Vacation 2020 Durango

 Tue, Oct. 20, 2020 Traveling home... Saying our "Good-byes" I also took these to capture the inside of their home. I wanted to take this last shot of where we hiked one of the days we were here. We were up on the ridge looking down at this spot. On our way to Albuquerque New Mexico Still enjoying GOD's creation. More fascinating topography. Can't get enough... And still more! A public observation deck at Albuquerque airport Length: 00:00:23 sec. Had an hour to "kill" and found this neat Public Observatory. Flying out of Albuquerque, airport in the distance. I wanted to show this to Jan because we had mentioned the "speghetti bowl" while going thru it. Now you can see how it looks from the air. We noticed this dome while driving to the airport. Approaching Denver, we noticed the fire clouds in the distance... ...and the haze caused by all the smoke. Approaching Denver International Airport. You can barely make out the skyline because of  the smoke ...

 Mon, Oct. 19, 2020 More hiking...this time to Engineer's Peak, but first... Breakfast at Hermosa Very nice breakfast. Luna and Finley are in the car right outside the restaurant. Getting ready to hike up to Engineer's Peak. The beginning of many elevation changes. Nice view of the sun shining through the trees. I was taking a picture of a very friendly "Jay-bird". I like the sun rays shining through too. Jeff getting up close and personal. You can see two of the "jay-birds" in this picture. A pine tree growing up in the middle of a rock. We're probably about 11,000 feet now. The water isn't running because it's frozen. There really is a wood-pecker in this video. You may need to view twice to find it. Length: 00:00:21 sec. My first 360 view of the meadows of Engineer's Peak. Length: 00:00:19 sec. We climbed a little higher to see over the ridge. Here's another 360 from the ridge. Length: 00:00:26 sec. This video shows part of our trek do...

 Sun, Oct. 18, 2020 Purgatory Resort, Bear's Game, Dinner at the Club But first another surprise on the cul-de-sac right in front of Jeff & Michelle's home... The balloon has landed.   Now some videos to capture the moment... Length: 00:00:04 sec. Length: 00:00:05 sec. Length: 00:00:18 sec. As we watched the balloon be put away,  the pilot of the balloon stopped by and gave us her card: Front back

 Sat, Oct. 17, 2020 Hot Air Balloons, Hike, & Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR Here's the open field where a dozen hot air balloons will be taking off. These next videos show the XTO Energy balloon preparing for lift off. Length: 00:00:30 sec. Length: 00:00:36 sec. Length: 00:00:30 sec. And now for some other balloons doing the same thing; preparing for lift off. Length: 00:00:15 sec. More balloon footage... Length: 00:00:27 sec. Jan saying, "No" Length: 00:00:15 sec. "So colorful." Length: 00:00:11 sec. "All in Jeff & Michelle's backyard...all this excitement." Length: 00:00:18 sec.

 Fri, Oct. 16, 2020 Hot air balloons, Mesa Verde National Park, Dinner This weekend there's a ballon festival. We came at a great time! This was taken in front of Jeff & Michelle's home. On our way out of the neighborhood we came across these local deer. Called "Mule Deers". We traveled about 2 hours to Mesa Verde (Green Table) National Park. This was our first stop. These homes built in cleft of the rock were made by the Pueblo Indians. Jan is pointing out another view to see from the overlook. More brick homes built in the cleft of the rocks. The role of women even in the early days. Another view from another overlook. Mesa Verde overlook Length: 00:00:30 sec. We were surprised by how many turnoffs and overlooks there were to stop and see. Once we finished the driving part, we hit the trail. You can see the museum on the top of the ridge behind me. Interesting break in the rock. More trail views. We've walked around that out-cropping and about to climb out o...