patches and occasionally I hear a thunking sound as in their aggressiveness with one another one of them will land against the window.  It makes me laugh.  They are not flying hard enough to hurt themselves.