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.
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).
Phelps lakeMeadow Teton view
After checking on Ringo, we walked around Jenny lake.
Seminoe State Park was off the beaten path, but it was a delightful surprise.
Wyoming’s 287 might be one of the prettiest roads in the US. It was a long drive but my goodness, it was easy. A little rock-‘n’-roll with views. Yes please and thank you. Select views from 287.
We arrived at our campsite and nearly got completely set up before we remembered we dumped water for easier passage through the Continental divide. (Three times over) But we made it.
We left 11 Mile State Park and headed to Fort Collins on Thursday. I forgot to mention we met a fella on the campground who was there to take pictures of the Milky Way because it was a new moon and there aren’t lights up there at night. I woke up and tried to take a couple of pictures but it just didn’t turn out. This is super enhanced. It was cooler in real life. Some things I just can’t take a picture of with my phone.
We stayed in Fort Collins so we could see Pokey La Farge. He was the first of our concert plans to get cancelled at the start of COVID and has not returned to Asheville since then. I mean, we were actually closer to his tour in Scotland than he’s been to us at home. It was a great show. Grabbed a beer before the show.
Camping Boyd lake Beer and deviled eggs. If you get to see pokey, go! He’s a real show man
We got home and my cross bred firefly petunia was glowing. The camera makes it look brighter, but it was definitely glowing.
Stella
Today I had to work but Ringo got a spigot bath and George worked on his fur while I was working. We’re on the road as I write this. On our way to the Tetons but stopping in Wyoming tonight at Seminoe State Park.
Another great day of internet and work without drama. At lunch we went for a very slow high altitude run. It wasn’t our best run ever, but honestly at 8600 feet, it was an accomplishment.
Run view, nice reward for not breathing.
After work we went to the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Who knew there were fossilized red woods in Colorado.
Fossilized red woodMore fossilized red woodsGnarly treeHandsomes
We are on the first leg of our summer adventure. The farthest we’ll be from home is the Canadian Rockies, but we are lolly-gagging our way there. We are spending the first 4 working days in Colorado at Eleven Mile State Park starting tonight. We made tracks across the prairie. We stayed in Cumberland Mountain State Park West of Knoxville Thursday. Then drove 600 miles to Arrow Rock State Park in Missouri. Saturday evening we stayed in John Martin State Park in Colorado. We’ll be working while on the road using star link (Skynet) for connectivity and hoping I don’t get fired.
Ready for travelCumberland mountainRidingHiding from the hailRadar at hail timeSinclair stationJohn Martin reservoir It was windy. Had to deploy the wing wallsSpinney mountain11 mile state Park
Last 2 hours on Saturday we had a pretty good storm with hail and everything. We spent a good bit of time under the overpass.
At the camp spot, we got to know some neighbors since Chris and Eric who were playing music and we invited over for an impromptu jam session.
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).
Gramps and GeorgeRain puddlesCocktails by spring creekRoom with a viewMusic Dinner partyKnox and Charlotte.YumsDinner spread Adam and George finding their groveDancingMonty and Cheryl Hope and Don. It was Dons 70th. So honored he spent his birthday with us. Allison & Ken Dave and Debra Kathy and Dick Picnic partyMary and Judy SunsetQueen BeePost party poopers
We had a great day. Started our day with the botanical gardens then a picnic in the park. The gardens were great and perfect reprieve for little rainy spurts.
Pitcher plantBotanical visitor. No guests allowed on the spiral staircase. Botanical gardenPicnicPastel de nada
We continued the Austin walking tour through the University which was quite beautiful.
Then through the mural district which made us very thirsty.
We wandered by an Italian restaurant that was super busy (Sugo) and had the foresight to put out name on the list while we finished the mural walk. So glad we did. It was delicious!
Started the day on Loch Lommand and saw Dumbarton castle which has had the longest stronghold in Scotland. It was also free because they are fixing the masonry so we didn’t get to go to the top of the volcanic plug.
Dumbarton castleBeautiful day outside Dumbarton The gate to the summit of the castle where none shall passBatteryCanons Loch LommandGovernor’s house at the castleWhen it started to rain on us. Bonus there was a woman in costume.
Next we headed to Glasgow. Since we had extra time (because of the shortened castle tour) , we stopped at a Scotch whisky distillery named Auchentoshan. We couldn’t get a tour but we (primarily me since George was driving) got a sample and made it to the pie, a pint and a play on time.
Inside the theater
The play was about Mary (queen of scots) kinda outlanderish( with time travel and humor). After the play we checked into our last air bnb and finally dropped off the rental car and got another double decker bus back to Glasgow. We found an Irish pub that had music and we closed out our night there.
Austin Semi Sabbatical 