Catching Up!

 

As we now find ourselves in much different scenery, it’s time for a catchup post.  Hasty, Colorado looks nothing like Taylor River country.

Before departing Rosy Lane we made a couple of other rides and hikes.  One was to the old mining town of Tin Cup.  A visit to the cemetery surprised a family of Moose.  Hey, Dad.   Aren’t you coming?

A beautiful location for a cemetery.

Unusual high fencing.  I guess it’s to keep the Moose out.

Lots of newer graves, also.  Must have been a hiker.

We ran into a hail storm returning from Mirror Lake.

Hail covered, gravel road.  You should have seen my truck.

We saw another Moose cow and calf.

While I was out on a hike, a black bear entered our campground.  Apparently it was making its way up the canyon, and the campground just happened to sit between the river and the highway.  Sally charged it, jerking the leash from Wanda’s hand. Thankfully, the bear ran off.  The picture was taken by someone else in the campground just before Sally spotted it.

It was an exciting eight days at Rosy Lane campground.  We were sad to part ways with these two.  We had a lot of fun together.

Sunset from Gunnison, taken by Jim.

Now, it’s on the the heat of the Kansas Prairie. A report on that to come in the future……jc

Success, This Time!

 

Some of you may remember my disappointment the end of July last year, when I failed in my attempt to reach this crash site.

As I had someone to go with me this year as backup againt injury,  another attempt was made.  The scramble up was just as treacherous as last year; maybe even more so due to the daily afternoon rains.

We reached the site without incident, and were immediately struck with the feeling of both sadness and respect.  I’ll just let the pictures tell most of the story.  These consist of both mine and Jim’s.

                           

People leave different things as a tokens of honor and respect.

                          

Electronic parts.

Notice the wire from the tires still around the hubs?

                 

Lift the Dot.  From a uniform, jacket, equipment cover?

Stuff; encased in molten aluminum.

Replacing fallen flags.

A few shots to give you an idea as to why I turned around last year, when by myself.

It’s gratifying to know that 73 years after these eleven men lost their lives, people risk life and limb to visit the site where they died, and pay tribute to their service.  I feel honored to be one of them…….jc

Pagosa Springs and Points North

 

We traveled from Chama, NM to Pagosa Springs, Colorado after a good five days at Heron Lake.  We met friends from Tennessee at the property of another friend, from Kansas.  He calls his place Traveler’s Rest, and we were grateful for his hospitality.  After an afternoon of visiting, we traveled into town for a great meal together.  Our friends were headed for the Durango area the next day, and we moved about 10 miles up toward Wolf Creek Pass, and East Fork campground.  We spent two quiet days there, visiting in the town of Pagosa Springs, and riding the Forest Service roads checking out boondocking sites for future use.

I was itching to get back to the Taylor River Canyon above Gunnison, so we headed in that direction.  We drove some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen from a main highway between Creede and Lake City.  Only stopped once when we saw a sign about a falls.  Who would have thought you would find something like this in the middle of nowhere.

                               

It wasn’t long before we had claimed a beautiful campsite in Rosy Lane campground.  The river was roaring between the Casita and the cliffs.

A couple of days later some friends from the Houston area joined us at the campground.  They both like to hike, and we got in a number of really good hikes together.  The first took us up and behind the campground.  A really tough first quarter mile, then a steady uphill slog to the top of the pass.  Found the remains of a shelter hidden a ways off the trail.

Downhill both ways.  So glad!

Another day found us entering a Wilderness area.

                                  

Another beautiful area of creeks, beaver ponds, and awesome scenery.  It too, wasn’t without it’s obstacles.

That’s it for now……jc