Recharge & Refresh

The common statement, "You only work nine months out of the year," is anything but true to a teacher. We work 365 days a year. There comes a time where we need to recharge and refresh. Just because we aren't instructing every single day, we are constantly thinking about how we can instruct and what we can do differently in order to help every child learn. Oh, and I have also heard that we get paid for 12 months and only work nine! Not true! We get paid for nine months of work and have to make it stretch over 12 months. A teacher rarely rests. Even while on vacation, I was thinking of how I could apply my experiences to my classroom in August. I will figure out some way to do it. My trip exploring the state of Colorado this summer is definitely something worth sharing with my students.

We started our almost three week journey on the Southeastern side of Colorado. Our plan was to start on the Southwestern side, but a wildfire in Durango made us rethink our route. I am so glad we did. We were able to move from Lanthrop State Park in Walsenburg, Colorado up to Estes Park. While in Estes Park, not long after we left Walsenburg, a wildfire broke out just West of there. Arson! It burned during our entire trip. Many homes were lost.

After Estes Park (where we did get to see the Stanley Hotel, for those of you who rememer The Shining),we then took our journey West where we visited Grand Lake, Winter Park, Steamboat Springs, and then Glenwoodsprings. We soaked in some outstanding hot springs and enjoyed a day at the vapor caves as spa! Our next stop was in Montrose, Colorado which allowed us to explore Gunnison and Crested Butte! After that we stopped off in Ouray, Colorado for the night and then on to Durango. The wildfire was still burning, but it subsided enough and was under control so we could stay. The damage was heartbreaking and the smoke was still heavy at times.

Our last stop was in South Fork, Colorado, where we were able to venture the 20 miles back up north to visit friends in Creede. For 18 days we traveled with two dogs, staying in RV park after RV park in our 14 foot travel trailer. We had limited to no cell or internet service while we were on the road. It was PERFECT! I even brought my journal to document our journey! But, as much as I love journaling, it was hard to do, so I opted to take digital notes on my phone and transcribe it all later!

We met and visited with some wonderful people along the way. We actually got to visit with more people from Texas than we did from Colorado. People were so eager to share about themselves. I find that during the school year, I tend to crawl into a type of recluse hole and don't socialize. I get so focused and tired, that becomes my happy place. I truly enjoyed visiting with people along the way. We took the dogs into the towns with us and they attracted all kinds of attention and love. At one of our stops in Steamboat Springs, our neighbor was a retired engineer from Wyoming. He was born in Colorado and had lived much of his adult life in Wyoming. Eugene and I had some really great

conversations with him!

As much as we hated to end our journey, all good things must come to an end. When we left South Fork, we had intended to travel halfway home. However, once we got going, we decided to drive the entire 19 hours to our front door. Sometimes you just have to get away in order to realize how totally tired you are. You don't have to take three weeks, but take some time to yourself. You need it and you deserve it.

Enjoy nature. Enjoy the disconnect. Enjoy a slower pace. Enjoy not having to meet deadlines and have lesson plans turned in. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your lunch! Read a book along the way. Watch an old movie. Try something you have never done before. Take a risk. Talk to a stranger. You will be refreshed and ready to tackle what the year has in store.