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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Reality RV... Goldie Gets A Lazy Daze Makeover Update


In spite of the pitiful and obvious... that the ugly guy with a scabby knee and elbow (mountain bike crash, sigh) makes a piss poor Vanna White... here is the next Reality RV installment of, Goldie Get's A Makeover."  

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Got Snow?


Our mountains are now white-capped. It always snows in September... I shouldn't be surprised.

Friday, September 28, 2012

I Can't Get No, Sa-tis-fac-tion...


Grand Mesa rolled in magnificent swells of all colors Autumn... an undulating sea of molten gold, rust and orange, with a few waves of "late-bloomer" green... down to their last drops of chlorophyl. It was an explosion of brilliance under such favorable morning light, and it warmed my soul.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Fall Meander Over Grand Mesa Stirs Soul


Perhaps the Beatles said it best, "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away." Why, you ask? Well, I'll tell you why... in fact, I'll do better than tell you, I'll show and tell you why. Looky here...

Monday, September 24, 2012

A Lazy Daze RV Remodel Update... Torn Between Three Lovers


It is not easy trying to please three women, especially when two of them need so much attention. Ms Autumn is at her glorious peak all around Lovely Ouray, yet I find my time with her being divided by the Goldielock's makeover. And Bobbie would prefer to have her hiking partner back. My "girls" sure can be demanding!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

"Smuggler's Blues;" A Long Ride To Telluride


Last Dollar Road is the olden days supply route between Ouray and Telluride; it goes around the biggest mountains so as not to go over. It's a wanderer, this road, like you and me, twisting through groves of autumnal aspen that shimmer with gold coin leaves. Those coins eventually succumb to breeze, paving Last Dollar's dirt and rock under layer upon layer of fall medallions. On a cloudless Indian Summer day, Leonard and I pedaled through seductive rolling fields... "leaves of grass..." solar-splashed meadows that can tempt a mountain biker off the wedge between his legs for a little snack-n-nap in the warm sun.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Wasted Days and Commie Nights... How Capitalism Stymies Productivity In Modern Socities


We had another rainy, socked in day in Lovely Ouray last week.  It reminded me of coastal Oregon, except there was no horizontal sea fading into western fog.  Weather lemons to lemonade, we decided on a hike up into the clouds. If you can't beat Mother Nature, might as well join her. This disturbance is the first to drop into our Crevice from the north. Its salvo left a little white on Mount Abrams summit, reminding me that Goldie is not yet ready for the road south. Oh be still my butterflied stomach. 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

White Dog, Blue Lakes, and A Fish Tale


Meet Aspen. That's her taking in a gorgeous far view on the trail to Blue Lakes. Ok, it was a chipmunk that actually stole her gaze, but you can't see the little rodent so I made up the "far view" part. Aspen is a good solid Colorado name for a white dog of the female gender, if you're one to look to trees as namesakes. 

I like to put off naming a pet until their personality begins to blossom. That's how our high strung kitty came by his name, Jitters. A light sleeper, spooked by the slightest noise, Jitters always seemed like he was strung out on caffeine. Even his name scared him, if you said it to loud. Fraidy cats do not make good mousers.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Crying Eyes


Lovely Ouray was socked in like Seattle—down valley; up valley; in town. We looked for a hint of let-up out Imax windows, trying to decide whether to ignore, or go, in spite of a dismal forecast and steady rain. It's been a peculiar summer here in The Crevice—a sopping wet hole smack in the middle of wildfires and drought.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Mountain Bike Ride To "Another Pleasant Valley Sunday," Only On Thursday


Yesterday I had the pleasure of showing Marathon Man Leonard one of my favorite uphill grinds. I call it a "grind," but it was only two miles of switchbacks. Put that on the tail end of 14 mostly gentle downhill miles tho... knowing you have the uphill reverse going home and it feels like grinding to my head and knees. Those last two miles are steep, as in low gear steep... with only the occasional optimistic social call to second or third, you know, so they don't feel neglected. I often wonder (actually, only when I'm riding it on my big ole 29'er) how much difference a road bike would make on that section? 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Come on, I've got Two Tickets To Paradise...


Outdoor photos have been missing from the BCB lately, what with wrapping up my last days at work, adopting Goldilocks, church presentation, technical research to pull off the former and yesterday's deadline for my monthly column in the Ouray County Plaindealer. Whew! That sounds a lot like work, doesn't it. I hope to be free to focus on more enjoyable tasks now, things like getting Goldie ready for upcoming road trips (more batteries and a rear room makeover) and planning fall photo excursions into the high country with the Chalet (big smile).

Monday, September 10, 2012

Without A Hitch, and Crash And Burn


A while back, Pastor Harry Strong of the United Church of the San Juans invited me to do a "reading" of one of the columns I wrote for the Ouray County Plaindealer. I put him off, but finally relinquished to his persistence. He was doing a month long series on "Art," and thought one of my writings worthy of a Sunday service. It morphed into a slideshow presentation after he saw a few of my photographs. The more "Art," the better. 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Imogene Blues... Standing On The Corner Of Resentment and Gratitude


Today is not a good day. I just returned from the early morning start of the annual Imogene Pass Run. I wished Marathon Man Leonard a good race, luck, and fair weather on top. I know Imogene well, it is the 17.1 mile race I last participated in three years ago at age 59. 9, not to mention numerous other times preceding that.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Blank Slate...


You asked for it. Here is our "Blank Slate" rear lounge... or, in Bobbies case, "empty canvas." As you can see, it has already been stripped bare and awaits a new design and decor... one that doesn't clash with existing cabinets or the overall funky-but-cool remainder of our new used Lazy Daze. It's really a pretty big, unencumbered space, and we love the expansive wrap-around windows for light and view. It feels just like home :)).

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Photos Of A Former Centerfold RV... Still Looking Good



We really appreciate all the comments, considerations and congratulations readers posted on "Adopting Goldilocks." Traveling in a class C Lazy Daze motorhome is going to be a new travel style for us. Having gone from tent to station wagon to pickup/topper to pickup/camper to pickup/bigger camper to Arctic Fox trailer to Excel Fiver with slide-outs to (deep breath), I guess you could say there is a noticeable "trend," smaller to bigger; simple to sophisticated.

That trend reversed itself with the purchase of our cute, but itsy bitsy Chalet A frame hard side pop up camper with Dormer. Some would call this a vicious circle, others, a compulsive RV shopping disorder (sigh).

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Adopting Goldilocks


The "grapevine" probably beat this News Flash post, but here goes. Saturday we adopted Goldilocks, an eighteen year old orphan in need of a good home. She's a Lazy Daze Class C motorhome, and yes, we know adopting an eighteen year old may come with a few challenges, but it was love at first sight for me. She's beautiful. We'll get the paperwork taken care of on Tuesday, and then it will be official.