Vegas, here I come!

Hey everybody,

It is the eve before I head off to Las Vegas and Canyon country for Christmas and New Year so I thought I'd get a quick blog update completed before heading off.

I've had a good few weeks working at the Crane Trust trying to standardise Whooping Crane data for a new database and establishing some basic business process to introduce in the New Year. There is so much I could do here but time is rushing by so quickly so I'll need to come back to do even half the stuff I'd like to.

The weather has been really cold over here, falling as low as -23C and even colder with the wind chill. We have had about 8 inches of snow this week but by far the worst is the wind, it is sooo cold! When the temperature plummeted last weekend the pipes in my trailer froze and I was without hot water. Luckily Travis the maintenance guy was able to get the water back by running a blow heater under the trailer for a few hours. He has also been a star keeping the drive clear for us with the snow plough. With a 2 1/2 mile drive, we could easily get snowed in. He even shovels the path right up to my trailer, what a sweetie!


I've spent the weekend with Karen, someone who has been working at the trust and studying for her masters. Karen has just graduated and is now looking for a job in conservation. We went out to Omaha yesterday to visit the zoo and take in an IMAX movie on the oceans. I bet you dig the look we are wearing!


Karen has a Hi-Lux Surf, almost identical to the one I used to own. It is so cold that it seems permanently encased in ice, despite us using it regularly over the weekend. On the way to Omaha yesterday we had to stop off after about 20 minutes to chip the ice off the hood because it was coming of in chunks on the interstate and the people behind were dodging ice bombs. Look closely at the front and you can see icicles hanging off the bumper!

Today Karen and I have been really lazy and have been chilling out on the sofa planning what we are going to do over the coming months. Back in the UK I came across a Sloth Rescue Center in Costa Rica and have been thinking about approaching them to see it I can volunteer with them starting in April. Our trip to the zoo yesterday has prompted me to get in touch with them after seeing the sloths there. Check out the picture, don't you think there are just soooo cute?


So what does the next week have in store for me? I fly into Las Vegas tomorrow and head out to the Grand Canyon on Wednesday for Christmas and a couple of days trekking. We then head out to Monument Valley and Arches National Park for more trekking and maybe a Hummer Jeep tour. Next is a stay on a ranch and the chance to try my hand at cattle roping. We complete out journey around canyon lands with a visit to Zion NP and then head back to Las Vegas to party the year out and see in 2009. I can't wait!

I'll post an update on my adventures in the New Year so in the meantime, Merry Christmas everybody and let me wish you all a Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoy the holidays.

Nikkie