Snowboarding in CO, hanging out in Boulder CO, Drive Home

Saturday March, 7

                I was a bit hung over but I wanted to get back to the mountains. So I sucked it up and headed out. I drove to Silverthorne and grabbed some Subway. Then I was off to Breckenridge. I found free parking and started hiking over to the mountain. The previous year my cousin Zak flew out and rented a room here in the village. I snagged a nice glass water bottle, and it never sat right with me that I didn’t get one for him. So I figured I would try my luck again. I walked into the hotel and went up to the top floor. Sure enough the cleaning cart was sitting there unattended with 2 water bottles just asking for it. I grabbed them both and threw them in my backpack. Then it was time to board. Again I didn’t want to push it so I only spent about 2 hours on the mountain. It was another beautiful sunny day and my knee was holding up just fine. From here I drove west to Eagle CO and stopped at bonfire brewery to garb a beer with a friend. Now I drove back to Boulder to meet up with Eric. Eric and Tristen were over at Kelly’s parents place so I drove over. Her parents are redoing a huge part of their house and that included filling in the indoor pool. They took full advantage of this and were paint crazy things all over the walls. I sat around watching, drinking some beers, and laughing all night.

Sunday March, 8

                We hung out around Kelly’s house in the morning and she had to move a few things to the house her parents are renting during construction. The place they are renting is a beautiful place up in the mountains. They also have a hot tub! Kelly’s friend Andy came over and we all hopped in. it was great to lie around and soak up in the mountains. After that I had some running around to do in town. That night everyone went back over to Kelly’s and they bought some more paint for the pool. Eric had to work in the morning so I drove him back to his place and crashed on his couch.

Monday March, 9

                In the morning I went to the grocery store, then back to the mountains. Today I went to Keystone. This place has always had my favorite tree runs. Sense my knee was feeling much better I felt up to the craziness that is tree runs. I was on the mountain all day this time and I was loving it. From here I went west back to Glenwood Springs to hang out with Dave. He made spaghetti for dinner and we watched some funny movies.

Tuesday March, 10

                Today I went back to Vail, the snow was pretty soft but it was melting fast. Tons of bare ground and several runs were closed off. When I was getting off the bus to get back to my car I helped a lady who had a brace on her knee. We talked for a little while by my car. She was here for a week and tore her knee the first day she was out here. I told her about my trip and how I just hurt my knee too. I picked up some food to make at Dave’s house for dinner. Then it was time for some more movies.

Wednesday March, 11

                I went to Beaver Creek for the first time today. The sun was not out today and never warmed up the snow. So it was ice everywhere. I tried a few of the steeper runs but I couldn’t even hold an edge and had one scary moment sliding down. With all the ice my knee was starting to bother me again. That’s when I made the decision. It’s time to go home. I couldn’t see staying with no snow in the forecast and the idea of re-hurting my knee was not an enjoyable one. Not to mention my boss would kill me if I came home hurt. So I hopped in the car and drove to Denver to see my friend Matt P before leaving. We hung out for a bit until his girlfriend Morgan made it home from work. He Uncle also joined us; turns out he was on a road trip also! He just retired and had a fully decked out Mercedes van that he travelled around out west taking pictures. We all walked over to a restaurant and had some very nice beers with dinner. It was great to see them and hear about his uncles travels. We have been to many of the same places; he stuck to the road more than I did but still cool to hear about. Next I dropped Matt of at his place and hit the road east. I made it to Des Moines Iowa before crashing out around 6 am.

Thursday March, 12

                I only slept a few hours before getting back on the road. I drove straight through and made it to my cousins Zak’s house in Waukesha at 7 pm. We hung out joking around about my trip and sipping on some whiskey I brought back for him. Around 11 I headed home for the first time in 2 and half months. I quickly unpacked the car, took a shower, and hopped in my king size bed.

It was one hell of a trip and I am very grateful for everything I am able to do with my time off. The true gem of my trips will always be the people I meet along the way. Weather its giving me a place to stay or just meeting someone on the bar stool next to me, it all means a lot to me and I will never forget any of it. So that’s that! 70 day 30 nights in the car 14000 miles. This will be my last road trip adventure. I’m not saying that sadly, I have seen, done, and experienced way more than I ever would have thought when I left that first time 5 years ago. Now it’s time to move this shit international!!!

Zion, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Boulder CO

Somewhere along the way my dates are wrong! This really upsets me; this is all due to the theft of my laptop. So I’m going to combine some days to get back on track.

Sunday march, 1

                After the hike out and spending the night in the car I was hurtin. I went and bought some medication to get the swelling to go down. I felt pretty pathetic at this point, limping around with a sad look on my face. Just trying to figure out what I can do to get myself better as fast as possible. The weather wasn’t helping anything, that snow storm was still hitting hard and I knew I couldn’t do anything in Zion. But I drove through the park and I still consider this the prettiest place in America. It looked more hostile with the storm clouds swirling around through the canyons, like a beautiful woman’s face when she is pissed off. The beauty is still there but you know not to mess with her. I continued driving and the snow let up a bit when I would go lower in elevation. But at the crest of hills it was a white out. I drove many miles and stopped for water at a gas station. I asked about the road conditions and it wasn’t looking good. I decided to just get to the main highway, I-70, and head for Grand Junction CO. I talked to Zack who I saw in Orlando, but is from Grand Junction. He was more than helpful and allowed me to stay in his room while he was gone. So I made the trip and stopped for beer and pizza in town. I stayed here last year and it will always be a little oasis on my trips to come. The household consists of Dani, Dave (Dani’s brother), and Dan (Dani’s boyfriend). I cracked a beer and threw in the pizza while doing my laundry. Once I was fed I took a much needed shower. Dani and Dan came home and we all chatted and had some beers while watching tv. 

                I believe that was all actually Saturday. On Sunday I actually woke up in Grand Junction and made a delicious breakfast of hash browns, eggs, and bacon. I watched Dan game it up playing Diablo 3. He had some things to get done so he handed me the controller. This was a bad idea. I was held up with my bum knee and I pretty much gamed for the next 3 days straight. That night was a new episode of Walking Dead. They had a few friends over to watch. Dani made a wonderful dinner of enchiladas for everyone. And for dessert Dan made some deep-fried bananas with brown sugar wrapped in egg roll wrappers. Its great hanging out with this group of people again. Everyone jokes around in the kitchen doing shots while preparing dinner. 

Monday March, 2

                 I sat around gaming all day and eventually took Dave to work. Gamed some more until Dan and Dani got home from work. They went through there fridge and freezer to get rid of anything that was too old. For dinner we cooked up some steaks, mashed potatoes, and I ran to the store for asparagus. After dinner we all sat around watching tv.

Tuesday March, 3

                I always like to do something for the people I stay with and it usually cleaning the entire kitchen. This was the perfect time for that. Then back to gaming, Dave joined in for some time. But soon needed a ride to work again. When I got back it was more gaming. I just beat the game when Dan and Dani came home. I have been talking to my other friend Dave who now lives in Glenwood Springs, about an hour and half east. We made plans for me to stay over there for a few days. So I said my thanks and goodbyes to Dani and Dan and headed out. Dave just moved into his place and had no furniture. It was comical to walk in and see nothing. But he had a computer and a tv. I was very concerned about the pictures on my camera. So I uploaded them all to his computer just as a backup. We ran to the store then watched some movies. 

Wednesday March, 4

                Dave went off to work, but left his computer for me to use. I wanted to go back and retype all my notes form the trip while they were still fresh and I had the time. So I spent the day doing that until Dave got home. Then we hopped in the car and drove south then west to a wonderful hot spring right off the road. They call it the Hippie Dip because it’s free. A few other people were in the spring and we all talked for a long time. Dave and I grabbed some fish tacos in downtown Glenwood, then back to his place for some more movies.

Thursday March, 5

                Spent the day retyping again. Dave came home and we drove over to a very small town called Marble CO. it’s a town that is .4 square miles with 147 people that live there. Zach’s daughter lives here and we stopped in for a visit. We also drove to the marble mine and picked up some scrap pieces of marble to take home. Then we stopped near Dave’s house for some pizza and beers.

Friday March, 6

                The days of rest were really helping my knee and I felt up for snowboarding. I had a little typing to finish up then I was off to Vail. It was a beautiful day and all I wore was a tee shit jacket and snow pants. The snow was pretty crappy and worn out. But with the sun shining I was still happy and it was good to get active again. I didn’t want to overdo it so I didn’t hit it too hard. Then drove to Boulder CO. I picked up some beer and meet up with some friends in town. I went to Eric’s place and we hung out for a while before dinner. Then Tristen (Ollies girlfriend, another roommate) drove us to the restaurant Ollie works at. We had some beers and waited to get a table. As we were eating a few more friends showed up, Kelly and Taylor joined us. After dinner Kelly drove Eric, Taylor, and I to Pearl St for a night of drinking.

Driving into and around Zion during the storm

 Back Highways in Utah

 A bit sketchy on the way to Daves

 Marble CO

 Im looking pretty shabby in Boulder

 Hanging out with some hoodlums