Note: This is a long and interesting article. I've tried and tried to make the "Read More - - -" feature, which this is supposed to have, work. I can't seem to do it so will publish it as-is. Hopefully, I'll be able to make some format improvements later.
The important thing is for you to be able to read Gayle's story, so here it is!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Summer of 2012
By Gayle Clark
 |
| Gayle & Jim Clark (Feb, 2010) |
Fifty years ago I was only dreaming of seeing the beautiful things that our great country had in store for us. How lucky Jim and I have been to have traveled to all of our states except Washington, Oregon, and Vermont. Without a doubt my home state of Virginia will always be at the top of the list. Even though we have earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and hot summers like this one there is no place I would rather go home to.
We had planned to go back to Alaska this summer but not wanting to leave Scruffy, our cat, who is 16 years old, at home, we decided to spend the summer visiting dear friends from all across the country, that we have met while wintering in Texas and ending up in Lake City, Co.
We left home on June 26 and spent our first night in West Virginia. When I checked the news on the computer the next morning we saw that Colorado Springs was being threatened with the terrible wildfires. Since we would be going right through there in another 4 days we decided to change plans and visit friends first.
A quick phone call to Rick and Dianne and his parents, Dick and Lucille, in Michigan and we were off to discover more beautiful new places. While in Texas each winter Rick fishes with us most every day and they both go with us to all of the music shows. Rick took us Walleye fishing on Lake Huron and for the first time, we enjoyed some of the best tasting fish, ever. Dick and Lucille took us to the German town of Frankenmuth where we had a great family style dinner at a Bavarian Inn. Since my Grandfather was German this visit was really special. They also took us to the biggest Christmas store in the world. It was too hot outside to even think about Christmas.
A quick phone call to Rick and Dianne and his parents, Dick and Lucille, in Michigan and we were off to discover more beautiful new places. While in Texas each winter Rick fishes with us most every day and they both go with us to all of the music shows. Rick took us Walleye fishing on Lake Huron and for the first time, we enjoyed some of the best tasting fish, ever. Dick and Lucille took us to the German town of Frankenmuth where we had a great family style dinner at a Bavarian Inn. Since my Grandfather was German this visit was really special. They also took us to the biggest Christmas store in the world. It was too hot outside to even think about Christmas.
After a wonderful stay our next new experience took us to the upper peninsular (UP) of Michigan. I am sure all of you have heard about the Mackinaw Bridge which crosses into the UP of Michigan. I guess having crossed our Bay Bridge in Maryland so many times that is probably why this long high crossing did not bother us. We stayed for a week in a campground near the town of Munising. The town sits right on Lake Superior with one of the most beautiful natural harbors. While there we took a boat tour of Pictured Rocks. These are sheer walls of different colors and shapes. The most interesting one was shaped just like a Castle. We did a 4 mile hike around the lake on the rim trail having to climb several steep rocky hills. Seeing their July 4th parade was really a treat. I think every fire truck and rescue vehicle in the UP was there.
As I am sure most of you know I always give Scruffy a haircut before leaving home. Well, I discovered that she had fleas for the first time in the 16 years we have had her. Thank goodness there was a vet in Munising and she had her first treatment of Front Line. Lucky we have had no fleas in the camper.
Our next stop was outside a little town in Wisconsin to visit Cliff and Lois. They have been coming to winter in Texas for 20 years. After he got home this past spring he sold his camper and truck so this visit was especially special. They are quite an amazing couple. He farmed over 3000 acres of corn and soybeans and she took care of a large dairy operation. They live in a beautiful home sitting high on a bluff overlooking some of the land that he once farmed. For those of you who know him, you would be surprised to know that he now spends his late afternoons sitting on the front porch feeding rabbits and birds. It was with a heavy heart that we left them knowing that they would not be with us this coming winter.
Cliff has 2 brothers in Illinois and nearby in Iowa that was our next stop. We stayed 3 days with Del and Sue and also visited the other brother Terri and his wife Linda. Del has the most beautiful voice and sings for the local nursing home each week. He dedicated one of his songs to us because we were having our 50th anniversary in a few days. This was the first place to have a Wal-Mart since we left home so of course I restocked a few things.
Bob and Grace live just outside of Denver and we arrived at a campground a few miles from their home on July 16. Bob, Jim, and I have been fishing buddies in Texas for 10 years. There is no telling how many pounds of Redfish have been put into our 2 boats. Bob had a shoulder replacement in May and is doing really well. They are coming to Lake City to see us mid August and if he continues to do well will once again come to Texas this winter.
Leaving Denver we were only 5 hours from Elk Creek Campground and thought we would have a nice easy day. There were 2 high passes we had to cross with our 5th wheel and Bertha (F250 pickup) proceeded to overheat on each one. As usual Jim handled these situations just fine. When we arrived at the campground he discovered that we had a clogged air filter.
Elk Creek Campground is only 56 miles from Lake City but there was something special we wanted to do before heading there. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is 10 miles away. We had done the rim drive of this canyon 2 years ago when we were here which was spectacular. Someone told us about a boat trip into the canyon that is run by the park service. July 20th was our 50th anniversary and, yes, we rode the pontoon boat into the canyon. It was even more spectacular than we imagined. We had told the Ranger before the trip about our special day. When we got back to the boat dock he announced to the 60 other people that there was a couple on board celebrating 50 years of marriage and could they guess who this couple was. Everyone on board turned and looked right to us. Yes we were the oldest!
Getting to the boat requires going down 235 steps. Of course you have to climb back up those 235 steps. Needless to say we consider this a great accomplishment. Now where does Jim choose to take me for our special dinner? The name of the place was the Trough which he had picked out on the Internet. Do you think a restaurant named the Trough would be somewhere you would take your wife on such a special day? The big sign outside the restaurant had a pig with a paddle stirring in a trough. Yes, we did go in and had the most delicious barbequed ribs dinner in the bar. Surprise, surprise the restaurant part was 5 star.
Elk Creek Campground is only 56 miles from Lake City but there was something special we wanted to do before heading there. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is 10 miles away. We had done the rim drive of this canyon 2 years ago when we were here which was spectacular. Someone told us about a boat trip into the canyon that is run by the park service. July 20th was our 50th anniversary and, yes, we rode the pontoon boat into the canyon. It was even more spectacular than we imagined. We had told the Ranger before the trip about our special day. When we got back to the boat dock he announced to the 60 other people that there was a couple on board celebrating 50 years of marriage and could they guess who this couple was. Everyone on board turned and looked right to us. Yes we were the oldest!
Getting to the boat requires going down 235 steps. Of course you have to climb back up those 235 steps. Needless to say we consider this a great accomplishment. Now where does Jim choose to take me for our special dinner? The name of the place was the Trough which he had picked out on the Internet. Do you think a restaurant named the Trough would be somewhere you would take your wife on such a special day? The big sign outside the restaurant had a pig with a paddle stirring in a trough. Yes, we did go in and had the most delicious barbequed ribs dinner in the bar. Surprise, surprise the restaurant part was 5 star.
July 22,2012
We finally reached our destination. Lake City we are here. What in the world will be in store for the next month? Well, it did not take long for us to find out.
Arriving on Sunday morning enabled us to find a campsite right on the cliff overlooking Lake San Cristobal. This time we are at least one foot further away from the edge than we were 2 years ago. The same campground host from before welcomed us back and right away told us that everyone was having rat and mice problems due to their mild winter and really warm spring. We told him not to worry because we brought an arsenal of rat traps along with a live trap.
Monday was spent getting settled and checking out town. Jim set the 2 rat traps and the live trap before bed. There was also a tray of d-CON left from before. Tuesday morning 2 bug eyed mice caught in the rat traps were waiting for us when we got up. However, I could not find the tray of d-CON. My laundry basket also sits in the basement and when I looked in it the mice had tried to make a nest in one of Jim’s dirty shirts with the d-CON. Go figure!! We had to go to 2 hardware stores in order to find mouse traps. One store was sold out so that tells you what a problem the area is having. Today is Sunday and so far our total kill for the week is 12 mice and 2 pack rats. Instead of Trapper John I now call him Trapper Jim. It usually takes close to an hour each morning to remove the dead and rebait for the next night.
Monday was spent getting settled and checking out town. Jim set the 2 rat traps and the live trap before bed. There was also a tray of d-CON left from before. Tuesday morning 2 bug eyed mice caught in the rat traps were waiting for us when we got up. However, I could not find the tray of d-CON. My laundry basket also sits in the basement and when I looked in it the mice had tried to make a nest in one of Jim’s dirty shirts with the d-CON. Go figure!! We had to go to 2 hardware stores in order to find mouse traps. One store was sold out so that tells you what a problem the area is having. Today is Sunday and so far our total kill for the week is 12 mice and 2 pack rats. Instead of Trapper John I now call him Trapper Jim. It usually takes close to an hour each morning to remove the dead and rebait for the next night.
I did not know that Lake City has a monsoon season during June, July, and August. It does not rain all day every day but at least several showers. We have been able to do our hikes and so far have a total of 8 miles. I know that does not sound like much but they are very difficult climbs. We are still adjusting to the high altitude which is above 9000 feet.
We went to see Michael Martin Murphy in concert on Tuesday night and what a great time. We sat at a table with some nice local people who told us about a black bear getting into her house and really making a mess. This makes our rat and mouse problem seem small by comparison. Now it would really be a treat to see a bear but Jim is very careful to leave the grill a long distance from the camper.
We went to see Michael Martin Murphy in concert on Tuesday night and what a great time. We sat at a table with some nice local people who told us about a black bear getting into her house and really making a mess. This makes our rat and mouse problem seem small by comparison. Now it would really be a treat to see a bear but Jim is very careful to leave the grill a long distance from the camper.
We try to go into town at least every other day so we can have cell phone coverage and internet at the library. There is also a local bakery that has been here for 40 years. Boy do they have wonderful turnovers.
Tomorrow is laundry day and other chores.
You are probably wondering why someone would stay in a place that has such a huge rodent problem. Two reasons: Day after day of daytime temperatures in the 70’s and nights in the 40’s and the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere. Note the picture of our camper. .
You are probably wondering why someone would stay in a place that has such a huge rodent problem. Two reasons: Day after day of daytime temperatures in the 70’s and nights in the 40’s and the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere. Note the picture of our camper. .
We send our love and best wishes to all of you.
Take care,
Gayle and Jim
Thank you Gayle and Jim for such a Interesting letter for us back here in Rockport 35 RV. Bob and Kathy Swanson
ReplyDelete