Random thoughts and pictures of my mini-vacation.

Click the pics, click the pics, click the pics..... Third times the charm.

This blog post marks the beginning of me using up pictures I  haven't shown yet that I took on my mini-vacation. And due to my inherent laziness there will be no rhyme, reason, or thought, given to showing pictures in any particular order.

This is the west side of Cottonwood Pass heading for Tincup on the brand-new freshly paved road.

I'm back home now. Actually, I got back yesterday, so today finally catches me up with my current situation.

I decided that the end of my mini-vacation calls for a brief synopsis of how things went, so I will call it the good, the bad, and the ugly... And I'll start with the ugly.

There was no Ugly! How could anything be ugly in the Rocky Mountains? It's some of the most beautiful country God ever created, and I am blessed to spend so much time in it.

There wasn't much Bad. I would say the only bad parts were the crowds, The smokey views and the difficulty of finding places to camp. Now bear in mind that I always found nice places to camp, even though my roadside campsite at Black Canyon of the Gunnison somewhat stretched the meaning of nice. But even then, I felt comfortable and safe. It just took a bit more effort on my part to find places to camp. But my ability to boondock, even in the little Bronco camper, made me feel that I would always be able to find someplace to camp even if it wasn't ideal.

There was a lot more Good than anything else. Everyone I met was friendly folks, even though I felt there were too many of them. But I won't forget the motorcycle guy that was camped next to me. He had just come from the big motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, telling me how a dozen or so Antifa types showed up and tried to march down the street where over 100,000 America loving, flag-waving motorcycle guys were partying. And the Antifa types had to be rescued by the police.

Or the friendly folks hosting a very crowded city Park camping area telling me about some great boondocking near there where I went and really enjoyed myself.

So it was a great trip, with beautiful scenery, although partially obscured by smoke. Meeting some great people. And finding plenty of things to take pictures of to put on my blog.

But like all vacations, even mini ones, it was great to get back home again and sleep in my regular bed in the Arctic Fox. But I don't think I'm done with my mini-vacations just yet. Since my intentions are to stay in Denver till after Thanksgiving, there may be another opportunity for a mini-vacation to see the leaves change later this fall.

                         theboondork

Old building in Ridgway Colorado.

The campground I stayed at in Durango Colorado. This picture shows an excellent example of one of the reasons I don't like to stay in commercial campgrounds. Check out the slides on the two travel trailers. Those folks might as well be sitting in the same living room.

Tourist shops in Silverton Colorado.

Two narrow gauge passenger cars in Durango Colorado waiting to go somewhere.