Neither Royal nor Gorgeous

Most of the campgrounds in Colorado are closed this late in the year due to cold temperatures and frequent snow. We found one open near the Royal Gorge and decided to visit recently. We found the Royal Gorge to be neither royal nor gorgeous; perhaps it would be prettier in the spring when there was more water. Whoever built the bridge over the gorge didn’t see the need for an attractive design, and the terrain was semi-arid with pinion pine scrub and cactus. It’s well-known for white-water rafting, and I hope the view is better from the water.

Hiking wasn’t as fun as we’d hoped; there were lots of cacti, many stickers (sorry pups), and dusty trails. It was a perfect place to focus on activities inside our camper.

We kept the electric fireplace going almost all day, as it produced a mild heat to take of the chill. When we bought our camper, we were surprised at how much of a selling point the salesman made of the “fireplace.” It sounded silly and over-done to us; clearly, we didn’t get it. With the summers so hot and smokey, we have begun camping mainly in the fall, winter, and spring.

Although the camper is strongly insulated and designed for all-weather use, the electric fireplace is a boon for our companion animals during cool weather. They have a comfy bed on the floor in front of the fireplace, and they vie for positions on the nearest couch.

I delighted in seeing the pairings that resulted from competition to get closest to the fireplace. Usually, Garnet and Tribble did everything together. Nami did nothing with anyone, but River and Gracie were friends. However, like the predators and prey peacefully drinking at the same waterhole, our regular social pairings relaxed in the camper’s confines. Not only did River and Garnet mix on the couch, but Tribble and Nami!

Later in the bedroom, I was shocked to find Nami and Gracie cuddled up to me dangerously close to each other. Once, I even saw them touch noses in a little kitty kiss! I saw a minor conflict over dibs on the heating pad once we returned home, so that truce didn’t last, but I’m taking these successes wherever I can.