Day 7: Farewell

Today would be our last day in Colorado. The boys began breaking down camp while Mandy and I made a simple breakfast. The trailer was broken down and prepped for travel. I gave our beloved little campsite one last look and we headed out.

Our plan was to do one more trail in Silverton before leaving. We began down a good dirt road.

The road became a one laner up a mountain. While we have taken the trailer up much more complicated terrain than this, we were not looking for a difficult morning. We had a significant amount of mileage to accomplish. All in all, we were less than impressed with the trail book we bought. The trail descriptions were less than accurate and the maps were difficult to read.

It was a beautiful area and I was sad to turn around but it was necessary.

We were looking at spending the majority of the day in the Jeep, zooming down countless miles of slab towards Arizona, so a play stop was in order.

One last look at Silverton. This small little town will have my heart until I find another more spectacular vista to cavort with.

Relucantly we bid adieu to Colorado and began the southern journey home. As the odometer counted up, the temperature rose, mountains shrank in the distance and trees became a memory. The dogs slumbered in the back while Mike and I discussed the weeks activities.

By dinner, we were in Showlow, Arizona. We pulled down a "forest" road and hasitly set up camp for the night.

A storm was quickly approaching. We had just enough time for a quick dinner before the lightening set upon us.

By morning, the camp was mud. Sticky, red mud. Paws were caked with it. Camp gear was covered in it. Our gear got dirtier on the last night than it did the whole week prior. Go figure. We packed up, played with lizards, and prepped for another long day in the Jeep.

Camping was tough. Driving home was tougher.

Colorado was an excellent vacation. A whole week where our only responsibilities were to ourselves and our dogs. No work, no chores, nothing but relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. I could seriously get used to this. I understand the compulsion to sell everything, pack up your vehicle of choice and explore the world. If it were possible, it would be done.


Parting words from the lid of a ice tea bottle. Words to live by....

"Spend more time on what makes you happy"