High Plains Drifter

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Settled into Colorado now.  I arrived in Aurora around 2:30pm MST and slept for the better part of 3 hours or so.  I met up with Roger and Caryn Hill and Tony Laubach for a round of bowling late this evening after leagues finished up.  The Brunswick bowling center we bowled at had a 3-hr unlimited special for like 7.95/person.. not too bad!  The shot at this house is so much better than at home in Dodge.  Even though I was inconsistent (as always), I did manage a 277 my 3rd game (of 4).  It was certainly great to bowl and catch up with Roger, Caryn, and Tony!  For tomorrow, will probably spend the first half of the day driving around the Continental divide area (if I get up early enough), then hopefully meet up with my friend Michelle late in the afternoon in Aurora for a little while before the convention ice breaker gets underway later in the evening.  More tomorrow night, hopefully. 

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I will be on vacation today through Sunday, February 24th.  This will be a "multi-purpose" vacation which will encompass three presentations at two conferences/seminars, with a photography trip to Moab, UT sandwiched in the middle.  This will require quite a bit of driving, but it will be fun to escape Dodge City and work for awhile to (a) see a number of friends I haven’t seen in awhile, and (b) finally have a chance to get out and do some serious photography.  The last time I did any sort of serious photography was in November for some fall migration at Quivira.  I haven’t taken a "photography trip" like this one since Yellowstone in Fall 2006.  Ideally, I’d like to take two photography trips per year, in addition to storm chasing April-June.

Okay, here is the itinerary for my vacation:

Today 14th (Day 1)
Drive to Aurora, CO, meeting with Tony Laubach and Roger Hill late-evening for a round of bowling

Friday 15th (Day 2)
Leisure day around Denver, likely meeting up with my friend Michelle late-afternoon/early-evening.
Ice breaker for the National Storm Chaser Convention in Aurora, mid to late evening

Saturday 16th (Day 3)
National Storm Chaser Convention, I am scheduled for an afternoon presentation on the Greensburg, KS tornado

Sunday 17th (Day 4)
National Storm Chaser Convention in the morning.  I have the first presentation at 8:00am on stormscape digital photography.  I will leave after my presentation for Grand Junction, CO
Sunset photography, Colorado National Monument.  Overnight Grand Junction

Monday 18th (Day 5)
Sunrise photography, Colorado National Monument.  Drive to Moab, UT.  Afternoon/sunset photography Arches National Park.  Overnight Moab

Tuesday 19th (Day 6)
Sunrise photography, Arches NP.  Day hike(s), late afternoon-early evening photography Arches NP.  Overnight Moab

Wednesday 20th (Day 7)
Sunrise photography, Canyonlands NP or Dead Horse SP.  Day hike(s), late afternoon-early evening photography Canyonlands NP (or Dead Horse SP).  BONUS:  Lunar Eclipse photography!  (I didn’t plan on that!)  Overnight Moab

Thursday 21st (Day 
Sunrise photography, Canyonlands NP or Dead Horse SP.  Drive east and overnight either Denver or Limon.

Friday 22nd (Day 9)
Drive east to Lawrence, KS.  Overnight Lawrence

Saturday 23rd (Day 10)
Presentation on Greensburg tornado at Douglas County Advanced Spotter Seminar.  Overnight ?  There’s a possibility I may just drive back to Dodge… or head to Overland Park for the night.

Sunday 24th (Day 11)
Drive back home, if not there already. 

I will make a conscious effort update this vacation blog every day, most likely in the evenings before going to bed.  I’ll also try to attach one or two "photos of the day".