Days 97 and 98 - Enjoying the Rockies

Day 97 - Sunday - peace and quiet

The day does indeed dawn bright and we go for an early morning walk, hoping to see some wildlife.  We do see a couple of ground squirrels but since for us early morning is 9:00am, the rest of the local inhabitants are probably sleeping. 

We also are gob smacked by a profusion of wildflowers, none of which appear in any of our books, and a variety of birds. including a yellow Wilson's Warbler as well as two species of exotic butterfly.  And of course the grandeur of the Rockies, especially at this altitude, is why we're here.

The rest of the day is just that - a rest.  We enjoy the alpine meadows, look for the wildlife which is no doubt looking at us, spend time with the cats and just generally relax.  As Vicky puts it, "This is why we're doing the RV travel!"  Hopefully from this point on there will be more days like this and less days dealing with mechanical problems!

During the afternoon there are a couple of brief thunderstorms - just enough to make everything fresh again.

I try another walk around sunset - Vicky decides it's too cold - and the only animals I see are human and canine (and not wolves of coyotes either!)

Day 98 - Monday -South to Salida

Spending the extra day Rabbit Ears Pass means we have almost 180 miles to travel today.  By the way, it turns out that the pass is named for Rabbit Ears Peak, which is, according to Wikipedia, "prominently visible from the east side of the pass in good weather".  I guess I didn't have good weather, although when I showed Vicky the photo in Wikipedia she said she did see it, so there must have been better weather on the passenger side of the RV!

The first 8 miles take us down a long, steep hill down towards Steamboat Springs, but we turn off US40 before that town and head south on CO 131 which goes downhill but not too steeply.  We've already left the high alpine region and travel through a high valley with a lot of sagebrush on another dead straight road for about 50 miles.  Eventually the RV gamely attacks another mountain pass, and we arrive at I-70.

13 miles on the interstate takes us past Avon, where Vicky had originally planned for us to stay the night, and almost into Vail where once we lit a fire on a very hot day because the hotel had upgraded us to a large suite with a fireplace.  We turn south on US24East (go figure) and climb up and down several passes, eventually arriving in Leadville, where we plan to have lunch.

This is not to be unless we unhitch the car or park and walk.  As we arrive in town a large sign points us to "Truck and RV By-Pass - Strictly Enforced",  This takes us round the back streets and out on the other side of town.  So we pull over and eat in the RV.

As we continue south we join US285.  We pass by the headwaters of the Colorado River and then find ourselves at the headwaters of the Arkansas River.  Interesting as one ends up in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) and the other joins the Mississippi!  We follow the Arkansas River, stopping for an intriguing salty dog mocha at a coffee shop in the aptly named Buena Vista after which I prepare for the last 20 miles or so to Salida.

Vicky had chosen a stop in Salida because it had a "Super Walmart" where we could spend a free night.  However I saw several signs pointing to "Historic Downtown Salida" and suggest we unhitch the car, leave the RV and the cats at Walmart and go explore.  Historic Downtown Salida turns out to feature a Denver and Rio Grand Western Railroad caboose (the town was founded by the D&RGW), a cool hotel whose lobby still boasts the original wooden fixtures and at least 5 interesting restaurants, some in repurposed buildings.  We enjoy a pizza at Moonlight, as recommended by a local.  We eat outside on the spot where people filled up their Model A Fords when this was a garage.  (Well, the Model A may be wishful thinking, but we are in the forecourt of something relatively ancient!).  The restaurant donates 10% of its profits to a different local group one day a week, and practices sustainability too!

During those last few miles of driving we'd seen several whitewater rafting operations along the Arkansas River, and the river looked very inviting.  Vicky is still waiting for her birthday present this year and thinks a rafting trip would fill the bill.  So while she goes shopping I Google and find that Independent Whitewater leaves from just 4 miles back up the road, and offers more rapids than its competitors.  Although it's after 8pm Mile picks up the phone when I call and says they have space both at 8:15am and 1pm tomorrow.  He recommends the early trip because there are less people on the river and the weather is apt to be better.  He also says we can park up there, so instead of sleeping in a noisy parking lot, we get a peaceful night in the country.

We drive the RV and car separately and find it's very dark, but eventually find a spot to park with only a slight scrape on the RV.  As I go back to move the car I'm greeted by a large black cat who's happy to be petted.  He follows me home and is on the steps of the RV when I point out to him that our cats, Quill especially, will make his life a misery if he comes in.  He gives me a look of resignation and slinks off.