2018.10.08-09 - Longmont, CO to South Fork, CO
10.08-09.2018 - Longmont, CO to South Fork, CO -
Monday, 10.08.2018 - Time to leave Longmont, CO after 6 nights in St. Vrain State Park. We gassed up the motorhome and the rental car and returned it to the agency before heading south on I-25 thru Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Our destination was the KOA in Colorado City, about 20 miles south of Pueblo. It was still raining pretty steadily as we passed thru downtown Denver, but let up a bit as we got closer to Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy. Clouds were pretty low as we passed by, so we really couldn't see a lot. Same goes for the Garden of the Gods area.
We stopped for lunch on the south side of Colorado Springs, but not before an errant exit from I-25 took us straight into the security gates of the Fort Carson Army Base (which was a tight fit for Kuna Pit). After a check of John's driver's license, the guard very graciously guided us to the return-lane so we could exit the base.
The rest of the trip thru Pueblo and on to Colorado City was rainy, but uneventful. We checked in and took our spot, setting up in the rain. Concern for tomorrow is weather, and what it wlll turn into as we head towards South Fork, Co and up Wolf Creek Pass the following day.
Tuesday, 10.09.2018 - Today's weather forecast is continued rain for the general area and for snow showers in South Fork. Before leaving, we considered changing our travels to a more southern route into New Mexico then on to Cortez, CO, by-passing Wolf Creek pass. The challenge was that many RV parks in that direction were booked (international balloon fest) and we still would have to cross mountain passes. We decided to make the final call tomorrow from South Fork and hit the road after filling our propane tank.
We turned off I-25 at Walsenburg and headed west on Hwy 160 after a long delay waiting for a freight train in town. Hwy 160 would be our route for the next two days as we headed towards Cortez. Weather was rainy off and on, then turned to snow as we crossed the North La Veta Pass (elev. 9,413 ft) just west of Walsenburg.
Monday, 10.08.2018 - Time to leave Longmont, CO after 6 nights in St. Vrain State Park. We gassed up the motorhome and the rental car and returned it to the agency before heading south on I-25 thru Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Our destination was the KOA in Colorado City, about 20 miles south of Pueblo. It was still raining pretty steadily as we passed thru downtown Denver, but let up a bit as we got closer to Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy. Clouds were pretty low as we passed by, so we really couldn't see a lot. Same goes for the Garden of the Gods area.
We stopped for lunch on the south side of Colorado Springs, but not before an errant exit from I-25 took us straight into the security gates of the Fort Carson Army Base (which was a tight fit for Kuna Pit). After a check of John's driver's license, the guard very graciously guided us to the return-lane so we could exit the base.
The rest of the trip thru Pueblo and on to Colorado City was rainy, but uneventful. We checked in and took our spot, setting up in the rain. Concern for tomorrow is weather, and what it wlll turn into as we head towards South Fork, Co and up Wolf Creek Pass the following day.
Tuesday, 10.09.2018 - Today's weather forecast is continued rain for the general area and for snow showers in South Fork. Before leaving, we considered changing our travels to a more southern route into New Mexico then on to Cortez, CO, by-passing Wolf Creek pass. The challenge was that many RV parks in that direction were booked (international balloon fest) and we still would have to cross mountain passes. We decided to make the final call tomorrow from South Fork and hit the road after filling our propane tank.
We turned off I-25 at Walsenburg and headed west on Hwy 160 after a long delay waiting for a freight train in town. Hwy 160 would be our route for the next two days as we headed towards Cortez. Weather was rainy off and on, then turned to snow as we crossed the North La Veta Pass (elev. 9,413 ft) just west of Walsenburg.
Snow on North La Veta Pass, CO
Colors "still trying" after snow - North La Veta Pass
After we dropped down the west side of the grade, we passed the turn-off heading north to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The dunes are formed as dust-bearing air flows north-east towards the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, losing density and the ability to carry dust as the air thins rising up the west side of the range. We stopped for lunch behind a gas station in Alamosa then continued west on Hwy 160 towards South Fork. As we traveled west in the San Luis Valley thru the towns of Monte Vista and Del Norte, we were climbing in elevation. Mountains to the north were all covered with fresh snow.
Snow-Capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the distance
We arrived at the Peacock Meadows RV Park in South Fork about 3:30pm, set up, then took a walk down by the beaver pond and the Rio Grande River. The park is fairly new - nothing fancy - gravel sites, but plenty of room between. They had a nice "Pub-Room" on the premise which was still open to guests, but the bar was closed for the season. We walked down by the beaver pond and river front and got rewarded with a fabulous sunset that broke thru the storm clouds building over the grade to Wolf Creek Pass. Canadian Geese were landing in the river and honking to each others, so it was a real treat.
Peacock Meadows RV Park, South Fork, CO
A "Peacock" at a neighboring RV Site
Peacock Meadows RV Park Pub Room
John in the cottonwood grove
Rene by the beaver pond
Sunset reflections on the beaver pond
Sunset reflections across the neighbor's driveway
Tomorrow, we make the call as to crossing Wolf Creek Pass. At check-in, we were told that it would be "no big deal", that they "keep the road in good shape" and that, "they were in a drought" and that the forecast of snow was "just a dusting". We'll be checking the weather and road conditions, nonetheless.
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