Like A Fourth Place Finish In The Olympics, and, RV Circles

Imagine a lifetime of grueling "homework." All your friends are out having a good time... dating, partying, sleeping in. But not you. You have a dream that burns inside and hardly take a day off from training. That's the kind of dedication, discipline and perseverance it takes just to have a shot at the Olympic Games. Even if one makes it to the Games, what are the odds of placing first, second or third? Slim to none. Maybe that's why I'm noticing more and more Olympic Rings tattoos on participants; it might be as close as they can get to a "medal." And who could blame them for wanting a permanent souvenir, one that marks the probable apex of their athletic careers, something that says, "I was an Olympian!"

Eye Candy Has RV Group Seeing Red

It's always fun to share a favorite hike, destination, or anything special, for that matter, with someone who can appreciate it. I suppose it's your appreciation that motivates continuation of this humble Blog... that, and I never run out of stuff I need to get off my chest. Not only are Blogs cheaper than therapy, they provide opportunities to make new acquaintances and connections with interesting, Wander oriented people... like Boonie, Scamps, John Q, Jim, Gayle, Debbie, and soon, Illinoians Chris and Mindy (rumor has it they slipped into town. Either that, or the Sweet Corn Fairy has taken a liking to us). 


I would like to believe "Life's Little Adventurers" blossomed into slightly bigger adventurers during their visit to Lovely Ouray, and that they had a memorable experience while here. Certainly being mauled by a pack of Dobermans is an "adventure" Jim will remember (the story grows embellished :)).

Chimney Rocks! And So Does Courthouse...

We ascended into a heavenly Far View Zone, guiding John Q and Boonie to the lofty summit of Courthouse Mountain. It's one of those "short but steep" hikes... less than four miles round trip, but it felt like eight if you asked your knees and toes. But mind and eye rule over matters of pain on such a hike... knees and toes hold their complaint, for it is worth every toe jamming twinge to gaze down upon Chimney Rock—rising proud and firm like some terrestrial phallus—and its serrated connecting ridge line that cuts thin air like a knife.

Toyota F J Rally Rolls Into Lovely Ouray, and It's A "Modulized" World

Ground Clearance Baby... the go anywhere kind. Just look at the size of those tires. If I were single, and poor, this is all I would need... and those two chairs, but that's all. Ok, I'd need a Four Wheel Drive Petroleous Rex to pull the trailer, but thats all I would need. Except a dog, I'd need a dog for company... a small one, of course. Yes, I'd need a small long living dog like Poncho, and that's all I'd need!

A Wildflowered Movie... Sprinkled With Wildlife; It's Enough To Make A Guy Drool

At the risk of "spamming" readers with supernatural beauty, I thought I would risk putting up a Wildflower Movie from a primo hike Bobbie and I took above and beyond Bullion King Lake, and on a ridge run to Ohio Peak where we ran into a herd of elk.

Two Scamps Roll Into Lovely Ouray, & Hiking A Notch In The Wall Trail With RV Friends

We hiked Bear Creek Trail yesterday with new RV friends Jim and Gayle, Debbie, a long time solo RV'er (five years and counting), and wily veteran Boondocker, Boonie. Why they entrusted us with another hike of our choosing I'll never know. The rough and narrow four wheel drive access road to the Bullion King Lake hike would have most people backpedal at our invitation to lead another outing. Gayle and Boonie opted to hike all the way down to the highway rather than risk a Ford crew-cab becoming their Coffin. 

Exposing John Q To The Vertical Life Of Crevice Dwellers

The busted Houses For Sale link (a causality of the iWeb/mobile me meltdown) is finally repaired and accepting clicks from "Looky Loos" and anyone seeking meaningful "Change," the non-political kind. You will find the link at the top of the righthand sidebar. There are numerous photos of the two houses we have for sale, as well as prices and descriptions. Now, on to less commercial, more important matters. How about an airy hike/climb/scramble with John Q. up Skyrocket Falls?

Sunrise, Sunset

With the TV off—deck petunias waving in the morning breeze, and sunlight creeping into the Lovely Crevice like consciousness after a good night's slumber—one would never suspect our state, maybe even the entire country, to some extent, is suffering through another mind numbing senseless act of brutality.  

Columbine Lake Hike With John Q

John Q contemplates Columbine Lake.

Ever wonder why some mountain lakes seem to be dyed blue? Well, it appears that extremely pure water is gifted with a slight bluish tint, and it grows more resonant as depth increases. The blue hue of pure water is intrinsic... caused by selective absorption and scattering of white light. So there you go; and you thought this blog was just poetry and a pretty face :))

Real Explorers Don't Stop At 7-11's, and Marks Top Eleven List

Man hath still either toys or care 

But hath no root, nor to one place is tied, 

 ever restless and irregular, about this earth doth run and ride. He knows he hath a home, but scarce knows where; 

He says it is so far, that he has quite forgot how to go there.
Henry Vaughn

Kite Tails, and RV's At The Ends Of Rainbows (revised)

At birth, we emerge from dream soup.

At death, we sink back into dream soup.

In between soups, there is a crossing of dry land.

Life is a portage.  
(Jitterbug Perfume)

Freedom Rings On The Summit Of Mount Abrams

"Marathon Man," Lenard...  pondering a San Juan Mountain sunrise while contemplating the pros and cons of a conversion to "Mountain Man."

By some miracle of fate I ended up being off-duty on the busiest (read Craziest!) day of the year at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. There must be a God, and I think she's beginning to approve of me—now that I'm getting all soft and sentimental in my old age. 


Forth of July Freedom; what to do, what to do... go climb a mountain, of course. So we ditched nuts-to-butts crowds, food festivities and the traditionalwater-fights (a brutal sport where teams of combatants use fire hoses with streams of high pressure water to knock each other to the ground),  grabbed our new friend Lenard ("Marathon Man," as he is a born again runner) and headed off to summit Mount Abrams, a classic, but imposing, pyramidal peak towering above Lovely Ouray like some Box Canyon Bouncer.

BlueBells And BumbleBees, and News And Booze Do Not Mix

I might as well go ahead and apologize—get it out of the way—for what I'm afraid will turn ugly. I'm sorry; so there.

Spielberg Smealberg: I Got Video "Game"

Well, maybe not... but I'm Bunny Rabbit prolific if nothing else, producing offspring at a rate of a couple of films per month. My Youtube video collection now has over 50 adventurous "children" to choose from, putting you just one click away from adopting blue skies and "butterflies" on rainy shut-in days or when TV programing sucks. So flutter on by once in a while.