Circling Back

August 19th, 2023

I am back at the Kelly Dahl U.S.F.S. Campground near Nederland, Colorado. I have a couple of meetings with Doctors before planning a procedure sometime around Labor Day. Last week I left one of my favorite campgrounds up in the Flattop Mountains. I made the 2.5 hour drive through Yampa and Kremmling and then up the Blue River Valley to Silverthorne and Frisco.

I had a 3 day reservation at the Peak One Campground just south of Frisco. The peaks to the west of the Blue River are named with numbers all the way south past Breckenridge Ski Area, with numbers, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The large Dillon Reservoir was about 50 yards behind my site. I had the opportunity to watch kayakers, paddle boarders, and sail boats out on the water, and could see across the bay to the Frisco Marina. A trail followed along the shoreline from the campground and around to Frisco, passing the sports complex. There were 2 baseball fields, a skate park, a dirt bike course as well as the junction of multiple mountain bike trails. Also nearby was the Frisco Nordic Center. Of course that is closed this time of year due to lack of snow.

On my second day at this location, I drove to downtown Frisco and walked Main Street from one end to the other and back. The town has became a big tourist destination with lots of shops, coffee houses and restaurants. The most common tenant along the street, however, is Real Estate offices.

After walking Main Street, I crossed Route 9 and made for the Marina. Paddling sports are big in the bay, and there are hundreds of kayaks, boards, and canoes for rent.

On Friday morning, I hitched up the trailer and headed for Nederland, driving up the long ascent on I-70 to the 3 mile long Eisenhower Tunnel that passes under the Continental Divide, and then down the long and winding descent past Georgetown to the exit for the Casino Parkway route to Central City and Blackhawk, homes of numerous gambling establishments.

Today, I made the run down the canyon from Nederland to Boulder, where I walked the Pearl Street Mall and grabbed the Big Fish Burrito at Illegal Pete’s. Many people were out tubing and rafting on Boulder Creek.

For the next week, I will be here by Nederland before moving to Olive Ridge Campground near Estes Park. Assuming all goes well, I will spend a number of days hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.

After Labor Day, and depending on medical issues and requirements, I may point the Ford Ranger back to the Black Hills, making for I-90 to Minneapolis and Michigan.