Move to Sweitzer State Park in Delta, CO

As mention in my last post, Sweitzer is a “sister” park to Crawford and the host that was schedule had to cancel due to medical reasons so Fred and I were asked to move over there.  This park is a day use only and has no camping at all; only boating, picnicking, swimming, and boating. The park is smaller than Crawford but is really a neat place and very peaceful.  We made the 30 mile drive over and got set up at the end of June.

 

We really liked the setup here as you can see there is a privacy fence around the front side of the coach which is great.  This also gives us a wind break as the wind really can blow hard here right before a rain shower; it also helped in creating the yard for the dogs. 

The park has a 137 surface acre lake that is really great for boating, water skiing, and jet skis.  There is really nice swimming area and plenty of places to have a picnic. 

 

 

 

The sunsets here are also as fabulous as the ones back at Crawford and the nights are really quiet.  Fred locks the gates to the park at 10:00 so after that it is only he and I on the grounds.

 

 

 

 

 

Since we are the only park host on the grounds our duties have increased some, or at least Fred’s has.  I am working in the office dealing with visitors, selling passes, annual passes and registering boats and 4-wheelers.  Fred is doing maintenance and ANS  so he runs around on the mule again and is loving it.

 

 

 

 

 

He really got to get a thrill when he went out with the Ranger on the boat to get after some boaters that were acting up on the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

We are enjoying it here and having a great time.  Our stay will be until after labor day so we are all hunker down until Sept. 7th.  In the area stop by and see us.

Some of the birds and wildlife VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Sweitzer State Park VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Crawford State Park

We finally arrived at our next volunteering position at Crawford Lake State Park in Crawford Colorado.  We had originally been scheduled for Paonia State Park, but the highway department was doing some blasting of rocks on the mountainside and the park was closed.  Crawford, Paonia and Sweitzer State Park are all “sister parks” and are under one management team so we were moved to Crawford State Park; which is the headquarters for the three parks.  Fred was  trained to work Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Inspections and I was trained to work the office. 

We spent the first few days getting setup and settling in, then went to look around the lake.  The park is really nice and the lake was beautiful.  We had a great view of the lake out the door and front window so our site was perfect.

 

 

 

 

The views around the park of the mountains were amazing and as it was still cool and rainy so the mountains were still getting snow.

Soon it started to warm up and the park started having fishermen, swimmers and boaters all over the lake.

We finished up our training and it looks like we were in for a fun summer.  There are some great birds around, the sunsets were lovely and there was a celebration by the city of Crawford that was scheduled during the month of June!!

Birds of Crawford VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunsets VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

 

 

 

 

Playtime VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of June,  Sweitzer Lake State Park lost their park host due to medical reasons and since Fred was trained in ANS and I was trained for the office, we were asked and agreed to move to Sweitzer.  Sweitzer is the “sister” park to Crawford but it is located in Delta, CO which is down in the valley and about 30 miles from Crawford; so we packed up and made the move.  On the road again even though it was for just a short trip.

Below are other pictures of Crawford and the area during our stay:

Crawford Lake State Park VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Drive down Highway 128–Colorado River

One of the scenic drives that everyone in Moab told us we needed to take was down Highway 128.  The highway connects Hwy 198 and I –70 and is 44 miles.  You can also take the La Sal Mountain Loop back into Moab.  The road is good for RVs and there are a number of campgrounds along the river, some with hookups and some without.

The bridge across the Colorado River on Hwy to the right and below is the Colorado River at the bridge.  This is at the beginning of Hwy 128.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the unique features of the drive is the first few miles there is a running/biking road. 

The red sandstone wall on one side and the river on the other really makes this a very scenic drive.

 

 

We saw boaters and campers all along the way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We finally reached the winery which was also a lodge/resort and it was simply beautiful.

 

 

 

 

The main reason for our stop though was the winery:

Of course we had to do a tasting and left with a few bottles of wine.  I must say the wines were great!!

Really glad we took the time to take the drive as it was beautiful and fun.  Here are other pictures  and a video of the drive.

Hwy 128 Scenic Drive VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Scenic Drive along Colorado River on Hwy 128