Sometimes You Just Need to Take a Drive

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery.  Looking at the same four walls every day can drain on anyone, even if they enjoy their home.  Lynn and I were running some errands today, and instead of going straight home, we took a circuitous route around Colorado National Monument, which we can see from our backyard.  Lynn decided she wants to live on a very small street named Wildwood Drive, which butts up to the park.  We feel SO fortunate to live in a place when you can hop into the car and within a few minutes, to a couple of hours, can be at so many places in the American West that are only dreams or trips of a lifetime to others.  We are blessed.

It's Time

I start 2015 traveling.  In fact, I'm writing this from a small cafe in the Phoenix, Arizona airport on my way to Deadhorse, Alaska.  You might be wondering...What?!?!?
Lots of things have happened since my last blog post long long ago.  For example, I stopped going to work in Antarctica.  Yes.  It was time.  I worked for six months with the National Park Service as a Visitor Use Assistant at Colorado National Monument.  I loved the job, but it was only a six month seasonal position.  After leaving the NPS, I worked for a while at a small winery in Palisade, Colorado.  I also liked that position a lot.  However, the money was not great.  So what do I do?  After a long time of saying I wouldn't get back into the hotel business, that's what I'm doing.  In Alaska.  On the North Slope.  Almost as far north as one can go in the United States.  It's a good gig.
I get paid well and like my job well enough.  I do have to work 21 straight days, 12+ hours per day.
However, I then get 21 straight days off.  That part, I definitely like.  That's why I'm in the airport in Phoenix on New Years's Day...headed back to work.

So there you go.  I want to start blogging again.  It's time.

Colorado National Monument

We can see it from our back window, but nothing beats making the
drive through Colorado National Monument. On May 21st, it will
be celebrating it's 100th Anniversary as a National Monument and
we feel very fortunate that we're within a few minutes drive to visit.
Today was no exception, as the weather was beautiful and from
Rim Rock Drive, you could see for many many miles. Independence
Monument (in the photo) actually had climbers on the top and I
was kicking myself for not having my better camera to get photos
of them. Alas, the camera on my phone had to suffice. Climbing
this large spire of sandstone is no small feat since it rises upwards
of 450 feet from the canyon floor. No, I have no plans of doing this.
I'm lucky I can climb 4.5 feet, let alone 450 feet! We continued the
rest of our drive though Glade Park and enjoyed the nice weather.
It looks like Spring might finally be on it's way.

Riverfront Concert Series

We just got back from a fun concert at the James M. Robb Colorado
River State Park in Fruita featuring Carrie Rodriguez, who is a singer
and fiddle player. The Colorado Riverfront Foundation hosts several
of these free concerts each summer. Proceeds from the sale of food
and drinks go to the Riverfront Foundation for building new sections
of the Riverfront Trail. The venue has a great backdrop of the Colorado
National Monument and there aren't any permanent seats so everyone
brings their lawn chairs or blankets. We met up with our friends Jim
and Judey and we enjoyed hanging out.


The skies threatened to open up and rain all over us the entire
time we were there, but it made for some really pretty sunset
clouds. At around 10pm we felt the first drops and that was our
signal to head out. We had fun and will probably go to a few more
of these concerts next summer.

National Parks Pass

We drove over to the Monument today and bought our
National Park Pass for the season. I'm glad we bought
it at Colorado National Monument because 80-100% of
the money paid stays in the park where the pass is
purchased. We can also use it in a number of other federal
parks such as National Forests and Bureau of Land Mgmt.
lands but I'm sure most of our use will be in the National
Parks. We're going to use it tomorrow when we go camping
at Great Sand Dunes National Park, in south central Colorado.
It'll be the first of many uses this summer, I'm sure.

Little Park

After running a few errands today, Lynn and Leslie and I
took a drive. I had planned on just driving into the Redlands
to look at all the houses that we can't afford. However,
bridgework on the road leading to Colorado National
Monument was closed so we took the detour. This
detour led us through Little Park. I feel almost ashamed
that I never knew that this road or area existed. It's a
really pretty area that takes you through BLM land and
lots of really cool hiking areas that I want to explore in
greater detail someday. The road ends up in Glade Park,
where we've been many times and eventually leads to the
Monument. The weather was perfect and I'm looking
forward to coming back to this area soon. Next time,
maybe I'll remember my camera.