On the Road to Moab

After Brock's morning meetings, we pulled out of Clear Creek RV Park right at 11 am and headed out of town. We had about a 6 hour drive over the Rockies.

The Yukon did great, pulling our beast of a trailer without much trouble.

We did, however, discover that both our propane tanks were emptied this morning. Within the last few months, we had started leaving both tanks open so that the regulator would automatically switch from one to the other when the first ran out, but we hadn't kept a close enough eye on the level and had run them both dry. No eggs for breakfast since we couldn't use the stove top. Also, no opening the fridge today since it needs to function as an ice box with no gas to run it on the long drive.

The mountains were sure beautiful, so many trees and awesome rock walls. I was teasing the kids because in one area, the canyon walls looked to me like Minecraft blocks. They looked up from their screens long enough to see.

After we crossed the mountains, we stopped in Grand Junction for gas and decided to eat a late lunch/early dinner out. We chose quick and easy and went in to a Wendy's. The food was ok, but I think it was the most disorganized, poorly managed restaurant we'd ever seen. They had the hardest time figuring out how to fulfill our whole order, then tried to give us two more burgers that we hadn't ordered. My patty was pink in the middle which may be ok at home, but not on a mass-produced meat like that. We saw just about every customer return something while we were there. The staff threw away a ton of food. It was sad, but at least we didn't have rumbling tummies anymore.

We finished up the drive, passing through the town of Moab to our reserved RV park. Spanish Trail RV Park is a Passport America participating park. Our rate was a little higher due to the per head charge for each person over the first 2 people, but it was still a decent rate for a park in this area. It is one of the only ones to have real grass between sites and some nice shade trees which is a good bonus. All the services work well and are placed well for our trailer. The wifi works decently too. Right across the highway was a Shell station with an LP fill station so we are now back in business. :O)

We met a nice couple in the site next to us who are "traveling buddies" after their respective spouses passed away several years ago. They reside in California, but had spent the last month traveling together some in BC and some in the American southwest. They were so nice. They gave us their advice after having explored Arches and Canyonlands in the last couple days. The lady brought us over some fresh peanut brittle that she had made and asked us to help them eat it. Then, she gave us a little bag of biscotti that she had made as well. We enjoyed visiting with them into the evening.

Family Visit and Lookout Mountain

We had a leisurely morning around the trailer until it was time head out for our lunch time appointment with Darrell and Polly, my uncle and aunt on my dad's side. They have a nice home in the foothills above the city of Golden.

When we got there, Darrell and Polly greeted us in the driveway. It was so nice to see them. I think it had been two years since we saw them last. Polly had made a really nice lunch and set the table so beautifully. We really felt like we were getting the royal treatment. We even had chocolate cake with ice cream for dessert. It was all delicious, but my favorite part was getting to talk with them. They are always so positive and encouraging. 

We ended up staying there and visiting for a good part of the afternoon. I hope we didn't overstay our welcome. We all posed together in front of their amazing view off their back deck.

When we left Darrell and Polly's, we took the Yukon up the incredibly wind-y and narrow, but really beautiful road up to the top of Lookout Mountain. We stopped at the top to enjoy the 360 degree view and we took a look at Buffalo Bill's grave.

Looking down and spotting our RV park from the top of Lookout Mountain

In front of the Buffalo Bill Museum, which was closed.

On the way down the other side of the mountain, I had to laugh at just how tightly switchbacked the road looked from above. Then, on the way down we saw this crazy square of a rainbow which seemed to be hanging above the Coors factory of all places.

We headed back to the trailer to feed Heidi. This RV park has been so nice as far as the utilities and location. It is very crowded though and the creek and bike path are very well traveled. The boys had watched hundreds of people use the creek during the course of the days we've been here and they asked if they could swim in the creek before we left. With all the rain that has fallen, the water was much faster and muddier than it was when we got here, but I agreed to go to the water's edge with them and check it out. They didn't get too wet, as the sun had gone down and I think the water was chillier than they thought it would be, but we had fun playing around.

Spence and Sky got cleaned up and into their pjs. There was even enough time in the day for Brock and I to take Heidi for a nice stroll in the moonlight on the bike path. When we got back to the trailer, the little boys ate a few snacks since we didn't really have dinner after our filling lunchtime meal. Then to bed they went, and the rest of us watched one of the channels that we could get over the antenna which was showing the Clint Eastwood movie The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. What a classic. LOL

Taking Care of Business Day

Today was a hang around the trailer day. We took turns taking Heidi for walks. Brock worked a full day. I was able to get some business done including doing some curriculum shopping and ordering and list making. I did some doctor and insurance research to find an ortho doctor to do the followup on Sky’s arm including removing his cast when we get back to Bend. I did a little housing research both for sale and for rent in the Bend market, not really yet seeing anything that I’d classify a favorite.

More thunderstorms moved through the area in the afternoon.

We made plans to meet Eric and Deshika for dinner at El Senor Sol Mexican restaurant. It was a good time visiting with them and I enjoyed not having to cook. The food was just ok.

After dinner, Eric, Deshika and Leo came back for a tour of our trailer. We’d been describing it, but they’d had a really hard time envisioning it. I think they finally believed after the tour that we really aren’t “roughing it”. ;o)

We all laughed a lot this evening, talking and playing with Spencer’s tablet and his photo lab software with which you can completely distort someone’s appearance. Eric was a very good sport. ;o)

It was nearly midnight when the Adkins left for their long drive home and we all crawled into bed, happy and exhausted.