Hi All,
This will be my last entry into the Carlsbad adventure. The last two + years have been quite an adventure, but I'm happy to move on. Yesterday was a difficult day, leaving friends who have become like family in Carlsbad. There were more than a few tears shed by me and my friends, but hopefully they will visit us in Colorado.
I will be in Colorado in a few hours and I will start my new job with the Forest Service in Silverthorne CO. We will be living in the neighboring town of Dillon, CO. We will email you all with the address as soon as we have a P. O. Box.
The RV will be put in storage on the front range for the winter. We were both concerned about the snow loads on the roof up in the mountains and figured it would be better for the rig to be out of the mountains.
Not sure that I'm going to make a new blog or just update you all on Facebook and emails. It's hard to find the time to do it all, so we will see what the next few weeks bring.
Miss you all,
Love VAL, JOHN and the kitties!!!!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Back to Carlsbad
Hi All,
On Monday, I will return to Carlsbad for my last two weeks of work. John will stay in Colorado with the RV and cats until I return. It didn't make sense to drive the RV 600 miles this week and turn around and do it again next week.
We've got John camping in St. Vrains State Park, http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/stvrain/Pages/StVrainHome.aspx
which is about 30 miles north of Denver. He has a beautiful (although smoke filled view of the Rockies) and looks out over a field with leaves beginning to turn gold. It's rather nice view, and being a state park, the price is right too!
I'll be returning to work on Tuesday for my last two weeks at CAVE. I will miss some wonderful friends that I have made there. The caverns are an extraordinary place, but I've been there for over two years now, and I'm ready for a change. It will be nice to see sunsets again, as the view in the cave never changes.
My new job is with the Forest Service at White River National Forest in Silverthorne, CO. My first day is October 9th. It's about 70 miles west of Denver in the mountains. Silverthorne (not to be confused with Silverton in the SW part of the state) is high in the Rocky Mountains at 8000'. It's only a few miles from my favorite ski area: Copper Mountain http://www.coppercolorado.com/winter/index.html as well as Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and about 30 miles to Vail.
Winter will be setting in there soon, and I hope we get settled beforehand. After two and a half years living in an RV we moving into government housing (still no address and no idea what the house looks like or what condition it is in...) More details to follow.
That's about it for now. So much to do before I leave tomorrow.
Love to all...
Val & John and the kitties!!!!
On Monday, I will return to Carlsbad for my last two weeks of work. John will stay in Colorado with the RV and cats until I return. It didn't make sense to drive the RV 600 miles this week and turn around and do it again next week.
We've got John camping in St. Vrains State Park, http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/stvrain/Pages/StVrainHome.aspx
which is about 30 miles north of Denver. He has a beautiful (although smoke filled view of the Rockies) and looks out over a field with leaves beginning to turn gold. It's rather nice view, and being a state park, the price is right too!
I'll be returning to work on Tuesday for my last two weeks at CAVE. I will miss some wonderful friends that I have made there. The caverns are an extraordinary place, but I've been there for over two years now, and I'm ready for a change. It will be nice to see sunsets again, as the view in the cave never changes.
My new job is with the Forest Service at White River National Forest in Silverthorne, CO. My first day is October 9th. It's about 70 miles west of Denver in the mountains. Silverthorne (not to be confused with Silverton in the SW part of the state) is high in the Rocky Mountains at 8000'. It's only a few miles from my favorite ski area: Copper Mountain http://www.coppercolorado.com/winter/index.html as well as Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and about 30 miles to Vail.
Winter will be setting in there soon, and I hope we get settled beforehand. After two and a half years living in an RV we moving into government housing (still no address and no idea what the house looks like or what condition it is in...) More details to follow.
That's about it for now. So much to do before I leave tomorrow.
Love to all...
Val & John and the kitties!!!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Hiking the Belly River Trail
Hi Friends,
Been doing miles and miles of hiking. Here are some more of my pictures from our recent hike. John has a few as well, but he's still working on them. So you'll have to settle for mine! The hike to the Ranger Station is a little over six miles (each way). As you can see, the leaves are turning colors up here...
Been doing miles and miles of hiking. Here are some more of my pictures from our recent hike. John has a few as well, but he's still working on them. So you'll have to settle for mine! The hike to the Ranger Station is a little over six miles (each way). As you can see, the leaves are turning colors up here...
Belly River
Horses on the trail
Flag at Ranger Station
Ranger Station
Panorama view from Ranger Station
Fall colors on the trail
More fall colors
John on the trail
Val on the trail
Time for bed... Night all!
Love VAL & JOHN and the kitties!!!!
Friday, September 14, 2012
More Glacier
Hi All,
Been doing lots of hiking. Saw a few grizzly bears today - two from the trail we were hiking on. Here are a few pictures...
VAL & JOHN & the kitties!!!!
Been doing lots of hiking. Saw a few grizzly bears today - two from the trail we were hiking on. Here are a few pictures...
Hidden Lake
Squirrel eating elderberries
Grizzly bear
Same grizzly bear
Iceberg Lake
More pictures when we take em!
Love to all,
VAL & JOHN & the kitties!!!!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Pictures from Glacier
Hi Friends,
Here are some pictures of our first few days in Glacier! We've done a few hikes so far...
Me and John at the Glacier.
Here are some pictures of our first few days in Glacier! We've done a few hikes so far...
Panorama view on our way to Grinnell Glacier
Many Glacier Hotel from Snow Moon Trail
View of lakes from Grinnell Glacier trail.
Mural in St. Mary Visitor Center. It was created last year by over 700 visitors (including me and John). I painted the eagle wing!
Enjoy...
Love, VAL & JOHN & the kitties!!!!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Glacier
Hi All,
We have finally arrived in Glacier. The truck decided to break down over the holiday weekend in Albuquerque. It was towed to the local Ford dealership where it sat until Tuesday morning. When they turned on the engine that day, it worked fine. No idea what was wrong with the truck during the weekend. Go figure???
We did manage to make the best of our weekend in Albuquerque. We went to Chaco Culture. http://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm This place pre-dates Mesa Verde in Colorado. My friend Robby joined us. He spent a semester there volunteering in an archeological dig. Thanks, Robby!
We also visited Bandelier http://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm which we'd been to before. It was a hot day there, and threatening rain, so we didn't spend as much time as we would have liked. It was nice to see it again even if it was brief.
We are glad to be in Glacier. Unfortunately, there is a lot of smoke around from the fires in Idaho. There is a front coming in tonight with high winds. Although it might blow the wind out of here, my guess it will only further fuel the fires burning throughout the NW. Very dry this season. They need rain.
Did a hike this morning up past the saddle at Oberlin Mountain. The views, normally remarkable were reduced by smoke. Plan to go for a drive in a little while up to Many Glacier. Saw a couple of bears yesterday when we drove through there. At first they were eating on the side of the road. Later, they were running and playing down by the bank of the lake. It was fun to observe.
That's it for now. Going to head out for more adventures. Pictures soon, I promise!
Love to all,
VAL & JOHN & the kitties!!!!
We have finally arrived in Glacier. The truck decided to break down over the holiday weekend in Albuquerque. It was towed to the local Ford dealership where it sat until Tuesday morning. When they turned on the engine that day, it worked fine. No idea what was wrong with the truck during the weekend. Go figure???
We did manage to make the best of our weekend in Albuquerque. We went to Chaco Culture. http://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm This place pre-dates Mesa Verde in Colorado. My friend Robby joined us. He spent a semester there volunteering in an archeological dig. Thanks, Robby!
We also visited Bandelier http://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm which we'd been to before. It was a hot day there, and threatening rain, so we didn't spend as much time as we would have liked. It was nice to see it again even if it was brief.
We are glad to be in Glacier. Unfortunately, there is a lot of smoke around from the fires in Idaho. There is a front coming in tonight with high winds. Although it might blow the wind out of here, my guess it will only further fuel the fires burning throughout the NW. Very dry this season. They need rain.
Did a hike this morning up past the saddle at Oberlin Mountain. The views, normally remarkable were reduced by smoke. Plan to go for a drive in a little while up to Many Glacier. Saw a couple of bears yesterday when we drove through there. At first they were eating on the side of the road. Later, they were running and playing down by the bank of the lake. It was fun to observe.
That's it for now. Going to head out for more adventures. Pictures soon, I promise!
Love to all,
VAL & JOHN & the kitties!!!!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Exciting news
Hi All,
It's been a crazy week as we prepare for our vacation/furlough - three weeks in Glacier!!! Being apart during the week makes things more difficult. Then on Tuesday AM I got a call about a job I had interviewed for months ago. I was offered and accepted a job in COLORADO!!! Of course, they wanted me to start mid-September, but that wasn't going to happen. After negotiating things, I will be starting my new job in Dillon CO in October.
I will be leaving the National Park Service and switching over to the Forest Service. Naturally, there is lots of paperwork involved so I'm swimming in emails and faxes - ugh! But in the long run we will be exiting the desert to head to the mountains where both John and I love (Shadow cat should like it too, Sassy... not so much, Scooter and Spot ???)
We will be living in government housing, which given the resort area is expensive is very nice. I will be working in Visitor's Services, basically at the information desk and doing some public relations stuff. All good things to add to my government resume.
Tomorrow we will leave for Glacier, MT. We will head back south late in the month where John, the RV, and the cats will stay until I finish my last two weeks at Carlsbad. Then I will drive back to Colorado and out to Dillon.
For those of you who don't know, Dillon is near several major ski resorts including our favorite: Copper Mountain. If you like to ski, snowboard or spend time playing in the white stuff, keep in touch!
Love to all,
Val & John & the kitties!
It's been a crazy week as we prepare for our vacation/furlough - three weeks in Glacier!!! Being apart during the week makes things more difficult. Then on Tuesday AM I got a call about a job I had interviewed for months ago. I was offered and accepted a job in COLORADO!!! Of course, they wanted me to start mid-September, but that wasn't going to happen. After negotiating things, I will be starting my new job in Dillon CO in October.
I will be leaving the National Park Service and switching over to the Forest Service. Naturally, there is lots of paperwork involved so I'm swimming in emails and faxes - ugh! But in the long run we will be exiting the desert to head to the mountains where both John and I love (Shadow cat should like it too, Sassy... not so much, Scooter and Spot ???)
We will be living in government housing, which given the resort area is expensive is very nice. I will be working in Visitor's Services, basically at the information desk and doing some public relations stuff. All good things to add to my government resume.
Tomorrow we will leave for Glacier, MT. We will head back south late in the month where John, the RV, and the cats will stay until I finish my last two weeks at Carlsbad. Then I will drive back to Colorado and out to Dillon.
For those of you who don't know, Dillon is near several major ski resorts including our favorite: Copper Mountain. If you like to ski, snowboard or spend time playing in the white stuff, keep in touch!
Love to all,
Val & John & the kitties!
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