R and J in the USA

We arrived at our Harvest Host in Hesperus just as nighttime was settling in. As we approached the house, 2 big beautiful white dogs ran up to our van, followed by a little white and brown one. We were glad for the welcome, but also had come to a full stop since we couldn’t see where they were sniffing around and didn’t think running over our host’s dog would be a particularly friendly way to express our gratitude for the place to stay. We stopped the van and called the host that encouraged us to just start driving slowly and assured us that they would follow their survival instinct and get out of the way. When we pulled in, Cody was there to greet us to his 8700 square foot house sitting amongst acres of open fields with stunning mountain views in the distance.

He came up to greet us and without us needing to needle our way in, voluntarily began to pepper us with all kinds of information on life in the area, just as we always love to learn. We learned how he and his wife had taken on this house when it was a much neglected foreclosure, originally built by a Mormon family that had 11 bedrooms and all the space that goes with that. It being in rough shape when they got it, they had steadily invested into it to turn it into the beautiful and warm space it now appeared to be from what we could see in what little was left of the day’s receding light. He told us how he hoped he would never have to update or replace the somewhat complicated septic system that would easily cost about $380,000 to do so. We could understand why he hoped to avoid such a fate. 

He told us how this part of Colorado was made up of either Christians or outlaws. He identified with both.

He also told us about the thousands of cords of wood that he delivered around the state every year as one of his many income streams. Looking around and seeing no trees from which to get cords of wood in the vicinity, we inquired how that worked and he informed us how it is part of state law for conservation lands to properly steward their forests as part of fire control and that on every certain amount of acres, they would need to go in and cut down about 200 trees to keep the woods safe and healthy. 

He also went on to tell us of all of the other trades that he engaged in, from horseback riding tours, to fishing tours to operating a shooting range and being a firearms instructor. When arranging our stay, we had requested a chance to get some lessons on the shooting range. Being official city slickers, we have approximately zero experience with guns. No matter what one thinks or feels about guns, we are quite certain we can hardly say we have taken a trip to get to know America without learning how to shoot one. The weather hadn’t been good for it this time around, but we already have it on our itinerary while we are in Texas. We were in awe of all that Cody and his wife Jennifer were able to fit into a day and a life and Cody explained to us a bit more about Colorado.

”In Colorado, you are either filthy rich, or you have about 20 jobs.” Though we have met Coloradans that seemed to exist somewhere in the middle, for the most part, we got the sense that this was an accurate picture.  

We made our donation to support their efforts that is part of the Harvest Host experience (which can also be shopping in a store if they have one) and Cody handed us a dozen farm fresh eggs to boot. 

We enjoyed our chat and a lovely evening hosted by the most hospitable outlaw we could imagine getting to know.