Pueblo Road Trip Day 1

Thursday, August 25, 2016 - Road Trip to Pueblo, Colorado

The Black-eyed Susan flowers were blooming in the ditches, school was well underway, and there was a healthy dusting of snow on Pikes Peak this morning. We were on our way south for a road trip to discover the perfect Pueblo Chile.

We left home right after lunch so we could take our time on the short hour’s drive. Vic had recently purchased a new Cannon 7D and wanted to try it out before our October trip to India.

Hatch, New Mexico is known for its famous flame roasted green chilies, but the Mirasol chile from Pueblo and Otero Counties has now become very popular. The high elevations of the mesa of southeastern Colorado as well as the hot days and cool nights seem to be perfect for this variety of pepper.

Heading east on Highway 50 out of Pueblo, we saw many signs advertising the chile season. Roadside stands dotted the roadway; many were closed today, but with promises to open for the weekend.

We made our way to CO 233 and then south to Business 50 and even further east to Hillside Road. The family operated Musso Farm Market was busy with many local shoppers and a few “out of towners” like us.

Surrounding the parking area were raised garden beds with every variety of chile under the sun. Growing in this hot dry climate with minimal irrigation, the ripening chilies provided the spicy aromas of mild to “on fire”.

The farm stand offered new potatoes, tomatoes, squash, the famous Rocky Ford cantaloupe and watermelon, Palisade peaches, Olathe sweet corn, and a variety of chile peppers. What a colorful palette for photographs!

We bought a huge El Gordo cantaloupe and a half-bushel of chilies. Tim, one of the market hands roasted the chilies for us as we watched him and talked about the process of preserving the bountiful crop.

The Pueblo Farmers Market on the Arkansas River is only held on Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:00 during the summer and we wanted to take advantage of this cool day. When we arrived in the city of Pueblo we noted there were plenty of spaces on the streets and the parking lots were empty.

Only two farm stands were open and there were very few people. As we got closer to the famous Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo, it was deserted. Our expectations were something similar to the San Antonio Riverwalk, but not so…

Gennie asked one of the vendors why the lack of people and she told us that there was a free walk through that night at the State Fair Grounds, also in Pueblo. We did stroll around and enjoyed the peace and quiet and the ability to take photos without masses of people around.

At 4:30 we decided to drive back home. We stopped at our favorite Mexican restaurant, 3 Margaritas in Monument. Buddha welcomed us home but was verbally upset that he was left home alone!

While Vic sorted the photos and videos we had taken, Gennie rinsed and cleaned the chilies. She packaged them in quart size zip lock bags for the freezer.

We enjoyed our day, it was good to get away, do something different, and see new things. We learned we were too early to buy ristras, the long strings of red ripe chilies. But that gives us a plan for another Colorado adventure this fall.

Nice trip! We may have to do the same. India? Oh my!

Day 10: Mediterranean Navigation

Antonio, Our Guide

Gardens at the Alcazaba

Roman Theater

Visiting with Picasso

Gennie & Vic, Malaga 2004

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