Thursday, June 14, 2012

Columbine Campground, Questa, NM

 

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We found another great spot at Columbine Campground in the Carson National Forest, between Red River and Questa, NM along the Enchanted Circle. It is run by a concessionaire, but they honor the senior pass so we are paying $7.50/night, half the regular rate of $15. No hookups but there are several threaded water spigots and vault toilets. No dump again but the camp host came by as were were setting up and said we could let our gray water drain out on the grass. That is a first for us! Nice that we don’t have to wait until dark to stealthily pour out our dishwater, since most places don’t even allow that. Our Verizon phone even works and we have a slow internet connection with the amplifier.

Columbine Creek runs through the campground, and although you can’t see it in the pictures, it runs right behind our huge site, so we have the constant sound of rushing water. The only downside is there are lots of flies, but at least they don’t bite!

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There is also a many miles long hiking trail at the back of the campground which runs along the creek. We walked a couple miles last night and it’s lovely. I think we’re going to like it here.

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As we were walking through the campground yesterday we spotted this beat up old VW covered in windshield heat reflectors. It appears to be an older woman living out of her car. Jim wanted to get her story but when we walked by she was talking to someone else so we didn’t stop. If she is still here today we may go by and see if she needs anything. Who knows, perhaps she is just traveling and sleeps in the car. Although the days are near 80, it’s been in the upper 30’s at night. It wouldn’t a pleasant way to have to live.

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13 comments:

  1. The bits and pieces of kitchen and shower waste in gray water help increase the flies around your rig.

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  2. We're stealth graywater-dumpers, too. Haven't experienced any increase in insects. All the flies around here are already desiccated.

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  3. I think it's true if you dump your gray water all around your RV, you'll increase your flies. We take our dishwater out into the woods and haven't ever had any problem. Looks like a great place though. Beautiful. Hope you get the story on the VW. That would be the pits to sleep in so I hope she's got a tent.

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  4. Looks like our kind of place. Ive always wanted to camp by a running stream, but havent found it yet.

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  5. I wish I could remember the blog I read a while back. That car looks exactly like the one they had in their blog BUT they were not in that park. I don't even think they were in NM.

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  6. Is that Andy just up the way from you guys?

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  7. You just keep finding great parks!

    I'd be interested in hearing the story on the woman with the VW.

    Do you have a battery operated fan you can use? I used to do that, point it at myself, get the nice cool breeze, and the flies didn't seem to want to be in the moving air.

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  8. Looks like a really neat area. The price is decent too!

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  9. I just stumbled upon your blog about Columbine. We stayed there last year June 2011 and the older lady in the VW was there then! We are going back, end of July 2012... If she's there we will have to find out her story! This is to funny!

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  11. We have camped there for years and so has the lady in the VW. She lives in Taos in the winter, in the campground in the summer. Someone (friend, social worker?) comes out about once a week and visits her and, I assume, checks on her welfare. We have visited with her on occasions and she is very eccentric but also very educated. She causes no problems but obviously has some problems.

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  12. I am fr Questa and my husband seen her coming fr Colorado this summer. Here is another link on a blog about her. Lots of comments fr other people. http://wheelingit.us/2011/06/19/the-ultimate-rver/

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