Heading Home

Sunday – We decide this will be our last stay at Garrett’s Motel in Santa Fe. Price and location are good, but it has gotten too run down – peeling paint, rotten flower boxes, poor internet and an old tube-type TV!

We left early so we could get to Hatch, NM for a burger at Sparky’s. As usual, the weekends are way too popular. Note to self: do Sparky’s Wednesday through Friday. They are not open Monday and Tuesday.

Our Chilies Roasting

With This Fire, it Took 5 Minutes

We did score Hatch roasted chilies big time. We bought a just-picked bag and they roasted them on the spot - ~30 pounds. We had to settle for a Subway foot-long lunch in Deming and headed home which was 104 degrees! Even though, it is nice to be home for a while.   

Santa Fe

Thursday - Arrived at 3, explored Old Town Square, ate at Cayote Cantina (Cayote Café roof garden).

Old Town Square

Friday – Took a short bike ride from the hotel then brunch at Pasqual’s. Toured Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Great historical overview of her life. She worked in an amazing variety of mediums. Dinner at the Shed. Had sunset cocktails at La Fonda Hotel roof garden.

La Fonda Roof Garden

Saturday – Walked to the Railyard for the Saturday Farmers’ Market for pastry and coffee. In the afternoon we did Canyon Road art galleries. Didn’t buy anything, but got inspired. Had enough Mexican food for a while!

Driving home tomorrow – On the way, buying Hatch chilies for the freezer and a juicy hamburger for lunch at Sparky’s - assuming they aren’t overwhelmed by biker groups which happens on the weekends.

Tuesday Crystal Bike Path and Aspen Shopping

We got out early today because we wanted to ride AND go to Aspen to ogle all the high-end shops. So, we did tandem from Basalt on the Rio Grande path through Carbondale then up the Crystal River path to the end – 15 miles one way.

The Crystal River w/ Mt. Sopris (13,000ft.)

The Roaring Fork, Rio Grande Bike Path

On the way back we stopped for brunch at the Village Smithy, a local favorite, for brunch. It was enough to get us to dinner in Aspen at the Hotel Jerome. Things are a little expensive. Gas ($3.89/gal) is $0.80 - $1.00 more expensive than down-valley places like Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. We were looking for galleries for home decorating ideas. Aspen had some exotic and interesting things, but it seemed like Vail had more.

The Aspen Shopping Scene 

Wednesday Cycling Glenwood Canyon Bike Path

East from Glenwood Springs is a 16-mile canyon carved by the Colorado River. It is narrow and jam packed – cars and trucks on I 70, rafters and kayakers on the river, bikes on the bike path and trains on the railroad tracks all sometimes in a canyon that is maybe only 200 yards wide. The weather was perfect and there wasn’t much bike traffic which can be a problem sometimes. Then it was a lazy afternoon in Basalt repacking.

Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs

We leave for Santa Fe tomorrow so, good bye to Colorado for this year.

Transfer day to Basalt Sunday

Stopped in Vail at the “farmers’ market” which had more crafts and food than farm goods. Very white shoppers. Found some interesting art that might work for over the mantel (vickerscollection.com). Had lunch and continued on to Basalt. The Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon was a popular place to stop along I 70. The Hanging Lake rest stop was closed because the lot was full.

We had cocktails and gifts in the room before dinner. I now have an interesting biography of Jerusalem by S. Montefiore, two new pairs of shorts and a Belvedere bike vest - very nice. Then Lauve hosted birthday dinner at the White House – our favorite pizza place ever. Played Corn Hole on the White House lawn after to “work it off.”

12" Sweet & Spicy

Monday Ride to Aspen for the Eclipse

It was the perfect day! We “saw” the eclipse starting with shadows on the ground under trees. Even at the peak when the sun was 89.5% covered by the moon, it didn’t get that dark.

Eclipse shadows under trees

We rode the Rio Grande bike path 23 miles to Aspen and back. It follows the old rail line from Glenwood Springs along the Roaring Fork River. The views range from farm land to forests along the river. We saw lots of evidence of bear activity assuming they are the only animal that eats berries and leaves scat piles the size of horse deposits (sorry, no pictures).

Aspen flower display

A new building in Aspen reminded us of friend, Peter Eisner’s, art. We had a snack and went back to Basalt. There is so much to see in Aspen, we plan a separate half day there this week.

Golden Day Trip

Our plan for Thursday was to have lunch in Golden with an old friend and co-worker who now lives in Colorado. We found a hike to do before and were going to tour Coors Brewery after lunch. 

The hike was a rolling meadow walk about 6 miles out and back. Nice to get out at a lower altitude.

Lunch with Kathy and Bob was delayed because Kathy’s doctor’s appointment ran late. Kathy was the office manager at my previous employer, Raskob Kambourian and subsequently worked for us at Gordian Advisors. She was great support and a dear friend. It was good to catch up.

The late lunch meant we missed Coors. We did get a picture with Coors in the background!

Dillon Farmers’ Market Friday

It does have some farmer stuff, but it is mainly crafts and food booths. The market was a place for a snack end to our favorite Summit County ride up to the Keystone ski area.

Saturday Paddle Boarding

My birthday present was pedal boarding on Lake Dillon. Pedal boards are like paddle boards, but you pedal rather than paddle to propel them – like a stair-master. It was fun because you get a good workout and they go fast. We went to the same areas as in the canoe, but this time we saw several ospreys, one nesting.

We visited an antique boat show at the marina afterwards. The most interesting was this steam powered harbor boat. It was fun chatting up the owner about the power plant.

A Frisco Weekend

The city of Dillon sponsors a concert every Saturday evening in the summer (used to be Friday AND Saturday) They were held at a beautiful amphitheater overlooking the lake with the sun setting just after the start. Those who have joined us here are sure to remember. Things have changed this year. The amphitheater is being completely renovated so the concerts are held at a nearby baseball field. We weren’t sure it would be the same experience, but we went anyway Saturday. The turnout wasn’t as good (could have been the band or the rains earlier in the evening) but, there was some of the same atmosphere. People brought picnic dinners, lawn chairs and kids. Dogs had to stay outside the fence. It was fun to see people, old and young, dancing. No sunset views this time – facing the wrong direction.

Frisco has a street art fair a couple of times in the summer. Last year we bought a painting that Lauve admired and hangs in her office. This year we bought a Damascus steel kitchen knife with a buffalo horn handle made by JB Eagle Custom Knife maker, Brent Nilson from Boulder, CO.  It is so good looking that we will enjoy it even if it doesn’t cut!

 

We went to rent kayaks on Lake Dillon and found only canoes were immediately available. After our Snake River canoe problems, we were reluctant. All went well though, and it was a beautiful morning.

John and Jeaninne Thompson from Durango, who we saw on the way up, came to spend two days with us. We biked both the Keystone and Breckenridge routes with them. John is an experienced rider and Jeaninne has a great start in the sport. We had fun. Then they hosted a delicious dinner at the Blue River Bistro in Breckenridge. With similar interests, they could be future travel companions.

Today we did the signature climb here in Frisco – Vail Pass. From our condo it’s 12 miles one way, 1600 feet of elevation gain ending at the 10,700-foot pass, all via a perfectly built bike path. The climb up is a bit of a grind, but the pace allows time to appreciate the flowers and meadows. The decent is thrilling and exhilarating with sweeping turns and few other riders.

Hiking with Friends

Wednesday night we had dinner with Bill and Margie Klesse, friends from way back. Lauve and I have traveled with them - New Zealand. Their kids know my kids so, catching up was fun.

We did a hike with them Friday to Mohawk Lake. It was about 5 miles, but ended at upper Mohawk Lake which sits at about 12,500 ft. We took a nap in the afternoon!

Upper Mohawk Lake

                                                             Old mining draw works

Saw some mountain goats far in the distance, but evidence of their presence on our trail.

Mountain goat wool

The regular Frisco outdoor concert was Friday night. It is always fun to hear the local talent and see all the families with their small kids and picnic dinners.

Three Days of Biking

We’ve been here three days now. We biked each one. Monday was Breckenridge, Tuesday, tandem to Keystone and today, Copper Mountain. All by bike path. It has been in the 50’s when we started, but never got over the mid 60’s. Still, not too cold. The only thing was the threat of rain and two days we actually got a little wet. The threat is always a reason to not linger for coffee mid-ride which takes some of the fun out of it. Unlike Tucson, we don’t have to get out at the crack of dawn, but we do have to sandwich the ride in between sleeping in and the inevitable afternoon showers. This year seems wetter and the locals confirm that.

For those interested in pictures of the condo we have used for the last three years: https://www.vrbo.com/879998

Here are two shots of the path and wild flowers on the way to Copper Mountain today.

The drive up to Frisco, CO

This is our annual summer trip to Colorado to escape Tucson heat. The first stop was Joe & Aggies Café, Holbrook, AZ recommended by Dave and Laura. This Route 66 place did typical grub. It was on the itinerary for motorcycle tours of Route 66. We arrived seconds before a large group of European Harley riders who apparently started from Florida. We got our order in just in time!

First night was in Durango, CO at the downtown Victorian style General Palmer. Not long after checking in the city electricity went out for over three hours. Our downtown dinner plans with Lauve’s Campbells colleague, John Thompson and his wife, Jeaninne were pleasantly replaced by candle light barbeque at their house overlooking the dark city.

The Silverton Train from Durango

Yesterday we finished the trip to Frisco with a pretty drive into the mountains over Wolf Creek and Hoosier passes. Our condo, same one for the last two years, had a surprise for us. We have always had use of the garage to store our bikes. Not this time! The owner decided it wasn’t included so, there was no key to it. Strange enough, the garage wasn’t actually locked – we are using it anyway! Hope someone doesn’t come and lock it with our bikes in it!