Unstuck in the World

"There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he realized that he was not his car, he realized that he was not his job, he was not his phone, his desk or his shoes. Like a boat cut from its anchor, he’d begin to drift."

 

"There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he took the wind for a map, he took the sky for a clock, and he set off with no destination. He was never lost."

"There once was a man who became unstuck in the world – instead of hooks or a net, he threw himself into the sea. He was never thirsty."

"There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – with a Polaroid camera he made pictures of all the people he met, and then he gave all the pictures away. He would never forget their faces."

"There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – and each person he met became a little less stuck themselves. He traveled only with himself and he was never alone."

"There was once a man who’d become unstuck in the world – and he traveled around like a leaf in the wind until he reached the place where he started out. His car, his job, his phone, his shoes – everything was right where he’d left it. Nothing had changed, and yet he felt excited to have arrived here – as if this were the place he’d been going all along."

Castles in the Sky

typical boulder saturday

Last Saturday in Boulder for a month...its 145pm and I'm about to embark on a whirlwind of plane rides and airports en route to Central America...this is my Saturday so far..which I might add is absolutely typical for this beautiful part of the Rockies.

~Went to bed with a little nugget snuggled at my feet to the sound of the water rushing down the creek next to the cabin.  Woke up to bright green Christmas trees and sunshine.  Made some hot green tea (& organic agave) and maple oatmeal with dried coconut flakes and spend my morning relaxing to soundtrack of Little Feat.

Hitched a ride to downtown Boulder in less than a minute.  (This Highway 119 also known as Canyon Blvd- was rated the number one road to hitchhike on according to High Times.) Note: its usually-always a Subaru. The two people were pretty stellar, the car was filled with camping and yoga gear...String Cheese Incident was in the background.  Such a beautiful ride through the mountains, never gets old...we sang to music and they made the sound effects...got dropped off right in the farmers market in DT Boulder.

Walked through some tents, had a shot of organic fresh pressed ginger (whew) and made it to my spa appointment. Left feeling pretty* and walked through more of the large Saturday farmers market.  Sampled Japanese white turnips, had a raw almond treat, and topped it off laying on a bench listening to music drinking Doctor D's concord sparkling water with probiotics.

Walked about 10+ blocks to what is dubbed 'The Hitching Post' right before Canyon enters the mountain en route back to the cabin.  Got a ride with another Subaru owner -very cool guy who makes jewelry with stones and feathers and is about to embark on India traveling for the next 5 months.

Walked over the beautiful wooden bridge home, made some vegan mandarin orange chick'n (@Gardein) with veg and turned back on Little Feat- sat in the front yard with some Colorado blue dream* and iced tea-looking at the Christmas trees and the sunshine. ~

Harley through the mountains

Yesterday was beautiful.

Thanks to a friend living in Denver with a Harley I got to experience the mountains in a whole different way.

Found an easy route through Rocky Mountain National Park, ending in Estes Park, Colorado. Riding through Nederland and seeing the sparkling lake was breathtaking alone- and this was only 15 minutes into the ride... This time of year the leaves are turning colors (this is not like North Carolina pretty).  The trees were golden, shimmering like new copper pans mixed in with Christmas trees.  

So pretty it looks like liquid gold poured over the rocky mountain tops. People were stopped at every viewpoint trying to capture the awe of the scenery and mother nature's watercolor painting over the terrain.  I think I realized in these first few moments that this was the most beautiful ride through the country I've ever been on.  

We stopped in Estes Park and walked through the Autumn Gold Festival.  The people were lovely, dancing to the 70's music the band was playing, laughing, loving, enjoying the local brews, kettle corn, candied almonds and clean-crisp mountain air.  Sitting on the grass in the glowing sun I found myself jealous of these people.

                     

Jellystone Park actually exists..

Left to head back to Boulder...passed Jellystone Park, stopped in Lyons, Colorado @Oskar Blues Brewery and grabbed a whiskey/ginger for the cold right home...

Spent most of the ride back up the canyon looking up..there is never a better sight than seeing the glittery stars without being filmed over by the country's pollution...

- Thanks again Darren for the stellar afternoon!

Colorado, the Mile High State

First trips to the dispensaries...

I've visited Cali, had the flowers over there, but unlike Colorado-its not exactly legal for recreational purposes.

My first full day in Colorado my mission was to experience this amazing sense of freedom.  We went to Terrapin Care Station dispensary.  Seemed more sterile than I had expected, you show your ID and take a ticket like waiting at the DMV... and then you are called into another room.  That room was the 'fun room.'  Candies, baked goods, a full flower menu, shatter, wax, even lip balm.  The taxes are where they get ya- @over20% for the excess taxes/city taxes/marijuana sales tax (good reference). Got some cinnamon hard candy- 10 pieces with 10mg THC a piece ($16).  Figured I had definitely overpaid but this was the experience I wanted.  Note: after 2-3 pieces you can not seem to put 3 words together (and don't try and have a conversation with your dad either it doesn't work).

On to my first SOLO trip.  I went to have some vegan Chinese food yesterday and was leafing through the Rooster magazine that is EVERYWHERE (the rooster.com) and found a dispensary near Pearl Street- Village Green Society.  Made it there via bus and was excited to see a quaint little house on  a corner.  So excited I tripped walking up and broke my sandal- broke it completely so much I had to pick it up and walk into the place holding my shoe.  The fumble was not unseen either.  Blushing I showed my ID and was called back to the 'fun room.'  Got the special 'Sour Kush' and had an awesome conversation with the guy working about the effects of Hemp Oil (which is completely legal and you can purchase it online-Dew Drops Hemp Oil).

Left with a smile, found a thrift shop and got some shoes.  Grabbed an iced green tea, took a bus up to the canyon, and enjoyed my purchase:)

It's that simple.


www.weedmaps.com
www.stickyguide.com

Artos

There are black bears here.  They are buffet style feeding right now for winter.

There are black bears here.  Goodness.

How I found out exactly....

copy of a drawing in have by Chelsea Smith 'Artio'

Two days ago Boston and I were snuggled up watching episodes of Merlin and heard a huge bang towards the back porch (which is about a story up from the ground stretching to the creek).  He jumped, I jumped, and then there we heard a couple thuds on the ceiling.  It sounded like someone in the above floor possibly moving furniture- I knew that this was a duplex cabin setup so figured the other side had second story access.  Heard noises that sounded like a tin-can wind chime and jumped again. Turned on the lights, grabbed the fire stoker and braved to look out the huge kitchen window facing the porch/woods.  Nothing.

In the morning, after very little sleep,  I asked the lady staying next door about the previous night.  Turns out there is no second story.  That noise was the bear(s) jumping from the pines to the roof to the porch, and she saw them early in the morning when she was out for a smoke. At least it wasn't a creepy mountain man.

Last night it happened again, slowly I am getting braver- as in holding a broom in one hand and a fire stoker in the other and banging on the window and door to the porch.

One love definitely especially for the animals, and this really isn't that scary..but the moment the door knob turns...Goodness.

Welcome to the mountains.

Cinnamon air and a hike to Boulder Falls

There is a song about Cali that says "where the good things are free and everybody's smiling.." I believe it more pertains to the canyons of the Rockies.  Everyone drives a Subaru, smiles and gives Peace signs as they drive by.











Woke up refreshed after a recovery day to Mountain Huckleberry tea and hot oatmeal with walnuts.  Note to self- no matter if you are in the Rocky Mountains with chilly nights, noon is never a great time (heat wise) to begin a hike.

I remember always passing this waterfall section of route 119 when driving up to Nederland.  Decided to find it on foot.

This place is definitely a great and easy place to hitchhike but that would defeat the purpose of the walk:) -which was longer than expected, a few miles up the mountain, but with fresh mountain air that smelled like cinnamon and butterflies everywhere...and the falls, it was absolutely worth it.

Had a breather at the falls, some water and a banana, then made it back to the cabin. Because Boston now believes he is a mountain dog, we go down to the river daily so he can explore...did the daily exploring...taking a long shower, listening to Michael Franti, and enjoying just being.  Happy Wednesday.

Day one of many hiking days...

 Chatauqua Trailhead, Boulder, CO

Took a great hike (minus the getting lost several times) on one of the 155+ miles of hiking trails in/near Boulder.  Opted to bring Boston, and opted for the 4.2 mile trail= at least 6miles after getting lost + an 8 pound weight (Boston). Strolled, climbed, and hiked (with heads in the clouds*) this magical place.  Apple trees and raspberries glittered the trails...

Bees everywhere- wonderful:)

mariposa bonita- pic taken by a friend

Sat on these rocks that were formed into chairs and couches @ a place dubbed Rock Quarry

Saw views like this on every turn

Had a great day hiking, then some amazing food @Shine, got some Rocky Mountain Huckleberry black tea @Ku Cha House of Tea....and am about call it a day, all to do it again tomorrow..another day, another hike, another adventure.

(So he thinks he is a mountain climber....but has been passed out cold since we got home....)