Uuuccchhh...we had to leave...
Luna and I got up at 4am to walk, pack up and be on the road at 5am. A 22-hour car ride was ahead. We planned for uneventful and that is what we got. The only stressful part was as the night wore on, I couldn't see as well. I was getting really tired. Jason drove the first 8 hours, I drove for 9.5, and Jason was our finisher. We were both strung out, but had some fun along the way.
We had satellite radio and were able to listen to some games.
We realized that Jason picked the perfect week to go.
We had temperatures in the 80's. The moment we left it was COLD - car says 49F!
Luna was tired from our week of both relaxing and go go going...
She shifted around quite a bit during the drive, but looked so comfy traveling like this!
So we arrived home at 4am and just felt road tired and dirty. Luna showed her happiness to be home and clean...
Cuddled up on the bed after a shower...she's our little ewok...
We'll be recovering in a different way now. Unpacking and doing laundry at various places (our washer calamity is still under re-construction) will be a slight inconvenience, but we'll be fine. I noticed that our beautiful vacation distracted me from my grief, and, of course, showed me many blessings. I understand that blessings don't take away my grief, but they provide that foggy view into happiness, and there are more moments of clarity. There are moments of complete blindness, and those are ok too. There are blessings in having many ways of seeing.
My clearest vision is that I have the Perfect Pack for me. I never tired of the 24 hours of Jason and Luna. Sure, Jason rode his bike, but just like at home, Luna and I counted down the hours until he would be home with us again. We all like being together. Luna and I feel as cemented as ever, and I don't like thinking about being away from her because I don't like being away from her. That hasn't changed at all. Our Pack vision is clear - we just like to be together...
I can't believe today is our last day. I just got into my Vacation Stride...
We plan to leave Vail EARLY tomorrow morning and we think we can drive through and arrive at home EARLY Sunday morning. We'll sleep sleep sleep and unpack and then our life including work resumes. I said to Jason, "I don't want to go back..." Jason said, "Our life is a vacation, Pal." He's partially right. Our life is so blessed and easy. We think Luna will sleep sleep sleep when we return home. She's been the best traveling companion and we've So enjoyed the days and days without separation. I can't bear to think about having to leave her at home to do any work.
Our morning walk was beautiful, as they all have been. We had an easy day planned. We waited for the temperature to rise a bit...it started at 36F for us...to go for a walk through Ford Park and the Betty Ford Alpine Garden. We checked all the signs for "No Dogs Please" and didn't see any...until we got to the BACK of the park! At the back of the park the sign very clearly said NO DOGS ALLOWED PLEASE. We had to walk through the entire park, knowing we weren't supposed to be there, to get out of there!
Our view during our morning walk
Luna along Ford Park
Then Luna and I walked through Vail Village looking for a bratwurst in a Bavarian pretzel roll. It's Oktoberfest in Vail! But the Fest doesn't start until 5pm, so it was back to the condo to wait for Jason to return from his ride. Luna became awfully hot along the way!
Luna found some shade
She's just so cute, I had to take another!
Once Jason returned, we went to find some pizza and do some souvenir shopping! I hadn't bought a thing yet. I hadn't really seen anything. Well, I found some things...
Luna's no digger, but we've had such a great trip as a Pack
I spotted this earlier, and can't believe I need another sweatshirt...you know I'll wear it.
The furriness is everywhere but the sleeves.
So didn't need another t-shirt, but it says "K-9 Search & Rescue"!!!!
Back of the t-shirt
The arm of the t-shirt has valuable information
POOF, I had souvenirs!
And then on with the rest of our last evening...here was our view along the walk...
Colorado is beautiful
The Pack will head home tomorrow, but until then, we're sticking together and healing each other with our loving presence. All is well.
The morning was so cold. So so cold. During the night, Luna wore her new fleece jacket and had to be covered with a blanket. As we packed up the site to prepare to leave Rocky Mountain National Park, Luna let us know how she feels about camping...
Luna decided to wait in the car while we packed up!She's saying, "I'll wait right here for ya, Leanne."
It was a long drive out of The Park and about 2 hours to Vail. It was all beautiful.
Every view is this amazing. I was disappointed about not seeing any Big Horn Sheep, but I said, "They're probably not awake now, but God is...He's made everything so beautiful."
The Pack along Trail Ridge Road
When we arrived at our Vail rental, I knew it would be good.
I love when places do this...!
Jason planned on riding his bike and Luna and I planned to check out the town. We walked into Vail Village where, once again, everyone wanted to pet Luna. There were a few other dogs, but they were rather barky and Sweet Luna is a big tail wagger who gives sweet eye contact...she got lots of snuggles in Vail Village.
Luna and I also found a little trail along Gore Creek. We spent much of our afternoon on it.
No swimming for Luna...I can't even imagine how cold the water must be...
And then we came to the end and I had to smile and make Luna pose again...
Luna is My rehab...
This trip has been about recovery, and though I'm not sure how far along that path I am, I am very clear that My Pack is essential to my recovery, my happiness, my life.
Oh The Peanut. Oh LunaTic. Oh my sweet honey roasted peanut butter sandwich. Luna is tired. She didn't really want to walk this last morning in Boulder and that NEVER happens.
Seatbelted and fighting the sleep she so so needs...The spirit of Super Sleep Fighter Satchel is with us!
We said goodbye to Boulder, Colorado today and drove into Estes Park, Colorado via the Peak to Peak Highway.
Meek's Peak along the way
We entered Rocky Mountain National Park, and BOOM, we saw an elk!!!! I was THRILLED! We took the very windy, very dirty dirt road, Old Falls River Road to the highest point in RMNP: 11,796 feet. It was gorgeous.
My First Elk EVER!
A sweet spot on the way
On the way to the top...there's snow up there..!
We had lunch at Hidden Valley. It was freaking freezing and so so windy, but we hung out at the car and had some lunch. While we were hanging out, 2 groups of people asked us for directions...we look very outdoorsy you know! Me, in head to toe The North Face, and Jason in his Moosejaw Mountaineering sweatshirt, and our ready-for-anything Black Lab Luna! We're just so approachable...and we know how to read a map.
Former ski slope area - Hidden Valley
We could check into the Moraine Campground at 1pm. Our plan was to set up our site, have a nap, make dinner, and get ready for "the show." Tonight's feature was to be elk bugling for mates on the prairie. It was an awesome night.
Our dinner was chicken and rice in foil packets I'd prepared in Boulder. Jason, in particular, LOVED it - he loves camping. Luna also enjoyed some.
Top of the tent and our view of the prairie
How is it that our dogs always find the dirt?
Jason getting our dinner fire going!
Dinner!
Getting ready for The Show
I made a s'more and enjoyed the visit from three mule deer who comfortably walked through the campground and our campsite. We also saw and heard different birds we're going to look up when we get home. We had campground neighbors I described as "non-plussed." The mule deer family walked right through their site and they just sat at their picnic table with their backs to the deer. I see dozens of deer a year at home, but I can still feel blessed and honored when wildlife passes by. Whatever.
One of 3 mule deer who may have smelled the s'more I made!
Then we saw him. A HUGE elk scratching his head on a bush and completely annihilating it.
He's out there. I swear.
Through the binoculars, I saw him lift his head as if to howl like a wolf, and the most beautiful sound was created. It is described as "bugling," but it sounded more like a flute to me with different males having their own unique tune. They sing their songs in search of a mate and it reminded me of dolphin communication. One male in particular sang all night. I never tired of it during the ~12 hours he searched.
The things that I didn't like were the freezing cold, the slope of the site, the general discomfort of sleeping on even the highest quality camping gear, the vault toilets, the nearby tenter's snoring, Luna's gassiness, and again, the cold. We had all the best gear, my TNF sleeping bag was rated to -15F, but it was just too cold. By the time 8am arrived, it had warmed to 43F. Even those Leanne-averse conditions cannot take away my love of being serenaded by Mr. Elk.
Luna stayed in bed aaaalllll night! She didn't give Jason any room, but no falling out last night!
Our same morning routine was still appreciated. I understand the pull people may have to live in Boulder. It's just beautiful everywhere you look.
One of the views from where Luna and I have been spending our mornings
Luna earned some time off leash and she was her wonderful self...
We decided to make French Toast for breakfast. Luna loved the idea! With syrup as one of my worst triggers for a huge blood sugar drop, I tend to enjoy French Toast with butter; sometimes with raspberry preserves or cinnamon too, but today, I had a totally different plan.
I mentioned that I think the higher altitude seems to be an appetite suppressant for me, but that I'm eating PLENTY of calories. Nothing sounds really great to me, but I know I need to eat. I have eaten the exact same breakfast for about 5 years now. It's a combination of cereals that with milk adds up to about 550 calories/21g protein/11g fiber. It is so great for me. I decided to switch it up a bit and make a French Toast Egg Sandwich.
2 pieces French Toast with lots of Icelandic butter, 6 drops of maple syrup and 2 scrambled eggs
The inside scoop...and isn't the real silver silverware here so pretty?
I didn't do the math, but the breakfast certainly did not have 21g of protein or even close to 11g of fiber, but I'm certain it was over 550 calories. Luna enjoyed her own little bits in her breakfast too...
The plan for the day for Jason was to ride up some mountain road. Well he rode up some other mountain road and ended up riding 61 miles over some ridiculous amount of elevation. As I always do, I lovingly call him a Freak. He is a total freak. And he says he's not nearly as fit as the guys he rides with in Michigan. They're all freaks, and I say that in the most admiringly loving way. Freaks.
Luna and I planned a fun day of visiting with my friend Tracie who moved to the Denver area nearly one year ago. She met me at Chautauqua Park and after about 100yds of walking in the near record heat, I said to Tracie, "Trace, I want to walk through town instead." Luna was trailing behind me, panting and willing to do it all again, but so not into it. As we walked back down the 100yds, Luna had a little spring in her trot. She was saying, "Yeah, let's walk somewhere else today!" So Tracie and I walked to and around the University campus. It was pretty and we found some shade and we just were. We were just together. As if we'd always been there in Boulder together. It's so nice to have friendships like that. It was a great feeling.
Tracie came to see me!
So Luna & I walked a couple of miles in the morning, and Tracie & I walked a couple of miles in the afternoon, and Jason & I planned to walk a couple into town in the evening. Luna didn't want us to leave without her, so she waited patiently for Jason to shower and get ready for a Downtown Boulder jaunt.
"The door's open and I'll be ready when you are," says Luna.
We stopped at "Jason's Bike Shop" (University Cycles) again where Jason bought a new jersey and I chatted with a salesperson about how nice it is to be able to bring my dog into the shop. He said the people of Boulder take it for granted that you can take your dog anywhere: Home Depot, Target, restaurants, stores. Luna and I were loving it!
Then we walked down to the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian area. Guess what we found out? It is a $100 fine for walking your dog in the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian area!!!! How can this be!?!? I can take my dog into a restaurant, but I will be fined if I walk her in a PEDESTRIAN area? Wow. So we left that street and walked back to our rental. Our evening downtown was over just like that!
Luna hung out with me in the kitchen while I made rice for our chicken and rice packets that will be dinner tomorrow night over our campfire in Rocky Mountain National Park. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for the cold and the Nature of it all... Luna can do it, so I can do it too. Luna can do anything! Except walk through Downtown Boulder's Pearl Street Mall...
After falling out of bed at about 4am, Luna PaLooza was CRAZY at North Boulder Park this morning. Her off leash behavior would not have been admired... Maybe it's the combination of being leashed and seat belted almost constantly, and when she's not she's in an 800 sq ft Artist's Apartment with a full bed she falls out of... Regardless, she was INSANE with running around the park and avoiding being leashed. Luna!
The morning run-arounds made her a little sleepy during the 1.5hr drive to the Garden of the Gods in the Colorado Springs area.
A Sleepy Peanut napping in the car...
But once we arrived, Luna was ready for the adventure. It was beautiful, and Luna was a hit. Several people confessed to missing their dogs at home and stopped to pet and ask about her. Here's what they learned:
1. She's a Labrador Retriever.
2. We wash her hair with Pert Plus.
3. She's a "leaner" when you pet her sometimes.
4. She's 8 years old.
5. She's SO cute!
Luna & Jason could NOT be cuter!!!
Then it was on to Pike's Peak! We were just a few miles away from the entrance to the 19 mile drive to the summit of 14,110 feet.
It was a really crazy drive. You're climbing and climbing and twisting and turning up the mountain, and there are VERY few guard rails. It seemed like several areas could have used them! It was beautiful. 50 degrees at the summit and really windy. Luna was awesome. It was as if we were at any other nature spot.
On the way up...this was maybe 1/2 way...
The Boulder Field at the Summit
Just 19 miles seems like it wouldn't take long, but we spent about 2+ hours driving up and down. Gorgeous and a bit treacherous and the day was pretty much over! We'd left at 10am and wouldn't be getting back to Boulder until about 7pm. We'd brought food and snacks and water, but Jason thought Luna could really use a McDonald's hamburger. A quick stop at The Golden Arches for a Luna's Plain Hamburger Special (large french fries with one salt packet and two peppers for me, and 2 hamburgers and a large Coke for Jason) and we settled in for the drive back.
Luna said she was done for the day...
Tomorrow will bring some more adventures and Luna says she's ready for whatever they may be...after she gets some deep sleep without falling out of bed.
Our day began with our walk. Jason told us of a wonderful park just down the street. What a great find.
Of course Luna was noticed for her fantastic off-leash behavior. I was told Boulder is a really really dog friendly area, and we saw a few really great dogs on our short hike during Day 2. At this morning's park, it looked like there was some private dog training going on. The park was big enough so Luna and I stayed at least 100yds away and just did our thing. We walked around the playground equipment. I checked my email and some gossip pages on my phone. We just walked around. I expect Luna to follow me and she follows me, and sniffs ahead, and waits for me, and follows me some more. I take her picture. It's just what we do.
Luna is an experienced model. Sometimes she'll smile for the camera. Sometimes I swear she's saying, "Just take your 12,000th picture. Let's go."
The person who I think was receiving some private training said to us as we passed by her, "How do you do that? How do you get her to stay by you while you walk around like you're not even paying attention?"
Now, how could I answer a relationship question like that with just a short, "pat," "magical" answer? I didn't really know what to say so I said, "We've been together 7 years. I expect her to follow me." The person who I think was the trainer said, "Yes! That's the attitude I want you to have! You EXPECT him to follow you!" As Luna and I walked back up the hilly street to have our breakfasts, we saw the woman casually walking around with her arms crossed and her humongous Bernese Mountain Dog following and sniffing behind her. It was really sweet. Ambassador Luna spreads her goodness again.
After our walk and breakfast, Jason left for a 3+ hour ride. Oy. Luna told me she was tired...
It was back to Super Comfy Bed for Luna
While Jason rode, Luna and I caught up on I'm a D.O.G.! and other computer things. We also made some lunch. One of my favorite vacation treats is a turkey reuben sandwich. Cooking in our rental has been slightly challenging. Before a trip, I make a list of the meals I think we'll enjoy and a grocery list of what we'll need. I try to bring a lot of our own things so I don't have to re-buy them, and I've been told that I bring too much (not by Jason, he would never say that). I like to be prepared and independent, and you just never know what kind of grocery store you'll find. I knew we'd have Whole Foods access, and I thought I'd try to be that "trusting" kind of person I've been encouraged to be. I decided not to bring non-stick spray or foil. The rental - with a full kitchen - would probably have those, right? Dang it. It didn't. I need a Safeway grocery store...
Anyway, cooking has been a bit challenging because I've had to use butter to keep everything from sticking to the 18/10 stainless steel fry pan. Oy. It works ok, but it adds so many calories and just doesn't work as well as non-stick spray on a non-stick pan. I've spent a lot of time scrubbing out the one pan so far!
The turkey reuben went ok. Some of the cheese fell out as I put it into the pan and that created a seriously sticky sticking issue, but I think I did pretty well!
Vacation Turkey Reuben
Jason had some troubles along his ride (roads closed due to Boulder fires and a huge cross wind) and returned pretty tired... After a shower, lunch and a nap, he was ready for an adventure. Luna said she was So Ready!
The Pack trekked to Chautauqua Park. A super busy huge outdoor area with easy to hard trails. We took a medium one that at least had some shade, but we climbed over 500 ft in rocky rocky terrain in about 2 minutes and we were a bit winded and unsure where we were. It all turned out perfectly and we got some great pictures.
Jason and his Peanut near the end of the trail
L&L and all our supplies
The Downsized Pack of Three - Still. Awesome.
We decided to rest and hydrate a bit in the huge yard space. Shade and a breeze made it absolutely dreamy. We saw this and had to smile and capture it:
Sleepy Sleepy College Students - the book on the left is clearly marked "USED."
When I zoomed in on the photo on the computer, I could see the book is an Anatomy book...
After the jaunt through Chautauqua Park, we drove up Flagstaff Road to the top of one of the "foothills" of the Rocky Mountains. Jason looked like perfection...well, of course, because that is what he is.
This may end up being my favorite photo of the trip
Then it was time to return to our rental. Made a quick stop at Safeway for non-stick spray and foil. I'm noticing the higher altitude and less activity is a total appetite suppressant. Doesn't mean I'm not eating a ton...I'm forcing myself because I don't want to miss out on anything because I didn't eat enough. Trust me, the nutrition and caloric intake are quite high...
You know Luna was a little tired since she looked like this while I was preparing my chicken quesadilla:
Dreamy Sweet Luna
Though she'd be ready for any adventure we told her to follow us on, we think it'll be a Sunday Night Football kind of night and another day of outdoor fun tomorrow!
