SUNDAY JULY 1, 2007 Loveland, Colorado
It was a magnificent Colorado morning. The air was clear and smelled of the pines and flowers that surrounded us. But it was warm and turning hot. Many of the campers were already leaving as we sat eating our breakfast, and we were again happy to be retired with plenty of time to enjoy ourselves. We picked up Duane and Dona, our most recent friends that has decided to full time, and headed for the town of Estes Park ten miles to the west. We arrived there to find that many others, vacationers mostly, had also decided to explore the beautiful, historic area at the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Park. There was even a festival in progress with live music and lots of attractions.
We strolled the quaint streets of town with its interesting shops, restaurants and businesses. At every turn and lining the sidewalks there were colorful, fragrant flowers in pots, baskets and various unique containers. Duane found a bookstore and browsed while Dona and I admired pieces in the stained glass store. After an hour or so we stopped for an early lunch and then began our day’s adventure, and what a day it was.
We headed south, planning to make a huge circle that would take us to various attractions and eventually bring us back to Estes Park. The scenery was very pretty but sometimes dry and a bit dusty. We arrived in Central City and found another festival in progress. This time we decided to take part in it. There were many tourists from all over the country, and they were having a great time. There was a man demonstrating the skill of panning for gold. We watched and then David tried his hand at it. He must have caught on quite well because his efforts yielded some small, gleaming flakes of gold.
A band was playing and we walked around to the various booths, stopping occasionally. David lingered to admire some magnetic bracelets. They were very appealing and supposedly relieved arthritis pain. After much looking and trying-on, David, Dona and I bought them. Duane declined saying, “I don’t have arthritis.”
A new band began playing fifties music. Duane couldn’t resist, so he and Dona sat and listened while David and I continued meandering. Central City has tremendous historical significance in Colorado. In the 1800’s it was the hub of the rich gold-mining boom and missed becoming the capitol city by one vote. When people moved there from the East, they brought their culture and a fair amount of sophistication with them, and soon the city was respected and known for its wonderful opera house and many high society events. Of course there were also bars and houses of ill repute, these being a part of any gold mining area. One such bar, the Teller Inn Saloon, is still famous because of “The Face on the Barroom Floor.” Various stories have been passed down for more than a century about how the face of a beautiful woman came to be painted on the floor of the bar. The true story is probably the one contained in the famous poem written by the artist Antoine d”Arcy, the man whose oil painting on the floor made the original chalk drawing permanent. The opera house remains today as one of the five most prestigious in the country and its season opened on June 29th with La Traviata.
We toured the Teller House Saloon and viewed the paintings, including the one on the floor. As we walked on the old, historic and narrow streets we were disappointed to find many casinos, just as we had seen in Crippled Creek. They were less obtrusive but they seemed to take away some of the perception of yesteryear and what it may have held. Again, we were aware that gambling existed in the city’s heyday, but we were sure it was not as we were seeing today.
Knowing that we had much to see and many miles yet to go before day’s end, we left Central City and continued our giant circular drive. Since we were looping back up into the Rockies, the scenery was becoming more appealing. Along the way between Empire and Winter Park we came upon a stunning waterfall. We couldn’t pass it by, so we walked the short distance to it and just stayed awhile enjoying the breathtaking spectacle and the feel of the strong, cool spray on our faces. I carefully climbed down to the river that received the thundering water and submerged my fingers into its iciness. They tingled for several minutes afterward.
We were definitely getting into higher altitudes and cooler air temperatures. Soon we arrived at the Berthoud Pass and Continental Divide at an altitude of 11,307 feet. The now chilly wind blew through our thin shirtsleeves. The guys loved it, but I put on my sweater. The river on one side of the pass flows to the Atlantic Ocean and the one on the other side flows to the Pacific. Later, at the visitors’ center, we learned that the ecosystems on either side are quite different. Certain kinds of wildlife are found in one and not the other, certain trees grow on one and not the other, and the weather in one differs considerably from the other.
As we drove in the magnificent Rockies, we were shocked to see that among the tens of thousands of tall, gorgeous pines, there were many dead and dying ones. It was difficult to look and not feel a little sad. We learned later that the pine bark beetle is responsible for the loss of these treasured trees (actually these forests). The blight of these tiny insects, combined with fungus, serves to prevent the movement of sap. The trees have been made more susceptible to the attacks because of prolonged drought. Ladybugs are known for eating the pine bark beetles, so we were happy to see that there were many of these Polka-dotted friends around. The other natural control for eradicating the beetles is the forest fire. For many years man has made great efforts to prevent fires, and for good reason, but we now recognize that we are interrupting nature’s overall progression.
We traveled for miles through the Rocky Mountain National Park, seeing waterfalls, huge boulders of granite, forests and spectacular canyons. By early evening we arrived at Granby Lake. It was clear, amazingly blue and stretched for miles in the rocky wilderness. I imagined that the water must be very cold, but we saw quite a few speedboats, and there were people sunbathing along the shore. Some of them were wading or swimming at the water’s edge.
Another smaller but lovely lake, Grand Lake, soon came into view. A small city was built around it, and we stopped to have dinner at The Rapids Lodge, a cozy but elegant restaurant that overlooks the wide and rushing East Paradise River. We were served a tray of appetizers even before we were given menus. Fresh shrimp with homemade sauce was piled in the center, and there were three kinds of spread that were accompanied by gourmet crackers. Each of us ordered a different entrée and every one was really outstanding. David and I ordered the Portabella Parmesan soup, and it was incredible smooth, rich and tasty. David’s elk steak was tender and perfectly complimented by a rich wine sauce. I had grilled trout with capers that was wonderfully fresh and came with tender, seasoned fresh vegetables. Dona raved about her tortellini, and Duane said his chicken with artichoke hearts was perfect.
After leaving the restaurant we began the last part of our drive, and the longest. As dusk began to envelope the mountains, we began to get a glimpse of elk, deer and big horn sheep. Soon we were seeing numbers of them, and they were fairly close to the road for us to observe. They seemed to be accustomed to the inquisitive and awed eyes of tourists and they simply ate a browsed while the young ones played and frolicked. We climbed until we were above the tree line, and the tundra was dense and green. Larger numbers of wildlife seemed to enjoy this environment, and we spotted them throughout it. Darkness was quickly overtaking us. We were at an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet and the air had turned cold. It was invigorating!
We drove in darkness and arrived in Estes Park after 9 PM, and by the time we reached home we were full of the memories of a wonderful day.
SUNDAY July 2, 2006 Halifax, Nova Scotia
We had hoped for another beautiful day but the morning was overcast and rain seemed imminent. There remained too many things to see to spend another day at the campground, so the six of us started out for Lunenburg, a town located on the extreme southern shore and famous for its charm and excellent stores and restaurants. At one point on the drive we rounded a bend and were treated to a sight we couldn’t pass up, a beautiful cove with a quaint fishing town on the other side. Three small, lovely churches and the pure white spire of another could be seen. We stopped and enjoyed this picturesque spot before continuing our drive. We were to find others like it during our day but, each time, we were delighted.
When we arrived in Lunenburg, we discovered that the Bluenose II was docked in the harbor and there would be a two-hour cruise on the ship at 1:30 PM. David stood in line for forty-five minutes to get tickets for us, but when his turn finally came, they had just sold all but one ticket. He had them put us on stand-by and we all went for lunch, not at all expecting to go on the cruise. We finished lunch quickly, just in case, and then went down to the dock. Everyone with tickets was boarded, and then they announced that there were only six tickets for stand-by and the “Greer family” could board!
The cruise was great. We motored out of the harbor and, once at sea, the capable mariners hoisted the massive sails. It was very windy and pretty cold, but everyone was delighted to have the chance to see the process. Braving the chilly wind, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience of sailing on this impeccably maintained, exact replica of the Bluenose I. The Bluenose I was 162 feet long and was built for competing in the Americus Cup. She won the race in 1920 and remained undefeated until 1934 when she was sold and then shipwrecked soon after. The Bluenose II, built in 1962, goes on display all over the world. We were lucky this day.
When we disembarked the Bluenose we were all ready for something hot to drink, so we went across the street to one of the many small eateries that overlooked the sea. We had hot chocolates and coffee and talked about our experience and headed on to Peggy’s Cove. The scenery was lovely along the way, but then we came upon the small fishing cove that is the scene featured on thousands of postcards. We stopped and enjoyed the view before going on to the lighthouse. What a magnificent sight! Huge granite rocks were mounded up by some prehistoric glacier, and the lighthouse sat atop them as if the spot had been made for it. The rocks then descended to the churning sea, creating an array of spectacular water “fountains.”
We climbed up the somewhat smooth rock hill and viewed the lighthouse and thrilled at the incomparable sights. We wanted to stay there and enjoy it for a while but the wind had turned cold and we were forced to go into the nearby restaurant/store. The view from the restaurant was great, so we stayed and had dinner by one of the large picture windows. Our meals were delicious. I had Atlantic salmon “on a plank” with steamed potatoes and fresh coleslaw and vegetables----delicious! David enjoyed Finnan Haddie, a first for him.
Leaving the lighthouse, we came upon the cove again, and this time we stopped to view it in the setting sunlight.
SATURDAY July 1, 2006 Halifax, Nova Scotia
We awoke to a beautiful, warm and sunny day. It was Canada Day, and Ron and Sandy joined us at noon to drive into downtown Halifax. Many people had come into town for all the celebrations. Our first destination was the immigration museum at Pier 21. This was the spot where ships arrived, bringing immigrants from over the world, people who would escape poverty, famine or persecution to make a better life in a new world. They arrived in Canada through Halifax and then boarded trains bound for their final Canadian destination. A docent took us on a tour and described what it was like for these people and how volunteers cared for them. We watched a fascinating movie and walked through the exhibits, taking in the magnitude of the influx that built the Canadian nation.
Afterward, we drove down to the harbor and found a parking space. There were hundreds of people just walking the boardwalk and enjoying the view and the warm sun. Food was everywhere and it felt a little bit like the State Fair.
Soon it was time to go the Metro Center in order to meet Doug and Michelle for Tattoo. When we arrived, they joined us and several hundred people who had already arrived for the pre-show buffet. We were escorted to a very large, well-appointed dining room where we filled our plates from the sumptuous buffet table. Another couple, Leonard and Linda, sat at the table with us and we soon found ourselves enjoying conversation with them. They told us it was their thirty-fifth anniversary, so we celebrated with them. The meal was very good and the dessert table was positively decadent.
Very full (and slightly miserable), we were escorted upstairs to the huge arena for the annual Nova Scotia International Tattoo. There were thousands of people waiting excitedly for the world-renowned show. There were large groups of people and some RV caravans as well. This was the first night of a seven-day run for the show and a wonderful way to celebrate Canada’s 130th birthday.
On Queen Elizabeth’s birthday she had announced that she was granting Tattoo the designation of “Royal.” This was an extreme honor for the Canadians. Nova Scotia’s Lieutenant Governor, Myra Freeman gave the opening words of the extravaganza, and it was underway. We were swept away by the magnificence of the performances. Among those performing were the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, the Regimental Band of the governor General’s Foot Guards, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Black Watch Pipes and Drums, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Ceremonial Troop, the Men’s Choir of Whales, the Massed Pipes and Drums and Dancers, the Band of Maritime Atlantic Forces, a women’s choir, a children’s choir, four renowned opera singers, dancers, gymnasts, foreign bands, and much more. The show started at 6:30 PM and the finale was at 10:00 PM, but the time flew, as we were involved in the sheer enjoyment of the immensely entertaining and moving evening. Both of us admitted later that sometimes we were even brought to tears by the beauty of it.
No one was tired when we emerged from the Metro Centre into the now cool and balmy evening. Downtown was still filled with Canada Day revelers. The bars were full, but a friendly man with a Scottish brogue saw our plight and stepped forward and advised us of a place down the street. He seemed to feel it was his duty to do this. Sure enough, there were plenty of tables and we all sat down and had a beer. It was late when we arrived home, but we were still talking about how much fun the day had been.
SATURDAY June 3, 2006 Laval, Quebec
The new friends we met in Florida, Doug and Michele, invited us to tour Canada with them. Michele is from Montreal and planned an exciting trip for us. It started raining during the night and rained all day long. The temperature had dropped and it remained very cool outside. We had planned to tour Montreal but instead we traveled thirty miles to the ski resort town of St. Sauveur. When we arrived we could see the mountain and the ski trails. The town was quaint with many small cafes and restaurants and specialty shops, Michelle had described the huge and delicious crepes at Creperie Breton and, since it was almost lunchtime when we arrived, we went there first. The waiter spoke only French, so Michelle translated. She suggested that we order one crepe for the two of us since they are so large and we were invited to go to the griddle to watch them make it. That was amazing! The cook quickly spread the thin batter in a huge circle. She worked it quickly and expertly, and it was done in about two minutes. And it was absolutely delicious. Along with our other traveling companions, Ron and Sand, we all enjoyed them with good conversation as we watched the rain fall outside the window of the small, cozy room.
After lunch we donned our raincoats, opened our umbrellas and browsed the charming little town. We went in and out of shops, just looking and admiring, but we did purchase an adorable sweater and shirt for our new grandson in an exclusive shop called Souris Mini (Little Mouse). We had a mid-afternoon coffee and dessert in a tiny dessert café. We also had some delicious hot chocolate that took away the chill.
Doug and Michelle have a favorite wine bar in St-Sauveur, Le Vin A L’Heure. The wine bar experience was something David and Lana were not familiar with, but we found it delightful. Again, Michelle was our interpreter in this small, intimate French establishment. Our table overlooked the street and we lingered over our wine and the pleasing cuisine that accompanied it.
We arrived home relaxed and ready to snuggle in the warmth of our bed and listen to the rain on the roof.
Vroom Room: Rec. V-ers
Sunshine, weekend, an RV – what else do you need to get out and cruise the waves, leave everyone else in the dust? Oh, yeah – well, don’t forget the boat, bike, or vehicle of choice… and then there’s always room for the skis, the snowboard, the snowmobile, and your buddy Bob. And the dog. And your ATV (Alien-Termination Vehicle, really). Jet- skis. Fishing rods, fishing bait, fishing hat, fish sticks.
So, besides being able to actually take ALL your… uh… really necessary stuff with you, why would anybody ever want to own a bus? Trailer? Whatever those RV things look like nowadays…? Actually, they look pretty sweet. Cool ‘n comfy. And you don’t have to clean your room or worry about the fishy smell you’ve acquired out on the lake. ;) But enough about our good looks.
Cheap. Cheeeeeap-p-p. You don’t pay for sitting in the back of the plane with Joe, who’d like to tell you his life story. You don’t pay for the hotel, where they rip you off on really expensive drinks and tips for the porter. You don’t pay for the fancy-schmancy eating out or the squishy meat-like substance at the fast-food joint. And life is beautiful.
Well, besides saving somewhere between 1/4 to 3/4 of the money you so painstakingly and grudgingly earn and being able to save it for this reeeally cool thingamajig that just came out last month and is soooo much better than the thingamajig you have now, you also get an even bigger machine to mess around with. ***new toy! :P
And, you don’t have to pay extra for taking someone along. Or someones. It’s not like there’s a ticket price you’re charging them…right? Not like planes, trains (does anyone still even use trains?), and that other sort of thing. Bob will be happy about not having to ride in the back of the pick-up with the fishing lures and duck decoys. Only too bad your RV isn’t all 007-style, so you could fly it across the ocean. But it’s all good. You’ve still got the TV and the fridge with you 24/7. And bed. Anything else you need? Didn’t think so.
Of course, there’s the shower in the corner, but you’ll probably just tear it down to make room for the go-kart or a shelf to stock those wacky photos of you grinning like crazy with a giant dead trout/bass/etc hanging next to your face. Rock on, hombre.
Nomadic Family Unit: familius nomadicus
Generally found wandering in lush deciduous forests or on the sandy banks of crooked creeks, these peaceful yet active creatures most commonly travel in packs of three or more. They can be found hiking, exploring the land, enjoying the wonders of nature, or educating their young about fellow woodland critters.
The alpha male and female of the familius nomadicus pack enjoy bonding and teaching their offspring as they wander the land by means of RV. Facing predators such as the schedulus busyus and gasus pricus highus (the Common Busy Schedule and the North American High Gas Price), the familius nomadicus have proven to be surprisingly skilled at adaptation by choosing to take multiple 1- to 4-day trips, picking destinations closer to the family cave, and preferring the campground experience rather than scenic drives.
They have also been clever at avoiding the travelus hassleus (the vicious Travel Hassle) by choosing the RV mode of travel as opposed to regular cars, trains, planes, and hotels, and therefore saving 26 to 74 percent on travel costs (as averaged for a family of four). Most of them have been trained to care for and handle domesticated forms of travel such as the pick-upimus, esyooveemus, minivanicus, or vanus converticus (the Spotted Southern Pick-up Truck, the Greater SUV, the Lesser Minivan, or the Conversion Van), which are all qualified to tow a Recreational Vehicle with ease.
The Nomadic Family Unit is a unique element of nature that strives toward a better future by educating its offspring, participating in healthy nature-related activities, avoiding reliance on fast food joints or expensive restaurants, and choosing more energy-efficient RVs. The pack takes pleasure in the flexibility of RV travel and the camaraderie built by RVing together, sees beauty in the liberty of exploring nature, and trusts in the safety and positive atmosphere of America’s campgrounds.
These sweet-natured, active, and adaptive animals are in reality descendants of the familius communus – the Common Family Unit. They have developed into what they are today by taking interest in RVing, exploring the possibilities of Recreational vehicles by way of RV shows (such as the Southwestern RV Supershow), and thus acquiring an exciting new life of their own.
L’amour de votre vie: The Love of Your Life
Love “comforteth like sunshine after rain,” with its serenity and beauty; and though some wavering love may fade, true love “is an ever fixed mark/ That looks on tempests and is never shaken,” (Shakespeare). Two lives intertwined are the validation of a rarely achieved emotional entirety – two lives lived as one. As Pablo Picasso once remarked, “Love is the greatest refreshment in our lives.” It is as vitalizing as the cool water of flowering spring pools “that, though in forests, still reflect/ The total sky almost without defect,” (Frost). Being a natural beauty, love has always been thus compared with nature in poetic metaphors alluding to both ephemeral romance and timeless devotion. And in this way, nature has developed into a symbolic secluded haven that slows time into leisurely morphing moments – a series of romantic and peaceful memories.
A couple trapped in the hectic schedule of the electronic age yearns for a forest meadow or the clear sky of an open mountainside, which seem to be lost concepts in the suburban grid of civilization. Who would not wish for the return of nature to our embrace? Who would not long for the majestic beauty that once thrilled the canvasses of Romanticist painters? All would, for “Love has earth to which she clings, with hills and circling arms about,” (Frost). So inaccessible, yet still there, nature lingers in the nooks and crannies of America’s geography. Even so, as close as any conventional tourist can get to true nature is a hotel-infested spot screaming of cheap souvenirs and plastic conveniences.
To slip away into the morning mist of a lonesome valley, isolated from human touch and ruin, a traveler must devote himself to living for that period of time as a wanderer and appreciator of beauty, not part of a vacationing swarm of preprogrammed employees. “Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores,” (Thoreau). A simple campground or scenic view are the first traces or clues of nature’s hiding spots. They are the reason that nature-loving couples decide to buy a recreational vehicle and take their home with them to faraway vacations instead of returning to a hotel room at the end of the day. “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them,” (Thoreau). So, if you dream of nature’s sweet embrace and peaceful gaze, step out onto the road and look ahead of you. And then step back off the road into the open field from whence you came.
In the words of Ralph W. Emerson, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
