House Concert #4 Durango CO

On Thursday morning we left my aunt Dulci’s house. Their emormous cat Zeus seemed to think he was coming, too (see picture)



We drove allllll the way to Ouray, Colorado, which took all day. One of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever been on. The first thing we saw upon entering was a big sign for “Ouray Hot Springs”, so we went straight there. The water was awesome and by the time everyone was done soaking, our fingers looked like raisins.

After we left, driving through the town to our motel, my dad and I spotted a rock shop, which made us ecstatic and Mom not so hot on forking over another $50 for shiny objects. The next morning my dad and I paid a visit there and got several rocks, two quartz crystals, a smoky quartz crystal, an amethyst crystal, some peacock copper, and a piece of malachite. (My dad and I are rock nerds)

On the road out of Ouray, we amused ourselves by looking off the steep cliffs the road snaked by and asking the question, “If we went off the road HERE would we all die?” Much too often the answer was positive. There were three high mountain passes at about ten thousand feet to drive over.


Early afternoon was when we arrived in Durango for our radio interview to promote the upcoming concert. There was a twenty minute segment my dad and I did at the radio studio. Even the dog barked her song. Here's a picture of us at the radio station.








When we were done we visited some friends, Jenny and Greg and their son Tyller, outside of Durango near New Mexico. Their dogs loved Sadie (the feeling was not returned by the other party). Here's one of their dogs - Cowboy
I went swimming practically in their backyard, which was in New Mexico.


FInally, we had to leave and go to Todd and Bonnie’s (the people who were hosting our concert in Durango). They lived on an amazing 70 acre property with no neighbors to be seen. Here is a picture of their ranch right as we drove up:
I loved meeting their pets (Australian Shepherd Amber, rather rotund cat Brandy, finger-hating birds Guava and Peaches, and assorted fish). Here's a shot of me practicing with peaches and guava on my shoulders - they both LOVE music!






The next day was filled with practicing in the Durango Arts Center on the piano we were going to play the next day, shopping, and chilling. The concert the day after (at 4:00) went wonderfully. Everyone enjoyed it and we sold lots of CD’s. I loved it when one elderly woman came up to me and said, “Well..… that….. was just… SO NEAT!!! I sold quite a few of my CD’s.

After the concert, Todd and Bonnie took us out to dinner at a place called Seasons, which I am sure is the best restaurant in Durango. We had things like calamari, baby back pork ribs, Colorado lamb, veal scallopini, and tiramisu. I’m making a list of “blog-approved” restaurants to be released when the trip is over and this will be at the top of the list. The next morning, after Dad told me rather feebly the night before that we REALLY should leave at about 7 to make an early start, we left at noon (big surprise.) Here's a picture of our wonderful hosts Todd and Bonnie:



Statistics

Miles driven: 3190.9

National parks visited: 2

Number of dogs interested in Sadie: 4

Number of dogs Sadie was interested in: 0