Adventure! Day 10 - Cascade and Colorado Springs
We got in late last night to our campsite and made an ungodly amount of noise setting up our camp and finding the communal bathrooms. If there were any bears, they left.
The bathrooms are in a building with the arcade, the cafe, and the camp store. Last night when we walked to find them, the back door was propped open and we entered into what felt like a horror film or a Nancy Drew mystery book. The arcade games were the only lights in the room. There was a claw game with a flickering display - some of the lights on it were fully out. Everyone kept saying “don’t go in” and “ahh this is sketchy,” but I was the person in the film who dies first and I walked in like I owned the place. The bathrooms were quickly found and we finally got in bed around 2.
The cabins would leave much to be desired if we were at a resort but are fantastic accommodations since we are at a campground. I was just relieved not to have to set up tents after such a long day of driving, and that was the point. Or at least some of the point. The other of the point was to be close to Garden of the Gods, which we did not do today but might to tomorrow. I had a serious case of the giggles/probably delirium; I laughed so hard because I felt like I was on a boat that was moving and for some reason that set me off and then it got worse from there. I finally fell asleep cracking myself up about the name “the Lone Duck campground.” My roommates were less amused.
Today most of us were feeling the altitude. I am most of us. It’s not the worst feeling; it’s a bit like being pregnant. Everything is just a bit harder and less coordinated. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, but I doubt it - we are headed out of Colorado Springs and up to Lake City, which will be an increase in elevation.
We’ve visited with Tara’s family twice so far, and now we will visit with my Colorado sister and her family. It’s a bit of a reunion because my Vero beach sister and her family and my mom are also visiting. Hopefully I will sit in a hot spring and a cold lake and otherwise just enjoy relaxing with everyone. Two more sleeps until Damien and Kayleigh join us.
I am just the right amount of worried about our drive tomorrow. I do think Miss America can handle it. I just don’t know if I can. We will ask Eli to drive. It is a funny sensation to know my 17 year old son is a safer driver on this mountain in this big bus than I am with all my years of driving experience, but he is much stronger than I am and his reaction time is faster than mine and he’s less concerned (but not cavalier), so I think he’s the best candidate.
We had our morning meeting at lunch today (lunch was delicious - I cooked grilled cheese on the griddle). Everyone shared highlights from the Arkansas leg of the trip and the long drive the day before. My Arkansas highlight was meeting Tara’s dad and seeing Sherri’s art. I told Tara her art reminded me of Sherri’s; she said that Sherri had a huge influence on her artistic style and I guess that’s the first time I’ve seen that in real life - it was like discovering Easter eggs everywhere I looked. And it was fun to see Tara’s dad in her and the kids too. Genetics are cool.
Kids threw the frisbee, played video games, and found a mountain brook. Some of us took naps and others did work on a very slow WiFi connection. I am some of us. Ice cream was found in the camp store and eaten (I’m getting wise to this phenomenon now). We did some bus cleanup and inventory of snacks to prepare for our grocery trip tomorrow. We put the backup camera on the charger and fingers crossed it works tomorrow.
But the highlight of today was Tophouse. We went into town before the show and had dinner at a fantastic place right next door to Lulu’s downtown (where the band was playing). The restaurant was called Saigon Cafe and everything was yummy and allergen free for real. And the service was amazing. Five stars.
Delighted. That’s how I felt to be at the concert. It was sold out and for good reason. The band is amazing and incredible, and we got read a page out of one of our favorite books (a tradition for sold-out shows). And as if that wasn’t enough, as William was reading (we are on a first-name basis) Eli and Joe started playing a song from the soundtrack of the movie adaptation of the book - and if I’m not wrong, there was pennywhistle involved (editor’s note: she’s not wrong. It was glorious). We were all feeling the altitude (except maybe Liam and Eli) and I’m so glad we got there early and had a spot that we could sit if we needed to sit.
Ok. I’m too tired and I can’t make sense anymore. Alivia is going to have to edit this one with a red pen. Good night to day 10. It’s flying. Tomorrow, Garden of the Gods and reunion. I cannot wait to see my sister’s face in her hometown.
