Terry's Journey in Retirement
Chapter 589
7/27 - 8/2/2021
Colorado 2021
living out of a suitcase
Had to use up our Southwest airline credits, so it was like a free trip. Rented car in Denver and stopped each of 6 nights at motels for exploring. Colleen is great at planning trips and getting great rates at quality motels. Col had prebooked flight home for $130 total from Steamboat Airport at Hayden via Denver to Albany. Current rate is $500
Drury Inn at Denver was just a few miles from airport not wanting to travel first night after midnight arrival.
The Hospitality House is a hundred year old hospital conversion. Our room was called the Recovery Room. Colleen got a kick out of the theme.
Cliff House at Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs gave us an upgrade to a nice large room for free.
Freight at Leadville was an interesting cute concept at the slumberyard. Had Ronnie Milsap and Patsy Clyne music available to play on their AM-FM-CD- tape - record player. Our room was on the left the "Lil Lovell"
We took this Route 82 Independence Pass to Glenwood Springs to avoid the monsoons and rock slides. Turned out fabulous.
Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs is an impressive historic hotel as everything seems to be in Colorado. However there was no free coffee in the lobby nor a coffee maker in the room !!!
Their claim to fame (and also our second recent presidential stay) is having been the temporary Presidential White House of Teddy Rosevelt. Col didn't even know it but TR hunted there in 1901 and 1905.
There was a problem east of Glenwood Springs with I-70 closures due last years Grizzly Creek Fire - burn scar - monsoon rains & mudslides which stranded 100 motorists trapped overnight. It became one of Colorado's worst road closures that may last months. The heavy rain was the worst in 500 years. The west is in a 20 year drought, the worst in recorded history. Expect more extreme weather in the years to come. Stay safe in Northeast.
The Stemboat Hotel is really just a three story motel but they had the best free coffee of our stays and had a nice hot tub where we had several fun conversations with other travelers from Memphis, Seattle and Missouri. As we pulled it the couple in front of us on a Harley were from Mansfield, MA.
Sadly old college buddy has sold his Ranch there so no visitation. I did get up to the Morgan Creek Fire above Steamboat Springs but wasn't allowed to get close enough for photos.