Denver

We hit the road across Kansas to Denver knowing we may need to stop half way because it’s quite the trek. Maps put us at about an 8.5 hr drive but with pulling a camper, it usually adds significant time.

Interesting fact. Kansas might look like a boring drive with uber super pancake flat farm and pasture land but we learned that there’s a gradual incline from about 500 ft above sea level to about 4000 ft above sea level. So, in actuality, Kansas driving is a long slow torturous uphill climb. We learned this because at one point we realized we were only getting about 4.5 mpg. Awful!

We actually thought something was wrong with the truck. We blew through a full tank of gas in 100 miles. We stopped to get more gas with a little anxiety rising in our chests and Luce called the dealership. With info from them and a good deal of online searching, we learned, we (me) were driving way to fast so we slowed our roll, we changed the truck setting from normal to “tow haul” and this got us up over 11mpg. It was still not great with the side wind and the climb but soooo much better!!

We did keep on driving all the way through to Denver and I’m so glad we did. We drove right into a mountainous horizon of dark ominous clouds with amazing lightening bolts cutting across the sky. It was not raining, only breathtaking sky art!! There is NO way that I can articulate with words it’s stunning beauty. I have a picture before the sun fully set and before the lightening started but was in such awe when it all really began that I knew there would be no way to capture and relay its power with my camera.

We stopped at the KOA right outside of Denver and after such an intense drive we were physically and emotionally drained so we just crawled in bed after setting up. Have we told you how comfy and cozy our little camper nest is? She’s a perfect home away from home and we love our baby Rosie!

Good night, sweet dreams! Tomorrow we get closer in to Denver/Boulder area.