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. 

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.

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. 

Durango Train Schedule For 2025 Released

Above, the Durango train at High Line with the Animas River 400 feet below. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although we're near the end of February, it is time to plan one's summer vacation trip.

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has announced their Summer 2025 schedule. There's several different train trips to choose from.

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

From the official website:

Embark on an Incredible Journey Through the San Juan Mountains

For a truly unforgettable step back in time, enjoy a leisurely trip to yesteryear riding 3 1/2 hours each way on this train while spending a nearly 2 hour layover in the historic mining town of Silverton to enjoy the sights, shopping, food, and libations that Silverton offers. We’ve been in continuous operation running trains on this 45-mile branch of the original Denver & Rio Grande Railway since 1882. Much of the scenery remains unchanged since those historic days. There’s no cell service or Wi-Fi throughout the Animas Canyon so you’ll be unplugged from the modern world. Soak in the views, listen as the steam whistle echoes through the canyon, hear the vintage locomotive work to pull the train up the grades. If you long to unwind and enjoy Colorado nature at its finest, this is the trip for you.

Above, the Durango train in Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whatever excursion one chooses, it is a great ride. Who knows, one may even get to see Sasquatch!

To see the schedule and book a trip, go here. 

Gulf Oil Left Shiprock, New Mexico

Above, the Gulf station in Shiprock, New Mexico four years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Four years ago, a friend and I were heading back to Jamestown, New Mexico after a camping vacation trip to Durango, Colorado and Mesa Verde National Park.

Along the way we drove through Shiprock, New Mexico and noticed a Gulf gasoline station. It had been decades since we've seen a Gulf station as they left the California (where I used to live) market. I took some pictures of it.

Yesterday, I took the same route while on my way home. I needed gasoline for the motorhome and I was thinking about going to the Gulf station in Shiprock. I didn't see it.

I stopped at a McDonalds in town for a snack and asked one of the workers which way was is the Gulf station. He said they are no longer there and the station has changed to a Shamrock gasoline station. 

As all gas stations in Shiprock were selling gas for around $3.359/gallon, I ended up getting gas at a Marathon gas station. 

Good thing I took some photos of the Gulf station four years ago since it is now history.

Sasquatch Spotted From Durango Train

Over the years, I have ridden on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad trains several times. The views from the train as it travels on rocky cliffs along the Animas River are spectacular.

The following is something I have never seen while aboard the train. 

Some passengers were trying to spot some elk but they something else. Sasquatch! This took place last year in October.

Here's a video they shot:

Speaking of Sasquatch, there is a camping trailer company in Silverton called Sasquatch Campers. I spotted it today as I was driving to Ouray.

Made It Into Colorado

 

Above, the fall colors are evident along Hwy. 550 outside of Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I made it into Ouray, Colorado. I am at the Ouray KOA Holiday. It was a 250-mile drive.

The site I was given has to be the nicest one of the three times I've stayed there. It is a nice back-in site right next to a creek. It is relaxing hearing the gurgling water as it flows behind my motorhome. 

Above, the campsite at the Ouray KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I reached the KOA at about noon. 

I did stop in Silverton for some coffee and a blueberry muffin at the coffee shop of the Grand Imperial Hotel. It was a nice little pit stop.

Above, the creek behind my campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After that, I headed off for the 25 mile drive to Ouray. The John Wayne Cancer Foundation Grit Series marathon will be held tomorrow 11 miles west of Ridgway. Ridgway is nine miles from Ouray.

Above, the main drag of Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am just going to spend today just relaxing at camp. 

On the way, I saw the 9:00 Durango train north of Durango. It is on its way to Silverton.

Above, inside Silverton's Grand Imperial Hotel during my coffee stop. 

The fall colors are very evident in Colorado. Many people stopped in turnouts to take pictures of the trees. I took some as I was heading out of Silverton. 

Above, the 9:00 Silverton train along Hwy. 550. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following the marathon, I will be heading to Monument Valley Tribal Park in Utah. 

Guide To Mesa Verde National Park For First-Timers

Above, Square Tower House at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living in the Four Corners region of the U.S. (where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet) gives me easy access to places such as Durango, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. Each are roughly a 3-hour drive from home.

Mesa Verde National Park is situated near Cortez, Colorado. I have been there several times, including camping there twice. My most recent visit was four years ago.

For those who have never been there, Lonely Planet has posted a guide for first-timers.

It begins with:

Around the year 550 CE, the Ancestral Pueblo people began settling in what is today southwest Colorado. Here, on a slightly sloping section of the Colorado Plateau, they farmed, made pottery, wove baskets, and built sprawling villages within the canyon walls.

Then, around 1300 CE, they moved away and never returned. It’s not clear why the Ancestral Pueblo deserted the place that had been their home for roughly 700 years. But they left behind many clues about their rich cultural heritage, which today’s archaeologists are still eagerly studying.

Recognizing the value of the Ancestral Puebloan’s artifacts and cliff dwellings, President Theodore Roosevelt created Mesa Verde National Park in 1906. It was the first national park to “preserve the works of man,” as Roosevelt said, in addition to natural resources. The park protects nearly 5000 archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde is one of four national parks in Colorado. Though it’s the farthest from Denver, this archaeological marvel is well worth the extra drive time. Here’s what to know as you start planning your first visit.

To read more, go here. 

Colorado River Rafting Looks Promising

Above, yours truly rafting the Snake River in 2019.

The last time I went river rafting was in 2019 in Jackson, Wyoming on the Snake River. It was an enjoyable rafting trip and remarkable as it was a year after my heart attack in Wells, Nevada.

I went with the Dave Hansen Whitewater Adventures.

This year, rafting may be on the agenda in neighboring Colorado. The Animas River near Durango is a possibility. I rafted on the Animas River out of Durango twice, but those trips were during the 1980s.

This year, Colorado river conditions look promising, especially in the northern part of the state.

According to VailDaily:

Early indications suggest Colorado could have a very good rafting season through spring and into the summer, especially in the northern half of the state.

Predicting seasonal rafting conditions is difficult because factors besides snowpack depths always come into play, such as temperature trends, which affect the rate of runoff, as well as the amount and timing of monsoon moisture in the summer. At the moment, though, things look promising.

To read more, go here. 

Trip Planning: What Will Be The Cost of Fuel?

Above, at the Bar D Chuckwagon show and dinner in Durango in 2022.

A couple of years ago, I was planning to take an RV vacation trip in eastern Wyoming and the Black Hills areas of South Dakota.  

Unfortunately, the high price of gasoline at the time stymied those plans, so I took a vacation trip with my former roommate Jessica to Durango, Colorado to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and camp at Navajo Lake in New Mexico. Both are only a few hours drive from home.

Now is the time where people begin their planning for a summer vacation trip. One consideration is the cost of gasoline and diesel. 

RV Travel takes a look at how much it could cost to fill up the gas or diesel tank for the trip.

They begin with:

As the weather warms up (more) across the country, a lot of RVers are in the trip-planning phase. One of the big questions that takes center stage: How much will it cost to fill up the motorhome or the tow rig? We’ve probed the petroleum prognosticators to try and get a feel for what you might pay this summer. Depending on who you ask, fueling up may not be so bad.

 To read more, go here.

No More Red Cliff Rum

Last September, when I went to Ridgway, Colorado for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's "Grit Series" marathon, I stopped at Honeyville in Durango to pick up a bottle of Red Cliffs Rum.

Unfortunately, they no longer brew it. They said that it didn't sell enough to continue.

The last bit of it in the last bottle I had was finished up this morning. 

Cheers!

RV Driving On Winding Roads

Above, the Million Dollar Highway south of Ouray, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have done my share of driving winding roads. Most recently, I drove Highway 550 (which includes the Million Dollar Highway) from Durango to Ridgway, Colorado in my Class C motorhome. 

I also did a lot of winding road driving through Arizona and the western edge of New Mexico while driving to and from Tombstone and Tucson back in April. The motorhome handled the roads well and the 10 cylinder Ford Triton engine took the upgrades just fine.

Do It Yourself RV has posted some tips on driving safely on winding roads in an RV.

They begin with:

Safely navigating winding roads in your RV is crucial, especially if you’re keen on venturing into the mountains, valleys, and remote areas. The essence of owning an RV is to explore, and winding roads are a part of that journey. With careful planning and honed driving skills, these challenges can be safely overcome.

The weight of your vehicle plays a significant role when tackling winding roads, especially those with a grade. Most winding roads have switchbacks due to the practicalities of construction. When traveling on such roads, be conscious of gravitational and centrifugal forces, which increase with your vehicle’s weight.

Factors like elevation and the steepness of the grade are other critical considerations. For instance, elevations in the Rocky Mountains can reach up to 14,000 feet, affecting braking.

To read more, go here. 

High Dump Station Fees Discussed

Above, the dump station at Malibu Creek State Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The topic of campground charges for using their dump station came up at RV Travel.

This involves people stopping at a campground that they're not staying at while on the road. I had to do this in September while on the way home from Ridgway, Colorado. The sewer cap at my campsite was wedged tight and so was the empty neighboring campsite's. I decided I wasn't going to waste my time in struggling to get one or the other off. So I just left.

Along the way, I stopped at Alpen Rose RV Park in Durango and used theirs. They charged a fee of $15.00, even though I was in their computer as a two-time customer. I'm used to $10.00 fees for dump station usage, but felt $15.00 wasn't too outrageous. So I paid it, emptied my tanks and was on my way.

When I lived in California, I would use the dump station at the Malibu Creek State Park Campground. A $5.00 fee was charged.

The article begins with a couple's experience with a KOA Kampground that charged them $50.00 to use their dump station.

Here's a snippet:

John and Casey reported, “KOA charged us $50 to empty our tanks yesterday. Is that the going rate now?”

“Hold on,” Cliff interrupted. “You mean all you did was dump your holding tanks? $50 is outrageous!

In agreement about dump station fees

Almost everyone around the campfire agreed that KOA’s fee was far too expensive. Newbies Jeff and Marla wondered, “Why not just empty tanks at the campground where you spend the night?” Cliff explained that often small-town parks, for example, may not offer sewer hookups or a dump station.

There were reasons given why fees are charged by campgrounds. They include inconsiderate campers, environmental regulations and to help pay for amenities.

To read more, go here.

No More Red Cliffs Rum

Above, Honeyville in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things I always do whenever I am in Durango, Colorado is to stop at Honeyville at the north end of town to pick up a bottle of Red Cliffs rum. This I did during my trip to Ridgway or, at least, tried to do.

Honeyville discontinued it.

They said that they weren't selling enough to continue it, so they stopped brewing it last year.

Above, getting some Red Cliffs rum last year at Honeyville.

It was a great-tasting rum with some spice to it. It was better, in my opinion, than the rum I bought in Cuba in 2019.

This was definitely disappointing. 

Home Again

Above, at the Ross Family ranch set from True Grit (1969).

This morning, I headed out of Colorado for New Mexico.

Before leaving, I was going to empty the motorhome's holding tanks, but the cap to the outlet (or is it inlet?) was stuck tight. So I decided to skip it and find an RV dump station along the way.

I got on the road at about 7:00 this morning. The drive was a pleasant one with a mix of pine trees and aspens, which were in their fall colors.

Above, the house used as the Ross Family home in True Grit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The price for gasoline in Colorado was over $4.04/gallon, so I decided to get gasoline in Farmington, New Mexico for $3.99. The drive was mostly downhill and I was able to coast the motorhome. I had over a quarter tank of gas starting out of Ridgway. When I reached Farmington, I had just under a quarter tank.

Above, the Welcome To Colorado sign on Highway 140. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I took the longer, but more scenic Highway 140 out of Colorado to Farmington. I tried to go to the Fort Lewis Country Store, but I couldn't locate it and there were no cars around to indicate where it was. So I gave up.

Before leaving Colorado, as I was entering Durango, I saw the 8:30 Durango train heading out of town. 

Above, at Alpen Rose RV Park in Durango. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I decided to use the dump station at Alpen Rose RV Park in Durango. I've stayed there twice. So I paid their fee and emptied the holding tanks. Since the nighttime temperatures are dropping, it is best to keep the tanks empty.

I got home at 1:25. Before reaching home, I stopped at Big Ass Burger in Thoreau to get a cheeseburger and their famous curly fries.

All in all, it was a good trip.

"National Lampoon's Vacation" 40 Years Ago

Above, the Durango train at High Line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe that it was 40 years ago (July 29, 1983 to be exact) that National Lampoon's Vacation was released. 

That summer, I took a vacation trip to the Southwest/Four Corners region that included Grand Canyon National Park; Durango, Colorado (I took my first ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad); Four Corners Monument; and Zion National Park.

After I got home from the trip, I went over to the theaters in Manhattan Village to see the movie. The scene outside of the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon caught my attention as I was at that spot only days before. 

Time sure does fly!

May As Well Stay Home

Above, Durango's Alpen Rose RV Park fishing pond. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the past several days, I had been thinking about taking a trip to Durango, Colorado to escape the heat. I just checked the weather forecast for Durango and it is no better than Jamestown, New  Mexico.

Durango is just as hot and has chances of thundershowers.

According to the National Weather Service, here's the Durango forecast this week:

Tonight

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Monday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Light and variable wind becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Light and variable wind becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Breezy.

Wednesday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Breezy.

Thursday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

I may as well stay home and save some money. Oh, well. So much for that idea.

High Altitude RVing

Above, camping in Durango, Colorado, which is at 6,522 feet above sea level. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I live at 7,000 feet above sea level, higher altitudes have not been a problem for me. I've gotten used to it. That includes camping at those same altitudes.

But here are some people who may encounter high altitude sickness and other issues.

RV Life reviews camping at high altitudes and potential risks involved.

They begin with:

Camping In The Mountains? Here’s What You Should Know About RVing At High Elevations

RVing offers a unique and exciting opportunity to explore diverse landscapes. Your journey will likely take you through various terrains, including breathtaking mountainous regions. While these high altitudes provide access to mesmerizing views and plenty of campgrounds, it’s important to remember that RVing at such heights presents its own set of challenges and is not always an easy ride.

It takes time for our bodies to adjust to elevation changes. Rushing into steep inclines can cause serious medical issues, especially if you already suffer from health problems. In addition, many devices aren’t designed for high altitudes. They may malfunction or behave in strange ways.

Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about extreme altitude effects in most parts of the United States. But it’s still good to be aware of the risks and learn some ways to treat/prevent the side effects. Below, we’ll explore everything you need to know about RVing at a high altitude.

To read more, go here.