chapter 523

5/30-6/7/2019

Colorado 2019

the gypsies itinerary 

link to Colorado photo folder (130 photos)

Colorado is BIG: it's big sky, big land, big houses, big food, big outdoor exercise, people live big. There is a definite Texas presence and influence here. Sunshine: Breckenridge boasts of a perfect combination of 300 days of sunshine and 300 inches of snow. Bike paths, bicyclers, hikers, walkers, runners all sorts of outdoor recreactionist activities occur. Everyone seems to be from somewhere else and it's fun trying to identify them from their accents. All pretty pleasant and friendly. We danced with the Great Continental Divide crossing its several times, most notably on I-70 going to Vail then coming back from Steamboat Springs.

day1  5/30/2019 Thur  Albany to Denver direct non stop $300  4 1/2 hr convenient - arrive after midnight

Dollar Rental $300/wk  Hyundai Kona drive to Aurora - Fairfield Suites

day2  5/31/2019 Fri  drive Aurora to Colorado Springs climb Pikes Peak, drive/walk Garden of Gods, drive to Westminster - Drury Inn

day3  6/1/2019 Sat hike Flatirons 1 &2, drive to Estes Park - Appenzell Motel ,treat ourselves to Filet Mignon for accomplishing hike

day4  6/2/2019 Sun drive into Rocky Mountain National Park back to Estes Park - Appenzell where they upgraded our room to a suite, complimentary

day5  6/3/2019 Mon drive into Rocky Mountain National Park then to Vail, (stop lunch at Breckenridge) - Austria Haus Hotel , booking.com

day6  6/4/2019 Tue   walk around Vail , Austria Haus Hotel. Some great art galleries. We purchased some at the Raitman Art Gallery.

day7  6/5/2019 Wed drive to Steamboat Springs, college buddy's Ranch in Oak Creek. Rafters on the Colorado River spotted on the way up.

day8  6/6/2019 Thu drive to Evergreen - (stop lunch at Silverthorne) Comfort Suites for Red Rocks concert Brit Flloyd. The sign said smoking of any materials is strictly forbidden. Guess they just didn't see the sign.

day9  6/7/2019 Fri fly Denver to Albany non stop, ( small stop Boulder Colorado School of Mines & Bison Burger)

Exhausting but exhilarating, a wonderful trip - living out of a suitcase - highlighted by reconnecting with college buddy in Steamboat Springs from 52 years ago and climbing the dramatic Flatirons in Boulder.

Colleen navigated nicely with cellphone although my free car gps saved our bacon a few times when her phone acted up (replacement on the way, again). Great however when I felt like mexican lunch as we approached Silverthorn. Quick directions to a great rated spot without struggling finding streets, directions.