Time to leave....

We will be leaving Colorado next Wednesday and after the storms were over from yesterday and last night I think our timing is just right.

There was no snow on Mt Sopris Sunday morning

We had a few campers stay another night because all the passes were under a winter storm warning.

We leave Wednesday for Richfield, UT where we'll spend Wednesday night. Thursday on to Sedona, AZ and Thursday night we'll be staying near the Phoenix airport so we can pickup Peggy and Scott for a fun week at the Grand Canyon and Sedona in their time share. The 5th wheel goes to short term storage and Chewie goes to the pet hotel for a week!

Hope this is the last snow I see this year. Tonight we are under a freeze warning with lows in the mid 20's.

Snowmass Balloon Festival

Saturday morning we decided to go to the balloon launch. We got to Snowmass around 7:00 a.m to find few balloons ready. The weather has been unpredictable lately with rain almost every day. Saturday morning was no exception and between the rain and wind they called off the launch. One "rookie" went to the trouble to inflate but then deflated as soon as the rain started.

Saturday night the rain had stopped so we drove back to Snowmass to watch the "night glow". There were several balloons inflated along one of the ski runs but there were new storms coming in from the southwest which caused most to deflate. Unfortunately by 9 they were all down and put away.

It was a nice evening and we walked around Snowmass Mall and had beef stew and Chili. It was on the cool side at 44 degrees. The storm cell never made it to Snowmass.

We entered the event from the top of the hill and walked down to the live music and activities. Only problem with that is hiking back up to get out and to the parking lot!

It's a hike on the way back up!

Synchronized burning to the live band

Just in case....
Always need to know where the clinic is :)

New kitchen floor

I needed a project and was tired of looking at the linoleum floor in the kitchen. Amazing what a little Pergo can do!

PergoMax - Natural Oak

Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail

Today we decided to ride the bike trail through Glenwood Canyon. It runs parallel to I-70 east towards Denver from Glenwood Springs to Bair Ranch. Total trail is approximately 16 miles one-way. It's about a 4.5 to 5% grade uphill to Bair Ranch.

We took a modified version and started at the No Name trail head. Really, it is called No Name, Co!
Starting at No Name there is a long descent which is great till its time to come back. You ride along the Colorado River the entire trip and will see many white water rafters coming down. There are about 3 rest stops that have bathrooms and shade for breaks if needed. Our total trip was only about 12.5 miles but it was beautiful. Next year I'd like to make the full 32 mile round trip. Meagan and Bill came and Meagan smoked all of us on the ride back.

Its definitely worth the trip and you can make it as long or short as you want.

Meagan Bill and Kathy at one of the rest stops

Kathy and the Colorado River

Has it been that long?

Wow, guess I should update this more often!

Last weekend we hiked to Dinkle Lake. It is at the base of Mount Sopris and near the trail head to Sopris. Maybe next year when we are in better shape we'll try the 2 day trek to the top. Its about a 6,000' rise from the trail head to the top. Most people hike to Edwards lake (1/2 way) spend the night then hike the rest of the way the next day. I hear its beautiful at the top, 12,996 feet.

So being less energetic and realistic we did the relatively simple hike to Dinkle. It is a small lake with no over night camping. Cattle roam the mountain side and at times catch you off guard when you walk by and don't realize they are there. While at the lake we had a visit by a few getting a drink of water.

To get to Dinkle you drive south from Carbondale on 133 for about 6 miles to Prince Creek Rd. Turn left and go another 3 1/2 miles till the road turns to dirt. The road can get interesting in a few spots and there is not enough room for two vehicles to pass. Once at the top about another 3 1/2 miles, it is a short 1 to 1 1/2 mile hike to the lake.

Looking towards Carbondale at the trail head

Our visitors

Fall 2013 travel schedule

Here's our tentative fall schedule -

10/2 - Richfield, UT
10/3 - Cottonwood, AZ
10/4 - 10/11 - The Villas of Sedona, AZ with Scott and Peggy
10/11 - 10/18 - Tucson, AZ visiting my parents
10/19 - Las Cruces, NM
10/20 - Fort Stockton, TX
10/21 - 10/23 - San Antonio, TX
10/24 - 10/25 - Baytown, TX
10/26  - Scott, LA
10/27 - 10/29 - Milton, FL
10/30 - 11/1 - Kingsland, GA
11/3 - April 2014 - Wilmington, NC

Humming water heater

Last week it started. Every time the hot water was run there was a loud humming sound. After doing a little research on line I figured out it was probably the check valve. According to what I read, there could be one or two check valves. I decided to remove the cold water side first and with a 50/50 chance, it didn't have one.  Next I removed the top one. I found a 1/2 inch spring loaded check valve. It was visibly bad. The o-ring around the piston was partially on top of the piston instead of being underneath it. 

Now to go get a new. After 3 hours of running around between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs no one had one.  I ended up ordering one on Amazon at the tune of $24.00. Replaced and no more humming!

Old check valve with o-ring messed up. The hummer culprit!

Plastic piston - leave it to the RV company to get the cheapest

Top of water heater with the new check valve

Disconnected

New check valve with no plastic parts

New

Old



Site upgrades

A few site upgrades this year. I made some steps to cut down on the wear and tear of the regular steps and we planted a garden this year. The prairie dogs kept eating the tomato's so we put fencing around the area. Seems to have worked so far.

Redstone Colorado

Redstone is a small mountain town with a few small shops. We took a drive up last weekend to see the campground there. There are two camp hosts and it is a US Forest campground. Has no dump station but the camp sites are nice and secluded.

The area is beautiful with red stone all over. The Crystal River runs around the entire area. Redstone was a mining town in the 1800's with coke ovens still present in one area. At approximately 18 miles south of Carbondale its a nice drive and afternoon trip.

Memorial Day Ceremony in Aspen

Today we went to Aspen for a Memorial Day Ceremony. There were a lot veterans there. Bill wanted to here his friend talk about a  new non-profit he started called Purple Star. What stuck out the most during his speech was the fact that 22 veterans a day commit suicide. Take a look and if you can help, please do!

Many vets got up and remember lost friends and a 95 year old Austrian man was happy to now be an American. He escaped Hitler and after coming to the US he joined the Army and helped free the people in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

Memorial Day Ceremony in Aspen

Meagan and Bill

Kathy and the Conquistador

Porcupine Loop - 14 miles

Today we hiked the Porcupine Loop. Its about 2 miles out of Carbondale and is a intermediate hiking/biking trail.  We saw more bikes than hikers. Not realizing it was 14 miles we only hiked for about 2 hours. You can hike in and tent camp. Before the summer is over we plan to do that for at least a night.

A custom bike holder in the middle of no where

If you are bored with the trails, try jumping this old car!

Hiking down the trail.

There is an entire series of trails from Intermediate to Advanced. It would be fun to get in shape for the advanced by September!

Morning in Carbondale, Co

As the sun comes up

Saturday is a big day in Carbondale! Start of the summer season with the annual Dandelionday Festival
We are on duty this weekend camp hosting but will be there from 11 - 4 for all the excitement.

After the storm

Just a nice picture of Mount Sopris after the storm today. 

Driving into the campground at sunset.

Our new matching sofa!

It was a nice day today. We went and picked up the sofa and then tonight, Bill and Meagan took us out to dinner at Chili's.

Looks like rain and storms for another day.

New furniture

Today we picked up two new matching leather recliners and bought a new sofa for the 5th wheel.
New sofa comes in next Tuesday. After that my project is new carpet and laminate wood floors. I just need those projects!

April showers bring May what?

May 1st - a little wet snow for the morning. Mount Sopris is hidden in the clouds but I'm sure it will be beautiful when they lift.

In Carbondale

Saturday we decided to drive to Strausburg, Co from Wellington, KS instead of stopping at Wakeeney, KS. We had one long driving day which was either going to be Saturday or Sunday and decided to make it Saturday. We got in Strausburg around 6:30.

Sunday we arrived in Carbondale around 1 pm. Took a while to set and get everything out but we are now settled in. A nice dinner at The Whitehouse Restaurant and we are relaxing for the evening.

Wellington, Kansas

Last night we stayed at the K.O.A. in Wellington, Kansas. A small campground but close to a lot of business. Walmart is next door and the city is of decent size. We had dinner at "The Great Wall of China". Decent food for a typical strip mall take out restaurant.

Today we drive to Wakeeney, KS at the Colorado/Kansas border.

Site 61

 

12 more states to go! Excluding Hawaii :)

#7 - Wellington, KS - We are here
#8 - Wakeeney, KS - Saturday night
#9 - Carbondale, CO - Sunday afternoon