The Encore for this review isn't music, its our new home town of Ouray, Colorado that many of you have heard us raving about for the past 2 years. During 25 years of marriage, Pattie and I managed to travelthrough 48 of the 50 states and Ouray was the only place that called us back several times until we finally bought our little ranch house in the woods, on a mountainside, at an elevation of 7700 feet!
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As hard as it is to leave all our beautiful friends and family here in the east, there is something about Ouray that brings peace of mind, contentment, and a natural energy from the beauty that surrounds the town. Words can't describe the place or the feelings, its our 'place outside of time'
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When we rediscovered Ouray during our semi-retirement, ski vacation back in 2002, we came into town on Pattie's 45th birthday and received a Deadhead's greeting with the perfect lyrics for a weekend that would change our life!
Exploring the Box Canyon falls on the south end of town, we discovered the new ice park created to encourage tourism during winter. Sprinkler taps are installed along the water supply line coming off the mountains and these ice formations are created all along the 300 foot canyon walls.
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We were fortunate to catch these late season climbers who fascinated us with their attempt to climb a beginner section. We learned later that they have schools in town so I'm psyched to try a new sport and there's even a 'Chicks with Picks' group where Pattie can learn to climb!
The big attraction in town (besides the natural beauty) is the public hot springs pool. The first time we discovered Ouray, back in 1987, we were on Dead tour in Telluride and heard about the Ouray hot springs. We drove around the mountains to check out Ouray and the hot springs cured Pattie's case of poison ivy that was annoying her the entire vacation. It was our first of many natural hot springs experiences and still rates as one of the nicest facilities.
When we bought our new house in Ouray this past July we had the opportunity to take our first jeep tour up into the higher elevations along the Imogene Pass. The wildflowers were in full, gorgeous, bloom and we experienced a completely different perspective of the area.
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Before we finished our ski vacation we returned to Ouray to investigate the real estate market and found this forest home about a mile from the hot springs just inside the city limits.
We spent 2 months exploring Alaska for the second leg of our retirement adventure but no place piqued our interest enough to move there other than Ouray. Once we realized that the ties that bind us here in the east were strong enough to stretch to the west without breaking, we found the strength to make the move.
The Juggling Suns music and the family atmosphere that we've developed around them has inspired us and touched us deeply at times. When we hear the notes of Open Road appearing out of their cosmic jamming, the flood gates open and the lyrics tap into our emotions on many levels. Our friendships are indeed connected to the core and will last a lifetime.
We won't be seeing everyone at the Blue Star every month like in the past but we will be dancing to the Juggling Suns in the future. We'll be back for New Year's, Easter tour and Elkhenge in September for sure, in addition to whenever my work brings us back to the area. I will be investigating the Ouray, Telluride, Gunnison and Durango music scenes to scout out potential spots for a Juggling Nation invasion somewhere in the future. Meanwhile, if you're ever near southwestern Colorado, stop by Ouray and give us a call... just be warned that you might not want to leave!
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