Lovin' Lander

We have seen so many gorgeous places on our journey thus far, but Lander, Wyoming has stolen my heart! To begin with, the smell!!!! It is a combination of sage, grass and big sky. The landscape is beautiful beyond articulation, so I will let the pictures try to show you why I nearly cried the first time I saw Sinks Canyon!


















Lander is the home of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) so there is a cool eco/outdoorsy element to the town! We have had good food and the people are lovely! Send me my belongings...I am stayin'!

This is where Josh was born and he has a big chunk of family here. It has been wonderful to meet them all! We have been enjoying big family dinners!



Josh's cousin, Nathan, is learning contact juggling, something Josh has a talent for! Here Josh is teaching him some tricks while cousins Nathan, Ben, Jacob and Olivia watch.

More exploring and photos tomorrow!

Mischief managed!

I am happy to report that we went back, yesterday and I conquered that boulder!!!!! Woohoooo!

Bouldering, moose and little Josh

We finally got to bouldering, yesterday. This was literally my first outdoor bouldering experience and I have only gym bouldered a few times. So this was thrilling and terrifying all at once! Josh chose an "easy" one and scaled it swiftly and gracefully...my attempts were a bit more humbling! I nearly made it to the top--my arms were there, but there was nothing to grip on that horizontal surface, so I lost my nerve when it came to heaving myself up (dang it!)...my fear of heights is posing a mental challenge! We are going back up today....I cannot leave vedauwoo without sending this one!









Last night, just as dusk was falling, an enormous moose--huge rack, glossy coat, all muscle--sauntered through our campsite! He was beautiful and looked a bit frighteningly strong! We were so awed we could not get the camera out in time...amazing!

Thanks to Josh's sweet mama, here are some adorable pix of little Josh in Wyoming....how time flies!









....smitten again!

Homecoming

Yesterday we made it to Josh's home state of Wyoming! The landscape here is incredible!






















We set up camp at Vedauwoo last night and we pretty much have the place to ourselves. After living in the city for 8 months, the quiet of the Wyoming plains is like a healing balm to the soul. The air smells like sage and dry grass. The only sounds are of the wind in the aspens and the chattering of some busy chipmunks. We were blessed by a huge harvest full moon and the lovely hooting of a nearby owl. Josh toasted us some perfectly golden marshmallows and started teaching me how to play poker by the fire...I think we might be in heaven!












We will spend a few nights here before we head to Lander, where Josh was born. Today....rock climbing in Vedauwoo and maybe a little dinner at the Altitude brewery...we will be American beer connoisseurs by the end of this journey!

Boulder

We had a few nice days respite in gorgeous Boulder, Colorado! Our trusty motorcycle got new tires and brake pads and we got to frolic in REI, drink microbrews and get a little road rest! The above photos are from our favorite Boulder brewery, Mountain Sun.

Boulder is one of my favorite cities on planet earth! We came dangerously close to staying! The culture is just our fit...music, food, rock climbing, festivals galore. And the people are so nice, just like the friendly Nola folk. I am eager to spend more time here in the future.

Rocky Mountain High

On Friday, we crossed the border into Colorado and began the journey from desert plains to mountains and forests. We left at 5am and landed in Durango for lunch. At last we have entered the craft beer Mecca! We ate at a great brew pub called Steamworks. After that recharge we rode through Rocky mountain canyons upward along the million dollar highway.












We stopped for the night in gorgeous Ouray where we were lucky enough to get the last campsite at the amphitheater campground. We had the most amazing view from our secluded spot, and we slept under a blanket of stars.

Saturday morning we made the ride to Boulder. This took us back through some desert scrub, through Vail and at last to the foot of the Flatirons to amazing Boulder.










Boulder is like a little slice of home. We only went to dinner and have much to explore, but we have already been wooed by the bohemian college town. We ate at another amazing brewpub called Mountain Sun then strolled a little down the Pearl Street pedestrian plaza that stretches several blocks. There were kids and families everywhere, sweet little parks, boulders and water play areas for younglings to frolic, street performers, girls playing violins, sweet looking shops!!!! LOVE IT!!!! We will explore today and post Boulder photos tonight!!!!

Double rainbow

Yesterday we traversed Kansas. Our travels were forced to an early stop due to a HUGE lightning storm. Therefore we had the pleasure of staying in Syracuse, Kansas for the night, near the Colorado border. During a wee break in the storm we were blessed by a double rainbow...all the way!

Out of New Orleans and into Louisiana!

After some logistical issues and several gear repackings, we finally hit the road early Sunday afternoon! It is amazing...New Orleans is a country within itself. It's culture is unique, it's food, dialect, architecture, it's liberal sociopolitical climate, you name it! After 8 months here, I have not felt like I have been in "the south"--at least as I stereotypically have perceived it. All it takes is about 20 minutes of driving and The South has arrived!!! We are mostly avoiding major interstates, so we are getting to see a bit more of the backroads of America! We are quite the spectacle for the folk of southern Louisiana! Everyone has been so kind and chatty and curious about why on earth we are dressed in full riding gear in the 115 degree weather! We were starting to wonder the same thing when we stopped for the night and Josh literally DUMPED a puddle of sweat out of his boots! We will be speeding north as fast as possible today! Cooler weather haven ahead!!!!

Packed and ready!!!

Well, all of the worldly possessions we have in Nola are packed and being put into a sea container for shipping to Cali. Today we start officially living out of our motorcycle pack! We will be staying in a hotel our last few days here and then taking off for the Ozarks on Saturday! I feel the nervous excitement of a kid before the first day of school!!!