On the road with Jim and Pat: Hello from Dillon, CO

Hello from Dillon, CO

Saturday Afternoon June 30, 2012 (First travelogue of this trip).

We are the Heaton Bay Campground (map). This campground is located between Dillon and Frisco on the shores of Dillon Reservoir. We are having our annual family vacation. This year is special in that we have our extended family ('81/'82 German exchange daughter and her family).

Irina and Matthias and their three year old son Viktor flew to Denver on Thursday 6/21. We met them at the airport and had a quick reunion before taking them to their hotel. The next day we met them at the Cruise America RV rental facility so that they could rent a 25 foot motorhome. They have been camping at a few locations before joining us here on Thursday. We will be here until 7/5. After they leave here, they will be doing some additional camping in the Crested Butte/Taylor Reservoir area.

We have kept in close contact with Irina and her family over the years. We have been fortunate to have all of her family visit us. Irina has made several return visits. Pat and I have also visited Irina several times. In 2004 Irina and Matthias joined our family vacation in Ouray, CO. On the way, Matthias proposed to Irina on Monarch Pass!!!! In 2005 we traveled to Karlsrhue, Germany to attend their wedding (Kelly, Damon and Madison also got to attend the wedding).

We arrived here Thursday afternoon (6/28). Kelly, Lisa and Irina and their families will be here the full time and Judy and family will be here part of the time.

This campground was decimated by the pine bark beetle a few years ago, but it is showing signs of new growth. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains on all sides. The campground is at about 9100 feet, so the days are much cooler than the terribly hot weather in Denver and the evenings are chilly (lower 40s). I have attached a photo of the bus in the campground. The photo does not do justice to beautiful mountains in the background.