My mom, brother and me in Steamboat on our drive through the mountains

We just got back from our trip to Meeker, Palisade and the western slope of Colorado. While in many ways it was a lot of fun, it wasn’t all easy. For one thing, we were visiting my dad’s grave, which brings up so many memories and thoughts of what could have been; what would be now, if he were still alive and well.  But it was also difficult because my mom, my brother, Britton and I are all such different people, on different paths in life. Britton and I are of course on a closer, more similar path, and Justin and my mom are also since they live together, but still, anytime you have four grown adults with different experiences, lessons to learn, opinions, and viewpoints on the world all in one car and in one hotel room, you might be a little uncomfortable.

All in all though, I think it was so important to do this trip. When Britton and I move to Puerto Rico, there just simply won’t be as many opportunities to spend time with our families and friends here in Colorado. Sure, they may visit and we may visit, but it just won’t ever be the same. So I am glad we did this trip.

We started our journey mid morning going through the Poudre Canyon. We wanted to see how much the fire had ravaged the area. In fact, it wasn’t too bad -near the road anyway. Although we did see a few blackened trees. Oddly enough, it was really hazy the whole trip, though not from any fires in Colorado. It all came from states surrounding us. It was unfortunate because it blocked some of the views. After driving through the Poudre, we stopped in Steamboat Springs for lunch and walked around a bit.

The view from the Meeker cemetery

We arrived in Meeker around 5 or 6pm and checked into a hotel. Then we headed up to the Meeker cemetery called Highland Cemetery where my dad is buried. We spent quite a bit of time there. It was powerful and emotional. And very beautiful. I can see why Dad chose this area -not only because he was born there and his mother and father are buried there, but also because of the sheer beauty of the place. It sits on a hill that overlooks the river that runs through Meeker with a backdrop of the mountains.

An angel carved from an old pine tree

Dad’s gravestone. Though he never actually went to Vietnam, he was apparently classified as having served in that war.

We also found my paternal grandmother and grandfather’s headstones. Iris is my middle name in reverence to my grandmother that I never met

In the cemetery at sunset

Meeker is a very small town of less than 3000 people. Agriculture- such as hay and sheep- is the main industry. Interestingly enough, the founder, Nathan Meeker, also founded Greeley and after being scalped by Native Americans in this area at the Meeker Massacre was buried in Lynn Grove Cemetery in Greeley!

The next day we headed out to Palisade for the peach festival, but found out that the festival really didn’t start until Friday! But anyway we were able to take some of the agri-tours around. We stopped at an Alpaca Farm and Mill where they make yarn from alpaca wool. We also stopped at some vineyards and wineries as well as fruit orchards.

At the Suncrest Alpaca Farm in Palisade

We learned alpacas are from the camel family and prized for their hypoallergenic wool

They had an extensive set-up to produce the yarn and final clothing products from the alpaca and other animals

Some people call this area the Provence of Colorado with all of its grapes, lavender and fruit orchards.

Wine Grapes

My brother and mom enjoying a wine tasting

Britton and I in our favorite place -in a jungle of trees. In this case it was a peach orchard

Gorgeous peaches. We didn’t bring any home because we were peached out from our own tree

Britton and me with a sculpture and the Grand Mesa in the background

We were planning on staying another night, but after our tours we decided we had done what we had come to do on this trip and started back to Greeley about 5pm. We took I-70 through Glenwood Springs, Vail, Georgetown etc. It was a nice drive. We arrived home at about 10pm.

Driving on I-70

All in all, while it was emotionally draining in many ways, it was also a lot of fun and I am so glad we did it. Thanks to Britton, Mom and Justin for going on this adventure together. And thanks to Dad for making it happen in a round about way.