Hughes and Judy
Remember 2004…
Dear Family and Friends,
Yes, we’re a little grayer and a little more relaxed than
last year. We cut back on our many volunteer activities and traveled more.
Highlights from the past year we’ll remember:
JANUARY–FEBRUARY:
We began our long anticipated trip to New Zealand on the 21st; we met with
Alan and Cheryl in Queenstown, completed the Milford Track (three nights
hut-to-hut), toured the South Island, trekked the Abel Tasman Coastal Track
(two nights hut-to-hut), and drove a campervan throughout the North Island,
returning home a month later; a full account of “Great Trip #7” is at <www.pigseye.com/hj/foreign/nz2>;
Hughes resigned as Director of the Visitors Center, but continues to volunteer
a day each week, as does Judy.
MARCH: We drove
to Rocky Mountain NP to buy Judy’s birthday present: a Golden Age Passport
to the National Parks, a one-time fee of $10 that’s good for a lifetime (among
the great benefits of getting older); Judy timed the coffin races and rescued
polar plungers during Nederland's Frozen Dead Guy 
Days; we hosted a picture party to show NZ trip photos (we took over 1200
photos, but showed only a few hundred) this would be repeated for the public
in November; we added a monthly dinner at the PI with Nederland old timers
to our neighborhood dinner club schedule.
APRIL: Hughes
took a 5-day mountain bike trip from Fruita (CO) to Moab (UT) on rugged and
highly recommended Kokopelli Trail (photo on left is of a fellow biker on
a particularly tough—unrideable?—section); we began planning for major interior
remodel project (stain, paint, ceilings, closet, bathroom, and more).
MAY: Most of the
month consumed with completing new ceiling in great room and bedroom, painting
in both areas plus closet and master bath; Judy trained in earnest for the
Bolder-Boulder 10K which she won (age group) for 13th time.
JUNE:
Still remodeling! By mid-month we were finally able to remove scaffolding
and drop cloths, but we had to wait until next month to put clothes back
in new closet and drawers, touch up paint and stain, and put house back in
order; Judy won age group in Joe Colton 5K in Rollinsville.
JULY: College
friend Hedy Bressler visited during remodel, said it was going well! Michael
and Hughes played again in Barker Dam Brass Band for Nederland's 4th
of July parade; Judy won age group in local Trespass Trail Run, a grueling
5-mile high altitude (and 
uphill) run north of town; fellow Antiochian Ken Andrews visited for hiking
in Indian Peaks; we left for annual reunion with Judy's high school girlfriends
and spouses in Glacier National Park (which included rafting in the Flathead
River), stopping off for a 5K race in Green River, Wyoming, along the way
(see trip details at <www.pigseye.com/hj/USA/montana>);
we got rid of "big dish" TV satellite and opted for small dish technology
with Tivo (love it!).
AUGUST was
concert month: “HMS Pinafore” at CU, Ricci Martin (Dean's son and neighbor
Gina's brother) at a casino in Black Hawk, the Mt. Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
in Nederland, and Rollins Pass history show at Stage Stop in Rollinsville;
granddaughter Julia flew out (her first solo trip) to volunteer with Judy
working with animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, a memorable
experience for them both (we may do it again next year).
SEPTEMBER: Judy
won the Neder-Nederland 5K as she has 10 times, plus the Indian Summer 5K
in Boulder the next week; we visited Petersons (old Ohio friends) for two
days in Albuquerque (Anna Marie was out of town so no bridge playing this
trip); we drove on to Sedona (AZ) for a week of hiking, biking, retail, and
relaxing.
OCTOBER: Judy won age group in Boulder's High 5 (mile) race; dark
wood ceiling looks great, but cut down light in great room so we installed
a new lighting scheme.
NOVEMBER: We hosted the group planning a trekking trip to Bhutan next
year; Hughes put on slide show of NZ trip for Changes in Latitude travel
store in Boulder; we spent a week in Puerto Vallarta strictly on our own
for the first time with lots of reading, pool time, great eating, a little
shopping, and a day trip north (by bus) to Playa Chacala, where we had fantastic
ceviche on the beach; we returned in time to enjoy a quiet Thanksgiving with
Michael and Cindy and Judy's hiking/skiing partner, Betsy; Penny stayed on
to spend two weeks with Sophie and Bella while M&C visit Cindy's family
in southeast.
DECEMBER: Judy
ran in National US Track and Field Cross Country Championships in Portland
(OR)—she returned with two medals: her team won their age group and Judy
placed 2nd in the Masters Women 60+ age group; while Judy was away, Hughes
hit the runway again in a fancy-schmancy fashion show at the Omni Hotel for
Changes in Latitude travel store; just before Christmas Judy's cousin Carol
and spouse drove Aunt Margaret up the canyon for a rare visit to the mountains;
after more than ten years of service to the community, Captain Judy resigned
from the fire department.
This year we'll spend Christmas with
our east coast family for the first time in too many years. Plans for the
week there include watching Julia in "The Nutcracker," Griffin guarding goal
in at least one hockey game, and enjoying a rare Christmas with young children—a
joyous end to a busy and rewarding year.
Best wishes to you
and your family for a wonderful new year.
Hughes and
Bella
Barney
Judy
and Sophie
