Wednesday, June 8
The scent of Christmas trees permeates the air at our campsite in Mavreeso Campground.
West Dolores River, north of Dolores, Colorado
Bridget, Reggie, and I explore the path near our campsite.
The perfume of antelope bush (below) mingles with the aroma of spruce and fir. Antelope bush is an important forage for wildlife and it grows abundantly here. The fragrance is intoxicating!
Knowing that this is our only full day at this camp makes each hour precious. We don’t have to walk far to discover a variety of bushes, grasses, flowers, and trees.
Every time we walk this way I notice plants I didn’t see previously.
This tree stands tall with tasseled skirts draping gracefully in layers.
White flowers scattered on a slope peek out of dried leaves, sticks, and pine needles.
I think Bridget and Reggie enjoy this camp as much as I do!
They’ve learned to wait patiently as I stop frequently to take photos or simply to look, hear, smell, touch . . . .
Tomorrow morning we will break camp. No need to make an early start since we aren’t going very far.
Thursday, June 9
The crew and I leave Mavreeso, taking forest road 535 southward to Route 145 which continues south to the town of Dolores.
Along the way I stop for a through-the-window photo of lupines growing wild on the embankment next to the road.
Starved for internet, I pull into the park in Dolores.
I turn on my Verizon jetpack and check the action at this blog, read emails, and glance at the news. Bridget and Reggie pester me to let them out, which I do, of course. Do they ever NOT get their way?
Dolores is a neat, little town. The river runs through it.
From Dolores we travel southeast on Route 184 which takes us to Mancos.
We pass pretty homes and ranches among green fields. About seven miles east of Mancos we approach the familiar brown sign denoting the entrance to a national forest campground.
Although the campground is convenient to Route 160, only a few campers are here when we arrive.
It’s not even noon! I find a lovely, pull-through site.
Target Tree Campground is set among Pondersosa pines and gambel oaks.
Since I only plan for us to stay here for one night, I don’t set up a full camp. It’s nice here. The only negative is traffic noise from busy Route 160. It isn’t bad, but it’s there.
Camping fee is $19 regular/$8.50 with senior discount pass. As you can see from these photos, there are sites roomy enough for big rigs.
Reggie and Bridget are excited to take a look around!
“Oh, yellow flowers! Come this way so I can take a shot of our camp from a different angle.”
Following the campground loop, we come upon a bi-level campsite with a long parking “pad” of gravel and wooden steps going up to the picnic table, fire ring, and grill.
A short trail courses through the campground.
When we first arrived at Target Tree, three law enforcement vehicles and a fire rescue van were parked next to the pay station. I didn’t pay them any attention.
Then while on this walk around the campground, the sheriff drives up and parks alongside us.
“Have you been here long or are you just arriving?” he immediately asks.
“Just arrived. Why? Have people been staying too long?”
“No, no . . . . Did you see our cars at the entrance? Someone left a vehicle there. It’s been there for several days and I’m asking people if they know anything about it.”
“Gee, I don’t know. That is odd.”
“Well, thank you, ma’am. Enjoy your camping!”
“Thank you and good luck!”
According to a notice posted at the pay station, Rocky Mountain Recreation Company, the concessionaire for national forest campgrounds in this area, has a vacancy (as I type this) for campground host at Target Tree.
Here’s the campsite for the host or hosts . . .
After our walk we relax in our outdoor sitting area.
Reggie and I play a few rounds of tug-of-war mixed with fetch. He has a new toy, “Froggy,” who is a stand-in for “Bite Me” who is convalescing. Well, no, that’s not true. “Bite Me” is waiting for surgery (His surgeon lacks motivation.)
It starts to rain.
I throw the doggie beds and toys into the Perfect Tow Vehicle and we go inside.
While rain taps the roof, I tap the keyboard. Internet, at last!
I write a blog post and then take a nap with Reggie and Bridget. Elevation at Target Tree is 7,600 feet which is my excuse for needing a nap!
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