Trip to Fort Collins
Posted 05-29-2019 at 03:47 PM by MEWright
We left Austin with no major issues headed to Amarillo TX. Made it away from the house without forgetting anything. Planed on boondocking in a Walmart in Amarillo TX. My brother and I switching drivers, wife and daughter riding shotgun and co-co pilot respectively. About an hour out of Amarillo, my lead co pilot informs us that “we” have located a RV park on I40 that had after hours check in, spots open and we would not be boondocking at Walmart, rather we would be at Oasis RV Park for 59ish dollars for the night. This place was an Oasis and a late arrival without a prior reservation made is a welcome night. Arrived just before dark, 20 minutes to set up and we were off to diner. 2 exits down I 40 and we had every possible option, every option that is available in every city.. Easy to find something for everyone.
The next morning, we were loaded and out by 7:30 and after a grueling 45minutes wasted at Austin’s finest Taco chain (I will leave unnamed) that is now everywhere (We are from Austin feel I can say this---they kinda suck) we hit the road. Side bar question; How can it take 45 minutes to make 5 tacos when a taco truck can get you out in 2 minutes, but I digress.
6 hours later we were fully in rush hour traffic in Colorado Springs. If you do the math it was not rush “hour” at all rather the traffic in Colorado Springs is always crappy due to the construction that has been going on for the past 12+/- years. As far as I can tell the only real change is the trucks are painted a different color now.
One quick exit in Colorado Springs to fill up, 3 credit card charges of 75 each and we had ¾ of a tank, AARRRGGGGGG I hate low dollar limited amount fuel stops that claim to be “truck stops” and I was not going to do a 4th. Back on the road and we hit Denver at exactly 100% dead on, spot on, perfect timing RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. Amazingly enough we were not cut off, brake checked screamed at or anything. Drivers where overall courteous for the hour and a half it took to get across town.
We stopped in Denver to drop my brother off with my nephews (the reason we made the trip, the oldest is graduating from CSU). 30 minutes or so catching up with them, 2 trips around the block to get on the right street with the right angle so I could make a left turn. This proved to be the most technical part of driving I have encountered driving the new bus. Narrow streets, construction, no left turns, trees and millennials just walking out in front of us. I passed the test with a 95, only jumping a curb slightly with the jeep but no damage.
Back on I25 to Loveland. Spotted several diesel stations with lower priced fuel (almost .30 per gallon lower) than in Colorado Springs, made a note to fill up there before we got too far away on the way out. Super easy exit off I25 and a nice drive to RiverView RV Park in Loveland Colorado. Easy access off main road, nice bridge over Thompson River wide drives. Not super happy about it all being dirt drives and narrow spaces but too late to change now.
Unhooked the jeep at the office to drive and find the space. I ran around to find our space and was stopped by a person telling me the speed limit was 5mph and that he could tell the I was doing 7-8mph and I needed to slow down. UMM Okie Dokie, I was nice, I was extremely tired and there were a ton of kids everywhere, so I just smiled and said no problem. Turns out it was a park person, the next day I was given a cute little warning citation about my speed and that if I was scolded again, they would charge me 50$, on the 3rd notice you would be asked to leave the park.
The internet here was ridiculously slow BUT we could upgrade for $50 more. The cable is little more than basic cable, 18 channels but we had news and that’s all we needed. The spaces we were in were a little on the narrow side and we had 5er pulled in next to us headed the wrong direction, so we were literally facing each other. At 830 pm on Saturday there is a drum circle. If you’re into that you will love it, we have to roll out at 5a so I hope it ends soon. If you have never experienced a drum circle, YOUR LUCKY…It is exactly as horrible as it sounds.
All in all, this park is OK 6.0 out of 10. I do not think we would stay here again and not sure I would recommend.
This was a great trip, my nephew graduated, we saw family, had some great quick moments with old friends and learned allot about the area. We can return with great knowledge, stay longer and know what we want to do.
Leaving as early as we can get out, will try to push to Lubbock tomorrow then home on Monday.
Update, did not make Lubbock but we did make it back to Oasis RV Park in Amarillo. Once again, no reservation, no calls and we got an amazing spot. # 76 right across from the showers, 100 yards from the dog park, 250 yards for the kids park. 2nd time in a week and I am more impressed with this RV park then the RV park in Loveland.
Unfortunately, tonight will have very bad weather, crazy wind, possible bad storms.
I think this place will be our go to spot on any trip out of and back into Texas.
We got up at 6a, not raining yet so I jump up get dressed and start getting ready to roll out. Wife takes the dogs out, daughter sleeps through it all (awesome to be 8)..
20 min later and we are ready to drive away, and it is starting to mist, sprinkle slightly. 1000 yards out of the park and into a loves to fill up and its raining more. By the time we are full its pouring. 100 yards down the service roar to the onramp to I40 and you can barely see the merge lanes. Pouring rain and 40mph cross winds. It pours on us all the way across Amarillo with crazy winds, news radio is talking about silver dollar sized hail starting to come down close to where we spent the night and tornado's north of town. 1 huge lightning strike to a car lot just off the highway made us almost jump out of the seats. It was way to close for comfort but far enough away that we just saw it, not close enough for damage but still scary.
Just outside of Amarillo the rain stopped but the wind never did. 20-50 MPH cross wind from Amarillo to Austin. I had the wheel 5-15 degrees off center fighting the wind for the ENTIRE trip. It was crazy. The wind was so bad between Lubbock and Sweetwater that the dust was blowing so bad it looked like and Arabian sandstorm. As high as you could see, miles wide that dropped visibility in places to less than 100 yards. Not just in 1 area but in several areas, you could see it blowing across the plains. Made you wonder how they did it during the dust bowl. It was crazy such a crazy thing to see.
After peeling my fingers off the wheel, getting my shoulder to relax and having a bottle of wine, I am starting to relax.
The next morning, we were loaded and out by 7:30 and after a grueling 45minutes wasted at Austin’s finest Taco chain (I will leave unnamed) that is now everywhere (We are from Austin feel I can say this---they kinda suck) we hit the road. Side bar question; How can it take 45 minutes to make 5 tacos when a taco truck can get you out in 2 minutes, but I digress.
6 hours later we were fully in rush hour traffic in Colorado Springs. If you do the math it was not rush “hour” at all rather the traffic in Colorado Springs is always crappy due to the construction that has been going on for the past 12+/- years. As far as I can tell the only real change is the trucks are painted a different color now.
One quick exit in Colorado Springs to fill up, 3 credit card charges of 75 each and we had ¾ of a tank, AARRRGGGGGG I hate low dollar limited amount fuel stops that claim to be “truck stops” and I was not going to do a 4th. Back on the road and we hit Denver at exactly 100% dead on, spot on, perfect timing RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. Amazingly enough we were not cut off, brake checked screamed at or anything. Drivers where overall courteous for the hour and a half it took to get across town.
We stopped in Denver to drop my brother off with my nephews (the reason we made the trip, the oldest is graduating from CSU). 30 minutes or so catching up with them, 2 trips around the block to get on the right street with the right angle so I could make a left turn. This proved to be the most technical part of driving I have encountered driving the new bus. Narrow streets, construction, no left turns, trees and millennials just walking out in front of us. I passed the test with a 95, only jumping a curb slightly with the jeep but no damage.
Back on I25 to Loveland. Spotted several diesel stations with lower priced fuel (almost .30 per gallon lower) than in Colorado Springs, made a note to fill up there before we got too far away on the way out. Super easy exit off I25 and a nice drive to RiverView RV Park in Loveland Colorado. Easy access off main road, nice bridge over Thompson River wide drives. Not super happy about it all being dirt drives and narrow spaces but too late to change now.
Unhooked the jeep at the office to drive and find the space. I ran around to find our space and was stopped by a person telling me the speed limit was 5mph and that he could tell the I was doing 7-8mph and I needed to slow down. UMM Okie Dokie, I was nice, I was extremely tired and there were a ton of kids everywhere, so I just smiled and said no problem. Turns out it was a park person, the next day I was given a cute little warning citation about my speed and that if I was scolded again, they would charge me 50$, on the 3rd notice you would be asked to leave the park.
The internet here was ridiculously slow BUT we could upgrade for $50 more. The cable is little more than basic cable, 18 channels but we had news and that’s all we needed. The spaces we were in were a little on the narrow side and we had 5er pulled in next to us headed the wrong direction, so we were literally facing each other. At 830 pm on Saturday there is a drum circle. If you’re into that you will love it, we have to roll out at 5a so I hope it ends soon. If you have never experienced a drum circle, YOUR LUCKY…It is exactly as horrible as it sounds.
All in all, this park is OK 6.0 out of 10. I do not think we would stay here again and not sure I would recommend.
This was a great trip, my nephew graduated, we saw family, had some great quick moments with old friends and learned allot about the area. We can return with great knowledge, stay longer and know what we want to do.
Leaving as early as we can get out, will try to push to Lubbock tomorrow then home on Monday.
Update, did not make Lubbock but we did make it back to Oasis RV Park in Amarillo. Once again, no reservation, no calls and we got an amazing spot. # 76 right across from the showers, 100 yards from the dog park, 250 yards for the kids park. 2nd time in a week and I am more impressed with this RV park then the RV park in Loveland.
Unfortunately, tonight will have very bad weather, crazy wind, possible bad storms.
I think this place will be our go to spot on any trip out of and back into Texas.
We got up at 6a, not raining yet so I jump up get dressed and start getting ready to roll out. Wife takes the dogs out, daughter sleeps through it all (awesome to be 8)..
20 min later and we are ready to drive away, and it is starting to mist, sprinkle slightly. 1000 yards out of the park and into a loves to fill up and its raining more. By the time we are full its pouring. 100 yards down the service roar to the onramp to I40 and you can barely see the merge lanes. Pouring rain and 40mph cross winds. It pours on us all the way across Amarillo with crazy winds, news radio is talking about silver dollar sized hail starting to come down close to where we spent the night and tornado's north of town. 1 huge lightning strike to a car lot just off the highway made us almost jump out of the seats. It was way to close for comfort but far enough away that we just saw it, not close enough for damage but still scary.
Just outside of Amarillo the rain stopped but the wind never did. 20-50 MPH cross wind from Amarillo to Austin. I had the wheel 5-15 degrees off center fighting the wind for the ENTIRE trip. It was crazy. The wind was so bad between Lubbock and Sweetwater that the dust was blowing so bad it looked like and Arabian sandstorm. As high as you could see, miles wide that dropped visibility in places to less than 100 yards. Not just in 1 area but in several areas, you could see it blowing across the plains. Made you wonder how they did it during the dust bowl. It was crazy such a crazy thing to see.
After peeling my fingers off the wheel, getting my shoulder to relax and having a bottle of wine, I am starting to relax.
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