Your GPS Could Be Leading You Into Trouble

Above, on the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I am on an RV road trip, I take routes that are easily mapped.

I keep a RV road atlas in my motorhome and check routes with it before even leaving the driveway. After doing that, I use the free Google Maps app on my phone. I have never encountered any problems of any major consequence. One gitch was that a friend and I were using Google Maps to go to a restaurant but the directions were goofed up and we ended up circling around a Houston airport parking lot. We never found the restaurant.

There are some people who have encountered major glitch errors with the GPS system they're using. 

That is the topic of an article in RV Travel. 

They begin with:

Most RVers trust their RV GPS navigation. They also have at least one story about it being spectacularly wrong. Maybe it routed you toward a low bridge, down a dead-end road or to the back gate of a campground instead of the office. Chances are you caught the mistake before it became an expensive lesson. Not everyone does.

A recent highway closure involving a commercial truck that apparently followed GPS directions onto an unsuitable route is another reminder that navigation apps are remarkably helpful—but they aren’t perfect. While truck drivers have wrestled with bad GPS routing for years, RVers face many of the same challenges.

To read more, go here. 

RV Travel Poll: How Interested Are You In Riding Scenic/Tourist Railroads?

Above, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at High Line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the joys of travel has to include riding on scenic/tourist railroad.

I've ridden a few, such as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado, the 1880 Train in South Dakota, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad in California and others.

Above, at one point, the Durango train is 300 feet above the Animas River. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel posted a poll asking readers how interested they are in riding scenic/tourist railroads.

They begin it with:

How interested are you in riding scenic or tourist railroads? Maybe you’ve already crossed a few famous routes off your bucket list, or perhaps you’ve never really given them much thought. Either way, we’d love to know where you stand.

There’s something undeniably nostalgic about traveling by train. Instead of white-knuckle traffic, endless construction zones, and watching your fuel gauge creep toward empty, you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery rolling by. Some of the most famous tourist railroads wind through breathtaking mountain passes, hug dramatic coastlines, cross towering bridges, or travel through places that aren’t accessible by road at all.

To read more and participate in the poll, go here. 

Open Campgrounds, But No Water

Above, camping at a Ridgway, Colorado RV park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Checking into a campground and finding that the water system has been shut off has not occurred in my experience. That's not to say that the possibility doesn't exist.

In the Four Corners region, we are facing drought conditions and that has led to some campgrounds to shut off their water. 

RV Travel posted an article on this topic.

They begin it with:

Campground water availability is something most RVers rarely think about until it’s gone. Most travelers assume that if a campground is accepting reservations, basic services such as water will be available when they arrive. Increasingly, that’s not always a safe assumption.

Recent reports from Colorado describe campgrounds that remain open even though water systems have been shut down because of drought conditions. In some cases, visitors are being warned to bring their own water or prepare for limited services.

While the situation is unfolding in Colorado, the lesson applies almost anywhere. Water shortages, well failures, infrastructure problems, wildfire impacts, and maintenance issues can all affect campground services, sometimes with little notice.

For RVers, that means an open campground doesn’t necessarily mean a fully functioning campground.

To read more, go here. 

Arizona Was Home To These Iconic Western Movies

Above, Monument Valley's West and East Mittens. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living just 40 miles from the New Mexico/Arizona border on Interstate 40 has some great advantages. I can visit places in nearby states where classic westerns were filmed.

The region is best known as Four Corners, wherein four states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah) meet up.

Over the years, the Four Corners has been home to many movie locations and sets. Monument Valley and Old Tucson come immediately to mind. I have been to both. Monument Valley straddles the Arizona/Utah border.

Above, a familiar hotel and saloon set at Old Tucson Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

AZCentral posted a list of movie sets used in westerns.

They begin with:

From shootouts and saloons to barren desert landscapes and iconic red rocks, Arizona has been home to some of the most memorable scenes in Western films.

Many Old West movies, from "Stagecoach" and "Tombstone" to "The Outlaw," were filmed at locations you can still visit today. Stars from John Wayne and Kurt Russel to Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra have also graced the Grand Canyon State filming locations.

While some of the sets have been adapted for tourists, other stops remain exactly the same.

So are you in the mood for a walk down memory lane? Here are Western film sets you can visit in Arizona.

To read more, go here. 

DOJ Sues Denver Over Unconstitutional Weapons Bans

Colorado was once a red state (i.e., Republican), but Democrat liberals have moved into this state and now are inflicting their ideology on the people there.

The Second Amendment rights of Colorado's citizens are under attack. Now, the Denver city council is trying to ban so-called assault weapons and now are being sued by the Trump Department of Justice.

From Justice.gov:

Today, the Justice Department filed suit against the City of Denver, Colorado alleging that the City unconstitutionally bans certain constitutionally protected semi-automatic rifles. These laws unconstitutionally infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms in common use for lawful purposes.

As the complaint explains, the City enforces an ordinance that makes it a crime to possess so-called “assault weapons.” But that the City’s ban includes AR-15-style rifles, which are the most popular rifles in America. Law-abiding Americans own tens of millions of rifles like those banned by the City.  

“The Constitution is not a suggestion and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Denver's ban on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles directly violates the right to bear arms. This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the liberties of law-abiding citizens nationwide.”

To read more, go here. 

Durango Train Summer Season Has Started

Above, with the Animas River below, the Durango train is at High Line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although we just entered into the month of May, it is summer train season for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad of southwestern Colorado.

According to the official website, the season this year runs May 2 – November 1st, 2026.

I last rode the train to Silverton in 2022. I am thinking of either doing so again or ride aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. I haven't ridden on that one yet. Both are within a day's drive from home.]

Above, Jessica and I at the Bar D Chuckwagon show in 2022.

There are other things to do in Durango, such as taking in a barbecue show at the Bar D Chuckwagon. The food is good and there is much to see and do there.

Above, the Bar D Chuckwagon dinner show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For more information on riding the Silverton train, go here.

Heat Wave Over Weekend

Above, the Durango train departing the Durango Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's high temperature is forecast to reach 80°. That's according to the National Weather Service.

The temperature is expected to reach 80° or more this weekend as well. I guess Spring came a little bit early this year.

Also, the National Weather Service posted the following:

Early Spring Heat Wave in the Southwest U.S.; Critical Fire Weather in the Central Rockies and Plains

An unusual early Spring heat wave will continue much above-normal temperatures over the Southwest U.S. through early next week. Many locations are likely to set records for the highest-ever March temperature. Periods of critical fire weather will persist from the central Rockies to the central Plains through Saturday as gusty winds and low relative humidity continue.

Although we need more precipitation, the warmer temperatures are welcome as we've had to bundle up all Winter. 

As for the coming summer, as the new roof expense put a big crimp in my finances, I may just take short and local vacation trips. Durango, Colorado is at the top of my list. It is only a few hours away.

Buc-ee's Gets "F" Rating From Better Business Bureau

Last summer, while driving home from South Dakota, we saw many signs along Interstate 25 in Colorado advertising Buc-ee's travel center. The location advertised was in Berthoud, Colorado. We didn't stop.

I have never stopped at one. But according to the following, maybe I dodged a bullet in not doing so.

RV Travel reported:

Buc-ee’s has long been a cult favorite for some road trippers and RVers. Buc-ee’s offers travelers enormous stores, miles of snacks, barbecue, and famously clean restrooms.

Lately, though, the glow has dimmed. Recently, the chain was given an “F” grade by the Better Business Bureau. That’s quite a fall from the company’s ranking just last year.

To read more, go here. 

 

How Aging Affects Our Driving

Above, driving into Silverton, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I have reached my 70s, I have noticed that my stamina isn't what it used to be. That especially goes for RV driving.

I used to be able to drive 400 miles with no effort, but during the last few years, I have had to stop halfway through for an overnight break. If I had a good night's sleep the night before, it is a lot easier. 

I recently drove from Des Moines, Iowa to Orange County, California. It was easier than I thought it would be, but I still to take breaks and end my driving days at around 3:00 in the afternoon. 

RV Travel posted an article on how aging affects our driving.

They begin it with:

Most RVtravel.com readers are 55 or older and qualify as senior citizens. They’re also keenly aware that their bodies change with time… and that includes how they drive.

As we age, joints may stiffen, and muscles can weaken. Turning your head to check a blind spot may take more effort. Reaction time can slow, and quick moves—like slamming on the brakes or correcting a skid—may not come as easily as they once did.

Vision and hearing also change with age. Older eyes typically need more light to see clearly, yet they’re often more sensitive to glare from the sun, oncoming headlights, or reflective road signs at night. Hearing loss can make it harder to notice sirens, horns, or unusual mechanical sounds coming from your rig. The normal aging process can also slow reflexes and shorten attention span, making it harder to juggle multiple tasks at once, like navigating, watching traffic, and monitoring a large RV’s mirrors all at the same time.

To read the full article, go here. 

Patrick Wayne and Stephanie Powers Reuniting January 11

Above, yours truly with Patrick Wayne in Colorado in 2022.

If I were still living in Los Angeles, I would likely attend this event in North Hollywood on January 11.

Patrick Wayne and Stephanie Powers, co-stars in the 1963 John Wayne feature McLintock! will be appearing at the El Portal Theater. 

They will be doing a one-night performance reading of Love Letters. The performance is to benefit the William Holden Wildlife Foundation.

The official John Wayne website posted the following:

For more information, go here.

9 Most Eccentric Towns in Colorado

Above, Ouray, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we're in a new year, it is a good idea to plan this coming summer's vacation for the family.

One great idea is to visit some "eccentric" towns in Colorado. That's what WorldAtlas calls them.

Above, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train at High Line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

They include Durango, Carbondale, Ouray, Manitou Springs and others in a article. Most of them (if not all) have RV parks nearby.

They start it off with:

Colorado welcomes newcomers with its wide peaks, long history, and lively local quirks. More than a friendly landscape of adventures and surprises, travelers will find several eccentric towns to explore in 2026, spread from the snow-capped Rockies to the rugged San Juan ridges. Amid forested valleys and beside clear alpine lakes, each small town offers its own story and attractions. Today, these eccentric Colorado towns greet visitors not as ghost towns but as active centers of history, hospitality, and adventure. 

To read more, go here. 

Beautiful and Historic Train Stations To Visit

Above, Union Station in Los Angeles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hard to believe, but I have been somewhat a train buff. I enjoy riding them and photographing them.

Another part of being a train buff is visiting historic train stations. The biggest train station I've been to was Union Station in Los Angeles. The smallest one has to be the Gallup train station. The most I've been to were train stations servicing bullet trains (Shinkansens) in Japan.

Above, the Durango (Colorado) train station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

That is the topic of an article by Gail Marsh at RV Travel. She spotlights several train stations that she recommends visiting.

The article begins with:

No matter where your next RV adventure takes you, there’s probably a wonderful train station along your route.

Whether it’s a grand megalopolis station or a small local depot, each train station is unique and special because it tells a story about our country’s history. These are places where bold civic ambition met architecture; where marble and tile still hold stories of migration, commerce, and travel.

Let’s look at five train stations. Each of these stations is located in areas that offer many, many things to see and do. I hope you’ll take time to visit these historic train stations along with other nearby attractions. Why? Because each station has the potential to roll back time to the days when trains ruled the travel industry.

To read more, go here. 

Buying The Rockies

Last evening, I was watching Buying Alaska. When the last episode ended, it switched to another show by the same producers, Buying The Rockies.

It is the same format as Buying Alaska, but the focus was on the Rocky Mountains that stretch from Montana down to New Mexico. The episodes I saw were in Colorado.

According to IMDb;

Follow unconventional house-hunters as they set out to buy their piece of the American in dream in log cabins amidst the Rocky Mountains.

Here's a snippet of an episode I watched last evening:

Happy Veterans Day!

 

Campground Reviews Posted

Above, Moab KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since returning from the 12-day trip to Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota and Colorado, I have campground reviews posted at RV Life Campground Reviews.

During the trip, we stayed at eight campgrounds, most of them were KOA Kampgrounds.

The KOA Kampgrounds were (in order of stays):

• Moab, Utah
• Vernal, Utah
• Cody, Wyoming
• Deadwood, Wyoming
• Hardin, Montana
• Devils Tower, Wyoming
• Colorado Springs, Colorado

The non-KOA campground:

Eagle RV Park, Thermopolis, Utah

To access RV Life Campground Reviews, go here. 

Poll: Who will decide when to hang up your RV keys?

Above, at camp at Basecamp 550 in Ridgway, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer

When will one decide to hang up the RV key?

At 71, I noticed during the past few trips that I didn't have the stamina for 400+ mile drives. I was able to do so without batting an eye before. These days, I have gone at least half way and stop for the night before pressing on.

I have chalked that up to getting a lousy night's sleep the night before. It could also be that age is catching up.

This is the topic of a new RV Travel poll: Who will decide when to hang up your RV keys?

They begin with:

“It’s time.” That’s what dear RVing friends recently told us. My first thoughts, I’ll admit, were selfish ones. “Who will play cards with us on rainy days? Spontaneously join in a last-minute motorcycle ride? Or take my husband fishing?”

Recovering from the unexpected announcement, I wondered how our friends arrived at the decision to stop RVing. I thought about our own eventuality. Who will determine when it’s time to hang up the RV keys?

To participate in the poll and to read more, go here. 

Poll: Do You Enjoy Visiting 'haunted' or Spooky Locations?

Above, the grave of Bela "Dracula" Lugosi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel has posted a poll asking, Do You Enjoy Visiting 'haunted' or spooky locations?

Personally, the only place I've been to that may qualify as a spooky location was the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. Other than that, I can't think of any other place.

When I was 15, I worked at a convalescent hospital as a dishwasher when I saw a metal dessert cup move by itself on a counter. But that was at work and not on a trip. 

Above, Cedar Hill Cemetery in Ouray, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I did take a Dearly Departed Tour of cemeteries containing celebrity graves about ten years ago. 

The poll begins with:

During your RV travels, do you enjoy visiting “haunted” or just plain spooky locations? These could be old cemeteries, old, haunted mansions, abandoned mental institutions, old jails/prisons, or anything else along those lines.

If you do enjoy visiting those kinds of places, do you seek them out on your travels, or do you only visit them if you come across them along your route or at your destination?

There are many places around the U.S. (and world!) that claim to be “haunted.” Have you ever visited a haunted location and had a ghostly or creepy experience?

To read more and take part in the poll, go here. 

11 Crucial Tips For High Altitude Camping

Above, at the Ouray, Colorado KOA Kampground. Ouray is at 7,792 feet in elevation. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My RV travels have been varied. 

I have camped at sea level (or close to it) and in higher elevations. I have had no problems with either, but that's not to say that others (or myself) may encounter issues with higher elevations.

That is the topic of an article in RV Travel. They provide 11 crucial tips for high altitude camping.

They begin with:

Life on the road brings all sorts of surprises, especially when exploring the mountains in an RV. Bob and Karri from Life Redesigned know this firsthand after three years of crossing the country from north to south and everywhere in between. Their latest adventures at Black Canyon National Park in Colorado inspired a list of the most important things every RVer should know about high-altitude camping.

Altitude doesn’t just change the view; it affects everything you bring with you. RV engines, generators, appliances, and even your own camera notice when the air gets thin. Less oxygen means engines and generators have less power, making uphill climbs and regular tasks tougher. Travelers may feel it, too, with breathing getting harder and simple activities becoming more tiring.

To read more, go here. 

Surviving Wolf Creek Pass

Above, at a pull-out after traversing Wolf Creek Pass. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2016, I drove a cross-country trip to Metropolis, Illinois to attend the celebration of life for actress Noel Neill (the original Lois Lane) in the RV. 

While on the trip, I made some detours to such places as Graceland in Memphis, the Lincoln Library & Museum and gravesite in Springfield, Illinois and the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas, just to name a few.

The route going west had me on U.S. 160 through Wolf Creek Pass. The road itself was no problem, but it was very windy, enough so that I considered pulling over and waiting it out. But I pressed on to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. There, I treated myself to some coffee and some dessert. 

RV Travel has posted an article on Wolf Creek Pass by Nanci Dixon. It includes C. W. McCall's song video, "Wolf Creek Pass".

It begins with:

My husband and I drove our 40-foot motorhome towing a pickup truck down one of the most dangerous highways in Colorado, Wolf Creek Pass, and lived to tell the tale. This pass has a switchback curve at the top and a 200-foot drop-off. Forget the guardrails here, you’d go off the cliff!

Before we drove the pass, Googling Colorado US 160 brought me to the Colorado Department of Transportation article about runaway and rollover semis on Wolf Creek Pass. 47 semis in four years went over! Not the most convincing or calming…

 To read more, go here.

Campground Bans Tents After A Bear's Visit

Above, a mother bear and her cub in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As far as I know, my campsites never received a visit by a bear while I was camping in a tent or in an RV. 

I have camped in bear country a few times. One can tell by the signs and having a bear-proof food storage locker at the campsite. 

Above, the bear-proof food storage locker at my campsite in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

However, recently some kids sleeping in a tent in a Colorado campground received a midnight visit by a black bear. Nobody was hurt and the kids took the incident in stride.  

RV Travel posted an article on the incident.

They begin it with:

When a black bear poked its nose—and claws—into a tent where two kids were sleeping at Difficult Campground near Aspen, Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service decided that “difficult” was a little too “on the nose.” The result: an emergency ban on tents and other soft-sided shelters at the site, effective immediately.

To read more, go here.