Upon Arriving Home

No trip lasts forever.  We went to the Co chapter of the Escapees’ rally in Montrose for a few days, then to the Blue Mesa membership campground near Gunnison.  We experienced springtime in Colorado in both places, Gunnison being in full bloom along their main streets of apple, flowering plum, lilac and other flowering trees.  The petals blew in the wind, of which there was adequate supply.  On the other hand, there were days of shimmering stillness on the lake, and the bluest of skies, that only Coloradans can picture with accuracy.

We enjoyed a renewed friendship with Bill and Lesle, who bought a membership while at Blue Mesa, so we will be looking forward to meeting up with them along the circuit in the future.  We also nurtured a new friendship with Anita and Herb, who landed a job with the city of Gunnison to assist in hosting at the city campground called Palisade on the west side of Gunnison.  Its the job made in heaven: 10 hours a week for each, office and computer help with no cleaning or grounds maintenance.  The city has landed a jewel, which it won’t take them long to discover, as Herb is a PhD in economics, extensive experience in management of public and private institutions, as well as a rancher in the best cowboy style for all of his life, and Anita a retired school teacher and mentor extraordinaire.  The city can’t afford to pay them what they are worth, but they can stay in one spot for the summer for nothing but the work, and enjoy one of Colorado’s most beautiful spots.  We introduced them to my sorority sister and husband, Ellie and Michael, thinking the four of them would enjoy one another’s company for the summer.

Then we came home.  While gone, the rain hardly stopped, only long enough for the sun to shine all the growth from the fertile earth to reach for the skies.  Knee deep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thistles, weeds, iris, tulips, sunflowers beginning, and weeds, grass gone to seed, and more weeds.  I have spent the last three days on my hands and knees flooding to soften the roots, and pulling pounds and pounds of unwanted growth from the flower beds.  I realized there are only three unavoidable things in life: taxes, death and bind weed.  Boy that stuff hangs on, choking the life out of everything it can climb. 

This morning we had a choice to make: couples club brunch and reconnection with our dearest friends, or church services at our new Living Water Unity community.  David is very committed to making the financial situation of the church improve, and felt he wanted to be there in order to continue to organize that effo,t, so we went to church.  David,the minister, spoke a message which touched my heart: the purpose and intent of the creation of the earth and us was, and is, the expression of love and beauty and joy of the Source of our Being.  Then he showed a picture on the screen of the sea bird off the shore of New Orleans drowning in spilt oil and gasping its last breath.  How did we get here???????  The challenge to be better stewards of this earth and its resources is clear.  Our part as individual expressions of the Creator of Love are clear: do our part in conservation, simplification and awareness, as well as pray into consciousness the intent of cleanliness, carefulness, purity and love for the whole earth, living together in harmony and cooperation for the good of all.  Taking individual responsibility for what we can do is not really so hard, now is it????

Well the weeds are almost all gone, though they will be back.  Anyone know a part time gardener who would look out for my roses and few other flowers as well as root out the weeds for the summer months?  I am willing to hire.  We love our new coach, with its leak in the kitchen sink below the floor surface, the igniter in the diesel hot water heater, the brakes, and the mother board in the washer dryer are challenges which hopefully will be met by Thur when we are supposed to leave for a rally in Co Springs of which we are in charge.  It is with the club of Suite owners, which we used to own, but was SOLD LAST WEEK!!!!!!!!!!! (hip hip hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( to quote one of my favorite cousins upon hearing of the firmed  date for my second hip replacement surgery).  Today we had two serious lookers at the pop up camper – one of which is supposed to show up with money tomorrow.  SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!  Then all that is left is the truck – our lovely truckie – sacrificed for the motor coach life style.  Miss truckie.  But it was a good truck for us, and will find another grateful home.  And for those of you who have named your GPSs Gertie – as many whom we have met along the way have;  you can change it to a male voice with a very sexy Aussie accent, more pleasing to the ear.  So now Gertie has been renamed Jake, and is allowed to speak when directions are needed. 

Till next time, encourage the campgrounds to recycle, remember your reusable shopping bags when you go to the store, be conservative in you use of gasoline and oil products, love your neighbor and yourself, and write to me.  I love hearing from all of you who find the time and thought to say hello.  And the rest of you too!!

Now that the wind is gone:

Well, mostly gone most of the time.  We are concerned about reports hail and high winds close to home.  It froze the water supply on Mon here, and connections are spotty and slow at best.  So communications have been at a minimum.

We experienced our first Colorado Chapter Escapees rally last week in Montrose.  It was delightful but very busy.  The wagon masters set the bar very high.  The chapter has just reorganized in the last two years, and the VP is the wagon master.  We ate well thanks to Judy, and were well entertained thanks Judy and Chuck’s efforts.  We bought some stinky cheese at a “natural” type dairy, and experienced some wind and weather.  Since arriving at Blue Mesa we have been cool till the last couple of days.  Several Co Chapter members followed us here, and one couple joined the membership camp ground where we are staying.  So we will have friends to visit and catch up on our travels, with more than one group of individuals. 

Lake City is not far away, and we had a picnic trip today with a very interesting couple with whom I have very distant past connections and common acquaintances.  One of those connections is Maxine Hamilton who went to High school with us up to our junior year when my Dad bought their house and they moved to LaJunta where this couple knew them well, and went to High school with both girls.  Small world.

Lake City is still as charming as ever.  We picnicked there then went to the Southern Style restaurant for pie and coffee.  It was early in the season for most businesses, and many were not yet open, but this cafe is the best on the western slope, and we were glad to revisit it.  We took the cutoff road home across the blue mesa, and were surprised at the lushness of the ranch land up on the mesa, and how beautiful it is in this year of abundant rain and snowfall.  The reservoir is very low, apparently awaiting spring run off, which should be exciting to see this year.   The mountain tops are white with snow, and the rivulets and gullies rushing.  The pastureland is more like swampland at this point. 

Crested Butte (commonly known as Cressy But here) is also charming as ever.  We tried to take the high road in the back way, but Keebler Pass is still closed due to mud and wet road.  We didn’t argue, not looking to get stuck in the mud.  Of course ice cream at the Chocolate Factory was a must after lunch, and the drive down the Gunnison river through Almont is always beautiful, and this year with lots of baby calves to see, elk in the fields, and the budding aspen trees against the blue sky – I must quit bragging on the Co scenery and charm or you all will move here, and we’ve enough folks here already.  We would keep the secret to keep it beautiful. 

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My total hip surgery date is July 23.  The nurse called this morning – working the week end hours to get caught up on her schedule.  The date couldn’t fit better with our travel plans, so now we can move on and get the plans going.   I look forward to having it done and over with.  A year later plus a little on the right one, and I guess it is 90% successful or so.  I have my days, but the left is definitely ready to be better.

Till next time, probably Colorado Springs at the SOITC rally.  That stands for Suite Owners International Travel Club.  As we are no longer Suite owners, (the name of our former 5th wheel RV), it will be our last rally with these folks, but we expect to see the Stohoffers, and others along the way on our travels.  As Cheri Strohoffer says we can’t pick our friends by the kind of RV they own, although it has been a joy thus far.  We have met some amazing folks, and continue to do so.  The life style is not for everyone, but the people we meet along the way have given us much pleasure.  Now it is time for a park dinner (steak or chicken), so must go eat.  What else is new.   

Learning as we go

We are making progress.  I almost know where all the light switches are, although it may take two or three tries.  I know how to work the washer and dryer, although the dryer doesn’t work worth a darn.  It is one of those combo units, and I don’t see a lint filter, to the external vent may be blocked.  The washer works great, though slow, and I can hang the stuff on hangers and a rack inside next to an open window, turn on the AC fan and in 2 hours they are dry.  love Colorado. 

We enjoyed the Chapter 2 – Colorado chapter of Escapees – rally very much.  The wagon masters set the bar pretty high.  They cooked, a breakfast, and 2 or three dinners.  Too much work, but she loves to entertain and had all kinds of chafing dishes, and stuff.  Good thing they towed a car to carry it all in.  Our friends Dennis and Susan Lovaas  came along, and joined the club while there, which we are delighted about.  We met up with Lesle and Bill too, who had gone to Mexico with us, and they followed us to our membership campground near Gunnison, at the Blue Mesa reservoir.  They bought a membership while there as well, so we have travelling buddies almost everywhere. 

Lesle is a computer guru, so I got inspired to download Skype, though I haven’t used it yet to see if it works.  I am mostly motivated to talk to my brother and see him, but if anyone who reads this is on Skype let me know when you can call me and we will look at each other and chat.  providing I have adequate hook up.  We have a new gismo called MyFi.  It is about the size of a credit card, from Verizon and replaces the Verizon card, which stuck out from the computer, and generally worked, but this is faster.  It doesn’t need to be plugged into anything except to recharge, and the signal can go around corners and obstacles.  It is not expensive, and THE latest thing – today. 

It is humming bird season at Blue Mesa, and David has hung a thistle sock, a hummingbird feeder, and a bird food cake.  The latter the chipmunks love best, but on the others the bird population is teaming.  The wind has blown very hard for a few days, but those little hummers hang on there, and a feeding, mating and fighting frenzy goes on.  The cat has several cat TV stations to watch, and has snuck our more than once to join the party. 

Of course David has something to fix every day – or two or three somethings.  The seat on the toilet, a leak in the kitchen sink, the windshield wipers, on and on it goes.  But he figured out the Bose sound system, and we have satellite radio, as well as a CD player going all the time.  Bill ran his truck over our TV satellite while at the rally, so a new one is on order, and his insurance covered it, so everyone is happy, if a little sheepish, us for putting it in harms way, and he for backing up too fast to see it.  We should get the new one in a few days.  Meanwhile new towers must have come with the new digital TV deal, because the antenna here is not all that bad.  Not many people here, so it is quiet, and I am almost rested from the rally. Bill and Lesle have decided to prolong their stay here, so maybe I will get to that camera project yet. 

Completing the outfit

We finally got the “toad” (a car to tow behind the new motor coach) and all the necessary equipment installed.  We found a Jeep Liberty on Craig's list, and the price and condition fit the bill nicely.  That being accomplished, the usual litany of what can go wrong next on the coach continues, but that is part of the life style, albeit gets pricey sometimes.  In any case, this trip finds us in Montrose Co with the Co chapter of Escapees.  This is our first outing with this chapter, and about 13 rigs are here I think.  All nice folks as Escapee members always are. 

Our trip here was relatively uneventful, and we are glad we chose to come when we did.  Had we come a day earlier, Monarch pass was in white out conditions with high winds and ice.  Friends had terrorizing experiences getting over the pass, and are glad to be alive.  Others were involved in a multi car – truck accident which took hours to clear up and get moving, the police never made it to the scene.  We certainly were glad to miss all that adventure.  Something is casting shadows today outside, and completely blue skies reign, which we haven’t seen in weeks it seems.  Snow on May 14, mixed with rain and thunder, all un-necessary in my opinion, but no one was asking it seems. 

Montrose is a lovely town, with a Russell Stover outlet discount store on Main street.  We will stop there and get someone’s favorite marshmallow filled chocolate santas, plus maybe a little more to satisfy my sweet tooth.  Our campground is 8 miles south of the town, looking on down south onto the most majestic, breath-taking mountain view of the San Juan – Telluride area.  It is encased in white, and backed by the Colorado blue sky we all love.  The group here has plenty planned, and we will make new friends, whom we will see along the way at other Escapee functions.I am sure. 

Springtime in Colorado outdid itself this year.  I am sorry for all of you that didn’t share it.  Tulips were abundant – luxurious.  The lilacs were just at their peak when we left, and my Mother’s day rose has wet fertile soil to begin its life in my garden.  My son and family came for the occasion, which was a special treat.  We got acquainted a little with my 1 year old grandson, but he didn’t have much time left over for us.  Just walking and determined to see it all in one day.  His fathers son I am sure.  We will be home in time to see the roses bloom, and the sunflowers to smile at us each day. 

I completed the electronic class conducted by our new minister, David Hedges.  He hopes to conduct the class 3-4 times a year in order to utilize the technology and increase interest in subject matter of users choice.  It was truly an enlightening and memorable class.  If you are interested in spiritual classes on line, go to the web page www.livingwater.org and contact him there.  He is an electronic genius as well as a scholar and great teacher.  He will be delighted to hear from you. 

Off to town to wash the Jeep and visit the old faithful Wal-Mart.  Look forward to hearing from you, and I promise my camera lessons begin this week.