How do you like my new hard drive........?

I'm back at the Looney Bean once more.    Trust me, they make the best frozen skinny mochas I have ever had and I've enjoyed the 2 baristas, especially Morgan, a cute kid with piercing and various hair shades and tattoos.....and she is just so good at what she does.....how refreshing these days !  

Anyhow, the new bigger  hard drive is successfully installed.    Thanks to Mr Fixit....with a little help from the local Apple expert who also works at the Horsefly Brewery and is where you take your MAC for help.....nice guy as well.     I now have tons of storage and probably a lot of other things that I have no knowledge of.    Now, if I only had internet in the moving house.......but then I wouldn't come to the  Looney Bean..... 

We are still in the San Juan Mtns and despite daily rain and thunder and lightning and damp campfires, we still are very happy with this neighborhood.      Yesterday, the rain stopped and the blue sky showed it's magnificence and we headed out.       

This is a view of Ouray as you head south towards Silverton.   

The aspen are just beginning to show their color..........

We chose Ophir Pass this day to explore.   It has some bumps and narrow ledges but mostly it's just a beautiful ride .........

After the heavy rains, the streams and falls are again running......

Once you get above tree-line, amid the rocky landscape, you find the busy marmots.    I managed to capture this one as he was about to scamper into his den.....that dark hole in front of him.   I need to find out info on them but I think they must hibernate....he had a mouthful of grasses.

Ophir Pass connects Silverton with Telluride.   We didn't see any mine debris or buildings but I'm sure it was some sort of road to carry silver and gold.  It was COLD at the top, and windy.    In the low 50's.

As we decended lower, the aspen stands were huge and dense....no color yet.

We came to the old town of Ophir , of which I haven't researched, but it is now a small residential area of cabins and this quaint post office.  

We headed on Rt 145 towards Telluride but came to Mountain Home Village first.    Wow, what a developed  area this has become.    Beautiful log condos, hotels and large homes perched at 9600 ft.   It reminds me a bit of Vail with the flowers and walking paths and scenic golf course.    In the heart of it all is the gondola.....It is functional year round to get you up to the top of the mountain or over the mountain to Telluride.    It's designed to carry the masses and to keep the cars and buses to a minimum. It is a brilliant transportation system....

And a really fun way to get around.    As we came out of the launch pad, I had the feeling we were going to drop like a stone......well, not quite but we did drop and it was a bit like an amusement ride.....with stunning scenery.

The gondola is free in the summer but suspect you need a lift ticket or something in the winter altho it is a main link to Telluride from Mountain Home.

It is popular with hikers and bikers as they ride the gondola up and come back down the mountain via trails .....
This is the only shot I could get of the aspen turning from yellow to orange...blurry as it is.  It was a beautiful day .....

And now, to catch up on the previous week.....  we met Joe and Gay in Silverton one chilly Saturday.   It was fun to share good times once again after our first meeting in Moab and then Park City.    They are off to Albuquerque and then Georgia before heading to the Florida panhandle for a bit.   Hopefully, we'll meet up again.    We showed them Animas Forks and it was cold and drizzly so we didn't stay long.     

 

Then, a few days later, we met up with Nancy......if you've read the blog for a bit, you'll recognize her as the one who just had to ride a water buffalo in Costa Rica.   She was the photographer part of the Art and Photography Tour ..... she was in the Silverton area, camping at 12,000 FT !!!  Her husband finally got a buck tag for hunting and they were up there in the cold and rain and snow.    Alas, the efforts were not successful but they did see a moose.    You are assigned an area so it's not like they could move to a different area.    She was happy to come down to warm up !!  This is a "selfy pic" with her phone.

On another day , we headed up to Owl Pass....not very high or rugged.    Perfect for raising sheep apparently and they were in no hurry to give up the road.    We saw many large herds and 

 the sheep herders wagons.   Years ago, the herders were Basque but now they are mostly Peruvian.   We saw one sitting among the trees .... what a lonely job that must be.    And, one in the area was gored by an elk (according to the local weekly paper) but was able to somehow get himself to help 4 miles away and altho in critical condition after being airlifted out, he was expected to survive.  

In the same area, we saw some deer and as I snapped the pic, he decided to leap the fence.   It's not a great capture but I'm always surprised by what the camera finds.

One morning, on our way to Ridgeway, we came across this pretty site....we'll look for the balloon when we get to Albuquerque.   

OK, almost done with the travelog...... we are only about 30+ miles from the Grand Canyon of the Gunnison NP.    It is very hard to capture the depth and awesome-ness of this deep chasm in the earth.    The Gunnison River carved this scenic wonder.  

This area is called the Painted Wall.   During peak tourist times, they offer boat rides down the river but they are done for the season.....

With all the rainy days we've had, we've almost become accustomed to the rainbows that usually follow.    This one was especially brilliant and complete.


Here's my comfortable spot at the Looney Bean.  

When the computer dies........

....can life, as we know it,  go on ...??   Just a quick note to say that we are currently technically challenged so the blog is awaiting .    But wanted you all to know  that we are nowhere near any of the massive flash flooding that is devastating beautiful Boulder County.    We are in the western part of the state where we have had rain most days but not of the torrential part.    And, altho we are next to a river, it is far below us and we feel safe unless the earthen dam that we view out our front window decides to collapse.     We are staying off the mountain trails and canyons just being cautious.

So, we are back at the Looney Bean trying to figure out why my MAC is misbehaving and it looks like it needs a new hard drive  Not being in a metropolis, we're not sure if we can pick one up here or will need to order it.    And the iPad is so slow that it would take me forever to add pics to the blog.
So, go read a book, take a hike or enjoy a favorite person for a few days and  then check back....... hope to see you sooner than later.......

San Juan Mountain High...........

Connecting back into the internet is a beautiful thing when it isn't readily available unless you drive somewhere.    I'm at a place called the Looney Bean in Montrose.....big, comfy chairs, lots of tables and a big fireplace and VERY fast free wifi..... and a delicious frozen mocha to boot (that was a bit pricey at $4.75 for a regular size ! ).    Anyhow, I'm putting up some pictures of our trail rides, sort of in order and you can get the idea of the scenery and our reason to be here.   

 This is the view as we leave the CG and head towards Ouray.....(pronounced U-ray) and named after an Indian Chief.

 As you get closer, you can see why it's called Little Switzerland as it is located over that middle hill and nestled deep in the mountains at about 8,000 ft.    It is a quaint Victorian town with well maintained  historical buildings......Google it as I have no good pictures.

 We headed out one day on the Alpine Loop ( a combination of trails that go to Ouray, Silverton and Lake City.   This is the back side of Red Mountain....

 As we approached the top of a pass, there was this outhouse,  sitting on the edge of a steep ridge...and functional.  

 On the other side was Lake Como, and it really is that color.  

 In case you want to do some exploring but don't have a Jeep, there are many rental companies that will gladly send you out in a shiny bright red or orange one.    (You have to wash it before you return it !! )  Or, you can go on a guided ride in these open air modern stage coaches....

 Or, you can rent a Razr.....very popular and a bit noisy but with a narrower track, they might not be so intimidating on the shelf roads.  

 Everywhere, there are remnants of the glory days of mining.    Some of the mines have been reopened with the price of gold and silver so high.

 We eventually came down a bit to the historical Silverton.    It is a bit rougher around the edges than Ouray but very busy as the Durango-Silverton steam train comes into town every day.     We have never done it and might think about it before we go.    You buy a roundtrip ticket but can go one of the ways by bus if you choose.    Next year, the All-4-Fun Jeep rally will be based in Silverton and we plan to sign up again.

 Every town, big or small, have gorgeous hanging baskets EVERYWHERE.    They really are amazing and huge.    This one is not big but I liked the colors.

 Another day, we headed out to do Cinnamon Pass, another section of the Alpine Loop.    Outside of Silverton is the old historical town of Animas Fork....the river that begins here eventually flows to Durango.    I remember this old town from many years ago and now they are restoring it...new siding, new roofs and paint.    It is a popular destination as it can be reached by regular car from Silverton.

 The trails look benign from a distance but there are always challenges and moments of "why are we doing this?? " when you look out the side window and all you see is air.... but it is breathtaking and stunning and no adjective can fully describe the privilege of being part of this amazing landscape.

 The Aspen are starting to turn....easily rivaling the colors of New England.
The day ended at Lake City.....it's trying hard to look vibrant but mostly it seems like more of the free spirits moved here .     We decided to grab a bite at the place recommended by TripAdvisor....I hope you use that site for recommendations....it's really handy and usually pretty accurate.     Anyhow, we tried out the Packer Cafe and Cannibal Grill.......  you can also google Alfred Packer but basically he was accused of heading into the mtns to seek his fortune in Feb 1800 something despite warnings from Chief Ouray.....he came down a few months later minus his 6 "friends" and having money in his pocket and no signs of starvation or deprivation.    He was in jail in Lake City, spent time in prison before being pardoned and was a doorman at the Denver Post offices .........     Anyhow, the food was good and ........tasted like chicken.....

 So, yesterday, we set out to tackle Imogene Pass.    Starting in Ouray, below in the above picture, we soon came to this narrow passage....I remember not liking this years ago but now it seemed a bit tame.

 We headed up to Yankee Boy Basin, noted for it's Twin Falls ( they used to say the falls were depicted on the Coors labels way back ).   The wildflowers were mostly gone everywhere but this place is noted for it's brilliant color in July.

 We forded a few streams....

 And after a very rough ascent....the trail is rated moderate but I thought it was a bit difficult in spots....We air-down the tires before we start climbing to make the ride more comfortable and to try and avoid slippage on rock and and steep areas.   This is the top of Imogene Pass, at 13,113 ft, the 360 degree views are stunning.

 That line in the middle of the picture that points up to the right, is the Telluride Airport, the highest commercial airport in N America at 9,075 ft located 5 mi from town.  

 Starting down........not as rough as going up but steep and very narrow in spots.  

 This is a partial view of Black Bear Trail, located at the end of Telluride and above Bridal Veil Falls.   It is a dangerous and difficult jeep trail and one person I asked said that two people had been killed on it this year.    It used to be that Jeep rentals wouldn't allow you to go on it.    I'm not even tempted.     The thing about Jeep trails....we enjoy the easy to moderate ....  we don't need to have special equip added to our Jeep and I think the scenery is the same.....the fear factor is the only variable.

And so, we came down into Telluride......these yellow daisies were about the only thing in bloom.    Telluride is a beautiful Victorian town, full of the rich and well appointed.    The historical houses are painted in lovely colors and trims......And if you have an extra million or 5, one of them can be yours.  

We have plans for more trails, we need to explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, visit friends and enjoy our nightly campfires......    

Lacking a few necessities....

Like cell service and Internet.   So I'm posting this tiny blog from my phone...and no pics.    We have spent a goodly amt of time on the jeep trails around Ouray, Silverton and Lake City.     It rains most afternoons so we try and get down before then.    It is all as beautiful as we'd remembered and just  as exhilerating.   There's a lot more cautionary signage and even outhouses at 12,000 ft.  
We are in a SP next to the Uncomprahgre River...wild and protected.   P found a pickleball group in Montrose including a guy in a wheelchair who's pretty good.  
If you've never been to this part of the world, add it to your list.  And don't forget your Jeep.

To joe and Gay......check out where we are staying as we saw a lady walking 4 dogs!!!!!    Ridgeway SP, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk section.

It's been a great summer ...........

So what have we done since we last chatted a week ago......We moved from Chatfield SP, home of pine trees and spinning prairie dogs.....   back to Cherry Creek SP, home of cottonwoods and magpies and cute little mule deer.   He came to visit one day along with some other siblings and about 4 adults.   

We saw this sign in the window of an Italian restaurant......

One of us went on a motorcycle ride in the hills on winding roads and liked it.........

The other one finished her last class at the Gardens and is sad.    But work on the final project for it will keep her busy for a couple of weeks..................

And so, it is time to finish up our time in Mile High country and head west to even higher points.   We  will leave in the morning for a long day's drive to Ridgeway SP, near Ouray, Colorado.    There will be many pictures to share and good times in the San Juan Mountains.     

Transition........

 It's that time of year when the familiar rhythm of school and fall start creeping into our lives.    Being old and retired and living either on the road or in the Sunshine State, this season often bypasses us.    But this year, we were privileged to be right in the middle and angst of transitions.  
Nicholas and Kelsey are sorting out the final details of a big wedding in November .... Kelsey is also in her last semester at CSU while Nicholas continues out in the fields with Halliburton as a fracking engineer.....and spending time on the new cycle.    When did he grow up??

 Alex stands proudly next to his new (to him) Mustang.   He was able to get in all of his worldly possessions, like golf clubs and a refrigerator and TV and headed south to ASU in Phoenix.    He's the first to go far away..... he will leave a big void in that big house.  

 Becca has her cute little Beetle to get her around at CSU....final semester and then it's out into the real world.  

 We spent part of Sunday, helping her and Lizzie get her things into a smallish room at the sorority house.   I'm always surprised that kids these days have their big rooms at home and then somehow manage to move into dorms and houses and share tiny rooms and closets with strangers (initially) and seem to adjust quite well......or not.   There is always the roommate from Hell that pops up now and then.  

 Lizzie started HS last week and is starting the process of 'what do I do next....."  But she has wise parents and siblings who have gone before her for counsel.     AND, she's now an only child !!

As we left the house that night after a delicious family dinner, the setting sun was a harbinger of good things for all........(No retouch necessary on this) 

Meanwhile, the "mature" student continues her studies......   I've completed 4 classes already!!   The Director allowed me some leeway and I was able to take one of them out of sequence....otherwise, I would not have been able to complete this many.   The Botanic Gardens Art and Illustration program has a very strong reputation and most of the students in my classes fly in from around the country for the weekend classes.   Usually, they are offered one day a week for 5-6 weeks.   Impossible for me unless I take up temporary residence.    I don't have much to show for my efforts (and money) as much of the early classes center on theory and basic exercises.    Some of it I've had before at the NY Botancial Gardens when I was MUCH younger.      Anyhow, a few weeks ago, I took a class called Light on Form.    Our final project had to be submitted within a month.    We weren't given a choice of subject matter.....the shell and shiny stone are to teach us shape, volume and light.    I had fun with it and the shell and I became very good friends.    I passed the course !

This weekend I completed Pencil I....  a basic course, required before most other courses....this was the one they allowed me to take out of sequence.    I learned some new things but mostly, I met some great friends.   I've missed hanging around with others of like interest and this group, altho diverse in age and accomplishments, hit it off over lunches and breaks and walks in the beautiful gardens.    Most were local so I'm hoping to meet up again in other classes.     We didn't have a final project for this class altho we drew tomatoes most of the last day.    I smudged my almost completed drawing on the way home and if I fix it, I'll share sometime.   

And now, it's back to reality for us as well...... cleaning is on the agenda while one of us is honing his accomplished pickleball skills.    And it's hot so no hiking today............maybe a drive in the mountains tho !!

Catching up......

We're still in the Denver area, still in Chatfield St Park, but we've had to move from site to site occasionally and we lose our good wifi connection.   We're back near it again so time for more pictures of distant vistas.    

 On our last day at the Jeep rally, we went on a short, easy trail ride to Mt Zion.   We climbed to over 12,500 ft where we proved that we'd made it by having our portrait done.    In the background somewhere is the mighty Mosquito Pass that we did a day or so earlier.

 

 If you think you might wander into the mountain trails for some peace and quiet, you might be disappointed....especially on the weekends.    We had a bit of a traffic jam up there.

 Coming down, we passed thru the my favorite aspens.

 Leaving the rally, we came down HWY 91, which connects Copper Mtn with Leadville.   Along the busy road is this beautiful scene.   But there is no pullout or stopping place in order to take a decent pic but thought I'd share this one taken thru the window.    I don't know the name of the lake.

 Previously, we stayed at Cherry Creek SP, which is closer to Denver.   Chatfield is closer to the mountains and the kids.    It is a popular balloon launching site and most days, they fly gently overhead.   This one got a bit close for a moment.

 And then landed with hardly a bump ....

 We are also near Roxborough SP....newly created in 1996, it is a beautiful setting among the red rocks.  ...(no camping).

 If you've been south to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs,  or north to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, this is part of the same upheavel, 15,000,000 years ago.

We chose the moderate Fountain Valley Trail for 2.5 miles with a couple of scenic overlooks thrown in.

Our trail meandered among the rocks and climbed upwards for distant views.

In the early 1900's, a gentleman built this cabin and hoped to develop the area for tourists.....he failed and sold the land to a rancher.    In 1974, a beautiful golf course, Arrowhead, was built.   Further developement  also failed and in the 1990's, the land was acquired and protected.   But they failed to purchase ALL of the land, and now, on the other side of the rocks, near the golf course is a pricey gated community.

This area is home to many native plant and animal species.    Signage gives helpful hints for avoiding the prairie rattler, the black bear and the mountain lion and bobcats.  There are numerous sightings of the snakes and a mountain lion was seen on Saturday.  I kept my eyes and ears on the trail, especially in the narrow rocky sections.

I have an illogical fear of the large cats......so far, my hyper-vigilence has paid off......  This was the only wild creature that we saw the entire day.    Even the wildflowers were mostly done.       It was a perfect day......