June 10, 2009

This is a much better day!!! Mike was release from the hospital yesterday, the original diagnosis of Acute Altitude Sickness was also the final diagnosis. Still, he had to go back a couple of hours later for a stress test. All results came back good (no signs of pulmonary or cardio vascular disease). I was in the room while he did the stress test and watched the films of his heart....looked good to me. He is feeling much better. We won't be doing any hiking at higher elevations for a few weeks. He should be adjusted to the altitude by then.

Our Kid's Fishing Day is starting to come together nicely....we have all of the prizes, the 1,000 fish have been delivered, newspaper and radio releases have been scheduled, mowed around the pond....now just wait for the big day! Of course, we are hoping for better weather than today. It has been COLD (high of 53) and overcast or rainy all day......somebody forgot to tell Colorado that it is summer! Can Texas please, please share some of their heat.!!!!

June 8, 2009

The weather this weekend was not the best.....lots of wind and very cool. Saturday we did some more sightseeing and Sunday we just kinda hung around home. Watched movies and cleaned the house. All in all, a good weekend.

Then today was a mess!! We started off our work week okay, collecting for the Kid's Fishing Day went good. Got some really great prizes. Mike was still having trouble adjusting to the altitude...short of breath and chest pressure. We decided to stop by the clinic to have it checked out.....next thing, he is in the hospital. They are just being cautious because he is diabetic and has a family history of heart trouble. They are keeping him overnight to be sure but the preliminary diagnosis of Altitude Sickness still stands.

June 5, 2009

This was our first full day off this week. We are only assigned Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays but I am still collecting prizes for the fishing day so off to the merchants we went. Walmart finally came thru with a $50 gift card. Some of the local merchants were very supportive (fishing poles, backpacks and many meal coupons).

We hiked to the base of Zapata Falls today. You have to hike thru COLD water to get to the falls. That is saved for next week when we are better prepared (water socks) and maybe a little warmer. It is an easy hike (1/4 mile) but it climbs over 500ft in that short distance. We are both having a little trouble getting used to the altitude. We also hike the sand dunes. Check out the tiny prickly pear with a big sign....definitely not our Texas pear. The horse cripplers were in beautiful bloom.

June 3, 2009

We just completed our first week of work this season. Tuesday was the most fun. We toured all three refuges and met the other volunteer couples.

Monte Vista and Alamosa NWR's are close to town and are like most of the refuges we have visited throughout the country. Baca; however, is much different. It backs up to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It is a 94,000 acre 1800 Spanish Land Grant ranch. The refuge system acquired the ranch in 2006, until then it was a working cattle ranch. There are still several old buildings dating back to the 1800's. The plan is for us to switch sites the middle of July with the couple that is parked up there. Am really looking forward to that. Baca has several large herds of elk.

On our way back to Monte Vista, we went thru a hail storm. The hail is much different than we are used to.....it was soft. Just like driving thru snow. The weather has been cool and wet but we are assured this is not normal. We are ready for warm dry weather.

May 31, 2009

Today we had our first backroad adventure of the season. We "TRIED" to backroad the Rio Grande National Forrest but the road ended in a snow bank so we turned around....bummer!! There was still a significant amount of snow on the upper mountains; however, the Aspens were beautiful!

May 30, 2009

We are finally settled at Alamosa NWR, CO for the summer. We are parked at the headquarters with a great view of the still snow capped mountains. Ready to start work on Monday, June 1st. We will be working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Once again, Mike's construction skills will be put to use. My main project is the annual Kid's Fishing Day. Just like when the kid's were younger, I get to solicit prizes and donations from the various local businesses.

So far we have seen the coyotes (and heard), huge rabbits, several coots, hawks and one golden eagle. Tuesday after the other volunteers arrive, we will be touring all 3 refuges which should be fun. Baca NWR is not open to the public and is reported to have several thousand ELK. Can't wait!!

We left Fentress on April 24th, spent 2 1/2 weeks with the kids before departing TX on May 11th. Spent a couple of nights in OK, then on to KS to leave the RV at the factory for some warranty work and new bigger wheels/tires. We left Smith Center, KS on May 14th headed for Las Vegas to spent a week with dear friends. It was such a hoot and so much fun!! I WON $55 at Blackjack. We did lots of sightseeing and hung out by the pool most evenings. Then back to Smith Center, KS to pick up the RV. It was "mostly" finished with just few things I wanted done better! It could have been a one day drive from Smith Center to Alamosa but it was raining SO HARD thru Kansas that we decided to stop just east of Colorado Springs for the night so we didn't have to tackle the mountains when we were tired. It wasn't bad driving 2 vehicles....I can have the radio as loud as I want and sing along all I want!!!

May 20, 2009

Having so much fun with Cathy & Jim here in Las Vegas!!! It is so neat to meet with old friends and find out you are just as close as you were in high school. Have been having a really relaxed time...hanging out by the pool, sight seeing and just visiting. Today we are headed for Valley of Fire and some of the NWR's in the area. Tomorrow is Hoover Dam day.