This is Heaven on Earth!

The San Juan Mountains and Ouray
Sun June 16 - Sun Jun 23rd

There is simply no place more beautiful than the San Juan Mountains in the spring and fall!  We were first introduced to this lovely place by family (Al and Doug) and each time we return here we cannot believe how gorgeous it is!  Even the national parks have a tough time competing with its natural beauty (the glorious snow-covered peaks, the abundant, vibrant wildflowers, the aspen, the active streams and rivers, and the combination of all of these.  It is one of the prettiest places in the world.
At one time, we used to wish it was a protected National Park and now, after visiting many over-crowded, bus-laden, abused national parks this summer, we are happy that it is not yet ruined by being loved by too many visitors. At least, here, a hiker can still hike to an un-named beautiful meadow filled with wildflowers and tall grass and see and hear nothing other than the birds!  We didn't even see any other hikers! Serenity still exists here! It remains as it was intended originally to be...

When we visit here, we have stayed at the little KOA in town.  The camping is modest, but they try very very hard to please their visitors and they work really hard to maintain the setting so that it is clean and nice and quiet.  A good owner attitude is nine-tenths of what we look for in places to stay now.  They work really hard to make this place a fun place for families and it shows!  No over-done flower pots and decorations, just nice little BBQ's served by the staff for family dinners, pleasant simple, home-spun music.... and nice, clean restrooms with plenty of hot water. What more can you ask for?

Here are some photos of some of the places we saw while in the area:

These are dandelions! Wild, untamed and out of control!  Gorgeous!

Sound of Music, anyone? Yep, the mountain peaks show up everywhere! No music; though!

Small agricultural canal fed from snow-melt off the top of these mountains.

We won't tell you where exactly this is, or how to get there, and we won't tell you where to hike. You will just have to figure it out by yourself! If you are a true adventurer, you will. If you are lazy, or don't know how read maps - well, you don't deserve to visit this place! Sorry...follow everyone else - somewhere else!

We are one of the few countries (other than Canada) that still has incredible wild places like this. Let's keep these places wild and untouched!

The Delores River - Priest Gulch RV CG

The Delores River, Galloping Goose and Priest Gulch RV Park
Sunday, June 9th - Saturday, June 15th

On the drive from Mesa Verde through Delores to Priest Gulch RV Park, we passed the location where the two huge rocks had crashed down on the road from the hill above, closing the road for several days while the maintenance crews decided what to do with them. They blew one up and the other, they were finally able to push off the road. When we looked up the hill, an enormous avalanche-sized path of destruction showed all the way down the hill!  Pretty impressive for two rocks! This had occurred several weeks before we arrived and they had just opened the road to visitors. Our timing was perfect.

This truck-sized rock had just recently been moved off the road.

Priest Gulch wins the award for the most-decorated private RV park/resort with the largest, most elaborate RVs and RV spots we have ever seen.  A sense of pride of RV ownership is definitely on display here. Simple camping and enjoying nature - it is not; living an elevated, over-the-top communal RV lifestyle - it is. We prefer simple and understated natural settings. With our tiny, unadorned little white Casita sitting next to the grass, we clearly stood out here as "different!" Most of these RVs cost far more than our home in DF is worth! A very different set of priorities!
Unfortunately, I failed to take pictures of this place. It was so overwhelming and excessive, I was a little embarrassed to photograph peoples' personal choices. Here's a small list of what we observed:

• People took flagstone from the canyon walls near here to decorate the dirt walls and paths next to their RVs.
• Along River Walk, potted plants from local nurseries were hanging everywhere surrounding their RVs - the colors all matchy- matchy with lawn chairs, rugs and shade awnings. People actually planted flowers along the rock pathways leading to their RV. How long were they staying here...All summer? I believe so. It was quite attractive, but a bit surprising.
• Attached outdoor-wide-screen-TVs, fancy built-in exterior barbeques on the back of of their rigs and even slide-out porches adorned some RVs. Uniquely decorated windmills, flags, woodcut designs, bird feeders and blinking decorative lights added to the effect.
• This was a destination "resort" for retirees, many from New Mexico and Texas - all of whom are escaping the heat of the desert at home. They come up here every year to recreate for the entire summer with their friends. 
• The engorged Delores River - rushed by our back window and helped to mask noise from the many activities that were occurring in the park and, thankfully, it enveloped us in our own little balloon of quiet.

Our neighbor's rig with bits of garden art.

Our tiny rig au-naturale...sans slide-outs, BBQ's, TVs, flowers, yard art, etc.
All we need to survive 3.5 months!

Ernie contemplating a dip??? The Delores River

A few brave souls rafted down the river that day!

During the week there:

We took a nice 4 mi RT hike up Bear Creek and back into the aspens. The sun was shining and warm - a welcome change from our many wet rainy days so far. It was good to get out to exercise!

Little Bear Creek Trail

Aspens where we ate our lunch - wonderful!

We drove up to Telluride several times to explore that area. Beautiful, ragged  peaks and rolling hills, but very posh and expensive rentals due to the ski resort. Had lunch in town one day at the bakery (since the little taco place we had enjoyed so much with Al and Doug had since closed down). Walked along the river and poked our heads into various shops. 

Driving over Lizardhead pass toward Telluride. Still covered with snow.

Spectacular mountain ski-scapes!

Posh homes and stores

On another day, we explored the side roads in the Delores River area - including the West Delores River - which had gorgeous ranches and river bottom land. What a place to live! Lisa and Eric would absolutely love it here! It was all green and lush.

"Garden of eatin" for cows!

The campgrounds up the West Delores River looked tempting for future trips. Smaller and much quieter, these might offer a better option for us for camping based on our preference for the natural environment. A number of the sites, though, were flooded this trip due to the high water table and the amount of snow-melt coming off the mountains.

The Galloping Goose Museum and RR - One day we stopped at this little museum in the town of Delores and met a charming host who provided a detailed narrative of the history of this well-known converted rail car (converted from steam to diesel) when a more cost effective vehicle was needed to transport mail over the mountains. The rail car was named the Galloping Goose. He even let us climb into the rail car itself.  Such a wonderful name for a rail car!

Our charming Galloping Goose guide.

The Galloping Goose - renovated diesel engine and transport car circa early 1900's

Our next stop - we move on to Ouray - our favorite place to visit!