Mountain Time

The next stop on the Colorado family and friend tour was Rob’s brother Rich’s place and Rob’s alma mater in Fort Collins.  After a traveling day with the usual maintenance requirements of shopping, fuel, dump and water, we found our spot in a neighborhood cul de sac before heading up to Horsetooth Reservoir for a good sunset hike. 

Horsetooth was a favorite hangout for Rob and his CSU college buds back in the day so there were stories to tell with some good laughs and memories.  We always manage to find ourselves at the reservoir when we visit as the area never disappoints with hiking trails, water and mountains in all directions.  The sunset added a special ambiance to an already great hike.

The plan for the next few days was to introduce Rich and Lisa to the nomad life of the RV.  Rob and I headed up the Cache de Poudre Canyon to pick out a campsite where they would join us early Tuesday.  We enjoyed the ride watching the rapids in the Poudre River with all of the snow melt of the record breaking year. 

An hour or so up the canyon we settled on Mountain Park Campground and after a few challenges found our spot to host the fam.  Barely able to step foot out of the RV, the campground neighbors were already gathering to hear the Holy City Brewing story!  Before we knew it, we had near a dozen folks gathered around with a beer in hand as the evening slipped away!

The next morning we took the hike to Mount McConnell from the campground.  Described as a 4 mile moderate trail, we set out for an uneventful hike.  So much for that concept!  The hike climbed fast up the hillside and then climbed some more.  Thinking we had made the summit, we enjoyed the views only to find out further down the trail that the summit was yet to come!  We enjoyed the mountaintop experience TWICE and then continued on the loop trail for the descent.

Swearing we had already covered our 4 miles, we figured we’d see the campground at every turn but the trail just continued on and on – in the WRONG direction!  Not deterred, we carried on down the primitive trail at the steep descent over boulders and through the brush until reaching a little spring oasis on the mountainside before finally seeing the campground again.

Pleased with a good workout, we were ready for some fun when Rich and Lisa arrived.  We soaked our feet in a Poudre River eddy, had a few drinks and a fabulous bbq feast before staring up into the night skies for the late moonrise star show.

The next two days were more of the same with great hikes, good food and great company.  We hiked the 7 mile Lower Dadd Gulch trail marveling at the best array of wildflowers we had seen to date while wearing ourselves out sufficiently to justify the excesses of the rest of the afternoon and evening. 

The final morning we headed for the Kelly Flats trail to conquer whatever portion we could manage before breaking camp and heading back to Fort Collins.  A 10.9 mile one way 4x4 vehicles trail, we headed separate directions of our choosing varying from meandering strolls to crazy uphill boldering and downhill runs.  Feeling adequately challenged, we patted ourselves on the back and headed back to Fort Collins.

Getting back into town in time for a late lunch, we went to a university fav, the Rainbow Café, an especially wonderful treat for me with meals like a sweet potato burrito and other entres of tofu and seitan.  Arriving back to the neighborhood, the next days were spent helping Rich and Lisa around the house and enjoying the beautiful Colorado summer weather.

Jacob came into town Saturday afternoon and brewery tours were on the agenda.  With dozens of breweries to choose from, Jacob and I set a course of some of the more famous and a few off the beaten track.  From Jessup Farm to O’Dell’s, we sampled barrel aged, sours and stouts until enough was enough and we went home for a Thai feast and a movie.

Jacob stayed for the final night of our family adventure that included our nephews Mychal and Brandyn and their girlfriends Emily and Suzie.  Always great to see distant family, we had fun sharing the RV and, of course, Holy City Beer!  I prepared my best BBQ fare and we ate, drank and storied the night away before saying our goodbyes all the way around with promises to see each other again soon.

This morning Cloos dropped by for yet another goodbye and we’re on the road again.  The reality of Jacob being officially a resident of Colorado now sinks in as the miles begin to separate us and Rob and I continue our nomadic journey to points beyond.  Along with leaving family, we also leave the west as the mountains fade in the rearview mirror and the grasslands stretch far ahead promising still more amazing experiences to come.