Welcome to Thailand the "Land of Smiles"

This weekend we leave for a wonderful adventure in Thailand.  It will be wonderful to spend almost a month in the country learning new customs, eating really good food and being in nature.

One of the excursions we have planned is riding an elephant into the rainforest to look for exotic and some endangered species such as tigers, leopards, elephants, black bears, and birds.  The country boasts more than 1,000 species of birds including two endemics found nowhere else in the world, the White-eyed River Martin (pictured below) and Deignan's Babbler.

We will also visit temples, the River Kwai, many national parks, the Phi Phi Islands and the floating market in Bangkok.  Watch for more postings to see the adventures we didn't plan.  
The "Land of Smiles" awaits.

Millie for Mayor Vote Tally to Date

The vote tally as of March 4th has Millie with 53 votes.  Voting continues through April 8th so you can still cast your vote for a great cause and a great candidate!  Even though she is lower in the tally, you can see she is taking it all in stride.  Thanks for your support.

Millie for Mayor of Divide

No Bones about it, She'll Treat you right

Millie is our lead guide, breaking the trail to adventure in the backcountry of Southwest Colorado. After a long, hard day of tracking and hiking Millie loves to feast on soybeans always mindful of being strong and fit. When not working she loves a good game of fetch or tug of war especially with her campaign manager, Zorro the cat. Periodically she chews on branches and much to her surprise, even some still attached to the trees!

If you elect Millie for Mayor she promises that every bowl will be filled with food, hugs and belly rubs will abound and that no stone will go unturned to provide each and every animal a good home and a family that loves them.

This is a fundraiser for Teller County Regional Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter where I adopted Millie and Zorro my wonderful pets. If you would like to learn more please visit http://www.tcrascolorado.com/index.php?page=mayor-of-divide.

Vote Millie for Mayor!!

Winter Wonderland

Woke up this morning to a new skiff of powdery snow. We went out first thing into the pristine wilderness to do some tracking. The first tracks we came across were the cottontails, the main food source for our other park animals. As we hiked through the flocked pines we came across Red Fox tracks and chose to see what he was up to in the early morning hours. The tracks led us about a mile until we lost them in the deep snow in the forest. The story from the tracks this morning told us that the fox marked the trail numerous times to let us know who it belongs to, he chased a rabbit to a rock formation hoping for breakfast (the rabbit did get away), and frolicked in the snow looking for mice and voles. Upon our return we took many pictures of the winter wonderland. The layers of snow were like walking on a blanket of diamonds and the slight breeze blew snowflakes from the trees like gold dust. Enjoy your winter wonderland wherever it may be.

Look carefully to right of window - "gold dust"

Guides-To-Go has a New Home

We finally have settled into our new office in Woodland Park and are excited to start classes and tours in the Southwest Colorado and Pikes Peak region. Dee bought a 35' 5^th Wheel (the model is a “Snowbird” go figure..hehe) and is spending the winter as a volunteer at the Mueller State Park Visitor's Center. What a great opportunity! It has been fun hiking everyday, rain, snow or sunshine and getting to know the resident critters.  It is a beautiful park on the west side of Pikes Peak with 5,000 acres, 55 miles of trails and an elevation of 9600 feet.  If you have the opportunity, come see this place.

Happy New Year!

“I can hardly wait until I can step out into the cool, crisp mountain air with a hot cup of coffee. Hear the wind through the pines and the sweet smell that I remember as a child. Off in the distance will be the elk grazing at the foot of Pikes Peak and I will know I can relax now.” 

                    Dee DeJong, Owner / Guide / Trainer of GTG

I said this many times as I was packing and getting ready for the big move of Guides-To-Go; it proves if you have a goal you can achieve anything. I have had many cups of coffee, heard the wind, seen the elk and smelled the sweet mountain air many times. Just keep dreaming and it will become reality. Thanks for all you support through the years and many more to come. Dee