COLORADO JOURNEY

This 3rd episode of our National Park trip continues in Cortez, near Mesa Verde, and we travel to Montrose and the Black Canyon of Gunnison.   Next stop, after a surprising drive, is Crested Butte. In Winter a ski resort, in summer a mountain biker’s paradise.   Please go to thewalkingpoet.net and the Season 2 webpage to see photos.

Transcript

COLORADO JOURNEY

This 3rd episode of our National Park trip continues in Cortez, near Mesa Verde, and we travel to Montrose and the black Canyon of Gunnison.   Next stop, after a surprising drive, is Crested Butte. In Winter a ski resort, in summer a mountain biker’s paradise.

Please go to thewalkingpoet.net and the Season 2 webpage to see photos.

SUPRISE

Elvis lives In Cortez

Room 1950 in the Retro Motel

Corn Tamale breakfast

gets us ready

for our Mesa Verde experience.

Rolling out of Cortez 

leaving Elvis

with our memories

of an era and music

that kept us rocking.

BLACK CANYON:

DRAGON POINT SUNRISE

It started 2 billion years ago 

it almost ended 30 millions ago

Now I sit on top 

8,000 feet

the rock sculpture complete

Now the flora and fauna add

their work and presence.

The sun rose gently painting

the sky and then cliff walls 

then slowly reveals the river

winding 2,000 feet below.

I sit alone at Dragon Point

feeling the presence of the ancient junipers,

gnarled twisted and solid

trees alive when Shakespeare

wrote his sonnets.

They have witnessed 

centuries of sunrises.

As I start to unwrap my food

A loud buzzing approaches 

out of the corner of my eye

the humming bird hovers

attracted by my colorful scarf.

Moments later chipmunk

holds his breakfast

in his little paws

as I dig into my granola.

Looking around 

there is a trio

white throated swifts

preening themselves 

under the setting moon

looking down

there are pastel rainbows

lichen and mosses

framed by flowers

white yarrow

yellow phyllaries

surrounded by flowering

prickly pear.

Still, silent

enjoying these gifts,

As a texas drawl

says good morning.

I welcome the human

into this perfect place

knowing that now is my time

to move on

with gratitude for these early hours

well spent.

MONTROSE COUNTY FAIR

Did I know 

pigs could be so pretty 

black and pink stripes

and comfy pillows

for the boys head,

and they kiss each other

through the cage bars.

Did I know

sheep smile 

as their coat is trimmed,

brushed and air blown.

Did I know

perfect pure white geese

snuggle together,

while showy cocks

display spectacular crowns.

The highlight 

the kids tractor pull.

with painted faces

and cowboy hats

watched by stands of

adoring grand parents.

Hard as they try

those pedals are stiff.

The little trailer seems

awfully heavy.

only a few make it move,

still they all get applause

and a gift.

Good training for the life of a farmer

I’m sure.

ELK LOOP

In less than 100 miles,

Through Delta town

The gateway to Rockies

A surprise collection of rusting artifacts

homage to internal combustion

Public graveyard of metal bodies

the borders of black eyed susans

then undulating folds of muddy hills

reminiscent of the Badlands

approaching Hotchkiss

Here the dancing elephants 

watched over by Buddha

and the sad sign

Monks visit cancelled because of covid.

Through Paonia 

over the North Fork

of the gunnison river

and the curious prairie dog

calls to me.

Onto County Road 12

A winding dirt road 

spectacular snowy mountain views

changing forests of spruce and pine

giving way to colorful meadows 

and straight silver Aspens

under the rocky mountains.

Every 10 miles some blacktop

raising hopes for a smoother ride

that evaporate moments later.

The final stretch into

Crested Butte’s Main Street.

where the trees have been reincarnated

as colorfully Painted houses,

Open for business.

©MartinStrasmore2021