Golden Gate SP - June |
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In mid-June we booked
three sites at Golden Gate Canyon State Park and invited two mutual
friends and their families to join us. We celebrated our 1-year
wedding anniversary on this trip. |
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Kathy drove our Jeep
Wrangler to the campground. We decided to do some off-roading on
some nearby Jeep trails. This would mark the first time that Randy
allowed one of his vehicles to experience a dirt road. |
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We were in Loop C. Our
site required three levels of blocks and even then we were still
not perfectly level. Need to buy another bag of levelers before the
next trip for times like these.
Instead of tire chocks,
Randy used that yellow contraption you see between the tires. It
worked very well. |
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When we camp, we
represent. |
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Here we go...our first
Jeep trail excursion ever. We chose the Pickle Gulch trail. Our
Colorado Trails book said it was a Level 3 trail (out of 10) with a
scenic rating of 7 (out of 10), so it sounded very nice. |
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We took opportunities
along the trail to park the Jeep and look around. Look at our Jeep
already super-dirty, covered in dust. |
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Somewhere along the way,
we got lost. That mud pit is not a Level 3 characteristic. But what
the heck, let's see if our Jeep can clear that obstacle. While it
was a thrill to make it through, it was a mistake to do it. Randy
should have just gone around like most people did. He is still
finding dirt everywhere underneath. |
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This obstacle confirmed we were off
trail. No way I was going to attempt this. We drove around it and
ended up on some very rocky, barely passable trails. Eventually we
did not know where we were. There were even times that Kathy had to
step out of the Jeep so Randy could drive up the trail. Kathy's
weight (after all, she's no feather-weight!) was enough to prevent
the 4-cylinder motor from successfully traversing some very steep,
very rocky paths.
We kept our cool, used Randy's AT&T work phone which still had a signal, to figure out where we were and how to get back. Without that lifeline, we were in trouble. Never again will we keep going when the trail deviates from its rating. We will certainly never
forget our first Jeeping experience together. |
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Randy's buddy Sterling and
his family joined us for the weekend. |
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We stocked the outside
kitchen refrigerator with plenty of cold beverages. |
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Sterling's new puppy took
a power nap soon after they arrived. |
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Mr. Hatchet ensured we had
an ample supply of firewood for the weekend. |
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Sterling and his wife Kim. |
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Kathy's longtime friends
Gianna and Annette and their two kids camped in a tent on the other
side of us. |
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One morning for breakfast
Randy cooked eggs, bacon, and sourdough bread with avocado and sea
salt for Kathy. |
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That is some serious good-eatin
right there. |
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We encountered a
blacksmith near the trailhead to Panorama point. |
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Kathy is ready to go
hiking. |
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Gianna, Piper, and Eagan
(along with Annette, not pictured) joined us on the hike to Panorama
Point. |
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We made it. The weather
was beautiful, almost too warm. |
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Kathy does a lot of this
when we go camping together. |
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Getting the group campfire
ready for the evening. |
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Wait...we drink Absolut
Vodka Pomegranate martinis when we camp? Of course! And nice photo
bomb, Piper. |
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Kim and Kathy visit by the
campfire. |
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For lunch one day Randy
grilled Thai-spiced chicken accompanied by French fries and Brussels
Sprouts. Heaven, no? |
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For Saturday evening dinner, Randy grilled
a bone-in rib-eye for him, a filet mignon for
Kathy, and some bacon-wrapped asparagus. |
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It was a super-relaxing,
very enjoyable, and no doubt memorable wedding anniversary weekend
spent camping together with close friends. |