Pikes Peak or Bust

It's hard to believe that I have been retired for three years now and we are starting our fourth journey across the country. The trip is all planned out. Like Eisenhower said, "Planning is essential, but it all goes out the window when the battle is engaged." We didn't make it to our first overnight stop.

Day one, I couldn't pull the kitchen slide in. I called an RV mobile service guy and he disconnected the motor and we pushed it in. We were ready to leave the next morning. The service tech said I was good to travel. Wrong! One day on the road and I realized I had to get the motor replaced in order to continue the trip. The slide was creeping out enough so that the gasket was not tight and rainwater would ruin our rig. We made it to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where we found a Camping World, and got the motor replaced under warranty. The repair was done so quickly that we were able to stay on schedule.

Every year we have stopped at Bowman Orchards in New York, a Harvest Hosts stop. However, to stay on schedule, we skipped it and went straight to Donaldson's Farm in Hackettstown, NJ, another Harvest Hosts stop. This was close enough to Jersey City that we could see my daughter Sarah and Max, and have a play date for Jake and Falcon (their new pup) at a dog park. After that, we found a restaurant with tables on the sidewalk (where our dogs were allowed) so that we could stop for some supper.

Russ, Sarah. Kay and Falcon

Day 4 was an interesting stop at another Harvest Hosts. The road through the mountains of Virginia approaching the winery was extremely narrow and winding. Then the GPS said "you have arrived." There was no sign. I had two choices, continue on the even narrower road that had just changed to dirt or go down the narrow dirt driveway to my right. As we started down the driveway, I kept thinking, 'I hope we don't meet anybody coming out.' and 'I hope that there will be a spot big enough to turn around.' Mountain Cove Vineyards was a lovely, extremely quiet, and dark overnight stop. The wine was good, too.

The setting sun after the storm at Mountain Cove Vineyards.

Day 5 brought us to Heritage Farm Museum and Village, another Harvest Hosts stop. Once again, the access road was extremely narrow. If I had stayed to the right of the center line, I would have wiped out every mailbox on the right side of the street with our trailer. Fortunately, we did not meet another vehicle as wide as we were, either going in or coming out. I think I will scratch these last two Harvest Hosts stops off my list for future stops. 

Day 6 took us into Kentucky, and another Harvest Hosts stop, Boundary Oak Distillery. This one was an easy in and easy out. We parked on a nice level paved parking lot, not on a slopping grass field like the last two stops. I bought a couple of bottles of spirits to share with our friends in El Golfo, Mexico. I might have to stop here again next year.

Day 7 on the road and we stopped at another Harvest Hosts, Fox Creek Vineyards, in Olney, Illinois. We bought a bottle of their chilled raspberry wine. It helped make the oppressive heat bearable. I am thankful for the built-in generator on this rig because we have needed it to cool down the trailer when off the grid at all of these Harvest Hosts stops. Next year, I will definitely plan a more northerly route.

Fox Creek Vineyards

Days 8, 9, and 10 took us into Wildwood Estates, an RV resort in Steedman, Missouri. We stayed three days, with full hook ups. However, there was no WiFi or cellular service available in the campground. While we were here, we got to go to church with Kay's cousin Jeannie and her husband Mike. It was an interesting service with a half hour or more of contemporary Christian rock music led by a Christian rock group using guitars and three big screen TVs so we could sing along. The collection was done in a unique way, as well. After a prayer, we were invited to bring our offerings to the front of the stage and place them in one of the offering boxes.  

Christian Fellowship Church, Columbia, Missouri

Day 11 we traveled to Smihville, Missouri, and we stayed at Our Savior Church and Academy, another Harvest Hosts location. And you thought we only stopped at wineries! 😃😎😃 Here, we met with Karen and Mark Seneker, a friend and fellow blogger. Mark and Karen have become full-time RVers and will hit the road in October when Mark finally retires. Mark writes an interesting blog about the process of becoming a full-time RVer, including how he chose his truck and trailer: https://ourfutureinanrv.wordpress.com/.

Day 12 and we stopped at the border of Kansas in a rest stop on I-70 just before entering Colorado. What a beautiful place. Kansas rest areas have dump stations but no potable water. This rest stop had a huge picnic area loop away from the noisy trucks where RVs could park overnight. Kansas is definitely RV friendly.

Kay and Jake relaxing at the Kansas rest stop.

Our picnic area at the Kansas rest stop.

Jake checking out the picnic area at the Kansas rest stop.

Day 13 and suddenly my guardian angel was working overtime. We turned off of I-70 onto US-24 and headed for Colorado Springs. We got stopped at a construction site where they were allowing only one lane through at a time. The driver behind me jumped out of his pickup and ran up shouting that I had a problem with one of my tires. I got out, checked, and, sure enough, I had a big time problem. I pulled over, but the shoulder wasn't wide enough for me to safely change the tire. I limped along the shoulder until I got to a spot where I could pull off the road to change the tire.

Ready to blowout.

Jacking up the trailer with a 12-ton bottle jack.

Putting the spare on. Ready to torque the lug nuts.

Phew, spare is on and blowout averted.

The next seven days, we stayed in a campground in Monument, Colorado. We got to visit with my son  Bill and his wife Denise several times. We also got to visit with my cousins, Harvey and Marylou Richardson and Clyde Hagan and and his daughter Kim. It was a nice break from the go, go, go that we had while crossing the country. On the day we left Colorado Springs, we bought four new tires from Big O Tires. They did a great job of replacing the tires and getting us on the road right away.

Clyde, Russ, Kim, Marylou, Alexandria, and Harvey.

Denise and Bill

Back by popular demand, this year's picture of our route.

Last year's trip is blue. This year's trip is pink.

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