Lake City and its Beautiful Surrounds

July 24, 2013

The dreary sky persisted into the morning.  Elly and Rommel lazed around through dinner and camp pack up.

The day prior, we topped off our water at a spring on the Last Dollar Road.  Today, after showers and other water usage, the boys put their thinking caps on and managed to pump up and filter water to replenish.

Meanwhile, I was enamored with the young pine cones.

Blue skies beckoned from Lake City.

We made it to Lake City and hit the only laundromat in the county.  While our clothes were drying, the boys walked the dogs and Mandy and I hit a boutique.  Before leaving, we had a yummy pizza lunch at Poker Alice.  I like Lake City.  The town itself is charming and I fell in love with the surrounding landscape.

We hit a lookout on our way up the mountain.  Elly was once again uncooperative for a family picture.

A few miles straight up a mountain (11,500 ft) we found a National Forest access road.  We meandered our way down the winding one lane road, past campgrounds to find a perfect spot.

We were waved down and pointed towards a moose.  It was munching away in a small pond off the road.

Elly didn't know what to make of all the tall dogs she saw this trip. She whined at cows, horses and now a moose.  It didn't care.

Further up the road, we found a perfect camp spot, tucked off the road and close to the meandering creek.  I stopped in the middle of setting up the tent when I spotted a faint rainbow behind camp.

Rommel was very thankful to camp at another water source.

We were full from lunch so just lounged through the increasingly menacing cloud cover.

After one light rain, we opted to climb the hill side adjacent to camp.  Mandy and Pete stayed at camp.

It was steep at the top.

The sky was getting darker.  But off in the distance there was just enough clear sky to make a pink mark across the clouds.

The approaching sound of thunder drove us back to camp.  I tucked the camera under my light jacket as we dodged rain drops on our way.  A dinner of left over pizza and cocoa was enjoyed while we chatted about the day.  A light rain fell, but by bed time, the rain had stopped.

The Never Ending Day

July 23, 2013

We invested in Butler Maps Back Country Discovery Route collection.  The maps were specifically designed to traverse a state off road on an adventure bike.  We knew it could be done in a Jeep.  What we didn't realize is that when the map said a section was easy, that a two wheel drive sedan could manage it.  The last several days worked out, easy roads and phenomenal scenery.

Today...not so much.  The scenery and weather were lack luster.  Over cast sky, dry dusty roads, meh landscapes = a cranky driver.

We packed up the compound and said goodbye to the Last Dollar Road.  From Ouray, we hit a country road with National Forest access and started our climb.

We stopped at an over look for a quick taco lunch then continued on.  Owl Creek Pass was our first destination.  We made it to the sign that said we were at the pass and we were....let down.  Silverton spoiled us.  Cinnamon and Engineer Passes were something to behold.  Owl Creek provided a muddy river section.

My driver was grumpy before we even finished this loop.  It was long, easy and boring.  We hit pavement on 50 and drove by the Morrow Point Reservoir.

We needed to make camp for the night, but finding an easy spot proved difficult.  We had passed a tell tale brown sign that pointed towards camping south of 50, so we headed back that direction.

Of course, once we passed through a neighborhood, we found ourselves faced with an Indian Reservation.  Hmmn... perseverance pays off, right?  It did.  We found ourselves on National Forest land, and next to a swift moving river.  A nice fisherman pointed us in the direction of a good spot.

The sun briefly made an appearance and Mike played with the dogs in the river.  Rommel would get the tossed rock, Elly would get Rommel and Mika would get....well I wasn't sure what she was digging at.

The water was icy and the current was pretty strong.  Elly didn't go past her elbows, and she got out and watched from above with me for a while.  Rommel is a strong swimmer, he would get caught in the current and expertly (and calmly) swim diagonally back to shallower waters.  Mika....panicked.  I pictured her being swept away and urged her to stay in shallow waters.

After water play, everyone was toweled off to prevent a drastic drop in body temperature after sunset.  Mika toweled herself off, much to the chagrin of her dad.

It briefly rained, but it was consistently windy in the canyon.  As pretty as this campsite was, I knew based on the winds, we would only stay a night.  We made lemon chicken and fresh veggies for dinner, then turned in.

Day 3: Bridal Veil Falls and Ouray

July 22, 2013

We woke late, as usual.  Breakfast was served and we hopped on the Last Dollar Road towards Telluride.  Today we were headed towards Bridal Veil Falls.  On the drive out, we lamented on how beautiful the houses were here and planned our abode for when we win the lottery. (riiiight)

Surprisingly, this would be the most technical off road driving we would do the entire trip.  The routes this go around were pretty easy.  This drive was cake, comparatively speaking, although we still took it slower than those dummies in rental cars.

Looking back towards Telluride.

Approaching the falls.

Today was the only day I wish we woke and left earlier, because trying to get good photos of the falls during the noon sun was tough.

We hiked down a bit to avoid the crowds and let the dogs play about freely in the pools.

We tried our damnedest to get a family picture at the base of the falls but Elly wasn't having it.

After a good relaxing time at the falls, we started our decent back to town and back to camp for lunch. Today was probably our laziest day, in terms of trails.

After lunch, we made our way out the length of the Last Dollar Road, hit pavement and be bopped around Ouray for a while.  

(You can see our camp in the center of the picture at the bottom.)

I loved driving through the Aspen groves.  The afternoon light made for wonderful shots.

In Ouray, we did some touristy shopping - hats, t-shirts and ice cream were bought.  I was less impressed with Ouray than I was with Silverton.  Silverton just does it right.

We made it back to camp at last light and I was able to snap a shot of the setting sun lingering on the distant mountains.

Dinner was made, and we relaxed for a while before turning in.

Cortez to Telluride

July 21, 2013

We woke, made breakfast burritos and broke down camp.  We had some mileage to get under our belts.  The plan was to camp on the Last Dollar Road near Telluride.  The route there was GORGEOUS.

We were winding our way down country roads, in and out of National Forest, past a lake and finally climbing.  A stop at an intersection made for a dog break.  And a classic face from Elly.

I just couldn't stop taking pictures.  This route to Telluride was breath taking.

Rommel squealed and we knew there was a creek.  He's an efficient water spotter.

We made our decent and made a pit stop to refill jugs of water for the dogs.  I found a very compliant butterfly and proceeded to take about 30 pictures of the little guy.

Meanwhile, Rommel begged but lost the battle to go in the creek.

A short jaunt down pavement and up the Last Dollar Road, we made camp by mid afternoon.  We camped at an old homestead.  The dogs thought it was divine.

We decided to camp two nights here, so the Camp Compound was erected.  Our trailer, with Oz Tent Foxwing plus the Beard's Oz Tent, Foxwing and walls.

I missed the sunset this night since we ate dinner late.  We bought a Camp Chef Camp Fire since Colorado had a fire ban.  It came in handy tonight.

We turned in late.  It became a habit this trip.  To bed late and up late.  I love being on vacation.

The Journey Begins

July 20, 2013

We enjoyed Colorado so much last year that we decided to go for round two.  Pete and Mandy dropped of the kids for the week, and Bear went with Steph.  We were packed and ready to go!

The drive up was uneventful - a standard drive through northern Arizona.  We stopped for a dog break near the Colorado border in the blazing AZ sun.

We soldiered on and finally hit Colorado! We stopped in Cortez for dinner, as the sun was sinking and we were in no mood for camp cooking.  The food sucked.  In retrospect we should've just cooked.

As usual we made camp in the dark.  It was a pretty nice evening.  Not too warm or too cold.  I played with my camera while the boys buttoned down camp. We were blessed with an almost full moon.

It was late so there was no major set up.  The dogs slept with Pete and Mandy.  We turned in.  After all, we had a long week of trails and scenery to enjoy.  With the heat and fuss of home behind us, we were ready for a break.

Make Good Art

In April, I found it that not only was Neil Gaiman publishing a new adult novel, but he would be embarking on his last signing tour.  I've seen him twice, once in New York City when Endless Nights came out and again in Boston when Anansi Boys was released. I contemplated, momentarily, not going.  After all, I've seen him read and sign twice.  Then I realized that if it really was his last tour, I'd kick myself in the butt for not going.  So tickets were bought.  I picked Felicity up and we had sushi.  Then we proceeded to sweat for a while.

There were easily, 1000 people there.  I knew the event was sold out, but damn! That photo only shows about 1/4 the amount of people who were patiently waiting to be let in the blessedly air conditioned auditorium. One thing I love about Neil Gaiman fans is that they are patient and passive.

Inside and in our surprisingly decent seats, we waited.  He was introduced by someone from the Changing Hands Book Store (the organizers).  This would be Neil's first signing in Arizona.  His fans were thrilled.  He came out to a standing ovation.  And proceeded to read chapter two from The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

The brief but informative Q&A proceeded.  It was wonderful to learn that while attending a convention in Tucson in 1991, he was invited to a party.  He was chastised for wearing a black leather jacket in the desert until he was the only warm person after the sun set.  He continued and said that he stepped outside for air after dark and saw a shooting star.  Not like one seen from the streets of London.  He said that he could see where it landed.  (The night sky in southern Arizona can do that to you). He told the woman he was standing next to that he bet he could walk to where it landed and hoped to find a giant diamond, or a beautifully grumpy girl with a broken leg.  The following day, Neil sought out Charles Vess and Stardust happened.

It was nice to learn that he auctioned off the artwork fans had sent to him to benefit the CBLDF.  And how he will regift or trade out other gifts given to him: a fan gave him a piece of amber in one city and he traded a fan in Dallas for a piece of quartz.  Or how some stay special, the current being a silver Liberty dollar that he fiddles with during talks, channelling Shadow.

Due to the abundance of cranky children in the audience, he also read an excerpt from Fortunately the Milk (not yet published).  An hour and a half flew by.  And then a final standing ovation.

Then the signing line began.  The organizers were smart enough to label each ticket with a letter and call people in groups to sign.  Felicity and I were in group L.  The groups went past group Z into double letter territory.

We talked and talked and talked while the hours past.  Finally our group was called and we made it on stage.  And I froze.  Like a total idiot.  I stupidly asked him how he was enjoying the heat.  Har Har Har.  I just didn't put any thought into what I would say.  I'm not sure who sounded more stupid, me or Felicity for her "It's a shame no one came out for the signing" comment. Oh well.

No, I have no idea what weird face girl is doing behind him. Sorry.  Anyway, crazy hair, dressed casually in black, cool and collected: Neil Gaiman.  He's successfully delved into most types of media and continues to surprise his fans with new things to enjoy.

At 11 PM, Felicity and I walked off the stage after having two books each signed.  I now have two copies of American Gods signed.  I couldn't help myself, I had to have the 10th anniversary, authors preferred text signed too.  Neil was barely halfway through the signing, and I knew from past experience that he would stay until the last book was signed.  I wouldn't fault the guy if this really is his last tour, its got to be grueling.

The night complete, we headed home with our bounty, ready to get reading.

Rough Waters

Choose to live life courageously with a smile on your face.