DAY 5: "Twilight Zone Meets Paradise"

DAY 5:  Manitou Springs, CO - July 5, 2010

Welcome to BEAUTIFUL Manitou Springs......at the base of Pikes Peak, home to Garden of the Gods and the sweetest little town you could ever want or hope to visit.

We couldn't leave Raton, NM this morning until the dude in front of us left.......we were squeeeezed in there pretty tight, but fortunately, they were early risers and hit the road quickly......so we loaded the trike on the trailer lickety-split (we always argue when doing this and today was no exception!) and hit the road....

We decided the other day when the dash air went out that we would stop at Camping World just outside of Colorado Springs and have them take a look at it.  Prior to getting there today, we stopped for a fuel stop at which time, our radio (which meant my iPod) stopped working....UGH.....what next?????  So, we finally arrived at Camping World and found out they had a 2 week....ya, you heard me, 2 WEEK waiting list.  Can you see my eyes rolling back into my head and then the thumping of it against the concrete wall???  It would seem they had a HAIL STORM in Colorado Springs last night and EVERYONE, yes EVERYONE was at Camping World getting their RV's repaired.  I'm not believing this.  So, we made an appointment for the far far future and headed back to the RV.  Now we notice that the rooftop air isn't working.......seriously????!!!  Geezzzz.........so Chuck does what Chuck does best; he grabs a tool and walks around the perimeter of the RV.

Now, its important for you to know that the tool wasn't for any reason other than to "inspire" him...........which it did........  Five minutes later, he comes back into the RV, pushes a switch by the door and WHALLAA.......POWER!!!!!!  Someone, and they will remain nameless but it wasn't ME, accidently hit the battery cut-off switch while leaving the RV at the gas station which caused the radio/iPod and rooftop A/C, along with MANY other things that we just hadn't discovered didn't work yet, to quit working.  Unfortunately, we still have no dash air, but hey, considering what didn't work 5 minutes ago and now does, I was THRILLED and Chuck was looking like a hero!!

So, we finally pull into our little 40' x 10' pad of paradise at Pikes Peak RV Park in Manitou Springs, Colorado.  As we pull into this quaint little park right in the heart of town, here comes Chris and Margie who run the park heading out to hug us and welcome us back home.  This is our third stay here and each year, we stay longer.  It's just an incredible place.......

AND, we finally have cell and good internet service.  Hallelujah!!!  We had absolutely no cell coverage in New Mexico and I feel like we've just returned from the Twilight Zone or something.....It's good to be back with civilization.....

I just wish the ONLY channel we don't get on the TV wasn't the one that the Bachelorette TV show was on.......I'm going to bed.....