hiking Archives - Page 2 of 2

May 24th Memorial Day – More Than A Three Day Weekend

Memorial Day is upon us, a lot of you will be hitting the highway to go camping, fishing or traveling to friends’ homes. You might be planning a big get together with family and friends or just decorating the graves of loved ones. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, stop for a moment and remember the reason we celebrate.

Did you know that all Americans are encouraged to pause for a minute of silence at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day? That’s right, wherever you are during your festivities, please take a minute to honor and remember our country’s fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

No matter how bleak things look, I still believe we live in the greatest nation in the world. If you don’t feel the same, maybe you should reconsider your locale. I can say that because I live in the greatest nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Be Safe and Have a Happy Memorial Day!

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged camping, freedom, hiking, lives, Memorial Day, remember, Weekend by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Aug 22nd Adventures of a Dog, a Bird & a Turtle

Our first indication an adventure was afoot was our fifth wheel trailer is parked in the driveway, rather than wherever it hides. Excitement mounts as our humans drag clothes from the upstairs closets to the trailer. Next the delicious aroma of food is carried out. I sure hope we get some of whatever it is. Oops gotta make a pit stop out back and grab a couple of favorite toys to take. Be right back.

There she goes, that silly dog. What if our humans sneak out the front door while no one is on guard. Guess it’s up to me. I’ll just move over to my other perch and keep an eye out. Thump, thump, thump a human with a basket of goodies comes bounding up the basement steps. “Hey guys don’t forget my freshly made breakfast s and frozen dinners.” Pop! The fridge opens, containers of my food are tossed in the basket, yep we’ve trained the humans well. Whew… we’re all set. “Hey wake up Sammy. It’s time to go.”

“What… who… where?” Sammy turtle peeks grumpily out of her shell. “I better get out and play this camping trip. Last time I was stuck in my travel home the whole time, just because it rained. Our humans need to carry a shell with them. Besides a little water ain’t going to make them rust or melt.”

“Oh hush,” says Taco the parrot. “They got our travel homes and Mystic’s leash. It’s time. Oh, yum, I’m getting dinner in my travel home, must be a longer trip. Yippee!”

Thwack. The dog door closes after and exuberant Chow dog rushes in. “Are we ready?” With a bang, our human drops the dog door panel in place and locks it. Then he bends down and hooks the leash to my harness, grabs Taco’s travel home. “Hey, where’s Sammy?”

“Already gone. She’s in the trailer.” Taco says around a beak full of food. “You know she gets car sick if she rides in the car.”

Loaded in the truck, my head out the window, Taco’s carrier hung in the other window, we’re off. Other vehicles wiz by, birds fly overhead and wow something smells good. “Hey why are you rolling the window up. We’re not going that fast.” I plop down in the seat with a grumble and watch out the closed window. Miles and miles go by till we reach a mountainous area, with lots of trees. Pass through the ranger’s tiny house in the middle of the road. My window is back down, I hear a bugling sound, wait… WOW what is that beside the road looking at me?” Sniff, sniff, whine, whine, woof.

Human says “Leave it Mystic.”

Aww that’s no fun. “Taco, did you see that.”

“It’s an Elk, saw it on the Discovery Channel. Told you to stop chasing squirrels and watch my television.”

“Taco that’s boring. No smells and doesn’t run. How am I supposed to chase it? Whoa, chipmunk.”

“We’re here guys. Rocky Mountain National Park,” the humans chorus. “Out you go.” Humans carry the Taco’s Travel home into the fifth wheel and hook up my leash. “Hike in ten minutes.”

*** Yep, we just broke all the writing rules ever written. We can do that because we are a dog, a bird, and a turtle on an adventure. ‘Yes, I got out, see pictures above and right,” said Sammy.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged box turtle, camping, Chow Chow, Eclectus Parrot, Elk, hiking, Rocky Mountain National Park, RV, RVIng by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Apr 23rd Camping Season is Here! Have You Made Reservations?

Welcome to the Spring ‘Tastic Blog Tour. Thanks for stopping by! At the bottom of this post are links for visiting the other blogs and info on the grand prize. So sit back and learn why you should be camping!

It’s here, finally here. I’ve looked forward all winter to packing up the fifth wheel and camping! Yes, we have to de-winterize it first, details, details. LOL I love the scent of a campfire, roasting marshmallows, s’mores, and steaks cooked on an open campfire are the best. Don’t you think?

Hiking, kayaking, relaxing, unwinding from the daily routine of life and napping, oh yes, napping is a must when camping. The fresh mountain air wafting over you in the comfy lounge chair in front of the fifth wheel, trailer or tent, nothing better. Relaxing with a good book after a nice hike is a great way to hit the reset button on the stressors in your world. Many an idea for my books I attribute to camping trips. What do I write? Paranormal Romance, thanks for asking. My fifth book, A Warlock’s Secrets releases June 14, 2017, it’s second in the Demon’s Witch Series, and one you’ll want to take camping. For a list of all my books, click here. Now back to your regularly scheduled post.

Sleep may come a little easier in the fresh mountain air and under the starry skies. A new report from the University of Colorado (yep, I live in Colorado) backs up what I’ve known all along. Camping is good for you! Even a weekend trip, can make a difference in the rise and fall of the hormone melatonin which regulates our biological clock. Couple that with spending quality time with family, friends and pets (yep, our dog, parrot, and box turtle go camping too) and you have a recipe for recharging your mental and physical batteries. We spend our weekends camping as often as possible from spring through fall, when the honey-do list allows. Heck, sometimes when it doesn’t. LOL

According to Kenneth P. Wright, a sleep researcher and author of a study published in the journal Cell, “Living in our modern environments can significantly delay our circadian timing, and late circadian timing is associated with many health consequences.” Gotta go camping for my health!

Okay, enough with the scientific stuff. I’ve given you plenty of reasons to get out there and enjoy nature. What are you waiting for? Fresh mountain air, wildlife, kayaking, hiking & biking trails are calling you.

Where you ask? Let’s start with the fantastic National Parks, https://www.nps.gov/index.htm. Rocky Mountain National is a favorite of ours as are Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite and several others. Then you have the wonderful Colorado State Parks, http://cpw.state.co.us/ Steamboat Lake, Pearl Lake, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, and Mueller State Park are just a few of our favorites. Come play outside and take a gook book with you!

Here is a sneak peek at my upcoming book, A Warlock’s Secrets, releasing June 14th, second book in Demon’s Witch Series.

Years ago a sacred ceremony at the Dragon’s Moon Coven, turned deadly. Son of the high priestess, Tristian Shandie’s life changed forever. With a price on his head and revenge in his heart, he has no choice but to follow in his father’s footsteps to a profession shrouded in secrets. Now his skills as an enforcer for the Demon Overlord are second to none. But dangerous secrets he harbors are a liability he can no longer afford.

A chance meeting with a woman he finds irresistible flips Tristian’s world upside down. Hannah is a cyber security specialist with secrets of her own. Bad boys never appealed to her until Tristian, who changes everything. In his darkest hours she is dragged into his magical world. If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?

If you haven’t read the book that started it all, A Demon’s Witch, its available at Amazon.com, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press. and Barnes & Noble. Then watch for A Warlock’s Secrets, June 14th, pre-orders coming soon!

For a chance to win a $10.00 Amazon gift card, sign up for my quarterly newsletter and like my facebook page. Oh, did you find the missing eggs? Sure you did, leave a comment letting me know your thoughts, then head on over to the Highway Café for info on the grand prize and more fantastic blogs. Click below!

http://transcanadaromancewriters.blogspot.ca/2017/04/spring-tastic-tour.html

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged camping, Colorado State Parks, Giveaways, Highway Cafe - Spring Tour, hiking, kayaking, National Parks by Tena Stetler with 20 comments.

Jun 2nd Camping and Hiking – Steamboat and Pearl Lake

I think for the next few weeks, I’ll discuss the campgrounds that we’ve visited and the hiking trails around the area. First one, as you probably have surmised will be Steamboat Lake, a Colorado State Park. It’s one of my family’s favorites. We camp in a 30-foot fifth wheel with all the comforts of home.

Right Side View from Camp Site at Steamboat Lake

Left side View From Steamboat Lake Campsite

In fact, Steamboat Lake is the location for my first Cozy Mystery due out the end of 2016. The story revolves around friends who vacation together, picking a different spot each year and this year they are at Steamboat Lake. Just happens that the site Amber and Malic reserved has a trailer already in it when their friends, Jake and Tamberlyn arrive. The rangers are notified, only to discover that the trailer with Nevada license plates apparently has been abandoned with an unwelcome occupant. Upon closer inspection, all is not what it seems and Tamberlyn’s security background and computer talents are put to the test. Ok, that’s enough about my current novel in progress.

Dawn Mist Over Steamboat Lake

Steamboat Lake is a little piece of heaven on the western slope, about 27 miles northwest from the Town of Steamboat. Hahns Peak frames the breath taking scenery of this spectacular park.

Kayaking at Steamboat Lake

It offers non-electric and electric camp sites for RV’s or tents. Reservations are strongly suggested from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are some sites shaded by aspen or evergreen trees and others are near the shoreline.

We enjoy the sites lakeside as it easier and closer to get our kayaks in the water. The lake is perfect for kayaking, especially early morning and at twilight, when the aquatic wildlife is out and about in the crisp mountain air. It’s also a wonderful lake for boats, water skiing and seadoos. The swim beach is perfect for a day of swimming or a family picnic.

Great Blue Heron, Steamboat Lake

The RV’s are not packed in like sardines and most sites offer at tent pad and campfire ring. There are several trails for biking or hiking and your canine friend can accompany you on the trails. There is a little camp store at the full service marina and the visitor’s center is just a bike ride away.

Flora at Steamboat Lake’s Edge

The information and campsite map is available on their website .

A little about Pearl Lake, it’s campsites are all non-electric and the lake doesn’t allow motorized vehicles, so it’s a very tranquil place. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, it’s just a couple of miles down the road from Steamboat Lake.

You don’t have to say goodbye to Steamboat Lake as winter approaches. There are ten camper cabins available year around. Also available are 14 electrical hookups at the marina parking lot. Just load up your snowmobiles and ice fishing gear or snowshoes and cross county ski’s and get out there.

Posted in Camping, My Say What Blog and tagged camping, Colorado, hiking by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.