After six days of marveling at the mountain eye candy in Silverton and Ouray, we moved a short distance up the road to the small town of Ridgway.  We visited this town last year, using it as our base to explore the area.  Ridgway’s a more sedate place than the busy tourist towns of Silverton and Ouray.  This year, I wanted to revisit the town so we could resupply and take a pause before we joined the thousands at Country Jam in Grand Junction.

Ridgway State Park

Our stay over spot was Ridgway State Park.  Colorado has some great state parks and I think Ridgway is one of the best.  It is set on a hillside overlooking the large Ridgway Reservoir.  There’s three camping areas, a marina, and swimming area.

I like the Dakota Terraces camping section because of the views of the Cinnamon Range and the Snellels Range.  I can sit at a campsite and gaze over at the snow-capped San Juan’s.  I reserved the same site as we had last year – a large site with electricity, fire ring, and a large shade shelter.  It’s also close to the bath house and laundry.

Orvis Hot Springs

Our first day of relaxing was spent soaking and sunning at the Orvis Hot Springs.  This small intimate hot springs is just about a mile south of Ridgway going towards Ouray.  It has 5 soaking pools of varying temps. The pools are naturally landscaped unlike the swimming pool setup at the Ouray Hot Springs.

The resort is clothing optional so it doesn’t attract the families with children crowds that we encountered at the Ouray Hot Springs.   It’s also a little pricier at $18 per day (no geezer rate) than the Ouray Hot Springs.  This cowboy kept his swim suit on, which is what about half the patrons seem to do.  Most of the people are in the pools up to their necks, but there are some that lounge and sun themselves in their birthday suits.  It all seems pretty natural.

I spent about an hour moving between the large 102 degree pool and the 96 degree cooling pool.  I’m guessing there were 30-40 other people soaking in the pools that day.  We got interrupted in the afternoon by a thunder shower and had to vacate the pools for about 45 mins.  Once the storm passed, we went right back in.

It’s such a pretty and relaxing place and so far the best hot springs I’ve been to.  The grounds are beautiful and quiet.  The trees, flowers, rock structures, green grass, and pathways are all perfect.  There are several nice sitting areas to relax out of the pools.   They also offer massages and outside showers to cool off under.  It’s an easy place to slip into a meditative trance and a great way to spend a couple of hours.  Sorry, I took no pictures as there’s a no electronics policy at the resort.

Dennis Weaver Park

Just down the road from Ridgway State Park is Dennis Weaver Park.  Dennis Weaver was an actor who played Chester in the Gunsmoke series and had his own TV show in the 1980’s called McCloud.  He made is home in Ridgway and donated 60 acres for a park along the Uncompahgre River.  Weaver was an actor turned environmentalist and the park is a tribute to his connection with the land.

It’s a beautiful and peaceful setting.  There a large bronze eagle statue at the center of the park.  I placed some prayer stones at the park as is the custom for people visiting.

More True Grit

We spent another day in Ridgway getting some food at the Town Market, checking out the town square, and finding more True Grit scenes (the original John Wayne movie True Grit was filmed in Ridgway).

The town park with its beautiful large trees was the scene at the beginning of the movie when Mattie and Yarnell arrive from the train.  There’s a hanging scene that was filmed in town park.  The park has two placards about the scene where I learned a bit of movie trivia.

In the movie, there are three criminals standing on the gallows about to be hanged.  The man in the middle was played by actor Jay Silverheels.  Silverheels played Tonto in The Lone Ranger TV series.  It was a brief part towards the end of his long acting career.  But, regretably he was unlisted in the movie credits.

Pausing

We also stopped in the Library to use their wi-fi to upload some pictures and videos. Ridgway has a very nice modern library and their wi-fi is super fast.  The library also has a nice display of historical items donated by Ralph and Ricky Lauren.  The Lauren’s have a little ol’ 16,000 acre ranch in Ridgway.

Then we had a fantastic lunch at Eatery 66.  It’s just a lunch trailer near the town center but the Greek Goddess sandwich was to die for.  Marinated grilled chicken, diced onions, fresh greens, marinated tomatoes, sautéed peppers, feta cheese, and tsaziki sauce folded onto warm Naan bread.  Yum.  Cav said it was the best meal of the trip.

The only other things we did while at Ridgway were some things that didn’t involve motion – like reading, watching the light change on the mountains, studying the sunsets, and sitting outside around a flickering campfire each night.  Enjoying the simple beauties that present themselves once I start being aware and just looking and listening.

Some may believe that traveling in an RV brings adventure and beauty.  That going to the next place brings interesting things or stimuli.  The next pleasure is just down the road or at the next destination.

RVing does bring us to different places, but beauty is all around us – everywhere you go, every day, and in every moment.  You just have to pause, stop for awhile, and open your eyes and look.  Or better yet, just listen.

I was once a man in constant motion.  But I have learned (and have to keep reminding myself) to stop and appreciate and savor what is in front of me.  Not just for a photo op, but stopping for a few days.  Listening, meeting local people and hearing what they have to say, watching the light unfold at a sunset, soaking in a pool, learning something about my surroundings.

Ridgway was a perfect pause before we joined the thousands of music fans at Country Jam.