8-22-16 - Heat Escape - Day 11

                                    During our walk this morning, prairie dogs were playful


We finally made it to Gunnison after a six day lay over in Pueblo.  We had a beautiful day with a very scenic ride along Highways 50, 285, and 114. We saw plenty of big horn sheep, a few pronghorns, and a few deer along the way. We traveled  205 miles today. We took the long way around to avoid Monarch Pass.  In other words, we are CHICKEN.

We are set up at Gunnison Lakeside RV Park.  It was in the mid 70's when we got here around 3 pm. After we got set up, we had a shower and the temperatures dropped to the low 50's.   I can see the beautiful Blue Mesa out the side window of the camper as I am typing this blog.  When we got here, Ferny had to come outside.  It has her approval.

We aren't sure how long we will be here, we will just take it day to day.

                                              rode alongside a river most of the way

                                                                self explanatory

                                                                    Bighorn sheep

                                                   
                                                                Home for a few


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/2NA5DLCjdcsvvzen9

8-21-16 - Heat Escape - Day 10

We had another good day around Pueblo. The pronghorns are getting closer for our viewing in the mornings.  We also saw about 10 quail as we were leaving the campground.

 We took a ride on a windy mountain road to Bishop's Castle in Rye, Colorado.  It is a castle that one man has been building since 1969.  It is a very unique place.  Lauren and I climbed up the narrow winding staircases to the globe.  Well, Lauren made it to the globe, I chickened out.  It is a lot more difficult climbing narrow winding stairs wearing bifocals instead of contacts.  Not to mention, I'm a little bit scared of heights, especially when the floor is a little shaky.   I kinda crawled a few of the steps.  As Lauren was waving to me from the globe, I was white knuckled hanging on to a beam. It was fun but I have to say, I was relieved when we were back on firm ground.

We got back early and decided to lounge around this afternoon.  It was a sunny 85 degrees.  I just had to go get in the pool.  I think it was colder than the Pushepatapa Creek, but it felt good.  I finally found a cure for my hot flashes.  With the low humidity, I could barely swim from one end to the other. I'm glad the water wasn't over my head.

Judy and Terry cooked some good ole taco soup for supper, they simmered it all day in the crock pot.

Although, it was not in our plans to stay in Pueblo, we have had a great time while we are here.  Hopefully tomorrow, we will make it to Gunnison.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/fWpotA8tozkdkebu5

8-20-16 - Heat Escape - Day 9

The thunderstorms we had last night brought us a cool, crisp 52 degrees this morning.

We slept late this morning, (7 am), then took a nice leisurely stroll around the campground, watching the prairie dogs, watching us. We saw an antelope way out in the horizon.

We got a call from Andy at the Chevrolet dealer yesterday to stay close to the phone today.  They had a mechanic coming in on a Saturday to put the third radiator in our truck.  While we were stocking up at Walmart, we got the call.  Finally, we have the truck back.  Three times was a charm.  We took a ride to Howard, Colorado to test the new radiator.

It was a beautiful ride with mountains on one side of the road, the Arkansas River on the other side of the road, and great friends with us in our truck.  And, we saw big horn sheep, (we think).

After a few hours, we came back to Haggard's RV Campground.  It is the first evening that we have been here that it has not rained.  We grilled a burger, cooked french fries, then saw an amazing sunset.

We should have been in Gunnison four days ago, but we are fortunate.  We are with our great friends, we found a good dealership that always kept us informed, we are at a nice campground, we saw one of the most awesome sunsets tonight, so far the radiator is not leaking, and we have escaped the heat!

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/qUXJ8DZPHYUrc4uz6

8-19-16 - Heat Escape - Day 8

                                                         Prairie Dogs this morning



We will be here at Haggard's RV Campground until at least Monday.  The Chevrolet dealer has worked hard trying to get us back on the road.  Unfortunately,  both new radiators they put in the truck leaked.  We have been wanting to become full time RVers.  At the rate we are going, we may be already.

We met Judy and Terry about 25 years ago at a golf tournament, we instantly became friends. We have encouraged them to go on with their vacation, but they won't.  So we spent another fantastic day touring around in their truck.  We rode through Phantom Canyon, a narrow dirt road with a bunch of washboards, switchbacks, and fantastic scenery.  We went through the mining town of Victor then to Cripple Creek, as a bonus, we just happened to find a biker rally at Cripple Creek. It was cloudy, breezy, and 58 degrees.

We are enjoying our heat escape!!

                                                                  Storm this evening


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/k7xfwHp7xVNz572H6
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8-18-16 - Heat Escape - Day 7

                                             Morning from Haggard's CG Pueblo West, Co.


It was a nice, cool, breezy morning to watch the sunrise.  Believe it or not I got up at 6 am and left Lauren in the bed snoozing.  He is about as wore out, as Fernykat was yesterday.

We had another day to rest up while a second radiator was being put in the truck.  We took a ride to the Garden of the Gods and to Canon City.  Pretty nice views along the way.

                               Garden of the Gods, Grey Rock center, Pike's Peak in back/right


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/h7SBf3Ltdk5pgaG98

8-17-16 - Heat Escape - Day 6

                                                            Baby Quail

We are staying another night at Haggard's RV Campground in Pueblo West, Colorado tonight.  The truck will not be repaired until tomorrow.  We went to sleep after a beautiful sunset last night and woke up to a beautiful sunrise this morning.  Life is good!!

We took a nice walk around the campground trail this morning. We had a beautiful cool morning with clear views of Pike's Peak and the surrounding mountains.  We came back to find Fernykat asleep with her paws covering her eyes.  This traveling cat is wore out.

We spent  the day sightseeing.  We had a very enjoyable walk at the Pueblo Riverwalk, then took a ride to Lake Pueblo State Park.   We saw mule deer, ospreys, and quail.  The baby quail and baby deer were so cute.  We enjoyed our late lunch/early dinner at the Pourhouse Bar and Grill.

It was warm again today, but as it did yesterday, an evening shower came and cooled us off.  Judy said she thought we must be in Kansas, because the campers were rocking and rolling from the wind.  Luckily it was not a bad storm.

                                                                 4 points

                                               
                                                            Watching us

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/TGYErCvhf3Ui8NBfA

8-16-16 - Heat Escape - Day 5

                                                                 Lake Trinidad

Last night we  thought $31 a night was high for just an electrical hookup at Lake Trinidad State Park.  We got up this morning, took a nice walk around the campground, and realized real quick that we got our money's worth. The views were Awesome!

Lauren was right, it wasn't a skunk we smelled last night. In Judy's defense of having a nose that knows smells: she had never smelled sesame oil.  Oh well, after washing the spices twice that the sesame oil had spilled on, we still have the smell, just not as bad.

We had planned to go to Gunnison, Colorado today.  After a few miles, we had one of those lights on the dashboard of the truck come on.  After further investigation we thought everything was okay, but to be sure, we decided to have it checked out.  The nearest dealer was Spradley Chevrolet in Pueblo, Colorado.

The couple hour drive from Trinidad to Pueblo was extended almost an hour after we were stopped on I 25 because of an accident.  A  truck pulling a  bumper pull camper was overturned in the road blocking the interstate.    Kudos to the people working the scene.  It was cleared up in about 40 minutes and we were able to go on our way.

 We are staying at Haggarad's RV Campground in Pueblo West, Colorado tonight. We have views of Pikes Peak from the campground. Nancy, that made our reservation, is awesome.   As many times as we have stayed in campgrounds, this was the first time we got a walk through of a campground.

We made record time setting up the camper and getting to Spradley Chevrolet .  They are keeping the truck overnight so they can clean off the antifreeze on the motor, and monitor it.  As Brandon, AKA mayor of Timberlake would say, There ain't nothing wrong with that, is there.

This is one of those unplanned stops, but as I have typed before, we don't like having a schedule.
We love spontaneity, but prefer not to have the truck in the shop.

It is a little warmer in Pueblo than yesterday.  It was 89 degrees today. But Terry said, "its a lot cooler than Gulfport."  After the thunderstorm tonight, it cooled off dramatically.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/xqBPZhtUxwFm88K49