Drive to Sportsmans Campground outside Pagosa Springs, CO

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Today we move from Gunnison to Del Norte, CO. Our daughter and family were camped a little ways outside Pagosa Springs, so we decided to go surprise them.

Below the pictures show the drive to the Sportsman campground. Splendid views!!

This is the only picture we got of part of the family.  Jessica and Zoe are looking at their cameras. The older boys are playing with their electronics.  Must be games because there was not any service at the campground. You cannot see James and Rux. It was fun to surprise them. We left before dark because we were 2 hours from our rv park.

Gothic CO and Mt Crested Butte CO

Friday, July 13, 2018 - Part 2

We also read that Gothic CO had lots of beautiful wildflowers. It was not far, so we headed that direction next.

As you can see, we learned that Gothic was the site of a biological laboratory.

The following 3 pictures show a little of the laboratory.

 This cute peak-through sign was near the public café.  The café was not open yet because we were too early in the day. We were so early that just a few of the researchers had started to come out and start their day.

 This sign shows some of the special activities they do here.

A private residential cabin on the hillside in Gothic.

 Below is closeup of the little flowers above.

What a gorgeous view as we headed back to Mt Crested Butte!

On the way back to Mt Crested Butte, we drove through this lovely aspen grove.

We obviously are back in Mt. Crested Butte, where most of the ski runs are. Lots of hotels here, but also gorgeous views as seen in the following pictures.

 This metal art of a knight fighting a dragon was near the entrance of Mt. Crested Butte.

Isn't this black and white of the clouds beautiful!

We had a beautiful sunset that evening. The above pictures are all taken from our rv park.
   Wonderful way to end a wonderful day!!

Washington Gulch north of Mt Crested Butte CO

Friday, July 13, 2018 - Part 1

Our last full day in Gunnison.  We decided to take a drive through some areas that are known for the beautiful wildflowers in the correct time of year, about now.

First we headed to Washington Gulch on CO-811 a little north of Mt Crested Butte.

We left early in the morning, so as we left Crested Butte there was still fog over the town.

 What a beautiful view as we headed for Mt Crested Butte.

 Just outside Mt Crested Butte we came to CO-811 that was to take us through Washington Gulch. 

 In a short distance we saw these on a hillside.  We never learned what they were protecting, but it looked to us that these little tents were protecting some kind of wildflower.

We never saw large fields of wildflowers on this drive. However we did see many little patches of various wildflowers.

And the views were magnificent to say the least as seen above and below!

Below we took a selfie of ourselves at the river seen above.

These flowers were just across the river from where we took the selfie.

We are headed back to Mt Crested Butte now. This is just a short distance from our last stop. Looking towards Mt Crested Butte this was our view. WOW! Below was a deer soaking in the early morning sun just the other side of the river were we stopped.

 Now we are back in Mt Crested Butte. What a beautiful high mountain valley.

 These flowers were planted in a town park.

 Above and below are more awesome views and flowers seen as we headed out of Mt Crested Butte.

We are headed to Gothic, CO. See the next post.