Spring Trip 2015: Cortez, Colorado to Frankfort, Kentucky

Monday, 5/25:  427 miles and camped at the KOA in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Cortez, Colorado to Tucumcari,New Mexico

Tucumcari KOA, site 35

We left Cortez about 8:00.  I was expecting more traffic since it is Memorial Day, but it actually turned out to be not bad.  The only busy spot was the connection to Interstate 40 in Albuquerque.  We arrived at the KOA about 3:00 and found it nearly empty.  Everybody had all ready left after the three day weekend.  As we checked in, the owner commented on Judy's T-shirt, which she bought at Main Street Brewery in Cortez.  Come to find out, the KOA owner knew the brew master in Cortez, and they had shared recipes before.

It was sunny and 81 out.  What a pleasant change from the last two weeks of cold , snow and rain.  We ended up grilling over the grill.  It was a really nice day!

Tuesday 5/26:  378 miles and camped at the Oklahoma East KOA in Chocktaw, Oklahoma.  Good thing we reserved a space, because when we arrived, there was only one space left.

Tucumcari to Oklahoma City

Oklahoma East KOA, site B-02

Today was an Interstate day.  We drove I-40 the entire way.  I-40 replaces, and in some cases, parallels the Historic Rt. 66.  It often is referred to as the "Will Rogers Highway."   Route 66 was designated in 1926 as the highway to link Chicago and Los Angles.  Then, of course, it became famous because of the TV show in the 60"s.  Not much of the original highway is left, as it has been rerouted, updated and replaced by Interstate over the years.  But there are still original sections left.

We saw lots of flooding damage today from the series of storms that preceded us.  Fortunately, we are one day behind them as we travel east, and not in them.  There were flooded farm fields, over flowing rivers, and washed out stream beds.

That said, traveling was easy except for the brief stretch on I-40 through Oklahoma City during rush hour.  All part of the adventure.  :-)   The fact that the weather was sunny and 80 made up for the stress.  On the other hand, as I write this at 9:00 in the evening, the TV is warning of possible severe thunderstorms tonight.  Oh joy!!

PS: All of the severe storms went around us, and not over us.  :-)

From here we are headed toward St. Louis.

Wednesday, 5/27:  469 miles and camped at the West St. Louis KOA in Eureka, Missouri.

Kansas City to St. Louis

St. Louis West KOA, site B-03

Today, it was Interstate 40 all the way.  We passed through the Ozark region of Oklahoma and Missouri.  The scenery was beautiful, and combined with the sunny 85 degree weather, it was a beautiful and pleasant drive.

We arrived at he KOA Park about 4:00.  This is a beautiful campground with lots of shade trees and green grass.  The sites are large and easy to get in and out of.  On top of that, the park was less than half full.  How can you predict??   We got lucky with this choice.

Thursday we head for Frankfort, Kentucky and then on to Matt and Jaime Sipher's home in West Virginia on Friday.

Thursday, 5/28:  349 miles and camped at Elkhorn Campground in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Eureka, Missouri to Frankfort, Kentucky

Elkhorn Campground, site 64

As per our routine, we were on the road about 8:00 AM.  We had a shorter travel day today, but we also have to go through a time zone change, so that was going to add a clock hour to our travel.  We traveled the interstate highways today as well.  First, I-40, then I-44 and finally I-64.  Actually, I-64 was a pretty drive with not a lot of traffic.  We saw a variety of geography, starting with the Ozarks in Missouri, then the flat farmland in Illinois and Indiana, and finally the rolling hills of Kentucky.  We crossed three major rivers today too.  The first was the Mississippi, which separates Missouri and Illinois.  Then the Wabash River that separates Illinois and Indiana and finally the Ohio which is the border between Indiana and Kentucky.

It was muggy and 85 when we set up at the campground in Frankfort about 3:00.  Frankfort, by the way, is the capital of Kentucky.

Friday we head to see Matt, Jaime and family in West Virginia.