We knew we'd had a good vacay when we woke up on our last day, at the hotel in Denver...and were too tired to contemplate doing much of anything exciting...or physically demanding, for that matter. That's about when I realized something crucial, in hindsight: I'd neglected to build any downtime into this expedition. I mean, the only time we spent in our sleeping quarters was to work in the "8 (or however many we could manage) hours of beauty rest". (Oops...over-ambitious-tour-guide mistake. On the other hand, we got a lot done...and we survived to tell the tale(s), so...no harm, no foul? Yeah, let's just go with that...)
We had originally hoped to visit Red Rocks, but decided to scrap that idea, based on the amount of time and energy it would take, as well as our need to catch a plane at a prescribed hour. (Curse those...rigid airline schedules!) Looking for something low-key and close by, we settled on the Denver Botanic Gardens, which I had penciled in as a possibility when researching the city before we came out west. The rest of the team--notably the male portion--was lukewarm to this notion, but willing to play along...although they insisted on calling it the (wait for it...) BRO-tanic Gardens. (Because they're all big honkin' goofballs, in case you had any doubt...)
So we motored on over to the complex after breakfast, prepared to walk around for a while and admire the impressive variety of flora. However, it was quickly blossoming (Ha! Sorry...) into another scorching, sunny day, so some of us (um, that would be "the menfolk") kind of shuffled along aimlessly, trying their best to remain in the shady spots, glancing disinterestedly at the pretty flowers every once in a while--but, let's be honest, mainly killing time. While others (yep, "yours truly") wound in and out of every pathway they could find, stopping frequently to photograph the lush greenery and colorful blooms...and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
When the guys'...patience for plants...was exhausted, we regrouped to head in the direction of the airport. In a unanimous family vote (a rare and precious thing, indeed) we had agreed to eat our final Colorado meal not only at Wahoo's Fish Tacos...but at the very same location in which we'd begun our adventure upon our arrival on Tuesday. It seemed like a fitting (and delicious!) end to a successful and rewarding trip, bringing things full-circle and tying them up with a neat little bow, if you will. (Side note: we also concurred that these quirky joints should TOTALLY make their way to the East Coast. Seriously, Taco Powers That Be, I'm telling you that we'd eat there All. The. Dang. Time. So on second thought...maybe not a super idea for Team WestEnders? We'd have to exercise some mega self-control, I'm just sayin'...)
And now, here's a collection of random thoughts regarding our travels:
--Riley commented (I think when we were on our way back home) about how it had seemed relatively easy, for once, to find food that suited all four of us during our western wanderings. And he was right--the vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options abounded in the Centennial State, which was soooo nice. Plus, it was stuff that pleased salad connoisseurs and carnivores alike, so nobody had to compromise...BONUS! (Thanks, Colorado!)
--I was chatting with someone at work in the days before I left, and he asked, with a sly grin,"So, are you going to stop by any dispensaries?" I was completely baffled by his question...but to stave off any social awkwardness, I laughed obligingly and pretended I understood. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about...that is, until we started spotting the ubiquitous marijuana emporiums...all the heck over the place. Granted, I live 2,000 miles away, so I think I can be forgiven for failing to remember (or care, for that matter) that weed had been legalized (both recreational AND medicinal! As the billboards all brightly proclaim). But suffice it to say that you can't swing the proverbial stick without hitting either a shop or an advertisement for this particular product. It was a bit bizarre to the Mid-Atlantic contingent, I'm gonna be honest...but also amusing...
...right up until the moment we realized it's probably the reason security in the Denver airport is the tightest we've ever experienced. As in, two out of four of us were flagged for extra examination of the suitcases. In all fairness, Husband forgot he was carrying my camera for me, since he somehow had more space in his bag than I did on the return jaunt, and the TSA officer just wanted to take it out and make sure it was kosher (or whatever...). But they also removed all of the snacks from my backpack--prepackaged granola bars and nuts and whatnot that we hadn't polished off during our hikes--which I'd insisted on schlepping home, rather than throwing away perfectly good munchies. It didn't occur to me until later that the officers have to be extra-careful...to ensure that devious people aren't trying to get away with sneaking pot out of Colorado to...wherever they're going, where possession of it might still be a crime. Wow. That was certainly a new one for us!
--Also entertaining, albeit in a veeerrrry different way, my trusty FitBit informed me that we pounded the pavement (and trails, of course) for over 110,000 steps in our 5 days away, averaging over 19,000 per day....and totaling a whopping 47 miles...and change. So yeah, I'd say we got our money's worth in the whole Tour de Colorado! (And no wonder we were wiped out after all of that...frolicking!)
We had originally hoped to visit Red Rocks, but decided to scrap that idea, based on the amount of time and energy it would take, as well as our need to catch a plane at a prescribed hour. (Curse those...rigid airline schedules!) Looking for something low-key and close by, we settled on the Denver Botanic Gardens, which I had penciled in as a possibility when researching the city before we came out west. The rest of the team--notably the male portion--was lukewarm to this notion, but willing to play along...although they insisted on calling it the (wait for it...) BRO-tanic Gardens. (Because they're all big honkin' goofballs, in case you had any doubt...)
So we motored on over to the complex after breakfast, prepared to walk around for a while and admire the impressive variety of flora. However, it was quickly blossoming (Ha! Sorry...) into another scorching, sunny day, so some of us (um, that would be "the menfolk") kind of shuffled along aimlessly, trying their best to remain in the shady spots, glancing disinterestedly at the pretty flowers every once in a while--but, let's be honest, mainly killing time. While others (yep, "yours truly") wound in and out of every pathway they could find, stopping frequently to photograph the lush greenery and colorful blooms...and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
When the guys'...patience for plants...was exhausted, we regrouped to head in the direction of the airport. In a unanimous family vote (a rare and precious thing, indeed) we had agreed to eat our final Colorado meal not only at Wahoo's Fish Tacos...but at the very same location in which we'd begun our adventure upon our arrival on Tuesday. It seemed like a fitting (and delicious!) end to a successful and rewarding trip, bringing things full-circle and tying them up with a neat little bow, if you will. (Side note: we also concurred that these quirky joints should TOTALLY make their way to the East Coast. Seriously, Taco Powers That Be, I'm telling you that we'd eat there All. The. Dang. Time. So on second thought...maybe not a super idea for Team WestEnders? We'd have to exercise some mega self-control, I'm just sayin'...)
And now, here's a collection of random thoughts regarding our travels:
--Riley commented (I think when we were on our way back home) about how it had seemed relatively easy, for once, to find food that suited all four of us during our western wanderings. And he was right--the vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options abounded in the Centennial State, which was soooo nice. Plus, it was stuff that pleased salad connoisseurs and carnivores alike, so nobody had to compromise...BONUS! (Thanks, Colorado!)
--I was chatting with someone at work in the days before I left, and he asked, with a sly grin,"So, are you going to stop by any dispensaries?" I was completely baffled by his question...but to stave off any social awkwardness, I laughed obligingly and pretended I understood. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about...that is, until we started spotting the ubiquitous marijuana emporiums...all the heck over the place. Granted, I live 2,000 miles away, so I think I can be forgiven for failing to remember (or care, for that matter) that weed had been legalized (both recreational AND medicinal! As the billboards all brightly proclaim). But suffice it to say that you can't swing the proverbial stick without hitting either a shop or an advertisement for this particular product. It was a bit bizarre to the Mid-Atlantic contingent, I'm gonna be honest...but also amusing...
...right up until the moment we realized it's probably the reason security in the Denver airport is the tightest we've ever experienced. As in, two out of four of us were flagged for extra examination of the suitcases. In all fairness, Husband forgot he was carrying my camera for me, since he somehow had more space in his bag than I did on the return jaunt, and the TSA officer just wanted to take it out and make sure it was kosher (or whatever...). But they also removed all of the snacks from my backpack--prepackaged granola bars and nuts and whatnot that we hadn't polished off during our hikes--which I'd insisted on schlepping home, rather than throwing away perfectly good munchies. It didn't occur to me until later that the officers have to be extra-careful...to ensure that devious people aren't trying to get away with sneaking pot out of Colorado to...wherever they're going, where possession of it might still be a crime. Wow. That was certainly a new one for us!
--Also entertaining, albeit in a veeerrrry different way, my trusty FitBit informed me that we pounded the pavement (and trails, of course) for over 110,000 steps in our 5 days away, averaging over 19,000 per day....and totaling a whopping 47 miles...and change. So yeah, I'd say we got our money's worth in the whole Tour de Colorado! (And no wonder we were wiped out after all of that...frolicking!)
--Now, regarding climate: having lived all of their young lives in places where humid air is the norm, the boys expressed their extreme displeasure with the "dry heat". Derek summed it up thusly, "I feel like humidity protects you from the sun. Without it acting as a barrier, it just feels like my skin is...baking!" Derek and Riley both said that they'd take the waterlogged atmosphere over desert-like conditions, any day. In fact, it became a repeated smart-aleck comedy bit during our stint in Colorado, to describe everything as "dry", whether it was appropriate or not. For example, during the chilly, stormy day in Rocky Mountain National Park, when we all came to the conclusion independently that we could really go for a bowl of soup at the end of the hike, one of them quipped, "As long as it's...a dry soup!" Then they'd inevitably high-five each other and remark, in a totally self-satisfied tone, "That's never gonna get old!" (Oh, I beg to differ...siiighhhh....) And finally, an assessment from Derek, who mused one day, "You know, Denver is pushing to be one of my top 5 favorite cities." When asked to elaborate, he added, "Well, Seattle had too many...farmer's markets...and rainbow crosswalks...but I don't get that from Denver!" In case you don't speak fluent Derek Dialect, allow me to explain: in his opinion, Seattle gave off a strong artsy, funky, hippie vibe, which is not quite...in his wheelhouse, as they say. He continued, "I always try to imagine whether I could live here, if I had a job, and I feel like I'd be comfortable in Denver."
Well, alrighty, then! To sum up, Colorado earned high praise from the newbies, and renewed appreciation from those of us returning after a long absence. We explored two new cities...we got our fill (and then some) of Mother Nature...we ate well...we saw a fun baseball game in a gorgeous stadium...and we made it triumphantly back home with our carry-on full of trail mix and protein bars! Now we can settle back down in North Carolina...with a new perspective on the overbearing humidity for the remainder of the Summer. I suspect it'll be a couple of months before any of us has a hankering to go climb a mountain...but we might need to find us some tacos much sooner than that! For now, peace out from the vagabond Team WestEnders!
No comments:
Post a Comment