Latest Fuel Prices

Above, at the Shady Lady Saloon in Silverton, Colorado last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel has posted its Saturday edition of their Latest News Newsletter report.

One item of importance to RVers is the current U.S. average cost of fuel. Happily, it is down quite a bit from last year's price.

According to RV Travel:

Latest fuel prices

Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of June 19, 2023:

Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.58 (Washington state is highest, at $4.77)
Change from week before: Down 2 cents; Change from year before: Down $1.39
Diesel: $3.82
Change from week before: Up 2 cents; Change from year before: Down $2.00

For fuel prices for specific states, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.

In New Mexico, the average gasoline price for unleaded regular is around $3.279/gallon.

For more in today's RV Travel Newsletter, go here. 

Why You Should Travel In Your RV More Often

Above, at the Shady Lady Saloon in Silverton, Colorado last month. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Up until the past few weeks, I have not as much RV travel due to the high gasoline prices.

Now that they've come down by about a dollar per gallon, I have been out in the RV on a couple of trips and will be doing some more this month. 

RV Life has posted an article with 10 reasons one should travel in the RV.

The start it with:

Summer is starting to wind down and the RV travel season tends to go with it. RV owners look at putting their rigs in storage, emptying and winterizing the tanks, and getting ready for the flurry of holidays coming down the pipe.

This is a real shame. When summer winds down, so do the crowds, traffic, park and campground fees, hot weather, and bugs. This not only makes for a more pleasant camping experience, but it also keeps you in the RV mood, no matter what the weather.

Weather and camping conditions are just one reason to travel more in your RV. There are a few others that we want to discuss below, but before we do, we’ll talk about the elephant in the room: fuel costs.

Putting away the RV for the season will definitely save you money on gas and diesel. However, there are other things that will suffer if you quit RVing for the next six to eight months. These include your RV “muscle” memory, your rig’s systems, and even your sanity. These ten reasons go beyond just the price of fuel and cover things you may have never thought of during the RV off-season.

To read more, go here. 

The Drive To Ouray

Above, The Beast and the Shady Lady Saloon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, I am sitting in the motorhome as it is thundering and pouring rain outside at the Ouray (Colorado) KOA Kampground.

I left the house around 6:15 this morning and I reached Ouray at about 12:30. I only made one stop and that was at a cigar shop in Durango.

Above, a mountaintop view of Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The John Wayne Cancer Foundation will be holding its half marathon and 5K run event tomorrow in Ridgway (nine miles from Ouray). I decided to go see it.

The campground's restaurant opens at 5:00, so I only have two hours to wait. 

When I reached Silverton, I took a couple of quick photos of the Shady Lady Saloon and sent them to my former roommate Jessica. She was surprised to learn I was in Silverton. Now a restaurant, the Shady Lady Saloon was the last brothel in Silverton. It was built in 1888.

Above, The Beast at the Ouray KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I got into Ouray, I went over to the county courthouse that was used in True Grit (1969). I wanted to see the courtroom that was used in the movie. But, unfortunately, the courthouse is open on Mondays through Thursdays. So I was out of luck. It was also closed when I was in Ouray two years ago.

Above, the Ouray KOA store, office and restaurant from my campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Check-in at the KOA was fast and easy. The site I was assigned is a very short walk to the office/store and restaurant.

The Shady Lady Saloon In Silverton, Colorado

One business in Silverton, Colorado that caught our attention was the Shady Lady Saloon.

It is currently a family restaurant at 1154 Blair Street. But it wasn't always family oriented.

According to the Silverton Chamber of Commerce:

The Shady Lady building was built in 1888.  It was the last brothel to operate in Silverton CO.  This historic building now operates as a fun, family owned restaurant and saloon that is OPEN year around.  

Before we boarded the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for the return trip to Durango, I snapped this photo of the Shady Lady Saloon:

Above, once a brothel, the Shady Lady Saloon is now a family restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.