Thirty minutes west of the Continental Divide is Pagosa Springs.

Pagosa Springs, Colorado Photo by Andrew Leggett

Pagosa means healing waters in Ute.

Natural Hot Springs Photo by Andrew Leggett

We stayed at Canyon Crest Lodge in the Balmoral Castle suite.

Canyon Crest Lodge Photo by Andrew Leggett

The lodge overlooks the Martinez Canyon.  The redwood deck was well suited to the surroundings.

Canyon Crest Lodge Photo by Andrew Leggett

We were only here overnight and it was a rainy day, but the gardens and the area were lovely. The charming English hostess was there to greet us when we arrived.  It was newly built with a fireplace, and natural stone arches, borrowed from styles of English castles.  We met the architect who is also English.  It is located in a quiet wooded areas with nothing else around, but not too far from the town square.

For dinner, we went around the town area and had Chinese take-away on a patio outside of a closed Subway Sandwich Shop, where we gazed at the sky which had cleared, and was full of stars. Breakfast was served in a gourmet kitchen looking out into the mountains.  While we feasted, our host and hostess filled us in on Pagosa Springs and Colorado.

The vigorous rain stopped us from soaking in the natural springs.  By midday we headed for Durango, the start of San Juan Skyway.

August, 2009