We last left our midnight ramblers cheesing off our camping neighbor, car camping and rustlin' up some grub.
Too Much? Time On Our Hands...
That must be a typo... has to be. Right? Since we were backpackless, we had opted out of going to Mesa Verde. That meant that we had all kinds of time now and perhaps pleasing to my olfactory only... then again perhaps not... this meant (at long last) a shower for me. Yup, showers and sleep... two (of many) of life's grandest things. Wasn't really getting enough of either though. All this extra time is being brought to by the people of stranded backpack. There was no way we were going to be walking around carrying Ana as we climbed our way in and around Mesa Verde and since Mesa Verde was in between Durango and Cortez (our next camping destination) we were almost giddy with the notion of having the extra time as it's only about an hour drive between the two towns.
Breathe in. We didn't rush though our breakfast. Breathe out. Nor did we rush through loading up. We savored the slower pace, but hey, it's not like we can hang out here all day long, so onward we pressed to Cortez. To say nothing of the rarity... while driving we thought it rather novel to actually be getting to the campground and be setting up in honest to goodness daylight. The genuine article where we didn't have to worry about a fading (or recently faded) sun. So that's what we did. C'mon... really? Really... We checked in and set up with daylight-a-plenty ahead of us.
But something was off... something wasn't right and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then it hit me... so this is what it's like huh? Boy it was weird not having to go to bed straight away after getting the tent up; so now what? This is uncharted territory for us. This is something that we've only read about but never personally experienced before. People setting up camp AND still having the rest of the day ahead? Absurd! Insane! We weren't prepared! We didn't plan for this! So now what indeed!
A rolling down the highway shot between Durango and Cortez...
Breathe in. We didn't rush though our breakfast. Breathe out. Nor did we rush through loading up. We savored the slower pace, but hey, it's not like we can hang out here all day long, so onward we pressed to Cortez. To say nothing of the rarity... while driving we thought it rather novel to actually be getting to the campground and be setting up in honest to goodness daylight. The genuine article where we didn't have to worry about a fading (or recently faded) sun. So that's what we did. C'mon... really? Really... We checked in and set up with daylight-a-plenty ahead of us.
But something was off... something wasn't right and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then it hit me... so this is what it's like huh? Boy it was weird not having to go to bed straight away after getting the tent up; so now what? This is uncharted territory for us. This is something that we've only read about but never personally experienced before. People setting up camp AND still having the rest of the day ahead? Absurd! Insane! We weren't prepared! We didn't plan for this! So now what indeed!
So Let's Eat!
The Main Street Brewery raises it's own cattle, so getting a steak means some really fresh meat and as the name states... Brewery... they make their own beer too. I don't remember what I ordered to eat, but I do remember that the beer was really good. Don't misunderstand me, the food was really good too, Julie's steak was really tender and done well. They also make their own cream sodas, in about a dozen or so flavors.
It was an especially nice time knowing that there was no hurry to be gettin' along since we really had nothing better to do. That and knowing that our tent was just down the road and only five minutes away with the added bonus of it already being set up. It was one of the few times that we were able to relax a bit. Eventually we left to go back to camp and we contemplated a fire and some roasting of marshmallows. Well, I contemplated a fire and the kids contemplated the roasting of marshmallows, I for one was plenty f u l l.
The Night Brought The Rain...
When all else fails... eat! It was getting on about lunchtime anyhow and wanting to sample some local fare, we headed on into town to the 
Main Street Brewery. Unfortunately for us, too early for them to be open, so we stopped at a something we passed on the way into town and a staple of our camping excursions... Wal-Mart. Noticing that we were a bit light in the cutlery and flatware department while in Cascade, we thought it prudent to check and see what their camping area had. We found some all in one eating utensils and bought one for everyone as well as some enamel coated camping plates and bowls. Having previously noted that the snack bag was getting a bit low we restocked our rations and ran back to camp as things needed to be put in the cooler. In the time it took us to shop and unload it was late enough to go and drink... I mean eat... you know eat AND drink.
Main Street Brewery. Unfortunately for us, too early for them to be open, so we stopped at a something we passed on the way into town and a staple of our camping excursions... Wal-Mart. Noticing that we were a bit light in the cutlery and flatware department while in Cascade, we thought it prudent to check and see what their camping area had. We found some all in one eating utensils and bought one for everyone as well as some enamel coated camping plates and bowls. Having previously noted that the snack bag was getting a bit low we restocked our rations and ran back to camp as things needed to be put in the cooler. In the time it took us to shop and unload it was late enough to go and drink... I mean eat... you know eat AND drink.
The Main Street Brewery raises it's own cattle, so getting a steak means some really fresh meat and as the name states... Brewery... they make their own beer too. I don't remember what I ordered to eat, but I do remember that the beer was really good. Don't misunderstand me, the food was really good too, Julie's steak was really tender and done well. They also make their own cream sodas, in about a dozen or so flavors.It was an especially nice time knowing that there was no hurry to be gettin' along since we really had nothing better to do. That and knowing that our tent was just down the road and only five minutes away with the added bonus of it already being set up. It was one of the few times that we were able to relax a bit. Eventually we left to go back to camp and we contemplated a fire and some roasting of marshmallows. Well, I contemplated a fire and the kids contemplated the roasting of marshmallows, I for one was plenty f u l l.
The Night Brought The Rain...
Or perhaps the rain brought the night, either way, we weren't back to camp for very long when it started to sprinkle... a steady sprinkle... one that seemed destined to be staying for the night, or at the very least until we bedded down. Since it was raining and getting late(er) plus the more than customary one beer and the full belly was putting me in a relaxed, sleepy state, I figured since there will be no fire (I wasn't about to sit around a campfire in the steady drizzly rain) bed was fast becoming a strong option and perhaps in order. So bed it was to be.
The rain never did let up and in fact turned into a full throttle thunderstorm with BIG rain. It was kind of cool, to me anyway, to listen to the thunder rumble across the sky. It was somewhere around 3am again... the bewitching time for rain... as I lay there counting the time that elapsed between lightening and the thunder to see if it was coming or going. It was still coming. I don't remember how long it rained for, but it didn't matter the duration, what mattered was the amount of rain that fell. I'm only an armchair weatherman, but I suspect that around 2+" of rain fell, and fell rather quickly once it got serious about it. Of course being awakened at that hour usually lets you know that your bladder is full and in need of emptying and I for one was not going to walk the 100 to 200 yards or so to go to the bathroom, punch in a code while standing in the rain to open the door. So um... well... we won't talk about where exactly I went. Let's just say that I didn't have one drop of rain fall upon me and leave it at that.
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow...
After the rain has fallen, things tend to be wet. This time there was no hurricane force wind to dry things off. So I took a towel and started beating the top of the rain fly in an attempt to speed up the drying process. After getting most of the water off, it was then removed and spread flat to dry in the sun as we packed up. While we were eating breakfast Lesley was telling us that as she went to the bathroom that morning she passed two people who camped that night by merely rolling themselves (individually) up in tarps. That's right, like human burritos wrapped in plastic.
Breakfast allowed us to break in the new flatware and cutlery. They worked flawlessly and everyone was excited to be trying and using something new... even if only being used for cold cereal. We had a fairly long day ahead and as expected eating and packing up took longer than desired. We still needed to get to Four Corners and make it to the Mather Campground in Grand Canyon. Checking out, a walk through the office/gift shop took 
some time and then you have to factor in the goodbyes that needed to be said since this the end of the line for Auntie Lesley. 
Pictures and long goodbyes and it's time to head on out. Let's all say goodbye to Auntie Lesley... goodbye, and sadly goodbye to Cortez... and in a matter of a few hours so long to Colorado.
Riddle Me This... When Is A Corner Not A Corner?
Breakfast allowed us to break in the new flatware and cutlery. They worked flawlessly and everyone was excited to be trying and using something new... even if only being used for cold cereal. We had a fairly long day ahead and as expected eating and packing up took longer than desired. We still needed to get to Four Corners and make it to the Mather Campground in Grand Canyon. Checking out, a walk through the office/gift shop took 
some time and then you have to factor in the goodbyes that needed to be said since this the end of the line for Auntie Lesley. 
Pictures and long goodbyes and it's time to head on out. Let's all say goodbye to Auntie Lesley... goodbye, and sadly goodbye to Cortez... and in a matter of a few hours so long to Colorado.Riddle Me This... When Is A Corner Not A Corner?
When it is Four Corners... and what is made with four corners... a big square... and that's what this was, a big square of cement surrounded by Indian peddlers which was surrounded by desert.
Nothing exciting to tell here, although you'd have to have a pretty low threshold for excitement to think that anything posted here is exciting. Just some more quality time packed into the Sequoia driving through essentially desert. Upon arrival, which is still more desert (Four Corners is in the middle of nothing but desert and is on Indian land) you have to pay to see the actual point. I will say this, the money that is being brought in isn't going for any enhancement of the immediate area there... as you will note in some of the pictures. This was our big chance to roll on some New Mexican land... that's were the entrance drive is, in New Mexico. So we paid our money and well... went to the point and snapped pictures like we were a bunch of stupid tourists.
It's a strip mall of sorts... actually more like adjoining 'L' shaped outdoor kiosks. This is where the Indians sit and peddle their wares. Hand made jewelry and such to which we visited each and every one. We did purchase some things, so we did our part to help the Indian economy. On the third side is a row of port-a-potties... hey, at least they were trying to blend them into the background... they were tan. The fourth side was the entrance/exit. That's about it... the Four Corners monument, many Indian peddlers and a row of port-a-potties... and if that don't scream yee-haw, then I don't know what does. In all honesty it was kinda cool, the actual point that is as well as the whole experience. It consists of a cement pad that has each state seal in it, the marker in the center and four lines in the cement going off into infinity to mark the state boundaries. It's someplace else to say I was there... I experienced it.
Oh, I almost forgot, the backpack. Once we discovered that it was missing, Julie called the Duck to see if in fact it was at our tent site. It was, but now what? We weren't about to turn back and we were going to kind of need it for the rest of the trip... either that or we put Ana on a rope and drag her around as we did not pack a stroller for her. Since we felt that that would be frowned upon, we felt it best to somehow get the pack back, or would you say get the backpack back? It was decided that the Duck people would mail it on ahead of us to Carlsbad, Ca... to where we'd be staying for Legoland. Mailing it there put it far enough ahead of us that the only way it doesn't arrive before us is if someone or something screwed it up. Luckily for us this was not the case as it was in fact waiting for us when we arrived, but that's further on down the story road here. We still have to get through Grand Canyon and San Clemente Beach before we get to Carlsbad.
Next up: Grand Canyon, San Clemente Beach (and Leaving Four Corners). This will get you there... Finding A Really BIG Hole In The Ground...
KUIYTAP
Nothing exciting to tell here, although you'd have to have a pretty low threshold for excitement to think that anything posted here is exciting. Just some more quality time packed into the Sequoia driving through essentially desert. Upon arrival, which is still more desert (Four Corners is in the middle of nothing but desert and is on Indian land) you have to pay to see the actual point. I will say this, the money that is being brought in isn't going for any enhancement of the immediate area there... as you will note in some of the pictures. This was our big chance to roll on some New Mexican land... that's were the entrance drive is, in New Mexico. So we paid our money and well... went to the point and snapped pictures like we were a bunch of stupid tourists.
It's a strip mall of sorts... actually more like adjoining 'L' shaped outdoor kiosks. This is where the Indians sit and peddle their wares. Hand made jewelry and such to which we visited each and every one. We did purchase some things, so we did our part to help the Indian economy. On the third side is a row of port-a-potties... hey, at least they were trying to blend them into the background... they were tan. The fourth side was the entrance/exit. That's about it... the Four Corners monument, many Indian peddlers and a row of port-a-potties... and if that don't scream yee-haw, then I don't know what does. In all honesty it was kinda cool, the actual point that is as well as the whole experience. It consists of a cement pad that has each state seal in it, the marker in the center and four lines in the cement going off into infinity to mark the state boundaries. It's someplace else to say I was there... I experienced it.
For your perusing pleasure, a photo album showing our Four Corners Experience...
Oh, I almost forgot, the backpack. Once we discovered that it was missing, Julie called the Duck to see if in fact it was at our tent site. It was, but now what? We weren't about to turn back and we were going to kind of need it for the rest of the trip... either that or we put Ana on a rope and drag her around as we did not pack a stroller for her. Since we felt that that would be frowned upon, we felt it best to somehow get the pack back, or would you say get the backpack back? It was decided that the Duck people would mail it on ahead of us to Carlsbad, Ca... to where we'd be staying for Legoland. Mailing it there put it far enough ahead of us that the only way it doesn't arrive before us is if someone or something screwed it up. Luckily for us this was not the case as it was in fact waiting for us when we arrived, but that's further on down the story road here. We still have to get through Grand Canyon and San Clemente Beach before we get to Carlsbad.
Next up: Grand Canyon, San Clemente Beach (and Leaving Four Corners). This will get you there... Finding A Really BIG Hole In The Ground...
KUIYTAP
1 comment:
Nice to know that my grandchildren can sit in 4 states at once! Good read!
Luv, Mom
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