Monday, July 11
The crew gobbles up the breakfast of chicken chunks that I prepared yesterday. I don’t bother making myself a pot of coffee. We have a long (for us) drive today and I’d like to arrive at our next camp before it’s hot. All the outside packing-up was also completed yesterday and I never unhitched, so an early start is easy.
We pull out of our campsite at Mogote Campground shortly after sunrise.
Mogote Campground, San Juan National Forest, west of Antonito, Colorado
On our way out of the campground, the crew and I stop at the water spigot where I fill up ten one-gallon jugs with drinking water.
The campground isn’t fully awake yet.
The only ones stirring, besides the chipmunks and birds, are two fishermen quietly packing up their tent and gear.
The Perfect Tow Vehicle carries us and the Best Little Trailer eastward about 12 miles to Antonito. I buy a cup of coffee at a gas station and we keep going.
Turning northward, Route 17 crosses through flat terrain of San Luis Valley. The crew naps as we travel from town to town . . . Romeo, La Jara, Estrella, and La Fruto.
North of Alamosa we zip past the turn for Great Sand Dunes National Park.
To the right of us, the white dunes lie like rumpled blankets at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Too hot for sand dunes today! We’re on our way to a cool camp!
Further along, I stop to let the crew take care of their business. The grassy ranch land and dark, grey mountains of this part of Colorado remind me of eastern Nevada.
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
About 13 miles south of Poncha Springs, the PTV conquers Poncha Pass. The climb to 9,010 feet is easy-breezy for the PTV and, I’m happy to say, also for me and the crew.
I’m a confident mountain traveler since yesterday’s success at Cumbres Pass!
A few miles beyond Poncha Pass, we turn left toward Ohaver Lake.
The dirt road is narrow and bumpy with several tight switchbacks that are also ” blind” turns. The washboard isn’t too bad.
However, the deep holes in the road, up where the road is steepest, are the worst I’ve ever driven through — no, make that the worst I’ve ever driven in and out of. Big, deep, unavoidable holes! The Best Little Trailer bounces and jounces and hops while her tongue is tilted upward, poor girl!
“Look, crew! There’s Ohaver Lake!”
“Bridget, forget the camera, honey. We’re here!”
“Isn’t the blue pretty . . . . “
We slowly cruise one of the campground loops.
“Boy, this place is packed!”
The camp host pulls alongside in his golf cart and tells me there are only three sites vacant. Shortly thereafter the Best Little Trailer backs into a campsite between two big rigs. Children run to and fro.
I pay $10 for one night using my 50% discount, senior pass.
The design of the campground permits us to see the lake through aspens from our site.
A pleasant view from our picnic table and from our doorway . . . .
The camp host has raked the site to perfection.
He has a big job here. As soon as a camper pulls out, he cleans up the site and someone else moves in right away.
About an hour after we arrive, he puts up the sign, “Campground Full.”
I go into the BLT in order to open up the windows and the ceiling vent, and also to move the drawers from the floor back into the three storage cabinets.
“OH, NO! What a mess!”
The tumultuous trip up the horrid mountain road apparently threw my dishware around until the cabinet popped open!
All the dishes, bowls, glasses (plastic), and coffee cups flew out of the cabinet and crashed to the floor. Also my colander full of grapefruit and oranges hopped off the bed where I had them wrapped in a blanket. Shards of broken dishware mingled with fruit are all over the place.
This is hilarious! It looks like the aftermath of a very bad, domestic argument!
Later Bridget, Reggie, and I walk the campground road along the lake shore.
(I try very hard to keep people out of my photos which gives the incorrect impression that there aren’t many folks here. We encounter several people and vehicles on our walk.)
Bridget rides in her car, not because she is hurting or reluctant to walk. Her slower pace and frequent stops make it difficult to manage the crew among so many people and distractions.
Besides, Bridget hasn’t had a ride in her car in a long time and she enjoys the luxury. Here she is at the ramp to the fishing pier.
At 9,200 feet, the air is cool for midday in July.
Bridget doesn’t like the camera today so I take the next photo and then give her a break from the lens.
Reggie is super excited!
Lots of people! People with dogs! People with children! New places to explore! New smells!
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~
On the return to our campsite, I lift Bridget out of her car so she can exercise, too.
Together we enjoy the shade of the aspens.
(Bridget sees the camera and immediately darts for cover in the grass.)
Around three o’clock the breeze becomes stronger. Very refreshing, at first, and then . . . . Man, that wind is COLD!
We go inside until it subsides. I wish there were internet here . . . .
Later I prepare our bed for the night.
The sound of an over-tired child screaming and crying next door along with an occasional vehicle driving by mixes with the grumbling of generators from both sides of our home.
The lake is pretty and all, but I’m glad I paid for only one night. I can acclimate to altitude; people and their noise? Not so much.
Hey . . . Why won’t this cushion line up right? Oh, for heaven’s sake . . . too funny!
I pluck an orange out from between the cushion and the wall.
“Okay, tired babies, the bed’s ready. In you go!”
rvsue
NOTE: For those of you for whom details are important, the lake is spelled two different ways, Ohaver and O’haver. The campground sign spells it Ohaver. I tried unsuccessfully to find the history behind the name.
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Ohaver Lake, south of Poncha Springs and southwest of Salida, Colorado
Woohoo a post!
Wow. First! I was in email when I saw this come in and lo and behold, you beat me.
HOORAY FOR LINDA ROSE! FIRST PLACE!
Hi
SECOND PLACE GOES TO PIPER AND RUSTY! 🙂
2nd and we’re getting closer to #1 🙂 ,,great post Sue,,, your mess sounds more like a earthquake scene than a qwarrel, beautiful camp,,, wondering if you know of the wild fires to your northeast, that’s west of Pueblo, have a great week and stay safe, ,, Rusty n Piper
Hi, Rusty,
Yes, I’m aware of the fire. I’ll write about it in the next post (Don’t worry; we aren’t in danger.)
You have a safe, happy week!
😉
A new post! Thank you, Sue.
Ok. I went back to read and enjoyed it. Thank you. Beautiful area. I’m with you on the noise and people. Poor Bridget and the camera. We had a little long haired Chihuahua that darted every time I had the camera out. I managed to get a couple of pictures of her (that wasn’t a side shot or rear end shot) and glad that I did because she is no longer with us.
Linda Rose, Piper and Rusty, we’re three minutes apart in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place!
YAY FOR YOU, RENEE! THIRD PLACE!
Hi Sue and crew see I am too late today. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks, Kat… If you’re here, you’re not too late… ever. You have a wonderful week, too.
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful lake!
Thanks for sharing!
Lynn B. (Baltimore, MD)
You’re welcome, Lynn. Thanks for commenting!
I feel bad for you when you have to spend time in cramped and noisy campgrounds. Especially after making the trip over awful roads. Hopefully by now you and the crew are settled in a cool and isolated spot more to your liking. Loved your description of the dunes below the mountain.
Nothing to feel bad about. I’m glad we went to Ohaver Lake as I was curious about it. The lake is pretty and an occasional, crowded campground makes the secluded camps all the more precious!
You are probably aware of the Hayden Creek fire. Just watch where you drive to stay away from the smoke. You don’t want to go east on Hwy 50.
We are finding out how noisy and inthoughtful neighbors can spoil a perfectly nice site. As yet, we are not yo adventuresome with boondocking, just drycamping in established sites. But we are learning.
Hi, Mary,
Yes, I’m aware of the Hayden Creek fire. In the next post I’ll write about a person affected by the fire.
I’m sorry you are coping with inconsiderate neighbors. There are those who say, “Can’t we have a little fun?” Well, I say, “Your fun (noisy) interferes with my fun but my fun (quiet) doesn’t interfere with your fun. . . Who needs to be more considerate?”
I like your last sentence…
Sad to hear about Hayden Creek. Prayers to those suffering.
The princess and the orange. LOL! Pretty campsite, but not peaceful. Too bad, on to the next one.
That’s right, Applegirl… the joy of having a home one can move.
Ha! “The princess and the orange”… The princess being Bridget, of course!
Sorry, princess. Bridget isn’t the one who found the lump in her bed! 😉
That is such a gorgeous spot. So sorry that the noise factor cut into your pleasure, but you have such a positive attitude. You’re an inspiration, as always.
I’m sorry your lovely campsite was stuffed to the gills with noisy people! I know you’ll find something beautiful to share with us soon. I do hate the thought of your having to navigate that awful road so soon again. But, by the time this is posted, I know that is most likely history. I hope all is well and you’re settled into something a little more suitable. Lovely blue lake, though. 🙂
Hi, Suzette,
To be honest, the people weren’t very noisy. Generators are generators of noise always and children will be children. In fact, when we were sitting outside underneath the aspens (before the generators came on), I thought how quiet everyone was, given the situation. The campsites are close together.
For me (and I know this isn’t true for everyone) going downhill is way easier than uphill. Maybe because going downhill I usually know what to expect. It wasn’t difficult. Going uphill I had to make the PTV push against the steep grade; going downhill we could creep slowly and carefully.
Another nice post Missy. You sure see some beautiful country. I envy you. I had a similar situation with a mess in Nebraska one time. Two kids driving a car passed us on the left and as they did I saw they were wrestling around, next thing you know, they came over and hit the front of my car which made me brake hard and spin my trailer around . That not only took off my front bumper but opened our fridge and the contents of all cabinets went on the floor, bed, etc. The kids got a ticket and after while we limped to a campground where cleanup began. It was one heck of a mess. If you are on the road long enough, you’re gonna have little “adventures”. You be careful and have fun. Just ridin’ along here….
What a story, Jim! That could’ve turn out much worse. I hope those kids learned something that day…
I enjoyed your hummingbird story under the previous post. You’re a good friend to the little creatures . . . .
That lake is beautiful. Reminds me of Alpine Lake here in California!
Thanks for sharing…
You’re welcome, Lee J.
Ohaver Lake is small and beautiful. I’m glad we saw it.
What a rich shade of blue that pretty lake has. The campground has a lot of beauty with it’s aspens mixed with pines. I can understand why (despite the condition of the road in) the place is popular enough to become full an hour after you got a site. Your early start and not taking the time to brew coffee worked and certainly were good moves. I’m glad you were able to see the humor amid the shards and mess inside the BLT 🙂
A cold afternoon in July is rare, though I guess not at 9200′. It’s great that all three of you felt good enough to enjoy being at that elevation.That day was unusual, and long, start to finish. Did you all sleep well though it was that noisy there? How did you secure things differently for your ride out? I wonder if a lot of folks had similar problems with their things getting tossed around.
Hi, weather,
Several of the sites were reserved for a full week or more by families. This is prime vacation time, when it’s hot in the valley. We were fortunate to find a vacant site. Funny how, looking back, making a pot of coffee could have turned a good day into something a whole lot worse.
We slept very well, thank you. Shortly after I went to bed, the campground became quiet. I had to laugh the next morning… very early… when I let Bridget out for potty, it seemed like everyone was asleep. All was still, including the surface of the lake. 🙂
You often see, when looking back, how one single thing made all the difference. Whether it’s using common sense or the sense that you’re led to make that choice, how nice…
Ah-h, another in the long list of gifts Bridget brings-a reason to see the world when no one else is. Rising very early has always had the added bonus of solitude, no matter what environment I’m in. In your case at a crowded noisy campground to have all be still…- again,how nice!
Up early today to hear morning song I arrived early where I needed to go, had an altogether far better day than expected. Finding your post to relax with between tasks came at just the right time, too. It’s lovely to see the rhythm in life, isn’t it?
Have you done any camping with your T@B? Don’t mean to pry, ignore if you so wish.
Does weather have a T@B, too?
yes ,a model with an extra round side window, indoor kitchen- sink,water,fridge, toilet, no wet bath,adjoining side tent 🙂
Awesome! Is yours an early Dutchman, or one that Little Guy made? What color is it? My favorites are the Dutchman T@Bs that came in red and yellow and turquoise! Ours is white with grey/silver trim–because that’s what they had on the lot, and it was a great deal.
It’s at a campsite that is on the same lake I live on. Other than spending time there I haven’t taken it elsewhere. Until I have no responsibilities here going out of state would have to be short hurried trips. I’ve seen and camped in all of NY state’s places that interest me.As it is I’m content with being in what I consider it’s most beautiful area until I leave to full time and live where ever suits my life then. If anything more exciting goes on, I’ll let you know
🙂
First timer. I have enjoyed reading and traveling along with you and the crew. The three of you have gotten me through some very rough times while being a care giver for a love one. Through the photos I have learn that there is so much to see and explore.
Recently sold my home and down sized to an apt.
Recently I purchased a class B rig. My dog Annie and I are busy planning our travels.
Take care
Pat, sacramento
Welcome, Pat! Thank you for introducing yourself and for reading my blog. We crown you Blogorino! 🙂
Being a caregiver is one of the most difficult — and most selfless — roles in life. I’m glad my blog has given you some diversion and relief..
Wow! You’re putting your plans together, Pat! Best wishes to you and Annie as you prepare for and dream of travels. Congratulations on purchasing a rig!
I hope you will keep in touch!
Welcome Pat.
What a special person you are to be a caregiver, it’s a big job. I was for my mother before she passed away. You’ll find a lot of caring people on Sue’s blog. She’s created a wonderful environment for all of us to enjoy her travels & each other. I know you & Annie will love your adventure when you hit the road.
I’m home now from my most recent heart cath. Alas another stent, 99% blocked this time. Something new, or at least for me, instead of going through the groin they went through my wrist. But all is well & looking forward to heading to upper Michigan in about a week.
Hugs to Reggie & Bridgett
I wish you fast, complete, perfect healing, Nancy, and may you never require another one of those procedures!
Beau-TEE-ful! Gorgeous actually!
Hmm, I thought Corelle was unbreakable? Love how Bridgee always looks back at you with a face filled with love!
Have a great day!
Corelle, my dear, will break when flung several feet to a vinyl floor. I lost three plates and two bowls. Even one of my hard plastic, polka-dotted plates broke. Boo-hoo. 🙁
Happy day to you, too!
Hmm maybe it was “back in the day”
Thrift shops ALWAYS have Corelle…beats having to buy an entire set.
Or you can buy the single pieces.
I remember that too. They used to toss them in the air on the TV ads and let them crash on the floor, and they NEVER broke on TV.
Enamelware – Sold on Amazon!
I’ll take a look at enamelware. I have time. I still have enough plates and bowls. I should have thinned my collection anyway and now it’s been done for me. 🙂
What???? One of my favorite RED Polka-dot dishes broke??? Jeeze!! Beautiful spot RVSue. My sister Michele and her hubby Dan from NC are here with me. Next Friday we leave for Plymouth, MA to attend my son Stephens wedding!!! Cannot wait to see him walk down the aisle. Love his ‘Bride to Be’ Joanna. He has chosen ‘Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion” for our Mother/Son dance!!! How fantastic is that???? Tears are flowing down my face as I type this. All is well.
I’ve very happy for you, Krystina. I know your family is precious to you and this wedding is a BIG event. I wish your son and his bride an enduring, happy union. Have fun at the wedding… You can cry, but only with happiness for your family. 🙂
When my sister married in 1972, she received two sets of 4 as a gift. The breaking of a plate I described in my post was actually at her house many, many moons ago. It definitely shattered into shards. And sweeping, vacuuming, then sweeping again didn’t get it all up, though I thought I had. We did find pieces for a few days. To this day, she still has the dishes and her hubby! And she reminds me I am the only one who broke a piece…and how well I washed her percolator (it wasn’t immersible and was ruined when I finished…clean, but not working)!
Gee, are you feeling guilty yet? Just kidding… 🙂 Sometimes the best intentions go awry.
Oh, no. Poor interior. When you were discussing the deep holes, I worried about the inside. Glad Reggie enjoyed the overnight stay, even though those darn generators were on each side of you.
Hi, Lisa,
We all enjoyed the stay to a certain extent. Reggie definitely liked it best! Around 6 p.m. when people started cooking meat on their grills, Bridget and Reggie noticed. Reggie kept trying to go over for dinner with the neighbors.
While I’m sure Bridget stayed right by your side and waited to be served. 🙂
I hope she wasn’t too disappointed.
I didn’t think of that, Rick. You’re probably correct! Bridget doesn’t go mooching on the neighbors. It’s beneath her station.
Hi Sue and Crew! I finally made it up to real time. I’ve been spending my down time at work for the past month reading your blog from the beginning. My husband and I (and our 2 basset hounds) are newer to trailer camping (we have a 32′ toyhauler that is pulled with an F350 dually, my husband is a “go big or go home” type). I’ve really enjoyed your blog. We actually do have an OHV, and a generator (it is built in and can be enclosed at least) but we try to be courteous with both of them! We live in northern Colorado, and I’ve been busy making notes about all your wonderful camping spots that you find. We’re a good 30 years away from retirement but I dream about doing what you’re doing someday.
If you ever make it to the west side of the Sierra Nevadas in California, enjoy! That is where I grew up (Visalia, CA), and our family vacations were always tent camping in places like Yosemite, Grant Grove, and Mineral King. My mom (who is about your age now) would always run around taking pictures of the wildflowers, and I always thought she was such a pain when she did that. Now I find myself doing the same thing 🙂
I enjoyed reading your comment, Julie. If you’re 30 years away from retirement, that tells me you’re a youngster here. Glad to have you with us!
Ha! So true about you picking up the habits of your mother. I do the same thing and I cringe remembering how I thought my mother was nuts for some of the things she liked to do.
Thank you!
I’m sure you know this already, but be sure to drink plenty of water when you’re at the higher elevations! When I first moved to Colorado I felt pretty bad for the first few months, but I upped my water intake and it really did help! 🙂
Yes, I stay well hydrated. Thanks, Julie.
Good morning Sue, Ohaver Lake is beautiful. I remember going there as a member of a Brownie Troop in 1958; I thought it was a present from Oliva DeHaviland, a child’s mind does think some weird and wonderful thoughts.
I enjoyed your telling of the “BLT’s Wild Ride” through the deep holes not thinking of the results that might have been found once parked. You are a maverlous wonder with your outlook on things, mishaps and the joys.
Loved all of the photos today especially those of the Crew…the boy in Reggie and the serenity of Bridget.
Keep on enjoying and telling us, The Blogorinos, the wonders of your World!
Hi, Deena,
I bet Ohaver Lake was less crowded in 1958, or at least there weren’t as many “toys.” Thanks for the feedback on today’s “story” and photos, as well as the nice compliment on my outlook. Of course, I can censor what I put on this blog and, most of the time, I keep my grumps to myself. 🙂
My quick search for the O’haver Lake name source did not find anything more than you did. However, my guess is that it was named for a miner or rancher that lived in that area. Or, maybe a National Forest employee, they chose their own for a lot of the names.
Finally I found something that stumps you, Ed! Good guesses though… I add it may be named for a guide…
Good afternoon, Sue and Crew. Love the photos from the last two post and the details you give on the camp grounds. I was surprise to see you camping at 9200 ft elevation. Does this mean you have acclimated? Or, have you been using the O2 can?
Hi, MelindaK,
No, I haven’t snorted O2 since we went through Cumbres Pass. We may be acclimated somewhat. My feet weren’t tingling as much at Ohaver. Mostly I was out of breath after exertion, like after sweeping our shards of dishware and crawling on my hands and knees to get it all. 🙂
Sue, the out of breath with exertion should pass. The drinking of lots of water will help. Glad to hear no headaches and nausea. What elevation are you now?
Not as high as 9,200 feet. I’ll include our altitude in the next post about our new camp. (I haven’t looked it up yet.)
Ok. I bought fresh cab. I don’t want to get any where near the interior or it will finish me
How do I fasten the stuff in place in the moter area. Repair person took out 2 dead squirrel and there still a lot of debris from what looks like pack rat.
Hi, Joyce,
Sorry to hear you’ve had rodent problems. You could wire the Fresh Cab to the underside of the hood or somewhere on the side. I really doubt that Fresh Cab is going to help much because the engine area is too open, unlike the interior of a vehicle where the Fresh Cab would be more contained.
The only other suggestions I know are: 1) Move the vehicle to a different place, 2) Keep the hood open when not driving, and 2) Hang a light or lights in the engine area, turned on at night. Pack rats don’t like to nest where there’s light.
Good luck!
Fresh cab works great! They have a marvelous customer service dept who can and will give you all the help you need to rectify the problem. It is also 100% satisfaction guarenteed.
We use it in our vehicles during the winter, garage, bunkhouse and root cellar.
One pouch in the vehicles interior-where the floorboard meets the dashboard. One each near the garage doors and in the four corners. They don’t like the smell….they look for another place to nest.
Do watch any pets enclosed with Fresh Cab for headache behavior. I can’t use Fresh Cab as Bridget suffers with it.
Good afternoon Sue. Sorry about your dishes. However, I would view this an an opportunity to buy pretty dishes off of Amazon! I confess that I have so many unique pottery mugs that my rule is I cannot buy one more unless I give one away. Problem being, I love ALL of my mugs. The ironic thing is that I hardly use them any more as I am always drinking coffee out of my to go mug in the car on the way to work. Well, I finally got my root canal done today. Second one in six months :-0 I put this one off a little too long. I sure gave Advil a boost in their sales the last few months! I am so impressed that you don’t seem to need to go to the dentist frequently. I skipped the dentist for only a year and ended up with 4 crowns! Yet, I am greatful to have dental insurance and live in a place where I can have access to a dentist. The opposite is true of way too many people. OK, back to work for me. Hope you’re having a great time in whatever wonderful spot that you’re in.
Hi, Dawn,
I apologize for not replying sooner. Yesterday seemed to be a day of interruptions (good ones) and then it was very hot late in the day. All I wanted to do is lie still with the crew and feel the breeze from the overhead fan.
Congratulations on the completion of the root canal!
Have a wonderful weekend…
Just like our lives, sometimes roads are bumpy on the way to places of beauty! Your photos are just gorgeous, Sue. That blue lake looks so inviting. Just think…another month or so when school reopens, what a wonderfully quiet spot it will be during the week. The pups are looking so happy and healthy.
And as for Corelle…oh my gosh, does it break when it hits hard floors! I can remember breaking a piece, sweeping, vacuuming, and sweeping again to get all the pieces only to find a shard or two for days. I am so sorry you had such an awful mess to clean, but the way you told the story it was comical! Take care and thanks again for sharing your trails and tales (and tails) with us all! Belly rubs, hugs, and prayers!
You’re welcome, retiredcajunlady. One of the rewards of blogging is knowing someone was entertained by a post.
Yep, life can be bumpy, dishes are broken, we clean up and move on!
Thank you for your kindness, especially that last sentence you wrote.
I love that photo of Bridget on the boardwalk looking askance. It made me burst out laughing. And, I participate in the ongoing quest for quiet empty places. I like what you said about noisy fun and quiet fun in a comment above. I will use that someday, maybe often. I’m just back from 2 weeks of boondocking in out of the way places, with rough twisting mountain roads and beautiful lakes and rivers and very few people.
Isn’t it grand, Elaine, to be able to go to serene, beautiful places and be away from “civilization”… I’m glad you found two weeks of wonderful boondocking.
Thanks for the feedback on Bridget’s photo… It’s always a pleasure to give a laugh!
Gorgeous spot Sue, sorry about your dishes–I dropped a Corelle bowl the other day and I couldn’t believe how many razor sharps shards it produced–I swept and swept and still got stuck next time I went barefoot.
You’re killing me with all this gorgeous trout water–are you ever tempted to fish? One of our main goals for getting the trailer is being able to sleep close to good fishing.
I wish I was above 9000 feet–it’s a steamy 97 here in Athens. Enjoy it for us!
Hi, Steve,
Try the Stillwater River in southcentral Montana. Or, any number of small rivers in this area. There are great places to camp within Fishing Accesses that offer reduced fees for 62+ people. Enjoy the trout!
Thanks for the tip Diann, fished for the first time in MT last year, and I’m hooked–those wild western fish are awesome, and the scenery is amazing.
Hi, Steve,
Ah yes, I remember the heat and humidity of Athens very well. Summer is an endurance test. Only the strong survive. The rest of us leave. 🙂
Am I ever tempted to fish? I do remember fondly the relaxing hours I spent fishing, the exciting moments, and all that surrounds the activity.
Then one day I can’t get past the part where a living creature is hurt or maimed. Contradictory and also silly, I suppose, since I eat fish occasionally and chicken regularly. These days I satisfy my urge to fish by watching others enjoy it.
I like to show camps near great fishing spots. I sincerely hope you find those streamside and lakeside camps you dream of, Steve. 🙂
O’Haver Lake!! One of our favorite campgrounds. As my brother lives in Salida, CO, we try to stay at different campgrounds in the area. We were there in 2014, arriving on the morning of Labor Day, and it had pretty well emptied out. At the end of the road there is a gate, and not until the end of our stay did we find out that hikers (and d0gs!) can go around it and access a double track trail that runs a long way through some beautiful meadows…..peace, quiet, and serenity.
It’s a popular campground since it’s recent renovation….kind of surprised that you stopped in there. If you think that road is bad, you should try the one into Chaco NHP….they deliberately leave it bad to discourage tour buses, etc…But once you get there it is a quiet and magical place. A world heritage site, plus known for it’s black night sky.
Hi, cc and canine,
Ohaver Lake must be wonderful in the off-season. I didn’t know about the trail. With all the people there I didn’t walk with the crew up that way where the trail is because it meant passing all the distractions that make Reggie want to stop every few feet, and then there are the dogs that bark . . . .
It was a good experience overall but I know it would have deteriorated quickly if I stayed as my tolerance ran out.
I read about that road to Chaco NHP…
Your blog helped make my wait for my blood draw easier. I haven’t had one in 25 years and never for a complete test so I was dreading it. I let you take me away until your noisy kids were the two running around the waiting room, taking off their clothes and screaming. I don’t envy you the noise of neighbors but it is beautiful when you don’t see the hear the people. Thanks.
Hi Sue!
Quite the trip in and sorry for the full campground. You might have to rename the lake to “Oh Dear” or “Oh My” or “Oh @#$@” given the road and neighbors. All part of the fun though. Brock and I are off camping again this weekend. Looking forward to a weekend out of the city. Blessings and safe travels to you all.
I surely would have been saying something along those lines if I had been the one to open the door of the BLT.
Hi, Rover Ronda!
Thanks, Rick $ Brock the Dog. I wish you the same. Enjoy your weekend camping!
Hi, Sue,
I made a point of visiting Delmoe Lake up near Butte last weekend. Many, many OHV’s and people who like to leave their trash everywhere. The only way to enjoy that lake now is to get into a canoe and find your way to the other side and camp in a tent. Albeit, it is certainly beautiful.
When we lived in southern Colorado, Ohaver Lake was a destination. Back then, 29 years ago, it was still a little known place. But we could see that an entire encroachment of people was on the horizon. Personally, I am enjoying our exodus to Montana (our home state). Laid back, perhaps a bit corny and backward sometimes, but it lacks the hordes if you know where to be.
Again, I am soooo enjoying your adventures, Sue. Only you could find humor in a disrupted abode. God bless ya! Really! God Bless You! Stay safe.
Hi, Diann,
I’m saddened and sickened by the news that Delmoe Lake is still being trashed and abused. I had hopes that the forest service would close the campground to motor bikes and OHVs, after I reported the damage I witnessed and sent photos as evidence. The forest service brought a reporter up to Delmoe Lake soon after that and an article appeared in the Butte paper about the noise, trash, and destruction.
Locals use the campground as a party place, too, which results in liquor bottles and beer cans left lying around. I witnessed a group come to a campsite (not pay, of course), make noise, playing a radio, hooting and hollering, and then leaving in the middle of the night. Someone told me that it’s difficult to find anyone willing to serve as camp host, given the policing that the job requires. ‘Tis a shame, as Delmoe Lake is lovely.. or at least it was.
I should add a note to the old post about it, warning folks. I won’t go back until the situation is fixed. Thanks for the update.
I’m glad you’re enjoying Montana. What little I saw of it captured my heart. God bless you, too, Diann. Have a fantastic summer!
All I have to say is Melamine dishware. It is unbreakable and comes in all shapes, sizes and colors. I outfitted my RV with nothing but it before I hit the road.
Hi, Alan,
I don’t know about Melamine. Sure, it’s durable and lightweight. It’s an aesthetic thing with me. I do like the way my bright white Corelle dishes sparkle in the sunshine when I wash and dry them outside. 🙂
I’m a bit wary of melamine….stuff from China…TBT China in general as they have been known to manufacture products using less than safe materials. We have bowls (serving) but we never put them in the microwave.
I’m like you. Except, and I cringe to admit it, I do have four small melamine plates and bowls in the T@B. We have stainless drink glasses, stoneware coffee/tea mugs and even some cloth napkins so cut down on paper towel use when we can. But when I finally got the T@B set up the way I wanted it, the place I wanted my dishes was overhead, and I really didn’t trust the poor dear not to throw up if we go on a bouncy road. And the idea of glass slivers just made me too nervous.
Which doesn’t mean I may not change my mind later!
Dang, Sue,
This is the third time I’ve tried to post a comment (different days) and got the math right and it went to an error message that said to input a captcha value and to go back. When it goes back, everything is erased !!! I’m bummed. This one was pretty funny. And long. Here’s my weepy face 🙁
Just an FYI. I don’t need a ‘there, there’ pat on my head or a bless my heart. THIS time. I might need some consoling later. 🙂 If the ghost in the machine keeps kicking out my musings I may just post all frownie faces and see if they like that. So there. plbttttttt
I had the same problem last post. Tried several times, came back several hours later and still it would not accept the math answers that I gave (and yes, they were correct! ha!)
Hi Geri!
Didn’t you guys mention that you were near Pensacola?
By any chance are you clicking on the circle with the arrows? That would make you have to start all over again.
Nope, I did it the same as always, it was the Chama post. Chuck was able to post but I could not, It’s working now so I’m happy!
And Gal in Maple Valley, we are in the Florida Panhandle across the river from Apalachicola and across the bay from St, George Island. Pensacola is about 3 hours west of us.
Please explain exactly what you are doing after you type the number. Also it would be helpful to know what device you are using and if it is old or not.
No. Not clicking on the -change the equation- button. I’ve commented quite a few times since the new program went into effect and was successful. I have been using only this device, a laptop. It’s a few years old.
When finished making my comment, I proceed to the math problem and enter the correct number. Then I go to ‘post comment’ box and then the evil error page comes up. The first two times I thought it may have been my eagerness and inattentiveness that made me enter something incorrect. But I
paid close this last time and POOF. I didn’t type any bad words in the comment (if that were a reason to be rebuffed) but I did YELL bad words when my lengthy comment was swallowed by the black hole.
Understand that I don’t see what you see as a reader. Is there any way to do the math problem first and then write your comment? I’m guessing no. I thought maybe there’s a time limit involved and by the time you’re done writing your comment, you’ve exceeded the time limit.
I need someone who never has any problem with posting a comment to tell me exactly, specifically, what steps they go through to post a comment. What they do 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. and what each step looks like. That may help you and others with problems commenting and/or it may reveal to me a glitch that I can ask the Captcha people to solve.
Thank you for the info you shared.
Was reading my old atlas and it shows La Manga pass, 10230 ft., within 10 miles of Cumbres pass going north on 17 with Trujillo Meadows campground in between. You didn’t mention it so did they just combine the two passes or is my map wrong?
I did mention it somewhere but I don’t recall where. I used Cumbres Pass more often because it is better known.
Okay, Sue. I hit reply, type the message, then enter the number to solve the math quiz and hit the post comment button. I use an iPad.
Since hearing of others issues I took a safe guard and did a select all on my comment then copy before entering the number. This way I want have to re-type if there is an error.
I assume you haven’t had any problems posting comments.
:)1
Happy Thursday Sue!
Today we get our weekly ration of sun. It’s the middle of July and I’m outside wearing two pairs of sweatpants and a hoodie. It may get to almost 70*. I’m good with that. I don’t ‘do’ hot. Unless it involves umbrella drinks and shirtless pool boys keeping them supplied.
Were those some nummy snacks on the picnic table in the 6th photo from the top? Or just a rock collection? We see what we want to see. I see huge slices of angel food cake and pound cake.
? I wondered what that was too. Didn’t see pound cake though. Lol
Those are two rocks to hold the paper that the camp host put at each site. It explains the rules and what to do if in the presence of a bear.
Yay! The comment went thru today! Weird that it would not go thru yesterday!
This place looks lovely and loved the photo of the flowers with the lake in the background. Funny how some days HRH gets a “camera face” and just does not want to pose. But she is a special love and non camera days are allowed. LOL
Two of your comments showed up under the previous post “Do you have oxygen in a can?” Maybe sometimes your comments are taking longer to appear?
Sorry that it’s been so long since I’ve checked in but I’ve been kind of busy ever since I got back to Colorado about the middle of May.
It seems like the whole time I’ve been back in Colorado I’ve been dealing with the government in one form or another. I had to get a new drivers license since my address has changed, I bought a new off-road motorcycle so I had to jump through some hoops to get it licensed for the street, I had to renew the tag for my Arctic Fox and that took a trip to Denver, and I had to renew the tag for my truck which meant I had to have it emissions tested because it’s a diesel and Denver doesn’t like diesels.
did I mention I don’t like going to Denver, even if I have to go there for fun things I still don’t like going to Denver. But it’s far worse if you have to go there and drive through all that traffic just to deal with some government bureaucrat who couldn’t care less about keeping their customers happy. But it did teach me one thing about full-time RVing and that is, choose your domicile address very carefully and avoid big cities that are constantly in need of more money.
All of that’s done now and I can kind of relax and enjoy the scenery. I’ve been at 11 mile state Park for the last 10 days and it’s a pretty nice place to be, I have a Colorado geezer pass so it doesn’t cost too much. The park is about about 40 miles west of Colorado Springs and on one of the largest reservoirs in Colorado.
Tomorrow I’m going to move to some property I have about 3 miles from here and stay there for a while. It’s 40 acres right at the foot of the mountains and It’s a real pretty place to be in the summer. Unfortunately it has no Verizon reception and of course no Internet so I’m going to have to do what you do sometimes and come back to civilization to post on my blog.
I’m glad to see you and the puppies are doing well and enjoying the beautiful scenery in Colorado. I’ll be somewhere in Colorado until probably late September and then like you I’ll be heading south.
theboondork
Hey boondork!
Spend any time at Antero reservoir?
It’s fun hearing from you again, theboondork. I enjoy your comments very much. One reason I do is the way you include details about your travels and your life that inform, i.e. a blogger’s decisions often hinge on internet signal, the choice of domicile is important and can have inconvenient consequences, fulltimers have to deal with “stuff,” too.
Your writing resembles a letter, not an email, not a text, not even a blog comment. I’m talking about the old-time, handwritten letters on stationary, where the writer wrote in cursive full sentences with paragraphs in a conversational tone, and including the more formal and gracious touches such as starting with an apology for not writing sooner.
In the past I sure have but right now they’re draining it to repair the hundred-year-old dam that’s holding all that water back. They say after the dam is repaired it’ll take 4 or 5 years to fill it back up again so it looks like Antero reservoir is going to be out of commission for a while.
theboondork
The bumpy ride, broken dishes, and food tossed around reminded me of the movie The Long Long Trailer with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. If you like the old Lucille Ball comedies you might find this entertaining. Love your pictures and postings of your travels. Bridget looks contented in her strollers and Reggie is quite the explorer. Beautiful pictures as always.
Thanks, Annie. I don’t think I’ve seen that Luci movie, although I can imagine it!
Sue, you should definitely pick up a copy of The Long Long Trailer, it’s so funny (plus the trailer itself is divine). Looks like Amazon has it for 5.97 on DVD!
🙂
I just watched that movie last week. Lucille Ball was always one of my favorites, but I hadn’t seen The Long Long Trailer since I was a child. I’d forgotten so much of it, it was almost like watching for the first time. So hilarious!
If you are planning a book when you tire of being on the road..or IF you tire:) your pictures are outstanding and they will make a wonderful journey for your readers. Good going, Sue.
Thank you, Virginia. I may publish something after I close this blog, using Kindle publishing. As I understand their rules, one is not allowed to publish an ebook that duplicates a blog or website. I wouldn’t want to do that anyway. Why charge for something that one can obtain for free?
In bold letters Leave a Reply appears, then Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*
Below that -Comment , With a large empty box to type in. Below that-Name*, with a box that has, in my case, weather already in it. Next, Email*, with a box that already has my email in it. Below that Website, with an empty box.
Then- HELLO! Welcome to Blogorinoland! Come join us! Do the math and you’re in!! Below that , 3+empty box=twelve , the 2 arrows in a circle, below that the post comment box.
My actions are to fill in 2 of the empty boxes. I type my comment, enter 9 to as an answer in the math problem box, then click post comment.
As an experiment earlier I didn’t 1st make sure that my cursor was showing in the math box before entering the number, then hit post comment. A red outline then surrounded the post comment box and a message beside it saying this is a required field. The number had entered into my comment.I cancelled that reply, when I re-opened the reply box my earlier reply was in the box. This paragraph is confusing, I am including it to describe one possible way to prevent a comment from posting. I am typing on a Lenova laptop with windows 10.
Nothing you wrote is confusing to me, weather. I can see clearly what the process is. Either people are not being careful about putting their cursor over the blank and placing the number correctly or there is another problem. I suspect the latter is the case since people report receiving an “ERROR” message, rather than a “REQUIRED FIELD” message.
Thank you for taking the time to give a detailed explanation. Very helpful.
You’re welcome, Sue. The error message isn’t one I’m able to make appear, so I can’t help figure out why other folks do.
Thanks for sharing your adventures. I am enjoying them vicariously.
Beautiful lake, but yes, I understand about the noises that disturb your peaceful bubble.
You’re welcome, Barbara!
What a lovely area. Less people and distractions would make it perfect.
Sue, the 11th picture down I think it was, of the lake with Reggie on the left and an opening in the grass to get to the water, reminded me of a picture from years ago with Spike lying at the waters edge having himself a good soak. Think he would have liked this place. Be better with out generators & people crowding you but at least you know the BLT can handle the pot holes. Have you checked the underside to make sure everything is still tight? Just a thought as you never go on any roads that bumpy. Be Well.
JazzLover
Hi, JazzLover,
You can imagine how many times I remember Spike and see him being Spike. When we went to Canyonlands, the road to the overlook passes a kiosk. It was there that I turned from reading the message board to find Spike soaking in a big, muddy-red puddle with that ecstatic look on his face. The memory hit me fast and with full force — I almost couldn’t drive. I had to stare straight ahead as we went by that place.
No, I haven’t looked under the BLT. All the jarring the BLT has been subjected to up until now, well, I’m not rolling under there in the powdery dust.
It is amazing the powerful emotions these four legged pieces of our hearts evoke when we least expect it. Know I have loved some of my “pups” over the years more deeply than people I’ve known much longer. I am fortunate that I have some land where I lay my loves to rest when the time comes, where the first rays of the sun shine upon them most mornings like God smiling upon them.
I wasn’t really expecting you to roll under the PTV in the dust, just thought you might eyeball around the truck to see if anything was hanging down that looked strange. Or you could send Bridget in to scout it out as she’s pretty savvy. Be Well.
JazzLover