We learned some important lessons last weekend, including the fact that diesel engine glow plugs don’t appreciate being at 11,000 feet of elevation, especially when it is nearly freezing overnight. We woke up Sunday morning to the unpleasant reality that the van would not start, which was particularly inconvenient because we were 12 miles (1 hour driving) up a dirt road from the highway. Also, our camping site was in the trees, nice and shady, which would have been great if we didn’t need the sun to warm up the engine block. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to push the van into the sun, Hugh decided to use a long log as a lever, and with each of us using a log lever, we pushed the van ten feet into a sunny spot. Two hours later, the van started. Phew!
We also learned that we need to up our game on camping preparedness! We ran out of propane for our stove, had no lighters or matches to start a fire after the stove died, and had no means of purifying water. If we’d been stuck for a day, we would have been really thirsty and unhappy.
Fortunately, we had Peeps! I sacrificed one to the goddess of glow plugs (this surely helped the van start) and ate one as breakfast dessert. If properly toasted, a Peep caramelizes nicely. Yummy!
Peep awaiting its fate
This was the beginning of the sacrifice. Unfortunately, I can’t upload the video of how it all ended, but since I know you’ve dropped a marshmallow in the fire at least once in your life, you can imagine the outcome.
Rebekah, a Portland friend, visited last week and we hiked every day. We had perfect weather and saw many beautiful sites, including…
the South rim of the Black Canyon
Aspens off of Kebler Pass
Aspens carved by sheepherders in the 1950’s (close to Crawford)
and Grand Mesa- the world’s largest flat-top mountain at more than 500 sq. miles.
Thanks for reading!
