2008 Iowa Trip

Here are some photos from my August trip back to Iowa.  It's so beautiful in NorthEast Iowa, in the "Driftless Area".

Here is a link to all the photos, enjoy.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s7o79k5.67mz598d&x=0&y=kqz7qr&localeid=en_US

Scenic Overlook Balltown Iowa

Foggy morning at the Balltown Iowa overlook

A view of farmland and Cassville Wisconsin from Balltown Iowa

A view of the Mississippi River from Fire Point Overlook at Effigy Mounds Nat'l Monument

Hike to Lake Isabelle in the Indian Peaks Wilderness

I did the hike up to Lake Isabelle in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.  Saw some beautiful wildflowers including Colorado's state flower, the Colorado Blue Columbine and I got some nice photos of a humming bird.

here is a link to all the photos,

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s7o79k5.8x3kd0ad&x=0&y=-sw2i46&localeid=en_US

Humming Bird hovering above an Indian Paintbrush

Humming Bird hovering above an Indian Paintbrush wildflower

Colorado's State Flower, the Colorado Blue Columbine

2008 4th of July weekend

Link to all photos from 4th of July weekend in Montrose and Ridgway, CO
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s7o79k5.cfew5yot&x=0&y=dvj3xw&localeid=en_US

I had a great trip to Montrose, CO for the 4th of July weekend to see MJ and to take in the beautiful views of the San Juan Mountains.

I got in to Ouray about 9:30pm and luckily drove over Red Mountain Pass in the dark. I could tell this pass was pretty intense even in the dark but I made it. I stayed on the Silverton side the first night, the stars were amazing. I drove back over the pass early the next day so that I wouldn't meet any vehicles on the pass. I spent the next day driving up County Road 7 & 9 and Last Dollar Road off of Dallas Divide. Toward the end of County Road 7 is an awesome valley with the mountains in the back. At the end is the trailhead to Blue Lakes. I walked out to the trail mileage sign to see how far the hikes were and as I turned around to head the 30 yards back to my vehicle, I saw a big black bear to my left about 30-40 feet away. I started to slowly move toward my vehicle, he looked up and saw me and disappeared into the thick woods. That night I met MJ in Ouray for fireworks. I drove back to the end of County Road 7 and camped there for the night.

The next day MJ and I drove to Telluride and back up County Road 7, we went to church and then I took him to the Montrose Skate Park.

On Sunday MJ and I drove back to Silver Jack Res. an area where they filmed a lot of the John Wayne movie, True Grit. It was great but started raining real hard when we got there. Sunday night I went to the South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park. I hiked out on the Warner Point Nature Trail at the end of the South Rim road and enjoyed some awesome views of Farmland, Sand Dunes and the San Juan Mountain Range. Slept through the rain that night and was on the road back to Broomfield by 6am.

2008 May Rocky Mt Nat'l Park

Elk way up high and going higher

Fall River in West Horseshoe Park

Ram, Big Horn Sheep

Badger

Aspens to Alpine in West Horseshoe Park

Here is a link to more photos from the weekend.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s7o79k5.5ruyj2lh&x=0&y=bh7si4&localeid=en_US

I had a great weekend trip up in Rocky Mt Nat'l Park.  I left work on Friday at 4pm and was at the Morraine Park campground by 5:15pm.  I got my camp site and drove around to see all the sites once again.  It reminded me of a quote, "I've come here, like so many evenings before, simply to see what I can see." by David Petersen from the Nearby Faraway.  Saturday morning was an early one, 5am and on my way to Sprague Lake to get the photo of Halletts Peak reflecting in it.  When I got there I noticed the water wasn't completely calm because the lake was so full it was emptying out the East end so the water was moving.  Just about then some elk came into the lake and really stirred things up.  It made for a bad reflection photo but it was great to watch the young elk playing around in the water.  About 7:30 I went to EndoValley picnic area and parked next to Fall River and took a nap with the sounds of the river putting me to sleep.  I woke up again and had a breakfast sandwich next to the water and thought it would be nice to head up Trail Ridge Road and have a cup of coffee up there.  I was heading that direction but realized I was so close to Sheep Lakes and I have seen a Big Horn in awhile so I turned left instead of right.  Perfect timing.  The ranger stopped me and I was the first in line to watch 3 ewes cross the road and head down to Sheep Lakes.  They let me through and I went to the parking area where Ranger Don had just started his ranger talk about Big Horn Sheep.  Once that was over and everyone left the sheep came out and were visable, so I snapped a few long photos.  Then a gentlemen approached Ranger Don and asked him if it was okay for him to use him in his next book on RMNP.  He was the well known photographer James Frank.  I listen to James and the Ranger talk back and forth as it was very interesting.  Then I drove back to where I came from to get some closer photos of the 3 ewes.  I was able to do that and just as the sheep were heading out of sight a badger came running across the meadow.  This is only the 2nd time I have seen a badger and it was very cool.  He was looking for food.  He ran right up on 4 deer and one of them was checking him out but he just went about his business.  Then he disappeared over a hill.  I decided to follow from a distance and not in is direct path.  I saw the badger again by it burrow.  Then 3 more smaller badger came out and that was awesome.  It was so much fun watch him.  A lady had mentioned to me while we were taking photos of the badger that some Big Horn Sheep were seen for a couple of days just outside the park.  I drove up Trail Ridge Road and went to the place where the lady said the Big Horn Sheep were and she was dead on.  This group of 5 had 2 big Rams in it and I don't think I have seen a Ram with that much curl to his horns.  It was great.  I went to a picnic area and made myself another bagel sandwich for dinner while I watched some elk in the meadow and a Stellar Jay was begging for food.  I wren came and sang a short song and flew away.  Then I went to the Ranger talk.  It was not a ranger giving it, it was "The Trout Doctor" retired CSU professor and trout expert, Robert Behnke and though I'm not a fishermen it was quite interesting because of some of the things we as man do to "make things better" and end up doing more harm than good sometimes.  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/us/14fish.html?fta=y  It was a great trip.

Storm North Red U16 2008 State Cup, on to the Final Four (Top 20 teams in the state at U16)

MJ and his teammates, Storm North Red U16 have started play in the Spring 2008 Colorado State Cup.

Follow along with MJ's State Cup Standings, Storm North is in Pool D.

http://www.coyouthsoccer.org/schstand/SC08/120_5_0.html

SUN 5/4/08

MJ's team had quite a battle on their hands today.  They dominated play but couldn't finish on their opportunities to score and found themselves in a 1-1 battle late in the game.  We put one in on a free kick and an own-goal by one of their players who actually used to play on our team.  It is now on to the Final Four next Sun.  Below are several photos of MJ at Field #21 at Dick's Sporting Goods Fields.  Here are some photos from the game, 

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s7o79k5.a4fkrf59&x=0&y=a5033z&localeid=en_US

MJ reaching for a high ball, great background.

SUN 4/13/08

Coming off a disappointing league lost on Sat to Pikes Peak Nike Rush, Storm North came out very strong in the final game of pool play in the first round of State Cup and won 7-0 to advance to the Elite 8 or the Championship Round.  They finished the first round pool play with a 3-0 record and will move on to the 2nd round where it is now, win or go home.  There is still no clear cut favorite for the championship, so it might as well be Storm North Red. (No photos from the State Cup game).  

SUN 4/6/2008

The Storm North Red boys started slow once again today.  The scored was tied at half and the Pride Predators got on the board first with a free kick from just outside the box.  The boy planted it in the top back corner for a 1-0 lead.  The lead didn't last long as we came right back and scored a couple of minutes later and Adam beat the goalie and put it away.  Like yesterday that appeared to open the floodgates.  About 5-10 minutes later Lupito received a great cross, dribbled the goalie, who had come out and put it away from a very tough angle.  There was than a little controversy as MJ made a touch save but the ball was heading for the back corner and Luke came and booted it out.  The side ref appeared to call it a goal but it clearly did not cross over the line.  That was a big play because it kept the 1 goal lead.  Than Adrian put 2 insurance goals in, the first one from outside the 18 and the last one on a nice header from a great cross to complete the 4-1 win.  A win next Sunday clinches winning Pool D and advancing on to the Elite 8.

(all the photos at the link below)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s7o79k5.3br9dzc5&x=0&y=glh7o9&localeid=en_US

SAT 4/5/2008.  

They had a very tough battle today against a very good team from Boulder.  Boulder led 1-0 after one half and held that lead until about halfway through the 2nd half when Tesho scored to get us on the board with about 15 minutes left in the game.  Christian than scored as the goalie couldn't secure a save and Christian charged in, scored on the rebound and did an amazing flip over the goalie.  Lupito finished the scoring as he blasted one from about 25 yards out.  They won 3-1 but it was much closer than the score indicated. (No Photos of this game)

They are still ranked #1 in the state of Colorado,

http://www.gotsport.com/rankings/team.aspx?teamid=17356

The team from LA they beat in the Championship game in AL is now ranked #1 in the Country.

Follow along with MJ's 2008 Elite II League Standings

www.csysa.org/schstand/S_08/820_5_202.html

U16 Storm North Red 3-0 win over Chivas & 3-0 win over Real in an Elite II league game.

4/30/08 It was a wind blown battle with Boulder scoring one in the first half and Storm North scoring one in the 2nd half for a tie.  Both goals were scored on PK's.  MJ got his hand on the PK but just couldn't push it outside the post.  One point and this puts them in first by one point for the time being with a record of 4-1-3

4/26/08  Due to injuries and sickness we were a little short of players today but the boys came out playing hard and had a 2-0 lead at the half.  Both goals were scored by Lupito with assist to Tesho.  In the 2nd half, Tesho again assisted Lupito for a 3-0 advantage.  The Real team had the wind at their back all 2nd half but could not score.  MJ make an excellent save in the upper 90 to preserve the shutout.  With all the injuries and sickness it was another great win and placed us in a 3 way tie for the lead in the league with a record of 4-1-2.

Follow along with MJ's 2008 Elite II League Standings

www.csysa.org/schstand/S_08/820_5_202.html 

Currently ranked #1 in the State of Colorado,

www.gotsport.com/rankings/team.aspx?teamid=17356

4/19/08 MJ's team improved to 3-1-2 in league play with a hard fought, intense, great team effort, 3-0 win over Chivas.

A link to all the photos of the great team win over the Chivas on their home field,

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s7o79k5.27hdwrtx&x=0&y=4o4hun&localeid=en_US

4/12/08 U16 vs. Pike Peaks

Follow along with MJ's 2008 Elite II League Standings

www.csysa.org/schstand/S_08/820_5_202.html

This was a frustrating lost to Nike Pikes Peak, we didn't play with much energy and effort.

Here is a nice foot save MJ had in the league game against Pikes Peak Nike Rush.

The ball comes loose to a man on the back side and he has an open shot at MJ.

MJ is going to protect near post and the kid shoots.

MJ makes a nice save with his feet and keeps the score 1-1 for the time being.