Fire on the Mountain, Pagosa Springs

It has been a quiet few days for us.  We are still in Pagosa Springs, Co., because Rich still has dental work to be done.  His final appointment is Tuesday, June 25th.

We have watched as a wild fire has grown from the small lightning strike blaze first pictured in the "Wolf Creek Pass" post we made earlier, to over 66,000 acres.  You can find the details by searching for the "West Fork Fire, Co.".  We are not in any danger as we are 8 miles south, but we are so sad for beautiful South Fork, which we left on Monday.  South Fork has been evacuated and the fire is only 1.5 miles from the town.  Wolf Creek Pass is closed to all traffic, the town of South Fork is evacuated, including the campground we stayed in.  We've talked to other RVers, who had to evacuate at 1:00 a.m. in the morning.  It was very scary for them.  One couple went out to eat, and were not allowed back to their RV.  Finally a state police officer and fire unit escorted them back to retrieve their coach, they are here in the same campground with us.

 

 

On a happier note, Rich went trout fishing Friday, and caught his limit.  Trout this size were everywhere.  Our small freezer is now overloaded with trout.

 



One day, we visited Durango, we were there last year also  It is a pretty town, that emphasizes its cowboy, mining, logging, railroading past.  They still have narrow gauge train excursions up into the mountains.  Durango's landmark building is the beautiful Strater hotel.  Inside, the hotel is just like it was at the turn of the century. 

 

 

Louis L'amour was a near permanent resident.  While staying at this hotel, he wrote most of his paperback novels.  All of the staff were in period clothing.  We would have loved to stay here a night.  On the way home, we stopped by the Ignacio Ute Casino.  Bad mistake, we broke our own rule of $40 or one hour and came home losers.