A line originally from a Robert Burns poem, then used as the title of John Steinbeck's book. Can I just tell you how incredibly appropriate that line is for our Saturday night!
*Disclaimer: This post has NO pictures. If you choose to read this, you will understand why.
Sooooooo....
Pretty much the whole lot of us decided that we would go camping at Mishawaka, a location which is a music venue, has a bar, and camping. Cookie checked it out for us. It was $18 at the door for the Summer Solstice concert and $15 a site for camping, which included a free shuttle up to the bar/venue. Please note, that says "$15 a site".
We drove from Red Feather, using back roads (i.e., dirt roads). We got to Highway 14, went 15 miles east to Mishawaka. There, we were greeted by a "woman in comfortable shoes" (that's a Good Morning, Vietnam reference, if you care). She told us that we could camp down the road 12 miles for $15 a site and take the free shuttle up. Please note, she said "$15 a site".
We drove another 12 miles, which makes this drive an hour and a half because we are in the mountains. By the way, I might add that this was a BEAUTY-FUL drive! And I would have loved to have taken pictures for you, but I was driving and there were switchbacks on the dirt road without guardrails....not safe.
Anyhow, after we drove the 12 miles to get to the campsite, the man at the gate tells me it is $15 per person. Did you read that? $15 per person. Now, we had 9 people with us, which makes that just shy of $150 to camp! Sistah, please!
After much debate, we decided not to drive back for the concert and not to camp there. As we looked down the road a bit farther, we noticed the Conoco station that sits at the corner of Hwy 14 and US-287. Had we taken the normal way, our hour and a half drive, would have been 30 minutes. Argh! But again, it was a beautiful drive and the fun is in the journey, not the destination, right?
Since we were so close to Ft. Collins we decided to head into the Irish festival, considering we had The Irishman with us. We went to my aunt and uncle's house, dropped off the trucks, put the 9 of us into 2 cars and decided we would "camp" in my aunt and uncle's backyard when we got home.
Once we found the Irish festival, it was $10 to get in. Note, that is only $5 less than camping. I refused as did other people and the dude at the gate said there was only 15 more minutes anyhow. At this point, The Irishman was whining about never getting a "bloody pint".
The boys decided they wanted to go to The Sundance, not to be confused with our Sundance Trail Guest Ranch. The Sundance is a country bar where you can dance. And get a "bloody pint". I decided I wanted to go with them. The girls and Dizzy decided they wanted to stay there and find a club, so we split. All the girls and Dizzy. All the boys and me.
We got to The Sundance and they tell us it's only 21 and up. Guh-RATE! We have two boys who are under 21. After much debate, yet again, we decide to let the young guys take my car back to my aunt and uncle's so they can get their truck and drive back to the ranch, while The Irishman, Justin, and I stay to dance. Or in The Irishman's case, drink.
We had a really fantastic time dancing. The Irishman even gave it a go, although, not a real go. He really just goofed around more, but at least he was on the dance floor.
The girls eventually met us there, but Dizzy refused to come in and slept in the car while we all danced and had a blast!
At the end of the evening, Wrangler Sarah already had 5 people in her car, plus camping gear, so Justin and I had to take The Sundance's Drunk Bus, back to my aunt and uncle's house, where our vehicles were parked.
I'm pretty sure that after waiting for it and then being taken home the long way, we got to my aunt and uncle's house, which is about 5 miles down the road, at the same time the crew made it back to the ranch. Argh.
All in all, though, we ended up having an AWESOME time!
So, if you've read all of this, you understand why I didn't take any pictures (I just forgot by that point!) and why I used the poem line at the top.
The best-laid plans of mice and men, Go oft awry.
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