Rocky Mountain High

On Tuesday, July 15 we departed Colorado Springs and returned north to Longmont, Colorado to stay at the Boulder County Fairgrounds RV campground again. After setting up we headed to the Johnstown location of the first Buc-ee's west of the Lone Star state. Grace had never experienced a Buc-ee's and we wanted her to get a chance check out this unique Texas style travel center.

After an obligitory photo with the Buc-ee's mascot statue we went inside to do some shopping. Grace purchased a pair of Buc-ee's shorts and we made sure to get some of the famous beef brisket and beaver chips for lunch.

The biggest Buc-ee's in terms of square footage is the one in Sevierville, Tennessee, which is 74,707 square feet. However, a larger Buc-ee's is currently under construction in Luling, Texas, which will be 75,000 square feet.

On Wednesday we went back to Thornton so Grace could get in a visit with her Colorado cousins. Tori and the kids had just gotten back from a visit to her fmily in California the night before. We brought some steaks to barbecue for dinner after Erik got home from work. Grace is as tall as her Aunt Tori now which was a shocker. The boys, Mattis and Arley were enamored with their cousin Grace and stuck like glue to her most of the day we were there.

The visit was short, but we had fun getting the cousins all reconnected. The next day we had to start our journey west, so we said our good-byes and returned to the RV in Longmont for the night.

Thursday morning we packed up the rig and traveled north on Interstate 25 to Fort Collins, Colorado before turning onto Colorado 14 up into the Roosevelt National Forest and the Rocky Mountains. Hwy 14 follows the Yampa River known for white water rafting adventures and some incredible fishing spots. We drove about an hour up the highway and chose a dry camping site right on the river. The Narrows Campground was picturesque and the sound of the river next to us provided wonderful white noise to drown out any road noise from the highway.

Friday morning, July 18 we drove up to Steamboat Spring, Colorado to experience the Old Town Hot Springs facility. The pools have been here for over 100 years.

This screenshot was captured from their website. I was too busy enjoying the pools to take any photos.

'The Ute Indians who first settled the area knew them as “medicine” springs, frequenting them for sacred physical and spiritual healing. Later the pools were likely a gathering and bathing place for the first homesteaders. We are lucky to have the famous Heart Spring, the source of all the healing mineral water in our eight pools. It pumps approximately 220 gallons per minute and comes out of the ground like an artesian well, thus naturally without the use of man-made pumps. The water then runs into an overflow system filling each of the pools on the property. The Heart Spring contains all natural minerals and is not chlorinated. The water in the pool turns over completely approximately every 15 minutes. '

After a relaxing hot spring session we drove on to the town of Craig, Colorado to spend the night boondocking at the Yampa Valley Golf Course. We ate in their restaurant and had a wonderful meal before playing cards again. We have had fun playing cards each evening; Grace has been the "The Dominator!!" whether it is Five Crowns or Four up, Four down.