We are having a nice relaxing time. Have been doing a lot of reading, exploring, a little writing and a little shopping.
When we left from Archer City Thursday morning, the plan was to get up at 4 and leave by 5. At 2a.m. Rick wakes me up to ask if I was awake. He couldn’t sleep and wanted to get going. So we did! Well, it was closer to 4 by the time we left.
We made it all the way to Red River. Stayed in a nice cabin with the river flowing in front. The only bad thing about that cabin was that it was a loft meaning the bed was upstairs. Well the stairs were very narrow and steep and neither one of us has knees worth a hoot.
In the off season, seems a lot of shops close up. So there wasn’t a lot of activity, but then, Rick and I like that. We come to the mountains to do nothing.
We drove into Taos on Friday, which was a really neat place. We had a nice mexican food lunch and shopped a bit. Rick found a great hat, one he had been looking for awhile. I found some pretty earrings for me and Kristin and cheap little bracelets for all our grandgirls. I should say that anytime Rick and I have been anywhere, we buy a pot. So we have one from all our many travels. LOL Well this time, I decided maybe I should not buy a pot because right now all of them are put away in a closet to make room for our family. I was a little sad, but Rick’s hat was rather pricey, as well as my earrings.
Saturday we drove up to Southfork, Colorado. We are staying at Goodnights Lonesome Dove Inn. Our cabin is the pea-eye. (I linked it in case you have nothing to do but check out our digs) No they didn’t give us a discount for being from Archer City. LOL A very nice modern cabin with a mountain right behind us that Rick can climb. There just happen to be 2 crosses at the very top of that mountain that I can see from my kitchen window. One was put up there in honor of the fallen firemen of 9/11. The other is in memory of a family member that owns the land, I think.
Speaking of climbing the mountain. On Sunday afternoon, Rick did just that. He took along with him the camps dog, Rocky…named after the fighter, not the Rockie Mountains. He is part hound and I swear is the best dog in the world! We love this dog! Rocky now will sit outside our cabin and howl for Rick to come pet him. Have you ever heard a hound dog howl? LOL
Back to Sunday afternoon. Rick had only intended to climb up to the crosses and not be gone long. So he and Rocky take off without any supplies. He was, afterall, only going to be gone a little bit. I take my book and my computer to a picnic table to sit in the warm sun and write and read. Heaven! I should mention that in our cabin, we don’t get cell phone reception. We have to go outside.
Anyway, after about an hour, I thought I better call Rick to check on him and then head back to the cabin to nap. I did, he was fine. Rocky was showing him some sights. I go lay down and fall asleep. An hour and a half later I wake up and realize Rick is not back. I’m only mildly panicked because I know Rick when he gets in the mountains. He is like a woman gone shopping and tells her husband she’ll be back in an hour and then sees her 4 hours later.
I’m thinking in the back of my mind that he could’ve been calling and I would’nt of known it so I go outside to call him. He does answer on the second or third try. No he isn’t lost. He does have Rocky after all and Rocky knows his way home. The only problem is that neither one of them knows which one is leading. He doesn’t exactly know where he is, nor does he know how to get back, but he isn’t lost. I now begin to panic just a little more thinking that I’m going to have to find someone to go save him. Rick says don’t worry, he’ll find his way back eventually. He has no water, no compass and he tells me not to worry.
I go for a little walk, piddle around in the cabin awhile, trying to calm my nerves. Finally, after 3-31/2 hours here comes Rocky with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth and Rick not far behind him. There is never a dull moment!
Yesterday we went into Creede. I grew up summers in Creede. It is like a second home and this is the first time in 14 years since I’ve been back. It hasn’t changed. It’s a little ole mining town with great little shops down the main street. And I remember always going into the place that was half bar and half ice cream store. My dad would take us in there and get him a beer and we would get an ice cream cone. Well shoot if that place wasn’t closed for the season! I was disappointed. But you know what I did do? I found a pot that I just couldn’t resist. It’ll go in the closet with the others, but one day, I’ll display it! On the way back to our cabin, we stopped at a park/camping area and walked around the edge of the river. So gorgeous!
I really should back up a minute and tell you of how we got to Creede. Also you should know that we received an early Christmas present from Rick’s parents just for the purpose of our vacation. A GPS system that rick and I have named Sheila. Everyone should have a GPS system! Sheila has proven herself to be very reliable.
Well when we start out yesterday morning to go to Creede, Rick says, “why don’t you plug in Sheila”. I say, “Oh we don’t need Sheila to get to Creede. Turn right.” See, I’m in charge of navigation, he is in charge of driving. He turns right. We drive along a ways and begin to climb really high and I’m thinking, hmm…this reminds me of Wolf creek Pass. The further we go, the more I am reminded of Wolf Creek Pass, with the big clue being that we pass Wolf Creek ski area. We are nearly in Pagosa Springs before we realize we are headed in the wrong direction.
Really it wasn’t a big deal. We wanted to go over Wolf Creek Pass anyway, just not at that time. To prove we were headed in the wrong direction, we plug in sheila who immediately tells us to make a u-turn. So, we get to go back over Wolf Creek Pass. It is a beautiful drive, very high up. You don’t use your brakes too much, but drive in second gear. Signs are all over warning trucks of this and that and there are even ‘runaway truck’ areas.
Rick does not forget to remind me who the navigator is. I tell him that yes, I messed up. However, as in all things, there is the one person that everything ultimately falls down upon which in this case would be the driver.
Today, Rick has ventured back up the mountain and is there as I type. This time he packed his backpack with supplies and bought a compass. He promises me he will not get lost nor will he meet up with a bear. I’m not sure I believe him.
I should go take a walk outside in this gorgeous weather. Oh, the nights have been in the upper 20′s with the days in the upper 60′s. Perfect!
To be continued…
Tracie
