Mancos

A small slice of life hidden away in southern Colorado. 

A town of a few thousand people, a pretty historic district and a stream running through it. 

Mancos Valley is devoted to agriculture and, who knew, apples are a famous crop around here. Like everyone else when I hear apple orchards spoken of, my thoughts turn to Washington State and British Columbia just to the north. 

Mancos is named for an early resident of the area, a Spaniard who fell in the river and suffered an injury that led to the amputation of his arm. In Spanish “manco” means “one armed” so Mancos means town of the one armed people. Look it up for yourself but I wouldn’t lie about history no matter how daft it sounds.  

I think of the great good fortune early arrivals had in these places and the permission they gave themselves to name their communities and that’s the best they could come up with? One legged motorcyclist in the one armed town: 

We stopped at the Fenceline Cidery, a lovely outdoor space and Rusty friendly and met this guy Don who started chatting and when I asked what he was ordering told me he liked to mix two ciders in one glass and offered me a taste! Then bought Layne and I our drinks! Our dogs were wagging their tails together as we sipped our pink drinks. 

Mancos the small town, rather lovely at least in summer. I don’t think winter would suit me. 

Then back to our boondock in the woods fifteen minutes outside town.