Friends in town and Sightseeing

June 20 – I slept better last night but poor Bill had to get up with Xena at 4:30 this morning to go out. I think he read for a bit to get back into relax mode and then came back to bed. We got up around 8 and just had cereal this morning after we walked the loop together. We planned to ride our bikes to the office to check reservations but Xena seriously wanted to go so we took the mule so she could ride. We stopped by Rosa on the way back to borrow the TP key and put 2 loads of wash in and talked to Barry about installing my window. He said to let him know when. He suggested we stop at Tarpley’s RV in Durango Friday and see what is recommended in the way of a sealant or anything we might need for it. We hope to hear from the glass guy by then that our door window is in so we can do them at the same time.

Bill did his site cleaning and I was back at the weeding. I filled my plastic grocery bag twice and then asked the lady that does the bathrooms and cabins for a garbage bag. I put the weeds and trash both in. I did 4-5 sites and some that I missed on the way to those. I can’t do more than an hour to 90 minutes due to the dry heat and constant bending over. After a while it starts to make me nauseous and a lady here said that was due to the heat and if it continues I’d have a heat stroke. I never have tolerated the heat well. My face gets red as fire from heat not sunburn and it takes a long time for me to cool down. Bill came around to check on me and I had him do some areas with a hoe that I just can’t get by hand. Then he cleaned and waxed the front of the truck and went back for the laundry and hung out the rags and put the other in the dryer and did all the folding.

After we both cooled off a bit I vacuumed and he helped put some things in the front hold. There is only so much you can do in this small of space, but it looks pretty good. Bill learned how to fill the bird feeders. While we had lunch of more pulled pork we were looking out the window and a big pretty yellow bird was trying its best to get the nectar out of the hummingbird feeder. It just could not get its beak in the tiny holes and it was scaring off the hummingbirds. We should have tried to get a photo, but hind site! It finally flew off. Later we were sitting out at the picnic table with Marion (one of the hosts) and a pair of pretty birds with some orange on them came to the seed feeder and just sat and ate for the longest time. We hope they come back as we’ve still only had one other bird eat there. The hummingbirds paid them no mind and just ate away at their feeders. Marion came to borrow some big wall anchors and said he and Jerry thought after the week of the 4th that we 3 couples could go into Ignacio for dinner. We thought that was a nice idea. Those 2 couples live almost next door to each other so they get to visit a lot but we’re out here on our own. They live in Rosa where Barry (volunteer) and Manuel (seasonal ranger) live all clustered together.

Somewhere in between everything else I talked to the washer tech and he said I could use either part for the repair so let him know. I called Sears Appliance and Home Depot in Durango and talked to two very nice and helpful guys and they both called back and they could not find a washer the same size as the one we have. They are all deeper and that’s almost 4 inches and I measured and they simply will not fit so I looked a little on line and need to also check out the part some more before deciding what to do or not to do.

We eventually showered and dressed and Darlene called to say they had arrived in Pagosa Springs just as we were getting ready to head out and stop AGAIN at the post office. Of course there was NO Direct TV access card. I tried to call as we drove but only minutes east of Arboles we have no reception until we are almost in Pagosa. I called and this person told me it didn’t look like a card had been ordered but he could see where I’ve called twice and placed the order so he was hand giving it to his supervisor to hand input into their manual ordering system. We think it’s all due to having a PO Box and not a street address. So, once again we will see what happens.

Along San Juan River

Along San Juan River

We met Darlene and Mike at their hotel and we headed to the Pagosa Springs Brewery. It was all outside under a tent with long sharable tables. The food was pretty good. I had them make me a Radler and Mike tried some of their beers. I had a lettuce wedge with gorgonzola cheese, tomato and bacon bits and an order of wild caught grilled Alaskan salmon. Bill had some kind of burger. We went into the downtown to see the springs and walked out on the rocks to the river. Every agreed we needed to find a bathroom and Mike thought we needed to find ice cream so we agreed on McDonald’s for both. They all had hot fudge sundaes and I had the new chocolate chip frappe. It was really yummy. Everyone agreed it was a great way to finish off the evening. Mike drove us back to the hotel to get our truck and we set our time to meet in the morning.

Xena was howling as soon as she saw our truck pull in. Bill forgot to put her diaper on and I was expecting the worst, but she was dancing and prancing and shot out the door to go potty. She did not go inside, so that was great. We took her on a loop walk and checked the TP in the bathrooms. The large church group is leaving tomorrow as we don’t normally have to check the bathrooms except on the weekends. We watched some shows we missed, then bedtime.

June 21 – What a fun day! First I made Red Velvet waffles with the new old waffle maker that Darlene and Mike gave me. They want a Belgian Waffle machine and I just wanted a small one for in the RV so that was perfect. Then we were to meet them by 9:15 at Chimney Rock to go on a tour. We were there by then but Bill wanted to be earlier. Anyway, we got there and they had quite a large group for the 9:30 tour.

Bill at Great Kiva

Once everyone paid and signed in, the guide took the lead and we all followed in our cars up a couple of miles to a nice parking area with restrooms. From here the guide took us on a walking tour of the Great Kiva Trail. The Chimney Rock Sites are believed to have been inhabited from 1080 AD to 1280 AD. Along the Great Kiva Trail we saw the Great Kiva of course and a Pit house and 3 concave mounds that have not been excavated but are 3 more kivas or pit houses. There was also a site called the Great Basin that had a perfectly round hole in flat bedrock but they really don’t know its significance. From there we all went back to the parking lot and could use the restrooms and decide if anyone wanted to stay there rather than take the more strenuous walk 200 foot up and about 2/3 of a mile. We were already at 7,450 ft.

Rugged trail down

Companion and Chimney Rock

This part was definitely more strenuous as it was not a paved trail as the first was and there was loose rock, dirt, wood pilings as steps. We took frequent stops during the ascent when the guide would explain more about the relationship of this site to Chaco National Monument in NM, 150 miles away. The view was amazing. At the top was the Great Pueblo, which had on large viva and numerous small rectangular rooms that were for food and trade storage. There were also rooms where the grain was processed into meal and food preparation took place. The theory is only 6-8 people lived here year ‘round and they are thought to be the high priest-type who studied the moon, sun and stars and had a system of notifying communities as far away as Chaco of when a special “time” would occur and then hordes of people would ascend to the Great Pueblo for ceremonies and religious events. Chimney Rock is the mountain beside this location and there are two tall pillars; one is the Chimney and the other one is called The Companion. It was all very interesting and they have events there all summer and special events for lunar events that you must reserve way in advance to attend. We have talked about going to one of the night events this summer. Each person who made it to the top received a nice little card designating such. Poor Darlene pooped out on us almost at the top. Once Mike, Bill and I got back to the parking lot we made her take a photo of the three of us holding our cards!

We made a brief stop back at the ticket cabin to see if they had any postcards or bookmarks, and they did. Bill also got a small magnet for his ever growing collection. Then Darlene and Mike followed us to Arboles, where we stopped at the little convenience store/diner and we all had Mexican for lunch. I tried the carne adovada and it was very good. The meat could have been a bit tenderer but the sauce was just like what I had in Chimayo and I plan to look up a recipe for and make it. Bill had a taste and liked it so I know I can make it for us one night.

Everyone came back to the RV and we took them on a tour of the park and the great views of the lake, then we just sat and visited more until it was time for dinner. Mike drove and we went to Ignacio to Smokin’ Moes. Everyone enjoyed their meals and Darlene gave us her leftovers, so we came home with enough for a meal and one lunch. Mike said the ribs and hot links were both excellent and Bill did a repeat of his hot links and brisket. Dar just had a pork sandwich which had enough meat for 2 sandwiches and I had the brisket dinner. This time Bill and I didn’t both order the sweet potato fries, just me and he got onion rings and we both got salads. Mike was a good boy and cleaned his plate. Knowing that they are soft serve people, I said we could stop at 7 2 11 for one. Bill said he didn’t want any and the rest of us wanted a small swirl and then Bill decided to have a baby. We stood outside reading all the posters of events and items for sale and ate our cones. Yum, however I was so stuffed I really was not comfortable.

Mike and Dar dropped us off and headed back to Pagosa Springs. They were heading home in the morning and had a couple of stops along the way they wanted to make. We sure had a good time and lots of laughs. We’ll go see them in August.

We didn’t do much after that but walk Xena and Bill had already checked our sites. The hosts that were to clean our sites really lucked out, as the church people made the kids all rake the sites and pick up all the trash. Lucky ducks!