Small Home – Big Yard

Taos Valley RV Park

After departing Lathrup State Park, we enjoyed a beautiful trip over La Veta pass and into northern New Mexico. The fall colors are at their peak at the higher elevations with brilliant yellows and gold of the aspen mixed with the burnt orange of the scrub oak and pinon pine. We’re staying at the Taos Valley RV Park for the next 3 nights. The park is the nearest to downtown Taos, affording a long walk or a comfortable bike ride into the main plaza area. Situated on the southern edge of Taos, the park offers about 90 sites accommodating everything from the largest trailers and coaches to smaller tent sites with unique A-frame picnic table covers. All of the RV sites offer water and electric and about half offer full hookups (water, electric and sewer) Most of the sites are fairly level gravel back-in or pull-through, but some of the full hookup sites have concrete pads. We’re on sites #54 & #55. As with many of the sites, these are “door to door” sites – we’re headed south, our neighbors are headed north. When you are traveling with friends this makes a pleasant shared enclosed area. However, as noted on some other blogs, this can be a bit too close for comfort with strangers. (or, you won’t be strangers for long!)

Historic Taos Plaza

We’re headed to “downtown” Taos today. The historic plaza and main tourist area is about 3 miles away by bike-friendly back streets. Most of the trip is along Gusdorf Road which is parallel to the main highway Paseo del Pueblo. After finding a bike rack to lock our bikes to, we explore the shops around the main plaza area and those along Bent Street. Our final stop of the day is at the Adobe Bar at the Taos Inn. Here we enjoy some fresh margaritas, beers and snacks before pedaling back to the RV park. It’s been a fun day exploring the backstreets and alleys of old Taos. Tomorrow we’re headed to the Rio Grande Gorge for more biking.

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Lathrup State Park #83

We’re back at Lathrup State Park outside Walsenburg in southern Colorado. We last visited Lathrup in late April. And, we’re in familiar site #83 on the D loop, a fairly level pull-through that offers electricity, great privacy and near-by access to water. Just a short distance way are the flush toilets and pay showers that are available in each of the loops.

As before, we’re not able to find any TV stations, but the Verizon broadband signal is strong and fairly fast. This is just a quick overnight stop enroute to Taos, NM. Tomorrow morning we’ll work for a few hours, pack up and continue west over La Veta pass and then turn south at Ft. Garland into northern New Mexico. More from Taos.

Jefferson Creek Campground

Long before the new Wildcat 5th wheel came into the picture, we’d planned a weekend at Jefferson Lake between Kenosha Pass and South Park. We had explored the campgrounds and picked best sites when we were camping at Kenosha Pass in late July. Jefferson Lake is classified as a special use area and as such, it not covered by either State or Federal park passes. There is a $5 day use fee at the main entrance gate – camping fees are paid online or with the camp host/pay station. We’re at the Jefferson Creek campground, closest to the lake after Lodge pole and Aspen campgrounds. We’re in site #9. Originally selected for the truck camper, this back-in site has plenty of room for the 5th wheel. We’re traveling with friends who are in a spacious pull-through site #12. There is one hand pump water faucet in the campground, but unfortunately the handle has been broken off. There are also clean vault toilets and each campsite has a picnic table and campfire ring. With no fire bans statewide, we enjoy two evening of roaring campfires. The campground is relatively full this weekend, even with overnight temps approaching the low 30’s.

Passing through this campground from the south to north, the Jefferson Lake trail continues to a easy walking loop around the lake. A quarter mile or so south you intersect the Colorado Trail. Turning east the Colorado Trail extends over Kenosha Pass. To the west the Colorado Trail continues to Georgia Pass. We didn’t bring mountain bikes this weekend, but we hike a mile or so up the western portion of the trail. All around the campground the aspen leaves are glowing yellow and orange. In fact, several of the high, wind-blown ridges are already bare of leaves. This is a great time of year to be in the high country – beautiful foliage views, cool and dry weather and generally quiet campgrounds.

Lake Glendo, WY

Our last night before arriving at home with the new Wildcat is in one of our favorite camping locations in Wyoming, Lake Glendo.  Located just east of I-25 at mile marker 111, Glendo State Park offers beautiful lake vistas from the Two Moon campground on the southern shore.  We’ve camped at many of the sites in Two Moon, but none as many times as this beautiful cliff-side site on the small loop.  The site is short, with a slight downhill grade and a picnic table and fire ring.  We’ve been here with the boat, the truck camper and now the new 5th wheel.  It’s tight in the new trailer, but after a bit of expert backing and maneuvering, we manged to get parked, and fairly level without the need to unhitch.  This will be a short overnight, we’ll be in Ft. Collins for lunch tomorrow and home by early afternoon.

Lake Glendo, WY

As is typical, this time of year brings very low water levels on the lake.  Many of the boat ramps are already closed for the season including the ramp at Hall’s Marina.  With about 200 sites in Two Moons, and only a handful of campers on this Friday night, we feel like we have the place nearly to ourselves.  With good cellular coverage we’re able to catch up on email and work for a couple of hours before relaxing on the cliff.  Sunset is spectacular, partially because of the smoke from the many forest fires burning across northern Wyoming and southern Montana.

Lake Glendo, WY

After a quick stop at the free RV dump at the park headquarters we’re headed south by 10AM for the final leg of the trip. This has been an amazing journey.  Just 9 days ago we were in Spokane, WA taking delivery of the new Forest River Wildcat 241RLX.  The new “fiver” has handled well, is very comfortable and has many things for us to learn and explore.  The next camping trip is at Jefferson Lake, west of Denver in 2 weeks – more from there!

Billings, MT – KOA

We’re parked at the Billings, KOA, the worlds first KOA, nestled along the Yellowstone River south of the city. In comparison to other modern parks, this is a very large campground. With over 150 RV sites,11 Kamp Kabins, a game room, mini-golf course, pool, hot tub, gift and supplies shop this is the park that started it all.  Opened in 1962, the owners of this camp ground went on to create the Kampground of America (KOA) franchise concept and now with over 450 parks in the US has become a standard of family camping.

The Billings location is set in a large cottonwood grove with plenty of pull through sites, some back-in sites and large tent sites.  Facilities run all the way from water only to water/electric up to full hookups.  Many of the sites are along the river, and a few backup to a pond on the property.  The priciest sites ($60+/night) offer full hookups and a small patio area complete with patio swing, fire pit, upgraded picnic table and umbrella.  More modest water/electric sites are in the $35-$40/night range.

Billings, MT – KOA

There are two shower/bath houses.  The showers next to the main office/store are tiny, but offer glass shower doors, a nice change from the typical clingy shower curtain. For the most part these areas are clean – but there needs to be a real deep cleaning to remedy things such as a filthy ceiling fan.  Overall this is a great park, plenty of grassy areas, lots of tall shade trees and many diversions. Complimentary good WiFi was available, and both T-Mobile and Verizon had good coverage.

Canyon Ferry Lake, Silo Road KOA

We’re just outside of Townsend, MT at Canyon Ferry Lake KOA. This park offers about 50 sites with gravel roads and pads a mile or so from the lake. A few of the sites offer shade, but most have only small grassy or flower areas between them. Many of the sites have full hookups, some with water/electric only plus a few tent sites and 5 or 6 cabins for rent.

The main office/store area provides a guest laundry, a well stocked fishing and general camping sundries shop as well as propane and RV dump facilities. Just down the road is The Flamingo Grill, offering breakfast, lunch and dinners of burritos, sandwiches, wraps and burgers. There are also dry camping sites lakeside in a BLM campground.

Jim & Mary’s RV Park

We’re on the west side of Missoula, Montana at Jim and Mary’s RV Park. This park setting is more like a manicured city park than an RV park. Between nearly all of the well spaced sites are beautiful lawns and flowers. There are a total of about 75 sites, both back-in and pull-thus, with water, electricity, sewer and cable TV. There is also WiFi throughout the park and both T-Mobile and Verizon provide full-bar network coverage. The showers and bathroom facilities are near-by and clean. There is also a guest laundry available.

Today we’re headed toward Helena and on to Canyon Ferry Lake.  More from there tomorrow.

Elmer’s Fountain

We’re enroute to Missoula from Coeur d’Alene along I-90.  Just before the MT/ID state line, near Wallace, ID is Elmer’s Fountain.  Easily visible from the highway, the fountains are the work of Elmer Almquist, a skilled welder, pilot and businessman.  The water is supplied by snow melt and a small, high elevation lake.  Originally providing hydroelectric power for a mining mill, the fountains now provide sparkling clean water and a photo spot for the travelers along I-90.  Flowing through underground mine shafts, the water says warm year-round and in winter makes beautiful ice sculptures.

Originally called Arnold’s Fountain for the owner of the mine and lands, the fountains were renamed in 1986 when Mr. Almquist died.

Elmer’s Fountain

Lake Coeur d’Alene Camping Resort

We’re at the Lake Coeur d’Alene Camping Resort, a fairly small, compact campground just south of I-90. Nestled in a canyon to the east of the lake, this campground provides full-hookup back-in and pull-through sites, cabins and tent sites. Approximately 15 pull-through sites are located on 5 terraces in the middle of the campground. These sites are tight, but adequate for large rigs with slides. Along the edges are about 30 shorter terraced back-in sites. We’re in site #31, a back-in nearly at the top of the hill. All of the sites are tight, but the terraces provide a bit more breathing room, even though you look across your neighbors roof. There is a pool, general store, a game room and guest laundry.

Yesterday was our first “travel” day with the new Wildcat, although we didn’t go all that far, only about 60 miles. Arriving about 1pm, our reservations had been mixed up with the wrong equipment. The campground hosts were accommodating by quickly juggling sites and led us up the hill. With tight turning and maneuvering, our “escort” did a great job of getting everything positioned.

Lake Coeur d’Alene is a natural lake, over 25 miles long with over 100 miles of shoreline. Reminiscent of Grand Country Colorado before the pine beetle infestation, the hills here are a beautiful mix of pine and hardwoods. There are over 50 other smaller lakes nearby, all left behind by the movement of ancient glaciers. The words Coeur d’Alene loosely translate to “heart of the awl”, used to describe the sharp negotiating skills of the native Indian traders when the French arrived in the early 19th century. It’s a beautiful area, worthy of more time and further explorations. But, today we’ll continue east, with reservation at an RV park in Missoula, MT. More from there tomorrow.

Wildcat Extralite 241RLX by Forest River

After departing on Tuesday, we’ve arrived in Spokane, WA to take delivery of a new Wildcat 241RLX 5th wheel camper. Well, it’s not really new, the 2012 model was advertised on Craigslist with only 3 nights and less than 400 miles – almost new. We began working on the deal in late July and after tons of research (can you pull a 5th wheel with a short-bed F-150, slider-hitch or sidewinder, etc, etc, etc?) and negotiating back and forth, I flew to Spokane last week with money in hand. We’ve made a quick dash to the pacific Northwest, spending only 1 night in Sheridan, WY, the next night in St. Regis, MT and finally our first night in the Wildcat last night.

We’re parked at Spokane RV Resort in Deer Park, WA. This is a golf resort, all of the sites overlook a beautiful lush 18-hole golf course. This highly manicured park provides paved roads and site pads, many with a small picnic table and all with full hookups including electric, water, cable TV and sewer. There is also a pool, laundry room, very clean guest showers and complimentary WiFi. We also have full-bar T-Mobile service as well as full Verizon Broadband service.

Spokane RV Resort in Deer Park, WA

We arrived about 11AM yesterday morning (after gaining an hour to pacific time), checked-in at the RV Resort, grabbed a quick lunch from Zips Drive-In and set to work replacing the Lippert pin box with the new Sidewinder hitch. I’ll post complete details of the new rails, hitch and sidewinder in a later blog. Today we’ll spend the entire day and 1 more night in Deer Park before heading east along I-90. Our first travel day will be short, we’re headed to Coeur d’Alene, ID only about 50 miles.