Kindred Colorado Spirits

Many of you know our buds Ron and Maxine. While we've known them a few years while traveling together in the Lone Star BMW Riders club, we just learned last year they are long-time Colorado lovers and former residents. They were gracious enough to allow us to spend the night after traveling from the Boat to Denver shuttling Jordan and Amanda to the airport. While relaxing at their condo in Boulder we learned of their Colorado passion. We joined them for dinner this year on a trip to retrieve brother, Al, from the airport. Hoping to reciprocate their hospitality, we invited them to come stay with us in Steamboat. They did!!

Ron & Maxine - Stagecoach Lake Park

These two are a swashbuckling couple, young at heart, and ready for adventure in almost any form. We hit it off splendidly. During their two-night, two-day stay, we did it all!

Many thanks Ron and Maxine for sharing a sliver of your life and times with the Burtons! We look forward to more adventures next year.

Maxine demonstrated veteran moves at the Saturday Steamboat Market Place

 We passed an historic cabin near Stagecoach Lake Park of CR-14

 Evening horses - CR-129 north of Steamboat

Can you say "nuzzle?"

We're experiencing a warm spell for a few days; it's well up into the 80's. But, the forecast predicts that beginning Friday, temps will fall into the low 70's. We're hoping we'll experience some drastic changes in the Colorado Aspen foliage in the next 10 days. So...

...stay tuned!

Straight From The Horses' Mouths

It's been a while since we checked, but...boy have we been busy.
Last week we headed up through Wyoming and had a blast. We arrived back home just in time to head to Denver to pick up my brother, Al, for an action packed few days together back here in Steamboat. I hope it was as fun for him as it was for us!

 Bro and Liz - we're out for a quick hike near Stagecoach Lake Park

Mother Nature can even decorate a fence in Colorado

Our adventures included: Stagecoach Lake Park, Clark General Store, Steamboat Lake Park, Crusing "The Boat," Otto, E3, Mignons of Beef al la Stanley, Margaritas, Cache le Poudre, CR-27, Palomino in Loveland, and did I mention Margaritas and...of course...chasing the stags of Sandwash Basin. Whew!!  You're the best bro ever...many thanks!

Since we made multiple trips to Denver International, we spent the night near there. On our trip back we scouted Fort Collins. It has much to offer in the way of quaint Colorado beauty!

Near College and Mountain (street names) 

We walked around town after a great breakfast on the square

Straight From the Horses Mouths

By now you know we have this thing about chasing wild horses around in the wasteland. In fact we've now included the horses of southern Wyoming in our hunt. Rather than try to narrate a blow-by-blow of our chases, we decided to go one better. We rented a long range microphone so we could eavesdrop on these wild critters and get a better idea of 1) what they're thinking and 2) what they have to say. The results were more than we could have hoped for. Here...you have a look and listen for yourselves.

 "Just two of a kind...lookin for a full house."

 We're The Three Musketeers...why do you ask?"

 "Good afternoon! I'm your host, Homer Horse. Welcome to Rock Springs"

 "Meet the Homer Horse Herd"

 "Rough Day"

" Ri-CO-la!!! "

 "This is some cool weed, Dude; I've got the 'munchies'"

"You ain't gonna believe this!"

 "Okay, okay...just take the darn picture and leave me alone."

 "For the life of me...I can't figger what all the fuss is about..."

Caption: Battle Royal

 "Okay, wise guy...think you're so tough...prove it!"

"I feel like we're just dancin' around the issue..."

"HEY...we said no eye-biting!!!"

 "I feel like you're always talking down to me!!"

WARNING: The content below is for mature audiences only! Viewer discretion is strongly advised. 

In case you thought all the fighting was just for bragging rights...well...you were dead wrong. The winner gets a lot more than that!! Here's what all the fuss is about.

Some things you just can't un-see.

Stay tuned...Ron and Maxine arrive tomorrow for two days of whirlwind adventures!!

Liz n Len's Lander Landing

First question:
How many have been to Lander, Wy?
OK...I guess if you're headed for Jackson ya mighta passed through there, but...wait...
How many of you have stayed in Lander? Haha...gotcha! Little known fact: Lander is the only city in the US by that name.

Well, in all fairness, we would never have gone to Lander were it not for my ex-boss and buddy, "Reb" and his mountain man brother, Hank. Yep, these guys believe in going "off the grid," if you catch my drift. We stayed with Reb and Vickie at their gorgeous home in Hot Springs Village en route to Kentucky way back in April. Reb told me about his upcoming adventure with his bro scheduled for later in the summer. He was so excited about it we just had to see for ourselves. Now...truth be told...silly me...I didn't snap a shutter in Lander, proper. While it's a cool, western town, we just stayed there one night after treating ourselves to the Museum of the Pioneer (aka The Museum of the American West). If you make it to Lander, you gotta go to the museum.

While our trip "to" Lander followed the highways, our trip "out" of Lander to Pinedale did anything but follow paved roads. The first road out-of-town is named 131 or Sinks Canyon Road. Immediately we were faced with a decision:

 Thanks to the wisdom of Yogi Berra: we came to a fork in the road...and we took it...

 ...and here's where IT took US!!!

Somewhere down there in the distance is Lander, Wy.   -  Thanks Reb!

We left Lander at a little before 8am with only 127 miles to cover for the day. We pulled into Pinedale at 1:45pm if that gives any idea of the trip and the terrain. Totally tubular, man!!

 A few miles down Sinks Canyon Rd., it becomes Louis Lake Rd.

 And here's why...Louis Lake

Boats...of course!

The entire route was mostly 8K' or higher. The views were spectacular, especially some of the high mountain water features.

When you descend out of the stratosphere, you'll find yourself in the quaint town of Atlantic City, Wy. It has, perhaps, 30-40 residents and is an old mining town. Main street is a gravel road and runs by Wild Bill's B&B.

 Wild Bills B&B right on the main drag heading out-of-town

Here's three Atlantic City residents that can't be bothered to let us leave downtown...

...next we headed to South Pass City. It's a bit smaller than Atlantic City

 South Pass City - residential district

Main Street South Pass City - heading out of town.

A mile or so further and I swear we found the exact geometric center of

"The Middle of Nowhere"

If we were asked to describe the next 30-40 miles of central western Wyoming, words would come to mind like: desolate, deserted, dirt, dry. That is absolutely amazing considering the majestic beauty we just left near Lander. Rather than take a boring drive along the likes of Hwy 28 and Hwy 191, we decide to take a short cut. It began like this...

Poor Liz had to get out and open the gate. Fortunately, without glasses she couldn't read the signs.

Man we trucked along for a few miles like there was no tomorrow. Similarly, there was no road either. We came across a couple of dudes with ATV's and asked about the rest of the way to Pinedale. Had it not been for the stream crossings, we'd have not reversed course. What wimps we are!!

Ahh, Pinedale!

Just before 2pm we arrived in Pinedale, Wy - western metropolis. (sorta). Hey, the quaint wild west atmosphere and the cool mountain air are hard to beat. We visited The Museum of the Mountain Men, ate at Old Stones Smokehouse, and headed out of town up Skyline Drive. Yee-ha!

Freemont Lake

 Near Skyline Drive

 Freemont Lake from Skyline Drive

Can't wait to get outa bed tomorrow as we head west of Jackson (it's too much like Aspen) and circle back to Rock Springs. Stay tuned...

Great News!!

Some of you may recall my rant from last year after learning Steamboat had been purchased (along with Winterpark and most of the Colorado ski resorts) by Aspen Ski Co. Many of you may recall when Aspen was a lovely little ski village tucked away in the mountains. Today, if you can even get there, you will have traveled at least an hour in traffic and will have lost all your enthusiasm by the time you arrive. Adventures seekers we may be; but, we'll never again darken Aspen's door. Who wants to travel to Cool, Colorful, Colorado to spend your time in a mini New York City atmosphere? Geesh...don't get me started.

Thus...we sadly expected this would be our last year in Steamboat for obviou$ rea$on$. Our current summer abode is located in the precise central, heart of "The Boat." Downtown runs from 3rd Street to 13th Street and we're between 7th and 8th. Even better, we're one block off Lincoln (Hwy 40, the main drag) and on the Yampa River. It's a handsome apartment complex surrounded by some of the hottest spots:

 Our appartment  building - we're bottom floor center of this pic

Looking across from our apartment. Ski jump hill and restaurant/night spots.

On Saturday mornings each week there's the town market. We typically acquire pastries and veggies - yum!

Saturday morning town market - looking east from our place down Yampa St.

And, arguably best-of-all, next door to the east is Carl's and Otto. Carl serves seven (7) different varieties of Old Fashion, and Otto is in the running for the planet's best pizza.

 Great place for afternoon, sidewalk, happy hour.

Great place for cracker-thin crust chicken, pesto pizza with artickoke...OMG!

With all this going for our location, you can see why we were dismayed to learn Aspen and Aspen's pricing was on its way to the Boat. Sure nuff! When we inquired about a return visit next year, the response was no less than a 100% price increase.  Yep! That's right...double the price! And, there's no negotiating because it seems that's cheap! Six weeks in downtown Steamboat is now astronomical. Can you say, "millionaires welcome!"?

So what's the good news, you ask?
Well...there's a saying: Where there's a will Liz... there's a way! And, just so happens I have a Liz!! She went to work for three (3) days and found not just one (1), but two (2) amazing alternatives. And...better still...the owners were happy to negotiate. Seems we frequent VRBO renters have ratings, too! And...thanks to Lizzy and her fastidious ways...we must have a pretty nice rating. So we have a place already rented for next year here. And...it's 10% less than we're paying now. Yea!!

 Next year's digs thanks to Lizzy

Obviously, we won't be in the heart of downtown, but we're 100' from the free bus that runs every 15 minutes. We'll be located closer to the ski hill and all the restaurants and amenities thereby. That top balcony on the left will be ours for August 2020. It offers a gorgeous view up to the top of the mountain. Thanks, Lizzy!!

 Oh yeah...Saturday was the last night of Steamboat Rodeo 2019. It's always fun!

Friday night was the scene of My Big Fat Italian Wedding. Yep...150 wedding guests from the families in Italy, NY, CA and all across the USA were in town for a destination wedding in Steamboat. They found themselves at the Steamboat Rodeo on Friday night. What a hoot! It was a blast to see what Italians conjured up to resemble "western attire." OMG!

BTW...it's 8:30am here and the temp is 45deg. What is it where you are?

Stay tuned...