Steamboat Springs, CO: A Fire-Breathing Fourth (Days 11-15 of 42)

For 112 years now, Steamboat Springs has celebrated the Fourth of July with a myriad of entertaining activities during their annual "Cowboy Roundup Days."  With over a century of practice, we knew they would have "FUN" down to a science, but how could we possibly have anticipated a fire-breathing dragon, a synchronized female chainsaw team, and a camel!? Our adventures in Steamboat including a crazy parade, pro rodeo, nordic roller ski race down the center of town, ski jump competition, fireworks show and a natural hot springs that literally took our breath away.

The Fourth of July Parade was full of lots of patriotism and unusual entries ...

 How about Lady Liberty's carriage made from a ski gondola?  

Now that's recycling at its finest!

The all-female, kick-your-butt-in-a-bar-fight Synchronized Chain Saw Team brought huge cheers from the crowd ... and why wouldn't they? ... we were unarmed!!

But the most spectacular sight was a real, live, fire-breathing dragon ... an amazing creation!  Check out the shiny-side-of-the-CD's adorning his neck!  That's a whole lotta Michael Bolton discards!

Prior to the parade, a number of Olympic cross-country athletes (or similarly ridiculously-fit people) competed in a roller-ski race of laps down the town's main street.

Also competing for our attention in town were a farmers' market, free outdoor concert, block party, a whole lotta people in the streets, and a summer ski jump competition down these slippery slopes.

Philip wanted to do everything!  All of it!  Whoo-hoo!  Let's go! (He's just that type of guy.)  I had to reference a cautionary sign.  (Not that he listened to me.)

Because wait!!!!  There's even more to do in Steamboat!!! Vanna, show them what else we've got!

Like ... endless bike riding on the gorgeous, lining-the-river, separate-from-the-road, perfect-for-"Crash"-Miller, Yampa River Core Trail.

Biking not your thing?  How about a lazy-yet-exciting float down the Yampa River, complete with rapid-drops that create mini-whirlpools that grab you and make you cry "Mommy!!" ...  Yes please!  Kinda like tubing the Salt River ... except with water.  And less baking sun.

Steamboat Springs is a true "Western" town, and the perfect place to pick up a pair of boots.  I cried, "Momma needs a new pair of shoes!!" Except, many of them run into the 1,000's of $$$.  Yikes!

Being a collector of spurs (since we live in Spur Circle), I loved the City's logo!  But look closely ... the spur itself is a snowflake!  A nod to all the great winter activities and skiing in the area.

Steamboat Springs has been hosting competitive rodeo events as far back as 1898.  Today, they still host a sanctioned Pro Rodeo series, which is not only authentic, but also extremely entertaining.

Particularly amusing was the sheep scramble, where the little-littles were set free to try and be the first to tear a pink ribbon off the sheep in order to win a prize.  The little fella got a solid five laps around the entire arena before succumbing to the attempts.

A cowgirl and her wrangler.

McKnights Irish Pub is owned by the brother of our good friend, Kathy Sandler, and was a perfect location to watch USA beat Japan in the World Cup finals!  'Murica!!!!

McKnights Irish Egg Rolls ... corned beef, potoatoes, cabbage in sweet chili sauce ... ohhh yahhh!
#foodporn 

Our final adventure just outside Steamboat Springs was a visit to a very special place, Strawberry Park Hot Springs, one of the most amazing natural mineral springs in the world.  It has a very rustic feel and the aura that you've stepped back in time.

You arrive there via a 5-mile jutted 4WD road, lined with these amazing aspens.

See that tiny little spring at the top of the photo below?  It is small but mighty, feeding scalding hot water into a series of pools.  The top pool is the hottest (VERY hot) -- like 107 degrees.  Then the cold water from the adjacent river is combined with the hot water through a little gate, to make the NEXT pool a more bearable 104 degrees.  Then the next pool has even more cold water added, so it's like 99 degrees.  The final pool is cold, and then the river below is numbing ICY cold.  

You can move amongst the different pools as you desire ... and as you can bear the heat. The experience of being out in nature, surrounded by old-growth aspens, with the raindrops splashing down into the pools, bordered on a religious experience.  The minerals in the water also leave you with silky smooth skin ... a must for our desert-lizard bodies.

Here is a view out the window of the rustic "changing cabin."  No lockers here!  Also no snack bar, vending machines, cell service, or any of those trappings of a modern society.  Heaven on earth!  Also ... if you are so inclined ... clothing is optional after dark!  (But, that's past our bedtime.)

In ever in Steamboat Springs, do NOT miss Strawberry Park Hot Springs!

Lest you think that Steamboat is all fun and games, the government is sure to dampen your fun with signs like this.  Damn, I knew I should have left my drone at home.

And furthermore, we can't have fun 24 hours a day.  Sometimes ya gotta do chores ... like give the dog a bath!  Always challenging in an RV ... but not when you stumble upon a self-serve Dog Wash!

Alas, we had to bid our friends the Weed Family "adieu" as they headed south and we headed north.  We loved having their company for the last 8 days of adventures, but Philip/Bella/Sprinkles and I must sally forth alone.  Next time you hear from us, we'll be in the Black Hills of South Dakota!

Aspen and Glenwood Springs, CO: A Hanging Lake and A Dive Tavern (Days 9-10 of 42)

"On The Road Again" ... not just a Willie Nelson song.  Also the RV'ers lament!  Or maybe "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" by The Clash!  Planning just the right amount of time in each place (not too little, not too much) when you're toting your house along with you, is tough to do.  We were bummed to have just 1.5 days in Aspen and Glenwood Springs (in order to make our next stop for the 4th of July week), but two of our favorite Colorado-bucket-list items happened on this leg of the trip.  #1: Behold ... Hanging Lake!

Glenwood Springs is home to this marvel, which is one of the most popular hikes in the entire state of Colorado. It is 1.4 sloowwww-goin' uphill miles in each direction, very steep and rocky and then turning very green and lush.

At the tippy-top is the most gorgeous lake, a rare geologic wonder of a lake formed by ancient travertine deposits that is protected.  You can lookie, but no swimmie!

Continuing to hike up behind the lake is Spouting Rock, where icy water from snow-melt high atop the Flat Tops barrels through a narrow hole in the limestone cliff.

We had arrived at the trail early after multiple Internet warnings about lack of parking.  When we got there at 7:30 AM, we thought "C'mon, there is TONS of parking here, what are they talking about!"  But when leaving at 10:30 AM, we got the picture ... at least 25+ cars lined up, waiting hours for a spot!  So, if you plan to do this hike, believe everything you read ....

After all that hiking and fresh air (gasp!) we were ready to power down some grub.  We love a great "dive" bar/pub/tavern as much as the next guy, so Woody Creek Tavern was on our minds!  #2 on our Bucket List for this stop!

This fun spot is located down along the Woody Creek, about 8 miles before reaching Aspen.  It started as a "working-guy" local's kind of place, but due to great food, strong fresh lime margaritas, live local music, and its location along a major biking trail, the line is always out-the-door with locals and tourists (and purportedly a lot of celebrities, though not during our visit, and it's doubtful Oprah or Brad Pitt would actually talk to us anyway).

The inside is covered in photos, news clippings, drawing, mementos, magazine covers, memorials to friends who have passed, original art, you name it....

The rest of the day was spent in the gorgeous town of Aspen, which boasts some of the most expensive real estate (and high-falutin' residents) in the nation.  When Philip was a bartender in Aspen in the 70's, there was one main street and the rest of the town was falling down.  No more!  We could barely afford to window shop on the multiple streets of shops and restaurants, though the shady cobblestone streets and cool temps made for delightful wandering.

As of June 2015, the median listing price for homes or condos for sale in Aspen is $5,081,388, and thus we kept looking about for the Kardashians or Beyonce or Donald Trump to go strolling by, but sadly the only celebrity we saw was Smokey The Bear's cousin.

We did, however, see everyone's private jets at the Aspen Airport ... at least 50 or more BIG-BIG-BIG private jets parked, and even more zooming by overhead.  Must be nice!

Lastly, Aspen has the famous "Jerome Hotel" and associated "J Bar."  It was built in 1889 and has been an Aspen landmark and local gathering place since then.  At the J Bar, patrons can order the infamous "Aspen Crud," a milkshake infused with numerous liquors that was the preferred (and off-limits) drink of Tenth Mountain Division soldiers training here during WWII.  We did not try one (as it was NOT 5 o'clock there or probably anywhere else either at the time, but the hotel was beautiful.

Next up on the wandering trail is Steamboat Springs, up on the northern Colorado state line.  We will be there for five full days of small-town Fourth of July merriment!  Happy Independence Day from the Lucky Charm!

Ouray and Telluride, CO: "SSS: Spectacular Summer Scenery" (Days 6-8 of 42)

The beauty of Colorado continues to amaze and delight, as we explore the nearby towns of Telluride, Ouray, and Ridgway.  Everyone knows Telluride as the place for great winter skiing, but it’s also spectacular in summer!  We're enjoying Colorado with our Phoenix friends, Ryan and Erin Weed and Family, who were with us last summer as well in Yellowstone.

Telluride has a fast, FREE, pet-friendly gondola ride to the top, and Sprinkles loved the views of town!

See that squiggly thing on the left in the photo above?  It's not a branding iron ... it's a rack to carry mountain bikes up the hill.  Telluride has a world-famous network of mountain bike trails.  Fearless daredevils in full body armor and full face helmets risk life and limb to fly down the tracks at warp speed.  Of course Philip wanted to try!  Of course I (on behalf of his surgeons) said no!

The view out the other side of the mountain is spectacular as well!  

See the Telluride Airport landing strip behind the boys in the photo below?  The Telluride Airport is known locally as the USS Telluride because it's like landing on an aircraft carrier! Each side of the landing strip drops off hundreds of feet since it sits on the edge of a mesa and there is a huge dip in the middle of the runway. Only the top 5% of pilots are allowed to land there....if you can land at all. It is the highest commercial airport in the US and although it's not the nation's most dangerous airport, it is reportedly one of the most thrilling at which to land. 

New to Telluride this year is a "ropes course" for children and adults, at the base of Chairlift 4 in Mountain Village.

Gabe Weed (age 15) conquered the "up high" part ...

... while Kate Weed (age 7) handled the "down low" portion of the fun!

We took our trusty Jeep on a 4x4 expedition to Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado's longest free-falling waterfall at 365 feet.  Over 1.8 very-rocky miles, you gain 1,200 feet elevation and are able to experience the waterfall from the bottom, the middle, and the top!  Ooh-la-la!

  

From the distance!

At the bottom!

At the middle ... you're a-gonna get drenched!!!!

From the top ... a now privately-owned historic power plant.  Way up high!

View from the top of Bridal Veil Falls

We loved (!) Telluride but are staying in Ridgway, a small town with a great state park: lots of camping fun (think: campfires, s’mores, hiking trails, deer pouncing through the campsite with zero advance warning, squirrels galore to drive Sprinkles stark-raving-mad).  We also enjoyed their swimming beach on the big lake, and a fantastic farmers' market!

  

Ouray is known as the “Switzerland of America,” which seems kinda greedy to be both American and Swiss, but I digress. We hiked Box Canon Falls and shopped their quaint main street, but our favorite Ouray activity was a fantastic free outdoor concert where every person seemed to have at least 2 dogs along for the fun ... including us!

The windy road leading to this section of the trip gave us the opportunity for lots of great Lucky-Charm-in-action shots:

We loved these cities in the San Juan County Mountains!
Next stop ... Glenwood Springs and Aspen!  Tally ho, Lucky Charm!