Friday, July 13, 2007
Final Day
We got up in a little bit of a rush this morning, but we were able to get underway around 9:30am! After fueling up, we hit the road, and I’m not sure the other fellows were prepared for the view they got coming over the Rocky Mountains today.
Just east of Glenwood Springs is Glenwood Canyon, a beautiful spot where they had to hack out the rock to get the freeway through to Glenwood Springs. There is just enough room in the canyon for 4 lanes of freeway, a river and some railroad tracks. That’s IT (note the cool picture Brian took)! Then we drove over to the vicinity of Vail, Colorado and start climbing up and up and up!
We stopped in the Georgetown, CO area...where the pictures you see are from...and then on to drop off Brian at Denver International Airport, which is on the FAR northeast side of Denver. Unfortunately his flight was in the early evening, so he spent a less than exciting afternoon trying to catch a standby flight home unsuccessfully.
Robert, Johnny and I went south to Colorado Springs and visited Garden of the Gods Park (I need to point out that last night I said it was a national park, and it IS NOT!) It is in reality owned by the city of Colorado Springs. It is the only spot on this trip where we have all visited before. It was very hot, and a little disappointing, because they have closed a LOT of the areas you used to be able to scramble around the rocks and climb. But, we got some cool pics and then did a couple of interviews of each other for the video.
We are just about to cross into Texas as I write this, and eager for home...
We have arrived in Amarillo -- it is 10:15pm, 11:15pm back here in good ‘ol Texas. We look to be home sometime around 5pm on Saturday. I have finished the video and am working on uploading to itunes so ya’ll can download it for free. Check back in a day or so on the blog and I will add the internet link.
Love to all,
Ryan
Just east of Glenwood Springs is Glenwood Canyon, a beautiful spot where they had to hack out the rock to get the freeway through to Glenwood Springs. There is just enough room in the canyon for 4 lanes of freeway, a river and some railroad tracks. That’s IT (note the cool picture Brian took)! Then we drove over to the vicinity of Vail, Colorado and start climbing up and up and up!
We stopped in the Georgetown, CO area...where the pictures you see are from...and then on to drop off Brian at Denver International Airport, which is on the FAR northeast side of Denver. Unfortunately his flight was in the early evening, so he spent a less than exciting afternoon trying to catch a standby flight home unsuccessfully.
Robert, Johnny and I went south to Colorado Springs and visited Garden of the Gods Park (I need to point out that last night I said it was a national park, and it IS NOT!) It is in reality owned by the city of Colorado Springs. It is the only spot on this trip where we have all visited before. It was very hot, and a little disappointing, because they have closed a LOT of the areas you used to be able to scramble around the rocks and climb. But, we got some cool pics and then did a couple of interviews of each other for the video.
We are just about to cross into Texas as I write this, and eager for home...
We have arrived in Amarillo -- it is 10:15pm, 11:15pm back here in good ‘ol Texas. We look to be home sometime around 5pm on Saturday. I have finished the video and am working on uploading to itunes so ya’ll can download it for free. Check back in a day or so on the blog and I will add the internet link.
Love to all,
Ryan
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Day 12
Well, we have pretty well come to the end of the road. Brian leaves out tomorrow from Denver to fly home for his vestry meeting on Saturday morning, and then Johnny, Robert and I will make a stop at Garden of the Gods National Park tomorrow afternoon, and our goal is to be in Amarillo tomorrow night.
Today we had a very nice, slow, relaxing day -- the perfect kind of day before making the long trek back.
We woke up around 10am, finished our laundry and went in town to have lunch at Juicy Lucey’s in Glenwood Springs. We did a little bit of shopping (a nice lady at a local bookshop showed us some boxes of free books -- nothing this group likes more than free books!), had ice cream and coffee, and then came back here to the ranch (you can note the beautiful scenery here from our host home).
Around 5pm the four of us went with my father-in-law to Snowmass Monastery outside of Aspen. It had a lovely bookstore, and we shared in a beautiful service together. The Church was serene but beautiful and the surrounding countryside was awesome, despite the overcast and rainy weather. It is even supposed to get down to 54 degrees here tonight...just the way I like it!
I hope we will have high speed internet tomorrow night, and we will update the blog one more time after Garden of the Gods. Several of you ave asked about pictures - we have only put a fraction of the pictures we have taken up on the blog. Between Johnny, Robert and I we have close to 1500 pictures BEFORE we go to Colorado Springs tomorrow.
I am finishing up a little video of our trip, and if we can update the blog tomorrow, I will also put this video up on itunes and you can download it for free. Also, we are going to pool all of our pics and put them on cd’s for each guy, so if individual friends or family want pics, each of us will have them. It has been so great to keep up with you guys this way -- thanks for all your comments! We love you and look forward to seeing you very much...it has been great, but I, for one, am antsy to see my wife and kids! Much love to you all and have a GREAT Friday!
Today we had a very nice, slow, relaxing day -- the perfect kind of day before making the long trek back.
We woke up around 10am, finished our laundry and went in town to have lunch at Juicy Lucey’s in Glenwood Springs. We did a little bit of shopping (a nice lady at a local bookshop showed us some boxes of free books -- nothing this group likes more than free books!), had ice cream and coffee, and then came back here to the ranch (you can note the beautiful scenery here from our host home).
Around 5pm the four of us went with my father-in-law to Snowmass Monastery outside of Aspen. It had a lovely bookstore, and we shared in a beautiful service together. The Church was serene but beautiful and the surrounding countryside was awesome, despite the overcast and rainy weather. It is even supposed to get down to 54 degrees here tonight...just the way I like it!
I hope we will have high speed internet tomorrow night, and we will update the blog one more time after Garden of the Gods. Several of you ave asked about pictures - we have only put a fraction of the pictures we have taken up on the blog. Between Johnny, Robert and I we have close to 1500 pictures BEFORE we go to Colorado Springs tomorrow.
I am finishing up a little video of our trip, and if we can update the blog tomorrow, I will also put this video up on itunes and you can download it for free. Also, we are going to pool all of our pics and put them on cd’s for each guy, so if individual friends or family want pics, each of us will have them. It has been so great to keep up with you guys this way -- thanks for all your comments! We love you and look forward to seeing you very much...it has been great, but I, for one, am antsy to see my wife and kids! Much love to you all and have a GREAT Friday!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Day11
Well, cross off one more state on our road trip...so far, we have been through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and now Colorado.
After Robert got sewn up last night (we are glad to report that his only pain today was that his injury might leave a scar) we spent a very agreeable evening in Jackson Hole. We ordered some wonderful pizza and salad from the Mile High Pizza Pie Company and walked around this great little town while we were waiting for it to cook. After we got our food we went back for a VERY relaxing evening at the Best Western, which Brian dubbed the best hotel of the road trip.
We had a good breakfast and I got 10% off of our bill because the jacuzzi jets didn’t work in our huge tub.
Then we had a little problem as we tried to get on the road. Brian had gone last night to a specialty store in Jackson Hole looking for Wyoming-made wine (you remember I told about his little problem, right?) -- and she said nobody made wine in Wyoming.
Well, she was wrong, and Brian found out about it, and wanted to go buy some at this store he had heard about at 9am in the morning. We all said no, and he has seethed off and on all day, and told us on more than one occasion that he intends to purchase that wine online, and when he gets it he refuses to share with us (smile).
It has been a COMPLETELY uneventful day. Robert drove this morning until we stopped at McDonald’s for lunch. Johnny drove us to Craig, CO and Brian finished the drive to Glenwood Springs (for those of you who might not know, my wife Amy grew up here). We are not completely sure what our plans are, except that we all need to do laundry very badly. My in-laws are here on vacation and we will be staying at some friends of theirs. We did get about 5 drops of rain outside of Rifle, Co -- the first rain we had since we were in Western New Mexico a week ago Sunday.
Friday morning we drive to Denver and deposit Brian for his flight back and then Johnny, Robert and I will head home via Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs. Thanks!!
After Robert got sewn up last night (we are glad to report that his only pain today was that his injury might leave a scar) we spent a very agreeable evening in Jackson Hole. We ordered some wonderful pizza and salad from the Mile High Pizza Pie Company and walked around this great little town while we were waiting for it to cook. After we got our food we went back for a VERY relaxing evening at the Best Western, which Brian dubbed the best hotel of the road trip.
We had a good breakfast and I got 10% off of our bill because the jacuzzi jets didn’t work in our huge tub.
Then we had a little problem as we tried to get on the road. Brian had gone last night to a specialty store in Jackson Hole looking for Wyoming-made wine (you remember I told about his little problem, right?) -- and she said nobody made wine in Wyoming.
Well, she was wrong, and Brian found out about it, and wanted to go buy some at this store he had heard about at 9am in the morning. We all said no, and he has seethed off and on all day, and told us on more than one occasion that he intends to purchase that wine online, and when he gets it he refuses to share with us (smile).
It has been a COMPLETELY uneventful day. Robert drove this morning until we stopped at McDonald’s for lunch. Johnny drove us to Craig, CO and Brian finished the drive to Glenwood Springs (for those of you who might not know, my wife Amy grew up here). We are not completely sure what our plans are, except that we all need to do laundry very badly. My in-laws are here on vacation and we will be staying at some friends of theirs. We did get about 5 drops of rain outside of Rifle, Co -- the first rain we had since we were in Western New Mexico a week ago Sunday.
Friday morning we drive to Denver and deposit Brian for his flight back and then Johnny, Robert and I will head home via Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs. Thanks!!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Day 10 -- Robert Saves the Day!!
Well, we are now in Jackson, Wyoming on what has been the most eventful day of the trip so far. This morning Pick was in the gift shop so Johnny, Robert and I were cleaning out the van while we waited. As we dropped stuff in the trash can, I had the van keys in my left hand. Suddenly I realized that I had dropped the keys into the trash can along with everything else. I calmly said to Johnny and Robert, ‘Umm, can I tell you about the dumb thing I just did?’ This was one of those special bear-proof cans and we had the devil of a time getting those keys back out. I thought that would be the highlight of the blog today, but that was not to be.
So we started touring around Yellowstone. We stopped at a Spring and a Mudhole and Yellowstone Lake, and we were having a great time. But, as you know, my son Nathan is a big animal lover, so as we were about to exit Yellowstone National Park, I spotted a bison, and got out of the van to take a picture. The boys were in the van hatching an escape plan, as we had just watched a video at the welcome center telling us not approach the wildlife. I scooted closer to get a good shot for Nate (PLEASE look at the picture -- it could have cost Robert his life) and suddenly, the bison turned on me. I scampered back toward the van just as Robert jumped out to save me. He wrapped his left arm under the Bison’s neck and hopped on his back. He rode that Bison for about 50 feet until the bison suddenly made a sharp left turn and Robert was struck in the head by a low hanging limb. He had to dash to higher ground, and, as you can see by the picture, he barely came out with his life. Robert, the entire Gibbons family thanks you for saving my life today!
So we started touring around Yellowstone. We stopped at a Spring and a Mudhole and Yellowstone Lake, and we were having a great time. But, as you know, my son Nathan is a big animal lover, so as we were about to exit Yellowstone National Park, I spotted a bison, and got out of the van to take a picture. The boys were in the van hatching an escape plan, as we had just watched a video at the welcome center telling us not approach the wildlife. I scooted closer to get a good shot for Nate (PLEASE look at the picture -- it could have cost Robert his life) and suddenly, the bison turned on me. I scampered back toward the van just as Robert jumped out to save me. He wrapped his left arm under the Bison’s neck and hopped on his back. He rode that Bison for about 50 feet until the bison suddenly made a sharp left turn and Robert was struck in the head by a low hanging limb. He had to dash to higher ground, and, as you can see by the picture, he barely came out with his life. Robert, the entire Gibbons family thanks you for saving my life today!
Day 10B - The Rest of the Story
In reality, however, what really happened was this...we had left Yellowstone for Grand TETON National Park. We had stopped to collect some walking sticks from the lakeside, and I had walked back to the van. The boys were gone for a long time, and something told me all was not well. I turned on my cell phone, which hadn’t worked in two days. Amazingly, I had cell coverage so I called Robert, who calmly said, would you please bring the medical kit to me -- I cut my head. THANK, YOU -- THANK YOU -- THANK YOU, to Mrs. Pratt for purchasing said medical kit. So, I walked back down to the beach, and the three fellows were walking toward me, with Robert holding his head.
It seems that, in a state of altitude induced-delirium, Robert had decided that he liked this particular stick, but that it was too long, and he would break it by dropping a large rock on it. In hindsight, this plan appears to have had serious flaws. After he dropped the rock on the stick, the stick rose up and smote him on the forehead.
Because this happened in Timbuk-2, we had to drive all the way to Jackson Hole (about 40 miles) with Robert moaning slightly while holding ice to his head.
We are proud to say that Robert was treated at the Jackson Hole E.R. and is now fit as a fiddle (please note the picture of his 4 lovely stitches) -- and he wants you to know that he took the entire thing like a man, and they even gave him a sticker when he left the hospital (also, he flirted with the girl at reception, and did so well, she forgot to charge him -- such is life on the road with Robert Ortega).
We will get back on the road in the morning and head to Glenwood Springs, CO. In reality, Jackson Hole is a much nicer place to stay than where we had originally intended, AND they have high speed wireless internet. Have a great day tomorrow...we move one state closer home tomorrow!
It seems that, in a state of altitude induced-delirium, Robert had decided that he liked this particular stick, but that it was too long, and he would break it by dropping a large rock on it. In hindsight, this plan appears to have had serious flaws. After he dropped the rock on the stick, the stick rose up and smote him on the forehead.
Because this happened in Timbuk-2, we had to drive all the way to Jackson Hole (about 40 miles) with Robert moaning slightly while holding ice to his head.
We are proud to say that Robert was treated at the Jackson Hole E.R. and is now fit as a fiddle (please note the picture of his 4 lovely stitches) -- and he wants you to know that he took the entire thing like a man, and they even gave him a sticker when he left the hospital (also, he flirted with the girl at reception, and did so well, she forgot to charge him -- such is life on the road with Robert Ortega).
We will get back on the road in the morning and head to Glenwood Springs, CO. In reality, Jackson Hole is a much nicer place to stay than where we had originally intended, AND they have high speed wireless internet. Have a great day tomorrow...we move one state closer home tomorrow!
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