Today’s coffee smells amazing with the cool air as the rain trys to switch to snow.
It also brings a little bit of retrospect from yesterday’s misadventures…
As with most families our vacations and get-aways had been canceled this year. I finally have weekends free to spend with my family but this summer the teen got a job and works every weekend and some weeknights too. When we realized that Monday she wasn’t working we jumped on the chance to go to the mountains… specifically Lake Dillon.
On these excursions I typicaly have a list of what we should bring (camping table, chairs, cooler, snacks, games, hoodies etc.). I hadn’t been as organized with this trip and yesterday morning had me in a tizzy and then tears and panic. I’m still coping with my comfort in times of pandemic.
After an emotional breakdown and packing and then me repacking we headed out. First to the gas station then to get breakfast (more like brunch) from Einsteins… and then to another Einstein… because Covid had our location closed. We stood in a socially distanced line forevvvver. Finally food and more coffee in hand we headed West.
As you might know Colorado has several wildfires ablaze and yesterday that smoke was very heavy. However all of us had thought it will get better the further we get into the mountains. As we kept climbing the smoke continued to be around us. We took Loveland pass thinking we’d get above the smoke haze…nope. Not being able to even see the closest mountain is eerie. Fog is one thing, smoke haze… yeah, your brain keeps thinking it’s fog and it’ll clear.
As we drove into Dillon and even being right next to the marina we could barely make out the lake. By this point all of us were devastated and disappointed and not sure what to do. So we continued with our plan… Cheba Hut… still thinking maybe it’ll get better… and we were going to have a picnic on the lake. Opening the door of the car we realized there wasn’t a chance. Ashlynn’s lungs stung from the smoke. By this point we’re realizing we’re not staying.
To go sammiches in hand we headed towards Boreas Pass…which had been the plan to escape the I-70 mess heading home. Yet again feeling the weight of a failed family adventure and saddened by the smoke caused by the fires. So eerie.
Boreas Pass had that same gloom from the smoke and no visibility to nearby peaks. We did see a little bit of the aspens coloring changing… peak is probably 5 to 7 days away. But also realizing that this year with schedules we might not make it back.
Anyway, we made it back home. We did find some humor in that it was a long 6+ hours just to get sammiches.
Oh well, not everyday can be awesome. We still got to spend the day together even if we all had moments of frustration. Lesson Learned.
Remember that not every moment needs to be perfect my coffee lovers.
Happy First Cups