A bike rack....and Geocaching!!!

I woke up to cool again, but not as cool as it has been....was really nice. Work day as usual...nothing special. As soon as I could logoff, I was headed to town with my rental car. I thought I might get in one more site before I had to turn it in. However, the timing for the the guy that was picking me up didn't allow for that. So, I just drove it straight back to Enterprise and was grateful for the day I did get. I only drove the car 60mi and I didn't even have to put any gas in it...cool!!! It did allow me a nice afternoon yesterday. Got back to the campground and did a little personal email, then I decided to go chat with a neighbor. A couple pulled in 2 days ago in a Winnebago Journey (a rig I strongly considered), but I wanted to ask them about their bike rack. I'm about to buy one and I really like theirs....so I knocked on their door. They were very nice and showed me all about the rack, we put the bikes back on the rack...it's cool. I think I have my answer on that problem. They invited me in and it was sooooo nice to be in a rig like I will be in one day....it's really nice, and much bigger than what I've been in all week. We chatted about an hour and the topic of geocaching  came up....they do this and have had a ball. I've read about others doing it, and know something about it but not much. They said this campground had 3...they had found 2, but the other one was way up the hill....then they asked if I wanted to go do it.....SURE!!! So off we went......and up the hill it was. It was about twice as far up the hill I had gone up on Tues.....OMG it got steep sometimes, and there were lots of cactus.....

He had a hand-held GPS with him so we could find this cache. On the screen it showed arrows for your direction and told u how close you were. It was a rather steep walk and at this altitude was....WOW!! But we did it, and then came across this teepee looking thing. The cache was telling him that it was behind a natural made structure. Well, we were struggling with that, this was made out of natural stuff, but was very man-made.

But we looked behind it, and sure enough there it was, under a rock...

see the plastic tube???

We got it out....

and it was a plastic tube filled with all these random things....

There was a small journal that he signed and dated, and we put it all back in the tube, hid it again, and headed back down the hill. Before we left, they had shown me "traveling animals"...like a frog, that they had picked up. They had a "dog tag" on them that had a number on it. You logged onto the site, and looked up the traveling history of the animal, and you could see if there was a specific place the owner wished for the animal to go....(sorry forgot to take a pic of them)....it is all rather well thought out, and provides much fun....it's like a scavenger hunt anywhere you go, and you don't have to hide anything, just go hunt!! They said they'd gone places they would have never known about and seen some cool stuff because of this....hummmm, something for me to think about for the future. Is good exercise too...bonus!

We made our way down the hill and I stopped for one pic over looking the camp ground, I'm much higher than on Tuesday when I came up this way...you can see much more of the campground...very cool.

once back down on level ground we watched a deer and some humming birds...there is certainly evidence there is lots of wildlife here, but have not seen a lot. One couple was telling me that several yrs ago a doe came to their site and she was hurt. She looked like a mountain lion got her, her ear was split and she was badly scratched up. They nursed her back to health and now, every year when they return (they live here 6mth and Arizona 6mths), she comes to visit and brings her babies. They told me, they can now see 3 generations when she comes to visit....too cool. Reminded me of the movie Elsa...about the lion.

Well, was time to say thanks and good-night, I needed a shower and had to pack...this is my last night, have to return this little house to Aurora tomorrow. This is only about 80mi, so won't take too long and I'd like to be able to go ride the Pike's Peak RR.....but we'll see. I will work 1/2 day and then have to close down and hit the road. 

It's been an amazing adventure. No classroom could have taught me the things I've learned. There are many things you just have to experience, no one can explain them, this is one of them. Time for bed....I have to start early....my last cool campfire aroma nite.....but I"ll be back one day!

The Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs.....

It started out as another typical work day, but somewhere around 10a, I decided I had to get a rental car and go see a few things. I REALLY didn't want to unhook the rig, so I asked in the office if they had a car rental they recommended .....Enterprise, cause they had to come get me. So they gave me the number, I called, but was told I was too far away for them to come get me....great. The owner, David, said...you make the reservation, I'm leaving at 4p I'll take you. Then tomorrow we will figure out how to reverse it....WOW...how nice was that....these folks are awesome.....if you are in this area you MUST check it out...
www.campground1.com Mountaindale Cabins and Resort....it is amazing.

So...I got my car $38 and as promised David took me....I was only 6mi from the Garden of the Gods which is where I really wanted to go....it was a gorgeous day and the drive was great. It did feel a little odd to be in a small car after having driven the rig so far.

There were several pull-offs on the way....gorgeous snow-capped mountains....Pike's Peak

I didn't know Pike's Peak had been the inspiration for America the Beautiful...did you??

Yep it was a little breezy, but had to get this shot with the Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak...wow!

The Kissing Camel's....one of the most famous of the rock formations.

Pretty interesting stuff.

The entrance sign....when u pass this it turns into a one-way road with many small parking lots along the drive to allow you to park and walk the gardens. But I went to the Visitor's Center first, looked around watched a 14min film and took some pics...then I went for my drive and walk....it was gorgeous.

Now for some gorgeous pictures of the rocks from my walk in the gardens:

The Gardens were donated to the city....pretty cool.

I loved the perfect placement of this sign about Pike's Peak....with it looming in the background:

Here is a closer shot you might can read it better....

A few more formations.....see the kids climbing the rocks....there were several doing it.

One last shot from the road as I was leaving the Gardens

Another famous formation....Balanced Rock.....amazing!

Now it was time to head to Manitou Springs...it's a small town, one main street, shops, restaurants.

I walked it for  about an hour and decided to head back.

Some of the town was built up the side of the mountain

This sign was on the wall of a building as I went by....this place goes back a few years....

I was headed back until I saw this sign.....it totally sucked me in:

Rudy's BBQ...and gas station....how can you not try a place where you can get BBQ and gas at the same spot....woohoo!!

You go through a line and order, and since I was a newbie I got to sample before ordering. I tasted the turkey, the brisket, and the pork loin. The also had baby back ribs and sausage but I couldn't sample those. You order by weight, so I got 2 ribs (1/4 lb) and 1/4 lb of the pork loin, corn on the cob and tea. Your food is given to you in a plastic drink crate. Too funny....then you go get your drink and help yourself to a relish bar, which was no big deal. It cost me about $10 and was pretty good.....woohoo, no cooking tonight. 

Would I go back.....sure. 

Now it really was time to head home. It was dark and I intended to be back before dark because of all the wildlife and I was not anxious to hit anything or have it hit me in this rental car. I had to drive 20mi south (following the GPS Dee and Jim gave me...thanks guys it has saved me), away from the city lites....it was a nice ride and I arrived home safely. Another great day....time for bed, have to get up early to work.

Hope you enjoyed my little side trip, I sure did....Good Night!

A work day ....some laundry and a hike!!

Last night was quiet....I could never make myself do much of anything. I had some baked potato soup for dinner, took a shower and decided to finally try the TV....well....I scanned for channels...nada. As I expected, some sites have a cable hook-up, I don't, but matters not, I don't have a cable. So, I'm glad I rescued some magazines from Susan's toss pile. I turned on some tunes from my PC and climbed into bed and read a while...the nites are always cool and great sleeping with the windows open.
Here's a few pics of my humble home....

Yes, you could sit on the bed and wash the dishes....but the bed is a pillow top and sleeps really good.
The door goes to the potty and shower...very small
See the frig on the right...it works pretty well, but is also small.

My office!!! I have a way to fix this in the future so my dining room does not double as my office.

I slept wonderfully until the 530a alarm...you see I am 2hrs behind ATL and I need to stay on the same work sched, so I'm up early. It was chilly, so I put on a sweat suit and started to work. I turned on the heat for a little bit, but because the heater, stove, oven and the hot water heater all pull off the propane tank and it's at the 1/2 mark I didn't want to use a lot, and I was ok. I could go buy more, but that's a hassle that's not worth it to me. It's only cool for a little bit, then it warms up nicely and the nice breeze is back. You see my rules are, bring the rig back with black and gray tanks empty and gas full. Propane matters not...so I"m trying to have enough for hot water and cooking and be done.
I'm hooked to water and electric, however, I couldn't hook to sewage because they didn't give me connector piece that this campground requires so I'm hoping my tanks can hold out so I"m being careful. My showers are off/on with the water and otherwise careful. Most campgrounds will allow you to just push the hose down the hole, but it seems this place creates such a suction you have to connect to the hole, not just shove the tube down.....the really nice workamper that lead me to the site told me to just not hook up, and he'd help me on Fri morning. Otherwise, I'd of had  to leave and go buy this and come back....they are all so nice here. So, I'm being careful cause my gray tank is getting full, my black tank is fine....thankfully.
During lunch break I did a little laundry...at $1.50/washer and  $1.25/dryer, I think the washer/dryer I plan to buy for my rig will more than pay for themselves!!!
Since I logon early...I logoff early.....so at 230p I headed out, it was time for some walking hiking...it's beautiful around here

Can you see the blue house in the distance....I walked over to there, it's a llama farm

I hiked to the top of a ridge, see the campground below??

Wanted to go higher, but the road  stopped and with these little babies everywhere I decided to  head down.
This is all up a hill they hope to also turn into sites one day. I'd gone as far as I could go, so it was time to head out the back of the campground. I went past my rig and out the back road....the road leads to some gorgeous property with a few houses and then if u keep taking lefts you ended up back on the road where the campground is. Was a nice walk/hike, I prob went about 2-3 mi....at 6700 elevation that was good.

This was one of the last places I passed before getting back to the  campground.....a llama farm, in the picture above it is a blue house you can see in the distance. Was a great walk and was good to get out a bit.
Then I sat outside for happy hour....was delightful, the cool night air is coming in. I came in and it was time to cook for the first time. Lighting the stove was easy, so I had a small steak and some broccoli cooked in the microwave....not bad.
About time to take a shower and hit the hay....I start early again tomorrow. I want very much to go to The Garden of the Gods but that means I have to unhook and drive there, so I'm debating that...we'll see.
Good night.....

Time for some Pictures.....

I'm just learning to add pics but was a good day to learn...as you will see they are a bit out of order, but they are there.....sorry, I will get better!!!

My destination.....great place

My rig next to Susan's min-cooper...just a little bit of difference

Ready to roll......my home for 7 days! 

My 2nd night with the trucker's...can u find me??

Montana Mike's bar....was a great lunch!

Windmills in Kansas...as far as I could see

Not sure you can see them well, but windmills in Colorado, even though wind was not as bad for me

Felt good to drive under this sign!!

The mountains were getting closer!

First glimpse of the mountains....was awesome

In my campsite and hooked-up.....didn't do much else all day!!

Happy Memorial Day....from Colorado Springs!!

I hope everyone had a restful day like I did. I'm sure there were some great cook-outs and BBQ's that I missed....but it was so wonderful to just be still. I slept with the windows open and fell asleep to the smell of campfires and with a great cool breeze coming in, it was wonderful. I woke up to chicken doing cock-a-doodle-do....for a while. I closed the window and was surprised how much it drowned him out. With the road noise I got when driving I didn't figure on the rest of the insulation being that good....I'd been hearing truckers at nite, but the chicken kinda went away...cool....was nice just to lay there and know I didn't have to move. Hunger finally made me get up, I never ate the other 1/2 of yesterday's lunch....I had ice cream for dinner instead, which does not exactly stick with ya...so was time to move. This morning my parfait was not enough, so time to turn on the generator and use the microwave, just one problem....the glass tray in the bottom had gotten off track during my travels (I'm sure while crossing Kansas)..and I can't see inside that baby. So, I tried for several minutes to get back on track by feel, but, no go....so, time to meet a tall neighbor. There were 2 other rigs in the over-flow with me....a father/mother and their son and his family, we'd briefly me last nite....was time to get re-acquainted. They were all sitting outside, and I explained my problem...Dad and son walked over and fixed me right up. They thought I was brave for doing all that driving solo....I thought it was a grand adventure.
Alrighty, thanks guys now I could have some sausage!! I walked to the office around 1030a and my assigned space was empty, but I'd now seen some others i liked better...I asked if I could move and she said no prob, i will circle all available spots and u pick. So, I found this great spot, on a small ledge with a great view cause it's a little higher...it was towards the back, less road noise and away from the chicken, and it was a pull thru...woohoo...I was in and hooked up in no time........and for the first time since I picked it up I put the 1 slide out...I gained 2 feet in space...YAHOO....in the little rig, that's HUGE!!!! No more generator or having to fill the water tank, or worry about levels in gray or black tank...I had FULL hook-ups and I was ready for them.
I powered up the work PC and checked out everything, looking good....tomorrow is a work day as normal.

Spent most of the day outside under the awning doing NOTHING!!!

I made some calls and did some email and was basically worthless. I may still go for a walk today, but I may not...I think my adrenaline finally gave out.
Thanks to Shea for reminding me we have a cousin in Denver, I made that connection and will be spending Fri nite with him and his family...cool, I've not met his wife or little 1yr old...bonus....see how this traveling thing works, I love it!!!
It's so nice to just enjoy the surroundings. I finally got out my bag chair and remembered I had an awning...electric...woohoo!! I put that baby out and plopped down. But in about 30min here came the wind...it moved the awning a bit too much for my comfort. They are built to take some wind, but I didn't drive this rig 1300 mi with no problems to have to buy an awning now...so I pulled it back in and was still happy. I then looked around and all the other rigs parked the way I am didn't have their awnings out, ok, dummy, there's a clue!! Rookie...I will learn!! The wind has become my best friend and worst enemy....the way I am parked I have the windows open and get a good cross breeze...no A/C needed, but because of the way I"m parked, may be bad for the awning...I looked at others parked in a diff direction and they have them out...hummm....another something for the lessons learned on the trip.

We have blue skies with a few clouds but an awesome day. I finally also remembered I have an outside sound system...and it has an AUX port....yahoo, my IPOD worked...so I napped in my chair to my tunes. It has been a lovely day.

I think I hear the lonely bottle of wine in the fridge calling me....it's been chilling since Friday!! I see wine and salmon (thanks Susan)....as my first real dinner in the rig....YUM-O!!!!

Thank you to all of the Veteran's that made this day possible!

Good Evening from beautiful Colorado!

Almost 1300 miles in 3 days.....but I did it!!!

Well....the wind got up before me and was waiting on me when I hit I70......wow, it is really something.

While I was getting the inside "road ready" I was feeling something bump me....like someone walking by....we were parked tight, so I thought maybe somebody walking by did nudge me.....but as soon as I opened the door I knew what it was.....rigs on both side of me were gone...so it was the wind!!! Woohoo, was going to be another rough day.....ok, it was time to "grab it and growl"!!!
I had begun to wonder why I hadn't seen any windmills with all this wind....not long after that, there they were...on both sides of the road as far as I could see, it was too cool. I think if they took all the people out of Kansas and put up nothing but wind mills they could provide electricity for the rest of the US!!

I fought that wind for about 3hrs, then decided I needed a break and I'd been seeing signs for Montana Mike's Steak house....yum, sounds good since my eating the last 2 days had not been too good since driving and sleeping were the priority. I exited and took a left and headed toward the town of Hays....many signs had said it was one of the "best little towns", thought I'd take a look. Well, I got almost to the little town and road construction stopped me. I didn't want to fight it, so I turned around and headed for my steak lunch.

 It was yum-o and I brought 1/2 back to the rig to have for dinner....woohoo....no cooking tonite!! While in the restaurant I heard some ladies talking about going to Colorado Spgs, so I started chatting with them. I ask if they were in a car and if they too were fighting the wind. They said yes and yes...it was awful. I'd been watching 5th wheel RV's swaying, and other towables, but I was curious how it felt in a car. They've done this trip a few times and they said one time the wind lifted their car hood!!! WOW....I was so hoping that was not going to happen to me. One lady said she told her husband she thought  God was mad when He made Kansas....I told her I agreed and had to laugh when I saw a sign a little ways back that said "Garden of Eden" next exit, I had no idea if it was a town, a cemetery or what....but since we all know it is the place of the first sin, I thought Kansas was a perfect place for it. Yesterday Missouri was low on my totem pole, but they moved up a little after I drove all the way across Kansas.
After a great lunch, was time to go back to the battlefield. This wind is so bad that trees and bushes have a permanent lean to them. I held the steering wheel at about a 1/4 turn for hrs just to keep it going straight. Some bikers passed me and I wondered how it felt to them.
About 1.5 hrs later I saw them at a rest stop and they said it beat them up too, you just hold on and go. Wow, somebody needs to put a tunnel under Kansas!!! I passed a golf course and had to laugh, if the wind is going the right way when you tee up, you could look like a rock star, but if it isn't, it might go 5 feet and drop, I truly can't imagine how they play here.
Then, I past the magic spot and the wind was gone....I drove about my last hour in KS as normal, it was amazing. I crossed into Colorado and wanted to kiss the ground!! From where I came into Colorado you don't see the mountains right away, I had to drive about an hour before I could see them, but then, there they were...my trip was worth it...they were in the distance, but I was heading toward them.

I exited 70 at Limon, then did 24 (a 2 lane) into Colorado Springs. I got gas one last time in Limon at a Flying J...just love those now. It is amazing to never pump less than $100 in gas...whew...my day is coming!!

The drive across 24 was great...the mountains kept getting closer....I was loving it. I gained another hour when I crossed into CO and I pulled into the campground around 6p.....it is awesome.

Was a relief to see this sign.......

It's $40 a night, which is a bit high, but my $200 allowance will cover it. I can already see why it's so nice. The sites are spacious, FULL hook ups and the view is awesome. I'm actually across the street tonite for $10 w/o hook-ups, the campground is full, but I'll move over tomorrow which is fine. By default I've learned how to live w/o hook-ups, so the next 4 nights will be really nice, I'll learn to live with them. The couple that showed me to the over-flow lot are full-timers and work here during the summer. They told me I was just in time for the ice cream social, bring a bowl/spoon and $1 at 7p.....yeah, I'll be there.
I got parked, put a few things away, made a few calls to let folks know I was here and got some ice cream. I opted to eat and walk, and see some of the campground. It is really nice. I've already met some great folks and I know this is going to be terrific.

What an experience this has been....I've learned sooooo much, and I'm really grateful for this experience.
Thanks again to Susan, Sally, and Amanda for helping me make this happen. It has been REALLY good for me.
I can't tell you how good it feels to know I don't have to get up and drive in the morning. It was beginning to feel like work, but it's not normally done like this. Normally, I will move at a much slower pace. But for this time, my goal was to get all the driving done in 3 days and have Monday to relax before working on Tues as usual....mission accomplished. I had great weather, and it was a good trip. But I won't miss feeling like a pilot in the morning...lock down the inside, walk around the outside, everything off, generator off, water pump off, GPS on, water glass ready, cell phone close so I could check time (not talk), chapstick close by...ok...ready/set/go!! It's been fun, but I'll be glad to sit for a bit. I"m sure I will wish I don't have to work, but this is going to be my life, so I'd better see how that part goes too.

I'm not sure how I'm going to sleep tonite without my trucker friends and the sound of their rigs...nothing up here but quiet!! The truckers are great folks and they were very helpful...but quiet is going to be awesome.
I'm whopped and it's time to hit the hay.........tomorrow I shall explore some more.

Good night from Colorado Springs.....woohoo, I made it!!