Few weeks and over 1400 miles to drive, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri
Kanopolis State Park, Kansas
Time to get out of the desert and head to the hills… well at least for few days. We had long way to go to get to Carlyle, IL and I did what I do when planning these trips… start from the end date (where/when we have to be) and work backwards in time. We had 12 days and 1400 miles to cover. After Moab, UT we started the drive up to the Rockies and stopped for 2 nights in Rifle Falls State Park that is quite close to the Hwy 70 that we were driving east on. Beautiful small campground and good hiking trails around.
Rifle Falls, West of the Rockies, Colorado. Elevation is over 6500ft so spring was just starting!!
Amazing scenery, but going up to nearly 11 000ft so remember to keep breaks from driving.
We had good day driving through the Rockies, just some hail and light snow storm but over all dry roads and no drama. It is most beautiful drive I have done but it is as well kinda hairy drive as trucks drive fast down hill and very slow up hill. Road is not super wide and plenty of curves and blind sections on the road. Do check the weather before heading across, they had 6 ft snow on the road the day after we went across!!!!
We had spot waiting for us in Cherry Creek State Park in Denver, tons of hiking, biking, biggest dog park we have ever seen… kids were happy!! Quick two night stop over to dust off and get some sports in!
Kanopolis State Park, Kansas
From Denver we headed across the plains and our first really long (425mi) drive. Hwy 70 east of Denver does have great rest stops and Love’s gasoline stations have dog parks which are always good option if all else fails! The campground is not easy to find in Kanopolis and few road closers did not help the situation.. he he! Long day but we all made it and totally worth it!! Plenty squirells for Rhona, open spaces for super zoomies and cool Lake for Kaya to enjoy! We love Kansas!
Lake of Ozarks State Park, Missouri
After Kansas, Kanopolis SP we drove east and to Missouri, we had campground booked up at Lake Ozarks State Park. It was pretty much the only place with RV’s to get close to the water at Ozarks. The shore line on the lake is mostly privately owned or owned by hotels. Massive hotels/apartment buildings with boat parking on the front … we were little disappointed with the area as it really is very popular summer spot for massive amount of people. But as we were there before the season kicked off it was all good and I had all the trails just for me and Rhona!!! YESSSS…
Bass Pro Shop in Missouri
OK.. a funny story… while driving I usually do shops on the way and we needed a new water hose!! It was hot outside so decided to go into Bass Pro Shop (for your non Americans… it is a sporting goods store where people can spend all day… sells guns, fishing gear, clothing, worms, dog treats, camping gear, boats, fishing demonstrations etc.… pretty much everything that you need if you walk out of your door and want to do something outdoors!!) And I kinda knew that it’s ok to bring a dog inside the store… so we cruise around the store with Rhona and suddenly she freezes and points… I totally thrown out of my jam wondering the big America super store cult…franticly trying to figure out what has she “seen”… AND THERE IT WAS… LIVE CANARD DUCKS IN A WATER POND…straight on front of us… Thank goodness I got Rhona snapped out of it and honestly I don’t think she was believing her eyes ether.. Well, no one went swimming with the ducks, all the ducks survived and I was thanking the stars that Rhona is well trained!!!
But yes…. beware … live birds in an open pond in the middle of the store and no fences or other wises to keep my birddog out of there!!!
The ducks survived!!!
Next stop is Carlyle IL. Ian has his A-Catamaran North Americans there and we are camping in an other State Park close to the Yacht Club.
