Texas

Well we had a lot of driving to do in Texas to get to Uncle David and Aunt Joyce's house in La Marque by Galveston.  The heat was not helping our camper out.  It was affecting the power we had to keep pulling it along.  We ended up having to pull off the road and let the engine cool down.  Gus called his buddy Jason back home in PA for some advice on what to do.  Gus cleaned the distributor cap as much as he could, and we headed a few miles to a town called Junction.  There luckily we got some lunch and ice cream in the air conditioning, and they had a car parts store where we picked up some new spark plugs and wires, and a new distributor cap.  We drove about 3o miles and was losing horsepower again in the camper.  We pulled off the highway and let the engine cool a bit again.   Then Gus changed the new parts we got and about an hour and a half, we got going again.  We were stinkin hot, sweaty, and tired.  I convinced Gus to spend the night at a KOA (kampgrounds of america)  to hookup to electricity so we could sleep in the air conditioning!  and get a shower for the first time in four days!  Gross I know.  We got going in the morning and headed out again.  We made it about 100 miles or so and the camper was losing horsepower again!  I know we were about sick of it and weren't sure what the deal was.  We let it cool off again.  Gus called Jason again.  He added some water to the antifreeze tank, and some oil, and we ended up taking off the engine cover inside between our seats hoping that it would help keep the engine a little cooler.  It seemed to work ad we finally made it to Uncle David and Aunt Joyce's house on friday night!  Horray!  

hello New mexico, and Texas

Well the road out of Colorado was interesting.  We drove a few hours from the house just outside a town called Salida.  We were going about 60 miles an hour when our front driver side tire exploded!  That was pretty scary.  Luckily Gus was able to be calm enough to bring the camper safely to a stop on the side of the highway.  We walked across the road to a rafting place and got a phone book to find a road service person to come out and help us change the tire.  His name was Mick and his wife who took our call were both so helpful.  It turns out our spare wasn't in the best shape and so we decided to go the Wal-Mart in Salida for the night and we got two new front tires in the morning.  Then we were off again and made it to New Mexico.  We were headed for Taos.  Man what a cool place!   Well, actually it's far from cool it was hot outside!  But the town itself was awesome.  Some it's historical, but it's all of shops, and restaurants, and a pueblo.  Most of the places there were made adobe style with the clay, to be energy efficient keeping them cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  

We got to go to an authentic Mexican restaurant called Anthony's!  So good!  A lady came over to our table and made us fresh guacamole!  Delicious.  We stayed the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Taos then headed out in the morning and got to Fort Stockton, Texas by night.  We stayed another night in a Wal-Mart parking lot.  It was so hot and humid.  

See Ya Later Colorado! We'll Miss YOu! 3

More photos from the paRtY!  Top: Gus, Buck, Buck's wife Susan, and me.

Next:  Buck and Susan.  Next:  Shirley and me.  Next:  Brian, Buck, and Buck and Susan's son Wyatt.

See Ya Later Colorado! We'll Miss YOu! 2

More pictures from our party.  Top:  Reid, Barney, Jim, and Shirley.

Next:  Gus and Kevin.  Next:  Chris, Buck, Uncle Blaine, and Chris' wife Laura.  Next:  The tug-a-war.

See Ya Later Colorado! We'll Miss YOu!

Well the ski season was so amazing!  We've become accustomed to living here for 9 months that we've developed a lot out here.  Our friends, our church, our favorite places to eat, (the wildflower cafe) and shop (the arc thrift store), seeing the mountains when your driving home from downtown and much more.  We'll miss a lot for sure but it's time to head home to PA.  We said goodbye to our church family in Colorado at Indian Hills Christian Fellowship.  Thank you to all of you who really made us feel welcome and loved.  Uncle Blaine and Aunt Cara through us a party with all our friends.  We had a pig roast, and all the trimmings.  We're so grateful for these friends we've made here, also making us feel welcomed, opening up there homes, and helping us out with camper, and just plain hanging out.  We'd be happy to do the same to you in PA.  Can't wait to come back and visit.  Top:  Me, Essie, and Aunt Cara.  Next:  Aunt Cara, Essie, Uncle Blaine, Buck, Me, and Gus.  Next:  Jim and Shirley and me and Gus.  Thank you for making us feel at home and part of the family.  Our grandparents in Colorado.  Next:  Gus, our friend, and very talented singer/songwriter Patrick, and me.  Bottom:  Our church family in Colorado.

Rocky Mountain National Park 3

We saw quit a few elk that day.  Wilderness at it's best, and undisturbed from being themselves.  There was also quit a bit of snow at the top of trail ridge rd which is the main road that runs through the park.  It can snow there anytime of the year. 

Rocky Mountain National Park 2

oops I forgot to post the rest of the Rocky Mountain pictures.  The bottom picture shows some trees damaged by the pine beetles.