Saturday, 09.28.2013
Wake up and head out to see Pagosa Springs, CO. Downtown is mostly shops and a few restaurants and pubs. Chris and I go our separate ways for a bit. I check out a thrift store and some antique shops. I get coffee at River Pointe by the river. There is a resort that is located right on the river that has multiple hot springs at all different temperatures. We don’t end up going to this one because it is too expensive to even get in. The day was spent just wondering around checking out the town. At night we go to Oktoberfest at the brewery, which is a bit different than previous ones I have attended. It is a small town so everything closes early. We have a few beers and end up talking by the fire outside. We talked about the trip and how we are both dealing with different challenges in our lives but were here together at this moment so we have to continue to marvel in it. Today marked 22 days of traveling together and we’ve experienced so much in this short amount of time.
Sunday, 09.29.2013
We wander again and get coffee before heading to Opal Lake.
We drive to the trailhead and start a somewhat easy hike to Opal Lake. It is called Opal because of its color, a milky white from the mineral deposits. There is a couple there, by couple I mean two people that are traveling in some sense together. I’ve learned to not take offense to that word; especially because Chris and I have been repeatedly mistaken for a couple everywhere we go. It usually takes people some time to finally ask us what our deal is. The common reaction is a misunderstanding about how a guy and girl can actually be good friends. Anyway, the man at the lake had two wonderful dogs that were splashing around us while we were there. We hike down; get in the car and head to the hot springs.
Speaking of a scenic overlook...We went to the Overlook, a spa that has 4 hot spring pools inside and 2 outside on the roof. We are able to get there in time to experience the sun setting as we are soaking in the natural hot spring on the roof. It is beautiful. Some of the pools are over 100 degrees, a few are mild and then one is cold. They are all very refreshing. The natural hot springs are supposed to have healing powers. The natural abundance of minerals in the water is said to contribute to these healing aspects. There was one guy that has been going to the spa everyday for thirty years and has never been to the doctors or taken any medicine, very interesting. We end up chatting with a married couple that have been visiting Colorado for years and are actually planning on moving to the mountains in the North Carolina/Tennessee area. We get to talking and something the man said stuck with me. We were just talking about the typical human mindset these days and he says, “a man died on the corner the other day.” Then pauses and asks, what is the first thing you say in response to this… “how did he die?” That was the first thought that popped into my head. That is the problem. Instead of an immediate sympathy response, we (humans) would rather know how he or she died. This was a perfect way of putting an explanation to this thought process. Something to think about…
Mid hot spring experience I call my Pop Pop, what an amazing man. It is his 79th birthday and he still has an amazing spirit. He brags about gambling and we talk about going to Vegas for his 80th. He is my absolute favorite and very loved.
Along with the couple at the hot springs was a Russian worker who is trying to stay in the states for good. He has been traveling to Colorado in three-month increments. We also met another guy right before we left. He is a local and currently trying to open his own Meade store. Meade is a different form of alcohol that I was not aware of until we met him. Meade is sold in Colorado but as of right now its rare and somewhat expensive. He goes on to tell us a hike to do, which we end up doing the next day. The hike leads to natural hot springs that are right off of the river. It was a great day. I consumed three glasses of wine and relaxed for hours in the hot springs, digesting everything.
Monday, 09.30.2013
We head out to find Sheep Creek trailhead. Almost every hike we have been on has been rewarding in some sense. Typically comprised on no service, driving through the mountains, finding the trailhead and embarking on our journey…all at different levels of difficulty.
This trail was a little over 3 miles, completely downhill, about 800ft on the way in. This meant completely uphill 800ft on the way out. The high elevations are also a factor for your breathing. We get down the mountain and there are campsites everywhere with the river running rapidly along side. We search for these hot springs but have no luck. After over an hour we decide to head up the trail. Chris wanders a bit so I head up alone. Halfway up the mountain we run into two men that are going to the hot springs and tell us where they are. We were literally maybe another 5 minutes away if we kept going in the direction we originally were walking next to the river. After a strategic game of rock, paper, scissors we head back down the mountain. We catch up to the two men and head down to the riverfront to see the hot springs. With all the rain and flooding the river had pushed its way into the springs, making them inaccessible. There are still pools that have stones around them but only one is hot. None are really deep enough to get into but we still hang out for a while. The stones and small pebbles are beautiful; all different colors. I collected some and we head back to make our way again up the mountain. We get to the top and eat and relax before getting back into the car. The two men come up to chat again and the younger, Linden was on his way across country to relocate in Asheville. We give him Ross’s number (our close friend) to possibly meet up with if need be. Awesome people. Every person along the way makes some sort of impact.
Tuesday, 10.01.2013
It is officially October 1st! So many things have happened and so much more to come. I take the car for its first oil change since Philadelphia. The car is doing fantastic. I spend most of the day alone. I got coffee again from River Pointe, a blended java chip with a shot of espresso…delicious. I get my hands on some postcards, grab some more wine and head back. Another relaxing day before we head to Arizona tomorrow. I read and relax while Chris goes out with the supermarket cashier he met yesterday. I am currently finishing On the Road; I started a few years back maybe, and never got to finish. Along with my bin of clothes; I brought a bag of books I plan on reading and passing on and also my painting supplies. I can’t wait to get back into my art. I have been distracted the past two years but some will say that is not an excuse.
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