St. Vrain Colorado State Park

Kudos to the state of Colorado! St. Vrain State Park outside of Fort Collins is an excellent concept.  The park is right off I-25 in Firestone, CO. Their website says they are conveniently located for families who want a break. This is true....but they are also PERFECT for travelers.   This time of year we were able to drive in and get it spot without a reservation - though they said they fill up on the weekends.

Our site

All the sites are 40 ft, pull-thrus. When traveling it is nice not to have to unhook the Jeep for an over-nighter.  The sites are spacious, level, concrete pads. Each has a wind block, a table and fire grill. Most are situated around pounds. There are showers and bathrooms. A word about the shower house is in order. It is on the NORTH side of the park, and can be quite a hike from man of the loops. The shower costs $.75 for 4 minutes. There are tent sites, water/electric sites, and full hook up sites. There is a dump station on the grounds.

Great fire rings and wind breaks

Flush toilets in each loop 

There are trails, wildlife, catch and release fishing and you could bring a canoe etc and enjoy paddling around. For the traveler they are close to many local attractions.  It was quiet.

Lots of ponds like this - with sites around them 

 

Each pond has a well-maintained trail for walking and easy fishing access

 

The State Park Entrance fee is $7 and the over night fee for a full hook up was $28.00. 

We are thrilled with this find and highly recommend it to those traveling through the area. Visit their site for more info and full fees. For campground suggestions click campgrounds, private parks, state parks in the side bar.

Weather Adventures, Japanese and Travel

We added a twist to our travel routine today.  We attempted the boys' Japanese Class, instead of cancelling for the week.

The boys were good sports. They aren't used to photos and videos while taking lessons. 

Michael timed it so that we took care of a bit of business and weren't moving for much of the time they were online with their teachers. This is good as Nolan got motion sick in the bit of time we were driving and he was trying to watch the screen and dialogue. We had hoped to find a grocery store before it was time for lessons - but we didn't.  When we woke up this morning in Rock Springs it felt like snow to us. We used the lesson time  to prepare for stormy conditions.

Filled up our propane tank

Washed Windows

Topped off the diesel tank

Checked tire pressure before the passes

The windshield view was ever-changing today as we made our way across the state of Wyoming and into Colorado.  Here are a few glimpses of the #ViewFromMyWindshield.

Always sobering to see the underside of a semi

 We called this snog - snow and fog. 

Been a long time since we drove in a white out

First time to drive Uchi in a snow storm

Clearing up 

  Then it was BEAUTIFUL! 

 Kudos to Petro Truck Stops for Truckers Chapels

It was a long and slow day of travel. We decided not to push on to Earl and Mary's tonight. We are at a state campground off I-25 and will finish the trip tomorrow.

Rock Springs/Green River KOA

We spent the night at the Rock Springs/Green River KOA.  We had read mixed reviews, but quite honestly, we wanted a full hookup so we could do some laundry and take long, hot showers.  There wasn't a lot of choice in this area - and we were ready to stop.

Positives: 

• All the amenities you'd expect from a KOA
• Friendly staff
• Night check in 
• 10% Military Discount
• Conveniently located to I-80
• Yet, SURPRISINGLY QUIET!!

Cons:

• The petroleum plant isn't a great view - but we chose to look at the mountains - didn't bother us
• It was a mud hole. It really was. We knew there would be "gravel sites," but there was very little gravel and mostly dirt.

Actual freight wagon from the early 1900's used by a local homesteader

Mountains ring the campground

 Will we stay here on our return trip? The boys were covered in mud dealing with the hook ups. The RV collected quite a bit of mud inside and out.... we'll stay somewhere else if it is raining when we pass through again.

Otherwise, it's a great overnight stop. Quiet and clean.

It is possible that later in the spring they bring in more gravel?

#ViewFromMyWindshield

I opened the curtain to get the big view and this is what met me!  The very picture of irony!

Not so much ::snort:: 

After a "short," but LONG, night of overnighting with the trucks, I felt anything but rested.  We woke with the trucks in ID....

Drove all day...

... and ended the day in a mud hole in WY.  We PAID to stay at this KOA. LOL

It was a quiet location, with hot showers and electricity.  Perfect, except for the mud. Today we finish our trek through Wyoming and enter Colorado. 

A Name for Baby D2 (BreZaak's Baby)

Excerpt from BreZaak's blog And They Lived Joyfully Ever After. 

Baby D2 has a real name! Actually, he has had a name for quite a while now. In fact, he was named eight years ago. I took a fancy to his name and the meaning. I wrote in my journal to "my future husband" about it. Years later, when I was pregnant with Bella and we didn't know we were having a girl, Izaak read that entry. The name was the only name we had when we went to the ultra sound where we found out she was a girl. Needless to say, Bella was the wrong child for the name. Baby D2, however, is the right child. Drum roll, please! His name is...   

Via Google Images

Gideon was a biblical judge through whom God gave miraculous victory to the Israelites over the Midianites. He was like you and me in that he was a normal guy with questions, fears, and doubts. Yet, once he had confirmation that he was hearing from God, he led with incredible faith and obedience! He was nothing without God. Yet, God saw what he could be. He sent His angel to him to say, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior" (Judges 6:12). His first assignment was to tear down the alter of Baal and the Asherah pole of his father "and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold" (Judges 6:26a). This was such a defining point in his life that his name was changed because of it. Later, God directed him to reduce his army twice. In faith-filled obedience to God; he went from having 32,000 men to 300 men. God wanted it to be known that He had given the victory, not the number of men in their army. After the defeat of their enemies, the Israelites tried to make Gideon their king. He, however, refused saying that God was their king. Israel enjoyed forty years of peace while Gideon was their judge.

He was not perfect. In fact, the Bible records his failings along with his victories. However, he was a valiant warrior who led with incredible faith. God used this man to show His power.

May our son also be valiant, full of faith, and obedient to God. May he be God's warrior to display God's power. May he know that he is a mere man without God and always give the glory to Him. May he be a leader in his generation who tears down strongholds of previous generations. However, may he not (as Gideon did) establish new strongholds. Rather, may he establish alters to God that would last for future generations. May the Lord be ever with him!

His middle names are a tribute to Izaak and I's fathers. Both of those men are a part of our story and thus a part of Gideon's story.

As a tribute to Izaak's father, Tom, he will have Tom's middle name: Vinton. This is a family name that has been passed down for five generations. Gideon will be the sixth generation. We do not know it's meaning. However, we wonder if it is related to Vincent (meaning: conquering) and Vinson (meaning: the conqueror's son).

Gideon will also receive my father's name: Michael. Michael means "who is like the Lord?" May he be a man that ever points people to God has his Grandpa Mike before him has. May he be a strong, gentle, gracious, leader as his Grandpa Mike is.

We haven't decided the order of his middle names, but these will be them.

My Mobile Workstation

On our first few road trips we talked how it would be nice to have a traveling desk. Dad G had made something similar for outside BBQ's. Mom G heard us discussing and gave us the lap desk. We tried it out. It had potential...but we quickly discovered the mouse (pens, mifi etc) would continually fall off the desk. Michael set about making a travel desk for me.

Desk NOT actually in use! ::wink:: 

It's quite large and pretty. He loves me well. He built a lip around it to keep things from sliding off . He envisioned me being able to work, blog, communicate and stream movies in comfort on travel days.

I discovered it worked for watching movies or while sitting outside. 

As we chug down the highway, I've discovered it works great for it's main purpose! Michael also put in a cup holder that fits my water bottle beside the front passenger seat. I'm traveling in comfort. 

Traveling Monday

We spent Sunday afternoon making sure we were ready to travel this morning. This is our first long trip in Uchi, pulling Nimo and loaded with kids.   Hookin up Nimo makes the getaway process a bit longer....of course it would be POURING RAIN for our first hook up.

Go guys, go! 

 That's the way it really was, but a slight change of perspective would make it all seem so much nicer. I joined them in the rain.....

...finally realizing this view would be much drier!  

There is always "one last thing," that has to be stowed. We settled in for the drive when I noticed the flowers may not travel well here. They are safely stowed in the sink for the drive.

The drive leaving Springfield was BEAUTIFUL. We drove through rain, snow, mountains and high desert today. 

Oregon - near the Santiam ski area

 This one has been pining for snow since we left Japan. Of course we stopped!

Silly girl thought we were traveling to SUN

 How does one look so innocent while throwing a snowball at the camera?????

Michael took advantage of the break to check out the vehicles. I took pictures. 

Wave if you see us.....

Taking Mom G to be reunited with Dad G at FT Logan National Cemetery

 He attempted to fix a problem...

Our personal, traveling, rain gauge

I told the kids to grab some photos while I fixed lunch. 

I assumed we were going south to get to CO....because we go south to get anywhere.....what a surprise to find we were going through Boise!  We had no clue what time we would arrive. We had no RV reservations. We're "boondocking" the travel days.  I did let our college friends know we would be in the area.  Rebekah, a dear friend from Beale, contacted me to tell me she was really close to Boise and wanted to meet up with us as well. Great friends.....it was 8 p.m. when we pulled into the truck stop....Rebekah and Sarah found us as we waited behind this truck in the fuel lane. We didn't need fuel, he looked like he was pulling through - and he did - but then he stopped....and so we stopped.

YIKES. I thought he was coming our way....

We introduced Don, Beth, Jonathan and Sarah to Rebekah, parked Uchi, unhooked Nimo and went to find a place open for dinner and ice cream. I neglected to take photos during dinner....but Jon and Sarah grabbed some for me as we left the restaurant.

Me and Rebekah

Being a military spouse is tough - I'm proud of Rebekah. She's had some challenging years, but is realizing she's strong, God is strong in her and she is doing great. She is finishing up her 2 year PA program and will soon rejoin her husband. So proud of her for persevering! Praying for you and Andy and the upcoming months, my friend.

It's always so good to see Don and Beth and their family. It's like a long, cool drink on a HOT summer day  - the TEXAS kind, not the Oregon kind. ::wink::

Beth, Me and Rebekah

Sweet conversation with dear friends is soooo refreshing. We arrived back at the truck stop a bit after 11 p.m. and "called it a night."

A side note. All day I saw signs to "Vale" and thought it meant Vail, CO. I was surprised at the good time we were making to CO....and then I realized there is a Vale, OR....geography is not my strong suit.