Walkabout on Wheels

There aren’t really any campgrounds in Vail, and certainly not for a 34 and a half foot fifth wheel trailer. We know that for a fact, as we tried to go to Gore Creek Campground. It was a state-run park, and inexpensive, so we decided to try it. All the spaces we passed were too short for what now seems to be a monster. Sometimes I think that our trailer is too small for the four of us. Trying to negotiate this campground's narrow roads made me think perhaps our trailer was too big. Then, as we were looping around, we almost got hung up on a big rock that was right to the side of the road. Eek! Luckily, I wasn’t driving. Brian was able to maneuver us out of that situation with some careful backing up and turning. I could never have done it. I have discovered that I have very poor interspacial relations skills. This means that I suck at judging how much space there is between the right side of the car and obstacles to that side. My impression is that I generally leave two or three feet of clearance, when I think I have inches.

Anyway, after attempting to back into a space and being thwarted by a rock buried in the side of the road, we decided to move on to the Wal-Mart parking lot in nearby Avon, Colorado. Being in the Rockies, this parking lot offered us better views than many of the campgrounds we have seen. Not only the mountains, but the fabulous Bimbo truck! We nestled among other campers who had had the same idea and took off to see Vail. We wanted to try to drive up to the top of one of the mountains.

We drove in the general direction of the mountain and asked a very nice lady in an information booth how we could do it. She was almost right. We made it most of the way to the top via a bumpy dirt road which was used mostly by mountain bikers and the occasional service vehicle. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, as you can see. I'm afraid I am running out of ways to describe the surroundings. Sorry. Didn't bring my thesaurus.

Especially intriguing were the birch trees we encountered all the way up the mountain. At least, I think that's what they are. We used to have a few in our yard in Long Island. Their knotholes look way too much like eyes, don't they? And not friendly eyes, either. They seemed full of disapprobation at our intrusion. Maybe they are different in areas other than playgrounds of the rich. ;-)

Anyway, as I was saying, we got to one point where there was a security gate ahead and a path branching up to the right. A service man behind us said the path to the right would take us up the mountain, but that we would need a different vehicle to make it up there. Our truck didn't have enough clearance! We hace a big truck! Well, we tried to go on the road anyway, and were bounced and jostled for about 20 feet before we decided to turn back. Brian was, of course, all for making up as far as he could, adventurous as he is. I, however, was picturing us seesawing with a hugh boulder as the fulcrum. No, thanks. We returned to town, and compromised by taking the Lionshead Village Gondola up to the top of that mountain. Should I have learned the name of it? Probably. Did I? No.

It is a shame that we were late in coming to this place, because the gondola ride was pretty pricey. I am under the impression it was a day ticket. I would hope so, given the price of $18 per person! In any case, the ride was pleasant and the gondola clean. The best part is just getting out of the gate. The gondolas go through a rubber track to slow them down enough for people and their equipment to board safely, and once they leave that track, they slingshot forward, and whoosh! Off you go up the mountain. Or down.

We left the gondola and walked out of the peak base and lodge. They had a restaurant, but it had already closed. We were able to see the other side of the mountain from a viewing deck, complete with those binocular machines. No need for that, though. The view was spectactular without mechanical assistance. Behold! You can almost hear the choir of angels, no?
I believe the elevation here is about 13000 feet. Zorah and I could really feel it. We went hiking up only 10 feet of a mountain trail, when Zorah was too tired to continue. I picked her up and trudged up to where Brian and Ian had settled. I usually am not one to pant when physically exerting myself, but I was by the time we got there. Actually, I was after I picked her up. I think it was only 100 feet or so. Pathetic. Zorah sat next to Ian to rest while I caught my breath and this lovely photo. Zorah was hungry, so after a short while, we headed down the path to the gondola. She still didn't feel like walking, so B put her on his shoulders for the descent. Hooray! I'm sure it wasn't as strenuous an activity, carrying her downhill.

On the way back to Wal-Mart, our home away from home for tonight at least, we pulled over by this stream that ran along the road. We had to walk through slippery terrain, prickly plants and a pile of dried out branches to get to it, but it was well worth the effort. It was a nice secluded place to relax and think deep thoughts. Zorah climbed the rocks for a while, then decided to try swimming in the water. The bottom was too uneven for her to wade in very far, it turns out, but she had fun in any case.
After that we returned to Wal-Mart. Ian skateboarded while Z cheered him on. Then she found a friend in the camper across from us. Z and Devon played outside with the rocks in the parking lot dividers for a while, until Zorah invited herself into the camper. There they played until it was time for dinner.

As you can see, I finally figured out how to do black and white with my camera. I like it. Think I am using it too much? Let me know. You can post and send comments, you know? And that way, you will no longer be part of a faceless mass reading my blog. You will have become, to me, a person!

Anyway, the next morning we got up early and headed out, Tahoe bound via Utah.

# posted by Rissa and Zorah @ 6:05 AM