Best Western Longmont Inn & Suites

When I sold my house, several curious friends wondered if would be able to live off the proceeds for the rest of my life. Of course, I would reply, provided I don't live too long!

Of course, money is not the only issue in traveling. I wondered if/when I would tire of moving around, not having a home, miss my friends and kids, miss the USA...But meanwhile I had a long list of things I wanted to see and do and ...

... when you've been in the car a week and you're living in hotels the routine gets REALLY old, especially when you're ready to get to your destination. Turns out there was a huge pile up on route 40 that afternoon so theoretically we were wise in holding off another day, but Day 8 and the open road can't come fast enough!

Deciding to take an optimistic stance towards our stationary situation, I headed out for an afternoon of ...

Day 5

I missed a day (oh no...), but its ok because our trip has been extended a bit so there will be more posts to make up for it!

Day 4 was of course more of the same. Driving, driving, driving. This was only interrupted by brief stops for gas and a visit to pizza hut. LCB and Mshizz are likely to be proud of me for stopping at Za Hut, because they know its not generally my favorite place to get a slice. But...when you're road trippin' in the middle of ...

... nicely after the AC was on for a little. The hotel was the built for the archaeologists excavating the ancient Mayan city Chichen so it is very near to the site and tastefully littered with artifacts. We couldn't see anything when we first got to the hotel because the sun had set.

So, the next morning I was up early checking out the surroundings, and OH MY GOD, I have never stayed at a more beautful place. After breakfast, we ...

Linda and I are addicted. We generally can make it to 4 or 5 in the afternoon but in the past few weeks it seems to have gotten more intense and we've indulged in our addiction earlier in the day, and, once, in the morning. Like all addicts, we convince ourselves that it doesn't interfere with our lives, we're in control, we can stop any time...HA! No, it has become clear that dominoes rule our lives. And although dominoes seems ...

... the pullout. We went with Nao and his friends (Rob & Mark). Nao lead the trad climbs while I cleaned the routes. We did the routes... Jam It (5.8), Ho Hum (5.4), and Fistula (5.4).

http://www.mountainproject.com/ v/colorado/boulder/boulder_canyon/10574 4641

We pulled out of Hart Ranch in South Dakota a couple of days early because of an anticipated cold front. We also changed the route we had planned on taking. Rather than going to Scotts Bluff, Nebraska we headed to Colorado. Strange as it may seem the weather promised to be better in the Denver area....

After about 400 miles, which is a ...

... by. Central Santa Fe is nice precisely because the businesses are geared towards pedestrian traffic. Oil vats weren't going to be kept out on the sidewalk. They were most likely kept in closets off the alleys. I took a walk around town and watched people going in and out of the restaurants at dinnertime. I needed to stretch my legs and it felt good being out in the cool evening air. When the time was right I returned to the oil hunt. For my purposes, the one positive aspect ...

... Denver and Boulder you will find Broomfield where we are staying with family. It is totally flat here, lots of shopping malls, lots of space for more buildings. Today we shall be going north towards Estes Park in Rocky Mountains National Park, The Gateway to the Rockies. No downhill slopes there, but it is great for cross country skiing in the winter. More about this when we have been there. Happy New Year!! The Chinese New Year, so tonight we must eat Chinese.

... someone stays with the gear while the others wander. Time flies by with people grabbing snax and making bathroom stops and before we know it, it's time to board the plane. Because of the crazy check-in, our group is scattered all over the plane, but as I am the last to board, I can feel my tension leave my body as I walk the aisle to my seat and count my participants along the way. Seven is the lucky number as I settle in for our first flight to Denver.