The reason I can talk Gwen into coming back to this town is the Alley House restaurant. Tonight she ordered the most exotic meal I have ever seen her order. Ask her about it.
Mountain Road
September 7, 2010This is not a typical mountain road – it is straight for about 50 yards and level. However I thought the warning signs were interesting because in 30 miles of traveling today out to a water fall with sheer drop-offs sometimes 1000 feet down this is the only warning signs we encountered.
The waterfall was really cool but I have not mastered the art of waterfall photos.
Grove of Aspen Trees
September 6, 2010Today was our 1st full day in Pagosa Springs. We walked around the town, ate lunch at a restaurant called Farrago’s, and took a long hike to Opal Lake. Later that night after a great dinner in the cabin of pork chops, and veggies. Finally, we had a pleasant conversation with our neighbors who are from Grand Junction.
The highlight of the day for me was the hike to Opal Lake. We encountered this grove of Aspen’s one the hike up to the lake.
Pagosa Springs Folk Festival
September 5, 2010Saturday morning in Albuquerque (I have learned how to spell Albuquerque; if nothing else that is something I accomplished on this trip. Ate breakfast at a good local joint called Weck’s. Drove to Santa Fe where we stopped for lunch and toured a very interesting Farmer’s Market. Then it was in to Pagosa Springs. We checked into the Wyndham. They put us in one of the Perigrine units – one of the older ones but okay. If you have a choice stay in Teal Landing.
Saturday night was the Folk Festival which turned out to be mostly Bluegrass! It was at the top of Reservoir Hill in the middle of town. We got our exercise trudging up the hill. The festival was a big stage under a tent that sat 900 people. Food vendors and other miscellaneous “hippie” wares surrounded the tent. The highlight of the evening was Ricky Skaggs. He has shoulder length gray hair now and a substantial pop belly but he can still sing and play the mandolin. This may be the highlight of the trip — only time will tell!
Palo Duro Canyon
September 4, 2010I drove to Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo Texas on my first day of vacation and camped out in a tent for the 1st time in dozens of years. The ground is as hard as ever!!! They call Palo Duro the Grand Canyon of Texas. No where near as big but still an awesome place. Unlike the Grand Canyon you drive down the face of the Canyon to the campground. Went for a 6 mile hike in the morning before leaving to pick up Gwen in Albuquerque. This is the view from the end of the hike at the “Lighthouse”. I am on the “Lighthouse” looking back into the Canyon
Packing up and moving out – 1st vacation day
September 2, 2010Yesterday I drove from State College Pa. to Baltimore to fly back home to Dallas. The plane was delayed 2.5 hours because of weather in the Dallas area. I finally got to bed at 11:30PM.
This morning picked up rental car at DFW – yes back out to the airport in the rain – rain in August is really strange for our part of the World. Packed up and am ready to go. Camping tonight in Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Grand Canyon of Texas) which is south of Amarillo. Wish me luck driving today and no rain tonight or tomorrow morning!
Have to post a picture of what my better half is missing to go on this adventure with me – 2 Aggie football games!

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