After leaving Junction West RV Park in Grand Junction, CO we moved to the KOA in Silt, CO. We wanted to stay through July 4th but they were full that day so we stayed 3 days, moved to another RV Park and then came back later in the week. We enjoyed the KOA. The first time we stayed on the west side about in the middle. This was a little too far from the WIFI so I worked at a table in the office. There was a pool and a splash pad for the kids. Sunset was beautiful.
We tend to stay home on moving day just to chill and get familiar with our surroundings but today we decided to go into Silt and have lunch at Brickhouse Pizza which was very good. We noticed Columbine liquor store next door. We like to check for local beers so we decided to visit. We met Marcus, the owner, who shared a lot of local info. He greeted all the customers by name that came in while we were there. He also told us about a place called Slow Groovin BBQ in Marble which turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. We never would have known about this place if he didn’t suggest it.
Turns out the town of Marble mines the marble that was used for some monuments in Washington DC. The building that houses the Lincoln Memorial just to name one. We thoroughly enjoyed the drive to Marble and our food at Slow Groovin. I loved the ribs and a dessert with warm cornbread, honey, and vanilla ice cream.
July 4th I was just walking back to the trailer from the office when for some unknown reason I just fell down in the gravel. Skinned up bleeding knees. Ouch. Also the heel of both hands is cut up and bruised. Someone in a car stopped to ask if I needed help. So nice of them.
We moved to Grand Mesa RV and our spot was right next to some full time residents. Very nice folks. While setting up I stepped in a rut and fell down again! Bleeding all over again. The neighbor came running over to see if he could help. Ugh. Again, so nice. He later offered us beers and we sat and talked with them and visited with their dog. A very nice visit. We went to do a quick visit to Grand Mesa and planned for a longer visit later.
The next day we packed sandwiches and left for Grand Mesa. We also left behind temperatures in the 80s. This was another highlight of our trip. So beautiful and the weather! WHAT A TREAT to be chilly in July. I couldn’t have been happier. I just kept thinking how blessed I was. Grand Mesa sits at about 10,000 feet and the high that day was 66. There was still 3 feet of snow in some places. In the winter the visitor center was completely covered in snow.
We walked around taking pictures of lakes and landscape and then set up our chairs next to another lake and had lunch.
The next day we drove into Grand Junction to stock up again before hitting the smaller towns. Did laundry, got groceries. On the way back we stopped in Palisade for cherries, peaches, apricots and a squash. I love getting produce right from the source. And those peaches. Wow – I can’t say I’ve ever had better.
Another day I started painting a robin I saw at Grand Mesa and then we had lunch at Rockslide Brewery in Grand Junction.
The next day we moved back to the Silt KOA. We went back to Marble because I just had to have more of that BBQ and the dessert and I wanted to see the old marble mine. The ribs weren’t quite as good as the first time but the dessert was oh so good. Went walking around the old mine and picked up a couple of pieces out of the bin and bought a few pieces from the general store. Saw a marmot at the mill.
On our way back we stopped in Redstone. This is a really cute tiny little village created by a guy who owed the Coke Ovens in the area for his employees. Now there are a couple of shops, a park, a motel and some houses there. There’s another bin of marble chips at the general store.
While still at the Silt KOA we went to Rifle Falls State Park. This is a great park. I see so many things that happen too quickly to capture an image. On our way into that park I saw a momma turkey and babies.
There’s a triple waterfall here. Behind one of them there’s a bench and we were lucky enough to find it empty and ate our lunch there. I love being close to waterfalls and beaches for the uplifting negative ions there.
Summary:
Home base: KOA in Silt, CO 3 nights
Activities: drove to Marble, Co
Home base: Grand Mesa RV in Grand Mesa 4 nights
Activities: drove to the top of Grand Mesa to enjoy cool air and great views
drove to Palisade, CO to buy fresh fruit from the groves
Home base: KOA in Silt, CO 4 nights
Activities: Back to Marble to visit the mill, visited Rifle Falls
Corresponding YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8-DrWWtq4A&t=236s