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!!!!



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...

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...

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...



Panorama view on our way to Grinnell Glacier
 

                                      Me and John at the 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!!!!