Beating the Winter Blah's With a Splash

It is February
It is cold
Winter is growing long
Time for a change

We changed things up with a SPLASH

Bright colors
Warm Water
"Sunny" atmosphere

Just what one needs to kick the winter blues
for awhile anyway.....

More pics and fun
here and here

Being Stubborn In The Rain In The Red Rock Canyons

Colorado welcomed me with a big hug.

I knew they were going to be thrilled to have me back....

But, naming a town after me....now I didn't expect that!

We made it to Colorado in record time. When you have two people who are trying to out-stubborn one another you can go great distances....

"I think we could go further. We don't need to stop yet. I am not tired, are you?"

"Who me, pfffffffttt, NO! I'm not tired I think we could go further."

"Well, I think we could make it to Pierre."

"At least to Pierre... maybe further"

So, with that, we made it to Pierre at 1 am the first night. I talked our way into a Super 8 for $45 and we slept 4. 5 hrs. Breakfast and back on the road by 7 am and onto Idaho Spring, CO where we camped at the Indian Hot Spring in what they called a campground.

I would call it a parking lot. If you look behind us in the pic you can see the gravel that we slept on. But, hey! it was only $26 and the showers were free (rare in Colorado due to the backpackers) and there was wi-fi in the lobby ;)

We headed across Colorado the next morn on I 70. Stopping as planned at Glenwood Canyon's rest stop. We had on the agenda a lunch of grilled hamburgers. (Eating out with our clan gets quite spendy -especially when traveling through high class ski country). However, with all things Jules - this is when the clouds gather and the rain and hail comes down. The planned energy release for the kids was ruined but with the stubborn streak still rearing it's head - we continued to cook after all, that was the plan! We ate in the rain (and hail). Again, all things totally Jules - as we were cleaning up and getting ready to go the clouds part and the sun shines.
Sigh.... so it goes. But, the burgers were good.

Dearest cooking in the rain on the
fancy new trailer he had made for such travels

Being ahead of schedule we were able to take our time down the scenic bi-way from Grand Junction to Naturita. This is my favorite drive. I am still transfixed with the red rocks against the blue skies. The sage brush and pinion pines keep it from looking like a total desert


The bi-way goes through the Unaweep and Tabaguche canyons. Both are equally impressive and awe inspiring. I will leave you with a few photos and fewer words. More later.... we are planning on going to Ouray, Telluride, and Mesa Verde in that order the next three days (I'm not linking.....to tired... Google it)

Unaweep Canyon

Gateway, CO

Gateway, CO


Stopping to fill water bottles at the spring


Doloros River, Hanging Flume

Near Hanging Flume


Debra's cabin

Today's hike (I'll take any chance to climb)

Humming bird circus

Even the Mighty Start Small

To figure out what is going on here, you need to go here.

Because I am not here today I am here.

A Taste of More to Come - Summer

Wild Flowers to discover and name
"Trillium"

Wild animals to stalk and hunt
Kitty "Lost"
(which really should be switched to Kitty "Found")

Backyard Baseball

Campfires

Smores
(You have to play this song... come on play along!)

Outhouse
(allowing more time away from the indoors)

When the sunsets it shines in through the star

Yes it is fully functional

It even has a urinal
(there are 4 "men" in the family!)
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~

Now if only the weather would cooperate!

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
52° F | 41° F	61° F | 43° F	61° F | 43° F	65° F | 45° F	68° F | 45° F
Rain Showers 70% chance of precipitation	Chance of Rain 20% chance of precipitation	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy

We Are Off......

The sun is shining for now
So, off we go on a
Bog Walk

Temp 50 degrees F
Wind out of the west 10-15mph
Visibility 10 miles
10% Chance of rain
~:~:~:~:~:~:~
Grab a sweatshirt
Sunglasses
and
Camera