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

8-15-16 - Heat Escape - Day 4

                                                        Elmer Fudd wabbit hunting

We left from Amarillo and traveled 252 miles.  It was a beautiful day with beautiful views.  Judy and Terry got their camper repaired and were about an hour behind us.  We met up at Lake Trinidad State Park.

I think we were skunked today.  Every time I walk in the camper, I smell it.  Lauren argued with me that it is not the smell of a skunk.  Judy said she had a good nose for detecting smells and confirmed my findings.  I have cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil all over the camper.  I hope it goes away soon.

We sat outside in the cool evening air, grilling burgers, watching rabbits, and  enjoying the beautiful views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

I have  my light jacket on - We have accomplished our mission….. The great heat escape!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                  Moon Rise

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/F4GCC6Nppvt6uMcG7

8-14-16 - Heat Escape - Day 3

Today we drove 135 miles to meet up with our heat escape accomplices,  Judy and Terry.   We all decided back in July that it was too hot in South Mississippi and it was time to take a road trip.  Unfortunately, Judy and Terry have camper issues that can't be repaired until after the weekend.

We are staying at Amarillo Ranch RV Park.  It is a big campground, nice folks, although they didn't seem too excited about us not making reservations.  Oh well, we are retired and we love being spontaneous and not following a schedule.


We all took a nice drive to the Cadillac Ranch and the Palo Duro Canyon then came back to the campground and fried some of that good ole white perch from the Rez.  While Lauren was frying fish, one of our camper neighbor's came by walking his dog, Oscar Meyer,   Oscar started staring at Lauren with those pleading doggie eyes wanting a bite of fish.  His owner told Lauren he could offer Oscar a piece of fish but he won't eat it because he is a very picky eater.  After gobbling 2 small bites, Oscar had to be lured away with the rest of the piece of fish for later.

Oscar took home a doggy bag!!

                                                                            Oscar

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/UD8n1tG8fLXefnGA6

8-13-16 - Heat Escape - Day 2

We are camped at one of our favorite campgrounds, Ole Cotton Gin RV Park in Quanah,Texas after traveling 321 miles.  We really wanted to make it to Amarillo to see our friends, but knew it was time to stop.  Usually when we are here the temperature is around 108 degrees.  Today it is a cool 92 degrees with the wind howling.  

We are definitely getting closer to cooler weather!!

8-12-16 - Heat Escape - Day 1

                                                   
                                                    Cooling off, 102 degrees outside



Our original plans was to stay in Crossroads until we sold out.  Six weeks of sweltering weather changed our minds.,  We decided to escape the heat.  After stopping for a visit at Timberlake for a couple of nights, we hit the road.  We stopped 6 hours later at Texas Rose RV Park near Tyler, Texas. The temperature is 102 degrees.  It is cloudy and breezy.

It's nice to have a flexible plan for our next chapter.

We are 334 miles closer to cooler weather!!!