Rolled into Colorado on Hwy 25 where we stopped in Denver to see the State Capital building; we took the tour that included the 99 steps to the upper rotunda where we could overlook the city. We also got to visit with an old friend & her family.
Then it was on to Alamosa where we stayed for 2 nights, taking a side trip to ‘The Swimming Pool’ near Hooper. It was an olympic size pool and looked so refreshing on a nice warm day; jumped into 98.6 degree water. It was fed by a hot spring. We slept really good that night.
On to South Fork where we met up with other Escapee friends for a week before the Outdoor Adventure HOP (aka Jeep runs & trails). We went with the leaders on a pre-hop run to Silverton on 4 wheels drive trails crossing Stony Pass & fording Pole Creek on the way to Silverton. Spent the night in Silverton, saw the Miner’s Memorial before leaving after breakfast, crossed Hurricane Pass, California Gulch & Engineer Pass (12,980 ft). California may have Mt Whitney (the tallest peak in the lower USA) but Colorado has 54 peaks over 14,000 ft, they’re called the 14′ers. Back into South Fork, we made a few jeep runs, went to a farmer’s market, had a potluck and ice cream social at the campground and checked out some of the beautiful homes in the area. On 1 of our jeep runs, we saw a lynx, 2 deer, 2 moose, several marmots and a pika.
Sunday, the 21st of August, we changed campgrounds & moved into 1 in Creede. There was a thunderstorm with hail before a catered dinner and sign up sheets for jeep runs during the week. We were busy everyday. Monday we went to Wheeler Geographical Area where due to a sudden thundershower we did not walk out to see the hoodoos (we still do not know what they are – someday). It made a very slippery run back to the campground. Tuesday we drove to Bristol Head where you can see a long way, to Crystal Lake which as it name implies was crystal clear (& icy cold) and stopped at the Clear Creek Waterfall – saw a young buck in velvet. Wednesday we went to the ranger station (Gaylon got his Senior Discount pass), had lunch with friends, went through the Miner’s Museum and the only underground Fire Dept in the world. There are 5 large bays for the firetrucks, etc which stay a constant 55 degrees. As if that wasn’t enough, we took the Bachelor’s Loop jeep trail past all the old copper, silver & lead mines and ended up in the Creede Cemetery. They say that in the old days, bad men & naughty women were buried north to south while the good people of town were buried facing east. They all looked like they were going the same direction to us. Thursday we took an easy run where we got to watch a beaver sunbathing. We never knew they did that. Friday we did the Alder/Rat Creek run. The hillsides are covered with lots of flowers, Columbines, Penstemon, Lupine, Ruby King Crowns & lots more. There were catered breakfasts every morning, we left on Saturday after indulging in home baked cinnamon rolls.
Pagosa Springs – we met up with friends we made in Brookings, SD where we all helped with a Habitat 4 Humanity home. Saw the current project they were working on & met the soon-to-be homeowner. Enjoyed a potluck dinner Sunday evening.
Leaving on Monday, we stopped at Chimney Rock (a ancient Puebloan historic site). The first part of the tour requires driving to the top of the mountain – we unhitched the jeep from the motorhome. The next part was a 1/2 mile walk around some uncovered kivas and pit homes. The volunteer guide was very well informed as he led us to the top of the hill to observe the chimney rocks on the final walk. Pretty stiff climb up, we passed 6 pit homes. At the top, the chimney rock & the companion rock look like they are side by side and were used to observe the moon for agricultural purposes. We learned that broad yucca leaves were used to make sandals (that lasted approximately 3 days) while thin yucca leaves were used for clothes. It was after lunch when we arrived in Durango where we stayed with friends. They treated us to tours of the surrounding area – wonderful. We took the Silverton-Durango train ride where our friends met us in Silverton where we went to lunch, then toured Ouray, Telluride before heading back to their house.
Now we are in Montrose, visiting Sharon’s cousin Chris. On Saturday (8/9) we packed a lunch and went to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. We stopped at most of the overlooks on the south side – there are 11. The view from every overlook was drastically different from the others. It was a long way to the bottom where the green Gunnison River cuts through the bottom of the V-shaped canyon. Unfortunately the river is now tamed by dams and no longer flows furiously through the canyon.
We had dinner with my cousin in Montrose and the next day left for Naturita. We stopped in Telluride on the way down for another look. Rode the ski gondola to the top. It’s free! and we love free. Then, if you take the road to the end of town it turns into gravel & then a jeep trail more or less; some of the switchbacks are very tight & require backing up to make the turn but the view from the top – WOW! 
There is a house at the top between 2 waterfalls. It used to be a hydro-electric plant that was built in the 1890’s, decommissioned in 1953. It went on the National Historic Register in 1976 & in 1992, someone bought it & converted it into a home. But what a rough road to drive home on everyday and don’t forget anything essential – like bread or milk! At the top, you can park your vehicle and walk a path that oerlooks the house & waterfalls. We thought anyone who could afford that place would have a helicopter pad but no, there wasn’t one.
Next stop, Naturita where Gaylon used to go to hunt when we lived in California. The scenery changes dramatically as you drive west towards Utah. Lush pine & green forests in mountain with snow topped peaks changes to rolling grasslands. We spent several days there driving around to see where he hunted. Too hot to see any animals. They are waiting for cooler weather and snow. We did see a few deer.
