The Missing Piece

 Who would guess that Griff would make a new friend on his adventure 

 

 

 Griffin the Bison travels with Dick and Deb on their adventures. On YouTube at  tiny.cc/TravelingBuffalo

  Just when you need them they are there for you even when you don't know you need them. Canyon Land is divided into 3 segments  Needles,  Island in the Sky, and The Maze are accessible from the other which makes no sense until it does.  Canyon Land is at the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. The sections are separated.by the river. We chose the Needles because there was mention of wall art. It also happened to be farther from Moab where we were for the night. We arrived when the gate house was still closed. Here is where the park magic happens.  As we drove in the gate was not open yet but we soon found that we needed to leave the park to check our propane levels of there would be no coffee.  Returning a short time later the gate was staffed. The woman mentioned that 10 spots had just opened in the first come first serve section of the camp ground.  How did she know that we had no plans for the night and were beginning to feel stuck in the ...

Click Read More to view our map as we update our progress. 

 I love to collect signs along the road. Here are some if my favorites  along the way. Classic 50's sign in Cotez

The National Park Service is full of great secrets. You need to ask the right questions and explore a bit to find out the latest tour, the secret parking or in this case the pies. As we were walking into the Visitor Center at Capital Reef I over heard one ranger say to the other, "Are we going to stop for pie on the way?"  The other replied, "Yes, hopefully they will still have some."  So when approached the information desk I was prepared with the right question. "What about those pies?" It turns out that the Gifford Historic Homestead in Fruitas they sell pies - wonderful fruit pies but thy usually sell out by 1:30. We got there in time for a peach and a strawberry rhubarb.

Driving through Bureau of Land Management lands today I have been seeing signs for Open Range - Cattle. I kept my eyes wide and phone ready for the cattle shot.  I was doing one of the many things that I do while Dick drives - knitting, blogging, map reading and writing.Dick murmured, "Cows”. I fumbled for my phone unlocking the screen, choosing video while realizing that that the camera was reflecting my excited face rather than the cows we were passing. The cows complete with cowboy talking on his cell phone.  PS Also missed a shot of  flock of sheep and a horse on the Open Range.  Evidently they don't warrant their own road signs.

  One of the few flowers at Colorado National Monument that I caught the name of.

 But wait there's more Colorado!  Leaving Penrose we took US 50 on a lovely mountain drive. There was a lot of construction that gave us periodic opportunities to soak in the views. Eventually a detour took us through the townless mountains and to interstate 70 past the civilization of No Name, Silt, Rifle and Parachute. Last night's #HarvestHost was at Gubbii winery in Pallasades, Colorado. After a drive through the mountains this was another verdant area this time with grapes and peaches - acres and acres of peaches. Pallasades, population 4,700, appears to be booming with peach harvest from June through September, Wine bars, fe

Dick is missing his two favorite poodles. He carries dog biscuits with him to make new friends.  We are keeping a dog life list along the way.  Chocolate Lab Poodle  Schnauzer  Long and short haired dachshund  Common local mix that looks like a Bernese crossed with a border collie Melber. KY Grand Junction, Colorado  Oh yes and a Colorado yard sale

Penrose Colorado - population 3,500 Driving from Kansas to Colorado was beautiful but  had lots more in store for us. Our goal for the day was another #HarvestHost - Apple Valley Cider Company in Penrose Colorado. south of Colorado Springs As at many Harvest Hosts it took us off the beaten path and provided a personal view of small town life. Kevin, our host does non usually take visitors on weekdays but he was bottling and we were persuasive.  We watched him bottle as we tasted a variety of ciders - apple, apple/current, apple/cherry, apple/peach, apple-pineapple and brandy. We asked about Penrose and how it became an apple producing area. It seems that in the time of the Goldrush an enterprising fellow decided that it would be more lucrative to supply the miners than to look for gold himself. He planted and orchard and other fruits and vegetable and was able to ship them via the new railroad to the miners who were delighted to get fresh produce and happy to pay top dollar....

You can see forever.  Spent the night in Park,  Kansas, population 117. First impression was barren but once I focused on the sky I changed my mind. Wind and rain and beautiful clouds. 

Ever since I heard Annette Lamb in 2009 at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference present online from her rv I wanted to do that too. A lot has changed since 2009 in technology and for me. Last night I got my chance. I taught NHTI BTC Google Level 1 Bootcamp from Wages Brewery  in West Plains, Missouri. After class I had a Good Morning Stout and Gyro Pizza. Another wonderful #HarvestHost stay.

Random signs and towns in Missouri.  Towns near the cowboy. Humanville  Pleasanton  Peculiar 

Sautéed veggies with strawberries and wine for dessert. Loved the fresh produce and the friendly folks at HayCo Farm. Another great #HarvestHost location. 

  Buffalo Trace Distillery  Lovely day at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.  Huge facility worth the visit. The longest continually producing distillery in the country 

 After not having a mouse problem in the RV all winter we found evidence of a mouse. Actually it was the half eaten package of Oreos that caught pur attention. Many loads of wash later we decided that we could not pack any food that we couldn't fit in the fridge until we are ready leave. Same for towels and sheets not that we are putting them in the fridge but we are waiting for the morning so that we don't need to do another load of wash.  Hopefully they will be caught by then. Update 5/19 No mice caught, seen or heard. The current theory is that it was actually a New Hampshire mouse on a 'day' or actually  "night pass' visitor. It was nature's way of tlimg us to leave.