We visit Bluff once in a while looking for rock art and native American ruins. Every time I drive by this sign I think, "this must be the oldest town in the U.S.!" Well, we all know what's going on here, some towns are so small they deserve a special category.  And Bluff is small, maybe 200 people. I'll bet in 650 AD there were more natives here than this!  Anyway, when they wanted to paint a white line down the middle of the street, they had to widen it. Also, I'm told, "if you want to buy a house here, you'll need exact change."

Anyway, we spent many a night here hiking and exploring the Southwest and Four Corners areas. It really is a nice place but you have to appreciate it for what it is. If you're an amateur archaeologist, don't miss it. If you're looking for Macy's or the Opera, forget it.

Up on Peak 10, the easy way

Nancy and I went 4-wheeling with Mark and Teena over the weekend. What a great time we had going up and down steep trails, through the mud, and grinding it out up to the top of mountains. We stayed at their place and got up early, met a couple of other friends and began our morning tour.

Below is the trail up Peak 10 and that's Breckenridge in the background. We drove through the ski area and then connected with the old mining road. We drove up this for 5 or 6 miles maybe to within a couple hundred feet of the summit, which is just over 13,600 feet in elevation. The switchbacks were really fun.

When we got to the summit ridge we could see Crystal Lake (pictured below) and Upper Crystal Lake. What a magnificent view without a lot of work. Normally we would hike something like this!

At the top, we enjoyed a great view of Colorado! Nancy got to see quite a bit without ever getting out of the jeep. Her broken ankle prevented hiking and biking of course, so this turned out to be a really nice time. We did see a few hikers and people mountain biking. This was all in the morning. In the afternoon, we went up Chihuahua Gulch and Peru Creek to the old ghost town of Chihuahua.

Four Wheeling

We went four wheeling with Mark and Teena over the weekend and had a great time, in case you've wondered where I've been. Of course Mark's jeep got pretty dirty on the trip, going through mud and muck in the high country. I reminded him that a dirty jeep is a happy jeep and for some reason we all seemed to understand this. More on this later.

Fishing

On our last hike up to Diamond lake, I took this photo of these guys fishing. One of them was from Dallas. Hmm, a Texan! First he told me he caught a fish right over there, so big that it nearly pulled the rod right out of his hands. Then he was telling me about some of the fish in the pond back home. He'd taken a picture of one of the smaller ones, and the picture weighed five pounds! Why is it, fishing spawns so many lies? I told him I fished at a lake in Scotland that was so crowded with fish they had to swim standing up. That was the end of our conversation. Pretty lake, don't you think?

Contemplation

Contemplating the sea and its endless beauty, reflecting on its ceaseless motion, crafted by the creator and flowing endlessly in nature. Its beautiful tide and distant horizon a grandeur of thought, barely captured by the thoughts of poets.  How captivated we are by our vision of the sea! Pensee fait la grandur de l'homme! Well, maybe not...

Meeting Mini Mouse

Meeting Mini Mouse is something very special. Below, my daughter and grand daughter get an introduction. I personally have never met her but I did meet Mickey, when I was very young. I tried to think about all the famous people I've met or at least had a conversation with, and there aren't really very many. Let's see, I've met Bob Dole, John Madden, Mike Singletary, Joe Frazier, Shane Barrier, Richard Petty, Buz Aldrin and Brooks Robinson.  Meeting someone famous like Mini Mouse is really cool for a young person. A few of us wake up and find ourselves famous. Most of us wake up and find we're a half hour late!

The beach at Corona del Mar

I went to the beach with the kids Saturday. I held my stomach in so much I threw out my back! But I didn't feel too bad about it. There was this one lady who was rather plump. She didn't have to go to the beach. She was the beach! Anyway, we had a great time, sunburns and all.

It's really fun watching the kids in the surf, trying to figure out which way it's going to go, and if it will take them along for a ride.When the water comes in, they want to go out. When the water goes out, they want to go in. Of course, the problem with any beach in California on Saturday is finding an inch of beach without a body on it. And then there are the bikinis. It's the closest thing to a barbed-wire fence. It protects the property without obstructing any of the view.

Corn grinding appliance

On our last trip to Bluff, we hiked up to a ruin at Comb Ridge. Teena and Tammie found a Matate which was used by the Anasazi to grind their corn. Yep, Teena and Tammie found the kitchen! Of course, I had to joke about the kitchen not being organized correctly. They are two really good cooks, so it's not surprising they wanted to try out the appliances. I doubt either one of them has a corn grinder in their kitchen though! I could be mistaken.

Guinea pig meals

One thing I really enjoyed about Peru was meeting the locals. This nice lady let me hold her guinea pig and pose for this photo. Later of course, I realized that guinea pigs are considered great eating. So, on my next visit to a restaurant... well... I had to have a taste! Some of you have asked me what it tastes like, since I'm sure you don't want to execute your kids pet and try it. Okay, here is my best description; it doesn't taste like chicken. It doesn't taste like a rattlesnake, or like buffalo. I suppose it just tastes like guinea pig, a little tough, kinda greasy, dark meat. Yum.

So much to do and so little time

Someone took this photo of us recently, on a hike near Conifer. You can't see what we're looking at, but we see the town of Conifer from the top of mountain. The view was magnificent. It's one of those places I want to go back to in the winter on x-country skis. Ah, so much to do and so little time!

Who cares about me?

I find it interesting how much we try to put things together for ourselves. The urge to control our own lives and be the master of our own destiny is huge. The problem is, other people are always a disappointment along the way. We think nobody really cares. Sort of like the cactus pictured below, they look nice, but when you get too close you get stuck. What's the matter with people anyway? I think it was Larry Crabb who said, "at some point, it dawns on us that no one provides what we need."  I think we realize that in fact, no one really fully cares about us. No one cares for us with a love that allows us to relax fully, to be ourselves. That leads to despair, or what the Germans call "angst."

It's at that point that God can and will meet us when we're alone, and no one else is there to help, he is able to help. But few people will allow this because we are determined to put our own lives in order, with our own strength. We don't need anyone right?

So when we are in despair, we prefer to see ourselves as wounded in relationships, or asking "what's wrong with me?" The root of the problem, according to Crabb is the focus on handling disappointments "on my own" or have "self-hatred" and all of this without turning to God.  We prefer to see ourselves as wounded. So who does care about me?  Well, God does.

Diamond Lake hike

We hiked up to Diamond Lake today. It's just about 5 or 6 miles up the mountain past Eldora, and what a spectacular hike. Everything is green and lush now, water everywhere, flowers all over the place, and wow, the mountains were showing off today! Below, we stopped at Boulder Creek for a photo.

After about a two and a half mile hike up to the lake we enjoyed our lunch together and just watched the beauty. The fire weed, Indian paintbrush, bluebells, and all the wildflowers were out. We caught a little rain on the way back but who cares? We love the rain!

Pay me not to work

Everywhere you go in Peru the buildings are all unfinished. It leaves most of the towns and cities very unattractive, with re-bar sticking up everywhere. The reason is, the government requires people to pay taxes only when the construction on the property is completed. As a result, no one finishes construction in order to avoid the tax. This is sort of like the U.S. where we pay people not to work. As long as they're getting paid not to work... well, they don't work.

Some things are just common and built into people

Some things may be universal. A 500 year old Puebloan image in Southern Utah, and a 3 year old on my driveway. Some things are common and built into people. A circle is probably just a circle. But there are things in our minds and "souls" which speak of something greater. Did God plant something unique in us? As humans, we see things differently. We are moral beings. We can contemplate larger concepts and ideas. It was Pascal who said, "by space the universe embraces me and swallows me up like an atom, by thought I embrace the universe." Those who are relativists will try to take these things away. We are just animals they say. I don't think so.

 

Sorry Mom, but camp begins HERE!

I think it was my kid who wrote home from camp once; "Please send me some food. All they serve here are meals! He must have been referring to the Buck Snort, pictured below. Sending your kids to camp requires a great deal of trust. You see, camp counselors are always about seventeen. You wouldn't trust them with your car, but you let them have your kids! I have taken my kids to this place, but they were only 9 or 10, I think.

As you walk out of the Buck Snort, you can't miss this!  Hey! it's saying something about money! The life of a twenty dollar bill is six months. How come none of them ever die in my hands? It looks like everything died here!

Another thing on money: Making money isn't the problem. The problem is trying to pass it! And if you can't pass it, then stick it a buffaloes mouth.

Buck Snort Saloon

Our next door neighbors, Rob and Joy dropped by and suggested we drive up into the mountains to Sphinx Park and eat at the Buck Snort. We quickly agreed since it's been years since we made this awesome trip. It takes about an hour to drive up through Pine Junction and then up to the little, and I mean little town, of Sphinx Park.

When you first walk inside this place the first thought that might run through your mind is "What's the catch of the day, fish sticks?" Once inside you notice that the walls and ceiling are completely covered with dollar bills. Now that's a fine place for your profits! My burger was really good and the bikers (who usually overrun the joint) weren't here due to the rain.  So don't try to order your meal in French!

Below is a photo of Nancy at the front of this fine establishment on her knee scooter. The wood floor inside is a little crooked but it has character. Behind this huge facility is a deck which sits over a really lovely creek. On nice days you can sit out back and enjoy the mountain air and hear the water splash on the foundation.

Granddaughters

Having a Granddaughter is something extra special. They enjoy holding your hand when you're walking around, they smile a lot, they like to talk - a lot, they're happy to go just about anywhere you want to go provided there is ice cream nearby (which is just fine by me), they think you're really special too, and there are giggles and fun and then she dances into your very soul and captivates your heart.

Portland Blues Festival

Well I should be in Portland now, at the Blues Festival. I'm missing Booker T, James Cotton, Galactic, the Steve Miller Band, Roy Rogers, etc. Nancy and I decided to stay home due to her broken ankle. Probably a  good decision. I do think she is a direct descendant of Noah. When we travel, she takes two of everything.

Why photographers live longer

Black Bear Pass is the road between Telluride and Silverton, CO. My friend Mark has done this road with his wife (she is still married to him). We were discussing the 4-wheel drive road up to the summit Mt. Antero and I asked him about this road. He said, "Yes, I've done that and it was pretty intense. I remember being really focused."  Hello! In the photo below I can tell exactly what's going on. The passenger said, "oh this is cool. I think I'll get out and take a photo!" That's why photographers live longer.

By the way, if you have to get towed on this road it will cost you into the thousands! I read that in 2002, seven vehicles slipped into the abyss!

Nest of...

We were sitting on the back porch the other morning drinking our coffee and we noticed a birds nest in the pine tree. It reminded me of my friend Mark from Boston. He told me once that until he was six, he thought they were "boids."

Scooter Brokedaleg

Nancy broke her ankle a few weeks ago (after we were finished with a hike). She rolled it and broke the fibula right at her ankle. There was no ligament damage but it was certainly a break. Since it was on the fibula, I suppose you could say she technically broke her leg. Now she tours around the house on a "knee scooter." It's a very handy little thing for her and she zips all around the house on it. However, it is not 4 wheel drive, so going up and down the stairs presents a bit of a problem.

Of course, now the jokes have begun. "What has a hundred legs and lives on yogurt?"
"An aerobics class!"

Bear Creek Falls

There is a waterfall (I think it's Bear Creek Falls) near Ouray, Colorado which is really spectacular. You can get right above it and look down over 100 feet. Colorado has so many beautiful places!