Friday, July 29, 2016

Hot Journey and Mountain Gathering

 

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David’s heart doctor gives us good news on a Monday morning five days before the beginning of the Rocky Mountain fiberglass rally.  The last test indicates that his heart functioning is greatly improved over the test in May.  This means we can head to the big mountains….it also means we must go into overdrive to get packed and out the door!

Unfortunately a dome of heat is settling over the country….heat unlike any we have experienced on the road.

The first day on the road we only turn off the a/c when the Tundra is fueling.  It is around 98 degrees and and 90 percent humidity!  We stay in the comfort of the truck’s AC all day and manage to drive 500 miles, making it to the other side of Little Rock.  It is just as hot the next day but the humidity begins to drop as we get further west. Day two ends at Red Rock Canyon State Park in Oklahoma.  The thermometer says 98 but there is shade and a breeze! We sit outside and enjoy the rocks.

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Red Rock Canyon Oklahoma

 

Hot breezes are blowing as we arrive at the Santa Rosa RV Park in New Mexico.  We pick the private park because it has a restaurant…who wants to cook when it’s 103 degrees?

It also has a pool, a very clean and cold pool.  I learn that my husband will still go swimming if the temperature is in the 100’s.

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There’s even some shade in Santa Rosa!

The next day we manage to survive driving through Albuquerque and head north toward Colorado.  Aztec, NM is our next stop, just 40 miles south of Durango.

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The Animas River flows next to the campground. I’m enchanted with the river.

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The next morning I am playing with Google Maps and realize the Aztec Ruins National Monument is only 1/3 mile away.  It’s already hot at 8:30 AM but we want to see a piece of history.

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Excerpts from one of the brochures: “the Aztecs never lived here.  Aztec ruins were built by the ancestors of the native Americans still living in the west.”  These Great Houses were a result of thousands of years of Pueblo history.  The Spanish explorers incorrectly named many places “Aztec”.

After a stop at the Durango Walmart, we start up a mountain toward Chris Park group camping area.  What a surprise!  We find a large parking lot full of eggs clustering around half a dozen electrical outlets.  And we join the circus.

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And it has been pretty much non stop party since Sunday afternoon.  I was not sure I could handle all this intimate camping, but, overall, it is FUN!

We visit the Public Lands office in Durango obtaining maps for dispersed camping.  While David naps, I take to the back roads looking for campsites, feeling very much kin to RV Sue.

A few photos from my scouting trip:

 

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It’s a great week in the mountains!

We are saying our goodbyes today and are off to search for the next perfect campsite!

13 comments:

  1. Hope you have lots of fun! Missed the Rocky Mountain gathering this year but I've been enjoying Alaska and Seattle.

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  2. Been enjoying your reports from the northwest.
    Apache Junction was represented by our Little Snoozy friends.
    Have fun!

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  3. Fantastic news about David. Your photos are beautiful! See you in September!

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  4. Hey! Good to hear from you!
    See you at the wedding if not before.

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  5. Great pics. Hope you found the perfect place for the next few days. Thanks for your offer. Going to take you up on it. Have fun, and we might see you someplace in a couple or three weeks.

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  6. We did find a very perfect place.Hope it works out later in August.
    Stay safe!

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  8. Great post and what terrific photos...that area does have the "wow" factor...glad to see David is doing well and that you Guys are out having fun again...I'm still here for about a month...the gang from Charleston is coming out, so that is delaying my start date...but I'm looking forward to there visit!!!....take care and keep those posts coming...I may be following in your "tracks" soon....Horst sends

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    1. Bet you are really looking forward to that visit....bet the kids have grown up since the Casita trip.
      We have been camping with friends and acquaintances since our arrival....which makes for the lateness of this reply.

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  9. So glad to hear David's good news!!
    Looking forward to your next great spot to camp!!

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    1. We found a great one....maybe I'll write during the forecasted rain....

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