Days 6 & 7 of the Grand Adventure, Part One:

I got a good early start yesterday and drove to Salida. Stopped at Mr. Virgo’s and my favorite breakfast place on that stretch of road. We used to stop there all the time when we lived in Pagosa Springs. What a gorgeous, sunny, blue-blaster day! I stopped and took this photo of TOW-Wanda parked at the scenic overlook near Buena Vista. Those are the Collegiate Peaks behind her.

Got to the RV park and backed my trailer into her spot, slick as a whistle! I am right by the Arkansas River and fortunately it’s early in the season so there are no bugs. Unfortunately, I caught my OWN kind of bug. I stayed with family in Denver and they had been passing something around and of course, by the time I got here, I was sick. 🙁 I haven’t done much more than sleep and read, but you know, there is not much prettier a place to be if you aren’t feeling well. I’m loaded up on Zyrtec and Aleve and made myself a big, spicy bowl of soup and I’m feeling much better.

I went into town to visit my friend, Emile. She is doing so well and her consignment shop, Free the Monkey, is going gangbusters. If you ever find yourself in Salida, look her up. (I bought a beautiful black sweater from Jones New York for 7.95!) Had a little emotional moment today. Whenever Dan and I traveled, we always bought a Christmas ornament to remind us of where we had been. There is a little Christmas store here and I went in to browse, and carry on the tradition. I looked around and went back in the back to have a tearful moment, then came back out and chose a beautiful metallic-embossed aspen leaf. Mr. Virgo loved aspen trees. As I was leaving the shop, there was a Western themed tree and there, hanging just for me to see was…an armadillo. Now, you wouldn’t think that was funny, but I burst out laughing. Mr. Virgo used to tell me a story about the armadillos in Texas. His golden retriever would chase them. Then he would mimic the sound the armadillo made as it ran and I’d lose it laughing at him…this big, mountain man going “nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn”. So, I bought that one too and will laugh every time I see it!

Tomorrow, I’m up early and heading to Pagosa Springs. I am really looking forward to hanging out at the hot springs and soaking! Maybe a massage? Once I get settled there I can work on some jewelry and herb garden markers. Talk to you soon!