Day 3, continued

We'd planned to go back into Colorado Springs before eating dinner, but realized partway there that we wouldn't make it, so shopping will have to wait until Saturday. We're not out of anything, but we keep remembering little things that would sure come in handy. I've been making notes on my phone when I remember, but I'm not carrying my phone everywhere, so I may still be forgetting things! It's so odd that we have no cell service at all up here. Kind of freeing, really. We passed one of the campsites that had a small pop-up trailer set up, and a camper on the back of a truck. The couple who own it travel like this all the time; it's not a vacation. Jeff asked me, "Can you imagine living like that?" Well, no, I can't, but there is part of me that would love to get rid of all of our material things and just drive. Take my family, see the country, and not worry about anything. This trip is kind of like that on a teeny tiny scale, and small things like Jeff's job weren't an issue, I would seriously consider something like that.

We brought with us enough clothes for the kids for 8 days, so we only have to do laundry once a week. Rather than try to load and unload eight people's bags every night, plus toiletries & diapers & shoes & sleeping bags, we figured out a better way to pack. Each set of clothes, shirt + shorts + underwear, is packed into a gallon-size ziploc. Each duffle bag is packed with two ziplocs per child, plus pajamas. All of the socks are in a plastic grocery bag, stuffed into the bag of sweatshirts & jackets. When we set up camp, the only bags we have to get out are shower stuff, one bag of clothes, and the coats & socks if it's cold. Makes life much easier!

After we left Eleven Mile, we headed up the South Platte River to Camp Alexander, which is just outside of Lake George. We arrived just in time to see the evening flag ceremony and end-of-the-week awards ceremony. Honestly, I think Drew has grown three inches this week! When his troop headed into the assembly area, Jaden and Kendra yelled "There's Andrew! I see him!" and I had to ask, "Where?" I didn't recognize him! According to his Scout leaders, Drew has had an awesome week. He's completed almost all of his Tenderfoot requirements, didn't get homesick at all, and handled himself very well. Since this was the longest he's been away from home, and since kids with Asperger's usually don't handle change well, I was hugely relieved and very grateful to his leaders for taking such good care of him.

Dinner was delicious: barbecued chicken, vegetable lasagna, rolls, potato salad, rolls, chocolate chip cookies, and big slices of juicy watermelon. We ate until we were stuffed, and then spent the next hour collecting Andrew's things, making one last trip to the Trading Post, and waiting while he showed Jaden around the tents and all of the "cool stuff" (Jaden's words). Once we got everyone back to the van and tried to find more room for another two duffle bags, a camp cot, and sleeping bag, we headed out to Colorado Springs. It's about an hour away, and then we'll head towards Yellowstone first thing in the morning.

DAY 3: 40 miles