South Fork &Creede

Yesterday when I read the blog back to Bob he thought that I had left out a couple of important things. One was the Ford GT that we saw on the road out of Ouray. This was the racing version that won numerous races in a very short career. Then Ford stopped producing them. We very graciously pulled over to let him past and didn'see him again after the next bend. The second was the huge number of bikes in this area, most of them Harleys of course, but yesterday we saw three Can Am's and a Gold Wing touring together. Then last night they were eating dinner at the next table in the restaurant and we had a good chat.
Yesterday was mountain travel on a good road so pretty relaxed. We detoured  briefly to get a closer view of a National Monument, "The Chimney". We spotted some Praire Dogs as we drove in. They are cute little creatures that sit up on their haunches to look for predators the same as Meercats. We tried for photos but they decided we were in the predator catagory.
South Fork is at a junction of the Rio Grand River and is primarily a ski resort town. Unusually for this altitude (8000 feet) it is on level ground and spread out. It has a very good visitor centre which had a small stuffed bear that we gould photograph for Eleanor and Hannah. The ranger suggested that we spend the afternoon taking a 20 mile drive up to Creede. This is an old mining town turned tourist centre. The difference here is that is was the area of the richest silver mine in North America - 200 ozs per ton. The town is very well preserved and visually attractive. If I can make my photo programme work I will include some shots. There is a "gap" in the surrounding mountains at the end of the town which is very steep sided and narrow. It is the junction of the road out of town and the road to the numerous mine sites, hence important. There is the usual problem with rock falls and sIips here and to protect the road there is an amazing dry stone walling system all the way up the side of the valley, about 200 feet in a switchback pattern. It is obviously old and has had to be reinforced with timber in places but is substancially in place. We strolled around the main street after a walk out to the gap. The town is another 1,000 feet higher than South Fork and constrained to a couple of streets  but is prosperous and very well maintained. We had a chat with the owner of a Standard Poodle and I was allowed to have a thorough pat.
We discovered some information at the visitor centre that explained why we feel woozy when walking at these altitudes. Apparently there is a higher risk of dehydration as you lose moisture more rapidly up here. We have been drinking more water than usual because the days are warm but apparently not enough. Our accommodation overnight is a 100 year old log cabin which is small but entirely self contained and very comfortable. It  even has two rocking chairs which we have made good use of. Over and out.