September 29 to October 5, 2022 – Aspen Ridge RV Park, South Fork, CO
Warning and disclaimer: I am a grouchy old coot, a title I wear proudly. (You have been warned)
You know how you have idyllic memories of places you once visited and you would like to go back and and live that experience all over again?
Nearing the end of our stay at San Luis SWA Campground we were refocusing on the reason for this leg of the trip, “To see the Aspen leaves change color”. The choices were to go North, West or South from here. North from here was too peoplely (I made that word up) with Leadville, Buena Vista and lots of popular boondocking spots. South from here is primarily high desert and less opportunity to see the Aspen leaves. So the only direction left is West. in the direction of South Fork, Colorado. We had been to South Fork three years ago and remembered that there were lots of Aspen trees higher in the mountains on the back roads. We wanted to relive that experience.
During our former visit we had stayed at Aspen Ridge RV Park. It was at the very end of the normal camping season so the Park was almost empty. We had a spot on the back row tucked away in a corner where it was nice and quiet. (Did I mention we really don’t like commercial campgrounds but they serve a purpose when you need to dump, fill and wash clothes?)
So this time as we arrive we notice the entrance is nicely adorned with Halloween decorations. We check in and the owner is very friendly and talkative. During our talk she reveals that they are hosting a Fulltimer Families Rally and they are expecting 100 kids. Oh boy! That sets all kinds of alarms in my head! But she goes on to say they won’t be showing up until the end of October just in time for Halloween. Well, heh, we should be long gone by then.
What she failed to mention was that families attending the rally would be trickling in well before the end of October.
So she assigns us a spot, the same spot we had last time, and we walk over to look at it. It’s a nice spot, good view, but it’s right next to the area where they are setting up more Halloween paraphernalia for the kids to play with. Uh, no! We request another site away from the children. Oh, the children are supervised they say. We still request another site.
So they put us in a row where we are the only RV. Ah, this is great. Room to spread out. Then a pack of kids walks by. Not having any children ourselves, there is a lot we don’t know about them. One thing we learned as the pack scurried by is that girls apparently love to engage in contests to determine which girl has the loudest, screechiest, most penetrating scream. A contest which is immediately disputed by the loser and the challenge begins again. Thus ends our first day at the Park.
The next day is a full day of exploration for us, seeking the perfect photo opportunities for yellow leafed Aspens.
Upon our return to the Park we discover the owners, whether through evil intention or just downright apathy, place a RV right next us in this empty, but for us, row. An RV filled with three hyper energetic boys and one girl who, you could tell, really didn’t want to be sharing an RV with three icky boys. This girl is apparently like honey to the other boys buzzing around the Park. So now the pack decides future congregations will take place next to our RV. The screeching contests continue.
Every day we leave the RV Park and return to find even more RVs with children have arrived. Other older RVers are giving up and beginning their exodus to escape the noise and shenanigans. The pack grows to a herd. We are still keeping an eye out for that adult supervision that is supposed to be taking place. I suspect the adult’s are hiding as are we.
So, sadly we realized our ideal revisit was unobtainable. It’s true, you can never go back again.We managed to last for 6 days before we abandoned Aspen Ridge RV Park and headed for the wilderness.
Ahhh. Peace and quiet. No more screeching contests.Just a cat constantly wanting to go out and explore. That’s more my speed.
I know Gabby is in the above scene but the obligatory cat picture follows.
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