Monday, April 20, 2020

Buena Vista, Colorado




How is everyone holding up during this COVID-19 Pandemic?  I was so worried about the spike in cases raising higher and higher across the USA and the world that I found it difficult to be online last week and took time off to do other things. I finished a few books I was reading, cooked and delivered Easter dinner to my children, watched some wonderful musicals and theater productions on TV, video conferences with family and friends on Zoom, and even ventured out to shop in Costco while staying very careful by wearing a mask and continuing social distancing. We have relatives in northern and southern Italy, and in New York City--both places severely affected by the novel coronavirus--so we were particularly stressed and worried. Thankfully, all our relatives remain well. Sadly, we did hear of many who passed away from this vicious virus--friends of friends, parents of children my children went to school with, neighbors and co-workers of other friends. Each life lost is a tragedy.  I know there are plans to begin to "reopen" and return to some areas of regular life, but my husband and I, being older, will continue to social distance, wear our makes when out, and stay home as much as possible. Most likely we will do this until a successful vaccine is developed. The hardest part of this regime is staying distanced from our children and grandchildren. I will never take hugs for granted again! 


Happily, my husband and I always loved to travel, and I have much in my files to blog about.  I've been reminiscing the past few months about a wonderful road trip we took to central Colorado last autumn, in the Sawatch Mountain Range area, where we enjoyed many locations in that locale. I realized I did not highlight the town we used as our base on all our separate drives, the charming town of Buena Vista. Buena Vista means "Good View" in Spanish, and as we approached the town from US Route 285 west, you can see how it acquired its name with its mountain vista.  We were fortunate to see an afternoon rainstorm over the mountains as we arrived--quite a sight to see!



This was in mid-September, so the trees were beginning to show their autumn color, and it was still warm enough that there wasn't any snow in the mountains as yet.





Buena Vista is located in central Colorado roughly midway between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of 7,965 feet.  The town's name is pronounced BYOO-nah VIS-ta by most locals. It was named by Alsina Dearheimer, a settler from Germany, who suggested the name with its unique pronunciation when it was incorporated as a town in 1879. Mining, agriculture, and ranching were the main occupations at the time.  Tourism is now a major draw of the area.



We stayed in a small local motel where this beautiful view of the mountains greeted us every morning from our window! From this location, over the next few days, we visited the artsy town of Salida, the Mount Princeton Hot Springs in nearby Northrop, the picturesque St. Elmo Ghost Town, drove over the newly paved Cottonwood Pass into Crested Butte, back to Buena Vista over Monarch Pass, up into the mountains to see the ghost towns of Vicksburg and Winfield, and then a side trip to Leadville! Click on any highlighted word to read those blog posts.


With mountains on one side and the river on the other, Buena Vista is a haven for outdoor enthusiastsNumerous rafting companies are based around Buena Vista, offering guests thrilling whitewater rafting trips on the Arkansas River. Anglers also share the river, which was awarded Gold Medal Trout Water by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.




On the west side of the valley, Buena Vista offers convenient access to numerous fourteener trailheads. Here is the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in the lower United States, with 15 peaks over 14,000 feet elevation in the area, including 14,433 foot Mt. Elbert, the tallest mountain in Colorado.



The beautiful Browns Canyon National Monument is in the area with 21,586 acres of pristine canyons, rivers and backcountry forests. One can enjoy backcountry hiking, horseback riding, and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.


The town of Buena Vista retains much of its Victorian-era charm. I enjoyed strolling around its downtown area one evening between our many excursions.


We dined at a local family restaurant called Quincys Tavern where the menu is simple and the quality is exceptional! We couldn't believe the price of the delicious filet mignon dinner that we enjoyed, complete with a salad and dessert. I highly recommend it if you visit Buena Vista or one of their other four locations.


"Free Bear Hugs"

Some cute carved bear statues for sale on the main street in Buena Vista.  

I think right now a bear hug sounds good--any kind of hug sounds good!  Let's hope it won't be long before hugging and traveling and life as we knew it returns in time. How are you coping in this strange new world?  Stay well!

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35 comments:

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Such incredibly beautiful photos! I'm speechless!! Wishing you well! Have a wonderful week!

NCSue said...

Gorgeous images.
Thank you for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/04/aruba-archived.html

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Free bear hugs? I'll take one! heehee! And yes, I have lots of photos to work on and share during this time. We are fine here but still need to be careful. Take care and stay healthy my friend. We've been blog buddies for a long time. Stay safe!

Ruth Hiebert said...

The photos are stunning. Of course, I love mountain scenery. I am doing ok, most of the time, but I'll admit to having moments of despair, where all I want to do is cry.

Jeanie said...

Pat, you and I are on the same page. We will continue to social distance until there is a vaccine. Things may open up (I hope in a very limited way). The protests disturb me tremendously. I understand those who want to go back to work and realize I am a woman of privilege. But at what cost? And so many are trying to politicize things and in a dangerous way. So we will continue to lay low, easing up VERY slowly. I'm sorry you've lost friends. So far, all ours have made it through but we haven't peaked here yet. Time will tell. Be well and safe. I will continue to enjoy your online travel memories!

NanaHood said...

Praying for a vaccine and that things get better! Hugs to you from Kentucky!

ellen b. said...

I need one of those bear hugs! :)

Photo Cache said...

Thank you for the virtual travel. Stay safe.

Worth a Thousand Words

Southern Sunflowers said...

Wow, those mountain views are amazing! I'd like to visit that state one day.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

Thanks for taking me to Buena Vista, where one of my friends from childhood lives with her husband. It was a great (virtual) visit!

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Your photos show off the views so well. I'd love to visit Buena Vista, maybe in my next life. The Husband and I are in the same boat as you and your hubs. Fortunately for us, we're both homebodies. Take care! :-)

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat,
I am glad you and your family are doing well. My hubby and I are the same, we will keep our distance until we feel safe. The cases in Maryland in still high. The bears are so cute! Your scenery and views are beautiful. Lovely post. Take care, enjoy your day and week ahead.

rupam sarma said...

Amazing pics.

stevebethere said...

What nice captures thanks for the nice tour and post :-)

Have a safetasyic wwek 😷😷😷

diane b said...

Such beauty all around you are so lucky to live there. We stay home all the time. Our daughters insisted. We get everything delivered. We go for an afternoon walk around the village and greet many other residents at a distance. In the mornings I walk in the forestry myself. I love the feeling of being away from it all. Our country is doing quite well at flattening the curve. No new cases over the last two days. everyone is hoping for a relaxation of the lockdown but we have been warned it will be done slowly and carefully. Children of essential workers are back at school and elective surgery will start again soon. WE haven't lost anyone we know and we only know of one friend who caught the virus on a plane returning to US. He was in hospital for a short time and he is better now. Our actor SIL is unemployed now.But the others are okay.Stay safe.

Jeanna said...

I don't think I could do COSTCO or the Walmart anymore, it's tough enough to go to a smaller grocery store. It must be really tough to stay away from the grandkids, one of my cousins keeps babysitting for some of hers while her daughter and son-in-law go off to work. It's worrisome to say the least.
I wish I'd seen more of Colorado when I was there, central CO looks like a gorgeous place to travel, I remember how incredible the rainstorms were there and in TX. That's funny about the pronunciation of Buena Vista, there are many Germans and German influences in WI. I feel for all the places that rely on tourism. That food is killing me since I'm mostly relying on my own cooking and trying to limit any kind of pick up or delivery. Beautiful shots, especially of the river. One think I noticed around Manitou and CO Springs was the lack of places to swim. Is that something you miss?

Angie said...

Pat - like you, I have many past adventures to draw from for blogging posts, so no worries there! Seeing the picture of the steak really made my mouth water and deepened my yearning to go out to a restaurant! We have kept busy with a myriad of activities, and a few drives around the countryside have kept us sane. Our governor has approved a phased re-opening starting next week and we will cautiously participate - we want to do what we can to support local businesses. Hoping your "hugs" get returned to you sooner rather than later!

Vilt og vakkert said...

Happy Spring!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Beautiful photos. It's sensible to be very careful until a vaccine is found. Stay well.

betty-NZ said...

Thanks for sharing these terrific shots of your trip. The scenery is just amazing and I always enjoy hearing the history of the places that are visited.

It's delightful to see you over at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

What breath-taking scenery!
(What a mouth watering meal!)
Because I had a stem cell transplant for leukaemia last summer I have been advised by the UK government to stay indoors completely for three months as I would be at particular risk if I caught the coronavirus. Through these photos you have given me a little fresh air. Thank you.

Lowcarb team member said...

You've shared a wonderful selection of photographs.
Love those free bear hugs :)

Take care

All the best Jan

Powell River Books said...

I love the way you captured the rain falling from the clouds over the mountains. We are doing much the same as you. We are older but in good health, but don't want to take any chances. All of the reopening talk is a bit scary. If cases increase we will feel even less safe venturing out of our condo. I don't know if I can handle staying indoors for almost a year waiting for a vaccine, but we will do what is necessary to stay healthy. Take care. - Margy

Nanda kumar said...

Fantastic cloud scenes

Little Wandering Wren said...

Hello Pat, I'm sending you a virtual hug from Thailand. I'm bunkered down in Bangkok and have loved a virtual wander in the fresh air with you today. What amazing scenery!
Wren x

Jim said...

Great shots.

Michelle said...

Lovely views and those houses are just my type. My small town was established well before the Victorian period, so most buildings here are in the Federal style. I would also need one of those bear statues for my back door. Too cute. Stay well and thanks for linking up.

Thomas Lee/Lee Lip Pang said...

Beautiful mountain view.

Cheryl Ann said...

Hubby and I have always LOVED Colorado! We were there a few years ago, then drove down through New Mexico and Arizona, then home. We, too, have to be very careful. We've both had pneumonia (I've had it...4x), have heart conditions, and are over 65. We visit our grandkids through FB messenger. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos! I'm a new follower.
Cheryl Ann

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Such pretty scenery! The river photo is one of my favorites. We have a street named Buena Vista here. Enjoy your weekend!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Glad to know you are well and staying out of harm's way. My future son-in-law contracted Covid in March, but fortunately he's ok, and my daughter, who was taking care of him, never got it. Whew. That was a huge worry. Beautiful photos, as always, and I can't believe the price of those filet mignons! That cheesecake looks really fantastic too.

Life Of 2 Snowbirds said...

Thanks for taking me on a virtual trip to Buena Vista! now I'm ready to take a real one there!!

Rambling Woods said...

Glad you are well as we are here and thank you for sharing these beautiful photos. I hope to see grand mountains like that some day...Michelle

April J Harris said...

I will never take hugs for granted again either, Pat! I am so glad you and your husband, as well as your family and your family in Italy are well. Thank you for sharing your memories of this wonderful trip, and the lovely photos too. I so enjoyed armchair travelling with you. Take care and stay well. Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party community!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Loved this post. A reminder of the joy we too take in travel ...and in seeing those amazing mountains . Colorado’s Victorian towns are always such a pleasure to explore ... and with our sin and DIL we’ve found more than a few restaurants worthy of remembering! .... Bill and I are in the same place as you two CV-wise .... staying home, food delivered, neighborhood walks only .... wearing masks and not seeing anyone including no visits with family. All of our children are also in the vulnerable age group or almost there and that makes me feel beyond ancient. I miss hugs too ... we have four great-grandsons here ... 13, 10, and 1 in one family and brand new just a month old in another. (It’s very hard on our daughter and SIL who have only seen their newest grandchild once just after he was born , which was just before all this broke (well, just before we all learned about it). We are all isolating with just immediate family. Of course we all get lots of pictures and videos , especially of the younger two, but that’s not quite the same. ....Everyone is well though and right now thats what’s important.