After a quick bath for Little Al we dropped him off at his temporary home in Southlake with his new pal Lucy. Our first stop in Bossier City turned into a catastrophe for us financially, if you have stock in Caesar’s Palace you should be swimming in penny’s. We’re both all masked up to hide from the Covid, Joanie is actually double masked…turns out though that smoke seeps right through.
We’ll spend the night here tonight (putting our smoky clothes outside the door) and continue our eastward journey to parts unknown.
Little Al and Lucy, everyone knows he likes big girls…so…
Cougar Lucy, she’s 38 years older but really well kept…and frisky.
After months of zero communication or blogging recaps from my Webmaster and Editor I decided to have a serious discussion on their future with my popular blog. Looking them both straight in the mirror, I let them know this was unacceptable and I demanded better updates in the future. We’ll see, I couldn’t seem to get a straight answer.
We have been “resting” in DFW for the past few months while planning our 2022 travels, both with and without Little Al. Right now we are at Grapevine Vineyards breaking the news to Little Al that we are headed to Florida without him. As you can imagine, he was not very happy…it’s tough dealing with these temperamental Airstreams.
On our agenda for Florida and beyond are definite destinations Savannah, GA, Jacksonville, St Augustine & Marco Island. Maybes are The Keys & Sanibel Island. As always high on our agenda is no agenda…we’ll see when we get there. Heading out in the am for a stop in Bossier City for Joanie’s one vice.
Here’s a quick photo dump from our travels the last few months while we quarantined in Little Al for the last night. (Note this is the only dump we allow in Little Al)
Little Al getting facelift in Paradise, TX. Turns out Miranda Lamberts Airstream was getting a full makeover. No surprise, Little Al was not impressed.Hanging in Dallas, did someone say brewery? We came in third in the trivia contest, total entrees is irrelevant.Last minute trip to NYC, no Lin-Manuel but still a great time.New Years Eve in Marble Falls with the adults…yeah right.Stop in Austin to see Joanie’s favorite tree.Hot dogs and s’mores.Vineyards Campground.Last walk on Lake Grapevine, heading to warmer weather.
After the stress and absolute mind numbing pain of thinking about driving back into the heat of the devils den (Texas), we both decided we needed some relaxation. Our solution was to throw stupid money as a solution and spend a night at Ojo Caliente Resort and Spa.
Our one night stay was wonderful as we spent time in the multiple hot tubs, had a world class dinner and finished the day with great massages.
One step closer to Texas, hopefully that day will provide time for cooler temps…you know, maybe a northern that will bring it down to the low 90s. Can’t wait.
We’ve been off the grid for the last two nights enjoying all of the nature that Mesa Verde National Park has to offer. We didn’t get to see any bears but the deer are the biggest (antlers) and so tame you have to tell them to get the h#$@ out of your stuff.
This has to be one of the most underrated parks that we have been to. The history of the Pueblo people and the homes that they carved into the earth and mountains is amazing. And to think all of this happened in early 650 AD, I was barely a baby…I can hardly remember it.
The highlight of the park are the views that you experience at every turn, just amazing. We were only there for a couple of nights but regret not staying another, more hikes and areas we would like to have explored. Next time.
Final turn back to Texas, more fun to come…
Hello Park.
Magnificent views.
The agony of defeat…college football sucks!
“I love this country!”
Earth houses.
Mountain houses.
Hello deer.
The stamp. Old Ranger very helpful. Young Ranger hopefully perusing Monster.com.
Just us…I’m the older one with less hair.
Get excited much? It’s just an old Post Office from the 1930s…to you and me.
After spilling almost my full cup of coffee on my bed we decided we would chill in Telluride for a day…maybe even stop by a Laundromat. Bonus, Telluride is a great town with plenty of shopping for those willing to pay 50% up charge for the privilege. Double bonus, free gondola rides.
Weather is wonderful, we woke up to a chilly Airstream with inside temperature of 55. We’re staying at Matterhorn Campground in the Uncompahgre National Forest, great spot with plenty of space for Little Al. It is D A R K at night, wonderful for stargazing until the lowering temps chase us in.
As long as I don’t spill anything else, big if, we’ll actually enjoy the park tomorrow. We’ll see…
Little Al and Big Joan at the park.
Hey, are those kegs at the laundromat? “Damn skippy” says Joanie.
At the Laundromat…that’s it behind us.
Highly recommended…type in
L-a-u-n-d-r-o-m-a-t.
On the gondola.
Hmmm, artsy fartsy…I wonder who took this?
The “spiller” and the “cleaner upper”…a match made in the laundromat!
We spent the last two nights with our good friends Jim & Cheryl in Lake City. Our time here was highlighted with fly-fishing and a sunset dinner on Gold Mountain. Almost as memorable will be the late night learning sessions on The Grateful Dead. I can’t say that I plan to become a Deadhead but I certainly have a new appreciation.
Leaving this morning for Telluride for our next adventure. Hopefully it will not include another fall on my sore gluteus., turns out the river is not only wet but slippery too.
We spent Labor Day checking out the small town of Ouray, it was only about 20 miles from our campground. We wished we had gone there on Saturday, although we got there before 8:30 and by 10:00 it was packed. Small rustic town with lots of shops, plenty of crap to buy if you’re interested. Supposedly it’s called the “Switzerland of Colorado”, I’m thinking by those that have never left Colorado.
On our drive to Gunnison we stopped off for a short hike at Black Canyon National Park. When I say short I mean it was a short distance of 4 miles but…and I know I’m repeating myself…it was short going down…coming back up was very l o n g. Beautiful scenery highlighted by “The Painted Wall”, the highest cliff in Colorado.
Spending the night in Gunnison before heading to Lake City to visit some old friends…neither of us are actually old we’ve just known each other a long time!
Ouray, Co. John Wayne signed the poster…so they say?!
Last hike before leaving Ridgway. Pa-Co-Chu-Puk along the Uncompahgre River. No, really.
Black Canyon Nation Park.
Boom, there it is…the stamp.
Didn’t get to see any. Feel really bad for Clark though.
The “short hike”…turns out I’m asthmatic.
Found some sort of ancient communication machine starting off our walk.
Home for tonight…we had a visitor. Nice guy but kind of a Jackass.
State parks have become our favorite places to stay. The spaces are always spread out so you don’t feel like you are on top of each other and the prices are always right. Ridgway in Colorado has been a perfect spot with great hiking trails and a beautiful reservoir to hike around.
Yesterday we drove to Montrose to spend the day at a brewery to watch opening College Football weekend. Success…so far I still love college football, stay tuned.
I love the smell of peaches, I love them in a nice girly drink Bellini…but I cannot stand the fuzzy snot texture of actual peaches. That didn’t stop us from stopping in Palisade and picking enough to feed an army. Will Airbnb’s take them in trade, guess we’ll find out?!
Our home for the next four nights is Ridgway State Park. It’s going to be a busy spot for Labor Day, tried to upgrade to full hookups but no mas. Good news though, our redneck neighbor is driving a refurbished ambulance…you never know.
We were able to get in a short hike before the sky opened up and rained most of the afternoon. The short hike took us around the falls and we were able to view the falls from both the bottom and top.
We never did have any visitors from the Correction Facility but did get a visit from a family of turkeys. Heading south this morning.
McGaffs On The Fly 