The Early Blogger gets...

The Peak to himself. I hit the Grey Rock Trail a few hours post sunrise. It was cool, quiet and the only living things besides me was green. (Be mindful of the poison ivy). 

There was water flowing everywhere! 

The Grey Rock Trail was originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Core in the 1930's.

Roosevelt's Tree Army did an admirable job with all their projects. This trail is no exception.

Strong Work! Gentlemen!

Grey Rock (7,513") is a National Recreation Trail. 

It was crazy busy by the time I descended. How busy was it Jeff?

There was a "Wait List" for reaching the summit. 

"Smith Party of four, your peak is waiting!"

Foreign visitors were on the "Will Call" List. 

Cheers from Fort Collins, Colorado 

Jeff

Meet the newest...

Colorado Rockies fan.

Yesterday, Little Syd Sambur took in her first MLB game. That's her proud father and my nephew Keith hugging her. (He's the World's tallest Sambur). 

I'm not sure if L. Syd understood the subtleties and nuances of America's Pastime, but she sure loved those chocolate covered strawberries before the first pitch. Whatever works. 

Speaking about pageviews, I'll never grovel for assistance from my readers in reaching a milestone again. You all left! Come back! I promise I won't beg again. 

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.ae/2015/06/19000-pageviews-or.html

Maybe one day, I'll figure out my fickle electronic audience. Beer (right word) with me. This is still a blog in progress.

Gee. It's raining and lightning again.

From Fort Collins, Colorado.

Good Evening to all,

Jeff

Backpackers Wanted

Anyone out there interested in backpacking in Colorado's Wilderness Areas this summer? The White Death might be gone by mid to late July to hit the trails. 

I'll provide the pre-hike and post- hike brews. You'll have to carry your own beers on the trail.

I'm serious. We ain't getting any younger and there's plenty to see in Colorado. I can be a partial Sherpa. I can't carry everything though.

Who wants to play before we are too old to do this stuff?

Come on summer!

Jeff 

Ceremonial Kiva or Man Cave?

You decide.

Many of you scoffed about my "It's all about the beer" theory concerning the Ancient Ones southern migration around the 1300's. 

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-samburs-meet-the.html

I'm not the kind of blogger who gives up easily. Today, I went back to Mesa Verde National Park to unearth proof of those wily Old Timer's beer drinking habits. I took a short hike to Step House Ruin. A few other visitors were engaged in conversation with the on-duty Ranger. While she was being distracted, I scooped up a few shovelfuls of dirt near the Kiva/Man Cave. 

In the final photo, this is what I found. A few well worn Koozies and a beer bottle cap. Thus proving my theory. The Ancient Ones had great tastes for baseball teams, diners and beers.

Fido (my obedient Pug) heeled in order to provide perspective for the photo op. 

That's a good dog!

En route back to Boulder beginning today,

Jeff

PS. Speaking of beer. I'll be at the Old Town, Old Chicago this coming Fat Tuesday. We can toast to the Ancient Ones there at 6. Come on by!

19,000 Pageviews or...

BUST!

On July 4th, 2014, I launched "A Wandering, Wondering Jew" on Google's Blogspot. 

I began the blog for a number of reasons.

One: I wanted my musings and photos to be independent of Facebook. Yes, I still use FB to advertise my site. You can't beat the price - FREE! 

Two: The blog keeps my creative nectars spilling out in case I decide to pen a second book. BTW have I ever mentioned I once wrote a book? A W, W Jew is my Practice, Practice, Practice writing venue. 

Three: I was curious about all this viral talk. (I don't think you catch it from a dirty toilet seat). I was wondering how many hits I would score in a year. 

So...here's where you readers come in. If you've enjoyed following  along as I wander through time and space, please take a moment to share, forward or the old fashioned way-speak to others about A W,W J. 

Hackers from the former Eastern Bloc Countries are invited to help too! 

Right now, I'm sitting at around 16.780 pageviews. Seeing 19,000 on Independence Day would be so swell. 

Thanks in advance and I'll still buy rounds whenever we meet,

Cheers

Jeff

PS. I still had time to take a walk in the woods.

For Years I've been...

driving past the "Gunnison Gorge National Conservation  Area" sign on Highway 50. (Also known as the Loneliest Highway in America on its Nevada stretch). 

I was always curious about what the heck's out there. Today I was able to work a look-see into my BUSY schedule by taking a 9 mile hike on the Ute Trail to the Mighty (if it weren't dammed up) Gunnison River. 

Lemme tell you, it's not often a trail is in better shape than the road to the trailhead, but that's what happened. 

The Peach Valley Road (sans orchards) was a bit wash-board-y, but it was the Autobahn compared to the 2.5 mile Ute Road. Barley the Van and its contents (me and my stuff) were jostled, juggled and shaken, not stirred around. 

It was so bad. How bad Jeff? 

My Baby Grand Piano flipped over in Barley the Van's Great Room. That's how bad it was.

I need to figure out a better way to secure those ivories down. My candelabra shattered too. Bad day for stuff, great day for a hike. Yin-Yang. 

From the United RV Park in Durango, CO 

It's raining and windy here! OY!

Good day!

Jeff

A Confession...

I don't always wake up with my gas pedal floored or possess multi-espresso energy. There are times, I open my eyes with nil to low potential activity levels. On these rare days, I push myself out of Barley's door and still do something. I know I'm well into the fourth quarter of my life; I won't waste days.

So...feeling kind of wimpy, a trail with two waterfalls caught my attention. It was also unknown territory to me. "No Thoroughfare Canyon," in Colorado National Monument sounded about right. 

WOW! Was I impressed! The waterfalls were really what the name implies, even for a water challenged state like Colorado. (Remember, our liquid flows away from our borders and doesn't stick around much.) 

If that weren't enough, I scored hiking companions. There was me and my shadow, a collared lizard, a yellow flittering butterfly and a pair of red-splotchy frogs. 

I'm so glad I extricated myself out of the driver's seat and wasn't a sloth.

PS. This was the first day in Colorado's month of May from Iceland that felt like impending summer. 

 I hope it continues.

From Welcome To Fruita or as the bumper stickers say "WTF"

Good morning,

Jeff

For more about Colorado National Monument please check out

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2014/10/colorado-national-monument.html