EIGHTEEN

 

Campsite eighteen, Aspen Glade campground. Nestled down deep  in the Conejos canyon,  right beside the Conejos River, just off of Highway seventeen, about halfway between Antonito Colorado and Chama New Mexico. Elevation 8500 feet.

 

Here is a look at the giant Ponderosa Pine that stands silent sentinel at the entrance to our campsite.

Spaced widely apart in a picturesque setting.

With full hookups. It is a fantastic place to await the snow’s melt off up high at our campground in Trujillo Meadows.

Note that the Trout filled Conejos River is right there in the immediate background. This photo was taken just as you turn off of highway 17. The lower loop of the campground has many sites that back in within 25 yards of the river.

DRIFTED

Today as we went to Chama New Mexico to check the mail, go by the hardware store and take care of a few other chores, we stopped by the road that leaves the highway and starts the climb up to the Trujillo Meadows campground. We turned in to the road and began the climb to see if we could get through to the campground.

As we turned off of the asphalt we found this Forest Service Notice posted.

We were able to climb up the road for nearly a mile, but at the top of the mountain, the road became a snow mobile trail.

Disappointed, we engaged the four wheel drive and turned around, knowing that it would several days more before we might be able to get into the campground.

Then, in addition, we knew that there was a place that every year the drifts were always very deep and the sun couldn’t reach. That place was still further yet, about a half mile past where we had to stop. There was no doubt that we hadn’t seen the worst of the snow blockage yet.

WEATHER

Spring time in the Rocky Mountains. Weather changes are the norm. Minutes after taking this photo,

as we were at the breakfast table looking out of the window, this was the view.

The startling blue skies had turned deep gray and snow began to come down. Lightly at first, but soon, heavier.

It is warmer here at 8500 feet, so the snow that originates up around 10,000, and is drifting down to us, will not likely last long. 

Sudden weather changes and all, it is great to be back in the Rocky Mountains. The humidity here this morning was a pretty dry 27% and I took the photos while wearing a tee shirt.

Before I could write this short blog entry, the sun was shinning again, He, he, the Rocky’s, ya’ gotta’ love em’ !

We will go into Chama new Mexico to check mail sometime today and maybe i’ll get a chance to post a few entrys up to the blog, getting caught up for a change !

SETTLING

After breakfast on our first day we begin the settling in process. Since we have electricity here at the Aspen Glade campground we heat our trailer with a oil filled electric heater. To circulate the heat we have put a fan on the floor behind the heater, it is set on low speed for quietness.

 

Note that Poco doesn’t have his coat on yet so he’s staying near the heater.

Here is a view of the heater from above.

The office where I am writing this from. He, he, note the coffee cup. Coffee just seems to taste better at elevation.

ASPEN-GLADE

We are back in the Aspen-Glade campground ! It is the campground where our area manager resides. Located in the Conejos River canyon, Aspen-Glade is quite picturesque. This is the view that greets us each morning as we step out of our front door.

That is the Conejos river,famous for it’s excellent trout fishing. We will stage here as we wait for the snow to melt off so we can get into our campground at Trujillo meadows.

We slept great last night with the window near our heads open.

We could hear the breeze in the giant Ponderosa pines.

It was quite a pleasant symphony to sleep to, with the river down below making it’s gentle rushing sound as light breezes whispered through the pines. Yeh, you know we slept in this morning !

Aspen-Glade is at 8500 feet of elevation and our campground, Trujillo Meadows,  is above 10,000 feet.

NORMAN

The Diner in Norman Oklahoma is another cool eatery that has been featured on The Food Networks Diners, Drive inns & Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri.

While enroute to our workamper job of managing a campground in Colorado’s National Forest, we passed through Norman Oklahoma. And, Norman is the home of the twice State champion chili recipe. That chili recipe resides at the diner. We knew that we just had to make time for a stop.

A quick check of driving times told us that we would most likely be able to overnight in Norman and be at the Diner for their famous breakfast. We did and on Saturday morning when the doors opened we were the first in line.

Betty asked as we walked in, “where would you like to sit ?” “ Near the grill, so we can watch”, I respond as I remove my old worn camera from it’s case. Here is the way the chef & his helper had the grill prepared.

Home fries and Hash browns cover the grill and flats of eggs are at the ready. Obviously they are ready for a large breakfast crowd. Though we were early on a weekend morning, the place was packed by the time our order arrived at the table. Half of a cup of coffee kind of quick. I ordered the three egg omelet from the menu that is called “The Kitchen Sink”. It starts with three eggs and has five other ingredients of the chef’s choice. Here is a look, plumb pretty, ain’t it !

  

The kitchen sink comes with Biscuits and gravy. Man, all of my favorites ! I have to tell ya’, I nearly hurt myself EATING THE WHOLE THING !

The coffee was great and the atmosphere was local home folks friendly.

All too soon it was time for us to get on down the road.

OVERNIGHT

We arrived at the location of the Diner on east main street in Norman Oklahoma, just before dark.

With beat up camera in hand, Betty and I found a place to park and walked up to the diner for a look. Closed already for the night, we noted the opening times.

A couple of city police officers walked up briskly as I snapped the photo above. They were responding to a silent alarm nearby. I asked about over nighting on a nearby parking lot. They told us of one that would have less traffic noise and we were set for the night.

Early the next morning we found a place to park near the diner.

At the front door of the diner we met some of the locals who are regulars. They bragged on the chili and wanted us to know that they thought the main meal of the day that they were there for was breakfast.

Then the door rattled and a hand flipped over the open sign as the neon lights came on.