Lake Irwin, Crested Butte

I've found me a peaceful place.

I've had the most magnificent couple of days just swimming and reading my book at the Lake Irwin campsite, about 8 miles out of Crested Butte.

I'm writing this as I'm watching the sunset behind the mountains and there's a little squirrel sitting on the rock next to me and he obviously wants to get past but isn't sure how to go about it. I'm on the rock he wants to jump onto next.

Aren't I mean.

Behind me is my tent, and in front of me, across a small reed covered pond with dragonflies darting around in the evenings closing light, are the most beautiful mountains I've seen since the Himalayas all those years ago.

I have found a tiny pocket of the wild, and I am in heaven.

Well ... almost, this campsite is about 3000 metres above sea level, so that's pretty close to the lord almighty isn't it?

I've fled the heat and dark orange soils of Utah to the high country of Colorado and it is magnificent ... green fields thick with flowers, beautiful lakes, towering mountains and, most importantly, squirrels. I really, really want a squirrel.

Tomorrow I might ride. Maybe. Like changing time zones, I'm not that good at changing altitude and I thought I might benefit from a day or two getting used to this rarified air ... And quite frankly I'm in no rush, I love it here, and suddenly the rest of my ideas for this trip ... Well they seem less important.

The suns set, so goodnight.