Day 22 8.9
I had tea & toast at Tinas, visited for awhile & then took off. It was her last day off this week, she was in the middle of moving, her daughter was there….so I knew she had a lot to do. And I had some time to kill & didn’t want to be this close to Rocky Mountain National Park with taking some time to drive though it. The skies were part blue & part dark…the monsoon season was still in play, so I doubted I would hike any. But, with the timed entry restrictions, I left Tina’s new cabin with about 15 minutes to get into the park. I made it through with 7 minutes to spare. The clouds in the park were covering the mountains, so I decided to drive to the Alluvial Falls & take a walk. Nice to get a photo with no people in it!
I’ve been to this park a ton of times, but I’ve never driven Old Fall River Road before. With chilly temps & lots of rain forecasted for later, I wasn’t going hiking. So, I drove this narrow, windy, & thank goodness, one way road. It was a beautiful drive!
There were a couple of falls along the drive….this was the first one.
Clouds above & clouds below.
The second falls...
The views at the top were wonderful!
The higher I drove on this road, the darker the skies got. It exits at the top at the High Alpine Visitors Center on Trailridge road. I stopped in for a quick postcard & then started the drive down Trailridge road. Soon it started raining, then hailing & that nasty weather would follow me all the way down the mountain & back into the park. Not a white-knuckle drive, but not too enjoyable either.
Since I was in the neighborhood & had extra time, I went to visit one of my favorite breweries.
They always have good beer!
I was headed to Boulder to meet my friend Joanie for dinner. She had just gotten back from a trip to the Pacific NW & I couldn’t wait to hear all about it & just catch up with this wonderful, adventurous & super smart woman. I was on a mission to hunt down this brand of packs called “Free Range”; I wanted to see them in person before or if I ever ordered anything from them online. They were supposedly at a farm store called McGuckin in Boulder, so I drove there with about 3 hours before I’d meet Joanie. It was one of the coolest farm stores I’ve ever been in. They stocked the product, I looked but didn’t buy. But they had everything in this store…tons of great gear for hiking & playing outdoors, plus everything else you’d expect.
Then I drove to Pearl Street & walked up & down a few blocks checking the shops.
Joanie works for the University in Boulder & we were supposed to meet at the Chatanqua Dining Hall after work. (Below is a photo of the Flat Irons under cloud thick skies…the dining hall is nearby.)
Turns out they weren’t taking walk-ins (as they’d stated they would on the phone earlier in the week), so we changed to Plan B & met for Pizza at Sun Mountain Brewery. We had a great visit, caught up, laughed & talked about the world & travel. Then she was headed back to Longmont where she lives & I was driving up to Loveland; a town I’d never visited before.
My friend Sherry, the world traveler & the person biking from Capitol to Captiol, was working for the city of Loveland this weekend, highlighting their Sculpture Festival, as well as an Art in the Park event & other unique things in this town. They’d comped her hotel room & she invited me to come up & stay & see the town.
I got there later in the evening as she was finishing dinner with fiends, & we all went to this cool little speakeasy in downtown.
Barbershop & bar…so awesome!
Inside of the Speakeasy had great vibes..
And my drink was yummy too!
It’s always fun meeting her friends & she always knows the best cocktail bars to go to!
Day 23 8.10
We walked from the hotel to a nearby breakfast place Sherry was trying out called Taste Local. It was delicious! I’m don’t drink most juices, but I love fresh squeezed juice! And on the side of my french toast was a jalapeño popper…the first one I’ve ever had….really yummy!
There are murals all over town.
Then I said good bye…but only briefly. I’d be seeing her back in Denver over the weekend. She’d given me a ticket to the sculpture festival, so that’s where I went next. It’s amazing how many permanent sculptures are in this town…they alot quite a bit of funds to make sure there’s art in this city. The photos below are permanent ones from their sculpture park. I didn’t take any photos inside the tents where the juried show was…I wasn’t sure if it was allowed or not, so I just didn’t.
Then I walked over to the Arts in the Park which was huge!! I spent some time there, loving looking at all the creativity around.
Sherry told me about a hike nearby so I drove out to the edge of town. But on my way, I passed another farm store that supposedly had my Free Range items I was looking for. However, this store did not. Their store in Fort Collins carried it. No big deal, but it was another amazing store! So, I checked it out ….mistakenly walking over towards the shoes (yes I’m looking for a certain type of shoe too. I’m a horrible shopper & super picky…no one likes to shop with me!). But, I spied on the clearance table a perfect pair of short boots (just what you need in Florida right?). So, I left with no Free Range anything, but scored a super cute pair of boots at 50% off…now where to put them in my 4Runner???
I stopped & paid the day fee for the Devils Backbone Open Space & parked. It was definitely going to rain…but could I get my hike in first? Sherry had said it was a short hike…more like a long walk. And so I grabbed my rain jacket & took off.
There was a trail for hikers, which led up to the rock formations & a mountain bike trail down below in this colorful area. It looked like a fun place to bike….on soft dirt with no edges or big climbs…just easy fun riding.
This was the Keyhole & my turn around spot. The skies were growing darker & there were booms in the distance.
Sadly there have been a couple of fires in northern Colorado this year, & you can see one of them still burning through the keyhole.
I made it back to my car with sprinkles falling, but just as I slammed the door shut, it was a deluge!
As the rain poured down in buckets & the streets filled with water, I drove to a local brewery called Verboten & enjoyed at nice Barrel Aged Barleywine…always good to drink a beer inside if its pouring rain outside!
I stopped back in Boulder at another “Free Range” place & found one of their fanny packs for 50% off. Not the piece I’ve been hunting all over for, but couldn’t pass this one up. I didn’t have a fanny pack…but now I do & it’s gorgeous.
I’m headed back to Denver…it’s a long long story that will reveal itself soon, but I was trying to find camping for tonight. Sherry had offered me to stay at her place for the next couple of days, but I feel like it’s imposing. So, I went on a long, long, long drive way down a nasty dirt road outside of Boulder to find camping. As I arrived at the site, looking at the darkening skies, I wondered how that nasty road to would be to drive back 10 miles if it rained heavily? I’m a wuss…so I turned around & drove to Sherrys lovely apartment. I played with the kittens (they like climbing on my bags!) & downloaded all my photos.
Day 24 8.10
The kittens are so active early in the mornings….& always so adorable.
I was ready to head out early, knowing I’d be back here later today. I needed to be somewhere with good internet on Monday morning. But, I know Sherry had her own things to do & I was way way way behind on my website.
I drove to the Denver Botanical Gardens…I love this place. It’s a quiet, beautiful, wonderful spot in the middle of a big, noisy, trafficky, city. This is my 4th time here, & every time I’ve come they have some special display that I love. Today, as I lugged my computer bag into the gardens (I was headed to the cafe where they have internet) the special display was Oaxacan Art….one of my very very favorite types of art. They had 8 huge figures throughout the gardens & I couldn’t wait to see them. But, first I bought a cup of tea & worked on my site for about three hours. But, then I needed a break & some food. I didn’t like the pre-made looking stuff they had in the cafe, so I just started walking through the gardens. Soon I walked by a hot dog cart & was thrilled for a cheap & yummy lunch.
And then I started hunting these colorful & super fun pieces of art!
As I walked around, I knew they would have small pieces for sell in the gift shop….oh nooooo. I really love this type of art. So, after walking through all of the gardens, I went into the gift shop, “just for a postcard” or so I told myself. I looked at all the beautiful art, then I bought two postcards. Then I went back to look at the display. Then I left. Then I went back (I told you I’m a horrible shopper who takes forever to make up her mind. It’s the money & I’m supposed to be downsizing & I’m traveling in my 4Runner which is already full as I want it.) But, in the end I went back for the cutest little snail you’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to set it out in our new house.
But, here’s a few other things I photographed as I walked around.
And the flowers….
I have no idea what this is, but it was so interesting & unusual.
There are benches tucked everywhere throughout the gardens. I still had more to do on my website, but didn’t want to sit inside the cafe. So, I chose a bench, out of the way of people, & started working again. It was so awesome to sit in this lovely place & relive my past three weeks in the form of putting all the photos & writing on tripscribbles.
I headed back to Sherrys house for a fun evening. Bridgett, is a longtime friend of Sherrys, but I also knew her. The three of us had vacationed together in Merida Mexico three years ago & it was soooo cool. So, I was looking forward to seeing her again. Plus Sherry is a fantastic cook…tonight she was making Green Chile stew & it was super yummy. The two of them are getting ready to travel again & it was not only great hearing about their upcoming trip, but I look forward to following along virtually.
Day 25 8.11
So, the whole purpose for my staying where I had good internet connection is I had a virtual doctors visit (with a new Endocrinologist in Florida, but this appointment was actually with her PA…since I couldn’t get any other appointment until January & this was the third doctor I’d called.) It’s a long & boring story but I’m supposed to have this shot as close to October 1st as possible. So, I thought, if I visited with the PA, (my records had already been sent to their office —twice…another boring story) that she could possibly set me an appointment for when I got back to Florida & within the 6 months time frame of when I needed the shot. So, I prepared. I’d done all my e-paperwork, made sure my mic & camera worked & was ready. 11am EST was 9am mountain time…I was soooo ready. I got the link & connected….first I spoke with someone who asked me questions. I answered them all. Then she said, “you are in Florida, right”. I said I live in Florida but am currently in Colorado. And that was what sank this whole f*&^%ing thing. She replied, they couldn’t do the appointment if I wasn’t in Florida. I said, "nothing I’d read or was told said I was required to be in that state". She said, "well, we can’t do it, maybe you can figure something else out” & would I like to reschedule? I told her I just needed to set the appointment for my shot…but there was no way I was getting to talk to the doctor-not-really-a-doctor. Sherry suggested I just reschedule then lie & tell them I was in Florida…how would they ever know. She also said I was very polite about it. My outside may have been nice, but inside was on fire.
But, I was done. And I mean really done. I was only about 70% on board with these shots anyway, & it seems like so many obstacles had been thrown up as I tried to get this scheduled. My friends that travel full time all do virtual health checks, & I doubt they all have to lie. But I was not only done, I was pissed. I was furious that this was never told to me. What other virtual services matter where you are? I guess they have a license to practice in only certain states, but they need to notify you when setting up a virtual appointments…at least thats my opinion which counts for nothing. And I was livid that I had rearranged my entire trip & taken advantage of Sherry’s good hospitality only to end up with nothing but an angry mind.
And so, back to fun & travel. Sherry & I would be meeting up again soon in New Mexico, so we verified our plans, I gave the kitties & Sherry a hug & a boatload of thanks as I packed up & left.
I needed to drive to beautiful places & stop the toxic thoughts in my mind & the use of every swear word I know spewing out of my mouth. I know people deal with so much worse stuff everyday….& I’m so grateful that I’m better & myself & my family aren’t dealing with anything worse. But the endless & needless waste of time & effort & red tape just makes me crazy. Just breathe & drive!
I headed southwest to Eleven Mile reservoir thinking I’d camp there. I’d never been there before & wanted to see it.
It was ok…kind of underwhelming & it didn’t have anything to do with my mood. I was shaking off the bad juju from this morning. But, to camp there was a $30 fee, plus you had to make a reservation (no paying there) which meant a reservation fee. Plus a state park fee. No thanks….I stayed briefly (because I wasn’t paying $10 for a park fee to just sit & look at the water) then took off to find something else.
I did see buffalo along my drive….
I knew Danny would be seeing the girls today…it’s their first day of school & would be trying to FT me at 2pm mountain time. I found the perfect campspot just in time. I’ve challenged myself on this leg of the trip to try to camp & hike new places & trails. This spot was Hecla Junction, just outside of Salida. I got to see the girls & talk about their day. The skies were a mix of black & blue as I parked once, then moved to another site, then moved a third time to the perfect spot. As black as the skies were earlier, the blue blasted out later with no rain. I made dinner, read, talked to Danny later & was so grateful for this beauty & peace.
Day 26 8.12
I packed up camp & took off to a new-to-me-trail called Browns Creek Falls. I have a friend that lives in the area & messaged her to see if she wanted to meet me in town for lunch. She & her husband currently have Covid….so that was a no on both our ends. So grateful it’s not the killer it once was, but I certainly wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
And so, a new trail. It would up & up & up gradually going up the mountain with beautiful views of the Collegiate peaks.
Three small stream crossing…two with bridges!
Browns Creek Falls….they were really pretty.
Well, I haven’t face planted in at least a couple of years. The whole trail was rocky, but I managed to trip over a rather small rock sticking straight up from the ground. My pole happened to be in the wrong location, so I went down hard & fast. The trail was more sandy than dirt, so it all stuck to the wound. By the time I’d hiked 2.5 more miles, the blood was dry & all the trail was encrusted. Yikes! I’m grateful nothing broke, sprained, twisted, pulled…all that bad stuff. I’m sure I’d be sore tomorrow…I hit hard, but I knew the best thing to do…besides getting it cleaned up, was to keep using my body.
I went to Amicas in Salida for a yummy pizza & their chile beer…always soooo good.
Then I went to a pharmacy looking for something to flush out all the sand & grit from my cleaned wound that wasn’t that clean. I got a syringe but it didn’t work that well. I ended up soaking a paper towel with water, then scrubbing it off…ouch. But, then I put some neosporin & a big bandage on it. Life is good…move on.
It was my intention to go to the laundromat & do a load of clothes. But as I got there, it seemed the entire town had a power outage. So, that was a no. I wanted to top my tank off before I left town the next day, but after going to three gas stations, there wasn’t anything working. So, I drove about 10 miles out towards Poncha Springs on 285 S to find camping for tonight & eat my leftover pizza.
I found a beautiful spot, no service here though. The skies were dark, but cleared after a couple of hours.
I sat out in my chair, read my book & had a beer. It was lovely!
Day 27 8.14
I backtracked into Salida early the next morning for gas…yay! Everything was working again. I grabbed a cup of tea at a local coffee shop then waited for the laundromat to open. Once that mundane chore was done (but I was able to do my Spanish while waiting). Then I headed back to 285S & headed southwest.
I was hoping to camp at the Zapata Falls Campground near the Great Sand Dunes NP. They had paved the nasty rocky road since I’ve been here last, but they also made the campground reservation only….UGH! I hate that. But I wanted to hike to the falls, so Ii parked & got on the trail. I knew they’d had a lot of rain here lately…as most of mountains in Colorado have…which is good for fire prevention.
The last time I hiked to the falls, I had to hike up the stream…literally, the trail goes into the water, you hike through the stream up to the falls where they are in a huge crack in the rock. So, they are hidden from the trail. When I got to the stream, it was rushing & bigger than I wanted to push my way through. The pic below is where the trail goes into the water. The falls are way up at the end where the rocks squeeze together. There were a couple of young men there who had done it….sounds like the water would have been hip deep for me in places.
Looking downstream away from the hidden falls.
I love to see rock cairns in the wild. I know they’ve become controversial…but I love them. I have them all over my house….& actually have a few rocks in my car from a special-to-me-place so I can make a new one when I get home.
So…no camping here & no falls. I also checked the too busy RV-filled campground next to the park, but the system said it was full too. I popped into the gift shop, bought a couple of postcards, then headed over to the parking area to hike the dunes. I was concerned it would be too hot today, but it wasn’t. I’ve hiked here a few times before, so going along with this leg of my journeys theme, I would just hike up the dunes. Not on the ‘trail’ to the high dune (done that before) but just head out & up my own way.
Medano creek was barely flowing.
I love love love to look at the colors & patterns in these otherworldly dunes. It’s mesmerizing!
And, so I just hiked for a couple of hours. I sat down & just took it all in. I finally stood up when the wind picked up some & started blowing the sand all over. Then I hiked back to my 4Runner.
Medano creek had disappeared by the time I crossed over the area where it generally runs. And, then I left heading to find camping, some more bandages for my skinned knee & to make some dinner. I stopped for ice, a grocery store & quick run into Walgreens in Alamosa…all supplied up.
I crossed from the state of Colorado to the state of New Mexico….I love love love these two states. Happy to be back in my favorite foodie state too. I found some camping…beautiful, quiet, no one else there. I hung out my wet laundry, re-dressed my knee, cleaned my 4Runner & ate dinner. I was able to set up my hammock which is awesome. I made myself a cocktail & read….swinging underneath the trees.
Before it got dark, I took a walk down the road to this big rock formation & to see if anyone else was camped down there. There wasn’t & the formation was cool. Today, there were no dark skies, no rain, no storms…just perfect.
Day 28 8.15
I am always grateful when I have cell service…nice to talk to Danny, check in with my SIL, keep my Spanish streak going & for the nights when I can’t sleep, I can plan my next adventure. I slept ok until about 3:30am…then I looked over my travel files on my phone. I’d heard of Plaza Blanca before & knew it was on private land. But about 4am, I was able to sign on to their website & get the gate code for a hike the next day.
And, so I drove to one of the most beautiful towns in NM, Abiquiu. I got through the gates & looked out to see strange & wonderful rock formations as white as can be. I think they also call this place…the White Palace. It reminds me of Tent Rocks….not far from here but it’s been closed since 2020. I was glad I was able to see it before it was closed.
It was hot by the time I’d gotten here…way hot. I grabbed some water & took off. I think the non existent trail is about 1.5 miles long (I’d downloaded it on Alltrails) but it was not always clear where to go even with the map. But it was super cool!
Then if you hiked through the Arroyo, you made it to a small slot canyon.
Then I reached this very skinny space that required me to climb up…& I did (scraping my bandaged knee as I went)
But then in front of me was another climb. The picture is not a great perspective, but this climb was way taller than I am. And I’m sure that trickle of water against the sandstone was slick. I decided a long time ago, when I’m solo, I don’t do climbs (& then the drop back down on the way back) that are taller than me. And, so I turned around. Went back down the area I had climbed & back out the way I hiked in.
I was so very hot by the time I was back in my car. I’d planned on staying at the COE campground at the lake tonight, but I thought it might be too hot. So, I took off to my fave restaurant to start my NM Feasting party…the Abiquiu Inn.
When I got there, it was crazy busy for a weekday at 1:30. The small staff were kind of yelling at each other & there was a line of people waiting. I eventually put my name in…it was a 20 minute wait. I perused the gift shop looking at the gorgeous jewelry & clothing. Then I went back to wait. At 30 minutes they seated me. The talkative waitress quickly came & took my order. Then I waited & waited & waited. My water & ice tea never came. I finally asked the busser for a glass of water. Time kept going by. Finally after being seated for 45 minutes, I asked the busser (couldn’t seem to find my waitress) about my food. He came back about 15 minutes later & said she’d forgot to put my order in but would do so now. I’d been at the restaurant a total of 1 1/2 hours. I said no. He apologized a lot, but I was over it. I said no thank you I was leaving. And I did. And I know when I’m pissed & hungry, the best thing for me to do, is to see beauty & I knew I had that drive right in front of me. My fave part is between Georgia O’Keefe’s two houses…one right across from the Inn & the other at Ghost Ranch. So, I drove & looked & breathed. All this little stuff that gets me going at first, can be tossed to the winds when you’re surrounded by the awesomeness of nature.
The famous mountain O’Keefe painted.
I was supposed to land in Santa Fe on Sunday…today was only Thursday. I have a friend who has a beautiful 5 acres south of town about 20 miles that had offered to let me stay there. But that was for Sunday & Monday. I knew I could have called her & it wouldn’t have been a problem, but I didn’t want to keep imposing on my friends. I drove to the campground I have always stayed in when I come to this special town. It wasn’t easy, & a camp neighbor helped out, but I got one of their sites. One is the nice things about this National Forest campground, is they have both reserved sites & first come sites. There’s no service there, but I ended up in the same site I’ve camped in twice before. I paid my fee, set up my hammock & set out my chair & drove back into town to a place the camp neighbor reccomended to eat called Del Charro. And it was yummy! (And I was starving by this time!)
I finally was chowing down on a green chile cheeseburger & margarita!
After dinner, I drove back to camp. My camp neighbors invited me over to share their campfire. It was such a nice visit. I love hearing others stories & sharing conversation. Then it was time for bed!
Day 29 8.16
Today I was running some errands in Albuquerque. It’s about an hours drive from Santa Fe. I took my time in camp this morning, then hit the road. I ate a breakfast burrito (but I forget I’m not really a breakfast burrito kind of woman) at the Bike In Coffee….a beautiful oasis in ABQ.
It was really busy this morning, but they had live music & such a great vibe. I stayed there for a couple of hours just enjoying it all.
I’m not much of a wine drinker & usually don’t even like white wine. But the Green Chile wine at Noisy Water winery is fantastic. My brother & I split a case last December & I’ve had it a few times at the winery (they have three in NM). I thought I’d buy a case & had been trying to think where I could put in my 4Runner, but turns out they’d ship it all the way back to Florida for me for free! So, I ordered that, picked up a couple of bottles for my brother to drop off on my way back through KC & a bottle of red for my friend I would be seeing while here in SF. And, I wanted to just “double check” that I liked enough to confirm my order, so I had a glass there. No problem…it’s still delicious!
Made a stop for my fave NM beer at Bosque brewing. I usually bring a case home with me, but just bringing a couple of six packs back this time. And, since I was there I had a small pour of it on tap.
It was brutal hot in Albuquerque, so I wasn’t doing any hiking here today. I drove back up to SF…where it was about 10 degrees cooler. Stopped for ice & lemons then went downtown for dinner.
Love this place! The Plaza Cafe for Posole & my first ever Prickly Pear margarita. So good!
Back at camp to enjoy a quiet evening of reading. No service here….so I’ll get lots of reading done!
Day 30 8.17
Hard to believe I’ve been gone a month. My campground is on the same road as the ski mountain. So, this morning, I went on the Aspen Vista trail. When I was here last October, this was the huge trail to hike with views of the fall colors in the millions of aspens around here. But last fall when I drove to parking lot, there were about 50 or more cars there, so I drove on up the mountain & hiked a different trail. Today, while the leaves are still a beautiful green, but no oranges & reds, I hiked the trail. No magnificent colors, but not many other hikers either.
The trail is an old road…not used by any motor vehicles anymore that people seemed to “warn me about”. But I loved it. It’s wide with a big view of the sky up above, & if you were hiking with someone else, you could actually hike side by side. The trail wound it’s way up the mountain with steady incline the whole way & views peeking between the trees every so often.
A really pretty view from the top.
A little wildlife with a view.
The view from the big rock outcropping. The whole road is 6 miles up, but I was turning around here a little past four miles.
This pink was in the rock everywhere!
After my hike down I drove back to my camp since it’s at the bottom of the mountain. I took a shower with my portable shower & boy did it feel great. I had a sunny spot next to my picnic table & cool water felt so good. Then I drove into town.
And it was madness! There’s a huge & I mean huge Indian Market going on this weekend. There are hundreds of vendors! It took me 30 minutes to find parking.
So much history, culture & wonderful architecture here.
I was hoping to eat lunch at The Shed…OMG such good food. But I knew they closed at 2:30 & it was about 1:30 as I walked to the restaurant. As always, a huge line of people waiting to get in, but even more so with the festival this weekend. I was an hour & 1/2 wait for one…I asked it I could sit at the bar & she said if you can find something. There was one seat open…yippee! I had a house margarita & the blue corn chicken enchiladas that came with a side of raspberry soup….so yummy.
I needed to walk off all that food, but I was overwhelmed by the thousands of people here. The booths went on block after block…all the streets on the Plaza were closed. And, it was sooooo hot. I eventually just went back to my 4Runner which was parked in the shade & laid in the back for awhile. I visited with Danny over the phone, did more Spanish lessons, watched a poor woman having an asthma attack (which I don’t know what to do for that) but she had someone with her. All I could do was to give them some ice out of my cooler….the man told me she’d overheated & it threw her into an attack. We should never take just breathing for normal…because it’s not for some.
Early in the evening I headed out to my friend Roxanne’s to catch up & see her lovely newly remodeled home. She was just starting that process when I was here last October. And, it’s amazing. Huge windows that look over 5 acres & towards the mountains. Just a perfect place. Roxannes is a writer & artist & such an interesting person. Really enjoyed our visit & she had been so gracious to offer to let me stay here during my time in Santa Fe.
Leaving Roxannes beautiful home outside of SF & watching the gorgeous moon come up at I drove away.
I talked to Danny on the way home….loosing him as I approached my camp. It was a perfect weather night, so I grabbed my headlamp & my book & read until late.