Along the Arkansas River

June 6-7, 2016
Trinidad - Cotapaxi, CO

I don't know how I forgot to include the most exciting part of yesterday's drive! It happened too quickly for photos, and I didn't want to look for my camera and miss it. We saw two Elk cows - and a Baby! They were right along the road and Bill saw them first. We stopped (I might have checked to see if anyone was behind us) and just watched them trot down the ravine and up the other side. It took the little one longer to find its way up, and then find the others through the brush. What a thrill!!

Our last day in Trinidad we hang around home for awhile then take a short drive to the east side of the lake. Look for access to the river, but every foot of it is private property - fenced and signs posted.

Just like we experienced in Oregon and Washington, there is no fishing access here that isn't state or national park land. The days of finding a sweet little pond or creek side to drop a hook in while out driving around seem to be long gone. We are even more appreciative of our public parks now!

The Purgatoire River enters Trinidad Lake here, bringing the mud and silt of the snow runoff. It looks somewhat like mushroom soup. 

Bill sets up to fish for awhile and Tessa and I walk around the water. She seems very interested in a small log.

She usually avoids getting her feet wet at all, but she really wants that piece of wood. One tentative touch, then she steps in.....up to her chin! I miss the photo as I watch her pull herself back on shore. 

Only wet on the front half, and not amused

Instead of log hunting, we return and sit higher up on shore. There are small flowers attracting bees, birds singing among the trees, and tiny ants building their mountain. It's very peaceful here.

The clouds roll in earlier this afternoon. An Airstream, two motorhomes, and a large tent are the only other campers in the park. 

Large drops of rain beat a steady pattern on the roof. Within an hour the wind comes up, hitting us from the side. And then the thunder and lightning put on a hellavu show! The camera is in the Jeep.

I think we must be much more impressed than the tent campers. They ride it out in their car, the tent soaked and laid over in the wind. But their stakes manage to keep it from blowing away which is pretty incredible when the motorhome feels like it may move at any minute. A short burst of small hail rounds out the two hours of excitement, and then the skies clear in time for a washed out sunset. 

Whew! That was.....whew!

Tuesday morning we pull out through a few small puddles, make a quick stop at the dump station, hook up the Jeep, and hit the highway before 10 AM.

CO-69 north to US 50 is a pretty drive through green hills. The narrow, two-lane road climbs steadily from 6100 to 8500 feet, the increasing wind and oncoming 18-wheelers add some excitement.

Our destination is Sweetwater River Ranch Resort. The small park sits on a sliver of land between US 50 and the Arkansas River. More than half the pull-through sites are right on the water, with views of the Rockies. With no amenities other than restrooms and private docks, the $53/night is steep, but you're paying for the amazing location.

Our front yard

Our back yard

Unfortunately the late snow melt has made the river very full and very muddy. Perfect for the dozens of rafting companies in the area, but not for fishing :-(.

Numerous rafts pass by our site 

We still feel welcome :-)

This stop returns us to our original summer route - it's where we would have been these two days even if we didn't do the route change from Page, AZ. Sort of makes me feel like we're "back on track" :-)

There is zero cell service and in-park WiFi doesn't connect so we drive 10 minutes to the wide spot in the road that is the "town" of Cotopaxi. With five bars of 4G, we check in with family and grab a decent burger for lunch. 

US 50 hugs the Arkansas River along this stretch, and the scenery is beautiful in all directions.

We love going to sleep to the sound of the rushing river and the wind in the cottonwood trees.