Yes, I’m aware that this is a “Bike Blog”, but it IS March and this trip I’m going to write about was taken in March (2020), and it IS a trip we had previously done on the bike so…
March 2020…when Covid-19 really reared it’s head and struck out everywhere. I’m the Technology Director at my school district and more importantly, a lister, a planner if you will. I’ve got a great husband and he rarely (if ever) tells me “NO” when it comes to trips. Our sons are both in the 9th grade at this point and I decide we need to get them off of their Xboxes and take them to see the country…in 10 days. And heck, why not bring along our 5 year old granddaughter with an impending birthday. So what if Covid is starting! We’re self-contained! We’re quarantining! No big deal, right??
The Plan
This was it. This was the plan. Every overnight stop was planned, camping spot picked out, and paid for ahead of time. I knew how many miles we needed to cover each day to make all the stops in time for check-in. The camper was stocked with food and drinks and headphones were ready for the never-ending movies that was going to have to play in the truck to occupy a 5- going on 6- year-old…I even had birthday presents wrapped and hidden under the bed just waiting for her surprise camper party. I mean, how many people can say they turned 6 at the Grand Canyon? Which, from my planning, I knew we would be at on her birthday.
Early Signs of What to Come?
As we continue to drive west, Bryan starts noticing (and points out) that we’re pretty much the only ones headed that way. Still, I talk up the trip. I point out interesting things we see along the way: roadside attractions, mountains off in the distance, and the HUGE wind turbines that are turning 90 to nothing.
The longer we drive, the harder the wind blows and this becomes a common sight…
Still, we continue on. We aren’t oblivious to the Covid pandemic. Like I mentioned, we are fully stocked in the camper and all of our overnight stops are paid for in advance. We stop for fuel…and wear gloves while pumping gas & sanitize when entering the truck. We call ahead and make sure that everything is still open.
The temperature drops. But, that is okay because we (I) have planned for this. We all have snow boots, pants, coats, gloves, hats, etc. In fact, we are hoping to get some snow skiing in when we go through Colorado on the way home.
And Here It Starts
We drive FOREVER, a hard rainy drive for a good part of it, and finally make it to Amarillo. This is our first overnight stop. We go to set up camp and discover that our bed is WET. Apparently, the roof right above our bed leaks…quite a bit. We’re tired so we dry it off the best we can, grab something to eat and crash. It’s been a long first day.
Our next stop is a KOA in Arizona near the Grand Canyon. It’s been steadily getting colder and driving through snow was common. When we finally get to set up camp for the night, we realize that somewhere along the way, we lost the vent cover off the bathroom roof and it had been snowing in our bathroom. Bryan fixes it the best he can for the night. The next morning, we scramble around and try to find someone open (remember, Covid) that has a vent cover in stock for us.
We get it installed and spend the rest of the day sight-seeing and playing in the snow. We also get to celebrate a six year old!!
We Made It…Kind of
Our next destination (the one I am SO excited to show the kids) is the Giant Sequoia National Park in California. Bryan and I visited there in June the previous year (I wrote a blog about it) and I fell in love with the trees! We call to make sure they are open…”YES”, they say. Only the walking trails though. No visitor’s center or such. That is okay. We are already pre-paid to stay in a private campground. Off we go! Just 10 hours and we’ll be there.
We make it, set up camp and LOVE the campground we are at. Seriously, Lemon Cove campground is a wonderful place to stay. It is afternoon/early evening when we arrive so we decide to hang around the campground and get up early in order to spend the whole day among the giant trees. The next morning arrives and off we go. I think I am more excited than anyone!
The park is CLOSED! 🙁 The ranger sits in her truck with a bull horn yelling at us. “Turn Around! I will NOT answer questions.” I am devastated! We had JUST called the day before. We drove 10 ADDITIONAL HOURS to get to this point…with three kids!
How We Felt!
Once we get back to our campsite, I pick up the phone and grab all the contact information for the other destinations on our list and start calling. Seems that overnight, everything shut down. Yosemite? Closed! Arches? Closed! Snow skiing in Colorado? Closed!
Our only option? Load up the next day, turn around, and head back the exact way we came. To say we were disappointed is an understatement, but making memories was the goal, and while they weren’t exactly the memories I wanted to make, we made some anyway.
