Get Outta Dodge

Sunday morning we left the Gunsmoke RV Park and headed west again.  The plan was 300 miles through western Kansas and eastern Colorado to a well-reviewed state park outside Walsenburg, CO.  We were slightly delayed wrestling with the tow bar and Toad once again, but prevailed and, for a change, things went pretty much according to plan.  Those parts of Kansas and Colorado have the advantage of being populated mostly by cattle rather than cars, the highways were good through the plains and we arrived in late afternoon at Lathrop State Park. 

Sunset from our site at Lathrop State Park

I’m a big fan of Wisconsin State Parks, but Lathrop S.P. gives Wisconsin parks something to aspire to.  The roads through the park were well-paved and twisty enough to give every site privacy.  Every site had newish picnic table and fire ring.  Every site was pull-thru, a big plus for us weenies who hate to back up, and every site had a view.  There were clean, spacious, handicap-accessible restrooms and showers readily available but not obtrusively placed.  It is a gem and inexpensive.  Lots of birding, fishing and even a golf course.  Definitely a place we’ll stay again if we’re in the neighborhood. 

Git!

Monday was on to Durango, CO., where our friend Jen lives and our stop for at least 3 nights.  We hadn’t disconnected Toad so there were no connection issues and we dumped successfully (you knew I had to tell you that) as we left the park and head west across the high plains.  Our route would take us across the Sangre de Cristo and southern Rocky Mountains.  Lathrop State Park was about 3200 ft. above sea level and we climbed steadily as we drove west.  Chuck was up to the challenge, his big 360 hp Cummins diesel engine keeping us moving.  Sometimes size does matter.  The scenery went from nice, to beautiful to incredible.  Leaves are changing here and the colors are brilliant.  Wildlife appeared including magpies, turkeys and a pika.  At one point a mule deer doe appeared on the side of the highway, threatening to dash in front of us.  I can’t comprehend the chaos hitting a deer with Chuck would cause.  A short blast from the dual Hadley air horns on our roof convinced her to move back into the woods. 

We crested the Rockies at 10,856 ft. above sea level at Wolf Creek Pass and started downhill.  Now, I’ve driven mountains before, and seen the signs warning big trucks about grades and gears and runaway lanes before, but this time, it was meant for us!  Yes, the warning sign said, “7% grade, trucks over 30,000 lbs use low gear, truck speed limit 25 mph”  And then, just a bit further on, “Runaway Truck Lane, ¼ Mile”.  Chuck weighs about 32,000 lbs, has a truck engine and a truck chassis, ergo, we were in a truck pointed downhill and away we went.  I’ll spare you the details of downshifting and exhaust braking, not to mention the intermittent thunder storms that accompanied us over the mountain and am happy to report that we made it to Durango safely.  We are now comfortably settled in the AlpenRose RV Park, fat and happy with 50 amp electrical service, good water hookup and amazing scenery.   

More about Durango next time.