The Rubicon's Maiden Voyage

After a long week at work, full of shouting at trainees, we needed a morning of decompression. Plus it was my 5th year anniversary in the Patrol. An excuse to celebrate! The Rubicon has only been used to get to and from work and we've been itching to take her own her maiden voyage off road. The weather was perfect, so we took part of the top off and enjoyed the breeze and sun. Our original plan was to head to Box Canyon. We headed off to Florence (reference excited Elly above) and were bummed when we saw the extreme amount of traffic on the road we needed because of Country Thunder. (insert annoyed face here) so instead we detoured to our old staple, the Florence/Kelvin highway. Since we worked all night, heading all the way to Superior was out of the question, but a side trip to Cochran sounded perfect.

Taggers should be shot for ruining this natural wonder.

The kiddos enjoyed the break in the heat.

Back in the Jeep towards Cochran.

A tight squeeze towards the "river".

Rommel wasn't thrilled that we wouldn't let him in the water. But there were not going to be wet and muddy dogs in my new Jeep. Not yet anyway. A small snack, and we headed back towards home.

An excellent way to christen the Jeep. A perfect way to start our weekend..

Adventures in ParaGliding part 2

After being shut down on our first attempt due to high winds, I finally got my flight in!! Coolest experience ever!! Of course, Mike wants one now. Dream on, my love.

Adventures in Paragliding: Part 1

This morning Mike went paragliding. Unfortunately for me, the winds picked up and I was unable to go today. I rescheduled for next week. He had a blast and of course wants to buy one now. Here is a video of his flight.

Blogger sucks and will not support Vimeo videos, so here is a link to the video: Mike's Para Gliding Adventure

The Joys of Roof Top Tents

I worked a bit of overtime last week and we splurged on a purchase. A Howling Moon Stargazer Roof Top Tent. The Adventure Couple decided that sleeping on the ground is the pits and wanted more comfort and security.

After many different mounting ideas, Mike settled on mounting it directly onto the truck cap.

Now comes the fun part. Unwrapping it!

It even came with shoe pockets.

The Adventure Husband fast at work propping up windows.

One the tent was up - maybe only 5-10 minutes set up time - we set out to put on the bottom room. The dog room, aka, changing room.

 Rommel poking his head in - whatcha doin?

 Always a dog in the picture.

 Once set up on dirt, the room will make more sense. Its kinda hard to stake something out on a concrete driveway.

 I wish the mud on the truck was from a camping excursion, but alas, its only from the muddy parking lot at work.

So we're thrilled. Its huge and comfortable. I need to run out and buy bedding (which can be packed away with the tent). I'm hoping for a camping trip soon.

ARB fridge - check
Packable kitchen - check
Chairs & hammock - check
RTT!!! - check

I'm ready!

Adventures in Christmas decorating

I haven't been in a holiday mood this year. With Mike away, its hard to feel enthusiastic about anything. But its extremely important to me that we have Christmas together. I get him back a few short days before Santa arrives. I had a conned a friend to go tree shopping with me.

Wandering through a parking lot at Home Depot to pick a tree is wrong. In everyway. I miss meandering through a field to see a tree still growing, still alive. I miss picking that perfect specimen and cutting it myself. You don't particularly get that experience in southern Arizona. So Home Depot it was.

I came home with a 9 foot tree. Without Mandi, it would still be in the truck. Without Mandi, I would have had to re-light the entire tree. With Mandi, I had the whole tree decorated quickly.

The house smells amazing. The tree has personality. The only thing missing is my husband.

 

Oh and I love my new camera. Santa came early....more like I opened my gift early. 

Beer Dogs

So Mike has been eyeing a home brew kit for a few months now. He's even been saving beer bottles. Even though he's in El Paso and won't be home until Christmas, I thought it would be nice for him to know he has his birthday present here waiting.

Best. Wife. Ever.

Anyone in AZ have pop off top beer bottles, let me know. I'll take them off your hands.

Life a bit slower

Things have slowed down considerably. The last few weeks Mike and I spent the time prepping for him to leave. He is off in El Paso at K9 school until Christmas. So I'm a single, working "mom" to my four legged kids. Just working and entertaining them.

The weather has improved by leaps and bounds and it kills me that my adventure partner is off in another state. Fall has finally hit. It has rained several times. I have promised the dogs a hike in the mountains once a week. But that is the limit of my adventures for the meantime.

So until our next foray into the great outdoors, I leave you with a double rainbow...