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On the road again...

We just returned from a whirlwind trip to Denver to upgrade our Trail Manor to another brand .. HiLo. This trailer will be much easier to set up and has room for our traveling companions, the dogs. Hopefully, we will now be able to avoid ears and tails as we move about the trailer.

On our way back we stopped at La Junta, Colorado for the night where we visited the Koshare Museum. This museum was established by a boy scout troop of Indian Dancers in the 1930s and has a stunning collection of art and native American artifacts. It was well worth the visit.

The next day we stopped at Bent's Old Fort, a national historic site of an early private trading post for the fur and buffalo trade on the Sante Fe trail. It was a well reconstructed and had great displays of items of that time. There were costumed docents there to answer questions but as the weather was quite cold and drizzly, they stayed in the warmth and left the crazy tourists to roam by themselves. We were, however, accompanied by the site's tour cat. This black cat met us in the first building and followed or lead us nearly everywhere. When we sat down to view the video , the cat jumped up in the next chair to view it with us. I'm sure with just a smiggen of encouragement it would have happily settled in my lap. Chuck, though, was scared out of his chair since he is very allergic to cats.

After we left the NHS we traveled home through overcast skies into a frog choker of a rainstorm just between Lamesa and Midland. Sometimes it was difficult to see the road ahead. It was a long 1400 mile trip for 3 days and we were glad to get home. I will get pictures of the museum and park into the slideshow below shortly. We are planning to do some more traveling this spring and summer so I will add new posts as we go. Only family and special friends have been invited to share this with us. This is the new, high tech version of the dreaded "family movies" but maybe you will enjoy sharing the fun with us.

Chuck's Tests are completed. Good news

Chuck finally got all the tests in and it looks like damage from acid reflux which can be controlled and a narrowing of his esophagus which they were able to stretch. He and I are very relieved it isn’t cancer. It’s too late in the season to start the trip again. Maybe we can do it this spring or next fall.

Well...we're back home.

We got to ride the train and all seemed well. That evening Chuck began having more gastric pains and was having a hard time swallowing. Some of you may not know but the week before we left Chuck got an ambulance ride very early in the morning with chest pains. It turned out to be an epi gastric problem and later that week Chuck had a upper GI which located a small obstruction in his esophogaus but both Chuck and the doctor that the trip wouldn't be a problem and they would do some more testing when we return. With the attack, pain and swallowing problems which seem to be getting worse, we decided to come back to Midland and move up the testing. Please put Chuck in your prayers that it is nothing serious and can be easily taken care of.
Ann

Durango August 23

We've arrived at beautiful and cool Durango, CO and pulled into our favorite campground on Lightner Creek where we have camped for many years. The dogs were good travelers but were glad to get out of the truck.

Each year that we came with the kids we took their pictures at this prop provided by the campground. Our two new kids had to have their picture taken there, too.

This is the view as you come into Durango. We went into town and wandered around. Lots of tourist and hippie type shops.

Chuck is standing by our trailer which is parked next to a gurgling creek. Tomorrow we ride the Durango Silverton train. It it a beautiful trip through the high country. Silverton is an old mining town which is very interesting. It takes all day. The next day we will go to Mancos to ride a stagecoach.

Albuequerque Bound

We left this morning about 6:30 and arrived in Albuequerque around 2 or so. The KOA campground is nice and has WIFI. Isn't it amazing how dependent we have become on technology the last 10 years or so. The dogs traveled very well but Ulysses took his section out of the middle. Autie, ever the good puppy, simply sat up or laid his head on Ulysses. We went to Camping World and ate dinner in town. We're looking forward to Durango tomorrow. I will come back and post pictures when I can get them loaded. It looks like their server is down.

About time to blow this place -- and we're getting help!

Well, tomorrow is the big day. The trailer's packed and attached. The last minute stuff sits in a pile in the living room. I completed by consulting job for Stanton and I'm glad it's done. Our first stop is Albequerque, New Mexico. We really enjoy the sightseeing there but will probably have very little time to see anything after driving all day. Saturday, we will head for Durango where we will stay for several days. On Sunday, we will ride the Durango and Silverton train which travel though the mountains to a small mining ghost town and back. As you can see, about the time we started to hook up the trailer and take these pictures, the West Texas wind began to blow.