Last Week in Steamboat Springs, CO

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Let’s see….where to begin. The last week has been chock full. We started out having a wonderful meal once again with Mark and Susie. Last winter Mark had gone ice fishing and caught several trout. Susie froze them and we reaped the benefits. She stuffed them and baked them to perfection. Along with the fish, she made asparagus and wild rice. It was a meal fit for a king. Susie actually DE-Boned the trout! Just like Julia Child! Amazing!

Tommy and Mark finished up the edging on the new garage which looks wonderful. We played pool for 2 of the past 5 nights. Tommy and I lost both times, but it was a great deal of fun. The gang at the Glen Eden Resort are so entirely friendly and welcoming. We felt as if we were always part of the crowd.

The Glen Eden Resort is more of a dude ranch type of retreat. They offer horseback riding and tubing along the Elk River, have cabins to stay in and have a full restaurant, along with a lounge. It’s a genuinely nice place to stay while visiting friends or family in the area, or just exploring.  Next time you’re in Clark, CO (just outside of Steamboat Springs, CO), stop in and tell them we said hello.

Larry and Joann's house

WY in the background

Hahn's Peak from the ground

St

We went hiking one day up Hahn's Peak. It was difficult. We ascended 1638 feet in only 1.7 miles. There were 2 times I sat down and said I couldn't do it. The last 1/4 mile was all rock. Moving rock under every step you took. It was hard to breathe but Mark and Tommy cheered me on and I was thankful. The view was spectacular! Susie, who we dubbed as Heidi for her mountain climbing skills, was on top of the mountain just waiting for us. The trip back down was tricky. The rocks continued to move under you and without any depth perception it seemed almost impossible. Susie stayed in front of me the entire time to help guide me. It was a great day!

Mark took Tommy and I horseback riding up the mountain behind his house. The Elk River Ranch provided the horses. I rode Nacho. Tommy rode Cisco and Mark rode Ebony. I fell in love with my horse. I think we completely bonded. We rode to the top of the mountain. The views were incredible. I hope the pictures do it justice. On the way down we ran into the Wrangler, Robby. He is the #1 guy on the ranch and I believe we made a friend for a long time. At least we hope to ski and snow mobile, etc.)

During our last week there Susie and I spent time with neighbors and she hosted a dinner for a couple, Joann and Larry. (The house with all the windows.) From Mark and Susie's house you look up at Joann and Larry's.

We pulled out of the driveway of Mark and Susie’s house on Friday early afternoon. It was a tearful goodbye. It's hard to grasp the fact that we had just met them one year ago. They have come to see us in FL and we back to them again this year. Such wonderful, great, generous people and we are proud to say they are our friends.

Mark and Susie

 

 

 

 

 We are now in Buffalo, WY for a week along with Cathy and Jim. Thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday!

A whole bunch of everything...

Saturday July 2 2010

Today Cheryl and I spent once again at large shopping. We went to the concord mills outlet mall in hopes of buying a new coach bag. Why is it that when you have the money and the intention, you  never find anything you like or yearn for. Neither one of us acquired a new purse. She, conversely, did have better luck in the education store. (she is a 1st grade teacher and needed some new supplies for the coming school year.)

The day before we went to South Park Mall. It offers all up scale stores such as Nordstrom’s, Tommy Bahamas‘, etc.  we did not buy anything there either. But we did go to Taco Mac’s for lunch. It is set up like a really, really nice sports bar. They have 120 different types of beer on tap to choose from, along with 160 flavors of coca cola products. The prices are reasonable and the food was good.

Its now Sunday the 3rd and I'm on the plane on my way back to Denver,CO to see Tommy and Sire and the cats. Tomorrow is a big day in Steamboat Springs. Its forth of July and they hold a astounding rodeo in town along with live music and fireworks.

Once back in Steamboat we got together with Roy and Kim at Kim's Dad's condo in town. It is located up the mountain overlooking the entire valley. Just beautiful. We grilled rib-eyes and watched the fireworks from his lawn. It was a great night with great friends. Of course Vladamir was with us and was as cute as possible.

Colorado State Flower : Columbine

 The following day we headed out for a hike with Mark and Susie. It was approximately 4 miles in and back. The sky became ominous and a  storm blew in out of nowhere and we made every effort for cover. To no avail. I have no idea how or why but the storm went around us, completely. We reaped the benefits of the cooler weather it blew in and the breeze to shoe away the mosquitoes. Once back at the truck we came upon Hail....alot of it. If we were to have been hit with that much hail we would, for sure, have welts.

The river, more precisely, Box Cannon, was running at unbelievable speed. If it were classified for rafting it would be off the charts at at-least a 7. The scale goes from 1-5. Just incredible!

Classified 7

Box Cannon

Mark and Susie's Teepee

I am also anticipate going back to Strawberry lakes. It is a ecological, natural hot spring. Last year it was magnificent. Several other things I want to do while back in steamboat are; the alpine slide, visit the boat house for another round of coronas on the Yampa river watching the tubers float by. Hitting a couple of street fairs with local artists and their homemade gifts. And of course hanging out at the Glen Eden Resort playing 9 ball. (My new favorite past-time.)

It is not Friday, the 8th of July and Happy Hour tonight will be ontop of the mountain. We will have to take the Gondola up there. Drinking alcohol at 10K feet is so cheap because you only need 1-2 drinks to feel it.

Susie's Side yard, filled with wild flowers

The Main House

Incredible view from the porch

Sorry it took so long to blog the signal here is extremely weak. We plan on staying here until next Thursday and then will head North to WY to meet up with Tommy's brother and his wife. Thanks for reading.