The drive from Denver down I-25 was on another windy day. This time we were going southward and the wind was from the west; the passenger side of the coach. Since it wasn’t as bad as the other times of driving, it seemed somewhat uneventful.
Leaving Denver we thought we’d never get away from houses, offices, and malls. Just south of Castle Rock it all came to an end. Suddenly we were in open country where services weren’t at every exit. It’s also obvious how Castle Rock got it’s name. East of the Interstate it is easy to see Castle Rock Butte sticking out in the open. It’s interesting that a frame of a star is placed on the top and lit during the Christmas season. Some things can’t be erased when they’re accepted by the local culture.
Castle Rock Butte near Castle Rock, Colorado. The star
frame is permanent and lit during Christmas.
There was a big difference between the Denver area and what was south of Castle Rock; it was obviously drier. The trees were green but the grasses were mainly brown. Anna Kyle told us that Denver was abnormally green from the April snows. However, it is still the beginning of fire season in both area. Denver will be about two weeks behind southern Colorado.
Though the address of the RV resort is Colorado Springs, we are at the edge of the Beaver Creek State Wildlife Area about 15 miles south-southwest of the city. The name of the resort is Mountaindale Cabins and RV Resort. We can honestly say it seems like we’re on the “other side of the tracks” from the campground we came from in Wheat Ridge. There are large, rock-covered sites spread among the tall Lodgepole pines. It is nice to have the shade because it drops the temperature a good 10 or 12 degrees from the temperature in The Springs. In fact, it hit 94 there at one point today and it felt like 80 or so on the resort property.
The rock-covered sites are terraced. We have room for the Airstream,
picnic table, and plenty of space to park the Honda Accord.
At times we have some sun but, in general, we have shade
from the tall pines. Of course, there’s enough wind that
we can’t put the awning out; but who needs it? We have
a natural awning.
Shortly after arriving and connecting to cable (no over-the-air TV out her or AT&T or Verizon cellular service, either) we learned of two wildfires that had begun. One was north of Colorado Springs souths and west of the Air Force Academy and the other started on the south side of the Arkansas River in Royal Gorge. By 5:00 pm we could see the smoke starting to build in the sky.
The dark coloring in the clouds is the haze and smoke from the
Royal Gorge wildfire.
Since there was nothing we could do to help the situation, we went on for the first meal of the rally for the Freightliner Custom Chassis Owners Club; our Airstream is built on a Freightliner chassis. We enjoyed meeting new people and having some delicious hamburgers cooked on an open grill. There were originally 21 coaches registered (that’s how we count registrations, by coaches and not people). but three cancelled because of last-minute health reason. That means about 36 people in attendance.
As we were eating dinner the couple next to us, who were originally from Texas and moved to Colorado Springs last year, were concerned about the wildfire near The Springs. Last year their home was burned in the Waldo Canyon Fire. The current fire was about two miles from their home so they returned to check on things.
After the meal the campers divided into four groups to play a game with cards and dice called “Up Yours”. That one was new to us. But, Martha was willing to jump in and learn. All it took was 10 nickels to get in. Well, she didn’t have ten so she borrowed the amount from the rally host got started. As luck would have it, she won the first pot, paid the rally host, and kept playing. Then, she won the second pot. Her luck didn’t hold out, however, though she did come back to the motorhome with three more nickels than she had when she left. If you have none and wind up with three, what is the yield on the investment?
Martha is smiling because she was winning when this
photo was taken. Her luck didn’t hold out, however.
After starting, the Royal Gorge Fire grew to more than 300 acres. The fire started on the south side of the river and spotted to the north side. The fire was actively burning on Bureau of Land Management, state and private lands though not many houses were at risk. Mandatory evacuations were in effect for an area north of the Royal Gorge. U.S. Highway 50 and the Royal Gorge Bridge were closed in both directions. The Arkansas River was closed for rafters. The Royal Gorge Park was evacuated. Red Cross opened an Evacuation Shelter and an animal and livestock shelter was set up between Canon City and Florence. It is certainly an interesting time to be here thought the closest fire is currently 25 miles from us.
When we walked back to the motorhome the wind direction had changed and the smoke drifting further south. The prediction is that the winds will change direction overnight. Tomorrow morning we find out if the train ride through Royal Gorge has been cancelled because of the fire.
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