I made it less than 50 miles down the road today and said, that is good.
As I was leaving Fort Collins this morning, it reminded me so much of Seattle when I go to visit Christopher, Amber and sweet Avery. I think it might be due to it being a college town (home of Colorado State) but I also think it is the kind of people that live there. There is a very non conformist style in dress, hair, cars, etc. In fact, I saw lots of people on bikes and I am not sure they all work at New Belgium Brewery.
Here's an interesting fact. After your first year anniversary with New Belgium (which makes FatTire beers) employees are given a new 'fat tire' bike and stock in the company. From our tour guide, the stock give you access to strategic planning, policy making decisions, go to market decisions etc. One of the recent decisions they made was to be more mindful of their values of doing things responsibly. Part of the employee share is getting a 12 pack of beer a week and that was dropped from the former 24 case since that is not responsible drinking per week. Go figure.
As I was leaving the city I also go one of the best deals that I have gotten in a long time. There was a manager special for an exterior car wash for $3.99. The took my car keys, prepped it, washed it and then dried it by hand and then delivered the keys to me. All this for less then 4 dollars and I got a cup of coffee to go with it too.
So while I only made it less than 50 miles down the road, I did put more miles on the car with driving all through the mountains. I just decided to stay in Estes Park for the night. I had one of the most spectacular drives I have ever had in my life. I couldn't stop stopping to take pictures. Because you are going through some tight winding roads, there are lots of slow traffic pull offs, and I think I took advantage of almost every one of them. Every bend had what I considered the most beautiful mountain view, and then I would get around another corner, and that one was just as beautiful. I even saw mountain deer or goats (you tell me which my the picture) eating along side the road. I was so busy looking up and around, I almost missed what was right in front of me. A life lesson if there was ever one.
I do understand why so many yourn people come to this area and then don't return home. It is phenomenal. I remember when I was in Maine, I thought this would be great place to live. And then in Sedona, I thought the same thing. In Colorado in the Rockies, I feel the same thing. But then I get back to what is my home, and I am glad to be there too. Something new to ponder on tomorrow drive.
On today's drive I was either fighting with myself or trying to figure myself out. I was so thinking that as long as I was here I should find an outfitter place that would teach me to fly fish and I also thought I should go horseback riding. I knew I would need both days to get it done and I think that was the driver behind staying. But the more I thought about it I was getting tripped up by that should word. If I really wanted to become a fisherperson, wouldn't I have taken it up before. It's not for having had lack of opportunity. I could ask Nathan to teach me to fly fish if that is what I was really interested in. Mostly it was a prove something to someone - but at the end of the day, I don't think I care if I do it or not. With a partner it might be great activity....kind of like golfing as a couple...but I don't think I am really the go off into the stream by myself type. Whew....that was half of the 50 mile drive.
The other half on the horseback riding was easier. I really thought that would be fun especially since i was wearing my new cowgirl shirt today and was feeling kind of tough girlish. Go figure, the horse stable that does the rides in Rocky Mountain Park are not open until late May. Still winter. So, that put an end to that for today. I am still going to Wyoming and Montana and I might get my cowgirl groove back on. One never knows.
So rather than being a tough girl, I am going to be a pampered girl. I made reservations at St Mary's Spa and Lodge and will spend the night and get a treatment tomorrow morning before I take off again. I am looking forward to that. While I haven't been killing myself spending lots of time in the car (at least not in long stretches)- a massage will still fill good.
And no Mom, I am not sleeping in the car. As I told you on the phone; I am way too old for that. While it might have been fun when you did it when you were younger, I am no longer younger to do that kind of thing. The Lodge and Spa will be more my cup of tea.
Before I headed to the Lodge I grabbed a quick lunch at the Estes Park Brewery (gotta keep the same themes going here) and then did a long drive in the mountains. I went up both ways. By Highway 34 and Highway 36. Didn't want to miss any of it. The one pass was closed and won't open until Memorial Day - you could drive most of the way in and down some other roads. Just as I was getting the maps to know where I would be going, it started to snow. And the further up the mountain I went it got snowier and snowier. At one point I could not see anything in front of me and the temperature gauge in the car said it was 26 degrees. That was enough to keep me from parking and walking some of the trails. In fact, I saw a few other drivers, but no walkers. I am hoping tomorrow is better so I can at least do one hike before I leave the area.
Even if I don't get hiking in, I have not seen such beautiful country. I believe I have said that for most every place I have been, but it is true.
And by the way, in Fort Collins - they have Chicago style pizza. You never can get too far away from things you know.
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