That worked out great and when I left home the sun was just barely starting to peek out and there was no traffic (exactly the way I like starting a trip). As I drove the sun came out and it was the start of a beautiful sunny day. The first two hours of the trip were just driving. I did stop at the Colorado border and got a picture of the Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign. My next stop was a short drive away at the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Antonito, CO to look for Jo Z Ro Z's Get on Board! letterbox. 
I parked where the clues said to park but had trouble finding the landmark I needed. I walked all over the place but couldn't find the short, wooden rail fence with two cross posts. Finally I found it - it was blocked by a tour bus and overgrown tree branches. Once I had the box I took it to a nearby picnic table to sit and stamp in. I really hoped that having trouble with the first box wouldn't become a theme for the day. I stamped in and then replace the box and continued on my drive. My next stop wasn't far away - about 2 miles (a five minute drive). I made my way to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Conejos to find Oldest Catholic Parish in CO (another box by Jo Z Ro Z [from this point on she will be known as 'Z'] - the first nine boxes that I found today were hers). I parked at the Parish Hall were the clues said to park and I quickly found the box. I took it back to the car and stamped in. While I was stamping in a man parked right next to me and when I was ready to put the box back in place I had to wait. I couldn't believe that he had parked right next to me when this large parking area was totally empty. Finally he left and I was able to get the box hidden again without incident. I left here and went to my next destination near Sanford. I was looking for Z's Pike's Stockcade. [I guess that the actual Pike's Stockade is quite a bit further up the road from the box.] 
This was another quick and easy find hidden near a sign on the side of the road. The box is hidden on a back road and there was no traffic - I did not see one car while I was there stamping in. So there was no problem retrieving or rehiding the box. But on the way back to US 285 I encountered a traffic jam . . . of goats. There were about a dozen goats just sauntering down the road. They didn't seem to be bothered by me and took their time moving off to the side so I could pass.Back on the highway, I headed for the next box which was a mystery clue that I had solved. Going for this box was my first side trip of the day. Unfortunately, I didn't find the box. Not really sure what I did wrong but I am pretty sure I was at the right location just maybe not the exact hiding spot for the box or it may be missing. Oh well, time to continue on. So I headed to Monte Vista to the Information Center to find Folly's Flower by Z. This was a bit tricky because the box is hidden right near the front door on the main street in town. So I pretended to take pictures and I was able to grab the box without giving anything away.
I took it back to the car to stamp in and then had to fake picture taking again to hide the box. Once the box was back in place I drove to Alamosa. While in Alamosa I looked for four boxes (all by Z). I only found two of the four (The Iron Horse and Ute Symbol at Wayside) and quickly stamped in and returned the boxes to their hiding spots. The two I missed (Santa has misplaced his hat! and All Aboard!) I think are missing. I found the hiding spots with SPORs but no boxes. Next I took my second side trip of the day and headed along US 160 to Fort Garland. I drove into Fort Garland and easily found Z's Ute Symbol #1a at Fort Garland. I quickly stamped in while sitting in the car and then returned the box to its hiding spot and then continued to the next box. I headed back the way I had come on US 160 and stopped at the Blanca-Fort Garland Community Center to find Z's Phantom Ute Chief. Another quick and easy find and in no time I was back on the road heading back the way I came. I made another stop at the US 160 & CO 150 to find Z's Sea of Sand! and after stamping in I continued my drive up CO 150.I drove about 20 miles to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Visitors Center. I paid my fee and then got my National Park Cancellation Stamps. I also bought a book and a patch and then headed out to see the dunes. I drove a short distance to the main parking for the Dunes. I grabbed my camera and headed out. This was my first visit to the Dunes and I didn't really know what to expect. so I walked out on a trail which led to the Medrano Creek and the Dunes. At first, I just stood on this side of the creek and took some pictures but then I decided to walk out onto the Dunes like most of the people were doing (the creek wasn't very wet so it was easy crossing. As I walked I saw a young boy playing in the creek while his mother sat on a log in the creek and watched him. I also saw two guys playing with a frisbee and one man sitting and meditating. As I got up to the Dunes themselves I saw people sand boarding and sledding. After taking a few pictures and enjoying the views I headed back to the car. When I got to the car I had to take off my shoes and dump out sand before getting back on the road. I definitely need to make another trip out to the Dunes.
When I was done I replaced the box and continued on my way. I took CO 17 until it merged into US 285. As I got on to US 285 it started to rain. It was only a drizzle at first but it soon turned into a downpour. I made a stop at Poncha Pass to find The Woodshed's Colorado Mountain Highway Passes: Poncha Pass. Since it was raining no one else had stopped here so I could look for the box without problem. I found it quickly and thankfully it was hidden on the sign with an overhang to protect me from the rain. I took it back to the car and stamped in then replaced it back in its hiding spot. Then I continued on making my way to my destination for the night - Poncha Springs. By the time I arrived in the town the rain had stopped so I decided to look for one more box before going to the hotel. I stopped at the Jackson Hotel to find Z's Jackson Hotel - 1878. I was a little concerned about looking for this one because there was a window near the hiding spot. But I didn't have any problems retrieving the box. I stamped in sitting in the car and then replaced it.Now it was time to call it a day. So I drove a little further up the road to the Poncha Lodge. The owner checked me in and I made it to my room in no time. I got some things out of the car and into the room. It had been a long day so I jumped in to the shower, put on my PJs, logged in my finds for the day and am now writing this post. I think I need to get to bed now so I can continue my drive tomorrow to Evergreen.
No comments:
Post a Comment