Camping at Katie's Meadow

We had a wonderful time except for the arrival and departure it couldn't have been better.  Well we were of course "ironing out" some of the kinks in the new to us trailer.  I suppose I should start with a picture and explanation of the arrival part.  As we approached the snow drift across the road we were on the short side. Bill's decision had to be split second as to brake hard or step on the gas.  This was not an elbow on the knee-chin on fist thinking process.  Well obviously his decision was to barrel through, but instead we high centered and the deeper snow on the far side of the drift.  It was just the pick-up and not the trailer that was buried in the snow but that was enough - we were stuck!!

 

We were fortunate to have folks stop and help.  It was these people who said if we could get out there was a good camping spot just around the next curve.  Which is where we camped but we really got nowhere with these folks otherwise.  Lots of effort expended trying to get some traction for the tires. But it was the second set who stopped that really helped.  Keith from near Tuscon said we MUST get the snow out from under (pretty plain really) but of all things not one of us had a shovel.  We have NEVER gone camping without a shovel before.  So, Keith drove Bill back to Rigeway where Bill bought 2 shovels.  Without those shovels there was no way we could get the snow from under the pick-up.  It was short work after that and soon they had pulled the whole kitten caboodle backwards by hooking on the the trailer.  Then Bill was able to drive through on the down side and we managed to get our camp set up:

Yes, that is a snow drift to the left of the trailer.  And there was another one just on the other end of the trailer.  The dogs, particularly Patches loved the snow. 

 Camp is set up and Patches simply enjoying the ambiance.

This is the view of Steely Mtn. from the fire pit.  Beautiful sunrises and sunsets on these formations.

 We really are at Katie's Meadow from the old John Wayne movie - True Grit. 

And here is a distant view of our campsite from across the meadow. That is the screen room close to the fire pit with the trailer barely visible in the trees behind.

 This was the first camping trip for our white pigeon, Princess

Roxie and Princess from in the screen room.

The final setting for the trailer.  This time with the door and awning facing the fire and the meadow.  At first Bill had backed it in, as it seemed the only thing we could do at the time.  But this was better.

 Sunday evening it began to rain

 Then turned to snow and this is what we found in the morning.  The awning was overloaded with snow and see below the screen tent fared even worse:

We did finally manage to pack up and leave (Bill's decision) and the road had been graded by that time when they opened Owl Creek Pass.

That drift continued across the road and some other folks got stuck in it and had to be pulled out by a tow truck.  It was this drift and all the way to Silver Jack Reservoir that the grader was clearing on Monday morning. 

So the soggy based muddy surface of the road down the hill was awful especially on this curve which is banked wrong.  At any rate, the trailer slid in the muck as we rounded and came precariously close to the edge, even pulling the pickup to the side.  No choice.  Had to call in a wrecker (via 911 as I could reach none on my cell).

 From the rear - obviously

From the front - obviously

 As they started; you can see the slide side of the trailer -

And now they through many steps of winching it side ways 2 feet, you can see the door side of the trailer.  Back on somewhat solid footing.  

Princess spent a lot of her time on the light bar of the police vehicle.  Silly bird!

And safe but poorer we're home again.  Happily so as it would have been so easy for the trailer to have gone over and probably even pull the pick-up with it. 

Carbondale Union High School Reunion

Well we made it.  Got to the BRB around 2 p.m. just as planned.  Shirley, Nellie and Norma had been there camping since the previous day.  The whole time was very nice - a good group.  I don't know what the total number of folks there was but it was very well attended.  Some coming for a very short time and more who stayed the whole span.  Betty Jo Matheson and sister Julie were there for just a short time on Saturday, but good to see them.  I didn't take near as many pictures as I should have but glad for what I got.

Just a group shot, showing people I can't name...

Nellie Marks visiting with Scott Abbot

Margaret and Desmond Harris.  

Lupe Zamora and her Mom

Joe Robbins visiting with Scott, Jane and Becky Abbot

Bill Boyd and sister Shirley Waters visiting with Konea Piffer and Joe Robbins

Jane Abbot and Alice Hackbarth

Shirley Waters, Norma Jean Jones Waters, Margaret Harris, Nellie Marks watching the auction action.

Glenn Bair starting the auction.

Crystal river beside the BRB campground.

Fire pit, reunion group and cabin used for food prep etc.

A collection of pictures from our trip to the W. Fork of the Little Cimmaron. What a good relaxing week in a beautiful setting!

Wonderful camping trip

It's been two years since Bill and I visited our favorite camping spot on the West Fork of the Little Cimmaron and it was great to get back there.  Some things have changed with our new "Patches" - great company for Roxie and entertainment for us.  Also different is we sold the old 5th wheel and bought a newer camp trailer.

This picture was taken of Patches while we were camping on the Grand Mesa.  Now that he has had his first appointment with the vet we have the vets estimation of his age at 5 months and that besides Corgi he has Australian Cattle Dog in him - the Red Healer 'branch'.  He and Roxie really had a good time chasing around and exploring the area.

Update on Patches

Running like crazy on the deck.  We've learned with a little help from our friends, that Patches is most likely a Corgi.  Now that we've done some reading on line we believe him to be a Welsh Cardigan Corgi.  May not even have any other breed in him, he matches the description and pictures so well. 

The other part of the update must be that Roxie is beginning to accept him.  Not with open arms yet but we now think they will one day be 'buds'. 

We have a new dog!

And this is him.  We've named him Patches and we don't know what the breed is but we guess a mix w/ some beagle for one.  He is absolutely the sweetest thing!  We were taking our newest pick-up acquisition up on the Mesa for a test drive after Bill had done some work on it, and as we turned onto 2375 there was this little dog under our mailbox lying with his head propped up on the post.  Weird!  So we said when we returned if he was still there Bill would check him out.  He was there, but not in the same position.  He was backed into the brush behind the post peeking out.  When Bill assured himself that he hadn't been hit by a car and there was nothing apparent wrong he brought him home on his 4 wheeler.  Had we been searching for another dog, this is not what we would have looked for.  Initially we tried to find an owner, checked with all neighbors, called the sheriff and pound.  Settled on dealing with CAWS who were very nice and helpful, but when she sent the 'contract' for us to sign on as a foster home and it said we would in no way be able to find a home for him ourselves or keep him ourselves we opted out because this little doll was worming his way into our hearts.  Not Roxie's of course.  She thought and you could tell by her attitude and actions that there was no reason in this world why we would need a pet, even a dog.  In her mind she isn't one of course.   We have decided the poor thing (probably not more than 4 mo. old - still has baby teeth) was 'dropped off' and he was waiting for his people to come back after him.  They don't deserve him!

Composit of the squirrels

Just had to give this a try.  Do wish I could insert some video as I have a lot of these little cuties!

Baby Squirrels

 Bill found a dead mother squirrel just a couple of days earlier and then while sitting in the same area taking in the sun he spotted these 7 SEVEN! baby squirrels coming out of the hole:

New composite I have to share!

Most of the componenets are already on this site but the fact that I was able to put them together is what I NEEDED to share!  What fun!

Well how about that.  I managed a crude collage!  These are some of the flowers we saw on Molokai

Driving west now and the hillside so evidently shows the difference in moisture once you leave the east "rain forest" end of the island.  This was a picturesque private bay that begged to be photographed.