It Is Never Too Late To Change Your Future!

Late lunch/erly dinner at BJ's Brewhouse followed by movies on the couch with Maya. Happy NYE!

Picked up our Maya from Dam Doghouse boarding facility.

Leaving Cancun Flying back to Vegas.

Beach day

Merrry Christmas. Beach day. Dinner at Don Gus, Yucatecan cuisine.

Daytrip to the ruins in Tulmum. Swimming in the cenote Canamayte,  cenote Chen Ha, and lunch cooked by Mayan tribe. 

Beach day. Derek saved a boy's life from drowning in the ocean.
Dinner at Zai, Mediterranean cuisine.

Daytrip to the Yucatán Peninsula. Visited our first cenote. 

Daytrip to the Yucatán Peninsula. Visited Chichin Itza. 

Daytrip to the Yucatán Peninsula. Visited Valladolid. 

Beach day.
Dinner, Chinese cuisine.

Flew to Cancun Mexico. Checked in at the all inclusive GR Solaris Resort.

Dropped Maya off at the Dam Doghouse for sleepover camp. Flew to Houston TX. Overnight stay at airport hotel. 

New doctor visit in LV

Dropped off the EOS R at B+C Photo for repair. Late lunch at Ole Manny’s seafood truck at Khoury’s. 

Observing the Aurora Borealis for the first time EVER as we watched TV at the Rig.

Socializing Maya at Wilbur Park in BC

Guided boat trip from Boulder City/Hoover Dam ramp to Willow Beach. 10 th anniversary dinner at the Boulder Dam Brewery

Biking to Boulder City, lunch at The Dillinger

Moving day, Salt Lake City Utah to LMNRA, lakeview row for two weeks.

Hiked the Frary Peak Trail to the Dooley Knob overlook

Hiked the Buffalo Point Trail and hiked a mile into Salt Lake until we stood in salt water with Maya

Moving day, Rawlins WY to Salt Lake City, Utah, staying at Antelope Island State Park

Moving day, Custer to Rawlings Wyoming, snowed when we left in the morning.

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Hill City

Wildlife loop photoshoot in Custer State Park

Daytrip to pick up RX in Rapid City and lunch at Firehouse Brewing.

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Hill City - Deadwood

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Pringle - Custer

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Pringle - Edgemont

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Deadwood - Dumont - Deadwood

Watched the buffalo roundup at Custer State Park, Arts and Crafts show at Custer State Park

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Deadwood

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Crazy Horse - Custer

Mickelson Trail, side views of bridges, Derek biked Custer - Minnekatha. Picked up Derek in Minnekatha.

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Hill City - Mystic - Hill City

 Biking the Mickelson Trail, Edgemont - Lien Quarry - Edgemont

Daytrip to Rapid City to pick up meds, late lunch at Lost Cabin Brewing.

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Red Fern - Hill City

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Kirk Trailhead loop, Deadwood

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Edgemont

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Oreville - Deadwood

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer- Oreville, was supposed to ride to Deadwood but rained out ride in Hill City

Oreville bridge side view shots

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Mystic - Dumont - Mystic

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Hill City - Custer

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Edgemont

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Tunnel C - Custer

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Hill City - Custer

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Deadwood

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Edgemont

Hiked the Sylvan Lake Shore Trail with Maya, Drove the Needles Highway, dinner at Sylvan Lake Lodge

Pics of random bridges on the Mick; Exploring the 1881 Courthouse Museum in Custer

Random bridges on the Mick

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Edgemont

Bingo night at the Custer beacon.

Driving the wildlife loop in Custer State Park

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Pringle - Edgemont

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Pringle

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Deadwood - Rockford - Deadwood

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Rockford - Dumont - Rockford

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Trekkers Bridge - Crazy Horse

Natural Entrance Tour at Wind Cave National Park, Biking the MIckelson Trail Deadwood - Englewood Trailhead - Deadwood

Biking the MIckelson Trail, Mystic Trailhead - Rochford - Mystic Trailhead 

Evening in Rapid City, dinner and brews at Dakota Point Brewing

Evening walk and dinner at the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Hill City - Rochford - Hill City

Guided tour at Wind Cave National Park, Garden of Eden tour

Biking the Mickelson Trail; Hill City - Mystic - Hill City 

Road-trip to Rapid City for an oil change and lunch. 

Daytrip to Deadwood South Dakota to the Mickelson Trailhead and lunch at Sick-n-Twisted Brewery.

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Pringle - Custer

Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Hill City  - Custer

Balloon Fiesta flying over our campground. Biking the Mickelson Trail, Custer - Hill City  - Custer with Maya in her new 'biking wagon'.

Driving the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park.

Moving day 2: Arrived in Custer South Dakota.

Moving day with stopover in Denver, brunch with my Missy and Maya at Snooze. Spent the night in Cheyenne Wyoming.

Weekend in Victor Colorado, exploring old goldmines and Rita the troll.

Weekend in Victor Colorado, exploring old goldmines and Rita the troll.

Weekend in Victor Colorado, exploring old goldmines and Rita the troll.

Visited the Colorado State Penetentary in Canon City, CO.

Daytrip to Salida, CO. Chalk walk and lunch, exploring downtown Salida. 

Flew back to Denver, picked Maya up at the kennel.

Dropped Maya off at the kennel, flew to Dallas for medical treatment and Derek's presentation at his office.

Zamian flies back home, visit with Marley, Olivia and the kitties in Denver. Dinner with Missy at the Great Divide.

Maya goes to the vet's to be spayed. Daytrip with Zamian to Victor, CO.

Zamian arrives at Denver airport.

Picked Derek up from the airport in Colorado Springs, CO. 

Evening walk at the Canon City Riverwalk with Maya. 

Picked Melissa up from the Denver airport then drove back to Canon City, CO.

Dropped Derek off at the Denver airport for a conference in Maryland.

Daytrip to New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Co.

Photoshoot at Chatfield Farms.

Melissa leaves for Florida for her birthday week with friends, while we cat and dog babysit in Denver.

Early birthday dinner with Melissa in Denver

Daytrip to Bishop Castle and downtown Pueblo, CO.

Cacti bloom photo shoot on the Tunnel Trail, Canon City, CO.

Melissa goes home. Derek, Maya and I hike the Tunnel Trail using Maya's backpack - trial run successful.

Moved Mel and the dogs to a cabin at the KOA in Canon City, CO.

Breakfast from iHop at Melissa's campsite. Hiking the Tunnel Trail with Marley, Olivia and Maya.

Melissa's first car/tent camping trip in Canon City, CO

 Colfax Half, Denver

Melissa running the Colfax Half in Denver.

Picked up Derek at the Denver airport. Martina's birthday dinner at the Great Divide in Lone Tree with my Derek and MIssy and Maya.

Derek is in Florida for The Rolling Stones concert. Martina and Maya are chilling in the sun at the camper.

Hiking the Tunnel Trail, Canon City, CO. 

Moved the rig to Mountain View RV Resort, Canon City.

And Garden Park Fossil Area in Canon City, CO. A trail walk along the stream. Beginning in 1870, scientists excavated some of the most complete dinosaur skeletons in the Garden Park Fossil Area. 

Trying a new RV parking experience. The LOVE'S gas stations now have select areas with RV parks. Spacious sites and good views but the sprinkler system flooded our spot every night.

What a great surprise, we arrive at the restaurant for lunch to see my Missy at the table. A truly happy day!

It's moving day, and a new chapter starts as we leave New Mexico, Colorado here we come.

Trying out a new RV Park. The Love's (the gas station) RV Park in Canon City. Big open space with plenty of grass next to us for Maya to enjoy. So far so good. As things develop, we're in a spot that gets the royal sprinkler treatment every night and the area by our steps gets soaked and a puddle at our step every morning is not fun. 

As of this morning, we've had no response to advertising her on lost/found dog sites or the gas station where we found her, so we made an appointment at a local vet to have her checked again for a micro chip. For her vet records, we named her Maya (found her on Cinco de Mayo, so Maya seemed cute and reminder of her rescue date).   Unfortunately they found no chip. So with time running out, we decided to have her chipped and her health check came out good. Other than her cherry eye, she has a clean bill of health. And, not knowing if she'd had any shots, we have all necessary shots administered.
Guess we got a new addition to the family until her owner steps forward. 

Today we took a Daytrip to Sandia Peak, the Tram took us up to 10300 feet elevation for beauatiful views, once the clouds lifted and a delicious lunch at Ten 3 overlooking the valley and Albuquerque below us. A quick hike after lunch sealed the deal.

After work we set out to take pictures of the historic Rio Puerto Bridge. We took pictures and headed to the nearby gas station for a soda. Instead we came home with a stray. Dog that is. Unidentified, scared, neglected but thanks to Derek's fast moving action, she's in a safe spot before the storms came in tonight. Bathed and still scared, we find ourselves with an abandoned dog. 




 

Moving day but first, a quick detour through Petrified Forest National Park's scenic drive, because it's right next to the interstate and so beautiful. 

Back at one of our favorite spots to watch sunsets and a large parking space just outside of Albuquerque New Mexico.

Hiking the Bright Angel Trail, that's where we're going today, but only to he second tunnel, about an easy mile down, and a grueling climb, a mile back up. Reward? The views.

This is a first for us at the Grand Canyon, bighorn sheep on the trail. They passed us carefully and quickly.

Brought the equipment for a long Timelapse. It was a gorgeous night with this guy, staring into the canyon.

Daily cloudscapes are fantastic at the campground.

Quite possibly our most favorite place in the park. Views for miles and not many tourists. Win win. 

Took the e-bikes for a scenic ride to Hermits Rest.

They are known to nest here at the Grand Canyon but we've never seen one. Until today. What a surreal experience. This is #23. Look him up for the details on his life, it's quite extraordinary.

We catch up with Matt, the trail guide on last weeks mule ride into the canyon. This is his last day he's working here. Great to see my mule 'Andy' at the fence.

Basking in the sun in the bushes.

Can't wait to see them again, the little 'feline monsters'. How could I not miss them, my Missy and the doggoes.




We'll be there soon.

 

They really show up anywhere. Even on one of the overlooks, they just saunter on by.

Grocery and supply haul with a little detour to Dark Sky Brewing Company. 
Lunch, yes! Brews, of course! Not sure which is better, the brews or the eats, I think it's a tie, a 10/10 on both. 
Quirky little place with indoor/outdoor seating in the heart of Flagstaff. 
We LOVE it!!!!

Elk and tourists. But is this what the elk really think about the tourists taking their pictures all day long? Couldn't help but chuckle. Mind you, I have a pretty big lense and would not think about approaching the wildlife this closely. 

This is the second time we see them in the woods, four in total, wild or not?

The RV park manager told us about this cute little find. It's called the Heart of the Canyon.

We're good to go, deadline met, and relax at the South Rim with some spectacular views.

Trees, eyes, and the sky. Around camp.

Another ride into the canyon, not an overnight stay at Phantom Ranch, but 7 hours in the saddle will do, meet my sure-footed friend 'Andy' the mule.

The wranglers have a wealth of good info about the park, the history of the park and the mules.
They encourage the riders to ask many questions. And I love to pick their brains.
Most of all though, It's such a joy to see the canyon from the back of the mule, especially with recent medical health setbacks, I'm glad to have gotten this spot in a 'walk up process/canelation' rather than having to got through the lottery system.



 

But we still ride the e-bikes to the rim for an evening look into the big ditch. 

Leaving Las Vegas just before we experience another 94+ degree day. We're headed into cooler temperatures. This is our new site for the next 2 weeks. A new to us campground in Tusayan, Arizona. Just a mile from the Grand Canyon South entrance station. Unfortunately camper village, inside the National Park, where we normally camp, was completely booked.

View from the South Rim into the canyon, near Harvey House Cafe, never gets old as we head to Bright Angel Tavern for dinner and a brew.

Sitting outside and taking it all in.

Another 36 mile bike trip on this loop trail, with a little stop for dinner in Boulder City. It was the perfect balmy evening for this ride.

The Wetlands Loop Trail takes us along the Las Vegas Wash, this 12 mile long stream feeds most of the Las Vegas Valley's excess water into Lake Mead. The wash is fed by urban runoff, shallow ground water, reclaimed water. Heavy flow at one of the spillways.

Aviation Nation 2025. What a line-up, aerial performances from some of the best pilots in the world. Starting out with a steamer drop, followed by the Misty Blues, a packed itinerary from 11am to 4pm, with the closing performance of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the show gave us chills in the 90 degree desert setting.

A music and entermanent arena in Paradise, Nevada, it will catch your eye if you fly into Las Vegas, especially at night. 

The arena, with the immersive video and audio, includes a 16k resolution wraparound LED screen, it blows us away. The film was speifically to be screened at the Sphere, the history of life on Earth, ecological collapse, bring life to a new world in the hopes that they will take greater care of this ecosystem. Quite the story with beautiful animal and landscape footage. A bit more expensive than your regular movie ticket but so worth the experience.

This beautiful preserve on the edge of Las Vegas Wash, has had a rough go this year, 2 fires have claimed over 34 acres of this park, but places like this pond have remained untouched. We love our evening walks in the Springtime here. 

They are out in numbers, soaking up the sun. One has to step carefully on the trail, they might just run underfoot as they scurry for shelter.

They're better along the beach. This paved path along Coronado Beach is right outside the Del Coronado and goes on for miles in each direction. You can walk for miles, watching the gullsor the early monrning surfers or the volleyball players in the sand. 

Cute finds along Coronado Beach, a vintage VW bus, and just a little way down from there, an artist building sand castles or just rent some chairs and a fire pit as you watch the sunset. There's something to do for all ages. 

We start at Seaport Village, the historic marigoround with its hand carved animals is a sight for the young and young at heart.

So much to see there, or just sit out at on of the restaurants along the street, especially on the weekends when the road is closed off for the markets and local vendors. You can spend all day here, the sunny warm day makes it so much more enjoyable. 

We're walking in their footsteps. What an exhilarating experience. Hello Marilyn. 

We're off to a weekend at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. This is the rescheduled trip from when we got off the cruise ship on Christmas where we were gifted Covid and decided that instead of laying in the hotel bed, we drove ourselves back to Vegas to recover. We love the details of this old historic hotel.
Time to really experience 'The Del'.

Live at Caesars Palace. What a fantastic entertaining show. He's still got it, rocking the house with classics like Maggie May and Have you ever seen the rain!

Another early morning flight, back to Vegas, and by evening we're back in the Desert Wetands to enjoy some newly installed sculptures along the path.

Always in search of new, wide open spaces and trails, which I found a great one of, just across the interstate. This pedestrian bridge wil do just fine to quickly get the pups to a new walking path.

A visit to the Denver Zoo on this sunny Sunday revealed that the newly born baby giraffe was actually outside, despite the announcement on their websites that he was being kept inside a little longer.  What a sweet pair. Mom and baby (unnamed so far).
The perfect getaway before I pick up my Missy at the airport.

Post workout feel goods with a side of the sleepies. :)

 

He, on the other hand, will throw himself at your feet and demands belly rubs. This is a new move for sure, but entertaining. 

She's the one that follows me around all day long. She watches and demands attention when you least expect it and loves to lay across the computer keyboard as I attempt to work. Also, it is very important that she supervises bathroom time.


 

But first, a hearty breakfast at 'Snooze'. The omelet and bacon and a little pancake hits the spot, as always. 

At the crack of dawn. Denver here I come, while Melissa attends her Great Grandmother's funeral.

Expl;oring new trails at the Wetlands Park leads me down a pretty new and wide open space, hard to believe we're just on the outskirts of a big city. Loving the peaks of Mt. Charleston still covered in snow.

The 'good old fashioned gunfight' is what attracts the crowds to this little town, but to me the 'wild burros', to me, steal the show.

And a little wildlife viewing at the wetlands park. They are enjoying the sunshine as much as we do.

I've never seen American White Pelicans here before. Wondering if they are just making a pit stop?

That's a wrap for Mardi Gras.

Derek is downtown Vegas this week for a work conference, but after work, we play. It's fun every now and then to walk and explore, he's staying at the Palazzo suites which is so beautiful on the inside it's almost hard to leave, but the gondola rides in and outside the hotel are pretty fun too.

Short and sweet, a whopping 20 mile drive to Las Vegas RV Resort. Home for a month.

Time to get mail from our PO Box and one last bike ride up the hill for lunch. As usual, we see the lawn care professionals grooming the landscape. The BC herd is hard at work and we love to watch them from a safe distance.

Time to take in the sunshine and top down on the Jeep. Back in the desert!

Our favorite breakfast spot in Lone Tree, it hits the spot before we get on the plane to return to Vegas. 

The crab cake poached egg was a divine send-off.

Old things are moving into the new place. This vintage piece was carried out of the Checoslovacian Republic by my family somewhere around 1943, forced out of their homes having to chose sides. It found a home in Bavaria for some time, then rested in Germany for a good long while. It was brought to the US by my mother in 1993, 'lived' in Tennessee until 2019 when we decided to go full time RVing, handed over to 'travel' with a new generation and to tell time once more.
Sinc 1993, it has moved within Tennessee, from Clarksville, to Nashville, to Knoxville, to Nashville, to Denver Colorado. I'll say, it's found a pretty good spot in the center of this new construction apartment. 

It's clean, it's almost empty and we're ready to close the doors on that chapter, about a week and a half before final checkout. Just a few things that need to be sold or go in storage. Whew, feeling good about this.

Yes, it had snowed again overnight and still snowing the morning the moving truck needed to be picked up. 

Movers were waiting, so no time to delay. It all went well and the move is on the way.



 

 

Keys in hand, we haul in the first load of boxes and it's on. Moving day begins tomorrow.




 

It's time to pick up our Missy, in the SNOW. This is not cool Denver. We're not snow people, we're snow birds, haha. Despite the slippery slick roads, we make it to the cell phone parking lot with time to spare before she arrives. Whew!

On our morning walk we encounter 3 curious deer in this field which is just to feet from a busy street.  We watch them for about 10 minutes as they stay in the same area, just watching cars and walkers go by.

Even the kitties are sleepy in this cold weather.

Winter has made a comeback and it is so coooooold!  



Pups are bundled up and ready to walk. 


 

While our MIssy is on vacation/cruise, we start packing up her place for her upcoming move. 

Kevin, is supervising to make sure we're compliant with moving and packing guidelines :).

Him and his sister, Kevilina, are excited about the new 'jungle gym' we've creating in the dining room.

They make us sleepy but is this even comfortable? Olivia must think so.

LAS to DEN. The pilot gets us there on time despite the high winds in Vegas.

Hello Denver, it's good to see ya!

And Olivia are excited to see and greet us. The kitties are being kitties and need a minute or a day to adjust to us being there.

Not sure what Punxsutawney Phil saw today, but it was beautiful and a high of 74 today so we headed out early. Driving the entire 34 miles of the River Mountain Loop Trail, stopping in Boulder City at the Dillinger for brunch. It was a glorious ride. 

This grand cat update is especially cute, they love a good box to sit in. I imagine the grand dogs were jealous because they're too big to fit in the box. Ha!

Colorful sunset, no, on fire sunset as we drive into Las Vegas for dinner.

Our drive back is made up of many curves, the speed limit of 25 mph is warranted and the scenery spectacular, the snow around adding to the landscape.

What a scenic snowy drive and mud. The Jeep looke like it had gotten a brownish red paint job.

Here we go, the start of the climb to the bridge. Note, there is no snow yet.

By the time we reach the Devil's Bridge, there's almost no visibility, the snow is really coming down. But at this point we really don't care. We made it, and now we get to slip slide back to the car. 

...his choice of the after hike meal. The newly opened pizzeria greets us with a piping hot

'Cira' the pizza of choice, mozzarella made in-house, mushrooms so fresh and fragrant meatballs on the side.

No rest for the writer, as he clicks away and finishes this 4th book to be published tomorrow. 

This is where we sit, write, blog,and enjoy the view of old mining town, Jerome. And later on when work on book #4 finished, we enjoy a short walk to downtown Jerome for a little retail therapy, a bottle of wine an a toast to the birthday weekend.

A pre-booked train ride on the history 1510 takes us 20 miles over the next 2 hours through some of Arizona's most scenic canyon landscape. Check the schedule before embarking on this journey, it's worth your time!

Back at our sweet digs at the Jerome Grand Hotel for Derek's Birthday shenanigans, in our favorite room, with our most favorite view and of course the garden room.

Off we go into the desert on some sandy roads to see the wild burros and cows at Bonnelli Bay. Their offspring has grown up so much, it's so good to see them.

We're not alone, these guys are hungry and on the grass chowing down some grass. They love this part of town and they're just by the bike trail as we head to Boulder City on the e-bikes. 

Nevertheless, a beautifully sunny walk to Lake Mead while recovering from Covid.