LAST DAY IN GRAND LAKE

Our last day in Grand Lake started with a wake up call from our dogs, telling us Momma Moose was in our back yard.  She's a beaut!  We had heard rumors that she had two young ones, but she was the only one who showed up for breakfast.  After a fifteen minute breakfast she left on a trail back to the forest where we usually hike.  We spent the morning on that trail before we hit the road for Steamboat Springs.  It was a great 10 days in Grand Lake!  Hope to be back next year.

MOOSE ON THE LOOSE !!!!

This big fellow showed up in back of our cabin about 7:30 last night. The dogs went crazy so we locked them in a bedroom and managed to get these photos. We thought he had left the area and decided to take the dogs for their last outing of the evening about an hour later. We almost had a heart attack when we saw him lying in our next door neighbor's yard. A panic dash back to the safety of our little cabin - the wildlife owns the night!

NAP TIME

After a long day on the trail we ALL collapsed.  

THE RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

These pictures don't do the Colorado River the justice is deserves!  The dogs tried very hard to get down there to take a dip, but we had visions of them being swept away, so we denied them the fun and took them back to the calmer headwaters.  

SECOND DAY ON THE TRAIL

HAPPY TAILS TO YOU

Susan was feeling great and decided today's the day we go all the way.  The dogs were in the lead, they seemed to know exactly where that fun swimming hole was located and we were off.  Enjoying the cool weather and the birds flying through the woods I think Susan was moving twice as fast as the rest of us.

TRAIL TO THE COLORADO RIVER

COLORADO HEADWATERS

I convinced Susan she could make it to the Colorado River without totally rupturing her Achilles tendon.  ( I figured I could always lash together some of these dead trees with the dog leashes and pull her back to our cabin) She was a great sport, Tuesday we made it halfway there, when the dogs discovered the headwaters of the Colorado River and decided to take a swim.  Lucy plowed in and Katie was right behind her.  The whole ordeal tired everyone out, so we decided to try to go the distance the next day.

HUMMING BIRDS

We've somehow overcome great technical difficulties that has delayed our postings.  Sue's IPad seems to be more cooperative than mine....so I'll just pretend that I'm Susan and fill you guys in on our last two days of hiking and fun.

We found this neat hummingbird feeder in the cabin and decided to treat our local neighborhood birds to some free nectur in return for some great entertainment.  It sounds like light saber fights from star wars on our back deck.

COOL MOUNTAIN AIR AT LAST !!!!!

Lucy & Katie checking out the wildlife

HAPPY EARS. !!!

FIRST DAY ON THE TRAIL

Miles

                                     "I'm big because I'm 4 1/2.....and I love my two dogs"            

  

TRAVEL DAY

We are packing up and heading up to Grand Lake today. I expect we will need our wooly BVD's tonight!

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

Thursday, July 26
We arrived in Louisville, CO, adjacent to Boulder, and were greeted by the beautiful mountain vista, cooler weather and Karen's daughter, Emily, and grandson, Miles. We've been on the go everyday and sampling the exceptionally fine cuisine every evening be it at one of the great restaurants or on Emily's back deck.

$$$$$ CAR WASH

Getting Ready For The Colorado Trek

We decided we needed a clean car to begin our trip out west. The local car wash in Waconda seemed like the best option so I opted for the "Deluxe Package". That might have been a mistake - when the Tahoe slid out to the drying area I noticed it still had bugs stuck to the front bumper. When I mentioned them to the attendant, I was told that "bug removal" was an additional $2. (So much for their tip) Then the darn Tahoe refused to start. Not a peep, click or snort. The car wash manager told me that the engine probably got too wet so they jump started it for me.

Well, this didn't sound quite right even for a blonde. So off we went to the GM dealer my sister and brother-in-law frequent and had the darn thing checked out. Sure enough, it flunked "Battery" with a capital "F". An hour later with a lighter wallet we headed home to get ready for tomorrow's departure.

Four Sisters Ready To Roll!!!

CRUISING CHICAGO (Or When Country Dogs Go To The Big City)

 Lucy and Katie's first boat ride and first trip to the Windy City. All things we anticipated that could go awry did not and a few things that never occurred to us did!

We made it into the city in record time under cloudy skies (saved us from heat stroke) and made it to the dock with time to spare.

The fiberglass seats were a little slippery for the two fourlegged girls, but they soon got their sea legs and particularly enjoyed the cruise out past Navy Pier and Soldier Field.

After the boat docked we headed down the river walk to the stairs which would take us up to Michigan 

Avenue. The the trouble began. Katie got half way up the open staircase and balked. She tried to run back down the steps just as a tidal wave of tourists were coming up. Karen and Lucy were already at the top of the stairs calling to her, I was hanging on to the railing and her leash which, at this point, was wrapped around my legs and I was getting nowhere. I was certain that Katie and I would be spending the rest of our vacation wandering the catacombs of Lower Wacker Drive. Katie finally realized that her sister was looking down from the top of the stairs and we were able to bolt up the final flight. PHEW!!!!

We headed up Michigan Avenue until Lucy spotted pigeons she thought were put there for her sport and entertainment and she was off to the races. Karen managed to hang on and immediately made Lucy do 100 sits and downs before moving on. We continued toward Navy Pier where we were going to have lunch at Harry Caray's. But, it started to sprinkle so we decided to take the girls home and take ourselves out to dinner.

THE MORNING AFTER

After the overwhelming MEET AND GREET, we decided the dogs were in dire need of some recurrent training.  First thing Friday morning both Katie and Lucy were front and center at "The Dog House" in Barrington, IL for obedience review.  After only one hour with Mark Boldt both Susan and Karen were retrained.
All sisters are having a blast and enjoying Doggy Daycare, Thank-you Dylan Nelson!!!!

KATIE'S ARRIVAL

MEET AND GREET

ON THE ROAD AT LAST

Technical Difficulties Solved Things we learned on our first day..... You can make better time if you don't wash your windshield. Georgia cops drive minivans. Katie is a world class traveler. Katie springs out of her nest, does her best and leaps into the Tahoe immediately. She does not want me to leave her side even to go to the restroom. I really miss the privacy when I'm behind the bushes. We'll have to work on that one! We made it to Murfreesboro, TN way befo sundown.

Packing

"Don't worry Katie I won't forget to bring enough balls for both of us" 

Half of the fun is in the planning, for Lucy it's in the packing and unpacking and packing again!  Susan and I started to make concrete plans last February and I blinked; .... now it's July...(people tell me that's because I'm old - I wish to believe time flies when you're having fun).

FOUR SISTER'S PLANNING A TRIP FROM FLORIDA TO COLORADO - AND BACK

LUCY AND KATIE (this picture was taken February 2012) together for the first time.

My goal for this Blog is to inform friends and family how we are doing and what we are experiencing in a fun and hopefully interesting way.  I'll try to overcome the technical issues in hopes that you will enjoy reading this as much as we will enjoy writing.
Our big trip will start on July 17th when I fly to Ft. Myers to drive back to Chicago with Susan and Katie.  I hope you all will join us on the journey.