Arapaho National Forest, CO

​​I got the gas in Walden and had some exceptional Internet and cell service. So I stopped for quite a while to catch up on things. I was just about to head out and actually started up my engine when a grey Travato pulled up right next to me. I asked him…are you my long lost brother? He laughed. It was Matt and he owned this 2022 Travato, and had been traveling since March and over the last couple of months is living in it full-time. He’s from Dallas and said it was much cheaper with all the payments for this then renting or buying a home. I am hearing a lot that people are opting for this lifestyle. I know there are many women who own a Travato and live in it full-time. We had a nice conversation, and also learned that we follow the same Facebook group. We headed off in our own direction, as I decided to head south on route 125. It wasn’t the dotted “pretty” route like going on to Steamboat Springs, but it was a more direct route down towards Hot Sulphur Springs. It was still very pretty with open fields and distant mountains. I decided to stick to my original scheduled agenda. And I’m now fully aware that I’m more than halfway through my journey as I’m striving to get home in mid August. The time is flying by. I originally had my sights on a designated campground, but in about 10 minutes before that destination, I decided to explore a forest road. I was now in a burn area which is not generally beautiful,  actually rather sad, but nonetheless I took the exit. I probably drove about a mile further in to a place called Stillwater Reservoir. It’s interesting because I stayed in the Stillwater Reservoir area over 10 days ago while I was touring Rocky Mountain national Park. It’s a large area. I came to a fork in the road, took a turn, and that particular road was closed with locked gates. However there was a generous size gravel area off the road, right next to Willow Creek. It had not one but two campfire pits, so I knew  it was OK to camp here. Scored another gem! It took a little bit of maneuvering to get the Sylver Gypsy in a flat level space. I always back in facing my escape route as that makes things much easier the next morning. After a little bit of a walk and watching the clouds roll in there were a few thunder rolls and a few sprinkles. I felt hot again, so hey, I’m not too shy to share that I went skinny-dipping in this creek, behind the bushes, but only knowing that nobody else is around to watch, lol. On the other hand maybe somebody did?  I’m at the age now where I don’t care! This water, all these rivers and creeks, are absolute ice cube freezing. So it’s a quick dip nonetheless just enough to cool things down. It gave me a huge big smile either way. This is just part of what I love to do.

Willow Creek is a slow soft meandering flow. As much as I enjoyed Ansel Watrous and the Poudre Canyon River, that one was incredibly wild and loud river, drowning out all, or I should say mostly all noises. This creek is just so soothing and meditative, not too loud, not too soft, but just right. As I lay here at my bed looking out and listening to the creek, I look beyond that to the hill within the burn scar area. The pine trees, bare of their boughs, trunks remaining, stand straight up perfectly vertical, while many that didn’t quite make the burn are completely flat, laying on the ground, sadly perished. I start to see patterns of a warp and weft of a loom, a weaving. A combination of textures, and patterns where nature dictates the ultimate design. As it always has. It’s beautiful. And even in the despair of a fire, I try to see the beauty of what’s left behind. In the undergrowth, at this time, is the full bloom of wildflowers, in every shade, color and pattern. Mother nature tries her best to regrow. She is the master.

















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