Real Nashville

Wednesday we made it to Nashville and checked into the Two Rivers Campground. Rating ***1/2. We were at this spot before and really liked it esp the shuttle running downtown.  We caught the shuttle and heard some great music, had some cold ones and supper.  We were getting tired so it was an early nite.

Thursday we started for Florida and hit the jackpot for horrible weather.  Lots of downpours and going thru Atlanta was a treat.  Not.  Thought we made it thru but wrong.   Sat in traffic for about 1.5 hours so we're gonna say this is the dental bill which is double what you thought.  Painful!  We finally stopped in north Florida for the nite at a very nice KOA in Jennings.  Definitely getting a *** rating cause we are so happy to stop and lay down.


We made it home on Friday, almost 3 weeks on the road. A great time, no problems, home safe with many, many memories. What more could we want??? Until the trailer comes out again, thank you for coming along and hope to have you come along on the next adventure.

You're Golden

July 7th my sister and hubby headed back to Minnesota and we headed up to Golden, Colorado to see some old friends we knew in Mexico. It was great to catch up with Jackie and Michael. We stayed at the Dakota Ridge Campgrounds in Golden. The grounds were very nice but the office people were crabby and no wifi. Expensive for what we got. Rating *** Monday morning we turned around and started our trek home. Only 1999 miles to go. The winds driving thru Kansas were crazy. After a lot of driving and fighting the wind we stopped at Wilson State Park. The park sits on a beautiful lake and literally is in the middle of nowhere. We found a spot up on a hill by a nice tree. Very hot and muggy and we made it an early nite until about 2 am, and BOOM. Wtf? A storm was right on us and we had nothing. No shelter, warnings, nada. Sitting ducks. After freaking out for a few minutes, the camper stopped violently shaking and a steady rain fell. Very thankful it passed us and we were still in an upright position. Since we lived thru this ordeal, Campground gets a ****. Tuesday we started out early to beat the wind and it was a better drive. Going thru the city of St. Louis was definitely a deep cleaning with that little metal instrument. You know you have to go thru it and it is so annoying. Another long day found us in Nashville, IL and we spent the nite at Washington County Water Restoration. Great spots, facilities and nice camp host. Very quiet. ***1/2 Wednesday we headed to the real Nashville.

Magical Manitou Springs

We spent three days in Manitou Springs and we saw a lot.  Our campground Pikes Peak Campground was very nice and in a great location.  Only problem was sites were really tight so we're giving them a ***1/2.

Saturday Gary and Barbara planned a day of golf since they heard the balls go further in the thin air.  This is still debatable.

My Gary and I decided to see a few more things in the area but the weather was cool and cloudy.  We stopped at Cave of the Winds but didn't go in.  Just were in a cave so how many can you do in one trip?

We headed to Rainbow Waterfall which is near the cave.  Very nice.

Then we checked out the Cliff Dwellers.  Indians a long time ago lived in these cliffs and had all kinds of traditions.  Very interesting and so many reasons to live like this.  Very little cleaning although neighbors are very close but it makes it easy to borrow sugar or flour so that's good.

Rocky Mountain High

We started out Friday with a drive up Pikes Peak which is 19 miles up.  We drove 16 miles to a spot where a shuttle bus took us the rest of the way.  Now I understand what the word "harrowing" means. We got an early start and as we were leaving there had to be 3 miles of cars waiting to climb up.  Note to self.  Get early start to climb mountains.

But what an experience and the views are to die for but don't say that while you're driving on the mountain.  Gary Moe did the driving, slowly and we did a lot of leaning away from the edge.  It helped.   There are few guard rails and there are times it feels like you are driving right into the sky.

After a short break at Pikes Peak Campground we headed for Garden of the Gods.  This is a free attraction where large mostly red stones seem to tower out of the ground. Again very hard to describe but a must see.

Lastly we found Trails End Brewery where we met a group who biked down Pikes Peak. Yes you read that right.  We enjoyed some local brews which you buy by the ounce and pour yourself using a wrist band.  Neat idea after you understand the concept.  That took a lot of explaining for me but when it's that important you take notes and make it work.

Happy 4th of July.

Wednesday we explored the Gunnison, Colorado area.  This was about 60 miles of Buena Vista thru mountains until we found the Blue Mesa Reservior.  The drive was beautiful and we visited a brewery downtown before visiting another new business in Colorado.

This was purely for research purposes and our research shows these places are very popular. 

We said goodbye to Chalk Creek Campground which was a pretty good place to stay. My sister stayed in the upper section and we stayed down in a hole by a creek which was beautiful. This place gets a *** due to our hole spot was right under 35w. Traffic was loud and all the kids in the playground right in front of our site filled in the gaps. Thursday we made the short trek east to the Colorado Springs area where some old friends of my sister's stopped over. We had a quiet 4th after settling in to the Pikes Peak Campground. Time to start exploring.

Colorado Virgin. No more.

Sunday morning we said goodbye to New Mexico and headed north to Colorado. On our way we took the scenic route to Taos NM since it was highly recommended. It was a beautiful drive and Taos is a happening place.

We got to our first Colorado stop about 2 pm and had on long sleeves by 3 pm. We are happily in a quiet campsite surrounded by mountains and cool breezes, even gusts. We are near some hot springs. Our campsite is right in the mountains away from life. At first we were weary but it is better than we hoped. Great facilities, nice old guy owner and cool weather. Rating: ***1/2 Monday we made it to our camp in Buena Vista. My sister and her husband joined us here at Chalk Creek campground. This is the heart of white water rafting and we were able to talk my sister into going after a few beers. Tuesday we went down the Arkansas river with Kodi Rafting. The river is higher than usual and the trip was beyond all expectations. We had a great guide who kept an eye on my sister, we hit some "3" rapids. "6" are deadly so the rapids we had were great because the river was high and running fast. We got soaked even with all our gear on but the scenery on the river is so beautiful and the ride so fun we didn't even mind the 40 degree water.

Artsy fartsy Santa Fe

Friday morning found us doing chores. We love our campground in Santa Fe. Right in town, close to everything, great facilities.  But after a week on the road we had loads of laundry, dirty vehicle, low on food, gas, etc.  AC is off. Cool nites. Rating ***1/2

Friday afternoon we visited the Meow Wolf.  This is a bowling alley converted to an interactive art exhibit.  So many people including kids experiencing art in a whole new way.  I cannot explain it.  But 250 artists let their minds go wild.  If you get a chance go.   If you have kids absolutely go.  You might lose a kid or two but it is so worth it.

Saturday we took the city bus downtown which was a trip.  We had a bus driver who hated his life so he was not gonna answer any questions even tho his route is tattooed on his tiny brain.  We did the Loretta Bus Tour thru Santa Fe. So much history and art.  Beautiful day and it was Pride weekend so lots of festivities. If we ever make it back here, it will be for at least a week and that probably won't be enough time!