Leaf Peeping

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
September 30, 2014

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and positive thoughts concerning Joe. We did have a slight set back due to an infection. But all is good now. Today he had his second round of chemo, pizza for supper, and is sleeping like a baby. We have been very fortunate to have had friends Lynn and Dave just a few sites down from us for the past month. Dave graciously volunteered to give up a whole day to take Joe for his first chemo. Dee has been right next door... keeping a check on us also. They have provided meals, support, motivation and encouragement, laughter, shoulders to lean on and hugs.



Enough of that...back when we first arrived in August, the one thing I really wanted to do was see the aspens in color on the LaSal Mountains. 



Dee led in Thumper, we drove saddle and Lynn and Dave were tail gunner in Rockhell ( named after another beautiful red-head - Raquel )

Last Monday, after a very wet week-end, we loaded up to go leaf peeping with Dee and Lynn and Dave.


Joe and I have driven several trails thru the LaSals. But one we had never done before was LaSal Loop and Geyser Pass. Both trails are in the Guide to Moab, UT Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails by Charles Wells. This was our first trail since the end of August...it felt so good to be out and about.

Until next time...

 happy trails!

Day 5...

Portal RV Resort
Moab, Utah
September, 15, 2014

Day 5 was the charm...that is Day 5 in the chemo treatment cycle. Overall, Joe has done great. He never even needed any of the three extra meds we got to help with nausea on Day 2 or 3. And on Day 4, he stopped the one medicine he was told he must take to stop nausea for the first 48 hours. Yesterday was Day 5...we made a trip to Grand Junction for a follow-up visit with the Cardiac/Thoracic surgeon. Dr. Lapkin was very pleased with the progress, took out the stitches and said he would like to see Joe in a year. A YEAR! That was just the best news ever! Joe felt better yesterday than he has in months. The other good news...no restrictions on activities and we are hoping to be hiking and jeeping very soon. His lungs and heart are both strong. He does have 5 more chemo treatments.
 Last Saturday morning I took a walk around Portal...all the pictures in todays post are from that walk. It was cool, the sky was so blue and I had a fun time exploring some areas here I have never seen. 

A view of the LaSal Mountains from Portal... 

Portal actually backs up to a watershed formed by the Colorado River. I will revisit this sign in the near future...I was wearing flip-flops and quickly decided that was not good for wandering further into "Portal Outback".


There were lots of dragonflies...Joe and I just watched an episode on Nat Geo about dragonflies. Did you know they were in existence 100 million years before dinosaurs?  According to National Geographic, they are so perfectly made with full body armor and extraordinary eyesight that the only change in their "design" has been in their size.

There are also two spring fed ponds...one for pups and the other for people. White butterflies were fluttering all about. It was hard to get any pictures of them...they were so fast!

Dragonfly wings glisten in the sunlight...

We had visitors late Saturday afternoon while we were sitting outside enjoying some fresh air...

 Three fawns and their mama stopped by for a bite in the meadow...our backyard. Well, mama didn't eat. She stood guard. She wasn't so sure about us.

We so enjoy watching the sunset on the red rocks...its beautiful to watch the sunrise on the red rocks too!

 I am slowly catching up on blogs. Reading about your adventures and making notes!

Well, that's all for now...until next time, take care and...

 happy trails!