Wow I found a Hot Spot

Stopped off at a restaurant that had WIFI and thought I would tell everyone that I am alive and well. I know I have been remiss in posting on this site but I have not had Internet...

Somewhere in Time

Trip into the mountains

FERN CREEK TRAIL

Here it is another day gone and a new one facing us. We have very little time to do all that we have not done so we are making plans for a day trip the mountains on some Jeep trails we have not taken.
Fern Creek is just down the road from us. When we first arrived here it was closed due to the fire so we were not able to go there. Soon we just forgot all about that trail and did others that were open.
Now that our time is running out we thought about going on this trail to check it out. Like I said in my last entree we have been here for over two months and now that time is running out we are thinking of all kinds of things to do.
We packed up and headed out a little latter than usual. It was about 10:00 am and the weather once again was so nice. Top stayed on this time too due to the chance of rain that was in the forecast.

The forest was destroyed in the fire but there was signs of nature coming back

We found several mountain streams 

Many streams just coming up out of the ground

We stopped long enough for a family photo

The Aspens are starting to turn 

Flowers are beginning to come back out 

Found these unusual mushrooms 

And one more 

We had a wonderful day on the mountain and will remember it for many years to come..

Somewhere in Time 

Time is drawing near

BOATING ON BROWN LAKES

Yes, the time for us to leave is just around the corner. The closer it gets the more we try to do before it gets here. We have had all these months to do everything we could think of to do and now that we are running out of time we are hurrying to do more.
I have not had the chance to put my boat in the water since we arrived. I decided to get it out and take it to Brown Lakes to see how she would do.
Sherri and I packed a picnic lunch basket and loaded up the Jeep with our things and off we went. Becky and Rodney decided to go with us so they packed up their Jeep and we all headed out about 9:00 am. The weather could not have been better. I started to take the top off the Jeep but then I had know idea how long we might be out so the top stayed on.
Every afternoon here it clouds up and rains for a short time and the temps drop down into the upper 40's. It would be our luck we would get off with the top off and the rains would come and the temps go down and all of us freeze!
The lake was void of boaters when we got there...being a Wednesday and the end of the summer it stands to reason that no one would be out on the lake except for us retired fishermen.
I got the boat out and inflated it for the first time with my 12 volt pump. It worked OK but it took a lot longer to get it up to the correct inflation. I tried it after the first attempt to blow it up and it almost went under with me in it. Maybe it has something to do with the altitude...or maybe I am a l i t t l e too heavy??
Anyway I did get it inflated and I did get in the boat and went all over the lake. Kris joined me after his Mom decided I was not going to sink in the drink. We had a ball and the weather held off long enough for us to see quite a bit of the lake.

We sat up the pop-up tent and Sherri Rodney and Becky sat in the shade while Kris and I enjoyed the lake. We had sandwiches for lunch and cold sodas and enjoyed watching the wildlife.
It was an enjoyable time for all and we ended another day here in the mountains...

Somewhere in Time

Three day Balloon Festival was awesome!

Yes the Balloon Festival was so cool and it went on for three days.
Every morning we woke up at 6:00 am  to get our coffee made and get ready to go outside for the balloon lift off that was normally around 7:00 am.
First day the balloons came right over our site and we got a great view!

The next day we decided to head over to the Airport to get a closer view of the balloons while they were  being inflated. While we were standing there Mary Ann, one of the balloonist, asked Kris to help her hold the tether line while her husband, Jerry, made ready the basket for take off. 

Kris helps tether the balloon

Mary Ann wanted to know if we wanted a picture of Kris in the  basket?

The next thing we knew we had agreed for Kris to take a trip! I could not believe that we had agreed to let him go but we did and off he went on the ride of a lifetime! 

We chased the balloon far and wide until they came to a soft landing at the base of the mountains just north of the park here.

Kris helped Mary Ann tote the equipment from the truck

Kris helped stow away all the equipment 

At the Airport Kris was initiated into the balloonist society and now is a full fledged bolloonist

What a wonderful opportunity for a little guy! One that he will always remember...

Somewhere in Time  

  

Final days

We have a little over a week before we journey back to Texas.
I really don't want to go but we have a new grand baby being born and I have my doctor appointments. Sherri and Kris have doctor appointments too so we have a full month in September. I hope we will be able to get out and about soon after we get all those things done.
We have the Balloon Festival coming up and the Salsa Festival down town that we have to look forward to. I guess that is about it for now...

Somewhere in Time

Did we have a summer?

I cannot believe that I am sitting here this morning in front of a fireplace that is on and I am actually cold. This is the first summer that I have not been suffering from heat exhaustion.
I love this and I just can't imagine having to go back to the heat and humidity in Texas. All good things must come to an end.
It is raining here now and the temps are in the 50's. Last night it went down to the 40's and you could tell it.
Just wanted to drop by and let you know that there is a heaven and I am sitting in it here...

Somewhere in Time

Took a trip to Gunnison

We had been wanting to go the the Black Canyon of  the Gunnison for some time and yesterday was the day we went.
The trip took us over Slumgullian Pass about 12,000 feet! Sherri did OK for a while until we hit some of the curves without guard rails and then she was working the brakes in the back seat.
She sat behind me with Kris at her side and did real well over the worst part of the trip.
We saw many beautiful things along the way and  then stopped in Gunnison to have lunch. We found a Mexican food Restaurant that I will have to recommend to any of you that might wonder through that town. If it was plopped down in the middle of Texas it would fit right in with our Tex-Mex style of food

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Leaving Gunnison we traveled a short way down 50 until we came to the drop offs into the canyon...where Sherri had me turn around and head back to the road home.

On the way back to Creede we stopped several times to take pictures of the Gunnison River and some of the canyons it had dug out over time. All in all it was a great trip...

Somewhere in Time

A night at the Bingo Hall

Joe and Sue instructed on how to play...but did not tell us how to win

Kris had a ball and soon the whole crowd was pulling for him to win.

Our neighbors across the street invited us to the Elks Bingo Night. It is located in the Mine Museum on the north side of town.
Monday night was the night and we got ready for the big event. We arrived early so we could get some seats up front next to the caller. Joe and Sue were across from us and instructed us on what we were suppose to do...seeing as how we had never played bingo like this.
It was real interesting how they played the game by mixing up the way you could win on your card and the paper cards they sold us for 25 cents were used for all kinds of configurations.
We had a great time and Kris had a ball. He came so close to winning several times. Many of the folks there started pulling for him to win! It never happened and nether Sherri, Sue, Joe or myself even came close to bringing home the money!
We will be returning next Monday for sure and try to take home the prize...

Somewhere in Time

Never get enough of the view

Yes, I am sitting here looking out the front windshield just admiring the beautiful view we have of the mountains. I just can't get enough of taking in the majesty of these mountains.
Sherri and I just sit on the patio for hours watching the eagles pass over and the wildlife wonder around on the mountain slops. You never have anything like this back at the lake in Texas.
We will have to return to Texas and the 100 degree + weather before long. I really dread that due to the fact that hot weather wears me down.
I have a yard to mow when I get back...and it must be to my waste by now! Then there is all the chores around the barn that will need to be done.
Sorry for being so depressed but it is weighing heavy on my mind now that I sit here gazing out at the mountains and the 67 degree day...here...

Somewhere in Time

Heading to Alamosa

Today we are headed to Alamosa to pick up supplies from Wally World.
Not much else to report except we have had some awesome days here with the rain holding off. Sitting outside and visiting with neighbors has been really nice.
I guess I'll close out here for this day and just let you know that we are really enjoying the scenery here...the weather and the fact that we can get away from the Texas heat!
I'll have something to write about tomorrow when we get back from our shopping here...

Somewhere in Time

Chilling

Yes we were just chilling all day today. Chilling...the temp here was in the 30's this morning with overcast skies and wind coming down off the mountains. We started to sit outside for a bit but the cold was just too much.
I laughed when I thought about our family back in Texas enduring the 106 degree weather there. There is no way I would go back and stay another summer there. I wont say ever but I know as long as I am able to get away from there I will.
We sat inside all day and watched the rain clouds come and go and the temps finally got up to 60 degrees. I ventured outside to get some things straightened up in the Jeep and then came back inside.
Tomorrow will be more of the same...seeing as how the weather will be about the same. I had planned on taking the boat out this week but we will just have to wait and see.
Not much else going on here...unless the weather clears enough for us to head back up the mountain to pan for gems...

Somewhere in Time