Still in Capulin, pre-dawn, Mike got up to tinkle, and I followed after him. After I had crawled back into bed, I noticed he had looked at his watch and I inquired about the time. Five-thirty, he mumbled. Thirty minutes later I gave up trying to get back to sleep and thought "What the heck, six o'clock - I'll read a while - quietly". After an hour, I find my watch and discover that NOW it was 6:00 am - Mike had been referring to "Texas Time" - it was really 4:30 in New Mexico. By then I was already into my book, sleep was impossible, so I just stayed up.
Three hours later, after breakfast and purchasing the grass fed, free-of-hormones meat that we always get in Capulin, we said goodbye to the Volcano and hit the road.
Crossing Raton Pass into Colorado was uneventful, but again we were following clouds and rain squalls - and glorious coolness (60 degrees). The Spanish Peaks were visible as soon as we crossed into Colorado.
Three hours later, we arrived at our destination in La Veta - the Elk Lodge RV Park - right across the street from a gorgeous golf course and at the base of the West Spanish Peak Mountain. Deer and Elk frolic on the links while golfers play through. Last year I photographed 4 trophy mule deer buck here on our way to Cuchara.
After lunch we set out up the mountain to Cuchara to see if the National Forest Campground was crowded (we plan to go there Sunday and stay for a week). The drive is less than an hour, but we are staying in La Veta because when we ride the train tomorrow, Georgia can't go with us and we want to leave her alone as little as possible).On the way up the winding, switch back road, we rounded a corner and saw a Dodge truck precariously hanging over the edge of the narrow mountain road with two young men clinging to the back of it. Another truck had just arrived from the other direction and its driver was desperately trying to find a way to tow the Dodge off the brink. All he had was some nylon rope.
Meantime the two kids hanging on the back of the Dodge (and their female companion) informed the growing crowd (no one could pass - we were a captive audience) that it was their weight keeping the truck from falling over the edge to the creek 25 feet straight down below.The Good Samaritan in the Ford was worried that the rope would break and possibly do more harm than good. They needed a tow chain, and the one we usually carry in our truck had been removed to wash the bed and was not replaced. We were no help (but I DID grab my camera and begged forgiveness from the hapless hangers-on for taking pictures).
Eventually someone DID arrive with a chain and tow strap, and it was quickly tied to the Dodge and the savior Ford.
With a mighty roar, the Ford pulled the Dodge off the edge of oblivion and disaster was avoided. According to the young people in the truck, they had just parked the truck to photo the creek below and the e-brake was engaged. But with all the rain we've had, it appears as if the edge of the road was mushy, and as the truck started over the edge, the boys jumped on the back to counterbalance it. It was lucky they weren't in it when it started to fall - I doubt this story would have had a happy ending!
We continued up the mountain and discovered that the campground was staying pretty full and we decided to get there soon after 1:00 pm Sunday if possible. The scariest part of our trip is going up this road with a 35 foot RV. The switchbacks are hairpin and harrowing - especially if you encounter someone coming DOWN with an RV. USUALLY those leaving are gone by noon, though, so those arriving get the whole road. USUALLY. We've never had to back up, but we have had some close calls with vehicles NOT pulling RVs. Most people are fairly careful, though.Oh, and we found out that there have been 6 new black bears spotted in the area and one was shot by a camper in the Blue Lake campsite one-and-a-half weeks ago. It is against the law to carry a handgun into a National Park, but the camper WAS NOT ticketed. Don't worry, Mom! We'll be OK!!!! Life on the edge......ha ha ha!
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