Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Saguache Creek, Colorado

This would have been Day 3 of Ride the Rockies, but I discovered on Day 2 that I was significantly undertrained for the event this year, so I decided to drop out of the ride.  So, on our way out of Gunnison we took Highway 114 to Saguache in order to get to Salida, this being the designated alternate route so we didn’t have to drive by the 2000 cyclists going over Monarch Pass.  I have never been on this highway and I don’t know why, because it was absolutely gorgeous!  The beginning of the drive goes up the Cochetopa Creek Valley, which started wide and slowly narrowed as the miles went by.  Eventually the road goes up over a pass overlooking a wide park area with stunning views of the San Juan range to the southwest, before dropping down in to the Saguache Creek valley.

There were many different wildflowers blooming along the way, but the large fields of iris were the most magnificent, especially in contrast to the deep blue sky and wispy clouds.  This picture was taken where Jack’s Creek comes down to meet with Saguache Creek, a very bucolic scene with a herd of cows grazing in the distance.  Another beautiful day in Colorado, a perfect way to celebrate our 19th anniversary!