Jeep Tour

Over the course of the last couple of days here at the National Born Free Rally, I have made many new Born Free friends. We been exchanging stories, travel tips, and laughs. Now I can add Van, Marty, and Dolores to my new friends and Jeeping to my adventures! Van and Marty rented a Jeep and invited Dolores who in turn invited me to join them on a Jeep tour into the San Juan mountains. Talk about clueless! What a trip!

Here are the Jeeps lined up to let air out of the tires - decrease the pressure down to about 22psi. Our fearless driver, Van, checks the Jeep's tire pressure. We're now ready to leave the Lake City area and begin our ascent on the Alpine Loop. We did two trails - Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass.  A spectacular ride up to 12,640 feet. What goes up must come down and down we did - safe and sound! Van did a phenomenal job navigating trails that weren't but a foot or two wider than our Jeep. I feel like I've been up to the top of the world and back!

Rafting the Rio Grande

Yesterday, I spent touring downtown Creede including the Creede Underground Mining Museum.  Although the museum has never been used for commercial production, its an incredibly authentic example of the methods and techniques used in the old days. Plus literally a really "cool" place to hang out.

While out and about, I signed myself up for a white water rafting trip down the Rio Grande. I met my group at 9:00 am and off we went to the launch point, a defunct fish hatchery, which was right next door to our campground - Mountain Views at Rivers Edge RV Resort.

The stretch of the Rio Grand that I rafted is considered a Class II - III. We put in about 18 miles south of the head waters and went down river about 15 miles over the course of 3 hours. Way too much fun and I have the pictures to prove it!

Creede, Colorado

I made it! Creede - elevation 8852 feet. See, I know what's important!

Them thar hills are mountains!

Wow! I thought battling wind for the last two days was tiring.  Today I fought 25 to 35 mph wind with gusts up to 40 mph and hills - and I mean hills! Goodland, KS has an elevation of 3683 feet. When I left Interstate 25 at Walsenburg, Colorado I was already at 6182 feet and climbing to 7544. I think for awhile I was going straight up. But, it was worth it! I made it to Alamosa where several other Born Free peeps were parked for the night - nicely staged for the last fill-up and trip to Walmart before the final 70 miles to Creede. I'm leaving early before the wind gets too high - I'm already learning how to deal with these new driving challenges!

Matilda and the Blustery Day(s)

Two days on the road battling nasty winds that pushed Matilda and me to the limit - but not Monte who was along for the ride as usual.  I was warned before leaving Humboldt, that I needed to cross the flooding Missouri in one of two places due to road closures - so I choose Interstate 80 which worked out just fine.  I spent one night in Gretna, Nebraska and another in Goodland, Kansas. But it was the wind not water that was painful. Instead of going due west, I started going south and then west - cutting through the country...incredible country! I should have known wind was going to be an issue even under the best of circumstances when I kept seeing wind farms scattered along my route. Tomorrow, it's Alamosa, Colorado or bust.

An American Original

After disembarking from the ferry, I spent the night on the road at Tom's Campground in Dodgeville, Wisconsin.  I pulled into Humboldt, Iowa - home of Born Free Motorcoach ready to celebrate John Dodgen's 85th birthday right on time - Tuesday at high noon.  Parked at the factory and setup for 3 days of dry camping. All in all, I think there were about 130 coaches representing all years and models. Even had an original 1980 version - still operational!

Certainly doesn't look much like today's version.  Almost seems like a truck camper with training wheels.

Two days of greeting old friends and making new ones and now I'm off to Creede, Colorado.

It floats!

Who knew?  Loading the Born Free, the Honda, and Monte on the ferry would be such a piece of cake.  I didn't have to do anything.  I arrived at the ferry, checked in, unhooked the Honda, and an attendant backed the Born Free onto the ferry - with Monte on board.

All I had to do was walk on, find a comfy spot for 4 hours, and read my book. Couldn't be easier. The SS Badger is the largest car ferry ever built for Great Lakes service. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Badger is the only coal-powered passenger ship still in regular service in the US. It runs between Ludington, MI and Manitowoc, WI sailing late May through October. Wow! Lucky me!

Watched the "mating" of the ferry and the dock.  Talk about threading a needle.  This is some precise navigating.

One of the first off the ferry soon followed by the Honda. I hurried off to go check on Monte. Well - I think he likes riding boats better than motor homes. No problems at all.  The ferry docked just before noon and I was on the road again by 12:30 - that's central time now. Tomorrow, it's on to Humboldt to join the Born Free cult.

Ludington, MI

What a great time in Northern Michigan.  Even Monte had fun!  His new BFF - Clare, Sandy's granddaughter.

Next leg of my journey - heading to Humboldt, Iowa for the Born Free Homecoming.  Which brings me to the eternal travel dilemma...how to get there from here.  Indian River is way up north in Michigan.  It's just 30 miles south of the Mackinac Island Bridge which connects lower Michigan with the Upper Pennisula.  Humbolt is of course west. TomTom wants me to head south to Chicago and then go west. But, Sandy came up with a better idea. Just ferry across Lake Michigan.  Eureka!  So here I sit in Ludington waiting to board the SS Badger tomorrow morning at 9:00.  We'll see if this land yacht will float.

Burt Lake, Michigan

I am not one to rack up a lot of daily miles.  However, when my cousins Sandy and Tom invited me to stop by Indian River, Michigan on my way out West - I said yes!  So I took off at 5:40 Sunday morning and "breezed" along arriving at their house on Monday afternoon 20 hours and 946 miles later with one overnight stop.

I have my own 30 amp outlet and a spectacular view! What more could you ask for?  Well worth the hustle!

America's National Parks

After having put this blog on ice the last couple of winters, I am resurrecting it again for the summer.  Sunday, June 12th, I begin my trip out West.  I am going to check out the natural wonders of America's National Parks first hand. Since traveling is all about the journey not just the destination, follow along as I post the highs and lows of life on this road trip. Now for some astounding statistics:

Days on the road:

100 (+/-)

Miles from CT to Yellowstone and everywhere in between:

8443 (more or less)

Born Free Rallies:

3

States where I actually stop and camp:

19 (I think)

State Parks, National Parks, National Monuments:

I'll know how many when I'm done...Mt. Rushmore, Rocky Mountain National Park, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Yosemite, Redwood National Park, Yellowstone...


Here's to the trip of a lifetime!  Back at you sooner or later...