Re: Waiting for Spring - and Narrow-Gauge Country

Hi, Scott -

It's not just age per se, it's having gotten used to not having to dress for arctic conditions and fight snow & ice four or five months at a time. It's also the accumulated effects of having had six-month cycles of chemo on average about every four years since 1987. As recently as June, 2002 I rode my bicycle from Chama to the top of Cumbres Pass, but last year's chemo almost wiped me out and my lung capacity is now only about 2/3 of what it used to be - not a plus for high-altitude living. But I'm coming to Colorado in late Spring anyway - to see La Veta Pass for the first time - and hopefully again for fall colors in Chama. Wish me luck!

- Russ

p.s. Ed Stabler and I - and maybe Skip Luke - are going to try to meet up in Alamosa and/or Chama for a couple of days of train riding & chasing the last week of May. Join us if you can!!

pps. WARNING: We also plan to try singing a few RR songs together ...