Leon Austin, Colorado Springs Mobile Notary

Of all the military bases in the Colorado Springs area, Fort Carson army base is the most difficult to get onto.

Difficult ... but not impossible.

So if you're a notary signing agent / mobile notary, you don't need the skills of an Ethan Hunt or Jason Bourne in order to get past the guards.

You just need a little patience.

The gate that I normally use is Gate 3.

If you're driving west on Academy Boulevard, it's the 'Fort Carson - Westmeadow Drive exit'. Then you'll see this sign. There's a traffic light at which you'll make a left turn.

Expect to be delayed for a few minutes while the security guards inspect your vehicle. Usually the guard will have me open the hood, trunk, glove box, and all four doors. Have your driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance available to present it to them. Even though I state the nature of my business, I also include my business card.

The guards are very serious about these inspections, and they do a thorough job. They are also very courteous and polite. I'm always tempted to let them know that I was an enlisted man -- not an officer -- while I was in the army, so there's no need to call me 'Sir'.

Once I'm on the base, I'm able to go just about anywhere. Finding my way around is not difficult. Most of the streets on Fort Carson can be found using MapQuest, and GPS. I have done notarizations in the housing area, and I did a closing in one of the barracks.

There is a Burger King on Prussman Boulevard and Specker Avenue, if the soldier wants to meet there.

Ironically, McDonald Street is one block north of Prussman, although there is no McDonald's restaurant there ... yet.

When I first became a notary signing agent, I wasn't sure if I would be able to perform notary services on Fort Carson. But getting onto the base is not a problem once you know the routine.

I always thought that Calhan, Colorado is located in El Paso county.

It is. But it's also located in Elbert county. That's what I discovered last week when I was assigned to do a closing in Calhan.

One of the first things I do when I get a closing assignment is find out where the borrowers are located. I thought it was unusual that the trip would take me more than an hour and a half, according to Mapquest.

Just where in Calhan is this? Where in Colorado is this? It was when I looked at the map view that I saw that it was in Elbert county. Is this some kind of mistake? Is that really Calhan?

After locating the borrowers on the map, I called them to confirm the appointment.

Sure enough, they are in Elbert county.

It was a pleasurable closing experience. I actually like the long drives out into the rural areas of Colorado. There is hardly any traffic. Just miles and miles of open scenery. You could probably stop in the middle of the road and have a picnic if you wanted to.

Having GPS really came in handy. There were a lot of turns, and the road signs aren't easy to see.

Just in case the title company doubted that the closing was actually in Elbert county, and not El Paso county, I got photographic evidence:

Whenever I get a request to do a closing in Florissant, Colorado, I think of that saying: 'It's not just a job. It's an adventure.'

For starters, Florissant, Colorado isn't actually a city. You won't find paved streets with traffic lights. There are no neighborhoods with rows of houses and kids playing on the sidewalks, or people walking their dogs.

No. Florissant isn't a city. It's wilderness. Instead of streets, avenues, and boulevards, you have county roads. And they aren't laid out in a grid. They twist and wind. As you may have guessed, not all of the roads are asphalt. They're mostly dirt roads.

And Florissant isn't the kind of place where you want to have car troubles. There are no gas stations every mile. You might consider calling AAA, if you're able to get a call through to them. There are many areas where there is no cell phone coverage. You're on your own.

I did a closing a couple of weeks ago in Florissant. For that closing I took CR1 (County Road 1).

There is another road -- Lower Twin Rocks Road (CR 42).

It intersects with CR1 and provides a bit of shortcut if you're driving from Colorado Springs. That's the road I took to get to the closing I had yesterday. Both roads are paved and in pretty good condition.

It's a good idea to have a GPS. I used to shun the devices, thinking that I could find any location with a map. But now I can't imagine owning a car without one. And I can't imagine trying to find my way through Florissant at night without a GPS.

It's a beautiful area of Colorado with a lot of spectacular scenery. I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I can say that I know my way around Florissant like I do Colorado Springs. But I've reached a point where I feel comfortable accepting an assignment to do a closing there.

I had a closing yesterday in Divide, Colorado, located in Teller county, not far from Woodland Park. After the closing experience I had last week in another part of Teller County (Florissant), I decided that I would use GPS for this trip as well, although it wasn't necessary. If you're heading west on Highway 24 from Colorado Springs, you can't miss the turn into the location. It is well marked with a sign that reads: 'Sherwood Forest Estates'.

When you make the turn, you will be on a paved road, but not for long. After about a mile the rest of the roads are dirt roads. And as the name suggests, there is a vast area of forest here.

Something else that you might expect from a place that calls itself 'Sherwood Forest' is that the names of the roads are named after characters from the Robin Hood tale.

For example, there is a 'Maid Marian Drive', 'Friar Tuck Drive', 'Little John Lane', ... just to name a few. And of course Sherwood Forest wouldn't be complete without a 'Robin Hood Drive'.

Divide, Colorado isn't just forest. You also have a fantastic view of the mountains, still covered with snow.

Divide is situated at over 9,000 feet elevation, so this view of snow-capped mountains is one that will last for a while.

I arrived in Divide about 15 minutes before the closing and just drove around, admiring the scenery. It's days like this that make me glad that I'm a notary signing agent. I get to see so many different parts of Colorado, and am able to mix business with pleasure.

It's time for me to head on down the road to the borrower's home.

I wish I could drive around a while longer, but I've got a closing to do.

I have a confession to make. A few years ago I had a closing assignment in Florissant, Colorado. On the way there I took a wrong turn and had a hard time finding the borrower's home. It didn't help that he lived far off the beaten path, and that there was no cell phone coverage so that I could call him and get directions. I finally located him through trial and error.

Actually, just about everyone in Florissant lives far off the beaten path. Florissant, Colorado isn't a city. It's more like an area. Wilderness, to be exact.

Things have changed a lot since that closing in Florissant. It can still be a challenge finding some of the locations there, but I have a better attitude about going to remote places ever since I bought a Garmin GPS for my Palm Treo. GPS is something that every notary signing agent and mobile notary should have. It's really amazing how this device can find locations. I had a closing last week in Elizabeth, Colorado. The GPS got me there with no problem.

But would it find locations in Florissant?

I had a chance to find out. I got a call to do a closing last Friday in Florissant. I was able to locate the borrower with no problem. As I turned onto the road where she lived, the GPS announced: 'Arriving at destination.' And sure enough, there was the house. I could have gotten there in the dark.

So I'm feeling a lot more positive about accepting closing assignments to Florissant. I'm more familiar with the roads than before, and I have the peace of mind that I have a GPS to get me there. If you have a need for a closer in Florissant, Colorado, give me a call. I'll be glad to go there.

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This is County Road 1 (CR1) -- the road that I took. If you're on Highway 24, you'll see the Thunderbird Bar & Grill -- a landmark that you can't miss. That's where to make the turn if you want to visit the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

I could have also taken Lower Twin Rocks Road. Perhaps I'll do that someday when I'm feeling a bit more adventurous.