"Anchors Away:" A Wildflower Walk With John and Joalenn Q.

BCB regulars know of John Q's annual visits to Ouray; he's been featured every July since we landed here. Toward the end of his working life, just before he retired from the Corporate Jungle, John would spend lunch hours perusing a few RV travel blogs. When the day finally came to empty out his desk, he already had ideas about how he wanted to spend some of his free time. An A-liner pop-up camper was purchased, and Lovely Ouray was circled on his map.

Joalenn liked her job and wasn't quite ready to throw off the Corporate Yoke, so John was a "solo" camper for five years…light as a feather, free as a bird. I think a mature marriage benefits from time apart once or so a year... you know, "absence makes the heart grow fonder," and all that crap. 

But times have changed; a couple of months ago Joalenn finally stepped off the treadmill, and now John has a traveling companion…not to mention, cook, bottle washer, laundry service, and so on. Pal Boonie, being his usual cynical self, asked, "Wonder if John will get any good hikes in now that he has 'The Anchor' along?" Though rudely phrased, Boonie has a point. What if The Anchor…er, Joalenn, rather, changed the group dynamic? 

Back in the olden days of my first marriage, my best friend's wife and my wife just could not get along. The pre-marriage "dynamic" shifted the day we both said "I Do." Outings were full of tension, bared claws and smart assed remarks. Add a little alcohol and, Whamo, "verbal filters" got bypassed and off came the gloves. I digress...

Well, were all grownups now…mature, wise, softened by time and diminishing hormone levels (sigh). Joalenn has no "guns" to notch, she might not want to go as far, as fast, or as often, but she graciously encourages John to go do his thing whenever he feels like it. Cool. 

A couple of days after the Q's settled into their campsite we all got together for a wildflower walk—topping out well over 12,000 feet,  a personal best for Joalenn. It was a beautiful day to get high, and she did great!

The Q's then treated us to dinner at the Buen Tempo Restaurant. Nobody left hungry, that's for sure. Thanks, guys!!! 

Ptarmigan Pair…they are solidly white in the winter and almost impossible to spot on snow. Note the red eyeliner on the male :))

I ordered Spinach Enchiladas, topped with red sauce and two eggs over easy. Yum

Chimichangas ala Grande!!! Doggie bag please.