Silverton & Durango

One rainy morning on our trip to Colorado, we boarded a real honest to goodness narrow gauge steam engine driven train.... Silverton & Durango.   I've loved riding trains when I was a kid, and I think somewhere in my long ago childhood I've ridden a train with a steam locomotive.  I remember something about coal and cinders.   I was a little unhappy as we started out in heavy rain.  My concern was the fact that I desperately wanted to go back to the open car with Snappy in hand and get some pictures.  I didn't think Snappy would like rain.

After a bit of traveling, the train came to a stop.  It seems that a boulder had fallen on the track somewhere ahead of us and the rail had to be replaced before we could continue.  I didn't mind that one bit.  A nice state of the art rail seemed a good thing.   We ended up sitting on the track for somewhere close to two hours.  In that time, the rain stopped.  Yea!!  Picture taking was looking up.  We were allowed to get off the train and look around for awhile.  Then we were on our way again.

Ah, pretty pictures were in my future.  

Here is one of the open cars where we could go take pictures.  As you can see, heavy rain wouldn't have been a good thing here.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip.  I love the look of the whole thing and even think it has good framing.  Beautiful!!!

Leaning out just a little, I managed to get the train and engine.  See that lovely steam rising into the air!

Lots of trees, rocks, and water..  The air was crisp and cool too.  Lovely, really.

Look closely.  There is a fellow on a zip line.  He seemed to be having a fine time.  I'm going to pass on that one.  I believe I've done my due for awhile with water rafting.

I saw this and fell in love.  I do believe this might be my dream home.  I just think someplace like this would be such fun to go to and enjoy the awesome surroundings.

This is another of my favorite pictures.  I can't exactly tell you why, but I  just like it.

The Colorado Mountains are so beautiful.  The air is so clean smelling and crisp.  The temperatures were so nice there as compared with the triple digits back home.

Of course there are lots of rocks and rushing water... water noises.  Ah, beautiful scenery.
I leave you with this little look at some of my pics from the Silverton Durango Train Trip.  Such fun, and I would recommend it to anyone.   I did have to come back inside at one point as the cinders got to flying a bit and it just seemed to be better inside our enclosed car.

Water Rafting Sequel

If you have not read my previous post 'Water Rafting 101', go there quickly and read it before you start on my new post.  The whole idea of 'sequel' is that something came before.  You need to UNDERSTAND my fear and trepidation with water rafting before embarking on this new jewel of a post.

Somehow in the back of my mind, I think I'd decided that people really didn't fall out of their rafts.  I'd decided that it was just one of those things that had to be talked about so people would know what to do on the slim chance that one did exit the craft.  It wasn't likely, just possible.

It is a good thing I didn't know about this before I headed to the Arkansas River.  I'm afraid I'd been at Wal Mart with those who opted to skip all the rafting happiness.  Daughter I-Needa read my rafting post and elected to e-mail a picture of her good friend Jules who was rafting on the Deschutes River in Oregon.  She put something about a good thing Jules listened to instructions in the subject bar.  So.........

Jules was water rafting, something she had done before.  They were happily paddling along.  (I will digress just long enough to remind you of my own intent to be in Dylan's raft where my job would be to hang on.  I didn't want to paddle or be responsible for keeping away from the rocks!)

So...  Jules was in the craft...back seat... same as me.    Her hands are busy with the oars as she has a job to do.  All is well.... almost.

Oh no!!!!   Do you see what I see?  Jules isn't rowing now.  She is headed for the water for sure!  I sure hope she listened to all those instructions that they should have given her.  This isn't funny!  Nope!

                              

You can see Jule's foot, and the guide is looking too... for sure.  I wonder what he is thinking!  I know what I'm thinking.  Jules?  Not a clue!

There is Jules in the water trying to head back to the raft.  By golly, she kept her sun glasses on.  I wonder if she wished she had a helmet.  There are ROCKS out there... lots of rocks.

I e-mailed Jules and asked her what on earth happened that she ended up in the water.  She said she'd put on lots of lotion, and just slipped off the raft.  The guide managed to get to her downstream and pull her in closer with her paddle, then pull her into the raft with her life jacket.  She said it was a very scary experience and she was lucky to be alive.  She also told me that when she went overboard, all the instructions just flew out of her brain.  I can believe that.  

I went back to my 'to do' list and darkened that check mark by water rafting.  I've done it.  I enjoyed it.  I think I'll leave it at that. 

By the way... the above pictures weren't on the company website very long. I'm amazed that Jules managed to fall overboard just when the photos were being taken.  I doubt the company wanted Jules as their poster girl. I know I would have been at Wal Mart if I'd seen anything like that ahead of time.  I did use these wonderful shots with permission of Jules.  

Water Rafting 101

Although this water rafting thing was suppose to be one of the highlights of the trip, and I signed up for the trip knowing all this, I wasn't really sure I wanted to go.  Let's face it, I'm a coward in the adventure department.  If coward is too strong a word, lets go with super cautious.  I like keeping my feet on solid ground and don't often fling myself wholeheartedly into crazy unstable situations.

So, while Mr. was full speed ahead on this whole water rafting caper, having been before and having no fear, his wife (that's me) was dubious.

Some of our tour group opted to skip the water rafting and head to Wal Mart.  I was torn.  If I'd been by myself, I don't know if I would have gone or not.  I really wanted to go, and I really didn't want to go.

The tour bus pulled up to the Raft Masters area in town.  We got off the tour bus and headed to be 'outfitted'.   We lined up to get our body suits and booties, then off to select a helmet and get our life vest.  So far... lots of stuff.  A body suit!  Please!  Thankfully, the vest was a nice touch which softened some of the shape revealing of the body suit.   At this point, looks was the least of my worries.

I still wasn't sure I wanted to go.  The dressing room was a fun place to zip body suits and share the fun.  Somehow with each step, commitment to actually going rafting was drawing closer.

We were lined up and personally fitted with the life vests: arms up, arms out, arms down.  'Can you breathe?'  They needed to be secure (tight) enough to do their job just in CASE.

With trepidation I got on the bus that would take us to the river where we would be launched into the Arkansas River to raft the Big Horn Sheep Canyon.  We were to 'Experience the Thrill without the Chill'.... whatever that means.  Basically, I realized that all was lost.  Translation: Our tour bus and driver were gone, and I was left with no means of getting back to it other than that water experience.

Once on the Raft Master's bus headed to the water, the fun began.  If you've flown before, you know the drill.  Tell the worst case scenario about what to do if the airplane cabin looses pressure.  Thankfully, that doesn't last long.  Let me tell you, the information given on the pleasure ride to the water was long and involved.  We heard every possible situation and what to do.  All those 'If you are thrown out of the raft' things were mind boggling.  I had no reason to want to leave the raft, but I sure had lots of instructions for what would happen if I did.  To be fair, I'm sure this was important information.  Really.  It just didn't help me any in terms of really wanting to get in the raft in the first place.  Where was my nice tour bus and driver by now?  I wondered if the people at Wal Mart were having fun!

I can't say that Mr. was much comfort.  I think it is hard for an adventurer to understand a non-adventurer.  He kept looking at me, and I kept dreaming of Wal Mart.   Then I heard some sweet words that lifted my spirits.  They said that if you just wanted to hold on and ride along, get in Dylan's boat.  Those words gravitated me firmly in the direction of Dylan's boat... with or without Mr.... I was going in Dylan's boat... I'd push everyone else out to get to Dylan's boat.  Well... maybe not that.

Now, in all seriousness... I'm glad I went.  We had a ton of fun and the guides at Raft Masters instilled lots of confidence.  I knew from asking that Dylan has had 13 years experience just at Raft Masters, and this run was one of the easier ones.  I knew I was safe.   I did take some sage advice given by someone else who had been water rafting before (not Mr.)... I headed for the BACK of the boat.  Mr. was in the front.  I was okay with that.  Part of our instructions were to hold on to each other.  That may have been more important in the front.  I held on to the side and anchored my forward foot firmly in the little pocket in the bottom of the raft and my other in the crevice of the boat bottom and side.  I was snugly placed and didn't think I'd need any of those 'what to do if you fall out of the raft' instructions.

So... here we are.  Mr. is in the front right.  I'm on back left.

Now just look at Donna's face... front left!!  Me?  I'm smiling in the back!

Just look at that water go!!  Mr. is getting it now!!   I'm in the back smiling.  Sure... I got wet too and had a good time doing it.

See us all laugh and smile!  We really did have a great time.  I can now mark Water Rafting off my 'to do' list... Been there, done that, enjoyed it too!   I'd go again with Dylan!!   (I know these pictures are really big.  I did that so you can see the faces!)

Royal Gorge Route Railroad

Our second day of bus travel took us down Highway 12 on the 'Scenic Highway of Legends'.  Then we headed to Canyon City Depot for a ride deep into the Royal Gorge by railroad.

Here is a little hint of what we would find along the way... a very high bridge...  No, I didn't send a telegraph.   I did get out Snappy and take a picture of the sign.

Although we had a nice enclosed car for our trip through the gorge, Snappy and I headed to an open car where we could take pictures without a window.  Of course, Mr. was there too.

Ah,  there comes that very high 'World's highest bridge'.   I believe it is suppose to be the highest suspension bridge in the United States.  I did see people on it as we passed under.  I also saw daylight between the planks of the bridge.  That pretty much said that if I were standing on it, I'd be able to see below by looking at my feet through the planks.  I'd prefer to see it from here, thank you.  I'm sure those standing above had a spectacular view.  If you are scared of heights, I'd say, 'Don't go there!'

This lovely looking concrete something or another is actually the starting point to collect river water and send it through pipes to Canyon City.  It isn't used now, but was part of a water system built originally to take water to Canyon City, and was used for more than seventy years.  It was abandoned in 1974, but pieces still remain.

Redwood planks were used to form 30 inch pipes to carry the water.  They were fastened in every way, shape, and form to the boulders all the way from the collection point into Canyon City.  Often they had to drill through boulders to lay the pipe.  It looked like a very difficult and costly job.  I tried to find this information on the Internet a bit ago, but if memory serves me correctly, the project was accomplished with prison laborers.

We did see lots of rocks... lots and lots of rocks and water along the route.  It was very pretty, and everyone enjoyed the ride.   I suppose I shouldn't  mention that the air temperature was wonderful... not at all in the triple digits as it is at home now.  I'm pretty much just sitting around breathing in and out and hoping the cool days of fall come quickly.  Enough of this heat!

To The Hills And Beyond

Where would a person like to be when the temperatures are soaring?  Of course, somewhere that is cooler. I've been there this past week... to Someplace Cooler!!  Colorado called, and Mr. and I have been away on a fun filled bus trip to Colorado.  We have ridden trains and even went water rafting.  Yes, I went water rafting.  I did.  Really.

We arrived home yesterday.  We weren't able to bring the nice cool temperatures with us.  We were wearing jackets last week in the cool Colorado mountains.  Now, it is back to reality and the clinging to air-conditioning.

 I've always loved Colorado.  I love the mountains.  That started as a child when my parents headed away from the heat and to the cool.  My father always closed his office during the month of August, and we traveled around Colorado just seeing the sights and keeping cool.

I haven't lost my love for the majesty of the mountains.  They take my breath away.

I've been loading pictures into my computer today and sorting out ones that I'll upload for printing.  I've been doing this, along with laundry.   Part of me is still back in those cool mountains looking at all the beautiful sights.  I'll share some of my adventures this week.   I do have some other menial chores to do as well, but will try to get my act together and share some of the fun stuff.  For today, just feast your eyes on the glory of the land, and think about seventy degree weather.  It will make you smile.

Not Living Up to Standards

Let's face it, adjusting to new ways of living can be interesting... frustrating... interesting... funny.  It can be funny when you don't take yourself too seriously.  I think that's the key, or at least one of the keys to staying sane in times of stress.  We have got to see the humor if it is there.

I've told you about Mr. and his garden.  He is serious about his garden.  He has a BIG garden and has high expectations of not only reaping what he sows, but also having something done with it... promptly.  Gardens don't just take care of themselves.  They need tending.  I'm pretty sure it was Adam, not Eve, who was told to tend that garden.   I'm just saying that off the top of my head.  I don't intend to look at the moment as would hate to be wrong on that.  It would mean I had to change my thinking.

As a new wife, I've been trying to do a little adapting.  I expect him to do some, so I probably need to consider that I might have to work on a few things about me.  One of those things has been trying to work up a little enthusiasm about the garden and the role I should play in that.  Mr. has understood that I don't do extreme heat well, so has graciously forgiven the fact that I'm not pulling the weeds or out in the heat picking the produce.  He does it.  He puts all of it in bags... dirt and all... and hauls it to my kitchen.

It is there that the going gets rough.  The produce arrives on my kitchen counter by the sackful.  I am then expected to swing into action and do whatever needs doing to preserve and use the labor of Mr.'s hands.  Anyone who has ever had a garden knows that everything comes in all at once.  When there are beans, there are BEANS!  Tomatoes... everywhere.  Don't misunderstand me, I'm not unappreciative of all the good things to eat.   I don't have an army to feed, but I'm supplied for it.

In my zeal for becoming the wonderful little wife who cared for the garden, I took that canning class.  I will even admit that I was thinking it might actually be fun to do a little canning.  I know that Mr. appreciated my efforts and saw my attending class as a positive thing.  (One point for me)

The beans came, but no pressure cooker appeared.  Mr. had told me in no uncertain terms that he had a pressure cooker.  Some foods must be canned with a pressure cooker...period.  You can't can beans without one.  So... I quietly mentioned the need for the pressure cooker.   Finally, Mr. produced the pressure cooker, minus the little round jiggly weight on the top that is necessary for the operation of the cooker.

I've mentioned this to Mr. several times.  He thinks he knows where it is, but so far no jiggly weight, and no canned anything.  To me, it is obvious.  The fault of not having a nice supply of freshly canned green beans to look forward to in the fall and winter falls squarely upon the shoulders of Mr.

I was amazed a couple of nights ago when we were in a discussion of all the things that had to be done.  Running a ranch is a full time thing, and gardening also seems to require lots of attention.  I casually mentioned that perhaps next year he might consider cutting down the size of the garden.  After all, one can only do SO much.  I was a little afraid that might not go over well.  I knew from previous conversations that Mr. had cut the size of his garden to about half what he usually does.  I wasn't sure how he would take this suggestion.

At this point, Mr. looked over the top of his reading glasses at me and plainly stated that I certainly hadn't made as much use of his garden as his previous wife.  Ah, there it is.  I'm not living up to standards.  I'm sure my eyebrows knitted together a bit as he continued to explain that while he appreciated my attending canning class, he hasn't seen anything canned.  It was then I smiled sweetly (with effort) and reminded him of that one key thing... you know what I'm talking about... that jiggly thing.  He wasn't going to put this all on me... nope...  I'm not taking an F in wifely garden duties yet.

The pressure cooker remains on a shelf without a jiggly weight.  That means I can't can... yet.  Mr. assures me that he is going to plant more beans to be ready to can in the fall.  What luck for me!!  I'll continue to go about my business quietly and try not to remind him too often about finding that jiggly weight.  We will see how things go.  If I can't live up to standards, I may have to work hard to change the standards.  Tah Dah

Hauling Away The Past

It needed to go, really.  It has been sitting vacant for years.  The noise and bustle of years of high school students has long faded away.  This was my high school as well as the place I attended those seventh and eighth grade years.  It was a place of fond memories, fun, favorite classes as well as some not so favorite ones, and a place where we received that all important degree... our High School Diploma.  We were launched into the world as an adult from here.

                                              

Lockers:  I don't know if one of those was mine or not.  I had my share of lockers in that building.. six, I'm sure.  I can almost smell them and hear the metal clanging.  I wonder how many coats of paint they had though the years.  The double wooden and glass doors have had their share of students walking though them.  I'm thinking those might have gone into the auditorium.  I'm trying to remember.

The orange doors peeking though the debris are in Huskie orange.... Orange and black... school colors.

Someone left their mark in the corner... Some member of the class of '98'.   A few dared leave some notes on the blackboard.   How fitting that they should be revealed now.. just a little reminder of fun times and a little celebration of being given wings and set free.

 

So I watch as pieces of the building are being loaded into the truck to be hauled away.  I know it is going to look very strange when the last is gone and a vacant lot sits where our dear old high school stood.  I had to take a few pictures just to help me remember.  They are hauling the dear old thing away.   I feel a little sad, although I'll still have all those good memories.  It just seems strange.   I knew it was coming as the poor thing was more of a problem than a blessing.   I've heard for years that it was going to be torn down.  I didn't know that day would ever come.