Creede, Colorado - Startling Beauty and rain

Roger here...Get a load of the scenery in this place!  It is raining right now (again), a perfect time to come inside and write a blog.

We are currently at the Mountain Views RV Resort which is located a couple miles outside of Creede, CO.  It is quite a place, but first you must figure out how to get past the security and into the complex.  We'll write more about that in another post.  This will be our home for two weeks and this is our fourth day.

It was bright and sunny on our arrival day.  We did not realize that it would be gloomy and rainy for a good portion of the next three days.  We stayed in the first full day except for a trip to town to get groceries and information.  The next day --- rain --- all day.  Not a big deal because we have plenty of time here.  The picture shows a view of the skies as well as the great place for walking the dogs.  They are allowed to run off-leash on the other side of the fence.  This should be a good place for us to loosen up a little bit with our fears of them running away.  There is also a grassy fenced-in medium-sized dog park -- large enough for Bandido to chase his ball and Tequila to try to steal it from him.

It is beautiful here, even in the gloom.  Mountain Views is an appropriate name for this park because there are mountain views in every direction.

We did have one diversion.  During a break in the drizzle, I convinced Dianne to go to a Mennonite Bake Sale in the RV park.  Not on our diet ---I know.   Dianne did not relish the temptation that we did give in to, but, oh, was that still-warm, fresh peach pie (eaten over several days) and homemade bread yummy.  

The rain stopped yesterday morning.  We took that opportunity to hike into town on the two-mile (four-mile round-trip), gravel multi-use trail.  The doggies appreciated the opportunity to finally stretch their legs.  So did Dianne.  So did I.  The ordinary-looking trail was surrounded by extraordinary scenery. 

After the round-trip walk to town, the dogs rested while we made a return trip in the car.  

This is one of the coolest towns we have visited.  It is not big.  It is touristy, in a non-frenetic, non-snooty kinda way, but it projects an air of authenticity.  It was a huge mining town back in the day.  It is now known as one of the top-ten places in the country to see an off off-broadway play, which we plan to do tomorrow.  The buildings are real.  The town is a real town.  If you did not notice, you can actually cross the street without fear of being run-over. 

 One of the highlights was a visit to the Creede  Olive Oil Company.  Free tastings of everything in the store.  Dianne loves olive oil, but needed to be coaxed into the store.  The result was a hit to our traveling budget.  The owner of the store had an autographed picture of Johnny Depp, who had been in town for the filming of the Lone Ranger.  (Remember, we were in Moab during the filming after the Creede filming was concluded).  She told us that the first sequel is scheduled to be filmed in Creede next July --- about the time of the release of the first film. 

Above....  The damage from the Creede Olive Oil Company - flavor-infused balsamic vinegars, flavor-infused olive oil, Creede hot sauce, stuffed olives, and fresh produce from the local grocery ---Olathe, CO corn and Colorado peaches.  All this stuff is on our diets ---if we pace ourselves.   (Dianne here:  Colorado is known for its peaches, and I've been gorging on them ever since we hit the state line!)

This town is definitely whimsical.

A very creative place.

The sun was bright this morning so we hit the walking trail to town for a second consecutive day.  This time, Dianne concentrated on photographing flowers, both in and out of town.  (Dianne here:  I wish this blog had smell-o-vision!   These were the old-fashioned varieties of sweet peas and the smell was heavenly!  The climate here with the cool overnights and afternoon rains must be perfect for sweet peas, petunias, and every imaginable flower.  The floral displays all over town were incredible.)

In town...

And growing wild along the trail back to the RV Park....

Bandido focused on finding a great stick along the trail.

After a visit to the General Store/Rock Shop, I focused on finding interesting rocks along the trail.

The pet picture of the day shows  Bandido carrying his stick and me carrying his poop.