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RV LIFE:
I'm feeling better about full timing. My emotions have been all over the place. I was quite depressed about leaving SD. Then we hit dèpressing Chappell with continued bad weather. I just wanted to cuddle up next to a fireplace.
Our trip on Thursday, Oct 10, from Nebraska to Colorado was somewhat stressful in that we hit snow in Vail.
Lyla (below) didn't have any stress on the drive.
My laid out plans were discarded with the recent storm that came through in South Dakota, and also the government shut down. Thankfully, no reservations were made.
We stopped at a surprisingly nice RV park 200 feet from Hwy. 70-River Dance RV Park - Gypsum, CO. (Review in next post)
The views were beautiful! It must be close to peak season for color changing landscape, maybe just a little past.
There was a nice flowing stream behind the park. We were surprised that as soon as we dropped a few feet down to the stream, we couldn't hear the highway traffic anymore. There was like a mini beach along the stream and of course we couldn't keep Devin out of it.
There were a few hiking trails nearby. Good trout fishing too. As we proceeded further on our walk around the park, we met up with three friendly dogs off lead playing ball with their owner. One of the dogs was a Boxer puppy. What a little wiggle butt! A short while later we were stopped by a guy who wanted to meet our Setters. Really nice guy who travels to where there's work. Everyone seemed so friendly except the camp host who seemed put out to see us.
Side note: This is a first...I'm typing this on my IPad as we're driving. We just saw a blinking sign saying the National Parks are open again! What timing, since we're headed to Moab, UT which is near some beautiful National Parks.
As we were getting ready to leave in the morning, we saw a puppy Golden, and then ten minutes later a couple more Goldens! Devin would have loved it here.
Now that we are settled in Moab, UT, we found out the government is still shut down, so how could the Utah National Parks be open? A little internet research and this is what I found.
Oct. 12, 2013: Reprinted from here:
"This is a godsend!" exclaimed Utah Gov. Gary Herbert late Thursday night, as he signed an agreement with the Department of the Interior to use state funds to reopen eight national park areas in his state for at least 10 days.
The Republican governor wasted no time in wiring $1.67 million to Washington overnight so that some of the areas can open as early as today. Rangers and other National Park Service employees will staff the parks as usual.
"Utah's national parks are the backbone of many rural economies, and hardworking Utahns are paying a heavy price for this shutdown," Herbert said.
State officials say Utah tourism generates $100 million in revenue in October, which is a busy period, given foreign visitors, the Columbus Day holiday weekend and fall break next week for many public schools and universities.
"The key is you can't make up what you lose in October," Herbert said Friday morning on Salt Lake City television station KUTV.
The deal comes as officials in San Juan County were poised to dismantle barricades and take control of Canyonlands National Park; the Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge and Hovenweep national monuments; and Hite Marina in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service agreed to reopen Canyonlands, Natural Bridges and Glen Canyon, along with Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches and Bryce Canyon national parks, and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
The Salt Lake Tribune was reporting Friday afternoon that barricades had come down at Zion National Park. (The Utah Office of Tourism has devoted this Web page to news of which national park areas will open when.)
"The world should know Utah is open for business," Herbert declared.
Zion alone lost more than 72,000 visitors during the first 10 days of the partial government shutdown, according to the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. Communities dependent on Zion tourism lost an estimated $3.5 million in visitor spending and more than 2,000 non-government jobs were at risk, the group said in a report issued Thursday.
Utah considers the money authorized Thursday a loan, but it requires an act of Congress for the U.S. government to pay the money back. Herbert is working with the state's predominately Republican congressional delegation to get a measure passed.
He's also called the state Legislature into special session next Wednesday to consider sending more state money if the government shutdown continues beyond the 10-day funding plan.
Utah is immediately tapping its own state parks funds, but the Legislature will consider reimbursing the Division of State Parks. Utah finished fiscal year 2013 with a $242 million budget surplus."
I believe Arizona, New York, and Colorado have joined in this also.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CRAFTS:
One of my excuses for not blogging is because of my surfing Ravelry. As Laurie from Knice Knitties Blog states...
" -- all is forgiven for time spent in Ravelry. I look at it as my own form of video games."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SIGHTS:
Since I haven't been blogging much, I'll have to backtrack to Custer. Yes, I'm still in love with that area and still wonder whether we should have purchased property. Oh well.
On Oct. 1, we took a drive along the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. What a beautiful ride. I so wish we had our motorcycles. (Yet another reason to settle down.)
Needles Highway is a beautiful drive. The amazing needle shaped rock mountains keep you in awe. The needles eye itself, eh. Just a ploy to get you to drive the Needles Highway, which is fantastic. Be forewarned, lots of hairpin turns, "highway" is technically a two way road, but the width of the road is a lane and a half. Our dually truck had to be driven right on the edge of a cliff with no guard rail at times. Because of the twists and turns of the road, you can't see ahead to what vehicles may be coming towards you.
Also there are two tunnels, one of which is very narrow. It states 8'4" wide, but we believe it was more like 9'. Our dually had about 6-8" clearance on either side. This highway also takes you to Sylvan Lake which is a beautiful relaxing stop after the teeth clenching Needles highway ride in a large vehicle.
At the end of the drive, we came upon Sylvan Lake. What a little oasis! We just HAD to take the 1 mile walk around the lake.
I'm feeling better about full timing. My emotions have been all over the place. I was quite depressed about leaving SD. Then we hit dèpressing Chappell with continued bad weather. I just wanted to cuddle up next to a fireplace.
Our trip on Thursday, Oct 10, from Nebraska to Colorado was somewhat stressful in that we hit snow in Vail.
Lyla (below) didn't have any stress on the drive.
My laid out plans were discarded with the recent storm that came through in South Dakota, and also the government shut down. Thankfully, no reservations were made.
We stopped at a surprisingly nice RV park 200 feet from Hwy. 70-River Dance RV Park - Gypsum, CO. (Review in next post)
The views were beautiful! It must be close to peak season for color changing landscape, maybe just a little past.
There was a nice flowing stream behind the park. We were surprised that as soon as we dropped a few feet down to the stream, we couldn't hear the highway traffic anymore. There was like a mini beach along the stream and of course we couldn't keep Devin out of it.
There were a few hiking trails nearby. Good trout fishing too. As we proceeded further on our walk around the park, we met up with three friendly dogs off lead playing ball with their owner. One of the dogs was a Boxer puppy. What a little wiggle butt! A short while later we were stopped by a guy who wanted to meet our Setters. Really nice guy who travels to where there's work. Everyone seemed so friendly except the camp host who seemed put out to see us.
Side note: This is a first...I'm typing this on my IPad as we're driving. We just saw a blinking sign saying the National Parks are open again! What timing, since we're headed to Moab, UT which is near some beautiful National Parks.
As we were getting ready to leave in the morning, we saw a puppy Golden, and then ten minutes later a couple more Goldens! Devin would have loved it here.
Now that we are settled in Moab, UT, we found out the government is still shut down, so how could the Utah National Parks be open? A little internet research and this is what I found.
Oct. 12, 2013: Reprinted from here:
"This is a godsend!" exclaimed Utah Gov. Gary Herbert late Thursday night, as he signed an agreement with the Department of the Interior to use state funds to reopen eight national park areas in his state for at least 10 days.
The Republican governor wasted no time in wiring $1.67 million to Washington overnight so that some of the areas can open as early as today. Rangers and other National Park Service employees will staff the parks as usual.
"Utah's national parks are the backbone of many rural economies, and hardworking Utahns are paying a heavy price for this shutdown," Herbert said.
State officials say Utah tourism generates $100 million in revenue in October, which is a busy period, given foreign visitors, the Columbus Day holiday weekend and fall break next week for many public schools and universities.
"The key is you can't make up what you lose in October," Herbert said Friday morning on Salt Lake City television station KUTV.
The deal comes as officials in San Juan County were poised to dismantle barricades and take control of Canyonlands National Park; the Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge and Hovenweep national monuments; and Hite Marina in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service agreed to reopen Canyonlands, Natural Bridges and Glen Canyon, along with Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches and Bryce Canyon national parks, and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
The Salt Lake Tribune was reporting Friday afternoon that barricades had come down at Zion National Park. (The Utah Office of Tourism has devoted this Web page to news of which national park areas will open when.)
"The world should know Utah is open for business," Herbert declared.
Zion alone lost more than 72,000 visitors during the first 10 days of the partial government shutdown, according to the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. Communities dependent on Zion tourism lost an estimated $3.5 million in visitor spending and more than 2,000 non-government jobs were at risk, the group said in a report issued Thursday.
Utah considers the money authorized Thursday a loan, but it requires an act of Congress for the U.S. government to pay the money back. Herbert is working with the state's predominately Republican congressional delegation to get a measure passed.
He's also called the state Legislature into special session next Wednesday to consider sending more state money if the government shutdown continues beyond the 10-day funding plan.
Utah is immediately tapping its own state parks funds, but the Legislature will consider reimbursing the Division of State Parks. Utah finished fiscal year 2013 with a $242 million budget surplus."
I believe Arizona, New York, and Colorado have joined in this also.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CRAFTS:
One of my excuses for not blogging is because of my surfing Ravelry. As Laurie from Knice Knitties Blog states...
" -- all is forgiven for time spent in Ravelry. I look at it as my own form of video games."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SIGHTS:
Since I haven't been blogging much, I'll have to backtrack to Custer. Yes, I'm still in love with that area and still wonder whether we should have purchased property. Oh well.
On Oct. 1, we took a drive along the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. What a beautiful ride. I so wish we had our motorcycles. (Yet another reason to settle down.)
Needles Highway is a beautiful drive. The amazing needle shaped rock mountains keep you in awe. The needles eye itself, eh. Just a ploy to get you to drive the Needles Highway, which is fantastic. Be forewarned, lots of hairpin turns, "highway" is technically a two way road, but the width of the road is a lane and a half. Our dually truck had to be driven right on the edge of a cliff with no guard rail at times. Because of the twists and turns of the road, you can't see ahead to what vehicles may be coming towards you.
 |
Not much room to spare! |
Also there are two tunnels, one of which is very narrow. It states 8'4" wide, but we believe it was more like 9'. Our dually had about 6-8" clearance on either side. This highway also takes you to Sylvan Lake which is a beautiful relaxing stop after the teeth clenching Needles highway ride in a large vehicle.
 |
| Needles in background |
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MOVIE REVIEW:
Les Miserables - 2012
My rating 5 out of 5
Oh my gosh! I'm hooked! The story for the most part is so, so sad. I cried and had to clap at the end even though I was alone.
I had to look it up to make sure it got the Oscar it deserved. Sure enough, Anne Hathaway won Best supporting Actress and was well deserved!!!! Anne Hathaway's voice is angelic. The makeup was sensational & that too won a well deserved Oscar also! Music is such an emotion effecting instrument. I will never be able to hear that music score again without thinking of this movie and the sadness and love it portrayed. Oh yea, the Sound Mix won an Oscar also!
I NEVER thought this movie would have the emotional effect on me that it did. We only recorded this because of all the hubub about it. I didn't think I would like it, and almost deleted it before giving it a chance. I was cleaning the RV while watching/listening, so it gave me a chance to become involved. OH MY GOSH! Wonderful film, wonderful voices, wonderful acting, wonderful costume and makeup.
I am just worn out by the emotions this film brought up and I can't stop crying.
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SMILE!
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SMILE!
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