My friend and frequent supporter of this blog recently reminded me of a song from my youth, “Willin'” written by Little Feat’s founder Lowell George, but made even more mainstream by Linda Ronstadt. Since Rhonda’s reference, I can’t get the song out of my head as I reflect on my summer spent in Colorado.
I’ve been fortunate to spend the entire summer chasing 70 degree temps while the rest of the US swelters through one of the hottest summers on record, and my dear family celebrates a cooling trend at 98. But my “summer in Colorado” has not been without its challenges. After last summer spent gunkholing through Atlantic Canada, arranging ferry schedules and staying in a new spot every night, I was looking for “easy” this summer. Let this serve as my own personal reminder that “Colorado is NOT easy!”
Don’t get me wrong, the visual stimulation and the cool mountain air has made it all worth it. Gorging on the taste of summer in Colorado, not just the stunning scenery and smell of pine tree forests, but throw in all the Palisade peaches you can eat and fresh picked Olathe sweet corn, and it’s a sensory feast.
But it’s often hard earned. As I write an email to friends while perched on the side of a mountain, just a few miles from the South Dakota state line, I avow, “Remind me to never come back here in an 11,000 lb rig pulling a car behind me again!”
Interstate 70 turned what few brunette hairs I had left to white. It’s got to be the planet’s biggest roller coaster. A typical morning’s drive involves starting out around 8,000 ft, I feel the pull of the incline as the tachometer increases. Time to turn off the air conditioner. I scan my gaze back and forth between the tach and the scan gauge, watching the engine temps rise…205, 215, 222…oops, better back off on the climbing speed.
Chain-up pullouts begin to appear, some already occupied with overheated cars, their hoods up. Soon, the far right slow lane is completely clogged with 18-wheelers, their emergency flashers on going at a crawl…too slow for me to follow, too fast for me to pass. The views become majestic, but I cannot look because I’ve got a death grip on the steering wheel, trying to gauge my speed to stay ahead of the slowest 18 wheeler while keeping the temperature gauge in the safe zone. I feel the Winnie strain under the incline, her engine whining as if to say “Enough of this already! I’m pushin’ ten years!”
Finally, that feeling of sweet relief as we crest the pass at over 11,000 feet. I can feel the Winnie sigh as her tachometer drops back down into the comfort zone. Whew! What a relief that’s over! But not for long. As if teetering at that weightless moment at the crest of a roller coaster when the contents of ones stomach floats to the top, I relax my white knuckles and tense neck and shoulder muscles just long enough to see the 18 wheelers turn off their flashers. The race to the bottom is on….
The dreaded diamond-shaped yellow road sign appears ahead, showing the silhouette of a truck careening down the hill. Another giant sign announces “Runaway Ramp Ahead!” Oh, God, please don’t let me ever find myself in need of a runaway ramp! And as if my nerves weren’t frayed enough, I see the sign, “Truckers! Don’t be fooled! Four more miles of steep grade and sharp curves!” The 18 wheelers close the gap and bear down. Gear down and try to find that fine line between boiling the brakes, versus burning up the transmission now revved up to 3,500 rpm in third gear trying to hold back the load of the Winnie and the Tracker, and still I’m going way too fast. Time to start stabbing the brakes.
On some of these mountain highways, you can’t gear down enough. Take Hwy 40 for example, not only is there a 6% grade, but it’s woven with 10mph hairpin curves. Roll down the window and be on alert for the smell of hot brakes. There’s a parade behind me in my rear view mirror, surely trying to mount my bicycle on the back of the Tracker as their hood ornament. Sorry, guys. It’s just your unlucky day to get behind my rolling home.
Imagine, if you will, the four days of dread hanging over my head while in Steamboat Springs, knowing I have to go back up over the steepest yet, Rabbit Ears Pass…seven miles at 7% grade. It was a white knuckle drive coming down into Steamboat. One of those sick and sinking feelings with every passing mile that “I’ve gotten myself down here, now I am going to have to get myself back up and out!”
Given that I am headed for a remote area, the Winnie is fully loaded. Full tank of water, full tank of diesel, pulling the Tracker with a full tank of gas. So as I begin the climb, I have one eye glued to the temperature gauge. When it hits 236 degrees, I panic. Way too hot! So I pull off to wait for the temp to drop. But I don’t wait long enough. When I pull back out into the climbing lane, the Winnie goes into “limp mode.” I can’t get above 10mph. In the climbing lane. On a 7% grade. Sheer terror. Thank God there is another pull off not too far up the road. This time, I shut the engine off completely and sit for over an hour until it cools back down. I spend two nights boondocked at the top of Rabbit Ears Pass because I am too stressed to start out again. I know, I know….no one has to tell me I stress too much!
Here is a list of the passes I remember crossing this summer, some of them twice:
Berthoud Pass, 11,315′
Dallas Divide, 8,970′
Eisenhower Tunnel, 11,158′
Fremont Pass, 11,318′
Lizard Head Pass, 10,222′
Loveland Pass, 11,992′
Milner Pass, 10,758’
Muddy Pass, 8,772′
Monarch Pass, 11,312′
Poncha Pass, 9,010′
Rabbit Ears Pass, 9,426’
Vail Pass, 10,666′
I’ve never been a smoker, but I could become a chain smoker after a ride on Interstate 70. Or Hwy 40. Or any number of Colorado mountain routes, for that matter. My “Mountain Directory West” cover is curled, ripped, and edges worn. I’ve become an active member of the Facebook “RV Roads and Routes.”
And that’s just the highway part. With escalating temperatures throughout the nation, there’s no place to go but higher elevation. I talk to other RVers who’ve come from Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, all seeking cooler mountain air. Or escape from the wildfires. I lost count of how many times I got the last spot in a forest service campground. For all the forest service roads in Colorado, I don’t find much boondocking, particularly in the northern part of the state. What little there is seems to be inhabited by more permanent residents. Or there is not a shred of AT&T signal.
As I prepare to cross the state line into South Dakota, my 47th state, I see the highway lines on the map. Straight, flat, and boring. That’s okay. I’ll take it….at least until my nerves settle back down.
“Willin'”
I been warped by the rain
Driven by the snow
I’m drunk and dirty, don’t you know
And I’m still… willin’
And I was out on the road late at night
I seen my pretty Alice in every headlight
Alice, Dallas Alice
I’ve been from Tucson to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that’s ever been made
Driven the back roads
So I wouldn’t get weighed
And if you give me weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign
I’ll be willin’… to be movin’
Well, I’ve been kicked by the wind
Robbed by the sleet
Had my head stoved in
But I’m still on my feet
And I’m still… willin’
I smuggled some smokes
And folks from Mexico
Baked by the sun
Every time I go to Mexico
And I’m still…
And I been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that’s ever been made
Driven the back roads
So I wouldn’t get weighed
And if you give me weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign
I’ll be willin’… to be movin’
All the mountain passes is what makes it so uninviting to explore some of these areas in a 40 ft motorhome. Watching those gauges takes all the joy out of the beautiful scenery. I don’t blame you for being a “little” stressed. Breaking down on a pass would be a nightmare. So glad you survived your summer in search of cooler weather.
We feel the same (stressed) and we’re in a 19-ft Roadrek. Cannot imagine how much that is amplified in a larger rig.
Suzanne…
I was stressed just reading about it!!
I LOVE the first photo in this post…reflections. Thanks, as always for all your beautiful photos.
I went to look for the Facebook RV Routes and Roads (since I hadn’t heard of it before and it sounded worth having!) but wasn’t able to find anything like that?
I hope you’re de-stressed and continuing to enjoy some cool, smoke free air!
Hi, Kat. I got the name reversed. I will correct it. Thanks. Try https://www.facebook.com/groups/RVRoadsAndRoutes/
Yes, that works…thanks!
Also.. https://rvroadsandroutes.com/ For a website that will provide info on routes and more.
Thanks, Hans. There was another good one, flattestroute.com. Unfortunately due to Google Map’s new pricing, the guy could no longer afford to pay the Gaping Google Greed. That is the third site/app I have heard that was hit by this recent increase.
We loved the Canadian Rockies since their highways don’t climb any of those high mountain passes. Colorado is definitely a stressful place to drive. Nice photos of the roads. Can’t believe you took one hand off the wheel to take them!
The Western Slope peaches are in a class by themselves! There’s also a few pretty good wineries around Palisades.
Thanks for the FB info. I just joined. Although after reading your post, I may rethink driving there in my 30′ A gasser plus tow
Thanks for the fantastic photos and commentary.
Back in the dark ages when I spent a stint as a truckdriver doing coast-to-coast runs, winter often found me cutting north and taking the long way around on I-80 so I didn’t have to run that rollercoaster I-70. 80 is higher, colder, and windier, but still better than tackling those grades in iffy weather.
I HAAAAAAAATE the long grades. Even with cresting a pass slowly, we pick up speed on long descents. The weight of the bus and the pickup truck are tough on the exhaust brake.
Fascinating story and pictures, thanks a lot. We have done a few of those passes, but with a sedan. Quite a difference I enjoy how you pace the story between the gorgeous pictures, the local facts and the moments of stress.
Laughed out loud throughout your post! You usually manage to express well everyone’s feelings 🙂
So have you considered Europe for summer months? Spring and Fall in the USA Western states? Winter in the South?
I always got stressed going down those passes. I’d be in a low gear, pumping the brakes, hoping I don’t glazed the pads and warp the rotors from too much heat. Once down, I could release my death grip on the wheel, wipe the sweat off my fore head, get my eyes off the double yellows, and breath normal.
I couldn’t agree with you more about those stressful roads in a big rig! (and I don’t even do the driving). Bravo to you for tackling them.
Thanks for the shout out, Suzanne, but sorry to have passed along an ear worm to ya. Hopefully you wrote it out of your system with this wonderful post. I filled up my 48 cd case holder this morning for my upcoming trip and had to laugh when I saw those lovely peaches above, as I had just slipped this cd into my case…. Michael Franks “The Art of Tea”. Here are a few lines from “Monkey See Monkey Do”:
“Love has locked us up, peaches
Locked inside this zoo
Your bananas get thrown at me
And mine get thrown at you
Ev’ry night we fuss and fight
Like Arabs and like Jews
I guess love is always just
Love is monkey see and monkey do (that’s all it is, peaches)
Love is monkey see and monkey do (would I lie to you?)
Love is monkey see and monkey do (that’s all it is, peaches)
Love is monkey see and monkey do
Do you want my love, peaches?
Do you want my rage?
Or do you merely like to see me shake my cage?
Your papayas get thrown at me
And mine get thrown at you
I guess love is always just…”
Hopefully, this one won’t be quite as intrusive (which is what’s so pleasant about Michael Franks) as “Willin'” 🙂
Only been over Monarch Pass and then in a car!!! Can. Not. Imagine doing it in the RV.. Geez, Kudoes to you!!! BUT, sayin that, looks like i need to see more of Colorado… Oh, been to Rocky Mtn National Park too, BUT once again in a car…. apparently i am just a light weight, haha
That is a lot of passes! Love your idea of chasing the 70’s. For us it would be chasing the 60’s but that would be a little hard. Good for you for braving all those grades….
Even though I never want to leave the mountains, I always breathe a sigh of relief when we are completely down the long grade back into Denver with the motorhome towing the jeep. Mmmm, Palisades peaches. Every year our RV is filled with flats of those peaches that we pick up from a wonderful family farm in Paonia to take home to family and friends. Last year we carried 22 flats back.
Lovely peaches, truly, but a solo traveller can only buy and eat a few at a time before the first one becomes brown and mushy. I know, first world problems.
Corinne and I were over several of those passes last fall and found them relatively easy in the Via. But, we weren’t liveaboards nor did we have a toad. GVW is everything, both for the cooling system and the brakes. I didn’t see Independence Pass listed. Did you traverse that one? It’s gradient isn’t the problem. The eastern approach has some horrendous exposure and the west side has a few blind corners that are single lane. Aaacccckkkk!
We have an Inreach and the cheapest plan. With this plan we get to have 3 preset “unlimited” messages that we can send to emails that we choose. We have it set to include the GPS location that we are at when the message is sent. Our 3 preset messages are; We are starting our hike here, We are here now, We have finished our hike. One of the emails that we send them to is ourselves so we can keep track of where we have been. I hope this gives you some ideas.
Thanks, Chris. I have traveled with an Inreach since it was a Delorme device…Four years now, I think. But my concern here is not being in touch. It’s doing costly damage to my engine or braking system. Thank you for the comment.
So… 47 states, but have you been to Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah?
Creigh Gordon, thanks for the comment. Three out of four ain’t bad. 😉
Willin’ has been fav of mine since Lowell recorded it. When cassette tapes were the only option I had Lowell’s and The Byrd’s version back to back.
Trivia; “Willin’” was inspired by people Lowell George met while working at a gas station in Southern California before his music career took off. And the delightfully alliterative list of towns he rattles off in the chorus — “I’ve been from Tuscon to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonopah” — took shape as he hitchhiked through the Southwest.
The first attempt at recording “Willin’,” on Little Feat’s 1971 self-titled debut, was a little off. The simple vocal and guitar arrangement has a faster tempo that rushes through the tongue-twisting lyric instead of lingering. And since George, a revered slide guitarist, badly burned his hand on the engine of a model airplane during sessions, Ry Cooder stepped in to play the track’s lead guitar.