Winterized the RV today

The Denver area was getting snow today and as a result we decided to blow out the RV so the pipes wouldn't freeze. Were not sure if we will dewinterize it for one last trip if it warms back up again.

Leaking air bag and slime

Just thought I'd post this for future readers of this thread. We developed a leak in on front air bag near the valve stem. We put Slime tire leak sealant in the bag to hold it until we could fix it. However it has held over 3 trips which included many miles on dirt roads as we tend to boondock in the national forest. One day the bag may need to be replaced but in the mean time the Slime was a quick, easy, inexpensive fix. We have tire pressure monitor sensors on them so it is easy for me to check them each time we take a trip and so far no air loss.

Great Sand Dunes National Park Pinyon Flats Campground

With the news reporting spectacular fall colors we decided to spend a long weekend at Great Sand Dunes National Park.

We arrived on at the Pinyon Flats campground to find many sites available. However, having stayed here before I knew that I wanted something on the fringes. This campground can be really packed with everyone burning a big fire at night and the air is then thick with smoke. We quickly found the perfect location. It was surrounded by trees and had no close adjacent campers.
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The space was a little small for us but with some creative driving we fit within the boundaries.

We had a nice view out the front of the camper.

I like staying in the national parks as they always have ranger talks and other interesting activities for free. We made it to one of the talks at the amphitheater and it was very good.

Hiking the dunes

We took off to hike the dunes.

Which is alot of hard work.



But very pretty.

We tried to find the river but didn't. We took the 4-wheel drive road back.

After an exhausting hike we relaxed at the camp site.

In the evening we went back out to the 4-wheel drive road to enjoy the sunset and the beauty of evening at the dunes.







I love this park and we will be back. There is something very serene about it and the views are always changing based on the light conditions.

Dunes pictures

My husband took Blossom out for an early morning romp in the dunes. They captured some great pictures.

This is the path down to the dunes from the campground.

Hiking between the campground and the visitor center

There is a lovely trail between the Great Sand Dunes Campground (Pinyon Flats) and the visitor center (about 1.5 miles each way). You start out with a fairly standard CO trail.

We very quickly saw some deer.

Then we got out into a more open area with excellent views of the dunes.



Next we entered a forested area with very pretty trees, especially the Aspen which had beautiful colors.



There was a loop at the end where we crossed a bridge.

Blossom sampled the water.

We headed back the way we came after a beautiful and relaxing easy hike.

Hiking Zapata Falls

We loved hiking Zapata Falls! It is a great adventure for very little effort. You have to drive up a 3.5 mile dirt/gravel road that is pretty bumpy. We asked at the visitor center about the road condition and were told it was fine for all vehicles even RVs. As a result we were a bit surprised at the roughness. However, if you go slow it is fine. At the top there is a campground, picnic area and parking lot.

From the parking lot you go up a rocky trail. There are benches placed along the way for those from out of state who aren't used to the altitude.

It is pretty rocky but we were fine in our river sandals. I think flip-flops would be too flimsy. We saw people in tennis shoes.

After about a half mile you come to the entrance to the stream. The fall colors made it very pretty.



Blossom plunged right in.

A look upstream shows the path we are about to traverse. You start out going along the shoreline on the right.

But then the shoreline ends so you walk in the river, either on the stones or not, as available.



In a short while you go in between some tall rocks.

Then you see the falls!

It's tough to get a picture of both the upper and lower falls at the same time as they are so tall.

Blossom wants to climb them! We get spray on the cameras as the water is thundering down around us.

The canyon is stunning.

We don't stay very long since the dogs are standing in the cold water.



The view going back out is equally as pretty.



The river wasn't flowing very high while we were there so it was an easy and fun hike.

If you are in the area of the Great Sand Dunes National Park I highly recommend hiking Zapata Falls.