April 28th and we are finally getting settled into our new location. We arrived here a week ago and were greeted with some mild temperatures and some snow still lying around on the mountains. This past weekend we made plans to drive to Denver and visit with Randy and family. Our original plans were to be there on Saturday to watch Connor play soccer and then spend the night. After talking with Randy on Friday and getting the weather report, we thought maybe we should head down Friday to beat the snow. The only real snow we hit was when we went through Roosevelt National Forest heading down highway 36 after leaving Estes Park. Once we were over the peak and starting down the mountain the snow quit, the roads were somewhat dry and we headed to Denver.
Due to the snow they had received, Connors soccer game was cancelled both Saturday and Sunday and we did not get to watch him play. We did get to spend some time just hanging around the house playing some games, going to the mall and eating too much Cajun food, and going Geo Cache hunting with the boys. We had a wonderful time with them and headed back Sunday evening. The real nice part was we did not have to drive 18 hours to get back home, only a couple of hours.
We have yet to go the park, but have had an enjoyable time watching the elk in the area. When I was on the phone with Randy Friday a herd of elk came by on the north side of our camper. I counted around 35-40 but they were just a little too far away to get a good picture. Today Cindy woke me up to let me know there were several just in front on the camper (30 feet or less) eating away on some grass. The weather here has been a mix of everything. We have had some real nice sunny days, some morning snow of 2-3 inches (gone by noon), and some very cool evenings. We’re looking forward to getting out and doing some serious sightseeing before the crowds start arriving.
This morning ( Thursday 29th) when we awoke there was a nice dusting of snow on the ground, about 4-6 inches, but gone by mid afternoon. We went into the Rocky Mt. National Park today with our bosses and had a nice time just driving around and taking in some of the beautiful sites up here. As you can see, plenty of snow and wildlife were there for the viewing. We see the weather is warming up back in Indiana and look forward to seeing all of you at Aaron’s in June, until then “Look at life through the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.”
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
LBJ, Luckenbach, Flood
The past couple of weeks we have been site-seeing around the Hill Country. We went and visited the LBJ Ranch and Luckenbach Texas. The tour around the ranch, which is a working ranch, was a self guided tour with a cd playing. We thought we would come over here a week ago but we decided against it. Now that we made the trip we’re glad we did. The chance to see the “Texas White House” as it was called was well worth the time to come here. Although we were not allowed to take pictures inside of the house, we enjoyed listening to the guide tell about the history of the house, the world leaders that met there and their decisions made during LBJ presidency.
On down the road we headed to a place called Luckenbach, Texas, population 3. I’m not sure how many of you know how it became famous and if you don’t I’ll let you find out on your own. But I’ll give you a clue, Waylon and Willie. What amazes me are the number of visitors who go there (just like us) to say they have seen it. It’s kind of like visiting Kokomo and not going and seeing Old Ben, it’s something one must do. So needless to say we went to Luckenbach and had a beer at the Post Office/gift shop/bar. The pictures of the cowgirls & cowboys building is the restrooms while visiting the town. I will say this, when one visits there you realize just how laid back, out of touch with the world, carefree, no worries or whatever you want to call it, you can be, just as the song says.
Our last night at Kerrville on the 15th of April was not planned to be our last night there, but due to circumstances beyond our control it was. We had seen several days of rain but nothing significant until Thursday. At 11 o’clock that night, we had someone pounding on our door to tell us they were having everyone hitch up their campers just in case the river might rise and we would need to evacuate. Now the message we got was “just in case”. By the time I got out of bed (I was trying to sleep),and Cindy and I went outside and started hooking and unhooking things, the EMS was telling people to evacuate. Now all this happened with-in a matter of a few minutes. When we closed the door at around 8 o’clock, and looked at the river it was only a couple of feet deep. By the time we stepped outside at 11 o’clock, the river was at the top of the bank, maybe around 9-10 deep, I didn’t know for sure without diving down and measuring it, which I was not going to do. We learned just how fast we could tear down, pack up, put away and move, all in around 15 minutes. The next day more rain was planned and they were not sure when we would get back into the park so we headed north to Amarillo Texas.
I’m writing this on Tuesday, the 20th and we are now getting settled into our new location in Estes Park, Colorado.
Another thought for the day: “You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough”.
On down the road we headed to a place called Luckenbach, Texas, population 3. I’m not sure how many of you know how it became famous and if you don’t I’ll let you find out on your own. But I’ll give you a clue, Waylon and Willie. What amazes me are the number of visitors who go there (just like us) to say they have seen it. It’s kind of like visiting Kokomo and not going and seeing Old Ben, it’s something one must do. So needless to say we went to Luckenbach and had a beer at the Post Office/gift shop/bar. The pictures of the cowgirls & cowboys building is the restrooms while visiting the town. I will say this, when one visits there you realize just how laid back, out of touch with the world, carefree, no worries or whatever you want to call it, you can be, just as the song says.
Our last night at Kerrville on the 15th of April was not planned to be our last night there, but due to circumstances beyond our control it was. We had seen several days of rain but nothing significant until Thursday. At 11 o’clock that night, we had someone pounding on our door to tell us they were having everyone hitch up their campers just in case the river might rise and we would need to evacuate. Now the message we got was “just in case”. By the time I got out of bed (I was trying to sleep),and Cindy and I went outside and started hooking and unhooking things, the EMS was telling people to evacuate. Now all this happened with-in a matter of a few minutes. When we closed the door at around 8 o’clock, and looked at the river it was only a couple of feet deep. By the time we stepped outside at 11 o’clock, the river was at the top of the bank, maybe around 9-10 deep, I didn’t know for sure without diving down and measuring it, which I was not going to do. We learned just how fast we could tear down, pack up, put away and move, all in around 15 minutes. The next day more rain was planned and they were not sure when we would get back into the park so we headed north to Amarillo Texas.
I’m writing this on Tuesday, the 20th and we are now getting settled into our new location in Estes Park, Colorado.
Another thought for the day: “You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough”.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wild Flowers, The Alamo and Riverwalk- San Antonio
There are a few things I have learned about Texas. One of them is this, Texas is a very large state and when you travel through it, the distance on the map takes a long long time to make it from point A-B. The other is that people here are very considerate when it comes to driving. You all know how in Kokomo that a red light means blow right on through it, a green light means wait and see how many people are going to run the red light they have, and yellow, it really serves no purpose other that to take up space between red and green. I have to admit that what we have experience here is that the majority of the people actually stop when the light turns red. Maybe it has something to do with the fact of all the cameras mounted at the intersections recording their every move. We also found this true in Arizona, and in Phoenix the fine alone for disregarding an automatic traffic signal amounted to $275 plus other fees attached. The last thing is that people out west like their speed. In Montana and Arizona anywhere from 65-75 on Interstates, here in Texas we actually were on a stretch on I-10 where it was posted 80mph and small 2 lane highways, such as our St Road 26, 70mph is pretty much the normal. For the most part we have found that people that are not driving 70 on the 2-lane roads, will actually pull over on the shoulder and let you go around. I guess since the state is so large people want to get from point A to point B without taking all day to do it.
We took a day and went to San Antonio and visited the “Alamo”. I will have to say that before now I was not too informed of what the Alamo actually was. I’m sure I fall in the category with most of you, that while attending high school, the Alamo was not on the top of our “to do list”. But I will say this, it was a very worth while place to go and visit and to actually learn about this thing called the Alamo. When one walks around and realizes you are actually at the scene of a historical event, it is a very humbling and rewarding experience. We also enjoyed the chance to spend some time on the San Antonio Riverwalk, an area of downtown with many shops and eateries.
A final thought for today: “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching.”
We took a day and went to San Antonio and visited the “Alamo”. I will have to say that before now I was not too informed of what the Alamo actually was. I’m sure I fall in the category with most of you, that while attending high school, the Alamo was not on the top of our “to do list”. But I will say this, it was a very worth while place to go and visit and to actually learn about this thing called the Alamo. When one walks around and realizes you are actually at the scene of a historical event, it is a very humbling and rewarding experience. We also enjoyed the chance to spend some time on the San Antonio Riverwalk, an area of downtown with many shops and eateries.
A final thought for today: “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching.”
Monday, April 5, 2010
1 Year On The Road!!
April 9, 2009, the day we left Indiana. It has been one year since we started on our “extended” vacation. We have been blessed with so many opportunities of visiting places and meeting people since then that is does not seem possible it has been a year.
In this world we live in it’s all about making choices. I tell people we meet it’s all about giving up one thing to get another. We made a choice to do this, knowing that it would take us away from family and friends, and this has been the hardest part of this trip. The thing that has made this adventure easier is knowing that our family and friends gave us their support and blessings before we left.
For those of you who read our blog, we hope you have enjoyed viewing our pictures and reading about our adventures as much as we have enjoyed sharing them with you.
There are too many things we have see and done to even begin to pick our favorite. Probably a couple of things that stand out above all else for me was the opportunity we had to go to Mexico for a week, along with our son David, and see our son Aaron ,and our new daughter in-law Laura, get married. The other one being the chance I had as a father and grandfather, to be with Randy, Connor and Dylan and watch them catch some real nice trout. Remember this "Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile"
In this world we live in it’s all about making choices. I tell people we meet it’s all about giving up one thing to get another. We made a choice to do this, knowing that it would take us away from family and friends, and this has been the hardest part of this trip. The thing that has made this adventure easier is knowing that our family and friends gave us their support and blessings before we left.
For those of you who read our blog, we hope you have enjoyed viewing our pictures and reading about our adventures as much as we have enjoyed sharing them with you.
There are too many things we have see and done to even begin to pick our favorite. Probably a couple of things that stand out above all else for me was the opportunity we had to go to Mexico for a week, along with our son David, and see our son Aaron ,and our new daughter in-law Laura, get married. The other one being the chance I had as a father and grandfather, to be with Randy, Connor and Dylan and watch them catch some real nice trout. Remember this "Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile"
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Texas, green grass, tall trees and water!
After a couple days of driving we arrived at our next stop, Kerrville, Texas. We chose this place due to the fact it is centrally located to some of the sites we wanted to see. Our park is named By The River Rv Park, and is located on the banks of the Guadalupe River. This area of Texas we are in is called the “Hill Country” and is really quite beautiful. The area has nice tall trees, green grass and water, something Cindy and I have missed seeing the past few months.
We went to a town called Fredericksburg which is an old German Town. The town is a shopping haven for those of you that like antiques. Store after store of antiques and gifts to buy, and plenty of food along the way. We actually went over there to see some of the wildflower fields but they were not in full bloom yet, so we’ll try it in a week or two.
We have been keeping busy taking some day trips throughout the area and enjoying the countryside. We have also had our days of just doing nothing but sitting by the river, reading and watching wildlife. We did take our bikes out to a city park with trails and we found out just how out of shape we really are. But on the positive side we at least attempted to do some riding and actually enjoyed the day (the aches and pains came the next day).
Our plans are to be here for a few more weeks and we want to visit San Antonio, LBJ Ranch, Corpus Christi , Austin and some other scenic drives. After that we will be heading to Estes Park and settle into the wonderful Rockies and prepare for the summer. Until next time consider this “Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have”.
We went to a town called Fredericksburg which is an old German Town. The town is a shopping haven for those of you that like antiques. Store after store of antiques and gifts to buy, and plenty of food along the way. We actually went over there to see some of the wildflower fields but they were not in full bloom yet, so we’ll try it in a week or two.
We have been keeping busy taking some day trips throughout the area and enjoying the countryside. We have also had our days of just doing nothing but sitting by the river, reading and watching wildlife. We did take our bikes out to a city park with trails and we found out just how out of shape we really are. But on the positive side we at least attempted to do some riding and actually enjoyed the day (the aches and pains came the next day).
Our plans are to be here for a few more weeks and we want to visit San Antonio, LBJ Ranch, Corpus Christi , Austin and some other scenic drives. After that we will be heading to Estes Park and settle into the wonderful Rockies and prepare for the summer. Until next time consider this “Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have”.
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