Our two week stay in Colorado Springs came to a quick end. It was a busy and fun couple of weeks, but that is the nature of our travels. We just get used to one location and then it is time to move on. Our next destination is due north once again to another beautiful Colorado state park: Chatfield. Located just south of Denver (pop 716,000 and 5,280 feet elevation) in the town of Littleton and on a lake. Sounds great! Until we had a failure of our hydraulic jack system and could not leave!
Travel Day Challenges
My plan was to leave by 10 am due to some severe storms arriving by noon and some heavy traffic on I-25 due to the opening weekend of the Renaissance Festival. In this RV life, you have to be flexible, although it is a bit against my nature. I like things planned out to the nth degree. So, here is what happened.
One of the last tasks we perform prior to hitching up the truck is to extend the hydraulic front legs of the 5th wheel coach. It’s pretty simple to depress the rocker switch and raise the front up to the same level as the hitch. Until it just clicks and does not work.
So, I tried every trick that I could think of. Even had our RV friend Calvin take a look at it. By then it was 12 noon and the check out time. Uh oh. The next step is to call a mobile RV tech to make an appointment that can be two weeks out. About that time a nice couple pulled up with their rig wanting to know if we needed more time before they occupied our spot. Well, kind of.
To make matters worse, it was a Saturday morning and many of the RV techs did not answer. I finally did find one, but he would not be able to get here for a few hours. Fine, that works. About 2:00 pm, he arrived and had the rig back working by 2:30 by jumping around a relay/breaker.
Of course, by then the skies had opened up and we drove in a downpour on I-25 that was constrained by construction and thousands going to some festival. Two and a half hours of stop and go. That pretty well topped off the day. Maybe I should stop being the planning type A and just wing it. Hmmm.
But you know what? Even with an occasional monkey wrench thrown into the mix, our RV life still continues to be an awesome and amazing adventure. We are truly blessed to be able to travel full-time and see this beautiful country of ours. I’ll take a few wrenches!
Chatfield State Park, Littleton Colorado
When we arrived the monsoon was over and all systems worked fine to set up for another two week encampment. While this state park is not as scenic as Cheyenne Mtn in Colorado Springs, it is a great natural environment with huge spaces for each RV. And with full hook ups as well. Located in Littleton, (pop 42,000 and 5,400 feet) it is within an hours drive to most Denver attractions.
Breckenridge Brewery Tour
Whenever we take a brewery tour, it always reminds me of my homebrewing hobby days. The early Saturday process of firing up the system in my garage. The smell of fresh grains being crushed and then the wort boiling. Some great times. Many times I would brew simultaneously with Tom (brother-in-law in Cleveland). We would compare notes on temperatures via texting.
Anyway, back to the tour which they do a great job of providing. The only downside was it was a day off for the brewers. I think they were cleaning the equipment. Our RV friends Calvin and Suzanne joined us for this tour after we met some of their friends for breakfast.
The Breckenridge Brewery originated in the small mountain ski town of Breckenridge. They were the 3rd craft brewer in Colorado starting in 1990. They soon outgrew their location not to mention getting daily semi trucks up the switch back roads. After going through a couple more locations, they settled in Littleton.
Before, during, and after the tour we got some samples. It was a good tour. 🙂
Automated control room. 
Flavors on tap. 
They are aging a whiskey barrel ale. 
Canning process. 
We each got a flight to test.
Colorado State Capitol Building Tour
We have tried to take the free tours through every capitol building that is within an easy reach. I think we have about ten capitol tours now having gone through 30 states since we started. You learn something about the state, the city, and some history. This building was completed in 1894 and constructed of Colorado white granite.
This building has a tall dome and they allow you to climb the 6-7 flights up to the top for an incredible view of the city of Denver and the Rocky Mountains. The dome is covered in real gold that came from the gold mines at Cripple Creek, where we just visited last week! The gold is actually rolled down to a foil thickness then applied to the dome.
The Colorado state flag. 
Looking up to the dome. 
The green room is the house of reps. 
Red room is for the senate. 
Look close to see the mountains back there. 
Cathedral Basilica of Immaculate Conception
Just a block down the street from the capitol, we saw this impressive Catholic church and they left the front door open!
That’s all for this week! Thanks for following along. We are here in the Denver area for one more week and then leave for Durango in the southwest part of Colorado, deep into the mountains. We will be visiting Pat’s brother Robert and his family at their mountain home.
Well even with a stationary home there are problems. So yeah go with the flow (easy for me to say). Remember you are retired. Enjoy your time in Denver. Much to see there.
Travel Safe.
Robert
That is very true!
Looks like the timing on your hydraulic issue was meant to be. Could have been worse. Go with the clouds!
Yes, much better to be broken down in a beautiful park instead of along side an interstate.
Yikes! The ups and downs of the RV life. Another fun read. I may steal your words “still awesome and amazing adventure”.
Ha! Good one on the ups and downs of the hydraulic legs! I don’t have a copyright so go ahead and use them. 🙂