Montrose to mesa verde 

This location at Montrose was our only chance to see the mesa verde and to travel through the red mountain pass. It is a 3 hour drive there. We were excited to go although not sure how easy it would be .

There are state parks and national forest parks all along until we reached a ski resort of Ridgeway. (1 hour)

Now we started to climb… up to a headway with such pretty views, then as we climbed we found stretching meadows lakes and near tops of mountains 

Ominous clouds developed at the top was lizard pass meadows and pine forests large and flat. So many wild flowers and streams. The sheep mountain elevation is 13000 and we seemed close to the top there. There are 3 mountains over 14000 feet. (We were high up but roads seemed safe except one part where half road had slipped down mountains and was being repaired. … one way traffic and road builders in charge of thoroughfares )

San Juan national forest covered the way down and the road following San Miguel river. (Another hour had passed and we just lapped up the beauty )

We started descending 

Rico was an old mining area and rundown old mines and houses everywhere was shut except gas station 

Next came lower camping fishing horseriding country and Cortez 

At last we had reached mesa verde national park 

It is so majestic towering above the landscape. The road winds around and up  with viewing places. I’ll let my photos speak for themselves sites we saw. It is unforgettable 

By now it was 3.30pm as we descended and decided to take a longer but easier route back or do we thought!

We headed for Durango and Silverton. The idea was this was an easier option then on to our hotel back through ridgeway.BOY WERE WE WRONG!

The red mountains pass was the scariest road vince has ever driven on and lots of hair pin bends and no crash barriers. The scenery and rocks were unbelievable. All colours red green yellow. Rockies at its most spectacular 

We survived.

What a brilliant day xxx

I’ll upload photos tomorrow as I ate chillies by mistake and am a little ill😩

Black canyon of the Gunnison

We are now staying in montrose colorado

Last night there was a terrific thunderstorm but we were safely watching it from our hotel.

This morning we only traveled 10 miles to the black canyon. 

It is a national park and so we bought an annual pass to allow us to go in all the other national parks

The rocks of the black canyon are dating to 1.7 billion years. The cliff walls are 40 feet apart at the river and rise 1750feet to the rim. Not good here if heights scare you! All I can say is it was so impressive and don’t think my photos will show the great depths we were seeing.

We saw birds of prey, crows and chipmunks.

we drove all around the rim stopping at all the viewing parts. Hope you like my photos.

We came back early to have a rest as yesterday was a long travelling day.

Aurora Denver to Montrose

At last we have all our luggage. It arrived 10pm last night and now we can leave any stress behind.

We set off at 8am and made our way up into the mountains. We have done this route 9 years ago in April and then the ski stations were open and snow on mountains. In August the scenery is very different with green trees and gentle lakes. Aspin trees and pines. Not frozen water and gushing rivers this time as it’s late summer

we travelled through mining towns calledCopper, climax,leadville, granite ,buena vista where they were celebrating the gold rush with fairs and stalls.We travelled along wide valleys through 14000+ feet mountains at either side.Ruby mountain, Trump supporters all along here

then we climbed towards gunnison over the monarch pass …..wow It’s the great divide between Atlantic and pacific over 11000 feet in perfect visibility I found Smoky again!Down the other side was great fun. As you can imagine.

By the time we got to gunnison we were in wide wide valley’s with ranches horses and cattle.Next was more mountains beaver creek was beautiful with fishing swimming boats and gorges.We followed round and along the long lake and cars were being escorted over road works in convoys so we had to wait in a queue.The sun was beating down. We have found the hot weather at last

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Pikes Peak and cog railway

In the middle of the night one suitcase was delivered. The other is in Denver but arriving tonight.

Today we had booked the 12 noon cog railway from Manitou.

The weather was perfect blue skies and sunshine. We could see all the mountain tops. So different from yesterday.

It took just over an hour to reach Manitou Colorado. 

The train ride was a fantastic experience and the views were phenomenal 

We took photos and the cog train climbed up 9 miles from 6320 feet to 14,115 feet. We saw mountain sheep and marmots. There are mountain lions and brown bears living up there but we did not see any.

At the top vince took more photos than me I was feeling the altitude and a bit dizzy which was a shame. The views from the top were breathtaking literally! We felt like we were on top of the world. It’s the highest we have ever been above sea level 

We chatted to a couple from Indiana who where sitting opposite to us all the way up and down …and had a good laugh about life together.

At the top there were many cars that had driven all the way up on hairpin bends.

I don’t think our nerves could have taken that drive!

On the way down the clouds darkened and it was rain and lightning storms.

Do you like this little humming bird I managed to photo on my phone. They are soooo tiny. 

We are pleased to leave “city driving” and all the cars.

So tomorrow we go on to Montrose.

We are more used to the time difference now.

USA travels

This is our golden anniversary travels

Starting in Denver….

Last night we did excellently arriving at Denver airport half an hour early. We very smoothly got through customs.

THEN

A crowd of people from our flight waited by baggage turntables for our luggage 

After almost 2 hours we all had to queue to report our cases had not arrived

82 cases were left at Heathrow 

It took another hour to register this!

Next Avis car rental a snag here took another hour and eventually we got to our hotel with only cameras and laptops 

We checked in and dashed to Walmart to buy toiletries and a few clothes 

BA will have to refund this 

Today BA services are down grrr so still no cases

We decided to go to the garden of the gods south of Denver

It was drizzling rain clouds all the time and not good visibility but we got these photos 

It is granite outcrops and very impressive 

At the visitor centre we took these fun photos 

Do you like” the hairy man of the mountain cowboy” I found today?

Although we are panicking about our luggage we found its now in denver airport and should arrive at our hotel tomorrow

we did have a good day and some good fun too at the Garden of the Gods

Monday 25 sept home now safely

I had to just finish my blog for Iceland. It was very windy all night Saturday to Sunday  and thick clouds to greet us in the morning.

We had a good journey passed Borganes where we picked up a packed lunch for eating at airport and then passed Reykjavik towards airport which is half and hour further on travelling through barren volcanic lands, mainly flat and bordering the sea. By now the rain clouds were threatening and so we left Iceland in the wind and rain.

At Heathrow we sailed quickly through passport control

 …But then had to wait over an hour for our luggage to be loaded on the conveyor belt!

…..A further long wait for the lifts to take us down to the bus. 

……A further wait for the bus to long stay carpark

We found the car quickly, we had been worrying that we couldn’t remember which stop it was parked near.

Home safely after midnight, very tired but Vince stayed up to do all the washing, what a star.

So goodbye Iceland we had such an experience there, the scenery, the waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers, fault lines, hot pools, weather, the people we met, the places we stayed in, expensive food! (Everything was very expensive) and the beauty in a mostly natural unspoilt environment.

So here’s to our next adventure ….

23 sept last full day in Iceland so sad.

Today we had beautiful weather, sunny at times and little wind..

We could see the mountain tops and the glacier was cloud free too.

We have done the tourist favourites and so we wanted to find our own views. 

All day we explored side roads and parking spots, walking along tracks and taking photos of everyday life in Iceland countryside. 

We found churches, horses, reflections, waterfalls not visible from the road etc. so here are a few of my photos.

Tomorrow we leave at 4pm from the airport, I may have time there to write about our last day…….

Sept 22 Stykkisholmur to black church and beyond Iceland Snaesfellsns

Another cold but clear day. We had a pretty sunrise too.

After breakfast we headed over the mountains towards Stykkisholmur. 

We stopped on the way to admire views.

The harbour and its dominating basalt cliffs are here.

We were now heading anti clockwise around the peninsula. We saw a sign to a shark museum and followed the road through the larva fields covered in jagged lava and moss. Here we found a lovely little church surrounded by a sheep farm and some beautiful horses. What an idyllic place surrounded by streams and the sea.

We turned left over the mountains this time heading towards the black church. It is a popular spot and nearby is a tall waterfall falling over basalt columns.

From the black church you can see the glacier and f roads lead up to it.

(We are not allowed on f roads ) 

We entered the Snaefellsnes national park at the tip of the peninsula and stopped at DJUPALONSSANDUR

Here we were  most suprised  to find a grimsby ship had shipwrecked and the crew drowned but 5 men were rescued in terrible sea waves. The pieces of the ship are strewn on the beach and left there as a memorial from 1948. As well as this poignant scene for us being born and raised in Grimsby Cleethorpes this beach was interesting. 

2 lagoons are there still fed from seawater but with fresh water on surface. Then many larva features. We saw lots of faces in the stacks and cliffs. It was a black pebble beach. So quite tired we explored the beach and then up on the top at the viewing area.

Back to the hotel eventually after a long picturesque view. 

Alcohol is expensive but we treated ourselves to 2 beers, well deserved!

P.S can you see a pumpkin head on the hill side?

21 sept Exploring snaesfellsnes

Last night as soon as it was dark the northern lights appeared ….really strong ones. At times it looped right over our heads. It seemed to be in all directions not just north. This is my best pic, you can see the plough star consternation in it. We are hoping to see it tonight too as the sky is clear of clouds.

We explored the peninsula today, we headed north west on A56 over the mountain towards kirkjufell, a famous landmark.

Again we are in a unique part of Iceland, well everywhere is so beautiful in different ways.

Here there are many small volcanoes, huge lava fields, black sands and also agricultural land and yellow sands.

This photo includes the waterfalls and kirkjufell close by. There were many tourists here but it was possible to take images of the landscapes.

We walked right down the steep sided waterfalls and then back up which was harder😂

We went to a small harbour and found a cafe that sold traditional Icelandic foods, like rotten shark meat yuk! A sign shows how it stomach it with help to swallow it. An acquired taste. Never for me!

We found another route over the mountains A54 and traveled the south east coast visiting Arnarstapim . Here pathways lead you along the cliffs to the sights of basalt caves, stacks, cliffs and arches, it is amazing.

By now it was 4pm cold but sunny, we felt tired so returned to our hotel.

Tomorrow we can explore some more, there are many more waterfalls and beaches and the black church to see, also the ferry port and fjord at Stykkisholmur

Must admit we are getting very tired, but doing well and still have 2 and a half more days in Iceland.

Love you all xxx

Sept 20 travelling to Snaefellsnes 

Daily weather forecast .. The wind eased at about 4am, sun and clouds

Thank goodness for that!

After a huge Breakfast,( I don’t need to eat again for ages), I really have enjoyed my birthday hotel.

Do you like Thor killing the Troll, this is for Otis Louis and Xavi and Alice

We packed up and went first to the magnificent Gulfoss. It is so powerful and huge. We went down to the lower viewpoint,it was scary but I’m pleased I did it.

Look at the tiny people here. 

 That is where we stood! Can’t believe I did it.

Leaving Geysir is sad but many memories.

We traveled through the Pingvellir national park towards Reykjavik . We saw this beautiful church .  

Once we reached the  A1 road we had done a complete circle  of Iceland.

Now to head to Borganes to our favourite bakery for lunch.

We were in sight of Snaefellsnes over the sea.

It was 2pm when we arrived and too early for going to our last hotel destination . We went to a nature reserve about 8 miles along from the hotel.

First we saw these whale bones.

There is yellow sand here, sea birds and seals on the rocks. We spotted about 7 baby seals. We walked along the beach in the sunshine.

Our last 4 nights…… hoping to see the northern lights tonight. fingers crossed x