Another slow day. Mostly because we didn’t really want to leave the cool and we knew we would be headed “down-river” to warmer climates… We took our time… check out of the camp-ground was noon and we left at 11:40…. close enough?… We pulled down to the chamber sponsored RV dump for Salida… a free – but now by donation… dump site… cleaned the tanks (Thanks Salida – we have used this site for 30 years). Then pulled the Motor-home around to a big parking area behind the “hot-springs” pool and left it there while we made some last-minute visits…
The first was to make a trip up to Angel of Shavano campground.
Angel of Shavano camp ground…”]
A Forest Service site that we had camped at many years when we only had the old trailers… The sites there are too small for the new motor home but we go up to visit it almost every time we are in the area and have time. It was a very peaceful camp ground. We had great fun with the camp host that was there back in the 80’s but with all things changes came. First the Forest Service wanted him to move to the first site at the entrance (it was not big enough for his 5th wheel) then they subbed it out to reserve America and they now have the camp host. Anyway our visit was just to see… and it has not changed from a first look view… but with a quick hike down to the huge beaver pond that “used” to be there and it was saddening. The ravages of time and the weather and ? had removed the beaver, and also flood waters had washed out the pond… in fact nearly all the ponds from this camp ground down are gone.
This used to be a very big beaver pond… all gone now.”]
In fact the washing has caused major damage to the improvements around the pond… this one actually was accessible to the handicapped in a limited fashion. Not paved routes but it was accessible in spots… but not now…
Bridge to no where?”]
This campground is still a peaceful place but needs some updates and fixing up. Not likely in todays financial world….
We headed back to town after our little visit. We were ready for lunch and decided to go to the “Boathouse”. The food it not that great (just average really) but the setting it pretty neat, especially when there are people playing in the river… we watched several working the rapids through town in their kayaks and what appeared to be several taking lessons. Interesting setting where you can set by the window and watch… The windows are actually a series of garage doors with windows that are pulled up most of the warmer weather so everyone can “hang out” a little.
After the lunch we got back and hooked up the motor home and started the trek down river. Nothing out of the ordinary other than there was a fire in the Park Dale area, not a whole lot that could be seen from the Hwy but big signs warning of the problem along the route. Arrived in Florence at 4pm or so. Got parked and set in.
Visited with Brother-in-law and sister a bit as soon as they got back from Denver and asked about someone who could re-charge my air-conditioner… he said yea we could do it if we knew what the connection was and where… He was going in to town for parts so he said I need to find the connection. We both suspected it would be near the engine like regular vehicles… I pulled the inspection plate next to the bed in the back and could find nothing there? I then crawled around some under the back (rear engine diesel)… then crawled around under the front… I was certain that the cooling fan and condenser unit was hung up there behind the generator but we could not find a good connection then by accident I found them way up in the front behind the front cap… We looked and headed to Wal-Mart for parts, picked up the Freon 134a as this is a newer unit and the connection to get it on the low side… it was difficult to reach but I got it on re-charged myself so now , maybe, we will have cool air during the ride home in the heat…
After all that work, I had not intended to accomplish, we decided to go in town for ice-cream. Canon City has a “Stone-Cold Creamery” boy is the ice cream good there…
The beginnings – UMMMMMMM!”]
So much for another day…