Pickleball Fit Is Not Hiking Fit and 87°F in Moab Is Not 87°F in St. Louis

 There are so many alternate titles for this post. We covered a lot of ground today. We got up, got coffee...

...then headed from Montrose, CO, to I-70 west...

...to UT 191 south into Arches National Park. The West is spread out. Moving from one destination to another this morning took several hours. We took so many photos today, and my brain is stuffed full from taking in the enormity of what we saw. Here's just a few of the drive to Arches, specifically, Delicate Arch.

Around every turn was something different. Really. I could post one hundred photos and they would all be completely different. The human eye and the way the brain processes visual stimulus is magical. I can turn my head a fraction of an inch and see something that catches my eye, take a sweeping look, and process what I see. There is no photo that can capture that experience. The sheer size of all these geologic features is something else that can't be described with words that make you feel the way being among these gigantic formations makes you feel. When I'm at home, sitting on my couch, solving all the NYT puzzles, I am queen of my castle. Being in a place that almost overwhelms the senses makes me feel small...in the best way. When processing sights, sounds (or lack of sounds) and smells of that are novel and coming fast and furious, it leaves little room for anything else. Peace, gratitude, and a feeling that there is something greater (for me it is my God) push out the mundanity of everyday life. Wonder.

Our afternoon destination was Delicate Arch. In 2007, when we came to Arches the first time, I was six years away from a knee replacement that was already badly needed and had a fairly sedentary lifestyle because of it. I did not even attempt the moderate to strenuous 3-mile hike.

This year was different!

The beginning--can you see those people way up there?

Close to the top of the first big climb

Keep going!

Keep going!

Passing on the left!

Not far!

This was the last stretch.

I was willing to go a little farther than Tim...that's a story for another day.

On the way back down...

We left Delicate Arch and drove to the end of the loop, taking lots more photos along the way.

From there, we drove to Dead Horse Point State Park. The Colorado River seems to be everywhere. This canyon is smaller than the Grand Canyon but every bit as cool.

We ended the day driving Potash Rd., an easy ride along the Colorado River.

We eked out the last bit of daylight in this canyon, then headed to dinner. We were hankering for pizza last night but didn't want to wait on hour for a table in Telluride. I'm glad we waited.

 

Tim finished his pizza. Half of mine is sitting in the hotel fridge. It might make a nice addition to coffee for breakfast tomorrow. :)

I'm too tired to proofread. Sorry in advance for the mistakes!

Western Slope and Aspens pt. 2 and Cousin John

We started the morning with good coffee at Cimarron Coffee Roasters.

A cool old building built by the Montrose Electric Light and Power Company in 1904. In 1905, it add a 40-ton York Ice Machine. The 1908 Sandborn Map shows the Robert Hailey General Warehouse at the north end of the Power Plant building where the engine and dynamo room were located.

My vanilla latte in my new ceramic/stainless cup

 A SanFranciscan Roaster--much like our friend Pete's in St. Louis

After the obligatory good coffee, we drove east into Gunnison, CO, a cute little Mayberry town with a splash of tourism. We passed several Saturday morning soccer games and folks strolling the main drag then stopped by the Visitors' Center to get an opinion on Kebler Pass as Tim's research found that it was an unpaved road. After our experience with the Boreas Pass, we weren't sure we wanted to drive another road like that. The gentleman at the Visitors' Center was helpful but presumptuous. I was the one doing the talking. I asked him if the Kebler Pass was something we could do in a low-to-the-ground SUV. He looked straight at Tim and said, "You could drive it in his Tesla." If you know Tim at all, you know that statement rubbed him the wrong way. I'm not exactly sure what presuming someone drives a Tesla means, but it was clear that he thought Tim was some rich, pampered snob. It really was off putting. And if you know Tim, you also know it couldn't be further from the truth. I think that's why I thought it was kind of funny. So for much of the drive through the pass, Tim became "Biff" and made snarky remarks about Teslas and their owners. (For the record, Tim has nothing against Teslas or their drivers.) Maybe a Tesla driver ran over the guy's dog or something.

From Gunnison, we drove up Hwy 135 to Crested Butte. That drive was supposed to be pretty, but it was a little underwhelming. The good thing is it was relatively short and connected us to Kebler Pass (Hwy 12), which did not disappoint!

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

Kebler Pass

At the end of Kebler Pass, we headed back to Montrose for a quick regroup, then back out to Telluride via US Hwy 550 to SH 62 to Hwy 145 to Colorado Ave). My Cousin John is the Art Director at Telluride Brewing Company, just outside of Telluride. We had to make a stop to say hello. It was great seeing him!

I can see why John fell in love with Telluride all those years ago. It is an absolutely stunning little town tucked in a bowl surrounded by mountains on three sides. It has a casual, laid-back, mountain vibe that doesn't feel too touristy. We wandered up and down main street and decided on Italian for dinner. Not many place serve real osso-bucco--it was delicious! Tim got a fettuccine dish with mushrooms--also very tasty!

osso-bucco on polenta

fettuccine with mushrooms 

After dinner, we strolled some more. We were nearing the end of the shops on Main Street, but Tim pointed ahead and said, "Hey, there's a music store. You always like those." At first I dismissed the idea of going in then it clicked--that's the Telluride Music Co. I follow on Insta. I love their unboxing of really nice, high-end and unique, vintage guitars. I told Tim it might be dangerous if we go in there. I might come out with a guitar. Of course, as he always does when I mention guitars, he said, "I don't care!" We went in and met Warren at 5:57. They closed at 6:00. Warren was easygoing, super knowledgeable about guitars, super low pressure--a musician not a salesman. When we walked in, I was giddy because I was standing in the shop I'd seen on Insta many times! I gawked at some Martins hanging on the wall, went back to the t-shirts, grabbed the one I wanted, checked out, then turned around and saw a guitar on the wall that caught my eye...a 1960's Kent acoustic guitar. It had character. It was vintage. A local guy named Kevin took it apart, rebuilt it, re-fretted it...oh man, it was cool. Warren told us a little more about the guitar and the rebuild. It had a story. I told Warren if I took it off the wall and played it, I might take it home. I regret I did not take that guitar off the wall and play it. I am afraid, however, that if I had, I would have bought it. The biggest obstacle...the reason I didn't take it home? We're not headed home. We're headed west. I cannot leave a guitar in the car for long periods of time, and honestly, there's not room in the back of the car. It would be out in the open in the back seat. Now. Here's the thing. They ship. That guitar may find a place on my wall after all. That story is to be continued.

See you tomorrow!