Hello Friends and Family,
We made it to Durango and are in place for the start of the South West Adventure Caravan.
It was fun just getting here. We made so many stops in such a short amount of time that I think Tripadvisor wants to question some of our reviews :-)
The Nebraska State Recreation Areas were just as comfortable as we remembered, both at Louisville and Kearney. We practically had the Fort Kearney recreation area to ourselves (during the week) parked next to a lovely body of water near the Platte River. The Goodland Kansas KOA was not a spectacular stop, but the people who ran the park were wonderful, they fixed us a pancake and sausage breakfast to get us on our way to Colorado. Goodland had very nice facilities, clean restroom.s, etc. out on the prairie.
At La Veta, Colorado we met Mary Rowland at I Love Lucy's Park and had a wonderful visit with her. She spoiled us with delicious meals, gin and tonics, and her wonderful company. La Veta is a special little town, just off the beaten path. Full of personality. We toured Francisco's Fort Museum while there, an adobe fort built in 1862 by Col. Francisco who came west from Bath County, Virginia. Visited the Farmers Market, listened to a concert by Vince Bell at Lucy's Place, enjoyed all the deer wandering through the town, and vowed to go back there some time. The town impressed me as a cross between Northern Exposure and Brigadoon(Western-style).
Lucy rents airstream trailers to people who do not bring their own campers. Comfortable and fun place to be.
At Alamosa KOA we met up with another couple, Dick and Jane Arnold, who were taking an older Airstream Motor Home to Durango. We enjoyed dinner out with them, and realized that they had serious issues with whether their rig could navigate the next mountain pass safely. Yesterday morning, they told us they had decided to withdraw from the caravan because they did not think their equipment was up to the challenges. We were so sorry to hear that and will miss them...they are such nice folks. When we got over Wolf Mountain Pass, we realized they were probably wise not to try it. Our outfit made it fine, but it was a challenge. From what Dick told Rich they might have had serious difficulties negotiating it.
A number of folks who are going on the caravan are here, and a few more are expected to come in today. We have an orientation meeting for people new to this trip at 2pm. We just heard the whistle of the Steam Train to Silverton and smelled the coal smoke from the tracks across the highway. That excursion is on the schedule while we are camped at Durango. We received our first snail-mail from home thanks to Celeste who has been so good to forward it.
We miss all of you and hope you will keep us informed of what is happening where you are.
Much Love to All,
Mary & Rich