Cruising On The Interstate
We are getting so good at packing up now. Sam and I are like a well-oiled machine. After one last once over and a mandatory check under the beds (we nearly always find something down there!) we packed up our trusty Corolla (Carl) and waved goodbye to Vail. I’ve really loved Vail so it was sad to be leaving.
Being summer here and having to wear summer clothes, I was still feeling like I was throwing off a substantial glare, possibly damaging the retinas of innocent passers by with my still milk-bottlish complexion (must be all that sunscreen). So, when at the supermarket, I picked up a little moisturiser with a “natural glow”, I made sure I got the”light” tube and was excited by the promise I’d “see colour results fast”. I modestly lathered up before bed and awoke to find I’d turned a shade closer to Kamahl than I’d been hoping! On closer inspection of the tube I realised I’d actually bought the African American “light” variety! Oops. Lucky I only did one coat! Why are people so unkind?
One of my dear old friends, Ben Boyd, now calls Colorado home. He left our fair shores fifteen years ago (gee that’s gone fast!) to live and work in Eagle, Colorado as a snowboard coach. We’d arranged to meet Ben for breakfast in his neck of the woods and it was lovely to catch up. He’s still as Aussie as ever, despite so long in the land of the brave, without even a hint of an American twang! He took us to a classic diner, complete with sparkly vinyl-seated booths and a shiny chrome ringed bar. Just like in the movies!
After brekky, Sam and I hit the road once more, winding our way down our favourite highway, the I-70. The beauty in this state is mind-boggling and the scenery is ever changing. You just never get sick of looking at mountains! If you look down for just a second, you might miss something magnificent so the scenery out the window is a constant panorama of sheer beauty and an aesthetic smorgasbord!
On this stretch of the drive we were surrounded on both sides by immense rocks. The road had been carved out of the mountains and we went through some long tunnels, emerging on the winding bitumen, following the river, leading to the stunning Hanging Lake. The faces of rock had horizontal lines of trees layered in them, with rocks and soil layered between and a palette of greens, reds and browns. They looked like layered birthday cakes. As we twisted and turned down into Glenwood Canyon, over bridges, we could glimpse the colourful whitewater rafts bobbing up and down on the rapids.
As we entered Aspen we were struck again by the size of the mountains on either side of us. The massive green hills were covered in pines with great swathes cut out of the greenery, marking all the ski runs (which are pretty steep!!) Aspen seems to have more of a homely feel than Vail, with cute little houses and chalets lining the quiet streets. Our hotel is really cute. It looks like a tiny Swiss chalet, white with a dark timber pointy roof and colourful, overflowing window boxes on the shuttered bay windows. The rooms are built overlooking the pool, which is surrounded by lush green grass, banana chairs and a purple hammock relaxing between two leafy trees. Classical music is pumped (quite loudly!) through the PA, adding to the atmosphere. It was like our own oasis! Sam and I were already eying off the hammock and silently putting dibs on it!
We were greeted by Tom, who was like a blonde Alan Alder, and was SO friendly! He unfolded a whopping big map on the desk and took his time circling and discussing the merits of every possible tourist attraction his pretty little town had to offer! He told us to make ourselves at home and that he’d see us at Happy Hour.
The short stroll into Aspen village was really nice. It seems Tom from the hotel wasn’t alone. Everyone here is really friendly, nodding and saying hi as we passed. We had a yummy lunch at Hopps, a craft beer cafe with brown paper menus and “little piggies” which Sam ordered and was delighted to find, were just like good old Aussie sausage rolls, satisfying a craving he’d been having. Since it was Sunday, lots of the shops were shut so we came back to the hotel and relaxed for a while. Reading the brochure in the room for Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, “featuring onsite naturalists” we got a bit mixed up and read it as “onsite naturists”! We had visions of onsite nudists roaming wild and free amongst the elk!
Sam had initially come down with me to Happy Hour but was a bit daunted by the thought of striking up conversation with random holiday-makers old enough to be his grandparents, so decided to read his book instead! I took the plunge, indulging in a free glass of wine and settling in to the comfy leather sofa in the cosy little lobby of the hotel, no bigger than your average lounge room. I met Mr Fourteener, from Chicago, who was on a climbing mission – those imposing 14ers firmly in his fit, little sights; Roger and his childhood sweetheart Jan, from Tulsa, who were composers and university music lecturers; and Bunny and Stan, who have been coming to this hotel in this same week, every year for the last 10 years! They all knew each other and so I was the new kid on the block. We had a lovely chat about everything from childhood obesity and John Denver to racial relations in the USA and pretty wildflowers. It was fun. Roger said he felt a certain affinity with Australians (even though he’d never been to the Lucky Country) because his ancestors had been Tennessee horse thieves! I wasn’t sure whether to feel insulted or not! They all waved me goodbye with a “see you tomorrow!”
Sam and I had a quiet night with a takeaway pizza and a movie. Loving Aspen already!
