A visit to Southern Colorado
Four days, a thousand miles.
Recently stayed at nice Pueblo KOA campground right beside I-25. 8 miles north of Pueblo City: very well managed, friendly, $28 for a pull thru, 30 AMP, water, Wifi, clean, heated bathroom/hot showers. Some freight train noise but otherwise agreeable.
Then drove south to Walsenburg on I-25 and toward the birding trails of the Spanish Peaks of the Sangre De Christo Range. Too early for the birds, so went west to Alamosa and the Great Sands National Park. Great Sands is on our “see it once list.” Quite dramatic. Hikers and those who go sledding camp there. Attractive sites but no hookups. Just before the park gate is a commercial camp ($35). It began to snow. We drove to Alamosa but found the KOA still closed for the winter (!) and the other local RV spot looked too red-neck-trailer trash for my beautiful 19.
So we continued west into the snowstorm, to Monte Vista where the campgrounds were also closed. Began thinking WalMart. Finally, at 7 PM in Del Norte, we found Wood & River RV park. $29 with electric and water, modest but very nice, clean, hot showers, Wifi, very friendly, exceptionally lovely beside the Rio Grande in the fresh snow.
It was then on to Durango where once again, all area campgrounds were not yet open for business. What is wrong with these people? Saw a sign indicating camping, up into the San Juan National Forest. We took that narrow road, right up to where we stopped, at a locked gate. The forest preserve was clearly only open to hikers. My problem however, was now trying to turn around to go back to town. Took half an hour of inch by inch K-turning but got it done with the help of friendly locals guiding me. Did not go over the cliff. Never would have made it with a 21. Overnighted at nice Durango WalMart.
Back across the border we thought about Shiprock, but opted instead for lunch at the Angel Peaks Badlands recreation area. It was on my “we go to these places so you don’t have to,” list.
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Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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