Divermarv

The impetus of this trip was a week-long visit with family. My oldest son lives in Korea. He and his girlfriend were planning a trip to the USA. During their planning phase, they settled on Colorado as his brother, their mother, and his sister all live in the Denver area. It was just the best choice for us to all get together. And it has been just peachy and swell. Lots of hugs, lots of tears of joy, and lots of beautiful times together.

Family photos

A brief aside concerning my camping experience

I’m staying at a park in Longmont/Mead, not far from I-25. It was a 1.5/5 star experience. I’ll not name the place here unless someone specifically comments and asks me to. Here is why I rated it thusly. I am car-camping on this trip. And I’m going to write an article specifically on this aspect, and lessons learned, so look for that after this trip is over.

Back to this RV park. The day I checked in I was sitting in a camp chair with the hatch of my car up and working on a blog article. And listening to the end of an audiobook. I heard the crunch of gravel behind me and turned and a person was there. I removed my earbuds and she started quizzing me. Where was my tent, where was my trailer, etc. I said I was car-camping and she said we don’t allow that. But… “well, we let you in so I guess we’ll let you.” When she said no car camping she kind of gestured at all the RVs. Not sure what that implied. Maybe that I was Tennessee trash. I mentioned that I had brought a tent and I could put that up. She kind of muttered something so I did. There was no really good place, but I put it next to the graveled area.

Now. I knew I was going to be busy with family stuff, so I was really only sleeping. But we got rain, it was muddy, it was a mess. And…

The nasty part

The smell. That first night. Around early evening a smell wafted over the park. It smelled … well it smelled like the inside of a cow’s anus. I grew up on a farm, and I’m okay with that, but this was really strong.

The noisy part

The RV park is right next to a major county road. When I arrived i thought the amount of traffic was just work commuting traffic. Not so much. Busy all the time. Even at night it’s still pretty busy. Big truck with their engine brakes.

The necessary relief

For the last three days I’ve rented a hotel room. I kind of needed it after the first leg of my journey. I would like to have not done this. I would like to have toughed this trip out so that I could have some bragging rights. But it’ll be okay. I did sleep really well last night.

My part of this journey

This stay is the middle of my sweep of the western states. For those who have been reading along, I’ve visited the Grand Canyon, Taos, and now the eastern portion of the Rockies here in Colorado. The next leg will be up to Wyoming to see the Devil’s Tower. I’m spending two days in that area, with a surprise lodging choice, which will be a separate blog article.

After Devils Tower, I’ll be visiting one day at Mount Rushmore. That day will be an appropriate day to see this, and I’m kind of excited. I’ll try to hit the monument as soon as it opens. Beat the heat and crowds hopefully.

After this I’m heading to Nebraska to see the Ashfall Fossil Beds. This is the result of a volcanic eruption up in what is now Idaho about 12 – 8 million years ago. This was such a significant eruption the resulting ash plume affected much of the middle of the continent. And at Ashfall, there was much devastation resulting in a grand set of fossils. I’ll save the rest for a blog article on that specifically.

Then down into Kansas, through Kansas City (to stop and get some tasty BBQ) and on to a historical site in Missouri to spend a day. Then on into Southern Indiana for another family reunion.

This is going to be a long trip. I think I will both feel out of place, but exuberant to be back home. And a little let down. This trip has been emotional. A part of my new retirement life paradigm. A visit with families. And a reliving of a long ago past life when I lived in Idaho. I’ll write a blog article specifically on that sometime.

For now though… peace and love mes amies. Marv