So I want to start this by saying that I am not a camper - never have been, never claimed to be. I like to shower regularly. So we just got back from a camping trip to Flaming Gorge with Cody's family. Just to give a glimpse of the trip, I'll start with the drive up. We went through Durango and up through the mountains in Colorado. I got kind of carsick. We had stopped at one gas station and Sophia had to go the bathroom as well so she came in with me. Every time I went to heave over the toilet, she would peak around and look down into the toilet and say, "What are you looking at?" It was a little distracting trying to aim around her. Anyway, about 10 minutes after my last stop, I had to actually go to the bathroom. I thought I would hold it until we came to the next town. It was a long wait around tiny, curving mountain roads, with no place to even pull over and go behind a tree. Finally we got to Ouray (stupidest town) which had 2 gas stations - one closed and the other no public bathrooms. By this point I was crying and told Cody to just find a big tree and pull over. He did. I ran behind it and turned around to find the best squatting hiding spot and a car pulled in right behind ours - and sat there. I couldn't do it. So I ran back to the car. Cody was laughing so hard he couldn't talk. Finally he said, "I'm sure they will leave. Let's just wait". Finally they did leave (what were they doing anyway?) and I ran back behind the tree and went as fast as I could. Worst bathroom experience EVER! Later that night we stayed at a KOA campground and were right next to the freeway. Good start. After we got to Flaming Gorge, Cody and his brother were setting up the tent and I looked and about 20 feet from our tent was a HUGE snake. I'm not sure what kind, but honestly does it matter? Cody went after it - not to kill it, just to scare it away. (Are you serious?) The next day we went out on the boat. Sophia and I were saying, "Too fast. Too fast". max was sitting there looking content as could be. We went out on the boat later to go to a new spot that had cliffs to jump from, fishing spots and boating areas. Everyone else drove the cars over. About 10 minutes after we left, it started raining. Then it started raining harder. Then the winds picked up. Then it started the freezing rain and some hail. At this point the rain was coming in sideways and the covers on the boat did nothing. The rain was so hard and so fast it felt like stinging needles hitting me. I couldn't feel me hands and arms because I was trying to cover the kids with a sopping wet towel. Why, do you ask, did we not turn back? "Because the storm is going to break at any moment". 2 1/2 hours later (that's right) we arrived at the spot. Horrible. Horrible. After we got the boat docked, everyone in one car (because all of the other cars had already gone back to the campground), and headed back, it quit raining and the sun came out. Later, at dinner, Cody's mom asked when we were headed back, I told her I wasn't sure but I did know we were staying in a hotel. The next day, and I have pistures to prove it, I jumped off a 15 foot cliff. I know. Very impressive. I won't do it again and I thought I was having a heart attack the whole time, but I'm glad to know I am not quite the wimp I thought I might be. On the way home we stayed in a motel (and got the last available room in a 2 hour distance). Unfortunately, they put us next to some people that were having issues. At about 11pm, someone knocked on our door. Then at about 3am, a man chased someone (his wife/girlfriend?) down the hall in front of our room. Alittle bit after that, we woke up to the police out in the hall talking to the chasee. We are glad to be home - unscathed, with all of our parts. But it was a good trip and fun to spend time with Cody's family. Although, we had about 1 hour left until we got home and Cody said, "I have Friday off this week. Let's find a place closer to us and go camping". If I could have found something to hit him with, I would have.
