Maroon Bells, beautiful 14ers

*****catch-up post*****

June 2013
The Maroon Bells
more mountains over 14,000 ft

Somewhere between Carbondale and Aspen, are the Maroon Bells.  I had never heard of them, but when people found out where we were headed, that said we had to see them. Well, alright.  After all, we really don't know what we're doing, or where we're going, so we appreciate suggestions.

I am so glad we have worldly friends.  This place was breathtaking.  I was torn between looking at the overwhelmingly grand horizons, or the petit color-explosion at my feet.  So I did both.

There's actually three 14ers in this photo. 

Anna keeps reminding us her 15th birthday is approaching,

and she'll be able to drive soon.

(Not as soon as she thinks, though.)

Yellow and blue, my favorite mix.

Just some random peaks, playing second fiddle to the Maroon Bells.

 

 

Aspen forest.  They're becoming my new favorite tree.

A grove of them is actually one plant with lots of shoots coming up from the roots.

Just. Wow.

And that is snow in June.  It's still winter up there.

They're also called the "deadly bells" because many have died climbing them.

Not only are they steep and tall, but they're made of an unstable, crumbly rock,

which also gives them their unusual color.

I don't know why they look bored.

Just look what where they are!

Poor G.  Sore calf muscle keeping him from wandering.

Busy bee.

Ha ha.  You're not allowed to ride the unicorns.

And one last shot before I go. 

 

After our tour of the bells, we headed on up the road to Aspen.  Of course it's well known as a "go to" ski resort with a very rich après ski life.  Unlike the 14ers, there was no snow on the slopes here.  However, there were still lots of people, with lots of expensive cars, clothes and jewelry.  We managed to find lunch at a historic restaurant that was almost worth the price.

 

Lunch at the Red Onion.  Very good in spite of the look on Anna's face.

One quick look around and we knew we shouldn't go shopping.

I pictured that scene from "Pretty Woman", where the sales lady says,

"I don't think we have anything for you.  You're obviously in the wrong place.  Please leave."

So back to the camp.  Here's our view.  It's a red hill named "The Red Hill." 

People run up it daily for exercise.  I stayed on the really nice, and flat,

bike path through town.

 

Thanks for being a great hostess, Karen.  See you at

the next training camp.  We're on our way to Moab, UT.

*****Just a note here.  I have actually already posted the "next" entry, our move from Carbondale to Moab.   Find it at "July 3, 2013 My Birthday in Moab" post.*****

From Buena Vista to Carbondale, CO

*****This is another catch-up post.*****

Holy cow, am I still in June?

 

And just a note:  It's quite ironic that I'm still posting about Colorado, now while the terrible flooding is going on.  While we were there a couple of months ago, it was so dry that the state had an unprecedented number of wildfires raging.  What a difference a few weeks makes.



June 2013
Moving from BV to Carbondale, CO

 

Good-bye Valley Mobile Park.

 

Hitch 'er up, and move out.

Our neighbors for a couple of days, Harry and Jean. 

They were worried about us when we didn't come home

 the other night (when we were at Cindy's).  RV folk are good folk.

So we head north again.  This state continues to impress me.

Yes, this is late June. 

Had to go through Leadville. 

It's the highest incorporated city in the U.S. at over 10,000 feet.

It's a quaint old silver mining town.  Lots of old west buildings.

 

And this is the Tabor Opera House.  Horace Taber was quite a character.

Google him.  My Atlanta friends will now understand why

"Baby Doe's" restaurant looked like a mine.

Buffalo Bill Cody, Doc Holliday and Oscar Wilde passed through here, too.

And just north of town, there's still mining going on.  Not so pretty.

 

 

At the end of our lovely drive is Carbondale, Colorado.  We chose it primarily to visit another Cuong Nhu dojo, Rising Crane, and our friend Karen Bradshaw.  She asked Gordon to run a couple of classes while he was there, which he gladly did.  

 

Adult class.

Rich Seedorf (front left) from Aspen dojo made an appearance, too.

Gordon had them flying.

My little Alex holding is own against Rich. ;-)

 

Here's Anna, the helpful sempai.

(unlike me, the photo-taking sempai)

 

There's a kids class, with a couple of them testing, too.

Not quite flying, but kicking high.

And a couple of new yellow belts.  Congratulations!

Anna's new best friend in Colorado, Alyvia.

And she can rock a hat and shades.

 

I must say that Carbondale is an almost perfect little town.  It is full of homes and shops all within walking distance. There's a park in center of the town where people meet to do yoga or kata (like we did with Karen), have parties, or just play.  Lots of bike riders and trails.  Small and friendly with stores for most of what you need.  A bigger town is just down the mountain and Aspen is just up the mountain.  The countryside with fields and horses is just a few minutes away.  Beautiful vistas in every direction.  Ah, to me it's Mayberry.  Gordon likes that it's above the "bug" line.  Alex likes that it's above the "snake" line.  Anna likes the low humidity because it makes her hair less frizzy.  There's something for everyone.  If it wasn't 2000 miles from "home", I would stay here forever.  Alex even learned to ride a bike; being able to work on it in the park was the magic.  Yea!  

 

 

 

 

But a funny thing about this visit was that I forgot to take many photos as we wandered around.  Oops.