Red

(= Colorado in Spanish. Named for the color of the Colorado River)

Was going to wait til we wrapped up our visit here on Sept 22 to send this out. But I got some peer pressure to go ahead and send something before then. Prob a good idea since there will be SO MUCH to write about!

Creede, CO up ahead

8-18-10: Arrived in beautiful Creede, CO. Only town in Mineral County. It's a former silver -mining town. In 1892 Creede was shipping out over a million dollars worth of silver each month. Famous Old West personalities such as Bat Masterson, Calamity Jane, Poker Alice, and many others lived here at that time. Population was around 10,000. When the town started fizzling, they headed out also. We're in the Rio Grande Nat'l Forest. The Rio Grande River runs through the rv park where we are. Lots of old mining cars turned into flower pots in the park. Mining here stopped in 1985. There's still an underground mining museum and now the Creede Fire Dept operates from within the mountain where the major mining occurred. The mining area has a stunning view! Maxine and Linda, I sure see why ya'll love it here! (speaking of Creede pop: a shopowner told me in the winter these days the pop is about 300). And, there seems to be more Texans here than Coloradoans. So most folks talk right. :)

8-19-10: Started playing cards today with my TX Hill Country friend, Ann, and some of the ladies here that she knows. I've missed the card playing. Temps here are in the 60's for the high, and 30's-40's at night. I don't think I've ever experienced an August that was below 100. Feels like fall!

ahhhh

Spanish Trail near Alamosa

8-20-10: Went to Alamosa to the Sonic – uh, I mean Walmart. Stopped at Sonic while at it. It's about an hr and a half away, so “we” really wanted to take advantage of it while we could. Stopped to see and read up on the Spanish Trail and then Wagonwheel Gap (which is one of the prettiest little spots up here) on the way back. Interesting history at both!

David just after a bike ride to Creede

Bec back at the rv park

8-21-10: Rode bikes about 2 ½ miles. The trail looked flat. But I guess at 8800 ft, nothing is flat. The ride from the rv park to town about did me in. High altitude, thin air, (too much weight). Oh, and of course, it was the heat of the day – 60's. But the ride back was wonderful. That's how I knew it wasn't a flat trail, because I hardly had to peddle at all on the way back. Played cards tonite. Hand and Foot again, but I'm really missing Pennies from Heaven. My Kansas peeps last year thought (due to my accent) that I was saying “Panties from Heaven”. So we now call that game Panties instead of Pennies. Just a little trivia that I thought was pretty important.

8-22-10: Had a wonderful church service this morning at the rv park with Alpine Ministries. The minister is also the music minister. (and from Pittsurg, TX!) We had some special music. But one was a first for me. He WHISTLED Just a Closer Walk With Thee. It was wonderful! Rode that bike path again and, yes, it about did me again but was maybe a tad easier.

Down by the mine in Creede

Rocky's own rock

8-23-10: Went to the mining museum – as far as the gift shop inside (COLD). Ate at the Old Firehouse Cafe in downtown Creede. Used to be the fire station – I guess before they moved into the mountain.

Ann and I finally played “Panties” tonite. Guess I shouldn't have been so eager to play it again. She beat me by 10,000 pts!! sigh.

DRG Railbus

David and Me on the railbus

8-24-10: Rode the Denver & Rio Grande “railbus” today from South Fork to Wagonwheel Gap, with a lunch stop at Blue Creek. (great John Wayne burger, btw). The car is a small passenger vehicle that holds maybe 20 or so at the most. There were 6 of us today plus the driver.

View from the Railbus ride

Railbus station

Rio Grande bridge

View alongside the Rio Grande River

This rail is the oldest track still in use in the USA. They had to really hunt for some of the track when they began restoration. Started as a narrow gauge, but became standard. It is an open air, single car – The Silver Streak – and is a wonderful ride! Lots of history there, too!

On top of the world!

View on Railbus ride

Just wanted to jump in

Cave? 

Former Iceburg - still shifts

 It's so much fun to see nature and historical structures that you might not see from the road. And, of course, hear the guide (in this case the president of the DRG Foundation) tell so much of the history. Black (cinnamon) bears are abundant in this area and we were all hoping to see some. But I guess they could “hear that train a coming”. So we missed out this time. But beautiful sights! Including rosehips and chokecherries. I think Rocky would've liked them.

When we got back to the camper this afternoon, we had yet another hailstorm. Peasize, so not too bad. I love the mountain rains and storms! Very cozy. Oh, and Rocky met a dog from Conway, AR named Rocky tonite.

Going for a ride!

8-25-10: Very chilly this morning! I had to wear ear warmers, gloves, and jacket for my walk. Had planned on going to Center for the Mennonite concert. But we both suddenly felt bad for leaving Rocky alone for so long again after just leaving him yesterday for the railbus ride. So instead, we went to Pagosa Springs for supper – with Rocky. (Wish you still lived up here, Janet!) Went over Wolf Creek Pass to get there. (when the pass was completed in 1916, it took a Model-T two days to get over it) Back in '97 when we were up there with the kids, I hyperventilated when we pulled over on that pass. Wasn't as scared this time. Plus I think I'm finally acclimated to the altitude. (noticed tonite that I'm not as short of breath). Just a beautiful drive!! Aspens are awesome. New tunnel since we were here last and still the snowshed. Passed by the Great Divide, where Gus got grounded years ago for hitting Laura with a snowball. LOL.
Also passed the little store we remembered from that trip that was swarming with hummingbirds. Plan on getting pix at those spots another day there, when it's not so close to dark. Saw a mulie by the road on this pass. And a marmot. Got back to Creede and drove up to an old cemetary on Bachelor Loop Rd to try to catch the sunset. Too late for the sunset, but got to see a great view of Creede and the surrounding valley.

Bec at Stony Pass

David at Stony Pass

8-26-10: Drove to Lake City, CO on the the Silver Thread Scenic Byway. Drove through 3 passes: Stony, Spring Creek, and Slumgullion.  This may have been been my fave drive of all so far! (you were right about this, Jimmy!) Gorgeous scenery and very cool temps. God's creations never cease to amaze me! It was great!

Getting on up there

Continental Divide on Spring Creek Pass: 10,898 ft. Can't believe how tall reflectors are in this neck of the woods – as were they in Idaho. Reckon the winters have anything to do with that? Amazing Baldy Cinco Mtn.

North Clear Creek Falls

North Clear Creek Falls

 Stopped at North Clear Creek Falls. Wow!! So pretty. I later saw a pic at Freemon's General Store of those falls – frozen. Nice little switchback walking path up to the top of the canyon at the falls. Great view there, too. And Rocky just about got a chipmunk on that path. But he couldn't fit under the rock that the little guy squeezed under.

David -- still climbing

David with the Slumgullion behind him

Lake San Cristobal - Lake City, CO

An historical church in Lake City, CO

Slumgullion Pass was 11,530 ft and loaded with lush, green Aspen's. A few of them have turned yellow at the top. Hoping before we leave in September, we'll get to see the Aspen's fall colors! The drive is great – would be greater if there hadn't been hundreds of dirt bikes sharing the road with us. Slumgullion would be something interesting to google. It's an official natural wonder and created Lake San Cristobal. Ate at Poker Alice's in Lake City. Yummy pizza and blt!!

Icky Story

Oh, and speaking of eating – ya'll must google the Alferd Packer story. Talk about creepy!!

Ucompahgre Peak

Stopped at San Juan Nat'l Forest's Windy Point Lookout at 11, 000 ft. Saw and read about Mesa Saco and the huge, picturesque peaks, including Ucompahgre Peak: a Fourteener at 14,309 ft. 7th largest in Colorado.

CO views

Beautiful dougs and spruce

Love the Aspens

 I could've just sat there all day and stared at those mtns and the trees: Aspens, Dougs, Englemann Spruce. Would love to catch a sunset there! Took a backroad – North Clear Creek Road -- in the Rio Grande Natl Forest that had some dry campgrounds and an absolutely beautiful forest drive. Saw a couple of rockslides up close and our 4th mulie of the day. So many chipmunks, too. So cute! Another cool mtn shower. It was a very good day.

Taking a hike

Woodpecker pair

David on the hike - what a view

Some history at the trailhead

Deep Creek View

Wonderful view in the Rio Grande NF

Thank goodness for walking sticks

 view of the rv park from the ridge

8-27-10: Took a wonderful hike up Deep Creek Trail. We think we went about 2 ½ – 3 miles in. No markers, but we just kinda guessed from the time it took. (about 2 hrs round trip). No bears, but plenty of signs of them. We hear they are out more in September. We took whistles just in case. Also, Colorado black bears (which is a species, not a color) “come in” 3 colors primarily. Not black. Quite a hike going uphill. Thank goodness for our new walking sticks. Thanks again for making those for us, George!! The views were just awesome. And we felt like we got a workout. You'd think I'd lose some weight with this sort of activity. But it just increases my appetite. So we went to catfish night at Cottonwood Cove.

8-29-10: Lisa, you and your family are on my mind a lot today. Praying for ya'll.

8-31-10: Snow in the forecast for the second time this week. 37 degrees when we woke up. Most of the Creede forecasts come from Wolf Creek, tho. We headed that way today to go to Durango. No snow. But very chilly.

The Hummingbird Hangount

Got pix at the hummingbird store – Wolf Creek Ranch.

The Great Divide

We stopped at the summit, The Great Divide. I walked the trail that we walked in June '97 where Gus got grounded. It's freezing up there! But so beautiful. The entire pass is awesome! And the pullout where I hyperventilated back in the day?? Well, now there are signs that say “no stopping or standing”. I KNEW they weren't safe! Mother's instinct, right? Some mom probably made them put those signs up.

Treasure Falls

Stopped at Treasure Falls which cascades 105 ft.

Chimney Rock

Passed by Chimney Rock outside Pagosa. Just before Durango, we came upon Wildlife Detection Zones. I'd never seen those before. You must google that: really awesome idea. Hope it is successful. Durango seems much more populated now. But still a sight to behold!

View from atop Wolf Creek

From the top of Wolf Creek Pass

My man

Reminiscing

The San Juan Mtns and Animas River are awesome. Didn't ride the train this time. The historical downtown is fun and pretty. Lots of hippies! Love it!

Driving is hard work on a doggie

Will send more info and pix at the end of our trip, Sept. 22. (if not before)



Peace and Love,



Bat and Calamity