Catching up (before total exhaustion kicks in...)

In Old Business:  The GMC being promoted to us was red (love red), BUT, it had a black interior, which I could have dealt with.....But then the DEAL BREAKER....it was BLACK CLOTH!  OUT OF THE RUNNING!!!!

Rory arrived in Durango on Friday, May 31st.  The drive there was gut wrenching, as I was on the downhill side of some VERY precipitious edges,

no barriers, except for some sheer rock walls
within 8 inches of my window! Thought I was going to be sick before we got there.  BUT, it was as beautiful as it was frightening.

LOVED the town of Ouray!  In the pix, Ouray looks like a toy town.
And the ice cream vendor was quite generous with his portions....I was actually unable to complete mine, which, if you know me & ice cream, is an unheard of event!

The ice cream stop occurred on our return to Durango on Saturday, June 1st.  We were scheduled for the 8AM train ride on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.  Since the drive from Curecanti to Durango is 4.5 hours we had made reservations to stay overnight at a  wonderful little B & B called "The Gable House"  

.  After settling in there we hit the town, finding a fairly good Mexican restaurant

and catching a carriage ride at the end of the evening.

We went to bed tired, but well pleased with the day!


After breakfasting with the proprieter Heather, we headed off to catch the train.  Bill, of course, had been caught up in converstion with Heather and despite our mad dash through town, we arrived at the depot just in time to see our train chug chug out of the station.  Fortunately, despite the popularity of this attraction, there were exactly 3 seats left in the Presidential Car on the 8:15 am, and we were provided seats thereon.

Our car hostess was "Ellie" & she did a great job!

Ellie assigned me to "bait" the squirrels, so that when the train stopped to provide our "shadow"  

a bad of donuts & coffee, the bait would cause the squirrels to leave our "shadow's" bag alone.

 Upon arriving in Silverton

Ellie advised us that "Grumpy's" had a live ragtime piano player

We headed into the old west town.  I was particularly amazed at the wide streets

Grumpy's turned out to be a great experience...original decor, great food, and, as you can see, Bill got the chance to sing along with the piano player.

Met some great people on the train...so much fun, beauty in God's creation and a bit of shopping..

all packed into the day and we arrived home late again and crashed!

The next morning we rose early and hit the road again on a mission to have lunch in Dillon with James & Sarah....along the way I realized this was the earliest we had been up and driving into/through Gunnison, past the little foal we had been trying to obtain pix of for 2 weeks, and maybe our last chance to see her up & around while she was still somewhat small.  Luck was with us, as the foal was out and about hanging around with several other horses.

As I trained my lense on the beautiful animals, and began snapping, thru my view finder, suddenly something seemed different?  I quickly noted that not ALL of the horses were MARES!  Looks like our little foal will have a sibling shortly.  (no pix to follow on this:-)

Another fascinating bit of observed nature this trip:  I 

saw a cow chasing a Raven away.  This unusual motion then drew my attention to a small, black, curled up mass on the ground.  It was a calf, just dropped by it's Momma.  

I don't want to know what the Raven was noshing on!  Nature, so beautiful & so gross, all at the same time.  God is a fascinating guy!

Nice lunch with James & Sarah, even though he was on duty and had to leave early for court (which was called off later, but by this time we were heading out of town).  Familiar times these!  When we took Sarah home, she found herself locked out....no problem:

Cops & crooks:  One degree of seperation:-)  Sarah got in....just sayin.

While all this was going on we were continually taking advantage of our intermitent phone signal to negotiate for a new truck.  So, after leaving James & Sarah,'we stopped in Grand Junction to have our truck appraised.  Before you know it we were in agreement on all the details and we find ourselves the proud owners of a new 2013 Chevy 3500 diesel dually.  Not necessarily my 1st color choice, but quite acceptable anyway.

Now to find the 5th wheel to go with it.

Wednesdayn AM found Bill & I on our way to Salida, CO for his surgery (debriedment of his bullethole).  This gave Rory a chance to slow down & chill for the day.

We were home by 3 pm with Bill in good spirits.

Our reservations for the Morrow Point Boat Tour were for  10 am Thursday and we were up early.  BUT, history was poised to repeat itself:  I lost track of time and we rushed  off 1/2 hour late...with 232 steps and a 1 mile hike down the canyon we arrived at the dock as the boat was pulling away.  We then rescheduled for the 12:30 pm tour and drove off to visit Ponderosa CG, where Bill & I will relocate to when camp hosts are "hired" to take our place at Stevens Creek.

We enjoyed Ponderosa and headed back to catch our 12:30 boat.  But this time we evaluated the clock VS time to make the trek and turned the truck around, rescheduling the boat ride for Friday at 10:00.  We will leave the house at 8 am!

We' were all getting worn out, so spent the afternoon resting after having BLT's and making ready to maximize our last full day:  10 am=Morrow Point Boat Tour

Noon=  Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

6 pm =  Jan & Bill's anniversary dinner in Durango

9 pm= drop Rory off ayt hotel and bid her adieau

Midnight= home

On this day in 1991 I married my BEST FRIEND!

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Well, as we settle in.....

Having a GREAT time, love the site...but here's the question:

 These 3 pictures above represent the views of Stevens Creek CG, where we are currently assigned.
We have a full hookup (water, sewer, electric), are 3 minutes to laundry and our mailbox & about 10 minutes drive into town.  The downside, we have highway noise until about 9 at  night, and there are no trees.  Still BEAUTIFUL!

The above 3 pictures represent the views from the host campsite at Ponderosa, where we have volunteered to move to IF they can get another volunteer host to cover Stevens Creek.  The upside:  it is a remote site far off the beaten track.  Still has sewer and water, and reimbursement for the fuel to run our generator.  It also has an even more spectacular view and would cater to more hard core campers.  The downside:  it is 26 miles from laundry and mail & 32 miles into town.  Still, it is very appealing to us, as we like the more difficult positions to fill AND, they are more likely to get someone to take over Stevens Creek than they are Ponderosa.  The funny thing is...if you ask any of the other volunteers or Rangers working here...Ponderosa is everyones favorite campground!

Time will reveal if a move is in the making...we remain flexible.

We have really gotten into a routine of waking, exerising, morning rounds...play all day.....evening rounds & watch a video.  We purchased  "The National Parks:  America's Best Idea" DVD set.  Would HIGHLY recommend it...both beautiful in it's beauty, but informative on our history!

We have met some great people

who have represented Australia, Canada (as above)  India, Australia again, England, Denmark, Nevada, California, Arizona, Michigan, South Dakota & Colorado.  Memorable ones like Emma (a very sweet 9 year old) and Nathan (a 3 year old who rode his bike over Molly's tail).

We have toured all of the other campgrounds in Curecanti:

 

Bill was a great tour guide!

After finding the MOST WONDERFUL Mexican restaurant right in Gunnison, it wasn't long before we had organized a party there.  Last Friday 5 new friends showed up, and more are expected next Friday.  The tradition continues...come join us any Friday at 6:30, Gunnison, Co at Anejo'.

Memorial weekend has come and gone, and we are down to us and 3 other campers, who leave later today.  It is interesting to hear their stories and what's going on in their lives.

And in the Mobile World News:  we are considering moving up to a 5th wheel.  That starts with \the truck, and we are currently evaluatingthe top 3 brands...so far Dodge (WAYYYYY to loud!) Ford ( I am still a GM girl at heart) and Chevy/GMC.  Now Bill likes the Chevy, but I like the GMC (I think they are built better, Bill says they are EXACTLY the same)  He will let me pick in the end, and right now I am frothing at the mouth over the GMC Sierra 3500

(with duallys) dark red or royal blue, leather interior.  God's will be done!  I am praying for guidance.

Our 1st visitor (my sister Rory) is coming for a 9 day visit on the 30th.  We are having so much fun planning her itinerary....can't wait!

Just a couple of hints:-)  Makes you want to drop in doesn't it?  You would be welcome!

Well, signing off for another day that the Lord has made!  Let us rejoice and be glad in it:-)

Happily at Steven's Creek CG

Well, the 2 days of training turned out to be not boring at all.  Even the guy teaching "safety" made it interesting in that we got to actually use a fire extinguisher (never done that before), and learn how to throw a "rope bag" for water rescue.

We are almost completely settled into camp:

And just in the nick of time, Ranger Steve came by Friday afternoon, and when he heard we needed a Mexican Restaurant, recommended Anejo right there in Gunnison (15 minutes).  It was described as a  "real hole in the wall", and it was, but this family operation (Dad Cesar is the head chef) served up some of the best Mexican food we have ever eaten ANYWHERE!  Sorry TEN, we are going to cheat on you every Friday night until Labor Day.
This photo of Anejo's Bistro and Bar is courtesy of TripAdvisor

After leaving well sated we crashed and burned.  On Saturday morning Bill (another volunteer)  

came by to give us the nickle tour.  But our 1st glimpse of THE BLACK CANYON at Pioneer Point was, to say the least, breathtaking, worth WAY MORE than a nickel.  Pictures DO NOT do it justice!  They particularly do not provide the sound of roaring water arising from the canyon floor.  

 

We traveled to quite few remote campgrounds during this tour, and found Ponderosa to be particularly inviting....another year maybe:-)

On Sunday we treked all the way to MONTROSE, the closest BIG town.  Along the way we stopped at Cimarron Campground to visit our new friends Frank & Marie.  Between them, Ranger Kurt and our boss, Jude

we have a new Friday night party going...you know where:-)  Montrose was a long haul- one hour, but everything is there.  Fortunately most of our trips into town will be Gunnison- 15 minutes (live music in the park every Sunday at 6PM, art gallery showing local artists, quaint little shops and eateries with local folk/flavors)

Mule Deer

We continue to be fascinated with the wild life...

Loads of Golden & Bald Eagles

AND the weather.  If you think the weather in Chicago is changeable, try living in the mountains of CO and find out what "changeable" really means.  We change our clothes 3 times/day.  Problem solved!

Today is Monday.  For excitement we washed the trailer today.  When we were at it, it didn't look like much, but when we stood back and looked at the finished product we were very pleased!

So we are all camped in for the season.  Tuesday and Wednesday are our days off...time to go exploring!

YAY!!!!!

We accepted the assignment at LBJ Historic Site in Johnson City, Texas for January/February/March & April where we will serve as Interpretive Guides.

So that is what we spent the last couple of days doing....besides watching the wildlife outside our window.

You may not find these kind of days very exciting, but we do.  We also had a Magpie land 4 feet from our window, in the tree, but he flew off before I could grab the camera :-(

And in The Small World Category....Our next door neighbors turn out to be Dr. Charles and Miss Sue Cottingham who were our Team Leaders at The Cradle of Forestry...one year and 20,000 miles later we are camped next to them:-)  Since we arrived several days before them, we have been able to show them the ropes:-)

We have 2 days of training starting tomorrow...since we already know the basic job, it could be kinda boring, but we gotta do what we gotta do.

On Friday we re-locate to "OUR" campground "Stevens Creek", about 6 miles down the road closer to Gunnison.  Not as many trees (not that we have alot)), but right on the river....FLY FISHING anyone?

So, the schedule to date:

May 15 to Sept. 3rd= Curecanti NRA, serving as CG Hosts at Stevens Creek CG

Sept. 3rd to Sept. 19th= Starrett Lake

Sept. 19 thru Sept. 28= Monument, CO for Bill's RV Tech Certification class

Sept. 28th to December 27th= Joshua Tree NP, serving as CG Hosts at Black Rock CG

January 1 to April 30th= Lyndon Baines Johnson National Historical Site, Johnson City, TX-serving as Interpretive Guides.

This is what is for sure.