Never A Dull Moment

Avalanche Adventure!!

     After our encounter with "Earl", we treked up the mountain in a wild winter storm in TRUE western style.  Because this is the "norm" for winter weather in North Park, we went around the barricade that told us the road was closed.  We knew the danger that possibly could be ahead, but of course we thought "we've been through worse"!  As we approached the summit of the pass we found we missed an avalanche by meer minutes!  A log truck was stuck in it , but had been pulled out by a tow so after chaining up, he hit the snowslide, successfully pulling through.  A lumber trucker we know was next to brave the wintery pile up, then us in our Commander.  We hit the ruts of the trail, full bore and made it 3/4 of the way through then we had to be pulled by the lumber truck the remainder of the 5 foot deep of broken trail.  Needless to say, our Jeep proved itself again and the regret I HAD for getting rid of my PT Cruiser is now buried beneath the snow on Cameron Pass.

     ?WHY? were we even out on the roads in the middle of the night braving these crazy wintery conditions??  That's the next episode of our Wintery Weekend Triology!!

What goes around DOES come around!!

     "Earl" came into our lives last night as we learned a true lesson in Karma and the age old saying "What goes around comes around"! 

     We were on our way home from the "city" after catching up over dinner with an old friend.  It was late at night, and we knew the pass ahead had a mighty winter blizzard in store for us.  We came around a bend in the road to be greeted by "Earl" (for lack of knowing his real  name) waving his hands frantically in the air.  Apparently he had taken a load of baby calves to a "ranch" on the pass, and had braved the unquestionable winter weather in doing so.  His pickup had broken down on his way home, leaving him afoot after dark in the misery of a Colorado Snow storm.  Reb is famous for picking up wayward travelers regardless of where we are or the time it might be.  Of course we couldn't just leave the poor guy stranded in a storm, miles from home.  So we picked him up and drove a meer 10 miles back to a road side mountain bar and dropped him off once we knew he was safe inside.  We hit the trail, headed for home.  Upon approaching Rustic, we came literally tail to tailight with a mule deer doe.  I'm glad to report all parties came through without a bruise or a scratch!!  As we approached the "Retired Navy Couples Ranch" we shockingly saw the tire tracks leading the way up the drive "Earl" had recently made.  This is where Karma came back and kissed me!!  NO NOT EARL HIMSELF!!    The Retired Navy Couple's Ranch, is the homestead of 2 sweet retirees who picked me up 5 years ago when my Explorer broke down just a 1/2 mile from their road!  They gracioulsy took my dear sis and I in for an afternoon. We used his phone to call my Dad, then spent the afternoon hearing his story while my Dad came from Walden to bring a car trailer over the mountain and hauled us home.

Lesson learned:  No good deed ever goes unnoticed even if it takes 5 years for Karma to catch up with you, on a blizzardy Colorado evening in the MIDDLE of know where!!  Was our fate with NOT hitting the deer due to Earl as well???  Thanks Karma... As Earl would say!

Stay tuned for Avalanche Adventure in the coming days!!

Super Swimmers!!

My super swimmers have made it through their first quarter of Swim Team and now their first competition!  The change in Kaine and Kason has been an amazing one, as their confidence, strength and endurance has exceeded all expectations!  On the 30th they participated in the Swim-a-thon where Kaine swam 30 laps and Kason swam 28 in an hour.  To put that into perspective, 36 laps (down and back is one!) is a mile!!  I was astonded.  I don't think I could ever do that!!  Yesterday they had their first swim meet and both boys swim 3 races each.  Our incredible pool staff and coaches had prepared my boys well for competiton in individual events as well as medley & relays!!  Kaine won 2 of his races, one being the 100 meter individual medley (25 meters each of the Breast stroke, Back Stroke, Front Crawl and Butterfly).  This was a tough race and perhaps the hardest part was it was against his cousin!!  He won just barely!  Kason won 1 race doing the Butterfly.  He is so fun to watch and swims with a smile on his face so you know he truly is enjoying it!!  I just had to share in the glory these boys have brought to my life once again!!