A Flattering Halloween

So this Halloween I really didn't get to dress up much, but that's totally ok because my little cousin Brock decided to be me for Halloween!!! So awesome!!! And he absolutely nailed it. I mean I thought I was looking at a picture of me when I first saw it. So major kudos to Cousin Brock for keeping a Ronnie look-a-like in Alaska.

On The Road (Day 8)

Well I have reached the end of the road for now, Evergreen Colorado with my good buddy Tyler Seldomridge. I have had quite the adventure along the way with lots of interesting stops and sites. So for now I shall enjoy my temporary home that is tucked into the Colorado Rockies. But for anyone who is curious to the driving I have done this October, I have created a nice little Google Maps that shows all of the stops I have made and how far I have driven.

On The Road (Day 7)

Carved up some tiny pumpkins today. I did the two on the right. And I know it is a little early but... HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

On The Road (Day 6)

Today we made our way further south, running away from the weather to a small New Mexico town by the name of Cuba. I thought Kylie was kidding when she said we were going to Cuba, but wouldn't you know she was spot on again. Anywho, we went there to go to some hot springs! It was a bit of an adventure that involved more dirt roads, befriending an Icelandic couple, a two mile hike, and a fantastic dinner after hiking back. A small side note, there were these tiny little fish in hot spring that nibbled on our bodies. It was awkward at first but I think we learned to like it, at least I did... but back to business. The dinner was seriously amazing, it was in this tiny town of Jemez Springs and we went to a tiny local bar. All three of us order the special, an open faced burger covered in lettuce, tomatoes, and potato wedges then completely smothered with green chili sauce! It was heavenly. So needless to say, today was another huge success.

On The Road (Day 5)

NEW MEXICO!!!!! Now you might be asking yourselves. "Ronnie, what would make you want to go all the way from the rainforests of Alaska to a place like New Mexico?" And if you were to ask yourself such a question I would respond with, "Kylie Effin Kingsbury!" Whenever the three of us get together (Cassidy, Kylie and myself) it is sure to be a good time. Most often a photo shoot happens, and this time Kylie was determined to show us a real New Mexican sunset. And boy did she deliver. It was gorgeous! But the best part of all is that we had more than enough laughter and good times. And most importantly we stopped for ice cream on the way home and I got to ride in the back of the truck.

ICE CREAM!!!

On The Road (Day 4)

What a day for a drive. While we only covered a couple hundred miles of road, it was some of the most fun I have had behind the wheel in a while. Over 75 miles of dirt roads, a number of different parks and monuments, not to mention a ridiculous amount of crazy switchback roads, one of which was aptly named “Hell’s Backbone.” But my favorite stretch of road was just north of the small Utah town known as Mexican Hat.

Imagine this, you are driving in a forest of juniper trees. The sun is sitting on the horizon as you make your way across the vast landscape. As you drive there are a few ups and downs in the road, but nothing serious. As you continue to drive you notice that the area to the left and the right are growing smaller. The signs on the side of the road tell you to slow down to 15 miles an hour for the approaching downgrade. Then, almost without warning, you are literally at the edge of a cliff. You dip the nose of the vehicle over the abyss and begin to wind your way down the side of the butte as the setting sun disappears behind the rock wall looming beside you. After successfully navigating to the canyon floor, you are rewarded with a gorgeous sunset that throws your shadow hundreds of feet onto the surrounding sagebrush.

Needless to say, I enjoyed myself. Oh, and Cassidy had fun too.

On The Road (Day 3)

Another great day! After a lazy morning around the house we set off for Lower Calf Creek Falls. It is a regular oasis in comparison to the harshness of the surrounding area. The hike follows lower Calf Creek until you dead end at a surprisingly quiet waterfall. I mean really, we didn’t even realize we were there until it was right on top of us.

For anyone who is looking to hike in Escalante, may I suggest that October is a fantastic time to explore the area. I mean, there are no crowds, it’s not unbearably hot, and the leaves coming off of the trees make for a serene hiking experience.