Category Archives: Colorado

Travel with an Adventure Mindset

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Travel Needs an Adventure Mindset

Over my many trips and travels I’ve learned that no matter how prepared you think you are things happen. It’s much easier to work your way through them or around them or over them when you simply accept it as part of the adventure. Travel is made for Murphy’s Law– Whatever can go wrong will and at the worst possible time.

My Murphy’s Law Moment

My Murphy’s Law Moment came at baggage claim. No, they didn’t lose my luggage, but I discovered I didn’t have my car rental confirmation. That wouldn’t have been a big deal if the car rentals were in the airport. I could have gone from desk to desk to locate my car since I didn’t remember who I rented with. I’ve used Avis, Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, Payless. It’s kind of who haven’t I used. To get to the rental cars you have to catch a shuttle and you have to know which vendor’s shuttle to take.

I found myself a bench, nothing is quiet at an airport but at least I could sit while I pondered. Maybe I had an email? I’d rented the car when I booked my flight, maybe there was something on Delta’s website with my trip itinerary. I began scrolling through emails without success. Then I tried the Delta Skymiles site. At first, I didn’t have any luck there either but then I spotted a notation in tiny print- for help call Alamo.

I grabbed the next Alamo Shuttle and sure enough, they had the reservation.  They put me in a little hybrid SUV that cost more than a week’s pay but promised to save me money on gas. The attendant gave me some rough directions and assured me that Colorado drivers were not like Boston drivers. They are “very forgiving”. 

Breckenridge Here I Come

The drive to Breckenridge is only about 100 miles. Not a lot of different roads so the directions were pretty easy to remember but like most areas with seasonal weather we weren’t in summer. We were in road construction season. Traffic rivaled Boston for starts and stops and slowdowns. There wasn’t much to look at even if I dared to steal a peak at the scenery. The Rocky Mountains were covered in haze, so they didn’t stand out much. My first thought was that the Grand Tetons, Wyoming, made a bigger first impression.

There were lots of signs for Colorado Springs. Then came the signs for Steamboat Springs and I saw an entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

The road took me down a long grade into a little narrow valley where the skies opened up in a deluge. Once out of the valley the sun came out and I spotted a sign for Big Horn Sheep viewing. As tempting as it was to explore a little, I was more anxious to find Breckenridge and my resort. 

Are we there yet?

When I saw a Wendy’s at the intersection of RT 70 and RT 9 I decided it was time to take a break. This Wendy’s was very busy, but the restroom was clean. Even with a load of teenagers in line the service was quick. I had no idea how much further I had to go but I’d already taken far more time than expected because of the traffic. Time to get back on the road.

 

Finally a Travel Day

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It’s a Travel Day!

 

My long-postponed vacation to Colorado is finally off the ground- literally. I spent last week finalizing the care for my kitties for my “great escape”.  I wouldn’t be honest with you if I said I was looking forward to this trip because I’m not. The time at home has made me quite a couch potato. My travel urge is pretty low. I’ve gotten used to hanging at home with the cats. But this vacation has been planned since COVID in 2020 shut down the world. It’s paid for so I really can’t justify backing out now. 

My Travel Starts at 3 AM

Part of the reason I am less than thrilled about the travel is the hassle just getting to the airport has become. I used to fly out of TF Green in RI but somewhere along the line they got more expensive than Logan Airport in Boston.  The recommended arrival time for domestic flights is 2 hours before boarding. My flight leaves at 7 am which means arriving at 5 am. So, I bundle myself and my bags into my car for the 45-minute drive to the Logan Express bus in Braintree. It’s $7.00 a day for parking there. Much cheaper than the parking at Logan but I need to allow time for the bus trip from Braintree to Logan so another (recommended) hour there. Not much sleep to start my travel day.

TSA Pre Check

I still have my TSA pre check status so getting through security is slightly less of an issue than for those that have to go through the regular security. It still doesn’t keep me from being pulled out for a pat down. My artificial hip lights up my whole left side so even though I warn the TSA agents what to expect they still have to clear me. At least the woman I had this time was friendly and even showed me what the screen showed her. All I can say is I am quite colorful!

Delta

I’m flying on Delta and although I didn’t spring for first class, it’s only a 4-hour flight, I did get a non-stop to Denver and opted for their new Comfort Plus cabin. I really lucked out too as I was the only one in that row! The plane was brand new, just put in service in June. It had huge roomy overhead bins so plenty of room for carry-on bags. The seats are larger and lots of leg room. At least on this plane I can say the Comfort + was worth every penny!

I remember one of my last trips on Delta when we had a crazy, rude flight attendant. She was verbally abusive to a couple that just wanted to change seats to sit together and at one point threw the cabin phone against the plane wall. It was the only time I ever filed a complaint. This time it was completely different. The crew were all super nice and friendly.  In any case they worked hard to accommodate seat changes for a family traveling with a tiny infant and it was all done without any drama, and everyone was happy. Quite the change! 

If there was one negative, I’d have to say that its they made the bathroom even smaller. Hard to believe that is even possible but I barely had room to turn around in it! 

On Time Arrival

We took off on time and arrived about 20 minutes early in Denver. By the time I made my way to baggage claim our luggage was circling the carousel. All I needed now was my rental car and a map and by Mountain time it was only 10 am! How perfect was that!?

So What’s Up Doc?

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So What’s Up Doc?

So now that you know about the lost domain what else has been going on? There’s a 6 month gap from November 2021 to May 2022.  It seems only fair that I explain at least a little.

November 2021 to January 2022

This absence was work related. I tried again (twice) for a promotion at work. This makes 3 tries.  I was passed over again with really bogus excuses. I won’t say what I think of the hires but suffice it to say they are much younger than I. Neither hire has hit 40 yet and I clock in at 71.  I’ll let you draw your own conclusions. 

To add insult to injury not only was I passed over for the promotions but I was told that I won’t get any more raises unless I change positions since I’m “capped out” where I am. That creates an issue for me. How do I change position if you won’t give me the jobs I apply for? It also occurred to me that this was the first and only time in my long work history that I haven’t gotten  a position  I applied for easily. As for the job I’m in, I’ve won every award they have for my position.  I was depressed and angry. Since I make it a policy not to bad mouth my employer I wasn’t in much of a mood to write anything. 

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February 2022 – April 2022

In February I came down with a cold. I coughed and sneezed and wanted to sleep all the time. I was so wiped out I took a week off from work as vacation where the cats and I just snuggled and slept. When I finally got in to see the doctor she thought I had Covid. I had to argue. After all I was vaccinated and boosted. I was still having my groceries delivered and only went out when I absolutely had to. And then I had a mask. 

Balboa

Balboa

My doctor’s answer was you didn’t end up in the hospital so your vaccines did what they are supposed to.  But after that happy statement she went on to tell me she thought I had “Long Covid” and that it could be a year or more until I was symptom free. She is just full of good news. If I’m short  of breath walking across my living room at sea level, what will happen when I’m at 9600 ft in Colorado?

 

As if to add insult to injury I developed an abscess under a bridge. The dentist gave me an antibiotic. The pill was big enough to choke a horse but it’s a good thing she did because the root canal specialist can’t see me until May. Without that horse pill I’d have been in a lot of pain!

May 2022

During this hiatus from writing I did attempt to accomplish some things. Because I didn’t feel well the bathroom was a real point of pain. I never liked the wall paper. Not only was it ugly but it wasn’t even put up properly. The cats had started trying to pull it off the walls. So I decided it was time to bite the bullet and update/redecorate the bathroom. But that’s a story for another day! Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday America

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Photo by Deb Neumann

Happy Birthday America

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE

Unidentified photo from the web

I’m not going to make this into a political post but the Good Ole USA really took some lumps this past year. Not the least with the uprising on the capital. Happy Birthday America! You made it! So glad you are still the home of the brave and the land of the free! 

 

Rain Rain Go Away

It looks like we’re going to have another rainy weekend. I keep making tentative plans and Mother Nature keeps putting a damper on them. I bought the Massachusetts State Parks Adventure Book. My plan is to  explore my home state on the weekends. First I’m amazed at how many state parks, forest, reservations and monuments there are! More than enough to fill every weekend for many summers. I’ve looked though the book quickly and there are a few that I’ve been to Like Bash-Bish Falls.

Bash Bish Falls 2017

There are 2 trail heads to the falls, one in Massachusetts and one in New York. The trail from the Massachusetts side  is pretty steep and rough, or at least it was in 2017.  It looked like it was downhill going to the falls. I figured easy to trip and fall going down and a real tough hike going back up. The trail from the New York side is a slight incline most of the way and in 2017 was well groomed and easy walking. That was the way I went. If I were going today I’d do the same thing.

Travel plans

With Covid restrictions being lifted I’ve started getting some travel plans on the books. I’m heading back to the Great Smokey Mountains in September when I visit North Carolina. I wanted to stay on the coast but couldn’t get accommodations when I wanted to travel so I’m “settling” for Sapphire NC, just outside  of Ashville. The Biltmore Estates is on the top of my to do list.
It was  also a 2nd choice for Colorado. I ended up booking  my vacation for July 2022 in Breckenridge, Co. To get into any of my top choices I would have had to go in winter. Not my idea of a good vacation. 

Now I’m looking for someplace warm for February. I was hoping for a new state but maybe I’ll end up going back to Florida or just staying home with my kitties for that vacation.  We’ll see. There’s still time to find something.

Dolphins Photo by Deb Neumann

Aspen Colorado

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Aspen Colorado

Now there’s a familiar name.  Hearing someone say they are going to Aspen is like hearing someone say they are going to Vail. We all know what they mean. This is what google has to say about Aspen: Aspen, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is a ski resort town and year-round destination for outdoor recreation. It’s also known for high-end restaurants and boutiques, ( read expensive $$$$) and landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889 during the area’s silver mining boom. The Wheeler-Stallard House is a local history museum set in a 19th-century, Queen Anne–style home, while the Aspen Art Museum displays contemporary artworks.

Google also says you should plan to spend around $235 per day on your vacation in Aspen, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $68 on meals for one day and $45 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Aspen for a couple is $271. 

I can cut off the hotel cost because I will be staying in my time share.

 

Speaking of Time Share- Which resort is an option?

There appear to be several options for Time Share resorts. The one I like the best is Shadow Mountain Lodge at Aspen. This is what Diamond Resorts has to say about it:

Along with a great location, the resort offers a heated outdoor pool/Jacuzzi and a sauna. From late November to early April, skiing is the undisputed favorite outdoor sport. Summer in Aspen brings hiking, Jeep tours, horseback riding, and biking. Lakes, rivers, and streams offer gold-medal fly fishing, boating, and white-water rafting. Aspen also has an18-hole golf course, several tennis courts, and many cultural activities.

We knew Skiing was the top activity but it’s nice to see the other summertime options as well. 

A possible Itinerary

So what might we do on a sunny, summer Saturday in Aspen? I located a suggested Saturday action plan

SUMMER SATURDAY

Saturdays in the summertime are always jam packed with fun! Start your day at the farmer’s market and finish it by showing off your billiards skills!

 

8 am – 10 am

Pick up a coffee from Spring Cafe and stroll through the Aspen Saturday Market. The freshest produce goes early in the morning, so don’t delay. Also for sale are a variety of homemade jewelry, crafts, and clothing.

11 am 

Head out to the Aspen Animal Shelter, just past the Airport Business Center (ABC), and borrow a dog to take on a walk with you on the Rio Grande Trail. Afterward, enjoy lunch at the ABC. Delicious eateries include Roxy’s Market, Franck Therion Café, and Louis Swiss Pastries.

2-3 pm

SUP Northstar Preserve. Rent a SUP from one of our local outfitters and then put in at the South Gate to float the flat water and take in the stunning scenery.

7 pm

Dine al fresco on one of Aspen’s many patios. Let the children play in the fountain or at the “tooth” park on the corner of Wagner Park, where you can find clowns offering balloon animals or face painting for added entertainment.

8:30 pm

Head over to Paradise Bakery for ice cream on the corner while listening to the Aspen Music Festival Student’s play.

10 pm

You can show off your billiards skills during a game of pool at Eric’s before heading over to Bootsy Bellows to dance the night away.

Not what I would expect from a Colorado vacation but I guess it fits with the Aspen Vibe.