June 27 2015 A Sunny Day

It sure gets daylight early here. When I woke up at 5:30 it was already bright daylight. Maggie and I took a little walk and watched as boats were showing  up to launch at the lake. There were some tents set up yesterday and I figured there was a tournament starting. Later I found out that "The Sportsman Warehouse" was having a fishing day for handicapped children. After sitting by the fire we decided to explore the countryside. We knew there was some Forest Service dispersed camping near. We found a couple of places which we really liked and we could get our trailer in. If we come back sometime we will stay there.We ended up in a little community and we had a late breakfast at the little bar/grill. We headed back to camp and just relaxed the rest of the day. Tomorrow we move to Mueller State Park.

Handicapped Fishing Day

 Dispersed camp site in a high mountain meadow

South Platte River

Hi Country Cafe

June 26 2015 We moved to Elevan Mile State Park

We got up this morning and packed up. We were not sure where we were going. We have reservations at Mueller State Park on Sunday but needed to find something till then. I have found that if you don't have reservations for Friday and Saturday nights you have a tough time getting in somewhere.  We decided to try Eleven Mile State Park so we got there early, about 11.  It was a good thing because there were not many sites left that we could fit in. All the electric sites were taken so we got another non-electric site. There are no trees but we are overlooking the lake. The elevation here is 8600 ft and the temperatures are nice. Lots of wind so its pretty cool.We drove around the lake and its very nice. We will be here for two nights.

June 25 2015 Chalk Lake

It was the coldest morning we have had so far, 47 when I got up. I almost turned the furnace on but didn’t.  I built a good fire outside but we had a changing breeze. We sat by the fire until about 9. Susan went in and did some sewing. I went to Chalk Lake to look around. I was going to do some hiking but it didn’t take long for me to get tired at 9000 ft. It takes some getting used to. Went home and took a little nap. Later we ran to town and topped off the truck as we are moving tomorrow. Not sure where we will end up. We built a nice evening fire and stayed outside till about 7:30.  This is a really nice campground and we would stay here again. Susan decided this kind of camping is pretty nice.

Maggie is staying warm

Chalk Creek is running

Chalk Lake

Chalk Lake--A couple of fisherman

Cascade Falls

Arkansas rive near Buena Vista 

 

June 24 2015 We filled our water tank

Every morning it’s about 50=54 degrees in the trailer when I get up. No different this morning except the wind was already blowing. Actually it woke us up last night with a loud bang against the trailer. Susan thought it was a bear outside but it turned out that I didn’t latch a compartment door and the wind got it. After sitting around our morning fire we both took showers and then headed to town. I needed to fill my water bladder up so I could fill the trailer.  The Buena Vista Public Works Department has a place where you can fill your tanks. It costs only one dollar for up to 1000 gallons.  We filled my bladder which holds about 60 gallons. Next we went to a car wash and cleaned all the mud/stuff off the truck from the road to St Elmo.  We went back home and I pumped water to the trailer. Susan cleaned the inside of the truck.  I discover 3 pin hole leaks in my bladder, not too bad. Susan did some sewing while I took a nap. After I got up I was going to take a hike to Chalk Lake but then we started getting a few showers so that was out. We decided to go to the hardware store and I got some patches to repair my bladder. I stopped at a little place and bought some firewood. It stayed really cool all day with the high about 70. Too windy for an evening fire so we watched the College Baseball World Series. No pictures today.

JJuine 23 2015 Cascade Campground-------We Have Hummingbirds

It was another brisk morning. I took Maggie on her usual morning walk and then made some coffee. Susan got up as I was building a nice fire to sit by. We sat by the fire for about two hrs. I finally got up and cooked breakfast. Susan sewed most of the morning as I piddled around outside. We went to town and went to the library so I could use the wi-fi.  I don’t mind not having phone service but I miss using the Internet. We also went and got a humming bird feeder. We ate a light lunch in town and then explored the countryside. We went back to camp and relaxed the rest of the night. It only took about 15 minutes after when hung the feeder up that the first humming bird showed up. We watched several for a couple of hours.

Chalk Creek

Zoom to middle of picture. This buck crossed Main  street and headed thru parking lot

June 22 2015 A Good Day

It was nippy when I got up this morning, about 49. I built a fire outside and then took Maggie for a walk.  When I got back I turned the generator on to make coffee. After the coffee was made I turned the generator off. Susan got up about 7 and joined me by the fire. Our battery powered fan and sound machine worked great. She said she never heard generaror or my truck this morning.  After awhile I cooked us some breakfast.  Later I put the genersator on and watched some tv,  the weather channel and some news. Susan did some sewing also.  We have to conserve our water as there is no where to get water here. Maybe I can find someplace in town where I can fill my water bladder up.  We went to town so Susan could get some stuff for a quilt she is making. I was feeling a little bad so we headed back to camp. I started feeling a little better so we headed on up the road past our camp to a ghost town called St. Elmo. It was a good road all the way.  St Elmo is about 10,200 ft. Its just a few old historic buildings. There is a gift shop and a small hotel called the Guest House. We headed back down to camp and stayed the rest of the day.

Roughing it

June 21 2015 Travel Day to Cascade Campground

We got off to an early start this morning. We really didn’t need to as we only had about a 3 hr. drive.  Our first stop was in Fort Garland for breakfast. We split a smothered breakfast burrito with green chilies. It was huge and so good. I just had to stuff myself. We then headed on down the road thru the San Luis Valley. It was a pretty drive with mountain views. When we got to Salida we went to Walmart and stocked up. We are camping up in Cascade Campground till Friday.  No hookups of any kind, Susan says we are primitive camping.  We made it to the campground around 1 pm. Our site was plenty big but tough to get into with a narrow road and trees. We made it and got set up. Put the generator on and was able to get satellite tv.  No Cell phone reception at all. It warmed up to about 85 but with no humidity it was pleasant in the trailer with fans. After our short naps we drove into Buena Vista. Its only about 15 miles. We were able to get a good verizion signal there. It’s a pretty little town. We headed back to camp and had happy hour.  It cooled down pretty fast as were are about 9040 elevation.

Great Breakfast

Headed up to campground

June 20, 2015 Our Last Day in Laveta

 We woke up to another nice morning about 57. I didn"t do much except sit around and visit with different neighbors.  Susan and some other ladies went to a little arts/craft show in the city park. When she got back I went and filled the truck up. We will be leaving in the morning. We are headed to a small campground in the mountains above Salida. Not sure if we will have cell service so my blogs will be erratic for the next 7 days or so. After we got up from our naps we went to the soda fountain in the grocery store and got some dipped cone ice cream. We sat outside the rest of the evening. We sure hate to leave this place.I didnt take any pictures today to post.

June 19, 2015 It warmed up Today

We had another nice morning even though it wasn't as cool as it has been. I didn't have to wear a sweatshirt when I got up.We just piddled around camp and I cooked breakfast. We decided to go check out Lathrop State Park which is only about 12 miles from us. It turned out to be a nice state park and we found several sites we would stay at. None are lake front but some have great views of the mountains. The lake is not big but it is pretty. We headed back to camp where Susan and some other ladies did some quilting in the game room. I took a nice nap. It actually warmed up to about 85 but the humidity was only 19 %.  For supper we went to our favorite bar/grill.  It was another good day here.

La Veta  Colorado

Lathrop State Park

Maggie loving the sun today 

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Susan borrowed this to transport sewing machine and materials

June 18, 2015 We moved down six sites and shopped in La Veta

Two days ago we decided to try and extend our stay till Sunday. They were able to let us stay but we had to move down a little. Not a problem, We had done four  loads of clothes, got the trailer moved and set back up by 9:30 am.  We rested a little and decided to go eat breakfast at a little place down the road. I had a breakfast burrito in smothered green chilli's. Gosh it was good and I may have to go back tomorrow and the next day also. We left there and walked the streets of La Veta. Its only about a quarter mile of main street which was nice. Susan did find a few things to buy. I found a soda fountain in the only grocery store but I was still to full to get ice cream, wait for another day. .We headed back to the trailer and visited with neighbors.   By evening trailers were rolling in and the campground is almost full.

Entry into Francisco Fort----1865

Public Library

We see lots of hummingbirds