Loveland CO - Rocky Mountain NP Part 1

Things have been looking up for us since my last post, which as you may remember, was quite a downer.  Dorcas and I both are healthy and feeling well.  While still very hot, the weather has improved to the point that it is not terribly uncomfortable.  The nighttime lows are even hitting the mid-60s.

On Sunday July 8 we arrived at Riverview RV Park in Loveland CO.   Our camp is at about EL 5100', nevertheless the high temperature this day was close to 100 degrees.  But it's a dry heat.   Right.  We seemed to have good power, and the coach was cool and comfortable inside.  But then the power went out for many of the sites on our end of the park.  CRAP!  Whatever the problem was, it was not an easy fix, and an electrician was called.  In the meantime the temperature in the coach rose very quickly.  We fired up the generator and restarted the A/Cs.  I kinda resent running the generator and burning my diesel when we are paying for 50A electric.  The park was full and I was afraid that perhaps the electrical infrastructure could not handle the load of every RV operating 1, 2 or even 3 air conditioners.  If that was the case, it would be a long week.  But apparently the electrician was able to make repairs.  The power was on after about 2 hours, and there were no other electrical problems the remainder of our stay.

My two best friends

We had a nice shaded site, but also good satellite reception, a rare combination.

Our camp at Riverview RV Park

The park is on the Big Thompson River and Matilda enjoyed playing in the river.

Come on in Mommy!

We are here to attend a rally of the Diesel RV Club, an FMCA chapter that promotes education for diesel RV owners.

A motley band of vagabonds

During the rally we enjoyed 3 three-hour seminars on all topics diesel.

Bone yard of diesel engine parts

We even had live entertainment.

The Gunnison Drive Band

On Tuesday we attended a production of Mel Brooks' "The Producers" at Jesters Dinner Theatre in Longmont.  I think this showing actually represented a dress rehearsal of sorts, because the production officially debuted on the following Saturday.  The production was fairly amateurish .  A lot of mistakes were made moving props and changing scenes, but some of the actors were very talented, and it was a lot of fun.

The rally also featured a photo contest for photos taken during the week of the rally.  I got lucky and swept all three categories: people/animals, places and things. For that dazzling feat we scored three $25 Walmart gift certificates. YEAH!

Our camp is only about 25 miles from Estes Park and the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. We made two drives into the park during our stay here.  Actually, this is just a preview to the park for us.  We will be back in mid-August for a week at Glacier Basin CG inside the park.

The road from our camp to Estes Park passes through Big Thompson Canyon.

Big Thompson Canyon

Big Thompson Canyon

There were long lines at the entrance station to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait .........

We made it!

We found wildlife, including Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

These guys didn't think much of the tourists

Old Fall River Road is a narrow winding gravel road that leads into the interior of the park.  It was originally the only road into the park. We drove this road to the Alpine Visitor Center where we intersected with the Trail Ridge Road, which we followed on our return.

Waterfall at the Alluvial Fan

Switchback on the Old Fall River Road

Views from the crest of the Old Fall River Road

We ate a lunch of chili and a ham sandwich at the Trail Ridge cafe.  At elevation 11,796' we could feel the altitude.

I wonder why nobody has biked up to the Cafe?

There was some interesting wildlife at the Alpine Visitor Center

Even the natives are affected by the altitude

Oh shit!

The pika is in the rabbit family

An alpine meadow

Near the summit of the Trail Ridge Road we found a herd of elk.

Bull elk in velvet

Elk family

What are you looking at?

Descending the Trail Ridge Road

Black-billed magpie

Mule deer

The original American RV

At every rally of the Diesel RV Club a local charity is chosen, and the club raises some money and donates it to that charity.  For this rally the chosen charity was the Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center, an organization whose mission is to promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social well-being of people with special needs through equine-assisted therapy.

Club members conducted a tour of the facilities at Hearts & Horses.  Our silent auction and the 50-50 drawing raised $1000 which was donated to the organization.

The horses wear hoods to keep the bugs and the sun out of their eyes

We saw this unusual rig as it was checking in here at Riverview RV Park.  I'm not sure I have ever seen vintage VW bus being towed behind a vintage RV.

Me and Mini-Me

We extended our stay at Riverview RV Park 2 days past the end of the rally. Tomorrow, Sunday July 15, we will move north to Gillette WY for another rally.  Stay tuned to the continuing Adventures of Myron and Dorcas.