Texas/Wyoming Vacation

We interrupt this renovation to take you on a vacation. I took two weeks off to attend a family reunion and make the annual pilgrimage to the Ranch.

First leg was to fly into Albuquerque and meet up with my brother. The next day we drove to Dallas, Texas to meet with my other brother and attend the family reunion/60th wedding anniversary on my biological father's side of the family.  It has been 45 years since we have seen them, needless to say I didn't remember any of them.  However I had a great time and want to attend another reunion in the future.

The weather was horrible!!! The temperature was in the upper 100sF with upper %90 humidity pushing the heat index to 105F, but the room was a cool 65.

This isn't the hotel we stayed at but I just had to snap a few pictures because those wolf statues were HUGE!

From there we visited Mom and Dad in Casper for a few days then headed north to the Ranch. However our stay was almost cut short. Five minutes after we arrived, my brother was walking back after parking his truck and was struck at by a rattlesnake. Fortunately he has quick reflexes and when he jumped the snake missed. Shortly thereafter there was one less snake around.

Snake no more

Mother or Father Robin feeding baby

Mother Sage Grouse and babies

After four days in the "wild" (not really, we had running water and electricity), we went back down to Casper for a few days. On the way back down to Albuquerque I jumped out at the airport in Denver and flew back to San Diego.

Another Snowfall

Wednesday afternoon into Thursday afternoon we had another snow and added about 3 or 4 more inches. I have really enjoyed the snow because the wind stopped blowing and I don't have to live with it for another 4 months :)

   Kuuipo really enjoys the snow and is taking the cold temperatures in stride.

White Christmas

Last night it began to snow and this morning we woke up to a blanket of several inches of snow and the temp was 0ºF/-17ºC. It should not get above freezing so the snow will last until at least tomorrow. Kuuipo sure did enjoy it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!

Wyoming Christmas

So this Christmas I am going to Wyoming and visit my family. Since Kuuipo  is going with me we rented a car and drove the 17+ hours. Each year it seems to get a little more difficult to drive. However the weather was good and the roads were dry.

 Unfortunately the wind has been howling so far and there is no snow on the ground. It is possible that we might get some snow Christmas Eve in to Christmas day. But up here you never know.

Kuuipo enjoyed the ride with "buddy".

To get to Casper you have to leave I-80 and then go about 110 miles on two lane roads. Once you leave the Interstate you drop down into a wide flat area that looks more impressive than this picture.

As you get closer to Casper the road takes you right by Independence Rock. Click the link to read more about  it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas.

Back to San Diego (trip pt 7)

It was time to go back to San Diego so we drove from Casper to Denver and made really good time. Unfortunately good time meant that I arrived at the airport over two hours early. I wasn't really looking forward to sitting in the terminal for two hours but then I remembered that they had a USO. I checked in and relaxed with some free sandwiches, drinks and really comfy chair. It was so comfy that I had to be careful not to fall asleep and miss my flight.

 
Marylin Monroe even welcomed me!

We flew on Colorado "The Ram" and I got a good picture of the Salton Sea.

Even though I was sitting in the middle the guy next to the window was nice and let me lean across and film the landing. I am always amazed coming into San Diego, we fly right over downtown. It was a pretty hard landing.

The Ranch (trip pt 6)

Out time is up at the ranch and it was time to head back to Casper but not before the evening's last meal of chicken fried steak, mmm mmm good. Evidentaly Bella was waiting for one of the steaks to jump out of the pan and onto the floor.

 
The light was just right on the morning we left to get this really cool picture of dam from downstream.

Coming in we didn't see any wildlife but on the way out we saw two rafters of wild turkeys.

Once back in Casper the food kept coming. Not sure where dad got these shrimp but they are the largest I have ever seen.

We also celebrated Tank's 50th birthday. His request for dinner was bacon wrapped filets. Very good!!

The Ranch (trip pt 5)

Any visit requires a hike up Fisher Mountain. I am not sure how far our property goes but I know it borders the National Forest. Fisher Mountain's summit is around 7,400 ft but we only went up to about 5,500 ft ( I am guessing). We actually have an upper meadow/ corral (minus the corral since it burned years ago during a really bad forest fire) however it was too hot and we were too out of shape to make it all the way.

 

I got some really good pictures of our cabin and the outlying canyons. The only wildlife we saw was an Eagle high above.

When I went out on a rock peninsula I did see some elk or deer scat and hoof prints but that was it.

The outcropping was about 2 ft by 2ft at the end and about 200ft down to the river on the far side. It was a really cool view. I wish I had taken my camera but I gave it to my brother to take my picture.