An Angels Eye View of Ridgway, Colorado

They had traveled first class and were the first to exit the plane and enter the terminal. Ailsa looked wonderful, but Henry looked a little travel weary. I knew that when I finally asked him if he would like to jam with Warren Haynes he would wake-up - but I decided to wait and hoped a nice cup of espresso would do the trick

We gleefully picked up their luggage (not one piece was lost or damaged) and wheeled the bags (Ailsa must have packed her whole wardrobe) to the Suburban that would take us over the mountains with three passes, past Vail Ski Resort and through the unbelievable Glenwood Canyon to Grand Junction. Ridgway is located about two hours south from Grand Junction between Montrose and Ouray.

The Denver International Airport

Although I was in a hurry to get to Ridgway (my vacation mentality had not yet fully set in), we decided to stop off in Idaho Springs and grab a quick lunch at the Buffalo Bar. I was planning on telling Henry about Warren over a tasty hot buffalo burger and a cold beer.

We all three enjoyed a Buffalo Chili Burger (A 1/3 pound burger topped with your choice of beef red chili, pork green chili or buffalo black bean chili and shredded cheese) and a cold Fat Tire Amber Ale brewed at the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado.
"I see you brought your guitar, Henry", I finally said as I wiped ketchup off my chin followed by a deep gulp of Fat Tire. "He takes it everywhere", Ailsa said smiling. "I thought it would be nice for

A tired Henry and a gorgeous Ailsa at DIA

evening camp songs", Henry answered, finishing the last drop of Amber Ale from his glass.
"How would you like to do some of those camp songs in front of 13,000 people with Gov't Mule"? I calmly asked him. "THE Gov't Mule?", Henry and Ailsa spoke at the same time. I laughed and proceeded to tell them the events of the last 24 hours.
By the time we were finishing our fourth Amber Ale, I had finally convinced them that I was not on drugs and I was indeed telling the truth. Don't you love it when men are excited about something and ready to burst with giggling and girlish mannerisms - but they hold it in to maintain? LOL. That was how Henry was as we left the Buffalo Bar and headed on our way to Ridgway.
Ridgway is the northern entrance of the scenic San Juan Skyway, which serves as a crossroad for commerce, transportation, history and scenery. The Skyway, one of the All-American Roads in the U.S., winds through unmatched scenery — a photographer’s dream.

Ailsa looking lovely as always in front of the Buffalo Bar in Idaho Springs

Nestled in the picturesque Uncompahgre Valley and surrounded by majestic snow-capped peaks of the Cimarron and San Juan Mountains, Ridgway is the “Gateway to the San Juans.”
This “gateway” position was recognized over 100 years ago when the Rio Grande Southern established Ridgway as a railhead center servicing the nearby mining towns of Ouray and Telluride. The town was named for railroad superintendent Robert M. Ridgway who established the town in 1891
Ridgway began as a railroad town, serving the nearby mining towns of Telluride and Ouray, (pronounced yu-ray). The town site sits at the northern terminus of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad where it meets with Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad running between Montrose and Ouray. Ridgway was located about 3 miles (5 km) south of the existing town of Dallas. Articles of incorporation were filed on 22 May 1890 and granted on 4 March 1891.

A blessing that our journey would be safe

The Rio Grande Southern filed for abandonment on 24 April 1952 and the Denver and Rio Grande Western abandoned the line between Ridgway and Ouray on 21 March 1953.
The line between Ridgway and Montrose was upgraded from narrow gauge to standard gauge and Ridgway continued to be a shipping point until the line to Montrose was abandoned in 1976 as result of a reservoir being built on the Uncompahgre River.
The dam for that reservoir, the Ridgway Dam, was proposed in 1957 as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Dallas Creek Project, and its original location would have inundated Ridgway. A 1975 decision to put the dam further downstream kept the town above-water, and residents coined their own nickname, "The Town that Refused to Die." Land around the reservoir became the Ridgway State Park north of town limits.
We discussed our planned vacation all the way to Ridgway, with Ailsa and Henry getting more excited with each passing mile. Upon arriving in town, we went directly to our lodging at the Chipeta Sun Lodge to freshen up and relax before strolling into the town center. Once checked into our luxurious room, I could tell it was going to be tough getting any of us to leave the grounds of the Chipeta Sun Lodge.

Our Journey

Surrounded by the majestic peaks of Colorado's western slope, the Chipeta Sun Lodge and Spa is approximately 10 miles from Ouray and 40 miles from Telluride. Although quiet and secluded, it is close to fine dining and unique shops which are grouped around the Central Park, which is just a short walk from the hotel.
On site amenities include a full-service spa (including daily classes in yoga and exercise, massage, facials, manicures and pedicures), fitness facility with cardio and weight equipment,

The relaxing Chipeta Sun Lodge and Spa

swimming pool (seasonal), dry cedar sauna, steam room, two-story tree filled solarium, and the relaxing Great Room with wood fire, hot tea, cookies, books, and more.
We had chosen two Kiva deluxe rooms for our one nights stay. With jetted tubs, a private hot tub on our private deck, a fireplace and satellite TV, I found that the stress and worry of the Great Recession fading into a bad memory.
The most recent addition to the Chipeta Sun Lodge & Spa is the restaurant that serves a delicious southwestern inspired fare and has a roof-top deck with spectacular views. Sadly for our tummies and taste buds , all three of us fell asleep enjoying a short but deep afternoon nap.
I awoke a bit groggy and called over to Henry and Ailsa's room, but got the operator at the front desk. "Your friends went for some coffee and a walk", a cheerful voice informed me at the other end of the line. I ordered some coffee from room service, thanked her and hung up the phone.

The great coffee shop, "Cups", in Ridgway, Colorado

I propped my feet up on the coffee table and picked up the tourist magazine full of glossy pictures of cowboys, river rapids and mountain peaks. They were pretty but I was looking for something else...FOOD!
I found an advertisement for the True Grit Cafe. Honestly, I would not have cared if it had said The Real Dirt Cafe, I was starving.
I freshened up and left the Sun Lodge and headed into town. I found Henry and Ailsa at a quaint and cheery little coffee/gift shop called Cups. They were just finishing their coffee and were as hungry as I was so we headed over to the True Grit Cafe.

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The True Grit Cafe was built to recognize Ridgway's movie making history. Back in 1967, Paramount decided to film the movie "True Grit" starring John Wayne, Glen Campbell and Kim Darby here in Ridgway, Colorado .

Sitting in the 'Grit', you can look out over the Town Park and see where the hanging scene was filmed, right behind the park is the old Train Depot you can see in the movie and if you just tilt your head up and look at the mountains you can see the famous Chimney Peak that is shown prominently in the big shoot out scene in the movie.
Ridgway has quite a history with two other movies that were filmed here including parts of "How the West Was Won" with Debbie Reynolds and John Wayne and "Tribute to a Bad Man" with James Cagney.
But I was not in the mood to discuss great Western Films, I was in the mood to stuff my face. The True Grit was clean and cozy and the Grilled Butterflied Trout we all ordered was simply heavenly. It did not take us long to clean our plates and we sat and sipped a cold beer talking about our plans. The first night on any vacation is always the most exciting and tonight was no different. Little did we know that our vacation was about to be interupted by a new threat from an old adversary.
I left Henry and Ailsa in the park sitting underneath a 100 year old cottonwood as the evening sun set and went back to the Sun Lodge, showered and went to bed. I began to dream and somewhere deep inside my slumbering body, I knew that trouble and adventure once again lay ahead.

A pair of shadowy and ghostly cowboys visited my dreams with a message

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