We have had an end-of-summer trip planned and mostly paid for to go to Colorado for a while. Enjoying the cool weather after a hot, busy summer last year was great. So we thought, why not do it again this year? I’m pretty sure this will become a thing for us from now on. Even though I like to see new places we’ve never been, Pagosa Springs is calling us back. It’s the best spot within a day’s drive, with the mountains and cool weather we love. But we still go to places with new scenery every time we go.
I booked a basement-type one-bedroom apartment months ago. It was on the side of a hill and overlooked Pagosa. After our last trip to the place in the county, I was picky about selecting one this time. We really liked being out of town and away from all the people. Our condo last summer wasn’t bad, but it was packed close to many others in a nice subdivision without grand views.
When we left Pagosa last time, we talked with a couple we are close with about going back in the summer. I had completely forgotten about that and booked our one bedroom early. A few weeks ago, they mentioned a summer trip to Colorado; I was like, oh yeah! We told them the dates we had planned, and it worked out for all of us to go. But we’d need a bigger place, and they were bringing their younger boys with them. Thankfully, there were good cancellation terms with our other place, and we could get out of that reservation.
This is a couple we have been friends with for years. John and I were best of friends in high school, and he was the best man at our wedding. Brittany was dating John at our wedding, and she and Amanda became quick friends and have been besties ever since. Amanda was in their wedding. Through our early twenties, both would stay with us together and separate for stents here and there. We frequented their place in Seguin when Amanda was first sick with heart issues, and we were constantly going to the doctors in San Antonio and Austin. Spending time with them and their boys, whom I love to pester, will be good.
I love planning trips and researching places. I already had this trip well planned with an itinerary and menu months ago. So, well before they confirmed, I already had a shortlist of new, larger, Airbnbs. I wanted the place we stayed at in February, but it was booked. I narrowed it down to a few places, then two booked up, so the choice was easy.
This place is outside of town on a few acres. It’s cabin-style with a loft and two bedrooms and baths downstairs. The loft is open and set up for younger kids, with bunk beds and a small nook for reading or playing games. Alos, it seemed there was larger acreage next to it, so hopefully, our view doesn’t have neighbors.
As I said, I’m a planner, and I love it. It has been a nice distraction with our crazy year for me to plan this trip and our upcoming heartiversary trip in late October. I have over-planned this one, though! The budget is all planned out, and it’s always the first. We like to cook most of the time, and we don’t do much that costs a lot of money, so our expenses are fuel to get there, with the most significant being lodging. Groceries don’t count because we have to eat at home, but we still budget for the extra splurge and a few meals out.
I have the menu all planned with a coordinating shopping list for the items we need here before we leave and when we arrive. I try to “dovetail” our menu, a term from my restaurant industry days, so I make multiple things from one so we don’t have any waste. Amanda isn’t big on leftovers, lame, I know, so I’ll take the dinner leftovers and make different meals for our on-the-go lunches. We’ll even cook the night we get there. The last time I prepped a meal for the night we arrived ahead of time. We enjoyed getting there unpacking and things were ready for a quick meal. We just showed up, relaxed and unwound.
I have planned drives and activities for each day. For meals that we’ll eat out, I have a shortlist to choose from for each town we’ll eat in. We have to peruse menus ahead of time, eating like we do. I have hikes with the mileage noted and different options combined with scenic drives along the way. I’ve gone overboard and even have screenshots of the map directions so I can see the times of our drives. Like I said, I distracted myself with planning!
With the itinerary planned out so early and then adding a family, I had to figure out a few things for the kids to do. I’m not experienced in that realm, so I had to really think! The youngest is four, which adds a dynamic I’m not used to. The oldest just turned eight, so he’s easy for me, although I wind him up too much sometimes, and it’s hard to turn him off! Boys from his age through middle school are easy; you’re just one poop joke away from being their best adult friend!
Amanda’s knee is doing fantastic, so I’ve been excited about hiking. We found out on our first heartiversray trip we really enjoyed it, hiking in Tennessee. Amanda fell shortly after that trip on a mission trip, in Pagosa of all places. That is what started the knee problems. We hiked a little last summer, but her knee only worsened after that. Sadly, with the knee ready to go now, her heart isn’t. With all the issues we’ve recently had with her rate, she’s unable to walk much with out having chest pain. Even walking around the store is difficult now; by the time we get through, she’s already starting to slow down and tire. We hope and pray that her rate begins to calm down and she returns to feeling normal again.
I can’t say we’re ready for this trip enough. After our rough year and the latest development with subsequent heart issues, we need this more than ever. The cooler weather will just be icing on the cake too. I have the weather for Pagosa on my favorites and have been watching it. It looks like our low will be high up there. A few days ago, a page I follow said, “52 degrees this fine Pagosa morning with a high of 74 expected today. The 10 day forecast doesn’t show anymore daytime highs in the 80’s. Fall is setting in for sure!” I’ll take that weather forecast for sure!
After an early rise and 12 hours on the road, we’ll see cooler weather and a mountain sunset.