WED. AUG. 7th  WAGON GAP, CO

We are near Creede, Co at the "Cottonwood Ranch".  It took about a 4 hour drive through many small towns but upon arrival,  the scenery will take your breath away.  Unfortunately it also takes your cell phone signal and your wifi away too.  We will be here for ten days.  We are at 8,000 ft and we pull in and it is raining and a little muddy.  It is very cold at night and the heat runs constantly and 3 days of rain.  They have a great restaurant, but alas it is closed.  Because of major forest fires in June most of the workampers were sent home so no restaurant.  The campground is all open between the mountains and the rio grande river.  In order to get cell phone service and internet we have to go into town which is about 21 miles away.  This campground is the best deal, $29 a night and solitude. 

We go into Creede and travel way up the mountain to an old silver mining camp.  We take the vette and did not know till be went so high that there would be dirt and gravel roads with numerous potholes, but car came through it ok.  We were a little knocked around and alas I forgot my camera.  But the views were fantastic.  Another day we went into Alamosa, about 50 miles away to the nearest Walmart and we had lunch out.  While there we went to the "Great Sandunes National Park" (photos beautiful) a  beach in the middle of the mountains but the creek had gone underground this time of the year.  We saw an elk on the road (photo).  Next day we took a ride to "Pagosa Springs), about 42 miles, way up the mountain.  It is a wonderful little town known for its mineral hot springs.  This is the first day that the weather is beautiful.  We eat at a wonderful Mexican restaurant called "tequilas) overlooking the San Juan River.  People are all walking and tubing the river.  This is the Healing Waters Resort, check out all the hot mineral pools and spas, just gorgeous.  Our food was great, baby shrimp and real crab chimichangas, very colorful restaurant.  Wen then went into South Fork visitor center for a wifi signal and phone service.  When we get back to campground I am thrilled to see the meadow filled with Dahl horned sheep, they come down from the mountain from time to time, just look at the great photos.  Now the horses are galloping into the meadow, they spend the night there across from our rigs.  The last couple of days are real cold and we look forward to leaving here and going to Utah to see the National Parks.  Check out the hummingbird at the feeder, there are so many here, also magpies, marmots, and a big black bear came down from the mountain at night and ripped open some stuff from our neighbor.