They were today in the hands of seven carvers at the competition in Gunnison.  They have been working on their major carvings since Thursday.  We cruised through today and admired their handiwork then stayed for the speed carving.  In one hour they each transformed a fine fir log into a work of art that they then auctioned off.  There were lots of bears and eagles and even a few owls but my favorite was a wolf.  We still have no porch to put it on so I had to let it go.  This wasn’t our first exposure to this art form but it is still amazing to watch.

1922 REO Speedwagon

It was vintage car show weekend, farmers’ market day and an arts and crafts fair. It was a great afternoon.

I am busy doing planning and just sort of absorbing the day. Kent is doing honey-do jobs around the house.  Hmm.  I suspect I will get my chance to reset that balance one day before long.

Everyman, from the beginning of time has gazed upon this exact same moon. Tonight, every person who looked up had at least that one thing in common with every other person on earth who just happened to look up.

Current science says: the moon is a gigantic splop of molten earth tossed up there by some huge impact millennia ago. The shapes and shadows on the moon’s surface are a result of its molten past as meteors cracked its cooling surface and created lava flows that now reflect as the splotches of the man in the moon’s face (or as some traditions say the shape of a rabbit – I don’t really see that one).  A full solar eclipse will be visible across much of the US in 2017.

What more could one ask for in a hike. It was techy with all the geology stuff and left one waxing philosophically about the oneness of all mankind as we spin around on this spaceship earth.  Nice.

It is gray today with rain forecast all around us but we decide to head out to the south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison anyway.  Along the way we make a stop at Cimarron and fishermen’s access to the freer flowing Crystal Reservoir section of the Gunnison.  We wait out a heavy rain then brave a short walk that crosses the Gunnison.  It is one of only two places where roads take us to the bottom of the canyon.  Rain chases us back to the car but not before we got a nice look at the canyon walls from below.

On to the NP and East Portal, the second river access point. This is where the Gunnison is finally really set free to tumble through the deepest sections of the gorge.  It is a carefully metered flow now thanks to dams and power generation plants but they have done a fair job placing equipment and power lines.  The place is still beautiful and wild looking.  It is easy to see how it was once considered impassable.  It is still considered unsafe for any navigation, even the crazy brave kayak guys.

The south rim. We are scheduled for a full moon hike out at the end of the drive so we spend the afternoon checking out every overlook along the way.  Sunlight filtered through constant cloud cover lends muted tones to the magnificent rock formations.  It is beautiful in this light too.

Our moonlight hike starts off under full cloud cover. The Ranger is has geology and astronomy facts to relate and lots of mythology and tales about the origin of the earth and the moon.  We reach Warner Point, the highest point on the canyon rim just a few minutes before moonrise.  A glow appears on the horizon the through a crack in the cloud cover we get a glimpse of the full moon before it dives back out of sight.  We stroll back the trail under the glow of the cloud shrouded moon (except the few who just HAVE to have a light…fun busters).  Periodically the moon peaks out for a few moments.  The world looks quite different in this light.  I like it.

We return to the car just minutes before the first flash of lightening. Thunder rolls and the sky darkens as we start the curly drive home. Giant drops plop on the windshield and develop into a downpour just as we get off the gravel road. Kent is thoroughly absorbed with driving in these less than ideal conditions and I am a bit tense as we switchback our way through the mountains.  Then it appears; a crisp, perfect rainbow.  We can even see the violet stripe.  It stays with us a full half hour.  A second, parallel arch comes and goes as we twist and turn.  Rainbows, what an amazing gift.

CO 92 twists it was along the mountains offering fantastic views of the Gunnison canyon and distant mountain ranges.  It is also the shortest route to the National Park north rim that they claim has some of the most dramatic views of the steep canyon walls.

Less than a half mile across and 1700 to 2700 feet deep with vertical cliff walls, the canyon is amazing. Brilliant sunlight creates striking shadows that slice across the canyon walls.  A rim side drive with lots of overlooks provides for awesome views.  We hike to “exclamation point” atop “painted wall”

Painted Wall

to get a little different perspective into the deepest part of the canyon. I am impressed.  Tomorrow we check out the south rim.