Day 38: Telluride, CO to Buena Vista, CO

I have to admit...I left Telluride with tears in my eyes. We had such an amazing time! It was so hard to leave. When we woke up on day 38, we thought about staying at a campground just on the outside of town--Sunshine Campground--but after driving through and seeing that the sites were full we decided to get back on the road. 

We dropped by to say goodbye to our friends who were staying nearby before setting out to see where the road would take us.

We drove through Salida, CO and through the Upper Arkansas River Watershed. The area is one of the most popular for white-water rafting. We found some awesome looking campsites right on the water, but they were all full! This wasn't too surprising since it is such a gorgeous area and it was a Friday night. 

We met a Park Ranger in one of the campsites who pointed us in the direction of some more isolated spots to try. With the sun getting closer and closer to the horizon, we pulled off the main road on to a dusty and bumpy road with our fingers crossed that we would find a site. 

Just as we were beginning to question the decision to pull off the main road, a man and his son on a dirt bike pulled up and asked if we wanted them to ride ahead and see it any sites were open. We jumped at the offer, and before long we were pulling into a spacious spot with a breathtaking view of the town in the valley known appropriately as "Buena Vista."

After setting up camp, we ate dinner and relaxed for a bit. Kevin hiked up to the top of a rock for an even better view while I enjoyed some solitude. It's fire season in the west, so we did NOT make a campfire. We just let the dark settle in around us before heading to bed in the Scamp...happy to be back on the road again after so long! 

Days 24-37: Two Weeks in Telluride

When we started "planning" this year's road trip, we always had our sights set on the town of Telluride in Colorado. 

Telluride is known for its music festivals, and one of Kevin's friends was hoping to make the trip to Telluride for "Ridefest" because his favorite band--Pearl Jam--was playing this year. And, a friend of ours was planning to stay in Telluride while on a road trip with his family. So, we thought it would be nice to cross paths with friends while out on the road ourselves. 

It all seemed too good to be true when one day in May a family that we know offered us the use of their vacation home in Telluride out of the blue. They had no clue we were planning to head that way all along, so we took it as a sign that Telluride would be a definite stop on a road trip that typically has no definite stops. 

Also, although we love camping in the trailer, the idea of some time with hot showers in a real bed in the middle of our trip sounded too good to be true. We decided to take them up on their offer. 

We got to Telluride a little earlier on than we planned, so our week turned into two weeks--which is significantly longer than our 2-3 day campsite tradition. So...that should tell you a little something about the magic we felt in this place! 

Side note: Altitude sickness is a real thing! Although Kevin didn't really feel the effects, when we first arrived I got severely out of breath just from walking up a few steps! After a few days my body got used to the altitude, but I still had to remember to take it easy. 

I've decided to try to capture our two weeks in Telluride in this one blog post, so here goes: 

We got to Telluride just in time for the Fourth of July holiday. This turned out to be a good thing for two reasons: (1) it rained for the first two days we were here and we had an amazing  place to stay (I mean...the actual mountains on the Coors Light cans were in our backyard) and (2) we didn't have to try to find a campsite for the busy holiday weekend. Little did we know that we were about to make some memories that will last a lifetime! Here are some of the highlights--

Fourth of July in Telluride: a flyover, parade, and fireman's BBQ lunch in the town park. It does NOT get more American than that! We especially enjoyed the music from an eclectic group called the Hillstompers during the parade! 

Free Gondola Rides into town: Twenty years ago, in an effort to be more green by limiting the amount of traffic into and out of the town especially during ski season, the town erected a gondola system to get from Mountain Village down into the Telluride valley. The thirteen minute ride offers breathtaking views, is dog friendly, and is absolutely FREE. Plus, it eliminates the hassle of looking for a parking spot! We loved the views and the convenience of the whole system. 

Delicious food!!!!: Telluride offers a variety of dining options. Our favorites were Smugglers Brewery (delicious appetizers and beverages), Brown Dog Pizza (get the 3-1-3...trust me), and Baked in Telluride (delicious baked goods and pasta...and we were there one morning just after Oprah!). We also enjoyed many meals cooked in the luxury of a full kitchen at the place we were staying. 

Bridal Veil Falls: The falls are gorgeous. You can hike or drive to them. We opted to drive, which we immediately regretted because there was no easy place to turn around in our giant truck once we got to the top. After several moments of sheer panic and adrenaline we were able to maneuver our way around, but the sweaty palms and anxiety kind of tarnished the falls experience!  If we ever have the opportunity to return to Telluride, I'm opting for a hike to some of the other falls that are in the area!!!

Gold King Basin: Another bumpy drive takes you back to an abandoned mine and picturesque setting. This spot is the home of the first long distance electric wire to operate the mine, this spot is a little tough to get to but

most definitely worth it. So much so that we went back twice. Here we found snow in July and found rocks filled with crystals and minerals just outside the abandoned mine shaft. 

Ridefest: Telluride is known for its festivals, and we timed our visit to align with a two day festival known as Ridefest. This year the headliner was Pearl Jam, and one of Kevin's friends flew out with his brother to share in the experience. When the lead singer of a band that has travelled the world says he has goosebumps from playing in such a setting, you know it is something special. The laid back atmosphere, scenic views, and great music all made for a memorable time. 

Last Dollar Road: We spent one afternoon driving to neighboring towns (Rico and Ouray) and checking out local campgrounds. On the way back we took a gravel but scenic road called the "Last Dollar Road." It's strange for us to put down roots for so long during a road trip, so this drive helped us feel like we were still on the road. 

Tubing through Town: OK. Kevin and I were too chicken to get into the ice cold water ourselves, but when our friends and their three kids arrived in town, we gladly watched the kids enjoy the experience! It looks like fun...maybe when it is a few degrees warmer! Scout enjoyed playing in the creek, too. 

Farmer's Market/Concert in the Park: Telluride offers a variety of options for family and entertainment. From farmers markets to free outdoor concerts, there is always something to do. We especially enjoyed the Sunset Concert and browsing the library sale  at the Farmer's Market (where I got 5 books for a total of 10 bucks!)

Time to Relax: We also enjoyed hanging out at the house. Kevin carved walking sticks to give as a thank you gift to the owners of the house, I enjoyed the hammock in the Aspen forest that surrounds their home, we watched some movies, showered, and did laundry. It was a perfect time to recharge from a month on the road!

Time with Friends: It was a crazy coincidence that our friends were staying at a house less than a mile from us while we were in town, and we enjoyed hanging with them and their kids in such an amazing setting. Kevin also got to experience Ridefest with another friend. The memories that we made in Telluride will last a lifetime. 

Dog Friendly Town: There were dogs everywhere in Telluride. On the Gondola. In the Creek. In the Town Park. And...at my personal favorite...puppy parking stations. We "parked" Scout a few times when we went into Baked in Telluride to pick out our breakfast pastries each morning or when we ran into the grocery store a few times. Scout was so worn out from all of the activity and attention that he just sat and quietly waited for us to return. It was nice to be able to be in a town where water bowls line the street and pups are welcomed, too! 

When we return back to "The Real World" people will ask us about our trip. I'm certain that Telluride will be the time that stands out. We are so thankful to the friends who opened their home-away-from home to us. It was so difficult to leave, but we know there is more out there to see and we will carry the memories of our time in that special place with us. We hope to be able to return...but only time will tell. 

Day 23: Capitol Reef National Park, Utah to Vega State Park, Utah

I had no trouble waking up early this morning  for one very good reason. Pie. Capitol Reef is also a working orchard, and the historic Gifford House sells fresh mini fruit pies, cinnamon rolls, and bread each morning starting at 8:00 am. You better believe I was there waiting for the doors to open at 8:00 am on the dot. 

I picked out a Strawberry-Rhubarb pie, a Mixed Berry pie, and two cinnamon rolls. They were still warm. I love the sweet breakfast treats, but I also like the walk along the creek from the Gifford House to the campground. With pies in hand, we enjoyed the walk back to our home away from home and then quickly dug into one of the pies and one of the cinnamon rolls. 

The previous day's rain cooled off the area, so after enjoying our sugary breakfast I decided to set off to take the hike Kevin took the previous day before it got too warm. The one mile trail starts with an easy stroll alongside the Fremont River, but then rapidly begins a 500 foot ascent to the top of one of the bluffs. I HATE hiking hills, but Kevin assured me that the view was worth it, so I forced myself up the trail. I didn't see a single other soul during my journey, but I did see some breathtaking views along the way. Literally. Breathtaking. I was out of breath from my climb. 

After enjoying the view from the top and catching my breath, I made my way back down the trail towards our campsite. When I left, we were undecided about whether we were going to stay another day or move on to someplace else, but when I returned to camp Kevin had packed up and was ready to go in search of a new adventure. Although we love Capitol Reef, it is still a National Park which means dogs are very limited about where they can go so they were getting a bit restless. So...we set out to find someplace they could play a bit while we relaxed. And...it would take us to another state--Colorado! 

Along the way, we drove through Fruta, Colorado. The homestead in Capitol Reef that was originally settled by Mormons is known as Fruta, so we thought it would be neat to be in two Frutas in one day. After three weeks on the road we were both craving pizza, so we decided to pick up a pizza as we drove through the town. Once I had service, I used trusty Yelp to select the restaurant--a solar powered pizza place called Hot Tomato Cafe. When I looked at the map to find its precise location I made a surprising discovery--Suds Brothers Brewery II was located directly across the street! What are the odds of accidentally stumbling across the two brewery locations in two random towns in two different states in just two days? So...we took it as a sign and went in to have a drink while we waited for our pizza to cook. 

After enjoying our brews, we picked up our pizza and climbed into the car to eat and put in some more miles. Tonight's destination--Vega State Park. 

It was only about an hour drive from Fruta, and so in no time we found a campsite right on the lake nestled high in the mountains. We had only two neighbors all night, but we did see that every single campsite was reserved for the following night through the Fourth of July holiday!  We were glad we were at least able to find a site for the night! 

Once again Scout wore himself out in the water. Kevin spent a little time fishing with no success. I finished up another book (The Forgotten Girls). Then, we all enjoyed a campfire once we thoroughly lathered up in bug spray! The Mosquitos were out in full force at the lake! Before long, we noticed lightning on the horizon. We sat and watched the storm as it slowly rolled in. It seemed to take forever, but then all of a sudden the wind picked up and the rain began. Kevin and I quickly put everything away and jumped into the Scamp as the storm began to unleash its forces on the campground. 

It was sooooo windy up on that mountaintop! We played a little Hive and then climbed into bed as the wind howled and the rain fell upon the roof. My favorite way to sleep in the Scamp!!!! 

Day 22: Uinta Mountains, Utah to Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

As we began our fourth week on the road, we woke up bright and early with a clear destination in mind. A return trip to our favorite National Park that we have visited so far--Capitol Reef National Park.

A few hours of driving was all that stood between us and breathtaking Utah scenery, orchards, and fresh fruit pies.

We love Capitol Reef because even though it is a National Park located close to other popular National Parks (like Zion, for example), for some reason it remains relatively uncrowded. And...the scenic loop in the park allows you to get up close and personal with the landscape in ways we haven't experienced in other parks. Forget scenic overlooks--you can reach out and touch the landscape as you drive! 

We were pleasantly surprised to see that our campsite from the previous year was available--67--and so we quickly set up camp and sat down to enjoy the breeze and views. 

While I stayed with the dogs and watched deer graze in the orchard by our campsite, Kevin went for a hike on the Freemont Trail up to a bluff that offered amazing views of the park. 

Thankfully he saw that a storm was rolling in, so he quickly hiked back to our site where we prepared for the rain. As the storm descended upon the park, we settled into the Scamp to relax until it passed. 

The storm rolled through rather quickly, and so we emerged from the scamp around sunset and decided to enjoy the 20 mile scenic drive through the park before it got dark. We only saw two other cars on the road as we drove, so it felt like we had the whole park to ourselves. We wisely did NOT drive down the "Great Wash" road because to the rain--as the name implies, the road is prone to flash flooding when storms are in the area. I highly recommend that drive, however, when the skies are clear!!!

When we returned to camp, Kevin made some hot dogs in the dark and drizzle and then we settled into bed with visions of fresh fruit pies in our heads!!!