We got up a little earlier than usual and got ready to go. I made instant coffee to go and J started a mug of tea steeping. We left in the Jeep around 6:50.

We headed up Mt. Evans and I had Clif Bars for breakfast. We stopped at the Mt. Goliath Natural Area so J could check her voicemail.

We stopped to photograph some Mountain Goats between Summit Lake and the summit. Our favorite two kids were there, and we were surprised to see a group of Bighorn Sheep ewes and lambs in the area too. The lambs are so cute (below left). The bighorns headed off down the mountain when the Mountain Goat kids got too close, and we stayed with the Mountain Goats. They were very cooperative, and my favorite image is of a kid and nanny standing on a rock against the sky (below right). After a wonderful time with the Mountain Goats, we left and started heading back down the mountain.


Below Summit Lake, we came across some Bighorn Sheep rams not too far up the hill form the road. We set up to photograph them and I started hiking up the hill to get to their level. When I reached their level and poked up above a line of boulders, I was within 20 yds (20m) of two of the rams. They didn't like being surprised and started running away. All six of the rams ran away from me across a grassy slope as I casually followed them. They stopped when they reached a cluster of boulders, and I was able to approach them. They were quite relaxed by the time I got within shooting range, and I was able to get some decent images of them, including the image to the left. Usually, one doesn't photograph Bighorn Sheep rams in the spring because they don't look very good when they're shedding their winter coats, but the main subject in the image was still in pretty good shape.

We returned to the RV around 11:00 and I started to download the images I took this morning (one CF card) while changing out of my cold-weather gear. We packed up our computers and left in the Jeep around 11:15.

We went to the Post Office in Idaho Springs to pick up some mail, then ...

Went to McDonald's in Idaho Springs around 11:45 to have lunch and use their free Wi-Fi connection. I had a Big Mac meal and J had a Southwest Chicken Salad. J went online as soon as we sat down and started to upload some of her images using the very fast Wi-Fi connection. I ate and then washed up before going online. I worked up a blog entry then downselected the images I downloaded this morning in iView. We left around 2:30.
I dropped J off at Safeway so she could start grocery shopping and then ...

Went to the Sinclair gas station to fill up the Jeep at $2.649/gal. It was more expensive than at the Western Convenience store, but the Jeep didn't run very smoothly after we filled up there two days ago.

I went to the Safeway and picked out a few things then went out to the Jeep to call my mother. She's enjoying her iPad and didn't require any tech support today. :) We left around 3:15.

We returned to the RV around 3:40 and I finished downloading the images from this morning (the second CF card) while we prepped the RV to move. We left in the RV around 4:00 as a couple was disposing of some ashes — as in remains. J thought that was cool because she'd like her ashes scattered at Maroon Lake near the base of Maroon Bells.

We went to the Echo Lake Park picnic area to dump using our Flojet Macerator Pump into a pit toilet, and it started raining lightly when we arrived. We must have been right at the edge of the rain shower because the rain didn't get heavy at all. The dump went without a hitch, and it was great to be able to take care of our business so close to where we were boondocked and for free! Then we went to nearby location to fill up with fresh water.

We returned to our boondocking spot around 5:25, all set to spend more time with the animals on Mt. Evans.

We had dinner around 6:20 of Bertolli Chicken Marsala & Roasted Redskin Potatoes and a salad. That's a new flavor, and while it was good, it wasn't nearly as good as J's Chicken Marsala. I might try to doctor it up if we have it again.

After dinner, we looked at the map and talked about travel plans for the next month or so. We're deliberately taking it easy this summer and not going as far as we did last summer. However, just about anywhere would be not as far as Alaska. :)

Then I downselected the rest of the images from this morning in iView and then downselected all of the images from this morning in Capture One (C1).