Friday, August 08, 2025

Home, for the weekend at least

Left the Prewitt Reservoir this morning, leaving behind the increasing number of weekenders that were gathering since yesterday.

The sunrise was not bad:


Note the imbecile parking mode done by below pictured weekenders.  Barely enough room to drive past with the VRRV.

The camp host did come by to see me off.


I'm back home, leaving the weekenders to annoy each other.  

Martha returns from her trip tomorrow afternoon.

Thursday, August 07, 2025

Hanging Out at the Prewitt Reservoir

Tuesday, August 5

I woke to mild breezes that eventually led to calm wind conditions; allowing me to erect the shade screens and awning once again.

This morning's sunrise:


I almost stepped on one of the locals as I was shooting the above picture: 

Salamander 

I really hope the winds are not like yesterday, they were coming from the southeast, broadside to the VRRV, and strong enough to induce periods of sandblasting effects!

Perfect day in terms of weather, though a bit warm towards mid-afternoon.

The sunset was OK:



I noticed there's quite a difference in the temperature reported by the nearby weather station and my own thermometer located underneath the RV.  

For example, Merino's weather station reported 108° Fahrenheit but my thermometer reported 97°.  I was wondering at that point whether that weather station in Merino was under direct sunlight or something.

Moonrise:

Thursday, August 7

A warmer day today, after lunch the heat had me misting myself with water every few minutes.  A dip in the almost blood warm water didn't make much of a difference from misting's cooling effects.

I saw a whole bunch of locals during a morning ride:

Several families of day users parked down the road so they could frolic in the water.

As I came out of the water, this rental class c decided to park near my rig.

I walked up to the driver, but instead ending up advising the passenger who'd gotten out to look around.  I "advised" him this wasn't a two camper spot.

He spoke some inanities and I told him there were several spots further down the road.  I'd mapped them during a morning ride 

They left, I decided to "improve" my position by placing some obstacles to discourage people from parking near me.  The rental RV had been the second vehicle today.  First one, a sedan, having stopped, taken pics and then left.

Yep, anti- social, thats me.


You can see the intruding RV coming back on the road.  I guess the several sites back there didn't suit them.  I think they left the area after we exchanged stares as they drove by.

At 3PM, Merino's weather station reported 106° F, it was 99° reported by the RV thermometer.  Warm.

There was no breeze at a certain point:

Just as well I'm going home tomorrow....the weekenders are coming in.

Thursday Sunset:



Monday, August 04, 2025

Displacing to Prewritt Reservoir SWA: Beach Time!

Sunday, August 3

A warm day, no rain and the breeze died by mid-morning.

A do nothing day as I thought about displacing tomorrow to check out a possible new camping area.

Temperature reached into the mid-80s but it wasn't too hot in the shade.

Sunset was cloudless but colorful:


Only one other side occupied tonight, a van camper with a telescope deployed for night sky viewing I think.

Monday, August 4

Beach time, or what passes as beach time here in northeastern Colorado. 

I displaced to the Prewitt Reservoir State wildlife Area (SWA) this morning shortly before 7:30 a.m. and by 11:30 a.m. I had done a grocery run in the town of Sterling and then  had set up camp at a spotlight of water at the reservoir. 

I'm actually at a small bay of the reservoir but you get the idea.






Then the Camp Host showed up:


Then some of the locals showed up as well: 

3x, scaled up ( optical)

5x zoom (digital)

10x zoom (digital)

For now, I've lost the use of the telephoto lens I have for the Sony a6000; since the a6000 is deadlined due to a malfunctioning shutter. 

In my mind not a big deal, as I have been using the Samsung S24+ phone camera sense about the middle of the European trip this spring.

It's supposed to get into the mid to upper 90s today, presently 88° f according to the RV thermometer.

No watercraft on the reservoir but taking a dip to cool off is quite permitted.

Tonight's sunset:

Saturday, August 02, 2025

T-Dubing Around the Pawnee Buttes

Here's Thursday's Sunset:




Friday, August 1 (Colorado Day)

So far, I have the entire area to myself in terms of campers!

Perhaps yesterday evening's thunderstorm kept people at home.  The storm wasn't too bad, but there was standing water afterwards. Luckily I was in the spot where the wind was keeping the worst of the thunder clouds away from the site. 

Some pictures as I wandered about while riding Yagi, my TW200:






I came across a third one of these posts with the installed device. It's something pneumatic based on the connections but have no clue otherwise. 



I'm curious to see if the place will fill up for the weekend.

Friday's sunset:


Saturday, August 2

Truck and tent campers started showing up during late afternoon yesterday.  One car camper from New Jersey even stopped by my site to enquire about campsites....even though he'd passed at least three on the way to mine.   I sent him on his way with assurances.

We were under a tornado watch.  

The weather missed this area, fortunately, although I apparently slept through a rain storm.

Woke to thick fog on Saturday:


The sky's cleared pretty quickly and it was just partly cloudy until past noon. 



There ended up being 4 campsites occupied by Saturday afternoon.  Another thunderstorm formation missed us to the south and the it was nice skies for the evening.