Lanius Travels

Hummingbird Trap No, I didn't get to play pickleball!!!  The courts at the college in Cedar City were closed and we couldn't get them to let us in.  So maybe next time. On Monday, I volunteered to help band hummingbirds.  Getting the band around the little bitty leg is a challenge.  I didn't get to even try, the biologist did all the measuring and weighing and banding.  We had to trap, capture and put in mesh bag to hand over to the measuring table. The bags all have hummingbirds in them   She's getting the little leg out to band. After they band, measure, and weigh. We have to give the little birds a drink.  Since a hummingbird has to drink it's weight in nectar every hour, if we don't feed them before we release them, they may not have the strength to make it to the feeder.  You hold the wings down so the hummingbird is still. Poking the beak into the feeder Capturing a Hummingbird

  Well, we’ve been here over 3 weeks and it is amazing.  The number of people that tent camp in all kinds of weather is incredible. Our loops have been full almost every night and  it’s not even Memorial Day yet.  If anyone wants to stop by, let me know in advance so I can be sure you get a spot.  The weather has been both fantastic and horrible.  In April, it was in the 70’s and in May we even had snow.             We’ve had our rainy days and cold, but now it’s starting to warm up.  On our days at work, 3 days on then 3 days off, we walk to check our loops most of the time.  The walk is about 1.6 miles and up and down hills.  It’s taken me a couple of weeks not to huff and puff up and down the streets.  We do 4 or 5 loops a day, so we put in 6 to 8 miles a day. So far on our days off, we’ve hiked Fairyland Loop (8.3 miles) and from the North Campground to Bryce Point by way of Queens Garde...

  Winter’s gone and the seasons over.  We got to Happy Trails at the end of October and immediately started with tournaments. Not playing just working.  In December, we took our annual trip for a beach and snorkel fix.  Then back for more tournaments.  I had back surgery on Dec. 17th, so no pickleball for me the rest of the season.  In April, my big brother Jim Richardson, my Sister, Gladys and Husband, Denny Houghton, and my Sister, Anita and her husband, Stan Kubin cam to visit me.  We normally meet somewhere in May for an annual get together.  This year it was April and at my place.  Dom and Sue were nice enough to move their rig and Gladys and Denny  parked on their lot right next to us so that we could all be together.  Bob and I moved into our RV the night before they arrived since we were headed out after they left.  Picked Jim up at the airport on Thursday, April 18th.  We stopped for lunch/dinner at our favorit...

  As our summer travels come to an end, we’re now in St. George, Utah until after the Huntsman Games on Oct. 20th. Our last trip of the year was to one of our favorite National Parks,  Bryce Canyon.  We got to Bryce on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012.  The weather was really cool, the highs only in the low 70’s with the lows in the high 30’s.  No hookups, but we could run the generator during the day.  We actually had phone and internet in  the rig.  But, not being able to turn the generator on until 8:00 am,  we would stay in bed until then and get back in after we started the generator for the rig to get warmed up.  But of course, you could hike in the middle of the day and it wasn’t too hot.  Our friends, Nan and Kathy were at Bryce volunteering as park hosts.  We’re thinking of doing this next year if we can arrange our schedule.  You have full hookups, work 3 days on and 3 days off, and since you’re volunteering for the...

Well, I finally have wireless, phone and electricity and time, so, I’ll continue the stories of our travels.  On August the 18th, we headed out to Stagecoach State Park outside of Steamboat Springs overnighting at Leadville. On Sunday,  19th  we arrived at the park on the Stagecoach Reservoir. Of course being a State Park, we had electric, but no water or sewer.  and of course, no phone or internet. Bob took some down time the first day. On Monday morning,  we headed out to check things out and to move the rig to have a view of the reservoir. I commented that we didn’t have phone, but we did, we just had to climb up a hill to get reception. The weather was not the best, but we did get out in the kayaks at least one day.  Most of the time was spent exploring the area. I wasn’t as impressed with the town of Steamboat Springs as I had when Mom and I took Dee and a friend there the summer of 1984.   This was taken from the other side of the reserv...