And with a snap of a finger – time to leave Estes Park East Portal. Summer is over; camping in the mountains is over – time to head out before the snow flies.
And what a great summer indeed! Lots of happy campers, lots of kids (ever notice how little girls can scream?) and lots of animals this year.
As we pulled out our 3 male elk that greeted us when we showed up in May, were at the bottom of the hill to say good-bye. And have they ever grown!
Two events qualified as being the top two for campers with that maybe shouldn’t be campers.
- The 3 women who couldn’t find the button to turn off the wood fire in the pit and had to be told that you use water to put a fire out
- The woman with the constantly barking dog who left and told me that the other camp host (Ty) was so rude and told her that there were several complaints about her dog barking constantly but NOBODY complains about the kids playing on the playground yelling and screaming (what, you mean the kids having fun?)
Animals of the West
I did learn a little about animal behavior this year – yes Momma Moose do not like you getting too close to their babies and all the animals we saw seemed to have a grazing pattern. They would pass by every 2 weeks in a circle route. Bears came down the mountain in June in search of water and trash that people discarded, then circled around about every month. Mountain lions travel at night, and they really don’t roar, but more of a very loud meow. Although I did not see a lion, 2 campers recorded them as they passed through. Momma Moose and kids were frequent visitors to the reservoir and pasture out front of camp and the 3 male elk came often enough that we actually watched their antlers grow! And the hummingbirds were every day companions until one day they were gone – poof – vanished as they began their migration the night before.
CampHost
Nadja and Norm will be missed next year, their humor, especially Nadja (Puerto Rican) had such a hard time with the altitude (8280 ft about sea level) and said “her poor little PR lungs just can’t handle not being able to breathe”. Norm was a god-send as he was the handy man that even Ty has been looking for. He fixed our truck’s back light, he fixed the truck’s bent step, he fixed our Malibu’s front head light and punched out the back bumper that has been dented for years. He even rushed over when I could hear this beeping noise in the rig (by the way a beeping noise in the rig is never a good sign) which turned out to be my ear phones needing to be charged. Thanks N&N, you were fun and will be missed, good luck on all your Great Adventures!
Cindy and Lance who were with us last year, also decided that greener pastures, places to explore await them next year. Lance, a very funny guy, would rather sit in his bathrobe and watch TV all while the rest of us were sitting around the evening fire. FINALLY, he came around after much ribbing about the robe thing. He had some great stories to tell. Cindy, what a help she was when we got really busy. One day while Ty and I were on duty we had a real camper jam-up at registration. Seems like everyone came in at the same time, and of course there were problems. I looked out the window and there was Cindy directing traffic like an air traffic controller. Waving her arms, moving people on, then she grabs a clip board and starts to the prelim of check-in. Thank YOU! Sorry I don’t have a pic of you two.
Diane and Steve, who will be returning next year – jeez they have a lot of guts for jumping into the fire, no experience. The park was short a couple, so they answered an ad for hosting on Friday and showed up the following Wednesday ready to go. Steve had just retired, was looking for something to do (according to their daughter) and Diane is a college professor. When they arrived, the season already started and they dove in. Steve was always giving the kiddos rides in the cart, taking firewood to people after hours, bringing them s’mores fixings for the fire. Great host. And my bud Diane seemed like she always drew the short straw when it came to problems: rigs too big for campground, reservations but the wrong days, tents in RV sites or visa versa and we all high fived the day her drawer balanced at the end of shift! And she was a quick study in learning the crazy computer system. Look forward to you two next year!
Lin and Greg are the old timers, but by no means the old ones. They have all the experience and southern Texas charm. Always there when you need them, ready to pitch in an help. Learned a lot from them and they were always ready for an evening fire to relax by and tell stories. Glad you two are coming back.
FAMILY
This year was a healthy one compared to last, but not without the crazies. First, Chet is now Amy’s dog. My mistake was leaving him with her for the winter and when we came back, he took one look at us and said “Nope – this is my forever home now. I don’t have to hike 6 miles every day, I’m a lap dog, don’t ya know”. Then Amy and Scottie decided to sell their house and rent in downtown Boulder which meant a lot of days spent packing and getting the rental ready to move in. Whew. But I loved it! Just to be with family is everything. Oh they live down the block from Mork and Mindy’s house – remember NaNaNaNa?
Tenting
Yes, we tented twice. Just short 2-night excursion get aways which is actually easier to tent then pick up Wanda and haul. And we enjoy it and will probably do it again next year.
Went to Red Feathers Lake, which is in northern Colorado, stunning scenery and the to Palisades, that is in the western side of Colorado on the Western Slope as it is known. Wild ponies to see was our intent, although it was too hot and they were too far into the hills; however, peaches, peaches, peaches everywhere. Hoping that skeleton is not pony remains.
Off to Florida via Minn, WI, MI, IND, TENN
Packed up Wanda, said our teary goodbyes and we start to head for Florida via Minnesota. Not exactly on the way but that is where the Riley’s live and we needed a little liver pre-empting before winter in Blueway FL. Spent a great boating week with them and Dana and Angie from TN caught up with us as well as Mike and Leslie!
Then moved on East to visit another BW camper, Gina, in Wisconsin. Just an overnighter, but great to see her as she is always so upbeat it is contagious.
Still heading East and South we camped in KanKaKee River Illinois with Ty’s brother Mark and his family, Jen (wife), Sean (son), Kelsey (d-i-law), Mason (the main attraction, 2 year grandbaby), and Kyle (son) for a few days.
Off to Ludington Michigan (oops going North now – but still East) for a few days with Michigan long time good friends, Tom and Leslie, and celebrated 55years of wedded blisters. Then going North some more, Michele and Jerry (Ty’s sailing buddy) in Cedar MI on Little Traverse Lake for more boating. If you ever want to see beauty – go to Lake Michigan!
Turned South and down to Holly MI where we spent time with a lot of family and friends.
Moss DyAnn and MyStyee and Michigan Jim and Patti all from Blueway for dinner at River Rat
Ty’s other brother, Dave and Sandy and Chet’s sister Maggie
My sister, Sue and niece Colleen, who live in Windsor
Lynn and Mark who we go WAY WAY back with
Lastly my girlfriends, Peg and MaryEllen (Ty went and got coney islands for lunch)
John Hill
We were struck with the news that our very good friend, John Hill, suddenly passed away.
John and Ty go all the way back to 8th grade together when on the first day of school Ty got off the bus and didn’t know where his house was (he had just moved to the neighborhood) and John knew where he lived so he took him home and they were friends ever since.
Actually, that was John – you met him and he was your friend forever. He was the most optimistic, carefree, determined, fun person. We have a lot of good memories to carry us, but it will never be the same. We loved John to the core. RIP
Hip Replacement
Many of you already know that Ty is going to have a hip replacement on October 27. This summer his hip just gave out and it has been a tough go for him. So really looking forward to 10/27 – keep him in your thoughts and prayers for successful operation and surgeon steady hands. That means our journey south has been interrupted a bit as the operation will take place in Boulder.
Finishing out October, we will continue journeying south with a stop in Batesville Ind to see Beth and Ed, then onto Nashville to visit the girls, Angie and Dana (Lakelynn and Sannie). Park Wanda somewhere and get ourselves back to Colorado for the BIG DAY and heal.
Fun Pics
Comments
4 responses to “End of Summer – Heading to Florida”
Always enjoy your blog and live your adventures vicariously! Is that “come take a ride” dirt road two way? Looks a bit narrow!
one way!
I was just wondering if you still had Wanda, or rather, if you were still moving her around. I thought maybe you would park her either in CO or FL and rent something more solid in either in whichever place you didn’t move her too. I guess I think she must be getting a bit old to travel but I know nothing about the durability of trailers (or whatever you call her).
I hear hips aren’t too hard to recover from, best of luck to Ty and thanks for your update. The pictures were great, life sounds good, Susan
We forgot to get pics! Too busy catching up. Next time. Safe journey, as always. 😘😘