The day started out with every intention of doing a really big hike to Blue Lakes off the Million Dollar Highway. We left Grand Junction with me happily playing host to Jeff's computer on my lap, while we listened intently to our Rabbi's latest shiur. It was just over an hour later, when I thought that perhaps I should check the map. Ooops! We were headed East instead of South. I had been delegated the map reader and failed miserably. A GPS would take the fun out of road trips, is Jeff's conclusion. And so, we flipped a U-ey, a common occurrance on our travels and headed to Ouray from a different angle, seeing some stunning sights along the way.
We were now too late to do the Blue Lakes hike which, we found out later was still closed due to heavy snow at the 11,300 ft level where we were due to climb. A blessing in disguise as I believe that this is when avalanches frequently occur due to melting snow at high levels. Anyway, we arrived in this gorgeous, quaint town of Ouray with the intention of going for a short walk in the town .... that is, until we were told of the Perimeter hike.
As an aside….. today I felt like a teenager. Not because of my hiking prowess (boasting rights!!) but because of what looks like a thousand zits on my face. During the last two hikes, the bugs, miggies or gogga’s for you South African’s, attacked me furiously and left me scratching and concluding three things: 1. Bugs are partial to Oil of Olay 2. These nasty little creatures hold up their feelers at ‘bug spray'. I was completely doused and it did nothing and 3. I am definitely sweeter than Jeff. He got a couple of bites while I got a couple hundred. I guess that counts for something!
Anyway, back to today’s saga…… by Jeff
Hello,
We arrived in Ouray later than expected. We had a little difficulty with our concentration, not an uncommon occurrence. When it wavers, we sometimes miss important junctions and this adds to the beauty of our travels — we tend to see more of the country. Grand Mesa, at 11,000 feet with snow on the side of the road, was one of these unplanned visits. Well worth it. For the record, we were listening to Rabbi W’s class, Ethics of the Fathers, on the laptop when we missed the turn.
Today, we are arguably in one of the most beautiful places we have visited. Nora and Stuart Laiken directed us to this town which is surrounded by multi-monoliths or is it mono-multiliths. We’re not sure but whatever it is, it takes the breath away. Lately, we are losing our breath quite often . Have a look at a picture or two. If only we had the professional touch…
They say, like attract like. We met a young woman who is semi-homeless and so we swopped stories. We had a lot in common. (A mother should not have to read this about her children, but what can you do.) Then we met a potential business partner on the trail. Turns out he has cycled from Albuquerque with all his possessions—sixty pounds on a bicycle. We felt embarrassed traveling in our Ford. Okay, it’s not a Mercedes but gee, a bicycle all that way. He is a manufacturing jeweler and peddles (pedals) his wares along the way. Anyway, he stops us on the trail and asks for an opinion on a camping spot for the night. We, of course, know nothing about camping but that has never stopped us offering advice. We point out a spot near the river. ‘Too much noise’, is his answer. ‘Okay’, we counter, ‘wear ear-plugs.’ ‘Can’t’, he says, ‘otherwise I might not hear the bears.’ That’s all my editor needs to hear. I think she envisions us setting up a partnership which means, we might also have to sleep in a tent near the bears. I’m starting to think that the jewelry business might not be such a good idea. And I was already wondering whether we could carry 120 lbs with us on a tandem.
Finally, we find a lovely inn for two nights. As usual, we hand over our rent money. We now pay this daily. Life really is different. Before we used to pay the mortgage or rent monthly in advance. Now we get terms. So they ask us to fill in the form at the hotels and motels. They always want an address. We look at each other and we ponder again. What should we enter? We are stumped. Then it comes to us. We ask the receptionist for the address at the inn. She looks at us queerly; nevertheless, she gives it to us. We fill in the address—it is as honest as we can be. Until next time…
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