Alamosa to Cortez

Alamosa's Farmer's Market

I got my corn, Jess! For $2, an ear of corn grilled, buttered and salted, and a floor show.  "You'll return for seconds!"

That's pigs' weed on the far right. I surveyed everything first, asked some questions, then returned to vendors  I was ready to purchase from.  My question for my first vendor, pointing to the basket on the ground in front of his table was "what is that?". The vendor answered me in Spanish-- epazote (sounds so much better).  "It tastes like spinach." Then he explained how to cook it. Later, I returned to his booth and asked for "the pigs' weed". He was the only vendor selling it, so I thought "Why not? When in San Luis Valley!"  The vendor didn't try to upsell. In fact, he only charged me a $1.00 for the "gourds"-- a combination of squash and zucchini.   I researched both later.  The pigs' weed is an edible weed. Its' leaves can be brewed for tea or eaten raw or cooked, and seeds that can be ground into a powder and used as cereal or sprouted and added to salads.  I'll let you know how it goes (I'm choosing the leaf option!)   No further info. online about the "gourds"! 

We chatted with John Kretsinger, an organic farmer in Alamosa. Very passionate about food, and eager to share his knowledge. Very big on Colorado, not so much on his home state of Texas.         Lots more great info. about his business @ http://www.kretsingerbeef.com/p/about.html

A familiar sight in Kansas and Colorado, irrigation system. In Cortez, we spoke with a winemaker who told us that Cortez has received 2 inches of rain in the past three months. 

I saw several of these signs leading up to the ranch (see photo below). First time I had seen that style of property designation. Much more subtle than a fence! 

This is our truck's trail through and around mountains. The highway was so steep, we could smell our brakes from the friction going downhill. At times the wind gusted strongly as well, shaking the trailer. We saw several runaway truck ramps and two sandy roads steeply inclined from the highway.      They are designed to slow down transport trucks that have lost their brakes (mechanical issues or weather related).

The landscape dramatically changed from high plains to forest and rocks. The mountains also came into much closer view.

                                                  One of two tunnels we passed through

                                                              Notice the dry trees

                                                       Second tunnel we passed through

                                                         Blue color enhanced by windshield

   A narrow road from the highway took you to the overlook. After the turnoff for the overlook, there was some highway and a guard rail between us and a drop off.

This is a view of the highway that we traveled on. The drive took about a half hour.

                                                                     View of the valley

In the valley

Chimney Rock National Monument, San Juan National Forest 

Final stretch 

                                      View from our picnic table: Cortez-Mesa Verde KOA