Well, it’s about time I get to some stories of The Great Road Trip of May 2009! It doesn’t seem like we’ve been back for almost two weeks, but that’s the sign of a great trip: when the vivid memories linger so long they carry you through the reality of your vacationless life for long after the suitcases are unpacked.
As you may remember, I was totally unplugged on this vacation, yet I came back fully recharged. How ironic. That being said, it was hard to leave Twitter and the Internet behind. I texted a couple people, but by the time we got to the Grand Canyon (I’ll talk about that in a future installment!), my service was spotty at best, so that gave me the final push over the edge that I needed.
That first day, we were going to drive to Pagosa Springs, which is in southern Colorado. It was going to be quite a hike, but not unbearable. The funniest part about the start of our trip was when we got out onto the main street that goes by our house, a street we’ve taken a million times, Claire screamed from the backseat, “Look! I can see the sea!” We explained that we couldn’t see it yet, and it was a destination on our list, but we had miles to go before we saw the sea.
Our destination for the first night of our trip was a Hot Springs Spa.
Have you ever been to a Hot Springs? Me neither. My husband had gone a couple months prior and came home smelling like a rotten egg. The sulfur smell had permeated everything, and I was disgusted. I couldn’t believe people willingly subjected their bodies to that stench. He assured me that I would love the hot springs and that I’d get used to the smell.
He was right on one account: I loved it.
But, the smell? Oh, the smell!
But, I’m STILL not used to the smell. I never got over it. I’m sorry. I wish I could say that once I was there for an hour or so, that I didn’t notice it anymore, but I can’t lie. It was terrible. Claire must have inherited my inability to let go of the smell, because she kept talking about the “stinky pools.”
Because it took three washings to get the smell out of his swim trunks the first time he’d come back from there, we planned ahead and brought two sets of swimwear. The thought of frolicking on the beach in San Diego (a destination further on down the line in our road trip) in suits that smelled like rotten eggs was revolting. The smell permeated my skin and my hair, and I honestly don’t see how people were seeming to ignore it. Then again, I tried really hard to keep a straight face, too.
Now, this being said, I still loved it. The naturally heated pools were awesome. The way this Hot Springs was designed was there were lots of different pools, all different sizes and all varying degrees of heat. The staff at the Spa monitored the pools and would change the temperature signs on each one, just so you would know what you were getting into…literally.
I LOVE hot tubs and steamy showers and boiling hot baths, so I knew this would be right up my alley. The hottest one I went into was 112-degrees. (No, Claire did not go in that one. My hubby didn’t even go in that one.) The hottest Claire went in was 104 or 105, and she loved it. She has no concept for how long to stay in, so we were pretty diligent with making her get in and out. Some of the pools had cascading waterfalls, and sometimes those were hotter than the pool below or slightly cooler, just depending.
This Hot Springs Spa really took care of us, and to be honest, it was the most expensive stop on our trip. But, it was worth it. (No, this isn’t a paid review. Check out that link! The pictures are great!) Not only did we have plush robes to use between dips in the pools, they had little ones for kids! (You have to ask for them, but they were great and complimentary!) Seeing Claire walk from pool to pool in her tiny robe was the cutest thing ever. Seeing her excitement in trying out the next “stinky pool” was great. She’s like her momma and loves the heat, despite the smell.
As I was sitting there, nearly overcome by the smothering smell, the hot mineral water soaking away all the pre-trip stress, I realized that part of the smell was appropriate. We were like hard-boiled eggs: Our shells hardening to the point of cracking, and once they did, we were free. It was the perfect way to start our vacation, fresh and renewed.
It was amazing. Sitting in a natural hot springs on a brisk night while looking up at the stars? Unbelievable. Having to store our “stinky pool suits” in a sealed plastic bag for the rest of our trip? Annoying, but necessary. Remembering to pack our “non-stinky suits” for the rest of the trip? Awesome.
And, to be honest, it’s probably a good thing that the pools were stinky…or I would have never left. 
If you’re looking for more information about Pagosa Springs, check out this link!
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