Monday, August 1, 2011

August already!

Yesterday was a day devoted to washing the motorhome.  Funny how it seems to get a lot bigger each time we wash it.  As you folks who travel quite a bit know, it is very difficult sometimes to find a campground that will allow you to wash, so we took advantage of it here at Cool Pines.  Last night we had a spaghetti dinner for everyone, but mainly to welcome Ron and Jo who just got back, and to say goodbye to Terry, Sue, and Tricia who are leaving to go see Glacier National Park.  Then spent a few hours visiting and drinking wine mainly with new friends, Gene and Pam, who we are trying to convince to come to Florida this winter.
Jan and I decided to bring in August with a 6 mile hike along the Piedra River.  It was a fairly easy hike that started off in a canyon with steep rock walls that soared above us as we wound our way through.  It was cool and quiet with just the water rushing by.
The path went along the river for awhile then climbed high above then transitioned back down to the river.
After about a mile and a half we left the canyon and came in and out of meadows along the river with views of incredible mountains in the distance.
It really was fantastic and beautiful.  At about 2 miles or so, we had some company that watched us as he traversed the slope above us until he disappeared into the woods.
We also came across some smaller creatures.
We turned around at 3 miles.  We had started out at about 7 am and we saw no one else til we were almost back to the car, just how we like it!  One more view of the canyon area on the way back.
We were planning to go kayaking on William's Lake while we were here in Pagosa, but it is undergoing a phenomenon of "turning over".  Seems a couple times a year the vegetation that grows on the bottom of the lake dies off and lets go and comes up to the surface, kind of making it look like an algae covered lake.  Not good for fishing and not good for paddling, so maybe next time.  We have been on a social whirlwind while we've been here so tonight we're planning a quiet dinner for just the two of us.

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