The 7 Links Challenge

Thanks to fellow bloggers/digital nomads Technomadia we were nominated to participate in the 7 Links Challenge hosted by Tripbase. It’s a fun little internet thread that gets you to highlight 7 specific posts from your blog, followed by which you nominate 5 other bloggers to participate. It took a bit of digging in the old mental archives, but hopefully I managed to hit some good choices. Do lemme know what you think!

1/ Your most beautiful post

Enjoy the moments given to you

One of the things I love about travelling is getting out and lost in nature, often with both doggie and camera in tow. I have my most beautiful experiences in life doing just that and I try to share those special moments and feelings on the blog.

I’ve written several posts along this line, but there was one where the comments from my readers, especially made the post stand out for me:

• It’s All About the Journey

2/ Your most popular post

Without a doubt the one post that gets the most consistent views is our post on finances. People want to know how much this lifestyle costs and I’ve tried to share that here:

• The Costs of Full-Time RVing

3/ Your most controversial post

I can’t say I’ve ever written anything really controversial, but I guess my most debated post was probably this one:

• Is Boondocking Always Cheaper?

It’s a different view on a topic people tend to feel strongly about.

4/ Your most helpful post

The WheelingIt 2010 Map

It’s hard to make a choice here. I try to write helpful posts on the blog every few weeks or so touching subjects such as RV Pre-Flight Check, Understanding Solar, Finding Cheap & Natural Campgrounds, Getting Connected and so forth. I generally get pretty good feedback on these, but by far the posts that get the most “that was helpful” comments on are my campground reviews. They started out just as a kind of personal log for me to keep track of where I’ve been, but seem to have become one of the most helpful and oft-referenced  sections of the blog. A bit of a cheat here since it’s really more than one post, but I summarize all our stops on a map here:

• The Journey

5/ A post whose success surprised you

We meet so many interesting and unusual people on the road, and this particular post was just a quick, passing “by the way” kind of  blog on one of these folks. Much to my surprise the post generated waaaay more interest than I ever imagined, even getting picked up by a several online news sources and links. Who knew people were so interested in alternative lifestyles?

• The Ultimate RVer?

6/ A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved

Dogkittylution #5 - Express Joy to It's Fullest

This link was a real dilemma for me. I always feel the reader makes the blog, so if a post doesn’t generate interest it’s probably because it didn’t hit the right notes with the audience. 

Nonetheless I’m on a secret quest to spread joy and happiness in the world and in that line the following post makes my choice. Hope you’ll join me in making these resolutions come true:

• Dogkittylutions for 2011

7/ The post that you are most proud of

I think humor is a key part of life so I’m most proud of the posts where I can convey and share that with others. Then again, I’m also a geek at heart having spent many years in science and technology (oh yeah, I’m one of those gals). We were deep in the TN forest last year when both of those things came together in a single post. We had sooooo much fun coming up with this one:

• Geeks in the Forest = Pondering The Equations of Life

So, now comes the moment to nominate 5 other bloggers. It’s a tough choice with so many interesting and wonderful bloggers out there, but I’ll list a few of those I follow who haven’t yet (that I know of)  either been nominated or done the challenge:

• The Bayfield Bunch
• Our Take on Freedom – Escaping the 9-to-5 before 25
• Semi-True Tales of Our Lives on the Road
• Our Life on Wheels
• Geeky Explorers

If I didn’t pick you, know that you are all worthy and I still love you :) Which reminds me -> it’s about time I update my blogroll (I follow alot more great blogs these days). That’ll come next…

Hiking Off We’ve Gone, You See…

I must excuse our lack of be
‘Coz hiking off we’ve gone, you see
Flowers bloom and mountains call
To which our inhibitions fall
We tread the path where others fly
To reach beyond the skies a-high
Though we return in body true
Our hearts stay high within the blue
(Nina Fussing, July 2011)

We'll be in the mountains when you call..

It’s not often that poetry flows out of me like that, but I just can’t help getting inspired out here in the wilds. A late spring has the ground simply bursting with wildflowers, while the gorgeous Colorado mountains provide a stunning backdrop with no end of “oooh” and “aaahh” moments.

Aspen Trees frame the mountains on Lizard Head Trail

Yup, we’ve gone a-hiking. In fact it’s been the kind of week where “let’s go for a quick walk” has turned into 4 hour hikes up and over mountains passes. This is some of the most spectacular hiking I’ve done all year and it’s just darn near impossible to stop. There’s always something to see “right over the ridge there”.

Pooch of course has been everywhere with us, bouncing and playing in the mountain meadows while my camera has been clicking almost off the hook.

Driving on a dirt road to Dunton, CO

Interestingly enough almost all our hikes have been solo. There are literally hundreds of miles of hiking trails in Lizard Head Wilderness and the surrounding San Juan and Uncompahgre Forests, but only  a few seem to be frequented. Imagine our surprise therefore to make a connection at ~11,000 feet on the mountain.

It was a Wednesday morning and having seen no-one since we started out at 8AM, we stopped to chat with the couple coming up the trail. We exchanged stories, as things go, and eventually got around to the topic of RVing

Meeting Dick & Fran on the trail

“Oh yes, I have a son who RVs around in a Casita with his wife and dog” said Dick

“Really?!” I answered “that sounds exactly like this blog I follow…”

Polly soaks in the view at ~12,000 feet

And indeed it was. In a perfect example of unexpected fate we had just met the father of Imperfect Destiny half-way up a remote mountain in the Lizard Head Wilderness. They were even staying at our campground. We ended up having drinks and dinner over the next 2 days, getting to know yet another great couple on the road.

So yes, we’ve been out hiking..and driving…and exploring…and soaking our senses with all the colorful richness of the mountains. And it turns out we’ve met some people too. Don’t you just love those moments?

Coming next: 7 Links and another great campground review…

Columbines color the ground at Kilpacker Trail

Paul poses in the meadow in front of Lizard Head Mountain

View from the top of the world...

Early morning sun

Color in the meadow

Paul and Polly pose in the wildflowers

On the trail

Just another beautiful day...

Mountain Chic – Telluride, CO

View of Sheep Mountain (13,188 feet) from Lizard Head Pass

I’m back at the Dew South Café reconnecting with the world. First of all I’ve got to say I LOVED all the feedback on my last blog post. Many of the responses had me spurting out my coffee in giggles, much to the amusement of my fellow café-goers.

Life is about love, laughter and sharing experiences, and I truly felt all of that  coming through in those comments. So, thank you again for making blogging such a fun and interactive experience. It keeps me engaged, motivated and thoroughly honored to have you all as followers!

The gorgeous road to Telluride on Hwy 145

As for goings on, we’ve had a busy few days playing out here in the mountains. Lots of positive things have happened including a chance encounter, a couple of fun outings, some outstanding hikes and a nomination from a fellow blogger to participate in a fun online thread. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s start with life at 9,000+ feet in the SW Colorado Mountains. It’s the playground of the outdoors, destination of ski bums and nature hippies, and home to the rich and famous. All this mixes to a vast and wild wilderness dotted with cute mountain towns, touched by a sense of both the ultra-rustic and the ultra-fancy. We have both right here within ~20 miles of driving in either direction of our campground. On the south side is Rico is an old mining town which retains much of it’s unique character including the unusual collection of folks who make it their home. On the north there’s Telluride and Mountain Village, a destination that blends history with new-style chic.

Old and new combine at Telluride, CO

For today’s blog post we’ll take a ride to the north for a bit of class. We’ve put on our best hiking pants, brushed doggie to a fine and fluffy shine and loaded up the car for our drive through the mountains. The trip to Telluride is a fabulous wind over Lizard Head Pass, past 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks and through the stunning curves of Hwy 145.

You can still find some of the old hippy-time culture hidden around town

The town itself, like most of the mountain towns here has a history in mining. The first prospectors settled around 1878, followed by the Rio Grande Railroad in 1890 and a massive immigration boom. Through the next 20 years Telluride churned out millions in gold and silver as well as over 350 miles of mining tunnels. Mining dropped off after WWII and the town remained lax through the 1960’s. Then winter recreation recreated the place in 1970’s and it’s been a high-class tourist destination ever since.

Puppy parking -> Now, THAT's cool!

The town has an abundance of Queen-Anne style Victorian architecture and cute, little café’s, restaurants and shops, giving the impression of a small San Francisco neighborhood transported to the mountains. You can taste the class and fame of the place, but it’s also got a softer side including a super dog-friendly slant.

On the riverwalk w/ Polly into town

There’s a pretty river-walk with free poo-bags on just about every corner, “puppy parking” throughout town and a good selection of outdoor restaurant seating for pooch and owners. Even the gondola ride (free by the way) from Telluride to Mountain Village has special doggie-friendly compartments. Combine that with a never-ending slew of summer festivals (Bluegrass, Jazz, Yoga, Art and Film, Mushroom…even a Horror Show Festival, many with free performances), miles of hiking & biking trails, and you’ve got quite the quaint little mountain experience. Paws and thumbs up from us!

We had a cappuccino with a view, some relaxing walking and a classy little day-outing for the whole family. Tomorrow we’ll get back to the dirt and wilderness and the rest of our mountain story. Until then may laughter fill your soul, love embrace your heart and the richness of life’s experience make your day.

Walking around downtown

FREE Gondola ride to Mountain Village...pooch friendly to boot!

Houston, We Have a Problem

It all started innocently enough...

Having allowed a few days between “the incident” and the present, I am now in a sufficiently recovered state to relate the story in all it’s gory details. So, here we go:

It was one of those days. You know, the type that nags at you from the beginning that something isn’t quite right. In my eternal optimism I’d shrugged it off. After all the sun was shining, birds were singing and we were heading up to a gorgeous spot at ~9,000 feet. Honestly, what could possibly go wrong?

Enter Scene Chocolate

The Instigator...

All started well. The drive was pretty, the weather (albeit a little wet) was cooperating and the scenery was fantastic. Having arrived happily at our lovely campsite in the mountains, I had the brilliant idea to make a cup of hot chocolate.

“Look honey, the pressure difference has popped up the top of the cocoa can”

Hahahaha….mirth all around. Even the dog had a good giggle. Only the cats were indifferent.

“Poooufffff”

As Nina unleashes the can a mushroom cloud of cocoa powder spreads in a finely artistic layer all over Paul and the sofa. I mention the mushroom shape merely to give you a detailed visual of the pressurized explosion. The scene became eerily quiet, so much so that all you could hear was crickets. Given that we were ~200 miles from the nearest gryllus assimilis that gives you a full and complete appreciation of the moment.

Strike ONE

An hour or so later, having meticulously cleaned the chocolate (to the mild enjoyment of the cats), I snuggled down to a hot chocolate and a book. “Aaaahhhhh” The sweet pitter-patter of rain was on the roof creating a cozy and romantic environment. All was good…

Enter Scene Water

The Enabler...

“Plop”

The sound was unexpected, coming as it was from the inside of the RV. A moment of panic followed with the words

“Honey, there’s water coming out the side of the slide”

“Oh, sh……..t!” was the harmonized answer

We’d  been having minor issues with the kitchen slide for some time, but this fell into the category of most definitely “not good”.

So, out with the ladder to have a look at the slide and try to de-bug the situation. It stopped raining for just enough time to let us appreciate the fact that we had no frikkin’ idea how to fix this. Not to be deterred, we went inside and decided to forget about it for the moment. After all there was not much we could do about it right now.

Strike TWO

Now at this point, a more superstitious person might have decided to pack to all up and go to bed, but I am more of the stubborn breed. I settled down with my book and proceeded doggedly with my plan to enjoy the evening. We’d had a few hiccups no doubt, but this was going to be a good day…damn it.

Enter Scene Ladder

The destroyer...

Having once more nestled in and made myself comfortable it started raining again, this time with increased vigor. A few moments later water came dripping out from the slide ceiling light.

“We’d better bring in the slide” said I wisely, and proceeded with said action

“Crunch, crack….sproooong”

“Oh, sh……t” was really the only reasonable response

The Result...

If you’ve followed the narrative closely thus far you might have remembered the ladder that was left outside in Scene II. In a great demonstration of stubbornness (and general lack of concern for its owners, I might add) it had defied movement and managed to get caught in the edge of the slide, thus producing the aforementioned sound effects. The ladder was entirely unharmed, but had produced a perfectly arched bend on the slide corner. The “sprooong”, by the way, was a rivet being ripped off the slide. Despite our combined horror at the situation, I had to give it credit for stamina.  Either way, this was most definitely Strike THREE. By this point the cats were thoroughly amused and we were thoroughly defeated.

Let's frame that moment, shall we?

Now, there are two universal truths that apply to every life circumstance such as this:

1/ At some point, somewhere you will do something utterly brainless, completely idiotic and it will be entirely your fault.

2/ How you proceed to handle said situation is entirely up to you.

And indeed it was. After some ritualistic cursing and general mutual slapping of foreheads, we decided to let it go. These are only “things” after all. We’re keeping the slide in for now and have made an appointment at the RV doctor inGrand Junctionin 2 weeks time. The cats have had their entertainment, we’ve had our lesson and life goes on. It’s going be another beautiful day tomorrow and until then…well, we’ll just have to see.

Where No Signal Has Gone Before – Lizard Head Wilderness, CO

Hiking at 10,000 feet in the Lizard Head Wilderness

I’m blogging from the comfort of a cozy mountain café. Thanks to the wonder of free WiFi we are as yet connected, despite having gone where no signal has gone before. Yes, we’ve taken “the beast” into deep forest and are making attempts at contact with the local life-forms at ~9,000 feet and beyond. In technical terms that means: 

No internet
No phone
No satellite signal
No local TV stations
Not…even…a…single…radio…station

{{gasp}}

White dew and morning chill

I hear your astonishment and feel it too, but fear not. This does not mean we are without adventure. In fact we’ve had what you might call an “incident”, or one of those “you’ll find it funny later” stories. Once we’ve recovered and our mutual horror has subsided we’ll relate the entire debacle on the blog. In the meantime I’ll leave you with blissful pictures of high mountain scenes artfully arranged to give you the lulling impression that all is soft and fluffy in the world. And so it is…for now, anyway….

Out where signals do not go...

Early morning splendor in the mountains