Second post since trailer

We now call the trailer "The Lair." We're trying to put a cozy term to encourage a positive view of our circumstances. The lair is a place we retreat to for relaxing, decompressing and feeling at home. This is supposed to be our second blog to help you envision the sequence of what's happened since we moved out to the ranch. The next order of events occurred two days ago... We were walking by the creek near the beaver dam with the dogs, having a conversation, when suddenly a loud splash ("ker-plop", if you will) in the creek startled us to stop and stare. There were bubbles and ripples in the water next to a beaver-made ledge. Curious to see what would surface, we waited. Nothing. Within a few minutes, we heard light splashing from what appeared under the ledge. So you can picture what the ledge looked like, it was overhanging the water slightly and the water didn't quite meet up with the underside of the ledge- maybe an eight-inch gap. With the second splashing, Misha whined with her ears perked, ran down to the creek and plopped into the water. She started to swim toward the ledge but then turned the opposite direction. After several passes, she soon decided to enter the space underneath the ledge nonchalantly. Just as she passed under the ledge, something made a loud splash and Misha turned right around without hesitation, swimming rapidly. She went straight for the side of the creek and out. Oddly enough, whatever creature was under the ledge made a long melancholy sound. The only interpretation we had of the sound was that it was either a warning sound or a scared, "I'm uncomfortable with you entering my space" sound. Either way, it was sad sounding. We were proud of Misha for being so daring, yet sad to have disturbed the creature. We are almost certain that it was a beaver hiding under the ledge.

To catch you up - the last four days we have been trying to take apart part of the beaver dam to try and rid of the beavers from the ranch. The problem with them being there is that they are making these ledges under the main roads that the tractors for the rice fields have to use. In order to keep the roads in good condition, the beavers have to go. Thus, we've been trying to frustrate them off the property by tearing down their dam repeatedly. This was Matt's idea. The method is peaceful and respectful of the situation. The funny thing is that every morning we return to the dam to find the beavers have replaced what we had undone the previous day. It's a battle to see who will give up first. Humans vs. beavers. Who will become most frustrated? Kareena made it her job every morning to go down to the dam and undo the beavers work. Hopefully she outlasts the beavers. =0)

Trailer Move and Adventure

Alright folks. Here's the deal. We wanted to move off-the-grid so we bought a 1977 Taurus Travel Trailer and put it on a piece of land Matt's relatives own. The trailer is eighteen feet long but it feels smaller when you're inside it. We currently live in the trailer and our only accommodation is propane thus far. Our first night in the trailer was a wreck. We didn't have working propane to start out, so we couldn't cook dinner or heat the trailer. (Heating the trailer isn't a priority for us. However, it was FREEZING that first night). As for light to see in the pitch black night, we only had a flashlight and six small-sized candles.

The second night was even more uncomfortable and here's why. We tried for a second time to get the propane working on the trailer and could not light the pilot still. Feeling defeated, we decided to call it a night when all of a sudden Kareena smelled skunk. Matt called the dogs to get them back inside the trailer before they got sprayed, but it was too late.... As soon as Misha walked in, the smell in the trailer was overbearing and we found it hard to breathe. We started coughing and yelling at the dogs to get out of the trailer. We spent the next hour figuring out what we were going to do because the dogs would be sleeping in the trailer with us. Then we decided Matt would go to the store while Kareena stayed with the dogs so they didn't run off. (We weren't going to put them back in the trailer without being cleaned). Without running water in the trailer, Matt bought two gallons of water and a ton of tomato sauce. We later found out the most effective tomato wash is with the tomato juice... Needless to say, we cleaned both dogs just in case and neither of them were happy to be scrubbed with tomato sauce and rinsed with the water. It was another cold night, so it was highly uncomfortable for everybody. We went to bed even more defeated than when we found out the pilot wouldn't start. We slept with our heads under our five covers to avoid the chemical smell of Misha. Fantastic.

The next morning, Matt and I needed to work full-time in Davis, a city 30 miles from the land, so we needed to find a way to bathe. Matt already had a membership to a gym, thanks to his parents, from the results of a wonderful birthday and Christmas present. Kareena had no means to a shower. She bought a gym membership that day but was too shy to shower without a bathing suit on in the communal shower area. So, realizing her hands were really only what smelled of skunk, she went to work without a shower and her hair pulled back.

estes park

The family reunion was pretty fun. We sang and played the guitar. We played pool, went into the downtown area and walked around, took a fishing boat out on the lake, played in the snow, played cards, sat in the hot tubs, and drove around Rocky Mountain National Park. Kareena and I did an 8 mile run and a few shorter runs during the week.

Animals seen:

Elk - a lot in town and 4 up in the mountains

Big horned sheep - a small herd along the road on the last morning run

Fox - one came up to the deck looking for food, almost came in the house

Turkey - three spotted during a run

Antelope - spotted along the drive

Wyoming ground squirrel (I think) - a lot of them along the roads in the park

Lots of birds

Mountains Climbed:

Flattop Mountain - 12,324 ft. which is next to...

Hallet Peak - 12,713 ft. about 10.5 miles round trip from Bear Lake Trailhead

Almost to the top of Deer Mountain - 10,013 about 6 miles round trip 1700 feet of elevation gain.

We also celebrated Andrew's birthday and Virginia's graduation from Harvard. The closing ceremonies of the reunion were particularly fun: lots of singing with guitar accompaniment, speeches, and card playing.

The next reunion is planned for the redwood forest before 2020.

24 mile run

Kareena and I did a 24 mile run. It was good for the most part. Kareena hit a little wall 22 miles into the run. I was having problems too. But I went into a restaurant and washed my face and forearms to cool off, which worked. I also had some ice water which I think ended up being a problem because I puked a few minutes into the cool-down. The puke was mostly water and pecan pieces but kind of a spray-projectile vomit. I made it to a trash can just outside the mall that contained cigarette remains. Apparently someone was right behind me when I started my first vomiting fit and a lady was throwing something in the trash can about a second before I started my second vomiting session. Kareena poured water on my head which helped immensely and went off to buy a Gatorade. She couldn't get change from random people, so we got a Jamba Juice and walked home. When I got there, I weighed 150lbs which is 10-15 less than normal.

Kareena saved my ship! Pouring water on my head, trying to find Gatorade, getting Jamba Juice, making lunch, getting me water, making sure I'm not dead, all after she had run just as far as I did. I would say she did an awesome job today and deserves a gold star or a milkshake or something nice!

Overall the run was nice. We talked, saw some cool views of Tucson, A-Mountain, and the rest of the mountains around Tucson, had a few great snack-times, saw a road runner (good luck I'm told!) and I had projectile vomit...not too bad.

photos around tucson

Tucson - week 1

Since we have been in Tucson:

I have eaten about 20 grapefruit

Made about 2 gallons of paint

Scheduled 8 dentist appointments (4 for me, 4 for Kareena)

Attended 4 dentist appointments (2 for each of us)

Grown a sparse beard

Canned 3 pints of lemon juice

Been to Albertsons about 20 times

Had dinner with Connie and Steve

Had dinner with Jessica, John, Geneen, Kareena, and Autumn at Geneen's place

Bottled about 7 gallons of beer

Easley to Tucson

Yesterday Kareena and I drove from (about) Mineral Wells, TX to Tucson, AZ. We started at 4:30 am from a rest stop where we slept and got into Tucson at about 17.5 hours later. A record for both us (most time driven). The day before we started in Tuscaloosa, AL. Kareena drove the truck with the trailer. West Texas was pretty but I wouldn't want to live there. It didn't look like a very interesting place judging by the lack of radio stations. I think it was exceptionally green because 2 years ago it looked quite barren. The drive overall was fun. I am definitely tired of Subway, we ate there at pretty every meal. We also ate a place in Deming, NM. My food was good. Kareena had a rib sandwich which was awful; sloppy-saucy and meat that was burnt on the outside and mushy on the inside.

Favorite city along the way: Merkel, TX

Miles the 1st day: 340

Miles run and number of laps around the lake near Sarah and Tim's: 22

Miles the 2nd day: 750

Miles the 3rd day: 875

Dog fights in the car: 2

Incedents with the car, truck, or trailer: 0