On the road again!

Meeker, CO International Sheepdog Trials:  Over 100 Sheepdogs and their handlers from all over the USA plus Canada, Africa, and Brazil came to the 27th annual classic Championship to compete.  We went up to Meeker for one day and watched several dogs herd a group of five sheep through three gates set up in a very large field, larger than a Polo field, then back to a small pen area.  The handler, all the while, gave instructions to the dog with whistle commands.  The Dog/Handler team had 13 minutes to complete the task for a score which the top dogs would proceed to semi fianls then fianls which would be held on the last day of this five-day event.  Quite a site to see.

Independence Pass:  Back about 1976, June and I spent a three week vacation in Colorado. One of our favorite places at the time was the area around Aspen, CO and the drive over Independence pass. In particular, there was a four wheel drive road along Lincoln Creek. When we were last there, there was a National Forrest camp with only six camp sites at the end of this 7 mile road.  We camped here for a five days, caught trout every day in the mountain lake, and bathed in the mountain stream.  We didn't do that this time, but we wanted to visit the place again ad found that there had been added several more camp sites and the road had been improved some and there was quite a bit of traffic.  What had been our secret place almost 40 years ago had apparently been discovered.


40 years ago, Lincoln Creek road wasn't even marked and the entrance was obscured by heavy growth.  We found it by accident when we noticed a small dirt path heading off the main road into the woods. Now there is a large sign, a bridge where once you had to drive across the creek thru the water.  Improved?

Rocky Mountain National Park - has been our location for the past five days. This is a wonderful park for scenery, and animal viewing, especially in the hour just before dark; that's when the elk and moose seem to come out of the mountains and woods into the meadows.  We stayed for two nights at Grand Lake, near the West entrance tot he park, then three nights near the East entrance in the city of Estes Park.  The drive thru the park may be one of the prettiest drive we have ever taken. Forty-Four miles at 35 MPH and in most places, that's too fast.  Pulling a 35 ft., 15,000 lb.  trailer up the West side of the mountains, starting at around 7500 ft., then climbing to just over 12,000 ft. on a narrow winding road is pretty exciting.  Following are some pics to give a sense of the this fabulous place.

We'll soon be on our way across country to Indiana & Ohio to spend some time with family, then we'll be in Florida at the end of October and in Zephyrhills November 1st where we'll spend the winter and do our planning for our 2014 travels......... Thanks for following us!  It's a great Country and we're blessed to be able to see so much of it together.

Still At Rifle Gap - Having a Ball!

 

We're really enjoying our time here at Rifle, CO.... The hosting is a breeze which leaves us lots of time to just enjoy this part of Colorado.   What we enjoy most is exploring and just looking around ..... but the highlight so far was the five day visit by our oldest Son Daniel and his family!

 

Following is the world famous (well at least some of the locals know about it) "Rifle Arch".  June and I hiked the uphill trail for about an hour to the Arch, a rock formation about 8 miles north of Rifle.  After resting up a bit, the hike back was all downhill.

 

The Rifle Arch

A view from the Rifle Arch Trail

Starting at the bottom

On another day, we drove to this cabin, about 30 miles from Rifle and 18 miles South of Silt, CO.  The road getting there was about 1/2 paved, then gravel, ad the final couple miles rutted dirt roads that led to the Cayton Cabin.  Cayton was the first Ranger in the state and the second in the US, and he with his family built the cabin and lived here stating in 1909.  Teddy Roosevelt came here to shoot bear.

Cayton Cabin

Road Mud

Parking area and outhouse - view from cabin front yard

Our oldest son Daniel, wife Naomi, Grandkids Natalia, Blake, and Nadine with proud Grandparents at Rifle Falls.

Grandma and Grandson Blake

Grandkids just slouching down in our trailer after a day out and about.

 

Blake, Nadine, Natalia on our day out up on the Grand Mesa

The Rainwaters'

The Whitewater Raft Trip on the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon was fabulous.

Just getting started

Everyone had to work

Front seat volunteers got pretty wet

And, Miscellaneous action un-related to anything else:

And finally, this helicopter landed at the Rifle Gap Visitor Center to carry an injured boy that was seriously injured when the jeep his drunk father was driving on an off-road trail turned over.  I hope they throw away the key on this guy.

Rifle Gap State Park, Colorado Until September 5th

 

We are here at Rifle Gap State Park, Colorado, thru September 5th. "I" have volunteered as Campground Host and enjoying all of it.    Rifle Gap is one of three nearby State Parks, Rifle Falls and Harvey Gap are the other two, all within 10 miles of each other and nestled in the mountains, with really nice lakes at the two Gaps Parks.  Host duties include a five day work week (Tuesday & Wednesday off) with about 20 hours/week actual work, (which isn't real work) greeting guests as they arrive, cleaning the sites when they vacate, and about an hour bathroom duty each day.  Rifle Gap is the nicest State Park we have ever stayed in. The sites are all concrete pads, with paved driveway and graveled picnic area with shaded cover.  These are also full hook up sites. The entire park is immaculate.... We're enjoying the stay.   You may have noticed that "I" volunteered.... Actually, both of us volunteered willingly, but June was asked if she wanted to work in the office, which she did, so they are hiring her as a Colorado State employee. She set the terms which were four mornings per week - Friday thru Monday.  We take off every Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday is a very slow day, so this works well "and" we have an income to boot (notice I said "we" - actually just June but that works for me)

Our Son Daniel, Daughter-in-law Naomi, and three Grandkids, Nadine, Natalia, and Blake will be visiting us here August 5th - 10th. We're really looking forward to that visit!

Our Home at Rifle Gap, Colorado

June "volunteering"

The Host Wagon - we can use this to go anywhere in the park whenever we want.

Me Volunteering



Our Hummingbird Feeder just out the rear window

Close by is Rifle Falls State Park - about 6 miles North.  The Falls has about 12 campsites and hiking trails to the falls and also some nearby caves.

Rifle Falls

Also nearby is the town of Glenwood Springs - lots of cool things around including the graveyard where famous Doc Holliday is buried in Linwood Cemetery.

Doc Holliday Grave site

View from Linwood Cemetery.

Also near Glenwood Springs in Glenwood Canyon, is the Hanging Lake Trail; A 1.2 mile one way hike up the mountain to a lake captured in the mountain cliffs - hence the name Hanging Lake. The trail was very grueling for both of us. We carried 6 bottles of water and used them all.  June had to rest more than me, so she told me to go ahead which I did and it took me 2 1/2 hours to make the lake.  June "almost" made it, but the final ascent is almost a vertical climb up some very high steps carved into the mountain side. It does have a handrail at this point, but those steps - maybe 50 yards up, take it all you can give.  I was proud that she made it this far, because I came real close to turning around.  About an hour and a half to get back down; so this 4 hour hike was enough for the week.

 

View from the parking lot before starting the hike

 

 

 

A part of the trail near the final steps

"Me" at Hanging Lake - up top

June near the top,  but the final 50 yards is up these huge rock steps and it is just too much.



 

Again, we are enjoying our time here and it's just beautiful here and the surrounding area.  Come see us! ....................

Black Canyon National Park

Traffic was stopped on Colorado Route 62 on our way to Montrose, CO and Black Canyon.  There had apparently been some sort of accident as there was a helicopter in the field and we saw them loading a patient on a gurney. Shortly after, the traffic was waived thru. 

 

 

 

Helicopter in field next to highway.
 

We had lunch at Lizard Head Pass, 10,200 ft. elevation.
 

 

 

 

We stayed at an RV park in Montrose, CO, about 10 miles to the Park entrance, then the road climbs from the town elevation of about 5600 feet, to the park rim closer to 8600 ft.  We took the rim road to the end, then hiked 1 1/2 hrs. to a lookout with great scenery.  After the rim drive, we took a road down to the canyon bottom for a look up.  This road is restricted to vehicles under 22 ft. long.  Our truck is just under 22 ft., so we were good to go.  Follows are images from our day in Black Canyon.

 

June kept telling me "Two more steps back!"?

 

 

 

 

 Click arrow to see short video's

Glad we weren't towing the trailer!