Hi friends,
Still waiting to hear something, anything from the NPS regarding employment for the summer. I had a few more referrals this past week, but no more 'availability requests' and no interviews. I realize it's still early, but patience has never been my best virtue.
With more and more veterans coming back from the Middle East, it gets harder and harder to score high enough to get a referral. I lack veterans preferance, which can give them up to ten extra points in the hiring game. It can be frustrating, but I also don't give up easily.
Expecting high winds today. Gust as high as 50 mph (or even higher , depending upon what channel we watch on TV. The sky is blue, and it's already in the 50's, but with high winds, hiking is out of the question.
There was a fire in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park on Thursday/Friday. They had closed all of the park to hiking for a short time on Friday. You could see the cloud of smoke and smell it from the caverns. With high winds and low humidity, it will be a bad fire season.
I think that catches you up on our adventure.
Hope you all are doing well.
Love to all,
VAL & JOHN
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wind
They warned me about the wind. We went down to Guadalupe National Park yesterday to go hiking. As I was driving down, the wind was pushing the car.
When we got down to the park, and the wind was blowing steadily. Supposedly, Guardalupe NP has the worst winds in the areas. As we started our hike, John was pushed off the trail! Now, I am petite, but John is a big guy. I looked at John and asked him if he wanted to continue. We decided to call our hike quits.
They say the worst is yet to come. I don't know if that's true or not, but we'll see... At least the weather has warmed up. Today we were in the 70's, the low was in the upper 40's. The RV park is getting more crowded now that the weather has warmed up.
That's it for now.
Miss you all,
VAL & JOHN
When we got down to the park, and the wind was blowing steadily. Supposedly, Guardalupe NP has the worst winds in the areas. As we started our hike, John was pushed off the trail! Now, I am petite, but John is a big guy. I looked at John and asked him if he wanted to continue. We decided to call our hike quits.
They say the worst is yet to come. I don't know if that's true or not, but we'll see... At least the weather has warmed up. Today we were in the 70's, the low was in the upper 40's. The RV park is getting more crowded now that the weather has warmed up.
That's it for now.
Miss you all,
VAL & JOHN
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Spring???
Hi Friends,
Yes, I was just complaining a week or so ago about being -3 degrees. Today we're approaching the 80 degree mark. We've got the AC on in the rig at the moment, but will probably have the heat on later - crazy weather.
Signs of spring are beginning to arrive. Flocks of sandhill cranes are starting to move back north, and the turkey vultures have been spotted in Roswell. Very different from spring in the northeast or even Florida, but interesting to learn. I'm sure we will still have some more cold weather, but hopefully not record breaking cold.
Another sign along the way for the National Park Service is referrals, availability lists, and hopefully interviews for summer seasonal employment. I've applied for so many jobs I have lost count. I've been referred to dozens of jobs already, and I'm still applying to others. It's a strange system that takes some getting used to.
Today, I got my second availability email. My first was last week for "Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP". It's an awesome park near Gunnison Colorado. John and I were there several years ago and enjoyed the hiking. The one I got today was from a more famous park, "Mesa Verde", which is in the south west part of the state, near Cortez. Given our love of Colorado, either park would be great to spend the summer at, although they are both very different.
I'll keep you posted as to our progress.
Miss you all and hope to see you soon,
Love,
VAL & JOHN
Yes, I was just complaining a week or so ago about being -3 degrees. Today we're approaching the 80 degree mark. We've got the AC on in the rig at the moment, but will probably have the heat on later - crazy weather.
Signs of spring are beginning to arrive. Flocks of sandhill cranes are starting to move back north, and the turkey vultures have been spotted in Roswell. Very different from spring in the northeast or even Florida, but interesting to learn. I'm sure we will still have some more cold weather, but hopefully not record breaking cold.
Another sign along the way for the National Park Service is referrals, availability lists, and hopefully interviews for summer seasonal employment. I've applied for so many jobs I have lost count. I've been referred to dozens of jobs already, and I'm still applying to others. It's a strange system that takes some getting used to.
Today, I got my second availability email. My first was last week for "Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP". It's an awesome park near Gunnison Colorado. John and I were there several years ago and enjoyed the hiking. The one I got today was from a more famous park, "Mesa Verde", which is in the south west part of the state, near Cortez. Given our love of Colorado, either park would be great to spend the summer at, although they are both very different.
I'll keep you posted as to our progress.
Miss you all and hope to see you soon,
Love,
VAL & JOHN
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Florida and New Mexico
Flew home to Florida last Saturday. Needed to handle some things at the house. It was great to see my Mom and my friends, but very hard to say goodbye. I don't know when I'll be back in Florida. I'm driving the car back to New Mexico in the hopes that I'll be needing the car this summer at a National Park out west.
So far I've gotten several dozen 'referrals', which is the first step to finding another seasonal position. I'd like to return to Carlsbad Caverns in the winter, although this past winter has been challenging with -3 degree weather and several inches of snow! John and I would like to find a park where we can do more hiking in the mountains. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
At the moment, I'm in Kerrville, TX. It's about six hours from Carlsbad. My good friend Carol helped me drive back. I'll drag her through the cave when we get into town. It's been fun ride with Carol. She's a seasoned traveler, and a great companion. I can't thank her enough for joining me.
Time for dessert... Gotta go.
Love to all,
VAL
So far I've gotten several dozen 'referrals', which is the first step to finding another seasonal position. I'd like to return to Carlsbad Caverns in the winter, although this past winter has been challenging with -3 degree weather and several inches of snow! John and I would like to find a park where we can do more hiking in the mountains. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
At the moment, I'm in Kerrville, TX. It's about six hours from Carlsbad. My good friend Carol helped me drive back. I'll drag her through the cave when we get into town. It's been fun ride with Carol. She's a seasoned traveler, and a great companion. I can't thank her enough for joining me.
Time for dessert... Gotta go.
Love to all,
VAL
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Snow
Hi Friends,
We've got about four inches of snow. Don't really mind the snow. It's very dry and easy to brush. The problem is the cold. Currently, it's 2 degrees outside without wind chill factor. Don't even want to discuss what that is.
Yesterday they closed the cave after first calling for a delay. The snow continued to fall, and it's still snowing there now. It's the cold and the wind that's the problem. Of course, living in the desert, they don't get a lot of snow, and don't know what to do with it - or drive in it!
We have a delayed opening this morning, going in at 10AM. At least once we get to the cave, it'll be warmer. The cave is a constant 56 degrees inside. We have been that warm since Sunday!
Hope you all are keeping safe and warm.
Miss ya,
VAL
We've got about four inches of snow. Don't really mind the snow. It's very dry and easy to brush. The problem is the cold. Currently, it's 2 degrees outside without wind chill factor. Don't even want to discuss what that is.
Yesterday they closed the cave after first calling for a delay. The snow continued to fall, and it's still snowing there now. It's the cold and the wind that's the problem. Of course, living in the desert, they don't get a lot of snow, and don't know what to do with it - or drive in it!
We have a delayed opening this morning, going in at 10AM. At least once we get to the cave, it'll be warmer. The cave is a constant 56 degrees inside. We have been that warm since Sunday!
Hope you all are keeping safe and warm.
Miss ya,
VAL
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Winter snow
Cold here in the desert - low tonight of about 7 degrees. Snowed lightly all day, about an inch of accumulation - more up at the cave than down here. Took a while to get down the hill. The 7 mile drive was mostly snow covered and icy.
This storm is heading east - bringing ice, snow, blizzard conditions so be careful out there. John worked on the water line today, so hopefully we won't end up with a frozen water line.
Going to take a shower soon, just in case.
Stay warm, my friends and keep safe.
Love,
VAL & JOHN
This storm is heading east - bringing ice, snow, blizzard conditions so be careful out there. John worked on the water line today, so hopefully we won't end up with a frozen water line.
Going to take a shower soon, just in case.
Stay warm, my friends and keep safe.
Love,
VAL & JOHN
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