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Published: June 14th 2013
June 10 – Monday – Over the past weeks I had gathered up tons of brochures, maps, notes etc. and I invested the last 3 days going over and studying them. I have visited dozens of web sites as well. I did this over the weekend because usually on the weekends things are too crowded and so I prefer going during the week when I go somewhere.
So now that it is safe to go out again I will take care of a few details in preparation for my next trip today and head out tomorrow morning. I had intended to go up the Peak to Peak Hwy. to Rocky Mountain National Park and then after visiting the park go on to Steamboat Springs for a bit. But after consideration I decided I will go up the Peak to Peak Hwy tomorrow and then find a good campground in or around Rocky Mountain National park and invest 3-4 days exploring it.
Then I will make my trip to Steamboat Springs and Strawberry Springs later in a trip of its own.
I want to have a good look around the Steamboat Springs area when I go there as I
Beautiful lake
This beautiful lake was across Hwy 119 from the Kelly-Dahl campground. Unfortunately it is on private property, but there is a large "pull off" area next to the highway where the view can be enjoyed.intend to spend a week or more there from about 27 June to July 4 for the Cowboy Roundup and 4
th of July Celebration. It looks like it would be fun.
www.steamboatsummer.com Looks like it will be a hot day to day at 94 degrees. At least it is only 10%!h(MISSING)umidity. In any case tomorrow I am heading up into the mountains so it ought to be better up there.
June 11 – Tuesday - I had a good, although a bit challenging drive up the "Peak to Peak" Hwy instead of the more usual (and advertised) route though Bolder or Golden. The "Peak to Peak Hwy was a bit challenging but very scenic.
I checked out the Kelly-Dahl campground on the way because the Rough Guide to Colorado said it had "pretty lakeside sites". I drove around in it but didn't find a lake. The only lake I found was across Hwy 119 on Private Property with the usual no trespassing signs. It was a beautiful lake with the mountains for a background. A nice place to pause for a break or snack.
There were several campgrounds along the way but
I chose to camp at the Long Peak Campground. It is actually a campground for those who are going to climb Longs Peak. There is no danger that I will attempt climbing Longs Peak. : )It was tents only campground and I read in their info sheet that there was no sleeping in vehicles, so I figured out how to set up my tent which I have carried around in the back of my truck for over a year and a half and set it up. It is actually kind of impressive how such a small package can make up into such a big tent.
I haven’t camped in a tent for over 30 years because every time I did it either rained and the tent leaked or it snowed and the tent fell in on me. This happened in Yellowstone where I went to bed with a bit cold weather and woke up when the tent caved in on me from a snow I never heard. It is surprising how snow can sneak up quietly on you like that.
On the same trip in the Black Hills of South Dakota a big storm blew in and knocked
my tent down. In both instances I got out of the tent and got into my 1966 Impala and slept there the rest of the night. From then on I always got a van. My first one was a Volkswagen Van while I was stationed in Greece and I really put some miles on it. When I got back from overseas I got a Chevy Van and ran it till I wore it out and then got an extended bed van after that which I drove till I wore it out. I’m pretty sure that is what I will do with my GMC truck with a camper top on it that I have now. However at just 335,450 miles on it I’m just starting to get it broke in. I usually sleep on the drivers seat with the seat folded down and the doors locked. I like doing this because if I hear a noise outside I can raise my head and check things out. When I "boondock" or overnight park in National Forest, Rest Areas or Wal-Mart parking lots I sleep with the key in the ignition.
But I digress…..
After getting the stupid tent set up
and made up inside for the night I crawled in for the night. One thing I immediately didn’t like about it was I couldn’t see out of it. I like to know what is going on around me.
The wind was blowing as is usual in the mountains but later on a fierce wind started up and went on for hours. I thought the tent would blow away but it stayed in place. Still with the wind it was noisy and the tent kept flapping and I kept thinking that if it collapsed I would have to deal with moving out of it in the middle of it flapping around with my stuff still in it, so about midnight I said heck with it and moved back into my truck. Much Better!
In the morning the tent was still there, all staked in and secure.
So I guess in 30 years they have improved upon tents but I think I will stick to sleeping in my truck. When I fold the seat back down it is comfortable enough and the weather can do as it wishes. My truck can take it!
And so can I! :
my home for the night
At least part of the night anyway. I got up about midnight and moved back into my truck )
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taracloud
Tara Cloud
Car vs Tent
How great that you have a comfy truck for sleeping and a tent for passing in certain campgrounds! I really like your truck seat that folds down for a decent bed. I slept in the backseat of my VW bug for a 3-month trip up the coast from Santa Barbara to Vancouver, and then had a tent and a dog for a year-long visit to national parks. Now that I'm older, the idea of a car/truck suitable for sleeping is very appealing. Great advise--thanks!