RVSue and her canine crew are boondocked at Kinney Flats, south of Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
View from Navajo River Road, Chromo, Colorado, south of our camp
Wednesday, August 24 (continued)
I’m sitting at my computer inside the Best Little Trailer when a woman holding a clipboard walks past the back window.
“What?” I jump up and dash outside with the crew. “Oh. Hi!”
I learn the woman is the ranger from the Pagosa District of San Juan National Forest. As we greet each other, a man comes around the back side of the BLT. He wears a badge that indicates he’s a volunteer. He records our license plate numbers on the clipboard, as well as my name, address, and phone number.
To indicate that I’m a rule-follower, I ask, “Is the limit 14 days here?”
The ranger tells me it is. I also ask where one can find a water spigot — for drinking water — in Pagosa Springs. Both she and the volunteer suggest I buy my water at Wal-Mart because the water out of spigots in this area is smelly, like sulphur. This surprises and disappoints me.
Gee, at a place called Pagosa Springs . . . .
Before leaving they hand me a goody bag!
Inside I find brochures, maps, pencils that say “Always watch your campfire,” erasers displaying Smokey the Bear’s face, a pencil sharpener, a ruler, even a Smokey the Bear coloring book!
Let’s see, what’s this? Hmm. . . a bookmark. The old-fashioned kind that goes in a book to mark a page, a page made out of paper. How quaint!
What else? Oh, a plastic, frizbee-type ring for dogs that says, “Help Smokey Prevent Forest Fires!”
“Look, Reg! Something for you!”
I hold out the ring.
Reggie walks over and gives it a sniff. No interest at all.
“Never mind, Reg.”
I am well equipped to do my part in helping Smokey!
Later I read the USDA Forest Service, Pagosa Ranger District, pamphlet on “Dispersed Camping.” This paragraph tells me something I didn’t know . . .
“Recreational camping is limited to 14 consecutive days in the same location. After the 14 days, campers must move at least 3 air miles away. For recreational camping, there is a limit of a total of 28 days on the San Juan National Forest in a continuous 60 day period.”
Move “3 air miles away.”
Nice. I’m used to rules stating something like 30 miles away.
Thursday, August 25
The crew and I take a leisurely drive up Navajo River Road (CR 382 ) out of Chromo, south of our camp at Kinney Flats. The road takes us through ranches with beautiful homes situated to take advantage of stunning views, like the one shown in the first photo of this post.
The road, however, is crappy.
All the more reason to drive slowly and catch glimpses of wildlife. Wild turkeys cross the road in front of the Perfect Tow Vehicle.
(I miss the photo because the one car that passes us on this road arrives at that crucial moment!)
We come upon a small herd of deer.
I park and watch them for several minutes.
They don’t show any concern for our presence, continuing calmly to graze. In fact, I had to move the PTV a few feet to grab their attention so they would lift their heads out of the grass.
Maybe deer photos don’t interest you. Scroll on by, my friend! Catch you later!
I love taking and posting deer photos!
Last one . . . .
Remember the photo of Reggie looking out the passenger window at the yellow flowers? The one in the previous post?
Here’s the same shot with his noggin out of the way.
Another beautiful part of Colorado!
Friday, August 26
We are completely out of water!
Bridget, Reggie, and I take off for Wal-Mart which is on the west side of Pagosa Springs. I buy several one-gallon jugs of water at 88 cents apiece.
I also pick up more delicious produce — avocadoes at 50 cents each, a cantaloupe from California at $1.88, a couple ears of olathe corn (15 cents an ear) which turns out to be the sweetest I’ve had this summer, blueberries, blackberries, and, of course, a rotisserie chicken, among other items. I stay away from the peaches. The last peaches I bought — don’t remember where — were mealy, tasteless, absolutely spit-it-out awful.
The big news around camp — cattle!
This bunch is part of a herd of about 30. They visit our campsite daily and do what bovines over the ages have perfected to the level of performance art.
No, not pooping.
They stare. For a long time.
In a return engagement, back by popular demand — The Red, White, and Black Trio!
Staring.
And now it’s time for the soloist . . . “Mooooooooo!”
While the others stare.
Reggie interrupts the performance. “Get the hook, Reggie Man! Run ’em outta’ here!”
rvsue
NOTE: I wish I had photos of Bridget for this post. I am under the Queen’s edict not to post any unflattering photos. Her Royal Highness will make an appearance next time. — Sue
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“Good job, little guy!”
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