Friday 29th May 2020
We have had a great month here in Cortez which is in southwest Colorado. Our elevation is 6200 ft and it has been generally in the 70’s during the day and and comfy sleeping night temps of the 40’s.
We have been hiking a lot and our new sticks are working overtime. I bet you know which one is mine.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument covers 176,000 acres so we had plenty of room for social distancing. We spent several lovely hiking days out here.
We felt pretty ancient after a 12 mile trek.
There are many cool looking ruins to admire.
Dean looks pretty happy standing on the mushroom rock. Notice the smaller mushroom in the left of the pic.
That was my happy place.
This huge overhang covers several buildings.
A collared lizard posed very nicely for a picture.
Dean was caught between a rock and a hard place.
It looked like this ruin was under a giant chimney.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
Dean found some soft grass for nap which made a nice change from the rocky ground we’ve been hiking on lately.
We managed a quick pic of a brown fox. He was too skittish for a close up.
This tumbleweed escaped from the tumbleweed patch. I “politely” yelled at Dean to chase it down.
Yeah! He scored a tumbling tumbleweed.
Hovenweep National Monument opened up their trails so we spent a splendid day hiking the great ruins.
I especially love this building. Can you imagine walking around the area and thinking “Oh yes, this giant boulder would make a great foundation to build a house on”.
Dean! Mind the gap.
I love crack.
We saw many Cliffsrose shrubs which have a nice scent. The mature seed has a cute long fuzzy hair that acts as a parachute to help disperse the seeds in the wind.
Bees and bugs were giving this thistle a going over.
Mesa Verde National Park has partially opened up. We were able to get a couple of nice hikes in. It is always a thrill to see the ancient ruins. This was a pretty large community back in the day.
Such a lot of work went into creating this trail. There were many stone staircases like this set.
Dean is a pretty good sport when I ask him to stick his head in holes that I think look interesting.
It has started to warm up in Cortez even at this altitude. This last week we have been hiking at higher elevations. The spring flowers are starting to pop up at 9000 feet. Nothing beats resting in a bed of buttercups.
Our last big hike in the area was a 10 miler with 2000 feet elevation gain. Thank good ness it was a graduated climb. Lots of Marsh Marigolds were blooming.
We had several streams to cross and quite a few snow drifts.
11,000 feet and the end of the trail finally. We had a spectacular view while we ate our lunch and congratulated ourselves on not keeling over. Not bad for a couple of old codgers.
We are moving north a little bit. Still waiting for stuff to open. Some towns have a lockdown still in place and only locals are allowed. We are loading up with food and planning on staying in the back country.
Stay healthy and safe my lovely family and friends.
THE BUS STOPS HERE 
Hey, Rose, I love all your skirts and skorts! Glad you have found cooler temps, too! So what brand skirts and skorts do you have?! So, we also are about to finally leave So Cal Vista on Sunday. Headed back to Bremerton by June 6 to turn over the Saab to new owners. To go through storage and send off items with container company…not much maybe 500 sq ft. Then to advertise GMC truck and Airstream. And then to book an airline ticket. How this will all come together without us sleeping on the side of the road I do not know!!!!
Safe and fun travels!
Sent from my iPhone
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Sounds like you are going to be super busy. Hope all goes well with selling your stuff. Sure gonna miss you guys. Hopefully we will latch up one of these days. Skorts are from Costco and places like Ross and Marshalls. Good luck you two.
Very nice pictures Rose. I really enjoyed the ones of the ancient cities. Did you go into any of the buildings? It’s amazing how they built these structures under cliffs to keep protected from the elements. You two are quite the hikers! Your looking healthy and wise in your back side of thirty bodies! We hope to see you sometime this year! Love to you both, Melvin & Martina
Could not go on any Ruin tours at Mesa Verde. Don’t know when they will open those up. Maybe not even this year. Hope you guys have a great summer. Hopefully you will be able to enjoy the great outdoors at least.
Looks like a lot of fun!
Always.
You both look fit and happy and marvelous – social distancing looks good on you !
I never take close up pics of us which helps. Hope all is well with you guys.
Your pictures are fabulous as always and loving your write ups. Glad to see your both well and self distancing. Eric and I have been out 5 days a week walking, but now the golf courses have opened up Eric is off walking on them. Still having some lovely treks looking at ruined castles, abbeys and chapels round Shropshire. Cannot wait for the pubs to open, a nice drink after a good walk is very welcome. Keep safe both of you lots of love xxxxGina
Sure would love to be having a pint of cider with my sista.
Always love reading your adventures, the ruins are especially beautiful in these posts. I enjoy seeing ruins no matter what area.
Hope you are both doing well, I am busy at Ol Mac and Tom has spent 2 weeks moving 37 feet of stuff and trying to get it to fit into 30 feet and not basement. It was tough & I have no idea where most things are except for in the kitchen. Lol
It’s amazing in even the smallest spaces we manage to lose, misplace stuff or just disappears. What did you move into?
You both are amazing hikers. Its
keeping you young. Places you visit also remarkable. Good for us oldies to see the it with your eyes. Enjoying each and everyone.
Thanks Madhu. Hope you are both keeping well.