A quick reset at historic F.E. Warren AFB, with a bonus passenger!

Family Time, On the road, The State We're In, Things we do 3 Minutes

Summer’s here, and we are plus-1 with the dash-2*!

Things do get a bit crowded in a fifth wheel when you add a third person — especially when that third person is 6′ 2″, weighs about 210 lbs, and brings three bags with him. We. are. full. Just don’t ask me how things are going with our teensy little RV fridge. OMG, the food.

But… an extra pair of hands is a handy thing to have, and we’re making our son work to earn his summer’s worth of travel, adventure, and oh yeah, having mom make his meals and do his laundry again. He’ll be with us until he goes back to school in August for his sophomore year at UT-Austin.

We intercepted him in Chicago after his 32-hour train ride from Texas, and then spent two loooong days on the road before stopping here at the F.E. Warren Fam Camp for two nights to catch up on laundry, cleaning, refueling, and grocery shopping. Have I mentioned the food it takes to keep this boy alive?

Downtown Chicago. Fancy meeting you here, tall and tired child o' mine!
Downtown Chicago.
Fancy meeting you here, tall and tired child o’ mine!

This is our life now. He with the longest legs rides shotgun, which means the non-driver gets half the back seat. Question of the Summer: Will we let him drive?
This is our life now.
He with the longest legs rides shotgun, which means the non-driver gets half the back seat.
Question of the Summer: Will we let him drive?

If he's rolling with us, he's learning to help with all the RV set-up and take-down procedures. Although he helped with many tasks on the morning we left Great Lakes, I had to snap a pic of him bringing in the slides (which is an easy one), because all I heard was my little boys shouting in an elevator. A: It's my turn to push the buttons! D: No, it's *my* turn! Both: Mo-om! Come to think of it, I hear myself and my brother too. Sorry, Mom.
If he’s rolling with us, he’s learning all the RV set-up and take-down procedures.
Although he helped with many tasks on the morning we left Great Lakes, I had to snap a pic of him bringing in the slides (which is an easy one), because all I heard in my head was my little boys shouting in an elevator.
A: It’s my turn to push the buttons!
D: No, it’s my turn!
Both: Mo-om!
Come to think of it, I hear myself and my brother too.
Uhhh, sorry, Mom.
We won’t get to spend time seeing the sights here in Cheyenne, due to a reservation in Utah that starts tomorrow. We did, however, go for a long, leg-stretching walk around one of the oldest parts of the base, which is widely rumored to be haunted. Glad I didn’t read about that before we went for our walk at twilight, and wish I hadn’t read it until after we were done sleeping here — or trying to.

The base dates back to 1867. These barracks, built in the early 1900's, are still in use, but I think we call them dormitories now.
The base dates back to 1867. Read about its history here.
These barracks, built in the early 1900’s, are still in use, but I think we call them dormitories now.

Company grade officer housing
Company grade officer housing
FullSizeRender 4

The buildings pictured in the historic marker
The 1885 barracks pictured in the historic marker above

As we walked by the old chapel (yes, there's a new one), the chaplain rode by on his bicycle and greeted us, almost as if we'd conjured him.
As we walked by the old chapel (not to be confused with the new one), the chaplain rode by on his bicycle and greeted us, almost as if we’d conjured him.

And 11' 6" bridge would act like a can opener on most RVs, but it makes our 6' 2" son look a little shorter.
An 11′ 6″ bridge would act like a can opener on most RVs, but it makes our 6′ 2″ son look a little bit shorter than he does when I’m looking up.

A bunker! Warren AFB houses 150 Minuteman III missiles -- just not in places that are this easily accessible!
We found a bunker! Warren AFB houses 150 Minuteman III missiles — just not in places like this,  which are accessible to a family taking an evening stroll.

Full moon over Cheyenne
Full moon over Cheyenne

The base is home to herds of pronghorn antelope. We saw nearly a dozen grazing between buildings.
The base is home to herds of pronghorn antelope. We saw nearly a dozen grazing between buildings, calm as you please.

It's just a bunny. Bunnies aren't scary. Unless one scampers right at you, and all you can think of is the Killer Rabbit scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Just sayin'
It’s just a bunny. Bunnies aren’t scary, even on a haunted Air Force base. Unless one scampers right at you, and all you can think about is the Killer Rabbit scene from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
Next stop: Northern Utah for some hiking time!

*For those who don’t speak military: dependents have numerical codes. 30 for spouse, -1, -2, -3 etc. for children by birth order. Dane is our -2.

Published by EmilyR

Snarky, irreverent, occasionally sentimental, viewing the world with head cocked and one eyebrow up. Navy wife (retired), mom to two bigguys, full-time RV traveler with husband. Shit breaks and we make mistakes. Join me anyway?

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One thought on “A quick reset at historic F.E. Warren AFB, with a bonus passenger!”

  1. Love, love love your commentaries!
    Your son looks a lot like you! I’m sure you’re thrilled to have him with you, despite being squashed in the back seat!
    Looking forward to more fun narratives!
    Good luck Emily!
    Love
    Michele

    Reply

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