Buena Vista, CO

New Years 2017 plus a few days

Today is Jan 01, 2017 and we are all departing, headed for our respective homes.  It has been a wonderful family get-together.

We will return via a different route than we used to travel here.  We have wonderful friends who recently purchased a home in Buena Vista, CO and we plan to visit with them.

Snow storms have passed, roads are clear.

 When we originally drove in on Christmas day, it was overcast, and snowing heavily at times.  These beautiful snow covered peaks were not visible to us then.  Aren't they magnificent?

 This is the view of the Collegiate Peaks looking West as we arrive in Buena Vista. The Collegiate Peaks is a name given to a section of the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains located in central Colorado, a cluster of the highest peaks in the Colorado Rockies.  All the peaks in this range are over 14,000 ft elevation. 

 The Arkansas River runs directly behind our friends new home.  We enjoyed hearing the rush of water.  They told us that in June, the water level would be much higher and they watched kayakers make their way downstream.

There is still ice in the river.  Isn't it beauiful?

Jody and Patty are a very special caring gracious couple.

 Our friends insisted that they take us on a tour of the area.  Another look at the Collegiate Peaks.

 Road leading to Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort.

 This is only one of several of the pools at the Princeton Hot Springs Resort.  Still early in the day, and we saw several people packing their cars preparing to head home after the holiday.

The iced over trees are gorgeous!

 We drove South to a wide spot in the road, home of "Always Azul Pottery" in Villa Grove, CO.  Vast selection of beautiful pottery,  Dusty chose a spoon holder which happens to be dishwasher and microwave safe.  They ship all over if you decide to shop online.

 The trees were all adorned in ice crystals, but the roads were still passable.


 

After leaving Buena Vista, CO we stopped once more in Los Alamos, NM and spent several days with daughter and family. See the next post.