Gunnison and the Glasses

Friday August 5, 2016

This was a preparation day. We got gas, had breakfast in Durango and did laundry. We also picked up burritos in town for breakfast the next day so we wouldn’t have meal preparation and clean-up to deal with on moving day.

We look forward to meeting up with the friends we met in Bayfield, Bob and Paula. They will be in Gunnison until Wednesday which will overlap our stay there for three days.  JY

Saturday August 6, 2016  

It was moving day and we were leaving Riverside RV Park and heading north and east to Gunnison.  I checked out the weather in the region and thunderstorms were predicted everywhere.  We had several options with regards to travel routes to Gunnison.  I did not want to drive over Red Mountain Pass at 11,020 feet.  Nor did we want to tackle Wolf Creek Pass or Spring Creek Pass.  I figured all the passes would be socked in so we decided to take the route through Delores and drive over Lizard Head Pass at 10,222 feet.  We drove this route on our way back from Telluride and Lizard Head is not as steep and has no hairpin turns.   PRC

Peter chose the most prudent route to Gunnison. This one avoided most of the mountain passes. It’s a pretty drive – all the scenery in Colorado is beautiful.  It’s truly “God’s country.”

View behind our trailer.

After we set up our camp we visited Bob and Paula Glass (The Glasses) and spent time catching up.  We made plans to go out for breakfast the next morning in Gunnison.

We are staying in Mesa RV Park just outside of Gunnison. The park is pleasant and the weather is perfect for me. It’s usually about 50 degrees in the morning. There is a potluck tomorrow in the rec room with an Italian theme. I signed us up to bring bruschetta. Paula and Bob are bringing dessert.    JY

Sunday August 7, 2016

We had made plans to go to breakfast so Bob and Paula stopped by to pick us up at 9:00 am.  We ended up eating at Mom’s Kitchen – very good – large portions.  June Yvonne had signed us up for the RV Park’s monthly potluck so after breakfast we stopped at Safeway to purchase supplies for making bruschetta.  Bob and Paula bought a cake and a pie.  After that we drove to Almont and then up a moderately rough road toward Taylor Park Reservoir.  The road followed Taylor Creek which was bordered by high jagged rocks, waterfalls and wide open meadows.  There were probably a couple dozen people fly fishing along the creek.  I really wanted to dip some flies into the water but we didn’t have the time.

We headed back to the park about 3:00 pm so we could fix our bruschetta however I could not get the oven to work and ended up doing it on the BBQ grill.  I didn’t think you could do that.  It was a great potluck and we met some very interesting people.  We met people from Phoenix which is something we seem to do no matter where we go and Bob and Paula met a couple from Granbury, the small town where they live in Texas.  We finished the night gabbing with Paula and Bob in their coach.  PRC

We started the day with a nice breakfast in Gunnison with Bob and Paula (P&B) at Mom’s Kitchen. Then off to get the grocery store to pick up our contributions for the pot luck. After that, Paula wanted to go for a drive. We of course agreed. P&B used to live in Colorado so are very familiar with the territory.

We went to Almont and then Taylor Park Reservoir which was a 4-5 hour drive. Paula is a horsewoman so she and Peter had lots to talk about. Paula loves Colorado and wishes she still lived here. She was like a kid in a candy store and took delight in the trees and rocks. Consequently we made many stops for a closer look and to take photos. Bob likes waterfalls so we stopped for waterfalls also. Peter was interested in all the lakes and streams to fish.  I, of course, loved it all especially the delicious cool breezes. It was a good trip with great company and gorgeous scenery.

We made it back in time for me to prepare the bruschetta on the grill as we haven’t had any experience using the oven in the trailer. The theme of the potluck was Italian so you can imagine there was lots of pasta but also salads – thank goodness.

Talked to my sister Bonnie today. John’s surgery to fuse the upper part of his neck to his skull was successful. He is up walking around and it looks very hopeful.  The diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma is very treatable. Please keep John and the Mueller family in your prayers. We love you John! (He is a very easy person to love.)

As previously indicated, Peter has become quite the social butterfly. So before starting dinner, he asked all in attendance (about 25) to say their name and where they were from. A couple were from the Phoenix area, most were from Colorado and Texas. Thanks Peter, it was a great way for people to meet and get to know each other. There was a couple from the small town where Bob and Paula live – Granbury, TX.    JYC

Monday August 8, 2016

Bob and Paula stopped by to pick us up around 9:00 am.  This morning we were going to do a loop through Almont, Crested Butte, Somerset, Hotchkiss and skirt along the mountain roads high above Blue Mesa Reservoir.  Bob was a wonderful guide and driver.  Paula loves Colorado, aspen trees, rocks and streams just name a few things.  To say the scenery here in Colorado is dazzling is a gross understatement.  It is impossible to describe and pictures do not do it justice.  If a picture is worth a thousand words it would take a thousand pictures to come close to the never ending panoramic views and scenic landscapes no matter where you look.  We stopped for lunch in Paonia at the Living Farm Café which features farm to table food.  Ninety five percent of all the ingredients used in the food are grown and processed on their farm and then cooked and served in their restaurant.

After lunch we got a little disoriented (lost) in our search for Orchard Farms Winery.  We finally got there and enjoyed some wine.  They also have a great selection of balsamic vinegar’s and olive oils.  We drove past Hotchkiss and Crawford and began to look deep into the canyon of Blue Mesa Reservoir.  There are three dams that create the reservoir and we could see the middle dam far far below us.  What was noticeable was the reservoir was full.  We live in Arizona and have traveled through California and almost all of the reservoirs there are less than half full.

We ate dinner in our trailer and decided to go for a walk.  We met Bob walking one of their dogs and talked about having a campfire the next day after touring around some more backcountry.  We unintentionally ended up in Bob and Paula’s coach and spent the rest of the evening telling Wild West stories about Colorado and Texas.  Did I mention that Paula loves Colorado.  PRC

 

Another drive with Bob and Paula! We are seeing this part of Colorado through their eyes and we are so appreciative. We took a drive to Crested Butte and Paonia. We ate lunch outside in beautiful weather. It was one of those “farm to table” type places and was scrumptious. (It was not green chili this time but a really good gyro and kale salad.) On the way back to Gunnison we ended up at a winery – Orchard Valley Farms. The reason we ended up here was that we were slightly lost.  However we did get to sample wine, fruit salsas and irresistible puffed caramel corn that we had to buy.  We tentatively planned to do a camp fire but arrived home too late.   JY

Tuesday August 9, 2016

We went for another drive with Bob and Paula Glass.  Our goal was the Alpine Tunnel which is an abandoned railroad tunnel built in the late 1800’s that goes from the west side of the continental divide to the east side.  It is the only tunnel that does this at 10,000 foot elevation.  We drove through Gunnison past Almont and headed for the village of Pitkin.  When we got to Pitkin there was a small general store. There were at least 20 or 25 4×4 ATV’s parked in front of the store.  Off road ATVing is a very popular sport.  You can tell by the onboard equipment and protective clothing the vehicle occupants wear that they take it very seriously – they travel in groups and are seeming fearless about where they travel.

 

Bob was driving and after Pitkin it was dirt roads.  We came to a fork in the road and veered to the left to the Alpine Tunnel.  We did not realize it at first but the very narrow road we were driving on was actually the railroad bed.  All the tracks and ties have been remove and now it ideal for hikers and ATVers.  In most places there was little room for more than one vehicle to pass – we were on the down hills side of the road which made pulling over for another vehicle very problematic.  Bob is a very good driver which was a life saver and Paula was ready to enforce the “drivers going up have the right of way” rule.  Paula is a kind and gentle soul but if someone pushes her button I’d bet she could whip her weight in wildcats.

About a third of the way up to the top we came to the remains of a water tower where the steam locomotives filled up – it held 47,500 gallons of water weighing 380,000 pounds.  The only part of this water tower remaining was the support structure with the tank portion completely gone.  We were taking pictures and 12 off road vehicles passed us going up to the tunnel.  Fortunately we were already pulled over and everyone could pass.  As we moved on we came to a waterfall on the uphill side where we stopped to take pictures.  The little kid inside Paula had to remove her shoes and sit on the rocks in the middle of the falls.

 

 

T

he scenery became even more spectacular as we started to break out of the tree line.  About half way up we came to another water tower that held 33,000 gallons of water weighing 264,000 pounds.  This tower was totally intact and was amazing.   Continuing on we met other ATV’s coming down and they told Bob you could only go a little further and had to walk the last 2.5 miles to the tunnel.  Bummer.

The road was getting rougher and at the abandoned town of Woodstock there was a good spot to turn around – so we did.  Interestingly enough, more ATV’s passed us going down – more than we remembered going up.  On the way down we spotted several deer.

Back at the park we changed before going to dinner at Palisades’s restaurant in Gunnison.  Dinner was great and we all enjoyed each other’s company.  After dinner we returned to the park and sat around a campfire for a couple of hours.  This was our last night together.  We agreed to meet for coffee in the morning.   PRC

 

Guess what we did today? You got it – went for a ride with Bob and Paula. We went to the Alpine Tunnel. We SO appreciate sightseeing with this couple – we enjoy their company and get to see parts of Colorado that we would not normally have seen. This drive was not only scenic, it was exciting. It seems like it is for only 4-wheel drive vehicles but Bob managed just fine in his 2-wheel drive vehicle that he has been ushering us all around Colorado in. We sometimes shared the narrow road with dirt bikes, ATV’s and other cars.  Because Bob is so patient and such a skilled driver, I wasn’t too frightened. It was a fun day! And I think I mentioned how much Paula loves nature – especially trees and rocks. We saw plenty of these along with marmots and some deer. The road we were on had been a narrow gauge railroad located near Pitkin, CO. It remains the highest railroad tunnel and the longest narrow gauge tunnel in North America. It has an interesting history. It is now used for bikers and 4-Wheeler’s. There are several trail heads off the road to the Alpine Trail also. We wouldn’t have experienced this road if it weren’t for Bob and Paula.

We headed back Gunnison after an exciting day – but the day wasn’t over yet! Since it was our last day with Paula and Bob, we went out to dinner in Gunnison at the Palisades Restaurant. It was an enjoyable evening with our continued deep conversations. Who knew we could become such good friends with southern Baptist, conservative Texans?  It just goes to show that you can have a LOT in common with someone despite their different backgrounds and beliefs. And of course both sides not judging the other.

And the night wasn’t over yet. Again as it was our last night together, we still had to be together around the campfire. So Peter built a fire in one of the park’s fire pits.  We tried to figure out a way to see each other again, hoping our paths would cross again.  I’ve always wanted to go to San Antonio, so perhaps they will meet us there. (Mary Kay you may have to join us…) Who knows when, hopefully not too long in the distant future.  We talked until 10 pm which was the beginning of “quiet time” in the RV Park. JY

Wednesday August 10, 2016

It’s Wednesday morning and we had coffee in B&P’s motor home as they were leaving today. We exchanged addresses and continued our conversation about how, when or where we could meet up again.  We said our farewells and then we were left to our own devices.

We decided to do laundry and finally catch up on our blog. We also went into town for groceries and a haircut for Peter. While he had his hair and beard trimmed, I spotted a sign advertising “chair massages” so I took advantage of the opportunity and had one. The massage therapist was excellent. It was just what my body needed that has spent so much time riding in a car for over a month.

So we have another day in Gunnison before we go to Colorado Springs on Friday. Peter had hoped to fish today but it has been raining off and on all day. Purportedly it is not supposed to rain tomorrow.  If it’s sunny skies, we will be fishing. If it does rain we will probably drive down Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.   JY

Thursday August 11, 2015

Today is preparation day.  We slept in a little bit – 9:00 am.  After breakfast I decided to go fishing in the Gunnison River so I put on some old pants and shoes just in case I got wet because I don’t have any waders.  We walked about 70 yards through thick willows to the bank of the river – the underbrush and willows were tight up against the water in most spots.  There were probably a dozen people fly fishing but they were wading the river up to their waists.  I fished along the shore and had moderate luck with my casting and only got caught up in the bushes with my back case a couple hundred times.  I met another guy who was totally decked out with gear and he said he was getting the odd strike but caught nothing.  I didn’t feel so bad.

After fishing we drove into Gunnison to fill up with gas, get a bite to eat and purchase some ice.  Back at camp I started our prep work while June Yvonne made some yummy soup and prepared the fixin’s for breakfast burritos in the morning.  She cleaned up while I worked on the blog.  She also swept the trailer and mopped the floor.  We are ready to depart tomorrow.  PRC

Peter got to fish today. I spent a couple of hours reading. I haven’t gotten so into a book for a long time. I’m reading “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline. I was so enmeshed in the book that I felt like the main character “Niamh” or Dorothy as she is often called because people can’t pronounce her Irish name. There really was an orphan train that transported orphaned, abandoned or homeless children between 1854 and 1930. Read it if you haven’t already. I will probably finish reading it tonight. Thank you Joan for giving it to me.

So tomorrow we are off to Colorado Springs or more specifically Pike’s RV Park in Manitou Springs for a week. Besides doing some sightseeing we will see Annette C. and Denise B. Looking forward to it! After that we will go to Estes Park for 2 weeks. Then it’s about 10 days in Utah, and then home to Phoenix.

I continue to try to maintain the attitude of a peregrine or pilgrim as we were on the Camino. Having an attitude of expectancy makes this journey even more glorious and interesting. Next installment of the blog will be from Colorado Springs…  JY