July 9

We traveled through beautiful Colorado on the back roads today. I've been on them before but Dave had not. He was so excited and in Awe of the beauty. Give that man a creek or stream with a cabin and a porch and he's living his earthly heaven .

We left Salida and drove towards Pagosa Springs. This entails going over Wolf Creek pass. Breath taking in a couple ways. Stunning views but a very steep pass and some tight hair pin turns. Dave and Poppy both did amazing. I think I have a thousand pictures, Dave kept saying take a picture of this ah and that!

The drive through the valleys of farming were still very green. So much hay being cut.

The bridge picture is a wildlife bridge to they can cross the highway..it is grassy!

We had some gas station lunch ..not so yummy. But the pickings were slim.

We made it to Bayfield, between Pagosa and Durango. We are in a beautiful campground with the river flowing through it. So peaceful. We sat outside for dinner tonight. Watched the sunset and in typical Colorado fashion the cool weather set in as soon as the sun was down.

After we got parked we took an amazing drive up to Vallecito Lake. New one for me. Dave's daughter had gone to summer camp up there in highschool. It is rural and farmers to start. Then lovely cabins and summer homes. Very steep shores as it is a reservoir. People hiking, boating swimming. It did not feel crowded as

it is very tree'd and spread out. We saw where the fire had burned so much of the upper shore line above the road. This fire was 22 years ago. The forest floor remains scared and a reminder of the devastation fire can bring. It burned for 39 days. It is a blessing from God that the green shrubs and grasses can grow back to make it a new kind of beautiful. So many campers with tents, RVs and cabins were there too enjoying the setting. Creeks and rivers meandering through the area, so clear and inviting.

We explored for a couple hours. We were able to get near the shore and creeks. In true Colorado fashion it started to rain just after 3 pm. We had to close the sun roof and windows we had opened. They had barley been open this trip due to heat. The temp dropped from a lovely 80 to 58 in just a short time. We didn't let the rain hinder our fun. We explored still took pictures and had that lottery winners dream of owning a creek side property. Mind you we would only do that in summer. No more snow for this girl. And Dave said 50 is his low temperature limit!.

We found the camp Kate haf enjoyed a couple years in highschool it is now part of Young

Life ministry.

We just had a relaxing day and evening. No telling where tomorrow will find us. We have a direction but not a destination.

We stopped at a farmers market and Dave will have his first Colorado peach for breakfast. I'm sure they will be so much better than the Georgia peaches!

Yes .

I had to take a picture of the colorful outfit that lady had on!

We drove through the fields in

The way home, my camera not ready and saw a good of elk. About 60 I'd say. Beautiful against the green grass.

Sorry no pictures.

Can't believe we will be home on the weekend.