8-31-16 - Heat Escape - Day 20

                                                           Pano of sun rising

This is the first morning since we have been in this area that the sun wasn't covered in clouds.  We finally got a pretty picture of the sunrise.  Or, I should say Lauren did, I looked out the window and went back to sleep.

George and Lisa pulled out around 6:30 am heading home.  We really enjoyed our time with them.

We waited for it to warm up this morning before leaving on the Harley.  It was 63 degrees and sunny when we left at 11 am.  The ride to Lake City was beautiful, then we started up to Spring Creek Pass. We went up in elevation 2,859 feet to Slumgullion Summit.  It was 55 degrees, cloudy and cold

We had a nice picnic lunch at the North Clear Creek Falls, even though it was still cloudy and cold.

We heard there were moose sightings at the Lake San Cristobal Overlook.  We stopped, we looked, no moose sighting for us today.  But it is a pretty view.

                                We saw prairie dogs, a deer, a marmot, and 2 young coyotes.

It was a lot more enjoyable ride coming back across the summit when the sun came out.  It was 77 degrees when we returned to camp. We got back, did a few chores, then sat around watching for wildlife.  All we saw were birds.

                     Tonight we grilled pork chops while enjoying the warmth of our camp fire.



We have been on the road for 20 wonderful days.  Our Heat Escape has been successful!



Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/abUhuFT3HH2WjiE87

8-30-16 - Heat Escape - Day 19

                                                         
                                                                  Good Morning

 We started the day off with a great breakfast on this beautiful morning. Now it's time for a ride. We left around 11 am, it was sunny and 57 degrees.  It was a great day for a ride.

We got in a light rain when we were on Monarch Pass. We stopped and shopped at the summit, then continued on to Poncho Springs (Crossroads of the Rockies) and had a picnic lunch.

                                                                       funny sign

The ride back was along Hwy 285 to Saquach then Hwy 114 over the  North Cochetopa Pass and then back to camp.  We had the rain gear on and off most of the ride but luckily never got much rain.

                     We saw several deer, a young coyote, and a herd of big horn sheep today.

It was 73 degrees when we returned to camp.  We sat in the shade for a little while, then the temperatures started dropping.  We built a nice campfire, and cooked bream that Clyde, Sherry, Lauren, and I had caught a few months ago.  Man, those fish were good.

                                                                  It's what's for supper

                                                                   Goodnight
                 

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/SX5o19a1TsqjgNke6

8-29-16 - Heat Escape - Day 18

                                                    Morning, cool and cloudy start to the day


We woke up to a cold, cloudy, day.  We took a ride to Gunnison and looked around in Gene Taylor's Sporting Goods store this morning, waiting for it to clear up.

George and Lisa got here this afternoon.  They have been traveling for the last couple of weeks and stopped here for a couple of nights before they head home.  They brought sunshine with them.

                                                               the arrival

We ate a quick lunch and took a ride.  It was beautiful when we left.  By the time we got to Taylor Lake, it started sprinkling.  We put on more clothes and continued with our ride to Crested Butte, and more rain. The mountain tops had some snow on them, that wasn't  there  a few days ago.

                                           
                                                    along the road to Taylor Lake

 It rained on and off and it was COLD.  Lauren said he was going back to Taylor's Sporting Goods and buy him some long johns and he wasn't going to take them off until he was back in Texas.

                                                   Cold and rainy at Taylor Lake

Lisa cooked hamburger steak.  A good hot supper, after a cold, rainy ride, really hit the spot.  Another beautiful double rainbow appeared and for the first time since we have been in this area, we actually had a beautiful sunset.

Hopefully, Mother Nature will give us some warmer prettier days for our next week here.



Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/UJZLjosEcV9nNDQG6

8-28-16 - Heat Escape - Day 17

                                                                Not much of a sunrise

 We wanted to sleep in this morning, but decided we would rather get up early so we could watch the sunrise.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature covered the mountain with a cloud.

We took a beautiful ride to the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison along Highway 92.  Six miles before we got to the park, the road turned to gravel.    This road was better than some paved roads that we have been on.

We really enjoyed watching the rock climbers at the Balanced Rock overlook. (I can 't imagine wanting to do that.)  We had a nice picnic lunch overlooking the canyon, then continued our journey to  Delta and Montrose before making it back to the campground.

We kept skirting the rain.  We got lucky.

                                                       Ominous looking clouds

We saw 4 deer as we left the campground this morning at 10:30 am.  They looked like they wanted to go with us. We saw a total of 7 deer today, one was a nice buck.

I washed a load of clothes when we returned.  It was the most beautiful view that I have ever seen from the door of the laundry room.

We were gonna grill some pork chops, sit by a fire, and call it an early night.  Mother Nature again changed our plans with a thunderstorm.  We cooked the pork chops inside, turned on the heater, and watched the satellite TV.  But we did call it an early night.


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/Pk45QwvLLYYPmDzN9

8-27-16 - Heat Escape - Day 16

                                                                  Good Morning

We slept past the sunrise this morning. It was probably a pretty one, since we woke up to a gorgeous day. Fernykat tried to get  me up at 6 am so we would't miss it.

We had a leisurely kind of morning then took a ride to restock.  The Gunnison Walmart has to be the smallest one we've ever been to.

The big highlight of the ride to Gunnison was seeing a buck mule deer standing alongside the creek.  He was a beauty.

We were planning on taking a motorcycle ride when we got back from shopping.  Mother nature changed our mind when she started raining.

The rain stopped about 3:30 pm.  It was 55 degrees and  cloudy, so we decided to ride in the truck to Curecanti Creek Trail at Pioneer Point.  It was about a 6 mile drive from the campground.

It was supposed to be a 4 mile round trip strenuous hiking trail that would take approximately 3 hours to hike.  It was every bit of 4 miles, it was a really strenuous hike back up the mountain, but it only took us 2 hours round trip.  It was a very beautiful trail following a creek with waterfalls to the Gunnison River   It was so peaceful and beautiful along the trail to the river's edge.

 We saw our first snake in Colorado on the trail on our way back  Luckily, I had picked up a stick at the river to to help me hike back up the rocks.  I realized when I saw the snake, that I may need the stick  for a weapon. Lauren was taking pictures, as I gripped my stick ready to defend myself.  Thankfully, it was a nonpoisonous snake, no weapon needed.  The snake  was as ready to get away from us as I was from him.

We signed the hiker log at  4:30 pm beginning the trail.  When we returned  at 6:30 pm, 2 park rangers were there picking up the hiker log.  They were very nice and informative.

When we returned to Pioneer Point, we walked to the lookout.  It was amazing to look down at the river, the trail, and the scenery that we had hiked.

                                                               The trail along the creek

                     
                                                                Hiked to the little sandbar

We thought today was going to be one of those laze around kind of days.   After over 4 miles and 88 fitbit flights, (an elevation change of 888 feet), and my wobbly tired legs, I realize that it was not.

When we returned, we lazed around for a little while sitting by a campfire enjoying the spectacular views, until it was time for bed.

                                                               Goodnight

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zyoM7RUfbhDrAqXY8

8-26-16 - Heat Escape - Day 15

                                                   
                                                     Morning from Blue Mesa Rez

It was 41 degrees this morning. We got up early in the hopes of seeing a beautiful sunrise.   It was too cloudy. We cooked a good breakfast outside, then took a 4,4 mile, 59 flight, (according to fitbit), 2 hour hike at the Dillon Pinnacle trail.  The views were breathtaking.

After lunch we rode the Harley to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  The National Parks are celebrating their 100th birthday this weekend, that means free entry.  It was a very pretty ride.  East Portal Road was extremely rough with a 16 degree grade down to the river.  We were both glad to get down the hill.

Terry caught some rainbow trout, that's supper.  We cooked them a couple  of different ways.  Needless to say, I ate baked beans and salad.

After dinner,  we saw a  double rainbow. It is ironic to see a double rainbow after having rainbow trout for dinner. It was one of the most beautiful rainbows that I have ever seen.  Judy and Terry are heading home tomorrow.  It was the perfect ending to our trip together.

We had  a nice, cool, dark night that was perfect for our campfire.

We started off today with a great breakfast, then took a beautiful hike, we had a beautiful day for a motorcycle ride with beautiful views, we saw a gorgeous double rainbow, then sat by a campfire.  It don't get much better than this!

                                                            Double Rainbow

                                                        First Campfire of the trip

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/bLt523Nx7R3LkNTP8

8-25-16 - Heat Escape -Day 14

                                                               Home for a few days


We moved 14 miles west today, to an awesome campground, Blue Mesa Escape.  We are at the top of the hill, (or on the side of the mountain),  overlooking Lake Fork and Dillon Pinnacles on the Blue Mesa.  This is our home for at least the next 12 days.  We have all the amenities we need, including electricity, water, sewage, fire pit, and breath taking views. Not to mention, we have data and phone service here.  There are only 10 full hookup campsites in this campground, and it is about half capacity.

This is the first campground since we left the Rez, that we we can build a campfire.  The campground owners supplies us with wood, all they ask for in return is a donation to pay for gas for the chain saw.

Fernykat couldn't wait to go outside today,  She explored all around, wallered in the dirt, and ate grass.  We have the Fernykat approval!

When we got here today, we  thought we would set up camp, and take a ride.  We got caught up in the moment and didn't go anywhere until late this afternoon.

Tonight, we traveled East to Gunnison Lakeview RV Park to eat  dinner with Judy and Terry.  Had a great visit and a great dinner.

The ride back home was a little rainy and windy.   When we started up the hill to the campground, we saw three deer, that posed for a picture.

It was too windy to build a campfire, so we went inside and  turned on our little electric heater, Fernykat got right up against it absorbing all the heat.  I had to pick the heater up off the floor before she caught on fire.

It is very quiet and dark here tonight.  With  no street lights, it is almost like boondocking, except, we have all the amenities we need.  We will be sharing our little piece of paradise with 9 othet campers.  This is out kind of place!!

                                                   
                                                              It's COLD!!!!

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/shUGVtCRfk7kwyoKA