Avon, CO

I haven't traveled much lately.  Just a trip to Denver in December for my son's wedding and now two week in the Colorado Mountains in the spring.  I have timeshares here.  The pollen was getting bad at home and my allergies were really kicking up so I decided to give them a rest by going where I have not lived long for them to bother me.  After a week and a half I have to say it is working great.  This is off season here.  Most of the ski resorts have closed down and there are not that many people staying here.  April is a mix of seasons.  There has been several days of snow.  I loved the hot tub in the snow.   Today it is very spring like.  You can still see snow on the ski runs but none is left down here in the valley.  I am still having to be careful with the altitude but am enjoying seeing a little of winter and spring.  Some on the same day.

This is the heated pool and one of the outdoor hot tubs taken from the balcony of my suite.  This is a winter day.

My favorite hot tub.  This is the one on the roof at the Sheraton Mountain Vista.  Another winter day.

One of the many bronze statues here in Avon.  This is a spring day.

Another spring day.  Look close and you can see a fly fisherman.  This is just a short walk from where I am staying.

Prairie Grove Clothline Craft Fair, Labor Day Weekend 2014

There have been no post since January as I have not been able to travel.  Hope that is about to change.

It has been several years since I took in the Craft Fair at Prairie Grove State Park in Northwest Arkansas.  This is one of the fairs I have been visiting off and on for over 40 years.  Both the Park and the Fair have changed a a lot.  Prairie Grove was the sight of one of the two  major Civil War battles in Northwest Arkansas.  The other was at Pea Ridge which is a National Military Park.  When I first went to the Craft Fair things were indeed hung on cloth lines to display and instead of a state park the battle field was a city park.  A lot has been added through the years.  If you are ever around this part of the state on Labor Day Weekend the fair is worth a visit.

A tractor exhibit is part of the fair now.  There was also entertainment  at the outdoor theater.

There is no longer a cloth line in site now.  Everyone has their own tent or they are in one of the two large tents that are put up on site.

You can stay out of the sun while you shop.

This is part of the exhibit showing life at the time of the Civil War

There is a small garden in front of the cabin.  It contains vegetables grown across the Ozarks during the 1860's.

Denver Visit, January

I am in Denver visiting my son Chris and his fiance. Kate     She wanted me to meet her family so I came for a very short visit.  I have been hanging out at Chris' house and visiting some favorite places.  This Cherry Creek Mall.  I was there for lunch to meet some of Kate's family. 

I had to visit IKEA while I was here.

 

What is a visit to Denver without a picture of the snow covered mountains.  It did snow the day I came and is suppose to snow again before I leave. 

Fall in the Ozarks, 2013

The leaves turned the first of this week and the trees are beautiful.  Unfortunately we have had the rain and wind for the last two days and a lot of the leaves have already fallen.  The sun came out this afternoon so I got the camera and went out to get some photos to share.

The view out my back yard.

There were no leaves in my yard on Monday.  Now it is a see of yellow leaves from my neighbor's tree.

We get mostly yellow and russet but some understory trees are red.

View across one of the hills.

And another.

And still another.

We do have some maples that turn red but they are not native to here and are at business's and in people's yards.

My Trip has been Canceled

I was really looking forward to the river cruise but I tore my lateral meniscus last week.  Doctor recommended I cancel and since I had travel insurance I did.  Hope to reschedule when my knee is better.

Coming Soon - Viking River Voyage - Budapest to Amsterdam

Here is the schedule for my upcoming trip on a Viking Long Ship.  I will be leaving on 11/5 and returning on 11/19.

Budapest, Hungary Nov 5 and 6

Bratislva, Slovakia Nov 7

Vienna, Austria Nov 8

Melk, Austria Nov 9

Passau, Germany Nov 10

Regensbury,, Germany Nov 11

Nuremberg, Germany Nov 12

Bamberg, Germany Nov 13

Wurzburg, Germany Nov 14

Wertheim, Germany Nov 15

Koblenz, Germany Nov 16

Cologne, Germany, Nov 17

Kinderdijk, Netherlands Nov 18

Amsterdam, Netherlands, Nov 19

Mission San Jose, San Antonio, Texas

Today was the last day of World Con.  For me it ended at noon.  I ate at Rosarios and then drove the Mission Trail.  Pictures are attached.  Mission San Jose is still in use as a church and is also part of the Nation Park system.  There was an award winning film at the Visitors Center that highlighted the people of South Texas and their history..

The church is in the background and what was living quarters are where the arched opening are.  All that is left of the living quarters are the walls.

The church inside is not large.  It is still in use today.

A view from the front.  According to the film when it was built it had very colorful decorations on the outside.  None are left today.

Although you cannot see the wall the entire area is walled like a fort and the local Indians lived in rooms built into the walls.