Day Fifteen, Denver, CO: Independence

I’m now staying with my Aunt Mary and Uncle Ben, who have been great hosts thus far and with whom I’ve had a blast. Since the beginning of the planning stages of this trip – which began over a year ago – I’ve viewed this stop as a chance to rest and regroup, as well as a sort of dividing line between the first and second halves of the trip. The first half was a lot of cities, but I anticipate the second half involving far more camping.

Ben and Mary have two children, both under five. I haven’t spent a lot of time with children this young before. It’s amazing how much care and attention they need. The notion that a child, even one that can speak and easily move around, must be tied entirely to his or her parents for all aspects of support is quite incredible.

So most of the day was spent relaxing with the family, as well as a great trip to the Flagship, three-storey REI store in Denver, where I picked up most of the final additions for gear. Besides the those few last-minute pickups at REI, Ben is a hiking/mountaineering gear maniac and was able to fill the few holes I had left.

Finally, I’ve included one more picture from Kansas that my Dad has touched up. Enjoy.

The future happiness or misery of a great proportion of the human race is at stake – and if we make the wrong choice, ourselves and our posterity must be wretched. Wrong choice! There can be but one choice consistent with the character of a people possessing the least degree of reason. And that is to separate – to separate from that people who from a total dissolution of virtue among them must be our enemies – an event which I devoutly pray may soon take place; and let it be as soon as may be.
-Henry Knox, May 16, 1776