Rest Day in Salida, Co

Salida was a rest stop.  Ouray was pretty tiring and we knew we needed to gear up for Rocky Mountain National Park hikes at higher elevations. We caught a bite to eat Friday night at the Boathouse Cantina which hangs over the Arkansas River.  Saturday morning we hit the public hot springs pool in Salida, which was different from the one in Ouray. It was indoors and chlorinated…so it just felt like a giant hot tub…although.there are minerals in it.( We will be headed to Hot Sulphur Springs after our RMNP hike. It will be interesting to see what those are like in comparison.) At any rate…I have taken a real liking to swimming and soaking in 98 degree water.  Had a little return of the altitude sickness after lunching at an organic market…so we rested some more and then hit the local Wal-Mart for supplies and a side trip to the Mountain Spirit Winery.  Spent an hour or so tasting local wines while it thundered and poured outside.  Great place to be. It was our first real rain of the trip!  Saturday night was ArtWalk in Salida.  Local artists of all types perform and display their work in downtown Salida. We spent a little time walking around and taking it all in.  The next morning we got up early again so we could get to Estes Park, the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park, as early as possible.  We ate breakfast at a place called Season’s, which served the most heavenly gluten free pancakes ever created and a biscuit about 3 inches thick and fluffy!  Getting ready to go up! Up! Up!