We are still road tripping. We checked out of the covered wagon after one last dip in the pool and visit with the llamas. We headed to Moab to check out Canyonlands National Park first. It was hot and attitudes were ripe. We went to the Island in the Sky section (turns out there are FOUR sections and probably need a week per section because this place is HUGE!) We did a quick Mesa Arch trail with some incredible sights. Then, we got McDonalds and checked into a Super 8 Motel. The kids were in hog heaven with chicken nuggets and a TV. They had a great pool with a hot tub, too! We got up really early on Wednesday and met the Cutlips at Arches to do the Delicate Arch hike. It was about 3 miles and felt great with the overcast morning (we lucked out bc it’s usually super hot). We were able to do so much that morning bc of the weather. We saw the Starlight Arch, climbed into the Double Arches, Window Arches and made it past Balancing Rock. It was awesome! We went back to the motel for R&R (i.e. me in the hot tub with my book; it’s taking me forever to read A Prayer for Owen Meaning.) Next, I drove the hour and a half to the Needles section of Canyonlands to check that part out. We did a Pothole hike and mostly the kids were freaked out about the recent mountain lion sighting. A check engine light showed up on our drive back but after a quick check in to O’Rielly’s the guy confirmed that the minivan is just not used to the terrain out here (no kidding!) Thursday we took our time getting up and out and started the drive north to Colorado. We ended up randomly seeing the Cutlips (after taking Chad to the airport) at the Colorado National Monument. We saw the sign and went to check it out, as did Laurie. We went on a quick hike at the top and saw bighorn sheep on our way out. We caravanned with the Cutlips to the next sight when Laurie called and said she was sick and had to pull over. I offered to take her kids but she just said she’d pull over and sleep it off (she has one of those sprinter vans and Chad built IKEA bunk beds in the back. I was almost in the park when Chad called me from his layover in Dallas and said Laurie was in the ER. Apparently a fireman had driven her van and checked her in! I turned around and drove to the hospital, picked up the Cutlip kids and then drove back to the North Rim of Black Canyon (yes, this canyon also has multiple sides hours apart!) We did one hike near the visitors center. It was gorgeous and the weather was nice and cold. Ellie, Marly, Mason and Ainsley took off running ahead (breaking my #1 rule!) to hide and jump out and scare us. After about 45min I still hadn’t found them. I finally heard the Frozen II theme song being sung from a distance and we went back to find them. I was only planning to do an hour hike and we were there for almost 2 hours. It was dark driving the dirt road out of the park. Then the rain came. I stopped at a gas station and convinced the women to unlock the door to let the kids use the restroom and give us some hot water so I could make soup. Ramen is the perfect camping rainy night dinner! I get the group all settled, bellies warm with soup and then my car won’t start! It was as if the battery was dead. Lucky we are under the cover at the gas station. I start waving down cars for a jump. The 3rd person stopped and a nice guy helped us. Turns out the battery was just disconnected. So strange! Maybe the dirt road bumping? He showed me how to connect it should that happen again. We were well on our way. I didn’t get up to the south rim camp ground until midnight. Talk about Black Canyons as I drove in at night with a gorgeous full moon! The kids were all asleep. Laurie had gotten the first camp site as you drove in. I just reclined my seat and went to sleep. Around 5am, I awake to people shining lights in the van. Chad and Laurie had showed up to the camp! I was shocked! Chad had flown back, Ubered to the hospital, released Laurie and driven up! They took their children back and we all went to sleep. The next morning, we all packed up and they started the drive back to Jax. Laurie is still not feeling well and has an appointment to see her doc. We did a quick hike, stamped passports and became junior rangers at the South Rim and then drove to Mesa Verde. A stop for coffee (on the house from the sweet man at the corner store in Durango!) and then we stopped at the Yucca House National Monument, which was in someone’s yard pretty much and then to Mesa Verde. Attitudes were ripe. Abby sat in the car while we checked out some ruins from 900-1100 AD. Kids were fighting. We checked in early to the campsite. Laurie had gotten a spot in the park. We took showers, did laundry then found the site. We had charcuterie and I had wine then set up the tent. The rain started. Marly, Voss and I slept in the tent. Amazing that we didn’t get wet! I still prefer the van, but I had to try it out. We got up and stopped at Chimney Rock National Monument (another one we just saw on the side of the road). Volunteers were along the trail telling us about the ancestral Pueblans who lived there. It was really neat! I’m glad we stopped! Then we headed to the Great Sand Dunes. It was chilly out there and even rained a bit, but the kids could have spent all day out there! We had dinner in the car (salads, chili and lunchables) and I drove to Colorado Springs. The first camp spot I found turned out to be a state park, not a National Forest. So I fumbled for a bit before finding another spot, which turned out to be a popular Sunday morning trail. We were up and out early. I got things together in a Safeway parking lot; cleaned applesauce out of the carpet, brushed teeth and got a coffee). We went to mass at St. Paul’s. It felt so good to be back in church, as normal. They had a fun picnic after so we stayed for burgers, beer, face painting and picnic games. Next, I drove to Parker to meet up with the Kaspers. Ashley called me and said her MIL invited us all over for dinner so I got to visit with the whole family (minus Julia who I am seeing today). After dinner we went back to Ashley’s. The kids picked right up where they left off (they moved from Jax 3 years ago. Abby and Avery went to preschool together. Annie and Voss ate mulch on the playground together). It was so nice to visit, do laundry and sleep in a cozy bed! On Monday we took our time moving and drove to Rocky Mountain National Park. It was cold and rainy! They had timed entry so we waited at the visitor center for stamps and badges before we went in. We went on a waterfall hike, got Rangers to do a Reels dance with us and saw a rainbow! The rain started coming down so we left, found some hot water and had Ramen for dinner. I found a car camp spot outside the park. It was perfect. We got in early, said the rosary and I think everyone slept well. Now the kids are playing in a stream by the rocks while I write. I was hoping Phil would fly out to meet us, but it doesn’t seem like that is happening. Ellie and I have listened to 3 great books. Two by Michael Connelly, Scarecrow and the Narrows. Probably too inappropriate for her, but still good! We just finished The Vanishing Half by Brook Bennett yesterday. I finally got a Kristen Hanna so ready to start that one now. Okay the kids are all hollaring; they are done playing in the cold water. Time to keep moving!
Click here to see our pics of the week:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qgBtvPDXcmrnjTZf9
Click here to see our pics of the week:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qgBtvPDXcmrnjTZf9