Only God can Make a Tree

But He does a heck of a job with rocks too.  We were so looking forward to seeing Bryce Canyon, as we have heard that it the absolutely most fantastic place ever.  We left our campground early and left it to Tommy, our GPS, to take us the scenic route.  And it certainly did.  Right up over the mountain! 

Yes, that is snow.  We were in a Brian Head ski area.  Seeing snow this time of year, awesome, getting hit with a snowball, not so great, but I’m sure in a few days it will sound wonderful.           

                                  

We are heading to Las Vegas to pick up our grandson, in a few days.  His parents are bring him down from northern California.  All the airlines have a layover and plane change, and being as he is only 11, we think it is a little too much for him to try.  Below is a forecast of what they are expecting for the weather.  And we will be there till our mail arrives.  Seems like it always takes the mail it’s sweet ole time if we are wanting to move on.  Maybe this time it will surprise us.

Technorati Tags: Tomorrow Jun 6 Monday Jun 7 Tuesday Jun 8 Wednesday Jun 9 Thursday Jun 10 Sunny (Clear) Sunny (Clear) Sunny (Clear) Mostly Sunny Mostly Sunny Hi:108°Lo:84° Hi:109°Lo:85° Hi:105° Hi:101°Lo:80° Hi:97°Lo:76° Lo:82°

We are hoping to do the Grand Canyon with him before heading off to southern California, but if the weather does not cool down some, that may have to wait for another time.  That was to be the educational part of his trip with us, but sure we can find something else that would do.  San Diego always has wonderful weather, and there is a great military campground with a swimming pool and all.  Wonderful place for kids…also connected to a golf course, which works for the other kid.  He did get to play once before we left Springs, which made him happy.  Moving along.

  

A view from the road, still  with snow.

Entrance to Red Rock Canyon, which leaded to Bryce Canyon.

 Today was free entry to Bryce, not sure why, but it brought out the crowds, we have our Golden Age pass, so it is always free.  

Pictures can Not do this justice, it is unbelievable.

From there it was off to Zion National Park, which was about a 40 mile drive.  The weather was perfect, we stopped for a picnic, could not have been nicer.  We entered Zion on the back side, which meant the visitors center would be near our exit.  Basically, we needed no sight seeing directions, as there is only one road cutting it’s way through the most spectacular scenery imaginable.  We were both totally blown away. 

 

 

 

Of all the parks we have seen the past week, Zion made the biggest impression for us.  The Arches has to be a close second.  With both those parks you feel like you a part of them, where as Bryce gave us the feeling that we were in an art gallery, looking down into the scene.  But that may be just  us, all three are a wonderful, wonderful treat.  From now on will always think of Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs, as the “little brother” to these wonders.

 

 

"Don't worry about tomorrow, Don't think about yesterday, don't live in the future, just make it through today"  Life is Good.

WOW!!!

 

What a wondrous sight awaited us today.  Touring the Arches National Park, was jaw dropping.  No matter where we looked it was beyond words.  Definitely should be on everyone's to see list.

                                          

                                   

                                    

                                  

We had a wonderful time, and got back to the RV about 2 in the afternoon, and after a bit of libation food, and rest we were off for a two hour jet boat tour of parts of Canyonlands.  Our driver/captain was great, kept everyone laughing and we all enjoyed his antics.  When we got back to the dock they had a wonderful dinner, entirely cooked in cast iron pots.  What a great finish to a fantastic day. 

                                     

                                 

Tomorrow we are off down the road, heading to Bryce Canyon and Zion for a few days.  It will be sure hard to beat this scenery.  Life is good.

Moab

Oh, it feels so good to be on the road again, much as we love visiting with our daughter and her family, and seeing how our great grand kids have grown, roaming has taken over our lives.  We left Colorado Springs at our usual travel time…9’ish.  Very easy drive and we settled in for the night at Grand Junction.  Lovely downtown area, we just drove around a bit, looking for a place to have dinner.  Today we only had a 120 mile trek to Moab.  The campground is very nice that we landed in, and the price to go with it, but for 2 nights, and it is only money….(sort of chocked on that). 

The scenery here is unbelievable.  And we have not been to either of the parks yet.  Tomorrow we are taking a guided 4 hour tour, can’t wait.

This afternoon, I went to the pool, and some of the treatment that I received from the acupuncturist was a treatment that they call cupping.  This consists of small glass “fish” bowls that they put on you by lighting a flame in them for a second and sticking them on your body.  This causes a tremendous suction that leaves round black & blue bruises.  Well, my back and shoulder area is a mess, which I totally forgot about.  Got more than one strange look, but I had no idea why, till I got back and was getting undressed.  LOL

  The view from our back window is breath taking, think I’ll just sit here and watch the sun set on it.  Wow, pictures could not do it justice.

Ready, Set, Go!

Just a few more days before we are on the road again.  Everything checked out with Chucks eye and he has his glasses ordered, which they promised to have ready come tomorrow, Friday.  They have Territory days in Old Colorado City, so we have decided to stay through the Memorial Day week-end and then get on our way.

I have been going to an Acupuncturist for the last week hoping to get some relief from my pain ,but does not seem to be of any help…damn.  Have a few more visits scheduled so will continue, very, very frustrating. Still above the ground, so that is good news.  Chuck played golf for the first time today, and he was quite happy to be back out there.  Said he only had one bad hole where the course ate his lunch.  The weather was gorgeous today, seemed like summer has gotten here finally. 

We have not done much the last few weeks.  Did fix a big spaghetti feed for some of our park neighbors and Cyndi & John.  Seen a few movies, a really wicked one….The Daughter, with Kevin Costner, not sure if I’m recommending it but it certainly  was different. 

Looking at our route upon leaving and what we are hoping to take in before getting to Vegas.  Have the Arches, Brice Canyon and  Zion.  Hope that the weather lets us get it in, hoping is about all we can do. 

Looking forward to having the wheels a’rolling, funny isn’t it?  Guess we were meant to roam.  Life is good. 

            

Still In Holding Pattern

Chucks visit to the eye doctor yesterday was a mixed diagnosis, the swelling in the back of the eye was getting better and to expedite the healing, it was decided to inject a shot directly into the eye.  Needless to say this was something that I did not witness.  By next week they are hoping that he will be able to have a prescription for eyeglasses, and once he has those on his face, our butts will be setting in the truck heading down the road, can’t wait to get my arms around our grandson.  We are meeting up with them in Las Vegas, once our plans come together.

We have some nice neighbors here, and went to the movies with them the other night.  Seen Letters to Julia, and it was actually pretty good, even though you knew the whole story before going in.  Took a run to Cripple Creek with Cyndi and John, (daughter an son-in-law) Friday night.  Cripple Creek, once a old mining town, is now a little gambling town about 60 miles from here, up in the mountains.  They are really hurting what with the recession, and offering all kinds of deals.  We went for the seafood buffet, which was wonderful.  Huge crab legs, great shrimp, prime rib, all for 22 dollars a person, but it gets better, it was 2 for one!  Of course Chuck left enough in the machines to help cover the extra cost, I broke even but the kids did well, and we left while they were still way up.  Coming out there was about 3 inches of snow on the car, but the roads were clear, and we made it back safely.  

That about does it for the week, other than going to the store, trying to find a few thing in storage, throwing something at the TV when the cowboys lost to the brothers, cheering when Russell lost again. 

Spring Time in the Rockies aka What Next?

What can I say?  We are enjoying our visit with our daughter and her family, and getting to spend Mothers days with them was a special treat.  Having our wonderful SIL fix us all a feast was also ranked high, but getting to eat out on their lovely deck over looking some of the spectacular scenery, priceless.  Some how it worked out to a 90 minute window when the weather was wonderful, which has been in very short supply since we have been here. 

 Garden of the Gods

Chuck has recovered nicely from his hernia surgery, but the cataract attempt was not as successful, although there is still hope that it will continue to improve.  Until it does there will be no second surgery on the other eye.  Our total living area became mighty small during his recuperation, swear we were living in a closet, and the weather did nothing to make it easier.  I made one awful nurse Hachette. My aches and pains have lessened greatly, but the doctor I’ve been seeing wanted me to make an appointment with a rheumatologist, but it is proving impossible.  Around here they are booking in to August or later, tried California, but they are very selective, although have not made too many calls.  Just so I can function is all I ask, and I’m doing okay now.  Thank goodness. 

Cherry Trees

The cherry trees are breathtaking, but it is strange to see the trees just starting to green up, seems like we have been in spring time for the last 3 months. 

Have done a little remodeling, took out the table and chairs, and the big  sleeper sofa.  Ordered a daybed on line (free shipping/no tax) and put that in.  We, make that I, felt like we would be happier with that as it would give us more relaxing space.  Of course it would not fit where the other sofa was, about an inch too wide, so we now have the chairs at the back.  Once we get to Elkhart we will have something built that will work for the dining/craft table.  Also plan to have a few folding chairs, as we added a desk chair for the computer.  All in all think we took off 500 pounds if not more, as there were other items in the basement that went into storage. 

We are still hoping to leave here in a few weeks, heading for Vegas and the Grand Canyon, and then on to California.  Our grandson has had a change of heart about “not” playing all-stars, but think we can still work it out to where he will get to spend some time traveling with us.  Sure looking forward to getting to spend some time with him, it has been way too long.  Up until we went full-time he was in and out of our home all the time, and I loved it, he had a way of making every special, and keeping us young.  Wiped away tear.

Sitting here watching two mallard ducks flout down the creek that sits below us, they are so funny.  They fly back up and do it all over again.  And then there are the squirrels waiting for some one to toss them there dinner.

They even have their own table nailed to a tree!

Hope the sun is shining on one and all, life is good.

One Month At A Time

Days have turned into weeks, and my posting has been nil, nada and plain just not there, so will make a try at get caught up.

After leaving the RGV we spent a few days in Corpus Christi, and then we were off to Bourne, meeting up with friends for the “full-timers” rally.  Of course as usual we had to have a pre-rally to get in shape for the rally!  It was great seeing everyone and getting acquainted with some wonderful people that we had only heard or read about. 

 

There were some great card games, food, happy hours, food, seminars, food and on it goes.  Molly put on a class of blogging that was very informative, and we had a impromptu  lesson on wire wrapping, loved that one, as had never tried anything like that before, an it was amazing how at the end when you started pulling the wires it all came together.

 

Then there was a geo caching seminar, and off they went in the rain to try there hand at it, with success. Some of our group put on a very entertaining skit one night,

http://www.youtube.com/user/kcallander989#p/a/u/0/wWxAhScpRGI 

another night there was the brown bag exchange.  There was tacos-in-a-bag, and biscuits and gravy breakfast, and yes, it is all about FOOD.    Well, must have a little vino to bring it all together.

All good times must end, and hugs and waves were in order, but knowing that we will once again meet in Goshen for either Nick’s rally or the Escapees, come August.

We left Bourne on a should we, shouldn’t we note, as the weather was not looking too friendly, but we did fine.  We had a few showers, but all in all it was good.   Traveled about 300 miles, and about the same the next day.  Had meant to stay at the “free” campground in  , but there was road construction and the entrance was blocked, so we went down the road to another that we had stayed at before.  Did not even unhook, just took to the road in the morning and made it into Colorado Springs.  We are at a campground that we have stayed at before, and the only plus is that it is about 6 blocks from our daughter home.  That and the back of our 5er hangs over a river, so it is very private in that respect.

We were here to help celebrate our SIL’s birthday Wednesday at a very unique restaurant that was constructed around an airplane.  The great-grandchildren enjoyed that.

Guess you could say that “we” are in for repairs, Chuck is having hernia surgery and I have some weird thing going on with my joints an muscles.  I made a trip to urgent care and they ran some tests and I will be seeing a doctor Monday, hope they have some answers.  Chuck is scheduled to have his surgery done Wednesday, as an out patient, at least we are on the docket. 

So that about catches me up, hoping to get on the road once again soon. 

The 11th Street Cowboy Bar

This whole post is pulled off of Bob and Molly’s blog;  blatant out right thievery, but she does it sooooo much better and they are having me cook dinner so that is my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

 

  In the little town of Bandera, which is known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, you will find The 11th Street Cowboy Bar.  There are some things that are just “purely Texan” and the 11th Street Cowboy Bar is one of them.

On most Wednesday evenings in pretty weather, they fire up HUGE charcoal grills…..

….and you bring your own steaks to cook on these big, hot, grills.  For $5.00, you get a large cooked-to-perfection baked potato, salad with all the fixin’s,  and hot rolls.   Oh, and a plate to put your steak on!!! (Bring your own steak knife!)   Then you gather around and cook your steaks and share a Texas style meal and listen to some of the best Country Western bands around….with lots of two-steppin’ on the outdoor dance floor.

If you wander thru this Cowboy Bar and Grill, you will find the most unusual decor……

   …..rumor has it that they will give you free beer for your bra…..(thanks, but, No thanks!:) )

Thanks to some gorgeous weather and great friends, we shared a really fun evening in Bandera this week…..

Bill and Helen…..

Lynette, Gregg, Chuck and Kathy…A few of the girls checking out the entry to the ladies room…hmmmm….. big grins there :)……

…more of the group waving back at us….Mary and Rich…..

..and then it was time to say GoodNite, …Gregg, Bob and Bill, chattin’ up the Indian……

…it was a night to remember, Texas style for sure!   More good memories, made and shared, and lots to be grateful for!!!

Shop Till They Drop (guys that is)

We took off for Fredericksburg today and  started at the Wild seed Farms.  There were many flowers in bloom and it was great to just walk around enjoying the sights and the many shops they had.  The country side on the way there was totally in bloom and truly awesome.

Bluebells, red bells and purple bells.

Poppy field in bloom

 

From there is was lunch time, sorry no pictures, but Chuck and Mac ate so much that Bob had to literally haul them out.

From there it was on to some serious shopping at many of the original shops, and you might expect to see on the nightly news where the economy has picked up rather well in this area.

Bob waiting patiently for the women shoppers.

Tomorrow it is off to the Biker Bar for dinner.  Nothing but the best for us!  Life is Good!

Corpus, Rockport & Wind

We arrived in Corpus with some of the best gas mileage ever, almost 13 miles per gallon, needless to say we had a tailwind  most of the way.  If we could have put up a sail we would have arrived with more gas than we departed with….lol.  With the exception of yesterday we have been blessed with the that wind.

Dinner?

After getting settled in the Navy campground, in the humongous sites, and getting recommendations of seafood restaurants we were off to dinner at Snoopy’s.  It was okay, nothing special, but we enjoyed eating on the bay and watching the antics of all the birds. The fishermen coming in would dump their left over bait and the birds sure knew it.  They were all waiting for their free hand out. The next day we were off to the beach up the coast into Rockport, actually scouted out Alice Fay’s for a  late lunch, and the fish there was great.  Did mention the Rockport gang to the waitress as the reason we were there, but got this blank look, so evidently she had no idea.  We were on a hunt for whoppers and not sure if we found them or not as they were so far away.  They were in a meadow by the '”the big tree”.  The tree is estimated to be over 1000 years old.  The flowers were just beautiful in that area.

Whooper's????????

It was an awesome day, could not have asked for better weather and we just put zed around being tourists.  Yesterday took us to the Botanical Gardens,and the roses were fabulous, but would not put it on a bucket list.

 

Always said that Chuck could fall asleep on a rock, and this was very deceptive, but it is all rock.

But no, he is not asleep.  Although touring the gardens was not one of the things he especially wanted to do, so thank you dear, for humoring me.

Tomorrow we will be moving to Bourne, looking forward to meeting up with friends both new and old.  If you ever find yourself behind the “Damnearahouse” be sure give us a honk.