May 16, 2011 cruisin around Grand Junction

Today was a different kind of day than we have been having!  We took Kaeleigh to school, went for some groceries, then tried to find an RV place open - seems they are all closed here Sunday and Monday - very weird!

We had soup, salad & bread at Johnny Carino's, then I wasn't feeling very well so we came home and I got a nice nap.  After naps I went into Rick & Tanaya's and made a huge pot of Taco Soup for dinner - everyone really enjoyed it with shredded cheese, sour cream and frito's!  I put a butter pecan cake in the oven after we ate and got it iced during Dancing with the Stars...and Hines and Kym got a perfect 30...woo hoo! 

David and I are now snuggled into our home on wheels and about ready to hit the feathers for the night! 

Here are a few pics that I haven't put on before of some of the beautiful scenery we've seen!

May 15, 2011 Visit with Pam & Fred

Ya know, sometimes things just come together!  Been corresponding with Pam Smyth for several years on the RVer's & Camper's thread on the 50 year old thread on the Weight Watcher discussion forum.  We'd been close a couple times, but could never make it work to meet up face to face...so since we are in Grand Junction, and they live in Delta, we decided to give it a try, only to find out that they are camping about 15 miles from here...so off we went today to meet them! 

Pam is every bit as nice in person as she is on the thread - AND through email!  We hugged, chatted, talked, looked at pictures, talked, watched some other campers, chatted, then we did what campers do best - we went out and had a fine meal and talked some more!

Of course we also took a couple of pics of our 'girls'...and grandpa...just love seeing them!





May 14, 2011 - Grand Junction & Aaliyah

This morning I woke up at 4:30...laid there until about 6:15, and said to myself I'm getting up at 6:30 - phooey...and the next thing I knew it was 9 am!!!  I rarely sleep that late, but sure did this morning - so we had a bowl of cereal, and soon were on the road.  Of course I had to vacumn before we could leave because of the goatheads and nasty stuff that Cinder drug in - wasn't her fault, it was just dusty, dry and dirty!

By the time we got gas (we got 3 cents off a gallon) and I picked up two salads from Blimpies (coupon for buy 1 get 1 free, so lunch for $4.79) and got on the road it was 11...we got into Fruita about 1, stopped at the welcome center, ate our salads, picked up some brochures, and got to Tanaya's about 2.  Of course, we didn't fit along side the house - when we measured we didn't look UP and there was an AC unit sticking out that we could not clear - so we pulled into the driveway, and our tail end is about two inches on the street, but we parked our cars on both sides, so no biggie.

Here is one of the reasons we are here:

Baby Aaliyah

Grand daughter Kaeleigh - ready to have

great grandson...soon!

 



After we all got settled, I started dinner - we had spaghetti & meatballs, salad with my italian dressing on it, and garlic bread...yum yum - I don't think there were any leftovers! 

Kelsey came home from work and had dinner, then off she went with baby AND Kaeleigh - but they will be back tomorrow morning!  Elena Grace wanted to go with them too, but she has pink eye and was not allowed :(  Too bad, she had to stay home with the 'old folks'...and her mom!  I'll get a pic or two of her in the next couple days - she is growing much too fast!

I may not blog every day while we are here, but then again I might! 

Oh yes, I'm planning on meeting a friend tomorrow evening at a local campground - Pam who I have corresponded with for the last 3 or 4 years and never met in person.  We will remedy that tomorrow unless Kaeleigh goes into labor. 

May 12 & 13, 2011 Bryce Canyon, farewell dinner, Green River

We got up on Thursday morning and headed for Bryce Canyon National Park.  Once again, the scenery almost hurts your eyes it is so beautiful!  Ruby's Inn is a cool place, with lots of 'stuff' for sale :)  However, the star of the day was the scenery!  Here are a couple pics...again the camera does not do justice to the beauty and granduer! 

After lots of getting in and out of the car, we left the park, and went to Beaver UT to a cheese factory outlet - wow, talk about a kid in a candy store!!!

We got back to Cedar City about 3:30, and got a nap (me, David slept the whole way back!)  and had a fantastic meal with John & Kaki, followed by more chatting...and a lovely ice cream pie on the patio...my oh my, it's a wonder we left at all!

This morning we left about 7:45 headed for Green River, UT.  We arrived a little after 2, and got a spot at Shady Acres RV Park where we are sitting under a tree.

More adventures in store tomorrow - going to see that little baby girl great grand daughter - and hold her and listen to her giggle - can't wait!  I'll get some pictures too!







May 11, 2011 Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

We got up this morning to rain, clouds and more rain.  We are parked at John & Kaki's house in their side driveway, which is a real treat - BUT the soil here is very fine, and if it is wet you can't get out .  This has worked to great advantage because we have been able to really get to know them - and I can say without a shadow of doubt that we love them! 

So, with that said, we decided we would take today and clean the shanty, do laundry, clean the inside of the car, and rest from sight seeing!  I made a pot of chili for dinner for tomorrow night, since we will be in full tourist mode tomorrow!

This afternoon John took us to see the Petroglyphs at Parowan Gap - WOW!  According to the signs (it is on the national historic register) these petroglyphs were done around 5,000 YEARS AGO...It is amazing that they lasted all this time and are still pretty clear!  If you could see where some of these etchings were done, you would be sure that they either knew how to fly, or were part mountain goats!!!  Here are a couple of pics of them.

By the way - the pics from yesterday were NOT from 2004 - someone (probably me, since I AM the non-techi) hit the wrong button...the pics really were from yesterday in Zion National Park!

When we got back from playing tourists Kaki had a wonderful dinner ready - kilbassa & saurkraut, mashed potatoes, asparagus, fresh bread, strawberries & blueberries, and we finished off with bumbleberry pie with ice cream...we were all groaning when we left the table!!!

We ended the day by sitting in their living room, watching the sun set on the moutains (that still have snow on them) and quietly getting to know each other better. 

Back to the 'tourists' tomorrow...be sure to tune in :) 

May 10, 2011 Zion National Park

We got off to a late start this morning, didn't leave until after 9:30 and headed to Zion National Park, about 51 miles from John & Kaki's house and our 'temporary home'.  It was overcast, and chilly after the snow and hail of yesterday, but still off we went!

We arrived at our destination after yet another 20 miles of spectacular scenery!  Since we were starving our first order of business in the town of Springdale was to have some breakfast - at Oscar's Cafe.  The waiter was a very personable young man and he sold us on a couple of special dishes - David had a spicy spicy omlet with several different types of peppers and I, yes, wimpy me, had a chili relleno special - here is what our breakfast looked like!  The danged thing was really not 'too' spicy - just right! 

Then we went into the park, and David's access pass again got us in free.  We went to the visitor center, then got on a shuttle and toured the park.  Once again, scenery overload!  There is a reason that these places are National Parks - they must never be destroyed by greedy people but instead preserved so that everyone can ooohhh, and aaawww, just like we did today!  From waterfalls seemingly coming out of solid rock, to flowers growing out of those same rocks - and walls of rocks so high your neck hurts from looking up. 

Once again, pictures simply can not do it justice, but here are a couple to give you some idea of the consistent beauty.

We got back to the house about 5ish, and I started putting together a salad, Kaki made a wonderful italian dish with elk burger, lots of garlic, tomato sauce, mushrooms, oh yum, peas and lovely garlic bread!  I had found a lovely little bakery in Springdale and got a bumbleberry pie for dessert!  We sat and chatted for quite a while, and decided an early night was called for.

So an early night it is!  More adventures await tomorrow :)

May 8 & 9, 2011 Mother's Day

In my last post I said that Kaleigh was in labor - we took off Mother's Day morning and drove 5 1/2 hours to Grand Junction in the car - by the time we got there, labor had stopped - looks like it was false labor...

Mother's Day was very nice - David took all the 'mothers' out to dinner at Golden Corral, so there were 6 of us.  Of course we all ate too much, then went back to Tanaya's to relax.
 
We had a nice visit and spent the night, got up this morning at 5 and headed back to Cedar City where we left the motorhome.  We were coming back I-70, then I-15.  Well, by the time we got to Salina the rain downpour turned to snow - and I had about 40 miles of white knuckle driving in blizzard conditions!  There were 4/6 inches on the summit of each mountain, the snow plows were out in force, and it was just plain dangerous! 

Just when we arrived back at the MH, it began to HAIL - and now it is snowing here!!!  I got a nice hot shower and we are snuggled in here for a little while.  I believe that tomorrow will be something touristy - unless it continues to snow, in which case I'm not going anywhere!!!

I'll get some pictures posted later...of the snow and some of the beauty.  David didn't take pics at Tanaya's, so that will come later.