We weren't seeking adventure when we decided to spend most of May in
Colorado Springs instead of Austin, TX. We were hoping to avoid "adventure"
in the form of tornadoes and flooding that plagued western Texas through April and May.
Thankfully, we dodged high winds and flooding on the grounds of the
USAF Academy but we didn't exactly find Nirvana -- Colorado Springs had its wettest,
coldest May on record.
Above and below: May 10 at
our campsite -- not exactly what we expected!
Some Springs residents suffered from floods and mudslides. The
Academy fared better in that regard. On campus we had
more days with rain than sun, temperatures plunging as low as 26 F.,
several days with highs only in the 40s F., pea-sized hail four times
(with 3-6" accumulations twice), and two to three inches of snow as late as May 10.
This is late spring???
Brrr! That can't be much fun. At
least we had a warm, dry RV to live in.
It probably sounds like I'm complaining . . .
We expected warmer, sunnier weather based on historical averages and at
least four previous trips to Colorado Springs in May. Ironically, it was
warmer in northwestern Canada and Alaska for much of May than it was in
Colorado Springs. One day it was even warmer in Fairbanks, Alaska than
Phoenix, Arizona! What an anomaly.
But no, I'm not complaining. Although we got tired of the rainy,
cold weather and we wished we could leave Colorado earlier for Alaska than
we did, we were glad to be there instead of Austin.
FICKLE OR FLEXIBLE?
One of my relatives describes us as "fickle," in part because we
often change our minds about where we're going and we're picky about
temperatures and weather conditions.
We prefer the word "flexible." What this person doesn't know is the
amount of thought we put into the changes we make to our plans. They
aren't normally just random whims, although we leave some room for
those, too. (We're full-time RVers = we can do that!)
Plan A was to spend the month of May in Austin, Texas, a
city we've enjoyed previously.
For several months during the winter we talked about having a
"medical base" that would have decent weather year-round while we're
living/traveling full time in our RV, preferably somewhere out West
where we like to spend most of our time.
I'll tell ya, finding such a location in the western part of the USA
is more difficult than finding one in the East. The mountainous areas
(Rockies) we love in the summer just aren't suitable for living in an RV
in the winter. Most RVs aren't insulated well enough and the pipes can freeze.
Above and below: Embracing the beauty of the snow;
these photos are near the campground. (5-10-15)
Medical continuity has been a concern since we sold our house in
Virginia in 2014 and no longer travel back there in the spring and fall to check
on our property. It was convenient to schedule our routine medical
appointments then, too, rather than finding providers on the road.
Now we no longer have a home base. We thought it'd be a good idea to
seek a location with good medical providers in a moderate climate where
we could reasonably live in our RV any month of the year. Austin wasn't
ideal -- it gets pretty hot in the summer and cold in the winter
-- but it is located out West and is a "cool" (hip) place to visit.
So we researched dental and orthopedic practices in Austin and made
appointments for our dental cleanings and knee injections in May.
Trees in a meadow on the Falcon
loop trail near the campground on campus. (5-10-15)
Snow on mountain visible from another part of the
Falcon loop trail (5-11-15)
Finding a decent campground with full
hookups in Austin for a month was more difficult.
We already knew Austin's house and rental prices have sky-rocketed in the last
couple years. What we quickly learned is that most RV parks in the area are brimming with
year-round residents living in travel trailers and 5th-wheels who can't
afford the pricy housing market. Seasonal and short-term visitors are pretty much SOL.
We finally reserved a spot at a private campground near Lake Travis,
farther from town than we preferred. Jim even found a couple interesting
"gravel grinder" bike rides in the general area and signed up for them.
Then we kept hearing about violent spring storms -- high
winds, tornadoes, hail, copious amounts of rain and
flooding -- that plagued parts of Texas in April. Some of the worst
flooding and destruction was in the Hill Country between San Antonio and
Austin. The forecast for May wasn't much better.
That's all scary enough if you live in a stix-n-brix house. It's
worse if you live in a flimsy-in-comparison 5th-wheel or travel trailer.
About the only day I
didn't see golfers on the course near the campground . . .
(5-10-15)
A few days before the end of April we came up with Plan B -- to spend
May in Colorado Springs instead of Austin. We prefer Colorado Springs
anyway, and historic average
temperatures, even at 6,700 feet in elevation, are usually warm enough
there in May to be pleasant in an RV.
Maybe it could be our "summer" medical base and somewhere farther
south our "winter" medical base?? (Obviously, this concept is a work
in progress.)
Cody and Casey both loved playing
in the snow on May 10. Cody hears something . . .
A few days before we left Florida we cancelled our medical appointments and
campground reservation in Austin and made new ones in Colorado Springs. Cancellations
at our new doctors' offices allowed us to get in to see our them in a timely
manner.
We were happy both with the new dentist and orthopedist we met,
as well as hanging out at the USAF Academy campground again.
We've been there so often it feels like home to us.
Jim forfeited his bike events in Texas, concentrating instead on
training for the two longer bike races he entered in Alaska this summer.
The cold, very wet weather did affect our hiking, cycling, and
sight-seeing plans in Colorado Springs. With all the rain, snow, and
hail the trails were often muddy and creeks ran very high
several times:
On May 11 I crossed half a dozen
flooded creeks along the Falcon Loop; two trekking poles helped.
Yet another thunderstorm heads toward the Academy
after dumping snow
on Pike's Peak and rain in the lower elevations of
the Rampart Range.
The trails in Red Rock Park were closed most of May due to erosion and mudslides
so we weren't able to hike there this time. US 24 through and above Manitou Springs
to Pikes Peak and the high country was closed several days because of flooding and
mudslides so we didn't drive up that way, either, until the end of the month.
Climbing Pikes Peak was also out of the question while
we were in the area; there was too
much mud and snow most of the time. I couldn't even drive all the way up
to the summit on May 27 when I did a day trip to take photos.
I'm mesmerized by this mountain and had to see it up close, one way
or the other.
Twelve feet of snow still covered the top of this
iconic mountain after Memorial Day weekend, which is unusual so late
in the season:
Still lots of snow on Pike's Peak
on May 27; this is the northern side of the mountain.
Did we ever wish we'd just gone to Austin instead?
Nope. Not once. The weather continued to be volatile there during May --
more tornadoes, continued flooding, and deaths resulting from all the
violent storms there and in nearby states (OK, KS, MO, AR, LA, and some
Midwestern states).
Even though the weather was less than ideal much of the time we were in Colorado
Springs, we were safer in an RV there.
THE DRIVE TO COLORADO SPRINGS
We were lucky we didn't get into any storms during the four-day drive
from western Florida to Colorado. The weather was great the whole time,
making driving easier. We had our "weather antennae" out so we could
re-route if necessary.
We left the Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area near the FL-AL border on
April 28 and arrived at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs on May 2, following
- I-10 through AL, MS, and LA;
- I-12 around greater New
Orleans;
- I-49 and I-20 in LA;
- I-20, US 69, US 380, US 287, and US
87 in TX (to avoid the worst of metro DFW's traffic);
- US 87 in NM's far
northeast corner;
- and I-25 to Colorado Springs.
Looked like we might get wet in NM but
we got there shortly after the storm passed through.
Jim drove the truck hauling the Cameo with Casey in the back seat for
company. I followed in the Odyssey minivan with Cody.
That's been a learning curve since we sold the house and decided to
keep the van with us. I'm no longer sitting next to Jim in the truck as
we drive from one place to another, helping with driving and navigating.
It's a lot different when we're in separate vehicles.
We've learned to discuss our routes more thoroughly before we get on
the road and to write down better notes re: highways, streets, turns, and rest
stops. We're doing better with practice. When we get back from Alaska
-- the van's not going up there -- we may get a second GPS so
I'll have one, too. Just hope the directions match!
I've got the easier job in the van, not because I'm following Jim but
because the car is so much more comfortable to drive than our truck. The
eight-hour days didn't wear me out as much as Jim.
Above and below:
interesting clouds in Colorado, with some higher-altitude snow in both pictures
We spent the first two nights on the road at Walmart stores in
Shreveport, LA and Bowie, TX. The third night we opted for a real
campground in Clayton, NM so we could have hookups.
It's always interesting to see how the landscape and terrain changes
from region to region, from the flat, wet, lush greens of the Gulf
states to the parched ranches in TX and NM to new light green leaves and
snowy mountains in CO.
I was excited when I first saw the distant
snow-covered peaks along the Continental Divide:
After almost two years in the East, I needed my Rocky Mountain fix!
CAMPING AT THE USAF ACADEMY
This is the sixth time we've camped at the Peregrine Pines FamCamp,
usually in mid- to late May.
It's one of our favorite campgrounds of any type, anywhere, and it's in
one of our favorite areas of the country -- even when it's snowing:
We aren't fond of cities but Colorado Springs is different. We like
it 'way more than Austin.
Each time we've been to this campground we've been assigned to a different site.
This time we were halfway back the 50-amp loop in a pull-through site
that was long enough to accommodate both the car and truck:
All the sites are nestled in random fashion under tall pine trees. Most
sites, including ours, have adequate space on either side so folks don't
feel cramped. We have full hookups and can usually get on the campground
WiFi. The cost is $24/day with no weekly or monthly rate.
Another section of the campground has water and 30-amp electrical
hookups but no sewers. Those sites are smaller and cost less.
The only downside to this military campground for us is the 30-day time
limit from May 1 to October 7. We wish we had the option of a seasonal stay
(three months or more) if we want it but the place is too popular for that.
Even with the cold, wet weather we had this month our side of the campground
was mostly full every day. Occupancy was usually less on weekdays in the 30-amp
section, which is more full on weekends with younger and more local families.
If we do make Colorado Springs our "summer medical base" we'll
either have to schedule all of our medical appointments within a 30-day window
or find another place to stay instead of, or in addition to, the Academy.
We like to stay at military bases for several reasons. Sometimes
we wonder if they are the safest option, however.
About a week after our arrival security on campus tightened to the Bravo
level due to increased threats by ISIS. It took longer to get through the gate
after going off base and even some retired military RVers had to go through
searches when they arrived.
In some ways the extra scrutiny, especially of civilians who
visit the base, makes us feel safer. Even the Academy could be a
desirable target for Bad Guys, though. It's not equipped like
most Air Force bases but it does produce the officers.
ACTIVITIES IN COLORADO SPRINGS
In five prior visits we've already done many of the typical tourist
things in Colorado Springs. We didn't have any of those on our agenda
this time. We anticipated a more relaxed visit, which is becoming
typical since we began RVing full time -- this wasn't a vacation;
it's our lifestyle now.
Despite the cold, wet weather we got out most days to hike and
cycle. At minimum, I walked the dogs several times a day in the
campground.
Falcon Trail after it snowed
One reason we like the Academy so much is its convenience to great
hiking and cycling trails. The 13-mile, single track Falcon Trail loop
is half a mile from our site. I took the dogs over there to hike many
times, and hiked the whole loop by myself twice.
Jim prefers riding on dirt or paved bike paths and roads rather than
the Falcon Loop, which has some steep and gnarly sections. He can easily
ride through the Academy to the long New Santa Fe multi-use trail
that runs from Monument, CO through the Academy grounds to the southern part
of Colorado Springs.
He did training rides of up to 50 miles on this trail;
my longest ride was about 20 miles.
Jim stops along the New Santa Fe
Trail to admire a pond and Pike's Peak.
We also hiked twice at Garden of the Gods Park and I did a day drive
as far up Pike's Peak as the road was open.
I'll have separate entries with photos from the two trails, the
Garden of the Gods, and Pike's Peak.
We had fun talking with several other retired couples at the Academy.
One couple that we had met at Kings Bay Sub Base just bought a house in
Colorado Springs and camped on base waiting for their closing.
We also enjoy talking with active duty folks. The family next
to us when we arrived had sold their house in Black Forest in February,
much faster than they expected, and bought a 5th-wheel toy hauler to live in
pending reassignment to Key West, FL. I gave their young kids some
shells I collected at Cumberland Island to help psych them up for their move.
During the early spring our active duty
neighbors had to insulate the hose and undercarriage
of their toy hauler. They also
rented a large propane tank to keep the camper warm.
Perhaps the most interesting situation occurred when Jim found a
wallet belonging to a retired Lt. Col. who dropped it while cycling on
base. He and his wife live in Colorado Springs. The wallet didn't
contain a phone number. We tried various ways to contact the man and
finally decided to just take it to his house, a very nice place on the
mountainside overlooking the city.
He was very grateful we returned it and invited us inside for drinks
and a couple hours of interesting conversation with himself and his wife.
He insisted on giving us a monetary reward for a nice dinner out that we
finally accepted after much cajoling.
A reward certainly wasn't on our minds. It just felt good to return
the wallet. We know how upset we would have been if it had happened to one of
us.
We learned something important from that experience, as did the Lt.
Col. -- put your phone number in your wallet in case you lose it
and a Good Samaritan finds it. We already had emergency contact
information in our wallets but not our own phone numbers until this
happened.
View of Pike's Peak on our way to
the Lt. Col's house
We also had more mundane but necessary business -- our dental
and orthopedic appointments, routine vet appointments for Cody and Casey
(at the vet clinic on base for the first time), continued trip planning
for the rest of the year (where to go, where to camp, whether to get
additional medical insurance for Canada, what to do about phone and
internet service in Canada, etc.), vehicle maintenance, researching
vehicle and other insurance policies that were due, etc., etc.
Traveling full time doesn't eliminate "chores" like these. If
anything, it complicates them.
For example, there are fewer companies that insure RVs that are used
full time than those that are used less often. So that's easier, right??
Not really. Since the Cameo is our house, it's
even more critical that we insure it adequately and with a top-rated company. That
took extra time and effort.
Several inches of small hail
piled up outside during our first visit with the orthopedist.
(5-7-15)
Driving home that day; the
Rampart Range is in the background and Pike's Peak is under snow clouds.
The medical appointments were easy this time. We really liked the orthopedist
we found. We know his wife, an ultra runner, but didn't know she was this fella's
wife until we saw her in his office. (She's a nurse.)
Jim decided to try a one-dose knee injection called One-Gel. I considered it but
decided to stay with the three-dose Orthovisc that's been so successful the last six years.
If it ain't broke . . .
The reason we couldn't leave Colorado Springs until the end of the month was my
decision to get Orthovisc spread out over 2+ weeks instead of Gel-One. My last
appointment was May 28, graduation day at the Academy.
At least we got to watch the Thunderbirds practice for graduation again:
This is the third time we've been at the Academy at graduation
time. It just worked out that way.
In retrospect it would have been nice to leave for Alaska sooner, since the
weather was so much warmer than usual up there and in northwestern Canada during
May. With a lower snow pack and less rain we didn't hear about any problems with
flooded roads like we experienced in 2012.
Next entry: photos from the Falcon Trail and New Santa Fe Trail
Happy trails,
Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil,
Cody the ultra Lab, and Casey-pup
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© 2015 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil
