4/8: Taylor Reservoir, Colorado

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

Look at all those fourteeners! What a view.

A dispersed site off FS755 with a nice view of the reservoir and…

…A great view of the Collegiate Peaks – the other side is Buena Vista.

We hiked the road along Texas Creek enjoying the majestic mountains.

The bulldozer is maintaining the road and closing off illegal campsites.

A nice spot to hang out for lunch and while away a hour or so.

Another lunch spot and a few nights of camping in Taylor Park.

A day trip to this nearby mountain town.

A good wander around and a visit to the scenic historic cemetery.

We pulled up for a hike and stayed the night in this quiet spot.

A very nice bunch of aspens greeted the beginning of our hike.

Several stream crossings took careful attention…

…Or an opportunity to goof around.

But a peaceful destination to hang out was our reward.

3/8: Powderhorn Wilderness, Colorado

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

We turned off Slumgullion Pass to Deer Lakes on the Cannibal Plateau in the Gunnison National Forest-

trying our best not to do an Alfred Packer

We found a great spot to camp next to this beaver pond – we watched several move branches across the pond and then disappear underwater.

A hike into the Powderhorn wilderness above our camp.

A peaceful way to enjoy a day. It is wonderful to be off the grid.

Heading back to our favorite campsite to watch the beaver family preparing for winter.

2/8: Rio Grande Reservoir, Colorado

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

Still in the Rio Grande National Forest, we head up another valley.

We start above our camp at Thirty Mile Campground for our hike.

Checking the map while overlooking Rio Grande Reservoir.

Entering Weminuche Wilderness, the largest protected area in Colorado.

A bridge sturdy enough for horses crosses the start of the Rio Grande River.

Weminuche Pass is a relatively low crossing of the Continental Divide.

Finding the names for all the mountains while we take a break.

Enjoying the deer back at our camp site while we listened to the river.

1/8: Wheeler Geologic Area, Colorado

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

Mid- September, we headed to Rio Grande National Forest, an area of Colorado south of Creede we had not explored.

Huge piles of beetle kill limber pines that had been cut for fire mitigation.

Stage One Fire Restrictions: No burning!

(The three largest fires in Colorado’s history burned in 2020 )

Sun has not yet reached the valley as we head into La Garita Wilderness.

It is starting to feel like fall in this gorgeous section of the trail.

Wheeler Geologic Area used to be a National Monument.

Remote and Unique, it was a fun area to explore.

Japanese Garden Project

Time to use those kayak arm muscles to move rocks.First of 3 loads of local rock we had delivered. We had some of the boulders moved as well per the architect’s directions.

Templates made of cardboard first to get the dimensions worked out.

Shapes were then cut out of particle board to make concrete form.

Looking good…This just might work!

Wrapped in plastic, concrete was hand mixed and pushed into crevices.

The unveiling a week later shows the close match of concrete colors/textures with the rocks.

Lakeside view showing how bridges starts thicker, goes thinner as it springs out of the rock.

Seven tons of pea gravel are delivered to create the pond.View from living room after we have added a few plants.

The bridge ends at an island which we hope to feature a character pine.

A rake creates the wave patterns that enhance all the island places.

 

Safer At Home – Spring 2020

Stuck at home, looking forward to Wine O’clock to help the days go by.

Daily walks to check out ducks and water fowl that might be hanging out.

Cooking some wonderful meals like this Spanish Paella.

Prep for a Spanish tortilla: We submitted some of our favorite recipes for the Outdoor Club cookbook.

An excellent flip to cook the other side. Nice party trick appreciated by the two of us!

Sunrise with a beautiful moon set while enjoying our morning coffee.

We enjoyed spring blooms and the views on a bright sunny day with a walk up the Forest Road to the top of Chimney Rock NM.

Another road hike to Eight Mile Fire Lookout tower…

…with this incredible view over the valley.

Kayaking from our back door to enjoy the view of Pagosa Peak.Warm weather on a wind free afternoon gave us another outdoor space.

Thank-you!!! May 15th F-16’s flyover over to thank medical personal.

Pelicans stayed for a day – so big and white. Such a treat to see them.

We learned to Zoom – a good way to stay connected with friends.

A few days of kayaking up at Williams Creek Reservoir to enjoy a change of pace.

A forest fire started near by – unfortunately the first of many for the west.

We had a front row view of the air tanker refilling – every 15 minutes or so.Spontaneous weekend of balloon enthusiasts to celebrate summer solstice.

Enjoying the simple things in life – clouds and reflections.

Caldes de Malavella Spain

We drove to Girona to switch our gray VW Polo for a different VW Polo – a zippy little manual. Time to motor back to the Via Augusta.

So we drove a bit further SW to Caldes de Malavella which is know for thermal hot springs due to volcanic history.

There are many Modernist buildings when this town was rejuvenated in the 1900’s as a Spa Retreat, which it still is today.

It has been a Spa retreat for quite a few centuries, used in 1st to 4th century by the Romans.

We visited the museum as well as this outdoor archeology site of the preserved Roman Baths.

Can’t you just envision a few toga’s lounging around? How lucky for them this was on the Via Augusta!

There were small rooms along the sides surrounding the main pool…cabanas?

It was interesting to see the excavated Drainage System.

We headed out of town to the area of Romanya de la Selva. We hiked a short ways to this Menhir de la Murta, a neolithic manmade stone that aligns with the four cardinal directions.

A little further down the trail was Cova d’en Daina – a very well preserved megalith dating from around 2200 BC.

This fascinating structure of rocks is actually a large burial tomb. It is a dolmen but more complete with a full circle of menhirs surrounding it.

Fascinating to wonder how this was constructed.

The main chamber is 25 feet long by 5.5 feet across. The circle of menhirs is 36 feet in diameter.

The entry to the dolmen chamber is said to align southeast, which permits sunlight to enter at summer and winter solstice.

All the stones are granite.

Really wonderful to be able to walk around.

Excavations found numerous human bones and teeth, arrowhead flints, knife and pottery fragments as well as some necklace beads.

We retraced our steps through the cork forest – this area is sustainably harvested.

And wine corks are crafted! But unfortunately we are going to have to enjoy our wine back in the USA. Like the tramontane winds, the declaration of the WHO pandemic beckons us home.

Dolmens and Bay of Roses

We headed north to hike the Megalithic Dolmen Route. What a view!

Dolmen de la Vinya del Rey in the Alt Emporda Region. Dolmens are basically remains of megalithic tombs.

Dolmen del Garrollar was another that looks partially collapsed but not by me! One of these top stone slab weighs 18 tons.

Dolmen de la Talaia. These megaliths are neolithic or new stone age when these people arrived about 4500 BC from North Africa.

Dolmen de les Vinyes Mortes is another prehistoric monument right at the crest of the hill.

Wait – did Henry just get younger? Is this photo from 13 years ago?!!!

Hey – is that the same jacket? Once you find a good travel jacket it is so hard to let go.

Dolmen de Puig Margall is the last one on our 4-mile steep loop hike. Time for a short break before climbing back to the car.

We followed a few more twisties up the mountain…

Romanesque Monastery St Pere de Rodes was built on site of a Roman fort. Back then this was a popular start of Camino de St James.

It has an unbelievable view of the Cap de Creus. This must be what if feels like to soar like an eagle.

Nearby Church of Santa Helena de Rodes and the medieval village of Santa Creu de Rodes housed the pilgrims as well as workers.

Are you ready to start the walk across Spain, pilgrim? Let’s storm the gate!