Ski Utah!

We have used our ebay cross-country skis for 2 days in a row! I wouldn't call us skiers, but we felt successful with both of our attempts. We have pictures, but no way to get them to the computer until we return to Vegas. (I forgot the cord!) So for the time being, y'all will just have to take our word for it; WE LOOK GOOD ON SKIS!

While still in Vegas, Russell had researched the closest place for cross-country skiing, Brian Head, UT, less than 100 miles north of St. George. We decided to stay in Parowan, a small town at the foot of the mountain and right off the freeway. We set up at the town's only RV park, unhooked the car and headed up the mountain; as far as the CHAIN UP AREA. We stopped to evaluate before going back to town for chains. Back to the CHAIN UP AREA. We were not the only couple trying to read the directions and get the chains - actually we got cable type, all that was available - connected to tires unused to such treatment.

Success! AND we finished before the snow started, but not by  much. We were going to Brian Head! The going was not easy, however, and we were soon stopped by the police. He let us know that the cables would not get us to the top of the mountain. Russell thanked the man for the advice, and on we went.

We did make it to the Lodge in a driving snow. It is very pretty and I'm sure we'll get back there someday, but not this trip. We were fortunate to make it up the mountain and back and we knew it.  Going back to the RV, we investigated a beautiful BLM picnic area near town. With the snowfall all night, the next morning was perfect for our first try at skiing.

The snow was pristine, only animal tracks marred the surface. A creek running along side the road was the only noise, red rocks protruded through the snow and pines. It was perfect, even though our ski attempts were less than. It was a successful day.

We were concerned that more weather was moving in, and didn't need to spend another night in Parowan, so we packed up and headed north for Provo.

Today's efforts took place at Sundance Resort on their Nordic Track, rather repeated passes on a single 200 yard stretch of that facility. Sundance is east of Provo and really beautiful. This facility is really a track, with manicured paths through the woods and carved tracks that make the process a lot easier. We hope that tomorrow we will get to take lessons there, but snow tonight may make travel on the mountain roads more tedious. Neither of us is anxious to repeat our tire cable experience. I also think our muscles, joints and bones might appreciate a rest.

We'll be here for the week, camped next to Lake Utah on the west side of town. I know that we will enjoy more days of skiing and more.

Touring At Home

In the week between Christmas and New Year's, Kyle came to visit Las Vegas. So did everyone else, apparently. One tour guide at Hoover Dam told us this is usually the one of the busiest weeks of the year and the day before our visit saw the highest volume of the year. Who Knew!

Our small family followed the herd. We drove past the dam to a viewing area of the Colorado River and valley. We've zoomed on by it several times, and finally made it a destination. The deep blue of the river through the rugged landscape was worth the short trip. We then took the u-turn to the Hoover Dam Bridge. The line to drive through security, one at a time, was indeed tedious, but well worth the time. We walked the bridge for the view of the dam and lake. We walked from that parking area to the dam and tour/museum buildings.

Another day, we drove to Red Rock Canyon, it also seemed to be a popular idea. The weather was perfect and the setting always is! We stopped to hike Lost Creek again. With sunset about 4:30, we made it a short hike to get home before dark. Lost Creek is about half way around on the 13 mile, one way scenic drive through the park. It's 2 lane and usually moves right along. This evening it came to a complete stop, only the helicopters were making progress. Folks were walking around visiting, checking their phones to determine the problem. It seems a hiker broke his ankle and was Care Flighted out of the area. The snaking line of headlights finally began creeping toward Vegas. Two things about the experience: With technology, we had the full story while stuck in the middle of it; That it was necessary to stop all traffic for a broken ankle!

The remainder of Kyle's visit was spent just being together. We got to share our new home and some of the not-so-touristy places in Las Vegas. He had never been to Trader Joe's or Famous Dave's, so those were must stops.

He will be back in May for a trade show, so we look forward to that. In the meantime, we are spending a few weeks in Utah! More about that later.

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas

November 26, 2011

The turkey is reduced to leftovers in the freezer. The tree is trimmed. We are awaiting our umpteenth football game of the weekend, Tech and Baylor. We managed to avoid the shopping freenzy so far, but also have no presents for Christmas yet.

This is our first holiday season back in a stick home so the traditions of decorating and trimming the tree have brought back many memories. It was great fun to set up the manger, arrange the Santas, and hang ornaments. I haven't seen these treasures for 3 years. The best part is remembering the family, friends and students who gave us so many of these items. I have parts of 2 manger sets, 1 from Mom the other was Aunt Janice's. I remember the Kerrville after Christmas sale at Schreiner's with Mom when I picked up our Christmas pottery. Mom and I were both proud of the low, low price. Setting up the tree on the day after Thanksgiving was something we always did with Bill and Betty when we were in Waco.

Since it has been awhile, a few things slipped our collective memory: what happened to the tree stand? we only have 1 strand of lights? did you find the ornament hangers? But all the dust has settled and I have swept the tree needles yet again and it's time to catch up on correspondence.

From my perch on the sofa I can admire the sunset over the mountains, the tree, and the large screen TV. Life is good! It must to time to post on the blog!

We've been reminising our most recent trip and planning the next, but for now we are hanging out in Vegas. New traditions are good!

Living in Vegas

Look left: view of sunset over the western mountains. Look right: Rangers up by 2 over the Tigers. I guess there is not much to complain about, but somehow I find a way. In a minute we'll flip to catch up with the Raiders and Aggies, so I am truly multi-tasking.

We took a sports break today to take a short drive and hike. We are about 10 miles from the entrance to Red Rock Canyon National Park, geezers like Russell get in free. We hiked the Calico Hills for about 1.3 miles. The up, down and around made it more of a challenge than it sounds. It was a perfect day, evidenced by the number of folks who made the same decision we did to get out of town.

The Calico Hills are perfectly named. Orange, white, black, marmalade striped formations heaped in great globular mounds reminded me of a book Kyle got from my Aunt Mab when he was slightly more than a baby. We loved how the calico cat ate everything in sight to become The Three Hundred Pound Cat. I could just imagine him and an entire herd of such cats eating themselves to a frozen state, sleeping off the Thanksgiving dinner of all time. Perhaps I spent too long in elementary classrooms.

But now back to the reality of an opened patio door, no screen needed, with the mountains etched against the last glow of clear sky. A pine tree off of our patio frames the twin palm trees that appear to top the more distant peaks. Oh and Tech just scored again. Some things just don't get any better! Yes they do! A NELSON CRUZ HOMER!

A New Home in Las Vegas

Last night Russell commented that it has taken 2-3 months but we were finally settled. Looking at the calendar revealed that it had just been 6 weeks. Some things just feel like they last longer.

During our long-planned trip from Texas to Chicago in July and August, our Las Vegas condo closed and our stored furniture and boxes were shipped from Waco; all with a lot of help from friends and the internet. We left Indiana Dunes early August 11 and arrived in Vegas 1780 miles and 3 days later. Between the 14th and Labor Day Russell and Fred, handyman extraordinaire, painted, floored and plumbed. In the 3 weeks since Russell and I have been cleaning, sorting and moving in. The RV is in storage nearby ready for our next trip.

We are enjoying our new home! At 1200 square feet, it is small, but 3 times bigger than what we are used to. We love getting reacquainted with our stored stuff; it makes us smile to seeing our paintings and hear the clock chime. We love our view! the mountains west of town display wonderful sunsets, more smiling. We love meeting new neighbors and finding cool spots in Vegas. There is more work to be done, but the has-to-be-done parts are behind us and we are beginning to enjoy our new home.

More later to fill in the gaps about crossing the mid-west and seeing 7 new-to-us states.

A New Home

Indiana

We swung by Indianapolis on our way to Lafayette, and I am talking about the briefest of glances. I'm sure there is a city there, but you can't prove it by me. We only saw a couple of freeway systems under construction. The signage was so poor we were flying on guess work, not our best method of navigation. But! we made it and we were soon cruising into our campground on the Wabash River east of the city. Stately trees created a canopy that shaded and cooled.

We took in the local sights: the Tippicanoe Battleground, Perdue University (thought about our friend Tom who was a proud alum), the county courthouse, Walmart and Home Depot. The Erie Canal that connects Lake Erie with the Wabash, built long before statehood, ends at Delphi, a town just east of our campground. We talked about going but ran out of steam. A tour boat runs on the weekend, not weekdays. That would be a trip worth taking.

We woke up Tuesday night to heavy rainfall and heavier limb-fall. A thin but long dead limb landed on the roof just over our bed in the early hours. Fortunately nothing was hurt and the refreshing sound of rain was really nice. Temperatures were cooler that morning, but in a steamy kind of way. This morning the air was crisp, clean, and significantly cooler. Maybe 100 degree days are gone for this trip.

We are now just up the road at Fair Oaks. The park is just beautiful, wide sites, well treed (but we finally have satellite access with ease) there is a lake and several trails. Chicago is less than 2 hours away, so driveable for a day trip. I'm getting excited about my first visit to the city.