Random pics

Barking Spider Ranch - Coloma Gold Country

First morning back at the Barking Spider Ranch with the dogs.











Mother McAllen with her grandson.



We arrived July 27th to our home on the river in Coloma's Gold Country Hwy 49. We celebrated Mike's birthday with our daughter, grandson and our pups Sam and Alex (whom we haven't seen for a month). We aren't accustomed to having the modern conveniences of shower, flushing toilets, elevated bed, time, refrigerator, human contact...we truly appreciate what we didn't have and what we do have...nothing is taken for granted not even soft toilet paper and warm water.

Lake Tahoe - Bayview Campground, Cascade Falls, Stupid Teens & Cute Shepherd Puppy Named Sarge

We drove into Tahoe confident we would find a nice little private camping spot next to the lake where we could skinny dip and make love in the moonlight. What we found were camp sites much like the camping parking lot of Salt Lake City; all full! Until we found a campsite above Emerald Bay. It had no services, no water, just some long drops. The camp host Terry had recently been hit in the face with a shovel and he gave us the rules and regulations of the site. Lots of bears (but not Grizzlies) so we had to use the bear box and not leave anything out.

We set up camp and went to sleep. At around 3 in the morning the camp site next to us became occupied and they went to work chopping wood. We inserted our earplugs and went to sleep. In the morning our new campmates were three kids from Las Vegas. We had fun teasing them and watching them survive was really interesting. They bought a tent and some Dorritos and Budwiser. The highlight of the trip was Carrie telling them their pants were falling off all the time.

They left their food out one night so a bear came in while we were sleeping and ate everything they had. We all slept through it. They spent the whole next day sharping there knives. We told them just to put the food away. They were nice kids who told us many stories by the campfire how tough they were. We enjoyed making fun of them.

Moral of the story: Kids are dumb.

We went on two killer hikes. One to a waterfall and the other to desolation forest where we swam in granite lake which took us several hours to hike into. Just the three of us. Mike & Carrie and Beartrap Bob.

Tahoe's youngest National Monument called Mosquito Tower!!

Salt Lake City's Pioneer Heritage Celebration

We made our way to Salt Lake City, the last chance resort before journeying back through the dreaded vast expanse of freeway we call the state of Nevada...that lonely highway that makes you wonder why you decided to go this way rather than detouring up north or down south or jabbing your eyes out to save yourself from looking at the ultimate boredom that permeates through your very being. So we decided to stay at this KOA site rather than the first one we checked out which just didn't fit our needs; the family of 3 greeters looked in-bred and that we had a sense that possibly we wouldn't have survived the evening had we stayed.

Although we could hear the other campers/RV'ers breathing in their sleep due to our close proximity we felt safe and secure like eggs in a crate.

Aspen... Playground for the rich & famous and 2 stinky campers

We drove to Aspen to spend the day. It is a really cool place which is really expensive. Carrie stopped into a little boutique and was shoved out to the way by two older ladies whose noses were upturned not only from their bank accounts but from the many face lifts hobby they have had. The lady grabbed a small tank top from Carrie which had a price tag of $350 dollars. She asked the salesgirl if she could have it pressed and delivered to her house. Thats when we left.

We enjoyed walking thought the small town which has ski runs leading down into it. We met a bunch of nice people. Many of the residents have converted golf cars that they swing around town in. Lots of cool galleries to browse. We would love to return in the winter some time.

Yampah Hot Springs

The Ute Indians took advantage of the caves’ curative powers for hundreds of summers before white men ‘discovered’ the area in the mid-1800s. The original Ute cave was on the south side of the river and was used until 1887, when it was sealed over by the railroad. Vapor Cave #3 was developed along with the Hot Springs complex in the 1880s, when the cave received an enclosed entrance, electric lights and marble benches. Men and women bathers had separate bathing times and, for modesty’s sake, wore heavy linen bags with a draw string at the neck.”  We choose to vapor in nakedness...much cooler and hotter.  :)

We both got facials...Mike asked, "what is a facial?" and the receptions said they clean and moisturize your face and feet.  He said, "they moisturize your face with their feet?!!"  I started cracking and she shot him a dirty look...she obviously needed a massage.

We had massages too which were delightful having spent most of the month sleeping on the ground.  

Glenwood Springs, Colorado & The Haunted Hotel Colorado

We intended to stay in Denver however, when we started getting into traffic, and feeling the compression of people we panicked and just kept going with no idea of where we should camp. We weathered thunderstorms and lots of winding roads through the Colorado Rockies.

We jumped on the internet and found this cool place to stay in Glenwood Springs which is home to a huge hot spring in the center of town. We quickly decided on a historical hotel, Hotel Colorado, massages, vapor caves and relaxation for a couple of days is just what a true vacation requires.

When we arrived we hit the local mexican restaurant and celebrated with lots of margarita's and mexican food then checked in to the hotel. Cool place and truly is restored to its original design when Theodore Roosevelt stayed there. The hallways are long and wide and the rooms are authentic western. I felt an instant tingle that there were ghosts roaming (could have also been the tequila talking) but they felt harmless. The next day, we heard the hotel was haunted...

Also the Teddy Bear was invented here at the Hotel Colorado. Seems Teddy Roosevelt went out on a hunt and came back empty handed. The Housekeepers then sewed a little bear together and stuffed it giving to the president to cheer him up. The Teddy Bear was born!

One other story about the Hotel Colorado. Lots of gangsters used to stay here and one story is Al Capone wanted some Gin. A bellman sneaked some up to him and the tip the bellman received put the bellman through a four year degree college degree.

Devil's Tower

Made the trek to Devils Tower. Pretty cool lump in the middle of nothing. Went to the gift shop took a few pictures. It was basically a Chevy Chase moment when they visit the Grand Canyon in the movie Vacation.

America's First National Monument Devils Tower rises 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. Once hidden, erosion has revealed Devils Tower. This 1347 acre park is covered with pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife are seen. Also known as Bears Lodge, it is a sacred site for many American Indians. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.

Passions Play, South Dakota

We attended the largest outdoor play in Spearfish South Dakota, which takes place on a 350 foot stage and relives the "Greatest Story Ever Told"...the last 7 days of Jesus Christ.  We would have taken photos however, we weren't allowed so instead we ate popcorn and drank iced tea.

Deadwood - Frass

Deadwood is a very cool looking town. The shootup in town was extremely lame compared to Codys shootout. We have now become of western shootouts connoisseurs and we were greatly disappointed. Calamity Jane was this young big boned girl and Wild Bill Hickock was obviously a high school junior drama class star. Overly acted and not what I am looking for in a staged street shootout. Two thumbs down from McAllen & McAllen

We also ate at a diner where they actually gave each table a fly swatter. Next to us was a very very old man and a girl who was rolling silverware in a diner booth. The very old man was swatting flies and the girl was cheering him on. When he got one she would say. "Got em Jeb!" It was a very interesting experience. Carrie enjoyed it as you can imagine. We both had Philly Chicken Cheesesteak sandwiches which were not delicious.

The room must have had a ton of Frass in it which I tried not to think about during the meal. (my father taught me that word when I was a kid.) Frass = fly poop.

Mount Rushmore

After seeing the crazy horse monument we were amazed how much smaller Mount Rushmore was. But the history behind this great sculpture is amazing. Once the crowd saw Carrie was taking pictures she was asked by many of the visitors if she would take their pictures. It brought a tear to my eye on how talented she is.

We also dressed the same all day which is fun in a weird Korean newlywed sorta way.

Crazy Horse

We visited the Crazy Horse Monument which is Ginormous. They have Crazy Horses face done and have a nice museum and video we watched explaining the whole concept:

Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear officially started Crazy Horse Memorial June 3, 1948. The Memorial's mission is to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians.

Kind of strange they had a Polish guy doing the sculpture. (Joke here somewhere) We thought its great the sculpters family has taken up the project with no goverment help. (they have been offered money but refuse it) They have 10 kids I think and only 3 arent involved anymore.

Casper Wyoming

Went to Casper Wyoming to meet Carrie biological father, Randy Brown. We arrived at his house with much anticipation. We walked up through the well manicured lawn to the house rang the bell and waited. Carrie looked confident but I knew she was feeling uneasy,  we rang again... Nobody answered.

We sat in the car for a bit out front. Kind of depressed about how anti-climatic the whole this is turning out. But we had heard of the world famous BearTrap Bluegrass Festival high up in Bear Trap meadow on Casper Mountain aking place that day. It would be the days savior. We took off in Sweet Love to the mountain pass. It was the perfect day for music. We asked everyone we met if they knew Randy Brown and we met several who did. One man sitting right next to us said Randy is a really nice guy who had mounted a fish for him. (I thought- wow what a kinky place this is) Randy was known for his taxidermy shop and his Outfitter/hunting guide skills. His wife Sharon is also in the business. I have traded emails with her and she seems to be quite a scamp. We returned to Randy Brown's house one more time and he was not home after the festival.

We stayed at the Park Plaza Hotel which is connected to the Convention center. Really crappy place. But the festival had a deal for a rooms so we took them up on it. The 60 dollar room was worth $14.50. We both looked forward to getting back to our home the tent.

We left the next morning sad we didnt get to see Randy Brown but happy to be leaving Casper. We did see the Dick Cheney Federal Building though and a building which sign said, ASS.

The brown gentleman is Mike's new walking buddy, "Beartrap Bob."  He's a terrific companion.

(the pictures of Randy Brown's house were lost in the hard drive collapse)