Well, we've been in the Longmont CO for almost 3 weeks now. Truck suspension system (Force Flex) is now installed and we're ready to hit the road. Oh yeah, except they are all closed in the direction we want to go.
Last night we were told to evacuate the campground we were in, Dale could see the water from the St. Vrain River from the end of the dump station so we ended up in a big box store parking lot with about 8 other RVs. Plan was to leave this morning and head west.
I-25 northbound closed due to flooding, parts of I-70 Westbound closed due to landslides, flooding, etc.
Guess we're stuck here for a while longer. Don't get me wrong, we love Colorado, but we were only supposed to be here a week, then we were supposed to head to California for an art show that we cancelled. Right now we just want to get somewhere a little warmer and drier. After all we could have stayed in Seattle if we wanted wet weather.
Right now we're thankful to be safe and learning to be patient with yet more changes in our plans.
-- Edited by NWescapee on Friday 13th of September 2013 09:06:38 AM
Loretta said
04:25 PM Sep 13, 2013
Wow. My niece and her family live in Ft. Collins and they were told to evacuate also. Stay safe, I am sure you will be able to travel soon.
bjoyce said
04:55 PM Sep 13, 2013
It is hard to believe what a bit of rain will do. The Escapees Co-op in Lakewood (Carlsbad), NM required helicopter rescues. We were in Loveland two years ago and it was dry, 70s and sunny.
MarkS said
05:47 PM Sep 13, 2013
Gotta love that Colorado weather. My sister lives in Loveland and would love to see the sun. Being born and raised in Denver, I can tell you this is uncommon weather. However, when it happens they do it up right.
Terry and Jo said
07:27 PM Sep 13, 2013
All I can say is that area better shape up. Jo and I are less than two weeks from leaving Oklahoma to drive up to Colorado Springs to stay with one of her sisters. This sister just retired recently and moved up there in August. We will be up there between "roughly" the 27th of September to the 11th of October.
I want the roads open and cleared and all the fall colors better be right, too. Oh, I also have to remember to contact Jack Mayer as I understand they will be in the Colorado Springs area until a few days after the first. I sure would like to meet up with them.
Cindy, I don't know where you are located. Would it be anywhere near Canon City/Cripple Creek/Colorado Springs/Denver? If you are close, we might have to try to meet up with you as well. EDIT: OK. Just looked at your profile and it says Denver. We have another friend in Denver, so maybe something can work out if you have the time.
Ruth, If you and Dale are still there (doubtful), it would be good to see you as well.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 13th of September 2013 07:29:45 PM
Cindy T said
01:32 AM Sep 14, 2013
I'm sorry you got stuck in this situation. This is very unusual for Colorado, in fact September is normally one of our drier months. The rain that we've had the past 4 days is like nothing I've ever seen here before. I hope you have safe travels from here.
Hdrider said
02:28 AM Sep 14, 2013
WOW!!! Well we hope things get better soon so you can travel.
PIEERE said
02:54 AM Sep 14, 2013
You will be back on the Dusty; I mean Wet Trail; before you know it! Keep your chin up and the Shiny side of the RV upright!
NWescapee said
04:17 AM Sep 14, 2013
Made it to Wyoming today, 6.5 hours with detours and traffic. Safely "wally docking", looking forward toi heading west tomorrow. I know this is unusual, some of the water levels we saw were unreal. Hard to believe we biked the StVrain Greenway a few times while we were there. I think it is all under water.
Workinrvers said
05:08 AM Sep 14, 2013
glad you guys made it out safe and sound! Been hearing a lot of stories about the water (and detours!)from some of the tour bus drivers that stop here, seems like a lot of them start out in the Denver area and head up to the Black Hills.
safe travels,
Phil
dream reachers said
06:31 AM Sep 14, 2013
NWescapee, Glad you made it out of there safely. We have been on the Frontrange of Co. 1/2 of July and all of Aug. through much of the now flooded areas. We moved to Woodland Park 14 miles west of Colorado Springs up the mountain past Pikes Peak Sept.7 and have been here since. The mud slides closed the road to Colorado Springs yesterday and flooded Manitou Springs again. Today 2 of the 4 lanes were open so we went down the mountain. Work crews are diverting water and mud on the closed lanes and clearing the road. We hope the future rain that is predicted will not come. We are high and mostly dry on top of the mountain.
NWescapee said
03:33 PM Sep 14, 2013
Dream Reachers - stay safe, we're just glad to be out of there.
I'm sure we'll be back to visit, hopefully for all that nice warm, sunny Colorado weather we enjoyed the first 2 weeks of our visit.
Cowdog353 said
03:58 PM Sep 14, 2013
Ok, Dale and Ruth, get rid of that black cloud that's following y'all.
Fridge, times 2 or 3 and now floods.
That's enough, back to normal, what ever that is.
Be safe,
Jim
WestWardHo said
04:09 PM Sep 14, 2013
Dale & Ruth and other RV family. Glad you are safe and hope you all stay that way. Thanks for posting updates as I have been hoping to hear how you're doing. Think that clous follows us newbies for a while. I'm a little anxious as we start rolling on the first after being settled for 3 months, just hope we remain as flexible and positive as you have been!
Sherry
NWescapee said
04:18 PM Sep 14, 2013
Sherry - I'm ready for this cloud to disappear!! The sun is shining here in Wyoming today and I hope it just keeps shining all day as we travel east to west across I-80. A few days ago I commented to Dale that highway has to be one of the more boring stretches of highway we're traveling, right now I am more than happy to settle for boring and fast moving vs. flooded roads and loooooong lines of traffic.
You know today is the 2 month anniversary since we left our driveway for the last time and I've got to say, even with all the challenges we've had with the fridge, delays in the suspension upgrade and now the flooding, I wouldn't trade this life to be back "safe" in the S&B.
NWescapee said
04:35 AM Sep 15, 2013
Yay!! we're in Utah now, spent today driving across Wyoming, sun, rain, clouds, cloud bursts, sun, etc, rinse, wash, repeat!!!!
Phil and Rudee - your evacuation story has come to mind and in our conversations several times in the last few days, we're so thankful we could drive out of the mess and not be transported in a front loader as you were, your story makes us realize how blessed and fortunate we were to drive out. Even if the drive involved a looooong drive with lots of detours, a couple of nights boondocking at Target and / or Walmart that wasn't planned, but still we got out without any damage, insurance claims and we're still somewhat sane.
Finally got a good nights's sleep last night and after today's drive I think tomorrow might be a "nap, read, repeat" kind of day!!
Well, we've been in the Longmont CO for almost 3 weeks now. Truck suspension system (Force Flex) is now installed and we're ready to hit the road. Oh yeah, except they are all closed in the direction we want to go.
Last night we were told to evacuate the campground we were in, Dale could see the water from the St. Vrain River from the end of the dump station so we ended up in a big box store parking lot with about 8 other RVs. Plan was to leave this morning and head west.
I-25 northbound closed due to flooding, parts of I-70 Westbound closed due to landslides, flooding, etc.
Guess we're stuck here for a while longer. Don't get me wrong, we love Colorado, but we were only supposed to be here a week, then we were supposed to head to California for an art show that we cancelled. Right now we just want to get somewhere a little warmer and drier. After all we could have stayed in Seattle if we wanted wet weather.
Right now we're thankful to be safe and learning to be patient with yet more changes in our plans.
-- Edited by NWescapee on Friday 13th of September 2013 09:06:38 AM
Wow. My niece and her family live in Ft. Collins and they were told to evacuate also. Stay safe, I am sure you will be able to travel soon.
All I can say is that area better shape up. Jo and I are less than two weeks from leaving Oklahoma to drive up to Colorado Springs to stay with one of her sisters. This sister just retired recently and moved up there in August. We will be up there between "roughly" the 27th of September to the 11th of October.
I want the roads open and cleared and all the fall colors better be right, too. Oh, I also have to remember to contact Jack Mayer as I understand they will be in the Colorado Springs area until a few days after the first. I sure would like to meet up with them.
Cindy, I don't know where you are located. Would it be anywhere near Canon City/Cripple Creek/Colorado Springs/Denver? If you are close, we might have to try to meet up with you as well. EDIT: OK. Just looked at your profile and it says Denver. We have another friend in Denver, so maybe something can work out if you have the time.
Ruth, If you and Dale are still there (doubtful), it would be good to see you as well.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 13th of September 2013 07:29:45 PM
I'm sorry you got stuck in this situation. This is very unusual for Colorado, in fact September is normally one of our drier months. The rain that we've had the past 4 days is like nothing I've ever seen here before. I hope you have safe travels from here.
safe travels,
Phil
I'm sure we'll be back to visit, hopefully for all that nice warm, sunny Colorado weather we enjoyed the first 2 weeks of our visit.
Fridge, times 2 or 3 and now floods.
That's enough, back to normal, what ever that is.
Be safe,
Jim
Sherry
You know today is the 2 month anniversary since we left our driveway for the last time and I've got to say, even with all the challenges we've had with the fridge, delays in the suspension upgrade and now the flooding, I wouldn't trade this life to be back "safe" in the S&B.
Phil and Rudee - your evacuation story has come to mind and in our conversations several times in the last few days, we're so thankful we could drive out of the mess and not be transported in a front loader as you were, your story makes us realize how blessed and fortunate we were to drive out. Even if the drive involved a looooong drive with lots of detours, a couple of nights boondocking at Target and / or Walmart that wasn't planned, but still we got out without any damage, insurance claims and we're still somewhat sane.
Finally got a good nights's sleep last night and after today's drive I think tomorrow might be a "nap, read, repeat" kind of day!!
Glad to here your safe ,sound and Traveling!!!