Welcome to our Adventure!

Al and I are thrilled that you have found your way to our blog. We hope you enjoy reading our journal and viewing our photographs of the natural wonder of our United States of America. Let's hit the road together!
Homer, Alaska

Saturday, April 21, 2012

At Last...Colorado!

Thursday we packed up and departed from Raton New Mexico, headed to our workamping experience this summer at Chalk Creek Campground and RV Park in Nathrop, Colorado. It was a cloudy, cooler day, and we knew we were driving into some showers as well. We stopped at the WalMart Supercenter in Trinidad, Colorado, to replenish the refrigerator and pantry, as I wasn't sure of how close a good grocery store was going to be. We stayed on I25 until Walsenburg, and then turned west onto route 160 to Alamosa. We passed right through the Spanish Peaks on this route, and even with the clouds and sprinkles, it was awesome.
Blanca Peak at 14,345 feet.

We did see a coyote on the side of the road, but I wasn't fast enough with the camera to get a picture. I was happy, though, that it was alive and well...the only coyote in the wild I've ever seen before was killed by a vehicle in Kentucky :-(.

We drove over the La Veta Pass, elevation 9382, and Al was quite please with the performance of the truck and the Banks system he had installed last year in preparation for heading west. He never had to touch the brakes as we descended the pass. I think it will really save some wear and tear on the truck.

At Alamosa, we turned north once again on route 17, turning into route 285. We passed through many "don't blink or you'll miss them towns" as we drove north towards Poncha Springs, with the Rio Grande National Forest to our east and the San Juan National Forest to our left. 
I thought this picture shows the enormity of the mountains towering over the homestead. 

One of Casey's typical "riding day" poses...he likes to lay down on the seat resting his head on the window so he can still see what is passing by. He's very nosy, and rarely sleeps on travel days. Of course. sometimes this makes it a chilly drive for us, with the windows open in the back :-).

After going over another pass, Poncha Pass, elevation 9010, with a long, winding descent into Poncha Springs that was gorgeous! we stopped for fuel in Poncha Springs, about 20 minutes from Chalk Creek. 
The view at the gas station! 

Soon, we were pulling into Chalk Creek and meeting our new boss, Tamara. Tamara and her husband Lars are the new owners of the campground, having just bought it this past winter. We were very happy to hear that they were still having all four workamper couples come in for the summer, and she seems like a very nice person. Lars was not here, as he had headed back to California to pick up another load of their stuff and bring it back. He did arrive back last night, so we will meet him today.

We are still acclimating to the elevation. The pollen here is also very high right now, and that is leading to a lot of congestion and scratchy eyes. Joyce, another workamper, has told us that we need to get some local honey, and have a spoonful every day. This is supposed to help our immune systems adjust to the local pollens. It sounds logical, so we will be heading into town for some honey. Its also a lot drier here than on the east coast, so we are really being very careful about drinking more water, and I have saline nasal spray that I use. We also tire out a bit faster, but we'll adjust soon, its only been 3 days that we've been this high.

OK, on to the campground we'll call home for the next 4 1/2 months. Chalk Creek is not a really big campground, there's 71 sites split between the upper and lower campground.
The owner's residence and office/store.


Irrigation canal that runs through the campground.

The bath house and laundry building. Its the cleanest, nicest laundry room I've ever been in outside of our house!

The lower campground is down the hill and situated along Chalk Creek

Tent sites lined up in the meadow, with the dog walk area behind the tree line on the left. 


RV sites along Chalk Creek. The lower campground is really nice, but the only hookup you have is electric. The water table is too close to the surface to allow water to be put in. You have to fill your fresh water tanks at the upper level before going down. However, it is the prettier area of the two, being right on the creek and very shaded.

Big rig sites in the upper level of the campground. Here is where you have full hookups, completely level sites, with outstanding mountain views in every direction. No shade whatsoever, though. No grass, either.

There are also three mountain view cabins available to rent, with full facilities, satellite TV and BBQ grills

Two premium sites, with full hookups, paved patio and BBQ grill and patio furniture

The office/store with a view of Mount Antero, elevation 14,269 in the back


And finally, our home until mid-September!

8 comments:

  1. Hi guys, the campground looks great. As I have said, we LOVED Colorado when we were out west. We were in Colorado Springs and also in the Rocky Mountain Park area. It's been a loooong time so I'm not remembering the other areas we visited. Rocky isn't available either or we would have much more info. My favorite part were the mountains. Just thought they were beautiful at all times of the day! Pike's Peak was the place where I found it difficult to breath and I think it was about 14,000 ft elevation. I'm sure you will enjoy your time there. Take care and be well. Lucia

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  2. Absolutely stunning views! This looks like a very nice place to spend your summer. Hope you acclimate to the elevation quickly. I'll be curious if the honey trick works. I've heard that before, but never tried it.

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  3. Welcome to Colorado, one of the best places to spend the summer. When I transitioned from full-timer to part-timer, I bought property in South Fork, Co where I park the motorhome for most of the summer.
    When you were driving north on 285, The Rio Grande National Forest was on your left (west) and the San Isabel NF (Sangre de Cristo Mtns) was on your right (east). The San Juan NF is still a bit further west, Wolf Creek Pass area to the west.
    Chalk Creek runs into the Arkansas River, which is one of the premier whitewater rafting/kayaking rivers of Colorado. You're also surrounded by some of Colorado's 14,000 ft peaks. enjoy

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  4. Looks like a beautiful place to be this summer! Enjoy.

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  5. Looks like a great place to spend the summer. I'd sure like to trade places with you.

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  6. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! What gorgeous views. Colorado is one of two states we have not be through. So can't wait to read your adventure blogs. Remember, you can't work every day;o))

    What type of tent room do you have?? Looks nice!!

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  7. Love all the pictures of that beautiful countryside. We can't wait to be in Colorado.

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