On Friday, Oct. 11th we left Alamosa, CO, bound for Mancos, CO, which is very close to Mesa Verde National Park. Unfortunately, disaster struck us on the way to the next city of Durango, CO. As we crested Wolf Creek Pass some rocks had fallen in the road and Dad hit one with the car causing a flat tire.
Dad changed the tire on the side of the road and we continued on to Durango to the Subaru dealer. They didn't have a replacement and had to order one from Denver, and it being Friday they had to wait until Monday for delivery of the new tire.
We drove on to Mancos, a nice little town in the San Juan Valley, with only one paved street, but a very nice town park and a local brewery that served vegan food to our surprise. We stayed in a very cozy studio apartment with some very nice people, not far from the town park where we walked each day that we were there.
On Saturday, Oct. 12th, we drove to the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument near Cortez, CO. We stopped at the visitor's center to gather information about hiking in the area, as is our custom.
From there we drove about twenty miles to Sand Canyon where there were several hikes to ancient ruins and cliff dwellings. We found what we were looking for after hiking several miles through the desert and were not disappointed by what we encountered.
We walked almost ten miles through the desert and explored many interesting sites.
On Sunday, Oct. 13th, we drove ten miles to Mesa Verde National Park and stopped at the visitor's center for information on where to go and what to see. We found examples of ancient art and discovered some things that were disappointing. Nearly half of the park was already closed anticipating winter weather and the best cliff dwelling was closed off due to fallen rocks, so we couldn't view it.
We were able to see a few interesting places but were disappointed by the restrictions placed on where we could explore.
Later, that day we decided to explore the "Four Corners National Monument" at the convergence of the boundaries of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The monument is on the Najaho Reservation and there is a charge to visit the place in a remote area of the desert.
The place was nearly vacant, and the fifty-odd stalls surrounding the site where vendors normally sell their wares were nearly empty. Another disappointment. because there were no food vendors there at all. We had heard from other tourists that this place was hopping just a few weeks ago. There were signs that the place would be shut down for the winter on October 19th, a few days off.
The point where all of the four states come together is marked with a bronze marker. Here is Dad standing on four states at once, the only place in America that this feat can be accomplished.
We have to get the car fixed tomorrow in Durango, then we will head to Hovenweep National Monument😉.
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