Mancos Days!

There was a time, when I was editor of the Mancos Times, that I dreaded Mancos Days ... there was soooo much to cover, it was a drag. Now I can relax and enjoy this annual community homecoming, see old friends, see how kids have grown and just enjoy the events with my neighbors.

Friday was sort of a getting-ready day, with not too many events. The "81328" photo exhibit of Mancos pictures taken by locals was last night, but otherwise Friday is kind of low key.

Everything really gets under way on Saturday, starting with the Boy Scout pancake breakfast at the school from 6 a.m. on. Then there's a foot race at 8; the lady shown above was doubly handicapped in the race but more power to her!

Having a cowboy ride up to the Columbine Bar for service is not that unusual, especially around Mancos Days.

When the parade starts at 10, the kiddies led off this year, including this little tricked-out motorcyclist and his companion.

There were lots of horses and old-timey costumes (yes, the air quickly had an authentic western fragrance!), and one bunch of desperadoes even had the marshal cornered (you can see his legs and head beyond the grey horse).

I couldn't stand long, so I parked a chair early and let the parade flow by. The beautifully restored stone building across the intersection in the heart of Mancos is the Bauer Bank Building. It was once a bank, and both the Montezuma National Forest and Mesa Verde National Park had their offices in the building. There are still offices upstairs and the downstairs includes, from the left, the Absolute Bakery and Café, Artisans of Mancos (in the old bank lobby) and Nathaniel's of Colorado, where fine hats are handmade using century-old equipment.

And that was just the morning! tv