Colorado

Missed the Colorado sign as we were entering. We took a road down the eastern side of the state; very few trees, miles and miles of wind generators, not the best roads. Even went through a little snow. We stayed in Trinidad overnight.

 

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Colorado statistics from Netstate.com:

1. Agriculture: Colorado's agricultural production is domintated (75%) by livestock and livestock products, driven by the cattle industry. Over 60% of the state's agricultural revenues are provided by the growth of cattle and calves. In terms of revenue generated, Colorado's top five agricultural products are cattle and calves, dairy products, corn for grain, greenhouse and nursery products, and hogs. Cattle and calves are the driving force in Colorado's agricultural commodity marketplace and make the state a top-ten livestock producer. Colorado cattle graze on mountainsides and on the plains. Beef cattle are fattened in feedlots, mostly around Greeley, where they are fed grains and other feed of high food value. Colorado farmers also profit from dairy products like milk. Other livestock products include hogs, sheep, lambs, and chicken eggs. Important field crops are wheat, corn and hay. Beans, grain sorghum, potatoes and sugar beets are also produced. Apples are the leading fruit crop. Carnations are the most valuable of the greenhouse and nursery products.

2. Manufacturing: Leading manufactured products are scientific instruments (medical instruments, devices for measuring electric current). Computers and communications equipment are the leading types of machinery manufactured Colorado. The state's food processing manufacturing industries (beer brewing, soft drink bottling, meat-packing, and production of animal feed), rank third. Other manufactured products include electrical equipment (computer components, telephone equipment, television cameras), fabricated metals (metal doors), leather and leather products (luggage), and paper (newspaper and business forms).

3. Mining: Oil, coal, and natural gas are Colorado's chief mined products. Other mined products include sand and gravel, gold, and molybdenum and, to a lesser degree, copper, lead, silver, and zinc, granite and limestone.

4. Services: Service industries make up the largest portion of Colorado's gross state product. Community, business and personal services (private health care; hotels and ski resorts; and engineering, legal services, and software development) rank first. Second is the finance, insurance and real estate industry. Denver is an important regional bank and finance hub. Wholesale and retail trade services rank third, providing wholesale trade of automobiles, groceries and mined products with Denver serving as the distribution center for the Rocky Mountain region. Retail outlets include automobile dealerships, food stores and restaurants.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

We went on to Great Sand Dunes National Park and spent the day there. We stayed at the Walmart in Alamosa that night.  I'm writing this too many months later to remember what we all did, but have a lot of pictures that you can see.  Medano Creek is at the base of the dunes and can be full enough for people to play in during peak season. The first of October is not peak season.

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 Nope, we didn't walk up to the top.

To see more of our trip, please click here. 

Salida East Recreation Site Boondocking, Salida, CO

We found the Salida East Recreation Site through freecampistes.net.  Co-operated by the AHRA (Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area) and Colorado State Parks. It is limited to 14 days in a 24-hour period. There were some camping areas near the trees, which were taken when we were there. We were out in the gravel area. There is a boat launch and fishing. Some highway noise. I'm doing this many months later, so I don't remember how the cell service was; but, I'm sure we had some since we stayed there six nights. 

For more pictures, please click here

Elk Creek Campground, Grand Lake, CO, and more of Rocky Mountain National Park

 
Elk Creek Campground has 50 RV sites, 13 tent sites, 14 camper cabins and a 6-man tipi. We paid $19.76 with Passport America. We had 50 amp service. There is Wi-Fi in their TV room. We had no over-the-air TV service. Good Verizon cell service. They have showers and laundry.

                 

The western part of the Rocky Mountain National Park can be accessed through Grand Lake. We drove to the visitor center and then back to town and hiked to Adams Falls. It’s really beautiful with the trees changing colors.