LIFE ON THE ROAD

July 20, 2012

We have arrived with a BANG in JACKSON HOLE, WY

Hi Loves: It took us a few days to get here, but we have arrived in Jackson Hole. Last night we stayed at a park in Boulder, WY (not Colorado). I was dying for grass, hadn't stayed in a nice green grassy park since the trip began 7 weeks ago ... was driving Hwy 191 North from southern WY toward Teton, dark brown prairies and wide open space forever, then suddenly it all turned green about 2 miles before this park we were to stay at. Pulled in, and there was more grass than I have ever seen in a park,

surrounded by mountains,

ma and pa owner were wonderful and the park was meticulously maintained with utilities on both sides so you could park in either direction, a nicely placed garbage can at each site, triple wide sites and grass galore!

Yup, this is our grass! You really do have to watch what you wish for! The kids didn't want to leave ... either did I, but when adventure calls, one goes ...

The drive to Jackson Hole was spectacular. We're staying in an RV park that is right in town ... the only one ... was in the Big Rigs book ...

So, got here, pulled in, they waved me to a spot right in front ... no way I could make it. Was stuck in their driveway ... Why? Because the park is definitely not a big rig park. The spot they had for me was not long enough nor could I reach it from my direction. .... I am learning to be a savvy RV driver. Sitting blocking the driveway, an inch away from another rig, I began bargaining ... I made my reservation months ago, requested a spot in the back out of the way; we don't have any other spots, take this one or leave; Well, I'm not moving then. Worker got manager, manager said the same thing, manager's husband said if you don't like it leave; I said I will when you give me a spot in the back I can fit in. [they all go to the office, husband returns] OK, missy, take No. 77 ... Could you please help me back up? Can't you figure it out yourself? No. OK ... helps me out of straddling the driveway. Where's 77? In the back, like you wanted. Could you please take me there? My God.

Here's our view from #77 ... you see the mountains through the utility plant? I really can't complain because we are at the back of the park, we fit in our spot, we are right in town, 18 minutes from Teton, the kids are happy and my bestest friend is coming for two weeks soon!

Hugs and Licks, The O'Sullivans Wandering the US of A

July 17, 2012

Departing the Rockies headed for Jackson Hole, WY

Hello Luvs: It’s been great here in Estes Park. We are in the arms of the Rockies 24/7 since our park is on the boundary of the Rocky Mtn. Natl’s Park and surrounded by its mountains. Very special. The trip here was arduous. Went right through busy Denver, then the long winding mountain road to Estes. This view made it all worth it.

The Ridge Trail Road over the Rockies was incredible.

Drove half of it in the car,

So ... after taking a few photos

And, meeting up with Mr. Elk ...

And, driving one more hairpin turn on the edge of the mountain

I decided that being happy is more important than achieving the goal (did I really say that?) ....

decided to turn around. Carolina objected but ... I am now the ruler of the roost (except for Riley who is still alpha!).

And ... loved coming back along the amazing tree lined trail. I think Steve Jobs has been here since the Mac Apple appeared out of nowhere. Can you see it?

Estes Park town was lovely. About 8 blocks of nice tourist attractions and stores with the Rockies always as a backdrop,

Estes Lake which also was spectacular framed by the craggies

a river walk which, of course, was our favorite as it meandered through downtown

With parks galore ...

And, this river was gushing ....

And little bridges crossing over and pretty pathways

Passing by the lovely shops

And statuary blended in

And, then, there is the Stanley Hotel, the historic resort nestled in the mountains above town

Which was built by Frelan Stanley, innovator of the Stanley Steamer, the first steam engine car

which opened in the early 1900s and was frequented by the social class of the day

Which, of course, I visited for Sunday brunch which they did not have ....

Instead, at noon, they toss Frisbees with the Hotel's insignia to children who gather to catch them, which, of course, I did ...

The Stanley above downtown

This resort did not compare to the Broadmoor, but certainly has its own history and spectacular mountain setting.

So .... speaking of cars and engines ... I simply could not contain myself when I came across this incredible coach ... it was the colors ... pink and champagne and some salmon

And, the fact that it had 12 wheels ... and this matching hauler

And ... that it was almost twice the size of a normal big rig ... that made me buy it. I hope the coach part fits in my lot at Hilton Head!

And, this is my new friend, Vicki, who is my twin in many ways. We look very similar, she is wandering around this country solo in her big rig, was a work-a-holic appraiser, is today getting dental implants (like me), and so many other similarities. I am meeting her in Loveland tomorrow (after I drive Hwy 34 which winds round and round the mountain, reaching 'the very thin canyon' at the bottom) on the way to Jackson Hole to help her pick out her new dog .... and we will meet up in a later trip and caravan together! Very, very cool. Life is waaaay good ... and I only have two clients left! Am almost a full-time WANDERER.

Toodles, The O'Sullivans

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So, I wanted to share my new routing tools with the RVers of you. Really excellent. Go to Good Sam’s website at http://goodsamclub.com and click on trip routing at the top. You have to be a member or become a member to use this. If you are not signed up for ONLINE use, then register at the next screen. If you are, you probably won’t be able to login unless you change your email address and get a new password. What can I say, this is how it is. [If you call in, they don’t know this, so don’t call. Email me instead.] The new email address doesn’t matter because when you plan a trip it asks if you want it by email and you input any email address. The choices are wonderful. It routes you for RV, shows rest stops, has links to campgrounds, weather, road conditions and mountain road advisories and also will show you cost, rest stops, diesel stops and many other options. I had to buy another service called Mountain Directory (which doesn’t run on Mac but I have Fusion running), but this feature is really what I was looking for. It is a must have if traveling mountains you do not know. In the Good Sam’s routing log, it lists by # mtn roads with challenging conditions. You then, go to Mountain Directory (purchased from http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/freetriprouting/default.aspx) and read the very vivid description of the road and its conditions so you can anticipate them in advance or re-route. And, Good Sam’s emails you your trip log, so you can annotate them the log with the mountain advisory. The weather link takes you to the Weather Channel page for that location. The campgrounds shown are selective, so use http://rvparkreviews.com for that area to have a full selection. You will then have to run this through your GPS because this program isn’t address specific [or just rely on the campground’s directions which are better anyway]. I tried to attach a sample log, but did not work. Email me if you want to see one.

July 12, 2012

In LOVE with Colorado Springs ....

Have been to 29 states now.

We are leaving Colorado Springs, my favorite place in all of the country so far. It's been a real adventure in our six days here, probably too much. It started off when I passed Campground of the Gods, our RV park, headed for Pikes Peak.

How can you pass something this huge? Probably because I spent hours driving along high winding mountain roads from Alamosa to the Colorado interstate. I almost peed a couple of times.

ended up in the quaint town of Manitou Springs and was headed up to Pikes Peak … so … at the turn about

I said to Carolina, ‘I gotta do this’ as I swung wide and made believe there were not 3 other streets intersecting. I got 3/4s of the way around and I either needed to get out to see if there was room or find someone. I saw a guy, with his wife and kids, took my loooong index finger and called him over. I needed this young man more than I have ever needed a young man. I pointed down, he looked around, understood and waved me on until a certain point when he shook his head and walked away. Holy shit. I was taking up an entire intersection. I got his gaze again and curled the long finger again and pointed to my window. He came over, very reluctantly and I said, ‘you think I can make it. He said, ‘I dunno’. I said please help me. He stopped to the curb, then tippy toes to the street light as his index finger signaled me on, little by little, when all I can say is God shrunk my coach. As I drove away, I smiled at my young man and gave him the high five and all the people who just so happened to be watching this whole thing clapped.

I have taken too many pictures, had too much fun and adventure, and if I die tomorrow, I will give God a High Five. Colorado Springs is a beautiful, diversified, city filled with quaint sub-cities, a sophisticated and historic down town surrounded by mountains, sprawling hills and canyons and lush nature galore. And, it's got a great energy!

We began with down town, which consists of about 15 blocks of attractive buildings, many historic, brick sidewalks, and gardens galore with Acacia Park at the center.

Acacia Park

A law office, of course.

The library ....

The incredible Pioneer museum ... and a few more .... love this steeple; I believe it is the most attractive I have ever seen, at least to my eye.

The museum was incredible. So much rich history.

The amazing steeple

This is a private club ...

.... Interesting entry ...

Church on the outskirts of up town

Up town, we should call it, is built on a few hills that rise above the flatlands like another strata with bridges over the railway that escort you to town in grand style, and all of it surrounded by huge mountains.

Uptown

One of the wide bridges that escort you into up town, which is where the cars are headed.

Incredible old building which is now apartments.

The next day we went to

where else but the incredible Broadmoor Hotel where I had Sunday brunch

and was pampered at the spa.

This exclusive resort is a city in itself ... Very impressive. It has its own lake surrounded by beautiful mountains with a promenade to stroll around.

Wonderful reflection on the lake

Lady of Leisure

The next day we went to the amazing Garden of the Gods which is a mini Bryce Canyon/Zion. Stunning.

Our car

Riley's a good climber

The family ... riley's there, just hidden.

This is balancing rock. In the next photo you can see how it

Day 4 was the most hair-raising, thrilling experience of my life so far – drove 19 miles almost straight up to Pikes Peak 14,000 miles high, and 19 miles almost straight down – and I have a fear of heights!

I turned around at the two mile mark; I just couldn't do it. Waaaaay too freaked. Talked to some people, got a little therapy, turned back around and headed up and up and up ....

... until the fog was so thick you coul dnot see anything but the yellow divider lines ...

By the time we got to the top, I was insane and it was completely fogged in.

We were all working around in the fog, feeling we had made it to heaven and so proud of ourselves for doing the trek ...

We huddled in the 35 degree cold with 13 Hells Angel types on bikes who gave us more therapy and introduced me to my car's Mountain gear which I thought was just one gear, but it three.
.

And, took out photo ... then we headed down. I tried to bribe one of them to chauffeur us down ... but nope, had to do it myself ... and I did ... all 19 miles

And, at some point, after we got out of the fog, and the rain,

I noticed I was smiling …. And driving with one hand … and old pro I had become!

Day 5 was Cheyenne Canyon where we hiked up to Seven Falls and Helen Falls. Very nice.

Our last day we spent walking the springs at lovely Manitou Springs (where our adventure began at the turn about). The town was a mile from our park. Actually, everything in Colorado Springs is within a few miles, down town, Garden of the Gods, the Broadmoor, Pikes Peak, the falls!

Downtown Manitou Springs. This is where I would live. Nope, not planning on moving here, but will spend some summers.

Manitou Springs has 7 natural spring sites. Each site was made into a lovely park. For a small town of a mile or so, there are a lot of parks. Spring park number one above and two below.