Cinnamon the Bear

 Those of us in residence have found ourselves in the middle of a rogue bear situation.  Barb (3) has been keeping us all apprised of the goings-on, and Colorado Fish and Wildlife has been out.  Greg had his first bear sighting last night around 10 p.m. when the bear triggered the outdoor lights on our breezeway, and he spooked it away.  He said the lights didn't come on after that.   Now that it's gotten more aggressive in breaking and entering, we're pulling in our hummingbird feeders at night.

We also have a resident turkey.  Marchelle had spotted it a week or so ago, and Mike sees it in the early morning in front of our house.  I saw it this morning casually walking up Jason's (15) driveway.   The first year we were here, there were four of them.

it's a good time to remind everyone that Ridgway Reservoir is first and foremost a water management tool.  I know it's upsetting to see it drained and boats not being able to get in and out, but with the snowpack levels this year, it's been necesarry to get on top of snowmelt.  At our house, 8600 feet, we had 15 feet 4 inches of snow, so you can add up yourself what our 13ers and 14ers have.  If you drive 550 south, you can see how much is left to melt.   The Uncompaghre is raging, Cascade Falls fuller than I've ever seen it, and Montrose has already been under flood advisories.  So...as much as we like seeing the reservoir full, there's a reason it's not.  Today when I drove by, it did seem as if it is beginning to fill up, and hope springs eternal.

Construction projects between Ridgway and Montrose right now are onerous.  My trip home today took an hour and a half, normally a 45-minute drive.  I think once the paving north of Ridgway is finished, it will be less time-consuming, but be aware.

Mike and I drove over to Lake City yesterday to meet up with his high school classmate, and in talking to a gallery owner, she said that their Memorial Day traffic was dismal.  That surprised me because Ouray was crazy all weekend but especially Sunday.   Camp Bird Road was jammed with cars , making it one lane near the Sutton Mine trailhead, Perimeter Trail, and Via Ferrata access.  Yay for Ouray