Thursday, June 2
The crew and I say goodbye to Devil’s Canyon and shoot north to Monticello.
At Mountain View RV Park I dump the waste tanks for $5. Next I find the post office, park the Perfect Tow Vehicle and Best Little Trailer in a shady spot and dash inside.
I pick up my mail and send off a picture postcard to my aunt in New York state. (Yes, there still are people who send picture postcards!)
“Okay, now we can leave Utah and go to Colorado!”
Route 491 takes us east/southeast across huge, flat fields. Some are bright green with hay, others red-brown, freshly tilled. The crops in this part of western Colorado are hay, wheat, and beans.
Several grain elevators stand like guards as we approach the village of Dove Creek.
I park at the “superette,” give the crew a brief walk-around, and buy half a watermelon.
Our destination is Bradfield Campground on the Dolores River.
We turn off of Route 491 at Cahone and travel across six miles of flat cropland.
Gee, this isn’t looking good. What kind of campground is next to hay fields?
All of a sudden the road goes down!
Well, of course! The river flows through a canyon . . . .
Anticipation mounts as we descend on the curvy road. I glimpse the river on my right.
This might be nice!
At the base we find a green meadow surrounded by hills.
(By the way, my camera lens is not dirty. The center of the photo below shows dust kicked up by a vehicle ahead of us.)
Bradfield Campground is named for the Bradfield family who farmed this area using horses into the 1940s. Their house is located in a spot downstream from the campground.
I pull up and park at the self-pay station.
Only four dollars a night for us! (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Bridget and Reggie know we have arrived at our new camp and are eager to get out.
“C’mon, let’s go down to the river.”
We walk and find that the river is brushy along the bank. This tells me to find a site that is pleasant in itself, not next to the river.
We drive around the two loops until I find the right one for us.
This campsite might not look like much. However, it has potential!
Getting out to find where the site is the most level, I see that a previous camper made a depression with a shovel.
Great! I don’t have to!
Slowly I back up the Best Little Trailer, easing her left tire into the low spot. I get out and check both levels: front to back, perfect, and side to side, perfect.
I create an outdoor room in the shade of the pine and the shelter.
As I’m setting up, a Black-billed Magpie, flashy in his black and white plumage and with long tail, hops from branch to branch of the pine tree, eyeing us with curiosity.
As I pick up my camera, he squawks and flies away. We’ve been welcomed!
I set up my laptop and air card on the picnic table.
I hope there’s internet here . . . Yay! 3G and 2 bars! I can live with that!
Happily I retrieve the watermelon and rotisserie chicken from the refrigerator.
“Time to celebrate our new camp, crew!”
Bridget takes her position underneath the picnic table while Reggie sits on the ground near me. I cut a good-sized chunk of watermelon for myself and cut off some chicken pieces for the crew.
It’s a warm day but it’s pleasant sitting under this shelter and pine tree. A cool breeze blows.
This is nice. We’ll stay through the weekend . . . .
“Okay, I need to take some photos for the blog.”
I step back for the shot. Bridget stays under the table and Reggie . . . .
“Reggie! Get down from there, baby. You’ve had your chicken!”
He’s a good boy and immediately obeys.
Reggie is very interested in this new environment.
I let him run around in the tall grass next to our campsite. He needs to expend energy and explore!
What a guy! He’s lovin’ this. . .
We relax in the shade.
Reggie attacks Bite Me, the flea toy. Bridget and I watch the arrival of people with rafts. Vehicle after vehicle comes down the road, hauling rafts on trailers. The rate of their arrival increases until there is a steady stream toward the boat launch area. I count over 50 vehicles in the lot! We can’t hear them because they’re on the other end of the meadow.
A few come to the camping area and set up tents. Apparently they plan to launch in the morning.
“Let’s go see the action on the river! It’s not far, Bridgie. I bet you can walk it okay”
I recall reading at the pay station that the Dolores River has Class III and Class IV rapids.
We don’t watch long. It’s a little past noon and it’s warm when out in the sun like this.
Later, when the sun is low, we go for a stroll-and-roll around our new home.
Our new camp may seem plain.
What’s missing in these photos is the marvelous, fresh air coming through the canyon carrying with it the scent of hay touched with pine.
rvsue
WARNING!
Graphic material below may not be appropriate for immature audiences.
Viewer discretion is advised.
~ ~ ~
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
Yo! Happy to see the pups and you are having a great day. That water looks inviting!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANN! FIRST PLACE!
Poor toy! RIP!
Thank you for the note of condolence, Sandra….. SECOND PLACE TODAY!
Oh The death of a play toy, He must have gotten in the watermelon to deserve such a fate!
Hi, Dave! THIRD PLACE TODAY!
Actually, contrary to reports of his demise, Bite Me is in intensive care. It may be possible to save him!
Best laugh of the day….so far! Thank you Sue, Reggie and Bite Me
1st?
Nope, not today, Pat. 🙂
Darn. When it came in it said 5 minutes ago! I guess that wasn’t for everyone.
Well, you did pretty good, seeing as you sent it from Michigan. 🙂
I love your posts……may never travel like this. Through you I can live vicariously. “Thanks for the memories”.
You’re welcome, Laura. There’s room for you in the PTV! 🙂
That poor toy looks very familiar. My Schipperkes think it is necessary to remove the squeaker and destuff the toy. I’ve been getting the no stuffing toys. They grab them and whip their heads back and forth which causes the toy to whip around. They do still have squeakers though. As soon as I see one, I pick it up and trash it. We lost a little girl a few years ago when she swallowed a squeaker. Very sad story.
Good heavens, that’s awful… Little girl or little girl dog?
…whip their heads back and forth …” reminds me of a hit song by actor Will Smith’s kid. It goes: “I whip my hair back and forth. I whip my hair back and forth.” Yep, that’s the entire song. This is the high culture that you miss while out boon docking!
Very pretty campsite! Green is so much more inviting than bare rock.
Hi, Pam N…. And green is cooler!
A lovely camp!! I can’t wait to smell the pines again!!!
Poor Bite Me!!!! 🙂
Hi, Betty-Shea!
May he rest in peace…….or pieces in this case. Lol.
Ha! Good one, Judith. 🙂
Oh, that’s a good one! (He did kind of ask for it, though. Apparently, Reggie can read.
Praying for “Bite Me’s” quick recovery! Too funny!
Hi, Pamela… Well, “Live by the bite, die by the bite.” 🙂
Your campsite looks lovely! Enjoy!
Kay from KC MO!
Thanks, Kay. We are!
Poor “Bite Me” flea. Our doggies had one too and it didn’t last long! Well, that was a funny ending. The campground looks wonderful and looks like a big FW like ours would fit too. I like the $8 fee.
Hi, Renee,
Yes, a fifth wheel would fit here. . . . only $4 a night with discount… Low fees like this are disappearing…
I’m not quite there for the discount, but I am anxiously looking forward to that and the lifetime National Parks pass for $10. Two more years for me, but that will be how I celebrate turning 62!
I hope “bite me” me makes it out of ICU. Another nice camp site. I do love traveling around America with you guys! Stay safe…..
Thanks, Wendy. I enjoy having you with us!
What a nice new camp on the river for you all. Happy to read Bite Me may survive the cliffhanger episode after all! We too experienced a weekend of boat owners flooding into this water side campground on Friday and all packing right back up to leave us in peace again by midday today. It is fun but sort of stressful to watch all the setting up, rapid enjoyment and then the decamp rush as most head back to the work world. I feel so fortunate to have plenty of time to come early and stay longer to enjoy the midweek quiet of nature in a well maintained park.
You state my thoughts exactly, Molly.
It’s an interesting dynamic to watch. The intense preparations — unpacking the gear from the vehicle, packing up the raft, etc. — and driving the empty trailer to the take-out point. Then coming back in the spare vehicle…. No silliness, no beer drinking, no hollering and loud laughter… For the most part these people are serious rafters, not floaters.
Hi Sue,
Nice campsite. Like the shelter over the picnic table. How do you find all these wonderful campsites? Enjoy Colorado.
Norman
Hi, Norman,
This is a nice shelter. Unlike most shelters I’ve encountered, this one puts shade where you want it. The picnic table is well made, too.
How do I find these campsites? Benchmark atlas, of course!
Have a good evening!
The crew doesn’t like watermelon? Katie loves it. Nice campground.
Hi, Dawn,
The crew doesn’t know what watermelon tastes like and I plan to keep it that way. They glom on my food enough… plus they have rotisserie chicken. 🙂
Well that’s true. LOL. And burgers through the magic drive thru.
Hi Sue,
You’re roaming around my old country.
Rafting down the Dolores is iffy in most years. There must be a dam release this summer.
Don’t know which way you’re going, but up Co. 145 south of Rico there are some boondocking spots along the upper Dolores River.
Drop me a line if you want a few more spots.
By the way, some of the fields are planted in an old bean found in an Anasazi dwelling. It’s called and Anasazi Bean, of course. It sort of looks like a painted horse, red and dull white. They’re good, sort of sweet.
Once you get in the high country, it’s hard to find anything with more beauty.
Enjoy,
Robert
Hi, Robert,
I’ve been looking at Route 145 on my map. Thanks for the tip! I don’t know if we’ll go all the way to Rico… Depends upon what we find. This is all new to me.
Interesting about the Anasazi bean….
Poor Bite Me. I’ve had days like those.
I think your new camp looks quite nice. Simple, maybe, but a nice shady spot under the trees for your watermelon and chicken. Looks like a summer day to me.
Hi, Applegirl,
Simple, shady, and a never-ending movie playing of rafters, coming and going…
My first watermelon of this summer… and this is the perfect place for it.
Fun times Sue N Crew. What a start to ‘almost summer’ with watermelon and the scent of pine trees in the breeze. Love your photos again and your dire Bite Me warning. Ha! Thanks for your wild west travelogue.
You’re welcome, Marilyn,
I’m laughing at “wild west travelogue.” We bump around from place to place, don’t do anything outstanding, just move from camp to camp and wander around…. yet people keep reading…. and react to news of a dead doggie-toy… 🙂
So I bought a Paperwhite and cover through your link. I hope I got it right this time.
That was YOU? Yes! You got it right. I saw it in today’s report. Thank you!
I know you’ll enjoy the Paperwhite… You bought a really nice cover for it, too.
Hi Sue, another nice campground for you and the crew. I’m glad you were a ways from the river and not subjected to a lot of noise. Hoping that intensive care and surgery help Mr. Bite Me last a while longer.
Hi, Lisa,
Thanks for the nice note. I’ve never been around so many people without there being lots of noise. These rafters come and go quietly. Of course, once they’re on the river they let out some hoots and hollers. 🙂
Hi, Sue – What a lovely campsite. I know it is refreshing to have a change of scenery and thank goodness for the shade you have there.
Happy Trails, and thank you for your very nice blog. I always enjoyed the read.
Pamelab in Houston
Hi, Pamelab,
It is lovely for us. Having such a nice shelter together with the blue mat, table, and lounger… well, it’s very homey!
I’m happy you enjoy my blog.
Love your outdoor room…nice to have a shaded area!
Hah bite me flea is being resuscitated…wonder if Reg man would still have interest if you remove the stuffing? We’ve giving up on AO and just buy the ones without stuffing.
Being the expert on rotisserie chicken….what is your preference..mom and pop store or chain?
Hi, Cinandjules,
Reggie doesn’t pay any attention to toys without stuffing. I tried to engage him in play with a de-stuffed sock monkey and he was “meh.”
I don’t think I’ve ever bought a rotisserie chicken from a mom and pop store. Usually it’s Wal-Mart or Safeway or Fart and Smile. As we travel through rural areas, those are the choices along with small groceries that are like big convenience stores.
Hope the intensive care means that Bite Me may not have bitten the dust after all! Love Bridgey under the table just looking at you. She’s so funny.
Hi, Susan,
I was going to stage a photo with Bite Me in the dirt so I could use the caption, “Bite Me bites the dust.” Never got around to it…
If you look closely you’ll see Bridget’s head under the table in the first watermelon photo.
Good shot of the steep part of the road,that gives a better sense of how deep the canyon is than just seeing the hills surrounding that place.”the marvelous, fresh air coming through the canyon carrying with it the scent of hay touched with pine”- how wonderful! I already thought it was a nice campground before you added that. It’s always nice to walk through green grass and dangle ones feet in a river on a warm day. Have you chosen to avoid the brushy banks as a caution in case there are snakes?Your site looks well shaded and really large with a lot of distance between you and the others camped there. Does the extra room give you the feeling of privacy more vegetation sometimes provides?
Hi, weather,
You encourage me when you respond to my posts in a way that displays your understanding of what I was trying to convey.
To answer your questions…. I avoided the campsites near the river because those are used by rafters. There’s a place to launch on the far side of the meadow, a place next to the large parking lot. Also people put in at places along the river near campsites. If we camped there, we’d be among all that activity, as well as using a campsite a rafter would want. I didn’t know that when we first arrived, just saw people tended to take those spots. The brushiness put me off. Maybe snakes would’ve been a consideration otherwise. There’s so much activity around the campground that I imagine snakes would rather be elsewhere.
Yes, the extra room does give a feeling of privacy. I can’t hear what people are saying and they can hardly see what we’re doing at our camp. The crew and I are an anomaly here…. non-rafters, just camping, and with a dog in a stroller! People smile and wave when we’re out rolling and strolling.
Hi Sue, This looks wonderful!! I love Colorado. This should be a great summer!!
Wishing you a great summer, Jolene!
It is so hot here in Grants Pass Oregon…’Oh how hot is it’? 100 degrees F HOT and it is 7:16 PM. Bite Me made me smile. I had a half lab and half Irish setter named Buck years ago. He loved garage sales as I picked out different stuffed animal toys for his approval. He loved them all like a Mother and he knew all their names too. I would say, “Buck go get your bunny rabbit”. Off like a shot he went sorting through all his toys and always came back with the right one. He loved them until he tired of them, then he went on a happy rampage of destruction tearing them to shreds. It was back to the garage sales then and he was happy as a clam.
Hi, Joe,
What a smart dog! Your story of Buck is precious. Must have been a wonderful dog, great combination of breeds.
I think Reggie would recognize the names of his toys if they were around a little longer. He did know the name of Limey, his favorite. I wish I could find another one just like it.
I bet garage sale-ing was fun with Buck along.
Okay, this is weird. Look at the pic of Reggie walking on the seat of the picnic table. Does he have FIVE legs?
Ha! The whole photo looks even more strange when expanded, double exposure or some other dog’s part?!
check the photo below that one, does he have an extra ear or two?
Oh! A five-legged, four-eared dog! I knew that rotisserie chicken was bad!
Or some other dog part! Too funny!
Look at Bridgee she looks like she has 5 legs also..but it’s her tail!
She also has four ears!
I see that!
I have a photo of Reggie, one of this bunch of pics… I didn’t use it because he had two noses!
Do you know if something different such as a low battery , signal, different filter or program used caused the odd effects in the photos?
No, I don’t know of anything different. I thought maybe the camera became hot as it rested on the console of the PTV. It doesn’t seem like it was hot though.
I’ll take more photos today and see if this was a temporary glitch.
It’s the altitude!
Hopefully it was a glitch and the photos you took today prove that. If not, possible causes and solutions I read on the web-try a different memory card for your camera if you have a spare one, or don’t just erase and clear yours, format it if you can. I guess that helps a laptop successfully “read ” the photos as long as it has a full charge?
Good morning, weather,
I took a bunch of photos. I haven’t looked at all of them closely. So far I’ve only found one crazy photo — Reggie with four ears! I have a spare memory card and will use it. Thank you for looking for causes and solutions.
My plan is to leave Bradfield today, although I’m tempted to stay. No one is in the campground! Very peaceful. I wish the same for you today…
Thanks for the wish, Sue, my yesterday was a pleasant combination of productive and peaceful. I hope that yours was, too,and that you now have whatever supplies you need, including a functional camera, so you three can enjoy wherever you are. I’m guessing you haven’t checked in because you felt like nesting and resting after a busy day yesterday. If no access to the internet is the reason I hope your time off line is spent taking in beauty… 🙂
LOL Made me look! Too funny! I think the back “leg” is a shadow from the covering. But at first glance, it does look like he is five-legged! Kinda explains his fast speed. Thanks for the good laugh!
Hahahahaha! Does look that way! It’s a shadow under the table.
Love the pictures and description of the campground.
May “Bite Me Flea” have a speedy recovery!
Thanks, Elaine!
Made me look, too. I think it’s the leg bar of the seat on the other side of the table. Y’all are funny.
A few stitches and day of rest should do Bite Me a world of good. Well, until Reggie gets to him again! Sue, you have found another bright, cozy spot to visit; it’s lovely. And $4 a night–sure can’t beat that price for beauty like you have to view. I love when you show Bridget under the table. She is so cute and looks so secure there. As for pups and melon, I have tried watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc. to try to help Willee with his poop issues (there really is no nice way to say that, is there?). He won’t have any of them! So I use bits of baked or steamed sweet potato, which I can get pretty much all year here, or pie pumpkin in the fall. They both freeze well in small portions, so I just have to take them out to thaw. Cures what “tails” him right away.
I hope that your chicken, which looks good, is better than the pale pullet you had the other day. A mom and pop store hopefully knows a thing or two about cooking. And I am so glad the area has attracted a mature bunch who seem well behaved. Confession: I taught for 33 years and loved every minute of it. And I adore my grandnieces and grandnephews to pieces, but not being a mom myself….well, I find I don’t tolerate children’s noises like I used to. Each time you mention no close neighbors, I let out of sigh of relief for you and for my hopeful future.
Enjoy your time at this spot. It is lovely. Belly rubs for the pups and prayers and wishes for safe travels for you all.
Hope
Hi, Retiredcajun lady,
That is the same rotisserie chicken… the one that looks like a Cornish game hen in need of a tan. (Remember my posts are about days in the past.) That chicken came from Clarke’s in Blanding, which I think is a chain, not sure.
I don’t enjoy the sound of children any more either. I guess that comes with age. Too much screaming. Although there was a family here, a rafting family, and the children were very soft spoken which they probably were taught, both with reminders and by example. Loud parents have noisy children.
I tried pumpkin with Bridget and Spike. They looked at me like, “Are you kidding me? I’m not eating that!”
My local Goodwill has stuffed toys for 99 cents as the regular price! I sort through them making sure the ones I choose for the dog do not have any pellets in the stuffing or plastic eyes that can be pulled out. Of course I choose the ones that are of the best quality so that they last longer and wash easily.
Your dog is “living on less and enjoying life more!”
Sue, what a pretty spot. I know you have found some spectacular sites, but I think your ability to enjoy the simple life with gratitude makes them all beautiful by being framed with your positive outlook.
Well today was my drop dead date for leaving town and I did it with help, which means help downsizing and renovating my trailer. So glad that stage is done. . As I pulled into the campground late (ok, very late, which could not be avoided), I could smell the ocean all around. I look forward to exploring in daylight. And re-organizing my trailer since everything was jumbled up like the clothes in a dryer when I opened the door, ugh
“like the clothes in a dryer when I opened the door.”…. I know what that’s like! After a while you’ll figure out how to prevent that.
I hope you enjoy the ocean today, Lisa!
I am thinking of covering everything with a net to keep it from sliding off the benches in transit. Sounds like your drawer problem.
OK Missy! This IS spooky. Look at the third picture from the bottom, the long shot looking back at your site. See how the tree is floating in air, there is part of the trunk toward the top missing. I can even see green foliage beyond it through the missing part! I suggest you lock up good at night!!!!!! Woooooooooooo
Ha Jim-You are right. A missing piece of trunk? Even the trees are so happy that they float on air:)
Uh-oh… Now I’m worried. I hope my camera is okay. The top of the tree is floating!
It’s a branch /limb hanging down…part of it is next to the BLT.
That watermelon looks so juicy and good I can almost taste it! Our beagle and our two pomeranians all love watermelon!
What a wonderful crew you have, Jan… a beagle and two poms!
The watermelon was/is good. I’m going to finish it today…
you always seem to find the best campgrounds…..and this one is no different…
that water looks inviting but with my experience in Colorado its colder than
a witches…..uh, I wont say but trust me its cold even in summer…..I learned
to put my drinks in the water to keep them cool…..
thanks for the post
chuck
You’re welcome, Chuck,
I imagine that water is pretty cold… melted snow… I wouldn’t want to fall out of one of those rafts.
Sue- You certainly have a gift for writing about your travels! Always entertaining and the crew is also. It looks like a nice campsite by the river and $4 a night is my kind of price. I hope that those kind of deals don’t disappear before I get on the road. Looking forward to the next adventure!
Thank you, Linda.
I hope the deals remain also. Even when one can afford higher fees, it kind of puts a pall on the experience, at least for someone cost-conscious like I am. As it is, I’m thinking and grinning, “Wow! Only 4 bucks and it’s nice!”
espy Durango are my kind of people they think the renaming to US 191 should be ignored also. For those that do not know any better these directions will cause some confusion. HA
“Bradfield campground is 30 miles northwest of Dolores CO which is about 38 miles from Durango, Colorado. From Dolores, travel west on Highway 145 for 2 miles. Go right on Highway 184 for 8 miles. Turn right on U.S. Hwy 666 for 13 miles, then go..”
Do go to Rico, CO it is worth a look. My one time there was over night 23-24 June 1991 when on the Western Tour by bicycle. The morning of the 24th when I got up my water bottles on the bicycle had frozen water in them.
The elevation there is 8,825′ and we went from there over Lizard Head Pass which is at 10,250′. From Rico, over the Pass and past the turn off to Telluride is some of the most beautiful CO scenery that I have been through – or perhaps is was that I saw it from the seat of a bicycle.
You’re right. I am confused!
I followed those directions on my Benchmark. Did okay until the part about Route 666, as was your point. However, double confusion… I thought Route 666 was replaced with Route 191. The road to Bradfield (that goes from Utah through Dove Creek and Cahone) is Route 491. Crazy!
I was right with you, Ed, about going to Rico until the part “my water bottles . . . had frozen water in them.” And that was in June… Looked up the average low for June… 33.7 degrees!
I wish I didn’t have this concern about altitude. It’s influencing my planning and I don’t like that. One route I want to take involves a pass higher than 11,500 feet. Avoiding that pass wipes out a lot of what I want to experience. I’d go for it if I weren’t the only driver and then there’s Bridget’s comfort to consider also.
I’m not dismissing your suggested route. I’ll see how we do as our altitude increases.
P.S. Our altitude decreased from Devil’s Canyon CG at 7,400 ft. to Bradfield CG at 6,500 ft.
Good Morning Sue! Well I admit it, I am a wuss, I am having my morning coffee AND peanut butter toast. I could not help it! After a wonderful morning conversation with a very close friend, I had to treat my self even more…Hi, My Name is Shirlene and I am a peanut butter toastoholoic. I promise not to fall off the wagon too many more times, but some days are just too special not to celebrate with coffee and peanut butter toast. I absolutely love the camp ground you are at, I could sit there and watch the boats and the grass grow for days. You have your new home set up wonderfully, makes me want to just be there, only a few campsites down as to not to intrude. Boy this Country has some amazing places to see. The pups look so happy and the weather looks great. The beginning of our weeks are so different huh. Well, time to get to work, and time for you to enjoy your day and I bet it is just wonderful there at night. Cannot wait to see more pictures, I really, really like this spot. Enjoy that great watermelon and I will enjoy my peanut butter toast and think of you. 🙂
Hi to all the Blogorinos! I hope everyones day is wonderful.
Your comments are such fun, Shirlene! About the peanut butter toast… I have a loaf of bread (I tried giving up bread. It was too difficult finding other foods in these little convenience-store groceries!) and I have a jar of peanut butter. I’ve finished my first cup of coffee and I haven’t had breakfast yet.
And then I read your comment….. Yes! Peanut butter toast and the second cup! 🙂
I’m pleased you like this camp, that you can see what makes it pleasant here. It is super quiet at night. We sleep well. The temperature is just what I like, a little on the warm side. I like to wake up, open the door, and step outside in my sleeping clothes into “room temperature” air. Only this air is heavenly…
I hope your day is wonderful, too, Shirlene. I’m off to make that toast…
🙂 Yippee I am so glad I have a partner in this. Carbs be damn!
It is all about the protein.
“Ppfffftttt!” There goes my mouthful of coffee!!
Hi Sue! I love this campground you’re in. I love camping somewhere where there is green grass or some sort of green ground cover, so the dogs don’t track dirt into the RV and onto our bed. Love the photo where Bridge is trotting across the open area – she’s so good about not wandering away.
Re the altitude issue: I wonder if you could handle that route you want to take with the 11,000 foot pass, if you broke it up into a few days (if there are places to camp along the way). If you ascend gradually, adjust to the new higher altitude, and then move on the next day, you might be able to handle it without a problem. It can be scary … we were on a motorcycle trip once, riding over the Beartooth Pass in Wyoming (over 10,000 feet) and one of our friends nearly fell asleep on his motorcycle. Extreme altitude sickness can cause fatigue, drowsiness, confusion, a loss of coordination, and even a pulmonary embolism. Nothing to mess with, so I can see why you are being cautious.
I totally agree, it is all about adjusting to the altitude. One of my dogs tends to get really sluggish in altitude for a day, and so do I. Then it gets better, and then it is time to leave. Oh well.
Shirlene, You made me smile about being a peanut butter toastaholic! I could have it 7 days a week for breakfast and be happy, although I’d pack on the lbs!! And then it gets deadly around the holidays, when Trader Joe’s has their pumpkin butter in stock. Toast. Slathered with peanut butter. Slathered with pumpkin butter. Plus Coffee. I’m in heaven!!
Peanut butter toast must be a West Coast “thing”. 🙂
it’s also a NY thing 🙂 hi!
🙂 🙂 🙂 of course!
I have eaten peanut butter toast all my life. Originally form Ohio, to GA and now TN. Especially love it on my exercise days, light but with protein to get through class.
Hi, Cynthia,
You mention dirt being tracked inside. That’s why I put down the blue mat. It makes a big difference. And now I have the big mat ( 9 x 12) and the half-mat (the other half disintegrated in wind). I like the mats because they don’t kill grass, if there’s any underneath them. I also put a plush carpet sample inside the doorway which catches a lot.
I agree. Altitude sickness isn’t always a minor discomfort. It can be disabling. When I tried to drive the skyline drive at Badger Mountain (Ephraim, UT), going over 9,500 feet I hit a wall. I couldn’t force myself to go further. What if that happened on a mountain road where there wasn’t a place to turn around?
My plan is to turn around at the first symptoms, such as tingling in the legs or breathing difficulties. Scary, what happened to your friend!
It would be helpful if we could do as you suggest. Very unlikely we will find campsites in increments of altitude like that. I’ll be cautious.
LOL!! We have an outside mat and an inside rug at the door. I wipe 8 paws, multiple times a day, with baby wipes. And still, dirt comes in. I think it gets in their hair and then they shake it out. And of course, they never “shake” outside, they wait until they get inside. Little devils, but I love them!!
Well Sue, you’ve done it again…you put three posts in so quickly that I couldn’t keep up! A feat indeed! I’ve really enjoyed catching up with the blog and the comments. I saw Reggie’s “extra” legs and it brought a much needed smile to my face. I had a really hard week last week. I got some really bad news about a friend’s health, and then I had to say good bye to one of my cats. She was 16 years old and was suffering from kidney failure. I had her since she was just a few days old. I really miss her. I know she had a good life and was quite spry up until the end. I’m trying to think positive thoughts as her 16 year old sister is still with me and is going strong. It’s just sad when good things come to an end.
Sorry Dawn, I hope it gets easier as time passes. I know the feeling, about both of which you speak.
Dawn, so sorry to hear about your kitty passing away. It has been five years since my last of three cats passed away and I still miss each of them. Sixteen years is a good life and how wonderful for her that she got to spend all of it with you.
I’m so sorry, Dawn. Sixteen years of companionship and now she’s gone. Missing her cuts like a knife. And then the news of your friend, too.
Sending you hugs and wishing you better days soon, dear one.
I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you and your friend in my prayers. Take care and be well.
Sending positive thoughts, it’s great that you still have her sister, and sympathy, Dawn,I’m sorry you had to say good-bye.
Sorry for the loss of your kitty. My Prince, the Himalayan lived to be sixteen. He was a great cat. We used to laugh during the winter. In spite of all that fur, he like to lay in front of our buck stove (with ventilator) Then as the temperature output increased, he would move further & further away. By bedtime, he would be lying in the hallway by the front door. Guess he would have gone outside if he could. Ha Ha!
Hi Sue,
This camp site looks and sounds lovely! I can’t wait to see/smell/ experience places like this in person. It was pretty warm here on the Long Beach peninsula this weekend, we went down to Canon Beach for a few hours….ugh way to crowded and hot. While we were there someone lost a 9yo little boy on the beach, luckily they found him a couple hrs later 3 mi down the beach and he was fine. Always a frightening experience, at least for the parents/grand parents, pretty sure the boy was oblivious.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week.
ChrisAnn
Wishing you a wonderful week, too, ChrisAnn!
Happy Monday, Sue!
This camp seems like an excellent choice. Lots of run-around area for Reggie and all day shady spots for activities. Can a nap be an ‘activity’? 🙂
How is that extra sleeping pad doing for your soreness?
Where does one get a carpet sample when on road?
Wishing you warm, light breezes and happy tail wags.
Happy Tuesday, MV gal!
I’m not having the leg pain I had before. I don’t know if it’s the sleeping pad or other changes I’ve made, such as diet. I definitely think the sleeping pad has helped. Thank you for asking.
I bought a couple carpet samples at the Family Dollar store in Ajo last winter. They’re cheap and, if I can find the kind with really thick pile, they are better than expensive rugs… last longer, clean more easily, and do a better job of catching dirt.
Thank you for the lovely wish. May you have the same…
Bite Me looks like I feel today, it was a rough Monday. I sure hope he pulls through and is back in action soon. Your new camp looks so pleasant. I love the smell of hay and hay mixed with pine must be an exquisite scent.
The watermelon looks great, I have one here to cut up and my pups will be mooching some. They love fruit. Except oranges, they bark at oranges!
Well anyway, enjoy your new camp. It should be interesting to watch the rafters. Happy Monday!
I hope your Tuesday is far better than your Monday was, Gingerita! Have a wonderful week…
Great looking camp!! Oh, poor Bite Me…. sad.
8~/). RIP…
Hi, Virginia!
Sympathy for a flea… That’s gotta’ be a “first!” 🙂
With my luck, that bird would land in the tree while I was under it and leave a present on my head!!
I did find a bird splat on the arm of my lounger. I wasn’t in it at the time of the drop!
We’ve ventured into Colorado as well and it smells wonderful here too 🙂 Love you sweet little spot with the shade. That’s a lot of rafters! Must be like rush hour on the water 🙁 The crew looks so happy 🙂
Hi, Jodee,
It’s rush hour on the water and then the river is silent again. The Dolores is fast-moving. They must have an exciting ride, several rapids…
Enjoy Colorado!
Alas, Bite Me, we hardly knew ye.
Hilarious!
Hi, Blogorinos,
Bridget, Reggie, and I are leaving Bradfield Campground this morning. We will pick up some fresh supplies and look for a new camp. Again I remind you that we may move out of range of internet, although I hope not!
Wishing you a bright and beautiful day!
Bye for now,
Sue
P.S. Bite Me is in stable condition although he’s not out of the woods yet. Thank you for your concern. 🙂
Safe Travels to you and the crew!
With Bite Me in stable condition, seems like he’ll make a good recovery! HeeHeeHee!
Great post Sue………….I’ve caught up with you in Colorado after seeing some awesome sights in Utah before you left. Amazing and yes I agree really hard to take it all in. Sorry to hear of the demise of the “Bite me” toy. I am continually sewing up 3 ducks that belong to one of my dogs. Of all the toys Chanel only likes the ducks……..so sew sew sew………what we do for them hey!!??
We are out & about having lots of fun doing NW camping in June! Our first camp was at Blue Lake, just south of Grand Coulee Dam. Gil’s baby sister (age 56) stopped by for dinner. Next morning we joined her on friend’s boat on Lake Roosevelt. Gil caught a beautiful silver and a good size trout. I enjoyed the ride! One filet was enough for our dinner.
Next day we crossed Roosevelt Lake on Keller’s ferry, a small free ferry that carried our outfit & 4 other autos only. We headed north to Republic; very hot! Stocked up with gas, groceries & a bit of lunch. Headed west on Hwy 20 for 20 miles then north to Bonaparte Lake campground. Very hot weather until today as thunder started & rain began. We decided to make a visit back to Republic as we have no internet at Bonaparte and I was missing RV Sue! Caught up with family & found out it has been scorchingly hot back home. We are really enjoying the beauty here & G caught his first fish this morning. We will be staying here for awhile!
Hi RvSue and the crew, I’ve been following your travels for months now. I had to start at the very beginning 5 years ago when you were thinking of setting off and it’s taken me ages to catch up to you in real time. I started out by reading every single comments but soon realized that I would never catch up if I took the time to read all the comments, now that I’m caught up I can enjoy each and every comment posted. Looking forward to your upcoming adventures and wish you all the best of luck in your travels. I enjoy reading your blog tremendously and dream of having similar adventures with my own ‘crew’ when the time comes. Thank you for taking the time to blog about your wonderful life.
Hi, SweetP, Welcome to the comments section of Sue’s blog 🙂 . She would ordinarily respond with a personal reply to your comment. I think she is out of internet range now and can’t do that. I hope we keep hearing from you and that your dreams of similar adventures come true.
Welcome, SweetP!! Enjoy and share. We’ll love getting to know ye, lass or laddie.
I went right out and got some watermelon. Yum yum. Put a bunch of odds and ends in my Amazon cart. I’m going to get some more GreenPan skillets. These things are fabulous! Nothing sticks to them. They are ceramic non-stick and it works amazingly. I don’t cook a lot mainly because I am lazy. But these pans really help with that as they clean up so easy. Also getting some silicone spatulas and pot lids. Magic stuff, this silicone. And a few other things. But I have to wait for a check to come in so I have money to pay. I hate that, but I had so many bills the last couple months.
So…back to my book. Ta-Ta.
I’m with you. I don’t cook a lot, either, ’cause I’m lazy and don’t really enjoy it. 🙂
Hi Desert Ginger. I was wondering about those ceramic skillets. I could use a nice large sautee pan. I’ll have to think about that. Glad to see you’ve given them a good review.
GreenPan makes really nice ones and I noticed a nice large sauté pan with lid on Amazon.
Here’s one of the GreenPan saute pans:
GreenPan Rio Ceramic Non-Stick Covered Skillet with Helper Handle, 5 quart, Black
Question for everyone- is it best to have unbreakable dishes for an rv? I’d like to take my favorite old antique plates and bowls, yet not if it’s likely to cause problems.
I think if you enjoy them, you should take them – as long as you won’t be heart broken if something happens. If I were you, I’d pack them in between dish towels in a laundry basket or something. I travel with real mugs and glassware and haven’t had a break yet. Our dishes are Corelle – a bit sturdier than regular china. Frankly I think it’s worth it to eat on dishes that aren’t plastic or paper, but that’s just me.
Yep, totally agree with you Applegirl… We need our little finery. Good for you. I put an Alpaca rug on top of my bed and it looks sooooo comfy and beautiful… I had it on my couch, but when I moved it to the bedroom to keep it safe, it looked like it belonged and so there it stays.
It those little touches that makes a house a home.. Of course I will keep the puppies off of it!
Thanks, packing them between dish towels is a great idea. It wouldn’t break my heart if something happens, they don’t have sentimental value, are just old and pretty.
Kinda like me….lol 🙂
LOL!
I’m a Corelle Ware girl. Hard to break and still eating on real dishes. Not really into paper plates unless it is just a sandwich.
I’m with you. We do travel with some paper plates, but I find we almost never use them. I like the real deal.
Another idea for dishes, if you have a microwave that you don’t use often, you can put your dishes in there with hand towels between them.
Good Morning Weather, my personal opinion is that we should continue to spoil ourselves with those things that make us feel special. I have packed my 4 Waterford crystal glasses, in the shipment box they came in and put them in my RV. You know there are those times when you just want to spoil yourself and feel special. I am going to take my favorite dining plates, although only 4 of them, my two favorite bowls for salads and my two favorite soup cups and of course my favorite coffee mugs. I have purchased soft underwear storage cases that have spacers and my favorite drinking glasses are in there, they don’t rattle because of the cloth dividers. I will always make allowances for those things. So knowing how much you like your “girly things”..find a way, I know you will… Enjoy your day and I hope you enjoyed your morning coffee, as did I. 🙂
P.S. I still have room in my cupboards! Now for a toaster!
Thanks for encouraging me not to go without a few special things, seeing and using them really does please me. My coffee(and peanut butter toast) was good, I hope the rest of your day is, too 🙂
UPDATE…
Good morning, Blogorinos!
The crew and I are sitting in the PTV in a town park in order for me to go online. Of course, Bridget and Reggie first had a chance to run around in the grass. 🙂
We have been without internet the past two days while camped along a river in the mountains. This morning we move to another camp. I hope we will have connection there.
Welcome, SweetP! Nice to have you appear here. Thank you for reading my blog from its beginning… and thanks weather for writing a welcome note during my absence.
Gee, I miss y’all when I can’t come here!
Bye for now,
Sue
Hope you find a lovely peaceful place today..
A question…how are your curtain rods attached? My curtains pop off the hooks every time I pull my casita!
In an older post her solution was using drapery hooks. If you think seeing how that worked would help you can type -new curtains- in the search blog box above. That will take you that post, it has photos showing Sue’s set up.
Hi, Lee J.,
I had that happen with one of my curtain rods. I don’t know why the others don’t jump off. Anyway… My solution was to take an elastic ponytail thingy, slide it onto the end of the rod so it goes around both the rod and the drapery hook. I wound it around a couple of time so it would hold tightly. My rods are pewter tone. A taupe hair elastic hardly shows!
What an excellent idea!
🙂
Thank you RvSue and weather for the welcome. Poor ol’ Bite Me made me laugh. My George (oversize Yorkie) had had his ‘kitty’ as long as he has been alive (7 years). Kitty looks terrible, he lost his eyes first then his nose. Kitty has been sewn back up each and every time with durable and strong button thread. There is hardly any cotton fabric left to sew the thread unto it 🙂 kitty has practically no head left just a lump that may have passed as a head once upon a time but George likes kitty and carries it around each day, sleeps with it and even though kitty looks like an escapee from the Island of Dr Moreau, kitty will be patched up and sewn unti
oops, hit the wrong key lol. I will do whatever I have to do to keep kitty going, life without kitty would not be possible for my George, he has plenty of toys but kitty is the love of George’s life. I wish I had had that kind of loyalty. LOL. Good evening to all.
Doogie and Radar have several toys that make Bite Me look healthy! haha!
We survived TS Colin with very little wind and only 1.5 ” of rainfall! We were very lucky compared to most of FL!
Loved the photos of the dirt roads, we have been down a few of those!
Looking forward to your stay in Colorado. I spent one winter living and working in Telluride a few decades ago and loved it there! Probably changed a lot there by now! Looking forward to more roadside tales and photos from this summer!
Hi, Geri,
Being without internet which is my main and only source of news, I didn’t realize you were having turbulent weather. Glad you came thorough it with only rainfall…
I’d like to see Telluride and show you some photos.