Weds, Sept 30 – Day 20: BLM lands outside of Silverton, CO

Today was relax at rv for me because I wasn’t up for another jeep ride and sitting on my behind all day. Mali and I took walks/played ball, made butternut squash soup (homegrown squash), toilet water procurement from the nearby stream, organized the rv. David took the jeep and drove to Cinnamon pass (part of Alpine loop) to get more acclimated to high elevation and just play with the jeep/a man thing for sure. Interestingly most of the UTV riders were easily 40 or older (sometimes very)…not many young ones…so yeah or maybe because it is during the week. UTV/side by sides go by on the road often. I think my thing would more be jeep ride up into the mountains and then do some diy hikes (although I feel so very small there and the scenery so very vast) and then come back…not so much about the ride (at all) but the exploration.

Talked with our Hunting neighbors (bow!) woman! and man.

Tuesday, 9/29 – Day 19: BLM lands outside Silverton, CO

Left rv at 8:30am to do the Alpine Loop near Silverton Colorado. It is billed as a backcountry scenic byway. So let’s clarify that. Back country and scenic heck yeah! Byway to me infers a calm serene ride…well NO. Bobble head ride yes because it is an old mining road that remains pretty much as was…they clear the snow off in late spring and clear any avalanche damage and make sure that all parts remain intact (didn’t wash away or fall off the side of the edge). It also stated 4-6 hours for those 65 miles. Well a big NOPE on that one. In our jeep wrangler (and there are an isolated few that do it in a SUV type car/we did not see anyone this time) it was slower than a UTV/side by side but manageable with stock tires. We did not stop much but for pictures here and there yet it took us about 5 hours to get to Lake City via Engineers Pass. At one point I got out of the Jeep thinking, “yeah, I could walk faster than we are driving if I kick it in gear”. What I failed to remember but got quickly is that I don’t do elevation well and that walking up steep inclines at elevation there is simply not enough oxygen for me…sucking for air. I didn’t attempt that again. When we arrived in Lake City and guestimated just how long it would take for us to return to rv in Silverton, it was mutually agreed that we would take the longer PAVED road back to our rv via Montrose, Ouray and then Silverton. It took us 4 hours on high speed highways. Mali dog had had enough bobble head and being in the car and was looking for dinner….and so had I. I earned a Tshirt!

Monday, 9/28 – Day 18: Angel’s Peak, NM to Silverton CO blm lands

Drove from Angels Peak in NM to a BLM camping area outside of Silverton Colorado arriving in early afternoon. Food shopping in Durango. It was roughly 5,000 feet up from our overnight parking spot at Angel’s Peak….fantabulous views and the Aspens were in full bloom…..from desert to forests. There are two other campers here with us but LOTS of UTV’s, jeeps, and family cars going up and down the nearby road AND it is a week day. We did one short jeep ride…pretty much single track, rocky, with some exposure (not for me).

Sunday, 9/27 – Day 17: Grahams to Angel’s Peak, NM

Today we packed up and left graham’s on our way to Silverton Colorado. We are overnighting at a BLM spot in Angel’s peak New Mexico. Graham filled us up with potable water and we left. It took us 3 attempts to find a dump station (looking for free). Maverick in Holbrook had one but it was not working properly. Gallup Babe Ruth park was closed due to Covid. We could have just moved the barriers but decided not too. We found one outside Red Rocks Park in Gallup. It took us all day to get to Angel’s Peak and we arrived in the dark. Drove about 2 miles on the washboard road very SLOWLY (not unhooking) and parked it by the first picnic area we found. To sleep!

ONP Angel’s peak Recreation Area (free camping/blm)

36.54845, -107.86003 4.5 hours from concho/239 miles. There are 9 sights and 3 picnic areas on the way in….six mile dirt road…big rigs in maps google.

Fri, Sept 11 – Day 5 through Saturday, 9/26 – Day 16

Spent a HOT two weeks visiting at Grahams (me for 12 of those days blissfully alone relaxing in the 83- 85 heat.

Thurs, 9/10 - DAY 4: Graham’s homestead

Arrived at Graham’s around 4pm.

Weds, 9/9 – Day 3:

After a small problem with the motor oil in the RV, we arrived at San Jon Municipal park, San Jon, NM – 10h 14m (14 hours rv time?) Arrived in the dark found a spot and went to sleep…one other person there...

Tueday, 9/8 – Day 2:

Lots of rain and HEAT forced us to stay in a $42 campground in Missouri where all we used was the air conditioner.

Monday 9/7:- Day 1:
Route 84 – 81 –PA Turnpike/Route 80 has a lot of construction - 71 – 70 – 44

Overnight stay @ Walmart, New castle Indiana

THEY HAVE WINE!