Full Time RV Living ~ Thank Goodness for Company

ugggghhhhhh. . .I’m BORED!  Now there’s a statement you won’t hear very often coming from me. . .life’s just too short, and too precious not to make the most of every moment. . .however. . .we are in a bit of a holding pattern here. . .so we wait!

 

Thankfully, we had company this past week which added a little excitement to the mix. . .

My awesome oldest brother (who’s still younger than me) talked my Dad into going on a road trip with him.  I’m still not sure how he accomplished that amazing feat. . .but once he got Dad in that truck. . .there was NO backing out. . .

Dad was all aquiver by the time they made it to Colorado. . .he had seen so many amazing things!  Since Louis’ mission was to deliver an air conditioning unit to an oil rig in North Dakota. . .they stopped by St Louis and saw the Arch. . .Dad kept asking when they were going to get to the “golden arches”. . .ummmm. . .wrong one Dad. . .LOL!

 

Since they were stopping by Mt Rushmore. . .I talked Louis (by phone) into driving the Needles Highway. . .Dad loved it. . .there’s nothing like that moment in time as you’re coming through that tunnel. . .and the entire panorama of Mt Rushmore is there in all it’s glory. . .breath taking!

 

After finishing business in North Dakota, they made a quick. . .and I mean a one day quick drive by pass through Yellowstone. . .with a stop to see Old Faithful in action.  No matter how many times you see it happen on a video. . .there’s nothing like the real life experience. . .hearing the sounds. . .smelling the sulphur. . .feeling the spray. . .

 

Knowing they only had one full day with us here. . .we wanted to cram in as much as possible. . .so of course we needed them to see our original reason for being here. . .Estes Park!  So a quick drive up to East Portal Campground to view our old stomping grounds where we volunteered for ten weeks. . .and to show my brother “the fix.”  He’s the smartest man I know about stuff like that. . .yep. . .we were right. . .can’t run 10 gauge wire 200 feet and expect to still have 30 amps.   Okay. . .now a “professional” has validated our decision. . .good to know!

 

A quick drive out the Peak to Peak Scenic byway to Lily Lake. . .

and a group pose with Long’s Peak in the background. . .

See the camera in Dad’s hand. . .he ‘bout wore it out. . .

Louis downloaded that memory card at least ten times. . .

digital cameras are the most awesome invention ever!!

On to Rocky Mountain National Park. . .Dad was worn out. . .

but he had a really, really great time. . .

and a perfect ending to the day. . .

a huge herd of elk on Bear Lake Road!

Thanks Bub for creating wonderful memories. . .you’re the best!

 

This Monday, Dave’s oldest brother Curtis and our beautiful

sister by law, Brenda, will be here. . .so next week should be hopping. . .yaaaa!

Full Time RV Living–Estes Park–Our Summer Home

Isn’t this a glorious, gorgeous place to live for five months. . .

we just keep walking outside saying . . .WOW!

It took some doing to get us settled in up here. . .let me tell you. 

Now we know our rig is big and heavy. . .and has very low ground clearance. . .

so that’s why we upgraded to the big truck “the BEAST”. . .

but, with all the loose gravel,

even the Beast could not back us up the hill to get us into this spot. . .

that required a fellow camp host’s 4X4. . .

thank you Terry and Becky. . .you guys are awesome! 

Dave designed us a sitting platform. . .

overlooking the mountains and the meadow below. . .

life is good!

The YMCA horseback riders come across the meadow almost daily. . .

The hummingbirds are literally everywhere. . .

and if you get between them and their feeder, they will buzz your head!

I am currently designing a feeding platform for the bluejays and the magpies. . .

and am looking forward to adding several new finds to my Birding Life List. . .

We can feed the birds, but not the wildlife. . .as that would draw the bears. . .hello!,

and we must take in the feeders at night. . .

of course the squirrels and the chipmunks can climb anything. . .

so there will be no keeping them out of the feeders. . .

as if I would try!

the mule deer wander through our camp each evening. . .

as do a flock of five wild turkeys. . .

 

It’s hard to believe we have only been here one week. . .

As you can tell we are loving every single minute. . .

and will have lots, and lots more to share. . .

 

Today, we are going over to Rocky Mountain National Park,

where we plan to do a couple of easy hikes. . .

and tomorrow. . .back to work. . .

it’s tough, but somebody’s gotta do it. . .

 

Hugs to you all,

Janice

Full Time RV Travel: Day Tripping–Colorado State Capitol and the Denver Skyline

My goal is to personally photograph all 50 State Capitol Buildings, so with that in mind we set off for

Downtown Denver this morning. . .oops, we forgot about it being Cinco de Mayo. . .traffic was bad. . .crowds were thick, but we persevered and got this awesome shot of . . .

Colorado State Capitol

In addition to wanting a photo of the Capitol. . .I also love city skylines. . .so I researched the

best place to get a good shot of the Denver skyline. . .City Park. . .so that’s where we went.

Standing on the back landing of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, we also got the

beautiful panorama of the Rocky Mountains with the Capitol Dome in the foreground. . .

My favorite skyline shot. . .

and a close up. . .there was a MS run at the park today. . .

and as a bonus. . .a few shots for my Birding Life List. . .

this Snowy Egret was having a bad hair day. . .

the Double Crested Cormorant were plentiful. . .on the shore

in the water. . .

and nesting.

gave my Peterson Field Guide a workout researching this one. . .

it’s a Black Crowned Night Heron. . .

They were also in nesting mode. . .

and of course. . .Canada Geese. . .I know, I know. . .they are everywhere,

and they are loud and messy. . .but I think they are beautiful. . .

and I want to see how many places I  can get pics of them in. . .

It was a great day. . .tomorrow we head to Estes Park to start our newest project. . .

Updates soon from our summer home. . .