The New Year 2020 Changing Lifestyles

Now, it's the middle of June and I finally have time and a rainy day with internet, to update my blog.

It's been a busy and as we all know a different six months.

In January, we took a trip to one of our favorite islands, ARUBA!

Stayed in a condo, just off across the street from one of the best beaches and one of the least crowded, Eagle Beach.  Convenient to brand new grocery store and eating places.  This was just for us to relax and get away.  Of course we still took a snorkel boat out and then to DePalm Island..

Sailing Ship we took

Lots of Fish

I love the Black Angel

Neat Turtles

Followed him around for a while

Visited a ship wreck, murky water, but Bob went down to Explore

Part of the wreck shows how the coral and fish adapt

Most of our time was spent in the water or on the beach at the condo, Watched the birds

Bob swam almost everyday

Took a trip to DePalm Island

It's a Parrot Fish Preserve, but not near as many big Parrot fish as the last time we were here.

Did add a big slide water park.  Of course Bob had to try it

Also added some Flamingos to the resort

Puffer fish are fun to watch

More and more chairs to the beach, luckily for us, there weren't a lot of people there.

The last day, Lots of rain and wind, but ended with a beautiful rainbow

After we got home, just the normal pickleball and walking and exercise.  We had joined a new gym that just opened during last summer.  Bob and I were in a great routine of working out.  I was into classes with weights or the new craze of "tabata". Then my daughter, Dee, had to have open heart surgery in Texas, so we decided to take the rig to Texas to stay as long as we needed.  The hospital she was at in Texarkana had space in the parking lot with 50 amp electricity, so we camped out there.  They also had a gym with a heated pool that we were able to use for the two weeks we were there.

Dee did great, 2 valves repaired on Tuesday, Feb. 25th, and out of the hospital on Saturday.  We moved over to a rv park closer to her house thinking she needed us.  As it turned out she did so good that we were able to leave on the following Thursday.

Dee just 2 days after surgery

So, on the way back, not realizing that the Coronovirus as just on it's way, we stopped over for a 3 nights in McKinney visiting our friend Juanita Vincent.  Had a great  visit with here and her family.

After there, we spent a couple of nights at an out of the way Hot Springs ,Faywood Hot Springs, in New Mexico, Neat little RV park, hardly anyone there.  The hot springs is clothing optional.  Couple of relaxing soaks and walking around to see the Peacocks.

Back to Happy Trails and the beginning of the Pandemic. Played Pickleball on Saturaday, Sunday and Monday, March 13,14, and 15th.  Courts closed that day.  No more pickleball.  Gym open for one more week, then closed.  Bob and I had bought weight set with bar and all for our travels to Alaska in the summer so we started our own workouts with walking 5 to 8 miles every other day and biking 10 to 25 miles the other days and doing a weight routine.Stayed with it until we left on May 3rd or 4th.  Learned to zoom with friends for happy hour in order to keep in touch. 

On the road to Dry Camp at Mt. Carmel Junction at the gravel pits.  We've been very careful at Happy Trails and on the road.  If we go in, then only for groceries, pay at the pump for gas, we wear our masks and carry a towel that is soaked in a bleach solution.  That way, we hopefully never touch our face or our masks or interior of car or moterhome until after we have wiped our hands.  Rv'ers isolate themselves anyway unless you're traveling with friends or have to visit everyone at the site.  We don't do either. Spent 2 nights there before we moved on.

View from campsite

We took one hike, about 7 miles. The Belly of the Dragon and down the gully to some slot canyons like this

From there we headed to Escalate to the dispersed camping on Hole in the Wall Rd.  Stayed here for 5 or 6 nights and did some hikes and drives. Then to the Escalate Cabins and RV park for 2 nights.  Like to hit an RV park after dry camping to wash clothes, clean rig, dump and fill with fresh water.  Then ready for the road again.  All Restaurants were only take out, so we visited our favorite BBQ place there and brought it back to the rig for dinner.

We rode on Hell's Backbone that takes you the back way to Boulder.  This is one of the Views

only animal we saw

Stopped on the way back to hike the Upper Cave Creek Falls trail.  A few people there, but not crowded. This is only about 1 mile down and 1 mile back up.  But that is definitely longer coming back up.

The next day we headed to the end of the Hole in the Wall Road, we didn't get all the way out last year. Very rough rd on the way. This is where the wagon train had to go to get to the Colorado River.  Now, it goes down to Lake Powell on the other side. 

Seeing some new sites, we headed to drive Burr Trail outside of Boulder.  Love the road to Boulder, but wouldn't take it in the Rig. 14% grade and narrow on the top. In the jeep you can look over the edge on both sides, but the scenery is breath taking.  Burr's Trail goes from Boulder down to Bull Frog on the other side of Lake Powell, via switch backs.

The ride before you get to the switchbacks is just as gorgeous as any of the red rock places I've been with tall red rock columns lining the road.

One last hike before we head out to recoup and clean at a real rv park.  This time, we tried to re-hike Zebra Slot Canyon that we did last year.  However, this time there was just a little water in it and it was really cold.  To say the least, we didn't get very deep into the slot.  But still got a hike since the canyon is 3 miles out.

First hole, not deep

Second and continuous, too deep for me

After cleaning up the rig, washing clothes and getting generally caught up on things, we headed out to the Flaming Gorge by way of  Provo Elks and then though Green River, WY.  By now it's Monday, May 11th.  Planning on 2 or 3 nights and then to Fossil Butte for a night or 2 putting us in Star Valley on May 15th.  First day that the park is open.

Plans tend to change when you're in an RV.  You play it by ear or the weather.  Flaming Gorge was beautiful. We found a dry camping spot above the gorge with a great view.  This is our second trip here, but wanted to get some hiking in and spend more time than before.  Hunted for trails, but not many in the area.  Had to drive to the Utah end to find any trails.  Tried one, was only a jeep trail, but we were able to park and hike about 2 miles round trip.  Then went to the Visitor's Center to hike the rim trail. The center was of course closed, but we were able to hike about 7 miles round trip. Nice hike, but you really were not on the rim of the gorge most of it, so views were limited.

Campsite view

Everyone's taking precautions

The Flaming Gorge is spectacular

As we say, things change. After 2 nights, the weather is moving in with rain, so we pack up Wednesday morning, stop by Rock Springs Walmart for groceries and to Sportsmen's warehouse for new hiking boots. As we get to Fossil Butte, it's snowing, so we head to Star Valley hoping they will let us in early.

No such luck and after really rude and loud conversation with the owner, we take John Gullo up on his  offer of using his driveway for a couple of nights. 

On Friday, we move into our property in Star Valley.  We've decided that since this wasn't our first negative encounter with the developer and because we want to travel more, we would put for sale sign on the property.  If it sold, ok, if not, it wasn't meant to be.  It sold within 24 hours, so it's meant to be.

So for 3 weeks, we enjoy hiking and driving up to the Tetons before the sale closes.

First Hike Green River,on May17th  trail in good shape, only a little snow remaining.

Spent time organizing and trying to sell some items that we didn't want to take with us.  Everyone is starting to come into the park now.  On May 23rd, we had snow.  Beautiful, but didn't last long.

Drove to Cottonwood Lake to see how far we could get on the trail, but couldn't even get to the trailhead because of snow.  Took a drive up to  the Tetons to check out animals.  Saw a bear, but so far away the picture barely recognizes it as a bear.  Did see Elk and Antelope.  On the 29th of May, we drove one last time up Grey's River Rd.  Couldn't do the complete loop due to, guess what, snow.  Did see some young stags.

 

 

Hiked Strawberry Creek, one of my favorite hikes and were able to get out on the North Fork about 2 miles before the trail was covered completely. Then when back and up the other fork for maybe 1/2 mile before water crossing was too swift. So, back to the car.  This was the last day of May.

We'll pick this up with the 1st of June.  Only a few days left in Star Valley.