In late July, I flew to meet my Mom for a trip to Colorado. It was a family vacation, but just for the two of us! Mom has a deep affinity for mountains, and I enjoy driving through beautiful scenery with big open skies, so we were a good pair!
We drove from Denver, over the mountain passes on I-70, and through my former haunts in the Vail/Avon/Red Cliff area. I lived there back in 2003 for six months when I worked for the Ritz-Carlton on the ski hills. Just prior to moving to Colorado, I had been working for a non-profit organization helping at-risk youth. The work environment was stressful and, like many non-profits, underfunded. It was quite an amazing switch to be suddenly working for The Ritz, with all that money to and time to pamper the hotel guests... While I worked at the front desk of the Ritz I met Al & Tipper Gore, Anne Heche, John Lithgow, Paul Rudd, and the Hilfiger family. I also loved exploring the valleys, mountains and high deserts of the Rocky Mountains.
Back to August of 2011... Mom and I drove westward from Denver, through Vail, and on to the westernmost down of Grand Junction. We stopped in a cute mining town named My favorite part of the road is near Glenwood Springs, with the incredible cliffs and medicinal sulfur springs.
Along the way, the scenery changed from green mountains to rolling hills to high desert.
We met Mom's friend Mary Jean and her daughter Shannon, who hosted us and took us camping in Colorado National Monument outside of Grand Junction. It was stunning.
Mom and I bought local oranges and mead from the good people in western Colorado, picked sage for making ceremonial bundles, and then drove back to Denver.
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