Friday, October 16, 2015--Betty's in New Castle, CO
We left home this morning about 10 AM. and didn't arrive
here at Betty's until after 4 PM! It is less than 200 miles.
The traffic was horrific, added to continual construction
which restricted traffic to one lane--it was SLOW.
Janice, Betty's daughter and middle child , is here caring for her mom.
The plan, that is Janice's plan, was to have each of the sibs take a
month such that they would have one month on and two months
off. That hasn't worked so Janice has been here the lions share of
the time.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
We spent all day Saturday at Betty's. Janice and I took a walk up the
road and had a nice chat.
Betty and I talked and talked both Friday afternoon and Saturday.
We left right after breakfast today and drove to the San Rafael Reef.
and are parked where we have parked many times before and
certainly the first time that Robert brought me here. After we
parked we took a short walk. I am disappointed to have had
such trouble on the Slick Rock. My depth perception is bad because
of my bad Shingles eye. That makes it very difficult to walk on
the Slick rock. I can't tell the difference between a slight step up
and a slight step down. Robert took my arm and helped, but I'm
not sure we'll be able to take much of a hike tomorrow, at least
not on the rocks.
Monday, October 19, 2015
We woke up this morning after a humongous thunder/lightning/
rain storm. The first thing I knew was Robert saying, "Oh, my
God!!!" I woke in a hurry and asked what was wrong. He said
we are in the middle of a lake. I was sure he was exaggerating,
but I, too, looked out the window. He wasn't exaggerating. We
were, indeed, sitting in the middle of a lake that had turned up
overnight.
Robert was able to get out his side, stepping in only 3-5 inches
of water; my side was a different story. We weren't sure how
deep that was. I would either have to wade across the lake or
wade around the Van to get to land. I didn't try. It was time
for me to make the bed and then make breakfast.
After breakfast, Robert was able to back the Van out of the lake.
He drove close to a new spot and then I drove while he gave
directions so that we could get out and on to a dirt road. We
then proceeded to another dry area and he drove (backed up)
while I gave directions. That is where we are now. Once
that was done we took a walk along the road that goes through
the reef, to the Wash. We didn't make it to the Wash. I was
concerned that if we walked far I'd be in trouble getting back.
I suggested we walk the creek bed, which would be shorter.
Despite the huge thunder storm and drenching rain, which
made the lake we had been in, the creek was dry except for
an occasional puddle in a rock. We easily walked back to
the Van.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
We decided to head for Moab. We hadn't really been there in
years; turned off by the crowds. I made a reservation at the
Riverside Oasis (an RV park with grass between each RV
slab and right on the river--very pretty). But, Robert said
he didn't want to pay $44.00/night if the old place was still
in business.
We drove to the old place, the Pack Creek Campground.
The last time we were there the new owner said that she
had plans such that the next time we came it would be
much nicer, less junk and more grass. Well, it is still
a dump! But, Robert was happy because it was only
$22.00/night. There was no grass and no slabs. There
were signs that there had been gravel on the RV area,
but now we were just in mud and if you stepped out
you stepped in mud. We had lots of mud at the reef,
but it was sand such that when it dried you could just
sweep it out. This was not sand. Most of the campground
is a trailer park. And that is where all the junk is that
makes the place look like such a dump. But, we were
only going to stay one night so I put up with it.
The next morning another couple came over to see the
Van. They were staying several more days in Moab,
but they were not staying at Pack Creek. Actually,
I was disappointed for the people who owned the
place because they probably wanted to make it nice,
but it takes a lot of dollars to do that. They did build
a new shower/toilet building and it looked nice from
the outside. I used the shower in the Van. I almost
always do that.
