8-26-16 - Heat Escape - Day 15

                                                   
                                                     Morning from Blue Mesa Rez

It was 41 degrees this morning. We got up early in the hopes of seeing a beautiful sunrise.   It was too cloudy. We cooked a good breakfast outside, then took a 4,4 mile, 59 flight, (according to fitbit), 2 hour hike at the Dillon Pinnacle trail.  The views were breathtaking.

After lunch we rode the Harley to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  The National Parks are celebrating their 100th birthday this weekend, that means free entry.  It was a very pretty ride.  East Portal Road was extremely rough with a 16 degree grade down to the river.  We were both glad to get down the hill.

Terry caught some rainbow trout, that's supper.  We cooked them a couple  of different ways.  Needless to say, I ate baked beans and salad.

After dinner,  we saw a  double rainbow. It is ironic to see a double rainbow after having rainbow trout for dinner. It was one of the most beautiful rainbows that I have ever seen.  Judy and Terry are heading home tomorrow.  It was the perfect ending to our trip together.

We had  a nice, cool, dark night that was perfect for our campfire.

We started off today with a great breakfast, then took a beautiful hike, we had a beautiful day for a motorcycle ride with beautiful views, we saw a gorgeous double rainbow, then sat by a campfire.  It don't get much better than this!

                                                            Double Rainbow

                                                        First Campfire of the trip

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/bLt523Nx7R3LkNTP8

8-25-16 - Heat Escape -Day 14

                                                               Home for a few days


We moved 14 miles west today, to an awesome campground, Blue Mesa Escape.  We are at the top of the hill, (or on the side of the mountain),  overlooking Lake Fork and Dillon Pinnacles on the Blue Mesa.  This is our home for at least the next 12 days.  We have all the amenities we need, including electricity, water, sewage, fire pit, and breath taking views. Not to mention, we have data and phone service here.  There are only 10 full hookup campsites in this campground, and it is about half capacity.

This is the first campground since we left the Rez, that we we can build a campfire.  The campground owners supplies us with wood, all they ask for in return is a donation to pay for gas for the chain saw.

Fernykat couldn't wait to go outside today,  She explored all around, wallered in the dirt, and ate grass.  We have the Fernykat approval!

When we got here today, we  thought we would set up camp, and take a ride.  We got caught up in the moment and didn't go anywhere until late this afternoon.

Tonight, we traveled East to Gunnison Lakeview RV Park to eat  dinner with Judy and Terry.  Had a great visit and a great dinner.

The ride back home was a little rainy and windy.   When we started up the hill to the campground, we saw three deer, that posed for a picture.

It was too windy to build a campfire, so we went inside and  turned on our little electric heater, Fernykat got right up against it absorbing all the heat.  I had to pick the heater up off the floor before she caught on fire.

It is very quiet and dark here tonight.  With  no street lights, it is almost like boondocking, except, we have all the amenities we need.  We will be sharing our little piece of paradise with 9 othet campers.  This is out kind of place!!

                                                   
                                                              It's COLD!!!!

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/shUGVtCRfk7kwyoKA

8-24-16 - Heat Escape - Day 13

It was like a sound machine last night listening to the rain peppering on the top of the camper.  Only better, it was the real deal.

We got up around 7 am this morning.  I expected to pull up the shades and find a dreary cloudy day.  Boy, I was wrong.  The sun was a shinning, but it was a cold 45 degrees.

We stayed inside playing on the computer until it warmed up.  We took a 5 mile, 30 flight hike in the Centennial State Wildlife Area.  The only wildlife we saw was a rabbit and chipmunks.

We decided to check out another campground closer to the dam.  We rode our Harley up the steep, dirt road to a campground with 12 campsites with an amazing view overlooking the Blue Mesa.  This looks like our kind of place.

We left Blue Mesa Escape Campground and decided to check out a couple of boondocking sites around Crested Butte.  We got wet three times before we got back to Gunnison Lakeview Campground.  Needless to say, we parked the Harley and got in the truck for the ride to Crested Butte.

It was a very, scenic, bumpy, dirt road to the primitive campsites.  It was 52 degrees, with rain on and off, and a little bit of hail.    We saw deer, a coyote, and a bunch of chipmunks.  We have decided that these sites would be great in a tent or small camper,  We think we will stay closer to civilization.

Terry and Judy took the leftover boiled shrimp and made twice baked potatoes.  Awesome way to eat potatoes and leftover shrimp.  Tomorrow is move day for the McLaurin's, we plan to move a few miles down the road for a different view.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/65GusYDRpdFRHSDY9

8-23-16 - Heat Escape - Day 12

We are camped at Gunnison Lakeside RV Park. We had to unload the Harley yesterday before we parked, if we wanted to ride while we are here.  And, we wanted to!

Last night was the first time in a long time that it was cool enough that we didn't run the air conditioner or  fan.  It was also cool enough that Fernykat had to get in the bed with us for warmth. Her loud purring woke me up. She got right between us, and every time I had one of those hot flashes and kicked off the cover, she would playfully nibble my foot.  She is loving this cooler weather as much as we are.

We decided to take it easy today. We woke up to  a cloudy, 54 degrees this morning.  After lounging around for a while drinking coffee with the heater on, we decided to take a hike.  We walked across the road to the boat launch, then on to a primitive campground.  It was a great day for a hike.  We returned back to camp after about 3.5 miles.

Terry and Judy went to Taylor Lake so Terry could check out the fishing.  Terry saw the first moose he has ever seen in Colorado.

We took a ride close by on the Harley, cause the chance of rain was pretty high today.  We had a pretty ride and returned home about an hour and a half later.  When we left it was cloudy.  The lake didn't look as pretty as when we were here five years ago.  While we were riding,  the sun came out, and we saw the true colors of the Blue Mesa.

 We have iffy air TV here, so Lauren hooked up the satellite dish after we returned from our ride.

We had bought shrimp on the coast last month when we went to IP with Anita.  We boiled shrimp, potatoes, sausage, and corn.  Lauren and Terry got soaked by the rain before they could get the shrimp cooked.  Luckily, we have plenty of room inside and we have an electric heater.  It was pretty darn cold to be cooking out.  We all enjoyed those gulf coast shrimp and fixings. Even though, we had  to tough the cold, wet, elements to cook them.

We all wanted to escape the heat, and we got our wish.  Stan ,the campground owner, told Lauren yesterday that the change of weather here  is not for the faint of heart. It is rainy and  bone chilling cold tonight for these rednecks!! Maybe, next time we might need to specify a little milder change of climate.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/QsBJ7nqH1XfU9Nm66

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