Setting Up Spring Home

May 8, 2015

Well, getting our blog caught up with the real time line I am finding to be challenging, so please bear with us ....  we will get there.

After a wonderful evening with my brother Tom and his beautiful wife Linda, we were both up early, planning our day that would get us to Loveland RV Resort.  The first thing we decided to do was get the car unloaded as I wanted Tom to see the issue with the short loading door, high centering the car as it comes off the trailer, as it did when we loaded it.  What a challenge. 

After a few tries and those same blocks of wood under the door, we were able to get the car out.  The next hour we looked at what a permanent solution might be to correct this problem, short of getting another trailer.  Tom is very creative on these types of issues, so I knew he'd come up with something.  We also recognized that when loading & unloading it was necessary to have the Bus running and the suspension airbags full ... it raises the front of the trailer, minimizing the problem.  After laying out a high level solution, we decided to head on to Loveland, that we'd address the final solution at a later time.
After a short drive north, we pulled into what would be our new home, at least until the end of June.

What a nice park.  We were welcomed by the folks at the front office and very quickly escorted to our new site. 

Back in September, when booking our reservation, I asked about the possibility of working at the camp ground a few hours a week (work camp program).  Many parks have such a program.  For just a few hours a week one can save the cost of the rented space, maybe utilities and even sometimes a small salary.  For us, we thought we would try to do this where we could, not only to stay busy, but also support the budget.  At this time, we were told there was nothing available but to check again when we arrive.
So during our check in, I again mentioned that we would be interested in helping in the park during our stay should the opportunity present itself.  We were assured the park management would be advised. 
Within a couple of days, the park manager called and wanted to discuss the possibilities.  It became apparent very quickly during this discussion that Jim (the park manager) & I had a lot in common and we talked for about an hour.  It was agreed I would join his maintenance team, working about 20 hours a week.  All I can say is ... WOW!! 

Stay tuned for life in the Park ..........  
 

Over The Top ... Contentintal Divide

April 8, 2015

I can't say enough about the Glenwood Springs RV resort ..... it was just too pleasant to wake up & well rested after an evening of  hearing the river running by, the freight train making its way east and just being in the Rocky Mountains with all the tree and smells ..... well ..  you know what I mean.
We packed up fairly early as we knew we had Eisenhower Tunnel just ahead, as well as friends and most of all family just over the mountain.  As we headed east up I70, the canyon through Glenwood was beautiful.  You almost want to stop every few miles just to take pictures.

But the climb begins, and as you come out of the canyon, you enter some incredible open space with ranches and green meadows that are absolutely beautiful. 

 Every time I see areas like this, it makes me wish I could plant down, right here, raise horses and just chill.  But of course I know  "Chill" would be the operative word up here at nearly 9000 ft above sea level. I guess I'm still a cowboy at heart!













I have always been impressed with the awesome job that was done to I70 way back when, making it easier to cross the Continental Divide for travelers. It's just a constant climb up toward Vail Pass and the tunnel, sometimes as much as 7%. 

 

Our coach did an awesome job getting us to Vail ... even though we were at times down to 35mph, but what a beautiful ride, even though we saw a lot of snow and much cooler temperatures.  From Vail, it's just a short climb up to the tunnel. Jackie did much better than I thought she would making our assent. She continued to have many questions regarding overheating engines and brakes systems! Hey, if it makes you feel better asking.... ask away! A little difficult to focus at times.... but, we got it done ...and no major panic attacks !!

 

What was very funny, is that at one point Jackie & I both agreed we should pull over and give the "monster" a break, and as we got off the road and stopped, we could see the tunnel only a few hundred yards ahead of us.

After a short break, we started through the tunnel, and even though there was still some uphill grades, coming out the other side was a great relief for me.

Jackie on the other hand, was just beginning to cringe as we started going down, with concerns that the "jake brake" wouldn't take care of us. To top it off, just as we got down a few miles there were police and blinking signage reading "ice, water on road".  As we made the curve, sure enough, a car had spun out and ice was on the road! Thank God is was just a few yards of ice.  There was No place to pull over and park at this point.
As it turned out, the grades on the east side were much reduced compared to the west side, and the coach did an amazing job of maintaining our speed coming down into Denver.  This drive is still one of the most amazing scenic highways anywhere in my opinion, for a major highway.

It didn't take long however, as we approached Denver to discover .... Traffic .... and lots of it!  We were very happy when we were able to transition to I76 & I25 to start north to Broomfield, where my brother, his beautiful wife and my Mother live, and in no time at all we were parked along side my brother's house.

Stay tuned as we get set up in our new home in Loveland Co .....