Views along the trails.....

The RV found a new home and it acquired a little dog in the transaction.    The couple sold their California home and plan a summer of travels.    He spent hours walking them thru all the many details of living, maintaining and driving it.     It will be a big change for them and for us.        

Someone asked what we planned to do now that we don't have it to travel in.    I said I was going to stay in a 5 star resort and order room service.    

And last weekend, we came very close to that prediction.      Michael and Jenna were in Aspen celebrating their 34th anniversary.    We tagged along for one night with our bikes.     The Rio Grande trail runs from Glenwood Springs to Aspen..... about 40 miles uphill.     It was a pretty day but deceiving as we had a very strong headwind.     Fortunately, it was downhill on the way back.   We did about 16 miles.    It follows the Roaring Fork river and is an old train route.     

Mt Sopris above Aspen.   

Yes, I wear a hat under my helmet to try and protect from the  Colorado sun

We rested our weary butts and enjoyed the luxury of using Mike's Marriott points at the St Regis.   I'm certainly not used to having young men offer to unpack my bags and a butler just  a phone call away.   What does one ask a butler to do ??      Would I have actually paid to stay there?..... probably not but it was a perfect way to spend a weekend with some favorite people.   

 

It looks like I'm leaning on canes but the umbrellas were "just in case".  

  

The next day we rode the Glenwood Canyon trail from No Name rest stop east along the Colorado River.   We did this ride many years ago and then climbed the steep trail to Hanging Lake and rode the bikes back to Glenwood Springs.    We managed to get drenched by a sudden thunderstorm on the hike down and had a soggy ride back.     This time, the sun was brilliant and the winds were strong.    And being a weekend, the path was very busy with walkers and bikers.    In the above picture, you can see the concrete ribbons of I 70 as it winds it's way through this stunningly beautiful canyon.     Below is a view of the path , below the highway and above the river teaming with rafters.    

The winds were strong and scary at times.    Having the power of the electric assist really helped but I still felt as if I would be blown onto the rocky edge and plummet into the river.      The skinny spandex clad bikers whizzed by us and that was unnerving as well.      Between the highway noise and the turbulent river, the noise was deafening.   I didn't expect that.     We only did about 10 miles total and then went our opposite ways toward homes.    

It was a perfect weekend and we look forward to more biking meet-ups. 

My brother opted for a more powerful ride in the Sierra's..... I wish him fun and safety but I am older and slower so we won't  enjoy a ride together.....unless I get younger and faster. !

Back to the real world, we are busy with weeding and watching the flowers bloom and mediocre golf and gatherings with friends.      And soon, we head east for exciting days with the new graduate and more family time.      

An almost return to normal.....

All is good here on the Western Slope and the high desert is greening up and flowering and the wind continues to blow.   It's a spring thing and legend says that the winds will stop when the snow is melted on Horsethief Mountain...... there's still snow up there and we can blame errant golf balls on the winds.  

I liked this bright red salamander that Jon spied in the dried leaves.   When we lived in CT, I would find them in similar hiding places.    They are an interesting sort and very colorful.   

We finally had our first hummingbird sighting.... They are tiny and we haven't  seen many so far.

Life is almost getting back to normal.    We still wear our masks in stores but my groups are feeling liberated and meeting face to face is now happening.    So fun to play Mah Jongg again and have indoor lunch after golf league.    

Mike and Jenna came over for Mother's Day weekend.   We even went to a favorite mountain town for breakfast....outside on the patio....and wandered about in shops.     They found that they like our bikes and did some searching to find E-bikes in the Denver area.   But, due to extreme popularity, they are scarce.   Our local Trek store had a nice selection and Jenna found a mint green Townie.     

The following weekend, we drove east to catch up with the grand girls and to do some shopping.   I also went for a short ride on Jenna's "Daisy" along the trails in their community.    It was misting and breezy so I didn't stay out long.   But it was fun !   

Aspen is not a cat !     

They have a new Peloton bike.   I was very interested and hopped on for a try.   I was just getting into a good rhythm and 'feeling the burn' when my foot slipped off the pedal.  It kept spinning and I felt a sharp pain in my shin but put my foot back on and continued ...... and then I felt something warm and saw that my shoelaces were turning red ...... I managed to scrap a significant portion of my skin off.    Next time I'll use the toe clips.   But the shortened ride was fun and I can see the appeal.    

This week, we are probably saying goodbye to the motorhome.   It has not been an easy decision and there  are still mixed emotions about it.   We've been RVing for almost 15 years and have seen much of our beautiful country.    The lifestyle suited us and allowed us to stay in areas we might not have explored by car or plane.     But now, the campgrounds are overflowing, reservations are non-existent and prices are at an all time high.   Factories can't keep up with the demand.  (much like E-bikes).    In a couple years, there will be a glut on the market as people go back to their houses and regular jobs and return to school.    It is a good time and we think we have found a buyer who will appreciate our 2nd home as much as we did.