Day 2 (pt.2)
Woke up pretty hot for not knowing to open the windows in an historic hotel. Its October 2nd, a day I had pledged to fast for farm animals (#fastagainstslaughter) and I had my share of whiskey gingers the night before- so needless to say I was in a sour mood. Walked the nugget a bit around Glenwood, which are famous for their hot springs.
There is one the size of a football field that is divided into 2 pools, I believe one is in the 90 degree range and the smaller on is pushing 110degrees. You can actually see the sulfur hot spring bubbling up next to the YMCA-like facility. This place also answers for the odd amount of elderly people.
But hey I dig any type of hot tub. We didn't go to the famous pool like spring but decided to drive and find some through the canyons.
After the boys stopped for breakfast, our next stop (besides obvious scenic picture stops) was along the side of the road/mountain/rushing creek near I believe Red Rock.
You walk to the edge of the road and look straight down, and there is a pour out of hot- sulfur water into the ice cold waterway-where there is this mountain man who is known around these parts as the 'hot springs builder.' He had sectioned rocks into different pools right where the hot met the cold water and created different thermal pools. He was this amazing wild man, who loved to tell stories, had a blind dog friend named 'Yoda,' and who was simply 'paying it forward.'
Next stop was Marbel Colorado. There is literally Marble everywhere, you can just grab a chunk from the side of the road they are practically giving it away. Quaint little row of houses, gift shop, old museum shop and a few marble carved statue places. Some lady told our driver that there was a few cool off road type trails that lead you to an old city in the mountains called Crystal- and next thing I
know we are on that particular road.
This part of the trip, bare with me, is difficult to put into words. So we are 4 passengers deep in a quite large Sequoia-rental, on a very thin road hitting trees and shrub on both sides, bouncing a bit in the car- and end up at this eerie almost spooky lake- called Lizard Lake, so the painted wood sign said stuck in the erupting ground by a lake covered with a layer of mist. Drove around that and came to a cross roads.
It was either one way or the other- both 4x4 trails, and we bravely decided to go straight. You know when you go on a roller coaster, or Splash Mountain for that matter and right before the bill fall you are inverted and can not see at all the drop that is about to become you that you stretch your hear as tall as your neck will allow. That happened on the drop down in the Sequoia. We bounced like a F-350 in Hollapaw the entire way, which in going about 6mph took us a ways.
Dodging trees, hitting branches, not seeing the gigantic puddles or knowing their depts. Scariest part of the ride was this turn where the 4-wheeler wide road hugged the mountain and to the right side of the LARGE SUV was simply a ledge down the side of the ravine. So much of a moment that I grabbed Boston and my bag and dove to the left side of the backseat- as to help with weight as I felt without a doubt these were the moments before we pummeled down (next to what was left from a semi at least 50 years ago-rust shining at us from the bottom of the ravine.) The car was silent, everything seemed to move in slow motion, & I felt oddly at peace. The satellite radio cut back on to an old Hawaiian melody of 'mahalo'. We made it out ok. I think all 3 of us, possibly even Boston had to sit still and hold down the vomit (agh sorry but this happened) right after that scare.
Jumped and flew our way to this old Mill that was just what the doctor ordered after again- that ordeal.
Drove past the Mill to what has to be one of the old wives tales of CO. No town, a sign on an old building that has hours that never exist pasted from years ago on the door, and no pass through but a prompt reminder that we indeed have to turn around and go back to civilization the exact way we came.
Back was easier than the trek there.
Made one last stop before homeward bound at Maroon Bells lake just outside of Aspen. Cold and beauty beyond words. Like I said in the beginning, trying to put this into words doesn't even scratch the surface of the raw natural beauty we experienced.... National Geographic was at the same lake we were shooting, they actually posted their pic that afternoon on Instagram (#maroonbells @NATGEO).
Took Independence Pass over 70 home and passed the same spot @the Continental Divide in the dark cold snow and made it back to Boulder before midnight.
Several things I will remember from this trip:
Have enough space for pictures, don't fast on a whiskey hangover, and remember to always pay it forward.
I am beginning to fall in love with this place.
Grabbed some road trip food and flowers and headed to Aspen. The ride through Independence Pass was spectacular. I took so many pictures just looking out the window.
The thing with the mountains of Colorado is that your jaw drops, you slow the car, roll down the window or even stop the car and get out to take pictures, then make a turn and have to do the same thing again. Around each turn is another surprise the mountain has in store for you. We probably went through 9 national forests the way to our destination...stopped in Twin Lakes, saw deer, rabbits, had eyes geared and ready for a moose sighting, and stopped to take pictures more times than I can remember.
Made it to Aspen it was snow/raining and grabbed a drink before hitting the road some more. Arrived in Glenwood Springs @8pm and checked into the Hotel Colorado. 
