Beautiful Boulder...

The Flatiron Mountains at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado

       When we found ourselves without reservations for the Fourth of July Weekend, the Elks Club in Boulder was most welcoming, telling us they had seven 30 amp electric sites with water and a dump station and that if they were full we were welcome to dry camp.

Beautiful wildflowers beside miles of walking and biking trails

      We arrived on July 1 and departed for St. Vrain State Park about twenty minutes away where we had made a reservation for July 2 and 3, knowing we would probably return on July 4 and 5.

Great happy hours at Boulder ChopHouse & Tavern

Prime Rib!

      Boulder is a beautiful city along the Front Range of the Rockies north of Denver, an eclectic college town with the Flatiron Mountains as a backdrop.  It is commonly referred to as "Twenty-five square miles surrounded by reality."

      Valerie's daughter, Lindsay, who had established a busy practice in Minneapolis, was invited to assume the practice of a leading expert in her chosen field of acupuncture and sports medicine http://www.modernpointacupuncture.com/meet-lindsay-long.

Lindsay's Boulder office

      Lindsay showed us some tourist sights and we did some discovering on our own as we continued arranging the excess items in the Camelot and catching up on laundry, etc. without full hook-ups following our big move.

      We will let the pictures tell the story, and we will no doubt return for another visit to Boulder where we hope to meet with Asher Haun, a professional driving instructor for the RV Driving School in nearby Fort Collins.

Boulder has boulders!

We walked along the downtown area known as "Pearl Street"

Street performers and interesting shops line the Pearl Street area

Beautiful sculptures on Pearl Street -- "Broken Heart Swing"

Colorful flowers!

Street vendors show their wares

Kids playing in the fountains

Kid-sized sculptures

The Ramsey house -- location of Boulder's notorious, unsolved child murder in 1996

TV series "Mork and Mindy" exterior shots filmed at this Boulder home

Elks Club has seven RV sites in the rear of thee building

Valerie followed the nearby walking trail to this neighborhood park

Wildflowers along the walking trail

Thanks, we'll just pick it up!

Waiting for fireworks to begin at Folsom Field

Happy birthday, America!

Colorado Springs to Here and There...

Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado

       Our site at Cheyenne Mountain State Park was perched on the side of a mountain with spectacular views.  As Valerie set the emergency and parking brake, she had a thought about its position next to the driver's seat rather than on the dash where the Mandalay's had been.  One of our Shelties, Captain Charlie, made it a habit to sit in either the driver or passenger seat and look out the window.   It would not have been uncommon for him to get excited if someone was moving into the site next door or walking a dog past the coach and jump from side to side barking.

Yes, indeed!

      That thought, combined with the novelty of learning the Camelot has no leveling jacks but rather uses the air bags to level automatically, was more than a little concerning.  So, with some excellent advice from our Facebook friends, to prevent the Captain from unexpectedly sending us over a cliff, we chocked the tires, put a clothespin beneath the top of the brake knob, and placed a basket on top of the console.  It's a wonder he had not already released the brake since we traded coaches.  So, side console brake owners, take note!  This is NOT a dog-friendly (possibly not even cat-friendly) design!

The Captain being the Captain

      The purpose of our visit to Colorado Springs was to meet with instructor, Troy Hanson, and his wife, Betty.  We enjoyed a great meeting on Monday, June 30, at their home followed by dinner at one of Valerie's favorite restaurants -- The Black-Eyed Pea.

      Due to the uncertainty of when we would be able to leave Phoenix after trading rigs, and whether we would be able to meet with our Fort Collins instructor, Asher Haun, we found ourselves without reservations for the Fourth of July weekend.  We were able to get a site at St. Vrain State Park in Longmont for two nights on the 2nd and 3rd of July.  We contacted the Elks Club in Boulder, and they advised they were full but we were welcome to boon dock if one of their seven sites did not open up.

Instructor Troy Hanson and wife Betty

      We left Colorado Springs the morning of July 1st.  We encountered heavy stop and go traffic in Denver and Valerie offered to sit behind the wheel so George could make a quick bathroom break.  As fate would have it, traffic broke loose and Valerie was stuck maneuvering the Camelot along I-25 in Denver.  With nowhere to stop, she took the exit onto Highway 36, (also known as the Denver-Boulder Turnpike) towards Boulder, which was under construction with numerous turn outs.  But with heavy traffic, she had no choice but to drive the tight, bumpy road with concrete barriers into Boulder.  She finally saw a traffic light ahead and slowed, hoping for the red light so George could take the wheel again.


      The weather was much warmer than expected in Colorado, but not nearly as hot as Phoenix.  We checked in and parked at a 30 amp electric only site at the Elks Club in Boulder.  Valerie's daughter, Lindsay, was working in Boulder and took Valerie on a tour of the town.  Lindsay admitted she was uncomfortable driving Highway 36 -- even in her Subaru Forester!

I-25 Northbound leaving Colorado Springs

      George stayed at the Elks with the dogs and enjoyed a most helpful and informative visit with  long time Monaco owners, Mike and Barb from Phoenix next door.  George ascertained that the ruptured hose was insignificant to the operation of the coach, and Mike had some tools and a helping hand for a temporary fix. We would not get too settled as we would need to move again tomorrow.

Elks RV Parking in Boulder, Colorado -- Camelot is third from the right.

      As it turned out, we were unable to meet with Asher and his wife as planned due to a recent surgery that was not providing the anticipated outcome for him.  He would need yet another surgery at an indefinite time, and we had reservations in Minneapolis, an area where are actively recruiting an instructor.  Our best wishes to Asher a full and speedy recovery!

     

North to Colorado

Northbound I-17 approaching Flagstaff

      Friday, June 27, we headed north on I-17 out of Krazy K RV Park and then east on I-40 deciding to stop just short of Albuquerque in Acoma, NM at the Sky City Casino RV Park.

Sky City RV Park outside Albuquerque

Valerie's first time behind the wheel of the Camelot

      Valerie had expressed her concern to George about driving the Camelot without practice.  But in our haste to escape the heat, it was decided this would be deferrable.  But making up for lost time the previous day, she nervously agreed to get behind the wheel as George napped in the passenger seat.

      Friday night buffet was seafood for $18.99. The shuttle bus picked us up and brought us back to the rig, where we had full hook-ups and a gravel pull through site with mountain views.

      We got a good night's sleep and headed out Saturday morning, June 28, with the goal of making Pueblo, Colorado for a visit with a priest friend who had been re-assigned to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart there the next day.

Break time!

      George got sleepy and the dogs needed a walk so we took a break at a rest area on I-25 just south of Raton Pass in New Mexico.  Valerie took the wheel just before the ascent began and George talked her through shifting and use of the exhaust break which was somewhat different than what she had become comfortable with in the Mandalay.

      The rear-mounted camera was another component with which we were becoming familiar.  It went blank after several minutes and had to be shut off and turned back on.  Valerie likes to watch the car as one check for where she is in her lane.  George noticed something in the lower left corner swinging back and forth, so we found a place to pull off the side of the road so he could take a look.

Trouble!  Torn hose for what purpose we do not know...

      He attached a dangling hose to the car hitch to keep it from dragging, and we proceeded with caution, carefully watching the gauges as he was unable to make contact with tech support on the weekend.

Walmart overnight in Pueblo, Colorado

George with Rev. Monsignor James Koenigsfeld

      We arrived at the Walmart on Dillon Drive in Pueblo and checked with management to see if we could stay overnight.  We needed supplies and were tired from three days on the road.  Sunday morning we headed to breakfast at a nearby IHOP and off to the Cathedral to see Father -- now Monsignor Jim, who had married us years earlier in Durango.

      We had obtained a reservation for Monday, June 30, at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs to meet with instructor Troy Hanson and his wife, Betty.  But, as we were preparing to leave Walmart we discovered a problem with our black holding tank on the Camelot.  We needed full hook ups soon!

      Valerie called the popular park to see if there was any possibility we could come in a day earlier than planned, and with luck on our side, our Monday site was available Sunday, so we headed north again.

      The dealer had replaced the original Sleep Number mattress in the Camelot with a new foam bed.  The mattress is delightful except it does not fit with the slide-outs retracted.  So we travel with the bed lifted up above the storage area beneath it.  Valerie hates Sleep Number, but George loves it.  Meanwhile we contemplate whether the mattress might be adapted to fit the space or we will need to buy a new mattress when we get to the Twin Cities for a month.

We have arrived at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs.

      Growing pains are becoming more and more apparent.  We place towels around the toilet bowl and approach the mountain and the incline gradually.  It is our first experience with a used rig and we have read stories about the dreaded "poo pyramid" which grows in improperly maintained black tanks.  But our wanderlust trumps our concerns, and we continue on to Colorado Springs.

Pretty sunset!

      George ran a wand through the bathroom window down into the toilet and sprayed it down several times and managed to get the plumbing going again, which was a huge relief.  We continued becoming acquainted with light switches, appliances and relocating things we had previously put away.  The Splendide washed its first load, Valerie managed to get the ice maker working briefly, and we didn't have to move for two whole days!

    

Blood, Sweat and Tears...

The Mandalay and the Camelot side by side for the big move

         
      Thursday, June 19, we moved from the Twin Arrows Casino outside Flagstaff to AutoBoss RV Sales in Mesa, Arizona.  We parked the Mandalay next to the new to us 2007 Camelot 42PLQ for which we were trading.

We were greeted by this sign in the window of the Camelot

      There was some work to be done in swapping out our DirecTV satellite receiver.  Temperatures were well above the hundred degree mark and, unsure how to protect our dogs' paws, Valerie carried them to an area where they could relieve themselves in the middle of the day.

      Friday morning came early, as Arizona does not participate in daylight savings time.  Friday evening we moved both rigs to Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort nearby.  George had accepted the challenge to teach a lesson to a nice couple who were new to RVing on Friday and Saturday.  George worked in the hot sun in the mornings and we transferred more items than we imagined we owned.  Valerie continued to carry the dogs to a place where they could relieve themselves.

Ugh!  106!

      In the evening we took a short break for a swim in the pool and to soak our sore muscles in the hot tub.  By Saturday night we were pretty well exhausted.  It was dark and approaching 10:00 p.m. Valerie was in the Mandalay cleaning out cabinets when George broke the bad news.  He was experimenting with the keyless entry on the Camelot, believing that she was inside, and we were locked out!

      We checked every window and the door.  The dogs, fortunately, had been out for the final time that night.  We contacted a locksmith, which has yet to return our call.  Joe, the sales manager at Auto Boss, responded to our panicked text.  We caught him at a good time and he had a master key.  How is that for going above and beyond after the sale?

The Camelot was ready for us to move in.

      Sunday we continued to move things and put things away.  George's head sported fresh cuts as he became acquainted with the slides while organizing the bays.  Monday, Valerie took a break for a routine doctor's visit.  None of the tubs we had used in the Mandalay fit into the Camelot's cabinets, so we had to fit in some shopping as well.  We pushed hard to finish unloading the Mandalay so that AutoBoss could come and pick it up on Monday.

Joe had a few papers for us to sign

      Jerry, the technician, came out Monday morning and we showed him where to find the keys.  It was a very strange feeling watching him prepare our home of over seven years and drive it away.  We fought back the tears.

      We decided to stay on a few more days as we found that we had far less storage in the Camelot.  Numerous trips to the local thrift stops and dumpsters ensued.  We were unfamiliar with our new coach, and experienced a power outage or two which we suffered through and received assistance again from the dealership.

      Wednesday, June 25, Valerie decided to take the dogs to the wash in Gold Canyon.  She took off early before it got too hot in the car.  The water was actually too warm, which the attendant advised was due to hot pipes -- not the refreshing bath she had envisioned.  We finally crammed the remaining items into the car and the motor home and decided we had had enough.  We were leaving tomorrow and hoping to make it to higher ground -- Flagstaff was our goal.

Side-by-side for ease of transferring our belongings at Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort in Mesa

      Thursday, June 26, we took off in our new to us home and headed from Mesa north to I-17 for Flagstaff.  We were not far out of Phoenix when we began to see the signs that the road was closed ahead.  We hoped for the best but pulled off the right shoulder between some truckers who apparently knew better than we did.  Another couple driving a Monaco stopped behind us and we began to theorize that many cars were going past and not backing up and, therefore, must be getting through.

Our last look at the Mandalay as Jerry drove it away.  

       We learned quickly that was not a good assumption.  We traveled less than two miles where we were forced to exit and either enter the southbound lane of I-17 or park alongside a secondary road with a number of trucks and cars who found themselves in the same predicament.  We decided it was a good time for lunch and within the hour were advised the interstate had reopened.

      George had researched and found an RV park in Camp Verde where we decided to stop for the night.  Our first trip in the Camelot, and we were both nervous and excited.  It would have been nice if we could have spent the time in Phoenix to really get settled and familiar with the coach, but the heat was just oppressive.  We had escaped the heat and our new adventure had begun!

Beginning the next chapter in our lives at Krazy K in Camp Verde, Arizona

Never Say Never!

Sunset at Worlds of Fun Village 

   
      Over the years, we have taken great pride in boasting that we bought our last RV first.  We toured four different RV manufacturing plants in two different states.  We toured Winnebago, Monaco, Newmar, and Gulfstream, (and later the Four Winds/Thor factory after our purchase). We traveled to Iowa, Tucson and Phoenix in Arizona, Denver, Colorado, and Elkhart and Nappanee in Indiana meeting with dealers.  We made lists of pros and cons and found that we even had to weight their importances.  We followed message boards of several manufacturers' groups.

      We fell in love with a Safari Cheetah with an area in the rear we thought would serve perfectly as an office.  The problem, we learned after looking at Holiday Rambler and Monaco's versions, was the space layout did not permit either a king-sized bed or a washer/dryer, both of which were critical items for us, unless we upgraded to a 42' Monaco at an additional cost of nearly $100,000.

Christopher S. Bond Bridge in Kansas City

      After realizing that the perfect RV within our price range was non-existent, we felt sure we had made a good compromise in choosing our first rig -- a Four Winds product -- the Mandalay, which we found at Loveall's RV in Columbia, Missouri.  The color scheme was not my favorite, but the living space was workable and the price was right.  George made a video presentation, we selected the perfect stoneware, glassware and accessories, and we moved gradually into our new home.

       It was our intention to retire and travel with our Shetland Sheepdog, Ellie.  But we were soon introduced to work camping and then recruited to work at Disney World in Orlando, followed by four years with the traveling Carson & Barnes circus and finally, (at least to date), as owners of the RV Driving School.  

      The Mandalay has served us very well, and we had made a lot of upgrades for comfort.  But, frankly, we now required that office space and occasionally, at RV rallies, began to look at other rigs and floor plans which might better serve our needs.  While in Arizona last winter we searched the internet on a fluke for a Camelot 42PLQ, by Monaco, which we learned at Escapade last year had greatly depreciated in cost, but had our originally desired floor plan while accommodating both the king sized bed and the washer/dryer.  And, with just a few keystrokes, we found there was one in nearby Mesa at Autoboss RV Sales.  We looked and measured and negotiated to no avail.

Almost our Camelot's floor plan where the washer/dryer is next to the stove

      Our busy work schedule took us far away and months passed.  George still felt the pangs of disappointment.  The Camelot had disappeared from their online inventory, and we were not dissatisfied with our Mandalay.  It held so many fond memories over more than seven years and nearly a hundred thousand miles.  And we had made great friends in the Mandalay and Thor Diesel Clubs.  The Mandalay was familiar and held fond memories.

June 16 we stopped in Pratt, Kansas at Walmart for the night.

       But George perservered and again found the 2007 Camelot we had seen in Mesa available on the web in June.  He sent an email message to Joe, the sales manager, letting him know our offer still stood.  George received the call -- they accepted our deal, and off he flew on Friday, the 13th to Phoenix for a second look and test drive, which began the process of the trade.  He called back to Kansas City -- all systems were go!

June 17 at Mountain View RV Park in Tucumcari, New Mexico

      Valerie was insistent there was less storage in the Camelot than the Mandalay, and, as fate would have it, there happened to be garage sale in the kids' neighborhood on Saturday, where we began the painful process of unloading things we had accumulated over seven years' time.

June 18 we spent our final night in the Mandalay at Twin Arrows Casino just outside Flagstaff, Arizona

      We embarked on our final journey in the Mandalay from Kansas City hurriedly on Monday, June 16, for Phoenix, of all places.  It would be a bittersweet 1200 miles.  We would have but a few days to move all of our belongings from every nook and cranny inside the Mandalay into the Camelot in temperatures well above the hundred degree mark.