CAPULIN VOLCANO AND THE GRASSLANDS Sept 15

 It was strange but oddly calming to be back on the road again.  The pace of each day was our own and we had a couple thousand uncharted miles to travel home.  One day at a time seems to be the only way to go.

I thought Rob would play golf in the morning but he really wasn’t enthused about playing alone so we opted for a bike ride around the lake before check out time.  Rob was on watch for any wildlife because he was determined to contribute to the wildlife spotting wipe off board in the visitor center!  That wipe off board was a subject of conversation for days! 

We were on the road before noon and headed for a stop in northeast NM at the Capulin Volcano.  The ride was blissfully uneventful and we made good time enjoying the gorgeous scenery of southern Colorado and the buttes of New Mexico. 

The disappointment of the day was that the volcano was closed to all vehicles over 26 feet.  WHAT?!  Yup, that’s what they said.  It wasn’t terribly out of our way but I was excited to have our “family vacation” style experience to add to the books.  Undaunted, we created a picnic lunch and wandered the hike we could take from the visitor center. 

Hiking over large, sharp chunks of ancient lava flow, we walked the trail searching the surrounding area for any way we might hike to the top of the volcano (those Kramers never quit!)  We finished the short trail back at the visitor center hoping we might hitch a ride in a pick up – that didn’t work either.

There was a picnic area and another trail a short way up the volcano road but we weren’t supposed to walk on the road.  We decided to see if we could discreetly make our way on foot.  We were pleased to find it wasn’t too far of a jaunt and we snuck into the picnic area unnoticed.  Lunching on our pb&j’s, we were joined by several birds I had never seen before.  These birds had me baffled – looking the size of a blue jay with the look of a bluebird (kind of), I was transfixed.  (I have since discovered they are black throated blue warblers – they even sound exotic!)

The hike was another couple of miles and did the trick for stretching our legs so we gave up on the volcano and got back on the road.  The plan was to make it to the Oklahoma panhandle for the night.  Campgrounds of any sort are hard to find in this area but I had found a National Grassland picnic area just over the border that allowed overnight parking and we headed that way.

Arriving in Felt, OK we looked for the picnic area.  Google maps prompted us to turn on a road that, well, didn’t look like a road!  When rerouted, we ended up taking another road of the same description.  The town had a main street called Madison Ave (really?!) that was the only street with some form of asphalt.  The picnic area was at its end. 

We pulled into the ample parking lot to find a well-kept area with picnic tables, vault toilets and a horseshoe pit (sans horseshoes)?!  Anyway, the surrounding area was pretty desperately isolated and a bit eerie and we both had to consider our options before we got our head around actually spending the night.  

We set up camp and wandered around our new territory, really a nice spot intended for what exact use, we still don’t know.  We were taking it all in when the first tarantula came to check us out!  REALLY!!!  I’ve seen plenty of these things in cages and even a few as pets but … here?!  NOW?!  YIKES!!!!  It wasn’t much interested in us really and headed into the grass where we followed it to it’s hole in the ground.  Of course, this made sitting with feet on the ground or otherwise utilizing our feet on the earth’s surface a very questionable activity after that! 

That one wasn’t the only one we saw.  Another was the subject of Rob’s entertainment while I stayed happily inside and created dinner which we also decided to eat indoors…hmm.  To top off the surreal nature of our experience, at one point two kids (the only people we saw this whole time!) pulled up in a pickup to sell us fundraiser candybars.  Oh, and then the coyotes started howling … Seriously, who can make this stuff up?! 

We had crossed two state lines and had enough entertainment to cover a couple pages all in one day.  I’d say that we’re definitely back in our element!

THE ROAD HOME BEGINS at LATHROP – Sept 14/15

We got on the road after lunch and extended hugs.  The itinerary was short being that we had a late departure.  Cloos and Lidia were supposed to join us this first night on the road.  They were to ride their motorcycle down and then spend the night but they were called back to Wyoming so we were solo again.

The ride down to Walsenburg, CO was uneventful and pleasant.  I thought it would be a boring drive but was pleased to have continued scenery the whole way.  The smoke from the wildfires had cleared and the mountains, although retreating, were in clear view.  We arrived in Lathrop without fanfare and quickly got settled.

Of course my first order of business was to check out our surroundings with a good walk.  Lathrop sits on the plains side of Hogback Ridge that when climbed provides a beautiful view of several mountain ranges.  We hit the trail and enjoyed a little altitude climb to the ridge as well as the far expanse of the plains to the East. 

We climbed the William Henry Jackson spur trail to the top of the ridge.  Jackson was a photographer in the late 1800’s that documented many of the natural wonders of the US.  At the top of the trail, his original photo of the Spanish Peaks to the south is displayed at the site it was taken, a fun tidbit as reward for the climb. 

After a good hike and a bike ride to check out the adjacent golf course, we settled in the hot evening sun for a cocktail and a moment to reflect on all we had been through the last month as the sun set over the mountains.  With the sky clear for the first time since our arrival, I decided we should chance some stargazing after the sun was down.  We were treated to one of the best displays in any recent memory to top off another day to remember. 

SAYING GOODBYES - Sept 11 – 14

Wildfires burning in the mountains, Covid raging everywhere else – wandering has its limits these days.  Our younger son’s birthday falling in 10 or so days and the increasing threat of deteriorating weather were the impetus to get back on the road – not before some important goodbyes though!

Happy to move on from the less than welcoming Chatfield State Park, we packed up and headed back to Cloos’s for the first goodbye.  Rob and Cloos will always be each others’ best bud and we simply couldn’t pass nearby without another visit.  We got situated back on East Prescott Street and we all headed to meet Jacob and Leslie at  Honnibrook Meadery where they would pick up their car from us.

Jacob is an amazing beer brewer and creator of his own mead and we all agreed his was still the best!  We each had samplers and tried a total of near two dozens flavors of mead produced right there and enjoyed listening to the first live music we’ve heard (it was outside, mind you!) since Covid began. 

Jacob and Leslie headed home and we spent our last night with the Cloos’ basking in the hot tub and thinking of ways we might connect again before too much time passed.  With a final hike together on our fav trail in Castle Rock, goodbyes were said and we waved ourselves back down the road.

We had the day with Jacob and Leslie while the girls visited their father.  Having worked so hard on the first round through, we were content to just BE together.  With plans to celebrate the girls’ September birthdays before we left, we went shopping for gifts from us bonus grandparents.  Later Jacob and I did what we do – cook!  We did personal favorites and wiled the hours eating and a few games.

The next morning Jacob and I got back at it (cooking that is) for the birthday brunch.  Jacob produced some top notch eggs benedict with real hollandaise and I threw the mandatory heath bar coffee cake together one more time.  The girls came, we ate another ridiculous amount (yum!) and did presents. 

Monet was off again for a swimming date with a friend and Cozy stayed with us.  It was Sunday and it was the start of football season and it felt good just to hang like family so that’s exactly what we did.  Kind of an uneventful way to draw our visit to a close but oddly and wonderfully comforting. 

Of course no blog can adequately relate how special time with important people is, this one included.  The next morning the girls were back to schoolwork and Leslie was back to work as well.  We reveled in a few hours of time with our son, time so greatly missed all the months and months passing between.  Jacob turned us on to a “Ramen Chops” for lunch and we pigged out on yet more great food before the clock reminded us it was time to go.

And Moonshadow was mobile once again.

THE MEDICAL CHAPTER - AKA SNOW?!!!! Sept 7 – 11

 The reason why we made this mid-Covid journey had finally come to pass.  Rob’s very special specialist is located in Denver and he needed yet another medical procedure.  We chose Chatfield State Park as our residence for the week so we’d be within at least an ambulance ride if needed.  Arriving on Labor Day (parks are increasingly difficult to find campsites during weekends!), Jacob and family were beyond gracious enough to drive a car up to us for our use for the week. 

We arrived early afternoon and set up camp, surprised at how fun it was to go through our “motions”.  Pull out the awning, put the outdoor “carpet” out with the chairs, tablecloth on the table (with a candle of course!) – one of those rituals you create in these offhand lifestyles. 

The kids showed up soon after and we hung out in the hot, dry heat of the Colorado afternoon  before deciding we should head to the reservoir for a swim.  The family got in the car while Rob and I jumped on our bikes and we made our way across the lake to check out the swim beach.  Being the last weekend the beach was open, it was quite busy but everyone was doing their part while enjoying the beach.

Returning to camp, the family didn’t stay too long with an hour drive’s home and school/work the next day.  Also on the schedule was an approaching storm – snow they said.  It wasn’t too long after that the wind picked up and the clouds arrived.  We undid our “motions” and prepared for what, we did not know!

The next day was procedure day and we were due at the hospital at 630 am – a 45 min drive away.  Waking up at 5 we found the temp having plummeted and the snow beginning to fall.  We went from a 93 degree high to a 26 degree low in less than twelve hours!!!

The procedure went well and the snow continued to fall.  We were back to Moonshadow by early eve with pain meds in hand and the heat on full force!  That night and the next day were cozy.  Rob laid low, we watched two movies, played three games, took several naps and I even wandered out a time or two to stretch my legs.

Thursday we accomplished a doctor followup where we met a sweet older couple in the first stages of cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions.  It is sad to think of all the lives impacted by this despicable disease yet it was good to be able to share some “rules of the road” and stories of hope with them.  In the end, I think we helped.

To add to the visit, we checked in on our friends Bob and Sue who we had missed this trip with covid and snow challenges.  Sue is also battling cancer and she and Rob are comrades in arms, so to speak.  With all of our missed attempts to connect, we had a great conversation from different rooms at the same cancer center!  She was there for tests before started yet another trial drug while Rob was in his .  We waved through the walls as we talked.

Following the doctor visit which brought its own challenging news, we caught up on grocery and sundry shopping.  It’s funny how a simple stop at Trader Joe’s for familiar groceries can bring me joy!  With some favorites in the bag we carried on to do some big city birthday shopping for our son before heading back to camp where we were hosting our niece for dinner. 

 came at 4 and we wasted no time getting on with happy hour!  With my brother’s amazing smoked salmon added to other goodies, the party was on!  Jojo works in the sustainable energy field in Golden and leads a fun, rewarding and diverse life.  She and boyfriend Michael had just driven back from Alaska together after a couple month Covid stay. 

We told lots of stories huddled in ever increasing clothes against the ever increasing evening cold.  Charleston friends Craig and Cindy now living in Denver joined our chilly surroundings for dinner of hot sweet potato chili and all the accompaniments – al fresco!  I kept the food and beverages coming and we all had a good time warding off the cold!

With the medical needs accomplished and more friends and family connections made, it was time for our final stops before the road home.  The weather began to improve as did Rob and we took a final hike before happily leaving this chapter of our trip behind.

FISH RULE BE DAMNED! August 30 – Sept 7

Ever hear of the fish rule?  The one about how company is kind of like fish – it starts to smell after three or four days…?!  Well, we’ve always tried to live by that one, not wanting to ever wear out our welcome!  We had headed to Colorado thinking Rob’s medical appts would fall right in the middle of our stay only to find out that the specialist would be on vacation at that very time!  With Jacob and Leslie having gone to Vegas (oh no, quarantine!) and Rob and Lidia headed to WY, we showed up at Rich’s with a full nine days before our next commitment! 

Rob graduated from CSU so Fort Collins is an old haunt for him and Rich and Lisa’s place boasts the perfect culdesac spot for parking Moonshadow.  We pulled in Sunday eve just in time to be whisked off to Smokin’ Fins for Sunday happy hour and BOGO sushi rolls!   Giddy from sour cherry mules and full of grilled shrimp nachos, we retired back at their place with no need to do a thing!

The nine days passed remarkably well.  I think we all had our reservations but no one had expectations and it worked out fine. Lisa still works but around her hours we managed to stay busy.  Her son Josh lives in Fort Collins as well with his adorable 18 month old son Sawyer.  Missing our granddaughter, Madi, it made for some good “baby time”. 

I killed a couple hours every day finding some form of exercise.  Walking the neighborhood, I found new routes throughout the days ranging from enjoying neighborhoods to checking out CSU’s environmental education nature walk.  I took to my bike one day to find a wonderful trail that stretched for 14 miles and led to the foothills.  Not making the whole stretch the first day, Rob later joined me to the end for some great exercise and a view to boot!

Rob and Rich helped move a sectional sofa to a second floor walk up to find it didn’t fit through the door!  Ends up that it has to be hauled up over the outside balcony which they left to Josh and his younger generation friends!  The brothers also played golf a few times – the Kramer competitive spirit in full “swing”! 

With Rob and Rich golfing and Lisa at work, I borrowed a car and head for the hills!  With the wildfires causing poor air quality, I couldn’t go up the canyon for the “real” hikes but I found a good one at Horsetooth Reservoir, part of Rob’s college stomping grounds.  Over seven miles and 1300’ of elevation gain offered some hard breathing and breathtaking views – both of which I don’t seem to get enough of!

We had two socially appropriate social events.  Rob and Lidia stopped by for a barbeque on their way back from Wyoming.  Josh joined in and we had a wonderful feast.  Brandyn and Mychal, two of Rich’s sons, came for the second with a repeat culinary performance and just as much fun.  Any kind of gathering is just that much more special during these times.

We ended our time together the same way we started and were back at Smokin’ Fins for a repeat of those sour cherry mules!  With the sky an eerie red haze from the wildfires and ash raining down throughout, we made the best of our outdoor setting.  Thankful for our health, safe travels and good family friends, we toasted a successful visit and looked forward to the next.

A TIMELESS FRIENDSHIP – August 27 – 30

Rob met Rob in the early 70’s in college.  An unlikely pair in an unlikely setting, they kicked off a friendship that has truly lasted the test of time.  Still communicating on a regular basis we see “Cloos” whenever the opportunity arrives.  He and wife Lidia moved to Colorado from Florida a few years back and live in Castle Rock, about 20 minutes from Jacob’s place in Palmer Lake.  With Jacob and Leslie off to celebrate their 40^th birthdays in Vegas for the weekend, we took off for the weekend with buddy Rob.

We arrived late afternoon and settled in to the old routine, as it were.  Rob and Rob are quite the pair – overly dedicated to any task at hand while bringing out the silliness in each other like no one else can.  We spent the weekend cooking, eating, hiking, soaking in the hot tub with the boys always into some project or another.

I took advantage of having the RV right outside their door and did some cooking, baking and laundry without the usual complications of RV style.  Not that I dislike living ala RV.  I actually love creating culinary masterpieces from my tiny kitchen!  It’s just that it was a special treat to not have to light the pilot light every time or worry about how many layers of food or dishes I have on top of the last layer!  Cloos had a special request for key lime pie so – voila!  Done! 

Anyway, the three days we had together passed by quickly and we all headed north at the same time.  Rob and Lidia to their Airbnb cabin in WY to do a turn and Rob and I to Fort Collins to visit our next chapter – Rich and Lisa – also of the Kramer lineage!

THE 40th WITH JACOB AND FAMILY, August 24-27

Jacob moved back to Colorado several years ago now but it’s still hard for me to believe it!  He and Leslie were married on New Year’s Eve 2019 and now we also have two bonus granddaughters (and grand-dogs!) to add to the crew.  Having secured our parking space in the TriLakes Center for the Arts directly behind their home, we had easy access to the mixing of our lives.

The celebration of Jacob’s 40 years went really well and we had fun reviewing a 40 year photo slide show I had created as well as enjoying Jacob’s amazing smoked ribs with his request for favorite childhood recipes including a derby pie complete with 40 candles.

With the birthday over, we got on to the business of being family and doing projects!   School has begun for the girls, a mix of online and onsite for Cozy the new high-schooler and still completely online for Monet in middle school so most of each day had them holed up in their room on their computers.  Leslie works from home from her office downstairs so the whole gang is nearby but out of site!

Rob and I took walks most days enjoying the wonderful area around Palmer Lake.  From wandering out in the open range to climbing Lombard Mountain over Palmer Lake, we ventured out every day.  On days when the projects kept the boys too busy, I headed out the Santa Fe Trail practically right out the door.  Stretching 50 plus miles of near level bike and hiking trail, it’s an easy distraction whenever needed!

Jacob and Rob’s project for this visit was rebuilding their master bedroom shower.  Using tile gifted by a friend, the big surprise was finding that not all the 13” tile was 13” – half was 14!  And not all the 6” tile was beige, half was, well, different!  Improvising size and color, these two worked hours every day measuring, cutting and climbing the stairs over and over and over.  The space went from bare studs to beautifully tiled and ready to use in a matter of days! 

Somehow in the middle of all of that I got to work on transforming the garage space.  Going from catch all to organized, I did what I enjoy more than anything – organizing!  Jacob joined me for the last day and we took to the tools and guitar equipment, finding a place and easy access for everything.  It’s so fun to see a space transformed and we all felt pretty accomplished.

Of course our time together couldn’t be all work and no play and we cooked and played games and even got out to try the local moonshine – properly distanced of course!  

The last night we got lazy and ordered food to go before venturing out in the rain for an ice cream treat a fitting way to end this chapter of the visit before we head a bit north to see more family and friends.