Another day closer

Old Blue is parked inside the service bay at Jerseyville Ford.  The owner pulled in after asking me a lot of questions about her.  Told him she had no rust, no dings or dents, running and drive gear in top shape.  He asked the mileage and I told him 170,000 to which he gave a low whistle then saying, "Looks like she has less than 70,000."

I suspect we will get a call Monday trying to make a deal for a new one.  No chance.  She is our gentle workhorse and when the work is complete will be better than new.

Spring on the Cumbres and Toltec

Winter is still struggling and won't quite let go high over 10,000+ foot Cumbres Pass.  2,200 feet below Cumbres Spring has arrived in Chama with opening day on May 28th.  Docent training is just a few weeks later, July 11th, and we are well along in preparation for our 2016 Summer in Chama.  Old Blue goes to the mechanic next week for the new engine then a few weeks learning how the Chama Cabin works and we are on the road.

Leaving on July 7th just after noon we will stop at St. Joseph, MO overnight in a Good Sam RV park.  On the 8th we travel on to Lamar, Colorado - about an 8 hour drive - to again stay again in a Good Sam park.  The 9th we drive on for about 5 hours arriving in Chama in the early afternoon.  We will stay in the Rio Chama RV Park in a cottonwood grove next to the river.

The railroad yard is a few hundred yards away, just a brief walk down the tracks to the depot and Docent office.  This "office", as with all maintenance of way equipment, is quartered in a boxcar which is normal in old railroad practice. It is similar to the one pictured.