July 24-26, 2014 Salida, Colorado

We came to Salida to  visit and to hang out for the weekend, no camping spots in the mountains.

Downtown Salida is all historic buildings.  In the 1800’s they decided that wood buidings were too flamable, so the code was to build with brick. Many of these were built then. John with Connie and Bev at dinner. John met Connie when she owned the house next to his rental. She hated him because he had loud renters, but he redeemed himself by helping fix her car. He met Bev when he lived in Eagle. As he tells it he was making moves on her in a bar and she told him she didn’t date short,fat, bald guys. She says all she said was short guys. . . They have been friends ever since.

We are parked in some free BLM camping by the Arkansas river. Pretty by the river, but no shade and no rules, so people run their generators all night. It is very hot, in the 90’s. We had to soak in the river to cool off.

Enjoy downtown Salida. The woman in the mural has a frown and does not look like she is enjoying anything! Bev’s front yard. Really pretty garden and nice porch.

We had drinks at the Boathouse, right on the river.  John was once again the token male with 8 women , us and friends of Bev’s. Even the musician mentioned that he was a lucky guy surrounded by woman.

These signs were outside the Boat house. The Arkansas river runs right though town. Rather redecorated in town, but on both sides of town are river runners paradise of class III-V rapids. There is a play park in town.  It was built for kayakers, but now they rent boogie boards and inner tubes for people to play too.

Saw this airstream trailer in the parking lot. Called a base camp. Another shot of historic downtown Salida.

Kayaks behind the Capricorn Sports store. John says one of first boats was this vintage.  Metal sculptures  on the corner and building.

A sign in a gallery window-Warning Geezers Gone Wild, enter at your own risk.  Some art in the gallery that is closed, we will have to come back and see it.

Evan, Bev’s dog is helping John BBQ on the deck.  It rained and thundered off and on all afternoon. Cooled it off nice, and we had this rainbow.