Buzzard's Roost Butte

Southwest Leg: Palisade, Colorado

We left Rangely after lunch and moved on to see my uncle Thomas and cousin Gwen (father and sister of Caitlan) in Palisade, Colorado.  On the way we drove through Canyon Pintado.

The Guardian PetroglyphThe canyon is home to numerous petroglyphs from the Fremont Culture and Ute people dating back up to 2000 years.  One particular petroglyph was fitting for our journey, “The Guardian.”  The Guardian was believed to watch over the travelers who used the canyon as a trade route.

They treated us to a tour of the Peach Farm and of Gwen’s tiny orchard_viewhouse ( a work in progress).  For those of you who don’t know, my uncle is an organic fruit tree farmer.  He grows apricots, cherries, plums and the best, sweetest peaches you have ever tasted.  I am so lucky that I have grown up eating these peaches.  I get to enjoy them around my birthday each year.   His farm is called Rancho Durazno, you should check it out for more details about how life is there.  

Gwen moved back to Palisade this year to learn the business from her father.orchard_mowing  It was so fun to see her taking notes, driving around on the riding lawnmower and talking to her Dad about “discing” the 2-acres behind their house to get it ready to plant more trees to make the grand total  40 acres of fruit trees.  The girls explored the boulders and secret caves around their house.  We stood in awe of Buzzard’s Roost that stands majestically looking over their property.

We enjoyed lots of laughs and a great meal while the girls wrestled on the hammock hammock_fightingin the warm night air (later there were complaints by the girls of rope burns on their rumps, a natural consequence, I guess).  We are having the girls write in their journals, daily with pictures to describe one favorite thing of the day.  Here is what Quinn wrote:

Quinn's drawing of a cliff

 

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Mackenzie on a horse

Southwest Leg: Rangely, Colorado

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As Jacob and I made the decision about when to leave on our trip, seeing babies and grandmas beyond the Front Range became a priority.  I have a cousin in Rangely, CO and Jacob has one in Phoenix both recently had baby boys.  We wanted to meet both boys before leaving the country and I need to see my grandmother out in the Austin, TX area (Marble Falls to be exact), who  is 92.

So, as we drove out of Denver on the 23rd of September, our first destination was Rangely, Colorado to meet the newest Cameron, Rhys.  The fall colors were in full swing.  We stopped at a great park in Vail to enjoy a picnic lunch and mountain air.

Playground with Fall Colors
Much needed playground rest stop in Vail, CO
Fall colors in Vail, CO
Love Colorado Mountains in the fall

I am always in awe of Glenwood Canyon.  What a treat that I got to drive through three times in one week. (back and forth from the wine fest in Palisade, were two).

Glenwood Canyon, Colorado River
Glenwood Canyon

I have never been to Rangely.  It was such a beautiful drive full of fall colors.  The White River snakes through green farm land framed by high desert canyons.  Caitlan and Jed live on top of a vista and get to see this out of their living room window:

Sunset view of Mesa
Sunset view from Caitlan and Jed’s backyard

We spent the morning playing with their boys and then got riding lessons from Caitlan and Jen on their horses; Stella, Pete and Pig.

Quinn and Stella
Quinn loving on Stella

The girls are journaling daily about their favorite experiences.  Here is Mackenzie’s “post”:

Mack's story about horseback riding
Mack’s story about horseback riding

It was such a great visit and  feeling so good that I can now picture the place where Caitlan and Jed call home.