FIFTY YEARS OF BLESSINGS

               Sharon and Lon

           September 04, 1964

               Sharon and Lon

               September 2014

We can't begin to count all of our blessings over the last fifty years. However, as we are at these high points in Colorado, we are also at a high point in our lives.

                 Sharon and Lon
         Atop independence Pass

              Elev 12,095 Feet

Our most fabulous blessing is having all of you in our lives. We are so proud of our family and all their accomplishments.

Within the last year, Mark secured a position with the U.S. Postal Service. He has enjoyed success in his new work and is hoping to soon obtain full-time career status. Mark and Becky have a strong family commitment and are very busy with activities. With Kristen and Karissa both in college and working, Kolton finds himself the only one left to complete high school as he enters ninth grade at Harrisburg. Along with many activities, Becky continues her position with University of Missouri Health Services.

David is VicePresident of Marketing with Carstar Corporation in Leawood, KS. In addition, he and Georgia own and operate four GREATCLIPS franchises in the Kansas City area, with a fifth franchise and a store relocation being completed within the next few months. If that isn't enough, their four sons Aiden, the youngest in first grade at Lee's Summit, Noah, the baseball player, in fifth grade, Ethan, in eighth grade, and Quentin in his first year at the University of Missouri-Columbia, have more activities than we can possibly keep up with. 

Kevin lives in St Charles, MO. He has recently accepted a position as Vice President of Payer Strategy with US Bioservices, an Amerisource Bergen affiliate, near Dallas, Texas.  Karen continues to care for her aging mother at their home. Jordan is in his fourth year at St Louis College of Pharmacy as Justin is also entering the University of Missouri-Columbia. 

Sharon's parents are in a residential care center in Paris, MO. They are doing well as they turn 89 and 90 this fall. My parents have been deceased for nearly 35 years. We feel fortunate to have been born where we were and into the families that nurtured, supported, and encouraged us. 

In addition we have met some of the greatest friends we could possibly have had. To all of you, family, friends, and acquaintances who have helped shape our lives, we thank you.

How could we be more blessed? 

                 Sharon and Lon

      At Home in Buena Vista, CO

      "Home Is Where We Park It"

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE AND TRAVELS, ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

FUN WITH FRIENDS

              Fran and Bettie

          At Cottonwood Pass

We were fortunate to have good friends from Loveland, CO here for a couple of days. Fran and Bettie are friends from our Alaska trek in the summer of 2012. 

Before we got off work Monday evening, they had just time enough to get their Arctic Fox fifth wheel set up. What a great looking rig with the beautiful 2013, Dodge Ram one ton to lead the way. (I'm jealous) Anyway, we got a fire started and visited with them and our fulltimer and workamper buddies Mike and Christa. Soon it was time to retire.

Next morning after a couple cups of coffee and a sweet roll at one of the local shops, we headed off to the old gold mining town, now ghost town, St Elmo. I have posted pictures of St Elmo here before so today  I'll only post one of the Sheriff. I stopped her to ask the present day population. 

          Sheriff of St Elmo, CO

She said the population is 3. She also explained that there is a certain amount of petty crime there. Many tourists miss that last outhouse back down the road a piece, before descending into town where they want to unzip and/or drop their drawers. One woman didn't like the smell of the old school outhouse and started to drop her pants right in the sheriff's front yard. After being threatened with arrest, she pulled up her britches and moved on. 

There's also lots of bikers and ATVers driving through town too fast and not stopping at the one stop sign in town. Stirr'n up dust too. Ornery lawbreakers every place it seems nowadays. 

Arriving back at Buena Vista, we were tired and getting kind of lank so we decided on Quincy's for dinner. Good steak filet, baked potato, and salad for ten bucks. Can't beat it. 

Something was mentioned about Cottonwood Pass and contrary to my instincts, Fran indicated they had NOT been there. They had been to Taylor Lake on the west side of the mountain but had come from Gunnison, in the opposite direction.

It must have been nearing the seven o'clock hour, when we were approaching the summit, that I noticed what looked like a huge set of antlers waving just above the top of the shrubs, off to the right side of the road.

        Is that what I think it is?

Wow, he must be huge! I pull off toward the shoulder of the road just a bit, shoved the gear shift lever into "park," and bailed out, iPhone camera in hand. I heard Sharon say, "you aren't getting out there, are you?" 

      BULLWINKLE THE MOOSE

After clicking off several pictures, other vehicles began to stop. He just nonchalantly grazed in the shrubs as people gawked in amazement, but he did not come where we could get a great picture. 

         He loves those bushes.

Sharon, wise and cautious, stayed near the truck, ready to climb back to relative safety if he charged our direction. As some vehicles drove off, others stopped, probably five or six now.

We watched and clicked photos for maybe twenty minutes before he headed slightly away from us. What an exciting opportunity, to see a huge moose in his home environment. This was our fourth trip up to the pass since we got here in April. As Sharon said, it makes all this summer work worth it. It was bigger than any moose we saw in Alaska, and exciting like seeing the huge whales and the glaciers on that adventure. 

          Pics can't capture the

           size of this monster.

Moving on, each of us reliving this awesome moment, we arrived at the summit to a breezy 46 degree evening. It is always an amazing experience to view the sights from 12,000 feet. 

A few photos snapped and we are headed down. Just three switch backs down and only a short distance from where we saw "BULLWINKLE" was a lush green meadow with two large female moose. What a picture that would be with the light from our backs. 

As Fran and I jumped out to capture this image, a truck with loud pipes rounded the curve and sped up the hill. Oh no! The moose both lumbered off into the brush, now out of sight. What a let down.

We would have loved to capture that sight, and we did, but only in our mind's eye. Sorry I can only show you with words. Difficult to adequately describe but memorable. I should have snapped a shot of the little meadow and you could have imagined the two big cow moose with their long legs. Now you can only envision it all.

We did see a deer half way down the moutain but that seemed routine after what we had encountered. It was a full day with good friends to help us remember. Without them and their visit, we would not have been "in the right place, at the right time." Thanks friends, for a great fun-filled day.

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE AND TRAVELS, ENJOY THE JOURNEY.........WE ARE!

INDEPENDENCE PASS TO ASPEN

              Sisters at the top.

                 

                 Way up high.

            Even some snow left.

                   Beautiful

            Independence Pass

            Independence Pass

           Busy street in Aspen.

                 Home Again

    Oh Wow, Sharon back to work.

We had a great time and only have seven weeks left in Colorado. The summer has flown by and Fall is just around the corner.

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE AND TRAVELS, ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

More Fun With Family

Monday and Tuesday were days off for us. Monday we set out for St Elmo, another old gold mining town. Once booming with a population near 2,000, St Elmo is now considered a ghost town. 

        Paul checking a building.

       Brenda exploring St Elmo.

     Sharon holding Sophie back.

       Restored St Elmo, shool.

          Flower near the street.

After visiting the General Store in the old ghost town, we headed up the mountain to another old town named Hancock.

But first, a pit stop.

            A sweet young thing 

        patiently waiting her turn.

                On up we go.

        Hope it hangs on to the

         side of that mountain.

       

   Brenda checking a "fixer-upper"

 It was, the last remaining structure

    "Let's go, nothing here to see"

Okay, let's head home. We will drive over Independence Pass tomorrow and down to Aspen. Come along!

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE AND TRAVELS, ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

FUN WITH FAMILY

Brenda and Paul returned to Missouri today after spending six days with us at Snowy Peaks. We really appreciated them making the nine hundred mile trek to spend time with us. 

After resting the first evening, we took off for a ride after we got off work on Sunday afternoon. 

                Paul and Lon

            Cottonwood Pass

We hadn't gone far down the western side of the mountain until we spotted a moose and her baby. You have to look close, the picture is dark, but it was a moose.

                  The Moose

On down the mountain we went to Taylor Lake.

                Taylor Lake

While there we saw the sign for Gunnison and Tin Cup. The decision was made, Tin Cup here we come. Originally called Virginia City, gold was discovered there in 1859. Originally a rough town, now it is a summer home to many and winter home to few.

        Not us, but it is this road.

        Welcome to Tin Cup, CO.

       Wow, that was a long ride.

        Some didn't make it out.

          BBQ Dinner in the tent.

            Rest Stop between 

              BV and Tin Cup

By the time we got back over the Mtn to Buena Vista, it was near bedtime. It was a fun trip with more days to sight see together.

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE AND TRAVELS. ENJOY THE JOURNEY.