Lazy Weekend Days with a Drive to Owl Creek Pass

We didn't do much of anything on Friday except for hanging out at the campsite.  The occasional truck/camper/car drove by going into and out of Little Molas Lake raising clouds of dust.

There's some really optimistic people out there, thinking they can show up on a Friday to a popular camping area and find themselves a spot.

Martha hosted a Raclette brunch for us mid-morning which went well and best yet, I got to have two strips of bacon!  Friday is meat day in my life now, as I've made conscious lifestyle changes to deal with kidney issues.  Red meat intake is now very much restricted as is sodium.  Sigh.

Saturday, September 28

While Lori and Chris took it easy and continued to get used to camping at 10,000+ feet, Martha and I drove to Ridgway to check things out.

After perusing the offerings of the grocery store and doing some walking about the downtown area, it was time to check out Owl Creek Pass.

You can see the distinctive rock formations below from town and we headed towards the summit of the pass, hoping for the sun to shine through by the time we got closer.

Alas, it was not to be.  The below pic is after heavy post-processing which really didn't work but it gives you and idea anyways.

The foreground was lit nicely, the rocks, not so much

View is from Vista Point

Heading up towards the pass, we would stop now and then for shots of the Fall Colors alongside the road:

We even saw a couple in hunting gear, leading their pair of pack goats!  

Here's Martha at the requisite pic of the Pass

Coming back down the way we went up, a brief stop at a small parking area/campsite got us this shot:

More Fall Colors as we slowly made our way down towards Ridgway:

We returned to camp and were back with Chris and Lori by 3:30 PM I think.  The Fall Colors are definitely starting to be "past peak".  They were looking pretty weak in some areas the next day Sunday.

More Fall Colors and We're Joined by the Z's!

 Martha and I spent the morning driving the CR-V about the Silverton area, as far north along US550 as Ironton Park:

We returned to camp for lunch and preparing to meet up with Lori and Chris Z. Of BlazeOurWay.

By mid-afternoon or so, we could hear them approaching the campsite, and so this video of their Overlander Rig: Stewie

Thursday, September 26

Just general relaxation at the campsite by the four of us in the morning.  After lunch, a drive in the CR-V by Martha, Chris and I while Lori rested in camp.

The main stop was to visit the Honeyville Store where Honey Flavored Whiskey was secured by Chris.  While they perused the honey-oriented offerings, I checked out the bee's nest they had inside the store between two pieces of glass:

We did a little bit of leaf-peeping while driving back to camp along US 550:

As you can see, we're almost at peak along the San Juan Skyway....and the traffic on the road and the cagers clogging the pullouts attested to the popularity.

Photos by Martha:

A Warming Trend for Next Few Days

 I spent the day just hanging about the campsite and exploring my surroundings.

The next campsite, which is suboptimal even to small campers (very sloping), is out of LOS (Line Of Sight).  There's even a small trail leading to Little Molas Lake through marshes.

Quite warmer than yesterday too, and it's forecast to be warming up into the 70+ for the next few days.

Here's Monday's sunset:

Martha drove the Honda CR-V out from the overcrowded cesspool that is the Metro Denver area.  She arrived just before 5PM, traffic conditions having been light and reporting the Fall Colors along I-70 in full peak conditions.

Lori and Chris Z. are scheduled to join us at our campsite with Stewie, their Overlander, this afternoon.  Then, more exploration of Fall Colors!

After a Rainy Weekend, now Boondocking on National Forest Land

Sunday, September 22

After a rainy day yesterday, woke to a brisk 37° outside and only 39° inside VRRV. This situation was in remedied by lighting off the catalytic propane heater.

These calcifying bones of mine are steadily losing their remaining resistance to cold weather. I put on more layers while inside than usual in order to keep warmer.

Here's a view of a nearby mountain visible from the VRRV, through the pine trees after a day of rain yesterday:

Molas Lake

Fortunately at 10:35, the sun broke out from amongst the heavy cloud cover and things really started warming up.

Same mountain peak ...

Monday, September 23.

I got a visit from the local BLM worker, he advised that the power company was going to soon be in the area, working on the nearby power lines.  He also clarified the policy that one can only stay 14 days in the area, then must move at least 30 air miles distance before using BLM land again.

So, there went the plan to use the BLM-managed Cunningham Camping Area east of Silverton next.

After an abortive attempt to find a spot, which turned out to be on BLM land and thereby unavailable to me.  I did, however, get these two pics while figuring things out:

Next, I tried the Little Molas Lak Camping Area about two miles from my existing campsite.  If that place was full, there was one more candidate site in my mind.  Fortunately, there was a suitable site available.  Though less than two miles from the BLM-managed Molas Lake Camping Area, it is managed by the US Forest Service and so I could stay 14 days!

At first, the site didn't seem available as I saw a car and a senior couple sitting on camp chairs onsite.  They didn't have any camping gear about, so I rode up to them, asking them if they were camping or simple day-users.  They said they were day users so I told them I was going to move my VRRV there.

Dang day users, sitting on RV sites, in this case though it worked to my benefit.  I setup a tent on the site to hold it.

I went back to the VRRV, did a hasty displacement and drove into Silverton to dump tanks and taken on water at one of the campgrounds in town.  No one at Silverton Liquid Propane (all out on deliveries, you have to make an appointment) so I wasn't able to top off the propane tank though I've enough for two weeks I think.

I drove out of town and onto the site at the Little Molas Lake Camping area.  By 3:30 PM I was setting up camp with the VRRV.  There's even a usable 4G signal here though I'm using Starlink.

Martha joins me tomorrow and Chris and Lori Z should be along by mid-week with a bit of luck.

Fall Colors Riding with 'Rounder: Ken P.

 I've known Ken personally since 2009 back when I was an active member of the Yearrounder Riders or 'Rounders.

Ken and his lovely wife Julana moved to Colorado Springs nearly 4 years ago in the aftermath of a hurricane which devastated their home town of Beaumont, TX.  Ken is an Iron Butt Rider.  He's done several 1000 and 1500 mile events and is also known as the manufacturer of quality heated gear such as gloves and boot insoles* within that community.

Anyways, Martha had noticed on Facebook that Ken was camping in nearby Ridgway, CO and let me know.  A few texts and phone call later, we arranged to meet up in Silverton!

I met up with Ken shortly after 10:30 AM at the Silverton Whistle Stop gas station:

photo courtesy of Ken P.

After the initial meet and greet conversation, we set off towards the Molas Pass Summit:

After the summit, we cruised northward to the fiery trees near the entrance to the Molas Lake Campground:

Ken and I made our way north on US550 heading towards the town of Ouray, 24 miles from Silverton.  

Some pics along the way where it was safe for us to park along US550:

Red Mountain

The town wasn't too crowded for a Friday but there was steady streams of cagers going both ways along Main Street.  We found a cafe and drank coffee while chatting some more.

Around 3:30 PM, having solved most of the world's problems while chatting, it was time to leave for our separate campsites.

As I made my way back towards Silverton, I stopped for these pics of the "Million Dollar Highway" portion of US 550:

Near Ironton Park:

Another view of Red Mountain

Back on Miners Shrine Road in Silverton

View of the peaks from near the entrance to my campsite

Saturday, September 21

Though it started nicely sunny, the clouds soon gathered and by 11 AM there were rain sprinkles presaging forecasted thunderstorms.  It's going to be wet and cold the next couple of days I think.

Still, got my errands done before it started to rain and sometime lightly hail.  

Here's a view of the Fall Colors under overcast skies:

I liked the way the sun's rays were shining through on the peaks visible from near the entrance to my campsite:

Now to hunker down and wait out the rains.

* Here's a link to Ken's presence on FB where you can get more info if you're looking for heated gloves and insoles which had found favor among the IBR crowd!

Phenix Flaming Hot Motorcycle Gloves