Butterfinger Ice Cream

Twila and I decided to make some Butterfinger Ice Cream today. We invited over 7 couples from the park and even took ice cream to the owners of the park. It was a huge hit. We are planning on doing it again when Chan and Martha Ray come up to visit. We are thinking we will make Martha's Peach Ice Cream.

American Basin

We went to American Basin today. It was beautiful. American Basin is a side trip off Cinnamon Pass. It is only about 1 1/2 miles off the trail and it is a little rough but not real bad. My "baby jeep" did just fine. It is pretty anytime but when the wild flowers are blooming, as they were today, it is fabulous. Bob and Nancy went with us and we took a picnic lunch. Great day! I took some pictures but I haven't downloaded them yet. Will post them later.

No trip, no problem

We had planned on taking the Jeep to American Basin but the weather had a different idea. It was cloudy with occasional rain and thunder so we decided today was not the day. Instead we decided to play “Jokers” again with the Meachum’s and then about 6:30pm to eat supper. Of course we went to Southern Vittles. On the way back we saw 3 Elk.

Fun Party, Fun People

Today was a laided back, stay in camp day. That is until evening showed up. Twila and I decided to walk around the campgrounds about dusk. We noticed a group in the site just north of us seem to be having a good time. We went ahead on our walk and about 15 minutes later as we were circling around the loop in our section of the campground we were passing by the party group before reaching our motor home. Bob and Nancy yelled at us. They were at the party site. We walked over to say hello, got introduced to the group and the next thing we knew we were having a glass of champagne. About 2 hours later and a little red wine and a few margarita’s later we got back to the motor home. The new group are from Texas and Oklahoma. We got Dale and Lu’s names into our memory but haven’t a clue about the other 2 couples. We will have to find out their names next time.

Garage Sales and No Ribs

Today was garage sale day in Lake City. We went in about 10:00am. There wasn’t much to look at and what there was, wasn’t anything we wanted except for a few books. We came back to camp for lunch and then went back to Lake City about 5:30pm to pick up the mail at the post office and then go to Southern Vittles for their rib special which was to begin at 5:00. Unfortunately a large group had come in and by 5:15pm they had sold all the Ribs. We then decided to try the new restaurant in town, “The Old Timer”. Twila and I had their chicken fried steak and Bob and Nancy tried their ribs. The chicken fry was good but it was so warm in the restaurant that it wasn’t enjoyable. Nancy said the ribs were good but not as good as “Southern Vittles” so I don’t think we will be going back. Also, the service was very slow.

Lots of Jokers

We, us and Bob and Nancy, went to Lake City to get some groceries and check on the mail. We haven’t received any mail from SD since we got here. It still hasn’t arrived. It was suppose to have been mailed Wednesday the 15^th. After supper at the motor home we invited the Meachum’s over for some wine and a new game called “Jokers” that we got at the Colorado Samboree last year. We played until it got too dark, then we visited for a while longer. Had a good time.

Fresh Produce and Gumbo

Today was produce day at ‘The Potting Shed’ a small nursery & gift shop in Lake City, so we drove in with Bob and Nancy, got some fresh produce, and then when to, guess where, Southern Vittles for lunch. I got their Sausage and Chicken Gumbo over rice. I had eaten it last year. It was good but not as good as I remembered. Could be my memory instead of the gumbo.

It's Wednesday so it must be Pot Luck

We went to the Pot luck dinner again tonight. We still cleared about $1.50 at the horse races, then we sat out around a campfire with Bob and Nancy till it got dark and started getting chilly.

4 Wheeling the passes

Today we went over Cinnamon and Engineer Passes with Bob and Nancy. They have a Fifth Wheel Trailer and pull it with a 2 wheel drive truck so they couldn’t go by themselves. We left about 8:30 am and after crossing over Cinnamon Pass we drove into Silverton for lunch and then did some shopping. We went to the restaurant we normally go to in Silverton, “Grumpys”. We then headed back for Engineer Pass and got back in Lake City in time to go by the San Juan Soda Fountain for a Sundae.

Things are looking UP

Twila and I went to the local movie theater in Lake City to see “UP”. It was cute but kind of sad, for old people anyway. Sure glad we aren’t old. It made you realize you need to do things and not put them off till you’re too old. I guess we don’t fit that category either. I think I might buy the DVD when it comes out. The movie theater was small & hot & the rows weren’t elevated enough to see over someone in front of you that was even moderately tall. It only cost $5.00 a piece (since we’re both seniors) so I guess we can’t complain too much. We might go back, but only if it’s something we REALLY want to see.

Rib Night in Lake City

We went to Lake City with Bob and Nancy for a little sightseeing and shopping. The town hasn’t changed much although there is a new restaurant called the “Old Timer”. We had really gone into town since tonight was “Rib night” at the Southern Vittles Restaurant. Twila and I had discovered the ribs last year and plan on going most Saturdays this year. They were just as good as last year. They give you over 1 ¼ pounds of ribs with fries and coleslaw. If your ever in Lake City during the summer on a Saturday you shouldn't miss them. They start at 5:00pm and they can sell out quick.

Castle Lakes Campground

Well it’s time to catch up. The date shown is when this happened but it isn’t when I am writing it. Due to the lack of a telephone signal at the campground I have not been able to get on line with the house computer in the bedroom of the motor home. I have had to get everything installed on the laptop that we take up to the club house to get on their Wi-Fi system. I am reporting on what happened on the 8^th of July but I am actual writing it on the 21st of July. It has taken me this long since I had to order new security software (Norton 360), install it and then update the entire program online including all the Windows Vista and the Office Suite updates. We hadn’t been online with the laptop since March of this year when the old Norton Program expired. The good news is I will need to use the laptop on our Alaska trip in May of 2010 anyway so I will already have it done. Anyway, here goes.

We arrived at Castle Lakes Campgrounds today after spending the night in the Gunnison KOA. We got here about 1:30 pm and had the motor home set up at our site by 2:30 pm. Tonight was the potluck dinner so Twila heated up a pre-cooked roast and some frozen vegetables we had in the freezer. After the dinner they had horse racing at a quarter a horse. They had 6 wooden horses and they moved the horses by rolling 2 dice. Whatever number came up on each dice moved that horse one space. If you had picked the winning horse you split all the money bet with anyone else that had picked it. Twila and I picked the right horse most of the time and ended up winning $5.75 over what we bet. We even had one race where we were the only ones that had the winning horse. I don’t think we will get rich at it but it was fun. At the pot luck we met Bob and Nancy Meachum from Bethany, Oklahoma. They plan on being here the month of July. After the pot luck we had a large campfire with the group. We got to visit with friends we made last year, who have been coming here for several years. It was a good day.

Head 'in for Lake City

We left Idaho Springs this morning about 10:20 heading for Lake City. We went west on I-70 to exit 195 and then went south on Highway 91. We were anticipating running into road construction with a long delay but it didn’t happen and we weren’t disappointed. We took 91 to 24 and 24 to 285 and then turned west on Highway 50 over Monarch Pass to Gunnison. We are staying at the KOA in Gunnison. I don’t know how KOA stays in business. They are generally about $10.00 higher than other campgrounds, but we knew where it was located so we paid $37.00 for 30 amp electric in a spot that was not designed for a 41 foot coach. I got in it but getting out in the morning will be even more interesting. We won’t get in any hurry in the morning, not that we ever do, since we only have about 77 miles to Castle Lakes. Of course we will probable only average about 40 mph due to the roads. We are looking forward to setting up camp till the end of August.

America the beautiful

What a great country this is and what a great life we have. We didn’t go anywhere today, we just enjoyed !!! Our RV neighbor, Rob and Jenifer, invited us to another cook out. We used our charcoal grill and he fixed shish-k-bobs. He used steak, chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms, squash, onion, and pineapple. It was really good. Jenifer’s mother, Linda, and her husband, Mike, were also here from Utah. Twila and I made home made Butterfinger ice cream and it was also really good.

This evening, about dark we went down to the river area across from Idaho Springs for the fireworks display. Mike and Linda went with us. We all took our lawn chairs and they even took a blanket. Yes, it was chilly on the 4th of July. It was probably 53 or 54F. If I could only figure out how to bottle it and ship it to Oklahoma I would be rich. Idaho Springs had a real good display. It lasted about 45 minutes and we even had a visit from the fire department due to a couple of small fires just across the river from us. We even had to move our chairs when the fire department put it’s ladder from the ladder truck across our viewing area to squirt water on the fires. They weren’t able to reach the fires with the water but it was still exciting. Tomorrow I think I will start some small picking up in preparation for the move to Lake City.

Catching up

6-23-09, Saxon Mountain

We were looking for a leisure drive up into the mountains and my 4 wheel drive book rated this one as easy. In fact it was rated for stock SUV’s. Wrong!!!! My book is a 2005 edition and it was clear the road had definitely changed. The start of the trail was in Georgetown which is only 12 miles west on I-70 from Idaho Springs so we didn’t get in any hurry to get there, the book said the trail would take an hour to drive the 7 miles to the top. The book said the road would be “bone jarring” but we always go real slow and rough is not uncommon. An hour and a half later we were half way up and it was getting worse so we turned around and came back down. We had several areas where we were dragging slightly but not too bad, but it was not an easy road. This is first time my book has been wrong.

6-27-09, Peru Creek

This was a nice trip and a very pretty one. It was a nice drive west on I-70 to exit 216, 24 miles from Idaho Springs, then over Loveland Pass on Hi way 6 to almost Keystone, then another 5 miles to the start of the trail a little before Montezuma, Colorado. This trail was rated as easy and it was but it was also pretty with lots of old mining sites along the way. There was also a short side trip that was rated Moderate which was a little more exciting. The easy part of the trail was 4.6 miles and then the book described a moderate section of the trail which ended at 6.3 miles; however this portion of the trail has been closed. The side trip I mentioned above was only 1.1 miles long but it passed by 2 different old mining sites where the wooden structures were still partially standing. The road crossed 2 creeks, one very easy and the other much more interesting with larger rocks entering and exiting the creek. A very nice trip and one that could be traveled by most SUV’s without 4 wheel drive on the easy section.

6-29-09

We have some RV neighbors that are different than any we have ever had before. Not bad different just different. Rob is into what I guess I would call Earth Spirit or Great Spirit religion. His companion, Jennifer, seems to have the same beliefs but is not as vocal as Rob. Anyway, he has done a lot of panning for gold and he offered to show me how so we took a back road out of Idaho Springs towards Central City that passes through some of the major gold field in the 1800’s. There weren’t creeks on the road but there were several dry gulch’s where water ran during rains. We collected several “baggies” of dirt and small rocks that we, mainly he, panned as soon as we found water. We found some very small “flour” gold but not much. I did find a small bottle that someone had dropped that had a couple of small flakes of gold. Rob said that was a sign that I would someday find gold. Sounds good to me!!! We came back to the campground and I fixed some New York Strip Steaks that I had bought in Cushing. They were really good, even if I have to say so my self.

6-30-09, Idaho Springs and Peru Creek

We met Scott and his 2 girls (Alex & Lucy) and Angie and her boyfriend Rob at Beau Jo’s Pizza here in Idaho Springs for lunch and then we went to the Peru Creek trail to show them an off road Colorado trail. We also took Rob’s Volkswagen SUV which is an all wheel drive. They really enjoyed the drive although Rob decided not to go past the last mine up to the last creek crossing. He probably could have done it but he wasn’t sure how to put the vehicle into low range and he would have needed it. He also didn’t have but 4000 mile on the SUV so I thought he made the right decision. I took Scott , Alex & Lucy up and then came back down and took Angie and Rob up. As we were coming back to the main trail Scott saw a mountain sheep that had come down off the mountain and then we saw 4 deer on the trip back down. They all said they had a good time.

After the trip we all decided to go to Silverthorne for supper and a movie. We ate at “Smash Burger”. I had never heard of it but it was good. We went to see “The Proposal” with Sandra Bullock. It was a cute comedy with a predictable outcome but it was good. There were 3 deer standing by the entrance to the RV park as we pulled in about 10:00 p.m.