It was definitely our most adventurous and exciting camping trip to date. We had some rain, thunder and lightning, and even a hailstorm. Beyond that it got so cold over night that the rain that was on top of our tent during the night froze. Luckily, the girls have better camping gear than us and didn't seem to get cold. Brad and I on the other hand had to do some serious cuddling just to not freeze in our worn out sleeping bags! The most unpleasant surprise of the trip was when the transmission on our van went out a half-hour into our return trip home. We stopped in Durango (the first town we came to) at about 4:30pm and got it checked out and worried that we would have to get a hotel room for the night and get a rental car or something to take us home the next day. "Luckily" for us it was only 4th gear that had gone out so the mechanic said we could drive it home if we just went easy on it. We decided to do that and get things figured out back at home, which meant we had to drive the rest of the way home under 45mph! So what should have been a 3 hour drive ended up being about 6, but at least we made it, right?
Unfortunately, we do need an overhaul of our transmission so I am roughing it without a car for the next week. The cost is incredible, especially considering the fact that our computer just died the week before and we had just spent the money and replaced it the day before we left on our camping trip! Luckily we got a fairly good-sized tax return this year, but too bad these two things were NOT on our list of how we wanted to spend it! Now I am left dreaming of a disneyland vacation, new kitchen countertops, appliances, or a new dining room table, rather than actually enjoying them. But, I guess that's life. . .
Beyond all of the adventure, we did enjoy ourselves camping. Mesa Verde was really an incredible sight to see. We all enjoyed seeing the amazing cliff dwellings and imagining what the people were like who used to live there hundreds of years ago. The girls liked to pick out different windows in the ruins and decide which room they think would have been theirs if they had lived there. I'm glad our family enjoys being outdoors and camping so much, because that's about all of the vacation we'll be able to afford for a while!
Ella wants to go camping again already, but she'll probably have to wait awhile unless this baby is as easy-going as we all hope she will be and we feel like we can get out again in the fall!
(In case you were wondering, I did not pick out the outfits the girls are wearing here. . .but the rain boots sure did end up coming in handy!)
The wonderful hail. . .
Step House
Climbing down into the kiva
Cliff Palace
2 comments:
Looks like you had the whole place to yourself. I always wanted to plan a trip there when the family was smaller. Maybe when we get back we can all meet there for a family campout!!!
Sorry you had van problems.
Oh how FUN! Ella's hair is so long, and you all look great. I'm glad you had such a fun family trip, and glad your van made it home!
Post a Comment