Wow . . . . Pueblo, Colorado is just how it sounds . . . .Pueblo . .. . Indians . . . usually means DESERT! It is not the prettiest place in Colorado and that stands the reason why there isn’t much out here! We got up early to drive to Durango, Colorado. Thankfully it wasn’t as hot today so my foot didn’t hurt while I was driving.
After driving about 4 hours into nowhere, we came to another really small town. As we were driving out of the town we saw a Cowboy Trading Post. The sign said live buffalo so we were curious and stopped. It turned out that they actually had a recreation of a little cowboy village with live animals including a buffalo, horses, a Shetland pony, and a miniature pony.
The owners showed us around and had fun with us after they found out about our trip and that the kids are homeschooled. She told us that their buffalo was the biggest in the United States and Guiness Book of World Records was going to record him soon. There was a young man who was totally dressed like a cowboy, who probably was a real cowboy, but either way he played the part well. In the back of the store was a parrot and he explained to all of us that in the 1800’s the Indians loved parrots because they talked to you. They would do anything to trade for a parrot and when a trading post would get the Indian Chief a parrot, then the tribe remained friendly and never attacked the post. Parrots came from Europe and were worth a lot of money so it was a very special item to get for the Indians, and when they received it, we were told the whole tribe would come. An interesting piece of trivia!!
When we came to the jail in the little village, the cowboy actually put the little kids in jail and gave them his gun so they could look like they were doing a jail break. The big girls refused to do it . . . Ha . . . not even for a cute cowboy!!
We got back in the RV for another 3 hour drive to Durango, or so we thought. Although we were facing the Rocky Mountains and knew that we had to drive over drove over the Continental Divide at any moment, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We started gradually going up the mountain and eventually it got steeper and steeper where poor “old Bessy” could only go 15 miles per hour. I have no idea how long we were going up but all of a sudden we went past the Wolfe Creek Ski Resort at 10,300 feet. Holy Mollie. . . . we were up high and we realized how high when we got to the other side of the mountain and looked down. My heart started pounding and I immediately started praying that sweet “old Bessy” would make it down the mountain without losing its brakes. I have NEVER been on as steep of a grade as this and as we were driving down runaway truck ramps started appearing on the right after about every mile . . . . does that tell you how steep it was? I had it in first gear and still pumping the brakes. About half way down we smelled those brakes and all of a sudden I see 3 little faces right behind me asking , “What’s that smell?” I was trying not to panic and responded calmly, “the brakes, so let’s pray right now that they don’t fail us,” as my heart started pounding harder. I kept looking at the runaway ramps thinking how I would use it if I had too. Later on I was told that when a runaway truck has to use those ramps, they have to be towed out because gravel gets everywhere. I’m so thankful that our brakes survived. Although by the time I got to the bottom of the mountain I was pumping the brakes and pushing to the floor and the RV was not slowing down quickly. Immediately I pulled over to let the brakes cool down and as I went to stop the brakes were all the way to the floor and not stopping the RV. I had to use the emergency brake to completely stop. I think after another few minutes the brakes may have given in . . . we all were so thankful for God’s protection . . . Thank you Lord!!
We stopped at the bottom of the mountain to rest the RV’s engine and the breaks that were burning from riding them all the way down the mountain.
Because of the steep mountains our little RV took forever getting to the Durango KOA. We finally pulled into our camp site at 8:30 just in time for Brooke and Grace to catch the last 15 minutes of the outdoor movie, playing the “Adventures of Tin Tin.” They loved it but wished they could have watched the whole movie. There have been so many activities at the KOA’s that we have missed because of getting in late. Too bad the driving takes forever in good “Ole Bessy.” J
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