Eddie and Wifey go to Colorado

[notsofasteddie]

Day 0:

Back in June I was fortunate enough to go to Colorado with my friend Egor spending time in Boulder and Denver. We had great times and I shared them with my wife. Next thing I knew, I was planning a second trip to Colorado so I guess enthusiasm is contagious.

This trip will be different more sharing and intimacy. We are going to have a great visit. There probably will be a little less beer as we focus on some of the other attractions in the area. Spoiler Alert -- there will be lots of quilts!

As I said, this trip will be different, starting at the airport.

Airport as seen by Eddie and Egor back in June:


Airport as seen by Eddie and Wifey in September


Already things are better!!

We have contingency plans in place based on the differing dispensary closing times in and around Boulder(1st stop) and Denver, but it looks like we may not need them!

We've landed and there's some confusion at the car rental. Takes a little while to resolve the issue but we are on our way to Boulder.

Contingency plans activated!! First stop will be the Starbuds in Louisville.


interesting neighbors

It's a chain that I visited in Denver back in June. They're not low price, but the budtenders are friendly and informative; the product selection quality and diverse. Also I want to get to the hotel.


starbuds menu

Decisions, Decisions:







I started in the 1960's. Who knew things would get this complicated?

At the hotel, the winner is revealed!! Perhaps, I should have taken a "selfie!"



I chose the Blue Kudu products as they have never come-up THC short in testing. Based on years of personal experience, I precede the Scotch with the cookies.

Day 1 - the Rockies - to follow

[notsofasteddie]

Day 1: The Rockies

After a refreshing night's sleep and checking the status of Trailridge Road, it's off to Rocky Mountain National Park. A very different place in September when compared to June. Winter is coming and it is coming soon! The mountains are virtually without snow, but looking at the sky you can tell that's about to change. As I was taking these pictures, I was being pelted by frozen rain (sleet) and it snowed the next evening. In June, we got to see Elk, Marmots, Pika, and Chipmunks in the park. This time there are none to be seen. Much to our surprise, the elk have all migrated down into the town of Estes Park. My guess is that the small mammals are hibernating. Here are some comparison photos - first September and then June.
















We peaked out at about 12,100 feet. The air is considerably thinner here than it was in Boulder at 5,400 feet. You can imagine how it feels to this Florida boy who is used to an elevation of around 10 feet. As you can see from the photo below, there are higher mountains not too far away



The final sign that winter is coming shows up at the Alpine Visitors Center. The toilets don't work; the water fountain no longer works either. The water has been shut off to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Next stop -- Lyons and Lyons Quilting on Main Street

[macky]

Really enjoyed the read thanks

[winnie]

Lovely. More please

[notsofasteddie]

Day 2: Lyons and Lyons Quilting on Main Street


This part of the trip is largely dedicated to my wife, the Quilter. Starting with what my wife called the "Entrance to Quilter's Heaven"


Inside we find the following treasures:




Mr. Octopus -- back and front



Mr. Lion--- What looks like a drawing or a painting is actually a quilt!



A gorgeous Chevron Quilt



A Christmas Quilt--- Santa wants to know if you've been good. He's got a list and he's checking it twice!



An award winning Quilt where everything was done by hand!


Next comes what Eddie was doing while Wifey was in Quilter's Heaven

[notsofasteddie]

Day 2: What Eddie was doing while Wifey was in Quilter's Heaven



Right down Main Street about 1/2 a block was another form of Heaven, the Bud Depot



Flower menu organized by shelf. The prices here are lower than those at many of the other Boulder and Denver dispensaries. Actually, they are roughly comparable to a lot of Coffeeshop Prices in Amsterdam, especially those in the Centrum.



Checking out Top Shelf, I see Chem Jong Ill! Somebody has a sense of humor!



Edibles: I see Julie's Nutty Bites a favorite from a previous trip. Still have plenty Blue Kudu chocolates left so no bites this time. Problem with Colorado is that what doesn't get consumed gets left behind.


More options to be found. I got a cartridge for my O.pen vape. This time I got Indica, Vanilla Kush. Two draws and my knees bent. I was surprised by the potency,previously having done Sativa and Hybrid cartridges. This was much stronger. The Sativa was the weakest, the hybrid considerably stronger, but the Indica was in a class by itself. I wonder if this is generally true or if I just got lucky. Further research may be required. Interestingly, there is little hash to be found in Colorado. In two (2) trips, I've not run into any dry sieve. Some dispensaries don't have any hash and those that do have water hash.



Topicals - another area that needs to be researched.





Heading back to Quilter's Heaven to get Wifey and fabric packages to be sent home, I discover St Vrain Restoration Area with some community art.

Closing out the discussion of Heaven, we have these entries:


Lyons Community Church


Old Stone Congregational Church


Day 3: Boulder to follow

[Boat Drinks]

You have some good weather for your trip I'm happy to see you're enjoying.

[Jesscass]

Cheers for your fine report, NotSoFastEddie !

Any chance you can report a bit more about Copenhagen? Have been there four years ago and found it lovely(especially Christiania of course! )

Keep it coming!

[spidergawd]

Thanks NSFE, really lovin reading about your trip and seeing the photo's. Those dispensaries looks very daunting for another old toker here.

[notsofasteddie]

Day 3: Boulder

Boulder is a very special place, a very different place when compared to the rest of Colorado as evidenced by its nickname," the Boulder Bubble." There are lots of interesting things to see starting with the Pearl Street Mall. The mall is a very cool place filled with neat statuary.






Messenger of the Skies - Joellen C. Domenico


Standing Proud - Chuck Weaver



Not all the statues are animals


Hearts on a Swing - George Lundeen

Not all the animals are statues


This guy moves!

AND

Interesting Shops


Into the Wind


Mile High Pipe II with more glass than I have ever seen. Samples below:





Didn't visit the Native Roots dispensary as I have made arrangements to visit their Champa street location when I get to Denver in a couple of days. In addition, I've already got more product than I am likely to consume till I get there. Native Roots will definitely get a visit!!


Day 3 Boulder to be continued

[notsofasteddie]

Day 3: Boulder Mountain Park and Other Delights

Having checked out the Pearl Street Mall, it's time to see some of the other sights that Boulder has to offer. We headed for Boulder Mountain Park and started off by checking this out:


The Flatirons

Then we started up Flagstaff Mountain which is just up the road from the Flatirons. The mountain tops out at just under 7,000 feet so it is considered a Rocky Mountain foothill. Foothill or not it provides some pretty spectacular views.


Appropriately Named








A view of Boulder which sure has changed from back in the day (1973) when I interviewed for a job at the University of Colorado. I made the top three so I got an interview, but I didn't get the job.

Heading back into the city its time to visit a dispensary especially since the day is Cannabis Tax Free Day, a once a year happening that is the result of Colorado's cannabis tax laws. For reasons, that I cannot remember, we chose this one which was a good choice. It was a small dispensary, but a friendly one with smart people behind the counter.


Like many dispensaries, the flower is arranged by shelf. Top shelf included Afghan Kush, Grape Stomper, Jack Bud, and Mob Boss at $15 per gram. Mid Shelf offered Querkle, Sour OG, Critical Mass, and Trainwreck at $11.25 per gram. Low Shelf contained Flo and Green Crack at $12.50 per gram. I wish I had thought to ask why Low Shelf was more expensive than Mid Shelf. Maybe they were having a sale. Still, these prices would be well received in Amsterdam. Also, I'm thinking the quality is probably better. Can't say as Colorado's current lack of coffeeshops, kept me from burning any flowers


As you can see from the picture, they had other strains that were not included in the shelf structure. Given the non-smoking nature of our hotel, we picked up some more Blue Kudu edibles.

It's been a long day so we're headed back to the hotel, but first something to eat.


Turley's Kitchen

I had Huevos Rancheros that were outstanding; the wife had pancakes that she described as the lightest she had ever eaten. She almost had to keep her fork on them to keep them from floating away. We had more meals at Turley's before we headed down to Denver. All were exceptional!

Back in the hotel room, it's time to prepare for bed.



A little discrete knee bending outside and some Monkey Shoulder back inside. The wife chose Cherry Almond as her "nighty-night!"

Some music for the lull:



We both slept well!


Day 4: A Trip to Estes Park

[talkrum]

Great reporting. Thanks for sharing

[talkrum]

Great reporting. Thanks for sharing

[notsofasteddie]

Day 4: A Trip to Estes Park


We are up early again and heading north from Boulder to Estes Park. My wife is very excited about today's visit to Estes Park. On the way we stop in to check this dispensary.


With flowers this nice on the outside, I can imagine how nice the flowers are inside. That's all I get to do is imagine. It's 9:00a.m. and they don't open until 10:00. Sometimes the early bird doesn't get the worm.

So it's on the road again. I soon discover why my wife is so excited about today's visit. I've been tricked Lyons Quilting is on the way to Estes Park and we have to stop. So, here's some more cool quilts and the reason for another trip to the Lyons Post Office.





That's all for quilts until the last post when I'll show some of wife's work with Jean Hanamoto fabric.

Back on the road and heading north to Estes Park, I leave the car to make sure we are heading in the right direction after all I'm both driver and navigator.



Using my acute powers of observation, I determine that we must be getting close to our goal!



Even with a GPS things can go wrong, this doesn't look like Estes Park to me. You make one little mistake a premature right turn and you get this.



At last Estes Park, a cool town and a tourist trap to be sure.


Cool Theatre!!


I think Estes Park must be the salt water taffy capital of Colorado, a.k.a. Coney Island West. I went for the homemade ice cream. Hmmm, coffee ice cream, good!

Then I saw this



I'm thinking this must be like Amsterdam. It's a coffeeshop. I've been to the Old Church in Amsterdam in both its old and new locations.

Here's the menu I'm looking for



Fantasy Over - Not here: Forgot the one bad thing about the cannabis scene in Colorado is NO COFFEESHOPS! This might be fixed in 2016.

Heading back to Boulder, it's almost time for bed. A nice diner at Turley's Kitchen. Another discrete knee bending session with the O.pen and then some Eric Clapton to lull me to sleep!




Tomorrow We are heading to Denver

[notsofasteddie]

Day 5: We've made it to Denver

Once again the view from the hotel demonstrates that Denver is a big city!


As with the June trip, there are interesting architectural contrasts to be found.

[
Settled into the hotel we head out to see the 14th Street Mall



The scene is nowhere near as alive as it was in June. Winter is coming and things are shutting down. There is no band at the Rock Bottom which is a disappointment as Soul School was a great listen when Egor and I were there. Still the weather is good and there are people "out and about" enjoying a beer or two and friendly conversation. Saw a couple of people discretely hitting a vape, but again discretely is the word of the day until they get coffeeshops in Colorado!

Things may be closing down for winter, but these guys are still working hard holding up the skyscrapers in Denver!




Don't find too many Peruvian restaurants in Florida so I don't have much to compare to. Still I thought the ceviche platter was outstanding and it reminded me of some Cuban ceviche I ate back in the 1970's when Ybor City still hummed with Cuban culture. The dessert,Suspiro a la limeña, was outstanding. It got its name, "Because it is soft and sweet, like the sigh of a woman." Aaah, so much romance; so much sugar!


Denver's equivalent to Casa Rosso. I'm with Wifey so I never got to make the comparison.


Thought it was funny finding a place a thousand miles from the ocean that featured shrimp. Not bad; not as good as I get in Florida. Liked the sign!


Interesting theatre with a interesting upcoming show. John Hiatt and Taj Mahal make for a nice blues show. There is a lot of good music that comes to Colorado. That's without even counting Red Rocks which is an awesome amphitheater!


Getting late; Have enough supplies for tonight; will need to hit Native Roots early in the morning to prepare for the trip home.

The time is dwindling down.



Day 6: More time in Denver and a visit to Native Roots