The Wedding!

Well the big day finally arrived and we were on hand to participate.  We drove down to Albuquerque for the Union of my Uncle John and his partner Red.  They flew in the day before with Granno, my Papa and Ruth came up and even my lil' sister Lindsay made it.  We stayed at an awesome B&B, The Adobe Nido.  A super relaxed place with wonderful outdoor space for the whole family to stay up late and celebrate. 

Let the Wedding begin!!

 

 Rain on your wedding day is supposed to be good luck -

But maybe not when your stuck standing outside in it because the minister is late. 

 

The Happy Couple!!

 

 Lindsay, Ruth, Papa, John, Red, Granno, Me & Jim

 

The Best man makes a speech, so raise a glass to the Newly Weds!

 

 Ahhhh... Aren't they cute?

 

 Cut that cake already - we're hungry!

I made my Uncle John's favorite - German Chocolate.

 

The morning after and every one's still happy.

 

 Ruth, Papa, Red & John

 

The day after the wedding, Granno flew home and Lindsay headed out too.  These four headed North to Durango for a stay over at our place.  They were there the next day to help me celebrate my birthday before John & Red left on their "Cross Colorado Honeymoon." 

 

It was a lovely event to be shared with family and a good time was shared by all.

 

Best Wishes & Good Luck in the Future

 John & Red,

We Love You!!

 

 

Granno's Birthday!

I wasn't the only one to have birthday last month, my Granno turned 82!  My Granno and I are very close, even though we live states away (me in Colorado & she in Ohio).  At one time we did live in the same town, oh how wonderful that was!  Now I only see her about every two years.  This time she came to Albuquerque in May for my Uncle's wedding (to be posted).  We went down and met up with everyone and I got to give her her present this year, instead of sending it.

 Me & Granno

 

Do they fit?

Every year for as long as I can remember my Granno makes us (the entire family) a pair of "scuffs" (knit slippers) for our Christmas and birthday presents.  Being the eldest grandchild, I felt it was my duty / obligation to pick up this tradition.  Besides, has anyone ever knitted a pair for her?    I set out this year to learn how to make them - kind a sort a.  Easier said than done.  A really sweet lady on one of my mail routes took me in for an afternoon of knitting lessons and many hours later I produced a pair of knitted things that resembled scuffs.  The pattern was different but they did look wearable.  Perhaps a bit tighter than I anticipated but it's the thought that counts, right?  I inquired as to the pattern Granno uses and she replied she doesn't use one.  Fair enough, I suppose after you've knitted hundreds of these things it's just second nature.  Riddled with mistakes and uneven tension, she put them on like a good sport.  I am sure they are too small but I am also sure she will never complain.  Maybe I will try my hand at another pair for her birthday next year.

 I Love You, Granno!

Colorado Trail Series

Colorado Trail Series

Day 7

Junction Creek Camp to Durango

The Final Day
 

Hiked:14.5 miles

Elevation: Down, Down, Down...

 

Wow!  Our final day, bittersweet, really.  Tonight we will sleeping in our own bed with a solid roof over our heads.  We won't be guessing what all the random nighttime noises are outside.  Alas, it's still 14.5 miles away so let's get moving!

 

* click on photos to enlarge *

 

Jim crosses the bridge out of camp in a misty wet morning after a night of drizzling rain.

 

 After my tree encounter a few days ago on the trail, Jim demonstrates the more efficient way to approach a downed tree in the trail.

 

 Beautifully colored fungi.

 

 Jim poses next to this amazing display of layered rock foundation encompassed by this enormous tree root system.

 

Only fair that after the naked stream bathing photos of Jim, that I post one of myself.

Heads up girls,

this is how you comfortably pee while carrying a heavy pack!

 

 As we get closer to Durango the trails display better signage.

 

 Jim!  Don't Drink That!

As we enter the Dry Fork area, where it is quite common to find cattle are grazing, Jim inspects an old trough hewn from a log.

 

 Love clear signage!

 

 A stop at Gudy's Rest, a snack, a couple's photo taken by a trail runner and a fit of laughter.

What was so funny?

Guess we were just high on life and love!

 

 Still limber after 70+ miles!

 

 Whoa Partner!

We had to move aside for this cattle drive.  Welcome to the real wild west where cowpoke still wrangle the doggies up the trail to greener pastures.

Unfortunately for us, the cows stress and get the screamin' sh*ts all the way up the trail.  So going down the same way they just came up was a bit smelly - and slick - watch where you step!

 

 Apparently, someone doesn't like Texans.

 

 YAY, Ed & Matt!!

Friends are hard to forget on the trail, as proven here, by a cooler of cold beer left for a end 'o'trail celebration.

 

 If you enlarge the map, you will see that the "You are here" spot is still outside of town.  Walking the last few miles into town along an asphalt road is murder on the feet.  This is where you stick your thumb out and pray someone with a pick up truck stops to pick up your smelly butt and your over sized pack and drive you into civilization.

 

Yes, we were feeling a bit upside down at the end!

 

Thank you so much to the kind woman we met towards the end of the trail.  After she had finished walking her dogs and was heading back to town she saw our thumbs. We crammed in her SUV with a couple of big dogs and were whisked away to our car we left in town a week earlier.  Then it was off for pizza and beer at the best place in town with an outdoor patio.  Trust me, no one wanted to smell us while trying to eat!

 

Our journey was amazing.  It was only a week, but maybe someday it will be the entire trail.  We learned a lot.  Not only about the trail, our backpacking choices but about each other.  We both agree that we would do it again in a heartbeat.  It was worth every breathless climb, blister and sore muscle.

 

Thank you for hanging in there during the many months that it took to post our little adventure.  So many photos and so little time.

 

HIKE ON!

 

 

Colorado Trail Series

Colorado Trail Series
Day 6
 Junction Creek Bridge Camp
 

Elevation: 8,520 ft.

 

Well, another early camp day.  There's something nice about getting to camp with enough daylight and energy to enjoy the afternoon.  Scenes from camp...

 

Our camp host greeted us briefly then slithered away.

 While on a walk around the area we found a pin from 1994.

Not sure what it was marking and it was the only one we found.

 

 Camp is set.

Time to gather and wash a bit of laundry for the last day on the trail.

Don't want to arrive in town too grubby or we will never be able to hitch a ride!

 PEACE!

Afternoon snack:
wine, popcorn & whiskey!
 

Of course, the rain finally caught up with us in time for me to cook dinner.
 

Snuggled in our tent, playing cards and making dashes into the rain to check on dinner is how we rounded out the day.
 

Grub!

A steaming bowl of lentils, quinoa, dried mushrooms, the last of the fresh cabbage,onion and garlic all in a hearty broth to warm us before bed.

 

It rained/drizzled all night, making for a soothing sound on the tent.  Sometime in the darkness of the night and my slumber a mouse raided my backpack and helped itself to some of the last bits of chocolate and energy fudge.  It sucked to have to carry it out the next day, dead weight that we couldn't eat, but I refuse to just toss it into the woods.  That would only encourage the little buggers to keep raiding this campsite in the future.  We always try to leave our campsites btter than we found them, even if it means carrying out someone else's trash.

 

Only 1 day left...

will you come back to end the journey with us?

I Must Be Getting Old...

 Is it true that when you get older you slow down?

I hope not!

But some Sundays after working outside for six days in a row I just want to relax in a lounge chair in the shade .

So was the case last weekend...

 

A perfectly relaxing view:

A bit of knitting, clothes on the line and chickens running in the yard.

(not pictured is the mimosa)

 



Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Sunday without something special for breakfast:

Homemade English Muffins!

 

Hope you find time to stop and smell the roses -

or watch the chickens scratch!

Another Year Older...

Over Memorial Day Weekend I got older.

The Big 40!!

 

My Papa and his girlfriend (Ruth) were visiting, so we spent the day wandering Downtown Durango.

 



A Birthday Hat for the Birthday Girl?!

 

 Thumbs up for a new decade!

 

 Ruth is from Germany. 

So while we were waiting for a table for dinner we had fun with some sidewalk chalk.

"Happy Birthday"

 

"All Good"

 

Yes, my birthday was all good this year.  I had lots of family in town to help ring in the next decade.  I am looking forward to spending my forties accomplishing more than ever before!

 

Bye Bye 30's & Look Out 40's Here I Come!

My Have You Grown!!

 Pictures taken over the last 3 weeks...

 Funky feathers growing in.

 

Branches to run and jump over.

 



Strike a pose!

 



Life in the bathtub.

 

 Learning to perch.

 

 First adventure outside.

 

 Beautiful feathers Frankie!

 

A yard of their own.

 

Well, at 7 weeks old Annie & Frankie are doing quite well.  Their move to the outside was accelerated by a house full of company over Memorial Day weekend.  Kind of hard to play hostess with a tub of chicks.  They are separated from the big girls but on Sunday we let everyone out into the entire backyard for a little meet and greet.  A few peckings, some chasing, but all in all everything was OK while supervised.  More together time will come  - when we can watch.  No need to come home to a beat up chick.

 

Happy Foraging!