Farewell lunch

Can't believe its time to say goodbye! Fantastic lunch put on by CITEL - a chance to catch up with the other exchangees and find out about their travel experiences, commiserate with each other about the Aussie Government's decision to double tax us - yes we have to pay both US and Aussie tax - and yes it is retrospective so we all have huge tax debts!!!

We all had to put on a skit - I have to say that everyone did a great job - we loved hearing about everyone's trip and seeing their photos..............can't believe how much travel we have all done. Roger and I did the wobble board and got everyone singing "Tie me Kangaroo down" Good fun.

Kerrie and Dave did a great job with "I've been everywhere ...man"

Isn't technology fantastic!

A few weeks ago, I went up to Grand Junction to stay with my friend Linda, had a great time walking in Monument National Park. Had a really fun evening with great food cooked by John and MUCH too much wine!

I copied the photos onto my data stick, then carefully washed my data stick in my jeans pocket. Sadly when I dried my data stick out it didn't work but HEY! four weeks later it sprang back into life - hence the photos!

Isn't technology fantastic!

Drove over Monarch Pass to Salida on our way to Denver. Not a lot of snow which was suprising. When we first got here we totally didn't know about Salida Old Town and just drove along the highway and thought it was a really ordinary place - just gas stations, walmart and roadside cafes. NOW WE KNOW it is a fantastic art community with lots of different galleries, workshops, quaint old buildings and fab cafes. Would have loved to have bought some of the sculptures.

Oh no I'm sick!

Just spent 3 days in bed - so sick! Mmmmm no time for this - so much to do. Hope I'm well enough to go up to Denver at the weekend.

Hey - What are you reading?

Hey a few people have asked what am I reading. Well I have just read 3 compelling books in a row that have really moved me. Mudbound is a stunning book which really brings life to history - early life in America - the conflicts of life black and wife, husband and wife, siblings and parents - sounds grim but it really is absorbing. In the same book you are attracted or repelled by a character depending on who is telling the story, it really shows that relationships are multi dimensional .......we both just loved this book.

The book thief is a fab australian book that really takes a different approach - very sad in parts but again compelling writing. The Help - a real exploration of an era........the 60's came alive along with the prejudices and attitudes of a different era -Dylon , the Stones, peace marches and entrenched attitudes . Good stuff.

As an avid reader of Gourmet Traveller, of course I loved ruth reichl's writing in Tender as the Bone - and yes the recipes do work. Again The Rapture was a frighteningly good novel, that really described the craziness, of a religious community.

Finally last but not least - Peru where we will be in a few weeks - phew. Love to know what you are reading.

Lunch with the Gunnison Gals

Great to have lunch at Kathy's house and hear all about her trip to Oz. Funny to think that all of the "gals" have stayed in our house.

Missed Halloween at the school as we were on our way to Moab but as you can see GMS really got into it! We left treats in our Halloween bag - all the goodies went thank goodness! I went to the market in Moab and was amazed to see so many people in fancy dress! Great fun!

Sunglasses heaven

deadhorse point

Dead Horse Point State Park has a overlooks the Colorado River which flows more than 500 metres below. It got its name because it was used as a natural corral by cowboys in the 19th century. It is surrounded by sheer cliffs two thousand feet high, with only a narrow neck of land about 20 metres, connecting the mesa to the main plateau, so it was easy for cowboys to simply fence off this narrow neck, and keep rounded up wild horses from running away. Legend has it that one group of horses was left fenced in and eventually died of thirst. The area was also used in the final scene of the 1991 film Thelma and Louise - which I just luved.

We just loved it.....could have kept walking but we were looking forward to catching up with Linda and John again in Grand Junction head back. Fantastic meal and then an early night as we had a 5.00am start to get back to Sunny Gunni in time for work. Off through the cold morning.... It was a stunning drive with the full moon sitting over the pink escarpment and we drove steadily towards the rising sun at the head of a clear highway! Wowee!

More Moab please

So glad we returned to Moab it is just SO beautiful. Walked down Park Avenue! So different to the Park Avenue next to our house!!!

Met up with an amazing artist Chad Niehaus, who not only does some amazing pastels but also teaches "Artist in the park" now there is an idea for Barrenjoey and West Head!

He was doing a 3 day workshop that week but unfortunately worked called and we could not stay for that or for the Moab folk festival....ah well! Check out his work http://www.moabart.com/

Walking down Park Avenue is incredible as the landscape and the arches just stretch out into the horizon, breathtaking and a bit daunting. We walked to three arches but stopped at others as we took the road that hugs the mountain side - exposing yet another awe inspiring view at every corner.

Landscape Arch is the most amazing in that it is so long and thin and of course beautiful! It looks as if it might collapse at any moment. Saw some fab mule deer with huge ears. Loved Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel arches which framed other distant arches.

What bliss! Finished off the day with a rather nice margarita in a very traditional Mexican Restaurant!!!

Job Corps

We travelled up to Grand Junction to stay with our friend Linda. Always a great night, fab food, lots of travel stories. John joined us after his stint at air traffic control finished and we imbibed a few wines together before heading off sleepily to bed.

Next morning we were off to Roger's final research school. A really interesting place. Vocational training is at the heart of this residential school for "at risk" kids. The rules and consequences were tough, but it really is the last chance for many of them to get any sort of education and to keep out of jail! Interesting but sad to hear some of the student's stories.

Crossing over the mountains to Grand Junction had been snowy and icy but weren't prepared for the 12 inches of snow and froaen lakes that greeted us as Colbran. Linda had been working at the school too on a "Kids Voting" project which is designed to develop interest at an early age in the voting system.

At the turning to Moab we parted company, will catch up with her on Sunday as we stay over before heading back to Sunny Gunni!

Last train to Bombay

Doug, Kaylonn and Caleb get together with Kathy my lunch mate and explorer from Gunnison and her daughter Erin from Hawaii. I hear a good time was had by all!!!

Art in the valley

About 20 artists in the Gunnison Valley opened up their studios to the public for a day and we had an amazing experience driving up to remote studios in the mountains , little cottages on the main road or studios right in town. Incredible to see the variety of creative approaches - huge installation art made of tumbleweed, christmas figurines made from bread and glue, found art, metal sculptures and fine art paintings painstakingly produced over 5 years.

Gunnison truly is an amazing place. Needless to say I headed home with renewed vigour to continue mask making - which I love but never seem to have time for!

SOLD!

Can't believe its time to sell our car! It really has been a great car taking us over snowy mountain passes and hot, hot desert areas. This time last year we were selling our camper van!

Lots of enquiry and sold straight away!

Ghost town..ooooooooooooooh!

Finally managed to visit this little ghost town which is just down the road from us.Ohio City started in the early 1860s and shut down when the placer gold ran out. No one bothered to find the lode that was the source of the nuggets and Ohio City was no more.

The silver boom of 1879 brought miners back to what was left of the town. A sizable vein was found and Ohio City was re-born. That lasted until 1893 when the boom collapsed and so did the town.

In 1896, some prospectors found the lode that was the source for the nuggets found in the '60s. Ohio City was again re-born. Mining operations continued until about 1916 until costs exceeded revenues.

Looking at the town someone has obviously put some money into the store and bar, new carvings on the verandah, but sadly inside was deserted. It looked as if they had just walked out, leaving goods on the shelves and coats on hangers. Just about every house in the little town was for sale.

On Guard!

One of the bi annual events is the Medieval Night at the school. Students get dressed up for the evening, parents provide delicious food of the era and there is a demonstration of martial arts. Students display their castles and there was a stunning demonstration of a trebuchet!

All organised by Duke Mark (Social studies teacher) and his lovely Duchess.

Gunnison Middle School rocks!

As always lots of things happening at the school. Went to a great choir concert and heard the band at the homecoming parade. Homecoming is a National celebration where alumni of schools and college return. Fab march through Gunni with bands from Middle and High Schools. Kids lined the streets, waved flags, sang and cheered. Luv It!!

Crested Butte is cool!

Had a lovely lazy day in Crested Butte. Amazing to see the snow transforming the town once more. Most places closed as it is between seasons............only thing to do was eat yummie food at McGills.