Our first stop was one of curiosity, because we didn't know the Rio Grande River was here. It winds through the center of Alamosa, so we stopped to take a picture.
The next stop was at the Saturday Farmer's Market, where among other yummy things, we bought some peppers for stuffing. They are an unknown brand, but are similar to Anaheim peppers, only with a kick. Four peppers for a buck was a killer price. BTW, they were delicious! Another vendor was selling roasted peppers which a young man was roasting in a rotating wire drum over a fire. Turning the drum by hand probably wasn't his idea of a great Saturday morning, but made for some delicious peppers!
Then it was off to Monte Vista. We had learned that my maternal great-grandfather had participated in the Cherokee Land Rush in Oklahoma back in the day, and staked out his land per the regulations of the day. Unfortunately, he was not inclined to be a farmer, so left Oklahoma and set up a trading post near Trinidad, Colorado, where he could supply both people bound for the west and the cattle drives from the south. One of his sons, George, married my grandmother and they moved to Monte Vista, Colorado, where my mother was born. The location of her birthplace is the needle we've been seeking. My mother and her family left the area for California when she was just a wee thing, loading all their belongings into a Model A and heading west. Just like the pioneers, they struggled to get over the Rockies and had to abandon a lot of their belongings while pushing the car from behind. Sturdy people! We had a couple of names in the area, and we had the memories of my Mom when she and my Dad visited the area many years ago. Unfortunately, we were not able to locate the house my Mom was born in. We did locate a number of people with her maiden name, so evidently some of her fathers family remained in the area. We will continue to search old records and perhaps return to the area one day.
We did take a couple of pictures of some interesting old buildings out in the farmland (which by the way, is great for raising potatoes, carrots, and Alfalfa hay). The carrots are marketed under the name of Grimway, which Donna says is the brand she buys at home. What if.....
Tomorrow we're movin' on. We've enjoyed our brief stay at the Alamosa KOA. I didn't think I'd ever say that I enjoyed a KOA, but this campground is far different than most. The sites are spacious and level, the utilities are more than adequate (wifi is superior), and the owners are wonderful people. Bob has lived in the general area his entire life and is a huge source of information about things to do and see. Both he and his wife are super friendly, super supportive, and are willing to go the extra mile for anything their customers want. They are continually expanding and improving the park, so it will definitely be a place for us to return to when we're back in the area. Thumbs up, for sure!
And the pizza was great!
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