The Inconvenient Truth About Rain

Let me begin by saying I don't like having the day's outdoor plan ruined by waking up to un-forecasted pouring-down rain. Jesus H. Christ, people… Intellicast, AccuWeather, Weather Underground—even NOAA, for crying out loud—I mean do they ever look out a freaking window? Call me, NOAA, and I'll look out my window so you can up your pitiful accuracy! Well, they should call people once in a while, ask them how bad they're botching the forecast.

Stevie Nicks "Landslide" Brings Me Down...

A slow, dismal, and rainy shift for Lovely Ouray's Gallery Boy yesterday. Is there such a thing as "too much time to think?" If there is it surely accounts for my emotional hangover today. It might have been the steamy banks of clouds, draped and pawing over our mountains like some love-sick teeny bobber. Or maybe it was the lazy clock or that I had no one to talk too… no one to reroute my usual course when damp, chilly weather portends the final curtain is coming down on the last act of our Rocky Mountain summer theater (sniff). 

A Blue Monday, "Oh Girls—They Want To Have Fun"

Gals out numbered guy(s) two to one on our weekly hike. It was a Blue Monday, not "Moody Blue," you understand, more a blue skies, blue lakes, and blue jays kind of day. Our trio endured the heel blistering, toe-jamming treadmill trek to Ptarmigan Lake, just so the girls could have fun on a day off from the work treadmill. Colorado Life is a "treadmill," after all, whether at work or play.

Rust Never Sleeps

In the midst of a long, long Montana valley, South of Pray, north of Emigrant, off an obscure but paved county backroad numbered "540"—East River Road to "locals"—is a modest white gravel lane signed "Old Chico." It heads east, straight as a shot arrow, where, in a dusty mile or so, it lands you on the doorstep of Chico Hot Springs, a collection of sundry old west edifices that house, feeds, bathes, waters, and magically soaks away nervous tensions that plague the huddled working masses of our cutthroat every-man-for-himself society. Some say it's the "mineral water," others, the Jack Daniels.

Back To The Future, Again...

That porpoise flashing you a Blue Moon is "Marathon Man" Leonard, diving into freezing water that only a few weeks ago was a block of ice. Leon prefers skinny dipping, but there were ladies present and he is, after all, an Austin, Texan gentleman.

What A Lush

The girl has ridden the same mountain bike for fifteen years! And it's not like she doesn't love to ride a lot. Her old Trek was worn out a long, long time ago, but my dear fugal wife has t-shirts older than that bike, and she still wears them…stains and all. Gotta love that non-shopper gene in a woman.

"Perfect Day" conclusion: Tortoise Versus Hare—Unlikely Winners on Mountaintops

It was the first week in August but hotter than the fourth of July. Two guys headed off to LA from New York City—Joe in his brand new fully loaded, fuel injected Lexus, and John in his  '64 Dodge Dart "slant-six" with three on the column. It had an AM radio, but no AC. Ultimately, both Joe and John got to LA...

Making a Day Off Count

Wow, from a distance this handsome duo could pass for a couple in their mid-60's :).  Take a peek over my right shoulder; that's Lovely Ouray, cradled in the bosom of our volcanic and vertiginous San Juan Mountains. Every morning we sip coffee and gaze out our south facing Imax Window, watching the first rays of sun glint off Mount Abram's pyramidal summit. At nearly 13,000 feet, Abram's charms are irresistible, like Delilaha—the man-eating seductress.  But it's the least I can do—oblige a seductress.

A Soggy Finale To Wright's Lake For The J-J Q's

Ignoring the forecast, we piled into Petroleous Rex for one final hike with John and Joalenn Q.. Sue Bee could have made Yankee Boy Basin, but in case of downpours and lightening I thought Pet Rex, with its high ground clearance and low range four wheel drive, would give us some dryer options for wildflower and wild-country viewing, not to mention test Joalenn's tolerance for vertical drop-off jeep trails :)