Rocky Mountain High

A lake surrounded by Rocky Mountains at 8600 feet (2800 meters) is right in front of us. Let's just say we're in the middle of the Rockies surrounded by pine forest, much of it eaten by invasive pine beetles, but still gorgeous. Snow is not far away on the peaks.

In fact we got flaked this morning in Rocky Mountain National Park as a flurry came through at 10,000 feet. Rocky Mountain Park goes from tree line to tundra in about 30 minutes drive. As you rise higher you wheeze a bit, then gasp a bit more, and at 12,000 feet, as high as you go, movement becomes somewhat difficult if you try to run and you do feel as if you have been inhaling more of something rather than less oxygen. It brought to mind the old song by Diane Dufresne that we picked up in Montreal some 26 years ago, “donnez-moi, donnez-moi de l'oxygene.”



Bears, elk, chipmunks and birds at the lower elevations. Fraternity brothers at the higher elevations, lots of them in cars.

And the mountains, so beautiful even with occasional bursts of rain and snow. Dozens of peaks at over 12,000 feet. Snow avalanches visible from the car, drifts up to eight feet high at the side of the road. But no visible glaciers, and I fear less snow than we would have expected.

We had a pleasant evening Tuesday night in Denver with Carson Horwitt and his girlfriend Lauren Violette, both of whom moved there in January. Carson is the son of brother Andrew Cross's girlfriend, Cindy Hopwood. He's in Denver to finish his degree at U.Colorado in management and information systems and is working full time for a software development company helping users. Much conversation over dinner at Tommy's Thai Restaurant (good, but not very spicy).
We had a pinot grigio, many appetizers, some noodles, chicken, veggies and pork BBQ. Carson and John always have good political discussions because Carson has never met a conspiracy theory he doesn't like or remember. And, he doesn't like ambiguity in international politics. I always learn. We assure him that the Secret Police will now be reading this blog daily and following both of us! Lauren is doing well working for an office furniture company and thinking about going back to college. This is the first time they have ever lived in a city and they are learning the virtues of the urban existence.

Tuesday's drive from Nebraska into Colorado was rather frightening. Many swirling clouds, angry winds and rain in patches. Much thought of tornadoes. We are now over100 miles from tornado terrrain, so that worry is past, but it made John edgy.

Our Bnb Wednesday night was probably the best we've stayed in. Coyote Ridge in Grand Lake, overlooking the lake, run by a former paralegal, Kathy Stromberg, from Chicago. Moved into the mountains after she left her law firm and built the house as a Bnb.
We had a good dinner at the Sagebrush Inn in Grand Lake, Ben had a lovely trout,pan fried, and I elk sausage which was good but too spicy and woke me up in the middle of the night. Great spinach from a local farm and very good local beer, Trail Red.

Off now through the Colorado River Valley as it gradually enlarges into the Grand Canyon hundreds of miles away.