Sunday, July 11, 1999
Bless you brothers and
sisters (I was influenced today by some Texas ministers who were waiting in line
with us at a restaurant). Today, we headed South using a map that listed
attractions along the way.
We stopped at North Clear Creek Falls. The fast moving creek, only 6– 8 feet wide, zigs and zags through a flat mountain valley, at times disappearing behind low-growing shrubs. Looking towards the site gives few clues that a 100 and some foot waterfall lays ahead. The water dropped straight down along granite walls. Edith perched on large boulders (picture that if you can) to get the “perfect” picture. We walked up a small rise to an open field. The wildflowers are starting to bloom. Various shades of purple-spiked flowers fill the side of the highway and are the most noticeable. Flowers in the field include yellows, whites, smaller blues and a surprisingly bright trumpet-shaped red. Some must be studied from up close to enjoy the fine structures and colors.
I also made a stop at the rest facility. If the high altitude doesn’t make you a little light-headed, this stop will do the trick. From now on, I’m doing it the way the cowboys do. You know, the open range and all. Much of this land is open range and owned by the government. There are special cattle crossing gratings built into the roadway. The 15 or so metal rails are spaced wider than a cow’s hooves to discourage cattle from crossing the road.
Our next destination was the Rio Grand Reservoir, which was a 20-mile side trip. But, it was after the normal lunch hour and our appetites took control of the schedule. We traveled past Creede to the Blue Creek Lodge (Jim’s favorite). Other restaurants were empty, but this one had a waiting line. Edith orders trout whenever she finds it in Cincinnati, so it’s an easy decision for her while in the Rockies. This one came with the bones (they politely removed the head, however) and she deftly removed the bones and devoured it. She normally shares her food with me but I only got one small fork-full this time. Normally, we will split a single desert but not today. Edith had Rocky Road pie (chocolate, nuts, cherries and whipped cream) and I had rhubarb crisp (I haven’t had rhubarb since my mother made it for me). We died and went to heaven.
Creede had a colorful history, and a short-lived silver mining boom. After Bat Masterson retired as the marshal of Dodge City, he became a dealer at the main saloon in Creede. Creede also had a large number of brothels (Edith wouldn’t let me look for them though). It’s located in a box canyon and we followed the main street up into the canyon. The shop-lined street turned into gravel and then a dirt road. We drove part way up the hill to examine four of the major mines. It’s hard to figure out how they could build these structures and a mining-car railway on the very steep walls of the canyon.
When you hear of us passing a shop-lined street, it’s a pretty good bet that Edith will ask that we stop. Today, she found a judge and got a temporary restraining order. It says that I must give her at least 50 feet of breathing space while she is in a gift shop. I always thought my comments and suggestions were the best. Maybe she wants to be alone because she’s going to buy me something special. Yup, that’s got to be it!
The cottonwood trees are in full bloom. When it’s windy the cotton-like pods release from the trees and, at times, it looks like a snowstorm. When the window to our cabin is open (no screens), the fuzzy little pods drift around our living room and try to settle on my nose (easy target).
It’s about 9 in the evening and the rain started about an hour ago. It’s nice and dry inside the cabin. I can hear the rain falling from the roof to the ground. None of the buildings in town have gutters. Maybe it’s because they receive a lot of snow.
Later!
Carl
From Edith: Carl and I are passing our quiet evenings (when there are no good movies on EITHER of our two cable channels) playing gin rummy. One of the two of us wins all the time – I’ll let Carl describe the embarrassing details when he tells you about the incident at the gas station in South Fork (which, by the way, had absolutely nothing to do with the restroom or bodily functions)!