Kyle, Turbo, and I left Austin on Saturday and made it about 800 miles before stopping at a KOA campground somewhere close to the border b/w New Mexico and Arizona for the night. We made it to Las Vegas about 6 pm the next day, where the temperatures ranged from 109 to 115 depending on where we were in the city. HOT! We moved the camper from the Hitchin' Post in Vegas where the camper sat the past three weeks to the cool mountains. Kyle had been trying all summer to get a forest service employee site at the campground where he stayed the first several weeks. He had been having to pay full price to stay at a regular camp site, which cost about $750 a month. When some regular visitors to the campground started complaining that Kyle's camper was sitting empty (he camps out on the other site of the mountain while he's working 3 nights a week), he decided he should probably move the camper to town. Thankfully, he was able to get the employee site, and we are now enjoying the cool mountain air! The site is only $6 a day, for which we are very thankful. We also have access to showers and washers and dryers, which will be great. At the regular campsites, you have to pay 4 quarters to take a 5 minute shower and you have to go to town to do laundry.
We weren't really sure how Turbo would handle such a long car ride, but he was an absolute angel the entire time. We stopped every 3 hrs or so and let him out to use the restroom and stretch his legs. He slept the rest of the time, with his head on the arm rest between the front two seats.
Yesterday, Kyle and I spent most of the day running around Vegas trying to get things set up for me and Turbo. One of the things to do on our list was to get Turbo some dog boots for when we go hiking on rough terrain. Turbo and I went on a hike today and every single person that we came across commented on the boots. They may seem a bit silly, but they do a good job of protecting his paw pads.
So Kyle left for work this morning and will be back Friday evening. When we got up today, I decided to do the Mary Jane Falls hike with Turbo. The hike was only 3 miles round trip, but we went from 7,870 to 9,270 feet. My legs burned the entire way up and we had to stop several times to rest. But, it was worth it. The view was beautiful once we got to the top! The waterfalls were just down to a trickle, but still fun to see.
Here are some pictures of where the camper is parked. The site is not as nice as the regular campsites, but for the price, we can't complain. We still have a great view. Some of the forest service employees park their vehicles right behind us, so it is kind of noisy in the morning and in the afternoons. Turbo likes to bark at them when the come and go...we're trying to fix that : )
Here are a few pics of the inside of the camper. After combining mine and Kyle's stuff, you could barely walk in the camper. I think I finally got it cleaned up and semi-organized. Behind that back curtain is the extra bed. Turbo's crate and LOTS of clothes are hiding back there. The curtain and towel hanging to the left is where the toilet is hiding. We forgot to get a shower curtain in town yesterday, so this will do for now.
Kyle made fun of my little clothes line, but hey, it works. Turbo's boots are hanging to dry :)
Surprisingly, I have internet access and cell phone service in the mountains. My "office":
I think that's all I have for now. I will try to keep updating about our adventures!
