This is how we celebrated Memorial Day

Fishing again. At Love Lake. A favorite spot from years past. Why you ask, am I holding a fish with a rag. . . Because I don't want to clean fish, and because it's more fun to catch-and-release, I want to return fish back to water as quickly as possible, undamaged. And holding a fish up with a hook in it's mouth while it thrashes about is not good. And a smelly old rag makes it easier to hang onto a slippery fish.

Tried to hike the Ivy Creek trail. Got an hour into it and ran into another impossible  stream crossing. It's just to cold to purposely get our feet wet. Gave it, we are whimps.

Valleys between the mountains. 

Freeman's is a funky little restaurant that serves the best hamburger ever.  Today was the day. Pan fried hamburger patty with grilled onions and all the dressings with the perfectly toasted bun. Perfect combination. Battered fries are great too. They also serve giant ice cream cones  but have to go back for that as we were too full after our grand burgers.

pharmacy, church and canyon hike.

Will needed to find a pharmacy today and that meant an hour drive to Monte Vista. Since we were there we timed it to go to local Presbyterian church. Today was Pentecost. Small, traditional church, very friendly folk, inspirationsl service. All good.

  Then made a day out of it and went to check out Penitent Canyon and La Garita.

Drove out to San Luis Valley to Penitent Canyon. Found this Guadalupe painted high on canyon wall.

A religious brotherhood, Los Hermanos Penitentes, reportedly claimed the canyon in the late 19th century as their secret gathering place. Following a non-traditional sect of Catholicism, Los Hermanos were rumored to practice radical rituals, such as crucifixion and self-flagellation. Now is a major recreation destination for rock climbing and bouldering enthusiests. 

We just hiked around watching the daring souls do their thing.

And enjoying the amazing rock formations. What do you see? A dragon? A turtle head? Something pretty ominous.

La Garita is a historic little town that dates it's heritage back to a Spanish mission settlement sponsored by the Diaces of Sante Fe when Spain was settling the land.

Now this little church --which you can see for miles is a Catholic Spiritual Center that honors that legacy.

One of the many shrines and monuments next to the church.

hikes and festivals

I keep posting photos of this landscape--everywhere I turn is a 'Kodak moment." This is Rio Grand Reservoir. We hiked the Winamuchi Trail until we ran into a stream crossing that was too hard to cross and turned back.

This morning we did the "Up and Over" trail out of Creede.  It is literally up and over the canyon wall next to the town. Almost to the top then you look back at Creede and see why I am so out of breath!

Trail comes down the other side through a pine forest with views of some of the old mines that made Creede a boom town back in the day. Then comes out on a forest road where we walked back into town for a 3 mile loop.

Spent several hours in town as Creede was celebrating the weekend with a Taste of Creede Festival.  All kinds of things going on including a Plein Air painting exhibition. Several painters along main street were hard at work. This is Steven Quiller who is actually internationally known and lives here.

Local business had samples of signature foods, there was a judged "cook off." Sales in the stores, music, farm market, lots of people. Good time.

Out and About

View from the campground looking back at Creede at the base of that big cliff just above the first two pine trees.

A view the other way above the cabins.

. Our lodge is maybe 5 miles out of town.

Hiked Deep Creek Canyon Trail this morning. Was in the 30's when we started out but soon shedding layers as sun warmed us up. Lots of birds singing, fairly level trail along Deep Creek.

Took a drive up the road to check out the sights. Bristol Head is famous landmark that can be seen for miles. Some homesick Brit thought it looked like the iconic Bristol Head in UK and named it in memory.

Saw Big Horned Sheep!

More Big Horned Sheep 

Clear Creek Falls.  This river runs along an open plain and then suddenly the earth opens up and drops into this amazing canyon. Interesting geology.

I know I post this picture every year. It's at a roadside rest. Looks down on some very picturesque lakes but then follow up the drainage until you see a little "pyramid" way at top --that's the headwaters of the Rio Grand River

Nice dinner outside at the Lodge restaurant. Never disappoints. A band playing in lounge area behind us. 

Destination Creede, Colorado

We packed up and moved up the road to Creede to Antlers Rio Grand Lodge and RV. This is where we like to be while visiting this area. Nice campground connected to a lovely lodge on the Rio Grand River, with amenities we enjoy and has the best restaurant in the valley!! 

  But first we had to go back to yesterday's fishing spot to see if we could catch some more fish. Pretty proud of ourselves, we did good. Along with Rainbow trout, Will is holding the nice Brown Trout I caught!

Main street of Creede.

And our home base is right on the Rio Grand River which as you can see is raging right now! We will see a lot of this river in the next two weeks. That's how long we are here for. We have never seen it this high.

Beaver Creek Reservoir near South Fork

Shot of the Reservoir when we arrived for a morning of fishing

Very fun day, we both had great luck. 

Same Reservoir but it clouded up about noon and rained! Still a beautiful view.

We managed a short but challenging hike UP to see the largest Douglas Fir in Rio Grand National Forest.  More impressive than picture shows. One big tree! 500 years old.

To South Fork

Moving Day. Left Durango, on the way to South Fork.  This is a wildlife bridge over the hiway outside of Pagosa Springs. The point is that deer, and all wildlife get hit by traffic just trying to cross the road--just moving about their territory.  Hopefully this will help

Always stop in Pagosa Springs if we are in the area for a soak at our favorite mineral hot springs. They have several options including the rooftop tubs which we think is great fun. 

We chunked our way up our first major mountain pass, Wolf Creek Pass. Raining like crazy at the top.  Still lots of snow at the summit.  Weather improved dramatically once we got down the other side and found Riverside Campground just outside South Fork.

Still seeing lots of Lilacs, and then other blooming trees. Don't know what this is --guessing Crabapple--but sure is pretty.

Durango to Silverton Train

We did the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rail trip today. It's a heritage steam train, leaves Durango at 9am and doesn't return until 6:15. Long day but a fun ride with amazing scenery following the Anamas River to Silverton. Two hours for lunch checking out the town and then return

Its a steam train so have to make stops to take on water.

Animas River crashing with early spring snow melt. Plus it was raining most of day. However, was nice enough to cooperate and not rain while dinging around Silverton!

Past unnamed lake

About to board in Silverton. Rain held off but it was cold--glad we had anticipated and wore heavy coats.

We had our faces pasted to window the whole trip as was so scenic.