And what a great summer indeed! Lots of happy campers, lots of kids (ever notice how little girls can scream?) and lots of animals this year.

As we pulled out our 3 male elk that greeted us when we showed up in May, were at the bottom of the hill to say good-bye. And have they ever grown!

Nadja and Norm will be missed next year, their humor, especially Nadja (Puerto Rican) had such a hard time with the altitude (8280 ft about sea level) and said “her poor little PR lungs just can’t handle not being able to breathe”. Norm was a god-send as he was the handy man that even Ty has been looking for. He fixed our truck’s back light, he fixed the truck’s bent step, he fixed our Malibu’s front head light and punched out the back bumper that has been dented for years. He even rushed over when I could hear this beeping noise in the rig (by the way a beeping noise in the rig is never a good sign) which turned out to be my ear phones needing to be charged. Thanks N&N, you were fun and will be missed, good luck on all your Great Adventures!

Cindy and Lance who were with us last year, also decided that greener pastures, places to explore await them next year. Lance, a very funny guy, would rather sit in his bathrobe and watch TV all while the rest of us were sitting around the evening fire. FINALLY, he came around after much ribbing about the robe thing. He had some great stories to tell. Cindy, what a help she was when we got really busy. One day while Ty and I were on duty we had a real camper jam-up at registration. Seems like everyone came in at the same time, and of course there were problems. I looked out the window and there was Cindy directing traffic like an air traffic controller. Waving her arms, moving people on, then she grabs a clip board and starts to the prelim of check-in. Thank YOU! Sorry I don’t have a pic of you two.

Diane and Steve, who will be returning next year – jeez they have a lot of guts for jumping into the fire, no experience. The park was short a couple, so they answered an ad for hosting on Friday and showed up the following Wednesday ready to go. Steve had just retired, was looking for something to do (according to their daughter) and Diane is a college professor. When they arrived, the season already started and they dove in. Steve was always giving the kiddos rides in the cart, taking firewood to people after hours, bringing them s’mores fixings for the fire. Great host. And my bud Diane seemed like she always drew the short straw when it came to problems: rigs too big for campground, reservations but the wrong days, tents in RV sites or visa versa and we all high fived the day her drawer balanced at the end of shift! And she was a quick study in learning the crazy computer system. Look forward to you two next year!

Lin and Greg are the old timers, but by no means the old ones. They have all the experience and southern Texas charm. Always there when you need them, ready to pitch in an help. Learned a lot from them and they were always ready for an evening fire to relax by and tell stories. Glad you two are coming back.

Tenting

Yes, we tented twice. Just short 2-night excursion get aways which is actually easier to tent then pick up Wanda and haul. And we enjoy it and will probably do it again next year.

Went to Red Feathers Lake, which is in northern Colorado, stunning scenery and the to Palisades, that is in the western side of Colorado on the Western Slope as it is known. Wild ponies to see was our intent, although it was too hot and they were too far into the hills; however, peaches, peaches, peaches everywhere. Hoping that skeleton is not pony remains.

Packed up Wanda, said our teary goodbyes and we start to head for Florida via Minnesota. Not exactly on the way but that is where the Riley’s live and we needed a little liver pre-empting before winter in Blueway FL. Spent a great boating week with them and Dana and Angie from TN caught up with us as well as Mike and Leslie!

Then moved on East to visit another BW camper, Gina, in Wisconsin. Just an overnighter, but great to see her as she is always so upbeat it is contagious.

Still heading East and South we camped in KanKaKee River Illinois with Ty’s brother Mark and his family, Jen (wife), Sean (son), Kelsey (d-i-law), Mason (the main attraction, 2 year grandbaby), and Kyle (son) for a few days.

Off to Ludington Michigan (oops going North now – but still East) for a few days with Michigan long time good friends, Tom and Leslie, and celebrated 55years of wedded blisters. Then going North some more, Michele and Jerry (Ty’s sailing buddy) in Cedar MI on Little Traverse Lake for more boating. If you ever want to see beauty – go to Lake Michigan!

Turned South and down to Holly MI where we spent time with a lot of family and friends.

Moss DyAnn and MyStyee and Michigan Jim and Patti all from Blueway for dinner at River Rat

Ty’s other brother, Dave and Sandy and Chet’s sister Maggie

My sister, Sue and niece Colleen, who live in Windsor

Lynn and Mark who we go WAY WAY back with

Lastly my girlfriends, Peg and MaryEllen (Ty went and got coney islands for lunch)

Travels Westward

We had 3 weeks to wander around on our way around and for a change decided to take all back roads and do the lower section of the US.  Lower Florida, Arkansas (briefly), Mississippi, Texas then into New Mexico where the first stop was Carlsbad Caverns to experience all the the bats in flight. Bummer, bats are still in Mexico and will not made the migration north till May. We were still able to go into the Caverns which was a pretty decent hike I would say about 3-4 miles. Could have been longer but we cut it short. Pictures of the cave do not do it justice

Ok, so now what. Well, there is always Roswell, home of the only alien crash landing (suppositively). Roswell was just a small oil town before the Aliens showed up, then it boomed into a big tourist town. Now that all the hullaballoo is over, Roswell is a very tired, empty place with just a few “hanger on’rs”. One of them is the museum which we had to go through since we are here. Whomever the curator is or was was into documentation. Walls covered with all of the sighting reports, police reports, first hand accounts it was way too much for me.  I am more of a visual person so I skipped all that and went for the demonstrations (there was only 1). Ty, on the other hand, reads everything, all of it while I find a chair and nap. If you ever want to discuss the Roswell Incident, Ty is your man.

We have ARRIVED!

Finally, we arrive for our jobs all happy and excited to begin. Joining us were 2 new host couples also excited and curious just what they had signed up for. Turns out this is a wonderful group of people that just meld together like we are long time friends. That is a good thing because we are all together for 4 months. So many nights of sitting around the campfire sharing stories, helping out with the host duties and watching their dogs and cats when they are away.

Immediately greeting us were 2 bull elks that frequent the camp last year – they have no fear of people and just come right up to camp

And Chet and Stone renewed their friendship

Visitors – we love company!

Florida friends, Candy and Gary, came and stayed at our sister campground, Marys Lake, then we did a couple of hiking trails plus toured them around Trail Ridge Road (highest continuous road in the US). Candy is so funny, she takes pictures of everything – makes for a slow go but I’m not in a hurry. Didn’t really know them when in Florida, but that has all changed now – great to meet new people.

Amy’s neighbor, Diana and Carter, came up from Boulder for a few days and stayed in our campground. They stayed in a tent! God Bless Them – it was cold at night when they were here. We acted as tour guides and took them around to all our favorite spots – we love doing that.

My nephew Fred and wife Martha briefly stopped by for lunch on their way from someplace to somewhere.

Cousin Stacey dropped in for a few days to visit with Amy.

Then of course, the family manages a few days here and there, got to watch Chet for a few days but I will tell you he was ready to go back home to Scotty where he doesn’t have to get up at 6am, hike, and not bark at everyone passing by.  He is a good but funny dog and he definitely knows who/what he wants.

Hikes and TENT Camping – What?

Ty and I have taken some incredible hikes; it took us awhile to get our legs back in shape for the uphill grind; but so far, all the miles have been worth it!

Had to get away from the daily grind of camp hosting; had 2 days off and went up to Red Feathers Lake. Beautiful lake, no swimming, however lot of paddleboarders and fishing. We were pretty lazy the first day, just hung around. Next day after a peanut butter and jelly breakfast with my coffee (those who know me know I prefer not to eat pb&j’s but we didn’t really pack anything) we hiked. I swore after the Newfoundland trip that tenting was never going to happen again. Well…..

Oh, the camping units that have come through…

The days of the canvas tent and a tarp to throw over it to protect it from the rain is long gone! Now you will see everything from hammocks with tent tarps, cars that have tents that come out the back to all sorts of trailers and trucks with tents attached in all manner. No two alike either!

December 15 – April 22

I like wintering in Florida – think Ty not so much but maybe only because it is too humid and there are no hills. But it isn’t always warm in the winter – a couple of times it went down to 49 degrees and people were walking around in their down coats wondering if the RV pipes were going to freeze. Most of the time for me, I like the temps.

Ty desperately wanted to go back to Colorado to ski again, and he did! He learned that he was good once as he once was (in other words – he is not doing it again). He actually loved his month away skiing a little slower than in the past, snowshoeing a little slower than in the past and going to bed a lot earlier than in the past. He sold his skis and boots on his last day in the mountains and bid adieu to that pastime. Wouldn’t surprise me if he goes again in February just because he can.

Me – I was one busy lady. I remodeled the RV main living area. First, I refinished the upper cabinets, staining them a natural wood color to make the area a little brighter (I did a couple of cupboards last summer this time I finished all upper cupboards). Then I repainted two back walls, one behind the TV the other over the credenza. After that I tackled the island and repainted it black and put in copper panel inserts to cover up the really crap wood. Onto the dining table which was painted black but had such beautiful wood grain underneath; so, I just put a natural varnish on the top and painted the base black to cover up the Chet marks. Finally, I tackled the flooring which I scrubbed and got 6 years’ worth of grime out of the cracks, then put down a polish that makes the flooring look new again. I did all this the month of February while Ty was gone – he was very happy that he was not involved in any of this work!

Never a dull moment

Wintering in one spot is like being in college except there are no exams, no studying and I can afford it! Blueway, while not the most luxurious place as far as RV resorts go, but it is a fun place. Bi monthly themed pool parties, major holiday celebrations, pot lucks, Euchre, corn hole, pickleball and not to forget just the pool to hang out to cool off. Combine that with all the places we went to that have terrific bands for dancing, great dinner spots on the water, the tourist activities that we did and the nights at someone’s RV just having a good time. Never were we lacking for something to do. And the best part? Usually sound asleep by 10pm!!

We are always happy to visit with John and Sandy and are very grateful for them letting us use their address for residency and collecting what mail we get and forwarding it on to us. Sandy, by the way, is an excellent cook and even left over dinners are the best eating. John and Sandy have been our friends for over 55 years, John went to grade school with Ty. Lots of history there.

It was very hard for me not to see my friend Denise with us at La Ola’s. We danced and laugh in her memory for sure. Kit was a trooper; he spent the winter down in FL spending much healing time at La Ola’s singing with Johnnie Walker. Kit sure can get a crowd going! We also did the annual Fort Myers Beach Fundraiser which is a putting event.

Family

My brother Will and bride Pam wintered in a place not too far from us and we got together a few times although never enough. Sad to say that Will has decided to hang up the RV keys; our days of traveling together are over. Sure, was a good 9 year run tho!

Colleen, my niece on the Ouellette side of family, came down for a very relaxing visit.

Amy and Scott just scooted in at the last week for a quick weekend.

Chet prefers the cooler climates so we left him in Colorado with Amy in December. His girl dog friend, MysTee, was not happy that he was not there. She would come in the rig and sniff all around for him, jump on our bed. Maybe next year. There were A LOT of dogs this year, all that walked by got treats.

Even had a nesting gopher tortoise by the park entrance which I fed daily.

All of a sudden it is time to go!

Took us a week to break camp, find a storage unit for all the stuff we have accumulated (returning next year) and get back on the road. We were actually kind of proud of ourselves for being able to ready Wanda for departure without a hitch, hook her up and pull out. Heading back to Colorado, Estes Park for the summer. Will make a few stops along the way.