K lives in Arvada which is between is about equidistant between Denver and Golden. Since K has lived in the Denver area for over a decade, I just refer to where she lives as Denver. K bought a new house last year, so this was my first time to see her new place. So far, I think I have visited most of her abodes in CO.
I slept in a bit and finally dragged myself out of bed when I heard K rustling around. She got out her mini coffee maker--bless her--and a selection of coffees. I hooked myself up as she checked the pastries in the oven and got omelet preparations underway. Wow, I love being a guest. What hospitality.
During breakfast, we discussed what to do. Since it was pretty warm in Denver, higher elevation was recommended. K said that we could hit the casinos--but I really didn't want to go to a casino. After some negotiation we settled on Idaho Springs for lunch--I had stopped there the evening before to call K and get gas. I glimpsed an interesting side street. K said that there was an amazing place for Pizza--Beau Jo's Pizza. After lunch we would head Mt. Evan's way.
Setting the plan into motion, I showered and we were off. On the way off we turned into a scenic view and snapped a few photos. After days in the desert, the evergreens and rushing water sang to my soul.
We had to round the parking lot several times before finding a space. Beau Jo's was hopping, but so was the town in general. Clearly I popular Sunday outing destination. We ordered our pizza--enough for leftovers and I ordered a beer. I asked if Tommyknockers was a local brew--yes--responded our waitress--the brewery is next door. Alright then, lets have a Tommyknockers. Since the selection was hoppier than I favor, I asked for lemon to accompany my beer to cut down on some of the hop flavor. I worked so well, I requested another. Stuffed and a bit tipsy. K said that she thought I was sedate enough to take up on scary mountain roads. Several years ago, I visited K at the beginning of December. We went up to to another weekend destination for lunch and then on to an outlet mall. On the way back, there was an icy spot that caused a bit of fishtailing. I nearly came unhinged and K pronounced that she would never take me up in the mountains again. But here she was against her better judgement, but I assured here since it was summer and ice wasn't likely, I would probably be OK.
On the way up to Mt. Evans, we discussed the entrance fees. Then I remembered I had a National Park Pass and it would probably work here as well. Sure enough, I racked up another $10 on my pass. I was quickly on my way to saving $ by getting it.
Our first stop was Echo Lake Lodge.
We stopped at the lodge--no lodging available--to look around the gift shop and to use the facilities before heading up. Mt. Evans, passes through 3 climate zone and climbs well above tree level. K assured me that we wouldn't go up the last 5 miles of road which is extremely narrow and full of switchbacks and drop offs. This section of the road is also closed between Labor Day and Memorial Day. The day was overcast and the temperature was already in the 50s. Again after hot days in the desert this was a refreshing change. Our hope to was see Big Horn Sheep and Mt. Goats. K said on previous trips up she had always spotted mountain goats. I love the way they look and really really wanted to see one. Did we? Negative. The best we got were a couple of marmots.
In the car, we headed up. There were spots that I didn't like but I trust K so I was OK and was able to keep any images of us careening down the side of the mountain to myself. Really the views were worth any anxiety on my part. We got out often to walk around a bit and check out the views. At this point, I was still OK in a sleeveless top and shorts. Once again after being so uncomfortably hot the previous days, I was reveling in natural air conditioning.
K has been into photography for awhile now. She takes some amazing photos. One of the things that I appreciate about her is her patience and meticulousness. I operate in broad bold brush strokes and as such, I can really appreciate the finer detailed ones of K. I have no patience to line up the perfect shot, to figure out how to set my camera to cox out the best shot. I see, I shot, I move on. We think that this is the main reason our friendship has lasted so long. We compliment each other. At times K high jacked my camera and directed me for photos. Here is me between a rock and a hard place.
On up we went to Summit Lake--ten miles from Echo Lake. Here I had to don my sweatshirt jacket to be comfortable. It was misty and the temp was down in the 40's.
We walked around for a bit, although I was breathing a bit heavier than normal, I felt OK to walk around. I spotted this view and wanted to take a closer look. K was feeling the thin air a bit more, she told me to go ahead and she would take photos of the lake. To me it, looked a bit like a a proud eagle carved by nature.
I walked around a bit, crossed over and spotted some glacial lakes. My breath was taken away. I don't think I have ever looked at something and thought Glacial Lake. I was reminded of Plato's Theory of Forms. We have this internal knowledge of the perfect form. As a crude example, when does a cup stop being a cup and become a glass? We know this innately because we have a knowledge of the perfect form of each. I had never seen a glacial lake before, but I knew what it was when I saw it. I was amazed enough to pull out the philosophical toolbox and open it up for a few minutes as I enjoyed the majesty of it all.
I hiked around for a little while enjoying the vast beauty and also appreciating delicacy of the vegetation at this level. I love wild flowers and always have. Some of my fondest memories as a child were going out into the pasture and happening upon Indian Paintbrushes. I also loved to run into daffodils as remnants of house places long forgotten leaving a pasture with a carpet of yellow to remind us that once upon a time someone had made a home here. This mossy spot captured my attention.
After a while, we decided to head back down, we had gotten a late start, and lingered over lunch so it was getting late in the day. We got in the car and started down with drop offs on our side of the road, then an entire murder of crows flew over us. We both felt a little freaked and hoped that it was not a dark omen. Thank goodness we weren't characters in a movie because we would have certainly been done for. On the way back, we stopped again at one of the scenic spots and I took a little hike.
If we had thought about it, I could have hiked down to the nature center and had K meet but then I would have missed this view of Echo Lake.
We stopped back at the lodge on the way back down for sodas, facilities and to browse the gift shop again. On the drive back into Idaho Springs, we were discussing the lack of wildlife sightings when a low flying red tail hawk almost collided with K's windshield. Wow, talk about proving us wrong. The hawk was weighted down with its dinner. I had the impression that it was a weasel of some sort because dinner had a very long bushy tail, The next day we thought that it might have been a marten.
Back in Idaho Springs we decided to stop for dinner at a hole in the wall BBQ restaurant. Yum. Once again, I was stuffed to the gills with good eatens. Over dinner we tested out my night settings, because K planned to take me up on Look Out Mountain to look out over Denver. Here was my first try.
It'll win no photo contest, but I like the reflections. Outside the restaurant, I fell in love with the cigar smoking pig mascot. I wished I had gotten a photo going in when there was more light but I didn't and this is what I ended up snapping.
Then off to Look Out Mountain. Of all the miles traveled this day, I felt the most anxiety on Look Out Mountain. I am not sure why, maybe it was just the sheer numbers of switchbacks, maybe I had peaked with my tolerance, maybe it was the wind buffeting the car, or maybe I just needed more beer. Whatever the reason, I was sitting on my side of the car trying to quietly mask being a basketcase. But again, the terror was worth it all. Because the wind was pretty brisk with wind chill, I didn't tarry long, but did get this overview photo.
And this zoom photo of the brewery at night. I am impressed at how well the zoom works on this camera.
Photos taken, back in the car we headed home to K's house. Tummy full, legs exercised, memories piled up, it was a very good day. Thanks K for the tour.
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