Category: 2018, August, September Colorado, New Mexico Retirement Trip

Colorado, and I guess the entire west has been very hot and dry. Signs everywhere here saying No Campfires. Today they got some of what they need.

Photos from the highest point on the Mesa.

Back at Mesa Verde for 4 nights.

I’ve heard about Airstream clubs and caravans. There is a caravan taking up an entire campground loop. A lot of money in that loop.

Many, many big and small mule deer.

Went downstream of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park into Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area where you can hike to the river via several different routes. It’s considered a great trout river. I didn’t fish very long cause it was noon, about 90 degrees, and I was getting burned. Got a couple of hits using grasshopper flies that I tied, but I wasn’t paying attention and missed them.

Tonight and tomorrow night I’ll be camped at The Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It’s a 2250 feet deep narrow canyon. It’s so deep and so narrow because the rock is igneous and metamorphic, very hard. The river cut straight down, not out.

There is a steep, long, winding road called Crystal Road that goes down to the bottom of the canyon. The area at the bottom is called East Portal. You can fish, camp (tent only) picnic, and swim if you can take the cold water.

If you zoom in you can see two fishermen just where the river goes around the bend. I have fished that spot.

The lodge on top of Mesa Verde is made up of around 10, I’m not sure, single story small buildings, each having around 10, it varies, rooms. They all face the same direction, south I think. Each room has sliding glass patio doors. Each has an incredible unobstructed view.

Spruce Tree Lodge in Spruce Canyon, closed due to falling rocks.

I hiked down into Spruce Canyon a ways. There wasn’t anyone else down there.

Up at 7, a new life for me. For the last 10 years I’ve worked second shift. The longer I worked second shift, the later I went to bed and the later I woke. On this trip, I’ve been pretty much going to bed not long after dark, and getting up within an hour of sunrise. A more normal life.

Fished for about an hour and a half without a hit. Not s surprise with the water so low and warm.The Rio Grande just behind my site.

Another beautiful drive on Monday but a little nerve wracking. Highway 160 all the way from South Fork Colorado to Mesa Verde. Around Wolf Creek Ski Area there was a nine mile 7 degree downhill stretch. At the very top, every truck had to pull over to be inspected before descending. Wasn’t able to get any photos but I was texting the whole way down, not really. Went through Pagosa Springs and Durango and arrived at Mesa Verde. I spent a day at Mesa Verde last year and enjoyed its beauty and peacefulness. It isn’t crowded. I’m here for two days, then two days at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and back to Mesa Verde for 4 days.My site at Mesa Verde

At sunrise and sunset, there are many deer. I guess there are turkeys and some bear but haven’t seen any.

From 7 to 10 am, in a small outdoor cafe next to the campground general store, they have an all you can eat pancake breakfast with bacon or sausage. It was pretty good. If you buy a coffee, keep the cup and get free refills all day.Seems like you can see forever in all directions.

At 8:30 in the morning, I was the only one up here.

Sunrise at North Sterling State Park.

It was a seven hour gorgeous drive from Sterling to South Fork which is in south central Colorado.On the bank of the Rio Grande River outside of South Fork Colorado. South Fork is full of RV parks. I accidentally and luckily picked an RV Park four miles outside of South Fork. It’s a Colorado “Gold Medal” river. When I went to a fly shop for a license, I was told the river was so low and warm that you cannot fish after noon.

I took a 25 mile ride to Creede. The road follows the Rio Grande. It’s a beautiful drive. Palisade is a National Forest campground on the river. Maybe I’ll stay and fish there in a few weeks.

Creede Colorado is about the funkiest town you’ll find. Kip’s is a taco place I read about. Pretty good food and as funky as Creede. Alongside the bar are 3 pay washers and dryers.

Camped at North Sterling State Park in the northeast corner of Colorado. It’s a little higher elevation than the surrounding land so you can see quite a way. Except for in this state park, there are very few trees in the area. If you walk down a hill there is a man made lake. There isn’t a good size town for a long way. Probably a great place for star gazing.

Wednesday, August 22nd was my last day of work. I am Retired with a Trailer. Friday, August 24th I began a lifelong dream, to travel the country with a truck and a trailer. Friday, I drove from Milwaukee to my first stop, Glenn Cunningham Lake Park. It’s just north of Omaha which is halfway to Colorado where I plan on doing some sightseeing and trout fishing.