Day 7 – 1952 miles … Cowboys, vastness, and unhappy people

We start the day early, leaving the Wal-Mart parking lot before everyone is awake. Our destination is the famous western town of Dodge City, about 80 miles down the road. This is a pleasant and simple drive, as the roads are unbelievably straight and in good condition. We arrive in Dodge in time for a hearty (read, not good for your heart) breakfast at a family diner on Wyatt Earp Blvd.

Dodge City was and still is a cattle town, there are thousands and I’m not exaggerating, upon thousands of heads of cattle here. Large acreages of pens, full of cattle waiting to become my tasty dinner :).

We find great parking at the Boot Hill Museum, which is a recreation of the town main street in it’s western glory. The town, complete with actors isn’t large, but offers a great glimpse of what life back then would have been.

We hear that the Sherriff is looking for some deputies, so the girls demonstrate the needed skills, running (for cover), hoping on one foot (in case the other is shot off), moseying (looking mean, so  that no one dares mess with you) and posing (like moseying, but stationary). Each girl passes with no issues, they take the oath and are pinned with their silver star.

We then get the news that there is a can-can dancer at the saloon and she is giving lessons … who says you cannot be a deputy and a dancer. All girls on stage, they learn the steps and perform for us. Kate,  naturally, takes to this and the piano player asks if she’ll come back later for a show :) … Kate wants to wear the costume if she is to perform again :).

As high noon approaches, we get wind of some unrest near the saloon … you see, the problem with the cowboys, is they come into town, get all liquored up and want to fight … luckily there is an ordinance that says no guns north of the train tracks … but there aren’t enough lawmen (lawgirls) around to enforce this at all times.

The friendly fist fight turns bad and 5 people lay shot on the ground … apparently, there isn’t much need for paperwork and the discussion quickly turns to who will have to dig the holes.

The girls (and Jack) found the fist fight interesting, but when the first shot was fired … Genna and Jack broke into instant crying and Jaci headed for the hills :) … Kate sought refuge behind others (smart girl).

We headed west out of Dodge (love writing that) on the Santa Fe trail. This took us through more cattle country and eventually through the South East corner of Colorado on a very lonely road that cuts through the Navajo Grasslands. Wow … the views of nothing, for miles, upon miles on either side of our road was impressive and something that will stick with me for a lifetime. We stopped by the roadside to take some pictures, and walk into the grasslands … until the near 100F temperature and 6000ft elevation got to us … Ok, we got about 200ft from the motor home.

We passed through the town of Trinidad, Colorado and headed for the Trinidad Lake State Park, which was about 5 miles further west and at an elevation of almost 7000ft.

Now we’ve met many people so far, and the further west we got, the more “friendly” they seem to have gotten, always a smile, quick with a “hello” or a “good morning”. So, our encounter with the girl working at the state park was, to say the least, different.

We pull into the parking lot at the welcome center to the park, all 7 of us get out (we’ve been in the RV for 7 hrs), I make it to the door first with Genna and Jaci … I walk in, make eye contact with her … she says, “I’ll be with you when I’m finished with this person.”, her face and eyes say … “I hate you, why are you here.”

I quietly wait for our turn, I explain that we are looking for a site for the night, have a 30ft RV and need something preferably flat. She looks perturbed, at my “demand”, and proceeds to explain that they have sites; 5, 8, 24, 27, 53, 57, 61, … available. I ask for a recommendation, explaining that this is our first time and the numbers don’t mean much to us. Her face and eyes say, “Why are you alive, if I could throw you out, I would.”, she vocalized, one word … “24”. I ask, will I fit there … oh my gosh, the look I was given, explaining it requires a change in ratings for this writing. She now has to look at a chart in front of her, which has all the sites, the size they can accommodate and whether they are level or not. I can also see the chart … it says 30ft, not level for #24, NOT is highlighted! … she says we’ll fit … I now really dislike her.

I tell her I prefer a level site, she looks ready to commit genocide. I suggest that I would take site 57, she says one word … “fine.”. As she completes the paperwork, a very uncomfortable silence develops … I, against better judgment ask … “Been a busy day?”, in my best friendly voice … one word, “YES.” I get the permit, thank her … she says “Have a nice day.”, she means “Hope your RV explodes with you in it.” … we leave … I make a mental note to come back and bother her later :)

We find our site … now, South East Colorado at 7000ft, is basically a dirt pile with scrub brush, rocks and cactus. The girls are determined to have bonfire … which gives me the opportunity to go back and visit miss friendly :). I request 2 bundles of wood (I only need 1, but wanted her to make 2 trips) … I truly feel sorry for whomever she is going home to for the evening.

I put my trusty leatherman to use (I’m an outdoorsman now) and widdle some kindling, as there is nothing around that would burn and Michelle has forbidden me to use gasoline. The girls watch the fire for 10 minutes, head out for a walk at night and call it an evening by 10P …

Our first night in the mountains.