Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Storms, Zip Dee Window Awnings and Psalm 46: 1-3



We definitely had and interesting afternoon Tuesday. Everything had went very smoothly all day. We left Estes Park around 11:00 Am and started the nice leisurely and stunning drive to Loveland and I-25. I snapped several pictures through the windshield but I haven't even checked to see how they turned out. I hope to post some of them later if they are good.

We headed North on I-25 and stopped for fuel at the Flying J in Cheyenne. In the afternoon on the North side of Casper, Wyoming the storm clouds began to gather to our West. They didn't look good at all but it seemed by the weather reports that we would be North of the storm by the time it crossed the interstate. Lesson #1: Don't believe everything you read or hear!

About 30 miles North of Casper we were right in the path of a terrible storm. Very high winds and the potential of large hail and heavy rain. Occasionally we had some hills on the West side of the interstate so that blocked some of the wind but it was still moving the BoggsMobile pretty badly. I slowed way down and was looking for somewhere to park (In the middle of nowhere.) when it sounded like the roof came off the bus. We have, or I should say had, a 17 ft. window awning on the drivers side of the bus and when I looked in my mirror trying to locate the source of the terrible noise I could see the awning was flopping in the wind!

The tension is supposed to keep it rolled up, plus it had a little safety catch on it as well but nothing held in that wind. I pulled over and accessed the situation and decided to ease up under a bridge to hopefully find some shelter from the wind and rain. While I was doing this, Kelly Jo was sending texts to friends and family so they could pray AND so they would know where we were if we were blown a way in the storm.

The awning was so damaged, I knew it wouldn't roll back up so I tried my best to rig something to secure it for a few miles. We were all praying as I worked from a ladder right next to the interstate and it seemed the BoggsMobile could literally turn over from the force of the wind at times. I kept quoting and praying a verse that I have been preaching to folks across this country.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.


The situation was stressful for several minutes and it seemed as if things could become drastically worse in seconds but there was no fear. I know that God is my refuge. I know that God is my strength. I know that God is a very present help in my trouble. Therefore I must not allow fear to reign!

After the Lord helped me to secure it enough to drive slowly if the wind would die down we began to pray about which direction to go. Continue on 85 miles to the campground we had planned to stay in? Then 40 more miles the next day to the nearest RV Repair place on our route? OR Find a place to turn around and go 30 miles in the wrong direction to Casper, Wyoming?

It was after 5:00 so I expected the Repair facilities in Casper to be closed. I called one and they said they could get me in the next morning and could repair or remove the awning. Just as I started that way the wind died down, the sun came out and a beautiful bright rainbow appeared beside the road! Praise God!

I drove very slowly to Rec Vee Service & Supply in Casper and pulled in around 6:15 PM. Lou, the owner, was still there so he looked it over and it was obvious the awning was beyond repair. The only option was to remove it. After about 30 minutes work we had it on the ground. Here's the kicker. Lou charged me only $25 and for only $10 more he allowed me to plug into his 50 amp plug and spend the night. After all the stress of the storm, the possibilities that could have happened, the damage that did occur, Lou Grunewald of Rec Vee Service & Supply was an answer to prayer!

I have no idea what a new window awning will cost but right now it doesn't matter. I am thankful my little family is safe and that all 12 tires (Counting Mr. Cheap Jeep) are facing down instead of looking at the sky!

We should have taken some pictures during the storm but pictures were way down the list of priorities behind things like prayer!

Praise God for his help and the prayers of our friends!

Davy






It is supposed to be wrapped up nice and tight behind a metal enclosure!







This rainbow was so bright and both ends were visible on the ground but my iPhone just couldn't capture the brilliance. Thank God for the message of the rainbow!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Rocky Mountain National Park

The BoggsMobile in an Estes Park campground.

We first visited Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado 9 or 10 years ago. We lived in Wichita, Kansas at the time so we brought Kelly Jo's parents and her sister Kimberly on a whirlwind trip to this beautiful state and the last day included 4 or 5 hours in the Rocky Mountain National Park. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and promised ourselves that we would come back to see more of it someday. That day finally arrived and in our characteristic fashion we were riding another whirlwind. We rented a campground for two nights and wish we could explore this area for a week. It is an absolutely beautiful place!

The first elk we saw this time was on the road to Bear Lake. The sun was shining very bright and it took forever to snap a picture that could be seen! It was worth it. Please remember that all these picture were taken on the run with my iPhone...



We drove up to Bear Lake in the evening and it was a gorgeous drive. Bear Lake is over 9500 feet above sea level and is literally breathtaking! We unloaded Odie's power chair and she made the "walk" with us. We sat up there for quite a while and soaked in the beauty of God's creation. I mentioned earlier that we live our lives in a whirlwind as most folks do and truth be known we probably wouldn't be comfortable living any other way. But it has certainly been good for us to slow down a bit and catch our breath. I can't think of a better way to recharge than admiring the handiwork of God that is so evident. I think our down time is going to be good for us not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally.








We spent a whole day driving the 46 miles or so of the Trail Ridge Road. It goes across the park climbing to over 12000 feet above sea level. In fact over 8 miles of the road lies above 11000 feet. It has numerous pullouts, overlooks, roads that lead to other areas of the park, as well as the Alpine Visitors Center. The Visitor Center is about 11800 feet above sea level and it is a beautiful place.

When we finished the drive we had a picnic lunch that Kelly Jo had prepared and then we turned around and drove the 46 miles back to Estes Park. It was worth every mile!

Here are a few pictures of the trip.






Kelly Jo and Odie at the Alpine Visitor Center






On the west side of the park we saw more elk than we could count in the long wide valley that runs along the road. The valley is still above 7500-8000 feet and is full of elk. It is also a great place to see Moose but they alluded us today.

These 4 elk are the biggest we saw but unfortunately I wasn't able to get very close to them. The racks on these make the elk at the top of this page look like youngsters.


Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for all the nice emails about the pictures we post here. Please leave a comment below as well..

God Bless you,

Davy

Monday, June 21, 2010

Hope You All Had A Happy Fathers Day

My Dad as a little boy


Dad Saturday at a stop along the way in Colorado


Dad and I in Silverton, Colorado


Papaw Eugene on Memorial Day


Papaw Danny on our last visit to Hillsboro, Ohio



Dad has been updating you on the great time we are having in Colorado. I wanted to take a break from the fun yesterday to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day but my phone service wouldn't cooperate. Hopefully I can get this out today.

A Father is a very special person. I am blessed with a wonderful Father that loves me beyond measure! His love is much like that of our Heavenly Father. It keeps on giving even when there are times I'm undeserving.

Thank you Dad for always being there for me. "I love you more than a hog loves slop"!!!! Thanks for being a great role model. I hope to pattern my life after what you have taught me. Please forgive the fact that many times I am a slow learner! Thanks for not giving up one me. You have shown me through experience that we can make it if we try. You are the greatest!!!!!

Both my Papaw Eugene Boggs and Papaw Danny Morgan are #1 Papaws!!!!! They each are there for me when I need them even though hundreds of miles separate us most of the time. They are my encouragers. I am so proud to call them my Papaws!!!!

Oh yeah just for the record, both of them were my Papaw before anyone else had them. I am the #1 grandchild but I gladly share them with the 6 other grandchildren on either side of the family!!!! I love you both so very much! Thanks for the joy you bring into my life!

I hope all you Dads had a splendid day. Don't forget to tell those closest to how much they mean to you!!!


Odie

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Wow! What an Experience! Durango-Silverton Railroad

In all of our travels we have been privileged to zoom by some beautiful places at 70 miles per hour. We have of regretted not taking time to stop and investigate many of the places we pass. One of the places we talk about most as we zoom through is Colorado. We have been here three times in the last 18 years and all of them were very quick trips through or in and out of the state. This year we finally planned a few days off in Colorado. The first thing we learned... a few days is not enough!

The last 3 days have been spent doing something I have always wanted to do. Since the first time I heard about the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad I have wanted to ride it. It travels through 45 miles of absolutely beautiful country. I posted a few pictures yesterday but I could not resist posting a bunch more this evening. Like most of the pictures I post on here these were taken with my iPhone so the quality isn't all that great but I think they turned out pretty good. I hope I haven't overdone the amount pictures.

I have also posted a few pictures of the trip from Colorado Springs to Durango and back. We left the BoggsMobile in the campground here and drove Mr. Cheap Jeep and after several 7% grades I am so glad we did. Wolf Creek Pass on Hwy 160 which we crossed going and coming goes up at 6% for over 10 curvy miles and then down the other side at 6% and 7% for over 8 curvy miles. The pass itself is about 10800 feet above sea level. We crossed it going and coming. That would have been a wild ride in the BoggsMobile. We saw lots of RVs but they were all taking it very easy and holding on very tight!

We drove to Durango through Pueblo, then West Hwy. 160 through Alamosa and Pagosa Springs on Thursday. We rode the train on Friday which is over 7 hours round trip. Today (Saturday) we came back through Pagosa Springs and Del Norte then North on Hwy. 285, then East on Hwy. 24. It was a long trip but so beautiful I can't describe it. We have been having trouble loading pictures on our regular website for weeks but when we resolve that we will post the pictures from Odie's camera there.

I hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment or drop me an email to let us know what you think.

Davy


On The Way to Durango, Colorado Hwy. 160 from about 9000 feet above sea level.


At The Station in Durango


The Beautiful Train Ride From Durango to Silverton and Back













Kelly Jo and Odie in Silverton, CO


These were taken from Wilkerson Pass (9500 feet above sea level) on Hwy. 24 on the way back to Colorado Springs

Friday, June 18, 2010

Durango-Silverton Railroad Pictures

We are half way finished with the train ride. We are in Silverton
eating lunch. Here are a few pictures to wet your appetite. The view
is awesome!

Davy