FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
A Dream Come True.
A life’s realization for us. It seems our search for this house began after the Boss took a balloon ride across the Masi Mara in Africa. So we went back and so began the search. Yellowstone, the Rockies, Aransas Wildlife it has not mattered, it has been lets go chase wildlife. But we always returned to Southwest Colorado to 4 wheel drive, chase elk and muleys, see a lion, the area was always special. After a long search it happened and for some reason the house of our dreams that we could afford came back on the market in South Fork and it was a done deal.
It is in small subdivision with many folks part time residents. In the winter South Fork has around 300 residents if that tells you anything. Perfect. What made it perfect is our back fence (20 feet from the house) borders the woods, as in a bazzillion acres of national forests and public lands. We loved the fact that the critters were constant visitors. Turkey, deer, coyote, bobcat, and bear this place has it all. So after closing we were so excited to head to the house. On the way in there were lots of mule deer, a couple of respectable bucks so it was off to a good start.
Enjoying her birthday present. She earned it!
Of course, with the time change we woke up before daylight and when it came, it was amazing. When I say the turkeys came streaming off the hillside I am not kidding, 40 – 50 who knows but they were everywhere doing turkey stuff. Meanwhile a big buck walked right in front of the house, and even the turkey and deer were fighting over some good stuff. It was a National Geographic moment. But watching them all I kept going where are the long beards, and then here they came right behind the house. My count was 15 but the turkey just kept on coming. As I write this a bunch are walking down the road.
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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
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They looked a little different from the turkey I am familiar with. Not near the red areas on the head, the hens had none to speak of and the toms just a touch. But the were a really big bodied bird and after reading up on them they are probably Merriams. On our many visits to the mountains here we have seen lots. So our first morning was a big success and as I write this it is playing out again.
On the house side I can not tell you how wonderful it was to move in, with just a suitcase. Completely furnished, spotless and as we have learned these 2 days it is way beyond our expectations. This is one quality built home, and with R50 in the ceiling it is energy efficient, and the gas fireplace is warming me as I watch the parade, including the rabbit that just hopped across the window. And looking out the window there is a mountain in the front yard, and one in the back. Way cool.
Here there is 4 or 5 inches of snow on the ground, they just got 59 inches in one day at Wolf Creek Pass, about 20 minutes down the road. We are 8,000 feet and Wolf Creek is around 11,000 over the Continental Divide and gets the most snow in Colorado. It snowed here last night and as folks have been telling me it went true to form. As the sun came out the roads started to clear. It tends to be in the low teens at night then above freezing and into the 40’s most days. We needed a few supplies and since it was snowing on the mountains, clear at the house, I wanted to drive over the pass to Pagosa just to see what it was like with snow coming down and the roads far from clear. While there was only mandatory chains for commercial vehicles it was definitely 4wheel mandatory. And once we got to the top not only were we in the snow storm but in clouds and the visibility was about 30 feet, It was one amazing drive. Once you drop off the hill the weather was the same in Pagosa and South Fork, 40 and sunny. On the mountain it was 20 and snowing like crazy. And of course the ski area was jammed as apparently new powder is the deal for them. Just the right amount of winter for us.
So where does it go from here? First up today is some snow shoeing in an area I have seen the sheep and a stop at several spots on the river to see how that looks. What little we have seen of it and a couple of lakes they are frozen over. But it is so beautiful here right now who cares, this is everything we missed about not having the 4 seasons we both grew up with. (Texas as we all know seems to have two, hot and then real freakin’ hot.) From there it will be back and forth, me staying weeks at a time and the Boss will be out here when the schedule allows as there is an airport in Alamosa which is close.
Count me as one lucky guy. Our lifetime of work has led us here, you know a couple of kids from the corn fields of Iowa who did not come from money, to owning a second house in Colorado. Only other folks do that. I have said it a hundred times on the blog; How bad do you want it? You hear folks say “Living the dream.” It can really happen and it happened to us. It took hard work and a certain amount of luck all coming together at the same time. And what can I say about the Boss but thanks, we did it.
Just wanted to fill you in as the posts may not flow at quite the rate they did for a while. But who knows may want to share a picture when the lion comes to the back yard or a nice brown trout on the fly. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tigh Lines
