These are some pictures of us around the campgrounds at Jemez falls... my camera died before we got to the falls so unfortunately there are no pics of the falls :( But it was a really nice place to camp and hike around.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
I'm starting to like this whole camping thing
Why I am starting to like living in the Jeep and this whole camping thing....
1. I can wear the same outfit for multiple days in a row. Now let me explain why this is a plus. I always used to worry each day about what I was going to wear and wasting money on millions of different outfits... and for what? Does it really matter what you wear? I have a closet full of clothes I never ever touch - when I get home I am going to take half of the junk I have to Goodwill! Also, there isnt as much laundry and I hate doing laundry.
2. I hardly ever take a shower! And you might think, "Ewwww, gross Kaylan that is disgusting!" But really it isnt that bad. I am not wasting gallons of water because I may have sat at work all day and am not really dirty. I even think my hair is starting to look healthier! haha And do not worry I do brush my teeth every day.
3. I am eating healthier meals. Fruits and vegetables are my new best friends. You cant find DrPepper in the woods and I am still DrPepper free. I think I may have lost 5 pounds just in the last two months! And no more headaches if I do not have my caffeine fix.
4. Exercising! Hiking, running, swimming, and climbing all keep you fit and having fun!
5. Realizing what matters. Nature, being happy & healthy, spending time with old friends and making new ones. Conservation. Living Simply.
Now lets see if i can continue this when I am no longer living out of a Jeep ;)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Headed to Jemez Falls, NM
After having fun in ABQ we started to head north towards Jemez Falls to go camping for a while! On the way we passed this Soda Dam. The scenic marker says, " This spectacular formation has built up over the centuries by deposits of calcium carbonate from a spring that bubbles to the surface at this point. The river flows under a dome that is still building. The dam is 300 feet long, 50 feet high, and 50 feet wide at the bottom."
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Cathedral Basilica of St Francis Assisi Pics
He was the patron saint of animals and the environment,
founded the Franciscan Order.
Santa Fe
Kerry and Dave took us on a tour of Santa Fe, NM! It was a very pretty city in which practically all of the buildings are made from adobe. In 1958 an ordinance was passed that any new or rebuilt buildings had to be made from adobe to give the city an authentic Spanish/Pueblo style. We saw the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi which was built between 1869 and 1887. We also walked through the historic town square, ate at the Cowgirl Bar and Grill, and did some more sightseeing and shopping. It was a fun time!
Sandia Peaks
I have never been to a desert region so of course I had to take a picture of every cactus or lizard we encountered. This is at the base of the Sandia Peaks which from the base to the top is 10,378 feet and it is home to the worlds longest aerial tramway. At the top you can enjoy a panoramic view of 11,000 square miles! In the winter time the peaks offer skiing and snowboarding. I had fun hiking around while Rob tried to climb every boulder in sight!
Viewer Discretion Advised! .. Look # 1
So most of you know that once Rob was out of the Navy he felt the need to grow a beard! After we got to Albuquerque, NM, to stay with Robs sister, Kerry, and her boyfriend Dave.... Rob decided to shave his beard. He had to do it in sections to try out different "styles" or "looks" as he called them. So here are the pictures... and no I do not find any of these so called looks attractive. Sorry Rob ;)
Look #1
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Larry the Tiki God
We bought Larry this sombrero while we were in New Mexico. I think it looks great on him!
Route 66
See how cute this picture could have been if a certain boyfriend of mine was cool enough to be in the picture, too! Next time I will make you be in the picture Rob.... this is your warning ;)
Hey... Thats my nickname!
K-Bobs Steakhouse in Santa Rosa, NM! Now why didnt I think of that?! We did not end up eating there because they didn't serve beer.... and Rob wanted a beer! So we headed toward Route 66 to find a place to eat.
Driving through Texas!
Here are some random pictures I took while we were in the car! As you can see from the Jeeps mirror we were headed west and it was 94 degrees out. Then there is Larry the Tiki God bobble head we bought in Okinawa, Japan, that lives on the Jeeps dashboard!
I also had to be a geek and take a picture of a ranch entrance gate I thought was cool!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Off to OK!
Then we were off to Shawnee, OK, to see Rob's Aunt Pam and Uncle Scott! I had never been to the Sooner State and I was looking forward to seeing Oklahoma! As we were driving I was able to view the amazing grassland and great plain regions of the state. Once we arrived in Shawnee, Pam and Scott took us on a tour of the city and I had my first Braum's Ice Cream Store experience! Now I wish that Braum's were everywhere because the ice cream is yummy! Thanks Pam and Scott for letting us stay with you!
Sadly, we had to keep moving on and headed further west. We stopped at the Cherokee Trading Post and I didn't buy a single thing! I wish I had bought some moccasins though, because lets face it who doesn't want a pair of moccasins!?!
Then it was off to camp at Red Rock Canyon State Park in Hinton, OK. The Canyon was once a stop on the California Trail. It now is a place for campers and RVs to spend the night, picnic, or hike. We went on a few trails and then to cool off from the heat we went to the pool! I felt like we had stopped at a four star hotel because of this pool! Swimming around counts as a shower right? I guess it does when you are living in your car! haha Rob also tried to climb a bit as you can see form the picture above. The next day we jumped back into the car/house and took off down the road.
Monday, August 16, 2010
When it was really hot outside we would go down to buffalo river and hang out. As you can see from the picture you can't keep Rob off of the rocks! So I figured that I should try to climb outside for the first time while we were at Horseshoe Canyon. Rob and I hiked out to a 5.6 climb for me to start off on. For anyone who doesn't know - a 5.6 is super easy. I started to climb up the rock and thank god that I didn't look down or I would have freaked out - I was up so high! When I was closer to the top of the climb a spider decided to crawl over my next hand hold. Yuck a spider! I figured falling would be worse than a spider jumping on my hand so I grabbed the hold and kept climbing! Rob yelled up encouraging words to help me along and I made it to the top! I was so happy that I had overcome my small fear of heights and my even bigger fear of spiders! Now when a spider tries to attack me I simply brush it away.... well sometimes I still scream for help. Later that day I went on to climb another 5.6 and part of a 5.7! Do I love to climb now? No.... but I like it way more than I used to :)
Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
We picked the hottest week of the year to stay at the canyon. The first night in the autohome was unbearable! It was so bad we broke down and went to Wal Mart the next day to buy battery operated fans to keep in the autohome at night.
The heat combined with the bites of these tiny biting midges (also called no-see-ums that could fit through the bug netting of the autohome) kept us up all night! I made the decision right then that I would pile on the deet everyday to keep the biting midges away! Then when we were trying to prepare a meal, we found that our camping grill was not compatible with our propane tank. At this point I thought Rob was going to lose it. He was very angry and was even thinking about leaving the ranch! And for anyone who has met Rob you know it takes a lot to make him mad - believe me I have tried! haha However, after we purchased an adaptor for the grill it was smooth sailing. Well, it was smooth sailing after we purchased two fans, gallons of bug spray, and the propane grill adaptor. And to think after all of that I am still Dr. Pepper free!
Friday, August 6, 2010
I smell something...
We had just drove into Arkansas and the car read 107 degrees outside. After about 30 minutes of driving we begin to smell something bad. We do live in the Jeep so at first I just thought Rob smelled bad but minutes later it was evident that it was not Rob. The propane tank in the back of the car was leaking and we pulled the car over at the next available exit. You may be asking yourself why we would even have a propane tank in the car. Well, we use the propane to ignite the camping Coleman grill we have to cook on. We get to the first gas station and take the tank out of the car and the leak was audible. After an hour or so of trying to find a place we could dispose of the tank it magically stopped leaking. Robs theory was that it over heated and that caused the leak. We googled Camping World to find the closest location so that we could have them take a look at the tank they had sold us. It would not be open until the morning so we decided to spend the night in the middle of no where Arkansas. The next morning we arrived at the Camping World. They said that it had been filled to a level appropriate for a cooler location, the bleeder valve wasn't tightened enough, and it probably had just over heated. They drained some of the propane out of the tank for us, we moved the tank to a cooler part of the car, and jumped back on the road towards Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. Crisis averted.
Last day in KY
My last day at home was spent in Owensboro, KY, eating at Moonlite Bar-B-Q for my Grandma Martha's birthday. It has the best Bar-B-Q in Kentucky. So good that many people will drive for hours to eat there, have it shipped to them, or fly in to get some! Former President Bill Clinton even came to Moonlite to sample its famous bar-b-q! I enjoyed going even though I still think my Grandma Thelma's barBq is better!
The next day Rob and I said our goodbyes and headed off towards Jasper, AR.
When Spiders Attack! #2
While at home in KY I was taking a shower and soaping up my hair when a gigantic spider decided to join me. I yelled for help but my cries of fear went unanswered. So I attempted to retaliate against the spiders attack with a shampoo bottle. The spider out smarted me and moved to the other side of the shower curtain! For most this would be the end of the story, but I could not continue a shower knowing that the spider was waiting for me on the the outside. I yelled louder this time and my mother came to my rescue and killed the beast. She scolded me about how I, "shouldn't be so terrified of something that was more afraid of me than I was of it." Mom had been telling me this my entire life about spiders, but I am not completely convinced.
First Rob and now my mom! Maybe I should stand up to the spider next time!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
On The KY Bourbon Trail
Now this is my kind of trail... a bourbon trail! The family and I had a great time drinking our way through Bardstown, KY. There is nothing better than Maker's Mark when it comes to bringing people closer together. We went on the Makers Mark Distillery tour, which comes with two shots of bourbon for every person. We were able to see the entire distillery ranging from the fermenting room to the two warehouses that date back to the late 1800s and hold about 4000 barrels of bourbon! On a side note to all of my single girlfriends. If you are looking for a boyfriend just take a bourbon distillery tour. That is where all the men are! haha
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