It’s A Wrap!

Winterizing took place this weekend, and along with it – the bit of sadness that always come at the end of a great RV season.  This was our longest ever “season”, having begun back in February of 2018!  After our Spring Road trip to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, we returned to Colorado to break ground for a new home in Southern Colorado. While the RV was our only residence after that, we kept up a busy schedule of campground and park hopping during the summer of 2018 and again in 2019.

Fall Colors over the Spanish Peaks

• Perhaps one of the most dramatic events was the Spring Fire in June of 2018.
• As in years past, we attended Cheyenne Frontier Days both in 2018 and 2019.
• We learned alot about camping in a Colorado Winter as we celebrated the holidays and ushered in the New Year.
• After moving into the new house in late March, we made an abbreviated trip to South Texas and enjoyed great friends and family for a impromptu House Warming.

Since we last winterized, we spent 480 nights in the camper and traveled just under 11,000 miles.  It took two tow vehicles to keep up with our journeys, the F-150 was traded in for an F-350 in September 2019.  And, we’re now starting to look at new 5th wheels.  Colorado RV Show, here we come!

And, planning is already underway for a grand Spring Road Trip beginning in early February 2020.  Stay tuned…

Spring Road Trip 2020

Rio Chama RV Park, Chama, NM

Rio Chama RV Park, Site #40

Good Morning from Chama, New Mexico!  We’ve detoured south into New Mexico to check out the fall colors and the town just before stores and RV parks begin shuttering for the winter.

We’re parked in site #40 at Rio Chama RV, just north of town along the Chama River. PARK MAP  Leaves are changing and falling all around in this tall stand of aspen and cottonwood.  Site #40 is on a corner, just off the river and enjoys the wide open space of the grassy dog park next door.  River sites (R1-R7) are back-in sites, and ideal for those who want the full experience of the twice daily rumblings of the Cumbres & Toltec train across the trestle bridge.

Combres & Toltec crossing in Chama, NM

River Road sites (#8-32) also offer great views across the river and are mixed between pull-in and back-ins for coaches and trailers.

Rio Chama RV Park, RIver Road sites

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad travels between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO daily during the summer and fall.  Trains depart each city and meet halfway for a lunch buffet at Osier, CO.  From here you can remain on your train, swap to the other train or hop off the train for a motor coach ride back to your origin.

Combres & Toltec Locomotives

 

In addition to a train ride, next time in town we’d like to check out the new Local restaurant. From Chama we’re headed home and quite likely our last RV trip of 2019.

Local Restaurant, Chama, NM

Local Restaurant, Chama NM

Blue Spruce RV, Vallecito Lake, CO

Red Mountain Pass

From Palisade it’s nearly a 5 hour trip south to Bayfield, near Vallecito Lake.  About half way along this route is the infamous Red Mountain Pass, the 11,000 foot pass between Ouray and Silverton.  The pass is awe inspiring in summer and must be nearly terrifying in winter!  Wikipedia characterizes the pass as “steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails; the ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic—many cut directly into the sides of mountains. …travel south from Ouray to Silverton perches drivers on the vertiginous outside edge of the highway. Large RVs travel in both directions, which adds a degree of excitement (or danger) to people in cars”  It certainly was exciting!

Arriving at Vallecito Lake,  the Blue Spruce RV Park is a quiet, laid back park of about 100 sites carved into a tall, mature pine forest. We’re parked in site #40 along with friends in #43 and #97.  PARK MAP

Blue Spruce RV Park Site #43

Blue Spruce RV Park, Pull-Through sites

Colorado Mountain Winefest

We’re in Palisade, CO for the 28th annual Colorado Mountain Winefest.  “Home” for 3 nights will be the Palisade Basecamp RV Resort located along a bend in the Colorado River just as it flows into the Grand Valley in western Colorado.  Here over 20 wineries and vineyards serve up the best of Colorado wines, meads and ciders.  And, it’s these liquid libations that are on display this weekend, as more than 60 wineries will meet at the #1 Winefest in the Nation as decided by USA Today.

Colorado Mountain Winefest

The Basecamp RV Resort it relatively new, having opened early last year. The entrance road bisects an orchard of cherries and peaches.  Once inside, the sites are laid out on a bluff above a natural curve in the Colorado River, including several tent sites in a lower area right on the river banks.  Facilities including a shower house, main office/store a covered group area and a sparkling swimming pool. There are 6 different RV site types (back-in, river-view, pull-through, etc.), several rustic cabins, a group tent area and 2 apartment type suites in the renovated homestead.

Palisade Basecamp RV Resort

Sunset river views from Basecamp tent sites

Cabins at Palisade Basecamp RV Resort

Palisade Basecamp RV Resort

Palisade Basecamp RV Resort

Palisade Basecamp RV Resort

After spending time touring some of the wineries in a stop at Island Acres back in 2017, on Friday we returned to the favorite Palisade Brewing Company for some snacks and beers.  Following, we walked to the 357 Bar & Grill for a true diner meal.  Next time we’d like to check out The Palisade Café 11.0.  On Saturday we enjoyed perfect weather, free shuttle service provide by the town of Palisade and nearly 100 vendors offering unlimited sips and snacks at the Winefest.  All in all, a great weekend in the Grand Valley!

From here we’re headed toward Durango to spend a week at Blue Spruce RV Park in Vallecito.  More from there…

Gunnison KOA

Gunnison KOA

We’ve just left the Gunnison KOA where we spent 1 night on the way to Palisade for the annual Winefest.  This KOA occupies a beautiful area near the Gunnison River just west of town.  The 75 spacious sites are set among a grove of large trees and lush green grass.  This is a “Journey”, complete with a playground, stocked trout pond and a paddle boat pond.  We parked in site #23, a very wide, deep back-in site to the rear of the property.  Just over a wire fence is menagerie of barnyard animals, Shetland ponies, a large Angus steer, several goats and a few pigs.  Apparently some of the animals have found their way into the campground where goats and a huge pig roamed free.  We’d stay here again – it would make a great place to explore Gunnison or perfect for an overnighter.

Gunnison KOA

Gunnison KOA

CFD & Glendo

We’re back to AB Camping in Cheyenne for the 123^rd edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days.  As in years past we’re in the rear section in the first 3 sites of the west row.  The first two sites work perfect for face-to-face parking so that we can share a common area under our awnings.

AB Camping, Cheyenne, WY

We’ll upped the ante this year, with 6 concert performances planned!  Lady Antebellum/Kelsea Ballerini & Midland open the festivities on Friday followed by Rascal Flatts/Clint Black on Saturday and Josh Turner/Tanya Tucker on Sunday.  Then mid-week is Miranda Lambert/Randy Houser.  On Friday we’ll see Keith Urban/Walker Hayes and the final performance is Saturday with Tim McGraw/Devin Dawson.

CFD Concert Nights

Once again, CFD was awesome – we enjoyed all of the concerts and the familiar Buckin’ A Saloon.  We also attended the VIP Chuckwagon experience again this year – this time without the downpour and soggy shoes!  We’ll be back next year!

After 11 nights in Cheyenne – thanks again Mark & Jane! – we’re headed north to Lake Glendo.  It’s been several years since we were at Glendo and it was nice to get back.  We managed to capture our favorite cliff-side site in Two Moon campground.  We’ll spend 3 nights here and then 2 nights in Denver’s Chatfield State Park before heading home.

Lake Glendo State Park, Two Moon campground

 

Frisco BBQ & Peak One

This weekend we’re in Peak One federal campground just outside of Frisco, CO.  We’re here once again for the annual Frisco BBQ Challenge.  We’re in site #15, and along with friends in site #14 & #17 we’ll enjoy two days of concerts, BBQ and beautiful camping along Lake Dillion.