As my days dwindle here on the western slope, I am trying to take the back roads to places I normally travel, to see things I might have missed. Turns out I was missing quite a bit! Many pictures couldn’t be taken only for lack of a safe place to stop the car, but here is a sample of some fun in my today🤗💕.
Not sure who the hooligans might be…
I’d have loved to wander around here for a spell. 😊
Trouble over Telluride!
A beautiful, historic church in my ‘hood. 🤗
Jax and I went for a long walk this afternoon to some of our favorite places in Montrose. We started at the dog park, and then hiked up along the rim, which looks down over the Montrose valley below….
Some of you may recognize the amphitheater in the distance. I took pictures here the first week that I was in town. Revisiting these places now brings back to mind how I felt upon initially arriving here. Excited, hopeful, and also homesick. ‘It’s only 13 weeks,’ I kept telling myself. Afterward, I took Jax to Freddy’s for a fresh vanilla custard cone. It brought to mind our three days in Grand Junction, and our long walks along the dry river bed, which usually ended in a Wendy’s frosty for him. He’s been such a sport, and I am so grateful once again for having him here with me.
I can tell he is homesick, and most likely missing Dean. I can’t wait to see his reaction when we drive up that hill on Carlton Creek Road (… assuming we make it up that hill. I hear it is covered with snow and ice 😂)! And as always, if there is snow nearby, he goes to lie down in it. Probably his one remnant of a memory from home besides Dean.
Jax’s gaze is fixed on the white stuff😂.
There are so many mixed emotions with my upcoming departure, but the most prevalent is my anticipation to be home once again. I will forever count this time in my life as a season of growth, new friendships and amazing experiences, all of which will be forever etched in my heart and mind. I hope to return with Dean this summer, and Melarvie’s if they are up for it, so they too can experience the beautiful, enchanting Western Slope 💕.
The signage when entering Montrose reads…’Montrose, CO, Home of the Black Canyon’. With all the places I’ve been told to see in my short stay here, this was one of them. I’ve been checking them off my list one by one, and today was a toss up between Peach Valley and Black Canyon. Black Canyon won the toss, and sadly, I doubt Peach Valley will even come close🥹.
There is actually a trail that starts here and most likely winds down into the valley. As it was covered in snow and ice, I bypassed it this time. 😂
Rest period for the dog.
Many of the roads are closed this time of year…
But we were able to walk up any of them!
The lovely visitor’s center!
Just so beautiful!
Deer pong. Every day here. But they are just so pretty…
And this…
For days I’ve wanted to stop. I pass it every day, twice. Today I made time, because I am running low on time. 💕
The perplexing…
😂😂😂😂 Random fire hydrants in the middle of nowhere😂😂😂…
And some of the most beautiful sunsets ever. 💕
While wandering the ‘hood in between church services to give Jax a break from the car, I happened upon…
😱😱😱🤣🤣🤣😂😂👏👏!
And…
Wonderland. And…
The Shire👏👏😂😂🤗💕!
But…
I thought Jackalopes were native to North Dakota 🤔…
I was on call all day Saturday, so I wanted to stay close to home. Nevertheless, I happened upon some beautiful places.
The lake walk. Right next to a river🤣!
With some baaaaad casting fishermen!😂😂😂😂😂😂 Not sure how those got up there!
…but we de-boarded the YYZ ( Toronto)-MSP flight right next to this gate… Tempting. Very tempting!😂😂😂 But I proceeded on to my Missoula...
