Our new home town of Carbondale, Colorado

Everyone will agree that the coronavirus has had a miserable effect on our country. The sickness and deaths have changed our society in ways that we couldn't even imagine a year ago. Sadly, we are almost getting used to some of the changes. But after tramping the trails of Colorado this summer, we think that more people than ever are outside enjoying nature. We also think that more people than ever are filling the campgrounds.The only reason we got our camp site here at Gateway RV Park in Carbondale, Colorado, is because they didn't know if they would open in 2020 so they didn't take any reservations for the summer until June--about the time we were changing our plans from Canada to Colorado. 

We actually called on the first day that reservations opened, or we are sure we wouldn't have gotten a spot. So we are blessed to be nestled here between the red rock mountains directly to our east, and the Roaring Fork River directly to our west.

This is the same river that we rafted with our nephew and his family the day before. We are glad that we got that water experience with them, because we found out that we couldn't put our kayak in at the boat ramp right below the campground without buying a Colorado fishing license. The Roaring Fork River is a gold medal fishing river, and we could see 9 boats near our bridge when we took this photo.

But we are glad to be here for five days, learning about our new home town. One thing we are enjoying are the bike trails that connect our campground with the town.

It's actually easier, shorter, and faster to ride a bike into Carbondale from our campground, rather than driving the car. Once in town, there are trails that can take you anywhere you want to go. One trail is called "Artway" and it takes you through some public art displays.

The art isn't as developed as some we have found in our travels, but Denisa liked this very colorful iguana along the artway.

We found there are more bicycles than cars in downtown Carbondale. Whole families use bicycles for their main transportation. We saw many of these elongated bikes with back passenger seats. They can put a couple children on that back seat with bars on the sides for them to hang on. Saddle bags on the sides allow for shopping bags. Denisa has a hard enough time pedaling her own weight, so she's not sure how she would transport her whole family and the groceries too.

The main reason that we wouldn't have been able to get a campsite in Carbondale this week, is because this weekend was the date for the annual Mountain Fair. It was to be the 49th annual fair, and people normally come from all over for the music and fun of the festivities. One of the time-honored traditions of this weekend is that the entire police force wears tie dye.

Just like all the fairs and festivals this spring and summer, the Mountain Fair was officially cancelled. But the festival committee tried to envision a healthy way to bring the music to Carbondale. So instead of stationary stages for performances, they brought mobile music. This group turned their show into a marching band that walked the streets.

They also put together a stage on wheels, that took a parade-like route through town. When it stopped and people would try to congregate, the spokeswoman with a bull-horn would warn people to social distance and keep on their masks.

Another day we heard the mobile music and chased it down to listen for a while. This time the trailer continued to move so that the crowds couldn't gather, but they had a long line of bike riders following the stage through town. So even though it was cancelled, we feel like we got a tiny taste of Mountain Fair. Did we mention that biking is a big part of the Carbondale culture?

We were glad to see that at least one church in town is trying to keep church service alive during all the closings from the coronavirus. They had a big open lawn where circles are drawn, and people are asked to keep their group six feet away from all the other circled groups. Denisa is properly dressed in her Sunday mask and umbrella to ward off the virus and Colorado's intense sun.

There was a good crowd on the lawn this Sunday morning. Some of them drove their cars, but many rode their bikes to church.

Besides riding our bikes into Carbondale, we can also take the paved trail right beside our campground all the way to Glenwood Springs. It's paved and it's flat and it follows those red hills.

Until suddenly, those red hills turn into white hills!

We're not sure of the geological explanation for this sudden change in color. We will attribute it to another of God's wonders that we got to wander beside on our bikes.

We found mostly sage brush along the bike trail, but occasionally a desert flower brightens the way.

We also enjoyed the desert skies. With fewer mountains surrounding us, we realized we could see more of the skies.

As we rode our bikes back to the campground, that sky turned into a brilliant sunset. It's always interesting to learn about our new home towns that change every time we move to a new site. But it's always good to know that some things never change--like the love of our God that paints that beautiful sunset.