HONOR ALL VETERANS - VETERANS DAY, November 11, 2009

Join us in a special remembrance for all Veterans. We respect you, honor you and love you. Your service to the United States of America, to your fellow military men and women, to your families at home and extended families abroad – we thank you and honor your service this day – and every day. Send a special prayer for all the soldiers of Ft. Hood Army Base, for those that perished and for their families, and for those that will carry on in their mission to serve us. Our hearts are with you all.

Today, we are sending special thanks to those in our family who served this great country.

To my Father, George N. Jones, MSGT USAF, retired after 20 years of service in the US Air Force, and served in Vietnam in 1967. My Father passed away on September 13, 2007. I miss you Daddio!

To my brother, David A. Jones and brother-in-law Timothy Callan, who both served in the US Army.

To both of my Uncles – Ronald L. McCulloch and Rodney L. Holland, both served in the US Navy in the 1950’s.

To our great Uncles – Leonard McCulloch and Hans-george Geuther. Both died in WWII in June 1944.

To our dear friend who has always been part of the family, Sgt. Luke Hartmetz, who returned home safely in October ’09 from his third tour in Iraq. Welcome Home Luke!! It’s good to have you back!

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corp, 234 years young today, November 10, 2009. THANK YOU to all the men and women from all branches of the US Military. We honor you! God Bless you and God Bless America!

NORTHEAST TEXAS GEM - COOPER LAKE STATE PARK

About 900 miles from Denver, and not far from where my parents retired is Cooper Lake State Park located in Delta and Hopkins County in northeast Texas. A real gem of an Rving winter destination in the little known recreational area of northeastern Texas. Residing in the common reference of “the bottoms”, the man-made lake lies in the rolling hills or North Texas, and has some of the best fishing anywhere in the country.



The lake itself is approximately 19,300 acres and is surrounded by over 3,000 acres of parks and wildlife areas - in two park units around the lake, Doctors Creek Park and South Sulphur Park. The parks are open year around and offer many RVing, dry camping, equestrian camping and recreational activities. (It’s rare to find RVing destinations that are also accommodating to horse riders, with old style hitching posts at each equestrian RV site, and a multitude of equestrian trails – horse lovers RVing sites - $18 per night.) Download maps of Doctors Creek and South Sulphur using the following links.

The Doctors Creek Park, on the north side of the lake, boasts a pristine sandy beach, two playgrounds, nature trails and limited use cabins along with 42 RV sites with electric and water hook-up sites. The larger of the two surrounding parks,
South Sulphur Park, provides 14 fully furnished cabins, tent camping sites, lighted fishing piers and 87 RV sites with electrical and water hook-up sites – both sides offering a minimum of 55 foot pads for parking. With 100 person group pavilions, multiple private picnic areas, an educational amphitheatre, equestrian trails, beaches and nature walk trail, the parks offer many attractions for a day at the lake or a long term stay. Check out all the RVing adventure parks in Texas, through the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Off season RV’ers pay $10 a night for a site (Nov-Feb), and $14 a night for the remainder of the year. There is a $3 a day day-use fee for each vehicle entering the park. A gem of a price for one of the best RVing destinations in Texas. Each site is off the beaten path, very secluded and impeccably kept. In my tour around both parks, it was impressive how clean, tidy and well manicured the rangers keep these parks. Each site provides a picnic table, BBQ and fire rings, and lantern posts, with back in and pull-throughs. In addition to the fishing possibilities, wildlife sightings are abundant. Fox, bobcat, deer and armadillos to name a few. The temperature runs an average of 90-95 in the hot and humid months of summer, but the fall and winter months offer very mild temperatures. This part of the country does have the chance for heavy rain or ice in the winter months, but snow is a rare happening. Consider Cooper Lake for an extended stay, or as a stop off on your way south for the winter.

TOP TEN WONDERS OF THE WESTERN U.S.

As soon as summer is over, we start thinking about where we’d like to go in our next season of RV travel. . . . the next time we can break free and hit the RVing road again. A few weeks ago we watched a documentary on the Travel Channel entitled Travel Channels Top Ten Wonders of the West. This program, which highlighted the majesty of several nature wonders in the western U.S, and was inspiring. With each commentary –we knew we had to visit these places. And there isn’t a better way to see the country than to pack up some food, hitch up the trailer and take to the road on a new RV adventure.

Denver is in the heart of the West, and realistically, if you took them one by one, all of these parks are within one to three days drive from our home base. But when we dream, we dream big, and can imagine hitting several of these locations in one trip. Planning and early reservations requests will be necessary. For example, my initial discovery of traveling to the Grand Canyon, camping reservations must be made at least six months in advance – and there is only one RV park near the Canyon with full-hooks up. If the Grand Canyon is one of our stops next year, we’ll need to clear time on the calendars and start laying out the trip now. Reservations will need to be made before the end of the year. We’ll explore all the options – and share all the results. We’ll take you through the whole adventure with us - one step at a time – and look forward to sharing our RV travels to each destination. Join us for the Top Ten!!

Here’s the list of the Ten Wonders of the West, with mileage from Denver.

Arches National Park, Utah (349 miles
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico (584 miles)
Channel Islands National Park, California (1,079 miles)
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon (1,212 miles)
Death Valley, California (869 miles)
Mount Hood, Oregon (1,209 miles)
Redwoods National Park (1,230 miles) and Yosemite National Park, California(1,585 miles)
The Grand Canyon, Arizona and Nevada (677 to 856 miles, depending upon North or South Rim)
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (593 miles)

One of the recommended first steps for any RV adventure across several states . . . get all the info you can in advance. A great source of information about traveling in any state, is the Department of Tourism. Request the States’ tourism packages and guides, and sign up on their websites to receive event information and travel updates. These publications are free and the information extremely valuable. Many States offer coupons to major attractions and detailed maps. Follow the link and order the FREE State Tourism packages for each State.

A good friend of mine lives in the great State of Utah and is an outdoor adventurer as well. If you are into RVing and ATV riding, check out Utah ATV Trails for a complete list of ATV trail reviews in Utah.

RV Adventurers, please email us at rvweekenderreview@gmail.com/"; we’d love to hear your comments/suggestions for any of the “Top Ten” you have visited.

TIME TO WINTERIZE !!

It’s Cooling off in Colorado . . . Snow expected above 7,000 feet

Our winterizing weekend is just around the corner. Here’s the list we use at the end of each season and again after we’ve decided on a nice weekend - spontaneous winter getaway trip to our favorite local State Park. Because we park and store our RV at our home in an uncovered and unheated area, we must do a complete winterization on the rig. Your winterization list will vary depending on where you are able to store your RV.

• Give your rig a good washing. This gives you the chance to check all window seals, seams, vents and siding. Roll out the awning and give it a good cleaning and check-up too. Wait until your awning is completely dry (top and bottom) before you roll it up. Take this time to also clean the screens and windows from the inside. A good vacuuming is a must. You never know what might be lurking under the cushions or in and around the mattress. I once found a half-eaten PB&J left by one of the grandkids. A nice winter snack for passerby pests. Even the smallest of cracker crumbs can be a feast for a family of ants. I vacuum everything – top to bottom – all cupboards and storage areas.

• The sun is intense at 5,280 . . . close your window shades while in storage – it prevents sun fade on the interior. (We also keep our shades closed whenever the rig is parked during our RVing season. Another tip: Keep the shades up when bouncing down the road; this will reduce shade and cord wear, and keeps the shades from banging on and scratching at the screens and rubber seals.)

• Check out what you have in your exterior (and interior) storage areas/compartments and clean out (as necessary) items that can’t weather the weather. Any oils, fluids or cans should be removed – you don’t want anything freezing and exploding.

• Tire care: inflate them to the maximum stated cold pressure level – this will avoid flat spots next year. No matter where you store your vehicle, it’s a good idea to put planks under your tires and all wheels should be chocked. Since we’ve had such a cool summer this year, I’ve noticed we’ve been inundated more than normal with bugs, spiders and mice around the exterior of our house than during our very warm summers. Since we store our RV here at home – I’m going to try the dryer sheet trick this year. The pests don’t like the smell. Place a few dryer sheets next to your tires between the chocks, and also shove a dryer sheet into any open area, hole, crease, etc.; on the underside of your trailer . . helps keep the rig pest free.

• Defrost, clean and wipe down your fridge and freezer. Don’t forget to blow out the drain lines for the fridge to prevent the line from freezing and future refrigerator issues. Keep an open box of baking soda in both the fridge and freezer. You don’t want the fridge smelling like an old cooler next year. It works very well – just as it does for the fridge in the house.

• Be sure to cover your air conditioning unit and TV antenna with a covers designed to fit and protect. Critical!

• Pipes and Tanks: Here’s the fun part and the MOST IMPORTANT of all your winterizing chores. Drain and flush the black and grey tanks first. Then drain the fresh water system, and utilize an air compressor to blow out the lines – keeping all faucets (hot and cold) wide open during this process. Someone should watch from inside to confirm there isn’t a single drop of water left coming out of the faucets. Be sure to open up tub and shower lines too. Next, be sure to remove drain plugs from your water heater, refrigerator and ice maker (if you have one). Last year we completely missed blowing out the little plastic inlet line in the toilet. Big mistake. The small amount of water left in the inlet to the toilet froze and split, and cost us a waterless weekend on our first trip of the year (our shakedown cruise). . and then another $200 at the RV store to buy a replacement john!

• After you are sure all of the water has been flushed and blown out of the lines, it’s time to finalize the process with a good RV antifreeze product. Pour a little down your sinks and in the shower. This will protect any water left in the P-traps from freezing. We also pump antifreeze into the black, grey and fresh water tanks to keep any puddles left on the bottom of these tanks from freezing.

• The best way to protect our trailer batteries is to unhook them and store in an area that won’t freeze. Be sure your battery fluids are topped off before storing. For the propane tanks, make sure the main valve on the tanks are shut off.

• And the finishing touch . . . bring in the slide-outs and cover your unit, leaving one of the vents open just a bit for a little air flow.

A good winterizing ensures our first RVing adventure next year will go smoothly. We’re serious about our RVing and serious about protecting our investment. We want to be on the road as much as possible and good upkeep on the unit it worth every minute of time and every dollar spent. Happy RVing!!!

CHERRY CREEK STATE PARK - COLORADO

CHERRY CREEK STATE PARK, DENVER, COLORADO

One of our favorite “just gotta getaway” spots, Cherry Creek State Park is located just off of I-225 and Parker Road in south Metro Denver, very close to our home base. Operated by the State of Colorado and the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, Cherry Creek State Park is a dam and water storage facility.

We like Cherry Creek because of its proximity to the house, but also because of the beach areas and the camping loops. It a favorite place to take the grandkids for just an afternoon or for the weekend. There are approximately 150 sites at Cherry Creek, full hookups for trailers, and multiple tents and group camping spots, ranging in price from $11 to $22.50 for full hook ups. Because it is so close to the city, grocery stores and supply stops are only minutes away. Sites and camping loops are secluded, some are wooded, all are close to the water and are very quiet . . . we also find that Cherry Creek is very well kept and clean. Because of the easy access from anywhere in the Metro area, Cherry Creek is a hot spot for bicyclers, hikers, water craft and of course, fishing. Last year my son caught a 5 pound rainbow trout in the lake. Yummy!





We’ll get back to Cherry Creek at least once if not twice before the season is over. Colorado’s spectacular State Parks system, as well as our abundancy of national parks forest land, the Colorado Rockies and all our 14ers make great camping and visiting spots – year around!!!

ROYAL GORGE, LEADVILLE, TWIN LAKES, COLORADO

The Royal Gorge, Leadville and Twin Lakes - Colorado

LEADVILLE, COLORADO
Set in the central Rockies at 10,400 feet, Leadville, Colorado is a historic mining town and was quite the hot spot during the mining boom in 1860 through 1880’s. Leadville is touted as the nation’s highest incorporated city at 10,400 feet. There are magnificent views of the central Rocky Mountains from the town and surrounding area. On the road to Leadville and near Leadville itself, you can view some of Colorado’s highest peaks – the “14ers” (elevations over 14,000 feet). Mt. Shavano – 14,229 ft., Mt. Antero – 14,269 ft., Mt. Yale - 14,196 ft., Mt. Harvard – 14,420 ft., and the two largest peaks in Colorado, Mt. Elbert at 14,433 ft and Mt. Massive at 14,421. All nicely lined up in a row on the south or north route to Leadville via Colorado Highway 24, through Poncha Springs and Buena Vista. Leadville, even at over 10,000 feet, offers a fairly mild climate for the elevation. The temp rarely gets over 80 degrees, but be assured the nights can get quite cool. During our trip to Leadville and the Twin Lakes area, the temperature topped out a 67 during the day, and a low of 35 at night. Not bad for the Rockies in September! Even though we dry-camped this round, an extra blanket in the evening was all that was needed. We were a couple of weeks ahead of the Aspen’s turning – but the views were breathtaking nonetheless.

History buffs must make a stop at the National Mining Museum in Leadville, which gives a complete history of mining activities and the fortunes made in Leadville in gold and silver – notables such as the Tabors, Guggenheims, Molly Brown and Marshall Field. Scenery buffs and railroad enthusiasts can take a train ride on the infamous Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad (LC&S) which winds through the old Denver and South Park rail lines through the Arkansas River Valley. The cost is $33/adult and $20/children for a 2 ½ hour ride.

ROYAL GORGE (Canon City, CO)






On our way to Leadville, we decided to take the longer way around out of Denver to make at stop at the Royal Gorge, just outside of Canon City, Colorado. The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the world at 1,053 feet high and a quarter mile long. We have been to the Royal Gorge area many times – it is so beautiful and so many things to do in the area:
• Walk or drive the bridge (walking is better – fantastic photography opportunities)
• Petty Zoo and Elk Wildlife Park
• Royal Rush Skycoaster – for thrill seekers! (not for the faint-hearted . . it goes out over the edge of the Gorge – you couldn’t get me on that thing for a million dollars!)
• Trolley and Aerial Tram Ridges
• Incline Railway
• Horseback and burro rides
• Pavilion and Plaza Theaters
• River rafting . . . . . . . and much more!

My most favorite attraction is the Royal Gorge Dinner Train. Very pricey at $80 to $120 per person – but well worth the money and the time. . . and the food is pretty good. You’ll need to MAKE RESERVATIONS early – the train is almost always at full capacity especially in the summer and early fall months. The train departs from the Canon City Depot – right off Main Street (Highway 50) in the center of town. Follow the signs – it’s very easy to find.

TWIN LAKES, COLORADO

At the base of Mt. Elbert, Twin Lakes area in the San Isabel National Forest is a pair of natural spring lakes. Breathtaking scenery and multiple hiking trails to choose from. Our dry camping spot was just about 300 yards up from the lake, $12 a night. After our adventures to Royal Gorge and Leadville, we found Twin Lakes the perfect place to sit back, take in the scenery and relax with the grandkids for the remainder of the long weekend. Perfect!


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DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA

DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA
Located about 70 miles from our site at Big Pine in Custer, Deadwood was quite the bustling place the day we visited. There’s plenty of gambling halls, saloons and old time hotels . . . but if you’re not a gambler, then shopping and eating is the way to go. I came across this fabulous leather shop – obviously sporting all sorts of Harley Davidson wearable’s and leather gear for the biker girls – but I couldn’t believe the price on this large lambskin leather overnight bag . . . $25 bucks. Sweet deal.

We stopped at Hickok’s Iron Horse Inn & Ugly Horse Pub (the catchy name attracted us) for lunch and a few refreshing beverages – and of course, people watching. There were a ton of motorcyclists in town – cool to watch, but extremely noisy – especially if you’re outside for dining.

The visit to the Wild Bill Hickok Museum was interesting. It highlight’s the exact spot where Hickok was shot – and a photo of the famous Aces & Eight’s dead man’s hand. It was sort of “corny”, but informational on the history of Deadwood . . and it was a Free tour. Free is always inviting!

Of course, there are plenty of other spots to visit – we just couldn’t pack them all in to our short time in South Dakota. We allowed ourselves some down time at the campground, read a couple of books, waded through a few more cocktails than is normal for us . . . hung around the campfire and stared at the stars. Every RVing trip should include some down time – time to reconnect with your traveling partner . . and make some plans for your next RVing adventure!
On our next trip up to the Black Hills in South Dakota (and WE WILL go again), we want to make sure we hit a few more sites:
• Custer State Park
• Caves of the Black Hills, Wind Caves
• Mammoth Site
• The Flintstones “Bedrock” Park (sure, why not, we’ll take the grandkids )
• National Woodcarving Museum
• Spearfish
• Devil’s Tower, Wyoming
• And a return visit to the “Red Garter Saloon” in Keystone, where there’s “no workin’ during drinkin’ hours!”

BEAR COUNTRY USA - RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA

BEAR COUNTRY USA – RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Eight miles south of Rapid City on Highway 16 is Bear Country USA. If you are RVing with the kids, you must take them on the ride through this amazing wildlife park. It’s a real treat for all ages, wildlife enthusiasts, and photography buffs. The bears were amazing, and there were plenty of them roaming around the entire park area. I stopped counting at 40 . . . but there were many more. We ventured there on a somewhat cloudy and drizzling day . . I think the animals preferred the weather – they were out in abundance. The Rocky Mountain Elk were spectacular – and huge. We were able to drive up fairly close to the Mountain Lions, Reindeer, Arctic Wolves and Big Horn Sheep. My favorites were the miniature donkeys.

There is a petting zoo and “BabyLand” area, but by the time we made it through the park the rain was getting heavier – so we skipped it. It’s a bit on the pricey side at $15 a person (adults), and the traffic was a little heavy for my tastes (bumper to bumper in some spots). There were so many animals out and about, I could understand why it was crowded . . . everyone wanted to see and photograph them.

MOUNT RUSHMORE - "FACING HISTORY"

“FACING HISTORY” – MOUNT RUSHMORE, SOUTH DAKOTA
It’s an understatement to say that Mount Rushmore is awe inspiring! Located on Highway 244 about 17 miles from Crazy Horse, and approximately four miles up the hill from Keystone, Sound Dakota, it is hard not to gasp as you round the corner on the highway as the monument comes into view. It took us about 35 minutes to drive the gorgeous highway leading to Mount Rushmore from our site in Custer. There were literally dozens of vehicles pulled over on the side of the highway capturing pictures of this historic and patriotic site. It does give you the goose bumps the first time you see it. It certainly did for me!!!

It’s only $10 per vehicle to enter, which covers the parking fee and also provides you a South Dakota State Parks Pass, valid for one year. Admission to the monument and attractions are Free.

Clearly, Mount Rushmore is an icon in the history of the US and one of our great wonders. There’s a lot more to see and take in at Rushmore State Park than just the view of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt. We packed a breakfast and lunch for our day there, and spent most of the day wondering through the many exhibits.

• Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center: Did you know that Gutzon Borglum (Mount Rushmore’s Sculptor) loved Abraham Lincoln so much that he named his son Lincoln? It takes about an hour to take in the entire Visitor Center and gives you the complete story.

• Mount Rushmore – The Shrine: A 15 minute film featured in the Borglum Center, filled with historic photography and it tells the story of the carving and the artist’s history.

• Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Heritage Village: An overall look of the history, customs and traditions of the American Indian tribes who have lived on the land for thousands of years.

• Sculptor’s Studio: Built in 1939, this historic landmark was Borglum’s on-site studio where many of his tools and original models are displayed.

• The Wild Side: Also held in the Visitor Center, this 15 minute film focuses on the ecology and the wildlife found in and around the park.

• Presidential Trail: A 40-minute to an hour walking tour (1/2 mile) with a closer look at the carving and surrounding views. The trail takes you to the Grand View Terrace and through the Sculptor’s Studio. Be aware . . . the first half of the trail is fully accessible; the second half is mostly all staircases.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, SOUTH DAKOTA

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
We were told in advance of our trip to not waste our time and money visiting Crazy Horse. I am so glad we didn’t listen to that advice. This was one of the best spots we picked to tour on our RVing Black Hills vacation. We are fans of southwestern and Indian art, and the Crazy Horse Memorial and Museum didn’t disappoint. There are thousands of rare artifacts and beautiful works of art on display, and available for sale – not to mention the colossal rock and carving that is “CRAZY HORSE”. It is so massive; the Mount Rushmore Memorial could fit behind the head of Crazy Horse, with room to spare.

We took in the “Dynamite & Dreams” production in the on-site theatre, which provides an excellent history on Korczak Ziolkowski and his family, Crazy Horse, Chief Henry Standing Bear, and of course, the project and progress of the Crazy Horse Monument . The entire project which began in 1949 is still in full swing. Korczak, who died in 1982, refused government money for this project and his family stands on that principal today as they strive to continue his work. The project is a privately funded, nonprofit humanitarian, educational and cultural project built by the interested public – and not by the taxpayers. A must see and well worth the $10/pp admission.

THE BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

THE BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
Less than 400 miles north and east of Denver are the Black Hills of South Dakota. My husband visited South Dakota when he was a youngster back in the late 60’s. I had never been up that direction and I very pleased with the easy drive up, and by the awesome location of our campsite at the Big Pine Campground, just two miles from Custer, South Dakota. This spot put us within easy commute all the local attractions and sites in this beautiful part of the U.S. We did our research on the areas, amenities and sites in and around the Black Hills area. We wanted to find the perfect spot, and started by contacting the South Dakota Tourism Office. Summertime is tourism time in South Dakota - - - make your reservations EARLY. We did our research and picked our site in FEBRUARY – for summer travel dates. We were fortunate to get one of the last five spots available at Big Pine Campground in Custer. Seriously . . . . . . make your plans and reservations early!!!

BIG PINE CAMPGROUND is located two miles west of Custer on Highway 16. Very easy to find and they offer 76 sites with full hook-up, water & electric only and tent sites, with gorgeous sites each tucked away in the forest – and backing to national forest land. They offer laundry and shower facilities, on-site store for essentials and ice, playground, recreation room and WiFi access if needed. In-season rates are $31.50 night (May to September). They offer weekly specials, senior and Good Sam Member rates. Reserve early – repeat customer bookings are made a year in advance!

RIDGWAY STATE PARK, RIDGWAY, COLORADO

RIDGWAY STATE PARK, RIDGWAY, COLORADO
(Take US 550 south of Montrose, CO for 22 miles to the park entrance or north of Ridgway, CO on US 550 – 4 miles. 28555 Highway 550, Ridgway, CO 80432, park info: 970-626-5822)

Just outside of Ouray and Montrose, Colorado is Ridgway State Park. What a gem! The parks service touts it as the “Switzerland of America” . . and they aren’t kidding. The mountain scenery is breathtaking, the reservoir is pristine, there’s an awesome beach area, with picnic areas and playgrounds. There are many hiking trails and the wildlife is abundant.

When we first pulled into the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk site at the Ridgway campgrounds, we couldn’t believe how much space each site was provided. Pa-Co-Chu-Puk is on the northeast side of the reservoir and reservations can be made at Ridgway State Park. Our site was so secluded we couldn’t see any other RV’s from our spot. We were parked facing the forest and both the Cow Creek and Uncompahgre Rivers, which feeds into the Ridgway Reservoir, were less than a five minute walk from our trailer. The creek and river were running quite heavy – which is not always the case during Colorado summers – but you need to be aware of the currents if you plan to venture into the river to fish.

It was out first night, we had just lit the BBQ for our traditional first night “steaks on the grill” dinner, around 6:00p. I was inside the trailer preparing dinner when I hear, pssssst . . pssssst . . . come quick, bring the camera!! I stepped outside to see that a herd of white tail deer had just wandered up to our site – within feet of the trailer and the BBQ. It was amazing – as they were clearly not afraid – or even aware of us. They grazed around our site for nearly 30 minutes. Beautiful animals!





We did some star-gazing the first night. At 6,700 ft in elevation, the stars seemed close enough to touch. There was no moon the first night and the Milky Way was so visible it seemed we could reach up and touch the stars. The stars were so thick it was hard to pick out the common notable constellations. Ridgway is a place we plan to visit many times in the future.

BLUE MESA RESERVOIR - BLACK CANYON OF GUNNISON

GUNNISON, COLORADO – BLUE MESA RESERVOIR
What a beautiful location and great camping locations within the Blue Mesa Reservoir and Gunnison areas.

The Gunnison Black Canyon area is nationally known for its geology and topography – and for the historical lore surrounding that area. Local legends say that pioneers and trailsmen would enter the canyon to avoid passage over the rocks. Trapped in the canyon with no way out, many perished. It is said that you can hear their cries of sorrow and pain during calm weather periods within the canyon.

Our journey to Gunnison took about two hours longer than we anticipated, due to the steep grade over Monarch Pass through the southern Colorado Mountains. Some portions topped an 8% grade, and pulling the Cirrus Trailer, even with the Dodge 2500 Diesel, proved quite the climb. When we make that climb again, we will plan to not fill our water tanks ahead of the trip. The fresh water tanks add too much weight.

BLACK CANYON OF GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
The canyon has been a mighty barrier to humans. Only its rims, never the gorge, show evidence of human occupation – not even by Ute Indians living in the area since written history began. The Black Canyon stretches far beyond the 14 miles within the national park. Including the canyon within Curecanti National Recreation Area and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, the total length is 53 miles.

Climate
Weather can vary greatly between the canyon rim and canyon floor. Summer daytime temperatures range between 60 to 100F (15 to 38C), nights 30 to 50F (-1 to 10C) Winter daytime temperatures range between 20 to 40F (-6 to 4C), nights -10 to 20F (-23 to -6C). Precipitation is minimal, brief afternoon thunderstorms occur during the summer.

THE SHAKEDOWN CRUISE

We call the first trip of the season “The Shakedown Cruise”. Before your RVing season begins, you need to de-winterize your rig and make sure all the facilities are operating properly. You don’t want to pull out on the first trip of the year and find out you’re 500 miles from home and have a problem with your RV. We found the perfect spot for our Shakedown – Cherry Creek State Park. It’s a great getaway spot, but it is close to home (3 miles), close to the city (within Denver city limits) . . . and if we discover a problem, we’re close to the services needed to fix the problem. State Parks offer all the amenities you need for an overnight shakedown and almost every major city in the country has a State Park close by.
Shakedown Checklist:
• Check electrical system and fuses
• Fill your water tanks with just enough water to test toilet operation, test sinks and outlets for leaks
• Check your fluids and tires
• Check the braking system in your towing vehicle and on the trailer
• Attach/adjust mirrors
• Check your hitch and coupling system hookups
• Test your battery levels and charge if necessary
• Check your water heater system
• Fill propane tanks if needed
• Think Safety: make sure you have a First-aid kit, road flares, a good shovel, tool kit and hoses!



Be prepared for anything. Our first Shakedown was scheduled for late March. We planned it it early February - the weather in Colorado was amazing, hardly any snow and temperatures running in the 50's and 60's. But as luck would have it, two days before we are to leave for Cherry Creek - it snowed three feet!!! Nothing stops us . . we made it to the park with no problem. We backed into a beautiful spot, turned on the water and whammo - toilet sprung a leak . . . water everywhere! It's exactly this type of thing that makes your Shakedown worth the trip, and parking in a big city makes the repairs that much easier. We unhooked, went to our favorite RV store, got the parts and had it fixed by nightfall!

DON'T ROUGH IT TOO MUCH - LET'S WATCH TV!

Most RV’s come equipped with a television. Although adventure RVing isn’t about sitting inside watching TV all day long – it is nice to be able to check in on the local weather situation, or perhaps catch that big sporting event or playoff game. Sometimes the weather isn’t always conducive to sightseeing – so it is fun to be able to make up a bowl of popcorn and settle in for a good movie on the tube. Everyone now knows that the new FCC regulations on digital transmission of television signals has caused some viewing headaches at home – and on the road. You are no longer able to pick up local television stations in on your RV TV unless you’ve invested in a digital receiver for your rig. But there are other options. DIRECT TV and the DISH NETWORKS both provide awesome receiver systems for your RV or trailer and it’s easy to get one set up, no matter where you travel in the US. Both services offer great FREE systems for your RV or your HOME. All equipment is FREE, and the installation is FREE. It is so easy to get your system up and ready for your next trip. The monthly rates for DISH and DIRECT TV in your HOME or RV are incredibly inexpensive, it all depends on what package you decide on. It is totally worth it. Sign up today and be connected where ever you decide to travel.

PARKING AT HOME OR IN STORAGE

WHERE DO I PARK THIS THING?
If you'RE lucky enough to have the space in your own backyard, you’re a huge step closer to making the pack-up and planning that much easier. Many covenant communities don’t allow parking RV’s on the streets – they don’t in our neighborhood. So we took some spare space next to the house (see if you can get it near an electrical outlet and access to the water hose), cleared and leveled the ground and surrounded the space with an extra tall fence and gate. We finished the space with pea gravel and set up cement stones for the drive in and leveling once parked. It is very convenient and provides super easy access for trip readiness. If you can’t park it at your home, there are RV storage stations available in most major cities. The closer to home the better.

BACK IT UP BABY . . IF YOU CAN'T SEE MY MIRRORS, I CAN'T SEE YOU!
Get yourself a pair of good side mirror extensions for your towing vehicle – or permanent ones if you prefer. If you go for the extensions, do some shopping for the type and size recommended as a “best fit” for your truck mirrors. Permanent mount mirrors are nice – but expensive – and may require drilling a couple of holes into your doors – ouch! They also may tend to get in the way during everyday driving around town. I guess it would depend on whether you use your towing vehicle as your everyday ride. Paying a little more for removable extensions is a good idea . . remember, you get what you pay for. Cheap mirrors will blow forward – or blow off – in high winds. Many will also have squirrely mounts which tend to deteriorate over time – you might only get one or two seasons out of them. There is also the issue of vibration when you’re driving rough roads or in windy conditions. Spend some time checking out the reviews on mirrors – it’ll be worth the time.
If you’re traveling partner is the one that will direct you when backing into your backyard, RV storage space or camp space – it’s best to discuss and work out the hand signals in advance. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve witnessed huge fights between teams when trying to do the back -in thing. And invariably, the driver needs to jump out of the truck several times to check the progress and location when backing. My husband and I worked on the hand signals after our first attempt at backing it into the backyard – which consequently was our first RV fight. Starting a trip – or ending one for that matter – on a fight, is the pits. If you can’t see his mirrors – he can’t see you or your hand signals. Customize your “right”, “left”, “straight back” . . . and don’t forget the “how close” and “stop” signals too. It’s also a good idea to make some kind of mark or identify a spot on your trailer and on the truck for lining up the hitch. It’ll save a lot of time and a lot of heartache.

THE RV DREAM BEGINS

I spent a lot of my childhood camping with my parents. The living in a tent and sleeping on the ground kind of camping. Sure, I was a kid – kids like camping and kids like getting dirty. Dad was in the military, and our family was fortunate enough to be stationed in Europe for several years. Mom and Dad wanted to show us the world, and they certainly did that by taking us all over Europe – to 13 countries – for 30+ days at a time . . . camping. It was the experience of a lifetime, I’ll never forget the people we met and the places we went. After I moved from the nest after school – I swore I’d never camp again. Enough was enough. My husband tried to get me to go – “we’ll sleep in the truck bed, under the stars”. No thanks. After all the years under the stars, in the cold, on the ground . . . . my idea of roughing it is Holiday Inn without a pool.

After the kids were grown and we actually had some time to focus on “Us” again, we started talking about places we’d like to go – just the two of us – get away, see the sites, travel the good ‘ole USA. We did the cruise to Alaska thing – which was so awesome. We celebrated our 25th anniversary in Maui – two weeks of beach – absolutely incredible! Two fabulous states to visit and we’re happy to have those two spots off the “bucket list”. We think Colorado is the best place to live, we want travel the other 47. Air travel, hotels, rental cars and dining out can get a bit pricey, so why not do go from comfort of a traveling home on wheels! And our RV dream was born! In 2006 we purchased a new Cirrus Pilgrim International 25ft travel trailer. Now that’s my idea of camping! A queen size bed (not on the ground), a television with a DVD player, microwave . . . and our very own bathroom and toothbrush holder. We found our second home, our vacation getaway. We’re “Cirrus” about RVing!

We’ve learned that even if you have all the comforts of home in one nice little packaged box on wheels – there is still a lot planning, preparation, maintenance and a whole lot of readiness time involved. Make a list, get into a routine and learn as you go. That’s part of the adventure too. And, so we did . . . let’s roll!