tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43498258705546972842024-03-13T11:08:56.003-07:00The View from the Pizer<i>"Pizer (noun): A porch or veranda. From the Italian 'piazza', corrupted by Down Easters to present form."</i>
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<i>"Time you enjoyed wasting, wasn't wasted."</i> - attributed to several sourcesCatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-84815249633785621952023-10-16T08:14:00.005-07:002023-10-16T08:14:56.584-07:00<p> We hied off to John Martin again this weekend, to the Hasty campground. </p><p>Things are winding down there. Most of the campsites were vacant. The main shower house and the secondary one, back in the 'eighties' sites, were still open. IIRC, they will close at the end of the month, though the laundry, dishwashing sink, and accessible shower, all at the same end of the main building, will remain open.</p><p>Ducks are quacking about, but we did not see any geese to speak of. The water level has dropped drastically from the glorious days of this past spring.</p><p>The new Blackstone griddle really does work like a champ. We did a heartstopper breakfast Saturday morning, and fajitas Saturday evening. We also did burgers - roadkill patties with grilled potatoes, actually - Friday evening, but Friday evening was quite nippy and still a bit breezy, so we snuffled inside the Cassie. </p><p>We went over to the main reservoir, intending to flail the water to a froth with one of the highly vaunted Panther Martins, but the water levels were so low that I wasn't going to climb down those rocks to get to it. Instead, we cruised around Hasty Lake by way of Trumpville (Caddoa). The dam road is closed for work so you have to take the roundabout way to get to the other side.</p><p>Before that, however, having neglected to bring water along, we went over to the visitor center. It was closed while the rangers were out doing ranger things. So we went to the Hasty Market - actually, Valley Market - over in Hasty. In all the years we have been going to John Martin, this was the first time stopping in there. It's quite the nifty little joint, offering pizza, and deli sandwiches and lunches. The young lady at the cash register was quite friendly. </p><p>Over on the far side of John Martin, The Squeeze gathered some more dye and fiber plants, including more yucca. Her hand-rolled yucca twine project came out very well indeed; she is going to make more to use in an as-yet-to-be-determined project.</p><p>It was quite nippy both nights we were there, dropping down below freezing for short periods in the early hours. No frozen pipes, though, and we were quite toasty in the Cassie.</p><p>And a good time was had by all.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqStq-SZQTD6LTUzQf1BtKdyfCzyH7OXKHaFm2cZTJiZDOPoRNh0AQ2JDnA3JAtUiM5yAkDbEdAkCyJkhlviUtJtiGMw496dm0ddUP2QdSEVP35uZLo5WtbfMrqpG0UkUwOC5PFII18N7mtD2TYvGXC53fWf1K5g_Sop_s_BDkyiySdcwPgZMs7pN4uMI/s639/392928917_10222479886562386_6324067315674538571_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqStq-SZQTD6LTUzQf1BtKdyfCzyH7OXKHaFm2cZTJiZDOPoRNh0AQ2JDnA3JAtUiM5yAkDbEdAkCyJkhlviUtJtiGMw496dm0ddUP2QdSEVP35uZLo5WtbfMrqpG0UkUwOC5PFII18N7mtD2TYvGXC53fWf1K5g_Sop_s_BDkyiySdcwPgZMs7pN4uMI/s320/392928917_10222479886562386_6324067315674538571_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The large spaces are one of the nicer things about the Hasty campground. Campers are not squashed in like so many sardines.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkAWTJhejEAk1Wh_8WvJ68dUnBRivibXht2HiZW15A-R7b3oI_soqin7x5DDOoi6SfbJXXyEC1BOyDg0i51FtQvIzRhwNdBuiG6TfFiIhBF6LpokeE_TSVjZHjS8snGiDqnAHnfVRUypW_lQJFLHqiGSprx2UmOqZPu60RcGTsPHM3gS4NUNRD05xE5M/s753/392935372_10222479885362356_388193244054606517_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="753" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkAWTJhejEAk1Wh_8WvJ68dUnBRivibXht2HiZW15A-R7b3oI_soqin7x5DDOoi6SfbJXXyEC1BOyDg0i51FtQvIzRhwNdBuiG6TfFiIhBF6LpokeE_TSVjZHjS8snGiDqnAHnfVRUypW_lQJFLHqiGSprx2UmOqZPu60RcGTsPHM3gS4NUNRD05xE5M/s320/392935372_10222479885362356_388193244054606517_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFicCsPvI-6xz4mcCygf2YguAa48lefdhHVB_Kt8y2ab1ThIlXegrtbLfbrYtNwBVgQqHp3k3u27fbO0m7Y3kV8f9UZpYmh_dOAxkC46_qM1gZlUsXJ4FaGWNtZ6r6wDDH_oP2sCJNhs3KoxoNnMvVJQkWDJUILrGF5JmVYtL417e36MCYfDnhgKPzJec/s815/358131425_10222479884122325_8335077618406506330_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="815" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFicCsPvI-6xz4mcCygf2YguAa48lefdhHVB_Kt8y2ab1ThIlXegrtbLfbrYtNwBVgQqHp3k3u27fbO0m7Y3kV8f9UZpYmh_dOAxkC46_qM1gZlUsXJ4FaGWNtZ6r6wDDH_oP2sCJNhs3KoxoNnMvVJQkWDJUILrGF5JmVYtL417e36MCYfDnhgKPzJec/s320/358131425_10222479884122325_8335077618406506330_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fajitas! Along with home made hummus and a fine avocado dip.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGWiqR68njIedeW3zqaKakD6pbOFnYqdUQwgbPOxcxHyK2a98NtqK6uhcCfbTrsASpsa_xz9K9zLYwEZjz_HEBlbKtqj44AHzt9qCsVTVq2lDo19y4uZZnOwahJHVnpoiqOrUTobjtIMxMo1vU734vHPiefqED6y1LHsr0UNb2AlMSUkiJeM3is1s9B4/s828/391728339_10222479885602362_2357095983378525773_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="828" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGWiqR68njIedeW3zqaKakD6pbOFnYqdUQwgbPOxcxHyK2a98NtqK6uhcCfbTrsASpsa_xz9K9zLYwEZjz_HEBlbKtqj44AHzt9qCsVTVq2lDo19y4uZZnOwahJHVnpoiqOrUTobjtIMxMo1vU734vHPiefqED6y1LHsr0UNb2AlMSUkiJeM3is1s9B4/s320/391728339_10222479885602362_2357095983378525773_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Squeeze weaves ...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0svfllpKwn74BAkdD39KT8JEyF4iRBH7GQf3wbrOUkIpE-rqk0vUr5yjBVd47kZoRMrcPxnMmcodB6Q6yOrkRWboePeioRNS491orivDIE3QkAYM9E0mcw9ZFvtQDlOxmRXVb2RDsoZLJLTn1-ipbKjpPj0TDfiN5a7c9thDkopU_QIiW-RR0QoL5EJw/s817/392921006_10222479884082324_1112894073068730775_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="817" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0svfllpKwn74BAkdD39KT8JEyF4iRBH7GQf3wbrOUkIpE-rqk0vUr5yjBVd47kZoRMrcPxnMmcodB6Q6yOrkRWboePeioRNS491orivDIE3QkAYM9E0mcw9ZFvtQDlOxmRXVb2RDsoZLJLTn1-ipbKjpPj0TDfiN5a7c9thDkopU_QIiW-RR0QoL5EJw/s320/392921006_10222479884082324_1112894073068730775_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A heartstopper breakfast. There's nothing like the smell of bacon wafting across a campsite of a frosty morn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxMBLGvF3ZynU5L66kFwxDiony2AvwIs_LOJNaZer3xs7tTpoFWpIWfD0ESAlLEuDtzfqJwpNsvOzyoTL3j5ITM763VDA9nFVMrqgcrUoal9rhTKmjm077sHJz3BIR3khyphenhyphen4e8M7ZUo2rzayvr3pBEXcRMz4UHDhRdBRK2Roi9Q3szfWrF_u7VtC03dKA/s828/391679684_10222479883842318_4368000408038602698_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="828" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxMBLGvF3ZynU5L66kFwxDiony2AvwIs_LOJNaZer3xs7tTpoFWpIWfD0ESAlLEuDtzfqJwpNsvOzyoTL3j5ITM763VDA9nFVMrqgcrUoal9rhTKmjm077sHJz3BIR3khyphenhyphen4e8M7ZUo2rzayvr3pBEXcRMz4UHDhRdBRK2Roi9Q3szfWrF_u7VtC03dKA/s320/391679684_10222479883842318_4368000408038602698_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Water levels are down considerably, at the main reservoir.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-51549541649541848812023-10-12T15:10:00.002-07:002023-10-12T15:10:24.181-07:00<p> Here we have The Squeeze scraping the goop off yucca leaves, then separating the fibers within. She is using a bit of sea shell - Atlantic cockle, from Ocracoke Island, NC - for her scraper.</p><p>The leaves/spikes have been boiled to make the scraping easier. Or even doable.</p><p>Alternatively, the spikes can be pounded with a stone and then chewed. I was kind of hoping to see that, but nope, she took the easy route.</p><p>The fibers can then be used for making cords or yarns, or for basket making and other such bits of creativity.</p><p>There are some separated fibers in the tray in the background.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpGWaX6dy8FlbYO3WBWJRibHKELkpLyjGDfE_hiMXbZ7_RE66Z0dNgDR_537pHsXiblkrueMriKG-jI64Y7an6yowhAu8wM5wUqmcBetRdwpouUCSo_up9uGDlYE7CHXAHLWabuzIzlidrHEAaYNVr0uB4c79AcoF_1fyyMaTfB43Ws83LLJNozPJaUM/s828/382241364_10222345739928804_2384318785282294633_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpGWaX6dy8FlbYO3WBWJRibHKELkpLyjGDfE_hiMXbZ7_RE66Z0dNgDR_537pHsXiblkrueMriKG-jI64Y7an6yowhAu8wM5wUqmcBetRdwpouUCSo_up9uGDlYE7CHXAHLWabuzIzlidrHEAaYNVr0uB4c79AcoF_1fyyMaTfB43Ws83LLJNozPJaUM/s320/382241364_10222345739928804_2384318785282294633_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37v3n9thI2Ggvq0H0WH3FOGvL3BUcwuvigLiR5E9OR5LZ4cqaeqGdzUI6efVmxeL84UMZnFRFvDCxmyALq-rr33sE7_ohPHgVVme9VqYGVfA7A6B_1hXycbTxq49byXuP4MnturYm0jHJLT1qP6nHqGIs8rLHCTlFYPhzr9RB5VJySgeGLTrvm9uQk3I/s828/380776417_10222345739888803_3678215971926229211_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37v3n9thI2Ggvq0H0WH3FOGvL3BUcwuvigLiR5E9OR5LZ4cqaeqGdzUI6efVmxeL84UMZnFRFvDCxmyALq-rr33sE7_ohPHgVVme9VqYGVfA7A6B_1hXycbTxq49byXuP4MnturYm0jHJLT1qP6nHqGIs8rLHCTlFYPhzr9RB5VJySgeGLTrvm9uQk3I/s320/380776417_10222345739888803_3678215971926229211_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-52606454343110021072023-10-12T15:09:00.000-07:002023-10-12T15:09:03.119-07:00<p> Our haul from <a href="https://www.mussofarmschileroom.com/" target="_blank">Musso's</a>. They will be open one more weekend.</p><p>Some apples, Anaheims, avocados, shishitos, San Marzano tomatoes, spaghetti squashes, a banana squash, a couple of Delicatas, turnips, acorns, and a small Hubbard.</p><p>I'm going to split the Hubbard up and stick the chunks on the grill. </p><p>I'm wondering how much of that Hubbard is going to make it to the freezer. We're starving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADjB1lpmef-D_Lls8_kvpD8ePqpXQ4uVwZ2YhoHjm4QuUkoTo9c0Et6aegOmvh9aDKIDqETlj-bHejLaxIn759gR7KGn9bgPHE6FHxtZcfCfyL8G6r0N86k8nEA3p__Ld_n2qN_xxqE6IgY5N7GFwqAYBEDDWzV6EWJNvqqit2GU693Bb3ThIJLUCCFA/s2048/musso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADjB1lpmef-D_Lls8_kvpD8ePqpXQ4uVwZ2YhoHjm4QuUkoTo9c0Et6aegOmvh9aDKIDqETlj-bHejLaxIn759gR7KGn9bgPHE6FHxtZcfCfyL8G6r0N86k8nEA3p__Ld_n2qN_xxqE6IgY5N7GFwqAYBEDDWzV6EWJNvqqit2GU693Bb3ThIJLUCCFA/s320/musso.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-75927023319055076052023-10-12T15:06:00.001-07:002023-10-12T15:06:26.015-07:00<p> Last batch of the year. I'm going to miss these till next year.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishito" target="_blank">Shishitos</a> in olive oil with Montreal steak seasoning.</p><p>Oh bay-bee oh bay-bee oh bay-bee ...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwjXYFvgrButiYMJyLYY7fspR924RrePT2QaoepJ5aC0MGFTR7SPoAEWuSi6nczFo9ZLYBkzQw9MEdXsGazatFm2w4H2DFX6Nmlr3pGIoKCineJHQ77qmpM1keF3DBkMbJj4v4KXBWya9jqv083hyoCGjMudhfVZgh31UQqPEHH-h2C3SuxGjjlbP5Yc/s1104/shishitos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1104" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwjXYFvgrButiYMJyLYY7fspR924RrePT2QaoepJ5aC0MGFTR7SPoAEWuSi6nczFo9ZLYBkzQw9MEdXsGazatFm2w4H2DFX6Nmlr3pGIoKCineJHQ77qmpM1keF3DBkMbJj4v4KXBWya9jqv083hyoCGjMudhfVZgh31UQqPEHH-h2C3SuxGjjlbP5Yc/s320/shishitos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-80891118382725537592023-10-12T15:02:00.002-07:002023-10-12T15:02:53.528-07:00<p> We recently made our last trip of the year to <a href="https://www.mussofarmschileroom.com/" target="_blank">Musso's</a> over in The Steel City, and snagged, among other things, a nice pile of San Marzano tomatoes. These are among the best canning tomatoes, but they are also very good for drying. We have eight racks of them in the Excalibur as we speak.</p><p>The Squeeze got us the Excalibur some years back, when we were still tent and popup camping. She also got us into dehydrating veggies and meats, and putting together dehydrated meals.</p><p>Her main resource for this is <a href="https://www.backpackingchef.com/" target="_blank">Backpacking Chef</a>. These make excellent camp meals, require no refrigeration, and take up little space with very little weight.</p><p>Most of the recipes are quite good. There are a few I found underwhelming, even if they would keep a backpacker going on the PCT or John Muir for a week.</p><p>The no-cook recipes are surprisingly tasty, and very useful if water for cleanup is in short supply.</p><p>It's starting to cool off, and we have maybe two or three local weekenders left for the year, after which we'll winterize the Cassie, take a bit of a break, and then when winter sets in, start putting together some of these eats. We vacuum pack them with a Food Saver.</p><p>The Excalibur site is linked <a href="https://excaliburdehydrator.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. The Squeeze, who is not one to do things half measure, went with the <a href="https://excaliburdehydrator.com/products/excalibur-9-tray-26hr-timer-solid-door-black?variant=31219609337988" target="_blank">3926TB</a>. I thought it was a bit overkill, but as usual, she called it spot on. We have really used this thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZNwQ9bpMHmV7bxAVOvcAI9nOyJm01HQFcnrQ5JblRV-1QkwtMiB2lWrg37n75yIY9uJDi-jOjmvzG4nH9sYyF5Jo9W99g08gGV3-3LaWdDa07_3vjs-k1pkWViu_wbkV02uTgtbRxYiXGOf07wn4q_xi672aRvynkLGfPu_cvIhFm46Rgz2eqOVN9ug/s580/xbackpacking-food-chili-unstuffed-peppers.jpg.pagespeed.ic.6TNCQ3quvD.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="580" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZNwQ9bpMHmV7bxAVOvcAI9nOyJm01HQFcnrQ5JblRV-1QkwtMiB2lWrg37n75yIY9uJDi-jOjmvzG4nH9sYyF5Jo9W99g08gGV3-3LaWdDa07_3vjs-k1pkWViu_wbkV02uTgtbRxYiXGOf07wn4q_xi672aRvynkLGfPu_cvIhFm46Rgz2eqOVN9ug/s320/xbackpacking-food-chili-unstuffed-peppers.jpg.pagespeed.ic.6TNCQ3quvD.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From "The Backpacking Chef."</div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-51903818640883132012023-10-05T14:16:00.003-07:002023-10-05T14:19:36.036-07:00<p> </p><p>This past weekend we took off for Great Sand Dunes National Preserve.</p><p>This has become something of a ritual trip with us this time of year. We've done the Medano Pass Primitive Road several times, and like hiking the trails.</p><p>This trip we stayed in Pinion Flats campground on the Preserve. We have stayed here before, tent camping and in our pop up.</p><p>Pinion Flats is bare bones. There's no electricity or water on site. Many of the sites are very small, well-suited to tent camping and small trailers or self-contained campers. If you decide to try for a Pinion Flats site, pay very close attention to the description in the booking process. If a site descriptor says 'RV to 20 feet' then take it as gospel, and the closer it is to that footage, the tighter it will be for parking your tow vehicle. Satellite surveillance via Google is helpful.</p><p>Though each of the loops has Campbell hydrants for water, the hydrants do not have a threaded connector. In other words, you cannot hook up a hose to fill your tank. You can get potable water at the dump station. It is well separated from the non-potable water for flushing out black and grey tanks and hoses. There is no threaded connector on this one, either, but it’s a flexible tubing with a fitting that allows filling.</p><p>The dump station is situated on a slope. For a Cassie, this was helpful in draining the grey tank, though we still had to toss a leveling block under the off side to get a proper 'lean' into the dump tank.</p><p>Each of the loops has 'real' bathrooms; that is, flush toilets, and sinks. They are clean and well-maintained. There is a dish-washing station at each of the bathroom buildings.</p><p>Our site was nicely shaded by pinions, though we were able to get a good sunny spot up the hill a bit for our solar panel. This is where a long extension cable is handy; ours is a thirty-footer.</p><p>All the sites are paved for parking RV and tow vehicle, with gravel pads for the fire ring and picnic table.</p><p>We hiked the Mosca trail, and the Montville nature trail, and part of the Ditch trail. We didn't do any part of Sand Ramp; this one is for either younger people or older folks who are insanely fit: "... after the first two miles, much of this trail is sandy soil or pure sand, up and down along the foothills, so this hike can be grueling. Allow for more time than the mileage indicates."</p><p>Yeah.</p><p>The foliage is not anywhere near peak yet. In fact, the aspens were just starting to turn. La Veta Pass used to be ablaze with aspens cloaked in fall yellow and gold but since the fire, there's far more Gambel oak than aspens.</p><p>Our last night there, there was a rip-snorter of a mountain thunderstorm. The lightning was spectacular, as was the rain. "Gully washer" is too tame. Next morning as we packed up, it was cold and damp, but the sky was perfect and the dampness brought out the forest scent so strongly it was like a drug. There was snow on Herard and some of the other peaks.</p><p>On the way back we stopped at the Veterans' Park in Fort Garland. The Squeeze was intent on scarfing up more milkweed, and snagged some additional rabbit brush as well. While there was plenty of both in the park, The Squeeze will not filch stuff from the parks and national forests. So she picked it alongside the county road by the city park. Item of interest ... there is a T-33 at the park. Well, the signage says it's a USAF T-33, but it isn't. It's actually a US Navy version of the T-bird.</p><p>Then we hied for home down US 160 to Walsenburg and thence on CO 10. The prairie is still quite green and wondrous.</p><p>A good time was had by all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupwhnJAFMzq4K-ntVkjW8fkJCgTKBWUn-JrhzXCumx-VpQ-41dNG-0fIwKgSFTZGzDrIdSKN-LVQwH2zE3HvDz7OXm7fVlpOjrSZdsDZHiROrivrDaNJsEgP8F8ToZXTefTRt_F-NKengn0gu1OQ479BSKhi4WQSFi16EaXG4CkUcjC4mdcJ8Qc811NM/s1024/380693955_10222319232066124_6256411235561580514_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupwhnJAFMzq4K-ntVkjW8fkJCgTKBWUn-JrhzXCumx-VpQ-41dNG-0fIwKgSFTZGzDrIdSKN-LVQwH2zE3HvDz7OXm7fVlpOjrSZdsDZHiROrivrDaNJsEgP8F8ToZXTefTRt_F-NKengn0gu1OQ479BSKhi4WQSFi16EaXG4CkUcjC4mdcJ8Qc811NM/s320/380693955_10222319232066124_6256411235561580514_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We always get a shot at the turnoff from US 160. Mount Blanca in the background.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo_txzU1n4MhQVEN3htd5PtbjroUZXhIsCMs_Y4EXwd3Mb_uGMxjTzS8Q_U6MdkfFHQA6Xza2DpfH4ttxG8MkwGuRn3NaTsXGp5RcKfMqXE4bR5_91DDBrU-UaV7xBX1pOkpGlFqdin1T_S7Nfl8bl6lfqfNHraVSrbM-5ngq7F4bt6eoHgnQuaCqk2U/s1024/380706009_10222319234746191_1916270577611424775_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo_txzU1n4MhQVEN3htd5PtbjroUZXhIsCMs_Y4EXwd3Mb_uGMxjTzS8Q_U6MdkfFHQA6Xza2DpfH4ttxG8MkwGuRn3NaTsXGp5RcKfMqXE4bR5_91DDBrU-UaV7xBX1pOkpGlFqdin1T_S7Nfl8bl6lfqfNHraVSrbM-5ngq7F4bt6eoHgnQuaCqk2U/s320/380706009_10222319234746191_1916270577611424775_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Starting out on the trails above the dunes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZANBUyTDjZjBztrAITOGqTZNuCskaFIkOQxD4uoJ6rtiRwy789AxpCyypUdKDIpgXJOtMziqLgbczhpaIaIuASEhPm82cGcwrEB9_q8ZdpwuqTY0oDQQX_9kY7dQFISVpbXfuvmJicPbcra46V3F68jQWhKBjcojJQ01sCE0pujSclQU9eFJW2PgSX0/s1024/380710323_10222319236506235_7666415769574440904_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZANBUyTDjZjBztrAITOGqTZNuCskaFIkOQxD4uoJ6rtiRwy789AxpCyypUdKDIpgXJOtMziqLgbczhpaIaIuASEhPm82cGcwrEB9_q8ZdpwuqTY0oDQQX_9kY7dQFISVpbXfuvmJicPbcra46V3F68jQWhKBjcojJQ01sCE0pujSclQU9eFJW2PgSX0/s320/380710323_10222319236506235_7666415769574440904_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The beginning of the Sand Ramp trail. We did not go much further than this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l3OaIT5Qy4kwMg7mh026qEZRm4srBdav5UnCs0vYQiqPxAI8EfwvY3j9PFsagtG4gIkLPt8n0ZAtg2YW8wJY9NgRx7DR0xtK-8WLY73vuQOEqlh-Myg7FuGA7KJU97vPqe624rF2B95NptAWYLJadnKHyfanv-NXhAobTfLa46w1lXtdb-9QgveV_gI/s1024/380718316_10222319231946121_4158483615507063862_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l3OaIT5Qy4kwMg7mh026qEZRm4srBdav5UnCs0vYQiqPxAI8EfwvY3j9PFsagtG4gIkLPt8n0ZAtg2YW8wJY9NgRx7DR0xtK-8WLY73vuQOEqlh-Myg7FuGA7KJU97vPqe624rF2B95NptAWYLJadnKHyfanv-NXhAobTfLa46w1lXtdb-9QgveV_gI/s320/380718316_10222319231946121_4158483615507063862_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mt Herard overlooks the national preserve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRfi-f-rIl9_08DYDRGWKP9L1wvUKxuRfHpmbXw5prDMPxtsCjrr_MhLpsmT2OlGY-Hdkygx0Kyez3JIpEh1HQxPpQT38b2y9f0Q0ER4JVYXbg9-eiw-HkNS94Ne873w2D_JYLoA6FwLKFUANKrmbKjbj1RcZ1hY8D7wXgy3i-gMCnqEFX2jbQdT0Xxk/s1024/380742057_10222319236066224_285027905366709839_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRfi-f-rIl9_08DYDRGWKP9L1wvUKxuRfHpmbXw5prDMPxtsCjrr_MhLpsmT2OlGY-Hdkygx0Kyez3JIpEh1HQxPpQT38b2y9f0Q0ER4JVYXbg9-eiw-HkNS94Ne873w2D_JYLoA6FwLKFUANKrmbKjbj1RcZ1hY8D7wXgy3i-gMCnqEFX2jbQdT0Xxk/s320/380742057_10222319236066224_285027905366709839_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Starting up Mosca Pass trail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQef47DBKgL4xs6nNhNeM6ggg_gYbC3MAjJyCjzGllpGwmXfrGHPaf2Lovw6AXBO465ENacI5-VoF7PZh_tTF24quTotokXWZ23Oijh_ZMogStnOj6s-KMSZhLwrFQyX4LyuCenuNXURPLyOhkX7Y1zaAU6p9-fdYpZDlwm0KX0WfcLnhlVZ0V58aZ-Y/s1024/380798536_10222319233426158_4069775251107872647_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQef47DBKgL4xs6nNhNeM6ggg_gYbC3MAjJyCjzGllpGwmXfrGHPaf2Lovw6AXBO465ENacI5-VoF7PZh_tTF24quTotokXWZ23Oijh_ZMogStnOj6s-KMSZhLwrFQyX4LyuCenuNXURPLyOhkX7Y1zaAU6p9-fdYpZDlwm0KX0WfcLnhlVZ0V58aZ-Y/s320/380798536_10222319233426158_4069775251107872647_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sites tend to be small, but they are very nicely laid out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5bzHbPAJYQKdd68nwJJsqMhPe5tLWiupjXmiS8iRsubBppMALHLfkkMNIMbnoF8r7oDG6Lvyvft94DdLAKowzjRZzuQHarwdzMmENgqH2vRzpTAHf9jAIcjQ4oPc_DrPTFQj4n8E5MgULEDDoQDd_R82rFMcYqE5RjLZ5UYu8IdAJkjda0hVixRXQtU/s1024/378124253_10222319232986147_3350904718827608502_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5bzHbPAJYQKdd68nwJJsqMhPe5tLWiupjXmiS8iRsubBppMALHLfkkMNIMbnoF8r7oDG6Lvyvft94DdLAKowzjRZzuQHarwdzMmENgqH2vRzpTAHf9jAIcjQ4oPc_DrPTFQj4n8E5MgULEDDoQDd_R82rFMcYqE5RjLZ5UYu8IdAJkjda0hVixRXQtU/s320/378124253_10222319232986147_3350904718827608502_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-6752956393260751842023-04-13T14:49:00.001-07:002023-04-13T14:49:06.569-07:00<p> So we fled the scene over the Presidents Day weekend, visiting Santa Fe and Taos.</p><p>We took the interstate down, and came back up through Taos.</p><p>Saturday morning our first stop was at the Farmer's Market, where we had a really good cinnamon roll and a bowl of atole served as a soup.</p><p>We visited one of our fave churches - more than a 'church,' actually - the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi. </p><p>San Miguel chapel was just down the street from our digs. It's the oldest Catholic church built in the United States. Its history goes back at least as far as 1628.</p><p>We visited Museum Hill, another of our faves, this time taking in the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Our last visit saw us in the Museum of International Folk Art, arguably The Squeeze's fave so far. The Spanish Colonial Art museum was closed for a special event, so we missed that one this trip.</p><p>No visit to Santa Fe is complete without a bit of face-stuffing. We hit Tomasita's for a late lunch on Saturday, snuffling their most excellent chicken tacos and a veggie burrito. The Squeeze thought the veggie burrito was exceptionally well done, with grilled onion, peppers, squash, and refried beans. A lot of these highly touted eateries are overblown in reputation; Tomasita's always lives up to their billing. They also have a range of excellent margaritas. The building provides a great ambience as well.</p><p>Speaking of overblown ... Cafe Pasqual's falls into that category, despite one of the best moles we have ever tasted. Perhaps the best. However ... their carne asada was really bland, though it came with a very good guac. Add to that, that diners are packed in like sardines, and the 'Pasqual experience' comes out lacking a good deal.</p><p>The Shed's another hot spot. With a 2.5 hour wait for dinner we passed on that, going instead for a margarita, a rather decent El Cumbre Amber draft, and a bowl of chips and salsa. Excellent ambience with a boistrous dinner crowd, good service, and a fun time ... though the 'Sweet Heat' margarita was a bit on the weak side it was nonetheless quite good, with a jalapeno-salted rim that added a bit of a kick.</p><p>Given that The Squeeze is a shameless chocoholic and more than a bit of a chocolate snob, no visit to Santa Fe is complete without a stop at Kakawa Chocolates, where we slurped and snuffled our way through a couple of Jeffersonians. </p><p>And then we stopped by Miriam's Well School of Weaving, where The Squeeze lost her mind completely, albeit understandably given the range of fine yarns in stock.</p><p>On the way back, we stopped in Taos for a mid-morning breakfast. We tried Michael's despite it being low on our list of eateries. I've always found their Mexican dishes entirely too bland and lacking in imagination. With a 40 minute wait time, we opted for elseplace, with The Squeeze pointing out a little hole-in-the-wall outfit just south of the square on the main drag. Jalapeno's turned out to be a gem, with a chorizo breakfast burrito that far surpassed anything Michael's ever dreamed of turning out. The Squeeze went for a carne asada, which was also quite good. The green chile sauce on these dishes is perhaps one of the best we have ever snuffled.</p><p>With that, we hied for home, up through San Luis and Fort Garland and over La Veta Pass, pushed along by a gale-force tail wind that did wonders for gas mileage.</p><p>A good time was had by all.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknsfDN_LcAbt_DlSr_ZHu5G6xb5H-Kj9NRf5k6QijZ5qq9Jge-xWuPWUXXbaH83CcgBOL0ndXANfGbPytRns7ee8LE1uvR_hPpmC91CsWFRVYFXRLFnRNg-GE2Is0F-z7V_z5Z18828vq4m08UE-NuO1kYOfu-ue9ew0i5wxiLIH8vBFQb-MQBHDg/s2048/332343020_581636660523330_4841684469241088069_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknsfDN_LcAbt_DlSr_ZHu5G6xb5H-Kj9NRf5k6QijZ5qq9Jge-xWuPWUXXbaH83CcgBOL0ndXANfGbPytRns7ee8LE1uvR_hPpmC91CsWFRVYFXRLFnRNg-GE2Is0F-z7V_z5Z18828vq4m08UE-NuO1kYOfu-ue9ew0i5wxiLIH8vBFQb-MQBHDg/s320/332343020_581636660523330_4841684469241088069_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-30739885285108389282023-04-13T14:39:00.002-07:002023-04-13T14:39:45.437-07:00<p> Back in October we were at John Martin for a simple overnighter. It was most pleasant. When we were here the first time, back in the early eighties, we had a popup camper and spent quite a few weekends at the Hasty campground. Despite lacking the drama of the mountains, it is really quite a nice little campground.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs449o0IAoodfixun_jzKy2QSBlZjf6_TPU4yUDTFflqOf-mGLY2VIWn8WVfaaiu0ueYtIKzHMTG_wP-7ZjcF1yU3KBIPtLrGn9tEAm2e3pC8A7YuVCP0V2lu9gRrGwJITj8koe7Y6BhhTMQwlURCqFEEHJlIcX1Bdpwi9tKX-w6I-IxEkei482C68/s750/311829829_10220408558780486_9189684861588532487_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs449o0IAoodfixun_jzKy2QSBlZjf6_TPU4yUDTFflqOf-mGLY2VIWn8WVfaaiu0ueYtIKzHMTG_wP-7ZjcF1yU3KBIPtLrGn9tEAm2e3pC8A7YuVCP0V2lu9gRrGwJITj8koe7Y6BhhTMQwlURCqFEEHJlIcX1Bdpwi9tKX-w6I-IxEkei482C68/s320/311829829_10220408558780486_9189684861588532487_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVDd0HcHNTt0gPiqJT23lpN7rkM9vplVha8L090Hc33uIQaAWrg-8tr2dKdbSqQs5ZxDknXI-IC_yLAhRJtO7PbVCX0pfFbwxOcpGA6hOU8KUb-_cV36QlqT_OB0ym3_GFhmyrD-tbiZYyosK5eQEvMpvj8UvB2kW-vpRQrwEdAK7F1jeb1Ek3SLz/s750/311893594_10220408558820487_6545376855344562932_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVDd0HcHNTt0gPiqJT23lpN7rkM9vplVha8L090Hc33uIQaAWrg-8tr2dKdbSqQs5ZxDknXI-IC_yLAhRJtO7PbVCX0pfFbwxOcpGA6hOU8KUb-_cV36QlqT_OB0ym3_GFhmyrD-tbiZYyosK5eQEvMpvj8UvB2kW-vpRQrwEdAK7F1jeb1Ek3SLz/s320/311893594_10220408558820487_6545376855344562932_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEW-3kvEeM1G72E8ehBHgCD2eQLQBgbuHOzxwJa2dKYoMYZB065VUKbMxkITWPP2b_pBhHK38fohUCNORkPikStK_iHwUIbw_DiSk1v-AZRUZ5Nimrb2zxxcxgQQ4ca7z-URF7MtZZPW3dfTMPkh5cbgb8BTVTs_bc0tbWGCHihthTftiifZ4Wc4T/s750/311953165_10220408558860488_8282630351617007245_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEW-3kvEeM1G72E8ehBHgCD2eQLQBgbuHOzxwJa2dKYoMYZB065VUKbMxkITWPP2b_pBhHK38fohUCNORkPikStK_iHwUIbw_DiSk1v-AZRUZ5Nimrb2zxxcxgQQ4ca7z-URF7MtZZPW3dfTMPkh5cbgb8BTVTs_bc0tbWGCHihthTftiifZ4Wc4T/s320/311953165_10220408558860488_8282630351617007245_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-41022335120529979832023-04-13T13:45:00.002-07:002023-04-13T13:45:34.952-07:00<p>November 2022</p><p> So we hied off to John Martin for an overnighter, the idea being to lurk in the far corner of the campground and watch the Taurids. Even with a nearly full moon, the Taurids promised to be spectacular. They are known for a high rate of fireballs and bolides. Despite the nearly full moon, we were hoping for a bit of astronomical excitement.</p><p>Alas, it was cloudy.</p><p>The Taurids kind of drag out for a few weeks so maybe one night this week ...</p><p>OTOH, we had a leisurely dinner of grilled Angus burgers, Leece's beans and rice from the Backpacker Chef's recipe, a good selection of fresh veggies, all to the backdrop of geese and ducks having a merry old time over on Hasty Lake. We saw several large flocks of Canada geese and snow geese, but could not get close enough to the ducks for ID.</p><p>This morning was brisk but not cold; it was OK for shorts, in fact, at least out in the sun. And there was plenty of sun, for the morning dawned bright and blue.</p><p>After an equally leisurely breakfast of iron skillet bacon and very gently over easy eggs with crunchy edges - very hot bacon fat gives the very best dippy eggs - and iron skillet-baked biscuits, we also very leisurely packed up for home.</p><p>There were only eight other campers in the entire Hasty campground. It was most pleasant.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveWnqgGcs8CA-UUCez9pU_Zm8LvL-JoYmtq5LgFfOQs1hLVyQq1hjhwaIsJBsB_OIQw1Cin7wSaoqqmua9AzrbeCBbeO-t_p4CvKFL4a7XCoJ91LhKG0c8CTvPcYMOV0KTt5vNSyBUHg7LDf294Gqn0BfdLUl5ls_wo_GUp3cWwp6Qls30jJaFyNu/s1024/314686950_10220661467703051_8860359971800766538_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveWnqgGcs8CA-UUCez9pU_Zm8LvL-JoYmtq5LgFfOQs1hLVyQq1hjhwaIsJBsB_OIQw1Cin7wSaoqqmua9AzrbeCBbeO-t_p4CvKFL4a7XCoJ91LhKG0c8CTvPcYMOV0KTt5vNSyBUHg7LDf294Gqn0BfdLUl5ls_wo_GUp3cWwp6Qls30jJaFyNu/s320/314686950_10220661467703051_8860359971800766538_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCw29BMachjdd1Idq4mWonMeOq9oL4qk5dPmP5fj2TFvlQX-_szzAU0tP25mUCKJH2ccvVeNBW2L5GhhIEaOrhyMjguN8netk3hvDE8YqryPIk1iUOoIqGcG92_JLfJMkhnCBmfgd-S1NeayK1XEbPzvVjY-agC0dhIUchSQNhfVHMwLFOam7nGgKX/s1024/314757580_10220661466743027_5160839771251317807_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCw29BMachjdd1Idq4mWonMeOq9oL4qk5dPmP5fj2TFvlQX-_szzAU0tP25mUCKJH2ccvVeNBW2L5GhhIEaOrhyMjguN8netk3hvDE8YqryPIk1iUOoIqGcG92_JLfJMkhnCBmfgd-S1NeayK1XEbPzvVjY-agC0dhIUchSQNhfVHMwLFOam7nGgKX/s320/314757580_10220661466743027_5160839771251317807_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFOc01A1c6PbQbATQDnhZVuhtRXapfSkJA0Fr2xUYLX69cFdCkGo24pb6P2neMiMng_whkP4woTI_xvEkjFlypN_OLOaTBSDTYseSkMmNC5cmdSrjih-f6mRs44Ti2LozJ6yMU3HNbbqP5oEG2VMUE7G90Wxd7mxz7YN1iJ2MsuBGZ4Rvbpaxlkui/s1024/314801157_10220661469423094_4517729092833914203_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFOc01A1c6PbQbATQDnhZVuhtRXapfSkJA0Fr2xUYLX69cFdCkGo24pb6P2neMiMng_whkP4woTI_xvEkjFlypN_OLOaTBSDTYseSkMmNC5cmdSrjih-f6mRs44Ti2LozJ6yMU3HNbbqP5oEG2VMUE7G90Wxd7mxz7YN1iJ2MsuBGZ4Rvbpaxlkui/s320/314801157_10220661469423094_4517729092833914203_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgmMFQoyVl1O8ZOGj_hBjJJ-z1nY_AihWuW2VKL7h2fe7l3v7UNjhOVZ4RpQ3jrE5UeOKrOCjfq8DikeL6pnrxCbcx2PWjDw7x1aErTBZwT3fsMOP-JWkIMUoB1uI9cPapbhlZAi1Bu2WxALQNDiMEjRwXjIIzJZq1yJ_zc34h1HTtUshNTKj7--k/s1024/314857845_10220661469063085_8581627279612438777_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgmMFQoyVl1O8ZOGj_hBjJJ-z1nY_AihWuW2VKL7h2fe7l3v7UNjhOVZ4RpQ3jrE5UeOKrOCjfq8DikeL6pnrxCbcx2PWjDw7x1aErTBZwT3fsMOP-JWkIMUoB1uI9cPapbhlZAi1Bu2WxALQNDiMEjRwXjIIzJZq1yJ_zc34h1HTtUshNTKj7--k/s320/314857845_10220661469063085_8581627279612438777_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-13065425931764071472021-10-28T08:04:00.000-07:002021-10-28T08:04:01.193-07:00Medano Pass 2021<p> We made our annual trek to the Dunes and the Medano Pass Primitive Road a bit later this year.</p><p>The aspens were in fine form; we have rarely seen them 'ablaze' like they were this trip. The road was in fairly decent shape till the upper third, where there were some deeply rutted areas due to heavy rains earlier this year. Rangers or other travelers had cut some blowdown aspen logs to fill in the deeper holes, which made getting over them a lot easier.</p><p>We lunched just below the crest of the pass, at about 9900 feet MSL. It was cool but a light jacket was all we needed.</p><p>The sand down by the dunes was in good shape because of light rains the day before. </p><p>We stopped at the San Luis Lakes SWA on the way back to Fort Garland. The reservoir, like most of the ponds on the eastern plains, was almost dried up. </p><p>The next morning on the way back to The Holy Land, we bypassed the new pass for a trip over the old one. The burned area from the fire a few years ago is recovering nicely, with a lot of young aspens and gambel oak filling in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HEna8quj0w/YXq7GIiqtjI/AAAAAAAAFDI/2lDEXS4zUL8LRhyWmUnBKNN-M0ba4qpFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/243490703_10218877495664865_704878344337364111_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HEna8quj0w/YXq7GIiqtjI/AAAAAAAAFDI/2lDEXS4zUL8LRhyWmUnBKNN-M0ba4qpFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/243490703_10218877495664865_704878344337364111_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the turnoff from US 160 up to the dunes, for our obligatory shot with Blanca Peak. Sadly, Blanca was covered with clouds.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnKuD18KTRQ/YXq7GVZr7aI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/83f8umk4Jbk3rtMvQGbzFKRgG6ICXj1sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/243519675_10218877503545062_2883736905959121550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnKuD18KTRQ/YXq7GVZr7aI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/83f8umk4Jbk3rtMvQGbzFKRgG6ICXj1sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/243519675_10218877503545062_2883736905959121550_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We lunched here in a dispersed camping site. Most of the dispersed sites were vacant.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtY6sqCecZg/YXq7GUFtEkI/AAAAAAAAFDM/4LqFxP1Z6p0-0L4-2CjwReuzyhz8E7FJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/243663274_10218877497704916_6424617136701928120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtY6sqCecZg/YXq7GUFtEkI/AAAAAAAAFDM/4LqFxP1Z6p0-0L4-2CjwReuzyhz8E7FJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/243663274_10218877497704916_6424617136701928120_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's an easy stretch of the road, with aspens closing in. Up a bit higher, the aspens had taken on a flaming orange tint.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mmECWAi7Fw/YXq7G7NU-uI/AAAAAAAAFDU/04CGKShwmhQ03KM0F-TW_yIpazhUD76AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/243898764_10218877503985073_2239937904915119616_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mmECWAi7Fw/YXq7G7NU-uI/AAAAAAAAFDU/04CGKShwmhQ03KM0F-TW_yIpazhUD76AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/243898764_10218877503985073_2239937904915119616_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leece white-knuckles it a bit, passing over one of the rougher spots.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpeVUiHjSH0/YXq7HLbwRbI/AAAAAAAAFDY/itKe8jqnacgsI2-ZGk91XF_q_927suapwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1817/244616090_10218887413712810_3502950924552832187_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1817" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpeVUiHjSH0/YXq7HLbwRbI/AAAAAAAAFDY/itKe8jqnacgsI2-ZGk91XF_q_927suapwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/244616090_10218887413712810_3502950924552832187_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is from the San Luis Lakes SWA. Blanca is in the far background. The yellow bushes are rabbit brush.</div><br /><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-50134981631734518952021-08-23T15:48:00.001-07:002021-08-23T15:48:16.527-07:00Mesa Verde and Santa Fe<div><br /></div><div>The first week of September we hied off to Mesa Verde, intending to encamp and explore for several days. Mesa Verde is one of our fave sites, not so much for the cliff dwellings, which are of course fascinating on their own, but for the <a href="https://www.mesaverdevoices.org/textiles" target="_blank">Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum</a>, which has a fine collection of contemporary fiber arts. Sadly, it has been closed through the pandemic, and remains so until further notice.</div><div><br /></div><div>A winter storm moved in, cutting our visit short. We packed up and headed south for Albuquerque, spending one night there before moving on to Santa Fe, where we slurped high class chocolate, visited Museum Hill, and snuffled some good eats.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0n4X41otck/YSQlZImZa1I/AAAAAAAAFCI/v_qb2YfzscQyCl34tT__LVJvp8ZmP3eRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mv1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0n4X41otck/YSQlZImZa1I/AAAAAAAAFCI/v_qb2YfzscQyCl34tT__LVJvp8ZmP3eRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mv1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The campground is nicely done. Showers are available down the hill at the ranger station.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6eX5XTsQyI/YSQlZFMyikI/AAAAAAAAFCA/Z7qqWfuqXi41_jyMFny4pcNGfps_YL7vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6eX5XTsQyI/YSQlZFMyikI/AAAAAAAAFCA/Z7qqWfuqXi41_jyMFny4pcNGfps_YL7vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mv2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jlO5wrBl7n8/YSQlZOw3snI/AAAAAAAAFCE/DwrHn3accicoT-rP4nvfkg3q8M5_u8j9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mv3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jlO5wrBl7n8/YSQlZOw3snI/AAAAAAAAFCE/DwrHn3accicoT-rP4nvfkg3q8M5_u8j9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mv3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smoke from the wildfires obscured a lot. It was not nearly as clear as in visits past.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFHCgr3djoo/YSQlZ9z6OiI/AAAAAAAAFCM/F8V2p9aMy2IzBF3xIaFf6z0JwKCgYFmtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFHCgr3djoo/YSQlZ9z6OiI/AAAAAAAAFCM/F8V2p9aMy2IzBF3xIaFf6z0JwKCgYFmtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mv4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIkzRbG6QUs/YSQlaUTNE0I/AAAAAAAAFCQ/AVmEfBPEn2cI7vtKV1WKvgaVhGt0gck7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mv5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIkzRbG6QUs/YSQlaUTNE0I/AAAAAAAAFCQ/AVmEfBPEn2cI7vtKV1WKvgaVhGt0gck7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mv5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ITbpkelErg/YSQla2x086I/AAAAAAAAFCU/kVcs880qPE8av1Cc9RCJsWxUAQ44_KxqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mv6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ITbpkelErg/YSQla2x086I/AAAAAAAAFCU/kVcs880qPE8av1Cc9RCJsWxUAQ44_KxqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mv6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAGQvJj6GLA/YSQlbVURLCI/AAAAAAAAFCY/-xpenl9upzcypTmmpuzjn7QX0W2h0VKPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mv7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAGQvJj6GLA/YSQlbVURLCI/AAAAAAAAFCY/-xpenl9upzcypTmmpuzjn7QX0W2h0VKPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mv7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-73488186414266794052021-08-23T15:37:00.000-07:002021-08-23T15:37:04.541-07:00Cordova Pass and Apishipa SWA<p> In June 2020 we took a turn down through La Veta and over Cordova Pass. On the way home, we detoured off CO 10 to visit the Apishipa State Wildlife Area, which is some twenty miles south of the highway on the plains east of Walsenburg.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54tyiKgcz5M/YSQi8q_lmiI/AAAAAAAAFBc/S1H2SY5F2QUMqn0GkIQTZKKzRyJIG0tNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6june2020_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54tyiKgcz5M/YSQi8q_lmiI/AAAAAAAAFBc/S1H2SY5F2QUMqn0GkIQTZKKzRyJIG0tNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6june2020_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r47NJGUceOQ/YSQi8m2aEHI/AAAAAAAAFBY/manDTJkNockT9eu1doHJhcxvEkL2YmaxACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6june2020_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r47NJGUceOQ/YSQi8m2aEHI/AAAAAAAAFBY/manDTJkNockT9eu1doHJhcxvEkL2YmaxACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6june2020_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zdP3bh6Y7Y/YSQi8tebxMI/AAAAAAAAFBU/VJPzDTp3C-UchGORsJxxCdaKnngl3waFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6june2020_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zdP3bh6Y7Y/YSQi8tebxMI/AAAAAAAAFBU/VJPzDTp3C-UchGORsJxxCdaKnngl3waFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6june2020_3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVVADB_YKFc/YSQi9O8gkFI/AAAAAAAAFBg/1MORKgdNvQsGxPo_ZC7zuwpiJ2wzcKXIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6june2020_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVVADB_YKFc/YSQi9O8gkFI/AAAAAAAAFBg/1MORKgdNvQsGxPo_ZC7zuwpiJ2wzcKXIACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6june2020_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Un93NOg-xZc/YSQi9eEeu_I/AAAAAAAAFBk/XaE-eFsnlL0-S7wQHDOTJMNF73mfbc2NACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6june2020_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Un93NOg-xZc/YSQi9eEeu_I/AAAAAAAAFBk/XaE-eFsnlL0-S7wQHDOTJMNF73mfbc2NACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6june2020_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jp-ayZtQn4M/YSQi96wKEgI/AAAAAAAAFBo/sNK8l3Qc57sLFINDa0lYOZoi20yA_fSAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6june2020_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jp-ayZtQn4M/YSQi96wKEgI/AAAAAAAAFBo/sNK8l3Qc57sLFINDa0lYOZoi20yA_fSAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6june2020_6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-84117757163157319102020-01-06T07:43:00.001-08:002020-01-06T07:43:23.818-08:00Leece's most excellent late summer tripWe took a few days off in late August, and went over to the Million Dollar Highway area by way of Wolf Creek Pass, returning via Gunnison and Monarch. We camped north of Durango.<br />
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Wolf Creek Pass</div>
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A sumptuous breakfast near Andrews Lake, a small, high alpine lake just south of Molas Pass.</div>
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We hiked the trail around Andrews Lake. This is Engineer Mountain, from the north side of the lake.</div>
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There were still a lot of wildflowers out and about. This is at the top of Coalbank Pass.</div>
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On the way to Animas Forks.</div>
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The cut through the avalanche area south of Animas Forks. The local folk told us the snow was over 100 feet deep at the end of winter.</div>
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Just before Animas Forks.</div>
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Near Red Mountain</div>
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Red Mountain</div>
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We also stopped briefly at Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. It had been three or four years since we were last here.</div>
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-1527762001299042522019-09-29T16:31:00.002-07:002020-01-08T08:02:06.070-08:00Leece's Most Excellent Spring 2019 Road Trip: Grand Teton NPIn which Bob the Yellow-bellied Rock Marmot makes an appearance, as does a moderately whacked-out Prairie Grouse.<br />
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There are a lot of photos of the mountains. They have an effect. You just can't stop snapping.<br />
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Most of our time at the park was affected (as opposed to 'marred') by 'unseasonably cold, wet weather.' A bright blue sky really makes the Tetons pop, but we got to see them in a completely different setting. The low-hanging clouds, mists and fog, added considerable drama to the landscape. And, we did get a few hours of intermittent blue sky, which was nice. The snow was still quite deep in spots, but down at the lakes level, the ground was pretty much clear.<br />
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We did some hiking, mostly around Jenny Lake and Lupine Meadows. Grand Teton, Middle Teton, South Teton, Nez Perce, and Disappointment Peak all overlook the south end of Jenny Lake, making for some spectacular views. This is especially true on the west side of the lake, when it seems you are looking straight up the mountains.<br />
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Picnic spots are a bit limited. We did not care for the small Cottonwood Creek picnic area, which was for the most part unsheltered. But, the picnic area at String Lake was a veritable paradise of forested magnificence.<br />
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-68315739507869631112019-09-25T10:02:00.001-07:002019-09-25T10:04:29.289-07:00Medano PassWe stayed overnight in the campground by Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.<br />
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The next morning, after a good camp breakfast, we entered the Medano Pass Primitive Road at The Point of No Return.<br />
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The rangers said the sand, being very dry, was soft and deep, so we dropped the tire pressure down to 20 psi at Point of No Return. The rangers were right. There were several spots where Wesley wallowed and slip-slid, but we had no real difficulties.<br />
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The road crosses Medano Creek nine times. This time of the year, the creek is usually very low, and this year was no exception.<br />
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We lunched on the east side of the pass, as the wind soughed through the trees and the perfume of spruces wafted over us.<br />
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Huckleberries and currants were all over - as was bear poop. We had bear spray with us, but sadly, we saw no bruins stuffing themselves in preparation for winter.<br />
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-39114338833360690102019-08-19T09:56:00.004-07:002019-09-29T16:33:18.278-07:00Leece's Most Excellent Spring 2019 Road Trip: Seedskadee<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/seedskadee/" target="_blank">Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge</a> is north and west of Green River, Wyoming. on the way to Jackson.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Looking out over the refuge, from the deck at the Visitor's Center. The Green River is in the distance.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Leece eyeballs a nesting bald eagle. The eagle eyeballed right back</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Nearly forty years ago, we had a temporary radar site just west of Little America, WY. I spent some time fishing in this area. When I caught some suckers, I would toss them up on the bank, and bald eagles would swoop down and scarf them up.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BE3glBb7f60/XVrUKTQbZJI/AAAAAAAAEy0/NbwxMuyWxW4SBS-xw5dz-R95d1SkvoZYgCLcBGAs/s1600/seeds4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BE3glBb7f60/XVrUKTQbZJI/AAAAAAAAEy0/NbwxMuyWxW4SBS-xw5dz-R95d1SkvoZYgCLcBGAs/s320/seeds4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Trumpeter swans, swanning about.</span></i></div>
<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-46474505097016339062019-07-13T13:27:00.002-07:002019-07-13T13:27:46.293-07:00Leece's Most Excellent Road Trip 2019: Craig to Green RiverWe went west from Craig to the north end of Dinosaur National Monument and the Gates of Lodore. It was cold and drizzly, with snow at the higher elevations. From the Gates of Lodore, we visited Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge. Both Lodore and Brown's Park would be worth visits in their own right, but we were pushing on through Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to Green River, and only made brief visits.<br />
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<i>Coming down alongside the Green River, with the Gates of Lodore in the distance.</i></div>
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Gates of Lodore. They rise several hundred feet above the Green River.</div>
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Looking west, along the Green River, in Brown's Park NWR.</div>
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<i>Crossing the Swinging Bridge. The Utah line is about one mile to the west. The unpaved roads on the south side of the bridge cut about an hour off the trip to Vernal, as well as being quite scenic.</i></div>
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<i>The Swinging Bridge, from the campground just to the west.</i></div>
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<i>At the state line, CO 318 becomes UT 1364. 1364 is paved most of the way, except over the top of a low pass, about 7300 feet MSL. Though the unpaved section was quite slick and icy, we had no problems making it over.</i></div>
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<i>Leece takes a shot at Sheep Creek Bay.</i></div>
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<i>Overlooking near Sheep Creek.</i></div>
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<i>Storm over the prairie, just south of Green River, WY.</i></div>
<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-2977705434831870172019-07-08T07:53:00.001-07:002019-07-08T07:53:41.217-07:00Leece's Most Excellent Road Trip Spring 2019: Salida to CraigLate in May we departed The Holy Land for Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. We went by way of Salida, up to Craig, then over to Green River by way of the Gates of Lodore , Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge,and the Flaming Gorge. From Green River, we visited Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, and then on to Jackson, Wy. We spent four days in Yellowstone and the Tetons before crossing Wyoming through the Wind River country, to Scottsbluff National Monument, and back down to The Holy Land.<br />
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It was, indeed, a most excellent trip.<br />
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Coming up to Craig, we passed Mt Elbert, and then crossed over Tennessee Pass.<br />
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Mt Elbert, Colorado's highest peak</div>
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Another shot of Mt Elbert</div>
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At the Green Bridge Overlook, near Red Cliff</div>
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The world-famous Green Bridge</div>
CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-78840209728445478342019-05-21T09:48:00.001-07:002019-05-21T09:48:09.862-07:00Fort ReynoldsHere's a bit of historical lore. There is a small marker on the north side of US 50, just this side of the Avondale exit.<br />
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It is often hidden by weeds so it can be difficult to see.<br />
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Fort Reynolds was named after Major General John Reynolds, who was killed at Gettysburg.<br />
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I did a little research on the fort and some of the people who were associated with it.
It was an adobe fort that existed near the location of what is now Avondale. Constructed in 1867, it was in commission until 1872.<br />
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It was first occupied by F Company of the 5th United States Infantry - the 'Bobcats'. By the summer of 1868, Captain Charles A. Curtis was in command of Fort Reynolds.
According to FindAGrave, Captain Curtis retired from the army in 1870, and had a distinguished post-service career. The source cited shows three different biographies with some conflicting details, but in one area they are all in 'agreeance:' Curtis was an accomplished and very active individual.<br />
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Other known commanders include Captain Simon Snyder and Captain H. B. Bristol. The timelines regarding the occupancy of the fort are fuzzy at best.
Captain Snyder was an interesting fellow, too. His wife died in 1874, leaving him as a single father with a young daughter, Lillian. This is described in "The Young Troopers: Stories of Army Children on the Frontier"by Paige Ramsay-Palmer, in the chapter entitled, "Single Father."
There is a photo of Captain Snyder in the book, taken in 1880's. Captain Snyder was eventually promoted to Brigadier General and commanded a division during the Spanish-American war. General Snyder died in April, 1912, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery, Reading, PA.<br />
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Captain H. B. Bristol retired from the army in the spring of 1879. In addition to commanding Fort Reynolds, he had participated in the forced relocation of the Navajo in 1864, as noted in "The Long Walk: The Forced Navajo Exile", page 65.
Bristol commanded four companies of infantry in Sheridan's southern plains campaign of 1874-75 (The Red River_War). He commanded Fort Sumner during the summer of 1864, according to "The Civil War in New Mexico."<br />
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Unfortunately, Fort Reynolds was apparently not considered a very significant part of the history of the 5th, and there is almost no mention of the establishment in the official unit history.
In the nature of a rabbit trail, we find that Daniel Butterfield was Colonel of the Regiment for a time. Butterfield is most famous as the fellow who came up with "Taps", deriving it from the British "Tatoo", another military bugle/drum signal.<br />
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There was also a company of the 7th US cavalry here at Fort Reynolds, for a short time. The 7th, as you will recall, is famous for Custer's Last Stand.<br />
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The first known reference to an earthquake in Colorado was on December 4, 1870. The report consists of an account of bottles on a shelf, one inch apart which were knocked together violently. This incident took place at Fort Reynolds.<br />
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Troops were sent from Fort Reynolds to help contain "The Christmas Day War" in Trinidad in 1867.
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The marker is by the side of the road, almost hidden by weeds, just this side of the Avondale exit off US 50. There is nothing left of the fort.CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-55461615538313510232019-05-21T09:45:00.003-07:002019-05-21T09:45:39.374-07:00Santa Fe Farmers' MarketWe also hit the farmers' market. Despite the time of year, there was a remarkable amount of veggie goods available, in addition to some absolutely outstanding bread works, and other goodies.<br />
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-26932456802317928182019-05-21T09:39:00.001-07:002019-05-21T09:39:31.554-07:00Warping the KromskiLeece warps her Kromski loom.<br />
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-90900377593718284242019-05-21T09:36:00.002-07:002019-05-21T09:36:49.672-07:00Santa Fe's Museum of International Folk ArtThe museum of folk art is on <a href="http://museumhill.net/explore.php" target="_blank">Museum Hill</a>, which is also home to the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art; the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture; and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. And, the Santa Fe Botanical Garden is on the Hill as well.<br />
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We spent a good part of the day here. It's well worth a visit.<br />
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-47501476587266605222019-05-21T09:28:00.003-07:002019-05-21T09:28:30.952-07:00Santa FeEarlier this year we went down to Santa Fe.<br />
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We stopped in at the <a href="https://www.cbsfa.org/" target="_blank">Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi.</a><br />
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Excerpted from the Wiki article on the cathedral:</div>
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<i>The cathedral was built by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1869 and 1886 on the site of an older adobe church, La Parroquia (built in 1714–1717). An older church on the same site, built in 1626, was destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The new cathedral was built around La Parroquia, which was dismantled once the new construction was complete. A small chapel on the north side of the cathedral was kept from the old church.</i></div>
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<i>Influenced by the French-born Archbishop Lamy and in dramatic contrast to the surrounding adobe structures, Saint Francis Cathedral was designed in the Romanesque Revival style. As such, the cathedral features characteristic round arches separated by Corinthian columns and truncated square towers. The large rose window in front and those of the Twelve Apostles in the lateral nave windows were imported from Clermont-Ferrand in France. The towers were originally planned to be topped with dramatic 160-foot (49 m) steeples, but due to lack of funds, these were never built. The north tower is a single row of bricks taller than the south tower. The cathedral was built from yellow limestone blocks quarried near the present site of Lamy. A 2005 addition to the upper façade of the cathedral is a small, round window featuring a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is a stained glass replica of the translucent alabaster window designed in the 17th century by the Italian artist Bernini for St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.</i></div>
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<i>The Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi was officially elevated to a basilica by Pope Benedict XVI on October 4, 2005, when it was named the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi.</i></div>
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There is paid parking available in the cathedral parking lot, behind and to the right of the church as you stand looking at the main entrance. Parking otherwise in this area is a crapshoot.</div>
<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-35886763902100380682018-11-05T10:23:00.001-08:002018-11-05T10:23:57.263-08:00New Mexico WeaversEarlier this year, we took a trip down to Taos and points south of there. We visited a number of small weaving shops, from Taos and Arroyo Seco down to Chimayo, all along the High Road.<br />
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<i>Weaving Southwest, in Arroyo Seco. </i></div>
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<i> One of several looms at Weaving Southwest</i></div>
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<i>The Cordovas have been weaving in Truchas for generations. Truchas is also famous as the shooting site for the most excellent movie, "The Milagro Beanfield War."</i></div>
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<i> Henry Cordova at the loom. He will weave on commission, using your choice of yarns and colors.</i></div>
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<i>The <a href="https://www.evfac.org/" target="_blank">Espanola Fiber Arts Center</a> provides a 'seeding' source for artistic development.</i></div>
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<i>A weaver uses one of EFAC's rental looms, putting together a rather nice indigo rug.</i></div>
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<i>Trujillo's Weaving Shop, Chimayo</i></div>
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<i>Lisa Trujillo works on a large piece, <a href="http://www.chimayoweavers.com/category/LTr.html" target="_blank">Trujillo's Weaving, Chimayo.</a></i></div>
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4349825870554697284.post-28838508837219586932018-10-04T08:38:00.003-07:002018-10-04T08:38:48.914-07:00Medano Pass and the Great Sand DunesWe entered <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/medano-pass-road.htm" target="_blank">Medano Pass</a> from the east, off CO 69, which runs up the middle of the Wet Mountains Valley.<br />
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The valley has the Wet Mountains on the east; the Sangre de Cristos on the west. It's worth a drive in its own right, from Walsenburg up through Westcliffe to Texas Creek and on to Salida and Monarch Pass.<br />
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The road climbs out of the valley into Medano Pass, a relatively low crossover into the San Luis Valley. We topped out at 10,300 feet. After cresting, the road drops down into the north end of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.<br />
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Mt Herard is the dominant feature while crossing the pass and dropping down into the SLV. Once into the GSD, the dunes are spectacular, with Herard as a backdrop.<br />
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The road crosses Medano Creek 8 times. This time of the year the water is fairly low and presents no real difficulties. During the spring, however, the creek flow can be sufficient that the road will be closed from time-to-time.<br />
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The San Luis Valley is a wide, high plains valley, at nearly 8000 feet MSL. It contains the headwaters of the Rio Grande River.<br />
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<br />CatLoverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715764013637623114noreply@blogger.com