The ninth day of our Salt Lake adventure found us traveling from Utah to Colorado for an overnight stay at the Denver West/Central City KOA.

We opted for a route that included mostly U.S. Highway 40 rather than I-70, considering we had read several reviews that advised against using the interstate because of its road conditions. We weren’t disappointed. The rural, two-lane Highway 40 runs roughly parallel to I-70, but miles of roadway traverse desolate landscapes in splendid isolation.

About half-way to our destination, our tow vehicle displayed a couple of system alerts. The first, a reduced engine power warning, came as we ascended a long, steep mountain pass. The second, a traction control warning, disabled our cruise control. Neither prevented us from safely reaching our destination, but Cliff will have both checked upon our return to Dallas.

We arrived at the KOA shortly after 6:30 p.m. and set up in one of the facility’s “premium” sites, complete with a fire pit, propane grill, patio furniture, and concrete pad.

Located at an elevation of 8,490 feet, the campground is 35 miles west of Denver, which, technically speaking, is “Denver West,” but it’s a bit of a stretch, especially considering how much effort was required to get there. The drive from I-70 over the Central City Parkway had mountain views, but most of them were muted by overcast skies and local storms.

We ended our travel day with a traditional Date Night dinner, including New York strip steaks, asparagus, and peppers, all grilled to perfection, along with baked potato and an Argentinian Malbec. Afterwards, we took a walk under starlit skies and then enjoyed quiet conversation at the campsite.

A few lessons we learned along the way are worth sharing:

1. Engine alerts don’t necessarily equate to dire warnings, just friendly notifications.
2. The motorists who pass you on a mountain road are likely to be waiting at the same stoplight in the next small town.
3. A high-altitude nosebleed is the worst. Not the best way to end an otherwise ideal evening.