Cattle Drive

Who knew that after driving 463 miles today we would end up with more driving? This time the vehicle was an ATV and we would be driving cattle (cows and their calves) to a new pasture. In the old days this would be done by Cowboys on horses, but today the Cowboys ride motorcross bikes, racing back and forth, making fast runs out to herd the strays back, whistling and shouting....what a sight to watch. Even so, as Daniel Carnine says, it's like herding marbles uphill. In spite of their best efforts, many calves and cows broke from the herd and ran every which way. Dan is taking me up in his plane this morning to fly over the miles of pasture land and locate the strays, then he will go back out with his Cowboys and round them up. Dan says that all the calves want right now is to find their mothers, and all the mothers want is to find their own calf to nurse their big bags of milk. They do a good job of sorting themselves out.
It is always wonderful to be back on the ranch! Cinda and Happy are having a grand time being ranch dogs - so much to see and explore! love, Liz
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Paradise, Colorado

What a beautiful spot! We are camped by the Colorado River, which is very full and running fast. This state park is about 300 miles west of Denver, and 400 miles east of Page. We had a pleasant, but long drive, and tomorrow we hope to reach Carnine Ranch. I am up in my new bunk bed, and Ada is sleeping on the back bed. The dogs are both great traveling citizens.
The drive through Moab, following the river through the spectacular red mountains was spectacular. Good Night! Love, Liz

Can you see Rainbow Bridge?

My old stomping ground, Flagstaff, was the first night's stop as my dog Cinda and I journey once again across country to our family summer home in Upper Peninsula, Michigan.  Dave and I graduated fifty years ago this year from Arizona State College,  in the first class of its new name, Northern Arizona University.  I always enjoy camping at Black Bart's in Flagstaff, known for  its steak house with musical revues featuring the students from NAU who are aspiring entertainers, doubling as wait staff.
    Sunday gets me to my second stop, Page, AZ to pick up my sister Ada, who will be riding with me, along with her dog, back to Hatch Haven.  But wait....before we can hit the road, Ada has a few social events planned....ten friends for dinner to welcome me back and wish us safe travel; a 7:30 Monday morning flight over Lake Powell to see Rainbow Bridge; followed by a Sunday Brunch with friends; THEN getting Ada packed and ready to go.

    The flight over the dam and Lake Powell was a gift from a local successful merchant, in gratitude for Ada being his First and Third grade teacher, and now his son's teacher.  What a marvelous experience!

    We plan to leave at first light for a long drive tomorrow, about 450 miles.  Dogs and ladies are looking forward to this journey East and North.  Love, Liz 

Begin forwarded message:

From: Elizabeth Meyer <lizmeyer920@icloud.com>
Date: June 13, 2016 at 3:56:04 PM MST
To: lizmeyer920@hotmail.com

Sent from my iPhone

California Drought

I love traveling and camping, to which most of my blogs attest. Today's campground, though beautiful, is one I will not be returning to. Boasting its River shore location and boat launch ramp, they charge accordingly...$45 a night for just an electric hook-up. I have never experienced such rules & regs! For starters, to make a reservation I was required to download, print, send them my credit card info,sign and initial a contract and send a picture if the signed contract ...but wait, the contract was not ENTIRELY legible (all the pertinent info was), so I had to re-photo and send again! Arriving at the park took me three tries, then to find it locked up like Fort Knox! I knocked on nearby doors until a girl came out, grilled me on my validity, then swung opened the gates, ushering me into a nearly empty park! It turns out the river is "seasonal", and now is not its season! I had to sign my compliance to 16 regulations, among which is a promise my dog was not a Pit Bull, Chow, Rottweiler, or Doberman, nor any mixture thereof. There is a fee to use the Internet, and THEN, to add insult to injury NO SERIUS RADIO... Read that... no elevator music. Bummer!

On a lighter note, the park is beautiful, as is the weather, and the whole (dry) riverbank is home to a colony of moles, which Cinda is happily digging for.

re-photoP

Living Happily Ever After

I am the new Queen of Camp Meyer and Camping Princess! I finally convinced Mom that Sheila had to go...Sheila always wanted to live with her other Mom, Lisa, and now she gets to, and word has it around Camp Meyer That having a Mom with some authority was just what Sheila needed, and now she really IS a Good Girl.

Meanwhile, I am happily still doing bad things like begging for food and running away when I get the chance, but life as an only dog suits me FINE! Mom can (and does) take me anywhere, and I am very friendly to dogs and people (but I still kill rabbits and ground squirrels when I get the chance).

So here we are, just Mom and me, van camping! Today, we left home and drove up past Ridgecrest to a long and windy (but very scenic) road to Lake Isabella. Neither of us have been in this neck of the woods, and we love having the time and freedom to meander to Fresno, which is where we are headed. Mom thinks she needs something new for the van. It's nothing I can use, so I don't care. I'll let her tell you about it. Picture me with a Happy Tail on Happy Trails! Love, Cinda

Blooming Desert

Blooming Desert

Yucca blossoms, Evening Primrose, Purple Sage, Buttercups and Belly flowers are all in bloom in the Providence Mt. state Recreation Area; weather is perfect....it is camping at its best! Mitchel, Miki (his dog), Cinda (my dog) and I are "trying out" our new camping group.

Last month, I had to make the difficult decision to give up my loyal watch dog Sheila, who had grown too protective of me to be trusted as a pet. In her mind she "owned me", and I could never get the upper hand with her. Fortunately for me and for Sheila, My good friend, and Sheila's Best Friend agreed to take her. Sheila is adapting well to city life, with Lisa, David, and Hilary. Sheila adores Lisa and accepts her as the Boss, which is very important for Border Collies.

Meanwhile, back at Camp Meyer, we are enjoying the peaceful co-existence of Cinda and Miki. The last test...how do we camp together. WELL, the rule from the get-go was to be "only the people get to sleep on the bed". It was a long night trying to get the dogs to understand the rule, and mostly the dogs won. 😳

We will be out another day and night....we'll see! Love, Liz