Anniversary Trip Part 2- Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

Anniversary Trip Part 2
Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
February 12-15, 2015
Days 5-8 of a 12 Day Adventure

We were very excited to make it to Ometepe, an island in Lake Nicaragua formed by two volcanoes which have grown together - the only thing that stood in our way was an hour-long ferry ride.  We opted for the larger ferry rather than the rather rickety looking wooden flatas- good thing, too, because the ride in what was supposed to be the more stable boat was still pretty choppy and I had to close the window to avert the water splashing into the cabin.  I found it exhilarating.  J found it nerve-wracking. 

When we arrived at the dock a driver arranged by Ometepe Secret Adventures picked us up and drove us across the island (on a road that actually crosses the one airport runway on the island) to our hotel Xalli Ometepe Beach Hotel in Playa Santa Domingo.  I tried to take in as much as I could as we drove past tobacco fields and through small towns waving at school children riding their bikes along the road.  Located on the isthmus between Concepción Volcano, an active volcano on the north side of the island, and Maderas Volcano, an inactive volcano on the south side, Playa Santa Domingo is a quiet stretch of beach with soft black sand.  We were met with fresh juice drinks at Xalli and were shown our room which was updated, immaculate and comfortable.  I instantly felt relaxed.  We ordered lunch from the hotel restaurant which features all local and organic ingredients.  While there, I saw the dessert special was Bananas Flambé’, a dish I personally LOVE, and we shared a decadent snack later that night.

We spent most of Friday just lounging around- sat on the beach in the morning, watched horses running in the water, laid in hammocks and read, took a walk along the lakeshore and spent some time in the lake, which is extremely wavy but also very shallow in that area.  J wasn’t scared at all to enter once he saw it was barely waist deep.  We had a blast jumping into the waves and splashing around.  That evening we walked to town and ate at Comedor Gloriana, a rundown beach bar that served J a giant fresh fish steamed whole (something he’d never had) while I had the best plantinos con queso (plantains with local cheese) of my trip.  It was dark by the time we walked up the beach toward the hotel and I noticed something at my feet- GIANT toads- way bigger than my hand- all over the beach! 

Saturday was our 11-year ‘Prime’ Anniversary and we had a big day of exploring the island planned.  Our driver picked us up in a pretty pimp truck with a Punisher sticker on the side and we drove around the island from spot to spot, getting a little taste of everything.  I loved passing through small villages and taking in the local way of life- women doing laundry in a stream, teens herding cattle down the road, men hanging from ropes to get a better reach while painting the local church. I felt a distinctive spirit in the rural communities, much like the spirit I feel when I return to the farmland I grew up on.  

Our first stop was Punta Jesus Maria, a sandbar that extends out into Lake Nicaragua making the illusion of one walking on water the farther out they get.  There wasn’t anyone else there that morning and J really enjoyed walking out onto the strip with the waves coming from two directions rolling over his feet.  The beach was covered with opalescent shells and I chose a few for jewelry projects.

From there we headed over to Museo el Ciebo, a museum of artifacts found on Ometepe, many of them Pre-Colombian, including pipes, musical instruments, cooking utensils, jewelry and funeral urns.  We were lucky to have a museum guide to ourselves that answered all our questions about the items displayed there.  He told us the ancient inhabitants of Ometepe were Mayan and descended from Guatemala looking for their own ‘Promised Land’- when they saw Ometepe they believed they’d found it. 

We took a late-morning stroll around Laguna Charco Verde, a peaceful reserve with easy walking trails, dense tropical foliage and an abundance of wildlife to see- monkeys, birds, lizards, turtles, butterflies.  At one point I saw a long but skinny bright green snake wrapped around a branch just like a crawling vine- eek!  J and I had an amazing lunch at the restaurant near the park entrance- sadly I did not get the name.  It was like an open air pavilion with updated décor and a beautiful view of the lake and mainland. 

Ojo de Agua, a mineral spring-fed pool with medicinal properties and is nestled in the shade of a thick canopy, is a popular spot to spend a hot afternoon.  Although there were plenty of people enjoying the water or lounging beside it, J and I found a quiet spot at the far side and cooled in the water while watching monkeys in the trees and kids enjoying the rope swing and slack line set up at either end of the huge pool.  Artisans display their crafts outside the pool area and I watched as a woman showed me how she polished stones she found on the island and then made them into jewelry. 

We wrapped up our island tour at Finca Magdalena, an organic coffee plantation set on the slopes of Maderas Volcano.  I was afraid the Punisher was going to sustain serious damage from the condition of the road but it seemed to handle it okay.  We hiked through the coffee fields and into the woods, up rocky inclines, over fences, around a volcano in search of ancient petroglyphs carved into the stone hundreds of years ago.  What an interesting tribute to the history of the island- that ages ago someone had carved the shape of the sun or the face of a monkey or another symbol into a boulder and it sits in that place still.

We walked up the beach to another restaurant I’d noticed the day before- Comedor Jackaling- a little open-air beach restaurant with sand floors, dim bar lighting and delicious food for dinner.  There was just something about the vibe that made it a very comfortable place- it was a chill spot to have a casual meal on our last evening in Ometepe.  That night I made sure to spend a moment standing barefoot in the sand between the volcanoes, allowing all my senses to feel the island’s energy.          

Ometepe is the magical place everyone said it was with secluded beaches, spectacular scenery and a calming energy.  The streets were full of people walking to church on Sunday morning and I felt lucky to get one last glimpse into local life as we were driving to the ferry.  Transport across the lake had been cancelled the day before but the boats were operating that morning- still the waves were VERY big- this time even I was a bit wary!  But we arrived safely and saw our driver holding a sign with our names as soon as we exited the ferry.  As it turns out, it was Francisco’s (our driver from Apoyo to the ferry) brother and we were quickly on our way to our next location on the Pacific Coast.  

Anniversary Trip Part 1- Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua

Anniversary Trip Part 1 
Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua
February 8-12, 2015
Days 1-5 of a 12-Day Adventure

I wanted to go to Costa Rica for our honeymoon back in 2004- J was hesitant to leave the country.  But a lot has changed in the 11 years we’ve been married- J’s become more adventurous and open to new experiences. And I now see the value in taking a little time to unwind instead of packing in as much as possible into a trip. So when planning our 11-year ‘Prime’ anniversary trip I tried to find a destination that accommodated both our interests- local culture, outdoor adventure and pure relaxation in a tranquil setting.  Although we considered Costa Rica, I was somehow drawn to the energy of Nicaragua from the very beginning and the less expensive flight and accommodations helped to convince J. 

This is the very first international trip I’ve ever taken that I did not experience a weather delay, mechanical malfunction or other act of god.  In fact, this trip started off on a high point when the gate attendant complimented my passport photo and continued on throughout the rest of the journey- we had comfortable flights from CAK to ATL and ATL to Managua, saw another plane fly by at what seemed like a crazy speed at one point, easily passed through Customs & Immigration and found our driver in the swarm of taxi drivers holding signs or yelling out to score a fare. 

We arrived at our first spot- Hotel Selva Azul, a laidback retreat on the west shore of Laguna de Apoyo, a dormant volcano crater lake, around 10:pm on Sunday night.  We couldn’t see much of the property but we could hear the waves splash against the beach below our balcony.  The next morning I woke up early and looked out the window to see the sun rising over paradise.  Everything was so lush- green palms and ferns, yellow, red and fuchsia flowering bushes, sparking blue water- temperatures already in the high-70s but with a cool breeze off the lake.  The Laguna is a protected nature reserve and is said to be the cleanest water in the Americas- I’ve never experienced water so clear, seen so many fish and birds, or swam in water that didn’t make my eyes sting, my sinuses burn or my skin smell just a little bit.  



We decided to spend the whole day relaxing on the beach with no more than a handful of other people sharing the entire area- J moved in and out of the sun while I swam, dove off the docks, enjoyed the water. J usually doesn't like the water BUT I somehow convinced him little by little to first venture in waist deep, then to float farther out on an inner tube.  We enjoyed a peaceful day in the water together- we also got burnt to a crisp in the 90F sun despite slathering on sunscreen.  Luckily, the hostel had aloe plants so we could sooth our skin.  That evening we walked up to the corner store, a small open-air pavilion of sorts that had rice, beans, onions, drinks and snacks set up on shelves made of crates for our first of many bottles of Flor de Cana rum.  For dinner, we enjoyed an amazing pizza made in a large outdoor oven at the Monkey Hut, the hostel next door.  We paid for most food & drink in Cordoba but $USD is widely accepted.  

We spent Tuesday morning relaxing on the beach again, watching birds such as magpiejays, colorful motmots and lanky egrets, had a late lunch at the hotel and prepared for what turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip- a night tour of the Masaya Volcano National Park.  Our guide Gustavo from Tierra Tours picked us up and drove us to the park while giving us information about animals in the area, natural and national history.  We learned that there are several volcanoes at various stages of maturity within the park- from baby volcanoes which have yet to open up and grow at rate of about 1cm/yr. to dormant craters that have long ago collapsed into themselves- but the most spectacular sight is that of the active Santiago Crater, which constantly spews gases, and very occasionally ash and rock, into the air.  The week before our arrival, a landslide rendered the observation deck unsafe so we were not able to see the glow of the lava but just standing on the edge of an open volcanic crater was quite an experience.  Little did we know what was in store for us next.

They gave us hard hats and flashlights and led us down a small path to a small set of stone stairs that descended into an opening in the ground- an actual bat cave!  I thought we were just going to be observing the bats flying out of the cave at night fall- I had no idea we were going to hike about a kilometer deep down to an area where activities ranging from ancient human sacrificial ceremonies to people hiding from warfare during the revolution took place, all the while housing thousands of bats.  I could feel the flutter of bat wings against my skin but catch just glimpses of them flying in and out of the beam of our lights.  Gustavo explained that snakes hunted in this area, bats being their main prey.  Say what?  Snakes AND caves- my two favorite things- let’s get out of here!  What did we see just then?  A snake eating a bat!  It was neat in a National Geographic kind of way. 

Wednesday morning Gustavo picked us up again, this time set for Mombacho Volcano.  Mombacho is an inactive volcano with a few steam vents, lush cloud forest, dense vegetation, a coffee plantation, medicinal plants and orchids growing wild on the mountainside and exquisite views.  We hiked for about an hour and a half around the top of the volcano where we could see Granada, the Isletas (small islands formed in Lake Nicaragua from a previous eruption of Mombacho), Laguna de Apoyo and the Nicaraguan countryside.  On the drive back we stopped outside Catarina to take pictures of the Laguna from the crater rim high above our hotel- we could even see the two docks in front from the lookout point. 

We decided to enjoy the Laguna one last time and ran down first thing in the morning for a quick swim before getting breakfast, packing up and getting one last hour of hammock relaxing in before our driver Francisco of Transfer Nicaragua picked us up at noon on Thursday to take us to our next destination- the dock for the ferry to Ometepe Island.  Something I noticed early on: everyone- the drivers, the tour guides, the hotel owners and all the other locals were very proud of the natural beauty and cultural heritage of their country.  With good reason, too- the way of life of the local people seems to be that of sustainability due to necessity.  They collect rain water which is heated by sunlight.  They utilize the shoulders of roadways for grazing livestock.  They build roads around trees rather than cutting them down.  Horse and oxen-pulled carts are still driven down the same brick-paved roads as tour buses and taxis.  But instead of old ways and new times clashing, they coexist.  There is an appreciation of the simple way of life, cultural history, natural resources, a balanced ecosystem.  That attitude is exemplified in a natural beauty of Laguna de Apoyo and the area surrounding- it was a wonderful location to kick off our Nicaragua adventure!

Sister Trip- Tour de Donut

Sister Trip- Tour de Donut
Arcanum & Dayton, Ohio
September 5-7, 2014

The Tour de Donut is one of my most anticipated events of the year!  We build a weekend around the occasion, visiting attractions in the Dayton area when not participating in the bike race/donut-eating contest. 

Last year Megan and I were late to pick up our race packets and almost missed out- this year we decided to pick up out bibs early on Friday afternoon.  When we arrived at the Arcanum Field House there was already a buzz of excitement in the crowd of fellow bike-riders.  We picked up our info, T-shirts and a list of nearby restaurants, deciding to dine at Pitsburg Pizza Grill just four miles away- we were famished.  We were not disappointed.  The pizza shop is a no-frills local spot with sparse décor, old booths and a bathroom door that was very hard to close but the service was friendly, the food was scrumptious and it was obviously a local favorite.  We loved it- we wolfed down quite a meal, carbing up for the race and all. 

Wegerzyn Gardens was our next stop, chosen mostly because it was on the way between the pizza place and our hotel.  But as soon as we stepped into the gardens we were amazed by the beauty of our surroundings.  Each garden has a different theme and we spent the evening exploring, captivated by the vibrant colors of the English Garden, taking in the tranquility of the succulent garden and wandering along the wooded paths that weaved between the garden plots.  From there we headed to our hotel to get some rest before the race.

We’ve done the Tour de Donut a few times now and have developed a strategy to optimize our performance.  No, it isn’t training heavily for the event.  We take a very relaxed approach to the whole thing. Instead of taking off with the pack when the starting gun goes off, we hang back for a while letting the crowd stretch out a little and cross the starting line about 15 minutes after everyone else.  As we were mounting our bikes to get our late start to the race, an older gentleman said ‘Are you two girls good and ready?’ We replied ‘We have a strategy!’ and set off.  It took just a few minutes before we were zooming past other participants in the 16-mile Mini Donut division of the race and we spent the rest of our ride focused on overtaking as many riders as possible.  About halfway through, the older gentleman we met at the starting line zoomed past us and commented that our strategy was working.  Megan and I enjoyed the ride through beautiful Ohio farmland at a good pace and ended up placing 11^th (Megan) and 12^th out of just over 120 women in our age group!

That afternoon we went to the Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm- I was pleased to find out they were currently hosting a quilt exhibit and was totally inspired by many of the amazing textile masterpieces.  We both relaxed in the bird observation area which had a huge picture window looking out to several bird feeders catering to many varieties of birds, including chickadees and hummingbirds.  Raptors were housed in an area a little further back.  We explored a few of the paths surrounding the center and followed one all the way to the Farm just about a mile away.  What a fun time!  I witnessed two pigs try to fit through one small barn door and get lodged in which was pretty funny.  They also had a huge vegetable garden, a culinary herb garden, horses, turkeys and goats- I love goats!  It was a crazy chill educational afternoon. 

At some point that weekend we’d gotten a crepe craving and, amazingly enough, Dayton has a crepe place in what has to be about the fanciest shopping center I’ve ever seen in Ohio.  That Crepe Place is one of many restaurants in The Greene Town Center in Beavercreek, Ohio- a multiuse complex that combines luxury living accommodations with high-end shopping and many dining options.  We parked on the outskirts of the commercial community and walked the few blocks past condos and retail stores to score two delicious crepes- one Bananas Foster and another Classic Parisian with butter and sugar.  They were worth the drive across town.

Our hotel, the Drury Inn and Suites Dayton North, hosts a happy hour each evening so we were able to enjoy a couple margaritas, glasses of wine and some snacks before settling in to relax after our full day.  We pulled chairs over to the window and enjoyed the view of the city in the distance as we relaxed for night.  As always, the Tour de Donut and the activities we use to fill up our weekend were a blast- we’re already looking forward to next year!

Weekend in Hocking Hills- FoamFest and Other Festivities

Weekend in Hocking Hills- Foam Fest and Other Festivities
Hocking Hills Region, Ohio
June 28-30, 2013

Who wouldn’t want to run a 5k mud run with giant inflatable obstacles filled with foam? My sisters Joanna and Megan and I were excited for our latest 5k based on this ridiculous premise to just get a little muddy, maybe bloody and definitely crazy for the morning.  We rented a cabin, grabbed some friends and planned a whole weekend around it.

We all met up at Megan & Neil’s on Friday afternoon.  Jo and I took her Jeep and Meg, Neil, Red and Holly rode down separately.  Joanna and I decided to take scenic byways the whole way down and actually used a road atlas with the route highlighted by green dots rather than GPS our way.  We had a great time.  We passed through charming little towns, stopped at cute shops and even saw a waterfall on our way.  It was worth every minute to get off the highway and follow back roads to our destination.

When everyone arrived we settled into the Hemlock Log Cabin, our usual place when we visit Hocking Hills and then headed out to explore a little.  We hiked all around Old Man’s Cave area, following Grandma Gatewood’s Trail, past the Devil’s Bathtub to the Upper Falls and the Gorge Overlook Trail crossing the A-frame Bridge and headed down to Old Man’s Cave.  Although it was a rainy day, it was still comfortable and beautiful, especially when beams of sunlight would peek through the clouds and trees.  After spending some time in that area, the group split up- most of the gang went to Cedar Falls and Ash Cave while Joanna and I went back to finish up dinner.  After dinner we spent time in the hot tub and sitting around the fire.

Holly decided to come to Foam Fest with us and watch, acting as our own personal professional photographer while Neil and Red headed down to Hocking College to play some disc golf.  The Foam Fest 5k took place in Kaeppner’s Woods, the same location of our very first Warrior Dash so Jo and I had some concept of what was in store- a course with a lot of hills!  We all took water guns and I had a lot of fun shooting random participants I deemed worthy- like someone with an inflatable doll as part of their costume or the photo bomber right behind us. 

As we lined up we heard the MC warning us ‘Do NOT inhale the foam!’  Okay- easier said than done.  We lined up, got ready and were off running through a big pile of foam covering the starting line. We got to the first inflatable obstacle, a bouncie house filled with foam- I ended up rolling backwards out of a pit of froth and fizz.  We continued around the course climbing over walls, up cargo nets, through mud pits, across inner tubes floating in water occasionally encountering an inflatable like a giant slip-n-slide filled with foam.  One of the most anticipated inflatable obstacles was the 50-foot SuperSlide.  Alas, by the time we got to there it had sustained damage and we could not ride it.  Huge bummer- the SuperSlide is why I paid to do this race!  Still, we had a fun time and watching us convinced Holly that she would like to do a mud run sometime soon!

After lunch, Jo, Meg, Neil and I headed to Hocking Hills Canopy Tours while Red and Holly went hiking and hung around the cabin.  As we pulled into the park, it started to lightning and all the tours were put on hold for a while but things got under way again as soon as the weather passed.  I had already done the traditional tour and opted to just do the SuperZip while they did the full tour.  I just have to say that the Super Zip rocks!  After you don the harness, you have the option of climbing the tower by way of many flights of steps or by hanging rope bridges.  I chose the bridges and I am glad I did- it was really a spectacular experience making my way though the canopy, stopping to look down and around, climbing higher and higher into the trees and up the tower.  At the top they ask if you’d prefer to ride in a sitting position or flying like Superman.  I almost always pick Superman!  When they release you, you fly approximately a quarter mile at speeds up to 50mph through the woods and over a river- it really is a breathtaking experience and one that I wanted to do over and over.  Luckily they said I could pay $10 for each ride after the 3/$55 deal I had paid for and that’s just what I did.  When I met back up with the group we all rode the SuperZip together- while they enjoyed the traditional tour they said the SuperZip was the highlight of the trip!

The driver of one of the all-terrain vehicles that transported us around the complex gave me directions to the liquor store so after dinner that night, Red, Holly and I made an alcohol run, trying to beat the clock and get there before 9:pm.  We arrived at 8:59 and found out they were open until 10:00- wahooo!  We filled up on Crown and Tequila and headed back to the cabin to relax for the night.  We spent a little time playing pool, sat in the hot tub as a group, went on a late night hike and wrapped up the evening around a blazing fire.   

The next day I went on an early morning walk, taking pictures of the area, chickens on a farm down the road and flowers growing in either shoulder.  Before we left Jo and I did one more skid around the circular driveway, a pastime that’s absurdly unnecessary and fun, then made our way back toward home.  It was a full weekend and every minute of it was a total blast! 

Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival

Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival
Zane Shawnee Caverns- Bellefontaine, Ohio
May 17-19, 2013

Last year’s Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival was the kickoff to an amazing summer and I was excited to spend the entire weekend at this year’s event with my phamily and friends.  Just about every single person that I know that enjoys local music festivals was there to enjoy a fantastic lineup of bands of varying genres and installations from local artists.

By Friday evening a large group congregated in Camp Spot #63, the very last spot in the entire Southwind Campground at Zane Shawnee Caverns in Bellefontaine, Ohio.  I was in festie mode for the entire weekend, which basically consists of me forgetting about my phone, having no concept of time, dancing around a lot and drinking.  So that’s my excuse for having no idea about the band that I most enjoyed on Friday night- all I can say is that they did a rocking Rage Against the Machine cover that whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

The entire group decided to descend into the caverns for a little Saturday mid-afternoon adventure ($11 per person).  I am typically a little iffy about tunnels, caves and other confined spaces but I really enjoyed exploring the caverns as the guide gave us tidbits of information about rock formations, bottomless pits and missing divers. 

 

Saturday night was one great band after another including Tropidelic, Jones for Revival and Jimkata.  I was thrilled to run into John, the guitar player from my favorite band the Stagecoach Robbery and find out he was playing a set with Broccoli Samurai, which rocked.  Sassafraz, a band from Athens, Ohio, blew me away.  I was transfixed by the fire dancers.  I chilled for a spell in the Dream Machine.  It was a crazy fun night of dancing and wandering around. 

Tribal weekend was indeed one of connections.  I spent time with my core phamily group, some good people, met people I’d only known through Facebook and made some new friends along the way.  Enchanted moments were shared.  A chill vibe of peace reverberated through the event and attendees.  Tribal again was an excellent kickoff to what is bound to be a fantastic summer!

71 Hours in Colorado

71 Hours in Colorado
April 20-23, 2013

“This is the last time we’ll have a chance to sit for the next three days”, I told Meg and Neil at the Hamburger Stand as we sat and ate our lunch shortly after arriving in Denver.  We’d decided to stop before heading over to our friend Lisa’s because I knew that our visit to Denver was going to be a chaotic and haphazard expedition from that point on.  And it was.  Just minutes after arriving at Lisa’s SW Denver apartment, we were piling her family and the three of us into a two-car caravan headed straight for Downtown Denver.  We were already head first and full swing into another wild Colorado adventure. 

First on our agenda:  a tour of several banks in the downtown Denver area, searching for one with a working ATM.  As we crossed from bank to bank we could hear the beat of drums in the distance and the feeling I get when in Colorado was already coming over me.  From my outside perspective, Colorado seems to be a fine mix of libertarian ideals that combine conservative fiscal beliefs with liberal social ideas for a state that is clean, healthy and accepting of marriage equality and marijuana.  After finally scoring some dough, we turned and headed toward the rhythm that had been calling to us- two drum kits facing each other and hammering out a dueling cadence.  That was the first time we danced.

From there we wandered around the city in no particular fashion.  Denver has a lot of random things to see- metal sculptures standing in the middle of grassy knolls, giant blue bears peering into the windows of the Convention Center- that kinda thing.  Another spectacle observed that afternoon was the Annual Marijuana Rally held in a downtown park.  A typically jovial and laidback crowd numbering in the tens of thousands were gathered to celebrate Colorado’s recent legalization of pot.  We stayed for just a few minutes before continuing our tour of the city on foot and by car. (About an hour later, two people were injured when they were shot in an isolated incident which took place at the rally.  It is unfortunate that gun violence happened at what is supposed to be a peaceful gathering.)

Late that afternoon we checked into our hotel the Residence Inn by Marriot Denver Downtown- our studio room was the perfect size for three- and got ready for one of the highlights of our entire trip: the Cypress Hill/Slightly Stoopid ‘Hot Box at Red Rocks’ 4/20 show.  You know Meg and I had been talking about what we planned to wear to this event for the past few months.  We had thoughts of long dresses or hippie skirts.  Alas it was in the 30s that night and we were bundled in hoodies, hats and gloves. 

We met up with a couple of Lisa’s friends in the upper parking lot of Red Rocks Amphitheatre, chomped on some Doritos and headed in.  Not only does it have some of the best natural acoustics in the entire world, it is the most visually stunning arena I have ever experienced at any concert or performance at this point in my life.  As we walked down the steps toward the stage, a feeling of euphoria filled my body.  I was chilling with my family and friends at Red Rocks watching a spectacular event. 

After Tribal Seeds ended a short but powerful set, the act I was there to see- Cypress Hill- took the stage.  I was a teenager in the 90s.  We drove around listening to stuff like Rage Against the Machine, House of Pain and I cannot express just how much I loved the Judgment Night soundtrack.  So anyway, seeing Cypress Hill live was crazy!  We danced, Danced, DANCED.  At one point I looked up at the lights and noticed that it was snowing but there was such a great vibe moving through the crowd and we were all boogying with such abandon that it really didn’t seem cold at all. I chilled a bit more for the Slightly Stoopid portion of the evening and made an effort to take everything in- the lights of the stage and directed onto the rocks on either side, the sound of the instruments coming at me, the beat of the music, the laughter of my friends.  It was an incredible evening.  Legendary.  Epic. 

The next morning we rose early and started another day of exploration with a blast to the past- way deep into dinosaur times.  We headed out to Dinosaur Ridge, a small educational center that offers tours of nearby dinosaur bones, ancient dinosaur footprints and information about the geology of the area.  We paid $5/per adult for a bus ride to the top and a guided tour.  I think our guide’s name was TJ, it was his birthday and he was super.  He was such a smartie!  He knew everything about dinosaurs and fossils and microbes and stuff.  The 45-minute tour was interesting for the kids and adults in the group. 

We had a picnic in Red Rocks Park, then hiked one of the easier trails, a gradually climbing trail that transitions from packed ground to slabs of rocks and boulders to navigate around.  It was a beautiful day and the whole gang spent some try relaxing on some rocks with the sun on our faces before heading back down the hill.  On our walk down we encountered a Red Rocks Ranger, a particularly friendly woman who chatted about other parks nearby and funny experiences she’s had at this one.  I really appreciate the open friendliness of the population in Colorado.

Our next stop was Myxed Up Creations, a local shop selling Hot Box at Red Rocks concert memorabilia.  Neil wanted to pick up a shirt so we headed out that way taking a winding route through the neighborhoods on the outskirts of downtown Denver.  When we pulled into the parking lot we instantly recognized a familiar sight- the Slightly Stoopid van which had been on stage at the concert the night before.  How cool!  Myxed Up Creations is like a head shop superstore.  It had a large clothing section, purses and pouches, incense and more.  Neil scored his concert T-shirt along with a poster given to him straight out of the store window. 

After eating a dinner prepared by Lisa, we headed out for an evening at a local music venue Quixotes True Blue and watched a band called Funk Trek do their thing.  Funk Trek, a jazz fusion and funk (obviously) group was led by a quirky bass player, flanked by two kool kat saxophones, a key board guy, a guitar player or two, brass instruments and a drummer in the back.  I dug it.  There was a small group on the dance floor and as we started dancing near our table, a few girls moved over to dance with us- yet another experience of the welcoming attitude of the friendly people of Colorado. 

We spent most of our last full day in Colorado Springs, about an hour south of Denver down Interstate 25.  First we stopped at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center to get a map of the road that passes through Garden of the Gods Park.  Although it was very misty, the clouds broke for quick moments and we were able to see Pikes Peak in the distance from the observation deck out front.  We picnicked in the parking lot, then piled into the cars to navigate the one-way route that circles the park and passes by some of the most mesmerizing rock formations I’ve ever seen.    We stopped at every few parking lots to get out and take pictures.  Although it was in the 60s when we arrived in Colorado Springs, it was way windy, like knock-you-over windy.  We had to hold onto each other when taking group pics.  It was hard to pull cars doors open and shut.  The temperature dropped almost 30 degrees in the short time we were there.  And that was just a small taste of the unpredictable and extreme sides of Colorado weather.

Before leaving the area we made one last stop at the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum, located inside the Pikes Peak Harley Davidson.  Although it was small, the motorcycle museum was really neat with a lot of antique bikes, unique motorcycles like those used in World War II or mobile Harley mechanics.  It was a totally free activity with the added bonus of browsing the selection of Harleys for sale in the showroom below- I, personally, would love to get a silver bike that answers to the name Silky. 

Like my last visit, a homemade dinner with Nicole’s family plus the friends we’d met the Red Rocks show was how we spent our last night in Colorado.  We made a giant pan of sausage with peppers and onions, spinach salad with bacon and rolls and Nicole whipped up a delicious desert of fruit baked in cinnamon over ice cream- everything was delicious.  Nicole’s family talked about coming out to Ohio to visit friends and family and it would be great to return their hospitality with a big house party of our own.

The next morning we woke up to the thick layer of snow blanketing Denver.  A 30-minute drive to the airport turned into a hour with horrible road conditions, near zero visibility and driving an unfamiliar car but we still made it back to the airport with plenty of time to return our rental and make it to the gate.  Unfortunately, it took an hour to de-ice the plane and we missed our connection in Atlanta where we spent the next six hours waiting for the next flight.  We finally made it home around midnight.    

It was another fast-paced, high energy, hectic excursion around Denver and points surrounding.  We were again able to fit in a lot of free fun by doing walking tours and hiking trails and by picnicking and making home cooked meals.  We danced every chance we got.  We made the most of every minute of the 71 hours we spend in Colorado.