Colorado Camping

On Friday, September 5, 2008, Tamie and I left for our camping adventure in Colorado. We went through Waco and head breakfast with Alyssa, Avery, and Jordan at Lolita's. GREAT breakfast tacos. I also picked up some sweet potato empanadas for later!

We then proceeded to Weatherford to pick up the camper and we were officially on our way. Friday night we got in late to the KOA campground outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Saturday morning found us shopping in historic downtown Santa Fe. After Tamie made a serious dent in one store's necklace inventory we had lunch at Coyote Grill. Great food!! They brought us stuffed jalepenos as our appetizer by mistake, so I got to try one. Tamie passed. Smart move, cuz I was sweating by the time I finished just the one. On our way to cooking class, Tamie made another score in a dress boutique. Gorgeous pink and brown number. Have to provide pics later, cuz it looks like it was designed just for her.

Spent two hours being taught how to make salsa by Chef Rocky Durham on the Santa Fe Cooking School. Teamed up with a couple from San Francisco. (Town famous for Rice a Roni.) Actually learned quite a bit and will be making more salsas for occassions in the future.

Sunday we got up, broke camp, and headed on the seriously "back" way in to Durango. Saw some pretty parts of Northern New Mexico. Also saw a new Rolls Royce Silver Shadow in Chama. After shopping for groceries in Durango, we headed for Silverton. As we went by Molas Lake, we decided to stop and camp while it was still daylight. Even got to do a little fishing and caught a nice rainbow flyfishing with a little grasshopper. Tamie fed the ducks and had them eating out of her hand.

Monday we reloaded and headed in to Silverton. Stopped and talked to the great folks at San Juan Back Country. We parked in the campground in the farthest part of South Mineral Creek. Had the place almost to ourselves all week. In fact, on Thursday night we were the only campers. Monday afternoon we put the truck in 4WD and headed up to Clear Lake. Hairy set of switchbacks had Tamie pretty white knuckled, but the drive was worth the trouble. Even though the fish didn't cooperate, we got some great pics and had a good time. Went back and cooked hotdogs over the campfire. Had the stuff for S'mores but were too full! (We never did get around to the S'mores.)

Tuesday we headed back to the guys at San Juan and rented trusty No. 2 from the Jeep fleet. We took the "Alpine Loop". Out past Animas Forks, over Cinnamon Pass and down in to Lake City. Coming down from the pass the generator quit working. Jeeps have an electronic fuel pump, so the Jeep died at the bottom when the pump drained the battery. Tightened things up on the batter and wiggled a few connections. After the 2nd jump, and a 45 minute delay, we were back on the way. Kept watching the gauge, but seemed to be working. Then, when we do get to Lake City, guess what?? Just before we got there, the electricity went out!! We were contagious!? Found a hamburger joint that was cooking with propane and only taking cash. Had a great Sloppy Joe Cheeseburger. We will be trying to duplicate these for a Thursday night dinner. Appeared to be italian sausage, cheese and grilled onions in homemade bread. No tomato sauce at all. VERY GOOD!! Well, we tried to call San Juan, but the tower was apparently also without power and we couldn't get a call out. Wanted to tell them to come looking for us if were late because the generator went out again. Oh well, nothing to do but head back. Turned out to be fine, never had another problem.

Our route took us back to Silverton by way of Engineer Pass. As we neared the top, the light rain turned to SNOW!! It wasn't cold enough to stick and didn't last very long, but was still fun.

Got in to Silverton in time to turn in the Jeep. Made arrangements to meet Grady at 9 a.m. the next morning to go fishing back at Molas. Hit Handlebars Restaurant for dinner. MUY EXCELENTE! Even better, Tamie got to take a shower in the facilities at Peaks RV Park behind the baseball fields. Say "Hi!" to Bob if you go there, he was a good friend to Tamie cuz she took several more showers there before we left and we also got to wash clothes there later in the week.

Rain fell all night Tuesday night, and it was still drizzling when I went to meet Grady. The temp outside the camper that morning was 37 F. Inside, it was a balmy 39 F!! Tamie was snug and warm inside her TWO sleeping bags. As I got to Silverton the clouds broke and we could see that the rain had been snow at higher elevations and Kendall Mtn. wore a white cap as did Silverton Mtn. It was about 42 F in Silverton when Grady and I headed for the lake. It was 37 F at the lake and rainy. Despite nearly freezing to death, we caught our limit of 4 each in just over an hour. Weather broke as we cleaned fish and by the time we left we had taken our coats off and the sun was out. So unfair.

After getting back to camp, Tamie and I headed out in the truck to explore the end of the South Mineral Creek road. After about two miles, we deadended at an old abandoned mine. The valley floor was flooded by a series of beaver dams. Took some pics of the dam and headed back. On the way, Tamie spotted a Yellow -Bellied Marmot. She got some good pics of him sunning on a rock. Had to back up the trail about 100 yds to let a Jeep pass going the opposite direction. Spotted an area that had to conceal a hidden waterfall. Tamie spotted a little walking trail. I grabbed the camera and got some pics of a gorgeous waterfall carved entirely out of red rock. Brought a piece of it home to include in our future backyard water feature.

Grady decided his wife, Margaret, needed to cook the fish for us. It was arranged for us to come into town at 7 p.m. for dinner. Brought Tamie in at 6 and she got a shower and was all cleaned up to go to dinner. Margaret cooked the skinned trout by coating them in mustard and then corn meal and frying them whole. They were wonderful and we had a great meal and a great visit.

Thursday, we drove up 550N to Ouray and then on to Ridgway State Park. Checked out the facilities and then headed in to Ridgway for lunch at the True Grit Cafe. Totally decked out in John Wayne posters and artifacts. Cool place with really excellent food. Try the onion straws, but only a half order so that you can save room for Mud Pie. Did a little shopping in Ouray and tried our luck at fishing in Ironton, but they weren't biting. Water was crystal clear. We could see the fish and could put lures and powerbait right in front of them. Could not catch a single one.

Tamie still wanted fish for dinner, so we decided to head back up to Molas. Fished Andrews Lake first, no luck. Fished Little Molas Lake second, no luck. Went to Molas and caught three fish right away. I caught 2 and Tamie caught 1. As she will gladly tell you, hers was the biggest. Took 'em back to camp and cooked them for dinner. Almost as good as Margaret's!

Friday, we decided to start home a day early due to Hurricane Ike. Stopped to fish on the way. Caught one at Molas and two at Haviland and put them in the ice chest. They are in the freezer now, saving them for a special occasion. Got to Waco in time for breakfast with the girls Saturday morning after driving all night. Had another great breakfast at Cappucino's ( or something like that) (Alyssa, help?) Ayla went with us and Jordan joined us before we left.

Got home around 2 p.m. and hit the sack for a nap before we even unloaded. No damage from the storm, only lost a few small branches. Tamie's brother Roy had already picked those up for us.

SO, WHO IS GOING WITH US ON THE NEXT TRIP??