THE DRIVE THAT ALMOST DID ME IN!!!!

Yesterday, I left Colorado City, Colorado (like you couldn’t have figures that one out on your own) and drove to Grand Junction, Colorado. I had asked about the two interstates 50 & 70. Interstate 50 I was told was a beautiful drive where as 70 was just a freeway. Also I had to backtrack north to Denver to take 70. When I put both routes into my trip planning from AAA the hours of driving were the same – 5 ½ - but 70 was an additional 120 kms. So I decided to take 50 because that is what this trip is about – seeing the back roads. It was a fabulous day – sunny and warm. The scenery was spectacular. There was not very much traffic and certainly no semis. This was going to be a great drive. YEAH, NOT SO MUCH.

Go grab a map and follow along with me, boys & girls!!! From Colorado City I drove north to Pueblo which is a delightful city. I then turned west and I was on 50 which would take me all the way to Grand Junction. Do you have your map ready??? Lovely smooth drive and then I go through Gold Belt Recreation Area where they ski in the winter. To ski you need elevation but this was an easy climb up and a smooth drive down. Then comes Poncha Pass at 9,010 ft. Not so smooth going up and pretty much the same coming down. Then I hit the Rocky Mountains (I am an idiot – where did I think they were) and Monarch Pass which is 11,312 ft. Now you might think that since the last pass was 9,101 ft. that I only needed to drive up the difference of 2,311 ft. WELL, YOU’RE WRONG! I had to drive up the entire 11,312 ft. AND THEN WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN!! Okay, I got that out of the way and now I am on the other side of the Rockies so easy peasy. Except for West Elk Mountains and further along Black Canyon.

By this point, I have been driving for 8 hours and I finally got to within 60 miles of Grand Junction on a nice level stretch when ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. A guy honked as he passed me and pointed out that I have a tire problem. I pulled over and got out. The truck tires on the driver’s side are good and the truck tires on the passenger side are good and the trailer tires are – HOLY CRAP one of the tires has all the rubber blown off and I am driving on the big rim. I grab my trailer keys and go inside to get the road side assistances information. I have BCAA (thanks to Elaine), I have CoachNet (thanks to the RV dealer) and I have OnStar (this one is all mine). I decide to call CoachNet and just as I start to call their number, a young guy does a U-turn and he stops and tells me he can put on the spare. I collapse with relief and 20 minutes later (and some cash lighter – not that he even asked) I am off. I get a new tire and rim and I finally get to the KOA 9 ½ hours after leaving Colorado City.

The motto is: Some days you’re the bat and some days you’re the ball and, like yesterday, you’re the only fire hydrant in a busy dog park!!!