As usual I'm farther behind than I meant to be in posting in the ol' travel blog.
I left Vermont 42 days ago.
The trip to Colorado to see my mom first ended up taking two weeks because Aretha had a tire blow out on I-80 W in Indiana. (I guess I can check that off my list for things I was afraid of happening) It was a long day, but a really nice highway patrol man stayed with me through most of it and helped me find a (local) company to work on it, help me get off the highway, and then followed me to the nearby town of Elkhart. It was the rear inside passenger side tire and it caused quite a bit of damage in that area. SO I ended up staying in Elkhart for 10 days while Aretha got into a shop and had underbody, gas lines, and compartments re-constructed. Yikes. And tire replaced, of course. At least I had little Rebel with me, so I was able to get around town and do some exploring, etc. Everyone i met was nice and usually very helpful. Oddly enough, Elkhart is known as the RV Capital of the World. I went to the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum while I was there. It was very cool.
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| Blow out on the highway |
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| Screamin' Eagles bus at the RVmuseum |
I got back on the road and things seemed to be going fine. Since I stayed on the interstate, it was just miles and miles of open prairie land through Iowa, Nebraska, and the east side of Colorado. Audiobooks and Pandora radio saved me from the utter monotony. Geez, I'm sure it would've seemed twice as long otherwise!
Just past Denver, CO...
I felt like Aretha wasn't running well. I nervously pulled off the highway in Golden, and parked at an overlook. It was right next to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre entrance 1. I checked the transmission fluid and it seemed ok. By now I was discouraged and thinking, "Oh no. Maybe I need the transmission replaced!" Blah blah. I was feeling discouraged and vulnerable out in this unknown territory. It was almost evening on a Thursday, so I knew I had to find a place I could park and sleep for the night. I'd have to call service stations in the morning.
Thankfully I was able to stay right there at that big public parking/viewing area. I was parked quite above the highway and it got down to 30 degrees by morning, but I bundled up and put the gas heat on low and tried to get some sleep.
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| As the sun set at Golden, CO that night |
I had an amazing experience the next day.
I called some places, and was waiting for a call back from 2 of them. I was struck by how beautiful it was there as I reflected upon the mountains surrounding me. I was still feeling very emotional, but believing I was there for a reason. My bones said this place had a spiritual lesson for me.
I had just walked back from a nearby store when I met a man who was parked near me. He had long hair and a baseball cap on his head. He lived in his 1974 camper with his black lab and two cats. I told him how I ended up there. He introduced himself by name, then said, "But everyone calls me Preacher." I told him why I was currently parked here in Golden. He told me he'd been a mechanic his whole life, but became a preacher 10 years ago. He said, "Why don't you pop the hood and I'll take a look." Long story short, he taught me some things about engines and the area and life. He lived in Denver his whole life. He said he'd been preaching to the homeless and drug addicted population on the streets of Denver for most of the past 10 years.
I was apparently down a bit on transmission fluid (which I've since learned is from a small leak.) I grabbed some from a gas station right there, and he added some and checked a few other things. I learned that high altitudes effect the way auto engines run. An engine loses 3% of it's rated power for every 1,000 feet. I've certainly learned how noticeable that is out here.
This probably sounds crazy to you, but we agreed I would hold his wallet and stay with his animal family at his camper while he took Aretha for a ride to see how she ran. He came back and said he thought she was running strong. In the end, he refused any money from me. He said something like, "I bless you, God blesses me, don't interfere." He prayed over me before I left to continue on my way.
That experience left me in tears, and in awe over what had transpired. I believe 'Preacher' was there at that time to remind me that I am being taken care of. Even when I question what the heck I'm doing way out here, on the road, by myself - I'm reminded I am not alone.
It was a stressful ride
I-70 W between Golden and Grand Junction. Up, up, up - and then down, down, down all of those mountain passes. I went SLOW and prayed a lot. I was hyper-sensitive about every sound or different feeling because of Aretha's health. 😟 I drove 4 and 1/2 hours straight because I was nervous about stopping. Made it to Mom's around 8:30 pm. Boy didn't I just about fall out of the driver's seat! It was an emotional day indeed. There was delicious chicken cordon bleu for dinner. I fell asleep in a soft bed and didn't know a thing until morning!
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| Mojo's in Ouray |
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| Outlaw restaurant in Ouray |
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| At River's Edge in Ouray |
Unfortunately, since my arrival at Mom's had been waylaid, I ran a higher risk for cold weather while I was there. And... Yup. There was a snowstorm and a few days where the temps dropped down to 15 at night. Aretha was parked next to the house. I had a little bit of a panic and had to FIND and then drain all of the water lines in her (first time 🙅) and left gas heat on during the nights. She survived ok.
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| Yup -got caught in it |
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| Driving somewhere... |
Toward the end of my stay, we drove a few hours on I-70 E and met my sister Rachael in Frisco for another overnight. She lives in Denver. If you ever get a chance to drive through Glenwood Canyon on I-70, I highly recommend it. That whole ride is stunning in so many ways, as it travels through Vail and Glenwood Springs. We had a good time together and had a little birthday celebration for Rachael.
Then it was time to say good-bye to Mom and Jeff. 😞
I left there and headed south through Utah and into Arizona.
191 driving south through UT has some really strange - feeling sections. Giant smooth rock formations for as far as you can see. Many reminded me of huge sleeping dogs. It felt like I was on another planet sometimes, out there on long stretches of road like that. (I didn't take pictures of them while driving) Usually the continuous rock formations out here are more tall, flat, sharp and pointy. And magnificent.
I boondocked (stay somewhere without any hook-ups) on public lands in Moab and Monticello, UT - and then a couple of forests in Flagstaff, AZ before landing at an RV Resort in Apache Junction. I didn't much care for the staying out in the woods like that by myself. If I can see other RV's/campers, I'm better, but I'll confess I had a hard time feeling safe at night. Slept with weapons next to me -which I also do when I have to overnight at Cracker Barrels/Walmart's, etc. - but still felt less safe. Oh well. Maybe that will change in the future...
I've been here at Golden Sun RV Resort for a week now and have met some nice people. I went hiking (at Silly Mountain!) with a couple of them, helped to plant the flowers here, and participate in aqua aerobics. Only 2 of us in the pool.😁 I ride Rebel around town a little. It's very dry of course. Warm days, cool nights.
I am putting on a solo Sunday afternoon music show here tomorrow in the ballroom. ♭♭♭
I'll be in Tucson in a few days, and then on to another RV park in Benson.
Well that's enough outa me.
Stay safe and healthy - (and please use good habits to help keep others safe)
Good-bye for now!
Stefani
