Friends

In our six weeks of travel so far we have seen many beautiful places and interesting things. We have had short conversations with fellow campers and hikers, spoken with some park rangers, and met nice people at the laundromat. But mostly Craig and Laura have spent six weeks talking just to each other. So it was quite a welcome change when we arrived in Boulder, Colorado last week. There we met Craig’s college friend and roommate Bill and his wife Jen. Soon there after we four met Craig and Bill’s fellow roommate and friend Andrew with his son Sebastian at a prearranged trailhead.  Andrew and Sebastian had arrived two days previously from their home on the Isle of Man, starting a four week Colorado and Utah vacation.  The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea between Ireland and Britain. Craig and Laura have been there, it is lovely. 

What a treat to see old friends! We took a wonderful hike in the mesas and canyons just outside of Boulder, had a lunch spot with spectacular views, got slightly wet with a  afternoon rain shower, had a yummy supper in Boulder, and had hours of conversation catching up with old friends. It’s hard to imagine anybody better to take a hike with them Bill. He knows everything about plants and birds and geology and wildlife. It is like he wrote the book on ecology, (in fact he did!). I hope I am wise enough to recognize good fortune when it lands on me; to be able to spend such a day with friends is a great gift.

After two days in Boulder, we drove 30 minutes to Denver and visited our friends Martha and Don from Waynesville. We have known them for 30 years; our children grew up together. They had moved to Denver from Waynesville about three years ago. We spent a fun day with them walking around downtown Denver and enjoying their gourmet cooking and comfortable home. Actually any home probably would have been nice after six weeks in the camper van, but theirs was simply lovely. We could not have felt more welcomed and pampered.

Continuing our trip, we then left Denver and drove into Rocky Mountain National Park where we are scheduled to spend six nights. That evening we hosted our first dinner party in the camper van, being joined again by Andrew and Sebastian and now also accompanied by Andrew’s son William and William’s girlfriend Amber. Six people in the van is definitely cozy, but it can be done!  We had to have a first and second dinner seating since we only have four sets of plates and utensils, but it was delightful.  We will be meeting Andrew and various combinations of his children over the next three weeks of our trip.  We are sorry to miss Andrew’s wife Jo. She is staying on the Isle of Man caring for her elderly mother.

Soon enough Craig and Laura will be by themselves again. It has been wonderful to spend time with these good friends.