Probably won't see this again!

Hello Family & Friends,
Well, the UTV now has four new to the Pendergast's tires -- the rear tires were put on Sunday and we headed out Monday to see how the UTV would run with the new tires.  We are still trying to fix the throttle issue as we sometimes get into trouble with lurching as we accelerate.  So every 15 mins. we are out and adjusting the throttle cable.

We headed back up to Seitz Creek (as it has the smallest amount of water running right now) to see if we could find any illusive gold -- not having much luck with finding any "color".  It was a beautiful day to be out and enjoying the mountains and the beautiful scenery especially after all the rain and snow that came down over the weekend.

We round the curve in the road and low and behold, we ran into ......

a Cattle Drive!!!! -- Peacefully coming down the road --- I thought maybe they had escaped their fencing but they just kept coming and coming.....

So we just stopped the UTV and sat while the cattle just parted and passed around us, giving us this look like, "hey, what in the heck are you doing in my road?"

Don't know if you can see them but at the very back of the cattle line were 2 cowboys and 1 cowgirl, herding the cattle to pasture along the Rio Grande.  They were very nice and kept those cattle moving forward and in such an orderly manner -- I was impressed.

So after the herd passed, we went on up the road watching for stray cattle 😜

We spent 4 hours searching for gold and determined that we suck at finding gold .... but we aren't giving up yet --- we aren't quitters 😝

As we headed back to Ute Bluff, the UTV (aka RD for Ranger Dan), decided to really act up and lurched and backfired and just ran like crap...  so Tuesday will be a day to get into the repair shop to see what in the heck is going on!

Such is the life of the Pendergast's challenges,

But sending love and blessings your way,

Susan & Darrel

Sightseeing trip to Lake City

Hello Family and Friends,
Since we are down a UTV, I wanted to take a sightseeing trip to Lake City, located along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway.  Last year we made it to Creede and Lake City is another 50+ miles on past Creede.  The weather forecast for this weekend (June 22 & 23) was cold, possible rain (snow in higher elevations) and wind -- since we are down the UTV (patiently waiting the tires), I was like, lets take a road trip to Lake City.

We headed out of South Fork with 71 degrees and sun, but as we traveled west/northwest to Lake City the storm clouds headed in.... the temperatures kept dropping and at one point, we were hovering around 36 degrees and I'm thinking a couple more and we may get some icy conditions!!!

More snow as we head up the pass

The clouds kept rolling in, notice the trees, these are ones that are infected with Beetle Kill.

The clouds keep on rolling in, all directions.

A brief moment of sun -- this was along Slumgullion pass

Snow, snow and more snow

But here comes the blue sky....

You cross two passes, Spring Creek pass and Slumguillon Pass as you head into Lake City, needless to say, it was cold and the weather not so great for picture taking.

We arrived in Lake City and they have been battling flood water from Henson Creek and Rio Grande River.  It is a touristy type town and we walked the square looking the quaint buildings and stores.

We stopped at Spring Creek Pass on the way home as the scenic lookout was on the right side of the highway

We crossed the Great Divide again!

It was too cold to get up to the elevation sign, I think we were right at 11,000 feet.

We stopped for a late lunch at Freemons General Store, which is a roadside type "burger" diner.

As we left, it started to rain and rain/sleeted on us all the way home to South Fork.  What a yucky day for a sightseeing tour along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, but, hey, we would have been RV bound as the rain rolled into South Fork as well.

We did get our two front UTV tires picked up and scheduled to drop off the two rear tires on Sunday for mounting.  Darrel was changing out tires in the cold and rain -- hot chocolate was waiting for him when he finished.

So hopefully we will be back up and running on Monday and the next week weather looks to be a big improvement over this weekend!

So until the next time, sending love and blessings your way,

Susan & Darrel

Mt Agua Ramon trail

Hello Family & Friends,
We took a ride up a new trail in the Rio Grande National Forest.  It took us up to a Radio Tower lookout and on to Agua Ramon Mountain.  It was a windy day, with sun and clouds.  We stopped at a couple of streams and found a neat meadow (created by cut down trees) to have a picnic lunch.

The clouds were rolling over the mountain tops, still filled with snow.

Looking at the valley below lies South Fork.

Any direction, the mountains have snow caps.

Darrel thought this looked like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, but healthier!

Maybe this will be my Christmas card pic?  Toasting with a Diet Coke.

We had a great day and arrived back at Ute Bluff wind blown and dusty from the UTV travel.  As we unpacked our gear, I looked at the front of the UTV and we had a flat tire.  We were very thankful that the flat tire happened at home base vs. the mountain top!

So we found a used set of tires at a local outdoor outfitters and are in the process of getting them mounted so we can be up and going on the trails again.  Although it was frustrating to have this happen, and the wait time to get them repaired, I am so thankful that we didn't blow one as we traveled.

So we are using the down time to catch up with chores, errands and even took a sight seeing trip to  Lake City (stay turned for the post on that trip).

Sending our love and blessings your way,

Susan & Darrel

PS  I came into the kitchen one night and caught Darrel washing his gold clean up pan in my DISH WATER, couldn't miss the opportunity to take a picture of that!!!  

I was like, "Dude, really???" --- he just grinned, of course!

Pagosa Springs via Wolf Creek Pass

Hello Family & Friends,
Monday we set out to do our stocking up shopping at Walmart and to visit the bank in Pagosa Springs, CO.  We didn't travel that way last year as we always headed to Alamosa to do the shopping and errands.

Part of our reason for wanting to go over Wolf Creek Pass was to see if we thought we could haul Zoe (5th wheel) up to South Fork and/or down through Pagosa Springs when we return to Arizona.  Well, it was a better road than I remember as a kid when we traveled in the 10ft camper on the back of a pickup.

We stopped on the way back to South Fork as it was later in the day and the temps were warmer (a whopping 59 degrees at the summit at Noon).  You can see the remaining snow still on the pass.  Of course the San Juan river, Rio Grande river and Wolf creek and Pass creek were running fast.

Susan and Darrel standing at the Great Divide -- Wolf Creek Pass

Look at all the snow and there is still more to see!

I was trying to figure out which rivers we were seeing as we crossed the summit!

Snow is still abundant and as it melts is what is causing our flood warnings and watches for the Rio Grande River that flows through South Fork.

Darrel dared me to make a snow angel but I didn't bring my snowsuit and didn't want to get wet.

Bo enjoys the cooling off by the snow bank.

 Here's a travel advisory sign for what is to come as you travel down the west side of the pass --

The "hairpin curve" is the biggest concern for hauling Zoe over the pass and you can see they have 2 runaway truck ramps (or runaway RVs) where you slow down in a long run of sand!

Grades are around 6-7%, debating about our brake wear 😆

Headed east back to South Fork we stopped to look at the raging water below -- I think this is either Wolf creek or Pass creek -- might be the Rio Grande, just cannot tell from my maps.

Beautiful scenery and so green!

More waterfalls and rapids along the route.

Sheer cliffs block one side of the creek/river

After last year of seeing barely any water flowing like this, it is amazing to see this kind of water flow.  There are warnings out to anglers to beware of the water flows and I'm not sure anyone is stream fishing.

So the jury is still out on whether we will try to haul Zoe over the pass or not -- but it was a great trip to Pagosa Springs, light travel and good memories of past travels over Wolf Creek Pass.

Sending love and best wishes from "cool" Colorado,

Susan & Darrel

Seitz Creek - Rio Grande Nat'l Forest

Hello Family and Friends,
Here's a few new catch up posts, I have been a little lazy in getting this up.  I think after we travel, it seems like it takes a few days to rejuvenate and find some extra energy.  So here's a few pics of things we have been up to the last few days.

We scouted out Seitz Creek where we drywashed and metal detected last year because there was no water running in the creek bed.  We walked quite aways last year and never encountered water, well now we have water.

The creek bed is running and there is such a nice green lushness along the sides.

You can see where the debris has caught along side trees.

There are several "waterfall" drops along its route.

We then went over to check out the other dry wash area on the road to the creek.  There was a stream across the road bed in one place and our lunch spot was still looking dry and welcoming.

As we travel the road, you cross several streams and the one last year barely had water flowing -- it is the stream where I took a picture of the "hole/cave" in the wall -- here's what the water looks like now!

See the cave in the left side and look at that water running!

Closer up from the road, every stream has some white water flowing.

We just beat the raindrops home as we have had showers most days -- I think maybe 1 day without an afternoon or early evening or overnight shower.

We are headed to Pagosa Springs and will post some pictures of our travels over Wolf Creek Pass.

Enjoying the cool (yeah, cold by Arizona standards, temps!!)

Susan & Darrel

Experiencing Snow Melt Pt 2

Hello Family & Friends,
After the first post for the snow melt, I found additional pictures on my camera vs. phone.  I didn't get them imported last night until I remembered I had them as well.  So here's a Pt 2 of the snow melt post.

Also, I did hear on the news this morning that the snow melt is 7 times higher than most years and in some places 100 times higher (so I guess that means snow depth where it had never been before).  So we continue to watch the rising water forecasts and just patiently wait on Mother Nature to take care of business, after all, that is all you can do, right?

I have no clue what mountains these are, we are in the Rio Grande National Forest

If you can see a high peak, there is generally some snow still visible.

Darrel checking out Embargo Creek -- see the pictures below for how strong it is flowing right now!

Rapids at almost every turn.

This is a shrub/tree in the middle of the flow and you can see if splitting around it.

Oh, I promised to see if I could find a picture of what Embargo Creek looked like last year when we were here -- well, it took me a few minutes (good thing I organize pretty well) and here's what we had last year.

OK, I am not joking, this is what the water was like last year as we sit in the stream and panned!!

Not sure if I have the "exact twist and turns, but it was Embargo Creek.

I liked this picture for no other reason than the clouds rolling in and the green meadow.

So until next time with news to share, sending love and hugs from Colorado,

Susan and Darrel