Driving at night...in the mountains

[bpaikman]

As some know I had a little engine issue, which is resolved, but I had to re-route and not go to Ouray and instead go to Pagosa Springs which was the next stop after Ouray (Colorado). If I left Breckenridge (Frisco) direct P.S. all would have been fine time wise, about 4 hours. I instead decided to head to Denver towards the service center I would have had to use if I needed further service and then head south with options of staying anywhere alone I-25. With my first Red Bull in hand, not sure where it came from as I never drink them, I continued. Nagged Pagosa Springs (Wolf Creek) with non stop "I'm coming, I'm not coming, I'm coming, I'm not coming" as plans kept bouncing through my head. I wanted to just get there and park and not risk this engine situation again.

I fueled up at a T/A right where I leave I-25 to head west, or so I would learn. I had in my mind I'd be on the highway much of the journey going this route so traveling late would be fine. With a GPS estimated arrival of 8:15-30 I figured I'd still have light. Oh how poor planning reveals its ugly head yet again. One great thing about an Apple Watch not only is not missing critical phone calls but also info such as sunrise/sunset. I looked down and saw 7:25'ish sunset and thought oh boy, civil twilight about 30 minutes of light, then hopefully some light left - nope! wrong.

As I left the T/A and headed west I went into some mountains, hills more or less, and all along the way thought to myself pull over and enjoy some boondocking, call PS and tell them No, I'm not coming for real. With the mountains the sun light is a different issue, obscured obviously AND going into the sun. Ugh. I continued and got beyond the mountains/hills and it flattened out. Now my fear is DEER, I knew I had one with my name on it, luckily I didn't hit one but did see plenty. Lots of opportunity to stop along this route but I continued.

And it gets dark and RV headlights suck, fortunately I changed mine out and I only travel with brights on which is close to "expected normal" and no one cared. All worked fine, crazy big up and down grades but I got here.

If you're sitting in your coach watching TV and you have a neighbor arriving at night, GET OUT AND OFFER HELP. I have a back in site and I'm solo and it all worked out but I sure could have used an extra set of eyes. My neighbors just watching with windows open enjoying TV. I'm glad I didn't hit anything....

I kinda would have liked to see the sand dunes, maybe another day. But yet another eye opening travel log for the books. Arrived 8:25 PM - but about 85% moon so that helped.

Soooo, you went over LaVeta AND WolfCreek Passes ....in the dark.... in one trip???

 

[Jim]

Soooo, you went over LaVeta AND WolfCreek Passes ....in the dark.... in one trip???

The man has nerves of steel!

 

[FL-JOE]

The good thing is you did some grades right away and burned through some DEF. Good hard test for the system right away after dark!