Well....

I finally got this thing to work - my hotel connection is just too slow.

Fun Weekend

We had a great time this past weekend doing a lot of stuff that we had always wanted to have the chance to do back in Texas.

Saturday -

We woke to a great Saturday morning, temp's very mild with the promise to get nothing but better as the day went on. So we decided to head over to Garden of the Gods before the crowds got crazy. We hiked with the dog for about 2 hours and so some more of the park since out last visit.

Lunch was from a small diner in the North Downtown area just South of the college - it's becoming my favorite place in the area. This little cafe served pizza by the slice and a nice assortment of sandwiches. The weather turned out to be as nice as they promised so to the front patio we headed to do some people watching. And sure enough, across the street a cool little bike shop that specialized in cruisers. After we finished up we walked around the area - went into Mountain Chalet (downtown outdoor shop, how cool!).

My afternoon was filled with a 30-mile bike ride around the 'Springs on the road bike. Someone should have warned me this area had hills.

Sunday

The weekend got better when we decided to run over to some mining towns North of Buena Vista. The jeep did well over the 10,000 ft pass into the valley and onto the collegiate peak area. Lunch was at a great little joint on the road advertising "Vegetarian Friendly" food and milk sakes!

Sorry for the picture, camera was set to RAW file and I forgot to set it back......until I have a photo editing program I won't be able to upland to the web without a ton of work.

The road to the mine towns wasn't too bad at all as the articles said but once we got to the mountain to make it on to the really cool stuff we were stopped short due to the snow pack. The jeep could have probably made it but I didn't want to push it with storm clouds on the Eastern horizon - just in time for the trip back across the passes.

We made it back to the 'Springs just fine without getting too wet.

T

Monday.......

Another Monday.....well I was to fly out of Dallas today at about 6:55Am. So I show up to the Airport about an hour early. First problem, NASCAR race was in town this weekend. I see way too many NASCAR hats, jackets, shirts, etc for a Monday morning. Second problem, I had my wife drop me off at the wrong gate - right terminal, wrong area. So I start walking...and what do I see to my non-amazement. TSA is slacking again. The line for security is huge!

Worst I have seen at DFW.

And wow, Frontier....no electronic check in. So I approach the counter and behold, one person. He tells me they have stopped checking-in my flight. How they can stop checking in the flight before it 6:30 - who knows.

As I stand in line I start sending emails, by the time I get through I have decided to just take a vacation day. All this within site of my gate, as I stand there watching some guy who doesn't speak any language I can make out the gate agents tell signal me over. As soon as I approach, they tell me, sorry you have a stand-by ticket we can't help.

So I sit there at DFW for 2 hours until the next flight to Denver, luckily I was able to get on that flight. But my day was wasted and I burned through a vacation day with no vacation time.

On to brighter times.....I have tried a new brew. O'Dell Brewing Co. out of Fort Collins, home to New Belgium brewing. I sampled a very tasty amber ale based on a Scottish style ale - just a little milder. I have to say very tasty. It's called 90 Shilling, that comes from the English tax imposed on beer starting in the late 16th century.

Next, an old fave, Sierra Nevada in a 24 oz bottle.....will be just as good as the short fat bottles? We shall see. Colorado I am back, but Texas I shall return.

T

Snow.....

Well if someone had told me it snowed in Colorado in APRIL I would have still moved up here. It's all good the "cold" isn't cold really. Yesterday I realized that wicked truth. I have been trying to either ride or run after I get done with work, so I go for a quick mountain bike ride - temp, 45 +\- degrees. Shouldn't be too bad, right?

However, when I returned my toes were very cold and my fingers didn't feel all that great. Lesson learned, don't let the feel trick you - cold is cold how ever you cut it.

Speaking of riding, there is a very nice harpack trail just outside my door up here. It actually runs for miles North and South. If there is a better trail system of mixed hard surface and natural I want to see it.

T.

First Beer

Well, it was a long week of work but I finally had the chance to pick up some local brew. I started my Colorado beer tasting with a Bristol's Red Rocket Pale Ale (http://www.bristolbrewing.com/) - you know I got go Pale Ale, it's my fave.

After I let it warm up a little it has a nice feel to it. They might use Cascade hops because it has the Sierra Nevada PA bite, but not as hard. And my guess was right -
Hops:
Perle, Willamette, Cascade
Alcohol:
4.1% by weight

I would have a picture but I can't seem to figure out - if I do I will post it.

T

It's on.

I'm back. Colorado Style.

T out.

Random

Well there I am, about to cross the line at my first Half Marathon - isn't it lovely. Not really I guess, but I did just run 13.1 miles.

The wind has been killer this week, I had to cut a run short yesterday because I couldn't take much more. I hope to ride on Friday - Mountain Bike, and then again on Saturday - Road Bike. Good times. Have fun this weekend.

T