The rain comes down hard like it usually does in Colorado. Through the screen windows, you can smell the fresh air that rain creates and feel the mist of the drops being split by the screen. As I look out over the lake and mountains everything is lit up by the sporadic flashes of lightning. The temperature is dropping and I’m happy to have the extra blankets on my bed as the wind rocks the new to us camper my Dad and I are staying in for the next two nights.
The best part of Colorado Summers is getting to be outside, go on long hikes and go camping. And with Dad’s new pop-up camper, I’m even more excited for camping trips, bond fires and relaxing in the mountains. I’ve always been really close to my mom but haven’t had the chance to spend the same kind of one-on-one time with my Dad, so this Daddy-Daughter camping trip is something new to us.
My Dad had every detail planned, from pancake breakfasts (minus the spatula he forgot) to steak dinners. We went hiking at Rifle falls, kayaking in his new blow-up kayak on the lake and I went shooting for the first time. The heavy summer rain kept us from building a fire the first night but the second night we stayed out until every last log was gone, enjoying watching the sticks teeter-tater and breakdown in the flames.
From amazing views to quiet moments staring at the water on the lake, this was easily one of the best camping trips I have ever been on. It was great getting to spend time with my Dad and work on seeing the world from each other’s eyes, seeing as we have very different views on pretty much everything. Getting to try new things like going shooting (and getting a bull’s eye) cooking out together and driving through the mountains listening to S club 7 – my favorite band when I was a kid. These are the kinds of memories I’ll hold onto forever. Even the ones where things went wrong, those ones usually bring back the most laughs.
This is what I love about the outdoors. Nature is healing to the soul and it brings people together. It provides the tools and the opportunity to change your life. There is nothing better than getting to be outside and in the wild, except maybe for the people who are there with you.
