Thursday September 24, 2015
25 miles in car/van, 19 miles biking, 4+ miles walking
We were up early and seated in the window at the coffee shop getting work done in preparation for our bike ride down Vail Pass. We grabbed a quick breakfast at the french bakery: ham and bacon omelette for Bob and a tomato and spinach omelette for me. Served with a hunk of fresh fresh fresh baguette. #AnyExcuseForBread
Got fitted on our bikes and followed the trailer over to Frisco where we parked our car and got in the van to be dropped off at Vail Pass. The day today could not be more different than it was last August when we did this ride. Bright sunny sky with not a hint of a cloud. We were dressed in layers as it was in the high 40s/low 50s when we started (shorts, cotton t-shirt, thin cashmere long-sleeve, heavy cotton sweatshirt for me; I didn’t take off the sweatshirt until we got down to Frisco). It is SUCH a great ride! Obviously downhill so no exertion is required (though you do actually have to peddle the last 8 miles….) but so invigorating. It was clear, crisp with gorgeous views every way you looked. We stopped on the way down to take photos this time but we didn’t need to stop for fear of frostbite and hypothermia like last time. We made it down in about an hour and a half. Truly glorious.
The bike guy recommended The Boatyard in Frisco for lunch so that is where we went. They have a lovely outside deck and this was our view.
Bob ordered a margarita and me a Bloody Mary. And water, tons of water. We drink at least 2 liters a day in Colorado, especially when we are outside walking, etc. Bob ordered a small order of the onion straws which was not small. They were fantastic; light and airy and crunchy and not greasy at all. Yet we barely made a dent.
I ordered the sesame seared ahi appetizer that was served on a bed of Aisan slaw (snap peas, matchstick cabbage, fennel, celery) and a tamari sauce. One of the best ahi dishes I have ever had. And I couldn’t finish it! Ate all the ahi but left most of the slaw. Bob ordered the burger with a side salad and barely ate a quarter. #EyesTooBigForStomachs
We went to Whole Foods where we bought stuff to make dinner in the condo for Thursday night football. Since we weren’t hungry, our earlier menu ideas went out the window and we decided on Polish tacos cause they are easy to do with a stove top and convection oven/microwave. It is a really nice WF and ‘the highest Whole Foods in the world‘ at 9,097 feet. Went to the liquor store next door to try to find some Colorado wine but very limited — and pricey!!– selection and not much enthusiasm from the wine guy. So no Colorado wine.
Back in Breck we walked around til about 5p buying gifts, etc. There was a down and out Vietnam Vet, maybe Bob’s age? who was sitting on a bench wrapping polished stones in wire, like jewelry. We passed him once going and stopped about an hour later when we were headed back. Bob asked if he had any stones that were shaped like a heart (we collect heart shapes on our trips, rocks, small sculptures, leaves). He had a couple of stones that were close to heart-shaped and said he would wrap one for us, a purple polished stone. He used very delicate copper wire and worked with such concentration, his jaw jutting in and out. It was heartbreaking. His nails were black with dirt, his clothes old, faded and not too clean and he smelled terrible. But he was so soft-spoken. Said he happened upon a quartz field at Pikes Peak when he was 15 years old on a family vacation and was hooked when he realized “no human being had ever seen what I had found.” He has searched out rocks ever since, mostly in Colorado, and had about two dozen different polished and unpolished stones, all of which he found himself, in a battered small case. He had a very elaborate silver necklace and I asked if his name was Bud, which was part of the design. Um, no, the Bud is for weed and the elaborate design was a marijuana leaf and the stem was actually a roach clip…. he was quite proud of it and said it took him six hours to make. I always forget we are in legal pot land. “Bud’s” skateboard and very old backpack were by his side. When he finished with our stone — about 15 minutes — he held it up to me. Bob asked how much he owed him and the guy said “whatever you want to give me; I can’t charge you.” Bob gave him $40 and the guy was incredulous. He started to protest that it was too much and I muttered ‘thank you’ and walked away in tears.
Perspective.
Since it was the middle of happy hour (ahem), we found our way to our two favorite end seats at the bar at Modis. Bob ordered a drink that I can’t remember the name of (!): rum, champagne, lemon juice and a twist. Sounds weird but was delicious. I ordered a Grayson Chardonnay that was meh very drinkable. We really like the bartenders, same gals as last night.
This is what it looks like, just normal walking up the street.
Then home to the condo for catching up on work email, news, showers, make dinner and figure out how we are going to spend our last day tomorrow.
Bob and Sharon's Travel Diary 