Left Grand Junction Tuesday morning and headed east on I-70 as originally planned. Problem is we threw that plan away, concerned with all the weather unrest in mid-country. So, after about 7 mi we jumped off on US 50 that connects the western range of Colorado with the Arkansas Valley and the Front Range, but is a more southern route than I-70. So we drove kinda south and then east through the wonderful Rockies, over Monarch Pass at 11312' and ended up in Pueblo, Co. We stayed at Pueblo Lake State Park last night and again tonight, making our revised (again) plans. You have to have plans so you have something to change - at least that's our motto.
From here it will be east to Lamar, Co and south back to Fort Supply, OK tomorrow. Then on to Sulphur, OK again, and then pretty much on to I-20 and a straight shot towards Jackson where we will probably angle down towards I-10. We have decided to just get home so we can move on with other plans, thus the interstate driving. All this screwy weather has made me wonder what our hurricane season will be and whether we should be home for it anyway.
Today we drove all around Lake Pueblo State Park. The main feature is the Pueblo Dam built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of a massive water diversion program called the Frying Pan/Arkansas Project, or Fry-Ark. (Don't you just love acronyms? This one makes me think of cooking.) This project diverts water from high on the western slopes of the Rockies, under the continental divide to the Arkansas River Basin through 9 tunnels that total over 26 miles to supplement the water poor eastern side of the state. It involves 5 dams, including Pueblo Dam and its terminal reservoir. Water from Pueblo Dam Reservoir continues to feed the Arkansas River that flows downstream to Kansas, the Colorado Fish Hatchery located at the park and at least two aquaduct type ditches that serve multiple municipalities on the eastern side.
The Colorado Parks & Wildlife has leased 5912 acres of land and the 4611 surface acres of water around the dam from the Bureau of Reclamation since 1975 that, along with the adjacent lands owned by them , make up the 12885 acre Pueblo Lake State Park.
Within the park there are 2 marinas, several large boat ramps, 4 campgrounds, group facilities, multiple picnic areas with individual shelters (we are pretty much in the desert here) and a swim beach that is like a giant swimming hole. (It must be very popular as there were multiple parking lots surrounding it.) There is a paved trail, the Pueblo Reservoir Trail, that connects everthing, as well as the paved Pueblo River Trail that connects the park to the city.
We are camped at Arkansas Point campground, right by the south Marina, and the road to the boat ramp was getting high use, even in the middle of the week. The idea of boats in the high desert have always made me smile, but based on the number we have seen in and out here, there are plenty around. Lots to do here and at only 4600' or so, I would guess we will be back.
Just had a very windy front pass over. Winds were rocking the camper and that always gives me concern, but it is gone now and all seems still outside. We are supposed to wake to 48° in the morning, but this area will warm quickly. Enough for tonight. Later...
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