Living full time in our motor home allows us to be Ready To Go. . .on to the next adventure!

Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Skyline as seen from the Marin Headlands - California

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Full Time RV Travel in Estes Park–Searching for Baby Elk

We’ve been told it’s Baby Elk season. . .

We know it’s true, because of the report of a lady

getting between a momma elk and her baby. . .not good. . .

but we haven’t seen any babies yet. . .

so we decided to go searching. . .

2012-05-31 Day Trip - Colorado - Estes Park and Beyond - Wildlife

The best place to look is the Lake Estes Golf Course. . .there are always tons of elk hanging out there. . .

We saw a few expectant Moms. . .but still no babies. . .

2012-05-31 Day Trip - Colorado - Estes Park and Beyond - Wildlife  (29)

This expectant Mom has a body guard. . .we know this is so, because we saw this pair earlier patrolling the sandbar in the lake. . .

2012-05 Day Trip - Estes Park and Beyond - Wildlife - Elk 117 (4) (86)

anytime this kayaker would get too close. . .the younger elk would squeal, and move towards him. . .you could tell she was on high alert. . .I’m not sure if this qualifies as harassing the elk. . .but it most be awful close.

2012-05-31 Day Trip - Colorado - Estes Park and Beyond - 068

We also saw this bald eagle. . .but he was kinda far away. . .we’ll hafta go back and get a better shot.

2012-05 Day Trip - Estes Park and Beyond - David (2)

of course the majestic Rocky Mountains are always worth a moment of awe. . .I just love them!

 

We have lots more exploring to do. . .so stay tuned!

 

Join us on FaceBook to see more awesome pics of the wildlife we photograph on an almost daily basis. . .and leave us a comment. . .we love to hear your stories. . .especially if you’ve been to this area. . .and if you have a blog. . .please be sure to include your info in your post. . .thanks!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Full Time RV Living at Rocky Mountain National Park

The Park Rangers and Office Staff keep telling us how they didn’t get a lot of snow pack this year. . .and how dry everything is going to be. . .so we wanted to go up into the park while there was still a lot of snow on the ground.

View from Alpine Visitor Center

We headed straight for the summit. . .

Snowplow

They’ve been closing Trail Ridge Road off and on. . .so this guy is up on the mountain. . .ready for duty

Elk

This cow elk was boogying across the tundra. . .

Alpine Visitor Center - Snowdrift melting at 55* and 50 mph wind gusts

about an hour’s drive to the summit. . .11,796 feet. . .where everything was still closed. . .hmmmm?

2012-05 Colorado - Estes Park - East Portal Campground - Day Trip - Rocky Mountain National Park - Janice (4)

where there was plenty of snow. . .temps about 55* (not bad). . .but wind gusts at about 50 mph. . .you just couldn’t stand to be out there. . .seriously. . .

2012-05 Colorado - Estes Park - East Portal Campground - Day Trip - Rocky Mountain National Park (3)

a view of Fall River Road. . .all gravel, one way road. . .from the bottom to the top. . .

at the Summit of RMNP - the Beast

a road which the Beast will never, ever travel. . .we may take a jeep tour though. . .driven by a professional. . .thank you very much!

We want to see the rest of the park. . .all the way over to Grand Lake. . .but we are thinking, that since we have all summer. . . we’ll hold off until the weather warms up a wee bit. . .cold weather folk we are not!

We have a busy Memorial Day Weekend coming up. . .park is full. . .and although we are not scheduled to work. . .of course we will pitch in. . .and our friend Brenda and hubby Jimmy are coming up from Denver to spend the weekend. . .so it’s going to be great. . .

Check us out on Janice and Dave’s FaceBook where we’ve been posting lots of awesome photos of all the amazing wildlife. . .love it!

Talk to you after the holiday. . .enjoy!

 

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Full Time RV Living–Estes Park–Our Summer Home

Home in the Rockies til October

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! 

It's a tough life. . .but somebody's gotta do it. . .

Dave designed us a sitting platform. . .

overlooking the mountains and the meadow below. . .

life is good!

YMCA Horseback Riders riding across the meadow at East Portal Campground

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

The hummingbirds are just swarming around our feeder. . .we love it!Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird at our homemade feeder in Estes Park

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. . .

Oh. . .if only I can just cram in one more peanut. . .just one more!

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!

Mule deer still have their raggy winter coats

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

Wild Turkeys crossing our camp this morning. . .

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

Friday, May 11, 2012

Full Time RV Travel: Enjoying Estes Park~Next Week We Work

 

It has been a very quiet, enjoyable week in our temporary home

at Mary’s Lake Campground in Estes Park

Estes Park Memories

We arrived last Sunday. . .

Our temporary home at Mary's Lake Campground until East Portal is open. . .snowing

It snowed most of the day Monday. . .

Estes Park Downtown

but warmed right back up. . .

so Wednesday we trekked to downtown Estes Park

to check out all the tourist shops before the

summer crowds arrive around Memorial Day. . .

Estes Park Downtown

had a great burger with a great view. . .gotta be able to tell the folks in the

campground where the good eating places are. . .

 

Yesterday and today are training days with the Larimer County Staff. . .

learning all the ins and outs of being a Camp Host. . .

 

It’s sounding pretty great so far. . .

except for the Ranger’s scenarios of doom and gloom. . .LOL!

 

They were telling all these horror stories about what to do in out of control situations. . .but did admit that 98% of the folk are just here to have a great time. . .

and only need to be reminded about the basics. . .putting away food. . .

after all, we are in bear country. . .that sort of thing. . .

 

Here’s hoping for Happy Campers. . .

‘til next time!

 

Monday, May 7, 2012

Tips and Tricks for Full Time RV Living–Following your Favorite Blogs



I follow about 60 different blogs. . .some are RV How To Blogs, 
some are friends who blog about their travels, some Ministry Blogs, 
and some are just Life in General Blogs. . .

Now, of course, everyone on every blog 
doesn’t write a post every day, or that would be overwhelming. . .
but I have a very efficient way of keeping up with them all. . .
so simple:

GOOGLE Reader. . .
but here’s the trick to making it even simpler than that. . .

GOOGLE Chrome. . .
and the Google Chrome Bookmarks Bar. . .

Open your Google Reader. . .
it’s listed on your GMail Tab on Google Chrome. . .

Click on the Tools Icon
 (on the far right side by your name) looks like a little cog. . .

Open READER SETTINGS

Open GOODIES

Scroll down til you see the NEXT icon. . .
drag it to your Google Chrome bookmarks bar. . .

Scroll down til you see the SUBSCRIBE icon. . .
drag it to your Google Chrome bookmarks bar. . .
That’s it. . .

Open one of the favorite blogs you love to read. . .
hit the subscribe button in your bookmarks bar. . .
follow the instructions. . .done!

Once you have subscribed to all your favorite blogs, 
and have them listed in your Google Reader, 
all you need to do is click on the NEXT icon in your bookmarks bar. . .
and read away. . .so much easier than looking them all up.

Hope some of this makes sense, and is helpful to someone. . .

Good luck,
From Blogger Pictures
Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog on your favorite Blog Reader, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle. Connect with us on our
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Saturday, May 5, 2012

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 . . .
2012-05-05 2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (4) 043
Colorado State Capitol
2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (24)
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. . .
2012-05-05 2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (4) 011
My favorite skyline shot. . .
2012-05-05 2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (4) 032
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. . .
Snowy Egret - page 97 - Peterson Field Guide to Birds - Bad hair Day?
this Snowy Egret was having a bad hair day. . .
Double Crested Cormorant - page 93 - Peterson Field Guide to Birds
the Double Crested Cormorant were plentiful. . .on the shore
2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (3)
in the water. . .
2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (16)
and nesting.
Black Crowned Night Heron - page 99 - Peterson Field Guide to Birds
gave my Peterson Field Guide a workout researching this one. . .
it’s a Black Crowned Night Heron. . .
2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (8)
They were also in nesting mode. . .
2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (7)
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. . .