Currently in Aurora CO (Low 50 Partly Sunny High 80)
We made a very short drive yesterday from Golden Colorado to Aurora. It was approximately 24 miles, this is the route we took.
View Larger Map
We had brakes the entire way and arrived safely at Cherry Creek State Park. That makes three test drives with brakes, dare we say we think we may have found the gremlin.
We like short trips and we like our new location but 24 miles may be a little too short. We spent way more time getting ready to travel and setting up after we got there than we did driving.
We will be here a couple of weeks. Bob has some routine testing for his Beryllium exposure at National Jewish Medical Center next week.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
JEFFERSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS CAMPGROUND
Currently in Golden CO (Low 52 Mostly Cloudy with a Chance of Rain Currently 57)
Heading to Aurora CO (Currently 59 Mostly Cloudy with a Chance of Rain High 78)
Thought we would share more about the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Campground. Based on this photo
Paul and Marsha Weaver from http://wheresweaver.blogspot.com/ commented about the paved parking being unique for a fairgrounds campground which is true but also that it looked spacious. The spaciousness is specious as they chose to take the photo when every other spot was empty. Here is what it looks like when full.
Here is the Cameo from the front. We have been in tighter spots where the slideouts from each RV almost hit and couldn't use the awnings at all but this is pretty tight. Our rear awning cannot extend all the way.
To the right.
To the left. The paved sites that we are in are the 50a sites. The rest of the campground this direction are 30a sites. There are no sewer connections and the dump station is awkward for big rigs.
A closeup of the rear of the Cameo showing the dish getting a great line of sight. You can see how close our rear awning is to the slideout next to us.
We would probably stay here again as it is a really great location. We are getting better at having no sewer hookup. There is a honeywagon that will pump your tanks out for $30 so we took advantage of that on Friday just to be sure.
We head today, Lord willing and the slideout comes in AND the trailer brakes are still working, to the other side of Denver to Aurora and the Cherry Creek State Park for two weeks.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Heading to Aurora CO (Currently 59 Mostly Cloudy with a Chance of Rain High 78)
Thought we would share more about the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Campground. Based on this photo
Paul and Marsha Weaver from http://wheresweaver.blogspot.com/ commented about the paved parking being unique for a fairgrounds campground which is true but also that it looked spacious. The spaciousness is specious as they chose to take the photo when every other spot was empty. Here is what it looks like when full.
Here is the Cameo from the front. We have been in tighter spots where the slideouts from each RV almost hit and couldn't use the awnings at all but this is pretty tight. Our rear awning cannot extend all the way.
To the right.
To the left. The paved sites that we are in are the 50a sites. The rest of the campground this direction are 30a sites. There are no sewer connections and the dump station is awkward for big rigs.
A closeup of the rear of the Cameo showing the dish getting a great line of sight. You can see how close our rear awning is to the slideout next to us.
We would probably stay here again as it is a really great location. We are getting better at having no sewer hookup. There is a honeywagon that will pump your tanks out for $30 so we took advantage of that on Friday just to be sure.
We head today, Lord willing and the slideout comes in AND the trailer brakes are still working, to the other side of Denver to Aurora and the Cherry Creek State Park for two weeks.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Sunday, September 21, 2014
MOTHER CABRINI SHRINE
Currently in Golden CO (Low 55 Storms Late High 74)
Driving to the Mother Cabrini Shrine near Golden Colorado the first thing you notice is this large statue on the hill.
Buffalo Bill was not the only famous person to become enthralled with the views as you ascend Lookout Mountain. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, aka Mother Cabrini, visited the area in 1902. She purchased some land and a summer camp was first built there. What followed was a chapel, Stone House for retreats and other buildings. On her last visit in 1912 she and her fellow nuns climbed the mountain and at the top she built a heart with white stones. The stones are there to this day, under glass now to protect them.
The view from the top.
Here is the new Chapel and Gift Shop in the distance from the top.
Mother Cabrini dedicated the site to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1954 this statue was placed there and a 373 step staircase was constructed. Here is the stairs at the bottom.
Here is the statue of the Sacred Heart.
We inquired at the gift shop and got a key to drive to the top since Jo felt she could not make the 373 step journey at that altitude no matter how many benches they had along the way. Here is gate that they gave us a key for.
The gate is to be locked because there are cattle on site, here is the road and cattle.
Here are the steps from the top back to the bottom.
The first chapel built on the site was demolished in 1959 and replaced with this one.
We then visited the new chapel that is larger. There was a wedding there the afternoon we visited, luckily we got in to take photos before they closed it.
The Museum has displays of her clothes and table and chair and bed she used while her.
A great film was playing in the museum narrated by Brooke Shields. Shrines are places of meditation and reflection, here is the garden.
There was a meditation walk area
That had benches to sit and meditate.
This was a great find, again very close to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds where we have been for the last few days. What is more amazing is Mother Cabrini herself. She made at least 26 crossings of the Atlantic and founded schools, hospitals, religious orders throughout Europe and North and South America. The credits of the film lists all those and it is incredible. Originally from Italy before her death she became a US citizen and is the first citizen to be canonized as a Saint.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Driving to the Mother Cabrini Shrine near Golden Colorado the first thing you notice is this large statue on the hill.
Buffalo Bill was not the only famous person to become enthralled with the views as you ascend Lookout Mountain. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, aka Mother Cabrini, visited the area in 1902. She purchased some land and a summer camp was first built there. What followed was a chapel, Stone House for retreats and other buildings. On her last visit in 1912 she and her fellow nuns climbed the mountain and at the top she built a heart with white stones. The stones are there to this day, under glass now to protect them.
The view from the top.
Here is the new Chapel and Gift Shop in the distance from the top.
Mother Cabrini dedicated the site to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1954 this statue was placed there and a 373 step staircase was constructed. Here is the stairs at the bottom.
Here is the statue of the Sacred Heart.
We inquired at the gift shop and got a key to drive to the top since Jo felt she could not make the 373 step journey at that altitude no matter how many benches they had along the way. Here is gate that they gave us a key for.
The gate is to be locked because there are cattle on site, here is the road and cattle.
Here are the steps from the top back to the bottom.
The first chapel built on the site was demolished in 1959 and replaced with this one.
We then visited the new chapel that is larger. There was a wedding there the afternoon we visited, luckily we got in to take photos before they closed it.
The Museum has displays of her clothes and table and chair and bed she used while her.
A great film was playing in the museum narrated by Brooke Shields. Shrines are places of meditation and reflection, here is the garden.
There was a meditation walk area
That had benches to sit and meditate.
This was a great find, again very close to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds where we have been for the last few days. What is more amazing is Mother Cabrini herself. She made at least 26 crossings of the Atlantic and founded schools, hospitals, religious orders throughout Europe and North and South America. The credits of the film lists all those and it is incredible. Originally from Italy before her death she became a US citizen and is the first citizen to be canonized as a Saint.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Friday, September 19, 2014
BUFFALO BILL MUSEUM AND GRAVE ON LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
Currently in Golden CO (Low 55 Partly Sunny and Very Warm High 85)
We drove the Lariat Loop up Lookout Mountain to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Gravesite near Golden Colorado. William Frederick Cody was born in Le Claire Iowa, moved to Kansas at an early age, built a home and lived in North Platte Nebraska during the Wild West show years and founded the town of Cody Wyoming. So why was he buried on Lookout Mountain in Colorado in 1917?
Because that was his wish as stated to his family and friends and the priest who administered the last rites. Saying that there still was some controversy about the choice. His widow had the casket opened just before it was lowered into the crypt to prove that it was him being buried. There is a famous photo of a tank parked next to the grave.
The myth was that there was fear that Cody Wyoming or North Platte Nebraska would steal the body and that the tank was there to guard the grave. The truth is that it was a photo used to sell war bonds after WWI and that they took the photo and moved on. After his widow died in 1921 both towns did raise a ruckus and the controversy remains to this day. To guard the body what was done after the widow was buried is tons of concrete were added over the caskets in the crypt. Here is the grave again and the plaque noting Buffalo Bill's wishes.
The marker on the ground noting his Congressional Medal of Honor awarded.
On the walk to the grave we noticed this plaque commemorating the Pony Express which Buffalo Bill was a young rider for. One of the three founders of the Pony Express, Alexander Majors, lived in Kansas City Missouri and you can tour his home and barn at 82nd and State Line RD.
There is a very good film that plays in the museum where we learned a lot. It is kind of hard to take photos with glass display cases but here are some of the better ones. A Buffalo Bill painting.
One of his rifles.
A neat lamp.
Of course a buffalo, or more correctly American Bison.
Bob jumped on the horse at the Reagan Presidential Library so he had to do it here too. Sure was a lot easier when he was younger :-)
He chose Lookout Mountain because when he visited here he loved the view and said he could see four states. Here are some of the views today.
It was good to do some sightseeing and not be held hostage by the trailer brakes. This was a great museum, in fact True West Magazine lists this at No. 5 of the Top Ten Western Museums for 2014. The drive to the museum is gorgeous so all in all a great day.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
We drove the Lariat Loop up Lookout Mountain to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Gravesite near Golden Colorado. William Frederick Cody was born in Le Claire Iowa, moved to Kansas at an early age, built a home and lived in North Platte Nebraska during the Wild West show years and founded the town of Cody Wyoming. So why was he buried on Lookout Mountain in Colorado in 1917?
Because that was his wish as stated to his family and friends and the priest who administered the last rites. Saying that there still was some controversy about the choice. His widow had the casket opened just before it was lowered into the crypt to prove that it was him being buried. There is a famous photo of a tank parked next to the grave.
The myth was that there was fear that Cody Wyoming or North Platte Nebraska would steal the body and that the tank was there to guard the grave. The truth is that it was a photo used to sell war bonds after WWI and that they took the photo and moved on. After his widow died in 1921 both towns did raise a ruckus and the controversy remains to this day. To guard the body what was done after the widow was buried is tons of concrete were added over the caskets in the crypt. Here is the grave again and the plaque noting Buffalo Bill's wishes.
The marker on the ground noting his Congressional Medal of Honor awarded.
On the walk to the grave we noticed this plaque commemorating the Pony Express which Buffalo Bill was a young rider for. One of the three founders of the Pony Express, Alexander Majors, lived in Kansas City Missouri and you can tour his home and barn at 82nd and State Line RD.
There is a very good film that plays in the museum where we learned a lot. It is kind of hard to take photos with glass display cases but here are some of the better ones. A Buffalo Bill painting.
One of his rifles.
A neat lamp.
Of course a buffalo, or more correctly American Bison.
Bob jumped on the horse at the Reagan Presidential Library so he had to do it here too. Sure was a lot easier when he was younger :-)
He chose Lookout Mountain because when he visited here he loved the view and said he could see four states. Here are some of the views today.
It was good to do some sightseeing and not be held hostage by the trailer brakes. This was a great museum, in fact True West Magazine lists this at No. 5 of the Top Ten Western Museums for 2014. The drive to the museum is gorgeous so all in all a great day.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Thursday, September 18, 2014
ON THE ROAD AGAIN - TO GOLDEN COLORADO
Currently in Golden CO (Low 52 Mostly Sunny High 87)
After one night in Wheatland Wyoming we left for Golden Colorado on Tuesday. It was approximately 175 miles, here is the route we took.
View Larger Map
As usual we had brakes at the start of the trip. As we were getting closer to the exit for the pet friendly hotel in northern Denver Bob purposely hit the brakes a couple of times just to make sure. We still had trailer brakes and then through the heavier traffic as we got closer to Golden we still had brakes. In fact we had trailer brakes all the way to backing in at our site at Jefferson County Fairgrounds. That makes two travel days with trailer brakes. Here is a view from the web of the area where we are parked. We will have a full review of the park later.
It feels so good to be not held hostage by the trailer brakes. We first had the fault in mid-August, then a couple of legs with no problems, then happening on each leg. The stops were generally getting parts and getting it fixed and wondering if the test drive would work. We probably will still wonder each time for a while when we hit the brakes whether the trailer brakes will work but let us tell you driving through metro Denver traffic it was sure nice to have trailer brakes.
We found a great place for breakfast yesterday and visited our home away from home, Walmart, for some much needed stocking up. We will be in Golden until Monday when we head to the east side of the metro in Aurora for a couple of weeks.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
After one night in Wheatland Wyoming we left for Golden Colorado on Tuesday. It was approximately 175 miles, here is the route we took.
View Larger Map
As usual we had brakes at the start of the trip. As we were getting closer to the exit for the pet friendly hotel in northern Denver Bob purposely hit the brakes a couple of times just to make sure. We still had trailer brakes and then through the heavier traffic as we got closer to Golden we still had brakes. In fact we had trailer brakes all the way to backing in at our site at Jefferson County Fairgrounds. That makes two travel days with trailer brakes. Here is a view from the web of the area where we are parked. We will have a full review of the park later.
It feels so good to be not held hostage by the trailer brakes. We first had the fault in mid-August, then a couple of legs with no problems, then happening on each leg. The stops were generally getting parts and getting it fixed and wondering if the test drive would work. We probably will still wonder each time for a while when we hit the brakes whether the trailer brakes will work but let us tell you driving through metro Denver traffic it was sure nice to have trailer brakes.
We found a great place for breakfast yesterday and visited our home away from home, Walmart, for some much needed stocking up. We will be in Golden until Monday when we head to the east side of the metro in Aurora for a couple of weeks.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
ON THE ROAD AGAIN - TO WHEATLAND WYOMING
Currently in Wheatland WY (Low 49 Mostly Sunny and Nice Currently 56)
Heading to Golden CO (Currently 65 Mostly Sunny and Pleasant High 83)
We left Buffalo Wyoming yesterday and headed to Wheatland Wyoming. It was approximately 220 miles, this is the route we took.
View Larger Map
We decided to just spend one night in Wheatland and head to Denver irrespective of whether or not we encountered another 'fault in trailer wiring'. That way we would have almost three weeks to get the trailer into a repair place. Well guess what, we drove all the way with brakes.
If that continues today we will spend a week in Golden at the Fairgrounds then move to Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora for 2 weeks. If no brakes Bob will drop Jo and the cats at a pet friendly hotel and head to a repair place. Have to be prepared for all possibilities.
Sure felt good having brakes until we parked in our site at Mountain View Park in Wheatland :-)
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Heading to Golden CO (Currently 65 Mostly Sunny and Pleasant High 83)
We left Buffalo Wyoming yesterday and headed to Wheatland Wyoming. It was approximately 220 miles, this is the route we took.
View Larger Map
We decided to just spend one night in Wheatland and head to Denver irrespective of whether or not we encountered another 'fault in trailer wiring'. That way we would have almost three weeks to get the trailer into a repair place. Well guess what, we drove all the way with brakes.
If that continues today we will spend a week in Golden at the Fairgrounds then move to Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora for 2 weeks. If no brakes Bob will drop Jo and the cats at a pet friendly hotel and head to a repair place. Have to be prepared for all possibilities.
Sure felt good having brakes until we parked in our site at Mountain View Park in Wheatland :-)
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Monday, September 15, 2014
ADDED MORE MAPS AND BUFFALO KOA
Currently in Buffalo WY (Low 35 Sunny Currently 42)
Heading to Wheatland WY (Currently 45 Sunny High 75)
The KOA in Buffalo is a nice park. Here is the Cameo at our site.
To the right.
To the left.
The Cameo from the rear showing the dish with a great line of sight.
The KOA has deluxe sites, this one has a fenced in area for dogs with a hot tub.
The rest of the park looks nice too.
Bob had more time to add maps and make reservations. He added Massachusetts.
Rhode Island
Connecticut
He has made reservations all the way to Connecticut in October of next year.
We are heading to Wheatland Wyoming today, Lord willing and the slideout comes in, AND the trailer brakes work and continue to work throughout our test drive. We've had a heavy duty socket and plug installed while in Buffalo probably eliminating all truck problems. When we plugged it in to test it tested out OK, of course it did. We will see what happens on our 220 mile test drive today. If we encounter any problems we already have an appointment at an RV repair place in Denver tomorrow and a pet friendly hotel so the Cameo can be checked out. Even if we have no problems today we are hotfooting it to Denver from Wheatland tomorrow for another test drive.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Heading to Wheatland WY (Currently 45 Sunny High 75)
The KOA in Buffalo is a nice park. Here is the Cameo at our site.
To the right.
To the left.
The Cameo from the rear showing the dish with a great line of sight.
The KOA has deluxe sites, this one has a fenced in area for dogs with a hot tub.
The rest of the park looks nice too.
Bob had more time to add maps and make reservations. He added Massachusetts.
Rhode Island
Connecticut
He has made reservations all the way to Connecticut in October of next year.
We are heading to Wheatland Wyoming today, Lord willing and the slideout comes in, AND the trailer brakes work and continue to work throughout our test drive. We've had a heavy duty socket and plug installed while in Buffalo probably eliminating all truck problems. When we plugged it in to test it tested out OK, of course it did. We will see what happens on our 220 mile test drive today. If we encounter any problems we already have an appointment at an RV repair place in Denver tomorrow and a pet friendly hotel so the Cameo can be checked out. Even if we have no problems today we are hotfooting it to Denver from Wheatland tomorrow for another test drive.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
Sunday, September 14, 2014
BUFFALO WYOMING - A CREEK RUNS THROUGH IT
Currently in Buffalo WY (Low 32 Sunny High 60)
The snow on the mountains is about all there is left to show of our late summer winter snowstorm.
We walked around Buffalo Wyoming and it says on this mural that 'a creek runs through it'.
Here is the creek.
Buffalo has an interesting connection to "Longmire", the cancelled A&E series. "Longmire" is set in Durant a fictional town based on Buffalo and is filmed in New Mexico. There were "Longmire" references throughout the town.
We ate at Sagewood Gifts and Cafe a couple of times and it was a real find. It is a lunch only place. On Friday we had their seafood bisque and if you told us that if the bisque had frozen shrimp and scallops and imitation crab we would have told you that we wouldn't have liked it. But the base of the bisque was so good that we really liked it in spite of the seafood. With fresh seafood this would be one of our all time favorites. The corn chowder and sausage and cabbage soups are also good. Their desserts are really good, especially the chocolate malt cheesecake. Give this place a shot if ever in the area.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
The snow on the mountains is about all there is left to show of our late summer winter snowstorm.
We walked around Buffalo Wyoming and it says on this mural that 'a creek runs through it'.
Here is the creek.
Buffalo has an interesting connection to "Longmire", the cancelled A&E series. "Longmire" is set in Durant a fictional town based on Buffalo and is filmed in New Mexico. There were "Longmire" references throughout the town.
We ate at Sagewood Gifts and Cafe a couple of times and it was a real find. It is a lunch only place. On Friday we had their seafood bisque and if you told us that if the bisque had frozen shrimp and scallops and imitation crab we would have told you that we wouldn't have liked it. But the base of the bisque was so good that we really liked it in spite of the seafood. With fresh seafood this would be one of our all time favorites. The corn chowder and sausage and cabbage soups are also good. Their desserts are really good, especially the chocolate malt cheesecake. Give this place a shot if ever in the area.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
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