tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7295714378853086342024-03-05T17:42:48.426-08:00Durango Dreamnaked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-79974292565784147162015-06-29T05:12:00.000-07:002015-06-29T05:12:26.871-07:00Ohio: Part II<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-large;">Lessons to be learned...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Ahhh, as the days went by there was a lot to be learned. While she had put me to work in the yard earlier, I later asked for her knowledge in exchange. Years ago I had taught myself how to knit (basic level). Then last year I got a refresher from a lady on one of my mail routes. Now I had Granno all to myself and a wealth of knitting and crocheting skills just waiting to be pasted on to the next generation. </span></div>
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27gY3JJ51iJOlSru10iJWsh6uOzQqUQGghQsIkeA3_A42fnVgoeDxh-pEJPFL9DndINJ6-JqY6X48DgxoA9suvczYmjUtnDEIT4QOkrUVD5m2F5BM3RLbMNwk-flxXMkquszS7o2oa7T1/s1600/DSC04232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27gY3JJ51iJOlSru10iJWsh6uOzQqUQGghQsIkeA3_A42fnVgoeDxh-pEJPFL9DndINJ6-JqY6X48DgxoA9suvczYmjUtnDEIT4QOkrUVD5m2F5BM3RLbMNwk-flxXMkquszS7o2oa7T1/s400/DSC04232.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Sitting on the deck with wine and yarn.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH5eAEv9oOpAOHN23B9mMLaSCTlKP3DjOFwGac3qTQu74ujnJQpuUML50ZViLWydnoECeGKfv5v3sd1m-J-SKI9YlViKpchRD-gUPQJ2R6BdT2OuO111ed9hvWTYqSURiL8Can-FRA2dd/s1600/DSC04231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH5eAEv9oOpAOHN23B9mMLaSCTlKP3DjOFwGac3qTQu74ujnJQpuUML50ZViLWydnoECeGKfv5v3sd1m-J-SKI9YlViKpchRD-gUPQJ2R6BdT2OuO111ed9hvWTYqSURiL8Can-FRA2dd/s400/DSC04231.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">A hat that I had started for Jim but didn't know how to finish.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Really - 4 needles?!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWP0duDzmoZKRfVbmuAwjfStxc0HPQ46C2L6-r-Sdf3gMhJEXfKp7_PHfpb8S2fX4tzRiGV8P5LcswlkHXIY0k0TlOFLy7PkiyrigvcuDJH7D8pE9d6ovmw3KzYAsjXcsWCyj1qGh1XwE/s1600/DSC04233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWP0duDzmoZKRfVbmuAwjfStxc0HPQ46C2L6-r-Sdf3gMhJEXfKp7_PHfpb8S2fX4tzRiGV8P5LcswlkHXIY0k0TlOFLy7PkiyrigvcuDJH7D8pE9d6ovmw3KzYAsjXcsWCyj1qGh1XwE/s400/DSC04233.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Thanks to Granno and some wine the hat was completed!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs1hfnHi7fEyn_qzpQ7MR5wWsejcs_09sWGl3GbE76aJIVqHaG1FgSbJ7ZEASfd3xj0wDYDKN6dWnKgu2cyyl89PoCNIFZ9vCcFGASQNYnIZVlY_JZNmeTZd-TWofDuVic_mW8vGMwLTA/s1600/DSC04240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs1hfnHi7fEyn_qzpQ7MR5wWsejcs_09sWGl3GbE76aJIVqHaG1FgSbJ7ZEASfd3xj0wDYDKN6dWnKgu2cyyl89PoCNIFZ9vCcFGASQNYnIZVlY_JZNmeTZd-TWofDuVic_mW8vGMwLTA/s400/DSC04240.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">I spent a day teaching my Uncle John how to make sourdough English muffins and two kinds bread.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iekZukR8qSO6MzVWpeAsuAR6uuYJJHt8Gy2hKhIFNzNyrNRg0F7WN6Ws_A-NcnirxEMgHddnHO9rckQwdBrHtpevGebAMksO9W_7vZgrZR4vR3BDFmPhs_8uEqjdMgGjP28dhgSkJG-6/s1600/DSC04241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iekZukR8qSO6MzVWpeAsuAR6uuYJJHt8Gy2hKhIFNzNyrNRg0F7WN6Ws_A-NcnirxEMgHddnHO9rckQwdBrHtpevGebAMksO9W_7vZgrZR4vR3BDFmPhs_8uEqjdMgGjP28dhgSkJG-6/s400/DSC04241.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">His first loaf!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">See what I mean about good food, wine and sitting around? No wonder my shorts were a bit tighter when I got home, but it was all worth it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-large;">still more to come...</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-83802140057144002262015-06-26T04:45:00.000-07:002015-06-26T04:45:07.522-07:00What's Round on the Ends & High in the Middle?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-large;">OHIO!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span> <span style="color: #e06666;">Back in April, I flew to Ohio to surprise my Granno for her 83rd birthday. (Her birthday is at the beginning of May, but the end of April was as close as I could get with work.) She had no idea I was coming. Uncle John picked me up at the airport and drove me to town. On the way, he called her and asked if she wanted to meet for pizza. She agreed and I hid in a corner booth eagerly awaiting her arrival. For the next eight days it was her and I and lot of fun!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz97bz_l-dHDkG4YxvA9rsztgsCjDHb-76ki2qnqLlt6N3clznEiImy9dcNNvDSKa_vZ_XbjbGR6qLfHGBxXihxokl_QdFxLJmdwWnvrUU2I7nRnzz4RKBv3Krhc2-SiRQNCe_h4zNBHAd/s1600/DSC04210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz97bz_l-dHDkG4YxvA9rsztgsCjDHb-76ki2qnqLlt6N3clznEiImy9dcNNvDSKa_vZ_XbjbGR6qLfHGBxXihxokl_QdFxLJmdwWnvrUU2I7nRnzz4RKBv3Krhc2-SiRQNCe_h4zNBHAd/s400/DSC04210.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Granno & Me</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">She was speechless when she realized who was sitting in the booth!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhCPb_JFuxxnd7URXfaQo6-eHWikvHAk2VMbT_HeP0tHDdFFESijtlMJykX4TaA-zNga2WSdyWDFQAF-_IV85Q96qTlJC0F2U5WgGW7DPyw5J5CgnhkCJjCdoWu3E8lauH-mdRrSgu4pX/s1600/DSC04212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhCPb_JFuxxnd7URXfaQo6-eHWikvHAk2VMbT_HeP0tHDdFFESijtlMJykX4TaA-zNga2WSdyWDFQAF-_IV85Q96qTlJC0F2U5WgGW7DPyw5J5CgnhkCJjCdoWu3E8lauH-mdRrSgu4pX/s400/DSC04212.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-small;">~click to enlarge~</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">We drove through old Amish country and I got to check out old grave yards. </span><span style="color: #e06666;">I love the old headstones. The oldest one I found was from 1852.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDXiczOvetIHkQ0qdZr_aaiYHUJz8va1QbAA2ca-Ug2FidswmpowSnoVMQA5UzwMdqlNXltmaluFkmLirSkeyKyQVx2ew8bSjaFpqHwJIab-FTaxiavWACLQSV1XnXPN_OCIe4nw2ytbS/s1600/DSC04213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDXiczOvetIHkQ0qdZr_aaiYHUJz8va1QbAA2ca-Ug2FidswmpowSnoVMQA5UzwMdqlNXltmaluFkmLirSkeyKyQVx2ew8bSjaFpqHwJIab-FTaxiavWACLQSV1XnXPN_OCIe4nw2ytbS/s400/DSC04213.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">So intricate in the carvings.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HXU3pHgwvrLX7CCZuCalDzH0tpZ7tkwl-dYvKIYQNieuQ4TzOV2KA7xFh6tlj7BBllw9sfJOCSpfviJIaA0q5Tr06rsuaBhfCpVg-Dekam1DyT-6ocAemPqY_z5i1aY9yx4C_4vyD8mp/s1600/DSC04216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HXU3pHgwvrLX7CCZuCalDzH0tpZ7tkwl-dYvKIYQNieuQ4TzOV2KA7xFh6tlj7BBllw9sfJOCSpfviJIaA0q5Tr06rsuaBhfCpVg-Dekam1DyT-6ocAemPqY_z5i1aY9yx4C_4vyD8mp/s400/DSC04216.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Definitely worn by the weather.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFdHr5lAyOOf5BtAkLAVKohNOSW7QA8rRfrEFCdFjvEKet3TVpcTznMdUksbekP4GLOV8Cq1EwYg6nw8ONCxSRLJd3EoMhCo3dqo7lZZheVcfX6GwvIqw9DXgUp8fRF-nCmW94n0C4Udc/s1600/DSC04217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFdHr5lAyOOf5BtAkLAVKohNOSW7QA8rRfrEFCdFjvEKet3TVpcTznMdUksbekP4GLOV8Cq1EwYg6nw8ONCxSRLJd3EoMhCo3dqo7lZZheVcfX6GwvIqw9DXgUp8fRF-nCmW94n0C4Udc/s400/DSC04217.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">141 years old - and still standing!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">It was rainy that day and I took a lot of photos but these were the best due to the flat light.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dkO8aGJkrtNjYO5ta2lJA8LBM4fvHrqX6OFtTY07we9MOF2gm7J_qkEC0tmGDZ2deGztEQVZw9biXnZCxacUDVVon-ws96y9qDAE3bKLwSmUEIT5tVAlwSSaVdoEdSUUDVjPmA0Vy08U/s1600/DSC04224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dkO8aGJkrtNjYO5ta2lJA8LBM4fvHrqX6OFtTY07we9MOF2gm7J_qkEC0tmGDZ2deGztEQVZw9biXnZCxacUDVVon-ws96y9qDAE3bKLwSmUEIT5tVAlwSSaVdoEdSUUDVjPmA0Vy08U/s400/DSC04224.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">*Before*</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">When you're 83 and and a young whipper-snapper comes to visit what do you do?</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Put her to work in the yard!</span></div>
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTDqyIvi8dkJilSJNpQnbiglDxyKG1a8-Kc2AMfwcIAynbeiHLbvB2vX_jZyhxv7CLPKJ4Ko4WxcQPnHL7zGSOjEo8qPoqYqRybNf9tfngyNSq9DDKvxUHSDR4lWd4wtPDESe8WtV_PYi/s1600/DSC04234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTDqyIvi8dkJilSJNpQnbiglDxyKG1a8-Kc2AMfwcIAynbeiHLbvB2vX_jZyhxv7CLPKJ4Ko4WxcQPnHL7zGSOjEo8qPoqYqRybNf9tfngyNSq9DDKvxUHSDR4lWd4wtPDESe8WtV_PYi/s400/DSC04234.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">*After*</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltxndiZiEsqv-RroS8NsFxbdtXCVY1I-f3l1hSIHPtF9WRAKuthXbdcGCRS9XV_X0GaX1tRwErK9gzGCMrgd5ZVE1jGDWR3HrYGjg7KpscOKTTgvKWPZpkQ0iSHgvSBySk4GHKRVG6jU5/s1600/DSC04227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltxndiZiEsqv-RroS8NsFxbdtXCVY1I-f3l1hSIHPtF9WRAKuthXbdcGCRS9XV_X0GaX1tRwErK9gzGCMrgd5ZVE1jGDWR3HrYGjg7KpscOKTTgvKWPZpkQ0iSHgvSBySk4GHKRVG6jU5/s400/DSC04227.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Tiramisu picnic in the park.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-9obDfhhcCqRM40DsiWFyY-fbWzxGNDdb4Y4TwRPJHUYlJt5rvrmmzLFFgNFOPcR_0nUmgFcXDmRtv4eUKkmu3g1BHecZ4Cu-4ZDCunr_W563yVN-rKr19R8xQfBGTolRfuJE3L3O1z_/s1600/DSC04229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-9obDfhhcCqRM40DsiWFyY-fbWzxGNDdb4Y4TwRPJHUYlJt5rvrmmzLFFgNFOPcR_0nUmgFcXDmRtv4eUKkmu3g1BHecZ4Cu-4ZDCunr_W563yVN-rKr19R8xQfBGTolRfuJE3L3O1z_/s400/DSC04229.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Honey</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666;">She wasn't the only fat cat. After 10 days (2 travel - 8 stay), I had packed on a few pounds too! So much good food, wine and conversation. I didn't bother trying to break away to go for a run. We spent every moment together and enjoyed each other's company to the fullest.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">more to come...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-86731357418863866942015-06-17T18:58:00.002-07:002015-06-17T18:58:34.296-07:00But Sometimes the Cook Cuts the Wrong Thing...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Oops!</strong></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
<strike></strike> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;">A few weeks after the amazing lasagna day, I decided to make homemade raviolis. I put on my favorite Frank Sinatra cd. Then I set out the pasta roller, the ricotta, the spinach and mushrooms. I sharpened my favorite knife and started chopping. Jim disappeared to take a shower. It wasn't long before I was knocking on the bathroom door asking for butterfly band aids and tape. After a cleaning my finger I realized this wasn't going to be an easy fix. Being a considerate person, I called our local urgent care to see how late they were open (I didn't want to show up as they were locking the doors for the night.). Soon I was knocking on the door again letting Jim know I was driving myself to town for stitches. Of course, he wouldn't let me do that. He quickly dressed and we headed to town. A few hours and three stitches later we were headed home with take out pizza for the night.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93qGkrCvYwnvkWMUaTePcWvldKWhA1jRqx8SOHc3ZfStcVA1Hq2mwLu4SdcfcCptqgca53wQo0_ycYvpanJ2vqA2A4xqN0-zQMCkEk0eGlh5Xuy0v-iF4-4wJ6lMNXq8qrdYWkeDZrLJm/s1600/DSC01790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93qGkrCvYwnvkWMUaTePcWvldKWhA1jRqx8SOHc3ZfStcVA1Hq2mwLu4SdcfcCptqgca53wQo0_ycYvpanJ2vqA2A4xqN0-zQMCkEk0eGlh5Xuy0v-iF4-4wJ6lMNXq8qrdYWkeDZrLJm/s400/DSC01790.JPG" width="376" /></a><span style="color: #f6b26b;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;">Ugly, huh?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT3r2SAh2mhmByH2X2B0YnfA32LqotmuTCzU81N3UtO1BUf28x1_apPW1Pc81xhmS1naAv48MFJN1-OHSmJQeqaBI7wm3q6jySJpyVDDPu_VFKsCGK1winke1wpPEw3q0sYHsVjvN3YyR/s1600/DSC01791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT3r2SAh2mhmByH2X2B0YnfA32LqotmuTCzU81N3UtO1BUf28x1_apPW1Pc81xhmS1naAv48MFJN1-OHSmJQeqaBI7wm3q6jySJpyVDDPu_VFKsCGK1winke1wpPEw3q0sYHsVjvN3YyR/s400/DSC01791.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;">Through a good part of the nail, they couldn't put stitches there.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;">I just had to keep it wrapped.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDrJs3HbZXe_oqVf1HDh5G-hLGEE1ido5nJr5c4_qY1AXzrufwaD09ddmXHDG4rslQW1Y-Bi-Uvlo31jo1va5ahsP3GntAj8BRnWp8hyphenhyphenOrn4PUkJc7QmPVrE1y8K_5CKo9W9R1a8lVJOd/s1600/DSC01812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDrJs3HbZXe_oqVf1HDh5G-hLGEE1ido5nJr5c4_qY1AXzrufwaD09ddmXHDG4rslQW1Y-Bi-Uvlo31jo1va5ahsP3GntAj8BRnWp8hyphenhyphenOrn4PUkJc7QmPVrE1y8K_5CKo9W9R1a8lVJOd/s400/DSC01812.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;">About a month later.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;">It wasn't too bad, as far as injuries go. It was a bit of a pain in my as! due to working with my hands all day and the cold weather didn't really help. Aside from some weird feeling, I am all healed and back to chopping in the kitchen again. Only now, I go a bit slower.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">*On a weird side note, the fact that the knife was super sharp it made for a clean cut that healed quite fast.</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-41087762710300863312015-06-09T17:29:00.000-07:002015-06-09T17:29:36.732-07:00Sunday Afternoon in the Kitchen<div align="justify">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">In the winter, when the weather is bad and I've spent the last week walking outside in the elements I enjoy a Sunday afternoon in the kitchen. I usually have a big meal planned, something I wouldn't make during the week, a couple of cds rotating in the stereo (yes, I still play cds - no Ipod play lists), and a bottle of wine open.</span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCJncFO6dtH64f1ZfX_uCHIA2hiibD9BClkiysTUmxXsQBdQugKEYpcB6FjqL-smKditSqJYjrUpFbf6l_cdMPZYHkdP7ZBS5hQNAIAwj9fN9RSDqUuC3en6rdXRVghGs1ef1a4fprhuO/s1600/DSC01774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCJncFO6dtH64f1ZfX_uCHIA2hiibD9BClkiysTUmxXsQBdQugKEYpcB6FjqL-smKditSqJYjrUpFbf6l_cdMPZYHkdP7ZBS5hQNAIAwj9fN9RSDqUuC3en6rdXRVghGs1ef1a4fprhuO/s400/DSC01774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I start the day by warming the house with the oven and sourdough french bread.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw84X6LHFdsVvF0oTrfNp9tb_B0hpBHyuaWDp9TXvaHim6iAJDtc0wViqlPJ21xkwG-56QbhOWVHTcf6seHb73Xn87Xk6Iwkt08GssfW7aKEchf1AQ4Yx7cvitjSod0EzHPP_Dqe663Gys/s1600/DSC01775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw84X6LHFdsVvF0oTrfNp9tb_B0hpBHyuaWDp9TXvaHim6iAJDtc0wViqlPJ21xkwG-56QbhOWVHTcf6seHb73Xn87Xk6Iwkt08GssfW7aKEchf1AQ4Yx7cvitjSod0EzHPP_Dqe663Gys/s400/DSC01775.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Then combine sweet and hot sausage into delicious little meatballs.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhkLesnf_vIvGVe-CxEOS6ftprAziCDm7KiwzZGAzeV3yD_i2_jDV7XMbWqa4fgd-H__tioNh8hBDvcLShseUUFTl5F_HXGWNFFqg1uojaixcFHNtR_V2io7eX24VX9MU9SWIG5FeEwgW/s1600/DSC01777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhkLesnf_vIvGVe-CxEOS6ftprAziCDm7KiwzZGAzeV3yD_i2_jDV7XMbWqa4fgd-H__tioNh8hBDvcLShseUUFTl5F_HXGWNFFqg1uojaixcFHNtR_V2io7eX24VX9MU9SWIG5FeEwgW/s400/DSC01777.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">All while sauce is simmering on the stove.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgG4jHSdQrtOE0XSz88ODAwV4sUr0-8uD-fybvmye1mMyyOD0LLSm5A54sp6eLevTShw89HyVN2wROU0ONNMDO3S30uRxR7PP-qVgUbDZzZYADPKKVVmwz-dS7WdD69tLGrgIKbkDLa7k9/s1600/DSC01778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgG4jHSdQrtOE0XSz88ODAwV4sUr0-8uD-fybvmye1mMyyOD0LLSm5A54sp6eLevTShw89HyVN2wROU0ONNMDO3S30uRxR7PP-qVgUbDZzZYADPKKVVmwz-dS7WdD69tLGrgIKbkDLa7k9/s400/DSC01778.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Fresh is always best.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1NwmQX1DLMG4l88hWXDmYnV5pZgzKyMFD5BqdMVRjx_AGz3HT0n4tYLG-5DXFxuM0ccT63BPBbR8KCpiN8pPpEYlvhn88A9cxnbK7Z6lhpWsMQfP2sRGthw-iNdZ-vsPUOHl7VDPidm2/s1600/DSC01779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1NwmQX1DLMG4l88hWXDmYnV5pZgzKyMFD5BqdMVRjx_AGz3HT0n4tYLG-5DXFxuM0ccT63BPBbR8KCpiN8pPpEYlvhn88A9cxnbK7Z6lhpWsMQfP2sRGthw-iNdZ-vsPUOHl7VDPidm2/s400/DSC01779.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">That goes for pasta, too.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">The rich yellow color is from the fresh eggs.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt17Vxgqjvaw_8jArE3yXfCGJiXWQqYn6r5wkvWsllpfszysGo3kM7oi0LDDbpcilaTxf6dz6HLG6oCoJOlnaXebC6A0Gjx7V8rD7xyXX7wSJRJYA2i9tGCGFI77ZKH5SHZuiAUcnIeihw/s1600/DSC01781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt17Vxgqjvaw_8jArE3yXfCGJiXWQqYn6r5wkvWsllpfszysGo3kM7oi0LDDbpcilaTxf6dz6HLG6oCoJOlnaXebC6A0Gjx7V8rD7xyXX7wSJRJYA2i9tGCGFI77ZKH5SHZuiAUcnIeihw/s400/DSC01781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Layer it all with three different cheeses.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4OmWOB6Ec7A5LeclTXmRpFK-oxAv5SNRwgIIVRvVovBj_OYdquYcD3e5Ml81kCq1MUXHISnCCR73_fiV2sSFJyrGPvm9l1d6Q6i31I8c1jqZ_x9vN8VhtGn0LG_YcixNtg1J58mgUjJo/s1600/DSC01782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4OmWOB6Ec7A5LeclTXmRpFK-oxAv5SNRwgIIVRvVovBj_OYdquYcD3e5Ml81kCq1MUXHISnCCR73_fiV2sSFJyrGPvm9l1d6Q6i31I8c1jqZ_x9vN8VhtGn0LG_YcixNtg1J58mgUjJo/s400/DSC01782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> Viola!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">A sumptuous meal for a dreary Sunday.</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-57863901990365856202015-06-08T09:24:00.000-07:002015-06-08T10:53:16.669-07:00Two Chickens in a Pot, No a Nestbox!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #bf9000;">According to the chicken books a nesting box should be 12 x 12 for the comfort of a chicken when laying an egg. Well, due to the design of our coop our nesting box is 15 x 25. I could've made two separate smaller boxes but with the sloping roof the door had to be in the middle. Thus, I thought it best to have one bigger box. Now we have found eggs at one end or the other and sometimes at both, but we have never seen two chickens sharing the box at the same time. Annie is a year old and Scrappy is two. They are both rather calm and submissive girls, but even this is a stretch for them.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yz4czcGxkOyQQ6dXAiS74Meyk7PdyGfooGNk4pK2H30OI_a9hZUbAXS8ZRNS_IYnBRob2MXfKFcjwfis8xeFewXmlhSyg_6zimulUFjtO1dAOKw3vnyD_CaXLtEvePAiA3j-BhgceDjq/s1600/DSC01787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yz4czcGxkOyQQ6dXAiS74Meyk7PdyGfooGNk4pK2H30OI_a9hZUbAXS8ZRNS_IYnBRob2MXfKFcjwfis8xeFewXmlhSyg_6zimulUFjtO1dAOKw3vnyD_CaXLtEvePAiA3j-BhgceDjq/s400/DSC01787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #bf9000;">A peek through the door - Annie & Scrappy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX-C43ewQzqN_U5e2XFYD_SUWQFWq3Qn2Hk65pIVejh0N95DEm0zJZp2XZOhhINAXqVJe3-FjByMZyLax9B3Sn7IJsfm-_CUG3TzNQD_NNtW-8dhx32e5X2BIo4nmX6DvQmgpZPA5J4PU/s1600/DSC01786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX-C43ewQzqN_U5e2XFYD_SUWQFWq3Qn2Hk65pIVejh0N95DEm0zJZp2XZOhhINAXqVJe3-FjByMZyLax9B3Sn7IJsfm-_CUG3TzNQD_NNtW-8dhx32e5X2BIo4nmX6DvQmgpZPA5J4PU/s400/DSC01786.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #bf9000;"> From above it resembles a "two-holer" outhouse!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pbe6WhskVPuut9u5UACMM9IT3aCFa2_zTyyqQPtNDuqnjAR5NQXYyfHSJUUqSbWHYzCH6kNUYLfE2vWFn-TVCFvSbpabA0GakeH_4DTa36rxqcvDWSxCrldq9PRk07KWVPDE713JeUek/s1600/DSC01788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pbe6WhskVPuut9u5UACMM9IT3aCFa2_zTyyqQPtNDuqnjAR5NQXYyfHSJUUqSbWHYzCH6kNUYLfE2vWFn-TVCFvSbpabA0GakeH_4DTa36rxqcvDWSxCrldq9PRk07KWVPDE713JeUek/s400/DSC01788.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #bf9000;">Sure enough, 2 chickens = 2 eggs.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #bf9000;">Apparently girls go to the ladies room together in the animal kingdom too!</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Chicken Humor:</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">What do you call a chicken coop with four doors?</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">A chicken Sedan!</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-45363520794418896782015-06-03T06:26:00.002-07:002015-06-03T06:26:45.783-07:00Stown Got Old!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: x-large;">Happy Birthday!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQM_qLmVxbuqkt4QJozPfth9T_8hArqb7ryi7d-ZpAav7khk0E0S5mWuZDf8tj1HPvvymFGhfo8C0VhzM8LlRH8x5uYyQimfx6bq-NobKmRWYTL-Eq3KvGjXtwnv3IoZyrpKLI_iUhIOx/s1600/DSC01798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQM_qLmVxbuqkt4QJozPfth9T_8hArqb7ryi7d-ZpAav7khk0E0S5mWuZDf8tj1HPvvymFGhfo8C0VhzM8LlRH8x5uYyQimfx6bq-NobKmRWYTL-Eq3KvGjXtwnv3IoZyrpKLI_iUhIOx/s400/DSC01798.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Jim, Me, Stown & Lilly</span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Stown turned 19 in February.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">To celebrate, we all went out for dinner.</span><br />
<br />
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-61308946108645288272015-05-28T16:46:00.001-07:002015-05-28T16:46:06.506-07:00Flashback...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Back in January, Jim and I went Ridgeway to visit his parents who were "wintering" there. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">We found a few picture worthy items.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3HLs99Hog26bUxJ31oOWTbUA50C2r2-QfKMj1sHAF9CjTl_bUBFncVDuXFJfUEggQR4e6p-KGlNX6KCW5KC96fQ5yHaBzNBOenVuz20MB6L5GjBSxF23IzXocEJzm7Lgp74-PkRtHakC/s1600/DSC01770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3HLs99Hog26bUxJ31oOWTbUA50C2r2-QfKMj1sHAF9CjTl_bUBFncVDuXFJfUEggQR4e6p-KGlNX6KCW5KC96fQ5yHaBzNBOenVuz20MB6L5GjBSxF23IzXocEJzm7Lgp74-PkRtHakC/s400/DSC01770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> I fell in love with this turtle in the park!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptxAHli0lSrfG7LZMxRZVtmKZNSg7AzI_PRc8P-__go_eTf-KIH8Pyo41tH3DxGQDGYfwVK7G4LRLrt101YWNkB9d2h9amXGCLB9BgVgDTE0gf6MoLAbdKSQUbzlBIkdtnqUW6dhxfMes/s1600/DSC01773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptxAHli0lSrfG7LZMxRZVtmKZNSg7AzI_PRc8P-__go_eTf-KIH8Pyo41tH3DxGQDGYfwVK7G4LRLrt101YWNkB9d2h9amXGCLB9BgVgDTE0gf6MoLAbdKSQUbzlBIkdtnqUW6dhxfMes/s400/DSC01773.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">(click to enlarge - it's funny to read!)</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">We wondered just how bad the local drivers are that the crosswalk isn't safe enough. </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Pedestrians are instructed to wave orange flags when crossing the street to increase their visablity.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">As always, I fall off the communications scene through out the winter. So, my dear readers who are used to this can look foward to some "catch-up" posts. </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Thanks for hanging in there with me for another year!</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-38761477904595064632014-12-29T16:51:00.000-08:002014-12-29T16:54:33.141-08:00Winter Solstice<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">Happy Winter Solstice!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Without much snow in the mountains for snowboarding, we headed southwest towards the desert for some late season hiking.</span></div>
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W2OItn17h_H6ejQUHnuawaDiQ-PUp5ZHDAr3EQ51hjp1aE0qU0d3mMGCPu_IPVgjudO-cb3zlZEqihH1Uo0EE92HLSouW6x3aWK7M21cYn_stIvhw97CFirARZHd9LBOwPAWkEVMNE0a/s1600/DSC01756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W2OItn17h_H6ejQUHnuawaDiQ-PUp5ZHDAr3EQ51hjp1aE0qU0d3mMGCPu_IPVgjudO-cb3zlZEqihH1Uo0EE92HLSouW6x3aWK7M21cYn_stIvhw97CFirARZHd9LBOwPAWkEVMNE0a/s1600/DSC01756.JPG" height="640" width="403" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Together, on this the shortest day of the year, we hiked as a family amongst the ancient cliff dwellings and pondered how important this day must have been to the long gone inhabitants.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuwwG-PNFOC3im0a2TFvIa6yRYa8W9lsQ76D9olzc7OnPEJ1hSKhZJKoCJ3X04MT_vLIKRDz0Yw4wpMcgd_mb5nkOlHYGdSjtO1tCh2IWsY6rPT8vqyS1XVgsMI3AxtRS0pdcWqQB4kEX/s1600/DSC01757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuwwG-PNFOC3im0a2TFvIa6yRYa8W9lsQ76D9olzc7OnPEJ1hSKhZJKoCJ3X04MT_vLIKRDz0Yw4wpMcgd_mb5nkOlHYGdSjtO1tCh2IWsY6rPT8vqyS1XVgsMI3AxtRS0pdcWqQB4kEX/s1600/DSC01757.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">We took time out of the preciously short lit day to rebuild a cairn.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2ZZKGi0NykMK6bVDA4pSt28mx4qz3pJoQVURhkS_i0S5i-QdsyKhMG79Yr507Kjr2HXvTmdASkqZsqZBiKl1RDLPbo5NBlJK405KjAgclEGH2i1eu-4sx3iKI10EztTZ2XEJpkrfG41w/s1600/DSC01758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2ZZKGi0NykMK6bVDA4pSt28mx4qz3pJoQVURhkS_i0S5i-QdsyKhMG79Yr507Kjr2HXvTmdASkqZsqZBiKl1RDLPbo5NBlJK405KjAgclEGH2i1eu-4sx3iKI10EztTZ2XEJpkrfG41w/s1600/DSC01758.JPG" height="235" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Jim and Stown overlook a deep box canyon, wondering how much has changed since the last civilization decided to take up residence here.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMl2tXpG3BXx9X4p6BD5A_2nGTnBwIuLKhNR596S7f85mt6oMUSfwpyMjqZJme5Il213OEqOI_8_QOooRoX5UJp9WRZ35yh0g0-sfIwuUlSRb7niUfWG6WdKy7yJBwv-RtwwAgUtaXGxF/s1600/DSC01761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMl2tXpG3BXx9X4p6BD5A_2nGTnBwIuLKhNR596S7f85mt6oMUSfwpyMjqZJme5Il213OEqOI_8_QOooRoX5UJp9WRZ35yh0g0-sfIwuUlSRb7niUfWG6WdKy7yJBwv-RtwwAgUtaXGxF/s1600/DSC01761.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> We found mountain lion tracks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ur-_0qCSWZxJYMehv32Wd3aVBeniWuUXLbyhwc7Y1bW5Q2dLFc9W8-iqyQpetn8nuFE77MIjzjY41q4fuuE0r7CohNnNrtQsjqgNnEn2T-DXz6ne3bSRMocz9pp5Tb4VoreWQH3QDM17/s1600/DSC01762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ur-_0qCSWZxJYMehv32Wd3aVBeniWuUXLbyhwc7Y1bW5Q2dLFc9W8-iqyQpetn8nuFE77MIjzjY41q4fuuE0r7CohNnNrtQsjqgNnEn2T-DXz6ne3bSRMocz9pp5Tb4VoreWQH3QDM17/s1600/DSC01762.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">We found rodent tracks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh013WL2zFIKXyzTUzmwwLvRbUgcKQBtzQLJbVcbu53Bv-Rtj9FpfbobHhz_yAHCpYOoZOkFO3N_zvBhS-i16QXm8nZdB0GoWKLKUVDDNIseHSri9P1NYvGGFW1OnAIkmGQM_zNEHVV8HV3/s1600/DSC01765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh013WL2zFIKXyzTUzmwwLvRbUgcKQBtzQLJbVcbu53Bv-Rtj9FpfbobHhz_yAHCpYOoZOkFO3N_zvBhS-i16QXm8nZdB0GoWKLKUVDDNIseHSri9P1NYvGGFW1OnAIkmGQM_zNEHVV8HV3/s1600/DSC01765.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> Doug and Aspen compared their feet to the footprint of a mountain lion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Sizable difference, they concluded.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4IYSWrj0-2g7LsArgbQQviFSbPfPrg-1xXf8kg7C0r-JrYlbCWMDab4EOuG4hmJiOAd8Nf-jtN3PqC46xXFHhEh2BT9TkutSTlQrk4hYmZAPwgNpXeKy4iGLSpI6QxFDQM14P0cSJfrz/s1600/DSC01763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4IYSWrj0-2g7LsArgbQQviFSbPfPrg-1xXf8kg7C0r-JrYlbCWMDab4EOuG4hmJiOAd8Nf-jtN3PqC46xXFHhEh2BT9TkutSTlQrk4hYmZAPwgNpXeKy4iGLSpI6QxFDQM14P0cSJfrz/s1600/DSC01763.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Stown explored the nooks and crannies of the canyon walls.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWRIZ9gJV6AwMgdEVMawMKBvtW8C5gtZKO5DmSjgvzibbm5MmVAA_gmk8tAbiIT-gdxTUabwst6Jyq-VhG97c2K0exmP7LosBz-AOivqrxSGs4M7PcBhRXS41Xzf24DASgr2j6Jnr9CSb/s1600/DSC01766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWRIZ9gJV6AwMgdEVMawMKBvtW8C5gtZKO5DmSjgvzibbm5MmVAA_gmk8tAbiIT-gdxTUabwst6Jyq-VhG97c2K0exmP7LosBz-AOivqrxSGs4M7PcBhRXS41Xzf24DASgr2j6Jnr9CSb/s1600/DSC01766.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">We stopped for a late lunch, perched up in the pockets of a cliff.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Shortly after lunch, the weather started to change. A wind picked up and cloud cover masked the sky. We picked up our pace heading back towards the car. We got to the car and drove home, arriving just before dark and the first signs of snow. To conclude the day, we indulged in big plates of roast and roots that had been simmering in the crock pot all day. We exchanged gifts and called it an early night. Stown headed home and Jim and I headed to bed. Slumber comes early on these long cold winter nights, perhaps because we are so rushed to make the most of the short days. Maybe because we burn so much more energy while working outside to stay warm in the cold. Either way, I am cherishing this time of year to recharge my physical batteries.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Now, the days are getting longer - if only by a minute or two. Soon it will be spring, then summer, then... well you know how fast the seasons and the years pass. So, I hope you take the time needed to recharge and have the energy needed to live in love, peace and understanding. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">LOVE TO ALL!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-44031799904350953882014-12-17T04:47:00.000-08:002014-12-29T17:10:59.036-08:00No Shave November?! Oops!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">So, last month I went to the dentist and he had some chin scruff. I asked if it was a "Hunting Season Beard". He replied while uncomfortably scratching his jaw,"No, it's No Shave November. My girlfriend's making me do it". ?? Turns out it's a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Apparently, Jim and I are out of the mainstream loop because Jim choose to SHAVE in November. After 2 years of facial hair neglect, Jim decided it was time to pull the clippers out of storage and see what his bare face looked like again. Of course, something this monumental requires documentation:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZVGLZwpM6ff6eZcqDKndnao1euhf9dg6FZ5xytqJ35MA2CS4oINAYA14uimdqOzSU5-6GGe10OlAjRM6E1aM5B69KKEKE0jLlZHVjLVqz4oYZmKPZlRiWWHnOra0c8D-tmqjxHH-MCv8/s1600/DSC01738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZVGLZwpM6ff6eZcqDKndnao1euhf9dg6FZ5xytqJ35MA2CS4oINAYA14uimdqOzSU5-6GGe10OlAjRM6E1aM5B69KKEKE0jLlZHVjLVqz4oYZmKPZlRiWWHnOra0c8D-tmqjxHH-MCv8/s1600/DSC01738.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> One last look at the bearded beast!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YlqAfiYHfKwBj5bBOeOv3bsMk8W70ME-VYIvaeorMs9PjLPWrpnIzt0-IJ-0ymBivB4bJcw_JvSS4oQ57-fEzV5wjDwSb1yp8UmZufehPYbWvh2zQt5J_cXT1v1FcDcjvC6njUywshvp/s1600/DSC01739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YlqAfiYHfKwBj5bBOeOv3bsMk8W70ME-VYIvaeorMs9PjLPWrpnIzt0-IJ-0ymBivB4bJcw_JvSS4oQ57-fEzV5wjDwSb1yp8UmZufehPYbWvh2zQt5J_cXT1v1FcDcjvC6njUywshvp/s1600/DSC01739.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I don't help, just watch through the camera lens.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVJoWIBgEisquVru8I4p5XxYULRBpqoV3Cdt8JdSeFmIq9WutT6DZH3w4u8swaDAOIkTJfTxOcYRbpHUQZh7cwiOvgPT-mxexsqhZgikObi2WbSRNjfbrpoH6FFl1uRLxDDjh2nI3MPZi/s1600/DSC01740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVJoWIBgEisquVru8I4p5XxYULRBpqoV3Cdt8JdSeFmIq9WutT6DZH3w4u8swaDAOIkTJfTxOcYRbpHUQZh7cwiOvgPT-mxexsqhZgikObi2WbSRNjfbrpoH6FFl1uRLxDDjh2nI3MPZi/s1600/DSC01740.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">It peels off like a bad Halloween accessory.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGrPtGrVRTtkBN3R_YkFfcBmjXxHYRW4Op2nIMfWpw6D5CX2y_SazkVsgnpsl73mMIQeuRP4vpwM5oyj3zYKaquzHpWpjoE9cs5ESmajLpIpQ3f64gfpFieaGmJv4jVN3dxIKh-RIua1D/s1600/DSC01742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGrPtGrVRTtkBN3R_YkFfcBmjXxHYRW4Op2nIMfWpw6D5CX2y_SazkVsgnpsl73mMIQeuRP4vpwM5oyj3zYKaquzHpWpjoE9cs5ESmajLpIpQ3f64gfpFieaGmJv4jVN3dxIKh-RIua1D/s1600/DSC01742.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> WOW!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">A handful of beard and a creepy 70's style mustache...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I'm not really sure how sexy this is for me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Hey honey, do you have any candy or drive a van?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteOoySdby-kQk7HGrz03_DqGkrgIhQkwC0DNqC2XGHJGxLC6Hx0JfhuklBFFYUrz7Ef7Na8JmGFa1z77LaBmprY93bYGxUCEW_qdZqdaHpI1AM_BI5K2WfLgDG4gRZ-8degAKhca-UpQM/s1600/DSC01744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteOoySdby-kQk7HGrz03_DqGkrgIhQkwC0DNqC2XGHJGxLC6Hx0JfhuklBFFYUrz7Ef7Na8JmGFa1z77LaBmprY93bYGxUCEW_qdZqdaHpI1AM_BI5K2WfLgDG4gRZ-8degAKhca-UpQM/s1600/DSC01744.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> I briefly contemplate a career in the circus.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGUlaKYVWMPrnqRoxlucuR9_PLkUXFv-w1ptwjyodLe-B6VhzcxoxzaluUzhjmANoiTNKBcZ_CBDu5kI-HQTShhOMySa0e0bzx00ik9L0eY1pypeBLVw7ErnD7zvDYG8jLkwx_wdf4s-z/s1600/DSC01747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGUlaKYVWMPrnqRoxlucuR9_PLkUXFv-w1ptwjyodLe-B6VhzcxoxzaluUzhjmANoiTNKBcZ_CBDu5kI-HQTShhOMySa0e0bzx00ik9L0eY1pypeBLVw7ErnD7zvDYG8jLkwx_wdf4s-z/s1600/DSC01747.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Now that's hot!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I haven't seen that jawline in years!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">(so much more kissable...wink, wink!)</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">We realized that when Jim shaved the beard and he shaved off years of aging. We hadn't really noticed how much grey had snuck up on his chin and how much older it made him look. Now I feel like a cradle robber with my "new" younger looking husband!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-36599920730164508852014-11-05T04:57:00.000-08:002014-11-05T04:58:03.079-08:00Day Off Around the House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Fall is the time of year I usually dedicate a day off to staying home and getting the garden cleaned up and put ito bed for the winter. Sometimes I clean the house, too!</span></div>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzLEJQagm_IZL5eu2eoBFEJfUn1Y2l3a4gAc7I8JkDNImatGiaxxsUN_T5s54dvCqe40mv_Sz4Tr5iZOJ2rUjfLca69yLhky9H_cNWkdDDh4s420xUPZsMMuY7VcqaPNkMjsHQA-cW3MC/s1600/DSC01719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzLEJQagm_IZL5eu2eoBFEJfUn1Y2l3a4gAc7I8JkDNImatGiaxxsUN_T5s54dvCqe40mv_Sz4Tr5iZOJ2rUjfLca69yLhky9H_cNWkdDDh4s420xUPZsMMuY7VcqaPNkMjsHQA-cW3MC/s1600/DSC01719.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">The overflowing dining area.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Yes, under all accumilated crap, there really is a kitchen table. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Or atleast that's the rumor - I haven't seen it in weeks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOxvEdFlrBpNbJuQraCa21QghNjo8Q-vHty8-A2yrgfaKNYIl7d-4IJvFOwq9Hut8T10W1vEs-2_MiBW35HBjq_15o-c_9-ov9wR38OuGzi8niGg2KFTDCTqa7lNcWModgqUgwWHwuSQ3/s1600/DSC01728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOxvEdFlrBpNbJuQraCa21QghNjo8Q-vHty8-A2yrgfaKNYIl7d-4IJvFOwq9Hut8T10W1vEs-2_MiBW35HBjq_15o-c_9-ov9wR38OuGzi8niGg2KFTDCTqa7lNcWModgqUgwWHwuSQ3/s1600/DSC01728.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">WOW!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Time to move the house plants in off the back deck, too.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ULH4OqlfOiuwUnaBiKevtGvq20vCbkoBksuuKt10sINOZRi_d0TEfPrw3peUYbnwx8iTxebFPT2cKuMQM-vfsvfkY0Or7CxLXp4qFW1ZWF2SdnJjNmeqoG5ZHQSmzdl3ku5pbjZCHOFy/s1600/DSC01720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ULH4OqlfOiuwUnaBiKevtGvq20vCbkoBksuuKt10sINOZRi_d0TEfPrw3peUYbnwx8iTxebFPT2cKuMQM-vfsvfkY0Or7CxLXp4qFW1ZWF2SdnJjNmeqoG5ZHQSmzdl3ku5pbjZCHOFy/s1600/DSC01720.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> Potato Bed - Before</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj59vSYUpZbXEtWwYmOsnVPuUxklsfz_g5aWtekA84N3zFiJhNXw25R985iiMNUeRTYnfqba358Y3JI1854sF5BN-D93AKsx-MDeWGIcfLM8xryQ9cojHVSAbkl9PK-TrEJa2t8souWoH/s1600/DSC01722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj59vSYUpZbXEtWwYmOsnVPuUxklsfz_g5aWtekA84N3zFiJhNXw25R985iiMNUeRTYnfqba358Y3JI1854sF5BN-D93AKsx-MDeWGIcfLM8xryQ9cojHVSAbkl9PK-TrEJa2t8souWoH/s1600/DSC01722.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> Potato Bed - After</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Only a small crop (7 lbs) but it was an experiment this year.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXNDzU4dXrvGVCnE9GM62mcTdZ2mgET1y9u-LvSUKeheOnxrSl0-RwJVyGgbUwHi6xwNhib69s06dZUf8naJBLmFfiA9uMJJt_t_x6zr_O2Xxn4mAizwlAFA4y1JIXFq862meoFHc4Fmw/s1600/DSC01727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXNDzU4dXrvGVCnE9GM62mcTdZ2mgET1y9u-LvSUKeheOnxrSl0-RwJVyGgbUwHi6xwNhib69s06dZUf8naJBLmFfiA9uMJJt_t_x6zr_O2Xxn4mAizwlAFA4y1JIXFq862meoFHc4Fmw/s1600/DSC01727.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> A "new" hoop house over the potato bed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">"New" as in used and gifted to us by a friend.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXVIi-eeE0ozRh9plzNMZGL2oSaX60XuqCbvl6vFaWCW1etOeyuQrpqHMSts6VBLhFY4CIV5yQXNp3FtDIo2THR35etTDI6wkXCyzxNS2eiXw3R1OI9Gu3UZUEsXFs4IpjayfacqaUEDm/s1600/DSC01726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXVIi-eeE0ozRh9plzNMZGL2oSaX60XuqCbvl6vFaWCW1etOeyuQrpqHMSts6VBLhFY4CIV5yQXNp3FtDIo2THR35etTDI6wkXCyzxNS2eiXw3R1OI9Gu3UZUEsXFs4IpjayfacqaUEDm/s1600/DSC01726.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> A relocated and semi-protected grape tomato plant.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmbHJiN067f03PqK2nidyihss9S0nhQsy40JN1AvtKtvp583XNi6L3n9IDOSvmmWTeQxhVgosdQLC3xmHII_s2o810K4_Bwm_OO_WYM19B9pmw7REP_fJPKH17NJ6IpPBhfTdoOEkPQ-N/s1600/DSC01732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmbHJiN067f03PqK2nidyihss9S0nhQsy40JN1AvtKtvp583XNi6L3n9IDOSvmmWTeQxhVgosdQLC3xmHII_s2o810K4_Bwm_OO_WYM19B9pmw7REP_fJPKH17NJ6IpPBhfTdoOEkPQ-N/s1600/DSC01732.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Fall lettuce sprouts in the recently turned 'tater bed.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOGkrmHbweWcCCkBdsSMEYbsHzFqFgCFGnaEtfPSkTJeRh24gPGvAt4fhXI9Lm2aaugsZv2VUC67go3y-uA1zItvU5rVPcxQMYX63jzbSKFFHbS65ivWwvHaIZXiXuh8cEhpR7_C1KqYW/s1600/DSC01721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOGkrmHbweWcCCkBdsSMEYbsHzFqFgCFGnaEtfPSkTJeRh24gPGvAt4fhXI9Lm2aaugsZv2VUC67go3y-uA1zItvU5rVPcxQMYX63jzbSKFFHbS65ivWwvHaIZXiXuh8cEhpR7_C1KqYW/s1600/DSC01721.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">My kitchen herb bed was being overrun by the tarragon.</span></div>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4okUeCk9H37L1OjErBWlmIIEt35MKIfppW665LFbeiwnSkYViwn3UWTDMIqyulSrc0F_yRViwngrK4wgAUpnqpyD-7xQR9cWk2PCX9K-brfcxZnRxeDDmSGM0RcCCvECVDBtLNcPuwnN/s1600/DSC01725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4okUeCk9H37L1OjErBWlmIIEt35MKIfppW665LFbeiwnSkYViwn3UWTDMIqyulSrc0F_yRViwngrK4wgAUpnqpyD-7xQR9cWk2PCX9K-brfcxZnRxeDDmSGM0RcCCvECVDBtLNcPuwnN/s1600/DSC01725.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">After realizing just how little tarragon I actually use and how space consuming it was I pulled it all up. I halved the sage bush and dug back the marjoram too. Then I planted a ton (maybe 40?) garlic bulbs for next year.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxE10V53pGC7luFNZQtrxbCKv_qNr1otx3keNz-IQyyw9-N9XfSWl_taxwo-GQPb2dS8GjQHlyhd_DKpUF8Hdc4svKfLA-ZXh6KnAIp4RH2PSHklmge8YvYWDzdUlYadlO9aaD2aB2iTV/s1600/DSC01724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxE10V53pGC7luFNZQtrxbCKv_qNr1otx3keNz-IQyyw9-N9XfSWl_taxwo-GQPb2dS8GjQHlyhd_DKpUF8Hdc4svKfLA-ZXh6KnAIp4RH2PSHklmge8YvYWDzdUlYadlO9aaD2aB2iTV/s1600/DSC01724.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">The chickens enjoyed all the fresh herbs, little did they know I was trying to season them from the inside! Ok, maybe not. But with the shorter days, colder weather and my three layers in molt, the egg production is pretty low. We have wondered when the first one will end up in the soup pot.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Happy Fall to Ya!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-22230745163474476642014-10-22T05:03:00.000-07:002014-10-22T05:10:07.443-07:00Anniversary Gift<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">If you read the blog occasionally you would know I am a bit of a sentimental sap. I sucker for tradition: mine or some else's. Well, here's this year's anniversary gift.</span></div>
<span style="color: #45818e;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlEmiJl4Js2pOOTAyJQeKtrcXiUKXhHuPLxDK4wXNDUObV3VF4RgHYisDs_P4A86CppqonaHKjoHZnAaLh1yumTwN9zCEuaqUHvq2EAkQY6nouJq3gLOZhdETLse7RwOHWaYBCTd8DgR5/s1600/DSC01730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlEmiJl4Js2pOOTAyJQeKtrcXiUKXhHuPLxDK4wXNDUObV3VF4RgHYisDs_P4A86CppqonaHKjoHZnAaLh1yumTwN9zCEuaqUHvq2EAkQY6nouJq3gLOZhdETLse7RwOHWaYBCTd8DgR5/s1600/DSC01730.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">A hand knit hat for Jim...</span></div>
<span style="color: #45818e;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_T5YkbIKD0tS-LF9UsV9YcUkmJeGQ0jIj0W9ZBEcIha0HvX8UDWmTR5CZaJhE8Q12DlfadTOy4eTSTyfXuHKEdk0P4KnHEk4l_b9qgANlBCG8QdXLT09SUuuo2lft4i1ub0JAwus3w07Y/s1600/DSC01729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_T5YkbIKD0tS-LF9UsV9YcUkmJeGQ0jIj0W9ZBEcIha0HvX8UDWmTR5CZaJhE8Q12DlfadTOy4eTSTyfXuHKEdk0P4KnHEk4l_b9qgANlBCG8QdXLT09SUuuo2lft4i1ub0JAwus3w07Y/s1600/DSC01729.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #45818e;">Complete with a ponytail hole!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #45818e;"></span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="color: #45818e;">After a little research I found out that the traditional gift for 7 years is wool and copper. Having just learned to knit earlier this year, I thought I would try my hand at making Jim a hat. Besides, he's always complaining that his beanies "ride up" because his ponytail gets in the way. He wonders out loud if they make beanies with holes like baseball cap to stick his hair through. Now I am creative but not the best at deciphering patterns. I tend to "just figure it out." So after a few phone calls to my Granno, the family knitter, I was on my way knitting up a storm of knots and rows that hopefully would emerge as a wearable hat for my hubby.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="color: #45818e;"></span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="color: #45818e;">I used wool from a friend's sheep. I attached 2 "copper" pennies (everyone knows they're not really copper anymore) - one 2007 and one 2014 (year of our wedding and year of our anniversary). I knit 7 stripes to represent our 7 years together. I tried it on, too big - perfect (hopefully) because Jim's head is bigger than mine. I compared it to another beanie that he wears that seems to be the best fitting in our house. It all seemed good. Then I wrapped it in a brown bag labeled "Open on 3 Oct." and stuffed it in the bottom of his suitcase. See, Jim was at his cousin's wedding in the Outer Banks for our anniversary, but I wanted him to have it on that day anyway. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="color: #45818e;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">He loves it and it fits well!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">I wonder what the traditional gifts for 8 years will bring?</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-45369811254188537752014-10-03T04:45:00.000-07:002014-10-03T04:45:46.969-07:00Then & Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEVWlbyAqeAa3EqfSvoP76Bqc45rMqWKo9taeG2she6R2ellSJDcV5Y-MGGVmBAfmpkG-HTR2vr4z_Vq_EcSuVz5nx6GiG_t0cly9W2nWOgec2Fgx0qTcW27dwfKL6N4F0nh55vFqSBvG/s1600/DSC00692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEVWlbyAqeAa3EqfSvoP76Bqc45rMqWKo9taeG2she6R2ellSJDcV5Y-MGGVmBAfmpkG-HTR2vr4z_Vq_EcSuVz5nx6GiG_t0cly9W2nWOgec2Fgx0qTcW27dwfKL6N4F0nh55vFqSBvG/s1600/DSC00692.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;">Our Honeymoon 2007</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5whTl-0m8LxdLxKGJN99DCy6iPYqF3mE3qqzezkGOYrpS3SI5cG7ojXZgdU2fCfq8ClS8vnWJGQ6d80Vn-B-c8eYpCdcKp1AsG36dWsIHW6IHLfmJJSaTC-Z-7r8viafqcSpRRNl4t2W/s1600/DSC04089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5whTl-0m8LxdLxKGJN99DCy6iPYqF3mE3qqzezkGOYrpS3SI5cG7ojXZgdU2fCfq8ClS8vnWJGQ6d80Vn-B-c8eYpCdcKp1AsG36dWsIHW6IHLfmJJSaTC-Z-7r8viafqcSpRRNl4t2W/s1600/DSC04089.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #ea9999;">Our Anniversary 2014</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Well, not much has changed by the looks of it. Jim got fuzzier on the chin and I can still fit in my favorite pink running shorts. Our lives have evolved together, becoming as intertwined as Jim's beard hair after a windstorm. We know things we didn't back then, about the world and each other. But still, here we are facing new challenges and the same old routines together and with a smile.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Cheers to the next 7 years!</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-14756293496916801242014-09-20T17:11:00.000-07:002014-09-20T17:11:19.538-07:00Grand Canyon - Plateau Point & Bright Angel<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">After leaving the Tonto Trail we stopped to enjoy lunch at Indian Garden along the Bright Angel Trail. We were sitting on a bench minding our own business, when suddenly the people behind us started yelling "Squirrel! Squirrel!". Well, we caught this fat little ball of fur trying to make off with our bag of dried fruit! So brazen they are and used to being fed by people, it came right up behind our bench, reached up and grabbed the bag out of the pile of assorted lunch snacks we had set out. After filling our bellies and our water bottles (the corridor trails offer potable water spigots & bathrooms along the way), we headed out another trail way had never had time to explore, Plateau Point. This trail is an out and back (3 miles round trip) from Bright Angel to a look out over the river. Well worth the hike!</span></div>
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">` remember - click to enlarge pics! `</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF7cdQq1iWuMu2T9r8Rfl-Rdq5nBfjLJ7hYZPerX872pE_cD0PpYf2RBm6NGvY2YTWQKNLNy1MmbqaIMn0EotNWyEuwCie_BIqBxhyjN2AlBPts8R0u0LmL8_URxOqfrcC3ZWO6CZ_Hvr/s1600/DSC04074.JPG" height="130" width="400" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">A panoramic to the West</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3cHpUhnlHxaTvBTx7NFrkJUwKHoNJwn943gydMB4gGfJj-z0YLbZWngmRXaWULmExDk-Rj9fIeq15ATerAOh5Wr6Fq9k8BgS_bv9cN6KK3X-55v0FbS4jWgQqpRGSj3a2aMajmVEwfRw/s1600/DSC04077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3cHpUhnlHxaTvBTx7NFrkJUwKHoNJwn943gydMB4gGfJj-z0YLbZWngmRXaWULmExDk-Rj9fIeq15ATerAOh5Wr6Fq9k8BgS_bv9cN6KK3X-55v0FbS4jWgQqpRGSj3a2aMajmVEwfRw/s1600/DSC04077.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;">To the East</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;">The river is running muddy due to the recent rains</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd1io6Be5jLpgyF9TLIRJVjWhOP3m1-LU6le9Qq5X1YNLwHwkGpq5EzAbRgVrR36kNmr-sQG7xhSe34E8uj6mnRE_yTOCfTk6kQDGKNVgkaHX1GMzYRgMRYegZJDOmSIiFByVEqPf2DmZ/s1600/DSC04075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd1io6Be5jLpgyF9TLIRJVjWhOP3m1-LU6le9Qq5X1YNLwHwkGpq5EzAbRgVrR36kNmr-sQG7xhSe34E8uj6mnRE_yTOCfTk6kQDGKNVgkaHX1GMzYRgMRYegZJDOmSIiFByVEqPf2DmZ/s1600/DSC04075.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Looking back South to the wall that awaits our ascent out of the canyon.</span></div>
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKhQwQ96gECz0nr32EJgcfSXucdKc9OObcii2I-XfVDNkAp0haRROCRCmKpD5SdIX3ozqZQ9tEJ3JmRUp7BgZTepuy-JcUrtczREnCWvfvyDleDvL3UJSCIAX5DtxnzVRVpFkj5sZH90i/s1600/DSC04079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKhQwQ96gECz0nr32EJgcfSXucdKc9OObcii2I-XfVDNkAp0haRROCRCmKpD5SdIX3ozqZQ9tEJ3JmRUp7BgZTepuy-JcUrtczREnCWvfvyDleDvL3UJSCIAX5DtxnzVRVpFkj5sZH90i/s1600/DSC04079.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> Back on Bright Angel for the long (4.9 miles +3060 ft elevation) climb out, it didn't take long for Jim to find some love and encouragement.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iTfOFRBJAMkfGRKg16PlI0WX9EfXIvI5Hg7IAPZ7jFxi1SdtmfdIOmaRcHnVyspkcCY-dh8xvhOs7H60xmD0APTVSX5QJJUF4DoBgAC0_Cnc4r2tUaJJ2kls72sUoAMm7cJcBQ6Are24/s1600/DSC04082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iTfOFRBJAMkfGRKg16PlI0WX9EfXIvI5Hg7IAPZ7jFxi1SdtmfdIOmaRcHnVyspkcCY-dh8xvhOs7H60xmD0APTVSX5QJJUF4DoBgAC0_Cnc4r2tUaJJ2kls72sUoAMm7cJcBQ6Are24/s1600/DSC04082.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Later in the afternoon, we switch backed our way up and in and out of shade along the contours of the canyon wall.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJ7_RthFIhHKcOIWovYPfg6t7MLFS7HmQuQJEWyRQ2XHla21cxOTsfizS1ajm-y74ukDtl8xCYrJJ-N4ZqfEtCcHP5J46vS2jsmwggJS9TwGRyzYhDGoRn2hsEbZzmxR62igZCCQXZh5W/s1600/DSC04083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJ7_RthFIhHKcOIWovYPfg6t7MLFS7HmQuQJEWyRQ2XHla21cxOTsfizS1ajm-y74ukDtl8xCYrJJ-N4ZqfEtCcHP5J46vS2jsmwggJS9TwGRyzYhDGoRn2hsEbZzmxR62igZCCQXZh5W/s1600/DSC04083.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;">The switch backing trail is so steep that you can spit down on the trail you just walked on. Although, I don't recommend it. However, playing shadow puppets is acceptable.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyDHNsgwsK_p2sD48_rcGx2Chdr3lET6AOiO0ZbPEw34Ji9vNoHP8rS0v13HywZ8G5NRHSUInbbdjyNnLGag4t4RaXduTd01Aca7V1DoUYTbI8gI-cSd9PvdnVf2RzscHYec70tgfHjkD/s1600/DSC04084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyDHNsgwsK_p2sD48_rcGx2Chdr3lET6AOiO0ZbPEw34Ji9vNoHP8rS0v13HywZ8G5NRHSUInbbdjyNnLGag4t4RaXduTd01Aca7V1DoUYTbI8gI-cSd9PvdnVf2RzscHYec70tgfHjkD/s1600/DSC04084.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Jim points out a knob jutting out over the abyss, near the 3 mile water stop, where 7 years ago during our honeymoon descent we stopped for a little scenic lovin'. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">It's all fun and games, unless you're afraid of heights.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTFDMju0S_w-cF0NvGkXtBgZBzszEqdW5akwgVjrr_PfmQWdov_OhW66aDAepZ3iPAtLaXaQeQYIJpM97pEim0c0IMSRJXCojOxCKJMfRQv9ZYe5mKWQk9v_WDLgZr7lwCmwkWOLvvB3s/s1600/DSC04085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTFDMju0S_w-cF0NvGkXtBgZBzszEqdW5akwgVjrr_PfmQWdov_OhW66aDAepZ3iPAtLaXaQeQYIJpM97pEim0c0IMSRJXCojOxCKJMfRQv9ZYe5mKWQk9v_WDLgZr7lwCmwkWOLvvB3s/s1600/DSC04085.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;">Closer to the top, I glance back for a parting view. As the lighting changes along with the passing clouds, the views are always different.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_jT0S-7GWtmFvy_1EgkamK61RsjYLn8mL72FvZWDTYkNqP1aKgGtP3hFdMhCGRp0ZaA9X5iX58aLx6mA4V-Di7OgnU-hdIPLKx-vI1kthH_G9g3nXGebxkWHei1v3r3kahZ5IMz7nbp6/s1600/DSC04089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_jT0S-7GWtmFvy_1EgkamK61RsjYLn8mL72FvZWDTYkNqP1aKgGtP3hFdMhCGRp0ZaA9X5iX58aLx6mA4V-Di7OgnU-hdIPLKx-vI1kthH_G9g3nXGebxkWHei1v3r3kahZ5IMz7nbp6/s1600/DSC04089.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> Bright Angel Trail head</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">This is not a day hike for those not in shape. (And no, round is not a shape!) The elevation change is significant, like a reverse mountain climb. Only the climb is at the end and you don't have the downhill gravitational pull to help you like on a regular up and down climb. Consider the South Rim is at an average of 7,000 ft in elevation, that's already much higher than where most people live (what's the elevation at your house?) kind of like you're starting at the top of the mountain. People who are fit at sea level are not necessarily fit at elevation and may experience altitude issues. Luckily, Jim and I reside higher than this and thus experience a boost in oxygen at lower elevations. There are signs everywhere warning people not to go down to the river and back in one day. Jim and I stopped at the Back country Office the day before to purchase a new map and were given a wonderful sticker. <strong>"Down is Optional - Up is Mandatory" </strong>It is put out by the search and rescue. People seem to think that there is some magical fairy that just plucks you out of the canyon and carries you to the top if you get tired. Ummm... NO! After speaking with a ranger on Bright Angel, he explained how they do get people out. First the tired hiker gets to stay the night in the canyon, not in a cabin or tent, just where ever they happen to be when they decide they have to stop for the night. Then they get to try again, the next day. If they insist on being "rescued", fine, the park service will send a mule down to carry them to the top - to the tune of a $300 bill!! Mule rides aren't free, even for those who need to be "rescued". Note I say "rescued", because if there was actual medical emergency (life threatening) they would helicopter you out - Who knows how much that bill would be! So again, I stress this hike is not for the out of shape.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">When we started the morning, I overheard an experienced hiker tell a first timer, "On the way out, you know you're getting close to the top when you start seeing fat people and children." True that! I noticed what I like to call the "Fashion Strata". It's similar to the geological strata layers of rock you see along the canyon walls, changing with elevation. It seems to start at about the 1.5 mile water stop, people in khakis, polo shirts and spiffy new white tennis shoes. As you climb up (closer to the trail head), you might see teenagers in Chuck Taylor's with no socks (UGH! Imagine the dust rubbed blisters?!) or perhaps a well dressed man in Penny Loafers. Even closer yet, you are guaranteed to see ladies in dresses, glittery sandals (sometimes even heels!), fancy handbags and name brand labels on nearly everything. See, as you reaching for the top and your legs are wobbly and your spirit is diminishing, the entertainment factor starts to climb, lifting your inner laughter and drowning out the aches and pains that may be ailing you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;">But hey, at least even these people are making an effort to something wonderful and majestic instead of sitting in front of the television. (Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of texting, selfies and other annoying techno crap to be seen.) As for us, we shut down the technology for the day, tuned out and dropped in - the canyon that is! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Hope you have an opportunity to escape soon, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">even if it's just for the afternoon!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-50257692681997931382014-09-19T05:01:00.001-07:002014-09-20T16:53:05.254-07:00Grand Canyon - Tonto Trail<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #38761d;">After 4.3 miles of leap frogging other hikers, we reached The Tipoff and turned West. Leaving the freeway known as South Kiabab, we embarked onto a single track trail that would traverse the south wall of the canyon along a plateau averaging 3,800ft in elevation. We would follow this trail to the next freeway, Bright Angel, 4.5 miles away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #e06666;">*Click on photos to enlarge*</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3t209KPkIqwkLNSJDRwEpGSf2hHANvSG2Xlq6VgNMZwwgbFxuDj-Wm2TbU9Nx3EDzlUwn8HFhhhQ5AVdByirCnryrb8ultQHO2ClI2vPJ2WBnlzZC5-Cq2VU2QPMG9ii6hnebnlBsvOQ/s1600/DSC04057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3t209KPkIqwkLNSJDRwEpGSf2hHANvSG2Xlq6VgNMZwwgbFxuDj-Wm2TbU9Nx3EDzlUwn8HFhhhQ5AVdByirCnryrb8ultQHO2ClI2vPJ2WBnlzZC5-Cq2VU2QPMG9ii6hnebnlBsvOQ/s1600/DSC04057.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"> Looking West - Can you find the trail?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rB8ATvPHhCGpaght-4WPDuuufeai6kr4uE3vfOOkiU55U9sJ0k_uizQM1UmsCoS30LmlF1w5sRlIN6OJDM09Aek3qbpuf-hN0njPibFtldqfGiBi7fTHyYO4AeojMpW9dEODgT-wtcFr/s1600/DSC04060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rB8ATvPHhCGpaght-4WPDuuufeai6kr4uE3vfOOkiU55U9sJ0k_uizQM1UmsCoS30LmlF1w5sRlIN6OJDM09Aek3qbpuf-hN0njPibFtldqfGiBi7fTHyYO4AeojMpW9dEODgT-wtcFr/s1600/DSC04060.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">A whole new environment. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">Hotter and more arid, trees were few and far between the scrubby little shrubs.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF-SHXAJNOkvIBtBICdqCCYt4mx43kjRweArxJLQ-05aILF76C_9JC65KoL7r0i4hre7gnSWGfbHS5Dau8IXJzbFymR-aC6lMhY55m_KmkHSK1agz7Xjxz7vKFHQdKYgyEXf_QMperpDC/s1600/DSC04061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF-SHXAJNOkvIBtBICdqCCYt4mx43kjRweArxJLQ-05aILF76C_9JC65KoL7r0i4hre7gnSWGfbHS5Dau8IXJzbFymR-aC6lMhY55m_KmkHSK1agz7Xjxz7vKFHQdKYgyEXf_QMperpDC/s1600/DSC04061.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">Off in the distance we spied a huge cottonwood tree. Knowing they symbolize water in the desert, we were excited.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31mlCWA4p7UTTsH9FUZTbh38hyphenhyphenJ9MWiaqtpm_Mq_WTh9RsgxZVKV31G4fMvZNjgPJ4EC_uTtn8FcjbfuZvl8LPvocxs-2YEHt0ZeLw3TGOfHhLs3dfZNfkUFjyVR31O0Tp9DPPV2emi6W/s1600/DSC04064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31mlCWA4p7UTTsH9FUZTbh38hyphenhyphenJ9MWiaqtpm_Mq_WTh9RsgxZVKV31G4fMvZNjgPJ4EC_uTtn8FcjbfuZvl8LPvocxs-2YEHt0ZeLw3TGOfHhLs3dfZNfkUFjyVR31O0Tp9DPPV2emi6W/s1600/DSC04064.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">Burro Spring</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">But we never expected this! Holy Oasis!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">Gingerly, Jim steps from rock to rock to avoid soaking his shoes in the boggy mess below.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhGis9Cy7IAMNTUymGLNsJXBi3ZLKefVY_dg-2CLS0LOUqSwr2zzrf1p8wCUueTcCWmNg2SXOdDVz0TSXuBKuVOdXJHs3kaPsjrwEePwT4YvAI6qMj0K1aKMfe5SnOXurIrxA7VuUZ1DV/s1600/DSC04063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhGis9Cy7IAMNTUymGLNsJXBi3ZLKefVY_dg-2CLS0LOUqSwr2zzrf1p8wCUueTcCWmNg2SXOdDVz0TSXuBKuVOdXJHs3kaPsjrwEePwT4YvAI6qMj0K1aKMfe5SnOXurIrxA7VuUZ1DV/s1600/DSC04063.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;">Damsel Fly</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: black;">What a delight of color and diversity to find in the de</span>pths of the canyon.</span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAuGyjjvAz8kJGcI2473XDKzqY7eHa6FnPBkZLOGnl8IIoXngotnlzFlvhuoA3WSzAF8yh3FSYAMFUF1xE7Dfp_M1ClvvWbCmVcEZeVpGKyUCKmUhwZQZ6ZKUZ3yTyDlxbbYAOoqlRqhC/s1600/DSC04066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAuGyjjvAz8kJGcI2473XDKzqY7eHa6FnPBkZLOGnl8IIoXngotnlzFlvhuoA3WSzAF8yh3FSYAMFUF1xE7Dfp_M1ClvvWbCmVcEZeVpGKyUCKmUhwZQZ6ZKUZ3yTyDlxbbYAOoqlRqhC/s1600/DSC04066.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">Pipe Spring</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">A bit further down the trail we came across another spring. This one had a wider bed and was actually running. There were more trees and large rocks offering us a comfortable place to rest and eat.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBynQe2CCoAFdygPKFRqFlBxPaPh_TzYJ0wcKoT6oueJuCxkivtje8RPMidEwGT-W79on6BZIfaoACk2KSBYG34NYU82nsD9EaLF44l2NvWok8zatTKzXorgbYIijUjBfCXZeUwgiF9C8/s1600/DSC04070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBynQe2CCoAFdygPKFRqFlBxPaPh_TzYJ0wcKoT6oueJuCxkivtje8RPMidEwGT-W79on6BZIfaoACk2KSBYG34NYU82nsD9EaLF44l2NvWok8zatTKzXorgbYIijUjBfCXZeUwgiF9C8/s1600/DSC04070.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">The trail follows the contour of the south wall, going in and out of box canyons. A new perspective of the South Rim's Yavapai Point.</span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AiDLugsnCmLrl3BmJY1q7QvI_ZSIXqZ60af0wd9MmEj_i5Q5of2LmwQ9hJ_4GNdOeLeGvD53BdfpBqXjXWxqkCECDDXaxx5W5MJEG3s0Ao6CHL1rzw-QVk9tHfBNgUN7cNPXUr1wYXJC/s1600/DSC04071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AiDLugsnCmLrl3BmJY1q7QvI_ZSIXqZ60af0wd9MmEj_i5Q5of2LmwQ9hJ_4GNdOeLeGvD53BdfpBqXjXWxqkCECDDXaxx5W5MJEG3s0Ao6CHL1rzw-QVk9tHfBNgUN7cNPXUr1wYXJC/s1600/DSC04071.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;">One of the original telephone line poles installed across the canyon a 100 years ago. Comprised of galvanized pipe and glass insulators, they are still standing and have the wires strung between them.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-sMsZjhznXVtWnd4EWgIL8T8iCVGw7K-DvNbPklAppWbYwKBjA4Q-EEagsR08-QGsyj3OCLsnZWj8UrLcp3ELdbtBhPaOZ_Mh3OYGcOsuwZa5rYdpMOXU9Bhe5DIrQ75r5i9kF6WwnFf/s1600/DSC04073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-sMsZjhznXVtWnd4EWgIL8T8iCVGw7K-DvNbPklAppWbYwKBjA4Q-EEagsR08-QGsyj3OCLsnZWj8UrLcp3ELdbtBhPaOZ_Mh3OYGcOsuwZa5rYdpMOXU9Bhe5DIrQ75r5i9kF6WwnFf/s1600/DSC04073.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;">Jim saying good bye to the trail...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;">and the peace and quiet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #38761d;">While we were enjoying the Tonto trail, never saw another hiker. We picked up a few bits of trash but never encountered another person (or mule). It was a beautiful experience in Desert Solitaire.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">But wait there's more!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">We still have to climb OUT of here!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Check back for the final ascent...</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-65680306689074406702014-09-18T04:31:00.002-07:002014-09-18T04:31:45.055-07:00Grand Canyon - South Kiabab Trail<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Jim and I are coming up on our 7th anniversary. When we got married we honeymooned at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Since then we have gone back to celebrate <a href="http://durangodream.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html">our anniversary</a> somewhere in the park. This year I got a three day weekend (albeit a few weeks before than our anniversary), so we decided to celebrate early. I scored a cancellation hotel room for Saturday night and we camped out under the stars Friday night. On Saturday we did a 17 mile hike down into the canyon, staying along the south wall, and explored some trails we had seen signs for but never had the time to hike. Follow us along the trail for some amazing views...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">~ Click to enlarge photos - way worth it! ~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7q5WHCM04hocjlr9sMEBxm7XCMoR8S6UomVuWWyA0ixnLUxnhXxFU6M0BS9BvEd5sIYZBlWrfxnlhpIGy84-jrrKnm_E1JZMBLkCwZx8Iv_zCX2a7d1Hl82EQ-sPxwqu56v4ntEYAodZ1/s1600/DSC04037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7q5WHCM04hocjlr9sMEBxm7XCMoR8S6UomVuWWyA0ixnLUxnhXxFU6M0BS9BvEd5sIYZBlWrfxnlhpIGy84-jrrKnm_E1JZMBLkCwZx8Iv_zCX2a7d1Hl82EQ-sPxwqu56v4ntEYAodZ1/s1600/DSC04037.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Saturday Morning Sunrise </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">(taken from a moving truck window)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMF9ZJ-UQdbUhTPPjZcY4Q7G5728xdPdAZSgzeAbkg-GGn_cSCDjBwFFSGtOjD3JxQ4U3_1_03B0okVwrmwRzpm93_gIVgdse-z_5CtJ-c5lfzPwkPSkIkxcxu5GA6kyFwvFI7msgjz4f/s1600/DSC04039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMF9ZJ-UQdbUhTPPjZcY4Q7G5728xdPdAZSgzeAbkg-GGn_cSCDjBwFFSGtOjD3JxQ4U3_1_03B0okVwrmwRzpm93_gIVgdse-z_5CtJ-c5lfzPwkPSkIkxcxu5GA6kyFwvFI7msgjz4f/s1600/DSC04039.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">South Kiabab Trail Head (parking area)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrsXM2NLXgElH_-P4DexICDUal8t-kD1ipCf6pZdn7SI467mpxQxt7bB4MgKWCrq11m2p-5ns-AvMMLhCK2vx8RPxaquWytHMswPdhJrWelHh4Xdcv4IRot9uEU6ZGkoiB6us-3Ei4z19/s1600/DSC04041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrsXM2NLXgElH_-P4DexICDUal8t-kD1ipCf6pZdn7SI467mpxQxt7bB4MgKWCrq11m2p-5ns-AvMMLhCK2vx8RPxaquWytHMswPdhJrWelHh4Xdcv4IRot9uEU6ZGkoiB6us-3Ei4z19/s1600/DSC04041.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">South Kiabab Trail Head (actual)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">When asking strangers to take a picture, we tend to take a couple, who knows which ones will or will not turn out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ07q8hdBjJL91Vu50MCw6yF7r6C67eZnMsw7YAL8eq3RHTOimA4EfoMdLwMk4K3A0CZuVpEe6T5Fx3HCbizLdIsDF5Atgb8W62sTe0xuWyDPCmbPVxGXI72bvE992OfTbjDSRdm3xnpmv/s1600/DSC04042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ07q8hdBjJL91Vu50MCw6yF7r6C67eZnMsw7YAL8eq3RHTOimA4EfoMdLwMk4K3A0CZuVpEe6T5Fx3HCbizLdIsDF5Atgb8W62sTe0xuWyDPCmbPVxGXI72bvE992OfTbjDSRdm3xnpmv/s1600/DSC04042.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">The far off North Rim from the top of the trail.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMtcv38Hvf-YiM-5GlLwkAGao95GAKHzJ7SVu28nAic-OyJaWVZ5fFEViWbcUX9AKp0u4OwTo56g2b58nDN4QJ4VabGBgn-PICrZSpVmAtxmTMgDG_y3i6_Isr0TSi5VI8VSmtsHONTfD/s1600/DSC04044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMtcv38Hvf-YiM-5GlLwkAGao95GAKHzJ7SVu28nAic-OyJaWVZ5fFEViWbcUX9AKp0u4OwTo56g2b58nDN4QJ4VabGBgn-PICrZSpVmAtxmTMgDG_y3i6_Isr0TSi5VI8VSmtsHONTfD/s1600/DSC04044.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"> Descending...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2cHjJVSTWoRiy3SdJu5d_RZs6D0DOVD5QgABnomvUQYIrMg7S5xP0Mu-dMSNOVvpoVDChMi6hFPR7Kj7HeWnajC8AAlHpP3TinnQ6yGUnvtx_hHtCHHnSAFbfgjBhhAcHNx6xhHYXNAt/s1600/DSC04046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2cHjJVSTWoRiy3SdJu5d_RZs6D0DOVD5QgABnomvUQYIrMg7S5xP0Mu-dMSNOVvpoVDChMi6hFPR7Kj7HeWnajC8AAlHpP3TinnQ6yGUnvtx_hHtCHHnSAFbfgjBhhAcHNx6xhHYXNAt/s1600/DSC04046.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"> Did we mention it was crowded?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">O'Neill Butte on the right.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2Ox0DHoYr6m3kIvAisSS9yFpZcQSdgVlFyoc77q33HdyLSf0TlnMgvkbW1uTVXMEpS8kCIqaxH1sQegkAtWiRr6BqQN3Uj1IfoOkADpGHQ3N85Dn0L3U2pI4zJcBRJGhFoId4TWmL8Qf/s1600/DSC04047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2Ox0DHoYr6m3kIvAisSS9yFpZcQSdgVlFyoc77q33HdyLSf0TlnMgvkbW1uTVXMEpS8kCIqaxH1sQegkAtWiRr6BqQN3Uj1IfoOkADpGHQ3N85Dn0L3U2pI4zJcBRJGhFoId4TWmL8Qf/s1600/DSC04047.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">At Skeleton Point we came across an artist, <a href="http://www.joshuabeen.com/">Joshua Been</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">As it turns out we were at the park during the 6th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. It's a week long event featuring many artists painting "En plein air", a French expression that means "in the open air". They were scattered across the rim and a few in the canyon, providing onlookers with a peek of creation in motion. There were demonstrations scheduled, exhibits and of course items for sale. After a few words with Joshua, we discovered he is a neighbor of sorts. He hails from Salida Colorado, funny what a small world it is.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm7DabagF-fozimOIMIoatXATjQG3MyifpCidTnemOI2-FTmBFt5NiuQ25ZgxaZqGXwQ4BvBcf0N6VQRFMRNVxlbbE9tD_4Vf1deJrUsvPUUz-Qv6DO_Q20hRD9eb5mJ-7BxIJLYVp2Zv/s1600/DSC04052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm7DabagF-fozimOIMIoatXATjQG3MyifpCidTnemOI2-FTmBFt5NiuQ25ZgxaZqGXwQ4BvBcf0N6VQRFMRNVxlbbE9tD_4Vf1deJrUsvPUUz-Qv6DO_Q20hRD9eb5mJ-7BxIJLYVp2Zv/s1600/DSC04052.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">A view down and across the south wall at the trail we will be traversing on soon.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSiiP1C7fIIyTJQHX9-55DKWeVp4H1U07AWKR2qBOtRzkZUCMOMw8e4H3LLjMrexnroJIdF-H3CW62CtRZaeWTI3RakK77DxLZHG89DYIA0ZuvquC8atokD2n4BuIgM1nBZUpCu3O-oNG/s1600/DSC04054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSiiP1C7fIIyTJQHX9-55DKWeVp4H1U07AWKR2qBOtRzkZUCMOMw8e4H3LLjMrexnroJIdF-H3CW62CtRZaeWTI3RakK77DxLZHG89DYIA0ZuvquC8atokD2n4BuIgM1nBZUpCu3O-oNG/s1600/DSC04054.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">The steep and exposed switchbacks are constructed so beautifully. I can't imagine being a part of the trail crew that built these trails about 100 years ago with such basic tools and crappy footwear. I love my feet and we invest in excellent shoes for adventures such as these. When I look at the black and white archival photos of the history of the canyon, my toes and heels cringe at the broken down old boots that adorn their feet. Imagine the bleeding blisters!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">South Kiabab is considered one of three corridor trails leading in/out of the bottom of the canyon. It's well maintained and heavily travelled. It is the shortest and steepest of the three. Starting at 7,260 feet in elevation then dropping down to 2,480ft at the bridge that crosses the river, that's -4,780ft over a quick 7 miles. It's like descending flights of stairs in some sections. It is located East of the Main Village area and one must take a shuttle to get there, due to it's "out of the way" location it's less crowded (only slightly) than the other South rim trail, Bright Angel.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Check back for more miles and views to come your way soon, as we start our traverse across the south wall.</span></div>
<br />naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-75623883902296226052014-09-11T04:32:00.000-07:002014-09-18T05:32:38.663-07:00And the Adventure continues...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"> Load 'Em Up & Move 'Em Out!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Or hold onto one of them on a leash so they don't go running down the road - AGAIN.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">We outfitted three of the goats with packs before we shouldered our own packs. The idea is to have the goats carry stuff but being the Maiden Voyage none of us really wanted to risk our stuff going over the side of the mountain or in a creek due to an unruly critter. So, they carried insignificant things like cans of beer - along with their own supplies (leashes, food, etc.)</span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuU-06sAcWOSXkjqVlTIVDX_ta7Kp_2wrflG2n14OoeOdFTIG_Mqc90fmYEegQ6GL3jP43N9CAuFToteydZ4AWmUlus5lFSTn6AVffq1P-skl8FOxubNLPD6aHLZq179ccSx5q32TiRhg/s1600/DSC03975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuU-06sAcWOSXkjqVlTIVDX_ta7Kp_2wrflG2n14OoeOdFTIG_Mqc90fmYEegQ6GL3jP43N9CAuFToteydZ4AWmUlus5lFSTn6AVffq1P-skl8FOxubNLPD6aHLZq179ccSx5q32TiRhg/s1600/DSC03975.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Jim the Goat Wrangler</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGURkRTz9WpYjsTvED5axgwAX5-ZNuf3xljZYxBpg1Ei7KJwWUfoAixBm20Nmy1k2oMdZxPOR4eTlMswVbUB1rr6fUCwfrYvIXRZwryFD23q1pZjE-2iuGW3jmUrRb6AU-L9Xqw_Ytsfq/s1600/DSC03977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGURkRTz9WpYjsTvED5axgwAX5-ZNuf3xljZYxBpg1Ei7KJwWUfoAixBm20Nmy1k2oMdZxPOR4eTlMswVbUB1rr6fUCwfrYvIXRZwryFD23q1pZjE-2iuGW3jmUrRb6AU-L9Xqw_Ytsfq/s1600/DSC03977.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Once we got walking the goats fell right in line and followed us up the trail. We took turns eatin' dust at the back of the line, making sure no one got too distracted and kept moving.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59MG5ePt7WgcCaI-65HiaOJ0EPiJvI0XB5x0EjJKTzZS9WVgAVzPcMGKnqivUuoZBb_8PTWDh9hJZ_octWOS34yqDE9aRcA5h-U5OH-hBqhOuEUADUqpXQYBevO-V0v3W95EDuVn4baz9/s1600/DSC03980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59MG5ePt7WgcCaI-65HiaOJ0EPiJvI0XB5x0EjJKTzZS9WVgAVzPcMGKnqivUuoZBb_8PTWDh9hJZ_octWOS34yqDE9aRcA5h-U5OH-hBqhOuEUADUqpXQYBevO-V0v3W95EDuVn4baz9/s1600/DSC03980.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hummmm - goats and water?</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Well, a few walked, a few jumped / splashed and one had to be drug by the horns.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">All in all it was a successful crossing.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U8hph9u6S0TkTmPy73FASFbYiLVCM-XkBipB7_n94u3N7IDBUTOLeyCh6dI413CkbqWoXWns3akKbIgh5AuVB56uDmSo6hTsiF7-zyBWrCFhGzhM7dHsN0CIwQAiHluNybPi0DLNWQRs/s1600/DSC03982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U8hph9u6S0TkTmPy73FASFbYiLVCM-XkBipB7_n94u3N7IDBUTOLeyCh6dI413CkbqWoXWns3akKbIgh5AuVB56uDmSo6hTsiF7-zyBWrCFhGzhM7dHsN0CIwQAiHluNybPi0DLNWQRs/s1600/DSC03982.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">The line-up:</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">John, Carter & Little the dog, Pam, Ol' Tom, Jim, Tractor, Dolly, Midnight, Daisy</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">(not pictured - Me and Peanut Butter)</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv917OEmUe7sbh9i1j83SBVnN_CqxrgjIvKwxsgwh6RnRZhZJW4uxF_vObsXOnUkvjCZKj42VxciouPE3-dNhtjGoKzyMqbNlfbngp8I5Sy5n1hHL5PRKnIqrKY6Oeb1TIGR0VWLy0nxVZ/s1600/DSC03989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv917OEmUe7sbh9i1j83SBVnN_CqxrgjIvKwxsgwh6RnRZhZJW4uxF_vObsXOnUkvjCZKj42VxciouPE3-dNhtjGoKzyMqbNlfbngp8I5Sy5n1hHL5PRKnIqrKY6Oeb1TIGR0VWLy0nxVZ/s1600/DSC03989.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jim was trying to convince Rider to carry his pack.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Rider and his family (not pictured) met up with us on the trail during their day excursion.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-QE4YjklipGiYux7t4bxIHk6wGWWiDbbjb1X6erJ0HEqGj5DrfWUgEU9aIvcRVql1iMzlDAhwScZbQvvFlFjl9GtBKJb4KRXo5wwHnFKiBtdnTsizM7Fh4g_H9E18nRvS54h4Y6AOP2I/s1600/DSC03991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-QE4YjklipGiYux7t4bxIHk6wGWWiDbbjb1X6erJ0HEqGj5DrfWUgEU9aIvcRVql1iMzlDAhwScZbQvvFlFjl9GtBKJb4KRXo5wwHnFKiBtdnTsizM7Fh4g_H9E18nRvS54h4Y6AOP2I/s1600/DSC03991.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">My John what a BIG PACK!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Isn't that why we brought the goats? To help carry stuff?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgwLySkZzYBdYrukohJdBt0PEyOBEFjKVhqRzrdWEN8a6EZukEWX_yUnIfr7dz3NMjXEbuNTFb4VT61T9hlYXyCVauEgQeKt1SkFvfMi2_5B8qLlAS5khfhUyBhbRRfVrw_7RbJtcUC4g/s1600/DSC03997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgwLySkZzYBdYrukohJdBt0PEyOBEFjKVhqRzrdWEN8a6EZukEWX_yUnIfr7dz3NMjXEbuNTFb4VT61T9hlYXyCVauEgQeKt1SkFvfMi2_5B8qLlAS5khfhUyBhbRRfVrw_7RbJtcUC4g/s1600/DSC03997.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jim and his new "lap dog" Daisy.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">As not to have a repeat of the first night, a few of the goats were tied. Being true herd animals, they stayed together in camp. Again, it rained most of the night. Huddled in our tent and the goats huddled under the trees, Ol' Tom bleated his protest into the night. Luckily he's old and didn't vocally complain for too long before succumbing to his dark damp bed with the others.</span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9frQeqOAq18UjIkSKW7SICr6rnHToVWdx5wgarCxfmFRTDEkNW_K2EUqeIzDCy8oaTGW7XgToSdfSUhmq23JwEolqwvYPea44qcSOCr7Q7h1pNnOSj2izkIfadkB0xZ28tvn04Rpqvjpc/s1600/DSC04001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9frQeqOAq18UjIkSKW7SICr6rnHToVWdx5wgarCxfmFRTDEkNW_K2EUqeIzDCy8oaTGW7XgToSdfSUhmq23JwEolqwvYPea44qcSOCr7Q7h1pNnOSj2izkIfadkB0xZ28tvn04Rpqvjpc/s1600/DSC04001.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Pam forgot to tell me that Ol' Tom loves peanut butter almost as much as beer. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Probably why he was so interested in our peanut butter & agave syrup pancake tacos.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN_Puzd9nB4lnd9-ipSnxTHAK0ny-kREfKRbexlFLdwPrw9KtahsEV8IQ-zoEaOKqQC680vLJweILBWTIpW_THSCCfQCRHhaGnriwIYq7T56RDkUg0Bg5_Mp9L1ZvO_SLcCQYPT_zbllK/s1600/DSC04007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN_Puzd9nB4lnd9-ipSnxTHAK0ny-kREfKRbexlFLdwPrw9KtahsEV8IQ-zoEaOKqQC680vLJweILBWTIpW_THSCCfQCRHhaGnriwIYq7T56RDkUg0Bg5_Mp9L1ZvO_SLcCQYPT_zbllK/s1600/DSC04007.JPG" height="235" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Carter decorated our camp while the rest of us finished packing up.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">A few pictures to greet the next campers.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtlqsxopybG7rL0l9YDnolMM1pwzpFIB__QMZr9xbyPMiUEZ4DrbEJf850Ccs9wy27PSArvNDVPhyphenhyphenbnLDO9zc-Ks3HBfBWs3f_rcNQ_M1NUsa5gkqAeOiBqbn-ln0nhOMp6mmDwzQhb97/s1600/DSC04009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtlqsxopybG7rL0l9YDnolMM1pwzpFIB__QMZr9xbyPMiUEZ4DrbEJf850Ccs9wy27PSArvNDVPhyphenhyphenbnLDO9zc-Ks3HBfBWs3f_rcNQ_M1NUsa5gkqAeOiBqbn-ln0nhOMp6mmDwzQhb97/s1600/DSC04009.JPG" height="400" width="346" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ol' Tom is not so sure about this packing thing.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Don't worry Buddy, it's all downhill from here!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mhbeedWaR88HDAzngZYnQ1yWA_U3qPtTiQnIG-Jms6lgcZJuv7Zq4nCNTRNkHQLyO6SkARn8CCQ1qB03okJNY4j0LMaX-O-_20QTPOCld2RkqqvwxZY2NXpqbz8R1VOsM4oQ1n59ig82/s1600/DSC04015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mhbeedWaR88HDAzngZYnQ1yWA_U3qPtTiQnIG-Jms6lgcZJuv7Zq4nCNTRNkHQLyO6SkARn8CCQ1qB03okJNY4j0LMaX-O-_20QTPOCld2RkqqvwxZY2NXpqbz8R1VOsM4oQ1n59ig82/s1600/DSC04015.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I guess Tractor hates the water so much he would rather "tightrope" walk across the fallen log.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPXz-SwGPlK4QkUGrGMtHNC7BuorzmtT0K_Cw-VijK7orj2Kq-X1Oolr_VfsbKNerrnFLetmP1vQznvvliAvP9MyKfwsWxyrU4-C18Y5wsHNuPybVN4tbRB60dIP4MO2owxLyGx8Z-JPf/s1600/DSC04020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPXz-SwGPlK4QkUGrGMtHNC7BuorzmtT0K_Cw-VijK7orj2Kq-X1Oolr_VfsbKNerrnFLetmP1vQznvvliAvP9MyKfwsWxyrU4-C18Y5wsHNuPybVN4tbRB60dIP4MO2owxLyGx8Z-JPf/s1600/DSC04020.JPG" height="253" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Back at the trucks, we were greeted by this beautiful moth.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">(corrected by Jim - it's a butterfly)</span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo6MLO1K0xvcL1x_mht0s_KriuG_sH5t-DaLp292cAePKIFtx4-LUXlJLl1kBAdG-p-zSlMxnkDVxV_eKFVv-AYk5xAVnCv947yQMiGfC-RWdAIZDVKHav0pI5V8n7Fo-nigyKQLpwvWb/s1600/DSC04017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo6MLO1K0xvcL1x_mht0s_KriuG_sH5t-DaLp292cAePKIFtx4-LUXlJLl1kBAdG-p-zSlMxnkDVxV_eKFVv-AYk5xAVnCv947yQMiGfC-RWdAIZDVKHav0pI5V8n7Fo-nigyKQLpwvWb/s1600/DSC04017.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I hung a skull I found a few days earlier (when searching for goats).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I hope that it's left there to welcome others to the area. Unfortunately, I realize that many people will consider it a treasure and take it home to display in their own yards.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZn9YLmm6gG1iYWVL5p9GEZY0iygBzvLI4y-1Z3QVbGP9vBZ1uZPBTeT9dvQ9Xuk5nvfiHEghxm44v7b0bKJ-WyW7ViPP1NNNiA4XTF5iL84y0bJqWKI5vPu6E2tt35IS3e6suwiRF6fXn/s1600/DSC04021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZn9YLmm6gG1iYWVL5p9GEZY0iygBzvLI4y-1Z3QVbGP9vBZ1uZPBTeT9dvQ9Xuk5nvfiHEghxm44v7b0bKJ-WyW7ViPP1NNNiA4XTF5iL84y0bJqWKI5vPu6E2tt35IS3e6suwiRF6fXn/s1600/DSC04021.JPG" height="400" width="271" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">John and Tractor</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Farewell guys and thanks for the adventure!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">We had a great time and there were uncountable funny goat things, like hanging out with a bunch of 3 year olds on energy drinks! I don't know that I will rush out and get goats of my own but I would go camping again. For the most part they are pretty well behaved and follow well on the trail. Eyes up when you stop though, they tend to scatter (like 3 yr olds) in search of snacks to eat or rocks to climb. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Happy Goat Packing!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-15475329654297658082014-09-04T16:58:00.001-07:002014-09-18T05:31:55.726-07:00Goat Packing?!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">August brought unexpected extra time off for me. I could have sat around and worried about the lack of $$ on my paychecks or I could embrace my new found free time. I chose to embrace it!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Jim and I did more stuff together and I tried to learn to relax A.K.A. sit on my butt and read a book all day. We received an invite to go Goat Packing with our friends during that time. Sure, why not, sounds interesting, entertaining, adventurous ... pick your adjective but you get it. Two nights of car camping and one night of backpacking was the plan, how could we resist? Did I mention this would be the Maiden Voyage for the goats? Yes, they had done a few short hikes but not weighed down and not overnight.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">So off to the mountains we headed - </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">4 Adults, 1 Teenager, 1 Dog and 6 (yes 6!) Goats.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Sit back and enjoy the antics that would ensue over the next couple days and nights.</span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzE91OlNIw86wzpA1I4E7ojZEoIkwRPhOiOQQ5zz6J4iBfNusK41XouEJH3Fd5-lNN2trgPVmKdgqGFjl9dezIv6PpqsYaM2D5QTyhSahrIK-b1K-AaC2LZJfnymJeSn6_mtZ1nyI6M1z/s1600/DSC03942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzE91OlNIw86wzpA1I4E7ojZEoIkwRPhOiOQQ5zz6J4iBfNusK41XouEJH3Fd5-lNN2trgPVmKdgqGFjl9dezIv6PpqsYaM2D5QTyhSahrIK-b1K-AaC2LZJfnymJeSn6_mtZ1nyI6M1z/s1600/DSC03942.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Unleash the hoofed beasts!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">After a slow drive (You can't haul as* around corners when towing livestock - OK I guess you can but I don't think they would appreciate it.) up to Silverton we stopped for pizza before heading to camp for the night. The camp we wanted had a livestock pen but it was occupied when we arrived. So we opted for another site for the night.</span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1paEVv98AWz5gsYJd_3jam8oIUKZbLEMFBJrxrEb1u5vzVoNhUEbI572WGhiGWwYk2CvLwTU7AlQlXmInaUcgRL5JojPXlB-zeOr19huUcmGjxSN1fhih5QxvgJKqSHxeESxqb-4wJyo6/s1600/DSC03941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1paEVv98AWz5gsYJd_3jam8oIUKZbLEMFBJrxrEb1u5vzVoNhUEbI572WGhiGWwYk2CvLwTU7AlQlXmInaUcgRL5JojPXlB-zeOr19huUcmGjxSN1fhih5QxvgJKqSHxeESxqb-4wJyo6/s1600/DSC03941.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"> Daisy offered Jim some help with setting up the tent.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Perhaps she was chagrined at his denying her because later that night she tried to climb on top of our tent.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gktl8Z9o64bnRe563a9XbhfT6JWUlrPzgrj_gHXwAw_HwkUAR_I99pyMR12ZPKCYIAa0KJhhpDr_QQkCPjk6yiLaIwz6xpp_azlsVvde3E2kF7kJXLHJVWHOw89F6_onXcuHV1O3R51b/s1600/DSC03945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gktl8Z9o64bnRe563a9XbhfT6JWUlrPzgrj_gHXwAw_HwkUAR_I99pyMR12ZPKCYIAa0KJhhpDr_QQkCPjk6yiLaIwz6xpp_azlsVvde3E2kF7kJXLHJVWHOw89F6_onXcuHV1O3R51b/s1600/DSC03945.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Ol' Tom likes beer. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Yep, he's right by your side when he hears that can crack open and fizz. So I was wondering if he would like a sip o' wine. Well, after a literal snootful (right up the nostril!) it dribbled down his lips and he was in heaven. A few sneezes and a lot of lip lickin' and Ol' Tom became my new best friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">After a fire and a few snootfuls for the adults we turned in for the night. John was hoping the goats would just hang out in camp. Kinda bed down for the night and call it good. No such luck. They went MIA sometime after midnight. John quietly drove the road a couple times, more or less making sure they weren't chewing on someone else's camper or tent. They were no where to be seen in the dark of night.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">The next morning, the sky barely glowing and the humans without coffee, we went in search of the goats on the lamb. All six sets of hooves were found, no harm no foul. Coffee was made, then breakfast, then Jim, Pam and I set off on a hike up the trail we were planning to take the goats up the next day. </span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3H0UAPEQlxeL02n4llSlGd8stwanbG3Uq-XUQRYn_0IVXkF53AKVTShE0JHDZD8Gz1bmwocIQmkQOnvaSqGWkOdmVNiN2wVaY4eXe9B7QTR9zL1jil37-ZyB-MCYicdb_5gTMCh9GEhl/s1600/DSC03946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3H0UAPEQlxeL02n4llSlGd8stwanbG3Uq-XUQRYn_0IVXkF53AKVTShE0JHDZD8Gz1bmwocIQmkQOnvaSqGWkOdmVNiN2wVaY4eXe9B7QTR9zL1jil37-ZyB-MCYicdb_5gTMCh9GEhl/s1600/DSC03946.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"> Jim & Pam</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Behind them in the valley below was where we left John and Carter (their daughter) with the goats and dog for the day. We needed to do a little scouting before the entire herd tackled this trail laden with packs. Besides, John was hoping to lay claim to the campsite with the livestock pen as soon as it was vacated. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREjBdCHBraDiSCWl9NE9Rt8Ou2JedTEOoMUt5hk_TGkzFIrnUj3Z_CsPo6HNlf2PZGGbgRWhf4QVlS0G0gTXm6Ya0ahtfI_vdzCMaH1Ttp5uthKJcLZFpKK3FDAllU_cKE3l2go3PSwtG/s1600/DSC03949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREjBdCHBraDiSCWl9NE9Rt8Ou2JedTEOoMUt5hk_TGkzFIrnUj3Z_CsPo6HNlf2PZGGbgRWhf4QVlS0G0gTXm6Ya0ahtfI_vdzCMaH1Ttp5uthKJcLZFpKK3FDAllU_cKE3l2go3PSwtG/s1600/DSC03949.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"> Jim at the first of three lakes at Highland Mary Lakes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlc3GG7zgXx3Zqmr1QlDlgrLikoVlamP0_AM2STKFSgeDWe1fIJlNGvl-mRO_lqbWdz_fyqdXvI8Ioi7zzCvAskiftNMEpaC3k5IANyQ2gO0RwPJ8gqjYHzbEczEcDGBeJQjTmwTcQjxE/s1600/DSC03951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlc3GG7zgXx3Zqmr1QlDlgrLikoVlamP0_AM2STKFSgeDWe1fIJlNGvl-mRO_lqbWdz_fyqdXvI8Ioi7zzCvAskiftNMEpaC3k5IANyQ2gO0RwPJ8gqjYHzbEczEcDGBeJQjTmwTcQjxE/s1600/DSC03951.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">I am always amazed at the display of colors in the high back country. (12,000+ ft)</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6-Ujy5oNqSERTv1_uA6-EuxLohw97rekLBuqowPTD7zJ8IYpk-A3SF_PXfDWXQNd9gJyuAo4-_LXmbt9AyeFxsiFE9m4FqRX0bUtafpuueiXsZ4d8d-1G3L2cm5_2e2qmYQZ2pLiuOaU/s1600/DSC03968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6-Ujy5oNqSERTv1_uA6-EuxLohw97rekLBuqowPTD7zJ8IYpk-A3SF_PXfDWXQNd9gJyuAo4-_LXmbt9AyeFxsiFE9m4FqRX0bUtafpuueiXsZ4d8d-1G3L2cm5_2e2qmYQZ2pLiuOaU/s1600/DSC03968.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Forget your tent stakes,John?</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Well, he got the new campsite by time had returned.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Another family had joined us for Night 2. They brought a couple more dogs and two small children.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KpTJ1BH77_r6YECPfGxhtZj1Mm6zgRgeSEeCGmLjG-xUR3MpnSFbb_umxUU-zh4G9876nKOKrlOD_wrb7APmryeqb6qemAgeTNcwA4SG8RHl5-DE0oUfNCmrHLtE5LO7L21x8YSTHPkn/s1600/DSC03974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KpTJ1BH77_r6YECPfGxhtZj1Mm6zgRgeSEeCGmLjG-xUR3MpnSFbb_umxUU-zh4G9876nKOKrlOD_wrb7APmryeqb6qemAgeTNcwA4SG8RHl5-DE0oUfNCmrHLtE5LO7L21x8YSTHPkn/s1600/DSC03974.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">The ever industrious Rider, spent the better part of the afternoon rerouting the river with small channels.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ZMC5wqNQMQnLauHG3gyYaf1oHbqqi4npjFTFSea9vmxmdjZ_K3AlHbYKKJt8I9ck0w5001GxLuT9a0zymQj8lq1EqrhRJ4JZeViXUITLebJagRpg5ShofHMegZQbaospxqT8efV6ODz/s1600/DSC03963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ZMC5wqNQMQnLauHG3gyYaf1oHbqqi4npjFTFSea9vmxmdjZ_K3AlHbYKKJt8I9ck0w5001GxLuT9a0zymQj8lq1EqrhRJ4JZeViXUITLebJagRpg5ShofHMegZQbaospxqT8efV6ODz/s1600/DSC03963.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">I went about my camp cook duties as usual. Only this time Chama made sure I didn't wander off, by securely holding my foot in place. Jim & I aren't real versed in car camping and all the comforts you can bring along. However, I scored this amazing 3 burner table top stove (thankfully John brought a table) just two days before the trip. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Pre-yard sale shopping!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb4OwPO2XisM4XMBChj01pH1YkelHTRhvLKVFiV3B5BmyiKrfrfue1iV7eIBEK6DFbYf7cnb8XVLFgqLeVo0Fl7dS8kTS7dxTf6zZmgdpa0rp_byZrlS-_97oJhA4Vt0hDMvVFOArMK0l/s1600/DSC03964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb4OwPO2XisM4XMBChj01pH1YkelHTRhvLKVFiV3B5BmyiKrfrfue1iV7eIBEK6DFbYf7cnb8XVLFgqLeVo0Fl7dS8kTS7dxTf6zZmgdpa0rp_byZrlS-_97oJhA4Vt0hDMvVFOArMK0l/s1600/DSC03964.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"> Pam was right at home with their stove - complete with a large griddle that covers both burners for optimal cooking surface.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfAag60SZmB6Bc53htKZgmHD-aR-pfOquUp_nlJVx5-7PZLH3wFG6HxYuClmIYYMRKYXkNtIe6Y1sZqed85KTdTa28kTyhKs1Er_udnFNctCPTFBQBIPqeo9okJ2Ry1p32FORaviimvF1/s1600/DSC03965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfAag60SZmB6Bc53htKZgmHD-aR-pfOquUp_nlJVx5-7PZLH3wFG6HxYuClmIYYMRKYXkNtIe6Y1sZqed85KTdTa28kTyhKs1Er_udnFNctCPTFBQBIPqeo9okJ2Ry1p32FORaviimvF1/s1600/DSC03965.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Jim entertained the kids by the fire until dinner was ready.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">We all filled our bellies with warm food against the cooling air. We circled the fire, roasted marshmallows and assembled s'mores as night fell around us. We no sooner toasted the last 'mallow and ate the last bite of chocolate and the rain came. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">The rain lulled us to sleep with the pitter-patter on the rain fly of the tent. The goats however, had no shelter. As the rain continued into the night John donned his coat and shuffled the goats through the darkness and into the shelter of their trailer. Smaller yet drier they slept without a sound.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Next comes actual backpacking with goats... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">check back soon!</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-28674781885645868072014-08-04T04:29:00.000-07:002014-08-04T04:51:51.815-07:00Grindstone Escape Con't & Finished...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We were only going for an overnight trip so why not go luxuriously. A little whisky and wine for the night before, a special breakfast the next day, we were in no real hurry to hit the trail, lounging and relaxing were a high priority for this trip. The trees shaded our tent from the first morning light and the valley provided a false horizon keeping the air cool. However, once the sun did come out so did the flies. We hung anything still damp from the night before in the first sunny spots and watched the steam rise off them. Once all was dry, we packed up to begin our ascent out of the valley. We would start with a mild ascent for the first couple miles, then climb over 2,500 ft. elevation in just a few more miles. With the afternoon storms being the only real concern, because we again would pass up and over the treeline completely exposing ourselves to any errant lightening, we didn't want to lolly gag in camp too long. The flies helped with that motivation!</span></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPwxbwiPL43d98uNa2KuewpZXsyqJmJslS0zVUN7N5GvEKfFtCfIGbsN86Re18snGR_VzNtwsV_UFO8Oswy76FNITDOPV2nC5UmxYar63HKga3y1Z38-4KUj_rzS_x0ROEfePBvSoTrW7/s1600/DSC03901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPwxbwiPL43d98uNa2KuewpZXsyqJmJslS0zVUN7N5GvEKfFtCfIGbsN86Re18snGR_VzNtwsV_UFO8Oswy76FNITDOPV2nC5UmxYar63HKga3y1Z38-4KUj_rzS_x0ROEfePBvSoTrW7/s1600/DSC03901.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Breakfast of Champions!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Better than Wheaties that's for sure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tang, Poor man's Mocha (coffee with my special blend of powdered milk, sugar and cocoa powder), Skillet scramble with sausage, potatoes, broccoli, onions, eggs and Parmesan, and corn tortillas. The body needs good fuel if you expect it to perform at this level.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhx1Oar5y_gtJDZhlWxoHgPapsvVH69cFkKZtuGDoMrlCVzYIhvl0XZ9mXbH2M5oOLmwXbdF_stN2mVzjkl7jrNU_06fC2JhIRg6SK3dIyBirOyuvmZLBgw5nF2KXyAPjEC7QpuXdSMod/s1600/DSC03902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhx1Oar5y_gtJDZhlWxoHgPapsvVH69cFkKZtuGDoMrlCVzYIhvl0XZ9mXbH2M5oOLmwXbdF_stN2mVzjkl7jrNU_06fC2JhIRg6SK3dIyBirOyuvmZLBgw5nF2KXyAPjEC7QpuXdSMod/s1600/DSC03902.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Jim was channeling his inner compass and aligning his pure manly magnetism!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0hPr1dm1wAbPQw2NGBfXnXSsM2ulI0NMNX_biK2SJ8AC0HgaRtF5s0szaP1rENNsAZVc-tW8IF8Ix9IQxLycllQPQ75UHMt3CgYg5rKQtgVLUkoLG3sqJj0Oq5rb3v8zoFWhMt-oooCA/s1600/DSC03905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0hPr1dm1wAbPQw2NGBfXnXSsM2ulI0NMNX_biK2SJ8AC0HgaRtF5s0szaP1rENNsAZVc-tW8IF8Ix9IQxLycllQPQ75UHMt3CgYg5rKQtgVLUkoLG3sqJj0Oq5rb3v8zoFWhMt-oooCA/s1600/DSC03905.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">With a heart rock in hand, Jim hugs the trees that sheltered us through the storm the day before. We always like to pay respect to Mother Nature and all she provides for us. He left the rock between the two trees as a reminder of our love for them.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hf5ZR-KZgH0xYTZYSb0la5H8cZ_1x0_xTABroVNSDLqiOilv5xAqDEMzU-8Ukxa5xUljA-KutewZBRz5WGA9BF169sz6X1PjtHWrh_qjbfAs2qxUd7Z4fX_2ufrQMUHaeHMNYT4fNRRc/s1600/DSC03908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hf5ZR-KZgH0xYTZYSb0la5H8cZ_1x0_xTABroVNSDLqiOilv5xAqDEMzU-8Ukxa5xUljA-KutewZBRz5WGA9BF169sz6X1PjtHWrh_qjbfAs2qxUd7Z4fX_2ufrQMUHaeHMNYT4fNRRc/s1600/DSC03908.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We camped near Bear Creek and hiked along it's east bank up through the valley. When it came time to cross, we found this beautifully constructed log bridge. Who knows how old it is but we were grateful for it's help in avoiding soggy socks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvZH1cBWlkQ-f6sOQSrO7VrCgYGXCHvdGMckkY9dP4pSPy0UD3KU38rW-Kra7LFtbgzBPs1P0lSNJcND1VYUoKwRz2KlzgM056pOAav78P2XxaycLOXIyTkcXhgyNCnFxxemjAMK6atI_/s1600/DSC03914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvZH1cBWlkQ-f6sOQSrO7VrCgYGXCHvdGMckkY9dP4pSPy0UD3KU38rW-Kra7LFtbgzBPs1P0lSNJcND1VYUoKwRz2KlzgM056pOAav78P2XxaycLOXIyTkcXhgyNCnFxxemjAMK6atI_/s1600/DSC03914.JPG" height="226" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Remember those crazy screeching sounds that haunted the night I described in the previous post?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Well, here are the culprits... Newborn Elk!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">On our hike up and out of the valley, Jim and I stumbled into the middle of a HUGE herd of elk. It was attended by 2 bulls (that we saw) and numbered probably around 50. It was hard to count because of the trees and it spanned both sides of the trail. There were many ages represented, but once they sensed our presence it was the newborns that screeched with alarm as their mothers moved. The startled herd moved up the valley and we followed, not because we wanted to but because that was the direction of the trail. Proceeding with caution, I tried to get a few pictures of these magnificent creatures as we all co-mingled in the woods.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh03KDSZ0T5s4T0Wq6NpC5MDKv_JCF9C0hbUJhyphenhyphenXdVxdZMQhN-FbTo870S4wgS6D_ue_DPygpmwoQWlObgkBElFr-rLnumHhy4gdY7O7oSDe7Y_Yb6-iHng-9kSg1eCGVvN8Qjl1ZV_Mu/s1600/DSC03915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh03KDSZ0T5s4T0Wq6NpC5MDKv_JCF9C0hbUJhyphenhyphenXdVxdZMQhN-FbTo870S4wgS6D_ue_DPygpmwoQWlObgkBElFr-rLnumHhy4gdY7O7oSDe7Y_Yb6-iHng-9kSg1eCGVvN8Qjl1ZV_Mu/s1600/DSC03915.JPG" height="241" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">This small group of cows, adolescents and babies soon crossed the trail in front of us to join the larger group as they moved away from us. We stopped hiking for a while to let them get far enough way that everyone felt a bit more comfortable.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8EqT6PeV1HaiUtB_VwkfY1skLbBdibqKnEqYgHgSw6-e-MdkYLuQOZBzy8uiKqv9jW_93-jFWkMuT5ZtH_VT4gAtyy8DXsybc_y3LF6mY_78D2gkZtH-Wg07rykEdZcBsjJUrWpq9JlT/s1600/DSC03924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8EqT6PeV1HaiUtB_VwkfY1skLbBdibqKnEqYgHgSw6-e-MdkYLuQOZBzy8uiKqv9jW_93-jFWkMuT5ZtH_VT4gAtyy8DXsybc_y3LF6mY_78D2gkZtH-Wg07rykEdZcBsjJUrWpq9JlT/s1600/DSC03924.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We hiked to the top of the valley and connected with the trail we had hiked a month earlier. (The hike that inspired this trip.) Oh My, What a difference a month makes! Look at these wildflowers and foliage! I was trying to get a picture of the grand scheme of the growth, with Jim in the distance. When I was going through pictures later for this post I realized that I had captured a picture of our </span><a href="http://durangodream.blogspot.com/2014/07/getting-high.html"><span style="color: #f1c232;">little dragon friend from the previous trip</span></a><span style="color: #6aa84f;">! (center right) Crazy I didn't see him then but the leaves are above his head now.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1LoB0rmcLfMn6qd_T63xItQDxzEHxAZilrZdR-3JRLAHRXjgTEDC9omEAXTLKzjBFXoWnexrPfITITVpgho_yjAyUhKc48HDT8S7XX3QWgINGfEuf2NFVER9n_DLND4OTa2bALVBUba5/s1600/DSC03926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1LoB0rmcLfMn6qd_T63xItQDxzEHxAZilrZdR-3JRLAHRXjgTEDC9omEAXTLKzjBFXoWnexrPfITITVpgho_yjAyUhKc48HDT8S7XX3QWgINGfEuf2NFVER9n_DLND4OTa2bALVBUba5/s1600/DSC03926.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">What a stunning array of color and diversity.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRpmV5QoqEs_8cUJQQdTGKZd8qe8Y-c9OiKin8Smo0lL2wHRIa7c92s_f7p0ZrVWg3bfnCSKqE5aRNfTq00yiXPvEjOfxNv-NxN24YE0pH6Jhvyt20VtuFkHrh66ZYF92v-pZwJLT8_Sr/s1600/DSC03927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRpmV5QoqEs_8cUJQQdTGKZd8qe8Y-c9OiKin8Smo0lL2wHRIa7c92s_f7p0ZrVWg3bfnCSKqE5aRNfTq00yiXPvEjOfxNv-NxN24YE0pH6Jhvyt20VtuFkHrh66ZYF92v-pZwJLT8_Sr/s1600/DSC03927.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Descending the saddle and heading towards Taylor Lake for the final stretch, the thunder rolled to remind us to hustle up.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lD7m3MF46OAGkaDe_mr8VDT8ew8lZCMMZNTv25r2c1YSr2gF2wJVXaIC_BehsUwYejaTfjG30rNmxrkI1Z5_mRvrR0bEiI62Dls6n_6-OYV0PfZ1r4N-xU38eT-I-lZdalmsVrGMQ4Y-/s1600/DSC03928.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Ah! Icy Beers!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">I packed a treat in a cooler and stashed it in the truck before we departed to surprise Jim. Nothing celebrates a great escape like a couple of cold beers and getting to the truck before the rains came.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHrAt6TJAVbAxNyW04FkbIaMRC-N7iRzI81ewxDVvV8IsWNpAMkhSGavopk2PTUqu3ZDzB6px64XbWHKPo5MpxVhyPKX6GIXHBzh3mlUqokS9pA-coRRw3uN0xCb-6HGNKxTe_z90OENm/s1600/DSC03932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHrAt6TJAVbAxNyW04FkbIaMRC-N7iRzI81ewxDVvV8IsWNpAMkhSGavopk2PTUqu3ZDzB6px64XbWHKPo5MpxVhyPKX6GIXHBzh3mlUqokS9pA-coRRw3uN0xCb-6HGNKxTe_z90OENm/s1600/DSC03932.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">On our drive back home we were stopped by a couple of begging marmots. Curious little fellows, I am sure they were only looking for a hand out of trail mix or uneaten goodies from our packs</span>.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Thanks for joining our journey.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Remember, if you ever make it out this way we can take you to these places too!</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-26695072483659336582014-08-03T09:49:00.002-07:002014-08-04T04:46:34.961-07:00Grindstone Escape Con't...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">After lunch the sky opened up on us. Looking back on most of our hiking / camping adventures I've posted, I realized they are by far almost always sunny fair weather events. Well, maybe that's because we boast over 330 days of sunshine a year here. However, is does rain... sometimes. Monsoon season is here and that brings afternoon thunderstorms to the mountains. After some quick map consultation and a brief discussion of being above treeline, we opted for the alternative route that would keep us in the trees for the most part of the remaining hours that day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrfUQwrJM6nO5sZcJL1uezy5rFF0oRRJNndnEYJ2ePzaGIV1CzolGrnk8v0jlZXSpMhpbdBCVGaxAtbLV_6r8hTv6cpMDhh2bBn4MEablUDMwgE3-cFNCUMprtFK2Dk3J3YlFo3pAMX2f/s1600/DSC03859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrfUQwrJM6nO5sZcJL1uezy5rFF0oRRJNndnEYJ2ePzaGIV1CzolGrnk8v0jlZXSpMhpbdBCVGaxAtbLV_6r8hTv6cpMDhh2bBn4MEablUDMwgE3-cFNCUMprtFK2Dk3J3YlFo3pAMX2f/s1600/DSC03859.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Not always sunshine and happy rainbows,</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">sometimes it's soggy and sloppy.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIF64BMGCtc3fVG47UOZ1NJrlggVVDRpRNMnJ5VaKQoYmjrDp8zHmmky7TfczulMY_T7HLye6ObnFnqKuAKpMucreL3QiYxelFrxa-XqrRMjpaYZLxOTq7qBTov2ekrKxGNEpLoOyPQ07/s1600/DSC03861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIF64BMGCtc3fVG47UOZ1NJrlggVVDRpRNMnJ5VaKQoYmjrDp8zHmmky7TfczulMY_T7HLye6ObnFnqKuAKpMucreL3QiYxelFrxa-XqrRMjpaYZLxOTq7qBTov2ekrKxGNEpLoOyPQ07/s1600/DSC03861.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">"ABEL LUCERO 7 13 1923"</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We came across old tree markings from the turn of the previous century. </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">These are common in the high country but not always easy to find. </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Left by sheep herders and cattlemen to mark trails, camps and grazing areas.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Funny we were there on 7 11 2014.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILgSo56TH56lvjxuUdGXUA0TUXbzW6JP023BEClzzHE5G0pXjtaLz2npICbHJkiuSqrDibQflQdd7emqvy0wW_pfmiL9hKZof49KpVFWTq66fw4tQoux7P-jSx1i03Jz1dOQvxDi43kge/s1600/DSC03863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILgSo56TH56lvjxuUdGXUA0TUXbzW6JP023BEClzzHE5G0pXjtaLz2npICbHJkiuSqrDibQflQdd7emqvy0wW_pfmiL9hKZof49KpVFWTq66fw4tQoux7P-jSx1i03Jz1dOQvxDi43kge/s1600/DSC03863.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Rocking W and XX</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We saw these brands numerous times through out the area.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FDPtTJ10NvDnt7BrRsoRg373vIvSXVUsDI1E1ULFOllRWWjEs89Sxx3sCM740tx9mL2HAEjmktIqe6Aehnv6CZGT3mQCRZeeH98nDTBRTTm1N64ZV3jPUGBd8Ptgi1sSrj2RdF_mfZq2/s1600/DSC03866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FDPtTJ10NvDnt7BrRsoRg373vIvSXVUsDI1E1ULFOllRWWjEs89Sxx3sCM740tx9mL2HAEjmktIqe6Aehnv6CZGT3mQCRZeeH98nDTBRTTm1N64ZV3jPUGBd8Ptgi1sSrj2RdF_mfZq2/s1600/DSC03866.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">"LP 8 11 33"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">So old the tree had fallen.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV743el1xTDZtpNyH8SVTN71Apm4FcNoeIsqlqNqyTyrrnLGuj8oqiPhkd2ArbSFOubVJSAeIcXAUJ6s5gypBZtLKplJ-gJzscSt1gSy72LZoZANMxBvWC5x0d6hVRQXkwlu_ndEUmbakO/s1600/DSC03867.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> Lazy W Brand</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">"WALTER JONES"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Jim found this one, hidden behind huge branches that had grown over it from the neighboring tree.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIzFeEV7GAZlGEhNIl6bDY1vrYpQXommZ_Wl54wCfRujhWIN53RJOZt2gK1oyh8y1VlV6cea1mJqVAUTm7QM71qdRv7Jh7l1YTddhOdMSP-oaO6CUCiJI_6l6_bIT1oR385RpoL2_AIft/s1600/DSC03869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIzFeEV7GAZlGEhNIl6bDY1vrYpQXommZ_Wl54wCfRujhWIN53RJOZt2gK1oyh8y1VlV6cea1mJqVAUTm7QM71qdRv7Jh7l1YTddhOdMSP-oaO6CUCiJI_6l6_bIT1oR385RpoL2_AIft/s1600/DSC03869.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Of course rain meant stream crossings.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6SAXp0_lh44Y8yQsLSFKSIRrXHl58m280hYti00HD8JMOfOZC1M2n2w-wINcyXZvkD06phnX9EJg6VWwQEI4vTwRz8Rvb7gjq98VgrYIN2iGKAPkkT2X_rdkAiEFPvHj7eZ-7Wfuk-hE/s1600/DSC03871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6SAXp0_lh44Y8yQsLSFKSIRrXHl58m280hYti00HD8JMOfOZC1M2n2w-wINcyXZvkD06phnX9EJg6VWwQEI4vTwRz8Rvb7gjq98VgrYIN2iGKAPkkT2X_rdkAiEFPvHj7eZ-7Wfuk-hE/s1600/DSC03871.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Not sure of the brand</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">"09"</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">This one was found near the entrance of the forest by a stream.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRxfxYJ8hsEYQnx6gxvghnUgvG2hNYBimefiId7Z3PT5lktoMVTnxZbgNURxj8qEEJUjpAXcwwsqYqc5CS8WLZSzx9xVDvO8thYTpfc3uglIngGk2NB2HU3bysaacPb0Y2oYxJSkQ_DpI/s1600/DSC03873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRxfxYJ8hsEYQnx6gxvghnUgvG2hNYBimefiId7Z3PT5lktoMVTnxZbgNURxj8qEEJUjpAXcwwsqYqc5CS8WLZSzx9xVDvO8thYTpfc3uglIngGk2NB2HU3bysaacPb0Y2oYxJSkQ_DpI/s1600/DSC03873.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We knew we were at the half way point when the trails merged and the sign on the left read " Taylor Lake 8 1/2" and the sign on the right read "Taylor Lake 9". We had just come down from the left and were now turning up the right to head up Bear Valley in search of a camp for the night.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwV7Nkr144yNCNNZbZzpkiskFijd_oopFkMGoFICMIfW8SVV3QFn_TYSSUOkgEW4cSQdJLp6T1EI3o2wSQ3FHU2W3UNr1EBhhGIaGyNw6UBEqx7Dw8sKsToQNSkGxNVIIin7RoKzgP4_F/s1600/DSC03876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwV7Nkr144yNCNNZbZzpkiskFijd_oopFkMGoFICMIfW8SVV3QFn_TYSSUOkgEW4cSQdJLp6T1EI3o2wSQ3FHU2W3UNr1EBhhGIaGyNw6UBEqx7Dw8sKsToQNSkGxNVIIin7RoKzgP4_F/s1600/DSC03876.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We found a stand of pine trees that actually had dry ground beneath them! </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Jim set up the tent in the few minutes the rain subsided and I hung up soppy wet things. There was a rock fire ring and some logs set up just outside this wonderful treed canopy to sit on. Judging by the poop, the deer and elk must use this camp to bed down as well.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUV8ua2gOQQNmsSFb-lZ-4O2DH5a6qogvP61Bi49aEMIkAvdKjq4hDXrV29GBDk-ZA2V3kfRGG3kbrIRfL-o6P-u-VyaUBZNco7DpkCh36dA0ip_46vnN7gWDfmLwmDH-IjfK0iRjcUpC/s1600/DSC03877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUV8ua2gOQQNmsSFb-lZ-4O2DH5a6qogvP61Bi49aEMIkAvdKjq4hDXrV29GBDk-ZA2V3kfRGG3kbrIRfL-o6P-u-VyaUBZNco7DpkCh36dA0ip_46vnN7gWDfmLwmDH-IjfK0iRjcUpC/s1600/DSC03877.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> A sip and a rest!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">No sooner was the tent up and secured and the rain came again.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Might as well sit under the dry pine and enjoy the view.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmTJYXKk9dcqNRW6ms0dWkd86rZmkU7-3UikG26nreEFda2RhLldAqdRSCuIhoxPHl_RMbZL2wc0dTX6TtUkL5BQMlkxcOUn7IJ3q4BlBEr7h0dcpKmBXvnDI0csf6Z5mFxlizONA6Ttp/s1600/DSC03878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmTJYXKk9dcqNRW6ms0dWkd86rZmkU7-3UikG26nreEFda2RhLldAqdRSCuIhoxPHl_RMbZL2wc0dTX6TtUkL5BQMlkxcOUn7IJ3q4BlBEr7h0dcpKmBXvnDI0csf6Z5mFxlizONA6Ttp/s1600/DSC03878.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Flowers and Hubby</span></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSVpLooeg8KFEiqOACIHZtFuxq5syuJ-DpxzDvJQfOBd_STjocH1g0W_Y3QQ_aURMI8OCmxxbTqp5MdiBMbsGy0L7InIq_0MnTDH8rKMR2V_pJSckiRy2sKZ2GsFC6PJ81MvC9HuPtdU9/s1600/DSC03899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSVpLooeg8KFEiqOACIHZtFuxq5syuJ-DpxzDvJQfOBd_STjocH1g0W_Y3QQ_aURMI8OCmxxbTqp5MdiBMbsGy0L7InIq_0MnTDH8rKMR2V_pJSckiRy2sKZ2GsFC6PJ81MvC9HuPtdU9/s1600/DSC03899.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">The rain stopped again and I got busy in the "kitchen". I baked brownies, garlic Parmesan bread and a big pot of pasta. Yum!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKKTX_x6pauTJHpuDJgNROfryZib51byMvba3WCLYhhrRh50UJdpa6WLO5_ztl6w-LUqqYKV0ywr-B6RKh89Q4yYgS3FLYTVAIoI8nEQZzqxrVEXBKqCqtKGNzdU4g3I9dJBIwOLNlgeA/s1600/DSC03900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKKTX_x6pauTJHpuDJgNROfryZib51byMvba3WCLYhhrRh50UJdpa6WLO5_ztl6w-LUqqYKV0ywr-B6RKh89Q4yYgS3FLYTVAIoI8nEQZzqxrVEXBKqCqtKGNzdU4g3I9dJBIwOLNlgeA/s1600/DSC03900.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">A happy Hubby with a full belly.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">A perfect end to a perfect day.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, despite the rain I think it was a perfect day. We didn't see another person since the mountain biker pedalled by at lunch. The lightening was a bit intense at times. In fact, when we first reached camp I was crouching down pulling stuff out of my pack and there was a flash so blinding and a boom so thunderous it rocked my body, I lost my balance and crumpled to the ground. Shaking, I looked up at Jim with tears in my eyes. He was standing and laughing. Being the super logical one, he burst into this diatribe about being in a valley, being low, blah blah blah. His logic fell on deaf ears. Truth was I was rocked to my core and scared for the moment. I just needed another moment to recover and gather my own logical senses. A few more booms and the storm moved on and I was fine. We proceeded to filter water, cook dinner and enjoy the fading daylight. Then night fell and we crawled into the tent...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">As we lay there reflecting on the day we began hearing the strangest sounds. A screeching noise that seemed to travel up and down the valley. First far, then near, then north, then south - almost like a couple of hawks or other birds of prey swooping through the valley calling to one another. Not owls. What other nocturnal bird lives here? Stumped in the dark we lay there and let the sounds fade into the backs of our minds as we replaced them with dreams.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">Join us for the answer to these mysterious sounds and our final ascent back to the truck in my next post. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">To be continued...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #bf9000;">*My lightening fears should not go unrespected and laughed at. Lightening kills more people in Colorado every year than any other state (Actually, I think we flip with Alaska for #1 & #2 most years.) That very weekend on the opposite corner of the state, in Northwest Colorado (Rocky Mountain Park), 2 or 3 people were killed and many more hospitalized due to two seperate lightening strikes. Yes, logic and education does play a big part in your safety in the backcountry but sometimes it's just plain nerve-racking.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-76870828974385423232014-07-30T13:41:00.002-07:002014-08-04T04:39:37.188-07:00Our Grindstone Escape<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Grindstone...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Doesn't that sound relaxing to you?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Ok, maybe not at first but after the last couple months filled with road trips, a wedding, a graduation, family visits and work crammed in between Grindstone was just what Jim and I needed to reconnect. The idea came about on </span><a href="http://durangodream.blogspot.com/2014/07/getting-high.html"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">our trek into the high country</span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> to cool off last month. Often times as we hike we see trail signs and intersections with names that look familiar but we have never had the time to explore. Such was the case when we stopped for our lunch on the aforementioned outing. When we arrived home that day I poured over maps and books. I came up with a loop and an alternative route for bad weather. I planned out an approximate camping area just over half way. We set it in our minds that the next time I scored two days in a row off we were hitting the trail. Well, low and behold, the schedule came out on a Wednesday and I had Saturday and Sunday off. Short notice, but we 're good like that! Beef in the dehydrator for jerky, bake some quick savory cheddar/pecan energy cookies, mix up breakfast makin's and we were on our way out of civilization bright and early Saturday morning.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-small;"> ~needless to say but I will anyway... click to enlarge photos~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItEby1TiCtjFpi7hVCM9kSB5O5itK5TwiD-kkLZKGigk5cur9x3ixhHXyCvlplDipS7fDMZ7w6ywzQm4-LRqMgHdXgGM3EJcFgmICR-vggyI2NbWXpX6a-v7MiMAiylpJN6NRcwUrY8bo/s1600/DSC03826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItEby1TiCtjFpi7hVCM9kSB5O5itK5TwiD-kkLZKGigk5cur9x3ixhHXyCvlplDipS7fDMZ7w6ywzQm4-LRqMgHdXgGM3EJcFgmICR-vggyI2NbWXpX6a-v7MiMAiylpJN6NRcwUrY8bo/s1600/DSC03826.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Driving up to the trail head, the flowers pay their respects the the rising sun.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCQ61ip4TVVLOKR6J5nLzBjwaIu_iYYXrU3bT8uKTd95VQWbFKEpVSy7DL6YL2THvF-RetAEMs-N9kBkbKmzZgIc4ali8Qc684J5zQgG4G_3TtLqyh55GflzdKzjCuGyUNw46yAREiOlo/s1600/DSC03836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCQ61ip4TVVLOKR6J5nLzBjwaIu_iYYXrU3bT8uKTd95VQWbFKEpVSy7DL6YL2THvF-RetAEMs-N9kBkbKmzZgIc4ali8Qc684J5zQgG4G_3TtLqyh55GflzdKzjCuGyUNw46yAREiOlo/s1600/DSC03836.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Columbine - our State flower </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT3fKEwla47ituSeE6R5E9mhoqBFjaDsce1SWaC1xf8i0IUafV_E4MWVM7o9qgX5iF11w-6zvonYZk7JsusnWpXMnVVfK9r14OtJpAJC6Co4-I5UbrUnc64rzJSJjLFJXXJVrcrTi4nqq/s1600/DSC03837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT3fKEwla47ituSeE6R5E9mhoqBFjaDsce1SWaC1xf8i0IUafV_E4MWVM7o9qgX5iF11w-6zvonYZk7JsusnWpXMnVVfK9r14OtJpAJC6Co4-I5UbrUnc64rzJSJjLFJXXJVrcrTi4nqq/s1600/DSC03837.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Jim with our new found friend from New Jersey and his dog.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">On our way up the canyon, we came across him and offered him a ride to the top. </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">He had driven as far as he could in his car and gladly hopped in the back of our truck for the rest of the trip to the trailhead.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-UKo6UtTF5J6ilodTOUhoGFqnu5QnDhqfg9XNwm7ku_h_rwnMrAkEGyTuomZqOnGG92MUnqlBwA99EoV3Ss0HpfwrhqBBk7VRKZi_8BwN0LlZA1fu9xZNU6_wtMc8-PJF0HrFgISNxfN/s1600/DSC03840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-UKo6UtTF5J6ilodTOUhoGFqnu5QnDhqfg9XNwm7ku_h_rwnMrAkEGyTuomZqOnGG92MUnqlBwA99EoV3Ss0HpfwrhqBBk7VRKZi_8BwN0LlZA1fu9xZNU6_wtMc8-PJF0HrFgISNxfN/s1600/DSC03840.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Entire Loop - 17 miles</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Well, add in the distance from the trail head to this sign, then the fact that there was a tree downed across the road so we had to hike to the trail head and our "Entire Loop" ended up becoming over 21 miles!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX71ZuApxsSu0A6eHzqEUpvbkTVl9q1_6XKFSLwwAQMcIWrBQXcGFRwuUp8EGfug6-6OHvOv0Av6xMxEPBqKgHFAX5xudZREO-pz7pK6QuEPwf0jNehDkmh0jU3mfREwbjdNjXIIUYtaJH/s1600/DSC03842.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Look at the variety of wild flowers at almost 12,000 ft!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJHE3s9DEs7UyyhTiIXuE04UKoI0wr2YClG4iYhB3rPcnzWerffWd6pr18VxYfq4_UOLD9n1MovSvko_oqthtyXRQp9WZ5KhbUrwPBP7FSUwlHzQmU87DmuH0cxy4HFU4rNU8CL89VjrE/s1600/DSC03847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJHE3s9DEs7UyyhTiIXuE04UKoI0wr2YClG4iYhB3rPcnzWerffWd6pr18VxYfq4_UOLD9n1MovSvko_oqthtyXRQp9WZ5KhbUrwPBP7FSUwlHzQmU87DmuH0cxy4HFU4rNU8CL89VjrE/s1600/DSC03847.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Where's the safety railing?!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I'm calling OSHA.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh0q5FMUozaMpH2BO37egArmAlM05FeMdvrh6JP5dYZNPycnJqWMqh0QQg1qamG1ydzAwYiakgnUefts6JsOSm1AJic3cKZgHnEqDTcXdN7tRpNRF1t_liAjeKoLYsWAvCzfQajgFq1kA/s1600/DSC03848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh0q5FMUozaMpH2BO37egArmAlM05FeMdvrh6JP5dYZNPycnJqWMqh0QQg1qamG1ydzAwYiakgnUefts6JsOSm1AJic3cKZgHnEqDTcXdN7tRpNRF1t_liAjeKoLYsWAvCzfQajgFq1kA/s1600/DSC03848.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> It's an eerie feeling while hiking a ridge line the way the clouds catch and hover right over you, not to the left or the right but dead center down the ridge line.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYTR27Ha9-AfPbP4Y5xCLlm1T7ZOOCM2Um192yUMfvXeCBqL6qOh2bfXILImINxH72U2mWTBIrSIfNwFvkoPM6sbeHUTKwCq3_3ZglrgZJIyD2hWY_XgfiUFt7XY1FYlKx4KnFOZhi20l/s1600/DSC03853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYTR27Ha9-AfPbP4Y5xCLlm1T7ZOOCM2Um192yUMfvXeCBqL6qOh2bfXILImINxH72U2mWTBIrSIfNwFvkoPM6sbeHUTKwCq3_3ZglrgZJIyD2hWY_XgfiUFt7XY1FYlKx4KnFOZhi20l/s1600/DSC03853.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Jim disappearing into the sky.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-87sK6-xG7CheN8woEKbMndoLSxe8thw45wheBVJ5f9du92ptKW4KJX5DxId5LLhZIcvN4bshS5DaAziCmPqll4nefiVJgXeHmPlI8BqS9is04c_qPW-FQLlEtw19yNb-tkIpBZiLki5/s1600/DSC03854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-87sK6-xG7CheN8woEKbMndoLSxe8thw45wheBVJ5f9du92ptKW4KJX5DxId5LLhZIcvN4bshS5DaAziCmPqll4nefiVJgXeHmPlI8BqS9is04c_qPW-FQLlEtw19yNb-tkIpBZiLki5/s1600/DSC03854.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Descending?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Don't be fooled, only a short down then another up - you can see the trail winding up the next climb across the saddle. Averaging above 12,000 ft for most of the ridge line, we wouldn't dip down and out of the clouds until lunch.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AX02jpxjtNFYLSKrjDGBJIFqZrtMAdOOte_z5GIhcZajveWhCOjWyVHfKXRM0Cl4WHxDTZKGnQklzsJv9K5be6rQwGt3Ifl2T5SVsLFCduhGlQYzrp14A6g29gAFRR7NrPJpfhM9RAv6/s1600/DSC03857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AX02jpxjtNFYLSKrjDGBJIFqZrtMAdOOte_z5GIhcZajveWhCOjWyVHfKXRM0Cl4WHxDTZKGnQklzsJv9K5be6rQwGt3Ifl2T5SVsLFCduhGlQYzrp14A6g29gAFRR7NrPJpfhM9RAv6/s1600/DSC03857.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Another stunning Columbine</span></div>
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">This is where we stopped for lunch, about 6.5 miles into our first day. The storm clouds along the ridge stayed at bay until we were down. Stopping for lunch amongst the trees we listened as the thunder rolled around us. Ahh... the sound of nature letting us know whos' really in charge. This is also where we saw the last person we would encounter for the next 27 hours. From here on it was the Jim & Seana Show, no other hiker, biker, hunter, etc.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Let the Real Escape Begin!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Check back for the rest of our weekend adventure,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">too many pictures for one post.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">To Be Continued...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-22116036542912441942014-07-29T21:27:00.000-07:002014-07-29T21:27:12.394-07:00Visitors a.k.a. The In-Laws<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sometimes people come to visit, too.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">It's funny that we live in such an amazing place and get so few visitors. Earlier this month Jim's parents came to visit. This is the first summer visit we have had from them since we've been married. Unfortunately, I was unable to get more than a day off of work. Jim was able to spend the days mountain biking and traveling with them but apparently he didn't take any photos. So, here's a peek at our one day together...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzw8uRHC9sOhs9nzjSqqDoi6vcADhuxJZIr_l45OPXeGcBTfb6yzIRauMdm5rq-L6t5KQoCWi5ribqXFv_n0vw4dBKoUo-kT6i-7gMZMivbqNIK3ek-iuaZInp86lt5imRpmyOZwsspvb/s1600/DSC03822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzw8uRHC9sOhs9nzjSqqDoi6vcADhuxJZIr_l45OPXeGcBTfb6yzIRauMdm5rq-L6t5KQoCWi5ribqXFv_n0vw4dBKoUo-kT6i-7gMZMivbqNIK3ek-iuaZInp86lt5imRpmyOZwsspvb/s1600/DSC03822.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> Rock Solid after all those years together!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISCt9ig1ZNcPrlhVu_saRNegIyTeAe1u21l6l7dJRcbKJHKHxrUGINT8SCWmh655xJzuxAbP9N4WM5w0dhMtFiba6MQG96WTpCVpPe-5TnjSUyluJR0_Id1NxsmC_BpS34RszAHCDGrLG/s1600/DSC03817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISCt9ig1ZNcPrlhVu_saRNegIyTeAe1u21l6l7dJRcbKJHKHxrUGINT8SCWmh655xJzuxAbP9N4WM5w0dhMtFiba6MQG96WTpCVpPe-5TnjSUyluJR0_Id1NxsmC_BpS34RszAHCDGrLG/s1600/DSC03817.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> A tired Stown on a stone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g7Eekqkga401qY4W_GbtrHtOfS0OKYoLefQ1NJTfCXQCqNx8VzPHrVQgoTnPnowwE_8-EPk3cJU9NAgSF-TRicADSsG0fkHiXjTTWXPJ4Y5cdXEPbu5BitRppZiXw1fuAffxLy0Z65fA/s1600/DSC03818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g7Eekqkga401qY4W_GbtrHtOfS0OKYoLefQ1NJTfCXQCqNx8VzPHrVQgoTnPnowwE_8-EPk3cJU9NAgSF-TRicADSsG0fkHiXjTTWXPJ4Y5cdXEPbu5BitRppZiXw1fuAffxLy0Z65fA/s1600/DSC03818.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> Trail side Skeletal Art...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqo36RqyzpTXMut56Qw0zBPMWgx0Wz39YjpPFP6GK1efohotA4G73glaMAF68KSDHRL8vEgq0WonEr7A7mdzlUWTeHh-xMAwZ3n89ySkSCMeOP-63hya3E22VL7cy7t9otLCS1cm4c4PXK/s1600/DSC03819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqo36RqyzpTXMut56Qw0zBPMWgx0Wz39YjpPFP6GK1efohotA4G73glaMAF68KSDHRL8vEgq0WonEr7A7mdzlUWTeHh-xMAwZ3n89ySkSCMeOP-63hya3E22VL7cy7t9otLCS1cm4c4PXK/s1600/DSC03819.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Even better Trail side Art!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">We went on a hike together and enjoyed a few dinners after work. Maybe next time I can actually get some time off to go and play for more than just a day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Thanks for visiting M&P!</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-21950090027180041172014-07-29T20:59:00.000-07:002014-07-29T20:59:19.874-07:00Leaving...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan;">Everyone in Durango leaves.</span></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan;">After 7 years of living here, making friends and watching them move, one might think that I would be used to this by now. But I am not. Over a year ago, I vowed to my husband that I wasn't going to make any new friends because they all leave and I am tired of it. Tired of sharing, caring, loving and leaving. Then along came Anne. Perhaps our friendship wouldn't have grown so much in such a short time but she became pregnant and her family was so far away, I felt almost like a big sister. Then Virgina arrived - way too early! Little Miss showed up 5 weeks before her train was due and we all became instantly closer. Pulling for this tiny 3 lb 6 oz specimen of perfection, we shared hope and love and tears and fears. Now, nearly a year after her birth, they too have moved. </span></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUci3BxgOijvsCu9bMjxfd_vJQMmZq7KHV_2FanxKPkTqM3RYYqLArrPC7nDKdG9MS9W9YgZUMPjkueo4b0tIyH2wj7-UJ-8bwOEQer2P4r5ucWo_hpA3nKAjHFrjNiVerQDKR-5o7pnR/s1600/DSC03807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: cyan;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUci3BxgOijvsCu9bMjxfd_vJQMmZq7KHV_2FanxKPkTqM3RYYqLArrPC7nDKdG9MS9W9YgZUMPjkueo4b0tIyH2wj7-UJ-8bwOEQer2P4r5ucWo_hpA3nKAjHFrjNiVerQDKR-5o7pnR/s1600/DSC03807.JPG" height="400" width="322" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan;"> Little Miss enjoying a rice cake in the grassy shade of an early July afternoon.</span></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HKmlNs-e6VKcvEpVSM2mIL0kxSlcyWFoh3uKSNFW-G2rlpxv9hqS0isTysMiVT-fSu-4FL7ImLYbbK9HbHAa_O7YbkTaul_WYMz8RYRyUZtmQBZRLOo6EJs56kRWdnAMHhPwiYW9ZnHj/s1600/DSC03809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: cyan;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HKmlNs-e6VKcvEpVSM2mIL0kxSlcyWFoh3uKSNFW-G2rlpxv9hqS0isTysMiVT-fSu-4FL7ImLYbbK9HbHAa_O7YbkTaul_WYMz8RYRyUZtmQBZRLOo6EJs56kRWdnAMHhPwiYW9ZnHj/s1600/DSC03809.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan;"> Enough with the photos - Talk to the Hand!</span></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw-BffQLKLT3-_FcL0T_nuMo8Ew0OE16-3_zab-Sqi_K5vosUmu_UBsJLoTghLLxzTLOosHO3hpxXeLBTNOdHG5qM_ZYh_JeWoFaC-QZFglW8kHFtpQiJALWyQDYS23GGpxCHV31I9eyn/s1600/DSC03810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: cyan;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw-BffQLKLT3-_FcL0T_nuMo8Ew0OE16-3_zab-Sqi_K5vosUmu_UBsJLoTghLLxzTLOosHO3hpxXeLBTNOdHG5qM_ZYh_JeWoFaC-QZFglW8kHFtpQiJALWyQDYS23GGpxCHV31I9eyn/s1600/DSC03810.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan;"> A farewell BBQ got me and Ginny K a bit upside down with all those G&Ts.</span></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8J3bzXOYwNWjS6TXc-Q1_igeammNPiRsH8Ogj59P3RoaWt1HKhWYXJdzX_8syEPAwZkXCGlZwhONDX8oUVx5_LIS7Tajz3hQHHs3dEp8j5pZMyvIaHiTeI0amX71V1Aa9uVGC8ZH0VSX/s1600/DSC03811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: cyan;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8J3bzXOYwNWjS6TXc-Q1_igeammNPiRsH8Ogj59P3RoaWt1HKhWYXJdzX_8syEPAwZkXCGlZwhONDX8oUVx5_LIS7Tajz3hQHHs3dEp8j5pZMyvIaHiTeI0amX71V1Aa9uVGC8ZH0VSX/s1600/DSC03811.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan;">What are these two planning?!</span></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan;">Maybe it was a smiley ploy to hide the tears. Maybe it was a worried grin over how everything was going to fit in the trailer. I will never know.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan;">Meanwhile, life is back to normal here in Durango. Life that will continue on with work and home and adventures until the next temporary resident passes through.</span></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">We miss you CVA!</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-15792966343895691482014-07-17T05:05:00.005-07:002014-07-17T05:05:51.275-07:00WTF?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXIscaTM5pCxQCGu1yT1Ia0yDRAHCjN_ZgMDvZw3NA1Te1bWkiecopnh2Z5S2agrrdjnp9OPRS7BGwJNIMAdN-aIo675WC_iilpMXfDaa-ew6ZZq8D7mqHHgcoNan9chCGZu6JrwKQAx4/s1600/DSC01674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXIscaTM5pCxQCGu1yT1Ia0yDRAHCjN_ZgMDvZw3NA1Te1bWkiecopnh2Z5S2agrrdjnp9OPRS7BGwJNIMAdN-aIo675WC_iilpMXfDaa-ew6ZZq8D7mqHHgcoNan9chCGZu6JrwKQAx4/s1600/DSC01674.JPG" height="400" width="315" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow;">While in California for Stown's graduation, we stayed in Norco - a.k.a. Horse town USA.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow;">We've been there dozens of times and are super familiar with the horses everywhere. We've seen horses for sale, horses in the drive through restaurants, horses for rent... you name it. But this was a new one. Check out the print on the square hand written sign - click to enlarge photo.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Would you let this person ride your horse?</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-small;">Of course we know it's a sales thing but you have to admit the first two lines create a funny mental image.</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-90818443984898031672014-07-16T06:07:00.002-07:002014-07-16T06:07:50.608-07:00The Graduate!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Well , he did it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stown Graduated!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Class of 2014</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">He spent his Senior year in Long Beach California and when the big day came Jim and I traveled out to attend the ceremony and throw a big party.</span></div>
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuWOFN4gSdSwiiXNo4O0-YlYWrrwTUTjOdeN57Fp-hY0FoYH0DkkHK-k4q5PcuVhlUQIsnmk9wcZRp2uYOrk8hfb7VinaeR92CIHWGuHrZU66G3jxhtVSszkEVWljkJyqguHRdnJI9tW0/s1600/DSC01652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuWOFN4gSdSwiiXNo4O0-YlYWrrwTUTjOdeN57Fp-hY0FoYH0DkkHK-k4q5PcuVhlUQIsnmk9wcZRp2uYOrk8hfb7VinaeR92CIHWGuHrZU66G3jxhtVSszkEVWljkJyqguHRdnJI9tW0/s1600/DSC01652.JPG" height="285" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;">So proud of ya, Buddy!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmoAz114ehF51_Ia6a6468eKA8zoUhHv45mSlNSUuUJk8jj4Hgnx0Nz30MEDCJLTYA4eA7MuoyUQ0fC91rkQ_TEMtdPV8BTZYirTdyLtVaRvhCUnsmYyaAHnlMDZdw8l3RShQ6r99IfRH/s1600/DSC01655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmoAz114ehF51_Ia6a6468eKA8zoUhHv45mSlNSUuUJk8jj4Hgnx0Nz30MEDCJLTYA4eA7MuoyUQ0fC91rkQ_TEMtdPV8BTZYirTdyLtVaRvhCUnsmYyaAHnlMDZdw8l3RShQ6r99IfRH/s1600/DSC01655.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;">Yay!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;">High fives for a job well done.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYso8PzNJnkFKwpbPnq8oU_M6-YapOaMoaXja4T2S2me6rGOl7TmrRyWHCGg_niv6AIV2Auh3bJHovKWhs5ZnXAD0EE6-xAIIIjtiR5mUVWv4qC09w_Dax9wq-8jORZkxzDuRnhBKuw6h0/s1600/DSC01668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYso8PzNJnkFKwpbPnq8oU_M6-YapOaMoaXja4T2S2me6rGOl7TmrRyWHCGg_niv6AIV2Auh3bJHovKWhs5ZnXAD0EE6-xAIIIjtiR5mUVWv4qC09w_Dax9wq-8jORZkxzDuRnhBKuw6h0/s1600/DSC01668.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;">High school's finally over.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUo68M5Mcr9pajwIM4GgjVvYEmyco0VJYBqRdlg-GnimDqgPIX89sKsRJs6mWLPgjDSIC1hKfBVbTLlzpsg3FjkVh2YlpBwAk8x3bNKa0-EVag0bgfoi_bknaHkH6EjslVkdHqx5GIFof/s1600/DSC01669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUo68M5Mcr9pajwIM4GgjVvYEmyco0VJYBqRdlg-GnimDqgPIX89sKsRJs6mWLPgjDSIC1hKfBVbTLlzpsg3FjkVh2YlpBwAk8x3bNKa0-EVag0bgfoi_bknaHkH6EjslVkdHqx5GIFof/s1600/DSC01669.JPG" height="400" width="275" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"> Let me see that diploma.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN4d_Dgm0IEBn7IqLFpRnyUEKdEsmFdNB2YkTYW8hiF_qIiH74QyyATNC8zGRuI3ao2L0nC6lztOXW2cGEL1Fscik7HVt5eR4O90U_g5IphuvbrJmianaarWEJE9mGQHD5KY96WmUaum8/s1600/DSC01685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN4d_Dgm0IEBn7IqLFpRnyUEKdEsmFdNB2YkTYW8hiF_qIiH74QyyATNC8zGRuI3ao2L0nC6lztOXW2cGEL1Fscik7HVt5eR4O90U_g5IphuvbrJmianaarWEJE9mGQHD5KY96WmUaum8/s1600/DSC01685.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"> The King of the Party</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyEHqQcbM4OabRBLG43OY5E7QW0nsepcz5QBKP-BEaHt85SHq08EZ_CPohaZAvLVRxqnNrJOvzBoAfTYQPJPTC5x2YJtyix6OH9VsY29TyqsPn6J9e3mb6GIfAjs9CVHCelVXG5qtsvPu/s1600/DSC01678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyEHqQcbM4OabRBLG43OY5E7QW0nsepcz5QBKP-BEaHt85SHq08EZ_CPohaZAvLVRxqnNrJOvzBoAfTYQPJPTC5x2YJtyix6OH9VsY29TyqsPn6J9e3mb6GIfAjs9CVHCelVXG5qtsvPu/s1600/DSC01678.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Assorted family & friends</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Much thanks to my Aunt Carol & Uncle Steve who allowed us to crash there house and have a big pool party / BBQ. It was great to see so much of the family in one place.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Now, Stown is back in Colorado trying to make a go of it in the real world. Juggling two jobs, a girlfriend and looking for a place of his own to live. I guess the bird wants to leave the nest. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good Luck Stown!</span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">I love you ~ Mom</span></div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-729571437885308634.post-21186761090574381012014-07-11T08:06:00.002-07:002014-07-11T08:07:48.318-07:00Getting High...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Yep, That's what we do in Colorado when the temperatures start rising. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">We get high in the mountains to cool off.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">(what were you thinking?)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">A couple weeks ago, Jim, the dogs and I went for a 9+ mile trek through the high country (topped a saddle at 11,949 ft. elevation, averaged 11,500). We explored a trail we hadn't been on before. The wild flowers were poppin' and the water falls were flowin'! It was gorgeous!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Enjoy some of the pictures as we tried to capture the experience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">(but really, you just have to go for yourself)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">~click to enlarge photos~</span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgLsfDzEEnz9Mz6QGSDb7atRVrzPG81P381h5FBGZ4MPJY7fqenSVjF_66q2CTY55zuSrdzGiXf9mjWFHQvWhgFjWFnxRW7cAF5-LobtggaItVNeMzFsAJJbLLeWETCLf65d9KwD9CiSt/s1600/DSC03757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgLsfDzEEnz9Mz6QGSDb7atRVrzPG81P381h5FBGZ4MPJY7fqenSVjF_66q2CTY55zuSrdzGiXf9mjWFHQvWhgFjWFnxRW7cAF5-LobtggaItVNeMzFsAJJbLLeWETCLf65d9KwD9CiSt/s1600/DSC03757.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Adhering to the warning sign, Aspen inspects the unstable rocks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeu85q0VihcdYpgYZaCTNNBGbw_394X0tI5WEJe3tYXyLRXJyBNILda-TxMYymJ1shyfEM5VHhmg3yb0JlEHk-tE-epAS4VCxLkksdW3Lq3HjDe5x-od7KImq-YJLiP3lw_aJEf3V3-8k/s1600/DSC03758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeu85q0VihcdYpgYZaCTNNBGbw_394X0tI5WEJe3tYXyLRXJyBNILda-TxMYymJ1shyfEM5VHhmg3yb0JlEHk-tE-epAS4VCxLkksdW3Lq3HjDe5x-od7KImq-YJLiP3lw_aJEf3V3-8k/s1600/DSC03758.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Jim leading the way up to the saddle.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtX-5-2RW8PrrBWses4P7umOxg6hq7zW4UgHkGoohmZY3BAIHPjONZEoA_1ExchFfjebBVWkzXnAoxEpFdxJnYoMXEdCzRjyL8ZIiY68nOcZXq28PVumQ9-luXcjZPaR_EnUTR0uB5k7H/s1600/DSC03759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtX-5-2RW8PrrBWses4P7umOxg6hq7zW4UgHkGoohmZY3BAIHPjONZEoA_1ExchFfjebBVWkzXnAoxEpFdxJnYoMXEdCzRjyL8ZIiY68nOcZXq28PVumQ9-luXcjZPaR_EnUTR0uB5k7H/s1600/DSC03759.JPG" height="376" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Amongst the "unstable rocks", I spy the tiniest bunch of wild flowers I have ever seen!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4jVgEUyvhhyv4NUMjTpg0FsDsOWcBha4ZFdnderg_kZ30QuseNAV4WkDWjzFHbAXsKn3QXBFOyKBQWwB1BEJ-ErqY_EnAqIsp1L-fSaRH89ecwyyejwfG-j6BLvqs7oDIpPqaE7DQI-N/s1600/DSC03764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4jVgEUyvhhyv4NUMjTpg0FsDsOWcBha4ZFdnderg_kZ30QuseNAV4WkDWjzFHbAXsKn3QXBFOyKBQWwB1BEJ-ErqY_EnAqIsp1L-fSaRH89ecwyyejwfG-j6BLvqs7oDIpPqaE7DQI-N/s1600/DSC03764.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Who could resist playing in the snow at almost 12,000 ft in June?</span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMAgl805l6PR7w-KbnSlE6-IN5tVxj0gHX_A8qdXtRuqvXRdHBftdX1gQ0mbmz-ut0UqPY6Qx_jqlzya9TqACTcgoLbhTzl01YJJdWk8jgRx1AKBh8u75sikUZcqVvgm34eAkRU9WiU7q/s1600/DSC03765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMAgl805l6PR7w-KbnSlE6-IN5tVxj0gHX_A8qdXtRuqvXRdHBftdX1gQ0mbmz-ut0UqPY6Qx_jqlzya9TqACTcgoLbhTzl01YJJdWk8jgRx1AKBh8u75sikUZcqVvgm34eAkRU9WiU7q/s1600/DSC03765.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Crazy trail work!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Look closely and notice that the trail is outlined with rocks!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Who does this? Aliens?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug541nZVhgto-7A1eg3PekmlRSgSR9uGF6lfcHHWHAoqjn8vshCIpWQFna_uolkmeWYZX9kRHUizqNdyOr6rbdAFpxtoh3nAG_GajUQLKTHG8YE3YiBVgF9j1g0gn3swnJdux9xdEUvNO/s1600/DSC03766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug541nZVhgto-7A1eg3PekmlRSgSR9uGF6lfcHHWHAoqjn8vshCIpWQFna_uolkmeWYZX9kRHUizqNdyOr6rbdAFpxtoh3nAG_GajUQLKTHG8YE3YiBVgF9j1g0gn3swnJdux9xdEUvNO/s1600/DSC03766.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Celebration Mountain</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Looking across Bear Creek Valley</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-KRrKl55Jt0Ami3QdIqOx7EaeV9Cjmdy_5Tmpx2VhV0ufQurC-2pzEWwvN008PHfVm8Lq3Mc_dMk1lTwoSRFntgNK-u4F95zmfLrEcgxNCITAlJ7hQdS-ahjFHgcN9S6QN0hxU0FEJ1_/s1600/DSC03767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-KRrKl55Jt0Ami3QdIqOx7EaeV9Cjmdy_5Tmpx2VhV0ufQurC-2pzEWwvN008PHfVm8Lq3Mc_dMk1lTwoSRFntgNK-u4F95zmfLrEcgxNCITAlJ7hQdS-ahjFHgcN9S6QN0hxU0FEJ1_/s1600/DSC03767.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> One of many waterfalls</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp-KAiadWuKuCs0dtoM60cE5-t18g97WPAFY2AJRJY-PB47VFabjzrcl4Cjddu2Uxgk-A-GpC096-_9pmg-RrOoU8koWuH4nRn9wDuL59ic_NvMwMGar8qhgIHIbZk60DitmiA-Z5WwXj/s1600/DSC03770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp-KAiadWuKuCs0dtoM60cE5-t18g97WPAFY2AJRJY-PB47VFabjzrcl4Cjddu2Uxgk-A-GpC096-_9pmg-RrOoU8koWuH4nRn9wDuL59ic_NvMwMGar8qhgIHIbZk60DitmiA-Z5WwXj/s1600/DSC03770.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Jim kisses a Grandfather tree.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">So big and so old, bearing an ancient trail blaze, we just had to pause in awe of this natural wonder.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG4lpcQA-Xa_0gZg5hFtoFzpvKgqJQV6Fxrk196n8-f9ZhZpbqw9faxGu3O-fG6ah4eCmvG4Wjdlg5G3kDzFam1T1ppi0eoGsMIrDDhM0SLjsC3RUVLVoRuHPE9WT4gS7FmbBVYNU6MOO/s1600/DSC03780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG4lpcQA-Xa_0gZg5hFtoFzpvKgqJQV6Fxrk196n8-f9ZhZpbqw9faxGu3O-fG6ah4eCmvG4Wjdlg5G3kDzFam1T1ppi0eoGsMIrDDhM0SLjsC3RUVLVoRuHPE9WT4gS7FmbBVYNU6MOO/s1600/DSC03780.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">A glance back to the saddle we crossed through.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">(located in the deep V right where the top of the tree is touching the sky)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABHCb4u2TnQyuL1QohtY4Anek_w_YiSwVzTR-3OsZgsSyGlmxYQaX5YSlz7XMuNlTTXQTQkC_FIrmastyvj_9ReSpOxkkVqx7GRyynTSiJC8v9NEsJp4d3FG56t5OCnpuS_8ScnCG03Dn/s1600/DSC03783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABHCb4u2TnQyuL1QohtY4Anek_w_YiSwVzTR-3OsZgsSyGlmxYQaX5YSlz7XMuNlTTXQTQkC_FIrmastyvj_9ReSpOxkkVqx7GRyynTSiJC8v9NEsJp4d3FG56t5OCnpuS_8ScnCG03Dn/s1600/DSC03783.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> A picnic at the Bear Creek Trail connection.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZicrombO2Smils07KgfJMPHoSzLEXf4oBd-m8EBWgXxHapSBrV-rtWffxJ0RnD6SymXTIipmV6qBYY-CdYeyw9CqdN4mOzWCfIKoJOvZ2g0lWYS_yZguIEb3DdrhFCUEcbfzoQAVYjyE/s1600/DSC03782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZicrombO2Smils07KgfJMPHoSzLEXf4oBd-m8EBWgXxHapSBrV-rtWffxJ0RnD6SymXTIipmV6qBYY-CdYeyw9CqdN4mOzWCfIKoJOvZ2g0lWYS_yZguIEb3DdrhFCUEcbfzoQAVYjyE/s1600/DSC03782.JPG" height="292" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Exhausted Pups</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgaY2k3v24u3DYRXSsuxLRyyaHmt8730SBtGdkco3NyAo2ENNARkg0PzVvmJIWLKnUMyjlYBTGFeyfPiQb9bQPmEq3uvostAl5JnPCCw7tycNu7Jo6cAQiqX7m3Gw53z6zERgVnYy9ps3/s1600/DSC03785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgaY2k3v24u3DYRXSsuxLRyyaHmt8730SBtGdkco3NyAo2ENNARkg0PzVvmJIWLKnUMyjlYBTGFeyfPiQb9bQPmEq3uvostAl5JnPCCw7tycNu7Jo6cAQiqX7m3Gw53z6zERgVnYy9ps3/s1600/DSC03785.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> As we hiked, we gathered bits and pieces of trash.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">At the connection, I used a recovered piece of cord to rehang a fallen sign.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WUe6GWwDNsF-vvw9PYF8xbGjTngnZCop3khicQIlHSy5t6HZbRUGfzb8hhefj9B5Zn31h8bxXPGRkLzjFRbf0UnvZbk0DcaRK-EHk78I4lDgTjIMnFRb2E7eO9pHkRSo0VSQQYX7wg5w/s1600/DSC03791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WUe6GWwDNsF-vvw9PYF8xbGjTngnZCop3khicQIlHSy5t6HZbRUGfzb8hhefj9B5Zn31h8bxXPGRkLzjFRbf0UnvZbk0DcaRK-EHk78I4lDgTjIMnFRb2E7eO9pHkRSo0VSQQYX7wg5w/s1600/DSC03791.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">We also did some trail maintenance along the way back,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">rebuilding trail cairns...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L_81ywAk0Uh6z93sW00gbt5uEQ24yCLg6G0AeOI-ZOgWTwtUwUjqIdQvSdt9hEc6DsonMnCUy-pEgipNR15FZCH5ULiY1dE5js9jt090Id7ZaJs_Q438iusPtRyUf6nhNaAlzL_RF2Yg/s1600/DSC03793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L_81ywAk0Uh6z93sW00gbt5uEQ24yCLg6G0AeOI-ZOgWTwtUwUjqIdQvSdt9hEc6DsonMnCUy-pEgipNR15FZCH5ULiY1dE5js9jt090Id7ZaJs_Q438iusPtRyUf6nhNaAlzL_RF2Yg/s1600/DSC03793.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">and righting fallen log markers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TJl_6BeKSQPVWCyy6FLFjaofV3amj1e5zv1bwBNRDP0eZqmkhdYqZBCGBKL7sLqG4rWVTgWsrGKyXHkZ4l987U7N1ZQlftu2heBm7jidvgHCdcUQy-Ii6XPUqEsxW0DgI1u3XL71lt8D/s1600/DSC03792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TJl_6BeKSQPVWCyy6FLFjaofV3amj1e5zv1bwBNRDP0eZqmkhdYqZBCGBKL7sLqG4rWVTgWsrGKyXHkZ4l987U7N1ZQlftu2heBm7jidvgHCdcUQy-Ii6XPUqEsxW0DgI1u3XL71lt8D/s1600/DSC03792.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Is that a baby dragon?!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">(perhaps too much time in the sun at high elevations were getting to me)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRcCb0Tf7-Kb5mTIxsZWctLZ0CHugPzaXr5akx9iVAlljoC26S-igx9tlIAcus5bCQXkXTV3usckAz1c62WFheZz6nXKXzLU0VQOf9DrvJApWGz3ggdFjpWwjQQiB8NzHsa2Hir55uqsH/s1600/DSC03794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRcCb0Tf7-Kb5mTIxsZWctLZ0CHugPzaXr5akx9iVAlljoC26S-igx9tlIAcus5bCQXkXTV3usckAz1c62WFheZz6nXKXzLU0VQOf9DrvJApWGz3ggdFjpWwjQQiB8NzHsa2Hir55uqsH/s1600/DSC03794.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Aspen looking regal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGWdZfazRxctvH8y7QhO8U-i0Fk5nHIAAjl8JIDVryrA1y7oaDWwDCVJH4AQr3X3xzxJSDzXNEg7rFygQyTQIkgoZi1pKTFmcXv33JjJGkkxl03PcvWmIke1oAFe1nzAc4uxyOgdiiEyo/s1600/DSC03799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGWdZfazRxctvH8y7QhO8U-i0Fk5nHIAAjl8JIDVryrA1y7oaDWwDCVJH4AQr3X3xzxJSDzXNEg7rFygQyTQIkgoZi1pKTFmcXv33JjJGkkxl03PcvWmIke1oAFe1nzAc4uxyOgdiiEyo/s1600/DSC03799.JPG" height="400" width="347" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">A family of Marmots that taunted us with their whistles as we passed along the trail.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">The dogs were so tired, they didn't even give these critters a second look.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">(look close, it's like a "where's waldo" search - there are 4)</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Thanks for joining us.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Hope you enjoyed the high!</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
naked on a mountain tophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06821149521909804778noreply@blogger.com0