9-13 Junction Creek Campground

Junction Creek Campground

Before leaving Big Meadow Larry and I went on a hike. The trail took us around the lake and was very nice. We were glad that it wasn’t too strenuous considering we were at 9300 feet in elevation. It took us through trees, over fallen trees, through creeks and over a few bridges. It was a little cool when we started the hike but at the end it was warming up. As we hiked we saw Canadian geese swimming in the lake and a couple of beautiful blue jays. The lake was so flat you could see the trees and geese reflections in it. We saw a couple of walls of rocks that looked like they were man made so we checked it out. There was a door laying against one side so we figured it was an old shelter or an old mine entrance. The hike was over three miles long and took a little over an hour and a half. We had a great hike.
 

Larry on one of the bridges we crossed during our hike

The structure we saw

Big Meadow Lake

Canadian Geese

 After our hike we got ready to go to our next adventure in Colorado. We had a wonderful stay at Big Meadow Campground in the Rio Grande National Forrest.

A view from the overview

Chimney Top National Monument

One of the tunnels we drove through

Today Larry drove a little over 100 miles, we didn’t intend to go that far. We started down the road towards Pagosa Springs and drove by Wolf Creek, a ski resort. We drove through a couple of tunnels and drove through a magnificent mountain range. We stopped outside of Pagosa Springs at a scenic overview of the countryside. Then we went into Pagosa Springs for fuel and lunch. We were about 30 miles from our first destination, which was Lower Piedra Campground. Before getting there we drove through another campground called Ute but it was run down so we didn’t stop. We had seen a sign for Chimney Rock National Monument so we decided to check it out. We got to the entrance gate and found a long gravel road to the visitor center so we decided to leave. We saw the monument from the road. In order to get to Lower Piedra Campground you had to take a mile long gravel road, which wasn’t too bad. It was a beautiful campground and we would have been the only ones there but we decided to go to Junction Creek, which is located right outside of Durango. The road to the campground was also a gravel road for about three miles and it was rough and a times very tight. It was a very pretty campground but very busy. We drove around for awhile and was ready to leave when the host came around and asked if we needed help. He told us the sites that were halfway level and available. Then we found a site and setup for the night.     

9-12 Saying Good-bye

We spent two fabulous weeks at Fun Valley Family Resort. During our stay we attended 11 workshops, 12 dances, played games and met new folks and got to know other folks we dance with. We danced with three different callers Brad Caldwell, Bear Miller and Wade Driver. We listened to three cuers for the round dances: Annie Dammier, Lucy and Jerry Pate. We had three big meals a day. The activities that were available in our package were miniature golf, horse shoes and Polish horse shoes. Thursday morning of each week we had fun competitions to win a trophy for men’s and women’s miniature golf, horse shoes, Polish horse shoes and paddle boat races. There was an after party after each dance and the entertainment was funny and well performed by the staff and dancers. The hosts of the square dances Cindi and Gene Young were outstanding and a lot of fun. We had so much fun that we plan to go back next year

  

Big Meadow Campground

This morning we went to the good-bye breakfast and said good-bye to our new friends and other friends before we left Fun Valley. While we were at Fun Valley on Tuesday afternoons Brad would take a group of people to Creede Firehouse to square dance. We stayed behind to attend the workshop because we didn’t have a tow vehicle and didn’t want to intrude on others. Everyone told us we should go to Creede so we stopped by Creede to see what the excitement was all about. Creede is an old mining town with shops, art galleries and restaurants. We drove by the Firehouse and discovered what the excitement was about. The Firehouse was where the old mine use to be. It's built in the side of the mountain. Larry parked the Minnie and then we walked through the shops. The shops were cute and there was one that had a magnificent staircase built out of logs.

After our visit to Creede we drove back to South Fork to the Rio Grande Forest to Big Meadow Campground. The campground was down a four mile gravel road but it was well worth it. Once we setup the Minnie for the night we hung around our site and relaxed. We had a site that had a great view of the lake. We setup our chairs and  read, in the shade it was cool but when you got in the sun it was almost hot. When dinnertime came around Larry barbecued some Cowboy burgers. Flo and I kept him company. After dinner we took Flo for a walk and then we went for a longer walk. We walked around the campground to the waterfall, which is the overflow of the dam. We walked about two miles. We saw families fishing in the reservoir and saw three guys riding horses on the hiking trail. The horses had big packs on their back. This was a pleasant surprise. We had great walk. When we got back to our site we let Flo out and we sat on our chairs and relaxed until it started to get dark. We had a wonderful day.

I almost forgot to say today was a special day for Flo. She turned 12 years old. Happy Birthday Flo.                  

9-11 Last Day at Fun Valley

Laundry Room

It's not all fun and games at Fun Valley, sometimes you have to stop and do laundry. That's what I did this afternoon. In the morning we had the finals of the games to determine you wins a trophy. Last night during the after party Paula came around and asked a few ladies if they would play in the miniature golf finals. No one had signed up for the golf. When she asked if I would I said sure. At 9:00 this morning all the men and women golfers and their caddies met at the golf course. The women played the first 9 holes and the men played the last 9 holes. The caddies did a great job of distracting the golfers. At the end of playing the women had a tie for first place so they had a sudden death play off. After the men finished playing the 18th hole the sudden death play off began. I had a super time playing golf and the match was real close. While I golfed Larry and Flo cheered me on. After finishing up the golf tournament I thanked my caddie. Then Larry, Flo and I went home to relax. While we were relaxing the women and men's horseshoes, women and men Polish horseshoes and paddle boat championships went on.

The golfers and their caddies

One of the caddies trying to distract a golfer

My caddie John Valkenaar and his wife Char looking on while I putt.

posing with a long horn at the golf course

In the evening we attended our final dance and the trophy ceremony. We had a super time. There were seven squares and a lot of round dancers. The theme tonight was the Hit Parade, Brad and Wade called the top ten and Jerry and Lucy cued the top 4 of each level of round dancing. The dancers dressed up for the dance. Brad and Wade did a great job of giving out the awards. It was very entertaining because of Jerry Pate. Jerry played a trophy man and gave the trophies to the ladies, while he was giving out the trophies he tried to give them a kiss but he had smeared ice cream all over his lips and the ladies would run away, this was hilarious. 

Lucy Pate and Brad Caldwell dancing while Jerry Pate cued

Ann and Morris Winkle round dancing

Larry and I in front of a giant bear in the hall

Martha and Tony Burghart and Jamie and Terry Pimm dancing

A couple round dancing in a beautiful outfits

   

                  

9-10 Horse Racing and Dancing

Dancing to the Wild Rose Band

Wow!!! I can't believe it's already Thursday. We've been having so much fun. In the morning Larry and I went to the square dancing workshop just in case they needed us to fill out a square, they did, we completed second square. This week the workshops aren't as complex as last week. We work on the plus movements that dancers are having problems with such as scoot back, walk and dodge, follow your neighbor and spread. We had fun at the workshop. The paddle boat preliminary races were after the workshop but we didn't attend. 

The horse are in the gate for the first race.

Owners of the horses

I'm at the finished line

In the afternoon we hung out with Flo until it was time for the horse races. Last week we had the barn to ourselves but this week they were also having a chili cook off. During the chili cook off the Wild Rose Band played and people danced to them. The band is an old country western band and was very good. We had three races and I jockeyed for Brad in two of them. I bet a dollar on each race and I won two of the races. I won $9.00. Larry and I had a super time playing the horses

Ann and Morris Winkle from Round Rock

Jamie and Terri Pimm from Sugar Land

Karen and Lyle Fink from Tucson

Shirley and Jim Teegarden from Georgetown

Jerry Pate from Round Rock and Kathy Amburn from Florence

Wade Driver from Spring and Lucy Pate from Round Rock

The evening dance was a casual dance but if you wanted to wear square dancing apparel you could. There were a lot of round dancers and seven squares. We had a great time. The after party was very informal. Wade and Brad sang, dancers danced, dancers brought their own adult drink and the snacks were provided by Cindi and Gene and dancers. One of the two fireplaces was lit to take the chill out of the hall, the last couple of mornings in has been in the 30's. It was a lot of fun sitting around visiting, laughing and getting to know people. 

Wade Driver and Brad Caldwell getting ready to sing

People dancing to Wade and Brad

A fire to get the chill out of hall

 
 

9-9 60's Flower Power Dance

60's Bus

Today was a day where there were no workshops so the dancers could do what they wanted to do.  After breakfast Larry and I walked around the park to work off some of the food. Then Larry read, I played some Sudoku and Flo hung outside for a little bit. When it was time for lunch Larry and I walked over to the restaurant. While walking over there we met Mary Kaye and Bill, a couple from the Denver area and ate lunch with them. We danced with them last week and now this week. After lunch they invited us to play miniature golf with them. Larry decided to go back and read a book but I played golf with them. While we were playing Larry came by with Flo to see how things were going. We were almost finished so Larry and Flo didn't have to wait too long. I came in last place but I had a great time with them. 

Dan and Kathy Amburn from Florence

In the evening Larry and I went to the 60's Flower Power Dance, where the dancers dressed up in outfits from the 60's. It was a cool dance. There were seven squares and a lot of round dancers. The dancers were in charge of doing the skits for the after party. The dancers from Tool did a couple of skits and did a great job. Cindi and Gene Young did a couple of small skits. All the skits were super. Wade Driver and Brad Caldwell sang a couple of songs before the skits. The snack were cheese, crackers, celery, carrots and a dip, which was prepared by Cindi and Gene. The evening was a lot of fun. Below are a few pictures of some of our friends and new friends.

Right to left Jamie and Terry Pimm and friend from Sugarland

Paula and Brad Caldwell from Georgetown

Cheryl and Chuck Sherman, Paula and Brad Caldwell and Shirley and Jim Teegarden

Martha and Tony Burghart from Austin

John and Char Valkenaar from Austin

Morris and Ann Winkle from Round Rock

9-8 Another Beautiful Day at Fun Valley

I did something different today, I went fishing. On Tuesday morning at 9 the square dancing group activity was Fish For Your Super. Last week I didn't go fishing but today I decided to participate. I haven't fished for a long time. There were about a dozen of us fishing and only three of us were ladies (Paula, Lucy and I). While I was fishing Larry and Flo watched. The men ended up catching all the fish but we all had fun. It took about 45 minutes to catch the amount we needed for dinner. I was so glad that I didn't rely on my fishing skills to have dinner because I would go without dinner.

fishing for my dinner

dancing during the morning workshop

After fishing we had an hour square dancing workshop and then there was an hour round dancing workshop. During the workshop we worked on a couple of moves. One of the moves we already but we don't do too often. The workshop was fun.

Larry and I didn't go to the afternoon workshop instead we hung around the Minnie. But we did go to the night dance. Most of the dancers were casually dressed. There were seven squares and a lot of round dancers. The after party was put on by the staff and they did a super job by performing three good skits. The last skit was hilarious. We had strawberries, apples, peanut butter, whip cream and sopaipilla for our snack. We had a great time.     

9-7 Black and White Dance

Black and White Dance & Red, White and Blue Dance

The schedule this week at Fun Valley is the sames as last week except that the horse races will be three days and we have to share the races with a chili cook over event. This morning we attended a 90 minute workshop. There were enough people at the workshop for three squares. Brad and Wade introduced the people that attended the workshop to a made up call called Patch, where you hinged and then the caller designate which dancer will turn back. It was fun but some people were struggling with it. They told us that they were going to call Patch during the dance in the evening. The afternoon workshop was an hour long doing the same moves as in the morning. We attended the workshop just in case they needed us to complete a square and they did, we filled out a third square. After the workshop in the afternoon I took Flo for a walk and she went swimming in the pond. She had a great time swimming and we stopped and visited with Paula Caldwell. 

Dan and Kathy Amburn round dancing

Round Dancing during the Black and White Dance

The dance tonight had a theme Black and White, where dancers wore black and white. It was Labor Day so Brad told us if we had brought red, white and blue they could wear that. Most of the dancers tonight wore square dancing attire. There was a lot of beautiful outfits. I didn't count how many squares we had but it looked like there was just as many as last night. There were a lot of round dancers. We had a great time. The after party again was a couple of skits. Before the skits while people were getting their snacks Brad sang a couple of songs. The snacks that were served tonight were hot dogs and the fixing including chili, potato chips, corn chips and water and sodas. One skit was a beauty saloon where Brad played the hairdresser and Lucy and Jerry were his clients. The skit had two parts, between each part Kathy walked in front of the audience with a sign that said Time Passes. It was very funny. The second skit was on ladies stockings and Wade, Brad, Lucy, Jerry and Paula all had a part in it. This also was very funny. Who ever wrote the skits did a great job.