Another leg of this journey completed...

We are now in Nebraska, on our way to Grandkid-land ...
We've covered 6,500 miles in 3 months in 16 states. Still having a great time.

Chaparral High School graduation - Class of 2010, Parker, CO - the throwing of the streamers. They aren't allowed to throw caps there.

Brother Bill and Sister-in-Law Lisa. Graduate Molly had had enough of looking into the sun for dozens of photos by this time...

Nephew Alex, Molly, niece Amy and her fiance Justin

Molly was such a celebrity, we flocked around her for photos. You can see how late in the day it was getting and how hard it was for all the photographees to look into that sun.

One of my favorite cats ever - Daisy. Soft as a bunny.

This is the Columbine High School memorial in Littleton, CO, memorializing the April 1999 shootings and deaths of 13 students/faculty. Very nicely done. Plaques with quotes from students, family, faculty are very stirring and make you remember, think and have concern about the future.

My sister Jeri almost blowing away in the winds of the Rockies Front Range.

Bill, Jeri, Alex and I, in true Blakslee fashion,

did a lot of yard-sale-ing in Parker. Treasures galore! Shopping for infant clothing for Alex's baby-to-soon-be and for P.E.O. bag sales for both Jeri's IL chapter and my Prescott chapter. But maybe my favorite part of yard sales is finding the young entrepreneurs and their lemonade stands...I love those kids!

Kansas and Colorado

Goodland, Kansas
One of the top sunflower producers in the US, one of only 7 sites world-wide that displays a giant Van Gogh, 80 ft tall, the only one in the US.


Ahh...we had to return to Loveland, CO. We loved the biking and the mountain views last Oct and returned for more and to visit friends John & Nancy Warrender.

Now we'll be off to Parker to niece Molly's high school graduation tomorrow.

Home in Prescott again

Whew...we got home from Denver in just 2 days of Gregg's hard driving (he's like a pony returning to the barn when headed home). Lots of work to get unpacked and embroiled in all the things we do here at home. Days are flying by - so different from our laid-back life on the road.

It's beautiful here, Indian summer, warm weather. The trees are colorful. It seemed like Nebraska and Colorado skipped their color change this year and went straight to frozen.

Just before we left Denver, we experienced The Denver Gorilla Run ... what a kick.
See some here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8OhaB68llM



See our pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sschin999/DenverGorillaRun10312009

Fun with Sally's brother and family

That is my brother Bill, "Huge Hefner", editor of Cagemate Magazine, ready to walk in the 6th annual Denver Gorilla Run, raising funds to help the endangered Mountain Gorillas. I'll join him as Tilly Gorilly, Cagemate of the Year. More pictures later...
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This is my Sister-in-Law Lisa and my favorite cat ever - Daisy. She is so beautiful and soft and loves to be around people. However, she will only sit on a lap that has the Kansas City Chiefs blanket on it. So cat-like - I admire her.


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In here is my niece Molly in the Chaparral High School Marching Band, playing flute. We went to an all day competition where they advanced to state finals - first time ever for their school. Yay, Molly!
All the bands were great and the day was gorgeous.
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Bill, Lisa and Molly's deck on Thursday - heaviest October snowfall Denver area has had in 12 years.
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We need that to melt for Saturday's Gorilla Run!

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Our campground, the beautiful Cherry Creek State Park. Good thing we got a good bike ride in the day before this snow. Our bikes are buried! Look at the shelf of snow hanging over the roof of the RV. Gregg had to climb up and shovel the roof! But we stay cozy and warm inside. We were the only campers on our loop with only a few others in other loops. It's been fun being a little isolated.

Colorado weather

Yesterday, chilly and clear. I just put my earflaps down and we did a 21 mile bike ride along the beautiful Cherry Creek

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These are our neighbors in Cherry Creek State Park.

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Here's our new neighbor today... Mr. Coyote. Actually the Mrs. was here too but I didn't get her in the picture with him.

We are expecting to get pretty well buried in the white stuff today. We've come to enjoy it, just holing up and reading a lot. It's beautiful out there. In two days it will be melting; beautiful weather is expected for our Denver Gorilla Run on Halloween.

More Stats

MORE STATS

6+ months on the road

185 nights

Average cost per night $10

101 nights paid for, 84 free

About 25 nights in big-box parking lots

(WalMart, Costco, Kohls, churches, schools, museums)

Many thanks to many relatives with great

campground driveways!

Miles traveled = 8,581

Average 46 miles per day = just right!

Highest elevation: RV at 11,990 Loveland Pass

Highest elevation: Us at 12,000 Mayflower Meadow

Books read: 41 between us

Rainy and snowy days: We don't count them.

Great days: 185

Are we tired of this yet? NOT AT ALL

Are we ready to come home yet?

OK, for a brief visit,

then we'll be off again,

headed to Florida next,

hopefully by February.

Hiking at 12,000 feet

I love these hardy little grasses that bend in the wind and make tiny snow angels!

Our friend Wayne took us to a great little hike in Mayflower Meadow. We were between Breckenridge/Frisco and Leadville.

We drove in a ways on a forest road of nearly pure ice.

Plenty of old mining buildings to make the hike more interesting.

Perfect weather for our hike yesterday and now cold and light snow are back today. But it is beautiful here. And Gregg gets to do some more experimenting with keeping water pipes warm - trying Christmas lights wrapped around them tonight!

Old favorite campground, New camera

We're in Breckenridge now for a few days to see friends Wayne & Patricia. Good place for me to test a new camera. I seem to wear them out so fast...

So far, I don't think this Nikon is taking as nice a picture as my old Canon. Any tips for me?

These views are from our RV door and our dining room window. What a beautiful place this is.

In love with Loveland

I love this town! We can see the snow- capped Rockies out our front window and pretty Boyd Lake out our side window. There is a nice long bike trail right outside our door. Weather's perfect. Heaven!

Snow-capped Rockies in the background.

Updates...

ado

We've visited granddaughters in Omaha, played a little Twister, and Gregg got to stay in Nebraska for a week to see the famous and beautiful little 4 month old Jordie Schindel (and her Dad & Mom and Uncles).

Sally took off for the Wild West - Manitou Springs, Colorado. Where REAL GIRLS kiss wolves and all the 60 year old women look fabulous....

We loved our experience at Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center. We learned that letting the wolf stick his tongue all the way in your mouth is a sign of respect for him when he has welcomed you into his home. I put that on the list of things, like para-sailing, that I am glad I have done ONCE!

Here's some of what girls do at a 5 day long 60th birthday party...

Go out for High Tea

Play dress up

Facial masques

Hike a little, shop a lot

Go out to eat a lot, shop some more

We rented a beautiful home way up the mountain and saw lots of deer each day(and one huge black mama bear).

This deer is saying "Glad you liked Colorado. Now go home."

So I did, now back in Iowa with Gregg and we are laundering and packing, getting ready for a Scandinavian cruise with brother & sister-in-law, Gary & Judy, leaving Aug 31 for 2 weeks.