On the Road with John & Mary.

Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Tour

The 24-mile self-guided Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Tour can begin in either Green River or Rock Springs, WY. Travelers should plan on approximately 1.5 hours to complete the tour, most of which is on a gravel road.
Watch for wild horses between Rock Springs and 14-Mile Hill, and all the way across the top of White Mountain. Although this is a relatively dry area with sparse vegetation, it is also home to a variety of wild animals, including pronghorn, elk, deer, rabbits, coyotes, hawks, eagles and sage-grouse, among others. Wildlife viewing is best in the early morning and late afternoon hours.
The majority of wild horses in Wyoming are located in the southwestern part of the state. The appropriate management level for wild horses in Wyoming is approximately 2,490 to 3,725 horses. Approximately 1,100 to 1,600 wild horses can be found on the public lands managed by the Rock Springs Field Office.

And of course, where the antelope play.

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Big, beautiful Flaming Gorge Lake, enclosed by brightly colored canyon walls and set amidst hundreds of thousands of acres of forested hills, makes up the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. It is a wonderful setting in which to boat, fish, hike, bike or just stare. The Green River below the dam provides some of the best trout fishing in the state as well as mild whitewater rafting. Most visitors camp at the dozens of forest service campgrounds in the park, but there are also a few lodges and other places to stay in the area. Flaming Gorge straddles the Utah/Wyoming border near the northeast corner of Utah. Though it reaches some 60 miles north to Green River, Wyoming, most of the activity and the most dramatic scenery are at its southern end in Utah. The main season runs from May to September, though a few facilities remain open all year for cross-country skiers, snowmobilers and ice fishers.

Happy Trails,

John & Mary

Road Stories- Pam & Bob.

Cape Cod

Bob and I have been wearing our AANR-East Roving Ambassador hats this summer.When we visited Sandy Terraces, a club located right on Cap Cod, we took time to do some sightseeing. Woods Hole had some interesting sea creatures

complete with their own special warning signs.

Provincetown claims the first Pilgrims landed near this spot before heading to Plymouth Rock.

Modern boats were ready on a different beach.

Some unusual bird houses were spotted inland

along with these flowers in someone’s front yard.

Into The Wild! Alaska Adventures with Jim & Sue.

We just spent a couple of marvelous days with Don & Vanessa

at their wilderness cabin near North Pole.

We traveled down rivers and up the creek to the cabin

which gives 'in the boondocks' and entirely new meaning!

Don is a Master-boater!

You should see him zoom around dead falls and sandbars, going full speed...

doesn't ever break a sweat.

It's combination Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Disney's Jungle cruise!

The cabin is about 45 minute by boat...at 20+ miles an hour...and he's done this run, oh, maybe a thousand times! Every bit of his cabin...furniture, nails, roof, wood...everything...has been ferried by boat.It's isolated, quiet, surrounded by trees, blueberries and mushrooms...and moose.

During hunting season he just sits on his front porch, toddy in hand, gun at the ready, and waits for a prime bull to wander by. Those bulls have wandered too close every year and Don's freezer is stuffed with moose sausage, moose roasts, moose burgers...I snagged some sausage!
His river boat sits right at the foot of the cabin. How's this for a front yard view?

The decor is strictly wild Alaska...Moose skulls, complete with teeth! We spent a great first day with Don & Vanessa serving us a gourmet salmon dinner. They forced me to drink too much wine but that is a tale for another time!

The next day, on our way back to civilization,

we stopped to pick more wild blueberries and fish for grayling.Of course Don showed us how it was done.So I did it too.Then we had a moose sausage sandwich break...
And he caught another.

I stopped taking his picture after grayling number 5....
The show-off!
This is Jim's perplexed look...no fish for him!

Denali Adventure

Denali National Park is a treasure and a must-see on every one's "bucket list".

They are very protective of the animals and the environment and to that end private cars can not travel into the park past the visitor center and a few campgrounds.

To see the park scenery and wildlife you must purchase a bus pass...either the affordable shuttle which will stop for anyone, or the pricier tours which provide a box lunch and running commentary from their guide.

Well, being cheap, we went for the shuttle which does give you a lot of freedom to get off and on the buses.

Plus our driver was a 27 year veteran and was great at spotting animals, and she would stop and let us take pictures as long as we wanted.

We first spotted a lynx, but it was so far away that we had to call it the missing lynx.

Groan.

Next, a mountainside full of Dahl Sheep...also far away....but around the next corner....

We saw lots of bears but they were more camera shy than this wolf!He caught and ate a ground squirrel right by the bus. Two chews and down it went. As the guide said..."Just enough chewing so the toenails won't scratch on the way down."

Then he sauntered down the road...

The road seemed to be a favorite perch.

Here a cross fox patiently waits for lunch to pop out of a hole.
The best bear picture we got was this grizzly near the front entrance.
All traffic stops.

The only sound you hear is the clicking of cameras.

That bear stayed munching berries forever, until the traffic just had to move.

See how carefully the bus driver swerved around the bear to give him space?

If you ever get the chance DO DENALI!

More Clam Love from Janet & Les in Alaska...

I just got an email from Janet that I have to share to show you Peeps what a great time they are having in Alaska!

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Hi Sue and Jim,

Thanks for stopping. We had a great time with you.

So sorry the halibuts were not cooperating. (Well, we DID get 8 or so but they were smallish)
Les and I are going out with a friend tomorrow who is going to dip net which only Alaskans can do. We will watch as he brings in red salmon. Fishing for reds has picked up.

Then we have a float trip scheduled with a friend and a couple of halibut trips with a park ranger before we head over to Seward for a few days.

Then, Les and I go ling cod fishing.

Now that you have clammed you know just how much fun that can be. After you guys left we have a wonderful minus tide and found big rocks out in the inlet with tons of blue shell mussels. Picked and cleaned them then steamed in beer and dipped in garlic butter. Fabulous.

I attached a pic for your enjoyment of my first clam back in May with his neck stuck out which of course reminded me of something else. They still crack me up when I dig a big one and he spits water at me and the neck extends.

Drive home safely and we will see you ???????? whenever.

Janet & Les

(these days he is looking more and more like his old
man so I think it is still him under that beard)

Ladies Who Lunch, from Patsy.

Several Sandpiper ladies carpooled to a surprise location for lunch--

Roosevelt at 7 restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised to see a menu full of delicious choices--

from appetizers, to salads and sandwiches, to dessert. We had a delightful lunch and great conversation. We noticed on the bulletin board that there is a "Beer Dinner" coming up on July 27--only $40.00 a person.
After lunch, we went across the street to the new Art Center.

Even though it is not fully occupied, we saw some outstanding and interesting art.
All in all, a great time was had by all! Heavy rain on the way home to Sandpipers!

Contest!

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Do you know what this is?

Leave a comment with your guess and first correct

answer wins a BBQ Rib dinner (for two)! at SPR during the season.