McEwen Farming and Family Stuff

Today, we travelled from Bueno Vista to Durango. – Colorado It has been a privilege to renew my (Alison) friendship with Miriam Barnett and meet her husband, Stan – Dr Stan Barnett. I was at school with Miriam, as we have mentioned – at Strathcona Girls Grammar. It is 56 years since we have seen each other. So we had plenty of catch up to do – and so we talked non stop. One of the many pleasures in visiting and staying with friends is first to enjoy their company and a by product is that they show you places that only locals know and then they suggest the best drives for the best scenery. And that is what we did today. Leaving Bueno Vista reluctantly as the snowcapped mountains frames the town and gives such beautiful views from the homes. The view from Miriam and Stan’s home will stay with me forever. we first travelled south, then west and climbed up over Monarch’s Pass. – 11, 312 ft – my ears were `pinning’ – swallow, swallow. We didn’t notice this too much as the snowcapped mountains were to the left of  us, to the right of us and in front of us. Every turn brought `errs and ahs’. On through Gunnison past Lake Mesa to Montrose. Lake mesa was stunning – the water went on for miles. The bright sunshine highlighting the lush green growth , the tall pines and the snow in dotted blobs in between and the blue water.   Lunch at Montrose.  I asked a local in McDonald’s what were  the unusual `sand’ hills as we approach Montrose. He said that they were adobe or clay – if you walk on it when it is wet it sticks to your shoes. The area only has 12 or so inches of rain a year, so the valley’s are irrigated as the rain is too sparse to grow crops. Lucerne hay seemed to be the main produce. Also sleek black cattle.

Montrose to Ouray is `Switzerland of the West.’ The green valleys, chalet like houses, high mountains and the tall pines. We stopped at an outlook to take photos and I was in tears with the wonder that we could be so privileged to see such beauty. If we were any earlier we would have been in the late snow (May saw a dump of late snow) or any later and the snow will have melted on all but the very highest peaks. The rivers are now running very fast with the melting snow.  In between the mountains there are some very deep canyons – Black Canyon looks at a glance to be 300 ft in places. It is a pity that you can’t stop to see all the points of interest. We flash past – not too fast as the speed is slow so as not to drop off the edge. No guard rails. `Alison take photos’ ` Ian watch the roads, the curves.’   I want to close my eyes I’m scared of the drop on my side. But no -open them toes’ see the spectacular. I hold the camera out the window and snap – hope they come out.  I thought the black mountain slopes with part snow covered looked like `killer whales or `friesan cows’ We climb Ouray – 7,700 ft and down to Silverton on to Durango. – Tomorrow the train trip Durango to Silverton and back.  I will let the photos speak for themselves.