Where’s Ollie?

[Boudicca908]

22 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

Spy any moose down there in the willows?

How are the bugs?

Bill

Moose and Elk have been spotted by other people a week or so ago, but I haven't seen them yet. I watch, especially during morning and evening hours. Lots of deer including newborn spotted fawns. Lots of birds, though not as many raptors as I expected. I haven't had any issues with bugs -- I suspect because I'm perched on an open ridge overlooking the river, and the wind blows steadily. In the forest areas, it's a different story. 

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, Boudicca908 said:

Happy 4th of July to Everyone!  

Gunnison NF, Colorado -- dispersed camping with weather 

That looks like some serious weather!  Nice site/view and great pic.  We’re leaving for Colorado tomorrow, maybe we’ll cross paths!  Mike

[Boudicca908]

22 minutes ago, Mike and Carol said:

We’re leaving for Colorado tomorrow, maybe we’ll cross paths!

Be sure to check road conditions -- Route 50 closed in sections (bridge work) and also some local flooding last week. I will keep my eyes peeled for Olivers on the road!

[Patriot]

12 minutes ago, Boudicca908 said:

Be sure to check road conditions -- Route 50 closed in sections (bridge work) and also some local flooding last week. I will keep my eyes peeled for Olivers on the road!

If you have not visited it already, tour Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. Breath taking!

[Boudicca908]

1 hour ago, Patriot said:

If you have not visited it already, tour Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. Breath taking!

Thanks -  I have not been there. I will add it to my list!

**EDIT -The closures on Rt 50 that I mentioned are between Gunnison and Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. While their website stated it would be open (one lane only) some other campers here went there 2 or 3 days ago and it was still closed. Be sure to check the road status before you plan to travel through that area.**

 

It's possible to get there, but it might be the long way around. Sometimes that is the best way!

Edited July 3 by Boudicca908

[Mike and Carol]

3 hours ago, Boudicca908 said:

Be sure to check road conditions -- Route 50 closed in sections (bridge work) and also some local flooding last week. I will keep my eyes peeled for Olivers on the road!

We’ll be in Durango for the weekend the up 550 to Ridgway State Park outside of Ouray for a week.  Then we’ll head to Utah for a couple of weeks before heading back to Colorado for the rest of the month.  Mike

[Mike and Carol]

3 hours ago, Patriot said:

If you have not visited it already, tour Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. Breath taking!

You can access the canyon from the north side, near Crawford, CO.  Crawford State Park is a nice little park and only about a 20 minute drive to the north side of the canyon. There is BLM camping there.  The access is limited compared to going into the NP but it does give you the sense of the size of the canyon!  Mike

[John Dorrer]

We camped at the South NP campground. The visitor Centre is there, access to the bottom of the canyon is also there. Beautiful campground and Loop B has electric.

 

Access to Montrose is very close. If I remember the North campground and park access is off the beaten path. I chose South over North based on several recommendations, so I can't compare one to the other 

[Mike and Carol]

20 hours ago, John Dorrer said:

Access to Montrose is very close. If I remember the North campground and park access is off the beaten path. I chose South over North based on several recommendations, so I can't compare one to the other 

We’ve done both and south is definitely better.  You have good campgrounds, visitor center, hiking and more access to the canyon.  We camped in B Loop when the weather was cold at night and we were happy to have electricity for our little electric heater.   I was just pointing out that the north side is an option, especially if you’re staying at the state park.

[Mike and Carol]

We’re on our way to Colorado to escape the south Texas heat.  Overnighting in Roswell, NM which does not get us out of the heat!  It was 106 when we pulled in to our campground.  No sitting outside, we’re enjoying 70s inside with our loud Dometic AC.  We’re at the Red Barn RV Park, very small but clean and convenient.  We’ve stayed here at least a dozen times on our way to/from Colorado.

Yes, that’s a Red Barn.  It’s the office, rec room, rest rooms.  She keeps a cooler there with bagged ice, food, ice cream and drinks.

 

Farm field behind us, there’s only about 12 sites total and several are long term folks.

[Mountainman198]

1 hour ago, Mike and Carol said:

We’re on our way to Colorado to escape the south Texas heat.  Overnighting in Roswell, NM which does not get us out of the heat!  It was 106 when we pulled in to our campground.  No sitting outside, we’re enjoying 70s inside with our loud Dometic AC.  We’re at the Red Barn RV Park, very small but clean and convenient.  We’ve stayed here at least a dozen times on our way to/from Colorado.

Yes, that’s a Red Barn.  It’s the office, rec room, rest rooms.  She keeps a cooler there with bagged ice, food, ice cream and drinks.

 

Farm field behind us, there’s only about 12 sites total and several are long term folks.

Happy and safe travels to CO. At 8700’ daytime temps have been mid 70’s with nighttime temps in the 40’s. Should be a welcome relief

[Mike and Carol]

1 hour ago, Mountainman198 said:

Happy and safe travels to CO. At 8700’ daytime temps have been mid 70’s with nighttime temps in the 40’s. Should be a welcome relief

That’s the goal!  Looking forward to the nighttime temps…. Mike

[jd1923]

4 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

Overnighting in Roswell, NM

Stayed in Roswell a half dozen times in our biannual trips from Georgetown TX to Prescott AZ, over a 10 year period. We didn’t get much into the alien thing, but LOVE Lincoln Co, just two hours west. What a beautiful place up at 7K ft, Lincoln Co, Mt Capitan, Ruidoso NM, and home of Billy the Kid, just145 years ago! 😂

[Mike and Carol]

9 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Stayed in Roswell a half dozen times in our biannual trips from Georgetown TX to Prescott AZ, over a 10 year period. We didn’t get much into the alien thing, but LOVE Lincoln Co, just two hours west. What a beautiful place up at 7K ft, Lincoln Co, Mt Capitan, Ruidoso NM, and home of Billy the Kid, just145 years ago! 😂

We’ve spent time here, our son went to New Mexico Military Institute here for a year before going to West Point.  Ruidoso is also a favorite camping spot!

[topgun2]

Where else would Ollie be but at Cracker Barrel for the night?

Not the best CB location ever, but, the price is right.

[Boudicca908]

On 7/4/2024 at 8:54 PM, Mike and Carol said:

That’s the goal!  Looking forward to the nighttime temps…. Mike

Two nights ago it was 27 degrees here along the Taylor River in my Gunnison NF dispersed camp site. I'm going to be sorry to leave this weather when I move on! 

 

PS @topgun2 -- yesterday I finally spotted 3 Moose right along the river, just down the road (closer to the reservoir). No Elk, but Doe with spotted Fawns. This has been a wonderful area.

Edited July 8 by Boudicca908
added info

[DunnYet]

Loving these Colorado temps - Reset 2.0 #1364 at Eleven Mile Lake State Park Colorado. If you stay here do take time to do the Canyon. (What am I saying, most people with Olivers will be in the dispersed camping in the Canyon 🙂 )

 

[mountainoliver]

topgun2, this is what happens when you stay in Cracker Barrel parking lots too often! Google maps cameras catch you. This location happens to be on our way most anywhere west of Virginia so we stay here often. Maybe too often! 🤪

Edited July 9 by mountainoliver
Clarification

[Mike and Carol]

We spent last week at Ridgway State Park, just 20 minutes north of Ouray.  We drove up from our son’s house in Durango but didn’t take 550 this time.  We took the western route which is about 40 minutes longer but provides with some different scenery.  It takes you by Telluride.  It was a nice drive.

This is just a few miles outside of Telluride on the way to Ridgway.

 

Another stop on the way up to Ridgway.

 

Our site at Ridgway State Park

 

We did a walk around the town of Ridgway.  This is the town park in the middle of town.

 

Downtown Ouray.

 

Downtown Ouray.

 

Hiking around the Ridgway Reservoir.  Nice hike, good views.

 

More hiking.

[MAX Burner]

Thanks for posting such great pix, Mike!

Ouray, "The Little Switzerland of the Rockies", that place never gets old!  We've stayed in Ridgeway many times and love the scenery - be sure to drop into Telluride and have lunch at "Brown Dog Pizza", it shouldn't disappoint!

Enjoy!

[Patriot]

Awesome photos Mike!

We are sure thinking about a Colorado trip soon! We had a ball in Telluride last fall. Ouray is such a cool little slanted town. 

Found a perfect parking spot right on Main Street. 

 

Edited July 16 by Patriot

[MAX Burner]

Gotta love the "Fall Colors" in the Rockies!  Great snapshot, @Patriot!

[Steve Morris]

Not as pretty as those western vistas. We’re in far western New York, just across the boarder from Erie, PA at Lake Erie State Park. 
 

Water, wine, a light breeze, clear skies, and comfortable temperatures for a change. And kazoos!

 

[topgun2]

Life on the road sometimes requires stopping to do laundry!

Here in Cody, WY the best laundry is the Cody Laundromat.

Now that this chore is done and restocking at Walmart is done the regularly scheduled activity of fishing at a higher altitude is to be resumed.

A special hello to the Ollie II  that was headed east towards Cody last week after they left Yellowstone National.

Bill

 

Edited July 22 by topgun2

[johnwen]

38 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

Life on the road sometimes requires stopping to do laundry!

Here in Cody, WY the best laundry is the Cody Laundromat.

Now that this chore is done and restocking at Walmart is done the regularly scheduled activity of fishing at a higher altitude is to be resumed.

A special hello to the Ollie II  that was headed east towards Cody last week after they left Yellowstone National.

Bill

 

Good luck with the fishing and cooler temps!  It was 56 here in Lubec, ME, this AM :)