Getting lost to find myself... No worries.

With all that has happened to me the past couple of months, a failed relationship, a real bad episode of COPD, 3 cracks ribs, and a whole lot of driving, I feel the need to drastically change my plans. I believe I will skip Quartzsite this year, and wander... maybe see grandkids, maybe just hide out in the boondocks. I don't know yet what changes will happen, just know I am safe, I will continue to use my SPOT tracking device so the key people in my life will know I am O.K. Just need some serious down time to take care of Swankie.

Beautiful Colorado–enroute to Colorado Springs

After a very rough season of Camp hosting, I am having some much deserved down time, all to myself.  Time to enjoy nature, and find my wits again.  The last month on the job, I suffered a severe case of RAD (never even heard it before – Reactive Airway Disease).  I knew I had COPD, but none of the normal cures were helping me. I could not stop coughing. The last six days on the job, I finally found a cure.  Fell and cracked 3 ribs… let me tell you, you WILL stop coughing.  And Lordy, I think it hurts worse than having a baby… sure takes longer for the pain to stop.  LOL

So, it’s off to enjoy some wide open spaces, and I am loving every mile.

I have friends and family in Colorado Springs… so I am SLOWLY heading that way.  Brother, and sister-in-law, nephew, great niece and great nephew, good friend from “vandwellers” tribe, and who else???? 

And on the way, this….

Swankie’s wits… where are you?????

Winter Plan (Quartzsite AZ via Colorado Springs, CO)

Made it to SD, ND, But had to cancel WA due to mechanical issues with my van.  I have family and friends to visit now in Colorado before continuing on to Quartzsite, AZ.  The summer was fabulous and as time permits I will post more photos.

Got to meet my Great niece, Brooklyn and her wonderful big brother, Levi (the photo bomber).  Wish it could have been a longer visit.  I just know this, my niece, Amber, is a wonderful mother and her kids are great.

Returned to Meeker to pick up my trailer.  Prior to going to ND, I had to replace this catalytic converter.  The GMC dealer in Meeker wanted $1,700 for the job.... Valley Repair did it for less than $400... leaving me the funds to make the ND trip.  The old converter was full of crumbled pieces.  I will write more about these wonderful mechanics at Valley Repair in Meeker.  They have adopted me now and consider me "family."

And now I need to take care of pealing paint that is coming off the van in sheets. I had already had the hood repainted in FL a few years ago.  Expensive job... one quote was $1,000 just to patch these two places... and a two week wait before they could do the job.  Uggghhhh.

The Profile of George Washington at Mt. Rushmore.  I saw many interesting things, but I am not much of a tourist.  I take the road less traveled.  More on that later.

I am safe, happy, and healing from a month-long COPD episode, falling and cracking 3 ribs, worry over the cost of repairing my van so I could be on the road again, and then the paint coming off, plus the stress of saying goodbye to all the people I met at Northfork campground this season.  I have been offered another job at a different campground and am considering it... but it will depend on how the AZ Trail goes... and when I finish it, and if I survive it.  LOL

Exploring Colorado–days off from Camp hosting.

 

Monday and Tuesday were my days off this week, and come Sunday evening, I was ready to go adventuring.  As I pulled out of the Campground, ol’ SwankieWheels said…
Hey, lets go to Steamboat Springs over Ripple Creek Pass… and we were off.  I felt certain that with the days being so long, that I still had enough daylight to make it there before dark.

At the top of the pass are interpretive exhibits and a interpretive trail… nicely done I must say.

Great view also looking back down on North Fork Canyon of the Upper White River Country…  toward my Campground.

I liked this exhibit as it names the surrounding peaks.

When we went to Trappers Lake, we where between the Amphitheater and Himes Peak.

Yah think?  I am reading the a book by Ricki Buckles right now… A History of The Upper White River Country and it says some of the people had private Elk Herds… and that they had learned to jump seven foot high fences, so they had to add 3’ more on top to contain their herd.

This the public rest room there… oh, yuk.  Since I spend a lot of my work day checking and cleaning the six similar bathrooms to this one… I can tell you OURS never look like this.  I just turned and went back out again.

Starting down the other side, the road was pretty good but as I got closer to civilization again, it go very wash-boardy.  I spotted a group of horses resting in the shade of the Aspen trees.

I’m not sure the name of this mountain, but it’s impressive.  Soon, large houses or lodges begin to come into view.

I liked this one a lot.  Notice how the geological feathers have changed completely.

The road flattens out and seems to stretch on forever.

That’s the Yampa River and I was checking it out and wanting to put my kayak in there.  Need to research it and see what kind of shuttle services are available.  I really want to paddle it.

Wanted to pop in here and check it out, but would have to pay to do so.  I did like the picnic table shelters.  Very nice.  I will have to go back one day and explore more.

Monday morning I popped into a local café and had a big breakfast, while watching the weather news on T.V.  The décor was rather down-homey.  I especially like the photo of this fawn…. it’s called a Calico deer.  I googled “calico deer” and found lots of photos of other Calico Deer, but did not see this one. The waitress told me that people are still seeing it out there… and have taken photos of it full grown.  Hope no one ever shoots it, it is just too beautiful..

I continued on to Hayden and Craig, CO because I did not like Steamboat Springs at all.  When I got to Steamboat after going up and over the mountains, I was very hungry so stopped at McDonalds for fast food.  When I came out, my left rear tire was almost flat.  Walmart in Steamboat does not have a Tire Department, so I drove a block and spotted a Tire Store… and though they were closed, I pulled in to their lot for the night.  next morning they got my tire fixed in less than 15 min, for $15.  This was the screw I picked up coming over those mountains.  I could have changed my tire and put my spare on, but I hate the task so much.

Did some shopping in Craig, CO before heading south on Rt. 13 into Meeker. Checked out more of the Parks in Meeker and there is no place to stay free.  I have spotted a few side streets where stealth parking is safe and picked one of them.  Got a good nights sleep and it was very quiet.

Tuesday, I did laundry, caught up on internet stuff, tried to get my Western Digital Ext. Hard Drive working (without success).  It wants my disk.  I don’t know where it is.  Finally got to the Rec Center and got a long hot shower, then  more computer work, before heading back to North Fork Campground.

It was good time off and fun exploring places I have never been before.  I bought a new printer (cheap one), I bought more magnetic screen doors to use in camp.  I got 3 cases of water.  I stopped and got some Chinese food to go and 1/2 of it after I got back to camp.  Yum.

Days off are a good thing.