OOPS, The trip back to Colorado

OOPS, For some reason this one did not post the first time around.

The trip back to Colorado was an adventure in itself. The roads in Oregon were not well plowed, one highway was closed and we had to detour through the outback of eastern Oregon. It was beautiful. Bill drove through the night and I drove again starting early in the morning. It snowed all the way through Idaho with snow and ice on the road and snow in our face it was interesting. Nevada was plowed and not as bad. Colorado greeted us with sunshine, snow and clear roads. We had to hike into the dome when we got here but the warm bed was worth the hike. Bill had to call into the big machinery to get the jeep up the driveway this morning.

It was a great road trip. Me meeting Bill's friends and family, Bill meeting part of my family. I saw parts of the US I have never seen. I was amazed at the amount of land in all the states we went through that no one can or does live in. Lots of open range areas where it must take a great deal of land to raise one cow or support one horse. It was a grand 2 weeks. Thanks again to everyone we stayed with and visited with.

Arrival at the dome

We arrived at the dome at 3 in the afternoon but did not get done hiking up to the dome until a hour or so later. It snowed while we were gone. Bill had to call in the BIG Machines to get the jeep up the hill.

Visit with Kassi

Bill and I spent a couple of days with Kassi. Her cousin Amanda had a baby girl the day after this picture was taken.

Christmas with Waylon, Bren, Christa, and Connor

We had a wonderful time visiting with Waylon, Bren, Christa, and Connor. It was a treat to watch Connor open his first Christmas presents.

Forgot this picture:)

Day 2

We traveled from Salt Lake City to Oregon to stay with another friend of Bill's. It was beautiful sunny and a great drive. We played the slot machines on our way through Nevada. Saw the wind mills in the setting sun through Nevada and Idaho. It was a long day, over 12 hours of driving. As we approached the last pass into Milton Freewater a new adventure arrived. Snow, wind and a closed highway. The wind almost blew the door off the jeep (we got it fixed in Milton-Freewater) and a BIG front end loader that had stalled in the middle of the road, in the middle of the snow storm, with NO, and I repeat NO light or reflectors on it. Thank goodness Bill is quick on the response to blocked roadways. We totaled a mailbox, but the jeep was not damaged, we were fine. The farmer was upset, Bill was upset, Emily and I were just glad to still be in the car and that it was still all in one piece. We spent a couple of nights with Terry and Laura while we waited out the snow storm.

Day 4 was spent traveling onto Seattle to meet Waylon at the airport. The highways had been cleared and we were about 30 minutes early to get to Waylon's arrival. We spent the afternoon and evening with Christa, Brendan, Connor, and Waylon. It was so nice to have everyone back together again.

Day 5: Spent sleeping and catching up. Finished our Christmas Shopping while Christa recovered from a flu shot. Bren and Waylon spent the day visiting.

Christmas Trip 2008

We started out on our Christmas Trip with Bill having to plow us out at the dome before we could leave. Then it was a road trip to Salt Lake City to stay with PJ and his family. I have never driven across the states so it has been quite the adventure for me. Here are some pictures to share.

Colorado Early Christmas

We had a wonderful evening with Billl's Step-daughter and her family.  We cleaned, decorated, cooked a great dinner and watched the kids enjoy their Christmas presents.  It was wonderful!

14" today and it is still snowing:)  The weather station says we are in the middle of a severe winter storm.  Looks very pretty to me.  The ski lifts in Creste Butte opened this weekend.  I am sure the snow lift operators are loving this weather.  

Emily is sure enjoying the snow and Bill is trying hard to keep ahead of it and keep the driveway clear with his plow.  I just kept the wood stove nice and warm and made a cherry pie.  Sounded like a good way to spend the day to me.

SNOW!!   Thanksgiving Evening it started to snow.  It is about 3 inches deep. 

 Not much but oh so beautiful!   Besides it was just right for the first snow man of the season.

November Geology Adventure

Dr. Bill and I went on a geology adventure November 23, 2008.  We went up into the Gunnison National Forest. He pointed out the last bit of sandstone at the edge of the Colorado Plateau.  We viewed the head waters of the Roaring Judy Creek and the sandstone hill that it has, over time, cut into.  We hiked into a hunting camp where traditional buckskin hunters bring their horses each year to hunt both elk and deer as they migrate through this area.   Walked the tailings of an old uranium mine.  The tailings are full of magnesium and mica, sparkling  in the sun.  It is called "yellow cake" , this is the raw  rock form that uranium is mined from.  Don't worry our water has been tested and it is fine.   We hiked down into a gorge until the ice and snow got a little too slippery.   We came across granite rocks, huge quartz, a beautiful bonsai, and of course lots of Aspen and Ponderosa pine.  Wild high mountain juniper was up there too and as we return to lower elevations lots of sage.   Bill is standing on top of the large quartz:)