Rocky Mountain High

"The mountains may well be a way of escape -- from the cities and men, from the turmoil and doubt, from the complexities and uncertainties and sorrows that thread our life. But in the truest and most profound sense, it is an escape not from but to reality." -- James Ramsey Ullman

I've only been home from Colorado for a week, and I would already sell my soul to go back. Okay, so I wouldn't really go that far ... anyhoo, the weather was beautiful -- 45 degrees in the town of Estes Park compared to 100 degrees here at home. A weird cold front blew in that we didn't expect, so hubby and I were suckered into buying fluffy sweatshirts in colors only clowns would wear from a gift shop in town -- but hey, at least they were warm!




We did some hiking, a ton of fly fishing and saw more elk than I thought existed.





I even made a new friend at Bierstadt Lake ...



A freek sleet and rain storm caught us while we were fly fishing at Glacier Creek near Bear Lake, and we ended up waiting out the storm under a huge pine tree. By the time we got back to the car, we were shivering and cold. Even our fishing boots filled with water ...



But, that's part of the adventure. And so is falling into the river -- which I only did once after slipping on a rock in fast-moving water -- but thankfully no one got a picture of that. Maybe I should have listened to this sign ...

Blue skies finally emerged on our last day there ...

And I caught my first ... er, and last ... trout of the week (hubby caught eight) ...



Trail Ridge Road was finally open, too, after being closed due to fresh powder. Leave it to a Texas girl to wear flip flops in the snow ...







Our adorable cabin was a little too quaint -- built before the 1940s -- but it was right on the river and a short walk to the main street. Best place to eat by far is Chicago's Best -- fabulous pizza and the best hot subs I've ever had. However, if you enjoy Mexican food, completely avoid Ed's Cantina like the plague ... unless you don't mind hugging the toilet all night.


All-in-all, it was a wonderful way to celebrate our two-year wedding anniversary. I love the mountains -- the fresh air, neat hikes, great fishing, down-to-earth people ... just being instead of rushing around to meet all of life's demands. I would move there in a heart beat; hubby is not so convinced -- he's quite attached to Texas.



Maybe someday I'll change his mind.

Two Years & Counting ...

Today is our two-year wedding anniversary -- I can't believe how fast it's rolled around! Hubby woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and brought me donuts (chocolate sprinkled -- my fav!) and a rose. Still a sweetie after all this time.

We don't have big plans for tonight as we're headed to Colorado to celebrate later in August. We got married in Wild Basin, outside of Estes Park, so we thought it would be fun to go back. Besides, we've both been slammed by work here recently, and looking forward to getting away for a week.

A few pics from our last trip:

The Home of Rainbows

"I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm." ~ Anonymous

So I'm back from the beautiful garden isle of Kauai. I knew the moment the sun rose on our first day there that it was heaven on earth. I have never been to a place so beautiful, so pristine. The sights, the sounds, the smells -- not too mention the amazing food. My friends and I feasted on some of the best seafood of our lives -- wahoo, hapu'upu'u, crab cakes, crabbed stuffed mushrooms, mai tais and lava flows. My body is now going through pineapple withdraws, too.

Cruising around in my silver convertible, I witnessed rainbow upon rainbow dancing across the lush mountains. It's easy to see why natives call Kauai the home of rainbows! The island is soo free -- not too commercialized or over run by tourists. Endless beaches flow up the east side, with water bluer than the sky.

We found incredible snorkeling on the south shore, with fish of all colors and sizes swirling around us. Urchins filled the tide pools made by protruding lava rocks. And, no joke, even the wild roosters enjoy trekking across the whitesand beaches.

We found a local fishing spot on the west side of the island, Saltpond Park, where we were told was awesome snorkeling. Fifteen minutes in the chilly water, barely able to see 2 feet in front of us due to the incoming tide and setting sun, my friend and I decided we'd take their word for it. Especially when the locals began describing the types of creatures they caught out there.

The fact that we were on vacation didn't seem to phase the weather -- it rained almost everyday, though the clouds would part for awhile in the afternoon. Needless to say, the rain made our Zipline Safari Tour quite the adventure! We kayaked, hiked and ziplined in some of the worst weather possible, making it feel like we were part of the show Lost or Survivor. Our young tour guides pointed out berries and nuts that we could eat, as well as a small purple flower that tasted like mushroom.

And it was amazing the number of stars you could see at night. Thousands of tiny bright lights glowed against the dark sky -- it was simply breathtaking. The whole experience was so incredible that a few of us looked up job openings, toying with the idea of staying through the end of summer, living the life of Blue Crush. Somewhere between eating pineapple cheeseburgers and boarding the cold plane, reality set in.

And now I'm back at the office, bikini and flip flops traded in for pants and heels. Soon the tan will fade and the winter chill will once again take its toll. Ohwell, it was all nice while it lasted ...