Paying The Light Bill

 

The van with a name is getting up in years. Her odometer says she is up in the 74k range. She still runs like a champ, but with that mileage comes certain maintenance  responsibilities.

The motor company had set maintenance  points for your motorbike, where if you wanted to keep your warranty active you paid a couple of thousand dollars so some tech who  supposedly tightened every bolt on your motorbike, and greased the bushings on your fog lights.  I would have paid a extra1k just to see every bolt get tightened.

The van needed brakes, so I knew it was going to be a big job. I called the ford dealer in Pocatello  and what a surprise they could get me in on Friday, contingent on if the van with a name would fit in the shop door. It did.

Service Time

Jade, the service writer, met me at the door. He knew it was a big job too. They got the van inside and started the inspection. The estimate came down. .45 under 3k. I said I’m in.   That’s when the drama started. Jade said there are special bolts that Ford says have to be replaced  when they lift up the petticoats of the van with a name, and they had none.

Special Bolts 

They could be ordered. Be in by Wednesday or Thursday. That was okay by me if I could live in the van with a name in a corner  of their shop. That was not what they wanted to hear, and magically the NAPA truck showed up in about a hour with all the parts.

The van got new brakes, new rotors and new special bolts, and she stops on a dime and gives nine cents change. Courtesy Ford got their light bill for the week paid by me, and all the mechanics loved the van and loved working on it. There were at least three of them on it at any given time.

It was late getting out of Ford, so I elected to spend another night in Pocatello and since I had credits with KOA I thought I would give them another chance. I had hoped that the lady who yelled at me last time I was there and wouldn’t refund my money but let me park by the building during the great Pocatello blizzard of a couple of years ago.  would be there again, but she wasn’t. I think it was her husband that checked me in and he was nice as could be and even answered the phone when I called after a few hours,  to ask if it was normal for the caravan next to me to leave their dog tied out, without any water.

In the morning, I was glad to get out of Pocatello. I wasn’t glad that I would have to drive Interstate 86. My schedule was pretty open so when I got to Twin Falls, I googled camping near me and discovered a free RV camp in the Snake River Canyons Park.

Ricketts RV camp was great. Picnic tables, outhouses, and fire rings at every level site. My fire ring even came with dry firewood , and if I used it, I might have been able to ignite the mountains of dry tumbleweeds that were piled along the fence line.

Plenty Of Tinder Dry Tumbleweeds

The campground has parking for horse trailers, and there are miles of trails for off road vehicles, horses, and dirt bikes. Several dirt bikes with suited up riders were doing stunts on some of the trails. The people who moved in across from me had a  four wheeler, and all their underage children were riding around with no protection at all, in spite of the law requiring hemits for riders under 18. You think you would want to protect your children.

It felt good to get off the interstate and cross into Oregon. This is almost home turf. One night in Burns at a familiar  RV park and it was on westbound on the Santiam highway past Brothers, and past Sisters to the Metolius river where I discovered the perfect RV camp. Camp Sherman.

Camp Sherman

Camp Sherman sits adjacent to the river, the Ponderosa Pines were fragrant, the weather great. I even  spotted a new bird, a White Headed woodpecker, and would have stayed more than one night but my phone signal  was poor, and I had a zoom meeting coming up. Will be going back their next time.

Massive Ponderosa Pine

Camp Sherman Store

Morning On The Metolius

 

 

 

Union Pacific Big Boy 4014

 

Randomly discovering hot springs is a great way to spend the dregs of a Alaskan winter, and has been my primary focus of this trip, but when I learned that the Union Pacific massive steam locomotive Big Boy 4014 was going on a coast to coast tour, I decided that I had to see the thing.

 Back in the 1940’s Union Pacific had the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) build 25 of these monsters, and of those 25 only 8 survive, and 4014 is the only one in operating condition having been rescued from  50 years of static display at the rail giants train museum in Pomona California.

The 2026 tour starts and ends at the railroads steam headquarters in Cheynne, so that is where I headed.

Where Big Boy 4014 Sleeps

The roundhouse is a impressive structure of the railyard here. You could see the passenger coaches staged for the run starting tomorrow, but 4014 was hidden away deep within the railyard where mere civilians are not permitted.

Cheyenne Depot

With the big rail adventure not starting until tomorrow I opted to travel to Curt Gowdy State Park, that is strategically  located ½ way between Cheynne and 4014’s first stop in Laramie.

Yes, the park is named after Curt Gowdy, the sportscaster. Curt was born in Green River and raised in Cheyenne. The park sits above a reservoir where you can fish and boat, but not swim.

You Know You Have Arrived

It was off season in the park, so there was no water in the campground,  but my site had electricity, and view of the lake.

Granite Spring Reservoir 

Plenty of little Uinta ground squirrels were busy ducking into holes and running across the road to see what the other squirrels were doing, you could say the park offered entertainment and I spotted a Clark’s Nutcracker to add to my bird list. I didn’t get a good photo of him though.

Uinta Ground Squirrel

The only negative thing I can think of about the park is Curt must not have liked camping on level ground, because I don’t think there is a level spot in the park, and my spot took all my blocks to get level.

In the morning, it was an easy run to Laramie, on a quiet two lane highway. The vans path of the beam brought me right to the Union Pacific depot, and I was early enough to grab a primo parking spot steps away from the depot.

There are the usual things to see at the depot, the static display of old trains, and the museum with all the railroad artifacts was open early so you could take a look.

Railroad Semaphore

High above the railyard is a bridge and pathway that connects to another part of town, but on this morning  myself along with lots of other people decided that the bridge would be a excellent place to watch 4014

It Was Determined This Freight Is On Track 3

Now up on the bridge there was plenty of speculation as to what track Big Boy would arrive on. There could have even been betting.

All along I thought that Big Boy would be on the track closest to the station, and when I asked the fellow standing near me, who was a wealth of railroad information, he agreed and stated that Big Boy would come in on “Track 1” that they would switch it to that track just to the east of us where we couldn’t see all that well.

The entire wait for Big Boy had a carnival feel to it or it might have been a screen shot from the past when the passenger trains would stop at the depot , and the entire town would turn out to see who was arriving. Either way there must have been at least 1000 humans waiting.  Children were swinging on the swings. People were lined up about 6 deep near the depot, and tikes were scaling the fence to get a good look.

Just like at a rock concert Union Pacific provided a opening act, as a massive, covered hopper freight  train pulled by a 4000 hp GE (same people that make my toaster, and washer) was switched on to track one and came at the crowd sounding its horn and ringing its bell.

Opening Act Switched On To Track 1

Now since this freight was on track 1 it was going to pass just a few feet under us, and the driver was having a fun time sounding his horn, and as the massive locomotive was directly under, he gave a blast of that horn that made everyone on the bridge jump, a bit.

The lady standing next to me said that the noise scared her dog. I told her the noise scared me.

It wasn’t long until off in the distance you could see the single headlight of 4014 moving over to track 1. As it drew closer you could hear the unmistakable sound of a steam whistle.

As it approached the depot it started blowing steam, and everyone that was on or near the platform got a steam bath.

4014 Has Arrived

After the train stopped, I shuffled off the bridge and wandered over to the six deep crowd at the depot.

At least six crew were at the locomotives wheels oiling everything that they  could reach

Oiling Up The Locomotive

I never got the photo I wanted of Big Boy but it was fun to be near a massive steam locomotive and feel the heat coming off of it and wonder what noise it was going to make next. 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain High

 Colorado sure has some high mountain passes. I  think I topped out the other day going over 11,312 foot Monarch Pass, and  so I was ready for that low lying 10,666 Vail Pass

The Blower That Cleared All The Snow From Colorado

There is supposed to be mountains of snow in Monarch Pass this time of year, but that isn’t the case.  In fact, this winter Colorado snowfall is at a 50 year low. That’s some serious drought , and it’s not looking good for all the people, and agriculture that survive because of water from the Colorado river.

Monarch Pass & Not Much Snow

Right wing fascists can deny climate change all they want, but the evidence is clear. You warm up the ocean a couple of degrees centigrade and you change the weather patterns.

Keeping the van with a name speed between 55 & 60 gives me milage up to 19 miles per gallon this trip, and that means I ain’t pumping out as much carbon as all the vehicles passing me  going 80 mph or faster,

In Granby I stayed at a first rate  Sun Country “RV RESORT” . Sun Country really does an excellent job, with level concrete slabs, full hookups, and even though the pool was closed they did have two hot tubs open 24 hours a day. They must have over 300 campsites here, along with small cabins, Airstream Trailers you can stay in, and even covered wagons.

I Wonder If You Have To Feed The Ponys If You Stay Here

Their store was closed , and so was the bowling alley . The bar was open, and the bar food was okay, and the rate was lower than summer when this must be one happening  place.

Largest Bar In Any Campground I Have Been In

I’ve got to head north now as I want to be in Cheyenne Wyoming on the 29 so I can see Union Pacific’s legendary steam locomotive Big Boy  that starts its western 2026 tour that day. There will be photos!

The plan was to go through Rocky Mountain National Park on highway 34, but the highway remains closed because of winter.

No worries, a quick backtrack on  Colorado highway 125 and a run north to Walden through the Arapaho  National Recreation area  that was burned in 2020 in the East Troublesome fire. It was a huge fire that burned 193,812 acres and destroyed over 360 homes. Climate change ain’t  pretty.

NOAH Image Of East Troublesom Fire Yikes!

 

The Rediscovery Tour

 Once again, I find myself on a highway I previously  conquered on a motorbike. This trip I am only going to Ouray. But if I were to continue on to Durango over highway 550  it’s a steep and narrow passage called The Million Dollar Highway  for various reasons. But the ride or drive through the  San Juan Mountains  is a must do. It’s breathtaking with steep grades and no guardrails.

Fall View Of The Million Dollar Highway

 If you are doing it right on a bike you are going to have  sparks coming from your floorboards.  It was a fun ride Floor it!

I am glamping here for a few nights In Ouray a small town nestled at  7000+ feet in the San Juan Mountains.  I traveled here because of the hot springs that I had no idea were here on a previous visit.

I booked a camping site at  Ouray  Riverside Resort.……. But before I set up camp I checked into the hot springs

Downtown Ouray

$24.00 for my age range but I’m returning next year for a bigger discount. The springs are skookum. There is a lap pool. A not so hot pool, and a hot pool with a waterfall. There is also a closed pool so I don’t know what is up with that.

Ouray Hot Springs

My limit after going for three days in a row is about 45 minutes, and that includes  the most time in the hottest pool and then a splash in the cooler pool. I think they could use some shade here.  Maybe a umbrella or two, because soaking in 100+ degree water in a hot spring at 7000+ feet under a direct sun, well I think my condition when leaving could be called Jello.

Looking at my map, I see that there hot springs just about everywhere in Colorado, and I think that for the next few days I will just  be driving around aimlessly and occasionally doing a google search for hot springs near me.

This morning I cruised back up 550 to Montrose for some resupplying, then headed east on my old friend Highway 50.

I didn’t get very far, because I spotted Elk Creek Campground smack dab in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. I love to camp in our federal parks. With my senior pass the  entrance fee is free, and camping is ½ off.  This site with electric is a whopping $17.00. That is the best deal for camping anywhere even though it’s a couple of dollars more than last year.

Elk Creek Camp

Then I headed   for a night at Cottonwood Hot springs just a little west of Buena Vista Colorado.They have several pools that are works of art. Whoever made them must have been a master stone mason. The pools are made from granite rocks that are everywhere around but are skillfully masoned into place to make a mostly smooth bottom. The facilities are clean. The pools are crystal clear.

Cottonwood Hotsprings

The kinda hippie woman at the check in took my money and showed me where the two RV sites were, and suggested I take the second one, which was good advice as it was the more level site. She also fastened a plastic green arm band around my left arm the sort you get at a motorcycle rally, but at this hot springs there were no bikes, and I have a proper scissors to cut the thing off when I leave.

Cottonwood is the most old school spring I have visited. Clothing is optional after dark, but that is  not dark enough for me. The price was high end at $98.00 for the night, but if you like to go naked in a hot spring at 2:00 am you can do it there.