Arrived Big Bend

It's been a long time since I posted a blog. We have been busy packing up at the North Rim, traveling to Albuquerque and getting ready to move on to Big Bend. We made it to Big Bend on Sunday Nov. 4, did our paperwork on Monday and started work on Tuesday. Our location in Big Bend is in the Rio Grande Village area, it is remote and cell and internet do not exist. Yesterday we finally got hooked up by Big Bend Telephone with DSL and a land line. If  you want to call us over the next six months use our new number 432-477-2336.
As usual I didn't take any photos in Albuquerque and we were very busy visiting family and friends who we had not seen in a year. I did take in a Lobo Football game and played a couple of rounds of golf, which I had not done in a year...I wasn't sure which end of the club to hold. We were also busy helping Amy buy a new car, which we did, finding her a nice used Toyota Corolla. Sherri has missed having a vehicle of her own so we bought Amy's 1996 Ford Explorer. Amy then used the money to make a down payment on the Toyota.Sherri followed the truck and fifth wheel in our travels from Albuquerque to Big Bend. Here is the new line up.

Upon arriving in Big Bend we stopped in the Rio Grande Village Store, our new work location. Much to our surprise the staff from Forever Resorts Retail from Scottsdale was in the store working on merchandising. Abriel is hard at it in our new work location.

The store and campground are located along the Rio Grande river and is a sliver of  green in the desert, surrounded by many mountain ranges. A few photos show our work and living location.

Sherri and Ryder on the road from the store to Daniel's Ranch.

Rio Grande from Daniel's Ranch...Mexico is on left.

Our RV is on far left

Town of Boquillas, Mexico on the other side of the river.

Boquillas is a sleepy village of about 200. The residents used to cross freely over to Big Bend and shop in our store. The Big Bend tourists used to take a canoe across the river, a mule to town, then shop and dine in Boquillas. This all changed after 9-11, now a few residents cross but it is discouraged, and no tourists go to Mexico. This has hurt Boquillas economically, but a few still bring their wares over the border and leave the artwork for tourists to buy on the honor system.

Walking sticks and artwork

Crossing the river

Another interesting character from the Mexican side is Victor the Singing Mexican. He sings from the Mexican side with a tip jar on the US side. He has a great voice which is amplified by Boquillas Canyon. Not surprising - Victor can be found on You Tube.

One last picture of Sherri hanging out by the nature trail which is close to the store. The beaver pond has a beautiful catwalk which goes across the water and through the reeds.

Francois Matthes Point

Sherri, Ryder and I took our last long hike of the season out to Francois Matthes Point. The hike is on the Walhalla Plateau, going down an old road which is closed and overgrown.

To hike to the point is a level six miles one way through the Ponderosa Pines and changing Aspens.

At the end of the old road we were rewarded with beautiful views into Clear Creek Canyon and points beyond.

It was a great hike and beautiful day. Ryder was glad he got to go, but he was a tired dog.

Our weather has been beautiful fall weather, however we had a big change on Friday. A front blew in cold and snow. It snowed hard Friday afternoon and some accumulated. The photos below are of our RV site and the view from our rig into the forest.

The weather has rebounded nicely and for the next week we are expecting sunny skies with highs in the mid 60's. The park's concessions close on the 15th, so the visitors will drop significantly come Tuesday. This year the North Rim is hosting a special event for NPS, supporters of NPS and concessionaires beginning on the 16th and ending the 22nd.  Sherri and I will work through the event and be leaving the North Rim on the 23rd. We will be in Albuquerque 10/24 - 11/3 and then head to Big Bend NP for the winter. I'll probably blog next from Albuquerque.

Point Imperial Hike

It's been a lot of work and not much playing lately. All management has been busy getting ready for a voluntary inspection by the Arizona OSHA team. By passing, Forever Resorts North Rim earns a coveted designation which few companies have passed. Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) exempts the North Rim from OSHA inspections for three years and puts a feather in Forever Resort's cap. The OSHA team was here this past week and it looks like Forever Resorts North Rim will gain the VPP designation.
We did make it over to Saint George, Utah two weeks ago to have the truck serviced, and if you remember a couple of blogs ago we blew a tire, so I wanted two new tires for the truck. We accomplished all the truck stuff at the Saint George Ford and then headed to WalMart to shop for the last month that we are here.
Sherri and I did get in one hike from Point Imperial to the Saddle Mountain Wilderness trail-head. Point Imperial is the highest point at the North Rim, 8,803'. The views to the east are fantastic and the Aspens are golden. Here are few photos from the hike:

The last three Saturdays I was asked to be the step-on guide for bus tour groups which go to Cape Royal and Point Imperial. It is a three hour tour and as the guide, I talk to the group about the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. I love being the tour guide...perhaps I should look into a position as a guide.
Three more weeks at the North Rim.

The Bridge and Goodbye

We had many cool cloudy days in a row so Sherri and I decided to go for a hike into the canyon, of course we saw few clouds and it was 90 deg, two miles down.

We hiked another mile down to Red Wall Bridge and that was far enough on a warm day. A picture of Sherri proves we made it to the bridge.

September 6th was Ryder's 4th birthday and September 10th I had a birthday. Ryder was much happier on his as I wound up working 14 hours on mine. Oh well, I've had many good ones in the past and hopefully good ones to come. Here is Ryder with a big smile on his birthday.

Last Sunday the Gift Shop said Goodbye to our international associates, Rebecca and Sunny. It was a fun pizza lunch but sad to say goodbye to a couple of good employees and great people.

We also said goodbye to Micky, she is one of the hardest workers I have ever been associated with. The final month will not be the same without the folks who left last week. Another international associate, Geeno also finished up this week. Somehow I did not get a picture of Geeno. Micky is pictured below on the right receiving a gift from Jodi.

The Gift Shop is now very short on associates and with one busy month to go it will be a challenge. Fall is in the air up here at 8,300' with highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's. The next weather system will probably bring some snow.

Sister's visit, flat tire

My sister Susan came to the North Rim for a visit. We had a good time during her three day stay. Dinner at the Lodge, an evening at the Cookout and an excursion to Point Imperial and Cape Royal highlighted Susan's visit. I am pointing out land marks in the canyon from Bright Angel Point.

While we were having lunch at Cape Royal this storm developed on the South Rim and came our way. We were able to finish eating before it caught up to us.

This past week Anthony, Sherri and I headed out through the forest to hike from Swamp Point to the Powell Plateau. About half way there we heard a hissing noise and sure enough the right front tire was going flat. A pointy rock punctured the tire. Anthony and are finding the best place for the jack.

After changing the tire we didn't want to continue as far as Swamp Point without a spare, so we found a remote side road and bushwhacked up to the ridge-line. It was a good hike near Quaking Aspen Spring.

On the way back to the North Rim we stopped at the entrance station to hike up to a fire lookout tower. It was about a mile and a half up an old road. The tower is a historical site built in the 1930's.

This was the tower where Edward Abbey spent many summers with his dad, girl friends and wives visiting often. He also did a lot of writing in the top of the tower. The house is supposed to be worked on at some point, but now it is in very bad shape.

The climb to the top is a little scary, as the railings aren't much at the landing areas but that wasn't going to stop us from making it to the top. Except the door was locked to get into the observation area, still a nice climb with great views.

Despite the flat tire, we got in a couple of good hikes and enjoyed our day off.

Cape Final and Transept

We haven't ventured far to hike, so in the last two weeks we repeated hikes from last year. Of course the views are still spectacular. Here we are at Cape Final.

Sherri doing a tree pose, I'm glad she has good balance.

A nice spot for lunch with a view.

On Saturday 8-11 the symphony from Kanab UT played at the North Rim on the veranda. I was asked to represent Forever Resorts and introduce Symphony of the Canyons. This is an annual event which Forever Resorts sponsors. There are 45 symphony members and there were 300 people in the audience. The veranda was packed. I am introducing the orchestra.

I think the audience is laughing at my joke, not a bad spot for some music, and the sunset was spectacular!

This past week we hiked the Widforss Trail which we did three times last year. It's an enjoyable five mile hike very close to where we live. The views of Transept Canyon are pretty good.

Also on this day we hiked over to Uncle Jim's Cabin which was really a cave in the side of the rocks. Uncle Jim was an early pioneer with many colorful stories. He was not very tall.

The meadow below is very pretty.

My sister arrives tomorrow for a four day stay, we are looking forward to showing her around where we live, play and work. Also, tomorrow the owner of Forever Resorts is bringing nine buses to the North Rim. I will be a step on guide for one of the buses and Sherri will be welcoming people in the Lodge area. It should be an interesting and busy Monday.

Horseshoe Bend

Two weeks ago Sherri and I went on a shopping trip to Page. We had read and heard about  Horseshoe Bend Overlook just south of Page but had never had time to stop. It's a spot where land is several hundred feet above the Colorado River. We were amazed at the number of people who had parked and hiked the 1/3 of a mile to the overlook, most were not speaking English. The views and the rock formations are very cool. Wind and water can do some amazing things over millions of years. The photos below are river float trips, Sherri looking good and the Horseshoe Bend.

One of the reasons we went to Page was to buy groceries for the Gift Shop Employee Appreciation Picnic. Anthony and I (with Sherri's help) prepared and cooked lunch for our co-workers. The setting is pretty spectacular, right on the rim. We also gave out some prizes and all enjoyed a picnic rather than the another lunch in the Employee Dining Room. Some shots of the Gift Shop Employees having a good time.

Last week Anthony, Sherri, Ryder and I hiked from Saddle Mountain, in the designated wilderness, down to the Nankoweap trail head which is an additional 11 miles to the river. The hike we did is a steep seven mile round trip. We can take Ryder since we are not in the NPS. When we arrived at the trail head the clouds from the previous night's monsoon storms were laying low.

Although the temperature at 8800' never got above 70deg. the humidity was much higher than we are used to and we all worked up a sweat.One of the great things about this hike is we did not see another person all day. Storms did start to brew just east and north of us, fortunately we did not have a storm over head.

Ryder had a good time and he wanted to see what Anthony brought for lunch.

Above we are looking across the canyon. It was a great hike and we felt it coming straight uphill at elevation.
We have now passed the halfway point of the season and most have fallen into a good routine, we are looking forward to a good second half.