Deer, elk, rainbows, and fall cattle drives

And a little window into my day. I went for a hike up Ohio Creek this morning and saw in the distance what looked like a bunch of cows. Oh, yes, it was a cattle drive and I was heading right into it. I decided to get off to the side of the road and let them all go by, the small amount I thought they were. And this is what happened:

the orderly beginning

trying to escape ME

cattle racing off the road going the wrong way

this cowboy galloped by me to head them off

and they're headed back up to the road

I decided to go back in our gates and get out of their way, especially after finding out there were 600 coming. The cowgirl, cowwoman, cowlady?  who had jumped out of her truck to saddle up and help round up the stray cattle waved at me and wished me a nice day, especially nice since I had done a bang up job at trying to ruin hers...

And snow and freezing temps have arrived. Not ready for this. Its a small amount of snow mostly on the peaks and the temps are going back up for the next week, but let the big leaf falling begin. Interestingly, our woods always turn much later than most, no idea why, but they're turning now. They fall off just as fast as any when they're done.

Amazing rainbows happen here often, but couldn't believe when we had the end (or the start?) down our hill.

The deer are everywhere on their last munching frenzy before they move to lower ground. They love our still green grasses and we carefully tiptoe by windows. Done this drill every fall...

a little rest between feedings

Also elk are around. These photos were taken a week or so ago, just past our fence. He had some females with him and were moving pretty quickly to hide in the next woods over.

Enjoying my walks/hikes a lot at this time of year. Always have the whistle and eyes peeled though for bear or mountain lion (a recent addition). Nothing recently...The falling leaves just add to the beauty.

Long time without listing books read. And I will also point out I'm a GIANT fan of the Outlander books and now the show, so have just reread the first in the series and starting on the second. It will be hard to wait until April for the second tv (Starz) half.
Saturnalia - Lindsey Davis
This is the story of a happy marriage - Ann Patchett
The man in the wooden hat - Jane Gardam
Chickens, mules, and two old fools - Victoria Twead
Great stuff all of the above. Doesn't always happen that way.

Engineer Pass, Silverton, jeeping, and fall prime color continues.

The rest of Paul and Sherry's visit was fantastic. Lots more photos to share. We took them jeeping over Engineer Pass to Silverton for lunch. What a fun trip and it never gets old.

The summit was amazing. And for the first time we ran into people coming up so we had to back down, a quite narrow strip. Good job Mark and the Rock!

The trek into Silverton was smooth sailing and the town was quite busy.

Handlebar's was good as usual. Very busy even though it was late for lunch. I overheard waitstaff talking about off season coming up when they could rest. Ahh, the tourist season...

Went back home over Red Mountain Pass. What stunning color!

Mark and Paul had success fishing on the Gunnison and Sherry and I went on another photography jaunt, this time up Carbon Ck and Mill Ck. Color, color everywhere. How soon it will be gone, gotta take advantage while you can...

Last night we took them into CB for a new experience. Cocktails at Montanya and tacos at Bonez. It was so much fun.

Giant mortar and pestle- smash your guac, yum

And the week is over - boo. Come back any time Paul and Sherry!

Fall in glorious color and fun company

Paul and Sherry are here and we are wasting no time. The color is magnificent in every direction.

The family of geese that have been here all summer remained

Mark took them down to the trout pond and I tagged alone to see the action. And there was - in succession Paul caught a huge fish, Mark was next, then Sherry. All fat and sassy fish (all went back to live another day.

started off from home base - Baldwin

Ohio Pass - lots to turn yet

the waterfall is running again!

Sherry and I went off for a day of photography frenzy and got lots of good stuff even though we were dealing with the remnants of Odile with rain and clouds off and on. Paul and Mark went fishing but were rained out.

Sherry and I drove up to Lake Irwin in the mud with occasional rain and a little hail mixed in. Made it up to the old still boarded up lodge. The new owners of  the big development there intend to restore that as an event center, we'll see.

Gothic

Lunch at Ryce and then on to Gothic and Emerald Lake. We stopped so many times to jump out I'm surprised the car didn't just decide to leave us and drive back home.

Mark spent leisure time today with neighbors helping to clean out the head gate - again. Those pesky beavers. And Paul and Sherry went fishing on the Taylor. Great success for both of them, with Sherry catching big beautiful browns. I do not fish but can certainly appreciate the whole process. (And I love to eat them - boo, nobody kept anything)

We are taking Paul and Sherry jeeping over Engineer Pass tomorrow. Hope they like it as much as we do!