Calling the Rio Grande home.

We left Marshall campground and down past Creede, CO is Palisade campground.  Not to be outsmarted and miss out as this is a heavly used site, we drove down on Wednesday to check it out to see how busy it was. We still had paid for Wed night where we were at but once we found a great site, put our name on it and headed back to gather our stuff up and move a day early. The host at Marshall gave us a card to give to the host at Palisade so we could get a free nigth there since we were leaving early.  How nice. Now the normal rate is $18 but we get half price you remember.  And talking to the new host the campground stays open past Labor Day till it is closed in by snow, and they stop charging after Labor Day.. Water will staty on till then end of Sept. since he is staying also. Free we can deal with that.  I will give him our WiFi password.

The must show campsite picture.

From the 5er entrance door. Like they say a river runs through it.

There are rail raod tracks that run through the campground and later we heard this loud whistle and this came through. 
The Denver and Reo Grande Railroad  check it out.
 

The view from inside our 5er. It makes a potty break stop in the campground.

The line was originally constructed to bring wealthy and famous to the resorts at what is now the 4UR Ranch at Wagon Wheel Gap. 
The discovery of Silver and other Minerals further up the valley necessitated the extension for the Railroad to the Creede mining district.
Do read the rest of the history of this special railraod.

It had been determinded by me that since Terry was going fishing most every day I would need a better supply of fire wood so off we went on a wood run.  Up a forest service road called Pool Table.  Little did I know how high up this sucker was going to take us.

We came from the highway way down below up the canyon and up and up some more. Looking west.

Need I say more just take a look. 

Once on top it goes on and on forever rooling between vast forests and open grasses.

Down there is a resort along the highway and river.  And I am up here and not to happy about it all.  But there is wood and plenty of it. Terry did his thing in between resting  due to the alt. and we got a full back end full of wood.

Another pile which is cut up is stacked under the picnic table.
So we are all set to watch the winds and rain and hot air swirling around Tampa this week.
 

Friday Aug 17

Back to the Rio Grande.

We left the Gunnison area and headed to Lake City on our way to the Creede area where we had reservations at Forest Service Marshall Park campground. Drove right on through and on up the hill to Slugmullion Pass on HW149. Rated the longest highest  percent grade in Colorado. We had dumped all our fresh water and other holding tanks and sure glad we did as this is a real humdinger. Just up and up and up.  The truck did a great job and I had power to spare. 

One at the summit it was clear sailing own to Creede. No big downgrades or switch backs. Easy on the brakes. 
Now I will say I will never go the other way down hill to Lake City  from Creede as there would be no relief on the brakes in that section, all straight down with switch backs.

Maps maps gotta have maps...  We are in the second map camped at Marshall Park. This is at a lower alt and better for our breathing.
We have taken day trips and explored the side forest roads in the first map which are in great shape and have some campsites on small creeks but all are higher up and not so good for us.
Next we will explore the second map past Creede as we want to stay at Palisade campground again right on the Rio Grande.  As for camping after that it's down south of South Fork towards Pagosa Springs. But first we will have to head out on US160 past Del Norte to Alamosa to Walmart to pick up a prescription that is waiting for us there. Sometimes ya just have to do things like normal people to continue this lifestyle. 

My Oh My the Rio Grande is something and Terry is getting fishing time in. So far just so so, but he has talked to the pros in Creede and is picking up tips.  As I type this..  3 PM local,  it is raining pretty good so we are relaxing inside or home on wheels.

Stop on in, there is plenty of empty camp sites.

OK time for a look at the local tourist trap Creede CO.  www.creede.com 
Now I have to admit I don't walk, but run from most tourist traps... but Creede feels different because it is. 
It's a real town with a real history and it shows. Nothing fake about Creede. My kinda town.

Time to shut er down and get rested up for a Friday night in the great outdoors. Campfire and good TV. Bill Mahr is back on tonight live. 
 
 
 

Saturday Aug 11

The Colorado High got to us...

We spent over a week at Taylor Park at (9400 ft and a jaunt up to Tin Cup at 11000 ft.  You would think we would get acclimated to the altitude in that amount of time. It was not to be.  After three, count em, three A-Fib events probably due to low oxygen levels at night. The Oxygen readings on my pulse oximeter were reading in the mid 80's.  We got scared and I called my Dr. back in Iowa and was told to get the hell off the mountain. A normal reading is above 96.

So on Friday morning we closed up the 5er slowly and got out of there. We had planned to stay through the weeked but it was not to be.
After trversing thorugh the road work that is.

Gunnison, CO was our distination and the Curecanti National Rec Area west of town.  And did I say at 7700 glorisous feet. 

Saturday we headed back into town to get the oil changed at Gunny Lube in north Gunninson.  And I might add at a great price and they go us right in.  Downtown was hoppin with a Farmers Market.

 But we didn't stay for it as when we parked I noticed a large screw protruding from our front right truck tire.  Shit... didn't try to take it out as didn't want the tire to go flat.  Looked around for a open tire place with no luck Terry called up Gunny Lube and they said bring it on over... they did tires. 

$15 later and we were good to go.  We got back to them before they closed at 2 PM.

I did make one last stop downtown after using my Droid to locate a business that sold just what I was looking for.
Spray bottles of 95% Oxygen Enriched Air. http://oxygenplus.com/
Now I can take a puff of Oxygen if I need it. As we are going back up higher along the Rio Grande river near Creede next week.  Not nearly like Taylor Lake but higher than here where we are doing pretty good.  We shall see if this getting just a little higher in Colorado can still work for us.

.
 

Thursday Aug 9

What's on the other side... didn't know about this drive.

We decieded to take a road out of Tatylor Park, CO that we had never driven before. All we could say is how had that never happened. How could we have missed this one.  North up the Park (large open high grass valleys)  Rd 742 you go west on 748 and up Rd 744 to Spring Creek Res. and campground. 
We could see right away the road was in good shape... fine for a 2wd car in fact. 
Now would be a good time to insert that we are surprised that the forage all over out here is lush and green.  No Pine Bark Beatle infestation to be seen by the naked, eye. How wonderful. Must get cold enought to kill the suckers in this area. One more reason to love this area.

We are staying at Lakeview CG on the map.

Crossing the headwaters of Taylor river  and heading up 748

The road crosses a couple of parks (large open high grass valleys) and many beaver ponds for fishing. 

But the surprise was taking the short trek up road 744 to Spring Creek Res. I have to say this rivals Mirror lake.
How did we ever miss this one. All on good a road... nothing like you have to traverse to get to Mirror Lake. 

As we drove through the about 10 site CG as we do whenever we find one to see if we might want to came back.  We saw the camp host walking... he didn't smile, the sun was out and he looked like a mountain man and not happy to be in anything this organized. His set up looked like he does or could make it through the winter here. Not sure if there was a camper under all the construction. Not that our 5er would have fit wery well in the tight sites. 

Anyway look at this view.... The campground was higher up in the pines on the right much above the parking lot. Now if they only had a second  open campground that wasn't squeezed in the pines with no view with room for not much more than a popup.  There is room here to accommodate different camper lifestyles.  Just let larger units boondock in the open area.  It's not like electric service is ever coming to this outpost. 
No one would think a huge MH would want to make it up here but a 5er why not. My blog declairs we are... A big rig looking for a tent experience. We can try can't we.  After all I'm just to old to get down in a tent. And we promise not to disturb your quality camping experience if near us.. 

So not us to back track, we took 744 down the west side as it followed Spring Creek. 
 

 Later on just north of Almont this Spring Creek joins the Taylor River. 
At that point we drove though a 10 or so site FS campground and I noticed the only water spigot had a black plastic bag over it.  The host was out in the drive talking to others so I rolled down my window and asked 'No Water' He replied... Yes he had water in a jug... want some... in a smart alec kind of way.  I didn't but wanted to ask... since no water... the for profit managed forest service campground must be free. Wish I would have now.
 
 

This was a great drive. If in the area do drive it.  One of the best in the state. It just goes on and on and gets in tight canyons. 

At Almont heading back up to Taylor Park we found the dreaded highway construction.  I have seen people tearing up roads but this took the grand prize.  We were warned about this road by people we met in CO around the pool in Lamar, CO (remember where we broke down)  who had just returned form vacation from here) This is a real mess and will be no joy trying to pull our 5th wheel down this stretch of road when we leave this way next week. We cane into Taylor Park over Cottonwood Pass from Buena Vista via the east route recommended by the people above. But must leave going south over this. It will be slow going and I'm not going to rush. Traffic can just back up behind me if it must. They just might be slower than me, who knows.  I'm not going to twist a trailer frame just to rush through.  It's like mountain driving I can get to the bottom fast in a pile, or go slow and get there all together in one piece, thank you.

I'm not sure how I got around this sucker.

The unfinished looked smother than it was. 
The only reason that we weren't driving on what it looks like on the right side is the traffic had beaten it down. And this was a good section.

They are behind schedule and are not making things easy for us who must use this road. It's not like we have a choice. 
Next year they are going to start on another section of this highway...  Don't let that stop you from coming this way... This is one great huge area of spectacular views and camping and everything along with that. 
 

We persisted and arrived back up past the dam and this view of Taylor Park looking east. The Trading Post and cabins in the center. We are in the campground on the side of the mountain on the right. You can see the drive just past the turnout. .

Terry got out the telephoto lens and took these. How silly... but it must be done I guess...

We will be here till Monday and head out for points south... Lake City and Creede, CO. To take the stress of rushing to find camp sites I made a reservation at Marshall Park which is right on the Rio Grande River 6 miles upstream form Creede. Got a prime spot right on the river for 9 nights.   Terry bought his Colorado fishing lic and this section of the river is "Trophy Water".  It will take the stress off of finding an open site and we can exploree in all directions from there.  Smart move our our part me thinks. From there we can explore in all directions. Could have stayed longer but this way leaving on a Wednesday gives a better shot at securing a midweek unoccupied spot at a next non reservable campground. 
There is another campground south of Creede on the Rio Grande also rated trout fishing. And several nice looking campgrounds on streams futher south of South Park along HW 160... So stay tuned.

Doing all this investigation on the internet with our DataStorm dish on top our our 5er makes all the difference on how we find where to go and what is open for camping and with the DirecTV LNB attachment on the satellite... it all makes it work for us. 
 

Update: It is cloudy and on and off rain and more of the same for a few days... But Ya know what... we can deal with that after the heat in the midwest that we spent time in as now we can just relax and enjoy life as we find it...  We are alive and life is good.

Sunday Aug 5

What's on the other side... and

A day trip to Tin Cup and Mirror Lake

We left Lamar, CO early and hit Pueblo, Cannon City, Salida and on to Buena Vista  where we headed up and up to where people pulling a large trailer who have any sense shouldn't go. But we already knew we were lacking in that department so on we went.

We came up 306 from Buena Vista  Gunnison is to the south on 742.
 

Above is Cottonwood Pass which has the road paved on the east side but gravel on the down side as you will see.

Heading down  slowly as in second gear.  People warned us about this road as if it gets wet the slurry to hold down the dust gets very slick and turns to snot.  Lucky for us no rain today.

Our destination Taylor Park... at the red dot.

We landed high up in Lakeside campground in Taylor park at about 4 PM on a Friday  and we were still able to snag this site.  The only last one with a view and just enough clearing for sun for solar and satellite dish. Boy did we luck out.  I didn't know this campground was researvable.  But didn't look it up as thought we would be here on Thursday... but due to our small mishap we were running a day late and a dollar short.

We get good solar during the day.  But it does cloud up in the afternoon though.
I got the dish pointed after many hours of trial and error. Thought we were going to have to move forward or back a bit to get out through the trees to the south. but I tuned it with  manual controls watching for a DirecTV signal.  Now all is well.
This above view is looking north.

The last users left piles of firewood... look to the left side.  And on a drive we found a mother load to almost fill the rear end of the truck.
If need be we have a small electric chain saw, power cord and the Honda 3000 gen. is in the truck bed. 

So we are set for some great campfires and the views... nothing can describe them.
You can drive for many many miles up the valley to the north where many people boondock. This area is vast and open.  Running ATV's is a huge thing to do and the locals flock up here for that. And to fish.

The only drawback in this treasure, is that it is at 9500 feet. You can only take a step or two and you loose your breath. 
But what's a little oxygen among friends. Always got to give up something. I'll give up air for views like these.

We saw a sign that the Nugget Cafe was having a Saturday Prime rib dinner so we went on down the main Taylor Park traiding post area for it.  It was real good, may have to go back for their Sunday Brunch next week.

pic from their web site

Now for the day trip...

A day trip to Tin Cup and Mirror Lake

Tin Cup Colorado is one of those places that once you've been there you just have to go back.  So today was that day. Just to see if had changed. 

Gold was found in the Tin Cup area in 1859, and the first big strike in 1879. Tin Cup got its name from one of the prospectors that carried out his gold dust in a tin cup. The underworld ruled Tin Cup and there never really was any law. Every time an honest sheriff would arrive, he would be told what to do by the leaders of the underworld. If he didn't comply, he was killed. And so the cemetery at Tin Cup is filled with honest sheriffs and other good people that did not comply with the underworlds demands. Around the turn of the century there was said to be about 2000 people here and shortly after that the population dwindeled. Now there are only ruins and a popular recreation area. 
Script from  http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/tincup.html

Mirror Lake and Campground, Colorado

 11,000-foot elevation. 10 campsites above Mirror Lake with mountain views of Sawatch Range. Popular with OHV riders since several OHV-4 wheel driving trails are in the area. Mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, picnicing in the area. Fishing in the creeks and lake. Big game hunting in season.

I and friends spent many a vacation at Mirror Lake when doing vacations was what you did way back when I you got time off.  Now I'm just OFF, all the time. 3 miles of bone jawing bumps.
 

There is a so called road 4 more miles up to Tin Cup Pass.  To think I once drove a compact car up there. Getting out to look under it for clearance.  How stupid we are in our youth. 
Check out this guys trip up to the pass.

The parking lot for the lake. This was Saturday so you can see this is a popular place.
I had the wild idea of going back to Mirror Lake to camp as I had hoped they had improved the one lane (more like jeep trail) since I had been there many years ago.  No such luck, obviously the locals want to keep it just the was it's always been.  And good for them I guess.  Wouldn't have worked as I can hardly breath at 9500 ft at Taylor Res let alone 11000 up there. We were smart enough after a few stays to bring winer coats.
(Note this is the place the keys got locked inside our vehicle one time.)  Back then a coat hanger did the trick.  Whew...

My favorate camp site... high up right in the middle of the sites overlooking everything including the view below. 

On the way back down foorm the lake to Tin Cup there are still beaver ponds... Some things never change. 
A wonderful day trip down memory lane.

The road back to the edge of Tin Cup.

Hope you had as much fun as we did on our day trip...
 

Thursday Aug 2

Say it aint so.
Hang on I'm gunna get there.  Your gunna LOVE this post.
We left Iowa on Tuesday and first stop was Concordia KS at our favorite free city campground.

Off across Kansas and our plan was a stop at Lamar, KS at Sportmans RV Park and Horse Motel HW 50 west side of the city.

We made it there but... not how we thought we would.

Now for the Say It Aint So part...

This was taken five miles to the Colorado border in Kansas on HW 69  where we came to a screeching halt.
Got out the lawn chairs and sat in the sade.

We were out in the middle nowhere... engine stopped running and would not start. Withoiut power steering didn't even get it off the traveled portion of the highway. No shoulders and they sloped off pretty fast. It would turn over but not start.  Did I say it was 103 outside. So what do you do but call your roadside assistance company. In our case we have Allstate Road Service. I had cell service so when someplace in India answered I knew I was in trouble.  After a million electronic questions... press one for this and 6 for that adn say yes or no... they offered to send someone out to my address of record. Our mial box service in South Dakota. That'll work. Try to get them understand I'm out in the west part of Kansas on a rural state highway. They then asked for the zip code where I was at. I was told they couldn't 't find a tow company for me. Then asked if I knew of a tow service in the area.  Got on my Droid and found a couple and called them and they both said they do towing for Allstate. Got Allstate to call one and was set to go for a 2 1/2 hour wait... and in this heat.  Called 911 to tell them we were on the traveled portion of the highway.  They sent out the county sheriff and he was real nice. Said not much traffic on this HW (which I already knew) so not to worry about where we were parked.  We like to take the back roads but may have to rethink that idea.  Turned out the sheriff was orig. from northeast Iowa same area we grew up in. So it was like old home week. 
Must say some nice locals did stop and offer help. Thanks guys.
After  trying to pump and prime the fuel after a couple of hours all of a sudden it started but still with the check engine light . We took it slow and got to the next town... no services but at lest we were off the road. Called the tow company to let them know that we had moved and they told us Allstate called them and canceled the call. I about fell over at that point. So tried to call Allstate and about then while trying to negotiate the menu options another tow company pulled up which Allstate had changed to them for our service call. Whew...  at last help on site. 

He took us to the RV park in Lamar, KS  About 60 miles.
We had landed.... 

The manager came out to direct the tow truck where to dump us and told to come to the office the next day to sign in. No rush.  Told us we looked like we could use a swim to cool off after hearing our tale of woe.

We did jump in and it was just what we needed.
Now for our plans on how to get back on the road... We had had fuel filters go out in the past and make the truck go into limp mode but this was different as it wasn't acting that way.  But Terry got a new fuel filter this AM and installed and we got it started and off for a test run we made it to town and it went dead again. We were close to a truck repair place and this time off the road. They didn't work on light trucks but got us connected to Stanger Inc. Who did. The came over pull towed us to their shops. 

But anyway they got us right in and took off the new fuel filter and he said this smells like gas not diesel.   Did you hear me reg. gas in the diesel fuel tank. How could that happen.  I remembered where we last got diesel about 20 miles from where we came to a dead stop.  I called and they went back over the receipts as I told them they must have gas in their diesel holding tank.  They checked and found our credit receipt and it showed we bought reg. gas not diesel.  Now don't look at me... Terry did the filling...  I think he was about to shed a tear or two when I told him what they said. I didn't even yell and said that was OK at least we now knew what the problem was.

We went and told the mechanic that we could confirm that there was gas in the diesel tank. He didn't think it would have harmed the engine as it didn't run but shut down.

They pumped the tank dry got some diesel in it and replaced the fuel filter again and we were good to go.  Red faces and all. 
With thier pump set up I think they have been through this before.  And they didn't rip us off... fair prices.
After that we checked in and paid our bill at the campground. Would you believe it was only $27 for two nights. 50A and nice swimming pool.   Sportsman RV and Horse Motel in Lemar HW 50 west. DO STOP... Super friendly people. Tell them the guys with the gas in the diesel tank sent YA. Oh and by the way the free WiFi is super fast.

Now that I'm done with this post off to the pool again.  Got to get used to these pools so when I get mine in AZ  I'll be ready for it. And after today how could Terry say no... 

UPDATE:  It is raining big time here in Lamar at the campgrpound... 8:30 PM Mt time It started to sprinkle much earlier so we got out of the pool and had showers in the RV. Now the rain has hit.  How wonderful.

While at the pool we met the owner who called over a person who has been spending a day or two here.  He is Bike Trekkin' across the country. Please go to his web site... SO cool... Globetrekkin’

 

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