Life in Lake City and Beyond

So we are getting into our work routines...work started Sunday and we do 5 days a week and the hours depend on the activity level here. Basically the routine is I do the morning Sophie walk early morning...we always meet up with deer and rabbits. She loves it! Then we start work at 9 and get assigned to one or more of the cabins that are vacated. The guests are told to clean up when they leave and so far they really have looked pretty good. My afternoon typically consists of nap, read and a little exploring time. At 4:30 we wash down jeeps and ATVs that have been rented out. We have an air compressor gun to get all the dust out and then a pressure washer to get the outside clean. They all come back well used but Don and I can knock one off in 20 minutes and we usually only get 2 a night. Then it is relax time again...Not bad! Monday nite we heard an Army Band play and there were at least 80 in attendance...a great ratio for this little town.

Today on our day off we took a drive up to Montrose and then over to Ouray, advertised as the Little Switzerland of the the west. Hard to get photos of this majestic town as the mts are so vast. We wandered the streets and drove in the hills..gorgeous, but it is too bad we had to travel by the main roads. The fun way is across the mts by jeep, but it took almost 3 hours by car. Next time we will bring our tent and stay over...

On the way there..cows everywhere in these vast plains:

 

The town of Ouray:

 

And neighborhood:

 

 

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Alpine Loop-Pure Excitement and Awe

So today we did the "Alpine Loop" , the most thrilling and gorgeous drive I have ever done: about 6 hours through the peaks of the San Juan Mts, much only accessible by 4 wheel drive jeeps or ATVs.

Even though we don't officially start work until tomorrow, Jim and Nita comped us a jeep for the day. Below are just a few of the pictures I took:

 

Just wait until you see a full slide show:-)

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Weather and more

So we have been surprised by the changes in weather since we started the trip. One the way we have had 2 hail storms and since we have been here we have had cold winds and rain at night ..around 35 degrees to mostly sunny, dry and warm...70s in the day. Really great weather on the whole.

Yesterday we went down to Creede to see the little mining town, but we got drenched. On the way home we saw the top of Lake Cristobal as the weather cleared and it was gorgeous.

Today we did part of the "Alpine Loop" . Still in driving mode with short walks as we still feel the altitude...hope we will be ready for work on Monday!

Don at Capital City

So what do you think?? Should we buy it?

 

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Lake City..one of the most beautiful places on earth

Yesterday we arrived in Lake City and fell in love with the area immediately. Hard to find a more beautiful and serene home. It is an old quiet hippy town that has the character of the 50s. Everyone is wonderful and gracious and we know we will fit in well. Below is our site and soon after we arrived Jim and Nita hosted a BBQ to welcome us and gave us a tour of the area. The weather is great..dry, sunny and warm in the day, cool at night.

 

This morning we drove around and I could not stop taking pictures...probably have 100 already..and they don't do it justice. We have travelled all over but I really don't think I have been anywhere more gorgeous.

 

 

In the afternoon we walked around the town..easy walking from our home and met some very interesting people. One guy, George Carkin knew Eaton well and antiqued at the Sleigh Mill Antiques and spent time time with the Liscotts.

 

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Visit to Crested Butte

After a morning of laundry, we took a drive up to Crested Butte. Cold and overcast but so beautiful. We went to the farmers market, strolled around and drove up part of the Kebler Pass that was open....Still snow in the mts... Then we drove around some incredible houses in the hills. All the way I kept fantasizing how we could have a big family reunion in one of them next summer...a dream!

 

 

 

 

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Almost there

We made it to Gunnison by going the southern route...only one10,000+ pass. Gorgeous scenery on the road through Alamosa.

 

We settled into the Tall Texan campground which was one of the ones we considered workcamping at (never heard from them after we applied, but the owners and current work campers are very nice). It is a very big shady campground right out of town.

We wandered around town and had burgers but I am wiped. I can really feel the altitude of 7800 ft., so I am glad we have 2 days to adjust here before meeting our new bosses, who by the way have dinner planned for us and the whole crew Monday night. Yippee!

 

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Wonderful Day at the Garden of the Gods and the Broadmoor

We had a perfect day at the Garden of the Gods..70 degree weather and breezy. Wandered on lots of trails and saw lots of magpie and deer.

 

 

Afterwards we visited a glamorous old hotel called the Broadmoor, which was high in the mts of Colorado Springs. Every wall had beautiful art and we felt like we were in a museum...lovely ponds and outdoor spaces. By the clientele we saw, we knew there are many, many who live the good life!

We came home to Sophie just in time for a super hail storm..hail the size of nickels..this is our second hail storm. The previous one was at night and Sophie was terrified ..didn't get much sleep at all. Tomorrow we are headed for Gunnison, almost to our new home.

We do love Colorado!

 

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