HOG ride July 2009

OK - when will I ever learn? I uploaded the pictures in the 'backwards' order. O well, here they are! We went for 2 weeks, traveled over 3,000 miles on the War Pony. Nat is sending pictures of the Thompson Family Reunion that we attended on his own. These are just a few that I picked out to show you. We stayed at the wonderful Grizzly B&B in Cortez, Colorado. There were not only great views, but medicine wheel walkways. Shilo, Greg and Cadence are walking the circle behind me. Next were the bee stings, mostly directed at Greg. Sorry I didn't get pictures of his war dance but it was something special. Cadence on his back must have thought so as well!

This is the Grizzly B&B in Cortez, owned by Michele, a Native. We had a great time. The cottage was lovely, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen area, fabulous porches and walking areas! We highly recommend it!

On our way from Canon City, Colorado, to Cortez, we went over Red Mountain, elevation over 11,000 feet! I wonder why there is no snow up there? Check out the great jacket Nat gave me for my birthday - I love it!

As we were leaving Aunt Pat at Canon City, her little dog Oscar wanted to come with us. We put him in the trunk of the bike - he decided that wasn't for him - we left him in Canon.

Nat's Great Great Grandfather founded Thompson Springs, Utah. We toured the area on our way to Colorado. It's now not much more than a ghost town, but it feels good to walk in an area where your ancestors have once been!

Between Delta, Utah and Green River, Utah, we stopped at this rest stop - mostly to take off the leather jackets, but the view was fabulous!

What'd I say! Pretty as a postcard!

The Navajos had their wares set up all along the rest area - it was all beautiful. Most of us have heard of Navajos. They asked where I was from - they'd never heard of Wascos. I explained that we were the salmon people that the infamous Lewis & Clark 'discovered' along the Columbia River. Not much you can carry on your bike though, and we were just starting, so I could not make a purchase.

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My parents passed away in 2002. Nat and I moved into their little house in 2003. Nat's aunt Pat, cousin Betty, and her husband Jerry had given us this catalpa tree earlier. We kept it in a bucket until we moved in and planted it here. It is now quite a bit taller than Nat. It has beautiful white flowers in the spring. We have lots of tree 'reminders' all over the many places we have lived. Nat "Johnny Appleseed" Shaw takes after his father, Ray, planting trees wherever we go!