May 1st, 2025
On Monday, April 28th, I rolled out of Bandelier National Monument and made the 4 hour trip up to Trinidad, Colorado. I pulled into a full hookup site at Carpios Ridge Campground in Trinidad Lake State Park. Having electricity and water was a real luxury. I was only staying for 4 days, so the water wasn’t really a big deal as I can go a week easily using my fresh water tank, but electricity was nice. I was able to run the microwave, an electric heater at night, and didn’t have to tend the solar panels all day to maximize solar charging. With an electrical hookup, there are small benefits like be able to run a fan all night to keep the humidity down and keeping the Starlink up all the time.
I am now further to the north and have left the spring heat of the desert. Temperatures at night were down in the low 40s and during daytime it was anywhere from 56 to 72. There was even an inch of pea size hail one afternoon. There was also a new sound. Raindrops hitting the roof of the camper.
To the west I can see a range of snow capped peaks. On the way in, I passed a herd of elk. Birds are everywhere. The second morning, I went down to the lake and fished for a couple of hours, but without luck.
Tomorrow, I will make another 4 hour hop past Denver and up to St. Vrain State Park near Longmont, Colorado where I will see my son. I didn’t get into Colorado last fall after touring Idaho and Montana, so it has been a year since I have seen him. I believe that is the longest period of time I have ever been away from my youngest. Too long.
Starting All Over 