03-11JUN08 - Denver (in the shop once more)

Tuesday morning we got an early start so as to be driving during the cool morning. We had one minor overheat on the way, but pulled safely into Rocky Mountain Cummins outside Denver. In fact, we were very near the old chemical storage depot, Rocky Mountain Arsenal, now called Rocky Mountain Wildlife Refuge (talk about a PR spin?). Anyway we checked in at the service desk and confirmed that someone would be with us first thing tomorrow morning at 0715.

First thing Wednesday morning Smitty showed up to check out our problems. It was very refreshing to not only speak directly to the mechanic but find out he had taken time to read our written account of the problems. Within one hour Smitty found the problems, without the aid of a computer. Turns out that our rear radiators, there are two sandwiched together, were caked with dirt, oil and debris (ie cement), and a broken thermostat. The bad news is that due to rear engine construction of RVs, we were talking many hours to dissemble, clean and reassemble (at $122 per hour).

The Cummins facility understands the issues involved with full timing RV’ers, and we could stay in the RV during the repair. But that means that every morning the RV would be pushed back into the service bay, and every afternoon back to the RV spot; while we sat for hours in the TV lounge. So we decided to find a motel or other accommodation to stay in while the RV was repaired. This would mean the RV could stay in the service bay and the repairs thereby speeded up.

Because of Gumbo, the one eyed Jack, we could only find a cabin at Castle Rock Campground. The cabin was 12 by 12, with bunk beds and a futon. It was about half the size of our RV, with none of the creature comforts. For two days we spent time between running back to Denver to check repair status, exploring Castle Rock during record cold weather, and trying not to get cabin fever.

Saturday the weather turned nice and we decided to head up I-70 west to enjoy the scenery and visit some “old” mining towns named Central City & Blackhawk:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/CP-CentralCity.html

Turns out Wyoming several years ago voted to allow gambling, but only in three mining towns that were almost ghost towns – Cripple Creek (she sends me), Central City and Blackhawk. And all revenues were to go to restoring buildings and heritage sites throughout the state. Central City & Blackhawk are right next door to each other, we’re talking 1/8th mile apart. Since Central City is hemmed in by rock cliffs, the casinos have restored several adjacent buildings so that on the outside they look like different buildings but are just one gaming establishment inside.

Next door in Blackhawk they had a little open land, so they were able to build new casinos in addition to restoring the remaining original buildings. So in Blackhawk you have some of the big casino corporations like Ameristar and Isle of Capri. And even the new casino’s make an effort to use “native” materials and architecture that blends with the natural beauty of the Rockies, but they still stick out.

The brief and rowdy years of these two mining towns can be summed up by two pieces of information from the local paper:

---in 1861 it was recorded that there were 217 fights, 97 gun fights, 11 knife fights and one dog fight, amazingly no one was killed.

---in 1885 it was noted – “The froth, scum and driftwood of civilization incidental to mining camps, have long since floated away to new diggings, leaving a substantial class of citizens...”

Sunday, 08MAR, Dan departed for four days of work for LSU, leaving Corrie and Gumbo to fend for themselves in the cabin, while he enjoyed the pleasures of Columbus, OH. Corrie found out the RV was ready on Monday and immediately vacated the cabin for the comforts of her own home in the Cummins parking lot. The Ryan family was reunited Wednesday, at which time Dan decided to replace the two starting batteries for the engine since they had been acting up. Cummins had the batteries but told Dan he could get them cheaper if he ran across town and got them from the wholesaler. So tomorrow, 12MAR, we finally hit the road with new batteries, completely cleaned cooling system, replaced left front seal, new front brakes, and new generator exhaust pipe!!!