Home

We left Tucson on May 17 and have been living the RV life style for 4 months. This might be the longest summer outing for us. We left with trepidation, wondering if we could really do this in the midst of a pandemic.  At first there wasn't much open, campgrounds closed, certainly no attractions or restaurants open. But we figured it out, found ways to stay safe and did what we could and it was more than OK. It was great, traveling with my best friend, and road tripping across the country. I guess the most frustrating thing was trying to get good, local information. Visitor Centers never did open up and although technology and smart phones made a lot of things easier, it also hindered because so much outdated or just plan wrong information on the internet.  But we loved Colorado, loved our week in Ohio with family--that was best--loved exploring Great Lakes area, Northern Minnesota, Black Hills, and back to Colorado. 

  But we made it home on a hot, Tucson day and then began the arduous task of unloading the RV, putting away all that "stuff" we took along, laundry, cleaning RV before it goes back to the storage lot. Plus cleaning up yard and back patio after a summer of neglect. And just plain remembering what I am doing to get back into the routine! But it is all good. We were blessed beyond measure once again.  Every prayer was answered.

Coming through Salt Creek Canyon is a favorite way home and our last adventure!  Will had the stress of driving the rig down into canyon and the big pull back out so maybe he is not as enamored as I am. I can concentrate on the stunning scenery where he has to keep his eyes on the road!!

And then we begin to see Saguaros and we know we are home!!  Suddenly we are anxious to get to Tucson!

From Colorado to Arizona

It's time to go home!! Last look of Rio Grand River as we headed down the Palisades Valley from Creede. 

We just kept driving. . .Through western New Mexico through a part of Navajo nation

And crossed over into Arizona. Tucson tomorrow. 

Fishing and around Creede

I have posted this viewpoint so many times but still is a favorite spot.

We had to go back to Continental Reservoir to try our hand at fishing again.

Well the scenery was great, company outstanding, weather perfect but have to say fishing really is more fun if you actually catch fish. We didn't do so well this time.

One of the reasons we like coming to Creede is the amazing live theater here. Well, of course the season was cancelled this year but we times it just right because the troup put on a free concert in the city park tonight and it was great. Music, poetry readings, comedy, selections from "Annie" and "Oaklahoma"--to mention a few--even some Shakespeare. Fun to see familiar faces from over the years.

Had to have breakfast at Antlers one last time before we leave.

Back to Creede

We're back at Antlers Lodge/Campground near Creede. We left here on July 8 and feels like we are coming home. Wondered if we would see fall colors here and we're not disappointed. Not peak for the Aspen's but enough to be worth the drive to see. 

Brighton Head area had most color.

Even old burn scar areas were in technicolor.

Steam Train

Took a day trip on the Cumbrace Toltec Railroad from Antonito, Colorado to Chama in New Mexico. It's run as a museum train, pulled by a 1925 Steam Engine and restored passenger cars. Although we had reserved seats we spent most of the trip outside in the open cars watching the countryside go by and getting good and dusted with soot from the coal burning engine. We loved it! Actually this time of year the train doesn't go all the way to Chama. Goes about half way, to about 9000 ft in the mountains where all passengers get off the train and inside a dining hall where we are served a hot, all-you-can-eat buffet lunch. Meantime the trainmen actually turn the train around--on a special loop track, and we go back to Antonito. We do cross the border into New Mexico, actually back and forth across the boarder about 7 times. We both love riding these old trains, we never get tired of them This is a favorite.

More of the same today. Still on lonely hiway 71 across eastern Colorado plains.

Then we turned West and got our first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains.

The view out of window at Alamosa, Colorado. 

High thin clouds (and smoke haze) with mountain showers that aren't reaching the ground

The smoke haze is most evident in the mornings before wind comes up. Sun comes up an ominous red. There are a couple of fires going in Colorado, in northeast part of state but nothing like farther West! 

Traveling these last 4 months we have seen all kinds of RV's,camping gear and set ups but this one got our attention this morning. Sleeping outside in sleeping bags in hammocks that they carry along in back of pick up. Obviously it works for them!!

Thru Nebraska panhandle and into Colorado

Sunrise on the Fort

Today was another big day of driving, we are on our way to one last respite in the mountains near Creede. Today we got on hiway 71 south ( for any who might know that road) and drove straight south for 250 miles to Limon, Colorado. Grasslands and ranches and miles of wide open space. One might call it desolate--we both think it extraordinary!! This time of year especially it is all browns and yellows and golden in the sunlight.

Occasionally there are buttes and uplands like this area around Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

And windmills as far as eye can see, hundreds of them

Endless road

Spied a Sorel in a little wetland on an evening stroll to walk off a really good Mexican super.

This guy came to greet us at our campsite and was perfectly tame. I tried to feed him lettuce but he was too fussy and didn't want it. I sent his picture to Lia and told her he didn't like my handout. She said he just doesn't like his vegetables! Made me LOL because neither of the girls like vegetables!!

Northwest Nebraska

This huge old Cottonwood is giving great shade to our campsite at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, Nebraska. This is a wonderful place to visit. It's a historic military fort that dates back to the days of Crazy Horse and Red Cloud, was active during both World Wars as depot for Army horses, trained military dogs here, was the sight of a German Prisoner of War camp. Closed up in 50's and taken over by Nebraska and made into historic state park. Except. . .now every thing closed down.  First because of virus and then because all museums, attractions, dining, and theater close for season on Labor Day. Too late for us. Well, nice campground and the setting is still interesting and surrounding landscape most interesting.

Now cattle country big time surrounded by pine covered buttes.

And horses

Checked out Toadstool Geological Park north of town. Lots of badland looking rocks with fossil dinasaur tracks and ancient beginnings. 

An old sod house replica like those the pioneers who homesteaded these grasslands lived in. Timber was scarce so they used most available resources. Well, you know they were well insulated!

Oglala National Grassland. Lots of Western South Dakota and this part  of Nebraska are still grasslands as far as eye can see.

Custer and Todd and Susie's KOA

All the bison you would ever want to see. They manage the numbers every year by having a roundup in the fall and selling off a number of them to keep the herd at a sustainable 1,300 animals. Quite a site.

And there are burro here also. These guys are much to use to people and come right up to cars and stop traffic waiting for a handout.

Needles hiway

Sylvan Lake

We discovered a place called Badger Hole. Named in memory of Charles Badger Clark who preferred his middle name and went by Badger Clark. He was Poet Laurette of South Dakota until his death in 1957. He got permission from forest service to build his home in the Black Hills in the 30's and that's where he lived simply and alone all his life, writing his Cowboy Poetry and paying tribute to a life in tune with the perfect creation around him and the pioneer/ cowboys lifestyle.  His home is perfectly preserved as he left it when he died plus a scenic 1 mile nature trail which I could handle. He left South Dakota during his early years to find health from Tuberculosis and worked on a ranch in SE Arizona which inspired him to his literary acclaim when he returned to his home state.

A narrow tunnel on that Needles Hiway.

And then we left the Black Hills and moved on south toward Hot Springs where we purposely found this particular KOA campground. It's a extremely nice campground, but what was fun about staying here, is the fact that the owners are "the kids" of our dear camping buddies from Pennsylvania--Jack and Wanda!! We just walked in and not knowing if we would recognize Todd and Suzi, tried to just check in. But Susie caught on who we were almost immediately!!  Lovely kids.