Pagosa Springs
Despite my excitement that we would soon be seeing Daudi, Reuben and Tania, I closed the door to our lovely adobe house this morning with a heavy heart. I have never been more at peace in someone else’s home. Perhaps it was the smell of ginger, mingled with incense; a smell I’ve always found so soothing but have been unable to replicate in my own home. Or perhaps it was Melody’s interior decorating flare, which was an appealing combination of bohemian and art deco. I imagine a lot of it had to do with how warmly our new friends welcomed us into their lives, albeit for a short period. Whatever the cause, I would have been ready to stay forever if given the chance.
We arrived in Pagosa Springs, CO at 11:30, made lunch in the Westy while parked just outside the visitor centre, and waited for our friends to arrive. Being near the end of our trip, we’d been having some concerns over finances. After inquiring at the visitor centre, I now sat stewing over how to break to Daudi that we couldn’t afford the entry fee to the hot springs. He was driving all the way out here from Durango with the kids for the sole purpose of hitting the hot springs with us and we felt worse than terrible. We decided to find a campground and wait for them there.
Sienna let out her signature piercing cries of joy when she spotted the orange Westfalia pull into the campground. Reuben and Tania hadn’t changed one bit in the three months since we’d seen them last. It was so nice to see them again and within minutes we were back to our comfortable ways together. When Daudi asked whether we were ready to head off to the springs, I awkwardly mentioned that we’d checked on the prices and that it was really quite expensive. Before I had the chance to say more, he announced that the matter was moot because he wanted to treat us. We were so grateful for his generosity and terribly relieved that we wouldn’t have to let him down.
Daudi, a rocket scientist, had been working around the clock for the last few days on an important proposal. He’d had only a few hours of sleep the night before and the hot springs were a much needed indulgence. There were over 20 different pools, ranging from 80 degrees to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, the latter being referred to as the “Lobster Pot”. He and Dave thought it would be a great idea to hit the Lobster Pot, followed by a jump into the ice cold river. Dave went first and wisely chose to dip in the river only up to mid thigh level. Daudi, feeling he required true therapeutic release, first immersed himself up to the ears in the Lobster Pot, a feat rarely attempted, and much less survived, by anyone in the animal kingdom, followed by a 10 second full body swim in the recently thawed glacial river. He did survive, but just barely.
We spent a nice evening eating a delicious meal Daudi had prepared in his crock-pot and wished each other an early goodnight, and goodbye, since once again, our elusive friends would be leaving us in the dark.
