Our first real sleep over visitors to stay more than just a night, were the Davidsons [ Tommy & Jackie], and the Argabrights [ Bob & Vickie] , west end Richmond, Va. Rednecks and longtime friends. Their last trip out had been seven years ago over in Crestone, and they, and we, were looking forward to a mid -June reunion.

On June 16 they arrived at the Montrose airport with enough luggage to open a Goodwill store. First order of business was to get them settled in, then the obligatory tour of The Hacienda, and finally some liquid and solid nourishment.

Early Saturday Jackie, Tommy, and Bob were up early to ride the irrigation ditch with me.
Jackie climbed aboard my Polaris ATV [ ATM, as she called it], and off we went with Bob & Tommy following in the truck. Most of the ditch was only accessible by ATV, so the boys met us at various intersections where ditch and road crossed. Tommy took a turn on the 4 wheeler with me, then we finally hit the river headgate to check water levels.

The big deal for Saturday was our first big party in the Hacienda. In honor of our Redneck Virginia guests, we had invited some 25 locals to join us for an evening of fun and frolic, so the rest of the day was spent in preparation for the evening festivities. By 6 PM guests started to arrive and the open bar quickly became a gathering spot. Annee had prepared a scrumptious buffet and everyone had come with hungry mouths. Our guests were the objects of much curiosity, since its not often you get to see genuine, NASCAR loving, Virginia rednecks in Montrose County. The party and our guests must have been a hit, because we didn't get shut of all the invitees til around 1AM.

Sunday was our first "tour" day, with a scheduled trip up to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, just north & east of Montrose. We toured the rim drive that afforded breathtaking views of the 1000+' deep canyon, took in the Visitor Center, and snapped lots of photos of our guests teetering on the chasm brink. After the rim tour, we took the "white knuckle drive" down into the bowels of the Canyon to the East Portal, where the 5 mile long Gunnison diversion tunnel whisks part of the Gunnison thru the mountains into the Uncompahgre Valley for irrigation projects. We found a beautiful picnic spot in the shade along the river for lunch, then, while the gals settled down to read and relax, Bob, Tommy, and I strung up our rods and spent a couple hours fishing downstream in the clear Gunnison waters. We saw a couple of fellers pull in nice trout, but we came up with an empty string. Guess we weren't holding our tongues right.

Tuesday was Telluride day and we started off for the hour + ride around the mountains south to Telluride. After a tour down by the Idarado gold mine and a view at the east pass over to Silverton, we parked downtown for a shopping tour, just what the gals were waiting for. While they shopped, los Tres Amigos people watched on main street. Lunch was enjoyed at Smuggler's Brewpub, then we all took the gondola ride up to Mountain Village ski area. After Telluride, we headed south over by Ophir and swung back down the San Miguel Canyon, before heading back to the ranch.

After two solid days of touring, the gals were bushed and wanted to get back to what they enjoyed most-shopping! So, off they went and I took the boys down to Ouray to check out Box Canyon Falls and a ride to the top of Red Mountain pass. We took lunch up to the Bachelor Syracuse gold mine outside Ouray and headed to Pacochupuk below Ridgway dam to fish the trout rich tailwaters. The water was clear and the trout were cooperative. We all had our licenses checked by vigilant rangers and continued to fish til late evening. Bob caught most of the fish, but Tommy and I came in close seconds.

By Wednesday, the Davidsons were plumb wore out and ready to go home. So, Bob and I escorted them out to Montrose International, said our "see Y'alls" and headed back to the Hacienda to gear up for more fishing. Annee, Vickster, and Sherrill were planning more shopping, so Bob and I headed off again to Pacochupuk. This day, I caught most of the
fish , leaving Bobby to wonder what fly to try next.

Thursday & Friday the gals planned all day necklace building parties, so Bobby and I hit the river. The first day we both were catching our share and I pulled a big'un out of a deep fast hole. At one point I was upriver 40 or so yards out of site of Bob when I heard a big SPLOOSH followed by some colorful language emanating out of the willows. Seemed Bob had lost his footing and taken a tumble into a ditch. He came up wet and looked like he had been in a cat fight with all the bloody scratch's to go along with it. Next day we hit the river again and Ole Bob couldn't buy a hit, while I only caught one big trout.

The week went by all too quick and sadly on Saturday we had to deposit them on the plane back home. Bob declared it wouldn't be another seven years before returning. Already he and Tommy are making plans to come back next year. Hopefully the Davidsons will elect to stay longer!