Decision Time for Camp Site Shift

I’m writing this Tuesday evening at the end of a good day, and I couldn’t tell you what time it is. But I’m laying in my tent hearing the winds whip up and the occasional rain patter down, struck by what a difference a day can make. Yesterday this time I was laying in the same tent, but I was cold, didn’t have enough water, and earlier that evening had the ironic experience of brushing my teeth with water augmented by the only other liquid I had – apple juice. I was in a shared camp spot with Phil and Lisa who had a very comfortable camper with a heater I heard turn on. Meanwhile the winds were whipping at the edges of my tent, those sounds helping me imagine I’m a kite about to be swept up into the sky.

Compounding this was my discovery that all campgrounds were full and the one I was in was a huge disappointment compared to my last Colorado campsites near Buena Vista. I was going to disappoint my son and this was not at all what I had hoped for – to be in some kind of Six Flags or resort atmosphere in Frisco, Colorado. This was not what I had dreamed about.

Yet that tacky campground was an option, and if I wanted to play it safe I could stay there and assume the spot when Phil and Lisa left in 24 hours. This whole prospect put me in some kind of deep, negative spiral where I wondered about cutting the vacation short and looking for an off-ramp. I was really discouraged.

Looking back now, I think part of this was that I hadn’t been eating properly and was just exhausted from the slog of a ride through Kansas. I’ve been aware the last couple of days that I’ve been doing absent-minded and inefficient things I normally don’t do. The “zip up the tank bag before you get your sunglasses out” sorts of things.

It was one of those nights where you wake up multiple times to adjust yourself on the sleeping pad or manage your temperature. Socks, pajama pants, t-shirt, hoodie – trying to stay warm in that sleeping bag.

When I fell asleep the night before, I really didn’t know what my plan was for the next day. But on waking it was all clear. I needed to pack up my tent and shift places. I stirred at 3 AM, 5 AM – still too dark to do anything. Around 6 I compressed everything in the tent and put on as many layers as I had. It was freezing cold outside and I had great difficulty getting the lighter and my MSR stove to light, but I was able to heat up some of that lake water I’d gathered the night before. A hot wash cloth on my face did wonders, as did the coffee and oatmeal.

I proceeded to load everything back on the bike, which is a pretty lengthy process. All geared up, I knocked on the door of the RV to thank Phil and Lisa. Lisa answered the door with curlers in her hair and a funky set of pajamas – amusing final interaction with those two.

Silverthorne & Juggling Responsibilities

I then got on the bike, rode to the library, fired up my laptop, and caught up on emails and had a quick Teams chat with a co-worker. I worked till just before noon then jumped on the bike to check out a couple sites from iOverlander.

• The first was a pull-off where sprinter vans were parked – no go.
• The second was the Blue River Campground with a really steep entry. There was one site becoming available that morning, but the resident warned me the whole space was marshy. That I’d be walking in water.
• A chance conversation with a maintenance guy at this campground – if I went a little bit up the road, turn left on Heeton Road, there were some nice spaces. This sounded a lot like MacDonald Flats campground that was next on my list.

Seeing even one site free made me hopeful. It made me think of my selection criteria:

1. I needed a picnic table to cook and sit
2. Some organized campground where I can leave my gear and not have people pilfer it
3. Some kind of tree canopy and shade. Pine Cove was entirely exposed and would be brutally hot during the day
4. Ideally some kind of water onsite – though I knew this would be asking a lot in Colorado where most state parks have none

So with all of this in mind, I pulled into MacDonald Flats campground. There were plenty of vacant sites (good). All of the sites were in full sun (bad). There was no water (bad). It was first-come, first-serve with a daily fee of $23 (good). Did I mention there were vacancies? (good).

This was a workable destination, the best I’d seen – I just wished there was a spot with some canopy. I did a second lap around the drive and noticed site #10 which I’d missed the first time around. It was right next to the river with all kinds of shrubbery around to shield from the wind and the sun. At this moment my whole spirit shifted. This was a perfect spot. I set up the tent and grabbed my reservation envelope to preserve the site, then zipped the 20 miles back to Silverthorne.

About this time my blood sugar absolutely crashed. The oatmeal and apple juice were long since gone, and I’d eaten poorly the day before. Into Wendy’s for a baked potato and Cobb Chicken Salad – more food than I’d had at once in 3 days. Back to the library to finish my shift – definitely strung out at this point but with a smile on my face too.

Prior to leaving the library that afternoon, I discovered via the iOverlander application that for $8 there was a shower facility at the town recreation center about 2 city blocks from the library. That application also revealed two laundromats a couple miles away in Frisco. Life-changing experience on the horizon…

• I gathered all my clothing and, wearing mostly riding gear while the machine did its spinning, got nearly all my clothes clean
• Had a nice chat with Aaron and Tina
• Got gas
• Had a Jr hamburger and another baked potato at my new favorite local restaurant
• Then a blissful shower at the rec center before riding out to the campsite

A 180-degree reversal of mood from last night to this. I can stay here for the next 5 nights with no problem. This is a perfect spot for Aaron and me to work out of next weekend. The ride into Silverthorne for work the next 2 days is inspiring. Time for sleep.

Stats

• Highlight: MacDonald Flats campground, shower
• Miles: ~80
• Cost: $40?