Monday, May 14, 2018
Capitol Reef National Park and Escalante National Monument
After leaving Duncan , Katy and their friends who had to make the 4 hour drive back to Salt Lake for flights back to Oregon, and Lee to Hawaii, M and I drove to Teesdale, UT a little west of Capitol Reef. Stayed 3 nights with ex Snowmass Ski Patrol friend Penny who has a most comfortable B & B there. Spent 3 delightful days hiking. Drove back via Grand Junction . Buick is expiring and thus negotiated 3 year lease of a brand new Subaru Outback. M delighted , G a little nostalgic at demise of an old friend !
White Rim Trail
Another adventure of epic proportions
M and I had one day to get organised after returning from Scotland , NYC, Houston and Asheville.
Drove to Moab ( after a stop at dentists in Grand Junction - with intenton of curing sleep apnea (snoring ) problem with dental device - M very pleased ) and met up with Lee for dinner. Following morning we all - Lee, M and I , Duncan & Katy, and their friends Peter and Juliana and Paul and Dana - met at the Rim Tours office in Moab. Thereafter followed an amazing 4 days . Second time for us with Lee and Julie organising it almost singlehandedly last time. This trip , fully supported by Rim Tours for the fabulous price of $950 per person, made us realise how much we owe to Lee and Julie for their huge generosity and organisational skills 5 years ago.
We hired bikes from Rim Tours at extra cost , but it was worth it. They transported all 9 of us plus our two guides Mike and Zack to the trailhead in Canyonlands National Park an hour or so away.
Duncan, Peter and Paul ( all superfit ) had had 3 days cycling on their own for 3 days, so fortunately they had burnt off a little steam. All then joined by their wives and the 3 senior citizens in Lee, Mary and me for this 4 day , 3 night trip into the Utah desert.
An unqualified success. We were spoilt rotten with all meals cooked for us - breakfast , lunch and dinner. The 3 campsites all equipped with chemical toilet ( unbelievably no smell at all and very clean ) were top notch - Airport, Whitecrack and Potato Bottom were all spectacular in their own way. Total distance a little over 110 miles. Nothing technical , but some steep hills which all but the boys had to push in parts. Great weather, super company, hard exercise, and breathtaking nights under clear an dbright starlit skies. About as perfect as it could be.
Pics speak for themselves (almost ! )
M and I had one day to get organised after returning from Scotland , NYC, Houston and Asheville.
Drove to Moab ( after a stop at dentists in Grand Junction - with intenton of curing sleep apnea (snoring ) problem with dental device - M very pleased ) and met up with Lee for dinner. Following morning we all - Lee, M and I , Duncan & Katy, and their friends Peter and Juliana and Paul and Dana - met at the Rim Tours office in Moab. Thereafter followed an amazing 4 days . Second time for us with Lee and Julie organising it almost singlehandedly last time. This trip , fully supported by Rim Tours for the fabulous price of $950 per person, made us realise how much we owe to Lee and Julie for their huge generosity and organisational skills 5 years ago.
We hired bikes from Rim Tours at extra cost , but it was worth it. They transported all 9 of us plus our two guides Mike and Zack to the trailhead in Canyonlands National Park an hour or so away.
Duncan, Peter and Paul ( all superfit ) had had 3 days cycling on their own for 3 days, so fortunately they had burnt off a little steam. All then joined by their wives and the 3 senior citizens in Lee, Mary and me for this 4 day , 3 night trip into the Utah desert.
An unqualified success. We were spoilt rotten with all meals cooked for us - breakfast , lunch and dinner. The 3 campsites all equipped with chemical toilet ( unbelievably no smell at all and very clean ) were top notch - Airport, Whitecrack and Potato Bottom were all spectacular in their own way. Total distance a little over 110 miles. Nothing technical , but some steep hills which all but the boys had to push in parts. Great weather, super company, hard exercise, and breathtaking nights under clear an dbright starlit skies. About as perfect as it could be.
Pics speak for themselves (almost ! )
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| Lee with Duncan, Dana, Katy and Paul |
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| Top: G, Duncan, Dana, Paul, Zack (guide), Juliana, Peter | seated: Mike (guide), Lee, Katy, Mary |
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| Our descent to the White Rim a geological layer of hard white rock below which is the Colorado river |
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| "Airport' campsite |
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| From the White Rim looking down to the Colorado River |
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| Juliana, Katy, Dana |
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| Peter , cocktail specialist who prepared amazing concoctions for us each evening before dinner |
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| Day 3 ; Mike and Zack preparing the evening meal, Peter doling out cocktails, Mary having a wash! |
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| The green river 10 miles of so north of its confluence with the Colorado river |
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| Katy reaches the top of the plateau at the end of a long climb and the finish of our trip - and she pedaled the whole way! |
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| We say goodbye to Lee back in Moab |
NYC, Houston and Asheville
Meghan and Cormac and Mary and I headed off to different destinations
from Edin airport early Tues morning after the funeral - M and C to
Shannon and M and I to NYC. We had booked months ago tickets for Cosi
fan Tutte at the Met and we were fortunate it tied in to the schedule.
Stayed at a an airbnb in Harlem, had a fun bike tour trip round central Manhattan on day, 2 meeting Carolyn and Ali for dinner in the evening . Day 3, we met Richard's nephew Alistair Coleman at the entrance to Julliard where he gave us a great tour. He's in his first undergraduate year as a composing student. Delightful.
As it was our 44th anniversary we dined in style bfore a fabulous performance of Cosi.
Off to Houston early the next morning for M's 50th High School reunion. Stayed with Julie and David in superb comfort, had an interesting bike tour on rented bikes round River Oaks and downtown Houston and then a lavish party at Garry Glesby's house . A big game hunter of some note apparently. Pretty disturbing really , but chaque-un ..... I guess. M enjoyed catching up with school mates many of whom she hadn't seen for 50 years.
Off the next morning to Asheville via Charlotte where we met up with Meghan who had flown in from Shannon to spend 3 days with her 95 vear old Granny ! Betty on terrific form - although of course she doesn't think so ! Drove down to Greenville, SC one day to meet Martha S for lunch. Generally the visit was huge success. We have a routine there now making use particularly of the large swimming pool and the expansive grounds for walks, and of course our favourite Corner Kitchen.
Drove Meghan back to Charlotte midway through the week. and when we returned there, we dropped by Herb and Dagmar at their house near Spartanburg , SC. They have worked for SkiCo for about 20 years seasonally . Sadly Herb had a major stroke on Christmas eve 2017.
Back to Snowmass on the Monday night. We have one day to get straightened out and packed up for the Utah trip on day hence. No complaints though. Buick badly leaking engine coolant fluid. Maybe end of the road !
Stayed at a an airbnb in Harlem, had a fun bike tour trip round central Manhattan on day, 2 meeting Carolyn and Ali for dinner in the evening . Day 3, we met Richard's nephew Alistair Coleman at the entrance to Julliard where he gave us a great tour. He's in his first undergraduate year as a composing student. Delightful.
As it was our 44th anniversary we dined in style bfore a fabulous performance of Cosi.
Off to Houston early the next morning for M's 50th High School reunion. Stayed with Julie and David in superb comfort, had an interesting bike tour on rented bikes round River Oaks and downtown Houston and then a lavish party at Garry Glesby's house . A big game hunter of some note apparently. Pretty disturbing really , but chaque-un ..... I guess. M enjoyed catching up with school mates many of whom she hadn't seen for 50 years.
Off the next morning to Asheville via Charlotte where we met up with Meghan who had flown in from Shannon to spend 3 days with her 95 vear old Granny ! Betty on terrific form - although of course she doesn't think so ! Drove down to Greenville, SC one day to meet Martha S for lunch. Generally the visit was huge success. We have a routine there now making use particularly of the large swimming pool and the expansive grounds for walks, and of course our favourite Corner Kitchen.
Drove Meghan back to Charlotte midway through the week. and when we returned there, we dropped by Herb and Dagmar at their house near Spartanburg , SC. They have worked for SkiCo for about 20 years seasonally . Sadly Herb had a major stroke on Christmas eve 2017.
Back to Snowmass on the Monday night. We have one day to get straightened out and packed up for the Utah trip on day hence. No complaints though. Buick badly leaking engine coolant fluid. Maybe end of the road !
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| Manhattan from Central Park |
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| Our cycle tour guide |
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| Columbia University |
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| Patsy's Pizza parlour ( an old "Mob" haunt ) |
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| Alexander Hamilton's house in Harlem |
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| Alistair - student at Julliard |
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| To the Met - at last |
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| 2400 block of Overbrook , Houston _ Mary's childhood home |
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| Another downtown cycle tour - Houston |
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| Mary's next door neighbour of 50 years ago - Ellen with husband Tim. |
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| yuck ! |
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| the class |
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| 3 generations in downtown Greenville |
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| reunited at last |
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| Lunch with Martha S in Greenville |
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| the cute domestic scene from restauraunt window |
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| Shopping with Granny ! |
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| The Corner Kitchen |
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| Herb and Dagmar at their Spartanville house |
Scotland - 2nd trip - Barbara's funeral
Mary and I drove to Denver immediately after my last day's shift for the Town. One way rental car from Aspen airport to DIA - $17 including tax ! The next day we flew to Edinburgh via JFK and Dublin. Checked into Ibis and Meghan and Cormac arrived a couple of hours later. Had hoped to meet Jane and Anna for a picnic lunch in Princes St gardens , but flight late. Drove with Meghan and Cormac to Hillend and climbed Kaerkettan with huge enthusiasm from Cormac. The 4 of us then had supper at the Steading. Cormac still in cracking form.
On Sun we met up at the Zoo with Jane, Johannes, Anna and Johannes' mother Marianne. Back to Ibis before heading off to collect Jane off bus at Fairmilehead and driving to the pub in West Linton managed by Meghan's friend Seonaig and her husband James for dinner with all 5 Colemans.
Funeral the next day at Warriston. 220 people at the crematorium and 150 odd back to Royal Botanical Gardens afterwards. Charlie Robertson took the service, a lovely short tribute from Ingsay, and readings by Alastair and Sarah. A fitting and very moving farewell to my dear sister.
On Sun we met up at the Zoo with Jane, Johannes, Anna and Johannes' mother Marianne. Back to Ibis before heading off to collect Jane off bus at Fairmilehead and driving to the pub in West Linton managed by Meghan's friend Seonaig and her husband James for dinner with all 5 Colemans.
Funeral the next day at Warriston. 220 people at the crematorium and 150 odd back to Royal Botanical Gardens afterwards. Charlie Robertson took the service, a lovely short tribute from Ingsay, and readings by Alastair and Sarah. A fitting and very moving farewell to my dear sister.
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| Kaerkettan - next stop a Munro |
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| " the seat " |
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| zoo party with Marianne |
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| " Red on yeller , kill a feller " |
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| Big shoes of Barbara to fill. Cormac and Barbara's very dear friend and chess companion Ingsay |
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| Alastair, Kristin , Rutherfurd and Annabel after Barbara's funeral |
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