The Riders made it home to Connecticut. We had many adventures, met many new friends and saw the country from one end to another and it is a big and great country.
The last blog was written in Louisville with a great bourbon and if I can remember its name I will enjoy it again.
After the Riders left Durango and the jammers we headed for Rapid City, South Dakota and the Black Hills, but before that we had to do some serious traveling. We headed up through he San Juan Mountains and made it up to over 13,000 feet, for a sense of proportion, Avon mountain is almost 650 feet above sea level. The views were spectacular. We went up down , around and through mountains.
On the way we stopped in Boulder and took a look at Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods, a unique experience looking a a great mountain behind spires of golden rocks. The Riders celebrated with a sandwich and some ice tea and then back on the road.
When we entered Wyoming all we could think about was little house on the prairie. Miles and miles of grass lands with a sprinkling of towns where the amount of elevation is more than the populations. The moon off the prairies is a sight never to forget and the Riders became very romantic.
The next stop was the State Game Lodge in the Custer National Park, we tried to stay in the Calvin Coolidge room but we could not talk to front desk into giving us a break. We woke up to a beautiful day and antelope, off we went to Mount Rushmore.
Gazing at Mount Rushmore is truly a unique moment, it brings together not only the art of man but also the greatest of America and the grandness of nature.
For some reason the smaller of the riders wanted to visit caves, not a problem whne you are 5'4 but can cause bumps and brusies when you are 6' with broad shoulders. The cave we chose to visit was Rushmore Cave. The cave had a intresting history, it seems that many of the locals visited the cave to party. I could just picture a bunch of cowboys wiggling into a cave with laterns so they could drink whiskey and party, it is not a pretty sight.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
In the Home Stretch
In case you are worried, the Riders are safely in Louisville Kentucky. I am having a Basil Hayden Bourbon, which according to Kim our bartender at the historic Brown hotel is the best there is and I believe her.
The Riders have had many adventures and I will use this time to try and bring everyone up to date.
I left off as we were headed for Durango. We stayed at the Apple Orchard Inn where every room is named for apple. It was very cute. They had dogs who like to smell us like they have never smelled anyone from Connecticut. I guess we have an unique odor.
Durango was very nice but seemed to be trying to find itself... is it a upscale yuppie town with trendy alternative lifestyle types or is it a cowboy town with cute shops and restaurants?
We had drinks at a saloon with an 82 year old piano player and then had dinner at an upscale restaurant under an umbrella while it rained. Very romantic if you like wet meat.
A highlight of Durango is the Silverton Railroad that is a steam engine that goes up to Silverton Colorado a old mining town in the mountains. We ate at a place called Grumpy's where I felt that I belonged. The restaurant was on Blair Street which was where all the working girls lived.
The riders wanted to meet the locals so we went to the Durango Brewing Company "Real Beer, Real Town" for a bluegrass jam sessions. I was concerned that we might have been in a Deliverence reunion. About a dozen jammers came in to play and I asked why it was so popular, until the bartender told us that the brewery provide free beer to the jammers which explained why every street musician was in the bar. I was able to get a couple of spoons to play but the bartender told me I had to really try and by that it was after 9:00 and I was not at my best.
Tim & Gail
The Riders have had many adventures and I will use this time to try and bring everyone up to date.
I left off as we were headed for Durango. We stayed at the Apple Orchard Inn where every room is named for apple. It was very cute. They had dogs who like to smell us like they have never smelled anyone from Connecticut. I guess we have an unique odor.
Durango was very nice but seemed to be trying to find itself... is it a upscale yuppie town with trendy alternative lifestyle types or is it a cowboy town with cute shops and restaurants?
We had drinks at a saloon with an 82 year old piano player and then had dinner at an upscale restaurant under an umbrella while it rained. Very romantic if you like wet meat.
A highlight of Durango is the Silverton Railroad that is a steam engine that goes up to Silverton Colorado a old mining town in the mountains. We ate at a place called Grumpy's where I felt that I belonged. The restaurant was on Blair Street which was where all the working girls lived.
The riders wanted to meet the locals so we went to the Durango Brewing Company "Real Beer, Real Town" for a bluegrass jam sessions. I was concerned that we might have been in a Deliverence reunion. About a dozen jammers came in to play and I asked why it was so popular, until the bartender told us that the brewery provide free beer to the jammers which explained why every street musician was in the bar. I was able to get a couple of spoons to play but the bartender told me I had to really try and by that it was after 9:00 and I was not at my best.
Tim & Gail
Friday, September 4, 2009
Catching up
The riders are heading home and while we have been posting pictures we have been lacking in our narratives. The main reason is that I am tired, Gail has reminded me that I am not 23 anymore and driving all day and drinking all night can take its toll over 20 or so days. I will try and catch up.
Zion is a great canyon, the colors are striking and roads are scary. The park has a shuttle but the riders had to move on and decide to drive on their own!! After winding up the mountain and round the curves we made it out safely. There is one tunnel that is over a mile long, the riders had to challenge the RV's and buses to make it through and we were succcessful.
Bryce Canyon has hoodoos. For those of us who are not geologists a hoodoo is a rock formation that looks like a tower. It is formed through the action of water and ice on rock. They are very impressive as the light hits them during sunset. Ps. Gail said it was romantic.
After Bryce we drove to Page Arizona to spend the night and left the next day for Durango Colorado. Durango was a whole new adventure which I will blog later.
Tim & Gail
Zion is a great canyon, the colors are striking and roads are scary. The park has a shuttle but the riders had to move on and decide to drive on their own!! After winding up the mountain and round the curves we made it out safely. There is one tunnel that is over a mile long, the riders had to challenge the RV's and buses to make it through and we were succcessful.
Bryce Canyon has hoodoos. For those of us who are not geologists a hoodoo is a rock formation that looks like a tower. It is formed through the action of water and ice on rock. They are very impressive as the light hits them during sunset. Ps. Gail said it was romantic.
After Bryce we drove to Page Arizona to spend the night and left the next day for Durango Colorado. Durango was a whole new adventure which I will blog later.
Tim & Gail
Photos from Zion, Bryce Canyons
hi! Here are some photos!!
The Riders spent a great day visiting canyons and looking at rocks.
Here is a picture of our guide Ralph Big Feathers. He was not the brightest bird in the flock and was a little hard to understand , but he did work for chicken feed. Gail has offered to help him with his resume. He is interested in working for the state DEP.
Where the heck are we now??
Hi! Happy Labor Day weekend!
We have been doing lots of touristy things. Tim reported in a previous blog about our hot trip through the Mojave Desert and our one exciting evening in Las Vegas. We headed from Nevada to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon then drove to Durango Colorado to spend two days. We ended up spending a third night in Durango because it was beautiful,relaxing, peaceful, cool (finally!) and romantic. We stayed at the Apple Orchard Inn close to downtown Durango but far enough away that we just heard the crickets at night and felt the cool breezes needing no air conditioning. Hurray!
We took a great train ride on a steam train to Silverton which was incredible. We both left there a little bit sooty but the trip was worth it, except when I thought I was going to be sick because the train was perched right along the edge of a huge cliff. Silverton was a great little wild west town and we stopped for lunch at Grumpy's saloon which was a hoot.
Zion and Bryce were indescribable and our photos here won't do them justice. Suffice it to say that America really is beautiful and we are so fortunate to have the opportunity and the freedom to enjoy our country!! The last night in Durango we found a great little spot- the Durango Brewing Company - and they were having a bluegrass jam night. We went (left our guitars and ukele at home!) and enjoyed about a dozen of the Durango residents of all ages and types jamming all night long while we enjoyed some great beer! We wondered why there were so many people showing up to jam, and then the bartender Allie told us that the bar provides free beer to all those who participate in the jam. Tim asked her about playing the spoons, and she told him if he was good, he'd be in!
Ha. Having a wonderful time. Heading back toward the east coast. Loving each city and town, but especially the smaller towns. They are wonderful, and of course, being with Timmy is magical.
Will post photos shortly!
Tim & Gail
We have been doing lots of touristy things. Tim reported in a previous blog about our hot trip through the Mojave Desert and our one exciting evening in Las Vegas. We headed from Nevada to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon then drove to Durango Colorado to spend two days. We ended up spending a third night in Durango because it was beautiful,relaxing, peaceful, cool (finally!) and romantic. We stayed at the Apple Orchard Inn close to downtown Durango but far enough away that we just heard the crickets at night and felt the cool breezes needing no air conditioning. Hurray!
We took a great train ride on a steam train to Silverton which was incredible. We both left there a little bit sooty but the trip was worth it, except when I thought I was going to be sick because the train was perched right along the edge of a huge cliff. Silverton was a great little wild west town and we stopped for lunch at Grumpy's saloon which was a hoot.
Zion and Bryce were indescribable and our photos here won't do them justice. Suffice it to say that America really is beautiful and we are so fortunate to have the opportunity and the freedom to enjoy our country!! The last night in Durango we found a great little spot- the Durango Brewing Company - and they were having a bluegrass jam night. We went (left our guitars and ukele at home!) and enjoyed about a dozen of the Durango residents of all ages and types jamming all night long while we enjoyed some great beer! We wondered why there were so many people showing up to jam, and then the bartender Allie told us that the bar provides free beer to all those who participate in the jam. Tim asked her about playing the spoons, and she told him if he was good, he'd be in!
Ha. Having a wonderful time. Heading back toward the east coast. Loving each city and town, but especially the smaller towns. They are wonderful, and of course, being with Timmy is magical.
Will post photos shortly!
Tim & Gail
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Photos from the 17 mile drive in CA
Here are some deer hanging out by a beautiful home close to the beach.
This photo isn't weird. No, we weren't drinking early in the day! The trees do actually look like this because of the breezes and strong winds off the coast.
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