So there we were, me, Sam, and Sadie. On the road and heading north toward Glacier National Park. This was a do-over of the same trip attempt last year, that got called after only a week because of a series of mishaps that sent us back home, tails and spare tires between our legs.
Glorious Beginnings
This time we had to make a detour south to Santa Fe to get a pump fixed, but then we’d be ready to go. Excitement and anticipation were in full force. I got over the fact that we’d lose half a day on this detour, because in the bigger scheme of a month-long trip, who cares. Right?
That’s when the trip started digging in its heels.
I won’t bore you with the details, but let me just say this: within 48 hours we had a series of minor and major mishaps so disheartening, I’m typing this not from some gorgeous National Park, but from my living room in Taos.
On Thursday we ended up grounded in Rock Springs, WY which – cover your eyes, Rock Springs – wasn’t the most fascinating place to be stuck. So I made the hard decision to turn around, head home, and fix the problems there. This pretty much sums it up:
Inglorious Endings
(Classy! A friend pointed out that if he were to describe me, the picture painted would be a woman hanging out in a trailer in a Walmart parking lot, drinking boxed wine, and sleeping in the t-shirt she wore that day. You’ve heard of glamping? Yeah. I don’t do that. My first home was a trailer, so I suppose it’s true that some things never change.)
But all is not lost. First off, I did get a few nice shots that I’ll share in the next week or so. And, since I’m obviously not meant – again! – to go to the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier, I’m changing destinations. This Thursday Sam, Sadie, and I are heading west to San Diego to see family and loved ones, and will spend three weeks there visiting old haunts and exploring new ones, taking photos of the gorgeous SoCal landscape, and eating my weight in fish tacos and Thai food.
But I’m left with one question. What is it about those parks I’m not supposed to experience? Was I fated to get gored by a bison at Yellowstone? Or have a chunk of ice break off and squash me at Glacier? Is it something about the butterfly effect, where my visiting those parks would set off a chain of events so cataclysmic, fate had to possess one very stubborn 13′ Scamp trailer to make its point?
I don’t know. And maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, or simply an idiot, but I am planning to make a shorter version of that trip at the end of the summer. Because Sadie isn’t the only stubborn one around here.
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Well. Why don’t you come to Coyote Lake the weekend of June 13-15 and join us? This sounds like the PERFECT solution!
http://santaclara.wbcci.net/rally/june-2014-dry-camp-rally/
Deborah – That sounds fun, but I’ll be staying in San Diego (and exploring the areas immediately around it) for this trip. Family and friends to see. But thanks for the suggestion!
Oh, Deonne . . . I am SO SORRY to read these words. What happened? I’m sure I wasn’t the only one waiting patiently for a plethora of pictures. But our disappointment is NOTHING compared to yours, I’m sure. 🙁
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Judie – Thanks for the kind words. A bunch of things happened, but the final straw was a couple major door malfunctions, so I couldn’t lock Sadie from inside or out. Frustrating and unsafe. But this California scamp should be a blast, and I promise to get as many good shots as I can and share them here.
I got stuck in Rock Springs during a winter storm. Not a great place to be grounded.
I have had problems with Yellowstone, although I did manage to drive through the Tetons last year. Traffic, traffic, and more traffic sent me running out of the park. I did get to Glacier a couple of years ago and it is spectacular. Never was able to drive over 30 miles into the park though because of the snow.
Sometimes we’re just not meant to go to a certain place at that time. These times are excuses to make another stab at it.
You’re right. I’ve made peace with the change, and know that SoCal will be differently beautiful but equally worthwhile. Thanks for chiming in and sharing your experiences!
Bummer. But yay for Plan B!!! I sort of agree with Martha about the traffic. I hate encountering traffic when at a national park. That’s why we usually do things on the off season, but then last year I realized that lots of people caught on to our off season plans for Moab so we adjusted and for the first time, never went to either of the national parks. We had a blast with all the other things to do.
I’m glad that you didn’t struggle too long over the decision to return. It’s the indecision that usually drives me nuts.
Lots of luck to you on the trip out west!
Manisha recently posted…after the rains
Manisha – Thanks for the encouragement! Yes, indecision is such a drain, and I know SoCal will be wonderful for many reasons. Beach scenes are just as good as the mountains, right? : )
Who knows why you shouldn’t be there, but it truly sounds like you should be elsewhere. So why not the San Diego area? Cool, ocean, and enough fish to stuff you, for sure.
If you don’t make it on the third try, though, I’d choose many other places before attempting again!
Emilie Vardaman recently posted…Art Contreras
Emilie – Great point about the third attempt, though I have a good feeling about it. Third time’s a charm, and all that. Fingers crossed.
A change of plans just means different discoveries or similar discoveries in different places.
I have an RV sister that lives in San Diego that you might find interesting to meet. She full timed for 17 years but then decided to slow down. She lives in downtown SD at her daughters when she is not out traveling in her truck camper she got when she traded in her Class A. She is in her 80’s and has a lifetime of stories and a ready laugh and smile. She is San Diego’s national treasure……I got to travel around AZ with her last February and she gave me car tours of San Diego.
Christine – Yes, different is fine! Your friend sounds fascinating – do you think she’d be willing to meet me for a chat in San Diego? If so, could you email me (use the contact page) her contact info? Thank you!
Just reading this now because it’s promoted as one of your popular posts on your blog, and well, the title was fitting for what I’m trying to figure out in life – where to move to! You know it’s funny – I would do the same thing – sit there and think about “ok now why does this keep happening to me? What would otherwise happen if I kept on pushing?”
Terri recently posted…This is THE year!!
Terri – I hope the flow scoops you up and drops you where you need to be. : )