Tuesday, September 6, 2022  Northern Colorado

Left Freeman Reservoir.  Had a terrible breakfast in Craig, CO.  I ordered Huevos Rancheros.  Got 2 eggs over easy, hash browns, 3 slices of bacon, a scoop of green sauce on top of my eggs, and a flour tortilla folded into quarters on the side.  Where were the beans?  Where was the corn tortilla on the bottom?  That was Craig, Colorado’s version of Huevos Rancheros.

Tried to do laundry, but the only place in town was locked up tight.  Went on to Steamboat Springs, did laundry and grocery shopped.  When we drove out of town I had a campground in mind that was about 20 miles away.  For one reason or another we rejected all the next few campgrounds--—no shade, I believe.  Fewer trees here.  Eventually we drove all the way south to the Arapaho National Recreation Area (also a wildlife refuge).  We camped on the shores of Granby Lake, southern tip of Rocky Mountain National Park.  Place called Sunset Point Campground.  Beautiful and cool temperatures.  Really lovely view of the lake.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022  North Central Colorado

Checkout at Sunset Point Campground was not the usual 11 am, but 1 pm instead.  We put the solar panels out for a few hours since they were packed away all day yesterday.  We used that extra time to wash each other’s hair.  Now we feel fresh and new!  Spent this night at Dillon Reservoir Campground, a one-night stay,  just south of Interstate 70.  We went through Breckenridge today.  It was very built up and touristy.  Obviously a ski-town, with tons of look-alike condos.  We wanted to get a cup of coffee there, and there were several good looking places.  But parking was a technology bear–you had to find and install a particular app to your phone, then pay for parking on the app, then walk several blocks away from the big parking lots to find your coffee place.  We decided to skip the coffee until the next town.  We find we are unhappy in these congested places.  Spending too much time off the grid,  I guess.

Thursday, September 8, 2002  Dillon Reservoir

Left early.  Found coffee at a little place called Java Moose in Fairplay, Colorado.

Crossed the Continental Divide.  Everything is obviously very high up.   Traveled on Hwys 9 and 24 and drove up County Road 96 into Eleven-Mile Canyon.  Amazing rocky cliffs with the South Platte River at the bottom of the canyon.  Lots of fly-fishermen in the water of the river.  Scenery you can’t believe and, in the back of your mind you think “hope none of those giant rocks decide to come down right now."   After driving in and out of that canyon, we found Blue Mountain Campground nearby.  We have tons of space here and can’t see other campers.  Nice spot!  Unfortunately, we can only have it for one night.  It’s been reserved for Friday and Saturday nights.  We got here about 1 pm.  Cooked our planned steak dinner.  Now Dave is napping while I sit here with a pine forest view and mountains in the distance.  It is beginning to cloud up seroiusly, so maybe we will get a little rain.  When the wind comes, you can hear it way in advance, the trees shivering and sighing as the breeze touches them.

Friday, September 9, 2022  West of Colorado Springs and Pike’s Peak

Heading today toward Manitou Springs, Pike’s Peak, and Garden of the Gods–all features from a childhood family vacation from Wichita Kansas, to Colorado Springs when I was about 11 or 12.  I have wonderful memories of it and would like to see those plaes again.  Royal Gorge too, but I think Dave will nix that idea.  He really doesn’t like super high places like the Royal Gorge Bridge.