VACATION DAY 6 FROM CRAIG TO OURAY

After thanking Judy and Greg for their hospitality we left Craig. We had a most excellent visit and can't wait to get together again. Heading out of town the same way we entered and driving almost to Grand Junction before traveling into new territory should have been same old hat but... I finally gazed upon sheep. Lots of them.

I had been looking for them since day 2 of the trip and here they are! With the windows open it was very noisy. All that ba ba baaaing and tinkling sheep bells added to the moment. The funny thing is I can't find any sheep in the pictures with a visible bell.

Passing through Rifle we stopped at their rest stop and a volunteer mentioned their cemetery and directed us there. This is an old one established in the late 1800's. I spied a deer looking around and searching the tombstones, for who I don't know! It was here I found an adorable angel.

On our way to Ouray we went over a pass through the Grand Mesa National Forrest and it was spectacular. Everywhere we looked the aspen trees were glowing with their fall colors. It was amazing to see so many at one time.

The Cedar Hill Cemetery outside of Ouray was interesting. We interrupted a chipmunk's playtime. There were grave sites with fences surrounding them but the most unusual one was protecting a child statue. It's so tiny.

Our destination, Ouray, is called the Switzerland of Colorado. Steep rugged mountains and the town in a deep "v". The town looked liked a typical Colorado tourist mountain mining town but to me it's the prettiest one I've seen. Perhaps it was the mist that made it so.

Old restored homes had lots of peaks, gingerbread trim and great paint choices.

Potted storefront flowers were still looking great but you could tell it's fall by the hollyhock stalks...not many blooms left to oh and ah over. I think it's funny to see my image in the cottage window!

The pink hollyhock and the petunias below were potted. Even the bird overhead seems to have his winter coat on.

Climbing the pass above the town was just for fun after dinner and we did not make it to top before I was nagging to turn around. The temperature was dropping, it was drizzling and trying to snow. I'm a chicken. The good thing?...going down had us hugging the mountain on the inside of the road.

7th VACATION DAY IN COLORADO FROM OURAY TO CORTEZ

Thursday morning we were happy to see snow in the high country. We stopped outside of town to view Ouray nestled in the valley.

The scenery rounding every curve was so beautiful. Today's destination has a lot of extra time for lallygagging.

Ridgeway had the Dallas Park Cemetery and although it looks a little haphazard it is well maintained. Angels were scarce but one monument site made up for that.

Rico's cemetery was the opposite. Just resting places on both sides of the road and many were WWI veterans. This monument tells a very sad story. Two sisters born 2 years apart and both died when the youngest was just several months old.

We reached Cortez with enough time to have a rest before meeting Larry's brother Bob, his friend and Uncle Paul who were up from Houston. Dinner was elk steak, a first for me. I'll have to post Larry's pictures. I fell down on the job.




How's that for an unplanned family gathering?

CORTEZ TO PHOENIX ON THE 8TH DAY

After saying goodbye to Bob and his friend we left Cortez, Colorado in the morning hoping to make good time. It's Friday and time to pickup the grandchildren for their sleepover tonight. As I watch miles of scenery as in the picture below, the outcrops take on different images.



For instance, look at all the people standing here. They must be guarding something important.

Huh, Larry says it's actually it's called Baby Rock so I was on the right track.


Now wouldn't it be more interesting if while driving I could photo shop what I see as I see it?

We made it home safe and sound and with plenty of time to unpack the car and drive to Mesa. What a wonderful trip and our cameras should have been smoking. Phew, 1800 images to download, sort through and organize.

Wow, when I think of all the trips we've taken over the years and I always left all the picture taking to Larry. I realize how glad I am to have inherited his previous Canon digital. Thank you Larry.

I CAN SEE FOR MILES AND MILES AND MILES

For our summer vacation we traveled north through Utah and Colorado. In Colorado we visited our friends Judy and Greg in Craig. They live on a hill only a few blocks from the local cemetery. Was I surprised they agreed to visit it with me. Their purpose was to find the resting place of a former Craig doctor. I of course wanted pictures of angels and whatever. From a bluff on the cemetery you could see all over Craig.



I like to think the old trees in the cemetery are monuments in themselves. This tree pictures an angel with folded arms. You might see something different or just bark. For every altered photo there is the original photo.