Is it really over?

As I sit to write the summary of our trip, I am almost at a loss for words.....I am not sure where to begin and where to end. This much I know; it was certainly a trip of a lifetime and I am a changed person for the experience of it. I am truly blessed to have been able to do this and am filled with gratitude towards Guy for allowing this all to take place. For those of you that don't know this, Guy and I were married 21 years ago for a brief 2 year marriage. We went our separate ways and reconnected through his daughter on Facebook in 2008. Never in a million years did either of us think we would ever see each other again......but fate would have its way, and we have healed the wounds of the past. For my 50th birthday, Guy asked me to put together a "bucket list" of things I wanted to do in this lifetime. A RV trip across America was on the top of the list, (behind biking across Ireland and a safari in Africa) and coincidentally on the top of his as well. So, it was decided then and there, that this trip would become a reality. After extensive research, and the purchase of an RV plans were underway. Working in the school system allows me the time off in the summer to do such a trip and Guy's business allows him the freedom to take off whenever he wants to....along with his trusted staff to run his office while away. Of course, technology allows this freedom as well with Internet access so we could both keep up with bill paying, etc.... So, this 6 week, 7900 mile trip took us through 18 states, 11 National Parks, 3 State Parks, 4 Indian Reservations and 8 modes of transportation, including jet ski, golf cart, ferry, ski boat, mule, tram, raft, bicycle and of course, lots of walking/hiking. I guess you could say, we did it all! To re-cap it all in this last blog is a very difficult task, but one worth doing I suppose. So, I thought I would begin with a list of the highlights....if one can even do that....because in my opinion, the entire trip was a highlight....even with the mishaps along the way. Beginning the trip with the Michael Buble concert and winning $1265 at the casino tops the list! Seeing the smile on my face brings me back to that time. Ahhh, the smell of fresh $100 bills! This certainly helped to finance our adventure and was definitely a great way to start the trip. Although it took us 3 days to reach our first destination, being in Colorado was a definite highlight. I belong in this state and hope to one day find myself living there. It was wonderful to visit with my childhood friend Jon and his family and having a connection there might just be the first step towards my relocation. Although if Guy had his way, I would be living back in Florida! Colorado was also a low light of the trip as I had a difficult time adjusting to the high altitude and mixing alcohol into that equation was a very bad idea.
One of the biggest and most consistent highlights of the trip was stargazing and campfires. Being out in the wilderness brings no light pollution and seeing the milky way in all its brilliance leaves one feeling quite small in this existence. The billions of stars, and the astrological formations seen along with the display of shooting stars were brilliant. As John Denver put it so beautifully, "I've seen it rain and fire in the sky, talked to God and listened to his casual reply....Rocky Mountain High" We took advantage of stargazing any chance we could and one of the best times was driving along the interstate in "big sky" Montana and seeing the stars so close, it felt like you could put your hand out the window and touch them. We pulled off the highway and drove about
a 1/2 mile down a deserted road, grabbed a blanket and climbed on top of the RV. We laid there and lost ourselves in the night sky. Serenity at its finest!
Seeing the Southwest and the Desert for the first time was also an experience that is etched in our minds. The vastness and unending horizon were spectacular. Of course, getting used to the sweltering temperatures was an adjustment all in its own. Ahhh, nothing like the desert in July! We loved the Southwestern way of life.....kicked back, friendly and accepting. It was awesome to see the different rock formations that appeared in all their glory out of nowhere. The RV, which we ended up naming "Rhonda" plugged along the fiery highway with ease, but the generator had a hard time keeping up, which at times, made the temperature inside a little uncomfortable. I can't blame her though.....going 75 mph in 110 degree temps takes its toll. One of the low points while in the desert was my almost heat stroke which I received by biking at high noon. Not too smart and I was very lucky to get away with just a little dehydration and headache. This oppressive heat makes Lake Powell one of highlights on this trip. The 80 degree, crystal clear aquamarine waters of the Colorado River were very inviting. (when the air temp is 110, a water temp of 80 feels cool) Our camp site had a million dollar view, as we liked to call it our waterfront property! Both my dogs Cosette and Story learned to swim here as well and it was pure joy watching them frolic in the water. Renting the ski boat and spending the day exploring the massive lake is definitely one of the highlights and I think I even cried when we had to move on to our next destination. I know I will return to this place, only next time rent a house boat and spend a week on the water! Any takers?
Moving along, The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park make the top 10 list of course, and these were the parks that we spent the most time in, with 3 nights in the Tetons and 6 in Yellowstone. We were out of the heat, the days were long with the sun setting near 10:00pm and the nights were cool. Each park offered its own beauty and our exploration was endless. Each trail we hiked was more beautiful than the last and the anticipation of what we might encounter at each turn was exciting. Renting the convertible was a great way to "be up close and personal" with the wildlife that meanders so close to the roadway, or even crosses it. Although, being 10 feet from a bear was a bit intimidating! Our best campsite was at Slough campground. A remote, very small establishment with only 19 sites. We were right on the river, so the dogs enjoyed the exploring and the sound of the water rushing over the rocks made for a very peaceful sleep despite the fact that only a few days prior a fatal mauling from a mama grizzly and her starving 3 cubs occurred. Our worst campsite was also at Yellowstone in the south end. It was more like a parking lot which did not allow fires and did not even have room for picnic tables. So, we made the best of it by parking at a remote area of Yellowstone Lake and having a wonderful late night dinner lakeside and then going to the campsite only to sleep. It's funny how something so disappointing can turn into something so wonderful! White water rafting also makes the list of highlights and was truly one of the most fun adventures on this trip. Cascading over grade 3 rapids was a thrill and brought Guy and I back to the days of our honeymoon where we did the same thing. This tour guide was wonderful and let us out of the boat to swim in the calmer waters, although at 60 degree water temp, we didn't last too long out of the boat. I think our most interesting hike was The Narrows at Zion National
Park. A five mile hike between two walls extending over 2000 feet up! The entire hike was in the Virgin River and sometimes we were in ankle deep water and sometimes in waist deep. One thing was certain, we were always in water and the threat of flash flooding and certain death was in the forefront of our minds as there was no where to escape to should such an event occur. We wore neoprene socks and special boots for the treacherous walk on the riverbed rocks. Despite our feet hurting for days after, the excitement of it all was well worth it. Also at Zion was our most strenuous hike on a trail named Angels Landing. Several switch back trails, appropriately named Walter's Wiggles and a short and steep ascent of 1500 feet made for much determination to reach the top. But it didn't stop there....the last 0.5 miles was so steep that chains were needed to guide you along the trail.
Pictured on right you see I am holding on to one of the chains for dear life, and somehow still have a smile on my face, despite the 1000 foot drop below. The trail is appropriately named Angels Landing. Many of our hikes were beautiful....some challenging, some breathtaking and some even relaxing. But one thing for sure, all were memorable.
Our favorite sunset was in The Badlands watching it set behind the mountain and leaving a brilliant evening sky.
Our final low light of the trip was when Guy dislocated one finger and broke another all during the same fall which occurred 12, 300 feet on top of a mountain peak while hiking in Colorado.

Hmmm, 2 low lights of the entire trip and both occurred in Colorado......After a trip to the medical center and a re-setting of his fingers, we were back at the adventure, but at 1/2 speed. Fortunately, this was towards the end of our trip and forced us to wind things down and prepare us for our 36 hour ride home.
I thank you for taking the time out of your busy days to follow my blog these past 6 weeks and live vicariously through us on our vacation. I hope it encourages you to explore your dreams. So many times we say, Oh, I would love to do such and such.....or, if I only had the time or the money, I would do such and such. My advice to you is to take the opportunity to plan your dreams and live them. We are only on this earth for a short while and there is so much out there waiting for us to see and explore. We are already talking about our next trip. Who knows, we may find our selves biking across Ireland next summer! It's time to live life to its fullest! I titled this blog "Is it really over?" What I really should of titled it was "Part One"!! I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes and one that applies so well.
"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that
you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success" ~ Louisa May Alcott

Happy trails~ Laura and Guy xoxo
below are a few of my favorite pics.....enjoy!!

Skeet shooting

Before heading out, Jon and his neighbor Dave took us target shooting at a very cool park near by that includes a shooting range. Colorado is rated the healthiest state in the nation and so much is geared towards the outdoors. Bike trails along the roads are abundant, and the clean cool air is inviting for one to get outside.....in the summer at least :) Pictured above I am shooting a over under (or is it under over?) 20 gauge shotgun. I was a bit nervous at first, worried about the amount of "kickback" and the condition of my shoulder. But after taking aim and squeezing the trigger, there were no worries. We were shooting at clay discs that are catapulted through the air from a device that you pull a lever. I missed my first shot, but made at least 90% of them after that. I was amazed at my accuracy and the boys called me a "natural". Maybe I have found my new sport? Guy had a tough time of it, as the vibration of the shot bothered his broken finger. Pictured on right, Jon and Dave are shooting doubles as I pull the lever that shoots the flying discs into the air. Both were excellent marksmen. Dave was shooting his 12 gauge shotgun, and that had quite a kick to it and I dared not try it. We spent a couple of hours shooting before it was time for Guy and I to get back on the road and head back East. We seriously discussed staying on the road for a year as neither of us want to return to reality. The 36 hour ride home is cutting it close as Guy's flight is in 48 hours. Neither of us want to leave.....

Silver Plum and Pheonix mines

Upon leaving Frisco, Colorado where we found an awesome secluded spot to set up camp, we headed west towards Denver to visit with my good friends, the Curts family. Driving along Hwy 70, we spotted a historic marker in a town called Georgetown. Being from the DC area, we HAD to stop to check it out. From this place, one can observe the bighorn sheep across the highway grazing on the grasses in the lower terrain. A herd of about 400 live in this area. Unfortunately, not one was to be seen. The town is also known for its steam run train which takes tourists on a 3 mile tour through the mountains. To our disappointment, the tour was sold out. But, we did stumble upon the remnants of an old mining town in Silver Plum just down the road. We found the 7-30 trail which leads to the mines. I was so excited to explore the caves, but very cautious to enter as there can be "dead air" along with bats and other hazards. We hiked for about 90 minutes continually ascending the hillside.
Along the way we found several deserted silver mines....some boarded up, some still open. Although the temptation was there, common sense took over and we just "peeked in". It was interesting to see all the big equipment just left on the hillside...it was certainly a snap shot in history 100 years ago. The dogs were getting hot and tired from the hiking, so we headed back into town where we found a scrumptious bakery and filled our bellies with three berry pie, chocolate chip and cranberry nut cookies!
Back in the RV, we continued to head East only to find another mine...this time gold and open for tours! It was great fun to explore this mine and to see the 18kt gold still in the rock. The EPA has shut down many of the mines because of the contamination of the air and water caused by the processing of the minerals. Of course, I wanted to scrape some of this gold and stash in my pockets but the 20 years imprisonment sign was a good deterrent. No worries though, at the end of the tour they allowed for panning in the nearby stream.
Two days prior, the area was flooded so many rocks were uncovered. A few of the visitors were finding valuable rocks and minerals, myself included. I found a good sized garnet which I will have polished and made into some type of jewelry. I also found a few flakes of gold, but not really worth anything other than a souvenir. We wrapped up the day at the mines and headed to Parker for dinner with Jon and his family.

Colorado National Park

Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to move to Colorado. My infatuation with John Denver only made the desire that much more. So, what better way to wrap things up than to return to this beautiful amazing state. Even the drive here was breathtaking. We left South Dakota at dusk and drove through Wyoming for a good part of the night. Stopped at a rest stop near a train depot and all night listened to the whistling of the trains as they went by. Very cool and mesmerizing. These trains are amazingly long and such an efficient method of transportation in this part of the country. We arrived in Estes Park....home of Colorado National Park. I was having a bit of a time adjusting to the altitude once again. A little nauseous and tired, so increasing the water intake and a little nap certainly helped. After securing a campsite for the night, we were off for some exploration. We drove up Trail Ridge, the highest paved road in North America to an elevation of 12, 290 feet. As you can imagine, the scenery was breathtaking above tree line. At times, we were in the clouds, which presented a beauty all in its own. Upon reaching the peak, a storm rolled in, so we waited it out in the RV as death from lightening strikes are very common at this altitude. The sun began peaking over the mountain tops and we were quickly out for a hike. One has to take it slow though, the thin air leaves you breathless.
The alpine tundra and the many wild flowers are stunning. The clean crisp air is invigorating. It was actually a bit cool....guessing low 50's. Quite a change from the weather we had been experiencing in the Southwest. We hiked a bit and climbed a few rocks to get some beautiful pictures. Upon leaving, Guy slipped on one of the rocks (they were slippery after the rain) and dislocated his ring finger. Even being a nurse, it was tough to look at. We made it down the mountain in about 90 minutes and found a medical clinic in Grand. After x-rays, it was determined he also broke his middle finger. Long story short, his finger was re-aligned and both finger splinted. He tore his medial ligaments in his ring finger and will need surgery to have this repaired. He was a real trooper through it all and fortunately, this happened toward the end of our vacation. I treated him to a wonderful steak dinner and we found a beautiful campsite right along Grand Lake and retired for the night. Pictured left is our view from the RV.
The next morning, up bright and early, we drove Southwest to Breckenridge Ski Area for some alpine fun! Because of Guy's injury, we wanted to lay low so he could re-adjust to his activity level. Plans for golf, bike riding, whitewater rafting were out, so we took a gondola ride to the top and did a little hiking, sightseeing and an alpine ride down the flume.



As always, this is great fun and a first for Guy, who seemed to enjoy it immensely. We then took a nice stroll down main street with the dogs and enjoyed the quaint shops and sights to see. Late afternoon, we jumped back in the RV and drove to Vail, Colorado. I had been there almost 20 years ago and would never have recognized the place today. It has grown 4 times in size! It is a very "posh" area and has a very European feel.
At times, I felt I was back in Switzerland. We had dinner out on the deck in a cozy little Italian restaurant with the best pizza I have EVER had. Did a little souvenir shopping and headed back out late evening to find a campsite. Once again, we were blessed and found an amazing sight overlooking the Colorado Rockies and a clear mountain lake. Life is Good!! Today we plan to do some hiking as Guy's fingers are feeling much better. I want to take in as much of Colorado as I can for we head out tomorrow. :((((

South Dakota

Leaving Wyoming was tough for me....such beautiful scenery and wonderful folk. We drove through the night to South Dakota and was pleasantly surprised at the beauty although the weather is a bit crazy here. Hail storm in August leaving snow on the ground! Our first stop was the Battle of Little Big Horn, where Custer met his demise where pictured above, the dark tombstone is his grave site although his remains were later moved to West Point. The National Park is run by 3 different tribes of Indians. It was very interesting to walk the grounds and learn of the stories of the Red man and their fight to keep their way of life. Next stop,
Lead, South Dakota....home of one of the biggest gold mines in the country. We took a tour and panned for some gold and came up with a few nuggets. Them thar' gold in thar' hills!! After deciding we were not going to get rich from our little nuggets, we ventured on to the Crazy Horse memorial and to Mount Rushmore. It was amazing and I felt like I was back in Washington DC visiting the memorials. We stayed for the evening presentation and the lighting of the monument. Spectacular and very patriotic. All the military in the audience were brought up on stage while the color guard lowered the flag. Very touching....and heartfelt.
We camped in a secluded campground called "horse thief" camp ground. Since we are in Indian country, we decided to give the dogs Indian names as well. Cosette is now called "poops while walking" and Story is appropriately named "long tongue" although they don't really respond to their new names :) After a hearty breakfast, we were on our way to Rapid City, SD for daily life needs that a city would offer.....ie, hair cut, pedicure, dog food, alignment on the RV, etc....which took most of the day. Late afternoon we headed to The Badlands.
We certainly felt like we were in a different planet.....the craters and mountains resembled being on the moon!
It was nice to be able to "get close and personal" with these formations as hiking trails cut right through them.
With only an inch of rainfall per year in these parts, the ground was completely parched and made for some slippery hiking as the ground crumbled beneath our feet. The Badlands are known for the most prehistoric fossils on the earth as this was the breeding grounds for dinosaurs and such. As dusk fell upon us, it was time to move on.....Colorado or bust......

Day 4 Yellowstone National Park

Northern Yellowstone....home of the grizzly! Although we did see a mama and her two cubs, she was at a good distance and hiding in the sage, so a picture I could not get. However, this 2 year old male pictured at left was about 20 feet away! However, he showed no interest in us as he scoured for food. We spent the majority of the day at Mammoth Springs and Towers and ended up seeing a total of 6 bears. Very exciting!! We also drove over to Norris to examine more of the hot springs and thermal areas.



Some of these springs are so hot and so acidic their spray is similar to battery acid. There have been several deaths here over the years from people falling in or even jumping in. Yes, back in 1986, one man jumped in to save his friends dog.....he quickly pulled himself out but left his skin in the water. With 100% of his body covered in third degree burns, his fate was sealed and he became another statistic in the parks' fatalities. After a long day of taking in all the sights we stumbled upon a remote camping area in the northeast area...very close to where a grizzly had killed one man and mauled two other people while sleeping in their tents. But the beauty of this site right along the river, outweighed the fear of another attack. Besides, the camp rangers had trapped and killed the bear responsible. Slough campground which is located in Lamar Valley is where the wolf has been re-introduced to the park. Several onlookers with high powered cameras and binoculars camp out in the evening/dusk hours in hope of catching a glimpse of these haunting animals. We watched with the others for awhile, but were not lucky enough to see any wolf activity. We returned to our campsite and had a wonderful campfire and enjoyed the clear night and abundance of stars to gaze at.
We awoke early the next morning for some wildlife searching and did see some elk, antelope and of course more bison which roam the park freely.
we departed from the park through the north entrance which adorns the beautiful Roosevelt arch and enters in the town of Gardnier, Montana where we enjoyed a quick lunch and stumbled upon a whitewhater rafting outfit. Of course, we slammed on the breaks and another adventure was at hand.



We traveled 8 miles down the yellowstone river through some grade 2 and 3 rapids. It was great fun and came to an end much to quickly. We worked up an appetite and dined on Elk burgers before heading out to South Dakota. I am going to miss this place....Wyoming felt like home to me.

Yellowstone National Park

Can't believe we have been on the road for over a month....the time has flown by quickly. Fortunately, we still have another two weeks ahead! We left the Grand Tetons early and arrived in Yellowstone National Park early afternoon. Once again, bluebird skies and temps in the high 70's. Perfect! The park encompasses 2.2 million acres. 96% is in Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho. Wildlife is abundant and the grizzlies have made this their home. First stop, Old Faithful Gyser....just in time to see her spout her glory.

The thermal areas that surround this part of the park are amazing.....the different colors, sizes, shapes and water temps make for a variety of beauty. Some of the water temps are as high as 263 degrees! We enjoyed strolling around the boardwalk which brings you to each gyeser to enjoy. Some spout regularly.....others haven't gone off for years. Resting on a volcanic plateau, it is just a matter of time before this whole place erupts.....not in our lifetime though. The evening was spent exploring the Lake Area. Yellowstone Lake is the largest lake in North America at 7733 altitude. The lake encompasses Fishing Bridge, Bridge Bay and Grant Village area. We biked the hills and took in the scenery. Since our campground was more like a parking lot, we decided to park the RV along a secluded part of the lake for a very romantic dinner as we watched the sunset....the ending to a perfect day.
We awoke early and after a hearty breakfast, headed to The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone to Uncle Tom's Trail on the North Rim to see Lower Falls and Artist Point. This is the sight of some of the most photographed areas in the park. The scenery was breathtaking and the 332 stair climb back up was quite strenous in the thin air. The lower falls are almost twice as high as Niagra Falls at 308 feet! After a quick lunch, we headed to Hayden Valley for some wildlife sightings. Many Bison were seen along with a pretty large black bear. We felt very comfortable viewing from the comfort and safety of the RV.
Later in the afternoon, we decided to hike Mount Washburn, elevation 10,243 feet! (of course, we are already at 7900 feet) The 90 minute climb took us to some of the most beautiful and scerene places in the park. The wildflowers were abudant and adorned most of the hillside. We spotted several big horn sheep as well as yellow bellied marmot; a friendly mamal that resembles the ground hog. No bear were to be seen, but I had my bells on my backpack and pepper spray in hand! By nightfall, we were exhausted after a total hike of about 10 miles throughout the day.
We camped in Canyonland and heard the call of the wolves during the night. Spectacular! Today we head to the northern area of the park......grizzly territory!!