Day 3 Alamosa to Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The day started for the Wandering Dorks in downtown Alamosa at the wonderful Milagro’s Coffee House. I had an amazing sunrise panini , a big cup of coffee and I forgot my apple. Oh well. I was distracted by the beautiful downtown area. Was so quaint. Then the city construction crew showed up to remove the Bear statue. Some of the locals were showing up outside to watch the removal. I mean there were steel saws going. Lots of sparks. Some locals inside said they were moving it for the festival. The day started the Alamosa Art Festival.

So on that last note, festivals. I think every down I went through was having a festival this weekend. In one town, Monta Vista there was a Potato Festival. In Montrose where I ended up spending the night, I could hear the Ranch Rodeo start at the complex downtown. So yeah festival weekends everywhere.

The drive Black Canyon of the Gunnison was one of the most scenic drives.  Highway 114 thru Rio Grande National Forest and then highway 50 through Curecanti National Recreation Area. The views as you can see were stunning.  Also some crazy video on my Instagram. I kept telling myself I am never going to make it to the park. The stunning trees of the Rio Grande forest. I love how the trees somehow grab onto the side of the mountains and bury their roots and then somehow grow to these amazing heights. I kept seeing these blue black birds with long tail feathers and white chest. But every time I tried to stop to get a picture off they went. Uggh.  

One of the most funniest parts of the trip so far though…the team and I came rolling around a corner in the canyons to our right fields of wet lands with cows crazing and little streams cutting through the grassy grazing areas…. But on our left… there was a local just casually walking in front of his trailer with his shotgun. I don’t think I have laughed so hard in a while.  No pictures of that one.

As I was driving a few other notes, there was this giant bug that came crashing into the car hit the windshield and then in to the open window and hit my seat. The force of the wind just pulled him in. There was no body found…. I swear it happened.

Second... kinda gross but interesting. Roadkill. Back east nothing really happens to it. Well out here I am guessing that is not the case. A dead deer was nothing but bones on the side of the road.  Easy dinner for some predators out there I guess. Also, no picture.

I now have to be sad which depresses the hell out of me. We stalled in Curecanti for an accident. I was going to say something funny about how if I’m going to get stalled it might as well be in a scenic area. Well this was a BAD accident. I had never seen a fatality accident scene. I never want to see one again.  I did not stop at all on the final 40 minute’s or so drive to Gunnison.