Summer Road Trip Vacation!

It's been too long since we've done a U.S. road trip so corrected that situation by driving back to Nebraska this year rather than the usual air method of travel - we loved it!

Our trip began with destination Durango, then Ouray, then Frisco, then lunch in Denver with Marvin and Jennie, then Estes Park, then lunch with friends in Loveland from our former living in Peru days, then several days in Harrison while Larry and Wayne were helpers in the reshingling of their mom's roof, a quick trip to Chadron for me, then Rapid City to visit friends and relatives, then back to Harrison to drop Larry's mom off, then Steamboat Springs, then Moab, and then...home.  All this travel was done  from Friday, July 27, through Sunday, August 12, and involved a lot of picture taking.  AND, I got a new camera in the middle of the trip with more zoom than the other camera but still not as much zoom as I'd like ha!

Lake Vallecito near Durango...




View from hotel porch in Ouray....

Black Canyon of the Gunnison...

Is Colorado countryside beautiful or what!!  I was always deeply impacted by the scenery I saw when we traveled in South America, but this road trip through Colorado reminded me of the beautiful scenery we do have in the U.S.

Along with the beautiful scenery we were treated to, we also enjoyed the weather!  Although it was warm by Colorado standards, we absolutely loved it!  We particularly enjoyed the rain whenever we were treated to it.

We ventured out of the Colorado mountains into Denver to meet up with stepfather Marvin and wife Jennie.  FYI: this photo and the previous ones were all taken with the "old" camera.

There was a Costco near Marvin and Jennie's where a sort of impulse purchase was made of our new camera which I expect to provide us with better focused with more zoom photos...we'll see.  We traveled to Estes Park and stayed at the Stanely Hotel where parts of the Steven King movie, The Shining were filmed -- what a beautiful historic hotel with a perfect front patio to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a day of travel....

I need to watch The Shining again...



We left Estes Park the following morning to meet up with Phoenix friends Buck and Susan who are now living in Loveland (in the summer - such lucky, smart people) for coffee.  We then went to the beautiful home of friends, Gary and Lori.  We met Gary and Lori over ten years ago when we were all living in Cajamarca, Peru.  By the way, the background of this picture is their front door!

We'd had a great time traveling through the Colorado mountains but it was time to head to Harrison.  Larry, Wayne and godson Jared were to start reshingling Larry's mom's roof the following morning -- off to northwest Nebraska!  Nephew-in-law Doug helped too allowing the job to be done in 3 1/4 days.  Nebraska was experiencing high temperatures so add the heat to the tough job of shingling - ouch.

While the fellows worked, I headed to Chadron to visit Virginia and Cheri...

The following evening we traveled to Fort Robinson for the play Oklahoma at the Post Playhouse.  Is Sophi catching up to Linda and me in height or what...

The parade in Harrison is always a highlight of the visit, particularly for the kids...

 In addition to the parade over the Sioux County Fair weekend is the annual picnic that Larry's mom hosts for the Shriner's as a "thank-you" for participating in the parade.  Wayne has taken over the job of cooking...

And then there is church on Sunday morning -- Larry's mom Dorothy plays piano...

A special treat this year was that at the end of the day, we took a drive into the surrounding canyons twice and saw several doe with their twin fawns!!, buffalo!, wild turkey, what appeared from a very far distance as Ostrich? and a coyote along with a beautiful sunset.

We were able to spend an evening with old friends John and Terry....  By the way, the below picture was taken with the old camera.  Not good quality but I had to include it...

So, with the shingling done, Fair over and other family members gone, we headed to the Black Hills.  Larry had a half day of business to attend to allowing us to see family and friends there.  We first traveled to Spearfish to visit Larry's Aunt Dee who makes 96 look easy! and his Cousin Judy and her husband.

(L-R: Cousin Judy, Aunt Dee and Larry's mom Dorothy)

 Aunt Dee is just a little thing -- okay, maybe Larry and I are big things...

It is always a pleasure to gather with Larry's friends from his college days -- I need to go find a photo of the guys from those days so you can see if they've changed much...

(L-R: Larry, Bret, Danny and Brad)

 We now take a picture of the wives as well.  (L-R:  Diane (Danny's wife), Miss (Bret's wife) and Ann (Brad's wife).

We then met with Larry's Uncle Richard and Aunt Marj and Aunt Co for breakfast before heading back to Harrison.  (L-R: Larry, Uncle Richard, Aunt Co, Dorothy and Aunt Marj)

So, back to Harrison where we dropped off Dorothy and we were onto Steamboat Springs -- it was time to start the return trip to Arizona.

Following a lovely evening in Steamboat Springs (and rain!) we headed for Moab, UT, as a destination and came upon these birds in a field near Meeker -- Larry thinks they are Sandhill Cranes -- huge! which you can't fully appreciate in this picture.

In past years, we've been through Moab on a few occasions and this trip, as with Colorado, Moab countryside affected me to a higher degree than in the past in it's beauty.

Enjoyed the drive through Monument Valley -- gotta love The West!!

The vacation officially ended on Sunday, August 12, but we look forward to our next trip at the end of August when Larry's work takes us to Tucson for a short get away. 

Today is August 15, which is significant in that one year ago today I started chemotherapy.  I'm thankful to still be here.   I'm thankful for the supportive family and friends.  I'm thankful that I feel good (last scan showed "disease stable").  I'm thankful for the continued opportunity to be -- to be able to take a trip and enjoy the beautiful countryside in the U.S.  Ha! and I'm thankful for hair!  Onward and upward...





4th of July Long Weekend

The Phoenix friends ventured our way for a hang-by-the-pool day the end of June.  How convenient to be so close to them and instead of a 3 - 5 hour drive to visit us, it is a short 30 - 40 minutes.  It is always a pleasure to spend time with these special people.

l-r: Allison, Sue and Michelle

Seems like we had just returned from Lake Powell and it was time for another get-away.  However, I
have to mention that Larry's work has required a lot, a lot! of travel lately.  Our planned 4th of July get-away to eastern Nebraska was affected a tad bit when the "powers-that-be" required his attendance at a quarterly meeting meaning he was unable to travel with me on the 4th.  So, as I headed out for Omaha, Larry headed for Montana with plans to join me two days later. 

I disappointed myself greatly by not pulling out my camera upon arrival at niece Karyl and Travis' home in Omaha.  Larry's sister Linda had traveled over from Gothenberg and nephew Joel and Lauren were visiting Nebraska from their home in Texas - I failed to get any of those pictures.  However, the 4th of July gathering at Karyl and Travis' home was great.  Omaha put on a beautiful fireworks show which we were able to to enjoy from their comfortable back deck.  Below is Dawson with the fireworks dad Travis provided.



The 5th took me on a 1 1/2 drive to Columbus, NE, where my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Clyde live.  It is always a pleasure to be able to spend time with them and especially nice when cousin Syd and her husband Paul and cousin Mitch and his wife Roxie are able to join us. 

l-r: Uncle Clyde, cousin Syd (husband Paul in back), Roxie and cousin Matt and Aunt Jackie.

Aunt Jackie is my father's twin sister.  Their story is interesting.  Their birth mother abandonded them in Chadron shortly after birth.  Two Chadron families wanted to adopt them - but separately.  Aunt Jackie went to her family and my father went to his family.  However, what a gift their parents gave them!  They were raised in Chadron knowing they were twin brother and sister and were named Jack and Jackie.  What a gift to us as well in that we know our aunt and cousins!

Aunt Jackie's was an R.N. by profession and Uncle Clyde a physician.  Aunt Jackie and Uncle Clyde were both huge golfers which they just gave up this year.  Aunt Jackie, at 84,  still keeps busy by volunteering at the local hospital which provides her with great satisfaction as evidenced by her talking about her time spent there.







The 6th took me to Lincoln to collect Larry.  Life in Phoenix and how far we have to travel at times just within the city made the 40 miles backtrack trip to Omaha for dinner with Karyl and Travis not seem like much at all.  Gad though, can't believe I forgot to use my camera again. 

We ventured back to Lincoln after dinner meeting up with nephew Todd and friend Virginia and husband Dennis.  The reason for this gathering: friend Virginia's son Jesse's wedding the following day.

l-r: Dennis, Virginia and Dennis' son Jeff who traveled from Oklahoma for the festivities.

This is the only good picture of the bride and groom that I got.  The church was beautiful and the weather cooperated as well - was only in the low 90s with a lot of humidity but no wind!  Chelsey was a beautiful bride.

Virginia and I went to high school together which means we've been buds for coming on 40 years.  She was my maid-of-honor and I was her maid-of-honor.  Her son Michael was Larry and my ring bearer, and Larry and I are her son Jared's god-parents.  She is such a good friend...such a blessing!  I'm one lucky person when it comes to the friends and family in my life.

On the left is our ring bearer Michael (with wife Alaina) and to the right is Jared, our godson.  In the background is Virginia's nephew Crae who I haven't seen for at least 18 years?!










Below is a picture of the bride (Chelsey) and the groom (Jesse Paul) with Jesse's father Paul (left) and his Uncle Kent (right). 

This wedding gathering allowed for a reunion of sorts with friends we haven't seen for too many years.  It was fun to see Paul and Kent again after so many years (and meet Paul's wife Cydne and Kent's wife Milka).  We missed Jean and Boyd being able to attend though.

l-r: Cydne, Paul, Kent, Rachel, Cassidy and Milka.

Sunday took us back to Omaha from where we would fly back to Arizona and the opportunity to visit Larry's Uncle Ron and Aunt Lola. 

We're happy Larry's work schedule allowed us this trip to eastern Nebraska and the chance to see the variety of family and friends.  Time spent in eastern Nebraska also served to help us appreciate our dry Arizona heat.

Regarding health update: nothing to report.  I continue to meet with Dr. Paripati with blood tests monthly.  I feel good!

Lake Powell 2012

We use our week on Lake Powell every other year -- therefore, even numbered years mean a week of relaxation on that incredible body of water spent with family and friends.

This year's crew included our Phoenix area sister-in-law Liz and nephew Jimmy (oops, Jim), and friends Mike & Sue (although Sue was only able to be with us for 1 1/2 days), Larry's brother Wayne and our niece Sophi traveled from the Portland, OR, area, niece Crystal and husband Doug and great niece and nephew Kennedy and Kane traveled from Kearney, NE, and niece Karyl and husband Travis and great nephew and nieces Brady, Dawson and Kealy traveled from Omaha, NE.

Larry and I and Mike and Sue began this year's houseboat week with a rafting trip which began at the base of Glen Canyon Dam and took us to Lee's Ferry - about a three hour leisurely float on the Colorado.  I used a waterproof disposable camera for these shots - sorry for the photo quality but gives you an idea of the experience.

Heading down to the rafts.
 

The water was very cold.  Glad the camera captured how clear the water is.

We were bused back to Page following the float where we met up with our Oregon and Nebraska crew.  Had to capture a picture of the fellows who pilot us out of the slip: Captain Mike & Captain Mike ha!  They were wishing Liz a Happy Birthday! 

And then, the houseboat week officially began.

 We found a perfect spot at the mouth of Gunsight.  It was perfect: sand beach, no nieghbors and deep water off the back of the boat.  We stayed here all week and loved it!

 Some people wonder how you can spend a week on a 52 ft. floating home with 17 people.  Each couple is assigned one day to cook (meaning excellent meals daily) but once your day is done, you're free to do whatever you want.  There are two jet skis, a kayak, a speed boat, a slide off the back of the boat, float toys, comfortable chairs to nap in, reading to catch up on and games.

The fellows gathered nearly daily for horseshoes or hitting golf balls.

 Mike and Jimmy taught the others how to use a compass utilizing a treasure hunt of sorts.  Sue had provided prizes for successfully following the map - glow in the dark necklaces, etc.

The girls worked on their water balloon launching skills.

 One morning, several of the crew got up extra early and headed off for Rainbow Bridge - along with a stop at Dangling Rope Marina for ice cream.

Jet skis were enjoyed particularly by the teens in our group who learned how to drive them.

But the big kids liked them too....

And after a day of all play, the majority of us chose to sleep up on top.

We were able to get a "girls" picture before Sue had to leave.

 Can't leave out the goofy guys picture.

The Nebraska crew introduced us to a new houseboat drink.

And then, after Sue left us, we were forced to drink champagne without her...this was our Sue toast picture we sent her at work ha!

 The view from our spot...

 It was pretty warm some days but the water was refreshing....

It was great to have Wayne on the boat again - it had been too long.

 l-r: Doug, Crystal, Wayne, me, Larry, Karyl and Travis

This one made me chuckle, the kids didn't always have a lot of energy first thing in the morning...
l-r: Kealy, Dawson, Kane and Sophi

We were happy to have sister-in-law Liz back on the boat after a four year break and always glad that Jimmy is able to come.

 Mike proved  his worth on the boat once again by diving for Liz's sunglasses that fell off the back of the boat!

 2012 Houseboat Crew!  Thanks for the Castaway Island t-shirts Liz!  Thanks for the Castaway Island kerchief's Crystal and Doug!

And another week on Lake Powell comes to an end.   Next Lake Powell gathering: 2014!

Larry, Mike and I stayed an extra day and this was the sunrise we were treated with the morning we left.  I love that we get to go to Lake Powell!

Regarding a health update - I don't have one.  All is going well!  Life is good!