Tuesday, August 28, 2012

0 miles driven, 6 miles walked

Woke up 6ish again… went to get my coffee and drank it while computing, watching news… Bob wanted to go to Clint’s for breakfast which has been here forever; our first trip here about 10 years ago to ski, we went stopped by there on our way out of town for coffee.   We brought the backpack so we could walk from Clint’s to City Market and buy stuff for dinner.

Clint’s has all sorts of great-looking and sounding baked goods.  And almond milk!  So I had a second cup of coffee, a small almond milk latter.  Bob got a small coffee and a blueberry muffin that was chock full of blueberries and crunchy sugary top.  I got a strawberry pistachio (gluten free even!) muffin.  Bob: ” A MUFFIN?? YOU??”  I ate half and saved the rest for later.  We sat at the counter and Bob read the free daily paper while I eavesdropped on the older local customer  hitting on the pretty 26 yr  old employee behind the counter.

Him: Have you found a place to live yet?

Her: No, I am hoping to find a place without roommates.  Last year I paid $625 for my own room in a house.  I would like my own place.

Him: I have a spare room.

Her: Oh (not enthused)

Him: You always say you will take care of Hunter (dog I guess) but you never do….

Her:  I would take care of him!

Him:  You could bring your cat.

Her:  I left my cat with my parents.

Alas, then we left…..  Walked to the store and got filets, asparagus, sourdough, lettuce and two bottles of water to walk with.  The town gondola is near the store and we found out we could ride it up the mountain and from there take a chairlift higher up the mountain.  So we walked to the Hyatt, dumped the groceries, changed layers, got sunscreen, repacked the backpack and walked back down to the gondola.  It’s free up to what they call Peak 8.  They have a whole summer fun park up there with bounce houses, trampolines, a maze, super slides that you ride a chair life up with a little (flimsy) tobagon thing that you then ride down the mountain on a smooth track…. (Bob was this close to doing it; I told him I didn’t want to drive the whole way home) and a cafeteria/ bar /deck.   We spent $9 each to take a 4-man chair up to 11,000 feet and what is the Horseshoe Bowl.  There is a great little 1 mile loop hike with some signage about the fauna and flora on the mountain and Bob got some great photos.  The chairlift operator took the one above on my phone.

We were up there about an hour hiking around and then took the lift back down.  Bob got a hot dog and a Bud and I got a Breckenridge Amber Ale and a jicama and watermelon side salad (with diced cucumber and mango) and ate some nuts and seeds.  We sat there about 1/2 hour – 45 minutes just watching people come screaming or creeping down the super slide.  There was a little 18-month old chunk of  a toddler who looked exactly like a shrunken John Daly.

Took the gondola down and walked back to the Hyatt to go to the pool before it started to rain as the skies had start to darken.  I went down with my book and Bob came down about half an hour later after checking the progress of Isaac (now a hurricane), the 49er roster, whatever.  When he came down we got in the hot tub (I break the No Public Hot Tubs rule here — and in Aspen – because they are so clean and no kids are allowed; also there are three of them and hardly any people so….)   After about  15 minutes crack! thunder and lightening.  And rain… so up we went to the room and took showers, tried to do a load of laundry but it was busy.

At 4:30 we set out (in raindrops but didn’t get an umbrella; just pulled up my hood) for … surprise… Briar Rose.  MJ was behind the bar and everyone in the place was a local — three at one end of the bar and two tables full in the bar.  Placed our order with the only deviation being I tried the blue cheese stuffed olives this time.  MJ said she stuffed them herself.  I am definitely going to do this at home!  It was sooooo good.  We chatted and got some more restaurant info.  We paid ($7 for two generous cocktails — can. not. beat happy hour in this town.) said good by to our new friends to go home and make dinner and … it was pouring outside.  Rain bouncing off the pavement raining.  So we turned around and ordered two more.  I can count on one finger the times that I have had two martinis  — last night was that one time.  MJ’s godparents who live in the area came in and we all had a great time.  Bob and I are more local here than in Novato….

It did stop raining and we walked home to make dinner — and I was fine.  Bob cooked the filets and asparagus in the one pan on the stove and they were both delicious.  I made a big salad with the last two heirlooms and it was all good!!

Random things……

Me: When we get back to the room, I want a peach.  Bob: You are married to a peach.

Tee shirt: You can see my expression and yet you are still talking.

Bumpersticker:  Martinis… not just for breakfast any more.

The toilets in restaurants here have two buttons:  Whole flush and Half flush.