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.
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 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:
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.
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:
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.
Happy Colorado Day!
Just a compilation of pics taken in Colorado since August 2 of 2024.
Nope, not encouraging further moves to this state.
The stoner state with its high cost real estate/rental market, overstressed transportation infrastructure and increasing population explosion is no longer the semi-idyllic place I remember.
Still, it's home.
Almost a year since I was last here near Pawnee Buttes in the Pawnee National Grasslands.
As I was trying to replicate conditions for when the last time I got a check engine code. I left the Red Feather Lakes area after two nights of boondocking and retraced my route back to I-25. No codes!
It had gotten a bit too cool in the Red Feather Lakes area, with more of the same for the rest of the week so I left for warmer climes.
Nice and warm here with hotter days forecasted.
Presently I have the whole area to myself, the one camper rig I saw coming in left as I was setting up. I chose the same side I was in last time as it seems to be somewhat shielded in the winds.
I'll be curious to see if the place builds up on the weekend, especially since school is starting in the next week or so for most of the state.
Altitude: 5367ft
After a severe thunderstorm around dinner time, the skies cleared up nicely for a decent sunset.
Tuesday, July 29
I'm back in the Red Feather Lakes area, trying to replicate the driving conditions that caused the last "check engine" code to appear.
The main reason though is to get away from the overcrowded cesspool that is the Metro Denver area for a few days.
I'm caught up on chores at home so no sense just hanging out until we decide to go on a big trip, Martha and I.
That decision will depend whether or not I can ever replicate the code error reported before by the VRRV. I've completed four full driving cycles now and still no code.
Found me a nice site, down a not too bad forest road, that led to a designated camping spot in the National Forest.
Instead of being along Dead Man Road, it is along Manhattan Road. So a little bit closer to the village of Red Feather Lakes.
I have Starlink with me but there's enough 4G signal here for me to upload the above pictures and do this posting.
It being a weekday, the other two sites on this trail are empty, I'm hoping they will stay that way until I leave on Friday or perhaps Thursday depending on things.
Mid-70s for a high today, mostly overcast when I showed up around 1:00 p.m. but it clears up nicely after 4:00 p.m. Tomorrow it's only supposed to get into the high 60s. The campsite is at 8680 ft altitude.
Wednesday, July 30
A do nothing day, spent it relaxing in solitude and listening to an audiobook.
I did have visitors though.
The local camp host showed up with her friends and their kids:
As you can see, and as forecast, the skies turned cloudy and overcast. A few ⁰ as I type this, nothing major. I'm just glad the winds are mild.
