United States Mountain, framed in fall splendor and capped with winter snow. Tis a Lovely representation of feelings that I can't seem to find words for, that this is the view on my thrice weekly walk up Camp Bird Road, that somehow, someway, I managed to make good on a bold wet-behind-the-ears prophecy to my daddy whilst sitting around a campfire in the Amphitheater above Lovely Ouray: "Someday," I said softly, "I will live here. Mark my words." It was the last time I saw him, for he would die a little over a month later.
The grey mists of clouds and pouring rain out the window fit my mood. A storm is rolling in from the north, the first in a winter series that will pummel the Rockies with hundreds of feet of snowfall...low pressure areas that form and build into monsters off the southern coast of Alaska and quite literally beat their way to our doorstep.
On the eve of our much postponed departure, the forecast has been changing by the hour. It threatens our best laid plan to get out of town whilst the getting is good. A rendezvous with the worlds biggest curmudgeon, (Moab) will be delayed. Dallas Divide and Norwood Hill (always in the shade) are not for fair-weather gal's like Goldilocks; she has no snow boots nor cleated rubbers. Boonie made the leap to Moab yesterday, in order to beat the Beast to his punch. I can only hope he has secured us a good boondock. From what Chinle says over on Spotted Dog, Moab is a tad deserted right now due to a Tea Party tantrum. It would be nice to have the run of the place for a change, and one certainly doesn't need a National Park to enjoy the offerings of Red Rock country.
Ah, there goes Ms Autumn's leaves, beaten to the ground by bullets of rain; there goes Skyrocket Creek, flash flooding down from The Blowout; what's another day...or two. Maybe I'll get my first article roughed in for The Monitor Magazine. Or I could go soak in 104 degrees of liquid bliss at the Ouray Hot Springs...lean back, close my eyes to the blinding rain, and reflect on the good times spent camping with Mom and Dad in the Amphitheater above Lovely Ouray a long, long time ago, and all the water that's past under the bridge since then.
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Lovely Ouray, curled up in the lap of the Amphitheater
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Spectacular.... A great place to live as long as the wheels keep turning..... The beauty lulls you into complacency just before the trap slams shut and then you are there for the duration of the cold, cold, cold. Happy travels to you as you roll.
ReplyDeleteLife is fraught with "traps," as you are finding out. It is often challenging to accept the cards dealt to us. Your attitude is admirable...adjust and continue on. Kudos Kiddo.
DeleteIt's always a disappointment when plans get delayed. Hope you can safely leave soon.
ReplyDeleteAfter an entire day of rain and low 40s, we awoke this morning to sun over the snow covered Sierra Nevada. Simply stunning! As are your Ouray photos.
As I type this it's 33 degrees and a blizzard rages out the Imax Windows! Goldie ran out of propane last night (sigh) and Bobbie still needs to make a run to Montrose. "Adjust and continue...adjust and continue."
DeleteSure do hope you get rolling soon! Seems as though winter is trying to catch everyone a bit early this year. Snowing in Flagstaff I heard, but of course, Moab isn't as snowy as Flagstaff. Happy Boondocking!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue...
DeleteForecast for Moab looks pretty good...if we can get out of Lovely Ouray :) :(
Boonie's wandering around muttering about how much the redrock looks like a postcard. You need to get over here and take him out by Blue Hills into the more mundane Mancos shales before he OD's on the beauty. On the other hand, maybe he's just hiding out in his trailer from all the rain and is OK after all. Hope you get out of beautiful Ouray before it totally snows in.
ReplyDeleteHa! Or maybe sit him down by amongst the evaporation ponds at Potash...although the water is a pretty shade of turquoise :)
DeleteI have someone interested in getting more info on your new "rig." Is it still for sale?
It is, I sent you an email.
DeleteGot it :)
DeleteI'm sure there is an unknown reason for the delay. The snow will melt and you will be able to escape.
ReplyDeleteI know...but a type A get tired on waiting on the Universe (growl).
DeleteWell, it kinda goes back to that post you made a while back about the anticipation of "leaving" on a trip, versus the full timers life of being on one, long continuous trip. I trust the build-up will make the reward of departure that much more sweet!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Moab, so I am looking forward to some postcards. Hope Mother Nature doesn't keep us all waiting too long!
Oh no...I new that post would come back to haunt me. Suzanne, listen to me, It takes poor memories for me to be successful here; you're not cooperating :)
DeleteYou will enjoy the Moab area...Unlimited Red Space; it will take some time to adjust...
You're correct about all the places to explore in Moab without the NP. It will actually be wonderful not having all the people around. Can't wait til get there and blog with photos!!
ReplyDeleteHope you get out of CO eventually.
I remember you guys were there when it was pretty hot and seemed undeterred. You are tough!!
DeleteMark, with the Ouray cam out of service your pictures have sure provided us with exactly what we wanted to know regarding an early snow fall in the San Juans on top of that majestic Aspen change, have only seen it once in all they years. We will miss that drive thru Norwood and into the Paradox Valley this year, but we have a lot of time left.
ReplyDeleteStay thirsty my friend
I suspect we will meet some day.
Grateful in California
Anon in California,
DeleteIt is good to know the BCB is fulfilling one of its "Mission Statements," that is, "to provide descriptive narrations and quality photographs of people met, paths wandered, and risks taken by a couple of restless soul mates old enough to be great great grandparents...to live, as if we are going to die, to go, before it's trampled, and share it with the world.
We were born hungry...and will, by the grace of God, die thirsty. :)
Thanks for your supportive comment,
mark and bobbie
We love Moab...all of Moab! There is so much to do! Are the BLM areas open? We can't wait to get back!
ReplyDeleteI hope the BLM land is open. I think they are too understaffed to close all those jeep roads. Besides, some of them lead to oil and gas wells...you don't screw with Exxon Mobile :)
DeleteHope the weather breaks and you get on the road soon. I left the North Rim just in time with a drop of 5 inches last night. Only got a little fall in Flagstaff and then melted right away.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the road report, Gaelyn,
DeleteWe are sitting here as dawn breaks pink over The Crevice, trying to decide whether to go today or tomorrow...and if we go today, whether to go the higher/snowier backroads via Norwood and Paradox Valley or lower/drier Mo Town to Grand Junction. It may come down to a coin flip. Decisions decisions...