Thursday, January 22, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Our loop hike today - Black Mesa Loop - Superstition Wilderness
Steve & I have done this hike before. The hike starts at First Water Trailhead in the Superstition Mountains. We love the views. Saquaros, teddy bear cholla, mesquite, palo verde, prickly pear, green grass. There are great views of Weavers Needle. We hiked from 10 am until 2 pm and walked about nine miles. We only saw about five other people on the trail. Very quiet, peaceful and lots of solitude. The clouds today were very nice.
Monday, January 19, 2015
I'm back! What happened to the past eleven months??
Hi! I am really back on my blog. For those of you who follow this blog (and those who don't), I am really going to try again!
Yes, LOTS has happened since I last posted to the blog....
The biggest news of 2014, besides all of our travels, was the wedding of our daughter, Amanda, to Josh Trainer. That big bit of news requires a post all to itself. Maybe, someday...
Steve & I are finding out that we are REALLY adapting to this new lifestyle. In 2014, we managed to be gone from home for about a total of four and a half months, either in the LAZY DAZE motorhome or car camping or backpacking. Aside from our big trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for the wedding, most of our trips were to Utah, Colorado and Arizona.
Our plan to spend as much time in Arizona in the Winter in the Lazy Daze has really turned out to be a huge success. I was asking Steve today how many square feet we share in the Lazy Daze. Answer - 210 sq. ft. So, as we spend most of that time in there together, we have definitely decided that this "lifestyle" wouldn't be for everyone. You really have to like your spouse/traveling companion to be able to spend this much time together in a small RV. So far, it is working for us. It helps, too, that we have many of the same hobbies and interests. We spend LOTS of time hiking, mountain biking, visiting friends and family. We both like to read and I love to take lots of pictures.
Last week we spent the entire week at McDowell Mountain Regional Park. We had spent a week there in January 2014 and liked it so much, we decided to go there again this year. It is an amazing County Park. The campground is VERY nice. We had an incredible campsite in the south loop and our views were amazing. We looked south to Fountain Hills and had views of the Superstition Mountains and Weavers Needle to the east. McDowell Mountain is known for all their incredible mountain bike trails. We rode everyday and when we weren't riding, we were hiking. We have freinds in Rio Verde and my sister lives in Scottsdale, so McDowell Mountain is close to both those places. We also had friends from Tucson come and camp with us. Life is never dull, hanging out in the Lazy Daze!
This week we are staying at another of our favorite campgrounds - Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, AZ. We stay here on a regular basis. We love the campground, the hiking in the Superstitions and we are close to our many friends who live in Mesa and Apache Junction. More and more of our friends are moving to Arizona or are coming down for the Winter months. We are finding that we could spend almost every day hiking, biking and visiting friends and family.
We are planning all of our trips for the rest of 2015. We have our usual favorite places to visit in Colorado, Utah and Arizona. We are thinking we might go to Canada in August this year in the Lazy Daze and visit some of the Canadian National Parks.
The more we travel, the more we "want to be out here". Many of our friends tell us that we need to be doing all this traveling, hiking and biking while we still can. Fortunately, we are still able!
OK.... this is my first time to post to the blog from my iPad. Always in the past, I posted from my laptop and used pictures from my camera uploaded to Picasa. I have been taking pictures with my camera, but my laptop is at home, so I haven't uploaded them yet. I am hoping I can add pictures from my iPhone to this blog post. We shall see.
If any of you read this and have blogs of your own, I would appreciate feedback on how you write and post pictures. MANY of you see all my photos on Facebook, but that isn't true for all of you.
PS It's 5:30 PM, the sun is setting, Steve is washing the Lazy Daze, I am writing this blog, and it is time for some wine. Life is good!
Yes, LOTS has happened since I last posted to the blog....
The biggest news of 2014, besides all of our travels, was the wedding of our daughter, Amanda, to Josh Trainer. That big bit of news requires a post all to itself. Maybe, someday...
Steve & I are finding out that we are REALLY adapting to this new lifestyle. In 2014, we managed to be gone from home for about a total of four and a half months, either in the LAZY DAZE motorhome or car camping or backpacking. Aside from our big trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for the wedding, most of our trips were to Utah, Colorado and Arizona.
Our plan to spend as much time in Arizona in the Winter in the Lazy Daze has really turned out to be a huge success. I was asking Steve today how many square feet we share in the Lazy Daze. Answer - 210 sq. ft. So, as we spend most of that time in there together, we have definitely decided that this "lifestyle" wouldn't be for everyone. You really have to like your spouse/traveling companion to be able to spend this much time together in a small RV. So far, it is working for us. It helps, too, that we have many of the same hobbies and interests. We spend LOTS of time hiking, mountain biking, visiting friends and family. We both like to read and I love to take lots of pictures.
Last week we spent the entire week at McDowell Mountain Regional Park. We had spent a week there in January 2014 and liked it so much, we decided to go there again this year. It is an amazing County Park. The campground is VERY nice. We had an incredible campsite in the south loop and our views were amazing. We looked south to Fountain Hills and had views of the Superstition Mountains and Weavers Needle to the east. McDowell Mountain is known for all their incredible mountain bike trails. We rode everyday and when we weren't riding, we were hiking. We have freinds in Rio Verde and my sister lives in Scottsdale, so McDowell Mountain is close to both those places. We also had friends from Tucson come and camp with us. Life is never dull, hanging out in the Lazy Daze!
This week we are staying at another of our favorite campgrounds - Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, AZ. We stay here on a regular basis. We love the campground, the hiking in the Superstitions and we are close to our many friends who live in Mesa and Apache Junction. More and more of our friends are moving to Arizona or are coming down for the Winter months. We are finding that we could spend almost every day hiking, biking and visiting friends and family.
We are planning all of our trips for the rest of 2015. We have our usual favorite places to visit in Colorado, Utah and Arizona. We are thinking we might go to Canada in August this year in the Lazy Daze and visit some of the Canadian National Parks.
The more we travel, the more we "want to be out here". Many of our friends tell us that we need to be doing all this traveling, hiking and biking while we still can. Fortunately, we are still able!
OK.... this is my first time to post to the blog from my iPad. Always in the past, I posted from my laptop and used pictures from my camera uploaded to Picasa. I have been taking pictures with my camera, but my laptop is at home, so I haven't uploaded them yet. I am hoping I can add pictures from my iPhone to this blog post. We shall see.
If any of you read this and have blogs of your own, I would appreciate feedback on how you write and post pictures. MANY of you see all my photos on Facebook, but that isn't true for all of you.
PS It's 5:30 PM, the sun is setting, Steve is washing the Lazy Daze, I am writing this blog, and it is time for some wine. Life is good!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Our "new" tax season schedule ~ working and traveling!
Steve & I had another incredible week in Arizona, from February 8-15. This time, we spent four days at Catalina State Park in Tucson and then the rest of the week we were back at Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction. We spent time with our friends, the Dallman's in Tucson. We loved Catalina State Park. We just keep finding more and more beautiful places to camp in the Lazy Daze. It is a funny dilemma ~ the more places we find to hike and bike and explore, the more time we wish we had to go to all these great places. And... then there are all the new places we still wish to discover!
Steve has discovered that he really can work from anywhere. As long as we have good cell phone service, he can use the computer, answer the phone, check his emails, etc. He works part of the day and then we spend the rest of the day hiking or biking.
Now we are back at home in Longmont and it is serious tax season time. Steve is working long days and getting lots of work done.
I continue to help him, but I am doing less and less. Now that clients are mailing their tax work to Steve or coming to the house to hand deliver papers, my "job" has changed a bit.
I am enjoying more time to be able to spend with friends and family. I still love going to Broomfield to see the grand kids. Coranelle is starting kindergarten this Fall. That is SO very hard to believe!!
PS...I use Picasa to post pictures to my blog. Wow! There is a big problem with Picasa right now. The other day, I googled why I wasn't able to post pictures the way I have always been able to do. I had NO idea it was such an issue/problem for so many people! I hope they get the problem solved soon. Meanwhile, most of you see all my pictures on Facebook, so I am sure you have seen more than you want!!!
I am anxious to start writing more about future travels. We have many trips planned for 2014!
I am anxious for Spring to be here soon. Today, I bought a large bag of wildflower seeds to plant in the yard. Yes, I am ready!!!
Steve has discovered that he really can work from anywhere. As long as we have good cell phone service, he can use the computer, answer the phone, check his emails, etc. He works part of the day and then we spend the rest of the day hiking or biking.
Now we are back at home in Longmont and it is serious tax season time. Steve is working long days and getting lots of work done.
I continue to help him, but I am doing less and less. Now that clients are mailing their tax work to Steve or coming to the house to hand deliver papers, my "job" has changed a bit.
I am enjoying more time to be able to spend with friends and family. I still love going to Broomfield to see the grand kids. Coranelle is starting kindergarten this Fall. That is SO very hard to believe!!
PS...I use Picasa to post pictures to my blog. Wow! There is a big problem with Picasa right now. The other day, I googled why I wasn't able to post pictures the way I have always been able to do. I had NO idea it was such an issue/problem for so many people! I hope they get the problem solved soon. Meanwhile, most of you see all my pictures on Facebook, so I am sure you have seen more than you want!!!
I am anxious to start writing more about future travels. We have many trips planned for 2014!
I am anxious for Spring to be here soon. Today, I bought a large bag of wildflower seeds to plant in the yard. Yes, I am ready!!!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Life is Good!
Steve & I have been staying at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, north of Fountain Hills, AZ. We love it here! We had NO idea how many mountain bike trails could be in one area. We have ridden many of the trails. Today, we probably rode over 20 miles on trails. Actually, that was the ride we did this afternoon. I rode this morning while Steve worked. He is SO happy that he really can work from anywhere these days. "Have computer, printer, FAX machine, etc. and he can work from any place"! Anyway, we have discovered that we really can move/travel all over the place and he is still able to work, talk on the phone, check his emails, etc.
The weather has been unbelievable! They keep saying that the temperatures are 10 degrees above normal. Today, we rode bikes in shorts and T-shirts. I was warm!
Tonight, after our bike ride, Steve cooked outside and then we ate dinner outside and watched the full moon come over the ridge! Beautiful!
Tomorrow we are moving to Cave Creek Regional Park to check out the campground there. Never boring. There are trails there to hike and bike.
Steve & I have been staying at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, north of Fountain Hills, AZ. We love it here! We had NO idea how many mountain bike trails could be in one area. We have ridden many of the trails. Today, we probably rode over 20 miles on trails. Actually, that was the ride we did this afternoon. I rode this morning while Steve worked. He is SO happy that he really can work from anywhere these days. "Have computer, printer, FAX machine, etc. and he can work from any place"! Anyway, we have discovered that we really can move/travel all over the place and he is still able to work, talk on the phone, check his emails, etc.
The weather has been unbelievable! They keep saying that the temperatures are 10 degrees above normal. Today, we rode bikes in shorts and T-shirts. I was warm!
Tonight, after our bike ride, Steve cooked outside and then we ate dinner outside and watched the full moon come over the ridge! Beautiful!
Tomorrow we are moving to Cave Creek Regional Park to check out the campground there. Never boring. There are trails there to hike and bike.
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