Saturday Summary - Week 27 - May 2 - May 8 - Snow, Solo Adventures & a Bus That Keeps Us Humble

Denver, CO (70’s) → Loveland, CO (20s°F through 70°F (yes, within 24 hours))

Where we stayed:

• Hilton Garden Inn, Glendale, CO (2) Friday & Saturday

• Lake Boyd State Park, Loveland, CO (6) Sunday - Friday

Denver, CO

I keep saying we’re not going to any major cities, we prefer small towns or rural destinations like state and national parks,  but some stops are simply unavoidable. Denver was one of them. Don needed to fly to San Diego for a work function, and Denver had direct flights right on our route, so here we are.

We arrived on a First Friday, which turned out to be a very happy accident. We’d been hoping to catch more of these monthly events along our journey. We spent the early afternoon exploring the Capitol area and snapped the obligatory photo on the Mile High marker,  Mausi, that’s a step embedded right in the Capitol steps, marking exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. A must-do!

Our original hotel didn’t feel right once we arrived, so we pivoted (as we tend to do) and landed at the Hilton Garden Inn in the suburb of Glendale. Once settled, we Ubered back into the city to the Art District on Santa Fe, making a detour to get a photo with the famous giant blue bear peering into the convention center. The kind of quirky public art you simply cannot pass up.

The Santa Fe Arts District’s First Friday delivered in every way. We kicked off the evening with cocktails at the Monkey Bar, a true locals’ hangout. The owner was so excited for us, telling us we’d picked the perfect night. We wandered from gallery to gallery, everything from serious, above-my-pay-grade pieces to accessible local exhibits showcasing every medium and price range imaginable. My absolute favorite was the Denver Art Society. Live music (the performer was fantastic), vibrant art on every wall, and just when we thought we’d seen it all, we discovered a whole basement full of more. We could have spent our entire evening right there. The vibe, the artists, and the patrons were all wonderful.

But there was so much more to explore! We ate from food trucks, listened to street performers, and even caught an acrobatic act. We’ll definitely keep an eye out for First Friday events in other cities, but Denver has set a very high bar.

Saturday was a wonderfully lazy ‘normal’ day. We ran errands in the suburb, picked up things Don needed for his trip, and Don knocked out his Colorado 5 K. He’s been running one per state and doing great. Lucky and I wandered the Cherry Creek Trail and stumbled on a farmer’s market. I picked up a fresh loaf of bread, two gorgeous tomatoes, and cilantro sprouts, which became the backbone of my meals for the week while Don was in San Diego.

Loveland, CO — Solo Week at Boyd Lake

Sunday morning, Don headed to the airport via Uber, and Lucky and I made our way north to Boyd Lake State Park, where we’d be parked for the rest of the week. Solo weeks have their own quiet charm. First order of business: a mountain of laundry. Then I treated myself to a much-needed pedicure. All that walking in sandals through the hot desert had done a real number on my feet. Mausi, I know you’d approve. No polish since it won't last, but the callous removal was absolutely heavenly.

The other big project of the week was tackling several bus maintenance items, among them: oil change, muffler pipe replacement, gas cap replacement, tire pressure checks, and anti-lock brake checks. I got most of it sorted, though the ABS light is still on. That one’s going on the ongoing list.

Before the weather turned, I snuck in a quick trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. We’d originally assumed we’d skip it, but being just an hour away for six days made it hard to resist. I visited the visitor center and did a short hike. Lucky isn’t allowed on the trails, so it was a quick solo wander on a cold, drizzly afternoon. I also poked around Estes Park for a bit before heading back to camp.

Then the winter storm arrived. Yes, a winter storm in May. For three days, I didn’t dare move the bus, between the unresolved ABS issue and several inches of snow overnight. So I stayed put, and honestly? It was kinda lovely. I read, painted, wrote all of our six-month celebration blogs, and gave the bus a proper deep clean. Quiet, calm, and surprisingly restorative. Oh Yeah! I bought a new heater, and I was so very glad that it worked nicely and kept us nice and warm for this unexpected cold snap. Lucky sends a special Thank you to her Dog Godparents Kim & Tom for her warm sweater.

The melting snow did reveal some unwelcome news, though. Three leaks. Two we already knew about, one over the steering wheel and one over the sofa,  but the third was a new discovery. Right over my pillow. Where I sleep!!! Grandma, I have a feeling Don is going to have a fun project waiting for him. It’s going straight to the top of the priority list, especially since Oregon and Washington are next on our route; they are not exactly the driest states.

The storm also meant I had to cancel a couple of planned stops to visit friends and family, which was genuinely disappointing.

Thursday brought glorious sunshine and nearly 70°F,  an almost 50-degree swing from the freeze warning just 24 hours before. I still can’t quite believe it. Lucky and I took full advantage with a long bike ride around Loveland. Their trail system is wonderful: beautifully paved paths with gorgeous scenery. We picnicked overlooking Boyd Lake and spotted prairie dogs burrowing right alongside the trail. I actually had to stop and double-check. Could these really be the famous prairie dogs? A quick Google search confirmed it. They were every bit as adorable as advertised. This stretch at the foothills of the Rockies has been truly special.

Don Returns — and the Great Airport Incident

Friday was pick-up day, and I took the scenic route. I stopped at the Loveland Visitor Center (of course — never miss one!), swung through downtown to pick up a few things for my cousins, enjoyed a nice coffee, and admired the construction that’s going to do wonderful things for the downtown area. On the way out, the visitor center had recommended the Chapungu Sculpture Park, and what a find. A beautiful walking path next to the Centerra shopping center, featuring Zimbabwean stone sculptures, benches, and a stream running through it. Lucky and I had a picnic lunch in absolutely perfect weather. I also stopped at the post office and at the grocery store for the week ahead.

Now, for the story of the week. The Denver airport’s cell phone waiting lot is a gem,  the kind every airport should adopt. A train station-style waiting room with arrival boards, clean bathrooms, a food court, a gas station, and a good area to walk the dogs. I was perfectly happy there. Then Don texted that he was ready. I followed the signs for Arrivals and… didn’t notice the 9’6” clearance sign until it was way too late to choose another route. There was one of those PVC clearance bars (the kind designed to warn vehicles like mine), and I hit it. The bus is 10’9”. I pulled into the far-left lane, put on the hazards, and waited for what would inevitably come next. A police officer stationed right there arrived almost immediately. Mercifully, he told me I’d be fine as long as I stayed left and took the speed bumps slowly. Don was on the phone with me the entire time, listening to all of this unfold while being completely unable to do anything but think, ‘What on earth did Karen do?’

All’s well that ends well. I picked Don up, we had a good laugh about it on the drive back to Boyd Lake State Park for our last night in Colorado. Don confirmed that neither the kayaks nor the solar panel had sustained any damage from my blunder.

Up Next:  Utah and Nevada for visits with Camvio co-workers.