Blanketed by Smoke Again

On August 24, 2015August 24, 2015 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn ColoradoLeave a comment

This is the seventh day where we’ve been covered by smoke from the wild fires burning out in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California. Our hearts truly feel for those who have been affected by those fires as we know what it is like to have fire threaten everything that you hold dear. We remember very well June of 2012 and 2013 when we watched helplessly as fire consumed homes of some of our friends and co-workers. Although we were fortunate in both cases to be spared anything other than having ashes get into our house, it was still quite frightening as we were very close to the evacuation zones. We had a clear view of the Waldo Canyon fire when it jumped the ridge and swept into the Mountain Shadows neighborhood and it was a sight that we’ll never forget.

We were driving home from visiting our youngest daughter at college in Boulder when we saw the smoke rising from near the base of Pikes Peak. At the time, that was the first time we’d ever seen smoke so close to the city of Colorado Springs and when we first saw it, we were surprised, but not too concerned. Over the next couple of days, we watched as the fire spread and moved north, but the daily fire briefings were confident that they could contain the fire west of the neighborhoods at the base of the foothills.

Unfortunately, the winds were strong that summer and, add to that the weather system that the fire creates for itself, the fire jumped the ridge that was being used as a fire break. From the time that the fire broke the ridge and the mayor ordered an immediate evacuation of the neighborhoods, to when the fire swept down to the houses, it couldn’t have been more than 20 minutes. We watched, mesmerized by the site before our eyes. It is hard to explain how something so horrible can somehow be beautiful at the same time. The fire fighters truly did a heroic job to save as many houses as they did, especially under the circumstances that they were under. At one point, before they got a handle on the fire, there was serious concern that it would sweep through the neighborhoods and continue east across the highway.

Waldo Canyon Fire Heads Towards Mountain Shadows

Probably the worst part of the fire for us personally was when the wind changed and blew the smoke directly at us. The sun was blotted from the sky and we were enveloped in an eerie, orange, smoke plume. As ashes landed in the yard and on the house, we were concerned about whether any of the embers could be hot enough to spark a fire in our own neighborhood. After a sleepless night watching the fires burning homes on the hills across from us, the sun rose to a morning where the fire fighters started to make gains on containing the fire. It took a few more days for them to completely eliminate any hot spots, but there was a sense of relief and an outpouring of support for those that were affected by the fire.

It was unfathomable to believe that a year later, almost to the day, we’d be watching smoke plumes billow above our neighborhood once again. The Black Forest fire was north of us and once again we were on the edge of the pre-evacuation zone. Although we were unable to see the fire itself other than by watching the news reports, the memory of the fire sweeping down from the ridge during the Waldo Canyon fire was literally seared in our minds. More friends and co-workers lost their homes and possessions, while all of us watched helplessly, listening diligently to the afternoon fire briefings. Between the two fires, more than 800 homes were destroyed affecting thousands of lives.

So, although the smoke is causing our allergies to be worse and the haze of the smoke is all around us, our thoughts are with those in all of the states where the fires are actively burning. Fire is truly wild and unpredictable, it can destroy one home and suddenly jump and completely miss another. Worst of all is the loss of life due to the fires, whether fire fighters, home owners caught off guard, or animals that have to be left behind, every lost life is tragic. We are truly hopeful that the fire fighters will gain the upper hand in the days to come.

Waldo Canyon Fire Smoke Filled Neighborhood

There’s Gold in Them There Hills

On August 17, 2015August 17, 2015 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn ColoradoLeave a comment

Even though we’re still in the heat of August right now, there is a sense in the air that fall is right around the corner. Living in Colorado, it isn’t a surprise that we’re avid hikers and there isn’t a more picturesque time of year to be in the mountains than during the fall when the leaves are changing and temperatures are falling. Although the weekends can be crowded as people from the cities head into the mountains for a day to view the Aspens as they turn to gold, it is actually off season in the resort towns and a perfect time to spend a few days surrounded by some the most beautiful scenery in the country. Each town or resort provides its own unique opportunity to view the natural beauty of forests as the leaves change as well as places to stay and restaurants to eat.

One of our first memories of getting into the mountains during the fall was when we went to Estes Park and stayed at the Stanley Hotel. Estes Park is a beautiful little town that is right outside of Rocky National Park, which is the Yellowstone of Colorado. At the time, the Stanley Hotel was a five star hotel that was proud of its heritage of having hosted many presidents, including Teddy Roosevelt, and of its original owner who was the inventor of the Stanley Steamer. Nowadays, after appearing on an episode of Ghost Hunters, they are all about the Shining and the ghosts that may inhabit the property. Oddly enough, we actually stayed in the same room that Stephen King stayed in when he wrote the Shining, which made our stay even more special.

We’ve also stayed in Breckenridge and Vail during the fall and they are both wonderful places to stay, but our favorite place to go is to Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek has a feel of exclusivity without being pricey. The center of the resort has an ice skating rink with shops and restaurants all around. There a plenty of places to sit outside and watch the sun set over the mountains, all with fire pits or heaters to keep you warm as it can get fairly cold at night. Hiking up the mountain can be quite strenuous, but the views that you are rewarded with are well worth the effort.

In addition to hiking, there a lots of small little towns with plenty of history. Towns such as Minturn, Georgetown, or Leadville make for perfect excursions from wherever you’re staying. We have fond memories of going to Minturn and having lunch in a saloon that boasts that Jesse James used to frequent the place. In addition to the historic towns, there are also a few ghost towns in Colorado, such as the ones near Cripple Creek and Leadville.

Regardless of where you stay, getting into the mountains of Colorado during the fall will leave you with images that will last a lifetime. Whether going to Aspen and hiking the Maroon Bells, going to Winter Park where the college students love to frequent, or going to a resort such as Beaver Creek, you will enjoy getting away from the crowds while the locals prepare for the oncoming ski season. As with any time travelling into the mountains, there can be a chance of snow, but generally speaking the chance of perfect weather far outweighs the chance for inclement weather. Even if it does snow, it will just add to the beauty of the mountains. So, despite the lack of proper grammar, the old mining saying is still true that “there is gold in them there hills”.

Last Minute Getaway

On August 4, 2015September 20, 2015 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn ColoradoLeave a comment

We’ve been doing some remodeling on our home and by Friday we were completely exhausted by the noise, dust, and clutter, so we decided to get away for a night. We made reservations for Saturday night at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, which is a beautiful hotel in downtown Denver that we’ve stayed at several times in the past. The Brown Palace has been open since 1892 and was built by Henry Brown and despite the similarity in names, Margaret Brown, also known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown, was not related to him. She did, however, stay at the hotel only a week after the Titanic disaster and the hotel rooms are adorned with a picture of her signature on the Titanic manifest. The hotel does high tea in the atrium courtyard in the afternoons and has a very popular brunch on Sunday’s.

Mural Above Elevators at the Brown Palace

We got to Denver in time to check in to our room early and head to the 16th Street Mall for some lunch. We knew where we wanted to go and that was to Katie Mullen’s, which is an Irish pub that has excellent varieties of beer and wine as well as authentic Irish cuisine. We enjoyed an order of Katie’s spuds, which are large potato chips topped with corned beef, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, and melted Swiss cheese. After having a sandwich, we were off to the Denver Botanic Gardens to leisurely stroll amongst the incredible variety of plants, flowers, and orchids. It was definitely worth the visit, but it was ninety-eight degrees out, so after a couple of hours wandering through the various pathways and hot houses, we were ready for something cold to drink.

Multi-Colored Flower at the Botanical Garden

After a quick stop at the hotel, we were back to the 16th Street Mall and to The Kitchen, which is a seafood restaurant that we go to whenever we’re in Denver. They have a wonderful community hour, their version of a happy hour, where they have small bites and seafood bar items on special along with their drinks. Their oysters are always fresh, which can’t always be said of places in Colorado, so we were quick to decide on a dozen oysters to go with our wine. After another glass or two of wine, some marinated olives, and roasted nuts, we headed back towards our hotel. Still a little hungry, we stopped again at Katie Mullen’s to share a bowl of Irish Stew. We don’t normally go to the same place twice on a single visit, but partially because they were close to the hotel, and mostly because we just love a good Irish pub, we decided to do that this time.

We had heard that there were a couple of new speakeasies in Denver, so we asked several bartenders where they were and which one we should go to and were told about Green Russell in LODO (Lower Downtown). After changing to go out, we headed over to Russell’s Smokehouse, the somewhat secret location of the Green Russell. As we approached the hostess stand, we were asked if we were there for the steakhouse and when we told them that we were there for the Green Russell, we were taken through what looked like a service door to a kitchen or storage room. Once through the door we were in a dimly lit cellar with tables and a large bar in the middle. Stone walls and a 1920’s theme made the ambiance complete, but it is the drinks and the bartenders that are the attraction. We asked for the “Bartender’s Choice”, where you selected a type of alcohol and what style of drink you liked and they surprise you with a concoction that they create. Besides the awesome drinks, the bartenders chop ice blocks to make the large round ice cubes and there is a constant whir of shakers shaking and bottles pouring, very fun to watch.

The next day, we weren’t up too early, not surprisingly, so we were back off to the 16th Street Mall to get some lunch. When we got to the mall, it had seemingly transformed overnight as on specific Sunday’s, Meet in the Street takes over the 16th Street Mall. There are games, musicians, rock climbing walls, paddle surfing, and even parts of the street have been covered with grass for people to sit and relax. The buses that usually traverse the mall taking people back and forth aren’t running and it is well worth visiting to enjoy a community gathering and walk and see everything there is to see. We stopped at Earl’s for lunch, which like most restaurants on the mall, has outdoor seating and opens its large windows so that you can people watch and feel like your part of the outdoor activities. After eating breakfast for lunch, we walked the mall for a while before heading back to the hotel to pick up our car and head back home.

It might have been a last-minute decision to get away for a night, but it was thoroughly worth it. Sure, we were back home to house that was still partially under construction, but we were relaxed and reinvigorated. Sometimes the mind and body just needs a break from the every day routines and an unplanned getaway is the perfect way to do it.