July 11, 2025 Fabric Shop Day

 It was cold this morning about 42 degrees. You could really see the smoke from the fires hanging over the lake. I cooked scrambled eggs and sausage for breakfast. Our original plans were to go to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison today. We had to cancel that because they evacuated all the campgrounds and closed the park due to the wildfires. There is a fabric shop in Delta called Chubbs that  Susan wanted to go to. We decided to drive county road 92 which is on the east side of the Black Canyon and it hits a road that will take you to Delta. We have driven this road many years ago but I had forgotten how stunning the drive is. Pictures do not do it justice. It's a curvy two lane road climbing to about 9600 ft. You follow the river canyon most of the way. For the most part its about 25-30 mph , not many pullouts to get good pictures. There was a couple of places that we could see the fires pretty good but no where to stop to get a picture. It's about a 40 mile drive and took us about 2 hours.  We got to Delta and dropped Susan off at Chubbs. I went and got gas and then found a parking spot near the store. Cooper and I wandered main street for awhile and then sat on a bench by the store. Cooper had a good time, just about everyone that came by stopped and petted him. When Susan got back we went to Walmart and restocked up. After that we headed home. It was another nice evening. All the loops were about full, its Friday, I lose track of the days.

July 10, 2025 A Lazy Day

 I was awake but still in bed trying to wake up and then boom, a loud crash of thunder. That made me get up , it wasn't raining yet so I went and put our chairs up. Cooper got up and told him he better hurry up and do his business before the rain starts. Another bolt of lighting encouraged us to both hurry up. It never did rain hard but it sure was cold. Actually it was the warmest morning we have had. We decided to stay home today. Susans neck was bothering her and she just wanted to rest. We just ate leftovers for breakfast again. Susan layed back down and took a nap. Cooper and I went on a walk of the different campground loops. The wind started up pretty early and really picked up. The reservoir had whitecaps on it from 10:am till dark. No boating today. What I thought was initially dust turned out to be smoke. There are two fires which were started by lighting in the Black Canyon of Gunnison this morning. You always have to be aware of wildfires when camping in the mountains. I filled the trailer back up with fresh water, its nice to have water close by, when we"re boondocking we sometimes have to drive aways.  We got in our shady spot for the evening because once again the winds were too much for our awning. It was pleasant at 82 degrees with 13% humidity.  

July 9 2025 Taylor Park

 It was not quite as cold this morning as it usually is about 47. Today is supposed to be a hot one. Cooper and I piddled around outside this morning. I changed out an empty propane tank on the trailer. We walked around two loops and found where an elk or two had wandered thru at some time. The Blue Mesa Reservoir is low and according to one fellow I talked to its been that way for a couple of years. For breakfast we had sausage and biscuits left over from yesterday. We decided to take a day trip up to Taylor Park, we are not sure but we think its been about 10 years since we have been there. The drive up there is gorgeous. When you turn at Almont to head up the mountain the road follows the river all the way up. We saw lots of folks fishing and several rafting on the lower end. When you reach the reservoir its stunning, pictures don't do it justice. It's about 9500 ft in altitude. There is a trading post, cafe and gas pumps. You can rent ATVs and ride the high mountain trails. There is a campground called Lakeview that I would have like to have stayed at but they were booked solid for sites I could fit in. When we got back to Gunnision ate pizza at Marios, possibly the best I have ever had. We did a little shopping at a sporting good store next door. It was a nice place but most things we out of my price range.  When we got back home it was 89 degrees, Our trailer is in full sun and the AC was straining. Once again the wind was too much to have our awning out so we sat in our little shady place and it was still pretty nice. 

July 8 2025 A Day of Rest

 It was a brisk 39 degrees this morning.  Looks like this will be a 3 season week for us,  Run heat in the morning, ac by noon, and then fans at night. I did biscuits and sausage in the air fryer for breakfast. The only thing we planned to do today was go to Walmart in Gunnison to stock up. It's been a lot of years since we have been here and I forgot that Gunnison has the smallest Walmart I have seen. It has no produce nor cold section. We got a few things there and then went next door to a City Market. We just chilled at camp the rest of the day. Susan set up her sewing section and Cooper dug for chipmunks. We have 3 little pitiful trees that at least give us shade for two people. There are only about 3 sites that have any trees in this campground. Our trailer is in full sun, today the wind was blowing too hard to put out awning out so we moved our chairs to our little shady spot. It got to 85 but with low humidity and with the breeze it was really nice out. We can see US 50 from our site and it sure has become a busy road. For supper I had one of my favorite meals, Chili dogs. 

July 7, 2025 Its a Travel Day

 We got up this morning , loaded our last minute items and got on the road. It was a pretty drive all the way down to Rifle where we got on I-70 towards Grand Junction.  I had forgotten how nice the drive is going this way especially when you hit the canyon running beside the Colorado river. In the outskirts of Grand Junction we stopped and topped off the truck. We got on US 50 headed to Gunnison. We couldn't find a place to eat that we could fit in. Found a church parking lot so we pulled in and fixed brunch in the trailer. It's a pretty good pull up from Montrose toward our campground.  We were about 5 miles from our campground when the vehicles we were meeting were all flashing their lights. I figured something was going on but I surely wasn't speeding. We came around a curve and there were Mountain goats along the road. Luckily they were not in the road when we came thru. We arrived at Elk Creek Campground on the Blue Mesa Reservoir at about 1:00.   It's about 17 miles west of Gunnison. Our site is at the top of the campground so we are looking down to the lake. We have been here before and its a good home base.  The temperature was about 72 so it was nice to unhook and set up camp. We are suppose to be in another heat wave this week with the temps up to 85. Before I finished setting up we had some showers come thru with a lot of wind. Didn't get any real rain out of it but it was rocking the trailer. The camp host told me that every day they had been getting winds for a while and then settling down. Cooper is happy as we have chipmunks and he is searching for them. We had rib eyes and green beans for supper. It was a really nice evening.

July 6, 2025 Last day In Meeker

 It's so nice to be able to sleep at night with the window cracked an no ac. Usually I close the the window around 1 am when I wake up to go to the bathroom. Generally turn the ceiling fan off also cause its pretty chilly. It makes me sleep well. Adam got up early and went fishing. I went and filled my truck up and hooked up the trailer. Started loading things for leaving. The last day of the Rodeo was today and it started at 12.  Susan skipped going but but rest of us went. It's so  nice just to get in the Ranger and go. easy parking it.  When we got back that evening I moved the trailer to the front street from Adams neighbors yard. For supper Adam fried shrimp and taters. We sat out all evening enjoying .  It has been a really nice visit.

July 5 2025 Rodeo and Concert

 Everyone slept in but me, I wanted to but Cooper woke up ready to go at 5 am. Susan and I were going to take it easy untill Rodeo time.  Adam and Katie went fishing. I started loading a few things back in the trailer.  Today at 1pm the  Rodeo started. It is a prca rodeo but there were several locals competing. This is a great place to see a rodeo. The stands are covered and you get a nice wind blowing. Our backs don"t do well anymore with bleacher stands. We got on the top row where I could use the wall for some support and I could stand at times. Something I had never seen before was the Husband/Wife teams in the heading and heeling. These ladies could rope. In the main heading and heeling 2 ole timers showed the youngsters how it was done. They had some rank bulls and they won 6-0. After the Rodeo we headed home and had an early supper. Adam and Katie took his truck and set it up for the concert tonight. We took the Ranger there about 7 and set up our chairs beside and in the truck. The main act was Brett Young. He was pretty good but I liked the guy who opened the show better. Can"t remember his name .  It was a really nice evening. It so much better to be in a small town for the Rodeo and concert,  These folks are still living much like we did when I was a kid. Slow moving pace and plain ole good people. Out here the folks are conservative and the kids are well mannered.  I would move here but my ole bones couldn't"t take the winters.