My shakedown cruise is shaping up

Click the scary pics.

More neighbors Halloween decorations

I think I will be leaving for Alamosa on Monday or Tuesday and coming back on Thursday or Friday; I want to avoid the weekend crowds, whether coming or going.

It looks like nighttime temperatures in Alamosa will get down into the 20s since it's a couple of thousand feet higher than Denver, so I'm making sure to pack my winter clothes even though I haven't needed them here in Denver.

It looks like there's going to be some cloudy weather with a chance of rain on some days, which is okay by me; cloudy weather makes for better pictures. But cloudy weather is not good for looking at the changing leaves; the colors look dull if the sky is gray. Nonetheless, I think I will get some decent leaf pictures since the timing for the mountains is just about right, and there hasn't been any cold fronts coming through to kill the leaves and blow them off the trees.

There will be some Sandhill cranes to take pictures of, but if memory serves, the cranes will be either flying overhead, fairly high up, or 1/4 of a mile away in a farmer's field eating leftover grain. But I don't mind; I enjoy just seeing them.

So I guess the main reason for this mini-vacation is what I've said before, a shakedown cruise with everything in the Lance I need to live in it full time, and seeing if I'll be comfortable living and traveling in chilly temperatures.

And speaking of traveling,  driving by some gas stations, I've noticed that diesel fuel prices have increased considerably. So I would say paying more for just about everything is a poor way to start my travel season.... At least I know who's to blame for this mess and will be voting accordingly.

Tom

Not every Halloween decoration has to be scary.