Well, it is definitely time to dust off the old camper van and get on the road a few times this year. I have been through many emotions over the past 5 years: Totally loving my van, to tripping with an RA eye, to the disappointment of having to come home early than planned and seeing the van in the back yard, with heavy depression that I couldn't go for a ride across the country. I even hid it behind the wedding trailer so the pain wouldn't be so hard. Dean brought it right back out even when I explained that I really needed it to not be seen.
Time has passed, we are not any closer to taking the coveted trips than I was late 2020, but now I'm a little more numb to it.
I posted on the chat that I needed a vacation and Mike was the only one that jumped at the wonderful opportunity of planning a holiday and taking me along for the ride. The ride turned out to be a bike ride and we had planned a trip to Bate's Crystal Caves but the thought of crawling through tight spots didn't sit too well with me, so I over rode it and we planned Antelope Island. Dean's balance is not great and I knew he couldn't do the cave, but he opted not to go at all anyway.
I got off early with barely a good bye, Dean was having a recovery morning and not waking up. I wasn't going to hesitate. I had told myself I would be on the road at the latest by 9. I was up and packed by 7, so I left Koko to care for Dean, and hit the road - just in the passenger van, but loaded with two e-bikes.
I had to go to Mikes because I was worried about the bike Ben would be using and not sure mine was in working condition either. All tires were flat.
Mike power washed both bikes, cleaned off the rust on Ben's chain and both our sprockets and took my chain completely off. I just don't think he believed me that it was perfectly safe off the sprocket and safety pined to the bottom of the seat. Actually, I was glad he took it off. I had been thinking of cutting it for over two years, and he made it so we could reuse it if I ever get my bike fixed.
I have wanted to go to Antelope Island for a couple of years and Mike was insistent that it had to be early in the season to avoid the 'no see 'ums". We couldn't have timed it more perfectly. At our first stop to see the bison there were flying bugs all over the windshield and I was very worried but they weren't the biting ones. We never had any trouble.
It started out sandy and perfect but the rocks started getting much more prevalent. I finally got to where I was going to do as Bria and Zub had done and turn around. Without a chain my thumb was the only way to get the bike to go, but even without a chain, by peddling it piked up speed and was too fast for our trail. Trying to find a perfect balance I hit a rock and was afraid I as going down. However, I was able to control everything except my mouth and Ben heard my unlikable "S" word. He couldn't stop laughing. I should have felt worse for ruining his image of me, but it won't be the last time that word escapes my lips. It jumps out at every possible scary moment.
I learned to swear when I was in 5th grade, and sadly I still remember two. I only learned three so I haven't totally cut it in half but I'm pretty faithful now days to just the one.
Anyway, I spent another 30 minutes on the roads and that is much more my style. I forgot how much it hurts my wrists to always be on the throttle so on the road I can go into second gear and just peddle and go as fast as I want. The battery looked like it was dying on the hills so I headed back.
It was a fun day with the kids and Mike and Zub but I had to head to Candice's for my first official baby-sitting Hayden days. When we were just loading up I got a text from her saying that J was not going into work until Wednesday, so I went back to Mikes to hang with Bria.
Well, guess what day it was when I woke up? April Fools Day. I hid 20 of Bria's ducks around the house, made Ben's bed upside down and on Saran Wrap decorated Amy and Bria's soccer balls. The final trick was the Sofie and Pax trick of writing "Don't be mean" "Quit flushing me" on the toilet paper. It was well received.
Then I helped Bria give Ben a heart attack. She was so excited. Ben and Bria then replaced the TP in their parents bathroom with duct tape. All in all, a very successful day. I had to be out of their by 10:30 so they could pack to go play with the Riding's for a few days.
I went to Walmart to hang out until evening. I just went to the back bench and took a short nap. It was a bit cold but was able to cover myself with stuff just enough to stay warm. I had taken out the bedding to get washed and only the new pink hairy throw was there until I found a sheet set. I immediately ordered two twin comforters for the van.
I meant to clean the van but ended up watching the people going in and out of Walmart for a few hours. Payson is boring but Tooele is not. They had some mighty interesting people going and coming there. Of course there were plenty whom I ignored as they were too normal to focus on but they had the pajama people, weird clothing and hair people and then one costume person dressed something like a dinosaur. By 5 I headed over to Candice's to settle in, warm up, and get my instructions.
I needed to be upstairs by 8:30 but at the very latest 10 when J leaves. No problem. Hayden and I had a great day and I never did clean the van out. I couldn't see moving both bikes in and out just to clean. It could wait and it did.
And yes, Ben pulled a face in every single photo we took. LOL
