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This post has been delayed due to
issues with the RV Campsite we were “Lodged” in last night. It
was a trip to a swamp circa 1955 Irrrigation water from the
surrounding fields turned the ground into a soggy mat. The odor from
the horse doo doo of a nearb y stable was delightful and coupled to
the sound of jake brakes through the night it is a wonder we did, or
did not, make it to Chama. The facilities were run-down and the
semi-permanent ressidents were fugitives from another dimension.
Oddly, they had an internet but no one knew the password. So, if you
see this post it means we made it to Chama if not, we sank into the
mire of the AOK Campground in Lamar, Colorado. Someone, or
something, will eventually find the fossilized remains.
Anyway, this morning, yesterday morning
– Day 2 – started out generally miserable. The Cabin was a
disorganized shamble with bags and things piles about. I hitched up
the night before but still got up early to hit the road by 7 o'clock.
I picked through thing, shirt, trousers, drawers, socks, glasses,
billfold and such and headed outside to make the cabin road ready.
Half an hour so so later I checked in
on G, she was busy organizing things so I left her alone and went
ahead with my duties outside. 15 minutes later I went back and found her still searching but now for her glasses. Giving up on that chore she decided to be cool and wear her sunglasses for the rest of the trip.
We started the journey only a few minutes late and all was well.
15 minutes later we stopped at the top of an entry ramp to an Interstate Highway, the truck electrical wasn't fully plugged in to the trailer. Now plugged in and tested we were off.
15 minutes later I pulled off on the side of the Interstate. Terror stricken by 75 mph traffic tearing past, I struggled to put on the sway stabilizer - you know the thing I keep on forgetting to take off when I back up. Firmly installed ran around the back of the cabin and leaped into the truck. Success and we were off.
20 minutes later I pulled over on a wide spot in a two lane highway and turned off the propane an we were off.
15 mintues later and a total of 42 miles from the start we stopped for first gas stop we averaged a whopping 8 mpg which would be the standard for the entire trip, I thought. Anyway 15 minutes later we stopped for breakfast at McDonald's in Atchison - DON'T EAT TH ERE, the staff makes a mess of the food and is very rude. We eventually stopped at McDonald's several times, the food is miserable but consistent the service is now consistently poor as well.
G asked me for the truck keys and I fished around through the myriad of keys in my pocket and pulled our glasses, I gave them to her - mine were still in the cabin.
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| Every trip needs a picture such as this At Oakley, KS it's all two lane from here |
Fueling Old Blue is a constant issue as she only has a 25 gallon tank. Finding a place to fuel became increasingly difficult so we resorted to fueling every time the gauge dropped below 3/4 full about 8 gallons used or 60 miles driven. The distances between places to fuel became a problem the further west we drove. Beyond Oakley, KS we were on two lane roads all the way to Chama. The distance between gas stations beyond Sharon Springs, Kansas, on the Colorado border, and Lamar, our evening stop the actual was 104 miles.
All told we drove 593 miles this day and it took a few minutes past 12 hours.
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| Leaving Kansas & Entering Colorado - The "Colorado Turn" is 30 miles away There we turn south for 70 miles and then turn west for 300 miles to Chama. |
Tomorrow, the 9th we will be driving a little less than 250 miles and we have a 75 mile stretch of highway, Colorado 10three passes to cross.
