Springtime in the Rockies
Fridays are always my best days for travel. Usually I’ve worked my ass of for most of the week that I can coast on Fridays. I’ll save the harder to reach, enjoyable country drives for Friday as I make my way home and today is no different. I’m currently making my way up a country road to a reservoir where the most traffic I’m passing are fly fishermen looking for access to the stream next to the road. I suspect the road will turn to dirt farther on.
There is something distinct about Colorado mountain air and I’m traveling at the perfect time. The morning air is cool and crisp-not quite jacket weather, but not quite short sleeves either. High above red rocks jut in contrast to evergreens while near the stream willows and cottonwoods scent the air.
As I wind my way at a pleasant 35mph I can leave the windows down and take in the sights. I’ve passed young buck deer with velvet antlers, Canadian geese with their goslings floating down the stream and with each glimpse of white water, I think of learning to kayak and stuffing it in my car for future trips.
I’ll have to backtrack down this country road before taking Highway 82 over Independence Pass (paved) and into Leadville where I’ll order Mexican food to take home from the best Mexican Restaurant in Colorado. From there I’ll find a “shortcut” (unpaved) over the mountains to drop in on Highway 285 and take the back way to home. The entire time I’ll spend thinking of how I can steal Deana away for a Ural roadtrip get away to a B&B and to the restaurants and sights I’ve discovered on this trip. I don’t really know if and when we’ll have time to do this, but I know it happens on every trip I take into the mountains.
Although it’s really is too close to Aspen and too far from home, the country out here is beautiful enough to make me linger over Land For Sale signs. It is the stuff the keeps me going.
There is something distinct about Colorado mountain air and I’m traveling at the perfect time. The morning air is cool and crisp-not quite jacket weather, but not quite short sleeves either. High above red rocks jut in contrast to evergreens while near the stream willows and cottonwoods scent the air.
As I wind my way at a pleasant 35mph I can leave the windows down and take in the sights. I’ve passed young buck deer with velvet antlers, Canadian geese with their goslings floating down the stream and with each glimpse of white water, I think of learning to kayak and stuffing it in my car for future trips.
I’ll have to backtrack down this country road before taking Highway 82 over Independence Pass (paved) and into Leadville where I’ll order Mexican food to take home from the best Mexican Restaurant in Colorado. From there I’ll find a “shortcut” (unpaved) over the mountains to drop in on Highway 285 and take the back way to home. The entire time I’ll spend thinking of how I can steal Deana away for a Ural roadtrip get away to a B&B and to the restaurants and sights I’ve discovered on this trip. I don’t really know if and when we’ll have time to do this, but I know it happens on every trip I take into the mountains.
Although it’s really is too close to Aspen and too far from home, the country out here is beautiful enough to make me linger over Land For Sale signs. It is the stuff the keeps me going.