“You two are excited today! I guess you’re tired of hanging around camp while I have my face in the computer. After we take a look at some campgrounds, I’ll find us a pretty spot for our picnic.”
The crew and I leave our camp and come down off Trail Ridge.
We turn left and head northward. The weather is perfect in a warm, summery way.
We’re going to Williams Creek Reservoir!
You might want to look at a map of the area, either in your own Colorado Benchmark Atlas or use the map in the previous post, “Boondock on Trail Ridge!”
We take Forest Road #631 north and turn right at Forest Road #640.
Our first stop is Williams Creek Campground.
That dust cloud in the photo (above) is from a passing vehicle. The roads have been very dusty lately!
Williams Creek Campground has 65 campsites, shared water spigots, no hook-ups. Williams Creek flows at the back of several of the sites.
One mile further and we arrive at Teal Campground.
Teal Campground has sixteen campsites, water spigots, and a boat ramp.
The campground is next to Williams Creek Reservoir which makes this a popular place.
“Let’s go over to the Day Use Area. Maybe we’ll have our picnic there.”
From the Day Use area one sees the length of the reservoir. Gorgeous!
The parking lot of the Day Use Area ($5) is full.
A family prepares their children for a swim. I glimpse a three-year-old boy buck naked, struggling to climb into his swim trunks as fast as he can. Others prepare for boating.
Fishing is popular.
One doesn’t need a boat as the shoreline is easily accessed for throwing out a line. I read in my Benchmark that the reservoir is stocked with “Snake River cutthroat trout, wild brown trout, and kokanee salmon.”
“Let’s see what it’s like over at the boat ramp. . . . Don’t worry, Reg. We’re not going home. We’ll have our picnic in a little while.”
I’m not going to try to come up with adjectives to describe the Williams Creek Reservoir area. Look at this next photo of the San Juan Mountains.
This is how I imagined Colorado, only better!
We follow a one-lane dirt road down toward the boat ramp.
Next to the boat ramp area is a small parking lot for people who want to fish off the bank. No one is there, so that’s where we go (following the road in foreground in photo below).
I grab the container of fried chicken, a drink,and my cheapo camp chair. Reggie and Bridget are ecstatic — a new place to explore PLUS CHICKEN!
The three of us make our way down the path to the shore.
“This looks good.”
I set up my chair a few feet from the water.
Nothing like a stunning view to make day-old fried chicken taste great!
The crew gobble up the chicken chunks. After lunch, Bridget and Reggie explore.
Bridget wanders off by herself. She’s having a wonderful day!
I zoom in on a canoeist who is way out in the middle of the reservoir. He has a very sleek boat!
NOTE: A reader informs us about the watercraft in the above photo. He wrote in comments. . .
“This man is rowing a wherry ~ a sort of cross between a racing shell and a sailboat-like rowboat. These are designed for speed but allow rowers to go on more open water whereas a needle thin shell needs placid waters. Don’t see too many of these around but they originated in England and are popular on canals and waterways in UK.”
Another reader provides this link to the “Annapolis Wherry” which is assembled from a kit: http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/rowboats/annapolis-wherry-row-boat-kit.html
After a big drink, Bridget and Reggie reluctantly board the PTV.
“No need for a grumpy face, Reggie. The fun isn’t over yet, sweetheart. Next we’re gonna’ look for boondocks!”
That’s the subject of the next post.
rvsue
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