Finally! A Copilot for me...

and Barley!

I know. She's kind of small, but Man! can she wiggle!  She's not much for conversation though. But then again, I like quiet time when I drive. I'll have to work on getting her to read maps and do vacation planning researc. 

Meet Edna. In Hebrew the name translates to pleasure, rejuvenation and delight. That's a lot to ask from a tiny figurine strumming a ukelele. 

Regardless, she looks dashing on Barley's dashboard.

It's another fine Indian summer day in Colorado. 

Cheers!

A Wonderful Time was...

had by all. (I think!)

My brother (my hero and mentor) said it all when he announced to the crowd, "I never knew Jeff had so many friends!"

I had the pre-party jitters big time. I'm the kind of guy who can go days without saying anything more then, "I'll have another beer. Please!" to a bartender. For a sociable hermit like myself, I was nerve wracked until the big event began to roll along. Even I had a great time connecting with the people of my past. There were three fire chiefs there too!

If you attended thanks for coming. If not, you'll have to wait until 2024 when I turn 70. By then I will have calmed down enough to throw another soirée. 

BTW: I really turn 60 on November 15. I just didn't want to be this far north then. Brrr. I'll be in the Grand Canyon on the big day. I need to be someplace that is older than me.

Cheers!

Jeff

The family photo shot could be the cheesiest smile I ever made.

Colorado National Monument...

I'll say it right off the bat. Other than my dear friends Jack and Judy Miller, Colorado NM is the bestest thing about Grand Junction, Colorado.

For me, it's always been a joy to amble up and down it's many spired rock canyons. The Rim Rock Drive is considered by many (me included) to be road cycling nirvana. It's a great place to escape! 

And we owe it all to that free spirited trail builder John Otto for making it happen. In the early 1900's, he began to explore the area. He looked around and thought, "Hey! This is a cool place. I'll start constructing trails." When the local Chamber of Commerce saw this one man Tour de Force, they exclaimed, "Strong Work! Dude! We'll get Congress to declare this a National Park!" 

It took our chubbiest President, William Howard Taft to utilize the Antiquities Act to declare those red rock canyons a National Monument in 1911.

Good old Mr. Otto was named the first park ranger. He held that lofty position for 16 years while living in a tent. In all those years, he kept on rolling rocks around to make trails. 

Thank You John Otto and may heaven provide you with a better shelter than a tent. 

BTW. Google the Antiquities Act of 1906. This is one tremendous piece of legislation.