Saturday, we are flying to NY. We will be there for two weeks, and I don't anticipate having access or interest in posting. It will be our first visit to GajT's new house and we are excited. Julian is mobile now, so that will add an element of interest and maybe some exercise.
We have actually been busy, sometimes we have been busy trying to avoid actual work. There are chores to do, repairs to make, projects to get to. Oh, well. We are retired. We will get to what needs doing. The rest will wait.
The Red Blue game was fun. Visiting with Janice was fun. Seeing the Wildcats playing makes us excited for the season. When was that not true?
When we get back, I will try to catch up on this. We are hoping all our adventures will be the good kind.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
First week home
We arrived home seven days ago.
House was still standing, yard looked great. But wait. One of our shrubs is missing. Not a really big deal, but something to ask landscaper about.
Since we left in April with the upstairs in an uproar, and the downstairs full of the things from upstairs, we couldn't empty the trailer until we set things right. So we carried things back up stairs. Made another Goodwill pile. Threw some stuff away.
Then we could empty the trailer. Then CLEAN the trailer. Wash linens and put them back. Wash dishes and put them back.
We took a truck load of friends to see Aimee's art on display, and to dinner. So the truck had to be emptied. We brought three wheelbarrow loads of rock for the patio. We brought four wheelbarrow loads of rusty things for artistic use. We (unintentionally) brought three cups of gravel, sand, dirt and leaves in the footwells.
It was old home week at the art show. Many former teacher/friends were there, so we had some good chats.
Peggie went to the doctor yesterday and received an injection. Opinion is that Alaska doctors should have been injecting, but didn't.
Maybe tomorrow we will go wash the outside of the truck and trailer and put the trailer in storage for a while.
We are ready to start the basketball season. We have tickets to the Red Blue Game on Saturday. We will get to see the new players for the first time, and get an idea of who to watch. We are taking Janice, who used to have season tickets and with whom I attended most of the games one season. She is another former teacher/friend we have to catch up with.
We definitely avoided 100 degree days. Tonight and tomorrow there is a chance of snow in the mountains.
We still have stuff to put away (where it goes, nobody knows). We are not in routine status, yet. But, we have the spa running and have used it. We have most of our favorite, and some new shows recording. We have several to-do lists started. I've grilled two dinners. We are eating healthy again. Experts say you can't catch up on lost sleep, but I think that is what we are doing. Afternoon naps. Siestas. Snoozes.
We are very happy not to have had any baaad adventures on the way home. In fact, the travel was so much fun, we want to do more of it. But not just yet.
House was still standing, yard looked great. But wait. One of our shrubs is missing. Not a really big deal, but something to ask landscaper about.
Since we left in April with the upstairs in an uproar, and the downstairs full of the things from upstairs, we couldn't empty the trailer until we set things right. So we carried things back up stairs. Made another Goodwill pile. Threw some stuff away.
Then we could empty the trailer. Then CLEAN the trailer. Wash linens and put them back. Wash dishes and put them back.
We took a truck load of friends to see Aimee's art on display, and to dinner. So the truck had to be emptied. We brought three wheelbarrow loads of rock for the patio. We brought four wheelbarrow loads of rusty things for artistic use. We (unintentionally) brought three cups of gravel, sand, dirt and leaves in the footwells.
It was old home week at the art show. Many former teacher/friends were there, so we had some good chats.
Peggie went to the doctor yesterday and received an injection. Opinion is that Alaska doctors should have been injecting, but didn't.
Maybe tomorrow we will go wash the outside of the truck and trailer and put the trailer in storage for a while.
We are ready to start the basketball season. We have tickets to the Red Blue Game on Saturday. We will get to see the new players for the first time, and get an idea of who to watch. We are taking Janice, who used to have season tickets and with whom I attended most of the games one season. She is another former teacher/friend we have to catch up with.
We definitely avoided 100 degree days. Tonight and tomorrow there is a chance of snow in the mountains.
We still have stuff to put away (where it goes, nobody knows). We are not in routine status, yet. But, we have the spa running and have used it. We have most of our favorite, and some new shows recording. We have several to-do lists started. I've grilled two dinners. We are eating healthy again. Experts say you can't catch up on lost sleep, but I think that is what we are doing. Afternoon naps. Siestas. Snoozes.
We are very happy not to have had any baaad adventures on the way home. In fact, the travel was so much fun, we want to do more of it. But not just yet.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Once more in warmer climes.
We arrived home today. Had lunch at El Rey in Globe for the first time in six months. So good.
Almost 3800 miles in 14 days. Not really hurrying. In fact, the red roads turned out to be the most fun. Slow and scenic.
Speaking of miles: slightly more than 3500 on the way up, about 2000 on the truck over the summer, over 16,000 bus miles for me, about 10,000 for Peggie. That's about 1 and 1/2 times around the world in six months.
We had good meals at local restaurants along the way. We had the worst restaurant meal ever at the lodge outside Glacier NP. Non-existent service, under-cooked eggs (yuck), nearly raw bacon, blah bread (toast), so-so coffee. And a great meal at Sparky's Garage in Dillon, MT. BBQ beef brisket, short ribs, pulled pork, and chicken with corn bread, beans, and fries. Took home leftovers for another meal. Went back for breakfast the next day, and had the same waitress. Very good Mexican food in Gallup at Jerry's. Not too hot, which is good in New Mexico, where they don't know what a mild chile is. Good corned beef hash in Dubois, WY. Breakfast pork (uncured bacon) at 7-11 Ranch Cafe in Vernal, UT. Oh, I asked the manager at Smith's for a breakfast recommendation and was taken aback when he suggested 7-11. But he was right.
When shopping for gas by price, watch out in MT, WY, and NM, they have 85 octane advertised, but my truck requires 87, which can be anything from 10 to 20 cents more than the big sign out front. And why can't they put a sign on the pump warning you that it will stop at $75 if you are using a credit card? At nearly four dollars a gallon, $75 doesn't fill it up.
Well, at least we are home. Bathroom sink wasn't draining until I cleaned the trap. Kitchen sink was squirting all over until I tightened the valve screw. Toilet tank wouldn't fill until I re-attached the disconnected flap valve. How do these things happen when they haven't been used in six months? Refrigerator cooled right done, A/C cooled the house down, gas BBQ fired right up, and getting internet only took Peggie 45 minutes on the phone.
Almost 3800 miles in 14 days. Not really hurrying. In fact, the red roads turned out to be the most fun. Slow and scenic.
Speaking of miles: slightly more than 3500 on the way up, about 2000 on the truck over the summer, over 16,000 bus miles for me, about 10,000 for Peggie. That's about 1 and 1/2 times around the world in six months.
We had good meals at local restaurants along the way. We had the worst restaurant meal ever at the lodge outside Glacier NP. Non-existent service, under-cooked eggs (yuck), nearly raw bacon, blah bread (toast), so-so coffee. And a great meal at Sparky's Garage in Dillon, MT. BBQ beef brisket, short ribs, pulled pork, and chicken with corn bread, beans, and fries. Took home leftovers for another meal. Went back for breakfast the next day, and had the same waitress. Very good Mexican food in Gallup at Jerry's. Not too hot, which is good in New Mexico, where they don't know what a mild chile is. Good corned beef hash in Dubois, WY. Breakfast pork (uncured bacon) at 7-11 Ranch Cafe in Vernal, UT. Oh, I asked the manager at Smith's for a breakfast recommendation and was taken aback when he suggested 7-11. But he was right.
When shopping for gas by price, watch out in MT, WY, and NM, they have 85 octane advertised, but my truck requires 87, which can be anything from 10 to 20 cents more than the big sign out front. And why can't they put a sign on the pump warning you that it will stop at $75 if you are using a credit card? At nearly four dollars a gallon, $75 doesn't fill it up.
Well, at least we are home. Bathroom sink wasn't draining until I cleaned the trap. Kitchen sink was squirting all over until I tightened the valve screw. Toilet tank wouldn't fill until I re-attached the disconnected flap valve. How do these things happen when they haven't been used in six months? Refrigerator cooled right done, A/C cooled the house down, gas BBQ fired right up, and getting internet only took Peggie 45 minutes on the phone.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Dinosaurs
Last night we stayed in Vernal, UT. It is 20 miles outside Dinosaur National Monument. But you'd never know it. Nearly half the businesses in town didn't even mention dino, dinosaur, fossil, or bones in their business name. Some businesses didn't even have dinosaur statues out front, or on their signs. In a gift shop attached to the restaurant where we had breakfast, they had t-shirts, figurines, glasses, and stuffed animals that were NOT dinosaur related. But you had to look for them.
What they had, were flowers. The city plants flowers all along every business street, every 30-50 feet or so. Beautiful. It looks like spring. Huh. What do you suppose Vernal means in, say, Latin?
Okay. Dinosaur National Monument. WOW! WOWSA! WOW!
Over 400 individual dinosaurs were buried in mud along about 400 yards of ancient river bed, 149 million years ago. Exactly. About 50 yards of the mudstone and fossils are on display in a big glass building. They are partially exposed. The mudstone is now at a 60 degree angle, having been uplifted 50 million years ago, along with the rest of the Rockies. I tried to imagine how excited the discoverer must have been when he realized what he had found. Besides a lifetime of job security. Here it is more than 100 years later, and people (note the use of the plural form) are still spending careers working with these fossils. And semi-bored park rangers are just glad to have jobs. To be fair, they did perk up if you asked interested, intelligent questions. Or, I think they would have, if I had come up with one.
Then we headed south. Deer and antelope play here, but no buffaloes (bison) that we saw. Magpies, ravens, and a variety of hawks and falcons fly hither and yon.
Tonight we are in Clifton, near Grand Junction. We will make it to Cortez tomorrow. Unless we don't.
What they had, were flowers. The city plants flowers all along every business street, every 30-50 feet or so. Beautiful. It looks like spring. Huh. What do you suppose Vernal means in, say, Latin?
Okay. Dinosaur National Monument. WOW! WOWSA! WOW!
Over 400 individual dinosaurs were buried in mud along about 400 yards of ancient river bed, 149 million years ago. Exactly. About 50 yards of the mudstone and fossils are on display in a big glass building. They are partially exposed. The mudstone is now at a 60 degree angle, having been uplifted 50 million years ago, along with the rest of the Rockies. I tried to imagine how excited the discoverer must have been when he realized what he had found. Besides a lifetime of job security. Here it is more than 100 years later, and people (note the use of the plural form) are still spending careers working with these fossils. And semi-bored park rangers are just glad to have jobs. To be fair, they did perk up if you asked interested, intelligent questions. Or, I think they would have, if I had come up with one.
Then we headed south. Deer and antelope play here, but no buffaloes (bison) that we saw. Magpies, ravens, and a variety of hawks and falcons fly hither and yon.
Tonight we are in Clifton, near Grand Junction. We will make it to Cortez tomorrow. Unless we don't.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Lava Mountain Resort
Just a quick note, as we are ready to leave.
Detoured through Grand Teton NP yesterday. Large bison herd, many scattered antelope, finally saw some deer by the road at dusk, convinced us it is time to stop before we run over one. Voila, an RV park. Sort of.
Jackson and Jackson Hole deserve a more extensive return visit. As does Glacier/Waterton NP, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone. We love this area. Very pretty. Prosperous towns.
They have a summer season 'til mid Oct. Close. Reopen for winter sports Dec.-Mar. Close. Reopen May for summer tourists. Interesting.
Going south into western Colorado. May stop at Dinosaur NP. Red roads all the way.
Detoured through Grand Teton NP yesterday. Large bison herd, many scattered antelope, finally saw some deer by the road at dusk, convinced us it is time to stop before we run over one. Voila, an RV park. Sort of.
Jackson and Jackson Hole deserve a more extensive return visit. As does Glacier/Waterton NP, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone. We love this area. Very pretty. Prosperous towns.
They have a summer season 'til mid Oct. Close. Reopen for winter sports Dec.-Mar. Close. Reopen May for summer tourists. Interesting.
Going south into western Colorado. May stop at Dinosaur NP. Red roads all the way.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Fog Blodder, and other random thoughts.
Driving leaves lots of time for random thoughts
You know the whole "glass half empty/half full" debate? It is supposed to indicate pessimism or optimism. Malarkey. I have always contended that it depends on whether you are filling it or emptying it. Either way, you are half way to completing the task. A random glass on a table with water at the half way mark is half of a glass of water. No gloom and doom, no rainbows and sunshine involved.
But, that came up today in Montana. Twice, people remarked to us that it "is getting too cool." Once, we were sitting at a sidewalk table having a snack and drinks, and once we were at a scenic overlook. Both times we chuckled and replied that for us "it is getting warmer" since we are returning from Alaska.
So, just like the glass, it depends on which way you are going. We are anticipating reaching the point when we can stop wearing three shirts and the occasional jacket, and the Montanans are just starting to wear more.
We actually counted the wood bison. Eighty four of them were in one bunch on both sides of the road. We had to drive veeerry slowly between the two for fear they would behave like cattle and cross in front of us. The other thirteen were all bulls alone or in pairs scattered along 20 or so miles of road. The bison hang out in the right of way where the trees have been cleared so the grass grows well. Lots of warning signs.
Today we had two negative experiences. Breakfast was the worst we can remember having. Both the food and the service. Then we were informed that the "Going to the sun" road was closed for the winter already. So no Glacier National Park. Some (pessimists) would see the half empty glass. But after some driving on US 89 to the interstate, then some interstate (until one of the above referenced Montanans pointed out a two lane alternate) for a while, we altered our plans and took red roads the rest of the day. So now we are looking for more red roads. Today, for instance, we saw more deer than we could count. Literally. The best I could estimate would be 150, give or take 25. Both mule and white-tails. They were belly deep in some fields. They were not all together. But often there was no shoulder, so we couldn't stop to count. We also saw a flock of large white water birds we have yet to identify. They were lying down, so we couldn't see legs, but the beaks looked like pelicans or cranes. We also saw antelope a few times. Also hard to count at highway speed.
And fishermen! The alternate we took followed the Missouri for miles. Fishermen in boats, fishermen in waders, fishermen on the banks. Sometimes with deer on the opposite bank.
And scenery!!! The Rockies always in view, sometimes distant, sometimes near, sometimes all around us. Snow covered down to 4000'. I know because we went higher than that at one point and the snow was 4-5 inches deep. Beside the road, not on it. We enjoyed the small towns (above referenced sidewalk snack) and farms and ranches and mountains and trees and rivers and wildlife and the Big Sky.
I forgot the bear! Last night I went to use the park restroom. It was dark out. On the way back to the trailer I stopped to chat with our neighbors who had a fire going. They are also returning from Alaska, but I digress. While chatting with them, at their site, next to ours on one side and the aforementioned restroom on the other, an excited Chinese man hurried from the bushes near the restroom shouting, "Bear, bear." We all replied, "Where?" "There, I have picture." And he pointed at the bushes next to the restroom I had just vacated minutes before. I ran to the truck to get my spotlight. When I returned, the man was showing his picture of the bear running away from the restroom building. I used my spot, but apparently the bear had left the area. Thank you very much. Now I wonder, "What if I had walked left around the building, instead of right?" Answer: bear. In my path. In the dark. Ahhhhh!!! I much prefer my bears to be outside my nice safe bus, than outside my dark restroom. With me on foot.
As we were driving along the Missouri, I realized that Lewis and Clark traveled that exact stretch of river only 209 years ago. We practically waved at each other.
You know the whole "glass half empty/half full" debate? It is supposed to indicate pessimism or optimism. Malarkey. I have always contended that it depends on whether you are filling it or emptying it. Either way, you are half way to completing the task. A random glass on a table with water at the half way mark is half of a glass of water. No gloom and doom, no rainbows and sunshine involved.
But, that came up today in Montana. Twice, people remarked to us that it "is getting too cool." Once, we were sitting at a sidewalk table having a snack and drinks, and once we were at a scenic overlook. Both times we chuckled and replied that for us "it is getting warmer" since we are returning from Alaska.
So, just like the glass, it depends on which way you are going. We are anticipating reaching the point when we can stop wearing three shirts and the occasional jacket, and the Montanans are just starting to wear more.
We actually counted the wood bison. Eighty four of them were in one bunch on both sides of the road. We had to drive veeerry slowly between the two for fear they would behave like cattle and cross in front of us. The other thirteen were all bulls alone or in pairs scattered along 20 or so miles of road. The bison hang out in the right of way where the trees have been cleared so the grass grows well. Lots of warning signs.
Today we had two negative experiences. Breakfast was the worst we can remember having. Both the food and the service. Then we were informed that the "Going to the sun" road was closed for the winter already. So no Glacier National Park. Some (pessimists) would see the half empty glass. But after some driving on US 89 to the interstate, then some interstate (until one of the above referenced Montanans pointed out a two lane alternate) for a while, we altered our plans and took red roads the rest of the day. So now we are looking for more red roads. Today, for instance, we saw more deer than we could count. Literally. The best I could estimate would be 150, give or take 25. Both mule and white-tails. They were belly deep in some fields. They were not all together. But often there was no shoulder, so we couldn't stop to count. We also saw a flock of large white water birds we have yet to identify. They were lying down, so we couldn't see legs, but the beaks looked like pelicans or cranes. We also saw antelope a few times. Also hard to count at highway speed.
And fishermen! The alternate we took followed the Missouri for miles. Fishermen in boats, fishermen in waders, fishermen on the banks. Sometimes with deer on the opposite bank.
And scenery!!! The Rockies always in view, sometimes distant, sometimes near, sometimes all around us. Snow covered down to 4000'. I know because we went higher than that at one point and the snow was 4-5 inches deep. Beside the road, not on it. We enjoyed the small towns (above referenced sidewalk snack) and farms and ranches and mountains and trees and rivers and wildlife and the Big Sky.
I forgot the bear! Last night I went to use the park restroom. It was dark out. On the way back to the trailer I stopped to chat with our neighbors who had a fire going. They are also returning from Alaska, but I digress. While chatting with them, at their site, next to ours on one side and the aforementioned restroom on the other, an excited Chinese man hurried from the bushes near the restroom shouting, "Bear, bear." We all replied, "Where?" "There, I have picture." And he pointed at the bushes next to the restroom I had just vacated minutes before. I ran to the truck to get my spotlight. When I returned, the man was showing his picture of the bear running away from the restroom building. I used my spot, but apparently the bear had left the area. Thank you very much. Now I wonder, "What if I had walked left around the building, instead of right?" Answer: bear. In my path. In the dark. Ahhhhh!!! I much prefer my bears to be outside my nice safe bus, than outside my dark restroom. With me on foot.
As we were driving along the Missouri, I realized that Lewis and Clark traveled that exact stretch of river only 209 years ago. We practically waved at each other.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Back in the USA, lower portion
Apparently, somebody failed to mention in an earlier post that Peggie "helped" deliver a baby goat at Caribou Crossing in August. She noticed a goat in obvious distress, correctly diagnosed the distress as kid delivery and ran to notify responsible employees. Then she watched as two young ladies helped the goat deliver what was the first for all three (two girls and a goat) of them. Then a second one, which, unfortunately only lived a few days. The first born, Peggie later got to name Sammy. He is very cute (for a goat). When it was time for the season to end, they teased (half seriously) that Peggie should take Sammy home. Luckily, we have HOA restrictions on farm animals. Not to mention whatever red tape is involved in importing foreign animals.
We are now in Montana, outside Glacier National Park, which we will tour tomorrow. We visited Jasper and Banff National Parks over the last two days. We were snowed on in Jasper, but the road stayed clear. On our way through Canada we saw Wood Bison (97), deer (12), Bighorn Sheep (17), elk (1) caribou (2), mountain goats (6) and lots and lots of beautiful landscapes. We encountered three gas stations in a row that were out of gas (why you always top off when you can), spent a night cold camped at a pull-out, and enjoyed a restful dip in Liard Hotsprings.
Crossing the border into Montana was a breeze, they didn't even act like we might be smuggling. Pulling away from the inspection station we counted a dozen deer grazing on the hill, and didn't count a herd of bison just down the road a ways. The Rocky Mountains on both sides of the border have new snow down to 5000 feet, and lower in some places.
Have I mentioned that gas is expensive in Canada? We paid as much as 1.69 per liter. And we were glad to get it. Nearer the border it dropped to 1.12, and here in Montana it is 4.20 per gallon. Yikes!
We are now in Montana, outside Glacier National Park, which we will tour tomorrow. We visited Jasper and Banff National Parks over the last two days. We were snowed on in Jasper, but the road stayed clear. On our way through Canada we saw Wood Bison (97), deer (12), Bighorn Sheep (17), elk (1) caribou (2), mountain goats (6) and lots and lots of beautiful landscapes. We encountered three gas stations in a row that were out of gas (why you always top off when you can), spent a night cold camped at a pull-out, and enjoyed a restful dip in Liard Hotsprings.
Crossing the border into Montana was a breeze, they didn't even act like we might be smuggling. Pulling away from the inspection station we counted a dozen deer grazing on the hill, and didn't count a herd of bison just down the road a ways. The Rocky Mountains on both sides of the border have new snow down to 5000 feet, and lower in some places.
Have I mentioned that gas is expensive in Canada? We paid as much as 1.69 per liter. And we were glad to get it. Nearer the border it dropped to 1.12, and here in Montana it is 4.20 per gallon. Yikes!
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