,Retired  to Colorado

MLS retired 8/1/02 and planned this trip to Colorado         (RETURN)

8/17- The day started late since MLS had to pay bills, but the effort got us to KickaPoo SP, IL, just past Danville. Rode bikes and adjusted MLS's bike, built in China, assembled at Wal-Mart
8/18 On to Council Bluffs IA, stayed in parking lot at Casino, MLS won then Lost
8/19 Did the Western Trails Museum, and rode bikes 7 mi to south side of lake Manawana.
8/20 On to North Sterling SP,CO, 5 RV's and empty reservoir, Coyote cries in the night.
8/21 - On to Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park. First night at Glacier Campground, tried to hike to Bearstandt Lake, very steep, got too dark.
8/22 Drove to Bear Lake, hiked to Alberta Falls, moved to Moraine Campground , and Linda gave us the campsite, great view, herds of Elk in the field below the mountain vistas.(Site # 234) Went to town and got some hiking boots, ate at MollyB's, met creative writer with stories of "when deer turn into Elk"..
8/23  Drove to Alpine Visitor Center via one-way dirt road (Trail Ridge Road) that hung on the cliff. Hiked to 12,005 ft, two stops to get to top, overlooked the head waters of the Colorado. Signed-up for another day here.
8/24 Tried out new boots on Cub Lake trail, 5.6 miles and a 540 ft. climb. .Just follow the trail - no blisters. Bandit sparrow stole rice from my dinner plate- then spit it at me, so went to ranger slide show about "Rocky Nat. Park.
8/25 Elk in the campsite. Towed Xtine over the continental divide, ate lunch at Grandy Lake, then on to ride Georgetown Loop Railroad. Camped at Dillon, CO
8/26 Rest Day, Worked on bike, Birds heard about my Rice and Beef- so they came to lunch, Did laundry , rode bikes a little and went to a bad movie!. Made plans for Utah
8/27 Went Internet Cafe in Frisco CO, no Coffee ?, passed on the $5 bagels, Lunch in Glenwood Canyon- onto Fruita   Ho-hum
8/28-Arrive Thousand Lakes, Torrey, UT, Capitol Reef NP. After buying Crenshaw melon, and long run on I-70 to 72.
8/29- Hiked 4 miles in CRNP, Stopped at U-Pick-Fruit.
8/30 Calmly drove to Bryce Canyon, across razorback with 1000ft drops. 2 hands and lots of body English just to get there.
8/31 3-hour horseback ride into Bryce Canyon, with Swanny and  Hank. MLS on Bunny & JW on Doc (aka Stumble)
9-1 Made it to Zion, two camp sites left, full of Holiday folk. Mary drove in the east entrance, a scenic drive! JW hurting from a day in the saddle rests, visits ranger talk.
9-2. Back on track, we do the Canyon Overlook, and the Riverside walk trails. The trails stops, but she keeps right on trekking..
9-3 Out of Zion across AZ and Navajo land to Bluff, Stayed at Bluff RV, and dined at Twin Rocks Cafe
9-4 Then to the back country of the Canyonlands. Found water and campsite.
9-5 A little hiking and sightseeing then on to Moab. MLS found some Steak, guess what's for dinner,  and it's 110 degrees.
9-6  Met people form Ohio, they have been doing some Jeeping and hiking also lazy day,  did laundry, updated web, and grocery.  And the clever American Indians made these pieces of art.
9-7  Moab Breakfast only $20, to see Arches, MLS climbed up into the double Arch, but the big rain came and put on an amazing display of waterfalls and washes. Dinner at Canyonlands at Night in the rain. Rain check for Canyon Lights boat trip tomorrow night.
9-8  Did some good old trails into canyons, tried for Hey Joe Canyon,  big rock in the road, had to turn around on river path. MLS did some navigating using GPS and  found Bartlett Overlook, super view. Did boat ride at night on the Colorado.
9-9 Stopped in Durango saw train used in " Around the World in 80 Days".  Then on to Pagosa Springs, looked at 35 acre ranch for only 750,000 dollars US.
9-10  Then across the Great Divide, thru the clouds at over 10,000 feet, to the Great Sand Dunes.
9-11 La Junta - Abilene ( end of the Chisholm Trail) with a look at the Santa Fe Trail Center. Past several wonderful beef processing   smelling Steak Houses,
9-12  On to Marshall IL
9-13 Then to Newark!

(RETURN)