Avengers Assemble (pre-update 2016)

Hawkeye - Our fearless leader, spouse, and Poppy
Black Widow - the matriarch and blogger
Iron Man - K
Captain America - B1
Thor - B2
Hulk - B3
Ant Man - B4

Day 1: Colorful Colorado (June 25, 2016)

The Avengers were eager to get back in to the Corp of Discovery for another westbound adventure. The past few weeks had been full consisting of moving to a new house, Camp Thurman week, and preparations for the trip.

Hawkeye and Black Widow woke up early to get a headstart on the final preparations and finish loading the trailer. The Littles all began waking up around 8:00, excited to leave. We experienced a few minor setbacks because it seemed like whatever off obscurity that was needed was still located at the other house. By 10:00 we were ready to pull out, but the Corp of Discovery had low tires and, naturally, the air compressor was at the other house.

We drove through town, filled up the tires, prayed for safety and a wonderful, memorable trip – and were off.

The goal for the day was a KOA located in Limon, Colorado. This equates to roughly 8 ½ hours of driving time. We knew we would take longer, however, because stops are never quick with seven people and we were towing a trailer.

First stop of the day was the first Kansas rest stop and tourist center. We filled up with gas and took traditional photos with the cardboard cutouts from the Wizard of Oz. Captain America always smiles a bit more when we are in his home state – and today was no exception.

The main stop was planned for a rest area shortly after Salina on I-70. It is a nice rest stop with covered picnic tables, a creek with a little bridge, and clean bathrooms. It is a good place to stretch and let the littles move around before another long drive. Everything was going well until it started raining about 15 minutes before the planned stop. We can live with a little rain but then of course it started lightning as only the Midwest can. Giant cloud to ground bolts – so our great rest area with covered picnic benches and a creek was scuttled. The littles were now grouchy, hungry, and tired of sitting (as were we all).

We found a new rest area – or rather parking area – about an hour down the road. Hawkeye suggested trying the next stop but it was another hour. Black Widow was ready to stop. It was not the best/cleanest of stops. We did have a covered picnic table but there were no bathrooms. In fact, we were the other people there with the exception of 18-wheelers who were most likely sleeping. We ate sandwiches and chips for lunch. Hawkeye got a tennis ball from the car and played a game for a littles which consisted of trying to bounce the tennis ball from the ceiling and catch it. All of a sudden a giant popping boom sound same from the highway. A truck pulling a trailer had a tire that blew. He reversed back into the parking area to change his flat.

Back on the road, we crossed the border into Colorado and arrived at the KOA around 9:30 CST. We set up the Corp of Discovery. Hawkeye took the Littles down to a small playground area while Black Widow prepped a quick dinner. After dinner, we cleaned up and got ready for bed. Everyone was tired and the cold night air felt good.

Day 1: Colorful Colorado (June 25, 2016)

The Avengers were eager to get back in to the Corp of Discovery for another westbound adventure. The past few weeks had been full consisting of moving to a new house, Camp Thurman week, and preparations for the trip.

Hawkeye and Black Widow woke up early to get a headstart on the final preparations and finish loading the trailer. The Littles all began waking up around 8:00, excited to leave. We experienced a few minor setbacks because it seemed like whatever off obscurity that was needed was still located at the other house. By 10:00 we were ready to pull out, but the Corp of Discovery had low tires and, naturally, the air compressor was at the other house.

We drove through town, filled up the tires, prayed for safety and a wonderful, memorable trip – and were off.

The goal for the day was a KOA located in Limon, Colorado. This equates to roughly 8 ½ hours of driving time. We knew we would take longer, however, because stops are never quick with seven people and we were towing a trailer.

First stop of the day was the first Kansas rest stop and tourist center. We filled up with gas and took traditional photos with the cardboard cutouts from the Wizard of Oz. Captain America always smiles a bit more when we are in his home state – and today was no exception.

The main stop was planned for a rest area shortly after Salina on I-70. It is a nice rest stop with covered picnic tables, a creek with a little bridge, and clean bathrooms. It is a good place to stretch and let the littles move around before another long drive. Everything was going well until it started raining about 15 minutes before the planned stop. We can live with a little rain but then of course it started lightning as only the Midwest can. Giant cloud to ground bolts – so our great rest area with covered picnic benches and a creek was scuttled. The littles were now grouchy, hungry, and tired of sitting (as were we all).

We found a new rest area – or rather parking area – about an hour down the road. Hawkeye suggested trying the next stop but it was another hour. Black Widow was ready to stop. It was not the best/cleanest of stops. We did have a covered picnic table but there were no bathrooms. In fact, we were the other people there with the exception of 18-wheelers who were most likely sleeping. We ate sandwiches and chips for lunch. Hawkeye got a tennis ball from the car and played a game for a littles which consisted of trying to bounce the tennis ball from the ceiling and catch it. All of a sudden a giant popping boom sound same from the highway. A truck pulling a trailer had a tire that blew. He reversed back into the parking area to change his flat.

Back on the road, we crossed the border into Colorado and arrived at the KOA around 9:30 CST. We set up the Corp of Discovery. Hawkeye took the Littles down to a small playground area while Black Widow prepped a quick dinner. After dinner, we cleaned up and got ready for bed. Everyone was tired and the cold night air felt good.

Day 15: Homeward Bound (July 11, 2015)

We got a late start. Partly because we went to bed at like 1:00 am, partly because everyone slept until 8:45, partly because no one really hurried, but none the less we didn’t leave Amarillo until about 11:00.  However, the littles were somewhat pleased with the wildlife in Amarillo, which consisted of toads and rabbits.

We were roughly 20 minutes from Cadillac Ranch and Hawkeye declared that if we do not go now, we will never go. So we went. Cadillac Ranch consists of 10 Cadillacs half sticking up out of the ground that were moved to a new location in 1997 further outside of town. It is considered a community art project.  We were horrified at the attraction and it was a complete disrespectful mess with the majority of visitors spray painting names and profanity everywhere. And by everywhere we mean the actual cars, fence lining the road, dirt (yes, spray painting dirt),  dumpsters to put empty cans in, and grass surrounding the actual cars. The field was littered with empty spray paint cans, lids, and plastic bags. There was even a dead spray painted mouse. Maybe it was just such a shock having come from such natural beauty of the Bad Lands and RMNP, but it just seemed so disrespectful from just about every angle.

Onward we went. The drive somehow erupted into a massive verbal fight between Hawkeye and Black Widow. This started with Hawkeye’s comment about how it took forever to leave this morning and Black Widow taking this as a personal attack. The truth is, it did take forever. Iron Man sat in the trailer brushing her hair for fifteen minutes, Captain and Thor ran around in the bathroom locking stalls and then crawling underneath, and well, no one really hurried anyone. The fight was vicious as a result of everyone being tired and stuck in the car for two days. Only two acting first born individuals could sustain this level of intensity.

We had discussed stopping at the Washita Battlefield for one last hurrah and Junior Ranger badge. We decided against this due to the temperature outside and overall tiredness of people. It would actually make for a fun weekend trip with a KOA located nearby.

Well, eventually we made it home. Roughly 30 seconds before arriving at the house, Hawkeye and Black Widow couldn’t remember why or how the fight started. They made up and all is well (who ever said the Avengers don’t fight?). The littles were happy and somehow destroyed the playroom in less than an hour. We just don’t understand because the playroom was not like that before they got home. We ordered pizza for dinner and laughed and smiled over the great memories.

Already itching to get the Corp of Discovery out again. Next summer Yellowstone and Grand Tetons?

Day 14: The Water Springs Up (July 10, 2015)

We woke up and Hawkeye made some oatmeal. The littles all ran next door for some last minute climbing trees and playing cards with the neighbors. Hawkeye and Black Widow took down the Corp of Discovery and hitched everything together.  We pulled out around 10:00.  Saying goodbye to the mountains is always a little bitter sweet, but we figured we will make it back soon enough.

The decision was made to take the longer (about one hour longer) drive through Colorado Springs to get some spring water. The littles all insisted this was important. But first, we drove through Boulder. We drove around a bit looking at both the university and trying to find any satellites as several space-oriented devices are monitored through Boulder including the current satellite taking all the recent pictures of Pluto. It is a fun town with so much to see and do right at your fingertips.  While driving around the university we came upon a secured campus entrance with guard. He looked like the typical college student and his face went into total confusion upon seeing our car. Hawkeye said he just needed to flip the car around and would be on our way.

We drove on to Colorado Springs. Navigating the town with a trailer was a bit more difficult and it would be impossible to park and walk around. The littles were not happy about not getting out but there were few options. Hawkeye drove to our favorite spring (decided last year when we walked around and tasted all springs) and Black Widow hopped out and filled several water bottles. The favored spring was on a narrow road uphill which provided little room to navigate and turn around. Hawkeye finally found a spot. Black Widow was expecting the car to arrive from the other direction and totally missed Hawkeye honking the horn at her. There were a couple of crazy people who asked Black Widow if she loved the water and if her friends thought she was crazy for drinking the water. When she got back into the car the littles were all eager to try the water. A bottle was passed back and four children supposedly took a drink. The bottle was only missing about one ounce of water. Go figure.

We stopped at Panda Express in Pueblo for lunch/dinner. It would be the last real meal for the day. The littles were all excited, but the meal actually tasted lacking.

We now settled in for the remainder of the drive to Amarillo. Driving the Raton Pass was fun and the littles had fun seeing who could spot Mt. Capulin first.  We all reminisced about last summer when Hawkeye and Captain hiked the rim earning Captain a Junior Ranger patch. There is a KOA in Raton, which we should remember for future trips. Amarillo still seemed far and we were all getting tired.

We finally pulled into the KOA around midnight. Hawkeye and Black Widow set up the Corp of Discovery for the last time on this trip. Everyone was pleased that the trailer was backed into a narrow spot in pitch black with sleeping campers on both sides. The littles were transferred in and the majority just slept in their clothes.

Tomorrow will bring the arrival of home.

Day 13: Firefighting in the Forrest (July 9, 2015)

It did not rain all night! We woke up to a blue sky; so ready for today.

We got ready more quickly than we have been in order to make it to a Junior Ranger Program at 10:00. This would give the littles an opportunity to earn a firefighting junior ranger patch in the park. The program involved the RMNP fire department and the firefighters brought the booster along. The program was interesting. The firefighters talked about the equipment they used and showed with matches how thinning the trees helps to control forest fires. Each child then got to spray the hose. The littles received their patches and we also got our final junior ranger badge for the trip (#7). Hawkeye was amused with the booster and priming the pump returned lots of memories.

We took a short hike around the Junior Ranger Headquarters and learned there used to be a ski report inside the park until the early 1990s. This was very surprising to us.  It seems that a ski resort would be such a direct violation of everything the national park stands for. The park is currently trying to allow this area to restore to its natural state. During this hike the littles took the shoes off and sat on the side of the stream. We closed our eyes and listened to the stream waters, birds signing, and other noises.  

We went back to the campsite for lunch. We ate sandwiches and fruit. The littles ran around and climbed the trees that were beginning to dry out.

After this, we went for a short hike around Sprague Lake. We decided to go somewhere new and the littles were adamant about not wanting a large hike. Plus, the clouds were growing grey again and we were all a little afraid of getting caught in another rainstorm.  In line with the way things were going in RMNP, it rained almost the entire short hike. We paused several times to hang out under trees until the rain became light enough to progress further. Eventually we finished the trail and immediately upon getting to the car the rain stopped for good.

Captain visited with a man about fly-fishing right before the hike. There was also a group of individuals fly-fishing in the middle of the lake. It was interesting to watch and we realized the water was only about thigh deep. The depth only holds true to half the lake, so be prepared to go swimming if you enter from the other side.

It was then time to return to the campsite and get ready for dinner. Black Widow had been craving lentil tacos since getting to RMNP and was determined to cook them for dinner. Success! The rain stayed away and dinner proceeded.

We had a semi-party for our last night with our camping neighbors. We cooked the last bag of jiffy pop and make s’mores. It was fun for the kids to get to roast marshmallows one last time.  The neighbors even busted out with “meat” hotdogs to the delight of our littles and Iron Man, Captain, and Thor each had one. The best part was that Captain had just told Black Widow earlier in the day he was “thinking” about becoming vegetarian. Well, he either didn’t “think” long enough or hard enough or the temptation of a “meat” hotdog was more than he could handle.

While the kids had fun around the campfire, the interaction of adults was a little strange. We decided to chock this up to personality differences between Texas (south) and the northeast (Maryland).

We cleaned up and went to bed. Tomorrow the drive home begins.