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!