Another Rainey Day

It has rained for the last three days…Tuesday Morning we woke to fog and rain…We had planned to go up on Trail Ridge Drive and have lunch at the Grand Lake Lodge…We went to the post office to pick up our mail from Livingston…We left the post office and drove on the loop to Golden…From Golden we headed north to Boulder…From Bolder to Lions and on to Estes Park…The entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is in Estes Park…We have been over the Trail Ridge Drive numerous times and it is always exciting to see the changing terrain each  time we cross the ridge…There is still a lot of snow left on the top above the tree line…The air is thin and breathing becomes a little short on top…It is always good to start down the other side because the traffic is thinner and it is down hill…Signs tell up there is construction ahead and a possible 20 to 30 minute delay…We continue on and become uncomfortable for no  being able to stop for a rest room…Well you guessed it…We are stopped for the construction project and we wait…each minute seems like 30 in our misery…Cars are lined up front and back and the mountain is too steep to on each side to go into the woods…OOOOh for a gallon jug…We finally were released after several hours (really about 15 minutes) and we head down looking for anything to find relief…There it is and we stop…What a relief…Well with everything feeling more comfortable we head for Grand Lake Lodge…We finally reach the entranced and guess what???It is closed for remodeling…Well the day isn’t ruined yet…We head on down to Grand Lake and look for a place to have lunch…It is now two in the afternoon and we are hungry…We find a hamburger joint and go in…Hamburgers are eight dollars…Chilly dogs five…I order a chilly dog and Mary Ann orders just a regular hot dog with fried sweet potatoes…The chilly is not like good old Texas Chilly…The day is not lost…what a beautiful drive back to Denver…We get home and the rain started again…It has been raining ever since…Well I guess I could take pictures of rain and rising water but you all are enjoying a hot summer and dry humidity…Talk to you later if, the Lord doesn’t ask me to start building an ark…Philip

We Moved To Chatfield

We got up Saturday morning to move 65 miles to Chatfield…Mary   Ann didn’t want to leave before eleven but by the time I finished packing and unhooking I was ready to leave by 9:45…Well we left and arrived about 11:30…We were in hopes our space would be vacant…We lucked out and the space was empty…We settled in and had a very relaxing afternoon and evening…We wanted to build a campfire, but the afternoon rains from the mountains came and knocked those plans in the head…We like to build a fire and invite the neighbors over to enjoy the evening…We should be able to do that tonight…We plan to go to our favorite Mexican Restaurant for dinner tonight…I have a picture that Mary Ann wanted me to put in the blog…See if you remember which performance it was taken…Talk to you later…Philip    

It is from My Fair Lady and the song was Get Me To The Church On Time…

Cripple Creek

We had a day of touring yesterday…We drove from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek, where we caught the train and toured the gold fields…The narration was very informative and was very entertaining in presenting the local history…These pictures show the abandon mines within about a 10 mile radius of Cripple Creek…  Some housing

Old mine

Office building

Looking down into the valley

The other train…These trains were used in Mexico, hauling lead and other mining products…Talk to you later…Philip

Got Pictures

I waited for it to clear up so I could take some pictures…Here they are…Almost to the top

Looking out over the city My traveling companions

On The Move

We left Creede Monday morning on our way to Royal Gorge…We  arrive and filled up with propane, found our spot and took a nap…We wanted to eat out so we drove down to Canyon…Canyon is the location of the Colorado Territory Prison of the early days of Western History…It is still in use and can be seen right on the edge of the highway…We wanted to stop in Canyon at Chilies and get some baby back ribs…Enjoyed dinner and returned to the motor home for the night…We got up yesterday morning and headed for Colorado Springs and Cheyenne Mountain…We arrived, hooked upped, had lunch on tuna sandwiches, and guess what…Took a nap…Woke up to rain and it is still raining…I promised pictures and was unable to get good pictures in the rain…I will take some from the top of the mountain as soon as it clears up…The lights of the City are beautiful at night…Well Sunshine wants to say hello…Talk to you later…Philip

This Altitude Is Getting Us

The propane man did not show up last Wednesday…We were scheduled to get it then…We are getting close to empty and the closest place is about 40 miles…With the altitude affecting our breathing and the lack of propane, we will be leaving in the morning for Royal Gorge…It is just 170 miles away and a much lower elevation…I bar-b-qued steak last night for dinner and was really pleased the way it turned out…Tonight we will go down to Cottonwood and eat catfish for dinner…With us being here for over 4 weeks and they to not allow vehicle washing, I took a bucket of water and the squeegee to get the accumulated dust off the windshield and outside mirrors…We have been here long enough and feel the need to move…Mary Ann is excited about her high school and nursing school reunions next June and July…It is good to see her interest in past friend accumulating…This Labor Day will be her family get to gather in Denver…I will have pictures on the next writing…I do appreciate your interest…Talk to you later…Philip

I Shaved It Off

I always wanted to see what I would look like with a beard…I looked and felt so ragged with the stubble that it had to come off…By the way, it itched…Mary Ann got an e-mail from Marline where she indicated that I would look like Gabby Hays…That was the straw that broke the camels back…I wouldn’t say a word about Mary Ann and her daily looks and comments…If I did you would think that I was hen pecked…All in all, boy was she happy that it came off…Well my carving class is over and Mary Ann is ready to head North to Denver…I guess next Thursday will be travel day…I have a lot of carving I would like get finished before we leave Creede…We want to go to another water fall this afternoon and look for more elk and moose…Here is a picture of that Roadrunner that I carved…I don’t think you need a picture of my shaved face…I will talk to you later if Mary Ann doesn’t kill me first…Philip

Creede Carving Class

I have been very busy going to classes…That is the only excuse I  have for not writing in the blog…I realized that it was time for another picture of my attempt to grow a beard…But first you will have to here about the school…The school is located in Creede, Colorado in an abandon silver mine…The temp in the caves are very cold year round…The town has gone all out to make the school comfortable and welcomed…I am carving a road runner and having a  ball…We have a bunch of my friends that play various instruments and we have a jam session every   night…I should be complete with the bird by Wednesday…We have all types of activities all week with a banquet Friday night…I do enjoy the fellowship of my fellow carvers…Well the second week is here…so here it is…Talk to you later…Philip

Happy Birthday

Well yesterday was Mary Ann’s birthday…We woke up and I told her this was her day…”What do you want to do”…Her decision was to go to the National Park Sand Domes…We left about 10am and would stop in Alamosa for lunch…We knew we would have a heavy meal for dinner, so we just had the chicken Oriental salad…We had lunch and headed for the domes…The National Park was 110 miles from Creede…The domes are the tallest in the world…It is well worth the trip to experience the contras of terrain…We watched the movie in the visitors center and needed to head back to Creed because we had reservations for dinner…We made it back about 5pm and our reservations were not until 6pm…We went to the Antlers were they have an excellent chief…Mary Ann ordered the prime rib(which was highly recommended by Carroll Barnes…If you remember he was activities director at the resort several years ago)…I ordered the rib eye…The meal was excellent…It was still light and late in the evening so we decided to go look for wild animals in the mountains…We got back to the motor home just as the sun was setting…A beautiful sun set…What a wonderful way to end Mary Ann’s special day…I guess at our age every day is special…I hope you like the pictures of the domes…Talk to you later…Philip

Not A Cloud In The Sky

Yesterday was a rough one weather wise…We had rain, wind,   lighting,hail, thunder, and did I mention rain…Last night the temperature went down to 34 degrees F…Mary Ann went to the shopping center in Ala Mosa and bought groceries and other supplies…The air is so dry we thought a vaporizer would help…She got one at Walgreens and it seemed to help last night…We had to put an extra blanket on the bed and finally turned the furnace on…Mary Ann seem to be more comfortable last night in her sleep…Now today is a beautiful day…We do expect those afternoon mountain showers that occur every day…I am going to go outside and carve all day until the showers develop…I am still working on the blue Jay…We are expecting some more wood carvers to arrive today…We have to make reservations for dinner tomorrow night (Mary Ann has another birthday)…She won’t admit it …Just think she has had the great opportunity of living with me for fifteen years during her ???? years of life…I haven’t gotten her a present yet…What else should she want with having an outstanding husband…If you have any suggestions please let me know, beside giving her a divorce…Here is a picture of a weeks growth on the beard…Talk to you later…Philip

Quiet Sunday

Yesterday, being the Fourth, we had company and helped some neighbors with telephone problems…There was a parade in town (Creede)…This was a major attraction for the area…There was a fly in with vintage air craft…Last night was a fireworks display of about twenty minute duration…It doesn’t get dark until after nine PM…After the display we went to bed…Today is just a laid back, watching TV, watching the departure of neighbors, and new neighbors arriving…There is a man who is obsessed with wiping his pickup constantly…I don’t think I would want that for my hobby…Nothing exciting happening today, but a day of kicking back and doing nothing feels good…Talk to you later…Philip 

Black Canyon

Yesterday was a touring day…We wanted to go and explore the Black Canyon…We are in Creede and the Black Canyon is about 125 miles away…We left about 9:30am and drove through Lake City and up to Gunderson…We bought gas in Gunderson at two-fifty-seven…We have a 12 gallon tank and the car gets 33mpg…We left with a half of tank and it was showing a quarter when we arrived in Gunderson…I am really glad we bought the Saturn so we would not have to be conservative with our gas allowance…Last year we spent over five thousand dollars going to Nova Scotia…We are glad the prices are lower this season…We had lunch at the Pizza Hut and then drove to the Black Canyon…I wish the pictures could help you feel the atmosphere with the elevation close to 12000 feet… the cool air and the slothfulness of movement…We have been in this altitude for thee weeks now and are beginning to adapt…Well here are some pictures I hope you enjoy… Black Canyon  
Rock formation on Blue Mesa Lake

Talk to you later…Philip