Saturday, September 24, 2011

Durango CO to Aspen CO

343 miles

Very comfortable night with the balcony door open.  Up and listening to news, weather by 6a and loaded up the car before hitting the continental breakfast.  More to offer than yesterday’s (fresh biscuits, gravy, some sort of Jimmy Dean’s pre-made sandwich.. bleck) but we had pretty much the same thing.  Bob had a muffin, fresh fruit and OJ; I had hardboiled egg whites, apple and peanut butter.  No need to pretend with crappy coffee because we are in Durango and we go to the Brickhouse Cafe for an excellent soy latte. Every time we have stayed in Durango we stop here on our way out of town.  They open early, nice people, good coffee.

We are on the road by 7:05 and it’s another crystal clear morning as we head to Pagosa Springs and ultimately Aspen (Rte 160 to 149 to 50 to 82).  Yet another spectacular drive.  Temp drops to 37* at one point and three deer scamper up a hill.  We are driving along the San Juan River for part of the morning and it is gorgeous.  We go over Wolf Creek Summit and looking back at the valley we just traversed is stunning.   Ahead of us, the mountainsides with the pockets of yellow aspen and green firs looks like some very obvious paint-by-numbers kit.

From South Fork to Lake City we criss cross the Rio Grande River a half dozen times and drool at the lovely homes right on the river.  Crede at 9L30 (elevation 8832) has the motto:  When deeds speak, words are nothing.  There is a long-horn cow sign (or maybe it’s a Big Horn Sheep?)  but see no long-horns (cows or sheep).  Note about cow signs: UT CO WY and CA all have serious silhouettes of cows just standing on profile, only NV has a silhouette of a cheerful cow dancing on tiptoes.  Why?  CA is the one with the happy cows.

We pull over at Slumgullion Pass (sounds like a Harry Potter creature, slumgullion) for a look-see and photo op.

11,530 elevation.   Aspens are brilliant.  Just as we were leaving a truck pulled up with a lab and a golden… sniff sniff.  Had to love them up though they were much more intent on peeing than getting a stranger’s (who no longer even has dog smells… ) attention.  We put the top down and continued.

Followed the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and more beautiful scenery.  All of a sudden we are in high desert-like country.  The song “i get lost in my mind” comes on XM and it’s appropriate out here where everything is So. Big.

Just before Gunnison, in a pasture, sitting down, surrounded by normal size cows, we see a HUGE Texas Long Horn.  And there was no *warning* sign.

We had lunch in Gunnison at the Gunnisack on Main Street.  We got there about 11:45 and by the time we left at  12;30, it was packed.  Bob had a delicious burger — fresh ground Angus every day and fresh made sesame buns every day…  I had a grilled salmon salad (big filet on greens with avocado, jicama, bleu cheese crumbled and  a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette that i could eat on anything.  I had half a local amber cause it was my turn to drive.  There was a farmer’s market going on and they had some good looking peaches and tons of tempting tomatoes but since we will be in a hotel for the next week, seemed silly to buy stuff.  Very cute town.

Drove from Gunnison on 50 to 285 and then 82, over Independence Pass to Aspen.  Stopped at a few Points of Historical Interest to read about Mr. Pike, the creation of the railroad for the gold and silver mining operations… it really is fascinating history and not so very long ago.  Colorado became a state in 1876.

GORGEOUS drive up to Independence Pass — the aspens are just brilliant especially contrasted against the deep greens of the firs.  Didn’t stop at the summit as anxious to get to Aspen — and tons of cars (slowwwww).   Drove into the Hyatt drive at about 4p and checked in.  Not as big of a room as last year but so nice.  Relaxed a bit, unpacking (we realized we have never never been in one place on vacation for an entire week….), catching up on ESPN, showers, etc.

Went to Brunelleschi’s for dinner.  We were there last year and enjoyed it.  We sat at the bar (Just realized:  Every meal except breakfasts we have sat At. The. Bar.) and had a nice bartender (always).  Chivas with an olive for Bob, dirty martini with Absolut Pepper (see?? my new go-to) for me.  Talked the bartender into letting us bring wine tomorrow — turns out it might be illegal to bring your own wine to restaurants in CO; stupid f***ed up liquor laws in some of these states.  A obvious local came in,  Frank!, sat at the end of the bar with his own bottle of wine and the manager (in a Missoni for Target dress — more about that in a sec) greeted him with “HI Frank! Can I open that for you?” so clearly it happens.  Anyway, the bartender has friends with friends in Dry Creek Valley so we schmoozed and told him when we bring wine, we always give a glass to the servers…  We told him we have pinots, zins.. he loves Zins and so we said we would bring o Bradford Mtn Zin tomorrow.  Bob ordered the veal parmigiana and garlic bread; i the beet salad and steamed mussels.  Wonderful!! and Bob ordered an Innocent Bystander pinot from Australia that was very good.

Found a bakery with fresh baked cookies (oatmeal and chocolate chip) and came home to watch football and fade…..

Looking forward to a real down day tomorrow.  Will take the gondola up and hike then laundry and football!  No. Driving.