Off the Beach

The beach at Sandals Grande in St. Lucia is one on which you could spend your whole vacation and never leave. The sand is immaculately maintained, there are all sorts of comfortable nooks and crannies for you and your significant other to spend some quality time by yourselves, there is ocean side service for any libations you might need to quench your thirst, and several of the great restaurants that Sandals offers are literally right on the beach or over the water. Still, staring out at Rodney Bay and seeing the breeze dancing across the waves is every bit as enticing as the allure of staying beachbound. When the urge to get out on the water strikes you Sandals offers more than enough options. Everything from waterskiing and wake boarding to snorkel excursions to standup paddle boarding, kayaking, and sailing are available and included. My wife and I can only sit staring into each other’s beautiful eyes for so long so before the chill had left our cold drink glasses we were trying to decide which water activity to try first.

Rodney Bay is a big half moon of water that is sheltered enough you don’t have to worry about drifting out to sea but still blessed with strong and steady winds that get any latent sailor in you itchy to leave the shore behind. We sailed almost every day we were in St. Lucia and there were several times they had to come out to tell us to come in before it got dark we were having so much fun. We also availed ourselves of Sandals fleet of kayaks, both single and tandem, and enjoyed cruising along the shore and exploring Rodney Bay Marina which is home to some incredible boats, yachts, and sailing ships of every description.

Sandals also has dive and snorkel boats that regularly head out to some great sites and we went out to visit the fish numerous times. Quite candidly some of the best snorkeling and fish viewing is right off the Sandals beach around the center pavilion but any chance to take a boat ride was too good to pass up. We also took a paid excursion on JJ’s Jetboat tour and it was well worth the price. It lasted about 4 hours and took us to lunch at Beautiful Marigot Bay (which is where the recent Dr. Doolittle movie was filmed) as well as several snorkeling spots along St. Lucia’s incredible coast. And boy, can JJ’s boat get up and run powered by two 350hp motors that are raring to go.

I couldn’t get all the on-water activities in one short video so you’ve got two to choose from. The first  is focused on kayaking and sailing while the second takes you along on JJ’s, and other boats as we visit Marigot Bay and various snorkeling spots. As nice as the Sandals resort was, and as much as they pampered us, it was the on-water activities that would take us back to Saint Lucia in a heartbeat. And since it’s a whopping 22 degrees in Denver as I write this, that 80 degree water would feel pretty darn good right about now!

Pigeon Island

Most folks who come to Sandals probably spend most, if not all, of their time at the resort with only an occasional foray via an approved excursion that picks you up and drops you off at the resort. The beaches in St. Lucia, as in some other islands, are actually public access which means anyone can stroll the Sandals beach. There is security at both ends of the beach which monitors the comings and goings of visitors and guests alike. Sandals Grand sits at the northern end of Rodney Bay and just outside the gates on the northern side is the Pigeon Island National Landmark. For $8/US you get access to a beautiful ocean front park as well as trails that lead to two high points of land which were coveted ground when the French and English were squabbling over this piece of terra firma. The trails are a bit of a grunt climb with one taking you up to the old English fort built in the 1870’s while the other takes you up a slightly more arduous climb to the higher of the two peaks. The wind blows pretty consistently in St. Lucia and the tops of the two climbs had the intrepid hikers holding on to their hats.

What makes the climbs worthwhile are the 360 degree panoramas. To the north lies the island of Martinique some 25 sea miles away and the day I went there was a steady line of sailboats big and small making a beeline from one island to the other.

Once down, the park boasts stunning views of the ocean waves breaking against the unprotected north side and one can sense the power of these rolling waves as they cascade merrily along the shore. Just outside the entrance gates there are shops catering to the tourists brave enough to venture outside the confines of the resort. The visit to Pigeon Island and all it offers is something I’d highly recommend. Here’s some footage I took from up on high...

Let’s take a quick stroll...

One of the things that hits you as you step off the plane in St. Lucia is how green everything is. The calendar may say December but the flowers are beautiful. It’s apparent that Sandals Resort takes enormous pride in their facilities including the lush gardens. I’d love to know the design firm that helps Sandals lay out and design their resorts but whoever it is knows what their about. The gardens are set against the luxurious pools that seem to beckon around every corner. My last blog took you on a bird’s eye view of Sandals but tonight I’ll take you on a quick stroll through the resort. I know a lot of Caribbean resorts are lovely, how can they not be in such gorgeous locations, but Sandals is truly a feast for the eyes especially for those hailing from the brown landscapes of a stateside Winter. Enjoy!

Mornings After

We’re staying at a Sandals resort on the North side of St. Lucia. St. Lucia is a fairly sizable island and has a population of 170,000. Like so much of the Carribean it’s a contrast in extreme wealth set against a backdrop of poverty and subsistence living. The drive from the airport, on the southern side, takes about an hour and a half and the island drivers, including the shuttle buses, take pride in driving fast and scaring the *#@$ out of the tourists. Flying around hairpin corners, zooming over hill and dale must be key skills taught in their drivers education classes because everyone’s in an extreme hurry to get somewhere or another. Either that or their simply doing lap after lap of what is, after all, an island.

Sandals prides itself as being a 5 Star luxury resort. It’s also all inclusive which means you’re not continually reaching into your purse or wallet to pay for everything from food and drinks to water sports. The only things that require payment are excursions offered by private vendors that take you off the resort to see the local must see sights and attractions. Being 5 Star luxury of course means that while your not constantly reaching for the credit card you of course have already paid substantially when booking your trip. Sandals isn’t the cheapest vacation which is why I’ve only been twice in thirty years (the last was on my honeymoon when we went to the Sandals in Montego Bay, Jamaica) but for special occasions such as weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries these resorts can’t be beat. Of course, if I had the money, I’d also include birthdays, clean checkups from the dentist, not having to shovel snow or deal with Artic temperatures as equally good excuses to visit. There are three Sandals resorts on St. Lucia and we picked the Sandals Grande primarily for its beach and it’s water sports offerings. From scuba and snorkeling to windsurfing, sailing, and water skiing it’s all available and all included. I love to sail (funny that I ended up In landlocked Colorado) and Rodney Bay, which is where the Grande is located, offers phenomenal steady, moderately strong winds ideal for getting a Hobie off and running. The Bay also has lots of yachts moored just offshore and if you’re into boats it’s a lot of fun to cruise around and ogle all the nautical hardware. Sandals is an adult only resort and has a good cross section of ages and nationalities coming to visit. I could go on and on about how nice the resort is but suffice it to say I’d return in a heartbeat if I got the chance. Here’s a short bird’s-eye view of the resort filmed at the crack of dawn when not many folks were up and about. All the liquor you can drink is also included so most folks seem to sleep in but I find the mornings are almost the best time of day. Here’s wishing you a little St. Lucia sunshine and warmth!

A taste of paradise

Well, the road that beckons has turned into the sea that beckons, and I’m a long way from the Colorado mountains I love so much. The sea is Caribbean, the water is turquoise, the trade winds are fair, and the temperature is perfect for shorts and flip flops. Oh, and the rum’s not bad. The particular island we came down on is Saint Lucia which is part of the West Indies. They can name it what they want but I call it Paradise.

This particular evening as I write this the steel drums are playing Calypso and Reggae and the resort is hosting a Caribbean Beach Party of which yours truly will soon be partaking. As you probably know, a little beach sand between the toes goes some distance towards relieving the stress of ordinary life and island life here is, to be honest, more fantasy than real. Still, a week under the swaying palm trees staring out at an azure sea is impossible to complain about so I won’t even try.

Today’s events included morning and afternoon snorkeling excursions bookcasing a mid morning sail on one of the resort’s Hobie Cats in the kind of steady breezes that Colorado sailors can only dream of. Heck, I even let (well, I actually insisted) that my darling wife learn to sail said craft so I could lounge while staring up at the mast as it made dancing circles in the sky. Speaking of dancing, I’m not usually one for fancy footwork, and more apt to trip over my own two feet, but the band’s still playing, the night’s young, and the love of my life has her hand out enticing me to partake in some gentle swaying to the beat. Who am I to say no?

An XMas wish...

You probably heard of the Denver radio station that was going to ban the "Baby it's cold outside..." Christmas song because in light of the #MeToo movement some listeners supposedly objected to some of the lyrics. I say supposedly because some skeptics thought it was a publicity stunt to drum up buzz for the radio station. There's probably some truth to both perspectives but ultimately, after conducting a poll of listeners, the station had second thoughts and said song is now again in heavy rotation for the enjoyment of all.

Apart from generating buzz for the radio station it did get me to thinking that there sure is a lot about the Christmas holiday to get offended by if one is so inclined. In my spare time I play the guitar and this time of year love to play Christmas tunes where only my two pups can hear. They've been known to howl along when the mood strikes but I don't take it personal. Anyway, as I've been playing these songs some of the lyrics have struck me to be a little suspect so here is a tongue-in-cheek review of some of the more outrageous. Feel free to be offended or just sing along...

Away in a Manger...
The whole concept of forcing women to give birth in a manger, no crib for a bed, is just as wrong today as it was two thousand years ago.

Good King Wenceslas...
The good King seems like a decent enough fellow. Still, dragging his page about in such horrendous weather takes involuntary servitude to a whole new level.

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer...
There's a couple of songs involving Reindeer that probably have the PETA folks anguishing but I think this particular song give our cloven-hoofed friends a bad rap. I mean, supposedly Gram was simply walking home on Christmas Eve when she was run over, but there were no witnesses, and as of yet no incriminating video has surfaced, and as for "hoof prints on her forehead" that sounds pretty circumstantial to me. Could have been elk for all we really know.

Jingle Bells...
Another case of animal abuse. What horse, in its right mind, wants to pull a sleigh dashing through the snow while the passengers are laughing all the way? Is the horse laughing? I don't think so...

Frosty the Snowman...
Frosty ends up a puddle on the floor; 'nuff said.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer...
Ok, what's with Rudolph? Who would name a reindeer Rudolph? A name like that is almost enough to justify running down grandma. And the red nose - has Rudy been out drinking? No wonder they won't let him play in any reindeer games. I'm writing a check to PETA as we speak.

Santa Claus is coming to Town...
So this old guy with a big belly and a white beard knows if I've been naughty or nice? Sounds like Google. I don't remember signing off on the privacy policy on any Santa app. Just how much of my personal information does this guy have? Maybe I'll sit down right now and write 'ole Santa a letter and complain. That way I'll kill two birds with one stone as I really would like him to bring me an Alexa for Christmas.

The Twelve Days of Christmas...
Speaking of killing two birds, are you as tired of those six geese a laying and seven swans a swimming as I am? And since I've already got two canine singers accompanying me whenever I play this interminably long song I sure don't need eleven (ELEVEN for goodness sakes!) Pipers piping. And if those ten lords don't stop leaping about scratching the furniture and knocking over the Christmas tree I'm going to make them eat a turtle dove, partridge in a pear tree, and French hen pie.

I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus..
Well, I gotta admit, the jolly old elf does get around but what's with Mema? I guess Santa really does know who's been naughty or nice.

The Little Drummer Boy...
Ok, not so much as I'm offended by this song but if you know a good drummer (or a bad one for that matter) who wants to accompany this guitar strumming fool and his two dogs just send your resume to Candy Cane Lane.

Well, enough of this nonsense, you get the idea. So have yourself a Holly, Jolly Christmas as you listen to those Siver Bells and keep them bobtails ringing. Me? I'm going to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow and have a Silent Night.

Singing is hard work...
time for a break

Ho, Ho, Ho! So you (or someone you know) want a drone....

Tis’ the Season for drones beneath Christmas trees and if you’re new to the world of these unique and wonderful flying machines it can be a little overwhelming. What to look for in a drone? Where can you fly? What else do you need to know before flying for the first time?

First a caveat - I’m no expert but I have been flying drones for several years now and I'm often approached by folks who are curious and intrigued by what I'm doing. With those folks in mind I thought I’d pass along some info that I wish I had when I first got started. So here goes...

A drone's-eye view provides a unique perspective!

First, what do you want to do with your drone? Do you just want to have fun flying something around, do you want to use it to take pictures or videos, do you want to do acrobatics and/or race it? Drones can do all of these things and more but what you want to use it for will narrow down the type of drone you get. For example, many, if not most, drones available today have the ability to take pictures and shoot video but they vary greatly in how good a quality those pics or videos will be. Today’s high end consumer drones (roughly $500-$1200+) can shoot video in 1080p or 4K which meets what professional cinematographers were clamoring for not too long ago. My drone can shoot in 4K but I shoot in the slightly lower quality 1080p because my top-of-the-line Samsung television from several years ago (let alone my computer) can’t process 4K resolution. By comparison, if you watch a YouTube video today its playing at best at 1080p. A top of the line camera drone, in essense a very stable tripod in the sky, as you can imagine, won't fit the bill if you seek to do flips and super-high speed turns.

Are drones expensive? Drone prices, thanks to incredible innovation over the last several years, allow for even low-end toy grade drones to offer features unheard of just two or three years ago.There are some incredible toy-grade drones offering decent cameras and other nice amenities for around $50-$100. Hobby level drones offering better cameras and better amenities fall generally in the $100-$500 range and serious drones featuring top of the line cameras and tons of other features will put you in the $500-$1,200 range. Many drone pilots start out with a toy-grade drone to earn their wings and then move up from there but today's high-end drones are so advanced that even novices can fly them (carefully!) in relatively short order. Commercial drones, used for thermal imaging, geo-fencing, wind turbine and utility line inspection can run upwards of $30,000 or more. I wanted a drone from a photographer's perspective as a camera in the sky able to provide a unique perspective on the world that I, with my ground-based hand-held camera could never see. My thought process was that I was buying a camera that flew so I was willing to spend about the equivalent of what a decent camera would go for but I first went through two far less expensive drones to learn how to fly. What will work for you may be completely different but that's what worked for me.

Can anyone learn to fly a drone? Just a couple of years ago when I got my first drone it candidly was not very easy to fly. Just getting it to stay at the same height (altitude) took some skill and some concentration and within a week I had crashed and destroyed it. When shopping for a drone today the technology has come to the point where many drones can literally fly themselves, many feature auto-takeoff and auto-land, and increasingly more and more drones offer GPS capabilities that allow the drone to maintain height and position even when the drone pilot has their hands completely off the controls. That said, there are still many, usually less expensive toy-level drones that either don’t offer such features or if they do offer them they don’t work as advertised. Many in the drone hobby still think these simpler drones without the bells and whistles teach better piloting skills. No one wants to crash a $1,000 drone but, as I mentioned, drones today are far simpler to fly than just a few short years ago.

Will you hit something - or god forbid, hit someone - with your new drone? The answer is you might. My drone actually has front and downward obstacle avoidance sensors that limit this from happening but I’ve still managed to accidentally fly it backward into a tree. Obstacle avoidance is really only available on higher end consumer drones so if you opt for a drone that doesn’t have this feature you have to be very careful. Wide open spaces with few people around is the best place to fly any drone; flying close to or over crowds of people is not only a bad idea but also illegal which takes me to my next topic...

Where can you fly your drone? Consumer drones weigh from next to nothing up to around a pound or two. Even toy drones can fly 15-20 mph and slightly higher end ones can cruise at 30-40 mph or even faster. In other words, if they do manage to hit something, or someone, they can do real damage. This, even more than privacy concerns, is why you can’t fly in many places like near airports, over crowds and special events, in national parks, and near emergency operations (wildfires, for example) among others. It falls to the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration, to determine the national rules but local cities and towns (even local Parks & Recreational Districts) can also set rules governing where you fly your drone. The good news is there are several free apps available for your phone (I use one called B4UFLY) that can tell you if you’re in a restricted airspace. The bad news is that in just the few years I’ve been flying it seems more locations are becoming off limits. The FAA is in the process of having to update the rules governing drones and eventually its likely that drones will have some type of beacon that will self-report location information when in the air. None of this is meant to dissuade you from wanting a drone but simply to make the point that even toy drones aren’t really ‘toys’ anymore and they come with an increasing level of both responsibility and accountability when flown. And here’s something you probably didn’t know - if your new drone weighs slightly more than half a pound (.55 lbs.) you have to register it online with the FAA!

So... if you made it this far and still want that marvelous piece of flying technology that is a drone you want to know which drone to get. I'm not going to be the one to tell you which specific drone is right for you though I will describe the drone I ended up with and am flying today. What I will tell you is that there are some excellent sites on YouTube that provide really useful reviews on all the drone options available. Here are a couple I've found especially useful:

Ready Set Drone - provides good reviews of everything from toy-level to high-end consumer drones. Puts out an annual 'Best Of' list.

The RC Saylors - a young, down to earth couple,  give very candid reviews of mostly toy to mid-level drones. They also put out several 'Best Of' lists.

Quadcopter 101 - when I was just getting started I found this channel a great resource when deciding on my first drone.

Tom's Tech Time - focuses primarily on higher-end consumer drones with great tutorials on how to fly and specializes in drone photography and videography.

Drone  Film Guide - great content on how to get the most from your airborne camera from a photographer's perspective.

Ken Heron - this radio DJ turned drone pilot provides a good-humored look at the world of drones.

What am I flying? As I mentioned I've had three drones thus far. My first was an MJX Bugs 3 (I got it as it was relatively inexpensive but could carry my GoPro camera); my second was a Syma X5C toy-grade drone that came with its own camera; and my current drone is a DJI Mavic Pro. Sad to say but most drones are made by Chinese companies but when it comes to the top of the line for both consumer and commercial drones DJI (Da-Jiang Innovations Science & Technology Co. Ltd.) has few real competitors. I mentioned earlier that my drone has downward and forward sensing obstacle avoidance; newer Mavics now can also sense upward, rearward, and sideward obstacles. New Mavics offer two camera choices and all have a 3-axis gimbal to keep the camera ultra-steady even in high winds. DJI drones also set the standard for automated flight patterns such as follow-me and point-of-interest circle mode, and feature relatively long flight times on their batteries. Recently DJI unveiled software you can load to your computer to learn to fly your drone without ever setting foot outdoors. For my Denver readers, DJI also has the advantage of an actual store located near Park Meadows Mall.

Hopefully this info will give you a head start on entering what really is a fun and rewarding hobby. It's constantly evolving and the creativity and innovation happening with drones is truly amazing. I have a nephew and niece graduating from College next Spring and if I was their age I'd be finding a way to work in this exciting industry. I'll leave you with the following 2 links to some video that demonstrates what even consumer drones are capable of. The first shows off the skills of one of the world's best drone pilots while the second takes you on a short cinematic journey to Iceland.  Each in their own way will likely whet your appetite for your first, or next, drone. Fly safe!

A Smokestack from Yesteryear

There’s a little (little by Denver standards) town just down the road from Monarch Pass that I’ve always enjoyed stopping in anytime I get the chance. Founded in 1880, Salida grew up with the mining industry in Colorado and was home to a massive smelter (smelting is a process of applying heat to ore to extract a metal such as silver, iron, or copper) that operated until 1920. Today Salida is a bustling tourist town as it’s close to all sorts of recreational activities such as whitewater rafting, cycling, camping and hiking. Both the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail pass nearby and the Arkansas River runs through downtown. Salida sits in a relative sunbelt featuring warm but not too hot summers and fairly mild winters.

Today’s population is just around 5,800 folks which is about double what it was in the early 1880’s. In its heyday though, thousands of workers from the area worked for the Ohio-Colorado Smelting and Refining Company which operated from 1902 to 1920. Smelting produces a lot of hazardous byproducts including noxious gases so as the smelter grew so did the size of its smokestacks used to carry away those gases with the wind. Three smokestacks were built at the smelter but only the last, and the tallest, remain. Today, if you let your eyes wander when you’re in Salida, you’ll see this impressive monument to the past silently standing sentinel just north of town. When the smelter ceased operating in 1920 - just three years after the last smokestack was built - the town eventually took over the property and sold it for back taxes. Concern grew that the last smokestack was a liability and the town threatened to demolish this relic of a bygone era. However, local citizens rallied  to save their smokestack and today the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

I had a chance this last weekend, before the recent snow, to visit Salida and it’s smokestack. The following short video gives an aerial view of all that’s left of the smelter. As you’ll see I was blessed with a calm, sunny day just perfect for visiting the area. The smokestack was constructed in just 4 or 5 months and used 264 train car loads of brick as it rose 365 feet into the clear, blue Colorado sky. There is a ladder on the southern side by which maintenance was conducted on the smokestack and of course people have continued to try to climb the structure through the years with some doing it in the dead of night. Today you’d be hard pressed to reach the ladder as the lower rungs up to a considerable height have been cut off but standing at the bottom staring straight up, up, and up some more one can only wonder what it must have been like to climb to the very top. Fortunately, my video saves you the effort!

Scary stuff...

There’s enough scary stuff in the world that no one needs to go looking for more. At times it’s hard to remember that life truly is a gift and the world, at the end of the day, has amazing beauty behind almost every corner if only we look.

Had a chance in the last couple of days to visit the Adams County Fairgrounds which was hosting an event called Pumpkin Nights. If you’ve ever wanted a celebration of everything “pumpkin” (and who hasn’t 😏) this would be your event. And as an added bonus, it wasn’t at all scary - no jack-o’-lanterns featuring politicians faces - and if it was a movie it would definitely have a ‘G’ rating. Lots of little ghouls and goblins though, dressed in their Halloween best and it was as much fun watching the little kids oohing and aahing as it was taking in all the creative things you can do with an orange gourd.

The last time I was anywhere near the Adams County Fairground it was still out in the country so it was a little bit of a shock to see it now surrounded by tract after tract of new homes. And the traffic getting there was scary in its own right but once you arrive you can relax and simply stroll down themed corridors made of pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins. From Pirates and undersea worlds to Chinese dragons every turn takes you into a new pumpkiny (if there is such a word) world and at the end there’s a Fire Show featuring some very brave performers Brandishing flaming objects in front of a cheering crowd.

You may be done at this point with anything related to All Hallows Eve but if not you can attend Pumpkin Nights through November 4th. Denver is one of four cities this year to host the event (Los Angeles and Auburn California and Salt Lake City are the others). The event originated just two years ago in 2016 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to showcase local artists. If you go, forget about the rest of the world for just a bit and just enjoy this celebration of the season! Here’s a taste of what you’ll see...

Don’t blink, you’ll miss them...

If you’ve been in the High Country recently you know the changing of the colors has come early this year. I was riding the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville in mid-August when I saw the first Aspen trees starting to show their beautiful yellow colors. A couple of years ago, up in Alaska and the Yukon the Aspen were starting to change at the end of July but normally it’s more the middle of September into early October that sees Colorado’s trees start to signal Fall. While the front range sweated through last week’s 90’s it was warm days in the 70’s and 80’s and cool nights just above freezing in the mountain valleys and yes, the tops of the peaks have already sported some decent dustings of snow.

I think Fall is the prettiest time of year in Colorado though this year’s changing of the leaves has really been a late summer event. I spent several days traveling around taking pics and filming the Aspen so if you didn’t get a chance to catch the changing foliage this year here’s a short peek!

Of course, now that I’ve been dawdling around gawking at the trees I now need to focus on chopping and splitting wood for the upcoming winter which given Colorado’s whimsical climate could be as early as next week...

Honey do... and do... and do...

Perhaps you too have a honey-do list. Mine is a mile long and only seems to get longer. And seriously, I actually work at getting things done but for every thing I check off the list two new honey-do’s appear. How does that happen? No, really, can someone explain how that works?

Well, my wife probably could, and will, explain it to me once she peruses this blog. And well she should have the answer as she is the creative genius behind most of the items on my cherished list. 

This last weekend we saw a production of “I love you, you’re perfect, now change” at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. The Porchlight Players

came over from Eagle County to perform a fundraiser to help the Tabor get back on its feet after Leadville purchased it in 2016. Built in1879 by Horace Tabor (husband of Baby Doe) the Opera House is in need of a lot of tender loving care. It probably has a honey-do list almost as long as mine. Anyway, if you haven’t seen “I love you, you’re perfect, now change” and you’re in a relationship you need to go the next time it’s in your town. It’s a lighthearted exploration of what makes relationships the wonderful things they are although they really should spend some time exploring honey-do lists. The title certainly fits my relationship with my beloved wife although as long as we’ve been together I have learned a thing or two. I already know I’m not perfect. Just ask my wife and she’ll tell you so.

Here’s my latest honey-do. I just wonder when I get this one done what the next two will be...

Bits & Bites

One of the fun things about taking a trip or going on vacation is sampling some great food and beverages but with all due respect to our friends to the north I don’t believe anyone heads to Banff or Jasper specifically for the cuisine. That said, there are some eats and treats we look forward to each time we cross the border at the 49th parallel.

Take tea for example. I live in Celestial Seasonings backyard and drink my fair share of Sleepytime Tea and Morning Thunder. I’m enough of a fan that I’ve even toured their Boulder facilities where they blend all their delicious flavors. But when I head north I really look forward to the Canadian tea blends. Canadians drink twice, per capita, as much tea as coffee loving Americans so they know how to make a great cup. From their classic Breakfast teas to more exotic blends like Blueberry Icewine tea its a tea lovers delight. We always end up bringing back boxes and boxes to last us until our next visit.

Another favorite when we visit Canada is sampling all the great maple products from syrup to fudge and everything in between. Canada takes maple products seriously as it produces 70+ percent of the world’s output. I know, I know, you can get all types of maple syrup at your friendly neighborhood grocery store but have you ever had maple flakes or maple butter? Did you know there are multiple grades of maple syrup from light colored (collected early in the season) to dark (you guessed it... collected late in the season) and that the darker the color the stronger the flavor? If so you’re a real maple connoisseur!

Like salsa? Wouldn’t peg Canada for particularly tasty versions of this Mexican staple? Then try Rasberry Salsa for a really delicious variation. Definitely one of my new favorites. To heck with chips - just the jar and a spoon and you’re in for salsa heaven. 

One of the things I really appreciated was a break from most of the American chain restaurants. Didn’t see the Golden Arches anywhere we went though the Canadian equivalent, Tim Hortons, was well patronized. Downtown Banff has a Chile’s Restaurant but generally speaking you’ll see more locally produced cuisines. One particularly Canadian treat we did not sample was Poutine which is a delightful blend of French fries,  cheese curds, and brown gravy. Mmmm, yum... But hey, I haven’t tried Fried Butter at the Iowa State Fair either. Poutine is so popular it’s sometimes referred to as Canada’s national dish though it actually originated in the province of Quebec back in the 1950’s.

Well, all this talk of food is starting to make me hungry so I’ll leave you with a quick video recap of some of our Canadian culinary favorites. Bon appetit!

Benched...

I love to cycle but admittedly bicycling can lead you to be tired, sweaty, and looking for a more comfortable place to park your tush than a hard leather saddle. I've done a lot of extended bike tours such as Ride the Rockies and doing those events made me a connoisseur of comfortable benches. Far and wide, high and low, if there's a comfy bench nearby I'll find it. I remember one day, long ago, on a Ride the Rockies segment that took us over Rabbit Ears Pass into Steamboat Springs. By the end of that ride I, my wife, and friend Rich were so pooped we spent the remainder of the afternoon on a nice downtown bench doing nothing but resting and people watching. No amateur bench warmers were we, we actually had pizza delivered to said bench for dinner. At the end of the evening all we had to do was crawl back to the campground and into our sleeping bags.

See the Beaver symbol on the chair? The
official mascot of Parks Canada

On this trip to the Canadian Rockies we were far from sedentary with lots of hiking, biking, and kayaking in the mix. And I'd be remiss to not admit that along with all those activities there was a fair amount of bench warming. There are a couple of major advantages to Canadian benches - many are quite creatively made and lovely to behold, most are in some very picturesque spots, and all were very welcoming and comfortable on a hot summer's day. And on this trip you'll be proud to know that we expanded our repertoire to also include lawn chairs as Canada offers seemingly just as many of these as they do benches. In fact, Parks Canada (akin to our National Park Service) has a unique "Red Chair" program where they place - you guessed it - red Adirondack chairs strategically throughout the parks and entice tourists to find them all and of course sit in them. Well hit me over the head - they didn't have to ask twice...

It was my wife who actually found most of the Red Chairs which was nice as it gave me more time to focus on my penchant for the majestic bench. As you'll see, I found some very nice ones and I can attest that they have all been cheek tested and butt approved with the Mabry Seal of Approval. So if you find yourself in the Canadian Rockies, from Waterton to Banff, Lake Louis to Jasper, keep your eye out for some of these places to park it, at least for a while. Sad to say though, we never did test out the pizza delivery option...

A Quick Tour of Waterton Lake

Two thirds of Waterton Lake is Canadian but the far end, removed from Waterton Townsite by either a lengthy shoreline hike, long kayak paddle, or more luxurious motorboat trip onboard the tour ship "International", is American soil which when you've been away for a couple of weeks is close enough to home for me. Having reached the American end of the lake via all three methods in the past I thought a nice late afternoon kayak would fit the bill for a repeat performance this trip.

I picked a calm day with not much wind which any paddler knows can be the bane of a happy trip. Waterton Lake runs more than six miles in length and while that's not that far to paddle doing it in wind, whitecaps, and waves is a challenge I was hoping to avoid. Fortunately the weather gods blessed me and I reached American waters in good order.

The shoreline hike is not overly strenuous but does take you through some premier grizzly habitat so if you partake of this excursion keep your eyes and ears open and have the bear spray can within easy reach. Paddling left me free of such worries and the trip to Goat Haunt, the name of the American end, was delightfully uneventful.

The good ship "International" passed me by on the other side of the lake filled stem to stern with folks listening to the Parks Canada naturalist narrate and point out things of interest. Said boat does dock in Goat Haunt allowing tourists to step ashore and stretch their legs on red, white, and blue soil before the return voyage. If you venture anywhere beyond Goat Haunt bring your passport as you'll actually go through customs even at this remote bastion of Uncle Sam. When my wife and I did the hike we went past Goat Haunt to spend a couple of days at Kootenai Lakes watching moose gorge themseloves on local flora and the folks at customs had stamped our passports and given the official look-see at our backpacks before allowing our tired feet to carry us on down the trail. For those familiar with Logan Pass and the High line Trail to Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park, you could continue on north and end up in a day or so at Goat Haunt and we met some weary hikers in the Waterton campground who had done just that. That's one of those bucket list hikes I'd love to do but for this trip I had to content myself with a slow paddle past the Stars and Stripes before continuing my paddle in earnest. All in all a 3+ hour excursion putting some energy into the paddles before hearing the welcome scrape of hull to beach gravel back in Waterton. A happy kayaker was I.

Red Rock Canyon Redemption

In my last blog I talked about being bamboozled by a suspiciously lifelike bear sign put up by the folks of Parks Canada to warn people to stay far away from the critters. The rest of that ride came up empty in terms of real bear sightings so yesterday I took my brave wife Sophie (to protect me) back up the Canyon in the full light of day to show her the sights (and yes, the now infamous bear sign).

Red Rock Canyon is a special treat right now because it's closed to motor vehicles due to last year's fire but remains open to cyclists up to Coppermine Creek. The fire swept through the Canyon, which is more of a wide valley, and it's both beautiful and eerie to cycle in silence through the landscape. The trees, lots of Aspen as well as huge swaths of evergreens, stand as silent sentinels to the catastrophic destruction that raged out of control last August. Make no mistake though, the ecosystem is already starting to recover and with the forest canopy gone the ground cover is flourishing. While in my lifetime I'll never see forests again in this area it is wildflower Mecca and is reminiscent of Crested Butte in July.

Oh, and by the way, I did redeem myself and spot a bear - and not one made of plywood. A sow and her cub ambled through the undergrowth just off the road as we cycled by. Normally within 30 seconds of a bear sighting you'd have a bear jam of cars lined up with their occupants straining for a quick but fleeting glimpse of fur. Perhaps because we were so quiet with only the gentle whir of bike tires mama bear didn't seem so in a hurry to skeedaddle and we were able to simply stand and watch as mother and cub munched on the flowery smorgasbord. It seemed at that moment we were as part of the landscape as she and her cub but after 15 minutes or so off they went into the silent stillness of their forever home. Goodbye bears, it was truly ( and redemptively) nice to see you.

The Requisite Bear Story, eh.

Alright, here goes. Can't head this far north without the requisite bear story. And if there are any Canadians reading this consider it your 'crazy Americans' story for the week as well as proof positive that the staff of Parks Canada actually has a sense of humor in a gotcha kind of way.

We're in Waterton Lakes, Canada which sits right across the border from Glacier National Park. Waterton is one of our favorite spots on mother earth as it offers everything from hiking, kayaking, and biking to a quaint town setting and great wildlife viewing all wrapped up in one of the most beautiful places you can imagine. But back to bears...

My wife has seen upwards of 7-10 bears on this trip while I've seen just one so when I set out for an evening bike ride I was hopeful I'd at least double my count. A year ago Waterton had a huge wildfire which burned thousands of acres of trees but thankfully spared the town. However, one year out many hiking trails and even roads remain closed awaiting repairs. One of the roads, up Red Rock Canyon, is among those closed to motorized traffic but open to bicycles.

So, it's 7 o'clock, which is approaching dusk in these parts. It's the cool of the evening, just perfect for a spin of the pedals into the backcountry surrounding Waterton. I'm riding alone as my wife is minding our pups back at the campground. Shadows are long, sightlines are short and as I top a blind rise in the road there it is. Off on the side of the road just watching me, probably thinking to itself that it hadn't ordered delivery but what the heck, never turn down a free meal. It was a pretty bear and it brought me to a screeching halt as I'd be in extremely close quarters with said ursine companion if I tried to get by. Normally these bear encounters, of which I've had many through the years, end with the bear eventually realizing I'm not a threat and simply wandering along on its merry way. Still, one never knows, and the worst thing one can do is surprise or startle a bear. While, as you'll see in the first video, this bear seemed to be staring right at me and watching my every move, it's better to be safe so I started talking to the bear in a calm voice to make sure it knew I was human. My conversation of course was rather one sided for more than one reason which I was about to discover.

Well, to make a short story long, this bear didn't seem inclined to budge and seemed especially intent on protecting it's real estate. Neither of us wanted to yield but eventually I concluded that if he didn't want to move I might be able to slowly cycle by on the left shoulder.  So off I go, bear and I intently staring at one another in the dwindling light. I'll leave it to the second video to show what happened.

Needless to say I lived to tell the tale and when I got back to the campground and shared my story the surrounding Canadians all had a hefty chuckle about another one of those 'crazy Americans'. And thank you Parks Canada for giving me yarn to spin. Gotcha, eh.

Up, up, and away!

While we've been to Jasper a couple of times through the years, one of the things we had never done was take the Jasper SkyTram up Whistlers mountain. This trip we finally remedied that oversight.

The SkyTram was built in the 1960's and whisks visitors a little more than 1,000 meters (about 3,000 feet) up in elevation over a 7 1/2 minute ride. If you're afraid of heights this one's not for you but needless to say the views from the gondola as it sways in the breeze are spectacular and only get better the higher one goes. Much along the likes of a European gondola the slender cable stretches high above the ground as it whisks you to the upper station which interestingly seems to be only about 3/4 of the way to the summit. From the upper station it's a brisk (that's mountain talk for steep) 45 minute hike the rest of the way to the summit.

The SkyTram even allows dogs and ours got their own ticket. They were a little nervous about putting paws into a swaying contraption full (and I mean 30 other people full) of folks from around the globe anxious to test their mettle in the rarified mountain air.

Once at the top you can wander various trails and spend as long as you like before the trek back down. For the really hardy there is a hiking trail, 6 1/2 miles one way, if you're so inclined to use foot power all the way up or down. For the less intrepid there is a full service restaurant at the upper station and for early risers (on the Tram before 9 a.m.) and twilight riders (after 5 p.m.) a breakfast or dinner is included in your ticket.

We watched the weather closely and managed to pick a day without clouds. We were able to see Mount Robson in the distance which according to the Tram folks is only visible 12 days or so a year. Robson is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, topping out just shy of 13,000 feet. That might not sound that high to my Colorado readers but the elevation gain from bottom to top in the Canadian Rockies surpasses that of 14'ers back home. And it's high enough that it makes it's own weather which is why it's usually socked in and obscured by clouds.

So, if you make the trek up this way, my suggestion is to not wait until your 2nd or 3rd trip to Jasper before plunking down the $47 Canadian (currently the U.S. dollar has a favorable exchange rate where $1 Canadian equates to about 60-70 cents American) to take the beautiful ride on the Jasper SkyTram!

What would you do?

As we travel we often stay at KOA Campgrounds. For the most part you can count on them to be clean and well maintained. Certainly you pay somewhat of a premium for the consistency from KOA to KOA but overall the pricing seems to be fair for the amenities (clean bathrooms and hot water showers) that campers crave at the end of a long day on the road.

Overall I'd give KOA a solid B+ so it was a little bit of a shock when we pulled into the KOA in St. Mary on the east side of Glacier National Park. We had no reservation, and it was a Friday afternoon at the height of the tourist season so we had every expectation they were likely full and indeed that was the case. No surprise at all but we thought we'd at least check.

What did come as a shock, and a little bit of a slap in the face of a couple who consider themselves loyal KOA customers was when the young clerk offered to put us up in the overflow vacant field for only $110. Weve stayed at the St. Mary KOA several times throughout the years and candidly have never spent $110 a night let alone to be parked out in a vacant field. For that amount you'd not only expect full hookups (water, electric, and sewer - which as tent campers we never use anyway) but catered breakfast in our sleeping bags as well. So this offer struck us as a classic case of price gouging that we never anticipated from KOA.

My question is, if you were the franchise owner of the St. Mary KOA and you were setting prices what would you do? Charge the highest price you could get away with (short term profit maximization) or price it more fairly (probably in the $25-45 range recognizing this was marginal revenue and it was really a courtesy service extended to tired campers pulling in late without a place to stay? Something tells me Trumpian economics may be at play here but in the long run KOA may have turned off a once loyal customer for one night's gain.

By the way, if you're wondering where we eventually spent the night, the Blackfeet Tribe runs a campground just five miles east of St. Mary that was in essence the equivalent of the KOA field. It was there we spent the night, perfectly content, for a whopping $25...

The other side of Jasper

Jasper, being a vacation hub for thousands of visitors, has plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars, and gift shops in which to spend your hard-earned discretionary income. Heck, even the Whistlers campground has more than 700 campsites. Like most popular resort towns  most everything is full or as the multitude of signs up here proclaim - "No Vacancy". As my wife Sophie constantly points out to me,gone are the days where you just show up and find accomodation. Prior planning is definitely required for a trip to Jasper and reservations for the campgrounds begin promptly at 12:00 midnight on January 2, 2019. But heads up, the Whistlers campground will be closed for major rennovation in 2019 so you'll have to head for the nearby Wapiti campground which does feature riverside campsites.

Dig a little deeper though and Jasper is still a real town where folks get up and go to work, raise their kids, and live a life apart from the tour bus masses that fill up main street. I took a stroll around the real Jasper and found an eclectic mix of homes and beautiful gardens lovingly maintained. Some date from the 1920's and '30's and most, to this not architecturally savvy observer, seem to be bungalows. Like Denver you do see the occasional scrape-off where someone has torn down the old original and put up a more modern home. And like Denver, Jasper needs to be careful that it doesn't lose its special charm. And charming describes these little bungalows with their immaculate lawns and glorious flowers. Here are two short videos showcasing some of the homes of Jasper,

a place it's easy to fall in love with.

Wildlife along the road that beckons

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the road that beckons, at least for me, is the suspense of what I'll find around the next bend. The chance to see wildlife is certainly one of the more enjoyable aspects and often plays a large part in deciding which path to take.

The Canadian Rockies are home to some of the larger forms of wildlife from bears to moose and elk to caribou. What with the summer crowds we weren't quite sure how much fur and hoof we'd actually see but have been pleasantly surprised at the variety we have observed.

The campground posts the almost requisite bear warning signs and the stores in Jasper seem to be doing a brisk trade in bear spray and we hear a lot of bear bells (referred to by the locals as dinner bells as it lets the bears know where the tourist treats are). What do you call a tourist running from a bear? According to t-shirts sold in town that would be Canadian fast food.

More seriously, there are bears, both black and grizzly in the campgrounds hence the warning signs. Why the grizzlies? Apparently for the young elk calves which also wander amongst the tents and campers. While we haven't seen an actual bear in the campground we have seen plenty of cow elk with calves as you'll see in the video at the bottom. Out on the road to Maligne Lake we've also spotted black bear, elk, moose and young bald eagles in the nest still learning to fly. Bull elk are also seen munching on vegetation and sporting majestic racks still covered in velvet ahead of the upcoming rut. And yes, tourists still cause bear, elk, and moose jams on the roads. The animals themselves seem to take all the attention in stride but one still cringes when someone tries to get too up close and personal with the local fauna. Still, if you love to see wildlife Jasper is a great place to do it. Here's some of what we've seen along the way...

A visit to Maligne Lake

If you’re ever in the Jasper area a must is a visit to Maligne Lake which lies about 28 miles out of town up a well-paved road along which you’ll have the chance to sight elk, moose, and bear. If you’re a cyclist it’s a wonderful road to ride as it’s a steady climb of 3-5% with occasional grunts of 10-12% thrown in just to make you forget that there may be a 300 pound hungry carnivore lurking off the side of the road as you whiz up the grade at 5 mph.

Photo by Sophie Mabry

I’ve been to Maligne Lake now four times and have seen it in glorious sunshine to pouring rain. Either way the Lake offers incredible scenery. On our first trip we kayaked halfway down the lake and camped and then the next morning, before the tour boats arrived, paddled to Spirit Island which is probably one of the most photographed spots in the world and deservedly so. If nature built cathedrals, sitting in a kayak at 6 a.m. on water as smooth and reflective as a mirror and staring in wonder at the towering peaks that surround you is a good excuse for a pew. The silence on such a morning is deafening, at least until the tour boats start arriving around 9:00. I know not everyone has the wherewithal to kayak the long miles back to Spirit Island so definitely take the boat tour. They are about 1 1/2 to 2 hours long and of course they have a guide pointing out all there is to see along the way.

Photo by Sophie Mabry

This trip I haven’t put paddle to water on Maligne though haven’t given up hope of still doing so. I did have the chance to bike it. Once at the top I had a chance to capture some of the scenery and had a chat with a Canadian lady who remembers visiting the lake in the 70’s when the road was still dirt and the amenities weren’t quite what they are today. She fondly reminisced about the lake before it was “discovered” by the tourist hordes (myself included) from around the world. There is no lodging at the lake today but in the early 1920’s some enterprising folks did build a lodge which today houses a fancy restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious meal while enjoying the spectacular views.

If you have your own non-motorized boat (canoe or kayak or even SUP though it would be a long long trip subject to changeable lake conditions on a paddle board) there is a separate parking lot and launch area to get you out on the water away from most of the congestion of the regular car and tour bus parking lots. There’s also loads of hiking trails available and plenty of picnic tables if you’re blessed with a sunny day.

Having experienced the Jasper area, including Lake Maligne, in the summer makes me curious about how staggeringly beautiful it must be here in the winter and buried under a blanket of white. I watched a Nature episode that followed a Canadian biologist who tracked a moose and her calf for an entire year and the winter scenery was amazing. Maligne is a big lake at 14 miles long and has depths
of more than 300 ft. And it does freeze over come winter. Folks were talking the other day about seeing the Aurora Borealis lighting up the nighttime skies the other night and I can only imagine what  the Northern Lights would look like over a frozen Lake Maligne. But that’s for another trip...

This one's for Barbara

I mentioned in one of my recent blogs that I didn't miss being in a cubicle. I do however miss the folks I worked with on a daily basis. Over the course of my career I've worked for many bosses. One of my last ones, Barbara, likes to get out in her kayak now and then and since I do as well I sometimes think how much she'd enjoy some of the places I'm dipping my paddle these days.

Today we spent time kayaking on Pyramid Lake up in the mountains just west of Jasper. We weren't lonely on this lake and had company in the shape of other kayaks, SUPs (stand up paddle boards), canoes, and even pedal boats launched from a resort on the eastern edge of the lake. There was even a big Voyageur canoe with upwards of 10 people paddling away. Still, once on the water, it didn't seem crowded and certainly nothing like Chatfield or Cherry Creek reservoirs on a busy summer day.

The weather was hot and dry for Jasper and some very white-skinned Canadians were bravely daring to swim in the still very cool waters of the lake. And yes, some tourists, who shall remain nameless, also dipped more than their big toes in an effort to cool off. Here are some of the sights from our paddling excursion. All in all, not a bad way to spend a summer day. And Barbara, this one's for you.

It's been too long...

There are certain sounds that evoke the wonder and magnificence of nature. The satisfied harumph of buffalo rolling in the dust, the majestic bugle of elk in rut, but for me the most evocative is the serenely plaintive call of the Loon echoing across the mirror of a calm lake at the close of day. As a kid growing up on a lake in New Hampshire whenever I heard the Loon's call I'd stop whatever I was doing (usually paddling a canoe at twilight in those long ago days) and simply listen.

The other night my wife and I were taking a twilight stroll around Lake Beauvert  which features peace, quiet, and incredible scenery all for the price of some wear and tear on shoe leather when I heard it. More often than not you can't see the actual bird calling but this night there it was. Or rather there they were, for we were treated to the sight of a Loon family not twenty yards from shore. Mama and papa Loon were shepherding a small bundle of brown feathers across the smooth as glass surface when they broke into their distinctive call.

I loved my job when I was working but these days don't miss being tied to a cube. What I did miss, all those years of working in an office, was the sound, almost forgotten, that instantly takes me back to a time of childlike wonder and happiness. The symphony of the Loon's call framed by the stillness of a Canadian sunset was over far too quickly. I hope to hear it yet again this trip for it truly had been way, way too long.

Icefields and more....

The trip from Banff to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway only measures a little more than a hundred miles. Normally you’d cover that distance in an hour and a half ( or faster for those of us with a lead foot!) but distance covered is not the objective when it comes to this journey. Especially if you are blessed with sunshine the drive more likely will take the majority of the day as you are constantly oohing and aahing at the magnificent scenery unfolding in front of you. This is definitely one road that beckons around each and every curve. I’ve done this trip now three times over some thirty years and this time was blessed with gorgeous weather after having waited out the rain camping on the Banff side at Waterfowl Lakes for 4 nights. And worth the wait it was as majestic mountain after majestic mountain reveals itself. These mountains only top out at about 6,000 plus feet but their ruggedness as they soar into the blue Canadian sky more than makes up for what they lack in height. And for anyone who’s hiked a Colorado fourteener don’t let the lack of altitude fool you. Most of these peaks offer challenging technical climbs compared to the trails we hike back home. And of course being this far north (52.8 degrees north compared to Denver’s 39.7) these peaks host not just summer’s lingering snows but real glaciers descending out of the high mountain valleys and capping the rugged peaks. That said, like elsewhere, global warming makes itself inconveniently known as these glaciers are in definite retreat and at the Icefields Centre they have signs along the trail documenting, year by year by year, where the glacier used to be compared to where it is now. Still the Columbia Icefield dwarfs the monster-wheeled ice buses  slowly crawling their way onto the glacier loaded full of tourists from around the world. In the video below, if you watch closely you can see these buses making their way to and fro in the background.

Crossing Sunwapta Pass, just before the Columbia Icefield, also takes you over to the somewhat drier climate surrounding Jasper. This part reminds me most of the Colorado High Country perhaps because there are more Aspen trees among the towering pines. As I mentioned, this is trip number three along this stretch of pavement and this trip makes me appreciate the first two all the more. The trip from Sunwapta to Jasper will never again be what it was, at least in my lifetime. The pine beetle epidemic which decimated parts of Colorado has now hit this region of Alberta and whole mountain valleys are awash in the brown of dead and dying trees. The pine beetle is a natural part of the environment and it’s destructive path will ultimately give rebirth to the forests but in human terms it is sad to see a whole forest ecosystem being destroyed. We’ll be visiting Maligne Lake, one of the prettiest places on the planet, to do some kayaking. Just two years ago on our way to Alaska I took what I consider the best picture I’ve ever taken halfway down this lake so I’m apprehensive about what we’ll find this trip. The Canadians don’t say much and the campgrounds and town still seem busy enough so whether it’s impacting tourism, which certainly drives the local economy, is unknown. And what with all the dead standing timber over such vast areas one can only imagine the conflagration that will come with the inevitable wildfire threat. The Banff side still seemed largely unaffected, but only time will tell.

Finally, Banff...

Internet connectivity north of the border has been problematic so finally catching up with our travels since leaving sunny, hot Colorado for more northern climes. The trip north saw us spend some time in Buffalo, Wyoming where we picked up the rain that has dogged us every other day. In Buffalo I was caught in a deluge the likes of which I have never seen while attempting a ride up Crazy Woman Canyon which according to the locals is a must see. When the Wyoming skies open up and let loose it's something to be experienced. My hastily donned raingear was but a laughable and futile attempt to stay dry but what the heck, sometimes the road that beckons seems more akin to a waterway than a roadway.

We also spent time in Montana and then crossed the border into Alberta heading to our first Canadian stopping point Banff. If you've never been to Banff it's hard to describe.it certainly has the affluence of a Vail or Aspen but seems to lack the pretentiousness of those hamlets. Banff is definitely an international destination and the streets are full of folks from around the world. Europe, the Middle East, the Orient are all well represented and the stores offer a far more eclectic mix of offerings than anywhere I've seen stateside.

For us the journey to Banff was more for the natural rather than human beauty and in that regard Banff does not disappoint. At least when you can see it... we left Denver in 100 plus temperatures and drought conditions but up north neither of those seem to be an issue. Sweatshirts, long pants, and rain jackets are the norm here but still, about every third day, old Sol deigns to make her appearance and when the grey skies make way to sunshine and white cottonballs drifting by Banff is a spectacular place to experience the outdoors. Folks sometimes ask why leave Colorado when we have mountains galore but the Canadian Rockies, despite lagging in altitude, more than make up for it in rugged splendor. Here's a little teaser of what Banff has to offer:

From Banff it's on to our final destination of Jasper via the incredible Icefields Parkway but more on that to come!

A little of this, a lot of that to start the trip

I’m writing this post from beautiful Buffalo, Wyoming where they don’t call the wind wind but rather natural enthusiasm. And there’s a whole lot of natural enthusiasm in these here parts. And also a whole lot of pouring rain. Went for a bike ride this morning up Crazy Woman Canyon and got chased out of the Bighorns by hail and then by what can only be characterized as a wall of water descending out of the lead colored skies. Oh, and let’s not forget the lightning that was close enough that you heard the crackle before the bang. It was truly biblical and a fitting start to a trip that will hopefully see us in Jasper, Canada inside of a week. That is if our good friends to the north are in an accommodating mood and still allowing Americans to cross the border, notwithstanding the nasty battle over tariffs and such.

Oh well, the road that beckons always throws something new at us. Just a couple of days ago I was doing some drywall work up near Leadville and complaining about how hot and dry it was at 10,000 feet. I did get a chance to spend some time in the mining district above the town and here’s some of what I saw...

Right now I could go with some blue Colorado skies and some warm, or at least warmer, temps. I have a feeling that as we head further north the sweatshirts may make an appearance but who knows... only time will tell!

Giving up retirement for... Bike to Work Day!

My former coworkers would be proud of me. I actually was up at the crack of dawn (well almost...) to join the 21,000+ registered cyclists for this year’s Denver Bike To Work Day. A beautiful cool morning made for a spectacular trip downtown but the forecast is for it to get a tad warm so I’ll support my fellow riders on the way home in spirit. By the time I got back to my starting point it already was turning into a sweat fest. This year I saw signs indicating there would be aid stations this afternoon as well. For the 25+ times I participated as an actual commuter my only complaint was that there was plenty of aid stations for the ride INTO work but none on the way home so kudos for the organizers of this year’s event to coax or cajole volunteers to man (or woman) the aid stations again in close to 100 degree heat.

Heat can be a killer to cyclists especially if they fail to stay hydrated. It was obvious that some of the riders out this morning are only occasional cyclists and if they spend their work day in cool air conditioned comfort they’ll be paying a hefty price on the way home. 

Of course the real test for the organizers of Bike to Work Day is how many of these occasional cyclists make the effort (and effort it takes) to ride not just today but on subsequent days this summer.  By the way I was feeling (and sweating) by the end of my ride the thought crossed my mind that Denver’s organizers might have to give some thought to moving Bike to Work Day earlier in the year. The month of May is actually Bike to Work Month nationally and it would definitely be cooler although in Denver May, especially early May, can still bring the threat of not just cool but downright cold weather so there’s no right answer.

So kudos to all those intrepid riders who took part today. And to those on the e-bikes (battery assisted bikes which are apparently becoming more and more popular) who zipped by me I’m not jealous. Nah, not the least bit...

A hot time in Leadville...

I'm sitting in a conference room on the Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, CO waiting for a Town Hall meeting to start. This morning my wife and I participated in Lake County's wildfire evacuation drill. We have a cabin in the area and thought we'd be good citizens and help out the folks who'd potentially come to our aid if a wildfire did rear it's ugly head up in this neck of the woods.

It was a dry winter at 10,000 feet and there have already been some small spot fires but according to local fire officials even those early small fires have been demonstrating fire behaviors not usually seen until late July and August.

Fire is of course a natural occurrence. The problem is that more frequent smaller fires have been suppressed for too long allowing for the fuel supply (trees and brush) to build up to dangerous levels.  Based on the turn out of agencies participating in the drill they take the potential of fire very, very seriously and appear well prepared (as well prepared as is possible...) but nature, and fire specifically, knows no real master so all of us involved in today's exercise can only wait and hope that the real deal never occurs. Yet we are left with the realization that it perhaps is not so much a question of if, but when.

A Thank You to the NFL but not for what you think

When Mr. Kaepernick first went down on bended knee during the National Anthem in the Fall of 2016 to protest racial inequality and police violence against minorities I was angry and upset that yet again someone was disrespecting our flag and our Anthem. Like Mr. Trump and many Americans I couldn’t accept that a highly paid football player would take it on himself to become a symbolic focal point for oppression and racism in this great country.

The NFL has now come full circle by announcing its policy that players must stand for the Anthem or protest unseen off the field. You’d think I’d be cheering the NFL for doing the right thing. Instead I’m writing today to thank the NFL for another reason. For showing me that I was wrong. As viscerally gut wrenching as I find it when someone disrespects the preeminent symbols of our nation I find it far worse that I now live in a country where citizens don’t stand out of respect for the flag and Anthem but stand because they are forced to. The fact that so many Americans voluntarily rise to their feet in community at the playing of the Star Spangled Banner is a tribute to all that is right with America. But Mr. Kaepernick, along with all those who ultimately joined him in silent protest, have made me think, and realize yet again (how many times do I have to be reminded...) that our country is far from perfect and we all need to continue to work, together, to make it - as our President would tell us - “Great Again”. And perhaps that is what Colin was trying to do.

In the days since that now infamous knee first touched grass there have been too many subsequent shootings of unarmed black men, too public refusals of establishments from simply allowing minority citizens from using the restroom, too recent racist tirades from celebrity sitcom stars to think that we unfortunately don’t have a very long road ahead to bring us as a people back together as one nation. The NFL’s new rule doesn’t help us along that path. In fact it makes the path longer and more difficult by continuing to divide us. My father, long deceased, was a veteran who along with millions of others fought and died, in part, to preserve the very right to protest injustice wherever it rears its ugly head. He knew, like Mr. Kaepernick and now the NFL have now reminded me, that you can’t force respect for anything - even our country - but we can work together to make it truly worthy of that respect.

My apologies to those who graciously read my humble words expecting a simple chronicle of my physical travels for straying off the Road That Beckons (the name of this blog) into an area of social tumult. But my journey through this life I’ve been given has not just been a physical one. I’m not the same person I was in the brashness of youth nor will I be the same as I am now when I become an old man (hopefully many, many years from now!). I continue to learn from almost everything that touches me and every day I come to the conclusion that the older I get the less I truly know. Thus the journey, the road that beckons, continues.

One more for the road

Tomorrow I'll be leaving my oasis in the desert to head home to, what I'm hearing is, snowy Colorado. Just when the local Phoenix radio stations are forecasting the first 90 degree temps of the year. Oh well... Last year we had 90's and 100's during Spring Training but as I've mentioned in recent blogs this year's Spring has been a little cool down here in the desert Southwest.

This morning I was up before the crack of dawn in order to, well, film the crack of dawn. Dawn and dusk are known as the golden hours for photographers and the desert offers its own perspective on that. When I'm freezing back home wondering what happened to Spring (it is almost April after all), the desert at dawn and dusk is what I'll most cherish from this trip. For those still enjoying the winter wonders of late March here's a quick glimpse of what you've been missing...

Closing day Spring Training 2018

They say it ain’t over until... well, you know.  I don’t know about that, but yesterday was a wrap for Arizona Spring Training at Surprise Stadium. They packed a lot into one game as it saw the Kansas City Royals taking on, and ultimately losing to, the Chicago Cubs whose fans, as I’ve mentioned before, tend to pack the stadium. They didn’t disappoint yesterday as the announced attendance topped 11,000 which fills every seat in the stadium and the lawn seats as well. I suspect a lot of fans elected not to actually sit in the overcrowded grass areas so it was really standing room only for this one.

It was also the annual Thank You lunch that the Stadium puts on for the Sundancers volunteers, or as they are referred to in the stadium - the yellow shirts. If you attend a game at Surprise you won’t be able to miss them. From parking attendants to ticketing, to monitoring the stands and hosting the 50/50 Raffle this volunteer group helps raise funds for needy causes and has awarded more than one million dollars in scholarships to area youth in recent years. If I lived in the area this is an organization I’d join in a heartbeat. They definitely add a special character to the atmosphere at Surprise Stadium and a nicer and more helpful bunch of folks you could not meet.

One of the worst kept secrets is that a lot of Spring Training merchandise is deeply discounted the last day as the vendor would rather move it than pack it and save it for next year. Thus the Pro Shop was full with fans for most of the game and by the end was looking pretty darn empty. I’ll be helping close down things over the next couple of days before making my way back north to Denver. It feels like it was just yesterday I was departing home in a snowstorm and from what I’m hearing weatherwise I may be returning the same way.

If you’ve been reading some of these blogs thanks for tagging along for Spring Training 2018 Arizona style. Hopefully we can take it all in again in 2019!