Friday, August 12
Sunrise at Los Pinos Road Camp, southwest of Del Norte, Colorado
The crew and I linger after breakfast, strolling around our camp.
Today we come down off this ridge that was our home for one, wonderfully peaceful night. We don’t have far to travel today. We can take the time to wander across the beams of morning light that reach us through the pines.
No internet connection here is a good thing. I would be tempted to stay longer and the perfection of this camp would be marred by the sounds of people and their noisy vehicles coming up for weekend fun. As it is, I will always recall the quiet of this camp in a forest on a ridge.
“Okay, cuties. It’s time to go.”
On the descent my thoughts about the weekend are confirmed.
We meet three bicyclists pumping their way up Los Pinos Road, followed by a pick-up hauling two OHVs on a utility trailer, a toy hauler (probably carrying an OHV or two), and a motorhome with an OHV attached to its rear.
Yes, it’s good that we left before the onslaught.
Cheery, yellow flowers along the road seem to wish us well as we go by.
“Come back again,” I hear them say.
It’s nice to be able to take one’s time, relaxed and refreshed from the last camp.
I love to mosey through the countryside.
Horses in a field with yellow flowers — How can I resist!
I park the Perfect Tow Vehicle on the shoulder of the road and pick up the camera.
Aren’t you a beauty! Your coat gleams in the sunshine.
Flashy markings and coloring on the little one — including white knee socks!
Ah! The pose worth waiting for! Thank you!
This is the plan for today . . . .
At the junction with Route 160 we will turn west and motor about 15 miles to South Fork. At the fork we will bear right onto Route 149 which points us toward Creede. We won’t go that far today. There are two camping possibilities along the way.
In South Fork I park behind a gas station.
I let the crew out for a minute so they won’t bug me while I go online to check the blog. I write a comment about not having internet at the last camp and that we’re on our way to a new camp. While writing I notice people using a dump station behind Rainbow Grocery. Hmm. . . . good to know.
Route 149 runs along the Rio Grande River.
I don’t take photos, instead I enjoy the ride without stopping. We will be in this area for a while. I can take pictures another time.
It turns out that Collier State Wildlife Area does not allow camping. Maybe it did at one time, but not any more.
Disappointing . . Those lovely places along the Rio Grande would make wonderful camps . . . .
About ten miles north of South Fork we turn into Palisade Campground.
Previously I noticed this campground on my Colorado Benchmark map. The location isn’t far from South Fork, plus it’s situated along the River.
I anticipate a convenient and pleasant place for us to make our home for a while.
As we slowly roll through the campground on this Friday morning, most of the campsites are occupied, including all the ones along the river. Open campsites are either very short, unappealing, or too shady. I turn on my Verizon jetpack. No internet here.
Checking my Benchmark again, I see another option.
We could drive a few miles south of South Fork and look at Beaver Creek Campground. Maybe the choice of campsites will be better and maybe, just maybe, there’s internet.
Five miles south of South Fork we arrive at Beaver Creek!
I park at the self-pay station to learn the camping fee is $18 regular/$9 with senior discount. I scan the notices — the usual bulletins about campground rules and camp practices in bear country.
Oh, what’s this?
“While the state has legalized marijuana, it is not legal on federal lands. . . . This includes medical marijuana as well.”
Beaver Creek does not take reservations. There is a camp host. Bear-proof trash bins are provided, as well as a vault toilet and two drinking water pumps.
I choose a back-in campsite that has only one neighbor.
A truck camper is in the site next to us. As a general rule I’ve found truck campers to be among the least annoying of neighbors. They tend not to run loud generators. That’s not based on a scientific study; it’s based on experiential, anecdotal evidence. I like truck campers.
The BLT’s door faces the campground lane which isn’t desired. I’m not concerned about that. The important thing is I have internet!
I can blog again!
The picnic table/sitting area is pleasant with lots of room for the crew to roam.
Beaver Creek runs alongside our campsite but one has to go down a steep slope to get to it. The sound of the creek does reach my lounger and also inside the BLT.
I pay for three nights at Beaver Creek Campground.
I put up the antenna pole and connect the Wilson antenna to my Verizon jetpack.
I haven’t had my mail forwarded in a long time. Online I direct my mail forwarding service, America’s Mailbox, to send my mail “General Delivery” to the South Fork post office address. I expect the vehicle registration renewals for the PTV and BLT to be among my mail.
rvsue
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Beaver Creek, south of South Fork, Colorado
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