On Day 4 of our RV trip to Texas, while waiting on our truck to be repaired in Trinidad, Colorado, Tom and I used our loaner car to drive the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway Aly enjoyed the drive at least as much as we did.
Highlights
We started our drive heading south from our camp at Gears RV Park, The snow-covered landscape was beautiful as we drove through Trinidad but the best was yet to come. Our first stop was at Trinidad Lake State Park. We pulled into the Carpios Ridge Campground and had it all to ourselves. Aly had a blast running through the snow as Tom and I explored the beautiful campsites and amazing views of Trinidad Lake below. This was the first time for either of us to visit Trinidad Lake State Park. It was a great discovery and we look forward to returning with our kayaks in warmer seasons.
Our next stop on the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway was to read about the history of Cokedale. As we continued west from Cokedale, Tom and I enjoyed spectacular views of the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range.
We passed through the appropriately named town of Stonewall with its amazing natural wall. The pictures I took of the wall as we drove past don't do it justice. These stone walls aren't walls on one side of a cliff, they are relatively narrow, like a wall. They look like they should tip over on the town below.
Our next stop was another great discovery. Monument lake is a relatively small lake, the perfect size for kayaking. Although when we visited it was only perfect for ice fishing. We pulled into the day use area at the north end of the lake and, once again, we had the entire place to ourselves. Another perfect stop for Aly! Even though the sign indicated day use, it looked like a campground with many sites and fancy fire pits. Upon further research we learned that this campground is part of the Monument Lake Resort located at the south end of the lake. Camping is closed for the season but reopens in mid-May.
As we finished the scenic drive heading south on Interstate 25 from Walsenburg, Tom and I enjoyed perfect views of the Spanish Peaks.
Challenges
By the time we reached Cuchara, Tom and I were getting hungry. We turned off the highway and onto the main street of this charming little mountain town hoping to eat at the Dog Bar and Grill. Unfortunately, it looked to us like the entire town was closed for the winter so we moved on. According to my Google search later, it may have been open after all. We should have trudged through the snow and tugged on the doors! In any case, we will certainly return to this charming town and try to catch one of the nights of live music at the Dog Bar and Grill!
As we continued driving along the scenic byway, the size of the towns grew, as did our hunger. Unfortunately, every restaurant we wanted to try was either closed for the day, closed for the season, or closed permanently. Tom and I had tried our best to support the local economy. But, alas, we ate a very late lunch at Tom and Heidi's Meals on Wheels... and it was delicious!
Photos Day 4
You can view our trip pics on the Carpe Diem Facebook page by clicking on the embedded image below.
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