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No Day but Today!

Well, it is here..today is the last day as a Chevron employee…we are offically retired. Kelly did a great job all week in the final Corporate Fire School…I was very grateful, I was able to spend the week with him, and our friends from around the world. We got back to refinery and picked up our last paycheck….the final paycheck is a real check you must go to the bank and deposit…we can’t remember the last time we had to do that…but it was a great feeling.

We will be spending the weekend cleaning up the motor home and getting ready to head to Idaho for our granddaughters High School graduation…we are so exited.

I will also be starting Project 365 “No Day but Today”which I must take at least one picture every day for one year…I am sure there will be the days when it might be difficult…to find the right photo….and other days…where I will have a link to Shutterfly to see the whole album.

We are so exited…so here are some photos from the week in Texas and my photo for today! No, Day but Today. 🙂

Ok….so here is my first post for Project 365..

Carquinez Bridge may 11, 2012…Final ride home – Retired

Texas A&M Fire School -May 2012

Kelly’s favorite flavor in Texas while at Fire School

This is what we learn to fight at fire school…plus I really liked the photo.

Tina is my candle – she lights up the world…

 

Tina, going to work…

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Retirement- Kelly and June

Well, today is sort of the start of our retirement…I am on vacation for my final week and Kelly will be working at his last Chevron Corporate Fire School at Texas A&M…the great thing is I will be there with him. Our offical last day on payroll is May 11, 2012.

We had a wonderful last day in the Richmond Refinery…it was an amazing turn out for our cake and coffee…we are so blessed..thank you to everyone who was able to make it and share memories with us…it was very special and meant the world to us…the hard part of retirement is not being with your work family… A lot of you shared your email address and phone numbers so we do want to stay in touch. I know time passes by so quickly…but feel free to contact us…it doesn’t matter if it has been a month, a year or 5 years…what ever…if you think about us…a simple note or call just to say “Hi” thinking of you…is always appreciated.

I hope…I can keep the blog exciting…but of course if fuel cost go out of this world…I will really have to learn to be very creative with this blog, as it will limit how far we travel…I look forward to sharing our journeys. Some up coming events…I get to go on a 7 day wine and food cruise leaving on June 2nd with my sister-in-law Maura, who is an amazing lady…who I also enjoy spending time with. We will be cruising out of Rome, so there will be a delay in blog posting until I get home after June 15th.

Thank you again to our Chevron Family….we love you.

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Sturgis South Dakota

Another beautiful day in South Dakota…heading to Sturgis…..it is off season, so the town is very, very quiet…

Sturgis South Dakota

We stopped at the visitor center in town and they do a lot more than just motorcycles…they also do a lot of different car runs too…like Mustangs, Corevettes and Camaro’s to name a few….it seems like it is a very busy town in the summer time….Everyone told us to drive through Vanocker Canyon….it is beautiful through the canyon…we can hardly wait to go back and ride the Harley on their beautiful country roads…nice easy roads…speed of 35 mph….perfect….of course it is always fun what you find on country roads…..

Standard Oil -- Love Em

Then we headed toward the town of Spearfish…through Spearfish Canyon…which has a beautiful river/creek running through it and rocks reaching for the sky…it was an awesome canyon run…It was fun to see their Bridal Veil Falls…it is a little smaller then the one in Yosemite…but still beautiful….

Bridal Veil Falls - South Dakota

Spearfish Rescue

After the Spearfish Canyon run…we made it to the town of  Spearfish…they have one of the oldest fish hatchery’s…it was amazing…here are a few of the trout in the pond….

Booth Fish Hatchery

We really enjoyed South Dakota and look forward to returning soon to continue to explore…we didn’t have time to make it to the Badlands…also Devils Tower is nearby too…next time…

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Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Today was a beautiful day. We were told they normally have snow on the ground….it was no where to be found…which was fine with us….it was a great spring day. Our day trip started in Custer State Park. We drove the Wildlife Loop Road….it was great scenery, there were large herds of buffalo’s through-out the parks open grasslands, and Pronghorns (aka Antelope) and Burros….we watched two buffalo’s knock heads…it was cool to watch.

Custer State Park – South Dakota

Buffalo Fight

Pronghorn – Antelope / Custer State park

Burros – Custer State Park South Dakota

We continued on the Wildlife Loop Road…drove up to Mt Coolidge Firetower….it was an amazing view…the firetower was built in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps….it rests atop a 6,023 foot peak and is no longer in use.

We continued on our Wildlife Loop Road drive and stopped at Legion Lake…the far side of the lake still was partially frozen…it would be great to go back in the summer and kayak on the lake…

Legion Lake – Custer State Park South Dakota

We finished the Wildlife Loop Road and headed to Mount Rushmore. We took the scenic route on US 16A  Iron Mountain road…it was a beautiful road trip…there were three tunnels to go through…which was really cool, and the Pigtail bridges was like being on a rollcoaster ride…of course not at roller coaster speed…the construction was amazing…

Mount Rushmore through Iron Mountain Road Tunnel

Mount Rushmore

We are so grateful that we had the chance to visit this beautiful National Monument…it was a beautiful day, not crowded..we took the Presidental Trail, which takes you right to the base of the mountain…it truely was Grand…looking forward to the next adventure….

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South Dakota – What a Great State

We just spent a quick 3 1/2 days in South Dakota…what a great state..the people there are so friendly, very respectful and polite. Our first day, we found a great local brewery…it is the Firehouse Brewery, which is in the original Rapid City firehouse…what a great place. If you are passing through that area you should stop and have a beer and something to eat. Downtown Rapid City is very nice…we enjoyed walking around.

http://www.firehousebrewing.com

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Motorcycles and Raw Oysters in the City

What a beautiful day for a motorcycle ride…the weather perfect, not to hot, not to cold….

I needed to get a stamp in my National Parks Passport book for the Golden Gate Bridge…today was the day…we did the 3 bridge bay loop…first bridge – Richmond-San Rafael…

Then the Golden Gate Bridge….it was beautiful crossing the bridge, so clear and sunny. We went to Fort Point and got my stamp…whoo hooo, then we took a nice ride through the city past Crissy field, down to Fisherman’s Wharf and ended at the Ferry Building. We made our way to Hog Island Oysters restaurant for lunch. We had beer, champagne, raw oysters and shared a grilled cheese sandwich. It was delicious! Service was great……..on our way out fo the farmers market at the Ferry Building we stopped and bought 2 beautiful steaks and some wild boar saugage to try…and so fancy cheese for a Sunday afternoon snack….then across the Bay Bridge for a nice ride home…and the final bridge for the day…the Carquinez Bridge…

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The New Adventure

Hi, to all our friends and family.

Kelly and I hope to chronicle our new adventures. I also hope to record some of our past trips we have enjoyed so much. We are so excited to be retiring from the regular work world and working towards explore the United States of America…there is so much to see and do.

There will be times when we will just be relaxing and sharing great conversation…..and other times, there should be great photos and stories to share….

Hope you enjoy and come back often.

 

Kelly & June – Luckdragon Travels.