Day Nineteen

Was sleeping well last night, until my phone rang at 6.30am. I say rang, it buzzed as it was on silent. I ignored it, presumed I could follow it up later. Then it rang again immediately. Thought it must be someone back home urgently trying to get hold of us because of an emergency. Got up and ran to phone. It was Wembury Grasshoppers Cricket Club. I declined to answer it. Presumed a message would be left. It wasn't. No idea why they interrupted my sleep, we don't play them again this season.

Tried to sleep again.

Eventually got up. Put Ashes on. Saw that we had scored just shy of 400 and now were struggling to take wickets, with Australia 100 for 0 not long before tea. Watched for a bit, before heading down to breakfast.

Came back up, put cricket back on, Australia had lost 4 wickets. Gutted.

We didn't have to check out until midday and seeing as we couldn't get in to our next place until 4pm, we lazed about in the hotel. I watched more Ashes, Ann read a book. We also printed some stuff out for an activity in a couple of days.

Eventually we packed up and headed out at 11.45am. Set the sat nav and headed north-west.

The journey was under two hundred miles, so we wandered along and admired the scenery. We started to feel we were really in the Rockies.

More mountains

We stopped for lunch in Chama. It was the largest Subway we've ever seen. It even had its own radio station, KZRM FM 96.1. Unfortunately, they weren't broadcasting, so I couldn't put some tunes on.

We kicked on the last sixty odd miles crossing into Colorado. It now means Ann is one ahead of me in states visited as she's been to Washington state and I haven't. I had Colorado as my equaliser, but now she's been there too.

Arrived in Pagosa Springs. We needed to get food as we are staying in a self catering place. Ann had been going on about stopping in Walmart before we headed up to the cabin. So when we reached the town I told her to get Walmart onto the sat nav. The car sat nav said the nearest Walmart was 45 miles away. We discussed why Ann had thought there was a Walmart in Pagosa Springs. She said in was mentioned in the literature of the cabin. It said all you need to worry about is stopping at Walmart. We came to the conclusion it meant go to Walmart on your way.

Looked on the sat nav for other grocery shops. Only two appeared. Set in the nearest one and went to it. Got there and parked up. It hadn't finished being built. Set in the other one. On the way we suddenly see a sign.....Walmart! There was a massive one neither sat nav knew about. We stopped, bought a load of supplies and then headed up to the cabin. It was another 12 miles or so north of Pagosa.

Eventually the road turned into gravel and got quieter and quieter. We kept going further into the wilderness. Then we saw the cabin. Pulled up into the drive only to scare a mule deer away. Gutted.

Got out the car and looked around. Oh my god. It is amazing. We let ourselves in (We had the code to the key press) and unpacked. I couldn't stop beaming as we looked around the cabin.

Awesomeness

We got everything in and set about familiarising ourselves with everything. As we did we kept gazing out at the views. We spotted wildlife. Also it rained heavily, the first rain of the trip.

My hum'bird

Alvin, Simon or Theodore?

Then a bit later we saw another mule deer. Took some photos before it went off. Then even later we saw two deer.

Doe a deer or two

Made ourselves some tea and sat and watched Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2. It was now dark out, so no point watching for anymore animals. Research shows that black bears are in the area, so here's hoping.

We also finished finalising our plans for the next two days. We are quite excited about what we are doing. Hopefully it all lives up to what we imagine.

Now going to bed, in order to get up early to see wildlife and watch Everton play. Also going out for a 9.30am start.

Chipmunks seen - 1

Bears seen - 0

Deer Watch - high

States Visited - 15