Another State To Add to the Map!

Monday was a ho-hum day so nothing was blogged.

But today, Tuesday, was a travel day. After visiting with our new friends, Bud and Marietta, we fired up the coach and left Seibert, CO. The park owners were great people and we would not hesitate to spend a few days here again.

Our trip went just fine up until we missed the detour sign for trucks over 7 feet wide. Highway 385 was a nice road and easy to travel. Then we saw the flagger waving us down. He wasn't sure that we were over 7 feet, but we knew better. The coach itself is 8 feet wide with mirrors and exhaust pipes that extend it even wider. Oooops!!!!

The poor kid flagging was unfamiliar with the area and wasn't sure if there was a way around the road work that stopped us. After a little discussion and map searching, we turned right and started down Hwy 36. Not bad, we just had to look for the sign that said Beecher's Island and then turn north.

We missed the sign and Doug managed a U-turn on a narrow country road to get us back. The road north was a dusty, dirty, bumpy backroad that had us a little concerned. My mantra has become......it's all an adventure.......it's all an adventure.

I guess it worked because after about 10 miles, the road was paved and a kind stranger told us that if we just stuck with it, we would come back to Hwy 385 past the road construction.

From there, the drive was lovely, corn fields as far as we could see in every direction.

Then off in the distance we saw a brilliant yellow field and couldn't imagine what it was. As we got closer it turned out to be acres and acres of sunflowers. What a beautiful sight! Even through the bug-riddled windshield. There are a lot of grasshoppers here!!!


We were sure glad to see this welcoming sign as we crossed into a new state for us....Nebraska!

After a couple of more wrong turns, we finally arrived at Creekside RV Park in Chappell, NE.

From what I've read, this park is full in June and July as the harvesters flock to the area. But, when we pulled in, we were the only ones here.

It's a very nice park with 50 amp full hookups, lots of green grass and trees and a nice owner. We set up quickly and turned on the air conditioning. 95 degrees, but who's counting.

Aaaaah, home again, home again......

Sunday

Another Nascar day to relax at home.

The Storm

We spent the day at home where I spent most of the day sleeping. Between the Percoset and the Amoxicillin, I was exhausted and sick most of the day.

What a shame because we had a beautiful sunny day until early evening when the monsoon clouds rolled in. We even got some hail the size of quarters that pounded the coach to the point that we were afraid of damage.

As the evening progressed, the storm grew worse with two solid hours of lightning backlighting the skies. The thunder sounded right overhead.

Then the rain and wind started. The weather center called for extreme weather situations, so we pulled the slides in and closed the curtains in case of breaking glass. The power cut off several times while the coach swayed with the wind. By 11pm everything calmed down although the roads were flooded and we were able to open the coach back up. The humidity was ridiculous and it felt good to open the windows and vents again.

Kit Carson Carousel

Our first stop this morning was 35 miles away in Burlington, CO. Our choice for drug stores was 35 miles west to Limon or 35 miles east to Burlington. Did I mention that we are in the middle of nowhere? Since we had been through Limon on our way here, we chose to go east.

We found the drug store without any problems and got the prescriptions filled. I didn't think I would need pain pills but by this morning I was thrilled to get them. Doug had been told about the Kit Carson County Carousel and Museum nearby so we decided to find it.

I'm sure glad that we did.


This old fashion carousel was built in 1905 by the Philadelpia Tobaggon Company and was purchased by the town of Burlington in 1928 for the princely sum of $1200. Much of the town was horrified by the extravagance during the depression and the carousel was allowed to deteriorate. Many years later it was restored and is open every day, all summer long.

And the best part.....it costs .25. Yup, one thin quarter, the bargain of the century. We couldn't resist. Doug chose the magnificent lion.


I chose a reindeer. (If I look a little grim, I'm still in pain.)


The ride lasted 4 minutes at 12 miles per hour with the band organ playing Stars and Stripes Forever. The average carousel runs at 8 mph and we felt like we were flying.


This carousel is a stationary carousel, in that the animals don't go up and down. Which is just as well as you can get dizzy at 12 miles per hour in a circle. But the animals are fantastic! 46 specimens prance around the 45 foot diameter platform in 3 rows.


After our ride, we checked out the museum. There was a ton of information about the history of the carousel and a nice display of how the animals are carved, painted and designed.

A wonderful way to be a kid again.

Following our entertainment, we found a burger joint, Burger Delite on the way home. Doug chose a huge burger with lots of gooey toppings and about 3 bites into it, felt something hard. Upon closer examination, it was a piece of glass! Luckily he didn't cut himself. The manager apologized and offered us our money back or another sandwich. I was ready to split, but Doug thought the burger was so good that he would try another one. The second burger was very good. Needless to say, we won't be eating there again.

Moving into Eastern Colorado

Moving day is always exciting. We said our goodbye's to the neighbors, finished packing and hit the road about 11 am. It was a beautiful drive along Hwy 24 through corn fields, wheat fields and several tiny towns.

About two hours later, we arrived in Seibert, CO. The rv park is called Shady Grove Wifi Campground and sits in the middle of a residential area. It's a family owned park with super friendly people and is a Passport America park. (1/2 price)

We have grass and trees and full hookups with excellent satellite reception.

My first question when we arrived was "Is there a dentist in your fine town?" I had another toothache that was getting worse by the minute. The owner gave me the number of his dentist in the next town, Stratton and they were able to get me in right away.

The bad news is I had 2 teeth that were infected and could not be saved. I spent an hour in the chair to have them surgically removed and 3 sutures to close them up. Not one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. By the time Dr Ley finished, there was not a drug store opened anywhere. They roll up the sidewalks in these little towns at 5:30 pm. He gave me a couple of prescriptions and said to be sure to get them filled in the morning.

I was feeling pretty miserable when we got back to the coach only to discover that the air conditioner in the bedroom was leaking and we had a huge wet spot on the bed. Just what I felt like doing.......stripping the bed, doing laundry and remaking the bed before we could retire.

What a day.

Pikes Peak Plans

We intended to take a drive up the Pikes Peak highway today, but the weather turned bad. It's a toll road now that costs $12 each to drive the 19 miles to the top. And, if we couldn't see any of the views along the way, it seemed like a waste of hard earned dollars.

So, we just relaxed around home and started getting things ready to go since we are leaving tomorrow. I guess we'll hit Pikes Peak next time we are in Colorado Springs.

Ghost Town Museum

Doug had the urge to pan for gold and the only place he could find is a tourist trap called the Ghost Town Museum. So that became our plan for the day.

I was convinced that it would be a waste of time and money but to my delight, it was quite fascinating. An entire town is recreated inside a massive building which is historical unto itself.

After fighting our way through the gift shop, we paid our admission and started wandering along the boardwalk peering into each shop and vignette.

There was the general store....

the barber shop/dentist office.....


the print shop for the weekly newspaper....


They even had old fashion telephones with party lines that you could listen in on.

When we reached the back of the building, Doug found the trough for panning. It was raining lightly and the minute we stepped outside to pick up the metal pans the thunder and lightning started. Standing in water and holding metal pans didn't seem like the best idea unless we wanted to attract the lightning.

We retreated back into another part of the building that was filled with more displays and artifacts, hoping that the storm would pass. Another hour went by and we could still hear the cracks of thunder. We finally gave up and beat a hasty retreat for home.

No gold for Doug but we really enjoyed the detail of the museum.

Mr. Fixit

Our furnace quit working several months ago and the repair job was put on the back burner (pun intended) since we didn't need it in the Arizona heat wave. We still don't need it but Doug decided since the neighbor had a mobile repairman charge him $125 for a repair, that he would take a look at the furnace.

It required several hours of tearing things apart, blowing air into it to clean it, wiggling wires and politely listening to all of the neighbors advice. When he came inside and turned it on.......it worked! My hero! Doug is so mechanically minded and isn't afraid to tear something apart.

After he finished, we ran into town so I could get my hair cut and pick up a couple groceries. Not a thrilling day to blog about but a good day for the pocketbook.

Nascar Sunday

Sunday is our day to relax at home and watch the Nascar race. Go Kasey! oh......and Tony too.
Occasionally we accomplish a few household tasks during the day but I think the altitude is beginning to affect us a little. Our energy has been sapped and it's easy to just not do anything.
Hmmmmm.....

Garden of the Gods

The weather here in Monument has sure been strange. We wake to beautiful sunshine and a few white, fluffy clouds. Definitely t shirt and shorts weather! But by late afternoon, the darker clouds start piling up and every evening we get a crazy thunder and lightning storm along with a good rain shower. It cools off considerably and we grab our sweatshirts.

Still that leaves all day to play and sightsee. So off we went to visit the Garden of the Gods. First we stopped at the visitor center and were disappointed. This marvelous 770 acre public park was donated to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909 with the stipulation that it would remain free to the public.

The visitor center is located across the road from the park and is a vision of excess. The prices of everything inside are outrageous beginning with a 14 minute film about the park for $5. We left quickly.


Across the road is the entrance to the Garden of the Gods.

The multicolored rock formations of sandstone are encircled by a narrow road with several parking pullouts which were all full the day we went. It's an incredibly popular park with miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, guided walks and picnic areas.


One of the favorite stops is Balancing Rock. There was no place to park so we weren't able to get a very good picture of this amazing boulder.

We will certainly visit this park again when it is not so busy.

Leaving the park, we wound our way along back roads into the town of Manitou. It's a cute little tourist area that didn't interest us too much but when we saw the signs for the North Pole, we couldn't resist.


Up in the hills on the way to Pikes Peak is Santa's workshop complete with an amusement park and gift shop.






We snapped a couple of shots then headed home.

Breakfast in Bed

Today we took a well deserved day off. I was feeling exceptionally lazy, to the point where Doug brought me coffee and a doughnut in bed. It's been a long time since he was up before me. But it was such a nice treat that I think I will try for it again.

We just spent the day reading and playing on the computers until late afternoon when we went looking for a Verizon store. Doug's phone needed upgrading.

And that was our exciting day.

Moving on to Monument

We were not the least bit unhappy about leaving Blanco, CO. The park was forgettable and the town even more so.

We knew that we had another tall pass to climb so we got an early start. It was only a 165 mile trip to our next stop but lately we never know what to expect.

All went well over the pass, down the other side and through the Colorado countryside. When we hit I-25 we stopped for diesel, then continued north through Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

Colorado Heights RV Resort in Monument was our destination, being a ROD park where we can stay for free. After all of the unexpected expenses the last couple weeks, that's a relief.

Doug settled us in just before the thunderstorm hit and within a couple of hours the sun came back.


This is a very large park that sells memberships. No thanks, not for us. The section we are in is not scenic. And the rvs are parked one on top of each other in long rows with no trees or anything to break the view. The other parts of the park are better, just barely.

Still, we are staying a week (the price is right) and sightseeing and resting.

Great Sand Dunes N.P.

We were both extremely disappointed to discover last night that our Verizon phones worked just fine in Blanca, but they offered zero internet access. We found out just how much we depend on the world wide web!So, first thing this morning, we drove back to Alamosa to the McDonald's. It was a beautiful morning and we sat outside at a picnic table where we were able to log onto McD's free wifi. Thanks Ronald! I sent a quick message to ya'll to let you know we were incommunicado for a while and Doug caught up on his game.


After a quick sandwich, we drove back behind a line of mountains to the Great Sand Dunes N.P.

It's 20 miles from the highway to the visitor center where we got our National Park Passport Book stamped with the official seal, enjoyed the displays and walked a short, interpretive path explaining the formation of the dunes.


The sand dunes cover 30 square miles and at the tallest point rise 750 feet from the valley floor. The shadows from the clouds (it wasn't cold!) made for some great pictures.

We followed the crowds to the entrance to the "play" area but decided that it wasn't our cup of tea. Instead, Doug found out about the Medano Pass primitive road that leads to the back of the dunes.


About a mile into the road we came across this sign which explains why there are very few vehicles and people here. From this point on, only four wheel drive vehicles can proceed. While Doug was letting air out of the tires, down to 15 lbs, a couple of young men came walking out of the area. They had ignored the sign and were stuck in the deep sand less than a quarter mile along the road.

We had no way of towing them out but let them use our phone to call the ranger. They were given the numbers of the local tow companies and after I showed them the above sign (minimum $400 wrecking fee) they decided to figure out how to get the car unstuck themselves. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later they drove out and thanked us profusely.

Now, I was nervous! But there's no talking Doug out of a challenge.

With the Jeep in four wheel drive (low) we proceeded through the sand along the primitive road. About a mile in, we came to the area known as the Sand Pit. Doug kept going, slipping and sliding like in the snow. But the car did it's job and we reached a pullout called Castle Creek.


What a neat place!


We waded across the Medano Creek which was very shallow and were at the base of the dunes. I immediately started to climb but it's so steep and shifty that I kept sinking and sliding back down. There was only one other family there so we felt like we had the place to ourselves.

We decided not to continue along the road since it was getting late and I still wanted to visit Zapata Falls. The car navigated the sandy road back just fine and we headed back to the highway.

The road straight up the mountain to the falls was terrible and when we got to the top, the elevation was 8100 feet. The hike to the falls was half a mile and uphill. We passed. It was hot, hard to breathe and a mile hike just seemed too much. We took pictures and drove back down. Maybe another time.....

No Internet

No internet where we are in Blanco, CO. We'll catch you up in a day or two. Sorry.

Back in Colorado

It was a long day that started out short. We got an early start (for us) from Farmington and planned on a 100 mile drive to Pagosa Springs, CO. The brakes worked great and all was well until we reached the park where we had reservations.

Yuck and double yuck!!! It was poorly maintained, extremely unlevel and just didn't look appealing. So, we decided since it was only 1 pm that we would continue on to the next park 100 miles away in Blanco, CO.

The drive was beautiful with lots of mountains and trees.

We hit the Wolf Creek Pass about a half hour later. It's a steep climb with the summit at 10, 850 feet. That's pretty high for us with the coach overheating the way it has been. Doug decided that we should unhook the car and I would just follow him over the pass.

We started at about 8,000 feet and in a little over 8 miles we climbed to 10,850 feet. Even without the car behind, we stopped twice to keep the coach from overheating in the thin air.

Bingo! We hit the top and found the Continental Divide and rain. It was a nice, easy descent 8 miles down the other side and at the first pullout Doug pulled over and we re-hooked the Jeep.

The east side of the pass produced very different scenery. Instead of trees, we found miles of scrub. Not very pretty. Still the drive was easy and we pulled into Blanca, Co and the Blanca RV Park about 3:30.



It's a tiny park located next to some well worn mobile homes, but we knew that we wanted to see the Great Sand Dunes National Park nearby and for two nights this would work.


Doug set everything up (including the garden) and we spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

Ripped Off by Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck

What a waste of today! We arrived at Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck Service before they even opened. The young man assigned to do our brake fluid change was slower than molasses in January. He kept disappearing for 10 minutes every hour and stood around and visited while he should have been working. Doug put in as many hours as the kid, helping him since it's a two man job. I think the only reason he finished at 5 pm was because it was quitting time.

Then they charged us 7 hours labor for what should have been a 4 hour job! Can you tell I'm angry? What a mistake!

To all of our rving friends......if you ever need work done on your rig in Farmington, NM, do NOT take your business to Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck. They will rip you off!!!!

Anyway, we are back in the park for another night then tomorrow we will get the heck out of this stupid town.

Shiprock, NM

The day dawned very overcast with forecasts of heavy monsoon rains and flash flooding. But it was still warm so we decided to check out the area.

Our first stop was at Discount Tires to get a rear tire on the Jeep repaired. It had a slow leak that was driving Doug crazy and we didn't need it to blow while we were towing it. Nice people and pleasant to deal with.

Then we discovered a store called Fresh For Less. A produce store full of bargains could not be passed by. We restrained ourselves and only bought kiwis, mangoes, bulk pinto beans, asparagus and peaches.

A nearby town, Shiprock, was our next destination having been told by our friend Bill that the flea market was great on weekends. It was a nice, pretty drive and the day got warmer and warmer. The booths were mainly Indian jewelry, food and clothing. But Doug did find a rock and bead truck. He purchased some beautiful blue denim lapis for his wire wrapping projects.

We arrived back at the coach just as the skies turned black. Within minutes, the park filled up with trailers and rvs and the sky opened up. Thunder and lightning kept us inside for the better part of two hours. What a nasty, muggy evening!

Rolling with the Punches

Things don't always go as smooth as we would like, but since we have the time to solve problems without a great deal of stress we're rolling with the punches.

After a quiet night at Farmington Freightliner's back lot, they managed to squeeze us into the shop about lunchtime. The bad news was they work on air brakes, not hydraulic. Still, they were great people to deal with and didn't even charge us for the diagnostics. Highly recommend this shop and people.

So, off we went to a local rv park, Mom and Pop RV Park, to make some phone calls and find someone that can help us.


It isn't a fancy park, pretty much gravel with paved sites and picnic tables. But the power is good and we have water and sewer. Yay!!! I can do laundry again. Plus, if you pay for three nights you get the fourth night free. Works perfectly for our situation.

Our phone calls resulted in a definite maybe on the brake job. We quickly unhooked again and ran over to the Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck Service to have them look at it. We didn't want to sit here all weekend and then find out they couldn't do the job. Hooray! They can do it, hopefully at 7 am Monday morning. We'll be there.

Back at the park, we settled in for the weekend. Doug set up our garden outside. I've already had one strawberry and the plants are looking very healthy. I think they like traveling!

In back of the coach, Doug set up the other part of our garden with the satellite dish. We have two hanging tomato plants. One is full of baby tomatoes and the other is struggling.

It's nice not having to be upset by changes in our travel plans and it gives us a chance to see a little bit of the Farmington, NM area.