Lots of Bikes, Tall Ladders and Playing Dress-Up

What a day!  The highlight had to be the tour through Balcony House.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Mesa Verde, Balcony House is the ruins of a cliff dwelling that is built into the side of a very tall mountain.  Named I suppose for the  "balconys" that are still evident in the masonry structures.   For I, who does not even get on a step-ladder and gets whoozy at the thought of a lookout point (it' s a thing with heights) this was stepping way out of my comfort zone! So I climbed up tall ladders on the side of the cliff, crawled through a tunnel on my hands and knees and walked in footholds used by those early inhabitants.  It was a great experience and I did it and didn't fall off the side of the mountain!  Hmm. . wonder what skydiving is like???   

We were in motion since 7 AM, first thing  accidently having  the opportunity to take photos of a parade of bikers, (the pedal kind, not the whroom kind) hundreds of them, making their way down Highway 160 toward Mancos.  Lots of early morning smiles and waves from them as we attempted to capture some good shots.  I think we got a few, but wasn't easy.  Of course the bikers were in motion, vehicles both coming and going were in motion  and we were standing beside the road, and hanging over the overpass, just hoping for that one perfect shot.  We got a few good shots, I think. A perfect one, I don't know.  That seems to be the fun and challenge of the photography business. 

What was going on in the Mancos Park was just hard to describe.  Guess you had to be there.  Huge crowd, wild costumes , mud wrestling, hula dancers.  They call it a Renaissance Fair.  It was a crazy mix of people and activities but everyone seemed to be having a great time.    As we left we spied a group of young boys splashing and playing  in the cool, clear water of the river that runs through the park.   I  think they were having the very best time of all.  Now that looked like real fun!

We drug ourselves home late afternoon to download pictures, have a little dinner, hug the dog and talk about what a good day it was.  I am again reminded, particularly at our "young" age , every day is a gift.  This day for sure    :)   . . . sf