Day 5 - Log for March 31 at Colorado Springs to Grand Junction CO

Day 5 Colorado Springs to Grand Junction
Out of the Snow and into the Desert!

We got up early (ok I woke up early and played on the computer for an hour before shutting it down because of low power.) We then started moving around and Sasha went out to the campground bathrooms; when he came back in, he told me that when we had hooked up the power last night, the plug was loose and that was why we did not have any electrical power last night. So we plugged in the laptop and cell phones to charge them up.

Last night was COLD so we had the heat up high, thereby making us wonder how much propane we had available. We realized that we need a blanket at least to keep us warmer. Sasha first used the kitchen to boil water and made me hot chocolate and he had coffee. Then it was my turn at the kitchen, to make hot oatmeal for breakfast. We had gotten a covered pot yesterday so I washed it and used it for breakfast. I have to remember that the sink is not as large as ours at home as I splashed our blanket on the bed. But making breakfast was pretty easy and before long, we were eating.

We had decided before breakfast that we were going to stay at the campground for another day. But when Sasha had powered up the computer, he checked the weather for Colorado Springs vs. Grand Junction and found Grand Junction was 50 F today, almost 30 degrees warmer than where we were. And it was supposed to go to 7 F this evening at Colorado Springs. That helped decide it for us. We started moving quicker and got on the road by 12:45 pm to go to Bed, Bath & Beyond, (using the internet, my computer and the GPS system I was able to figure out which store was the closest) where we got fleece blanket, a down comforter (for inside the duvet), a mixing spoon (I used a plastic spoon for mixing the oatmeal, which slightly melted as I was cooking), and a soap dish for when we go to campgrounds and I need to bring in my soap. The things you learn while camping! Got lunch at Chipotle, a Mexican restaurant similar to Baja Fresh but with bigger proportions.

Then we headed out to Grand Junction at 2 pm.

We went through many different ecosystems and environments. Just going across the state of Colorado we saw more and took more pictures than going from Sterling, Virginia to eastern Colorado. It is a wonderful state and I figure we will be coming here more often. These were all taken March 31st.
<<<<<-------- Here is Garden of the Gods, a state park right outside of Colorado Springs. As it was snowing, cold and windy and we wanted to get to Grand Junction before night-time, we did not get to the park. So this was outside of the truck window as we were going past.

This picture is when we were out of Colorado Springs on the way to Grand Junction. As you can see, very dark skies and there was snow falling. ----->>>>>>>

<<<<<<------------ Route 24 West-bound out of Colorado Springs.

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Normally, I would not put this picture in, however, I am not a spice person like my husband and he wanted to have burritos from Chipotle, like I talked about above. The burrito is huge even in this picture, where I have reduced the size down to 14%. I told him that this was the last burrito for me on this trip!

<<<<<-------- The hills and high plains, with snow.

Wilkerson Pass at an elevation 9507 at 333 pm 22 F took picture as we were checking out the plains area. We took a bunch of pictures before this, but there is such the contrast, we were in the mountains with snow swirling around us and now we are down in the plains (high plains at 8909 elevation) and now snow, slightly sunny conditions. Amazing - we actually have a bar, but internet access goes in and out through this area. I guess most people do ranching around here, and do things with tourists, because I can not see what else would be done around here. We are on Route 24, and it is a little windy. We keep having to put on the sun glasses and then take them off as it is partly cloudy but very bright.

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I'm a little cold on the way to the continental divide.

Unbelievable, we have several bars for the internet and I am on Cellular One for my cell phone and Sasha’s phone has no service. 28 F, elevation 8900 ft ASL, around 4 pm. We are starting to go up in elevation bit more now. Just saw our first Bison on this trip but it was too far away for a picture. Supposedly Bison meat is great to eat because it is leaner but still good but I don’t know for sure. Most of the area that we are going through does not have any homes or trailers, just lots of land.

Most excellent mountains all visible from the road.--->>>>

Starting to snow again, looks like we are going right into a serious snow area, lights on safety (fogs too!)

We went to a little overpass to get a couple of pictures of Mt Columbia and other mountains, as well as to see the plains a little more then went over the Arkansas river which was moving fast. Passed a prison right before Buena Vista, pretty nice views for prison people!

<<<<----------------Sasha at Collegiate Peaks overlook outside of Buena Vista.

Went through the town of Leadville, hit an elevation of 10,000 ft ASL. 22 F at 516 pm. Very historical little town with Victorian buildings and almost dirt roads. Victorian and Gregorian buildings very quaint, with mining museum. First sign of something urban - Family Dollar and Safeway. Took pic of interesting sign.-------------->>>>>>>
Just passed a place to do dogsled or snowmobiling.

<<<<---------Sasha on the Continental Divide with truck. In case you can not see it, the elevation is 10,424 and we are at the Tennessee Pass. Why it is called that, I have no idea. But there was snow here and to the right of the picture was the entrance to a ski area.

Coming on now to the continental divide: it is 534 pm, at an elevation of 10,428 ft ASL. Temp: 19 F. No bars. Cold and windy, we took a picture or two with the sign. The continental divide is pretty cool anyway, one side the rivers flow to the west, and the other side rivers flow to the east. I do not believe that there is any river on the continental divide, as it would get totally confused. There is blue skies to the east and clouds (probably snow too) to the west, north and south. Ski Cooper, a national forest and ski area is right here as well. We also just saw a transit bus go by.

We are back to snow at 5:50pm.

And then out it. Only blue skies ahead, Baby! We went past a mountain that Sasha had skied on.

<<<--------- OK it looks like our dashboard, but look closely in the snow, those are houses. The mining town of Gilman is on the side of the mountain. I turned on the flash to really get a good picture and ended up flashing Sasha instead. On very twisty roads as we go up. Got up to 9200 ft ASL and then went down to 7915 ft ASL at Minturn. Most of Minturn is very cute, with an old town ski town feeling. We went past a mining town on the mountain, called Gilman. We now have great internet service: 4 bars and full service with my cell phone.

We are now on I-70 at 6:18pm.
<<<<<------ Going down the mountainon the way to Grand Junction. We went to a car wash place in Silt, so that Sasha could wash the junk off of the car and camper. Got to Grand Junction and gassed up (gosh and golly, the prices are high - $2.38 for gallon of diesel, our highest price yet.) Sasha had a little problem at the tank, I guess when it is later at night, the establishment only lets people fill up $75 worth of gas, and then we have to do a separate transaction. I guess, even here, they are afraid people will leave without paying but the transaction was pay at the pump so I do not understand it. So Sasha had to do a separate transaction for $5 more - holy moly, $80 at the pump…traveling is great, gas prices are not.

Notice the blue skies ahead! That is where we are headed.Towards Grand Junction. ---------------->>>>>>

We got to the Monument RV Park that we are staying at, the owners are not in the office (it is 10 pm, understandable,) and they have a deposit window. The place is beautiful, even at night. We are near the Colorado River, but also close to town, and the Shower and bathroom are fabulous. You don’t think of these things when you are traveling in hotels and motels, but you REALLY do think of it when you are camping. The showers look beautiful; we will see how they work tomorrow. Sasha got the camper set up while I put down the deposit and reserved our space. I was exhausted, even though we did not exercise or do any physical activity, but we went up and down in elevation (we are now at 4400 ft ASL) and Sasha says that he has a headache from the elevation. I think I am tired from the taking off and putting on so many layers of clothing and fighting against the wind when we were walking around to get stuff…who knows, but I’m sure I will be rested for tomorrow’s adventures.