All posts by paula

184-Medora, ND

Theodore Roosevelt Natl Park

We’re here in Medora ND to see the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP).  This park contains 2 sections, a south unit and a north unit.  In between the two units is the ranch that Teddy Roosevelt bought and lived in for a time before he ran for president.  The middle area that used to be Teddy Roosevelt’s ranch was accessible only be a very rough road rated for 4-wheel drive, so we didn’t see that area.

The south unit was very interesting!  Much of the landscape of this part of the country is fairly flat with rounded hills and lots of flat farmland.  But in the south unit it turns to cliffs and mounds that eroded when the Little Missouri river ran through the area over many thousands of years.

The mounds and cliffs all have one or two black strips in among the white, gray and orange strips.  The black strips are coal veins!

We saw lots of bison and prairie dogs, often in near proximity.  We also saw a family of turkeys near the road.

The north unit is more grasslands and has the Little Missouri river running through it.  We enjoyed driving through this area as well. 

As we were driving to the North Unit we passed lots and lots of cornfields, hayfields and soybean crops.  At one point we saw a bald eagle sitting on a haybale that was along the side of the road.  Our dashcam caught a picture – it’s not real clear though!

Here are pics:

RV Parks We Stayed At

Our Travels – Year 10 (Aug 2022 – July 2023)

184. Red Trail Campground, Medora ND (8/8/2022) with a travel stop at Indian Campground, Buffalo, WY

185. Country Villa Motel and Campground, Chippewa Falls, WI (8/15/2022) with a travel stop at Governors RV Park and Campground, Fargo, ND

186. Blackhawk Valley Campground, Rockford, IL (8/22/2022)

187. Tievoli Hills Resort, Clarksville, MO (8/29/2022)

188. Clarksville RV Resort, Clarksville, TN (9/5/2022)

189. Riverside RV Park and Resort, Sevierville, TN (9/12/2022)

190. Allatoona Landing & Marina, Cartersville, GA (9/26/2022)

191. Lake Tiak o’Khata Resort, Louisville, MS (10/3/2022)

192. Sunroamers RV Resort Park, Picayune, MS (10/10/2022)

193. Rainbows End RV Park, Livingston, TX (10/24/2022)

194. RV Park USA, Comfort, TX (11/10/2022)

195. Sunscape RV Resort, Casa Grande, AZ (11/15/2022)

196. Guajome Lakes RV Park, Vista, CA (11/21/2022)

197. Yuma Lakes RV Resort, Yuma, AZ (12\5\2022)

198. Sequoia RV Ranch, Three Rivers, CA (5\1\2023)

199. Alameda County Fairgrounds RV Park, Pleasanton, CA, (5\8\2023)

200. Giant Redwood RV Park, Myers Flat, CA, (5\15\2023)

201. Johnnies at the Beach RV Park, Eureka, CA, (5/18/2023)

202. Lighthouse Cove RV Park, Crescent City, CA, (7/18/2023) with a short stay at Klamath Camper Corral, Klamath, CA, (7/15/2023)

183-Loveland, CO

Rocky Mountain National Park

We went to the Rocky Mountain Natl Park (RMNP) a few years ago, but we decided to go again. We picked a real good day to drive up and through the park as it was mostly clear and the weather was  beautiful.

The previous time we visited we stayed in Grand Lake on the west side of the park and drove in from there.  This time we stayed in Loveland on the east side and drove through Estes Park and into the park.  We drove the length of the park along the Trail Ridge Rd down towards Grand Lake.  That section, near the Grand Lake entrance, had experienced a fire a few years ago and you could still see the damage along the road. 

The scenery is breath-taking, mountains and alpine meadows and glaciers!  We saw lots of elk, at one point traffic was stopped because a small herd of about 7 elk were crossing the road.  Our dashcam caught a picture of a baby elk crossing…unfortunately it’s real blurry. 

Here are some pics:

184-Medora, ND

Lots of bikers heading to Sturgis

As we drove from Loveland CO to Buffalo, WY on Aug 5th we saw lots of motorcycles. It was the first day of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

We saw dozens earlier in the day but I didn’t think to snap a picture until later in the day. Here are 3 of the bikes heading to Sturgis:

182-Buena Vista, CO, About Us

We’ve both got Covid!

A few days into our stay at Buena Vista CO Jeff started feeling bad. He thought it was a cold and the next day I got a scratchy throat. I scheduled a Covid test for Jeff just to be sure, and it came up positive! Ugh! So we both went to a walk in clinic in Buena Vista so I could also get a test (also positive!) and we could both get treated.

The folks at the clinic were very nice. Covid infections had been on the rise in the area and we found we both also had strep throat. We got medicines for both illnesses and were told to isolate for 5 days and wear a mask and be careful for at least five days after that.

This was on Wednesday. Thursday Jeff felt a little better and I felt worse. We were supposed to travel to Loveland on Friday! We both felt a bit better on Friday and went ahead and traveled. I made lunch so we wouldn’t have to stop and we made it on. I lost my voice for most of Friday and could only sqeak. We were very careful checking in, wearing masks and disinfecting our hands and we only stayed in the office for a few minutes.

Saturday we both felt worse, coughing a lot and absolutely no energy. Sunday we had to get some groceries and pick up a refill for Jeff but luckily Walmart had curbside for both with no contact. Were still very fatigued and coughing.

Monday we still were very fatigued. It’s awful! I would do a little bit, then have to rest. If I did too much I got light headed. Also was short of breath. We are at the “Gateway to the Rockies” but may not get to drive to higher elevation if this doesn’t get better real soon.

Now it’s Wednesday, a week from diagnoses and we’re both getting better. My fatigue is much less. Jeff says he feels fine except for the constant coughing and hawking up phlegm (yuck!)

182-Buena Vista, CO

Buena Vista CO – views of several mountains

We stayed for a week in Buena Vista CO, which is known for the closeness of several 14,000 ft mountains as well as the Arkansas River with lots of rapids.  We took a drive up to Cottonwood Pass one day, which is at the continental divide at 12,126ft.  Wow, I could barely breathe!

The drive up was beautiful, lots of fir and aspens and several lakes.  Lots of people have cabins up there and they looked just like you would imagine!

We also drove along the Arkansas River on the outskirts of town.  There is a dirt road with several campgrounds and places to launch river rafts.  We saw some people rafting down the river which has several rapids.  We also drove through a series of tunnels that were wide enough for one vehicle at a time only.

The whole area is beautiful!  Here are some pictures:

181-Cortez, CO

Mesa Verde 2022

Although we had visited Mesa Verde before, we were  back in the area and wanted to see it again.  From Cortez, CO it’s just a few minutes to the entrance of the National Park, although once past the entrance it’s about a half hour to get to any of the sites.

Unfortunately, the loop road that includes the Cliff Palace and the Balcony House was closed for road work while we were there.  And, other ruins that are accessible through a guided tour had limited people per tour and we were unable to get tickets to any of them.  Jeff visited both during our previous visit but I did not, partly because of the hike up and back and also the Balcony House access is through a 12-foot long small tunnel that you have to crawl on your hands and knees to get through.  With my claustrophobia I didn’t even want to attempt!

But, there is one set of ruins, the Step House, that can be viewed on a self-guided tour.  We hiked almost a mile to get to the ruins. It was downhill the whole way, which means it was uphill the whole way back!  As it is at about 8,000ft I had trouble going uphill and we stopped several times to catch our breath.

But, it was really nice to be able to see some ruins up close!

We also drove on a loop road that provides the best vantage point to see the Cliff Palace.  Near that viewpoint there is a small structure called the Sun Temple that we were able to walk around and see as well.

Here is the blog entry from our last visit, and here are pictures of this visit:

181-Cortez, CO

Hovenweep 2022

Hovenweep is the name for a collection of ancentral Puebloan ruins in an area of Utah and Colorado near the four corners area.  The people who lived here approx. 1,000 years ago grew crops and hunted, and lived in round or square structures mostly built right on ravine walls or large boulders.

We visited Hovenweep a few years ago and saw some of the ruins.  This trip we saw some different ruins.  All are similar in design and structure.

It’s amazing how these people lived and thrived in a desolate region.  Theories that the area was not so desolate when they were here hope to explain why the people just left around 1,300AD.

Dogs are allowed on the trails around Hovenweep but Chloe is so excitable we left her in the car when we hiked down a short trail to see some of the ruins.

Here is our blog entry of our previous visit, and here are some pictures of this visit: