Biding Our Time and Saving Gas in Lovely Ouray

Highway 550, "The Million Dollar Highway," a series of curves and 180º switchbacks between Lovely Ouray and Silverton, is back open after months of "Rock Fall" mitigation. Not a route for the carsick or faint of heart. 

Now for another photo hodgepodge of random places from our RV past. If you want rhyme and reason, you've got the wrong website :)

A guy's "hitch" can get pretty itchy after being grounded for a while. "A while," for true wander-lusted types is somewhere between six months—and six minutes, depending on a matrix of factors having to do with personality, gene pool, location, and love of employment. 

As jobs go, being a Gallery Boy is pretty laid back—much more so than when I was Manager/Lifeguard on Duty at the hot springs pool. Summer is the season for toddlers and inattentive parents. "Uh, excuse me ma'am, your son is behind you, underwater, and turning blue. Would you mind picking Junior up and keeping a better eye on him cause he doesn't quite understand the concept of drowning yet."

The worst part about being Gallery Boy is the aroma of burning meat that wafts in my door from the burger place next door. Nothing sets my stomach to growling like meat on the grill, in fact, it's happening right now (growl). Suzanne's "Deep Fried" post didn't help, either; it bordered on mean.

The upcoming photo was taken in 2006 near watercolorist, wilderness guide and outfitter Jimmy Simpson's  Num-Ti-Jah lodge. The lodge's interior is rustic, warm, and inviting, with some of Simpsons original art decorating the walls. There is no electricity so today's tourists must survive on a lone generator that runs 24/7. The fuel and maintenance costs alone must be through the roof. Still, they had internet service. I've always liked the photo, the way the Coke machine looks like it's part of the pine tree, and the typical tourist gal with her camera... who doesn't bother walking a few steps closer to the lake in order to get a better photograph.  

Bobbie and I were on our way to Jasper, a good ways north in Alberta, Canada. It was such a great trip, looping up on the east side of the northern rockies in Alberta, then back down on the west side in British Columbia. Jasper was idyllic…cabins trimmed with lush flowerbeds and vast manicured lawns. It reminded me of the neighborhoods in Victoria, B. C..

We stopped somewhere beyond Jasper in order to do a hike up to a remote lake. Way back in the wilderness, but short of our destination, we saw the biggest bear in the world paralleling our trail alongside us. It was way too close for comfort, so, needless to say, we turned around and tippy toed the hell out of there. 

I could reprise that trip…maybe stay at the lodge the next time around…maybe break out the watercolors.

Taken near Jimmy Simpson's Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, Along the Ice Field Parkway, Alberta, Canada

Red Roofed Num-Ti-Jah Lodge

Window shopping and trolling Leavenworth, Washington. for Chocolates and other goodies, 

Contemplating the Abyss

Male Grouse…an oxymoron? 

Why not throw Zion's climb to Angel's Landing in,  just for kicks….

Old Bristlecone Pine clings to colorful slate: Bear Creek trail, above lovely Ouray

"The hills are alive…."

Bobbie exiting "Skyrocket" gorge, above Lovely Ouray and right across from our house—do not attempt if there is the slightest chance of thunderstorms

Pausing to take in Chimney Rock...

Marathon Man Leonard and Bobbie

The climb to Mount Abram…Red Mountain in background, always on fire, or bleeding, which ever you prefer

Pacific gulls…Oregon. I could watch them all day—given the proper beverage :)

Pausing in Mount Saint Helens area

Back In Colorado

Back to Washington

Mount Rainer playing "peekaboo" in the clouds

 Mount Rainer Rendering: Watercolor on Yupo (mark)

Bobbies watercolor rendering Rainer: Watercolor on Coldpress paper