Pedals, Parties, and a PA from the Past

July - Week 8 and August - Week 9 at Loveland RV Resort felt like a mashup of The Amazing Race, a neighborhood block party, and a National Geographic insect special. Let’s dive in!

Week 8: Quiet Rides, Sharp Needles, and High-Flying Sons

Darren and I decided to take a nice, quiet bike ride around Houts Reservoir - a lovely little lake tucked right next to Boyd Lake State Park. It’s a peaceful spot, perfect for pretending we’re outdoorsy fitness pros while really just pedaling at a “conversational pace.”

Of course, life can’t be all scenic pedaling. The calendar demanded some doctor follow-ups. I got a little extra “self-care,” aka physical therapy and dry needling (translation: human pincushion). Darren had his annual check-up, which thankfully didn’t involve any extra poking.

Speaking of poking… I got the nudge to sing with Box of Rocks! We had our first practice together, and let’s just say - it felt pretty darn good to be back behind a mic with this band. Spoiler alert: Things were only heating up for Week 9.

Meanwhile, Logan had a big milestone: his first solo flight to Columbus, OH to see his best friend Alex and his wife, K. We drove him to the airport so we could (hover) reassure him that the flight attendant knows how to close the overhead bin properly. He didn’t need us, of course - but we needed to feel needed. Win-win.

Back at the RV, we added a new “friend” to our growing mascot menagerie. Found in the gravel outside our rig, the jury’s still out on whether it’s a damsel fly, a short-winged dragonfly, or some mythical mini-dragon. Either way, dashboard Leo (lion) and Spider-Buddy now have company.

In more news: Darren has been volunteering at On the Vine at Richmond Farms, doing weeding and harvesting. His reward? Not just the satisfaction of pulling weeds (oh, the bliss), but also bringing home buckets of fresh produce: super sweet corn, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers, strawberries, apples. I might need firewall protection from the garden’s bounty, so I don’t eat everything.

Week 9: Bikes, Box of Rocks, and Boats

The theme of Week 9? More pedaling, but this time with our besties around Fort Collins. We made a stop with Kathy (old Hip Hop Fitness friend - yes, those routines still try to sneak into my muscles on mornings). Bruce showed us his “office” at the water treatment plant - yes, you read that correctly. It sounds glamorous until you smell chlorine. Still, educational and kind of cool.

Then came the highlight of the week: my first Box of Rocks performance of the summer! We rocked out in BOR drummer Aaron’s front yard for his neighborhood block party. It had everything:

• Great crowd energy

• A fire truck and firemen showed up for the kiddos (because what’s a party without big red noises?)

• The sheriff dropped in with a councilman (because of course, the local dignitaries want in on the front-yard jam)

• One of the PAs I used to work for (a lifetime ago) lives nearby - caught up with him during our set break. Nostalgia + catching up = good for the heart.

To cap off the week, Darren and I joined Drake & Christy for an afternoon on the water at Long Pond Reservoir. (Their new house is coming along beautifully.) Long Pond is about 189 acres in Larimer County, used for private recreational access (fishing, boating, swimming). It’s peaceful, scenic, and yes, the water helps reset the soul. Between catching up and touring their in-progress new home build, it was one of those “ah, this is the life” kind of days.

Wrapping It Up

Between two-wheeled adventures, dashboard collection expansions, live music with friends old and new, and afternoons on the lake, Weeks 8 & 9 reminded us exactly why we’re chasing this 78° life.

Cheers!

-Chasing 78° 🚐🚴‍♀️🐉🎶💜 #LovelandCO #RVLife #Chasing78Degrees #BoxOfRocks #FortCollins #LongPond #BandLife #BikeLife #TravelBlog #HomeIsWhereWeParkIt