September 20, 2014: Our final summer-like days in Frisco come to an
end with a dramatic sunrise over the Continental Divide …
Pink and lavender reflect off the clouds to the west over Buffalo Mountain.
… and the changing Aspen trees shimmering in the
sunshine on the mountainsides that surround this lovely mountain town.
Aspens bathed in sunlight.
Aspen-covered
mountainside above Frisco.
Red and
orange Aspens are abundant this year. A
neighbor said this has been the most dramatic colors in nearly a decade.
Overlooking Charming Frisco nestled against Lake Dillon.
With the challenging downsizing of “stuff” from
the Moose (35’) to the Mini-Moose (25’) we are finally ready to hit the road.
South on
SH9 toward Breckenridge, I take this lovely picture sitting at a stoplight just
outside of Breck.
It’s
hard to watch the road. The fall colors
are magnificent and quite a distraction.
We
skirt around the edge of Breck. I snap
another picture at a stoplight.
Up the
west side of the Continental Divide and over Hoosier Pass (elevation ll,539
feet) and back down the east side into Alma and Fairplay. Entire mountainsides are blanketed in golden
Aspens. But alas, no pictures.
At
Fairplay we catch US285 and continue south.
The lush, green South Park Valley opens before us. The Mosquito Range to the west is aglow with
Aspens. But again, no pictures.
We trek
southward until we reach the Arkansas River Headwaters near Buena Vista.
The river meanders near and then out of sight
of the highway. (No pictures.) A little over 20 miles farther south we reach
Salida. We pull over and talk with a
couple of locals. We comment about how beautiful
their downtown main street is. The young
lady proudly tells us about her town and that it’s home to Colorado's larges Historic District. A little more discussion about hometown topics, and then we ask
about camping in the area.
The young
lady says, “All the RV resorts are going to be full this weekend. If you don’t have reservations, you won’t
find a place tonight.”
We respond
that we’re not really looking for the “resort experience” (sardine camping),
but a nice quiet place along the Arkansas River.
“Oh, well
then just drive down to the stop sign.
Take a left and go a mile or so east on Highway 50. You’ll come to a BLM area that’s right along
the river – and it’s free.” (Right up
our camping alley!)
We make a few stops around town in search of a “missing
piece of our traveling puzzle” – but, to no avail.
We stop and fill up the Jeep (which we weren't anticipating today.) Full Service or Self Service. Your
choice. Oh, and some comfy chairs
outside to relax, watch folks fill their tanks, and generally watch the world
go by as you wait while your vehicle is in the service bay.
Onto Highway 50, we head east out of town. There it is, just as she said – the BLM camping
area.
We find a
nice level spot and set up camp – which is all of “pull up and stop”. Easy-peasy.
We’re so short, it’s a simple task.
We love this short stuff already.
The
Arkansas River flows just below our campsite.
Far enough below that it would take one heck of a massive rainstorm
up-river for the level to reach our humble abode. Or at least that’s what I tell myself when I
fall to sleep with the sound of raindrops on the roof.
Oh yes, pictures.
Not much
in the way of pictures during the drive down to Salida because I was driving
the Jeep and Jack was driving the Navion, but – that’s another story for
another day. All part of the “missing
piece” I’ll tell you about later. Until
next time – be safe.
Clouds
skimming low over the mountains on a recent dreary trip to Denver.
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