Durango and the start of school

With a new school year approaching, we did a last minute trip to Durango a couple of weekends ago. We tried a new campground, Lightner Creek, about ten minutes outside of Durango, off the road to Mesa Verde, on a quiet rural road. It was the sort of place we like, with a pool and clean showers and bathrooms. This time we packed a bit lighter, and left some things behind.

We got a nice tent site right on the stream bank under the shade of trees--cottonwoods, box elders and willows. Our only neighbors tenting were two couples using the campground as their base for bicycle rides. Across the stream were some RV spots, and here and there were some small cabins and one larger one that looked fully equipped. A woman sat outside the closest cabin, playing a guitar, with her dog.

Just as we got there it started to rain. For a while the trees kept us dry, but the rain would not stop, and even briefly hailed; no use trying to make camp, so we drove into town, strolled around the main street, had a nice lunch, and then drove back. The rain had stopped and the ground was only slightly damp. Jackson helped me set up the tent. Rylee, too. First we laid out a heavy tarp on the stoney ground; then, we laid the tent atop it. The boys pounded in the stakes, Jack inserted the roof support, and together we raised the side poles. Cyndi and Jackson set up the mattress and bedding inside, while I put on the fly, set up a cover over the picnic table and unpacked our "kitchen." Finally, the chairs were set up around our site.

The boys had fun playing in the stream. Rylee first explored the stream, stepping from stone to stone, until Jackson began building a little stone bridge across the stream. Exactly what I would have done, I thought, as I watched them from the bank. There were some other kids around, and Jackson, Rylee and Cyndi rode their bikes around the campground during the early evening, along with all the others. Cyndi made some summer sausage sandwiches, which we ate with beer and juices and some snacks. We lit the lantern for a short time in the evening, locked up the bikes to a tree, stored the food in the back of the truck, away from critters, and went to sleep early.

Saturday morning, I managed to coax them early into the truck to drive to Mesa Verde, but only after making coffee and hot chocolate on the stove. As at home, Rylee was up early with me. About 20 easy miles away was the town of Mancos, and just two blocks off the highway was a wonderful local restaurant, called Absolute Bakery, very homey inside with mismatched tables and chairs. A popular spot, as people continued to stream in as we were there. One of the best spots ever for breakfast and coffee.

From there, it was only a ten minute drive to the Mesa Verde entrance, but then there is a steady climb up for almost 15 miles until you reach the visitor's center. That's not much of a stop, as I guessed, but it's where you'd get tour tickets. I just wanted to breeze around for the morning, so we headed to the old museum and a self-guided hike to one of the cliff dwellings. In retrospect, that's probably not the way to see Mesa Verde. The more spectacular cliff dwellings, which I remember visiting as a child, must be on the tours.

We got back to the campground, and it began to rain gently again, and for a while we just huddled inside the tent, listening to it. We drove into town later. Cyndi went off on her own for a bit, while Rylee got a comic book--another Sonic--and Jackson got some headphones. We bumped into some of the boys' friends. Cyndi and I tasted some local wines and bought a bottle for later that night. That was fun. When we got back the boys went swimming, and I decided not to start the charcoal at the community grill (I didn't bring the propane grill), so we just made brauts and pinto beans on the stove, and then had another early bedtime.

Sunday was a full breakfast day, and I started to pack away the camp. The boys played in the stream again. Cyndi tried to sneak in a few minutes of quiet. Jackson helped me, while Rylee found a hill to skateboard down. The campground crew was nudging us to get out by 11 and we did manage to leave by noon (with much more room than usual inside the truck, what with the bedding bag up on top and no grill). We had another stop in Durango, this time for the boys to try the local skateboard park, while Cyndi rode the bicycle trail in town, along the Animas River, and then the boys joined her for another short ride. We promised the day before to stop at the candy store on the main street, Cyndi found some shirts for all of us, and we also got some sandwiches in town before driving home.

Jackson wants more movie making for his birthday. He especially wants a special effects software program, but it is quite expensive and now he is researching alternatives and even a student discounted price. He will get a camcorder of his own, but we've told him that he will have to be much more resourceful, save his money for any accessories (like microphones, lights, and a green screen, not to mention more software), and lower his expectations for Christmas. I also want to make sure he has some direction, and so I drafted a bunch of technical questions. At first he was very excited, then a bit overwhelmed, and now quite proud to display his knowledge.(His teacher from last year, who retired, wants to tutor him to prepare for applying to the Academy; it hardly seems like an opportunity to pass up, although I haven't seriously considered him going to the Academy.)

Rylee has been drawing a lot lately. He really has a talent for it. He draws cartoon characters and animals. He's making up some of his own. One is yellow but goes by the name of Red. And I really like his comic book phase. We've managed to find some age appropriate comic books, and it's a fun way to read. (Some are better than others. The old style comic books have complete sentences; the newer ones have that staccato, exclamatory style, usually full of references to a toy or game, that I hear the boys listening to while watching anime cartoons.) He's a big reader, however, and he enjoys it when he's not running around, or riding his scooter or his skateboard. He falls asleep next to me at night. He always asks, Will you put your arm around me? Since there will come a day when we will no longer be able to do that, I love those minutes next to him before he drifts off to sleep. We bought a crate of peaches, and Ry's pretty much devoured those.

Cyndi has kept the boys very busy this summer. Lots of playtime with friends. One friend came over the other day and he and Ry spent the afternoon on the fort deck. Cyndi took them to Cliff's last week, too, got them haircuts, and bought school supplies and new day packs and shoes. Jack's soccer should start soon, and Ry plays fall baseball.

So this morning was their first day at school. They were both excited, dreading the end of summer a bit but I think anxious to be back. Ry was especially anxious to impress his new teacher; and Jack, well, I'm having a hard time reading him. I know he loves school, but I think he worries about having friends in class. The boys took the bus with Loren in the morning of their first day, with the idea that the bus may be an afterschool alternative so they can go to their cousin's house.

Ariel and Chris moved into a new apartment. It sounds very nice. It's in a tower along the East River, a bit isolated from a bustling neighborhood, still small, but it sounds like they got a good discount through NYU, where Chris starts his doctorate program in the next week I think. I got the impression they were pretty upbeat about the move. They are planning to be here around Thanksgiving, and I just heard that Mom & Dad are thinking of an October trip to see us.