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PAC NW

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I’ve got a conference in Seattle, so we have taken a week before to explore Whidbey Island for my future book writing home (jk I’m not creative enough to write a novel). But if you were going to write a novel this is where you do it.

I was working by the bird feeder which was a nature channel distraction. Here are a few of my favorites.. downy and paleated woodpeckers and a red shafted flicker.

We did take a hike on Ebey’s landing but somehow missed the mega pod of orcas that just happened to be passing through and the Aurora borealis on last Tuesday, but we had a fabulous hike on the cliffs. We even saw Mt Baker.

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Molas Lake outside Silverton

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At first we were just going to Ouray but realized the hikes we planned were actually on the perimeter trail. It was also a hot day, so we headed for higher elevation. The hike we did yesterday outside Silverton was at 12k feet so we headed back that direction and stopped at Molas lake. It was also less smoky today. (Bonus)

We by-passed Silverton since we had already decided to eat in Ridgeway. We ate at the local brewery (again) and had pizza (again), but it was delicious. The wood fired pizzas are yummy in these small mountain towns.

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Telluride, CO

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Headed to Telluride today after an another amazing campground chef breakfast. I do love some eggs at the campground.

Telluride is about an hour away and it was pretty smoky this morning. I guess the fires are kicking it. The hike we took was called Bear Creek canyon with two beautiful waterfalls at the end. After the hike. We ate at the smugglers Union brew house and wandered the streets of town in search of the best Colorado stickers.

It was a great evening chilling at the campground, playing cribbage, and reading books. Dinner was smoked salmon that Fiona brought from Alaska and free dadcation cheese.

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Niagra Falls

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We left Cayuga Lake after work on Monday and arrived at Four Mile Creek campground on lake Ontario, before 8. (I can’t help but wonder if these bodies of water will also be renamed by our ignorant dictator?)…

We were hungry but the Shoffners had prepared a feast! I’ve taken very few pictures of food on this trip but our campground chefs have outdone themselves.

I worked Monday -Wednesday but our timing to the parks could not have been better. After work is the best time to see Niagra falls. Our parking pass at Four Mile allowed us to park at Niagara for free. We walked right onto the maid of the midst with no line.

Niagra falls on the Canadian side is a mad house, like Gatlinburg/ Coney Island on steroids. There is a street (Clifton) that was loud, crowded, and tacky. The US side is a sleepy little town. We were a little surprised to see the gaudier side of the Canadians but they sure had some great food. We ate at an amazing Indian restaurant then got to see a sunset.

Wednesday evening we went back to Niagra on the Canadian side and stayed late enough to catch the fireworks from the Canadian side. We were a little surprised that the Americans didn’t return fire…

Bonus, the weather early this week has been amazing. Today I think the heat is going to catch back up with us.

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Watson’s Glenn to Cayuga Lake (Finger Lakes)

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We got up early to hike before the crowds gathered in the canyon. just a few more pics from Glenn canyon.

We had lunch at grist iron for lunch on Seneca lake on our way out of town. Then we traveled north to Cayuga lake State Park.

We stopped at Hosmer and Knapp winery along the way and had a great time grabbing some wines for the trip.

So far we’ve had a great time in the finger lakes of New York.

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Pennsylvania New York

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George and I spent our first few nights of our trip in Pennsylvania at a beautiful state park Francis Slocum. The lake was u shaped and I wished we’d had a boat. We took several great walks.

We left PA after work. George had a weird ear ache vertigo on the way to New York. He felt awful, so I pumped myself up to park the camper myself and just failed miserably. He had to bail me out. The Shoffners joined us at Watsons Glenn late last night. We took a hike this morning in the canyon. The canyon is stunning. Here are a few pictures

Afterwards we biked to some wineries and found some dinosaurs, yeah for real, who knew such treasures awaited us.

My belly is full. My feet and butt are tired.

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Sedona, cottonwood, cornville, cathedral rock.

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We’ve found Clarksdale, and cottonwood to be quite accommodating. The food is amazing here too. Pizza is hard to mess up, but it truly was outstanding. The old town is charming and has a history of copper mining up in Jerome. We went to the museum in Jerome earlier in the week.

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Leasburg Dam Las Cruces NM

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We have spent the last two nights at Las Cruces. We arrived late the first night, but had all day yesterday to explore and have some much needed idle time. Each site has their own pavilion perfect for playing guitar

We spent the morning on the pine tree trail in the organ mountain desert peaks national monument. Nice four mile hike. The pine trees have a really nice bark pattern.

We had picnic lunch at the base of organ mountains and went back to the campground to play some music and relax. We did take a short walk to the Rio (not-so) Grande. (this-time-of-year)

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Goodbye Sedona. I’ll miss you.

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We upgraded our campground view ( at check out ) for trailhead parking. It was the best office view so far.

After work we took a hike on Margs draw which took us right up to Snoopy Rock.

On our way to Lost Dutchman outside of Phoenix. Ringo was very interested in the trout jerky

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Sedona. Awe yeah

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Lunch walk literally right from camp ground. Cross roads if Huckaby and munds wagon trailheads.

After work, a short walk had high payoff at airport Mesa. Then we had a picnic dinner at cathedral peak. Our intent was to go to the top but it was busy and Ringo couldn’t scamper up the rocks like a Billy goat… He just looked like a clumsy doodle.

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Last few hours in Canada

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Canada has given us a good run. In Saskatchewan, we visited 2 providential Parks: Cypress hills and Buffalo Pound.

Both were a little hilly nestled in e prairie. Cypress Hills was huge, had multiple campgrounds, had a pool and even a Lodge. Buffalo Pound was smaller but right on a lake. We should be in North Dakota within the hour. Goodbye Canada. It’s been fun

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Yesterday was the hikes of Jasper lakes

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We hit all the lakes and found the old hotel in Jasper. Then relaxed at the campground. There, we watched a little girl flat out get down at the taco food truck, played some music, saw the ex-pres was shot, discussed guns, then we played some more music, went to bed early and officially started our return trip home. Still trying to figure out how to never leave Canada but they don’t want us.

Check out the power stations in this bathroom. If the water was hotter they would have gotten my vote for the nicest bathrooms in all of Canada, but the koa in Cranbrook wins (so far)

Crowfoot glacier

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Jasper National Park

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Today we had a hearty breakfast with pastries, we hiked a bunch, saw 2-3 bears (we forgot to ask their names so one was most certainly the same dude), almost a moose, 2 glaciers up close… (More far away), several lakes I can name (malaigne, medicine, Cavell), ate a lot of pizza and went to bed tired.

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Rampart to Jasper

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Last night as we went to bed there was a fire raging that created all this smoke in the valley as we left to go back up to the ice fields.

Over the hill at the ice fields parkway, it cleared up and we saw Athabasca falls and Sumwapta falls.

Then, we took the lift to get some amazing views over Jasper.

We ended the day with restaurant food at Jasper brewing company which was just what the dr ordered. Clay and Jenny left today and we’ll miss them.

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Rampart campground and the Columbia icefield

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Started the day with a hike to Chephren lake. George and i had to run to get back to make our pre scheduled time on the sky walk and a walk on the Athabasca glacier.

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Lake Louise ski area

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Today we biked to the ski area and took the lifts to the top of the ski slope. On the way up 4 different people told us there was a grizzly in the meadow and we assumed it was probably fake, but actually, it was real.

After seeing the bear and the electric fence to bear proof the visitor center we naturally decided to still exit through the gate and go for the hike to the kicking horse look out. (We did talk to three rangers about safety before going). We survived.

After dinner, we tried to sneak into the chateau. George and I got in, but they apparently didn’t want our business. It wasn’t nearly as cool as the banff springs hotel, nor as welcoming.

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Lake Louise: Tea houses and Little Beehive.

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Another great hike in banff national Park at Lake Louise. We all biked to Lake Louise (Ringo was in the dog pack) and then hiked to Lake Agnes where we got tea from the tea house and took a short rest. Then, we hiked to Little Beehive to have lunch. It was pretty strenuous, but absolutely worth it.

We split up after lunch and George and I hiked to the other tea house in the valley of 6 glaciers.

Chateau Lake Louise at the end of the lake.

We walked over 30k steps.

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Banff to lake Louise.

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I’ve taken so many pictures the last 2 days. I’ll try to limit myself.

Yesterday we started the day with a short hike to lake Minnewanka

Then, whole gang rode the gondola to the top of sulfer mountain. The trip was short 7-8 minutes but just amazing views from the top. That was our last night in the tunnel mountain trailer court.

Today those of us with e-bikes took the road to moraine lake. The biking was easy and the pay off was outstanding.

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Banff

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Banff is gorgeous. It is the birth place of Canadian national parks because of the hot springs. We totally invited ourselves all through the Banff springs hotel. It’s beautiful inside and out, but we couldn’t manage to get into the spa. We did go to the upper sulfur springs which did ( and maybe still does) feed the Banff springs hotel’s spa. So, I’d like to believe that somehow my body cells made it down into their spa to spite them. Today after work, we went to lunch with Clay, Jenny and Joel. After lunch, Joel joined us on a hike through Johnson canyon. Two waterfalls and a canyon with a boardwalk. Very cool

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Canadian Glacier NP

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Well, two beautiful days in a row. Our hike today was to Great glacier (aka the illecillewaet glacier) around Rogers pass in Gnp Canada. Unfortunately, the glacier has receded so that you can’t actually view it from the end of the trail but the panoramic views were amazing. The trail was full of wildflowers and ruins of an old hotel. (You had me at ruins). The hotel (glacier house) was torn down after a double avalanche killed 58 people on the train pass and the train was re-routed through a tunnel.

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Golden Rules

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When you get to the town of Golden, the tourist pamphlet is called Golden Rules and it does! Situated between Glacier NP (Canadian version) and Yoho National Park, it’s got quite a lot going on. The first day was a rain-out so we just did laundry, slept in and had a George Austin walk-about-the-town. (Which means… We found the local brewery).

Whitetooth

Today was beautiful, so we went to Yoho NP where dogs are allowed apparently everywhere. First, we went to Wapta Falls. Then we had leftovers for lunch on the porch of the historic lodge at Emerald Lake. We walked around Emerald Lake and took advice from a fellow trail blazer from Seattle who works for Amazon to walk to Takakkaw falls. Takakkaw Falls is the second highest falls in Canada and only a short distance from where we were. All in all a great day.

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Dworshak to Pierce lake, Idaho to BC

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Pierce Lake was out of the way, but totally with it. We climbed out of the Dworshak pit of dispair (the curvy step road) without incident. We stopped in Moscow, Idaho and had breakfast and shopped at their downtown market for a couple of girl souvenirs and fresh bread and stinky cheese. We even made it down the cussing dirt road that Google took us on… We still got to piece lake before late lunch. The lake was beautiful, like lake Jocassi beautiful. Clear and full of beach goers. The campground was shady and updated. They also had a dog beach. We have made it to Canada and have the Rockies in our view.

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Pacific time=tired time

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Dworshak State Park has been a nice reprieve but I have to admit, I’m going to be soo happy to quit getting up at 4:30 to get to work by 8 edt. The sun is up when I get up at 4:30 and goes down after I put my sleep mask on. Stella, the firefly petunia, is probably glowing so bright the neighbors have to put their sunglasses on, but I haven’t seen her since Fort Collins.

We’ve gotten a couple of good rides on the bikes, took a nice run, took a hike, & played lots of guitar. We leave tomorrow out the steep scary road. Seriously y’all, I have angst.

Watch the video

Dog pack in action.

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McCall, Idaho

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Yesterday we had freezing rain and sleet and cold doodles

Instead of cooking outside, we found a nice brewery and had the best shower I’ve had in Idaho.

Today after work we found a leisurely walk up 1900 feet (front 5600 feet to 7500 feet) in 3 miles to Louis Lake. Luckily the pay off was beautiful. We were the only souls on the path besides my mountain spirit animal. I missed him at first, but he stood up and yelled at me.

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Sawtooth mountains, Idaho. We love you.

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We spent the last 4 days in the Sawtooth recreation Area. The NRA is a great dog friendly beautiful park. It’s got mountains, lakes, dog beaches and great camping facilities.

Off to McCall, Idaho.

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Tetons day 3.

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Yes. I skipped a great day ( day 2) but will make up for it here.

Yesterday, I worked but then…

We went down to the lake and hopped on the Greenway with our e bikes. We stopped at Dornan (which I’m not sure but might be the best job location in the park… Or out of the park). There were had a cold beverage and brie before heading back up the hill.

Biking Tetons

Today (after work) we went to taggart lake. It was fabulous weather.

To be clear, I share this because I love the Tetons, but I’ve never seen mosquitos this hungry. So glad to be locked inside working.

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Tetons

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Posting some sunset pictures from yesterday

It was another great day in the Tetons. We had to move sites but just right across the street. We finished literally minutes before the rain started. It was 50ish degrees, when we left for a hike at Phelps lake. We left Ringo in the air-conditioning that wasn’t running. We were going to hike the whole lake but I had melt down about whether I had messed up the a/c (I didn’t).

After checking on Ringo, we walked around Jenny lake.

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30th Anniversary

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The beginning of our new adventure

I was 14 in French class when the happiest of accidents happened. I sat behind the funniest cute kid who happened to think I was the bees knees(Alphabetical order). I still don’t know how I fooled him but we still have a great time together. 30 years later we throw a much better party than we tried to at 16 (fo shore).

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Isle of Skye, Man of Storr

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Neist point light house was super rainy when we got there but immediately took a turn for the better.

The day only got better from there. Next was Dunvegan castle.

The gardens at Dunvegan castle were amazing, but I am limiting my pics or this would get ridiculous. Next on the bucket list was the Old man of Storr.

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Day 3 Aviemore biking tour to

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Started today with better than expected weather. And the rainy weather we had, was short and came with a whisky shots from locals. (More on those nice Scots later).

George woke up at 3:15 because the light was shining in the window and we both wondered,when does the sun rise (maybe it never really sets in Scotland on the summer solstice). I fought through the sunlight and managed to sleep again till 830. We had more eggs and local salmon/ lox for breakfast. After bfast we wandered through town and started day three of the cycling tour around 10:30.

At this point in our trip, I needed to pee and ventured off to look at the bridge and find a nice quiet spot while George and Tim (our riding companion) went ahead.

I turned on the turbo to catch up. But Tim was waiting for me in the road and said we were taking a pit stop for the rain. Wherein the 90 year old Scottish local not only gave us shelter from the rain, but also whisky.

The rain subsided and we ventured towards kingussie for lunch stopping at the ruthven barracks and pics of more highland coos.

Last fun of the evening was fish and chips and cupcakes from the girls. Great day today! Cheers mate.

Mostly a travel day, but we did get a great first rainy ride in. The train ride was about 3 hours through the Scottish Highlands. We arrived a we bit early, but grabbed a pint got some lunch and went for a beautiful ride.

After check in we got outfitted for a ride and took one. Look at this beautiful scenery (in the rain no less).

Aviemore trek bicycle tour

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Phinally Phoenix

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It was a rocky start to a weekend trip. Our 8pm Thursday night on frontier was delayed until it was cancelled after 11pm. After standing in line with angry passengers (with little hope of rebooking), we gave up and decided to go home. We back tracked the airport, shuttle, car and then drove back to Jenna’s for a brief sleep with little hope of returning…until we decided our sunk cost was lost and we might as well try to get an experience.

We got the 430 pm flight on Delta. We were hopeful about a 2 pm possibility until two platinum skymiles members bumped us. Then, our plane had mechanical problems and more mechanical problems and some weather. After a deplane experience, I began to think we shouldn’t go and was on hold with Delta about a refund when they let us reboard.

Woke up today and got busy making memories on Phoenix.

I’m going to share some pictures to prove it.

Sisters with too much sun and wind.

We left papago and went to South mountain park and preserve and hiked the pima canyon trailhead.

Then we picked up Alaska and went to a folk music festival and had dinner before going to a sunset. We didn’t see cocaine bear… Maybe next time Fiona?

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Rocky knob to peaks of otter

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This section of the blue ridge parkway is quite beautiful. You either have rolling hills in Virginia or you ride the ridgeline with mountains and valleys on either side. There is a road closure around Roanoke for 30 minutes, but we wanted to run into town anyway so it wasn’t a big deal.

We asked the ranger for a recommendation at peaks of otter and wow, was this a fabulous hike. Sharp top mountain (which we promptly started calling shart stop mountain). We added on buzzard Rock which was well worth the extra 600 feet.

Stone work at shart stop.

Sushi

November 22, 2025 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

We met up with Dwyers during the evenings in Seattle. I was at the conference so just pictures are of food;)

Second Austin pigout

Seattle + trolls

November 22, 2025November 22, 2025 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

We transitioned into town after the work week and made the most of our time. We visited the Ballard locks which is how Seattle boaters get to and from the lakes to the ocean. We also took a trot around green lake and the woodland Park area and feasted on dungenous crabs.

The weekend started with a California Honeydrops concert and an amazing dinner with the Austin tribe of Bellevue and a thorough hunting of trolls.

This link should show all the trolls. There are some in Asheville now which gives us something to look forward to.

https://share.google/NTQwJQIDw5fWSYP3M

I have to include the video of Jingran making the dumplings.

Oscar the bird King whose eyes follow you Scooby doo style.

Oscar what chu looking at.

Lastly, I’m not a serious foodie, but omg this how this hole in the wall diner, Dish Cafe serves.

Roxborough and Chatfield State Parks

August 16, 2025August 16, 2025 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

We left Ridgeway and drove the nail-biting 11,312 feet through monarch pass pulling the clamshell. It was slow going but Rusty (the Rav4) made its 9th trip across the Continental divide. George has diagnosed me with hill anxiety. There’s a beer for that. In fact. I want someone to name a beer ‘hill anxiety’ in my Honor.

We parked the camper at Chatfiel turned the AC on, went to eat Mexican and moved onward to Roxborough State Park. Roxborough is a hidden gem but doesn’t allow dogs. Ringo was pleased. I think he needed a day off.

We had a relaxing evening at Chatfield before getting up early to drop Fiona at the Denver (circus) airport to return to Raleigh for her last year at NC State.

The top out temperature was 106 degrees yesterday somewhere in Kansas. The last picture is on our way home. Shawnee lake outside of Topeka Kansas, which was 22 bucks. Cha-ching. We should arrive at Edgar Evans State Park in TN tonight.

Silverton and smoke

August 13, 2025August 13, 2025 / rugreen4u4632 / 1 Comment

We went to Silverton to do the Colorado trail near Molas lake. There is a kick ass boondock campground here that we need to remember for next time. To get from Ridgeway state park to Silverton you have to take US 550 (The million dollar highway) which goes over Red mountain pass. I haven’t been through since 1992 when George and I did a cross country trip after our freshman year of college. The road was built by a private citizen and originally served as a toll road for the mining trade to get north/south between Ouray & Silverton.

Along this road, you can see all the dead silver mines which is also why the Uncompahgre River in ouray is yellow. As it rains, iron from the mining caves the leaches out into the water table. Makes me think twice about drinking the water here.

Check out the signage on the red mountain pass. You don’t see that every day. We also had another rare sighting. We had a gnome at the trail head sharing wifi so I knew the day would turn out great.

Colorado trail

We went into Silverton next and grabbed a pizza and brew. Nice little train tourist town. Very chill after the train left.

It got super smoky today while we were out. You can’t even see the mountains from our campsite.:(

Ouray

August 11, 2025August 11, 2025 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Beautiful hike today on the perimeter trail around ouray in the same Juan mountains. We are staying in Ridgeway state park which is also beautiful. We are having a great time. Honestly, on the hike I got a little tired so my soak in the hot tubs was amazing. George was a good sport about letting me get my soak on. It felt so good.

My ass was in those hot springs within the hour

Colorado

August 9, 2025August 9, 2025 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

I met up with George on Wednesday at the end of dadcation3.0. He dropped the Dad’s and picked me up the same morning. They probably caught the same plane . Courtesy picture of the dads.

We have been staying at Chatfield State Park South West of Denver in a town called Littleton. We’ve spent some time hiking after work and catching up with family and friends in Golden. News flash Sally and Luke got married the day before we met up with them. Cheers to the newly Weds!

Fiona arrived today exhausted but she got to see the borealis from the plane. We are on our way to Ridgeway state park. We hope to avoid the Rio Blanco fire that has burned 75,000 acres in 7 days.

New York to Shenandoah.

July 26, 2025 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

We’ve had a couple of nice beautiful travel days. It was interesting to see corn rows with mountains behind them. We stopped at a brewery for lunch in Ellicottville, NY. Highly recommend if you end up near the area. We stayed the evening at Allegheny State Park in South Western NY. This park is huge. I wished we had more time to explore here. There were bike paths and a couple of lakes. I’m sure it’s gorgeous in the fall.

We decided to grab some of that beautiful corn for our campground feast.

Next stop was shanondoah np, but since we were going through Maryland, we stopped for a dozen crabs. It was 95 degrees outside, so they even let us bring our doodle in.

We are leaving loft mountain because something happened to the water and they have no showers but the campgrounds were beautiful. We are on our way to a county Park outside Abingdon called Washington county Park.

We just finished Miracle and Wonder about Paul Simon interviewed by Malcolm Gladwell. It was fabulous. Highly recommend.