June 22, 2018 Poland day 1

Good morning everyone.  We finally made it to Poland. We did have a problem getting here as we missed our connecting flight to Krakow and didn’t get a connecting flight until 10:20 pm. We did manage to get to our room and asleep by around 1 am. Saturday. This late in the day and about time for a couple of pics.  Plenty of English signs in the airport to make your away around. Goodnight all, time for sleep.

June 20, 2018 In search of Relatives

Today we headed to the home of Tom's sister Joan, who will be our partner in search of Relatives in Poland.  Today was a day to get together and make final checks in the planning process.  Thursday we fly out of Logan for Kraków with a short stop in Frankfurt. Although we stop here every time we leave or head home to Maine, Danvers is always on the itinerary.  It will be an exciting journey for us as the people we are planning to meet have been separated from us by an ocean...and a lifetime of years.  Hopefully we can keep an eye out for Grammie.

Lynchville, Maine World Traveler Signpost

Hi everyone, just checking to see how well I can do things from a phone.

In just a bit, we will be back on the road.

April 8-10, 2018 - Cheyenne

Good morning all,
We have been in Cheyenne for the last several days and Tuesday is the last day we will be spending here.  We have been visiting our son Doug and his wife Robin...and their daughter Henley, who is our 8th grandchild.
It is not very often that we get to see them so there are no pictures of the city, just family.

Henley is enjoying a ride in her Radio Flyer, the same one that her Dad rode in last century.

 Henley has had a couple of busy days so a short rest is allowed.

 Henley preparing her meal with her favorite...a hotdog.

 It has been a few days since you have seen Grammie, but here she is, happy as can be.

Henley having a snack out on the back deck.

Henley swinging. Doug and Tom put together her new swing set that she got to swing in today for the first time.

 Doug spent a little time working on the children's table that was made by Alice's father and has been used by the grandchildren.

 A couple coats of poly was just what was needed after decades old poly was removed.

 With eyes like these, there is no need to tell the story.

 
 How many kids from Cheyenne have their very only 1st Place Fox from the Skowhegan State Fair.

 ...with the Blue Ribbon still attached.  Thanks Charlene.

 

 One of the favorite toys that she used often.

Henley with her proud parents.

Wednesday morning we are on the road early and will be headed back east.  It is not very often that parents/grandparents will travel 2200 miles for a birthday party.  See you soon Monica/Addie.😉

April 5, 2018 Peterson Afb + classmates

Good morning everyone.
We are assuming that you are reading this on Friday as it is late and we are 2 hours behind you for a few more days.
Today we left Pagosa Springs and drove to Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs, CO

 We left town and headed up Colorado Route 160 through the mountains, up to 10,781 feet, and over the continental divide (again).

 On the way up, we stopped at Treasure Falls which is over 100 feet high.

 

 We thought we might hike up a bit to get a closer shot of the falls.

 Much of the 4 hour trip was between 7500 to 8500 feet high.

The mountains were pretty and probably would not look better if someone had painted them.

We arrived in Pueblo in time to meet 2 of Alice's classmates from Gardiner High Class of 66.  We all arrived 15 minutes early...and the chatter began.

We finally arrived at Peterson AFB and were more than pleasantly surprised at the accommodations. It wasn't a room, it was the whole house.  The Spanish Inn made the day.  It is by far the best military place we have stayed at while on vacation.

 Unfortunately, we are on a schedule to get back home, but certainly wished we had more time.

 It even had the the Golf Channel

 The back yard.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.  She had a great day.

April 2, 2018 Pagosa Springs

Just to catch up a bit, we still are in Pagosa Springs and have accomplished half of our goals.  We got the puzzle done so there is still time to play golf.
We went down to the town to do a little window shopping and to take a walk.

 As you might have guesses, any town with Springs in it's name must have spring water, and here they do.

 There is a hotel that features pools filled with body healing water.

Swimming is allowed in the river...at your own risk.

 There is one minor problem...Sulfur.  If you wish to learn more, visit

Pagosa Springs

The source is claimed to be the deepest spring at 1002 feet.

 On our walk around the nearby San Juan River...

 The river is quite shallow through town.

 Rock piles right next to the river.

 Sometimes you just can't help taking nice pictures.

 Imaging a voting booth where there aren't long lines.  It can be closed by a key.

 As promised

We enjoyed the day although the temp dropped about 15 degrees with the wind picking up.

Thanks for keeping a lookout for Grammie.

March 30, 2018 - Road to Pagosa Springs, CO

Today, we left Santa Fe up into the higher mountains to eventually end up in Pagosa Springs, CO.  We will be here for most of the week working on puzzles and probably the golf game.
On the road to Taos, we came upon a car at the stoplight.  An old vintage Chevy.  On the passenger side window was a device we had never seen. It was a Thermador Car Cooler.  Didn't cars back then have Air Conditioning. 

 Towards the northern section of New Mexico, the altitude is higher although the Sagebrush is still abundant.

 Taos, NM is a tourist town but is also very popular in the winter as a ski resort town.

 How could one not buy some Red Peppers and a chicken lawn ornament.

 Just outside of Taos, we came to the Rio Grande Gorge, and Bridge. We have already been over the Rio Grande several times on this trip. The bridge is a little over a quarter of a mile long, so we got in at least a half mile of walking today, not including the aisles at the grocery store.

 Looking straight from the bridge down the river narrows down to just a few yards.

 On the other side of the bridge were a few Big Horned Sheep getting a rest.

 There were a couple of people trying to get a close up, but since the Big Horned Sheep out weighed us, we stayed on our side of the fence and we relied on the zoom.

The Gorge from the other side of the bridge.

 From the bridge, the nearby mountains are still snow covered.

 On the way we went through the Rachel Carson National Forest. most of the Forest is over 8000 feet.  Up around the 9000 foot mark, the snow was still 1-2 feet deep.

 We peaked at 10,500 feet and then headed down over the other side, crossing the Continental Divide.

 A panoramic shot with a clear sky.

Coming down out of the Carson National Forest headed to Pagosa Springs.

 A view of the mountains from our timeshare for the week.  At the grocery store, there were a few people in sky pants doing some shopping for supplies.  Pagosa Springs is still busy with the ski enthusiasts. The Wolf Creek Ski Area is is about 25 miles east on Route 160.  For those who are ready to see the snow gone.  The slopes are still open.  Wolf Creek Ski Area

This week the blog may be a bit spotty...unless you want to see some golf scorecards...or a puzzle in process. 

Happy Easter everyone.