New Years 2017 plus a few days
Today is Jan 01, 2017 and we are all departing, headed for our respective homes. It has been a wonderful family get-together.
We will return via a different route than we used to travel here. We have wonderful friends who recently purchased a home in Buena Vista, CO and we plan to visit with them.
Snow storms have passed, roads are clear.
When we originally drove in on Christmas day, it was overcast, and snowing heavily at times. These beautiful snow covered peaks were not visible to us then. Aren't they magnificent?
This is the view of the Collegiate Peaks looking West as we arrive in Buena Vista. The Collegiate Peaks is a name given to a section of the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains located in central Colorado, a cluster of the highest peaks in the Colorado Rockies. All the peaks in this range are over 14,000 ft elevation.
The Arkansas River runs directly behind our friends new home. We enjoyed hearing the rush of water. They told us that in June, the water level would be much higher and they watched kayakers make their way downstream.
There is still ice in the river. Isn't it beauiful?
Jody and Patty are a very special caring gracious couple.
Our friends insisted that they take us on a tour of the area. Another look at the Collegiate Peaks.
Road leading to Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort.
This is only one of several of the pools at the Princeton Hot Springs Resort. Still early in the day, and we saw several people packing their cars preparing to head home after the holiday.
The iced over trees are gorgeous!
We drove South to a wide spot in the road, home of "Always Azul Pottery" in Villa Grove, CO. Vast selection of beautiful pottery, Dusty chose a spoon holder which happens to be dishwasher and microwave safe. They ship all over if you decide to shop online.
The trees were all adorned in ice crystals, but the roads were still passable.
After leaving Buena Vista, CO we stopped once more in Los Alamos, NM and spent several days with daughter and family. See the next post.
The week - Christmas 2016 and New Years
We have met the children in Tabernash, Colorado to get in some quality family sharing time. Today, some of us are going skiing at Granby Ranch, a ski hill better suited for beginners. Since it has been 35 years since I last skied, it was a good choice for me. In addition, the crowds were smaller. Dusty is a snow bunny, not a
skier, so she opted to stay at the house and play with baby Rux.
She says he is just too cute to miss playing with.
Those of us who were going to ski, bundled up to withstand the subzero temperatures.
The runs on the left were mostly easy and intermediate, the one on the right were more challenging.
This is the express lift. Four people to the top in a hurry. Temp was -10 F.
This is the view as you get off the chair lift.
And this is me, (Tic). First time in 35 years on skis. It came back to me quickly and I had a great day. One advantage to being over 70, was that my all day lift ticket and equipment rental came to $53.00.
With the grandchildren from Myrtle Beach in ski school, I ran away to get in as many runs as my old body could handle.
Top of the hill (right side of trail map).
Does it look steep? Yes, it is steep.
I had to wait a bit to make sure the path was clear.
Last run of the day for me.
Now it's time for a fierce game of Jokers and Pegs!
And Clemson WINS!
It is another day to play in the snow, and it is snowing! Today we ride snowmobiles thru the National Forest trails.
This place provides he snowmobile suites, snow boots and helmets. You have to bring goggles and gloves.
Dusty is wearing the red knit stocking cap and is getting all rugged up for the adventure, we have never done this before.
The Ski-doos were only three weeks old, so were in primo condition. Heated hand grips for rider and passenger.
This is our little tour group; Jason, Jennifer, Isabel, Chase, Dusty & Tic. We are all smiling!
The staff here were terrific , very helpful, gracious. We had a two hour rental, and they mapped out a loop that worked out to be two hours on the nose.
This is Jason, Jennifer, Isabel and Chase.
It snowed most of our time, which limited visibility to mountain tops or valleys, but was still beautiful. Would not have traded it. Can you tell this is us?
Look how high the snow is piled on the fence.
This the most sun we saw.
OK, so it is an outhouse, but under the circumstance, beautiful.
Just before we got back to the lodge, Hot-shot, Jason, went off the trail.
Probably a 10-12 foot drop into waist deep powder snow. Fortunately, two men stopped and had shovels and helped him get out. No one hurt, and no damage. Another wonderful day playing in the snow.
Friday evening the family went out to dinner. All of us!
What a fun week it has been!
Christmas Eve - New Years Eve
The next few blog posts are bound to appear different to those of you who normally follow our travels. Dusty, who is the prime author, is currently overwhelmed with some other responsibilities and asked me to fill in. This was partially caused by the lack of Internet access over an extended time frame. So with that in mind, it is Christmas and we are meeting the children and their families in Tabernash,Colorado.
We will leave our warm Arizona, (winter home) and head to Colorado where the forecast is for SNOW!
We are mostly in a hurry, because of holiday traffic, the impending snow storms, there is not time to park and take wonderful photos, so many of the photos in this post are while Dusty is driving and I am bouncing. Nuff said.
We left early in the day, so the sunlight was just not right for taking photos as we drove thru the Salt River Canyon, but if you are ever on US 60 between Globe and Show Low, it is a magnificent ride. So above and below is US 191, headed North towards Holbrook, AZ.
No idea if this place has a name, but it certainly looks like a place the Indians would consider a sacred place. I zoomed a little to give us a closer look.
Still heading North on 191, but close to the border of Utah. The mountains are East of us, could be Southwest Colorado (Cortez? I'm only guessing).
We stopped for the night at the Stone Lizard motel in Blanding, UT. The owners are former chefs and had wonderful baked goods for our breakfast. It rained during the night, then temperatures dropped below freezing, so we expected slick roads as we continued.
The red rock formations are just South of Moab, UT.
The snow gives more character to the rocks.
For those who know, this is just North of "Hole in the Rock".
Here, we are crossing the Colorado River, on the North side of Moab. The river is muddy brown right now, but it is the massive rock wall that fascinates me.
Now North of the entrance to Arches National Monument, it is about 20 miles to I-70, our path into the Colorado Rockies.
The entrance to I-70 is just ahead.
Dusty rolled her (dirty) window down for this photo. Looks like the mesas are dressed for a special occasion.
For a short while there wasn't hardly any snow.
Erosion on display. Rugged!
Colorado Rockies straight ahead. Seeing more snow.
This slowed us down! Oh, I'm driving now and Dusty is the photographer. Two snow plows, one offset from the other.
Signs indicting that snow tires, chains, or four wheel drive required.
Last 40 miles before we reach our destination. Never did need 4WD.
It is Christmas day, the entire family has arrived safely, Hope you enjoyed riding along.
