Our first challenge was our approach to the KOA in Pueblo. In phone conversations--when we made the reservation and again when we were about ten miles out calling for last-minute advice about our approach--the staff at the KOA mentioned the one-lane tunnel. We would take Exit 108, keeping as far right as we could, then turn left immediately, come through a one-lane underpass tunnel, proceed about 100 feet and then turn right into the campground road. They told us the one-lane tunnel was 13.5 feet tall and that it went under four lanes of freeway plus the median.They assured us that the tunnel was wide enough for our 8'5" wide motorhome to get through without scraping our coach's paint. What a lovely thought. We should have stopped and taken a photo of the entire tunnel. UGH! We were so glad to get through unscathed! When we left Pueblo even though we were headed north, we took the southbound on-ramp and went four miles, exited and then came back on the northbound I-25 to avoid going through the underpass tunnel again.
Colorado is gorgeous mountain country. The KOA staff had told us about 12" of new snow that had fallen at Pike's Peak the day before. Roger seemed unimpressed. However, as navigator, I took particular note. I had read the freeway reader boards reminding all truckers that chains are required to be on board from September 1 through May. We didn't have chains. We had no intention of driving through slush, let alone snow or ice. But here we were on a mostly sunny fine September day, climbing from Denver to Littleton, ready to continue onto I-70, and head over the pass (and snow?) and then down to Grand Junction.
First, we had to get to the summit. We had our eye on the speedometer as it dropped from 60 mph to 40 and then 37. Our speed slowed and the water temperature gauge climbed steadily. As the Interstate rose over 5,000 feet from Denver's 5,280 ft. elevation, we leaned our bodies forward in the seats, helping our Cummins 450 IML motor with an extra you-can-do-it! push that would help us make it to the top without being forced to stop to cool down. And then just as we realized we had made the grade, the steep descent began with warning signs for truckers (and us): Truck Speed Limit 35 (mph); Truckers, don't be fooled . . . ; and Truckers, you are not down yet. We stayed in the right lane in a line of semi trucks cruising down the Rockies at about 35-38 mph. That was perfect during the steep sections near the top. We didn't care that cars, SUVs, and small trucks zoomed past us in the left lanes. We went through rain and some hail, but no snow--thank you very much! After the steep sections, we once again drove at about 60 mph, relaxed, snacked on cheese and crackers, and enjoyed the scenery.
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| To get on or off I-25 at Exit 108 at Pueblo, you travel through this 13.5 ft. one-lane tunnel. |
