When we started the trip we thought we could do the whole thing in eight months but after it took two months just to drive to the ‘official’ start of the journey - Ushuaia - we knew we had underestimated things. Problem was we only budgeted for eight months so for a while we simply half’d our allowance. That quickly turned into a miserable exercise. What is the point of doing this trip if you can't afford to see or do anything? So we came up with a new plan… We would lower the budget only a little and once we were in the United States Will would work one month on the rigs while I worked for food an board on a farm. We had to wait until we got to the US to pick up Scout and also because Will’s BOSIET certificate had expired and he needed to renew it before he could get work. So we had arranged for me to stay in Denver while Will flew to Houston to do his BOSIET. The course location was a unique experience in itself as it was held at the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. This facility which includes a 6.2 million gallon (23.5 million litre) indoor pool is where astronauts are trained to spacewalk and work on a scale replica of the International Space Station. As it turned out Will sold his truck back home just as things were getting really tight so we decided to use that money rather than Will working but the course was booked and he needed to do it anyway so we kept to that part of the plan.
We both overslept on the morning he flew out but Will dashed to the terminal just in time. After a bit more sleep I woke up and managed to navigate the Dodge to the Mooney’s house. The Mooney family consisting of Erin, Jon and daughter Torin took me in after our friend Luis from Lost World Expedition asked around his old friends for me. I stayed at the Mooney's for three nights and during my time there I organised a large majority of our stuff into the roof box, wrote a blog and took Scout for a few walks. I also organised to visit a Radiology department to have a look around and see how things are done here which was interesting as I’m an x-ray technician. As the Mooney's had some family coming I left their place and went to another of Luis' friends places Laura and Nicks. Laura ran a 30 plus cat rescue from her heated garage and also had five cats as well as two border collies in the house. Soon enough the five days passed and it was perfect timing for Will to be back from his course as one of Erin's friends had kindly lent us her house for the weekend while she went away so we had a whole house to ourselves without ever meeting the owners. It had been Wills birthday while he was away so I cooked him his favourite dinner and splashed out on cheese cake.
From Denver we drove west to the town of Boulder, known for its rock climbing we made the most of it and did some climbing in the local Gym and getting free showers there was a bonus. We also got some advice about some outdoor climbing spots. So the next morning after being politely asked to leave the Walmart we were camping in we headed off up Boulder Canyon. It took us a while to find the spot but eventually we did. So we set up to climb a few routes and tied Scout up at the bottom with a stick to chew on. It was an enjoyable and challenging day but as soon as the sun went down the temperature dropped fast and it was time to go and find a camping spot close by. In the dark we drove down to a lakeside picnic spot and camped right next to the lake. We climbed again the next day and camped back at the same spot however the following morning a local police officer pointed out that we were actually parked on a walking track and told us to “move on” luckily we were ready to leave anyway and headed back to Boulder for a shower at the Recreation Centre. We stopped for breakfast on our way back in a nice sunny neighbourhood and as it turns out a Buck and Doe also thought it was good spot to enjoy the morning sun as they passed by right next to us.
From Denver we drove west to the town of Boulder, known for its rock climbing we made the most of it and did some climbing in the local Gym and getting free showers there was a bonus. We also got some advice about some outdoor climbing spots. So the next morning after being politely asked to leave the Walmart we were camping in we headed off up Boulder Canyon. It took us a while to find the spot but eventually we did. So we set up to climb a few routes and tied Scout up at the bottom with a stick to chew on. It was an enjoyable and challenging day but as soon as the sun went down the temperature dropped fast and it was time to go and find a camping spot close by. In the dark we drove down to a lakeside picnic spot and camped right next to the lake. We climbed again the next day and camped back at the same spot however the following morning a local police officer pointed out that we were actually parked on a walking track and told us to “move on” luckily we were ready to leave anyway and headed back to Boulder for a shower at the Recreation Centre. We stopped for breakfast on our way back in a nice sunny neighbourhood and as it turns out a Buck and Doe also thought it was good spot to enjoy the morning sun as they passed by right next to us.
After freshening up we drove south to the town of Golden and found a hiking trail head to camp in. On the road the next morning we drove west on Interstate 70 and into a huge snow storm. The weather really closed in and as we climbed and crossed the 10,600ft Vail Pass the highway quickly turned into a war zone littered with crashed cars, stalled out semi trucks, tow trucks and fire engines. We were surprised by the number of accidents we saw as we thought locals would be accustomed to driving in these conditions. Finally we arrived in Avon the home town of "technically" newlyweds Lize and Bryan. Lize was the niece of Lee Ann and Calvin who we had stayed with in Oaxaca, Mexico. They offered to put us up for a few nights in their cool apartment and Lize showed us around the Vail and Beavercreek ski resorts. They are pretty classy places and quite a change from the ski fields we're used to back in NZ. Bryan worked at the Westin Hotel as a valet and as a perk of the job he gets access to the hot tub, pool and gym so we all went down for a dip one evening. It was heaven soaking in the hot water with snow all around us and the ski field as the backdrop. Back at their apartment we got treated to some of Lize’s delicious home made chocolate truffles….yuuummmm! The next morning we said goodbye to our new friends hopeful that some day we will catch up again, if you two are reading this, hint, New Zealand!
As we drove further west Colorado continued to show off its majestic beauty; we stopped briefly to visit the hanging lake and after the sketchy walk up the icy trail were well rewarded with magnificent views from the top. Our final stop before entering Utah was at a little known locals hot spring just off interstate 70 on exit 111. We had advanced warning that we might see some naked bodies so I knew not to look too close when I saw two guys were already bathing in the small thermal pool. As the sun set we left the steaming pool and found our last Colorado camp as we would be in Utah the following day.
Rochelle & Will
Rochelle & Will