A Few Observations... from the Seat of a Motorcycle...

First... there's no shortage of people wandering all over the west... either by Motorcycle... or RV! Times might could be tough for a lot of people... but it sure don't look to this fella... that there's a real big drop in any traveling... the roads have been tee total full with wanders goin' to where the other travelers are comin' from! :o)

One thing I have noticed... is the size and type of outfits. Lot's and lots of Smaller Travel Trailers... lot's more Tent Trailers than I ever remember seeing... and Motorcycles! Everywhere you look... Motorcycles!... Seems folks are finding the way to keep RVing and wandering... and cut the cost/simplify... at the same time...

My first camp in B.C. Canada, at Norbury Lake Provincial Park... is 'bout as simple as I can get it... got there just in time I think!

The only problem all those travelers have made for me, is mostly due to my own missed judgment... I seem to have a way of choosing the exact spots ever'body else is runnin' for!... and they keep outrunnin' me! :o)

It turns out... that British Columbia... and specifically the lakes east of Kamloops, British Columbia... are the Vacation Nirvana for one devil of a lot of Canadian fellers an' fellerettes... the point bein'... finding a campsite 'round here is a piece of work!

I did see a few RV sites, rollin' by... but one gal at an info center in Sorrento B.C. told me, for British Columbia Parks campsites, they start lining up at 3am!

Yup, that's what I said...  Oh-Damn-it's-Early three freaking in the A.M. folks! So... if you're goin'... check things out and see if the area you're goin' to is one of the "popuar" ones... and either get a reservation... or... get there early! :o) (I'm hopin' for better "boondocking" opportunities in Alaska... or at least less competition for Nat. Forest sites...

Needless to say... after huntin' a place to pitch my tent for four hours this afternoon... and 400+ miles under my tires... That tent is layin' on the floor of a Motel room... sheesh... it should get easier, north of here...

... and now, a Cowboy Philosophizin tirade...

I overheard a young couple, having a "conversation" in Glacier the other day... hmmm... made me think a mite on my own self... and my own doins'... as I rolled on afterward...

Why do folks come west, or to the mountains anywhere... just to squall at each other 'bout who's gonna carry the baby and the lemonade bottle?

They haven't got a clue. Why climb Logan Pass, to the top of Goin' to the Sun Highway in Glacier National Park... just to dump all over your day with that nonsense?

I've decided there are, basically, three types of Travelers...

1. They "Get it"
2. They'll eventually "Get it"
3. They don't have a whisper of a hope of ever... Getting it.

Unfortunately, that third group seems to describe the greater majority...

Why do they RV, or Travel... or wander at all?

They run up there and see trees... and rocks... and elk... and all sorts of other wonders... and all they see... are those... things... but... they aren't IT.

So... what is it that I claim is IT?

Well, for me, it's; Climbing into the High Country, or trekking the Sonoran Desert... or walking down a quiet beach allows me to reach up toward heaven... and feel the Boss lean down... and touch my face.

... to realize that the Boss whispers to you with each breath of a breeze, or scolds with the raging wind. He lives in the tears of a wife... and the laughter of a true friend.

He doesn't teach us with words... but talks to us through the instincts found in an open heart.

He teaches us to Love this Life... by teaching us to Grieve.

For the people in group #1... I'm preachin' to the choir... and maybe we'll just nod our heads together...
The Folks mired in #3? ... sorry... but there ain't a damn thing me or anybody else is ever gonna do to help ya'll... you just can't hear it...

But... you Jaspers with that big Ol' #2 branded on your butts? ... you're the ones I'm tryin' to talk to!

So... folks... when you're in Church don't waste the precious moments you have... in the short time you can remain there... arguing 'bout whose gonna carry what! Put that trivial, useless, sparrin' away... so you can see the sheer glorious Shining Joy that is right in front of you!

... and now... while I've got this time with some wifi... I gotta go build a post over on my Motorcycle Touring site! ;o)

Wandering the Great and Glorious West
Brian

Help keep goin' RV Boondocking...goin' RV Boondocking!
Have you enjoyed your visits to my camp? I sure hope so. If you'd like to see what else I've written, you can follow this Trail to my "Bookshelf". Just know that any purchases of my lil' books and tales, helps keep me following the Trails of my beloved American West, collecting stories and yarns to entertain you with... and are Much Appreciated.
Many Thanks!

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Visit my "Ribbon of Highway"  Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

Makin' Progress.... on the Alaskan Ride...

Both outside on the bike... and inside my head... :o)

The routine is different on a long trip on a bike... than traveling by RV... I'm so used to having all the comforts of the rig... just open the door and walk in... plug in the laptop and go to work... it's a bit of an adjustment to living on the bike... for the most part...

I'm slowly getting into the right rhythm though, I do think... which is allowing my head to work on those lil' pieces of work I'm making this ride to sort through... and so... the progress I mentioned...

I expect it's not a whole lot different than for most folks goin' from a house to an RV... it takes some conscious adjustment... and some willingness to bend a mite...

Hmmm... maybe so That is one of this Ol' codgers Issues! Maybe a lil' greater ability to bend with the wind... rather than Always bowing my head, gritting my teeth and shoving Against the Wind as has been my tradition... might be worth a try huh? :o)

Well... daylight's burning... and many miles to ride before I sleep... check out the last day or two of the Alaskan Ride...

Wandering the Great and Glorious West
Brian

Help keep goin' RV Boondocking...goin' RV Boondocking!
Have you enjoyed your visits to my camp? I sure hope so. If you'd like to see what else I've written, you can follow this Trail to my "Bookshelf". Just know that any purchases of my lil' books and tales, helps keep me following the Trails of my beloved American West, collecting stories and yarns to entertain you with... and are Much Appreciated.
Many Thanks!

Return to the Home  page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway"  Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

Tough Day...

Got away late... really late... Old things I thought were cared for... made it known they were not... I'll make my ride... and hope that I maybe can learn something along the way... about how life and living...

There's so much I don't "Get" I guess... so much I don't know... at this point I just put one foot in front of the other... and hope I can learn how to get through this life... before it's over...

Leaving hours late... I made it to Thermopolis Wyoming last night... road weary from starting out in a "Storm"... I just got a room for my first night on this journey... Hope to find my self in Montana tonight...

Like I said... I'm planning on most of my Alaska Ride posting will be on my Motorcycle Blog

...though I do intend to post here, RV items of interest...

Wandering the Great and Glorious West... in a state of confusion...
Brian

Help keep goin' RV Boondocking...goin' RV Boondocking!
Have you enjoyed your visits to my camp? I sure hope so. If you'd like to see what else I've written, you can follow this Trail to my "Bookshelf". Just know that any purchases of my lil' books and tales, helps keep me following the Trails of my beloved American West, collecting stories and yarns to entertain you with... and are Much Appreciated.
Many Thanks!

Return to the Home  page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway"  Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

One More Day...

Did some final shopping last night... few odds and ends... Hoping to leave by mid morning tomorrow, and ride hard for a day or two to "blow out the cobwebs"...

Today I'm gonna do a test ride with the "packing" on the bike... test the power plug I've hung on the bike... collect some "cash"... and try and figure out what I'm forgetting... so... a quick lil 'short post... so I can spend the time trying to find what those "forgotten things" are!

Wandering the Great and Glorious West (for the next 30 days on a Motorcycle!)
... so remember to follow the link below to my Motorcycle Blog... most of my "Bigger" posts will be there for this ride :o)
Brian

Help keep goin' RV Boondocking...goin' RV Boondocking!
Have you enjoyed your visits to my camp? I sure hope so. If you'd like to see what else I've written, you can follow this Trail to my "Bookshelf". Just know that any purchases of my lil' books and tales, helps keep me following the Trails of my beloved American West, collecting stories and yarns to entertain you with... and are Much Appreciated.
Many Thanks!

Return to the Home  page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway"  Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

Readying the Bike and My Gear for the Long Ride

Just a quick not this morning... as I run 'round in what we used to call "Ruck Time".... when we'd prepare our gear to go out... this time... on a Big Red Raider Motorcycle! HooYa!

... and of course, as is my custom... I needed some more agitation to season the mix... I'm trying to get "Lil' Roadie" the mini laptop ready too... putting in all sorts of passwords, virus protection... hooked up to the accounts I'll need to keep up on... yadda yadda yadda...

...and can I remember those critical passwords?... that I have the 'puter remember for me?... or 'member where'n hell I wrote 'em down? Nahhhh! :o) so... I've been scramblin' since last night doin' "password recovery" operations with a few outfits.

Now... Just so ever'body knows... I'll be doin' the majority of my posts, about this coming Motorcycle Trip... over on my Motorcycle Blog... Kinda makes sense... don't it? :o)

I plan on doing some posts here as well... when I see something that's pretty much focused on RVing and RV boondocking... but the Ride will be on my Bike site!

***just a lil' sidebar here... the ebooks have been selling! Not barn burner deal... but moving, so that's sweet! :o) ... one thing I'd appreciate... if you have downloaded one or more... a little mercenary plug here :o)  if ya'll could go back sometime, and do a lil' review, I'd be as grateful as an Ol' Buster could be!

But now... If I'm to leave a day late on Sunday... I better get my butt movin'!

Wandering the Great and Glorious West
Brian

Help keep goin' RV Boondocking...goin' RV Boondocking!
Have you enjoyed your visits to my camp? I sure hope so. If you'd like to see what else I've written, you can follow this Trail to my "Bookshelf". Just know that any purchases of my lil' books and tales, helps keep me following the Trails of my beloved American West, collecting stories and yarns to entertain you with... and are Much Appreciated.
Many Thanks!

Return to the Home page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway" Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

I'm Scrambling to Catch up Again!

:o) ... now what's this 'bout? I thought this deal was supposed to be simplifying my world? :o) ... I guess I'm just destined to be runnin' 'round six different ways as a way of goin'.

Well... the next month I'll sure be goin' one way... whatever way two wheels carries me...

For now, I'm In Denver this morning... a quick visit at the kids... and then roll on up to Nunn to park the rig again, where Heidi'll wait for my return... from the Great Alaskan Raid!

I still need to catch up the last day or two in Ouray... We hiked what I believe was twixt 7 and 8 miles, round trip Sunday morning up to Bullion King Lake. 'Course... climbin' that high, when you're still a mite lame (Heidi's ankle) is a slow deal that takes all day.

But the reward was worth the effort... a beautiful, soul filling place... only, for some reason, my mind was on other things... and I wasn't as lucky at collecting the pictures as I'd have hoped...

Maybe it's 'cause my feet were so tired! :o)

Whatever... I did capture a few... One lucky gal, not in our group, also did some capturing... got herself a gorgeous Cutthroat...

Which we all agreed, we'd have put it back... and, along the way were the flowers you're hopin' to find...

and the mountain streams to keep 'em watered...

Finally, after a couple hours of feeling like you're climbing a ladder while holding your breath... you walk up over a break in the terrain, and there, layin' in a bowl at the top is Bullion King Lake.

It's one of those places that defies words... or pictures in a way. It's hard to capture what's there... You have to work your way to it, yourself, to understand... My pictures just don't give it justice.

I told Mark; "It's kind of a religious place, ain't it?"... The serenity, and peace you feel, just sitting here in the sun... is a joyful thing... and you thank the Boss for giving you that last lil' bit of energy for the final steps... when you were about to say; "Well, I've gone far enough"...

'cause, without making that last push... we'd have missed a gorgeous place...

and Seb... fishing with his Grandmother... trying to catch his own Cutthroat...

... and it hurt ever'body a lil' bit... when his luck just wasn't there, on that day... but he's a tough lil' rooster... and bounced back from his disappointment, right quick! ... in time for ice cream in Silverton! :o)

Which is where we all went to reward ourselves with some super delicious ice cream... for being smart enough to follow Mark up above Timberline on Red Mtn. Pass!

The Durango Silverton Train was in town while we were there, and we got to see it before it pulled out.

Followed by Heidi wanting to compare my Cowboy Beauty... to that of a Wooden Cowboy...

Whad-a-ya think? Have I got that combination of toothpicks beat?

On the run over Hwy 550 back to Ouray... I got teased by all the Mountain Twisties... and the other Bikers out enjoyin' 'em...

I'll tell you what... You want a road to put two wheels on and Ride!... 550 Between Durango and Ouray... is about as fine as you'll ever want to split the wind on! Hooya!

Time for me to get on back to work now... If I'm to be leaving for Alaska this weekend!

Wandering the Great and Glorious West
Brian

Help keep goin' RV Boondocking...goin' RV Boondocking!
Have you enjoyed your visits to my camp? I sure hope so. If you'd like to see what else I've written, you can follow this Trail to my "Bookshelf". Just know that any purchases of my lil' books and tales, helps keep me following the Trails of my beloved American West, collecting stories and yarns to entertain you with... and are Much Appreciated.
Many Thanks!

Return to the Home page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway" Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

Days of Stunning, Soul Searing Beauty... and the Birth of Friendships.

 About a week ago I said; "Maybe, we'll be lucky enough to not want to leave there either..." well, Damn!... Got my wish.

The road calls, I've got more of those infernal "Plans", pulling me onward, but this visit has been too short! To much more to see, so much more to say and share...

A man might be greedy enough to want more... but he'll never find finer Hosts than Mark and Bobbie... There's a pair that's welcome at my fire... any time... along with ever'body else who shared our "fire" this past week. Walden Steve, John Q, Margarethe, and Fisherman Sebastian!

Yesterday, as the visit was winding down, Mark and I likely found the source of the overheating on our Ol' Dodge , while Bobbie was up in the "Mine Shack"... showing Heidi that she Could Indeed Paint Watercolor!

In the evening, the five of us, John Q, Mark and Bobbie and Heidi and I,  enjoyed a fine, supper in town... followed by a sight seeing stroll around the big lil' city of Ouray.

A finer way to close out this celebration than That, I don't know. A pleasant stroll, talking, Joking, and laughing with the Old Friends we Just met! With the Water Fall that hangs above Ouray topping the scene.

These past days have proven, that though folks might come from different parts of the country, different parts of the World!... with each carrying views of things, nigh on to opposite, if their minds, and hearts are open and reaching... if they acknowledge and nurture the passion for Freedom, and the Right of a person to be the person they are, without judgment... the opportunity for great things still lives.

Mark and Bobbie... Thank You so Very Much... for Creating the Opportunity of this week, For showing us places we'd have never seen on our own... and for opening our eyes, and hearts... a lil' bit more!

 ... and now with the hope for Sunny Slopes ahead, and Shining Times behind... and the sorrow of another "Leaving"... Heidi and I have to roll...

Wandering the Great and Glorious West
Brian

Help keep goin' RV Boondocking...goin' RV Boondocking!
Have you enjoyed your visits to my camp? I sure hope so. If you'd like to see what else I've written, you can follow this Trail to my "Bookshelf". Just know that any purchases of my lil' books and tales, helps keep me following the Trails of my beloved American West, collecting stories and yarns to entertain you with... and are Much Appreciated.
Many Thanks!

Return to the Home page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway" Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

The Cowboy Biker... is At a Loss For Words!

Huh?... How it that Possible?!! ... but it's true... I've been sittin' here for an hour, scrolling through pictures of our Hike up to Bouillon King Lake yesterday... and the last of our Trip to Telluride the  day before... and I just don't know what to say... and there's so much to say, all at the same time...

Hard for a pea brain like me to sort through it all.

I asked Heidi yesterday; "Can you remember ever having so many days, as good as the last few... in one week?"

Plain an' simple, it's been  a Shining Trip... we were "apprehensive" when we were pullin' in last week. But it turned out like we were greeting Old Friends... just awesome. I think it's been kind of unusual, just how good ever'body has got along... really fine...

I guess it's really a testament to the idea that Life can really open up, even for a cranky, Old, opinionated, geezer... if you just Make Yourself step out of your comfort zone once in a while...

And THAT is something, Mark, the Artful Blogger has proven to be pretty good at... pushing people out of their self imposed lil' boxes... though he's still kinda ducking ever' time Heidi comes around :o). I don't have much faith she'll ever believe him much in the future, when he tells her; "Aw, it's a good road... only a few bumps early on!" :o)

The thing is, we, Heidi and me... likely woudn't have made that climb to Bouillon King yesterday, and we damn sure wouldn't have pushed on over Imogene Pass!... Those are two things, just in the last week, we'd not have seen... and Lordy! would we have lost a lot in the deal.

Hopefully the lesson will stick... and in the future, when we're thinkin' of turning back... we'll remember what we would have missed these last few days... and we'll push on a lil' farther... Many Thanks for the eye opener Mark!

So... back to Telluride!

Coming down the west side of the pass you have to pass through this lil' tunnel... Now, my mirrors juuuuust fit... and I didn't measure it, but it sure didn't look very tall... so, if some feller tells you he took his cabover camper all the way over This pass, you've got my permission to be juuuuust a mite skeptical! :o)

A bit farther on you get your first view of Telluride, Colorado...

... and you start thinkin'; "Whew! this piece of work is nigh on to done!"... only... You are WRONG son! That last mile or three... is ever' bit as rough as the whole dang rest of that "road"! ... it's low range and maybe second gear... clean down till your 'bout six feet from the pavement... where they put a genuine... SPEED BUMP!

Huh? I've been climbin' over things four times taller for the last 5 hours or so! Made me giggle.

Got us a potty break, a cool drink an' a couple of new shirts... one for me... and one for herself... took a ride on the Gondola (and I don't do heights very well) ... which is weird... 'cause I can walk out on a precipice and breathe like I just stepped into Heaven... but put me on a Machine that hauls me up into the air... shakin' an' swingin'... and my liver turns to quiverin' jello...

Then... you get a guy like Mailman/Walden Steve... "Hey Brian! What was that snap I heard?... Is the cable breaking?" ...

... you can't see it behind those dark glasses of mine... but those eyes look like a pair of small pizzas... with Ol' Steve just a pokin'... cruel, cruel, Ol' Mailman! :o)

But I did it... rode that infernal Machine all the way 'round and back to the bottom... where I kissed the ground upon my return to it!

Even found a Toad for somebody... leastways if you're able to be seen climbin' out of something as Cute as this thing... me?... Not sure my vanity would allow it. :o)

Nice town to walk around in... Heidi and I got some sort of a fruit smoothie thing and strolled down the street 'till it was time to rendezvous with the others for the Highway run 'home'.

But first... a few flowers from Telluride Town...

... and then I'll leave you with something... for your "Bucket List"... Black Bear Road...

See that zig zag... goin' up the face of the mountain... left center in the picture? THAT is Black Bear Road... Remember the CW McCall song 'bout it? Back in the '70s? ... You gotta have cajones kids... to run that sucker... and even the Jeeps gotta back up to make the turns...

... imagine, backing up... where if you go maybe 3 inches too far... you go 'bout a THOUSAND FEET! too far! :o) ... hmmm... don't think I'll get Heidi to run THAT with me in the Ol' '99!

And Hey! I'm makin' progress on getting my RV Boondocking ebooks, as well as my lil' tome of auto-biographical... abso-freaking-lutely TRUE short stories  online and ready to sell... have to clean up a few lil' computer 'issues' with 'em... but I'll let ya'll know when and where they'll be available... if you're interested.

***Edit.*** HOOYA! Just checked my Smashwords account and my lil' books are up and available on Smashwords for anybody interested!

If you click this lil' button  you'll find my Smashwords author page... with a listing of the three lil' books I've got out so far... If you like reading 'bout my 'adventures' on this page, you might want to know that any purchases of my lil' books helps keep me rollin', RV boondocking and collectin' more stories to entertain you with... Many Thanks!***

Much to do today... we've got to leave this lil' Oasis tomorrow! :o( ... so I better get to it...

Still Squatting in Ouray!
Brian

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Imogene Pass... "Short Wheelbase, High Clearance Vehicles Only"...

Hmmm... a quad cab dually is "short wheelbase"... ain't it? :o)

But... before we ever got to that part of the day, Heidi and Sebastian started the day off flippin' the frisbee for Buck...

That kid really likes the dogs... and Buck, who don't really warm up to many kids is startin' to take a liking to that Lil' Dane! ... but it was a warm morning... so Buck finally said; "Ya Know?... I think I'll just shade up an' call it quits!"

So... at that point the Wagon Master gave out the instructions for the day... :o)

... just before we loaded up and headed up the Mountain... as it turned out... He might want to go into real estate... seems he might could sell the Brooklyn Bridge! :o)

The road to Imogene Pass starts out of town on the same trail you follow to Yankee Boy Basin... until it turns off at the Camp Bird Mine...

Now... Ol' Mark had assured Miss Heidi... who is NOT a 4X4 sort of a Gal... that the road was a lot better than that track up to Yankee Boy...

There was some discussion through the day as to what constitutes "Better". :o) ... I guess the road had had a tough winter, and was a mite rougher than the Artful Bloggers last trip over it. But no matter, low range and 1st or 2nd gear and that Ol' Dodge will climb a tree if you can find the traction... and Miss Heidi just kept her eyes closed and dreamed of freeways...

As tough as that Ol' truck is... he still needed to cool his tires a time or two, on creek crossings...

It's a glorious country up there... you almost can't make any progress, 'cause every six feet ya have to stop so you can jump out to capture another photograph... Mark didn't remember it takin' so long... guess he'd never run a mountain much with me... and hadn't yet learned from the previous day... I'm Slow... in the Mountains!

Along in the early part of the climb we run across an Old Gold Hunter that goes by the name of Walter... this 90 something year Ol' codger is ramblin' around the mountains in a lil' Ford Ranger, collecting 5 gallon buckets of black sand, to take home and pan for the Gold in it...

Claims he's got 100 ounces of Gold collected... hmmm... $1000 bucks or so an ounce... his wallet ain't hurtin'!

Ya kind of get the idea of what toots his whistle by the embroidery on his shirt...

The thing 'bout this Ol' Timer... that kept confounding us all was... we'd pull out, and he'd wave good bye... we'd run a mile or so up the Mountain, on this two wheel track... round a bend... and there'd be Walter... in front of us! ... Huh?... how'd he get here? there ain't no way... but there'd that Ol' man be... bucket an' shovel... rootin' around in some old mine ruins... collecting more black sand...

I'm startin' to think that Ol' Walter is a ghost! and just appears where he damn well pleases! :o)

The part we all though was so funny was when at the first place we met him he complained; " Somebody brung machinery in here, you can see the tracks, and loaded up all my dirt... it was piled up all through here... and it's gone! somebody took all my dirt and I left it right here, 10 years ago!" :o)

Mark and Sebastian did what they could to pick the Ol' fellas brain for tips on Huntin' Gold...

Hell of an Old man... I should be so lucky to still be ramblin' the High Up and Lonesome when I'm 90 something!

That was the place too, where Margarethe got feeling Statuesque.

and Bobbie claimed she'd let Mark hang around... even if he was kinda light in the Gold department... or was it him keepin' her?... hmmm... Walter's already got me beat in the brain pan dept!

But we'd miles to go... so up the Mountain we climbed... ever higher...

Now there's them that claim they took Pickups with cabover campers up this road... uh huh... and I've got a High Mountain cabin on the Kansas Plains I'll make ya'll a hell of a deal on! :o)

'cause when you look where we're goin'...

and remember where we've been...

It just gets a trifle difficult for a fella to buy that story... Now, I'm not a real squeemish sort of guy... but when my parts are puckerin' juuuuust a lil'... as we lean and scramble over rocks and rubble... and the truck feels like it's just a liiiiiiittle to tall for this... I find it real hard to imagine a big Ol' cab over makin' it through...

But... stranger things have happened I guess... 'course... every year... they gotta go haul folks outa there who thought they could handle things they couldn't... so... I'll just let that'un go. :o)

You climb up that Mtn... ever closer to Imogene Pass... and the views and the sights and the glorious, soul filling grandeur of the place just makes you grin... unless of course... you're Heidi... sitting in the back seat... plotting her revenge! :o)

I gotta hand it to her though... she was a good sport through it all... four wheelin' is really not her cup-o-tea... and she kept a smile on her face all day... and still grins a lil'... as she's whackin' Mark with a big Ol' stick...

So... we finally made it all the way to the top... and Mark went to tryin' hard to get out of trouble... lot's of big Ol' hugs an' such... he's a smooth one for sure! :o)

John Q... standing on the Precipice, overlooking the Red Mountains... at 13,114 feet, atop Imogene Pass

Walden Steve, Wagon Master Mark, John Q, Heidi, Brian, Bobbie, Sebastian and Margarethe... on Top of the World! Hooha!

Retired Mailman Steve... now Walden Steve... thought he should finally make delivery of some long lost mail... up at 13,114 feet in the Colorado Rockies...

The part that had my head swellin' was when a few guys pulled up behind the Ol' Battered Dodge... in a tricked out Tundra... with likely $50,000 of lights and bars, and fancy wheels/tires... winches... all the foofooraw for four wheelin' in tough country... and jus' 'bout dropped his teeth... to see my Ol' widebody, flatbed, dually ranch truck sittin' there like it was on a shoppin' trip to Wal Mart!

"You got that up here?!!! You must be really good... or Crazy!"... :o) ... my reply... "Yup!... a lil' bit of both!"

...but then we had to start on down The Other Side... kind of like the CW McCall song... Wolf Creek Pass... where one turn looked "kinda like a Malaria Germ!"...

I believe... Heidi's eyes close again for a while... I did get her to take a look as we got closer to the bottom though... You Have to look at Bridal Veil falls... absolutely gorgeous!

First, off in the distance... and then... when you zoom on in... ya just want to sit and soak up the country... how do you like that road to the left of it... kinda fun huh? :o)

... and looking some more at our back trail, that we'd just rolled through...

I've got a few more... and even one or two from where Mailman Steve was tryin' to convince me the cable of the Gondola was crackin'... on our ride up the mountain in that... once we got to Telluride... but google is likely gettin' cranky for all the pics I posted today...

... and we gotta get our stuff together... takin' a hike up on Red Mountain Pass... and a run into Silverton today!... so I'll finish this trip up tomorrow!

Boondocked in the front yard in Ouray!
Brian

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First Yankee Boy Basin... Then Imogene Pass...

Mark must want me to get reeeeallly behind on keepin' up with my bloggin'! :o) Thought I'd catch up last night... uh uh... ain't gonna happen! 'cause now I've added 170 somthin' pictures to the 243 I took on the Yankee Boy Basin trip... and more stories to yarn 'bout...

Might could take all our time, workin' back to Nunn to lay it all out!

Like I was sayin', the Flowers here in Ouray, leastways this year... or this couple O' weeks of July are sure beatin' what we saw up to Crested Butte... too bad we don't have the time this trip, to roll back there now... and see if we were just early! :o)

Heidi's and My personal favorites are likely the Columbines...

we had a slew of 'em dug in around that Ol' house we no longer serve! :o) ... though it's kinda of a chore to make a choice of favorites... when you're surrounded by all the options!

It'd be like tryin' to claim which's purtier... a Blonde or a Brunette... truly can't be done!

So... we just amble on up the "Road Less Traveled"...

... and thank the Boss he made us smart enough to take what we had... and just... Git! :o)

I got to tell you... the money ain't right yet... and this circle we're makin' is a little over the line :o) we've traveled farther and faster than we plan to... through most of the future... but as a teasing 'test' run... it's made us gigglin' (literally) happy... and is tellin' us... that at least, for us, it's the right road to follow.

I can't know what's right for you... nobody can but you... whether it's RV Boondocking... or Motorcycle Touring... or climbin' on a bike like these folks ... or maybe... just building a secluded, self reliant homestead... or jumping off cliffs in Norway... with nuthin' twixt you and the ground but air... and nylon wings! (not likely to find me doin' that!)...

... and I have no intention of tryin' to tell you what you HAVE to do... EXCEPT... this Ol' Buster is gonna plead with you to do two things...

#1... Don't Wait! Do it now... do it with all your Heart...

#2...  Chase that Dream in your Heart... Now!

and #3... Don't do... NUTHIN'! Climb out of that Rut... and DO SOMETHING!

Aw hell... that's more'n two huh? ... well... never could count very well when I start gettin' excited! :o)

The thing is... there's too damn much Joy out here in this Ol' world to let bad times behind you... Darken the Shining Times out in front!

We, Heidi and Me... were kinda nervous 'bout pullin' in here the other day... not sure what was ahead... meetin' folks is kinda spooky at times... me bein' purty much a self-imposed "loner" of sorts... but Oh Lordy... the past two days have been a Glory that's made it obvious to me... that My Guardian Angels of the past year were right...

It don't matter what's behind me... They opened my eyes to the absolute Shining Glory you can find ahead... if you just Suck it up Cowboy! (Like one of those Angels tells me all the time!) and Let It Come to You!

... and we need not have worried. A finer group of folks, you couldn't possibly want to travel the Mountains with... Mailman Steve, John Q, Margerite (sp?) and her Grandson Sebastian... and of course... no finer hosts than Mark an' Bobbie... awesome, awesome time!

So... With these last few flowers... I'll leave you till tomorrow... when I'll try to fit the story of Running 13,114 foot... Imogene Pass... in a Battered Ol' '99 Dually Ranch truck... to the amazement of some of the Other travelers on that wonderful lil' Road.

...Or the story 'bout how you squeeze an 8 foot wide Dodge truck... through a 6 foot wide Road! (only a lil' exaggeration there!)   :o)

Squatting on a ledge above Ouray in the Colorado West!
Brian

Return to the Home page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway" Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

Share your experiences, Boondocking on Freedom Road with us!
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