Moominmama: The Adventure Continues

 

In which Moominmama returns to the road, reunites with the Moominhouse and prepares for another season of adventure....

Moominmama has departed the snowy north -- but not before getting in a winter's worth of cross-country skiing. As mud season begins in New Hampshire, I said good-bye to my snow friends and headed west.

The Moominhouse has been parked just south of Durango, Colorado since late October, a maneuver that allowed me to order parts from the rare RV dealer in the U.S. that works with Safari Condo, the Canadian builder of the Moominhouse.

To get back to my tiny home required a 7.5 hour drive to Rochester, N.Y., where my friend Ruth took me in, followed by four days of hard driving. I set up for some car camping -- staying overnight in the back of my SUV at a truck stop, a Cracker Barrel, a rest area, and off a dirt road in the San Juan National Forest.

By that fourth day, my body ached from being stuck behind the wheel, but I arrived at Pagosa Springs, Co. famous for its hot springs. It was time to take the waters and relax some of those tight muscles!

Pagosa Springs takes its name from a Ute word for healing waters. The "mother spring" has been used by native peoples for centuries before white folks arrived and monetized the arrangement. 

This being the off season, a couple of the resorts were closed for repairs, but the one I visited was built right alongside the San Juan River, with stone terraces and a dozen different hot tubs of varying temperature.

For $46, Moominmama got a day pass, paid another $7 for a locker and avoided the towel fee by bringing my own -- also skipped the luxury robe rental!

The recommendation was to start at a lower temperature so my first plunge was into a pool of 96 degrees. That was plenty warm. But I also tested out the 102 degree and a 104 degree tubs as I wandered the riverside terraces.

There at the base of the terraces, along the rushing river, was a small alcove where stones were stacked so someone can step down into the water (50 degrees) without getting swept downstream. A sign labeled this the Warrior Plunge. I took three steps down into the water, which at that point came to my thighs and grew murky. It didn't quite seem like a plunge until I took one further step and was suddenly up to my armpits and feeling the pull of the current!

I don't think the sound I made would qualify me as a "warrior," but I quickly made my way back up onto the terrace. A few more hot tub visits and I was sufficiently relaxed to move on.

Moominmama is now in Durango, restocking the larder and stashing away gear in the Moominhouse for my travels. 

When the trailer was in the shop for the day, I went out for a hike along Skyline Trail to Raiders Ridge. The ridge provides views of both the Durango Valley and Horse Gulch on the other side. I headed north, following a trail called the Smoke Jumper.

This is not because anyone jumps from this locale. Turns out it is named after a Durango native and smoke jumping forest firefighter who died at age 27 in an avalanche.

The stone memorial to Joseph Philpott stands along the trail, with dozens of small stone hearts balanced along the top. 

It was very touching and led to my looking up the story behind the memorial and the young man, obviously well loved in this community!

I thoroughly enjoy Durango and all the amazing scenery in the area. It's a very outdoorsy town, and hikers and bikers are everywhere. Unlike the dense woods of N.H., there are views in every direction on every trail. 

There are fascinating rock formations, twisted, fragrant trees and a complex indigenous history. Though it is cold at night, spring is well along with trees flowering.

While most of my free time has been spent hiking or setting up the trailer, I was invited by a new friend to attend a free concert kicking off this weekend's bluegrass festival. It was held at Ernie's, a converted gas station that serves as a bar and coffeeshop with a collection of food trucks outside where the gas pumps must have been. This is called the 11th Street Station and proved to be a wonderful spot for an informal dinner, conversation with new friends and some lively music. A great way to kick off a new season of adventures!