Going West

For more than 100 years there has been a mythology associated with "going west."  Going west is not just simply the act of traveling in a westerly direction, but rather, a mindset and a goal.  It is the search for adventure, a new start, the essence of America, wide open and free.

Over the last several days we have experienced several examples of people who are going west, or have, in fact, gone west.  

South of Alamosa on the New Mexico/Colorado boarder we were stopped by a good old fashioned cattle drive.  While Colorado and New Mexico are both growing and changing, it is reassuring to know that pockets of the real west survive.  While these pictures are vintage 2008, they could be 1968, or even 1948, or even...

These dudes were taking a small heard from one pasture to another and the beef was being a bit unruly.

 

This guy has apparently been doing this kind of thing for a while.  At one point a calf got away and was balking at going through a section of fence.  This guy lassoed the calf with a sort of casual indifference that clearly showed it wasn't his first rodeo.  When we took his picture out the truck widow, he even tipped his hat.

Now not only did we get to experience the true mythology of the west, we also got to experience a sort of new, strange, comedy central type western experience.  Certainly almost everyone has dreamt at one time or another about packing up the car with a buddy and pointing the wheel west.  From Jack Kerouac to William Least Heat Moon, the American road trip is a universal aspiration.

But really, how many of you ever thought about taking that trip in one of these...

That's right.  That is a bona fide Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, which was parked right next to our hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  This baby has seating for 6, surround sound, and wall to wall.  This grand Wiener Ship is currently being piloted around the west by a nice couple who are doing promotional events at Albertson's grocery stores.  What about it?  Travel in style, get paid, and draw a crowd.  What more could the modern day traveler want?

The old and the new are alive and well out here.  A sort of odd juxtaposition that is probably more what the west has always been about.  Miners and wranglers were followed by snake oil salesmen and hustlers.  Today, cowboys are followed by wiener mobiles. 

The Salida Times

Salida is one of those towns that reminds me of what Colorado really is like, what it was like when I first moved to Colorado in the early 90s.  While this area is growing, this is still a small town with beautiful surroundings, lots to do, and cool people who appreciate where they live.  While we come here often, it has been nice to be able to stay a while and enjoy ourselves.

Our time here has been spent playing outside, fishing, restoring a bamboo rod, eating too much good food, drinking some great wine, watching the mountain bluebirds, finches, and chickadees visit the feeder in the crazy spring weather, and just socializing with our friends.  Here are some photos...

Maggie decided that our buddy Dave could use some help around the farm.

Maggie also decided Dad needed some help building a bamboo rod.

The Arkansas River in early spring, plenty of snow on the peaks still.

Lisa got in the act with some fishing.

A nice Arkansas River brown trout.

Although we haven't really started camping with Francine yet, we are beginning to settle into the rhythm of life on the road.  Life's pace is slowing a bit and you can feel yourself becoming more in tune with the world.  You start to notice things other than the clock, the schedule, and "what's next."  You start to get outside more just to be outside, not because you want to do something.  

Next stop for us is Santa Fe, which we are looking forward to.  We will visit some friends and get a chance to see Lisa's parents before they head north for the Summer.  After that, we will be heading south and east with Francine.

A Programming Note

We have added a link at the bottom of the page that takes you to a map of our journey...so far.

Now appearing . . . MPR

Today we are introducing you all to a new "special feature" of the Slow Lane. For obvious reasons, this new feature is entitled Margaret's Playground Review (MPR). MPR will periodically bring you cutting edge playground reviews from across the nation, straight from 40 inch playground force to be reckoned with, Maggie.

For our first report, we feature the playground at Longfellow Elementary in Salida, CO. This is a classic elementary school playground with a compelling mix of old and new equipment intelligently placed across sand, grass, and hard playing surfaces. Special highlights include multiple slides, swings, bouncing animals, and climbing apparatuses.

We started of the day with some classic sliding, followed by running, some rocking animals, and wrapped things up with multiple climbing excursions. This playground is bigger than many elementary facilities and it made for a great play session.

When asked what she would rate the Longfellow playground on a scale of 1-5 stars, Maggie enthusiastically gave it 10 stars. Clearly a great review from Maggie. No doubt the bar has been set high for future playgrounds, we'll see how it all shakes out in future editions of MPR. Thanks for tuning in...

The Journey Begins - FINALLY

Well, we have finally begun our journey in earnest. It took more work than we ever imagined to get everything in storage and get on the road. We left Telluride late morning, Easter Sunday and made it to Boulder in 9 hours. Not bad for our first drive pulling Francine full to the gills. We spent most of the week decompressing and enjoying time with Nana, Bapa, Auntie Missy, Uncle Mark and the cousins: Cooper, Thatcher, Mollie and Gracie. Maggie had a blast playing with everyone.

The week was a whirl wind tour of Pearl Street, Boulder, Estes Park, the Denver Zoo and Erie's new Rec Center. We also spent time taking care of the mundane but important items such as dentist, eye doctor, vet and hair cut appointments. We also spent a few days cleaning out and organizing Francine. We left even more things in storage at the Elder Hake home in an effort to truly simplify, though we still have a ton of creature comforts.

We received several packages while in Boulder. Including one that contained our new mascots, Harold and Maude. Thanks to Ginna and Mark for these wonderfully tacky friends, which no RV should be without.

On Wednesday the 3rd of April we looked at the weather forecast and decided it was time to head for Salida, as few days of snow were predicted. We made great time and now we are enjoying time with our friends Dave and Janet. They have a beautiful home with views of the Collegiate Range. Jay and Dave are already working on making bamboo fly fishing rods and Maggie is feeding the llamas. Lisa is enjoying reading and cross-stitching and not packing! Trout fishing is in the forecast, so stay tuned for some serious fish tales!

T-Minus 3 and Counting...

When we first started this blog back in late January/early February, it seemed like forever until we would be on our way. Well, forever has come. Over the last couple of weeks we have packed countless boxes, made numerous trips to our storage space(s), and picked up one RV, which is now sitting in our driveway awaiting departure. Maggie has named it Francine. So, Francine it shall be.

While we have a few more items to pack and a few more trips to the storage space(s) (I can't quite come to grips with the fact that we needed TWO), we should be on the road by Friday or Saturday. Then, the regular updates and photos will start.

The first stop will be some "practice" RVing in Boulder, then off for the real thing.

Stay tuned...

A Journey of 1000 Miles Begins With a Single Step

Thanks for stopping by to check out our blog. For those of you who know us, you know what this blog is going to be all about. For those of you who don't, here is a brief synopsis.

About 3-4 months ago, we decided that life was moving too fast. My job was crazy, Lisa's job was crazy, and we felt like our priorities were out of whack. We were spending too much time on things that weren't important to us and not enough time on the things that were most important to us: family, friends, the outdoors (fly-fishing), travel, and new experiences. Simply put, we wanted a change.

So, rather than continue to look forward to that "someday" down the road when all would fall into place and our life miraculously would reach that balanced place we were hoping for, we decided to make that change happen.

Enter the title to this post. "A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step." That quote from the great Taoist master Lao Tzu sums up where we are. We are standing on the precipice of a journey. Exactly what that journey is, or exactly where it will lead, is not totally clear. What we do know is this. We went down to Durango last weekend and bought a 21 foot travel trailer, which looks a little something like this (just click on a photo to see the big version).



(Sorry about the goofy picture posting, still figuring out this whole fandangled bloggy thing)

Anyway, what we do know is this. We are hooking this trailer up to the back of Sasquatch, the mighty Toyota Tundra, and hitting the road, starting in March. Destination ultimately unkown.

What we do know is this. Our goal is to live slow. Enjoy life, family, and new experiences on the road. Visit friends and extended family. Meet new people. Experience new things. Show Maggie some of the world. See new places and, ultimately, lay the foundation for the next chapter of our lives.

Along the way, we plan to share a few of our stories, thoughts, and photos with you. Please check back often and post a comment if you want (hazing is okay too Ashley).

So, jump on board with us, but remember . . . keep it slow.