Cool, Cool, Cool

After boiling as we finished packing to get out of Phoenix we’ve found some very nice weather and life is good in the cool mountains of Colorado. We’re writing this update setting near the town of Buena Vista on the west side of Pikes Peak national park on the Arkansas river.

Our first stop heading east last Wednesday night was Canyon de Chelly in NE Arizona. Storms to the west cooled things down and blocked any sunset colors. Photos were taken with cloudy skies. We made our way to the White House ruins. In comparison to ancient Greeks the Anasaze Indians built this village in 1160 AD and the first Greek settlements were 7000 BC. The Greeks set the standard for ancient. The village that has both cliff and canyon floor structures is an interesting destination for a 2 mile hike down into the canyon. The picture far left shows the entire canyon wall above the ruins. Navajo Indians still live in the canyon and work crops like the Anasozes.

Most of the tourist areas have artist selling their work. We bought a juniper necklace from this lady who said she lives on the north side of the canyon.

We stayed overnight at the Thunderbird lodge campground in Chinle next to the canyon.

Thursday we headed for Durango Colorado to visit friends Dave and Brenda Wilson. They live on 35 acres south of Durango just 7 miles north of the New Mexico border. Great location with a river running through providing irrigation for grass fields. Dave being a structural engineer, designed and managed building their Spainsh style home on the hillside above the river. Arriving Thursday afternoon, we gave Dave a great excuse to take 3 day weekend.

Dave moving irrigation with their 2 natural gas wells behind.

Friday, after touring the property and doing some chores, we headed north of Durango into the mountains to a place they recently visited and like so much decided to take us.

The area is call Bullion Pass with snow pack still present and 3 small mountain lakes all well above the tree line.

The area is about 15 miles above Silverton along a road that will lead to Telluride over the top. The drive in was spectacular. We stopped to hike at 12600′. The hiking at that altitude is tough on us desert dwellers. We hiked up to the lakes in light rain and breathing a bit hard to say the least. Frankie had fun showing Neely the snow for the first time and Dave demonstrated how to be a human sled with his dog Tosha chasing.

It was especially nice visit for Neely as she got along great with their 3 dogs. We’ve already made plans to come back for an extended stay and do some more back country hiking and possible motorcycle riding both a passion for Dave and Brenda. Today (Friday), we took our final walk and then hit the road mid-day to make it to Buena Vista.

Buena Vista is the western gateway to Pikes Peak park and loaded with river operators offering day trip white water rafting. We are in a camp ground on the northern slops looking out over the huge river valley and the San Jaun and Sangre de Cristo Mountain ranges at a distance. Tomorrow we make our way through Pikes Peak park and Colorado Springs and then get on a fast track to Missouri.

On the road to Greece… Lowell, Frankie and Neely

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