august rush - swing dancing

Cookie has Mondays off. And last Monday was her last Monday. She found this cool place in Old Town, which had swing dancing. Now, note, this was NOT country swing, but swing dancing. Like Lindy, East Coast, West Coast, etc.

And she called, begging me to come and to bring others. Can you imagine a bunch of cowboys in a city bar? ACK! Well, we did it.

And I'm not quite sure the boys knew what to think of it.

Ole Duffer is always the eager student. If only his arms would work so willingly....

He's getting better. He might even, possibly be leading here!

Dave and Cookie are having a go, too! The only problem is trying to teach cowboys that "swing" is much smaller, tidier, compact than "country swing". I think that's kind of a true parallel between most things city and country. Life in the country is just much more, well, big and...coarse. And I definitely don't mean that in a bad way! It just is what it is.

I'm thinking about the small amount of space generally used in swing dancing, whereas country swing uses a circle about 10 feet in diameter. I guess that's just my best way of describing it. Does anyone else have a better way?

Of course the guy in the white t-shirt in the background is disproving my theory....

But the couple in black shirts is proving me correct.

Regardless, we all had a good time and I think Duff even wanted to go back this week to get "real" lessons.

See? We can all coexist peacefully! Cowboys and, um, well, non-cowboys...they can get along.

Ok, maybe Sandra doesn't think so...

august rush - camping

Alright, catch up time!

Last weekend, my extended family had their last camping hurrah in Cherokee Park, which is only about 30 miles from me. So, I invited myself on over and joined them. The only problem is, out here, 30 miles takes about an hour and 15 minutes to travel. You know, windy dirt roads with switchbacks. You can only go about 30 mph.

I wanted to go on Thursday night to camp, but I did dishes for Duff, so he could go visit a friend. By the time I got out of the kitchen it was too late. So, on Friday, I did a little job shopping then headed out.

Before I left, I got directions from my aunt and uncle, spoke to Dow, who is a local guy who lives over that way, and spoke to Lars and Amy, who also live over that way. With all that information, I thought I was pretty well armed to make this trip.

Can I tell you how incredibly crazy it is to make a trip like that? Have you ever tried to find someone who's camping???

I got myself to Lars and Amy's place ok. I made it to the cattle guard my aunt mentioned. Yes, I kid you not, these are the directions I was given, "4 miles to the cattle guard". And I didn't read the directions that well, because I wrote down "3 more miles after that", except in the previous sentence it said something about a left. I was supposed to go left somewhere after the cattle guard, THEN go 3 more miles.

But since I didn't write that down, I toodled along. Came to another cattle guard. Hmmm....she didn't say anything about a second cattle guard. Well, it was a pretty drive, so I kept going.

Dow seemed to know where I was talking about when I gave him the directions over the phone and he said, "Sounds like they'll be camping down by the creek." And as I was driving, I saw a campground, right by the creek. Except there was a truck there, which wasn't one of ours. So I continued toodling.

Granted, I only went an extra 5 miles, but again, at 30 mph, this takes a while to double back over a total of 10 miles.

I went back, stopped and asked the guys by the creek if there was another campground nearby. They showed me their map and I headed back.

By the way, there was a pink arrow pointing to the left after the first cattle guard, but I thought there was no way they were thinking that far ahead for me. But here's to wishful thinking! When I headed back, I turned at the pink arrow. There were two more just like it, which led me to tents. My family doesn't camp in tents. At least not my dad's generation.

There was a dude there who told me I could find a "whole bunch" of RVs a few more miles down the road. A bumpy road - something I had seen in the directions! And by "whole bunch" I really hoped he meant, like, um, 2.

Sure enough, a few more miles down and there were my two most favorite RVs ever! I had found the place!!!

My uncle was very surprised that I a) made it and b) even attempted to make it. Then again, his children, for some reason, have big issues with directions.

I hung out with them on Friday afternoon, then headed to Lars and Amy's house to have dinner with them and Dow.

I had to work on Saturday, so I came back to the ranch, worked, then headed back to the campsite. Yes, another hour and 15 minutes just to spend the night there and part of Sunday morning. But it was totally worth it.

When I had arrived on Friday afternoon, there were only 2 RVs.

When I arrived on Saturday evening, there were 4 RVs and 4 or 5 tents.

Full of my family.

What could make a person happier?

Except maybe cuddling up with them after how many days of camping and no showers?

jinxed

This has been a rough week, let me just tell you. Lots of frustrations. But today just made it better.

This morning, Dan is giving some guests directions to the white water rafting place in Ft. Collins. As usual, he tells them, "Watch your speed because the cops make all their revenue off of this road."

As he's saying this, I tell my parents, "That's so weird, because everyone talks about always seeing cops on this road. The only time I saw a cop, it was a Larimer County guy who caught up to me quickly, then tailgated, so I assumed he was going to pull me over. I, of course slowed down to 45 because I wasn't sure if I was in a 55 or a 45 zone. The second he got the chance, he blew past me and took off from there."

Today, Dizzy and I had to go to the neighbor's ranch to pick up some hay because we were out. As we got in, Dizzy said, "I hope nothing happens. I always have such bad luck in this truck. First, Sarah found post, then I found nails." He was referring to when Wrangler Sarah side swiped a post while backing the truck in the horse paddock and to him driving over nails, which caused a flat tire.

So. There we were. Driving down to the neighbor's.

Let me just add, Red Feather Lakes Road winds its way from about 5000 feet to 8000 feet, so the speed limit changes practically every mile from 45 to 55, back and forth, back and forth. I usually just go with what I'm comfortable with.

Unfortunately, today, in Dan's truck, I was comfortable at 60.

In a 45.

I could swear I was going 55 and I figured I was in a 55, but um, guess not.

Got a $90 ticket.

Oh, but let's be thankful. He lowered it from 60 in a 45 to 54 in a 45, which saved me $50.

I tell ya. What a week!

forgiveness

It's easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask permission.

I'm somewhere in between right now.

I think I'm about to go another week without blogging. I went camping with the extended family this weekend, I'm going dancing rightnow, my parents are coming up tomorrow, then my sister will be here on Friday. Ack!

So, can I not blog for a while? And I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a while, will you forgive me?

We'll get caught up, I promise!

below the belt

These pictures are from Georgia's last night. And we will do a meet 'n greet with her soon, I promise! You know, since she's already gone and all....

So Jessica made me promise to take lots of pictures while I'm out here. And I have taken lots of pictures. I very rarely go anywhere without my camera any more. But I really love it when someone else takes the pictures, 1) because I don't have to do it and 2) because it's a surprise when I upload my photos.

Here are some of the photos I found when I uploaded my pictures from that night.

Georgia's butt.

Justin's butt and mine.

And I suh-WEAR to you...objects in camera are smaller than they appear! You know they say the camera adds 10 pounds.

Duff's butt.

Ok, I admit...I took this one.

Cookie was bending over in front of me to take a shot and I pulled her dress out, not up, but out. Of course, as a female, when you feel a breeze, you assume someone is pulling your dress up. So to protect herself, Cookie tucked her skirt in.

Anyhow, I just want to know...WHO took these pictures?

Perhaps it was Georgia?

Yeah right! That girl would be too embarrassed to take such photos!

How bout the Irishman?

Nah. He was, um, preoccupied.

hmmmm.....You know whose butts are NOT on my camera?

Uh-huh. That's right. Urska

And Sandra.

Put those two together. Do they look so innocent now?

Yep! That's what I thought!!!

patches

Alas, it's the circle of life.

Within the first two weeks of being here, I had to help Linde and Slim move Cheyenne to the horse graveyard. And I really hoped that would be my first and last experience of that while I was here.

However, this being a dude ranch and needing old trusty horses, I knew that would probably not be my fate. Unfortunately though, it wasn't one of my older horses who passed.

Patches was, I would guess, in his early 20s, which, compared to Dusty who is 37, was pretty young.

Patches was one of my favorite horses...although I do have a few. He was great because you could put a kid on him and he would be the gentlest horse. Or you could put an experienced rider on him and he would be responsive and fast. He was awesome!

But as fate would have it, he got skin cancer. Dan had it removed last December, but these things come down to business decisions and we couldn't afford to pay to have it removed again 6 months later.

I was telling Justin how bad I felt for Patches and Justin reassured me that Patches would let us know when it was time for him to go, when he was in too much pain.

And just as Justin promised, there was a night I walked through the paddock, saw Patches, and just started crying. I knew he was done.

I was fortunate enough not to have to take part of it, but Dan did make, what I considered, the best decision and put him down.

Patches will definitely be missed.

Quandary Peak - the summit

I just want to give credit where credit is due.

Duff, Cookie, Urska, and Dizzy made it to the top of Quandary Peak at 14,265 feet.

Plus, I got lots of pictures from Dizzy's camera that are totally cool. So in no particular order, here are some fun photos.

Urska and Cookie are, um....close.

Ignoring the hole in Cookie's butt...her crazy shorts did actually blend into nature...the moss!

I'm pretty sure Dizzy is thinking about the great haircut I gave him.

It's starting to get cold!

Heck! It's SNOWING!

Cookie displays the sign found at the top.

Apparently there were more goats up at the top, so my theory on following the other one down was wishful thinking.

Celebrate the top with a brewski!

On top of the world!

Still snow in August.

Duff meditating on the mountain top. Not sure I would go to him as my guru....

Cookie always dresses crazy, but doesn't she look like a magazine commercial?

Getting nourishment before racing to the bottom in an hour and a half (3 hours up!).

Quandary Peak - the hike

So, I left off with the beginning of the hike.

Within moments, the truth came out. I am out of shape.

This whole time I thought I was doing pretty well. I'm not huffing and puffing to walk from the barn to the lodge anymore, but that's purely getting used to the elevation.

I'm pretty sure I was the weakest link, although Urska was always happy to take a break when I did.

Duff kept asking me the whole way up, "You doing ok? How's it going?" Ugh.

That being said, I'll just do some pictures and then continue the story at the bottom, because there's really not much more to be said until we get hiking!

This is while we're still in the trees.

The crew (Cookie is taking the picture) as the trees are thinning out.

Sandra, Dizzy, Urska, Me, and Duffer.

Dizzy! Stop taking a picture of Urska's butt!

He tried to say he wasn't taking a picture of her butt, but I didn't believe him.

I guess he wasn't lying...he's got proof.

Here was my view the whole way. Harumph!

Anyone else feel like singing "The Sound of Music?"

We got to a point where I started to feel really good, so I got to look down on everyone else.

And you know the whole "Tortoise and Hare" story? Well, I decided I'm the tortoise while Cookie is the hare. I just did a whole lot better plodding slowly along, instead of racing up, resting, racing, resting. Then again, I do have the build of a distance runner not a sprinter!

This is the base of the actual summit looking to the top. We are at the top of the false summit here. And this is where everything changed.

As I was hiking this narrow-way, the view on the south started moving a lot faster than the stuff in front of me. I guess it's like being carsick. Or what people in the biz call, "vertigo".

So, I was at a decision point. I was starting to feel the pressure in my neck and ears, which usually leads to an elevation headache for me. The weather had changed; it was starting to spit rain/snow stuff and the wind had picked up considerably.

Note that there are no trees for protection from the elements.

Note that you are supposed to be down from 14ers by 12 or 1 (it was about 12 at this point) to beat the afternoon storms.

I asked someone who was heading back down if the weather had been like that at the top for a while or if it had just come up. It had just come up.

And then I saw this purty lady heading back down from the summit.

It didn't seem like that much farther to the top...until I realized how small the people were.

And here's what I told myself:

Self, you are starting to get an elevation headache. You got 5 hours of sleep last night. While everyone crashes on the way home, you're going to be driving 3 hours, exhausted and with a headache. The weather isn't good and people die because of afternoon storms on 14ers. And above all, the mountain goat is heading back down!

As I was trying to decide up or down, I pulled out my Clif bar for nourishment and read the back while I was eating. Gary, the founder and owner of Clif Bar & Co, is talking about climbing Dhaligiri in Nepal, one of the world's highest peaks. Here's a line from it:

I don't believe in reaching the top at any cost.

I decided that was my sign and with Sandra, I turned back down the mountain.

Yep, you heard me. I quit. I turned back around and went down.

This whole stinkin' hike was my idea and I didn't even finish it.

And you know what? I don't regret it one bit.

We followed Missy down the hill.

And I couldn't have been happier to see this sight.

I moved stuff around in the back of Duff's truck, got all curled up in our sleeping bags, and had one of the best naps, EVER!

I drove back to the ranch, fully refreshed and headache-free.

We got back around 10 pm...10 hours later than planned. So nothing went as we thought! But what's it matter? Life's about the journey, not the destination, right?

However, for those of you who want to know what it looks like from the peak...

You can see it the same way I did...in a picture.