Colorado is my home. I feel a warmth in my heart as I arrive and live in this western state. The road trip took me to four states- Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. MollyG drove 3547 miles. We left May 17 and I got back to Denver area July 25th- 10 weeks.

Hanging with Rose & Steven was a wonderful adventure. I learned so much about myself- my abilities and my limitations. I am quite capable being on the road alone but I now know I prefer companionship so I will check out caravans, traveling friends and other ways to travel.

I LOVE traveling and experiencing the unknown. The nomad lifestyle is a gift of expansion! So grateful for the time spent with family, friends and Mother Nature! I am a HAPPY camper!

I will be hanging in Lakewood for August and most of September. Many possibilities but I will allow what will be!

True gratitude for a safe trip, a fullness of heart and a knowing ALL is as it is!

Spent a night in the Swan Valley at The Falls Campground. My camp was 50 feet from an arm of the Snake River.

I drove pass Palisades Reservoir which backs up the Snake River into a recreational wonderland. I saw 15-20 peregrine nests – looks like the electric poles are set up for the nests.


The last two days have been sunny and HOT. Quite a change from the high altitudes in Ketchum/ Galena area.
I drove within 30 miles of Jackson Hole following The Snake River and then the Hoback River.

Last night I camped at Fontenelle Reservoir where the Green River creates lots of water fun! While checking out my campground I noticed Huge holes in the ground. At least 4 huge holes with a smaller hole at the very bottom. I wanted to see what kind of animal lived there. I checked late and saw a prairie dog watching my van.

Now I am near Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area following the Green River. Today I am looking at Colorado maps to figure out how I will get to Lakewood by Monday. It is a wonderful road trip!

Sorry about the long read. I wanted to share what I have seen on the road.

Traveling during COVID-19.

 I have been traveling in my camper van since May 17, 2020. Most of the time I have been traveling with my daughter, Rose and son-in-law, Steven whom have their own super dooper camper van. We decided we needed to do self isolation for 14 days before hugging. 

• We left Denver and camped in BLM (bureau of land management) and a state park. In May, some Coloradans were wearing masks in stores and a few wore masks while outside. In the state park I gave a mask to a ranger who had forgotten his at home. Social distancing on marked hiking paths was easy for me  just get out of the way. I found myself gravitating physically closer towards family & friends when I needed to allow more distancing since not everyone was wearing masks. Rose who is really aware about the virus had to remind me over and over to not stand next to people or pet dogs.
• #some Campgrounds were closed.
• #State parks required reservations which weren’t that easy to get.
• #Showers and bathrooms were closed. Laundries were open.
• #Some RV parks were still closed. I assume the RV parks are now open.
• #weekends we’re full of campers. Campsites were more available during the week- typical for Colorado.

May 2020- Colorado – Grand Junction and Fruita area – very few masks being worn. The locals were still offering hugs and handshakes. Rose had to remind me to not accept the hugs and handshakes. Some businesses had marked off 6 foot distances but most people paid little attention to 6 foot distance and no enforcement  was happening. 
Colorado-May 2020 has governor highly recommending  masks and social distancing. Many people were following the recommendation. In Montrose 40% of the people in Albertsons were wearing masks and distancing- all older people like myself. 
Utah- May 28-June 10-only a small portion of people were wearing masks.. when I wore a mask I was stared at. No required social distancing or masks. 
Trash cans are available minimally. Campers / nomads/ homeless living in cars had created trash issues during the beginning of COVID-19 by not having places to stay because state& federal parks were closed. Where to put your trash if facilities are closed? Trash is a big problem now because trash cans have been eliminated because of misuse. So now the only trash cans are at gas stations or right in front of stores- not in the parking lots. During this entire trip TRASH is a problem. Campgrounds are left with bags of trash, cans & bottles in almost every fire pit. I create a small bag of trash every day and at the last gas stop all the trash cans were full – I had to work to get my bag of trash to fit. At one campground without trash cans, Steven and Rose picked up two large trash bags and trucked the Bags out of the Forest to a rangers station. 
In NE Utah, around Vernal No one was wearing masks! No one! Once I got around Salt Lake City, June 10th I started seeing more people in Utah wearing masks and trying to practice social distancing because their COVID-19 cases had risen. 
I arrived in Preston, Idaho on June 10th and noticed very little regard to the virus. The local store did not require workers or customers to wear masks or stay 6 feet apart. I saw two other seniors wearing masks. When I left Preston on June 28th I stopped in the local store and almost every one was wearing masks and keeping distance – once again due to number of virus cases increasing in the area. The RV park I stayed in did not require masks but everyone gave me plenty of distance. In Pocatella, Idaho Falls and Rexburg during June there was little mask wearing except for seniors. The workers in the stores were now wearing masks but not many customers. I had a lady move within 2 feet of me at the cash register and then her husband joined her – totally unaware. I realized in that moment I had to take care of myself! 

I arrived in beautiful Driggs on 6/30/2020. The local store’s workers were all wearing masks and again only a few other seniors were masked. The lady at the art supply store required masks until she took my credit card and then removed her mask. 7/6/2020 – went back to the local Driggs market and now masks are required! I stopped at a local RV park for water and a shower and everyone stayed away from me and wore masks. Because now the virus numbers are rising. 7/12/2020- Ketchum, Idaho has a flashing sign as you enter town – distancing & masks REQUIRED!

Yesterday(7/19/20) I stopped at an RV park and their bathrooms were closed because they did not have the staff to clean the bathrooms as needed during COVID.

Today as I got my free breakfast a women with four boys walked in- one of the boys hacking, coughing with no covering. I had my mask on and quickly left.

From my experiences, I can take care of only myself. My choices! My health!
Hope all of you are well and enjoying life!

The area around Galena, Idaho is a recreational dream. Lots of dispersed camping, rivers, trails for biking& hiking and gorgeous views. Had a great time with Rose& Steven and their friends.

I left the Galena area 7/19/20 to head for Craters of the Moon.

Today 7/20/2020 I drove to Swan Valley stopping at a rest stop that overlooks the Snake River. Peregrine Falcons flying all over the place. Truly spectacular!

I am heading back to Lakewood, Colorado. It is hot and I am taking my time hoping the heat will subside!! See you soon Colorado!

Pooping in the woods, Forest, Mountains, meadows, fields, etc. WE ALL poop! Part of life and usually we have a toilet , potty, or restroom available and we all know what to do. Do you know the rules about “pooping” outdoors when a potty is not available? I assume each of you do know! However, a recent event has shown me that clearly NOT everyone knows how to poop in the woods with health in mind. Of course pooping is a natural process and your body can Poop anywhere a human chooses! Today as I sat in my camp chair , under my awning by a flowing river I heard a noise and saw a kid across the river behind a bush , about 40 feet away. Through the bush I watched this boy pull down his Shorts and take a poop. ( I deleted shit and will only use non offensive language – but truly this is all shitty to me).Part of me watched wondering if he was cleaning up at the river bank  But when I saw him wiping himself I knew he had pooped right beside the river. As he pulled up his pants I headed for the road to meet up with him at the nearby bridge. As the kid was coming up to the bridge his dad in a car heard me tell the kid. Don’t poop by any river, lake, etc! It WILL wash into the river and the pristine river is now contaminated with human waste. Here are the guidelines to pooping in the Forest.

1. Do not poop near water.
2. Dig a hole At least 6 inches deep to cover your poop & toilet paper.
3. Do not poop near water! 
4. Or use a container and move the poop to a toilet or trash can. 
5. Do not poop near water! 

On our way to Ketchum we drove a pass from Chilly to the top of a pass along the Lost Creek. A tree slowly falling was a highway for Black squirrels to get across the river.

As of today July 13,2020 we are hanging out in campgrounds outside of Ketchum, Idaho. Taking advantage of post offices, great bike riding paths, cell service.

In a day or two We are heading to Stanley, Idaho where the lakes are plentiful, the green greener and the mosquitoes are a pain! Plus there is NO cell coverage at all so this will be my last post for awhile.
This will be my last leg of my travels with Rose & Steven. I will be heading back to Colorado by Monday !

One of the highlights of this trip happened at a campground along the Salmon River between Salmon and Challis, Idaho.The Salmon River moves quickly through Canyons and meadows. Our camp was across the river from tall jagged cliffs.

Swallows, peregrine falcons, pigeons, kingbirds, robins flew around the cliffs. Steven noticed the first sheep on the top of a ridge and Rose noticed the mama and baby sheep.
I got my binoculars while Rose & Steven took pictures with their great camera.
I felt like I was watching an episode of Animal Planet.

For at least an hour we watched Mama and baby descend from the mountain top, find their way to the river and then return to the top of the ridge using a different route.
After Mama & baby left the rest of the herd showed up. We watched another 8-15 sheep find their way through rock slides and tasty trees to get a drink at the river.
this adventure will Stay with me for a long while.

Up the mountain from Gilmore is Meadow Lake a gorgeous spot in The Salmon Challis National Forest. Nice campground, beautiful scenery and cool summer weather

If you noticed I tend to post blogs several at a time because I post when I have access to the internet on my phone. Idaho is NOT known for their cell service which is good & bad. Being in the woods without service is nice to get away from it all but over the last few weeks we have been without cell service or internet 80% of the time. Today I am sitting in a riverfront park outside of Ketchum/ Sun City, Idaho where I am getting 2-3 bars on my phone.

We left “the Little Eddy” on July 7th and headed to Rexburg to get new house batteries for The van, a haircut, gas and food for a longer adventure. We headed north to check out the charcoal kilns and Gilmore, a ghost town. I should say former ghost town since lots are being currently sold for $4,499.00. People are buying them and RVs, campers and small buildings are creating a no ghost town!

We broke camp on the Teton Creek On Monday July 6th. I Took a drive to Paradise Valley to try to charge my house batteries which have been acting up for the last 5 days. The entire area is full of natural surroundings- the Teton Creek flows into the Teton River which is a haven for water activities- boating, paddle boards, kayaks, inter tubs, etc.

The reason we are back is the Teton River! Rose & Steven are avid paddle boarders and I can shuttle them and their equipment up the river. Moose are common here and they have seen many on the river. When they got off the river last night they pointed out a bull moose on the other side of the river. We watched for 20-30 minutes before he disappeared into the bushes. Gosh they are huge animals!