I had never been to Colorado and was looking forward to seeing it, but then we woke up Wednesday morning to catch the plane and saw it was NEGATIVE 18 degrees! I did not want to go anywhere where it was that cold, but on we went! We flew into Denver and then took a small plane to a precious mountain town called Gunnison.
First stop- lunch at Gunnison's cute local place, "The Gunnisack"-
`
I was still freezing, and had forgotten my hat and gloves. It was around negative 7 degrees by this point. We had to shop for that immediately!
Thankfully we had a four-wheel drive rental car- we would need it!
The drive from Gunnison to the ski town of Crested Butte was SO BEAUTIFUL! And somehow- the dry cold was not nearly as bad and the humid southern cold.
We got to the ski resort (and no, we did not ski) and went to a dinner reception and met the lawyers from Texas, Louisiana and Alabama.
The next day we woke up to tons of snow- it snowed ALL DAY for the next two days. It was so beautiful- and so powdery perfect! What a treat!
I was freezing. That morning Marc went to give his talk and to other meetings and I went to the spa and had a massage! :) Fancy!
The skiers-
We went to the hotel cafe and had hot chocolate and warm soup!
That night we walked to Avalanche and had a wonderful dinner.
Friday we got up and Marc went to meetings. I went to get my hair cut, and the lady talked me into trying highlights for the first time in my life! Not sure if I will keep them, but it was a fun change!
Marc and I rode the shuttle into Crested Butte town for the day. It is the cutest, most colorful town bursting with charm. We had the best day!
Fun lunch at the local pizza parlor-
Then lots of walking and shopping- we weren't that cold amazingly enough.
We did stop mid-afternoon for ice cream. :)
Then we walked to the Catholic church for prayer and a Friday evening communion service.
We had the most delicious supper at The Wooden Nickle steakhouse.
ELK!
We rode the shuttle home and walked around the resort- they had several ice sculptures just sitting outside.
We finally made it to Lake City!
There is an infamous story from when Amanda and I went skiing with our youth group in high school in Taos, New Mexico. As we were getting off the ski lift she slipped and fell and I skied right over her face! Oh, it was awful! They had to put her in a stretcher and drag it behind a snow mobile down the mountain. Thankfully, she wasn't badly hurt and as you see- her beautiful face has no scars!
She is now an expert skier and lives in the most charming home and mountain town ever. She loves her mountain life (even though we grew up on the Gulf Coast).
Views from their porch-
Amanda and her husband and four children showed us around. We got to see snow driving and fishtailing! We drove to the mountains where there was an avalanche last year- a 300 year event.
We saw how a little snowball can grow and grow into a spiral as it flows down the mountainside- we called them cinnamon rolls. :)
Then we went to the town ice wall (made by misting the mountainside with water) for the annual ice climbing competition. It was so neat!
It was such a great visit! It was such a great trip- for the first time in years, Marc was not swamped with work and could really enjoy himself and have leisure time and sleep! Thank you BB and Poppy for taking care of the children and driving them here, there and everywhere so we could go! You are amazing!
On the way back our flight out of Gunnison was delayed. We arrived in Denver and they had no gate for us so we sat on the tarmac for a long time and missed our flight home. The airline gave us $40 food vouchers and a hotel for the night so we stayed and came back one day later. It all ended up working out fine. Goodbye Rocky Mountains!
So happy to be home! :)
