April 29, Durango to Blanding

Waking in Durango: more shopping for “necessities,” breakfast, stop at SPCA thrift store for sets of cutlery, plates, cups & whiskey/wine glasses, and wandering through Wal-Mart for a thermos so we can carry fresh ginger-lemon tea with us. A quick walk by the Animas River outside the “inn” where we stayed, the river humming and running lively around the rocks. Soon to be quite more vigorous and deeper if all the snow on the nearby mountains melts in a hurry. Heading west to Utah by noon. 

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The colours of the land (red, green, brown) contrasted with the fast moving, dramatic sky which ran the full spectrum from black to white within our view. It was easy to see the rain/snow being pulled out of the ominous clouds onto peaks and pastures.

Mesa Verde came into view about 15 minutes east of Cortez; Barb got a great shot of the massive mesa from the road. We will return to it in about 10 days.

We had a few snow flurries and one hail storm before stopping for lunch, at the Peace Tree café in Monticello, just over the Utah border. Fish and steak tacos washed down with fresh veggie juices. Perfect! The patio was still dressed in the hail that had pounded down moments before. No al fresco dining today. 

We turned south to Blanding, with the Abajo Mountains to our right, surrounded by storm clouds, dumping more snow.

About 20 minutes later we pulled into the Stone Lizard Lodge (motel) in the quiet town of Blanding. We were given key to the family suite – 3 bedrooms which would comfortably accommodate 7 people. Unfortunately no kitchen, but a microwave and coffee-maker and 4 bathroom sinks (!). So Barb and I each have a bedroom – she has set up a little painting area in hers, and I have spread out with books and maps in mine. I even have a little heater that looks like a flaming fireplace!

We ventured out on foot, under unsettled skies, towards the Edge of the Cedars Park, which has a small but fabulous museum with Native American collections from the Four Corners area, including ruins of an ancient Puebloan living structure and kiva (underground ceremonial space) behind the museum, found in that spot, as well as a mud hogan.

The museum was closed but we poked around the perimeter until the sky darkened a few shades, thunder rolled and the wind picked up. Time to find shelter! We stayed under a door overhang while the rain pelted down.

Looks like the next days will also be unsettled. Glad to have packed our warm clothes and raingear, but looking forward to putting on some lighter wear and getting out on some modest hikes. Probably not for another day or two.

Kathi