In The Shadow of Longs Peak
John Martin Reservoir
Monday 04 April 2022
After packing up, I decide to do at least some of the planned exploring.
First west, then north to Adobe Reservoir. I found the road north, CR 10 without a problem. All is well at first, but then it seems to be getting more and more remote and more and more rugged. I decide to turn around, but just as I do, there is a HUGE pickup coming my way with an itty-bitty fishing boat! So I am on the right road! But I do continue south, back to US 50. Did I give up too soon? Probably. Need to get my inReach reactivated.
Next Destination: On my way to Adobe, I had seen a sign for ‘Road/ Lane 19 Boat Ramp’ and decided to check it out. From US 50, I turn south. At the next intersection is an abandoned n home where I stopped and took photos, the continue south to the boat ramp. There is a boat ramp and outhouse (not stocked) but the reservoir is far, far away. Based on the nearby vegetation, it does not appear that there has been any water close by for a long time.
After taking pictures, I head back, north, east, and home with a stop at the Queens State Wildlife Area which I think would be a cool place for a day paddle combined with birding.
John Martin Reservoir
03 April 2022 to 04 April 2022
Sunday 03 April 2022
This is the first camping trip of the season and first solo trip of the season.
Really this is the solo retirement outing that I wanted to do a year ago but could not seem to muster the mental or physical energy to pack. I am surprised by how seamless this went together, considering that on Friday, I drove to Denver, bought a boat, came home, unloaded the boat. Then on Saturday, I did catch-up, got groceries, did errands, making soup…all the things that fell by the wayside on Thursday!
I finally started packing around 4pm on Saturday and worked on that till 8 or 9. Packing was finished on Sunday morning followed by loading the car, and was underway by 1 pm only an hour behind my targeted departure time of 12 noon.
I had gotten a camping reservation John Martin Reservoir. After much thought, I decided on a site in the main campground, and pay the fee for electricity, mostly since it looked like there would not be anyone at the primitive area.
It was a five-hour drive, as expected. I took CO 7 to US 85 to E-470 to I-70. Somehow, I missed E-470 exit for I-70 East exit so continued on E-470 for a few miles before exiting and retracing my steps, resulting in an extra $6 on tolls. Oh well!
In Limon, I stop for gas, then followed US 40/ US 287 out of town. For a while I was confused by the mile marker signs. The numbers were 400+ and going up. For US 287, I would have expected the numbers to be under 200 & going down. This remained a mystery until I realized that the mile markers were for US 40, which is east / west, with the mileage starting at the Utah border.
There are wide level open areas of last year’s field grass. Today, they are very bleak with no hints of spring growth, despite it being April. I am surprised that they seem bleak as I do really like open spaces and flat color.
On I go, south on US 287. The towns I pass through are Hugo, Kit Carson, and Eads, Wiley. There was a newspaper stand in Boulder, on the corner of 28th and Canyon that was named Eads. Between Eads and Wiley, I pass Queens State Wildlife Area, on of the places on my drive-by list. There is a sign for a boat ramp and will stop here on my way back. Another drive-by destination is the site of the Sand Creek Massacre but will save that for another time.
As I approach the Arkansas Valley, there is an almost imperceptible charge: The fields are just a bit greener, the hills more rolling, as if the land itself could sniff the moisture from the Arkansas River. This area is irrigated.
Just past Wiley, I could have taken CO 196 west to McClave, but instead continued south to US 50, then west to the town of Hasty, John Martin Reservoir and State Park which is on the south side of Hwy 50.
I regress. About halfway here I observed storm tool clouds, those that look like cow udders that I was told many years ago on a bike ride by an NCAR quy who mentioned they were indicative of turbulent weather. (He also mentioned he was not interested in "single mom types”. His loss!). The forecast was specifically not for rain at Las Animas.
It is still light out, and I am grateful. Hasty Lake Campground is easy to find and is in a delightful setting. I pull into my site, # 94 and am greeted by several electrical boxes and something built into the lake, perhaps and outlet or inlet. Not something they showed in the pictures! There is a flat spot for my tent and a picnic table with a canopy. I contemplate setting up the sunshade but decide against it. It is not sunny, but I seem to have left the stormy clouds behind. For now anyway! And it is not cold.
Work begins to setup the tent. Before long, it starts to sprinkle so I hurry to finish setting up the tent and getting the gear inside. Since it is continuing to sprinkle, I decide to go ahead and make supper, mushroom barley soup, which is outstanding with its earthy taste of mushrooms!
The sprinkles are turning to a light rain. Since it is approaching 8 pm, I decide inside the tent is the best place to stay dry, plus I can read my book. And in no time, it seems like the rain is coming down steadily. Crawling into the tent was a good idea!
Other observations: Just across from my spot is a tree full of big birds, turkey vultures no doubt. Eurasian Collared Doves are cooing. Overnight though, an owl!
In the morning, it is still raining. I get up, head to the bathroom then back to the tent. I decide that if it's still raining at 7.30 I will pack up and go home. By this time, I had already listened to weather radio which mentioned a current front and another moving in. Not quite the same as yesterday’s forecast.