Eddie & Wifey Return to Colorado

[macky]

How much is tax? The gram price for weed in Dispenseries in Toronto is half the price .I hope legalization doesn't,t bring price increases or it will fail . There,s lots of growers here to have a thriving black market

[notsofasteddie]

How much is tax? The gram price for weed in Dispenseries in Toronto is half the price .I hope legalization doesn't,t bring price increases or it will fail . There,s lots of growers here to have a thriving black market

Colorado Cannabis Sales Reach Nearly Half a Billion Dollars in 5 Months

Submitted by Marijuana News
Thu, 07/14/2016




After the first five months of the year, Colorado is on pace to reach $1 billion dollars in cannabis sales during 2016. The Colorado Department of Revenue released data Wednesday showing that Colorado cannabis shops reeled in nearly $98.6 million in sales during May, bringing the year-to-date tally for 2016 to just over $486 million.

In April, Colorado set a new sales record with $117.4 million, mostly thanks to the annual 4/20 holiday. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, cannabis shops sold almost $76.6 million in recreational cannabis in April, significantly eclipsing the previous high-water mark of $62.2 million in December 2015.May’s sales were the fourth-highest monthly total since Colorado began recreational sales in January 2014. Medical sales topped $37.7 million, and recreational cannabis sales ended up being $60.85 million. With all of those receipts, Colorado will be swimming in tax revenue; the state claimed nearly $15 million in cannabis taxes, licenses, and fees.

The record-setting sales also mean a healthy revenue haul for the state. There are three different taxes on Colorado’s recreational cannabis — the standard 2.9 percent state sales tax, a special 10 percent sales tax, and a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale transfers, which is earmarked for school construction projects.


420intel

[spidergawd]

I guess there are places for the "gas guzzling" 4 wheel drives and Colorado is definitley one of them.
Lovely pictures and a really interesting trip you're doing, really enjoying following you around.

[notsofasteddie]

Day 2 in Colorado Springs

On the agenda for today is the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the Air Force Academy, but first we return to Manitou Springs for supplies.


Relying on the GPS, but starting at a slightly different place, we end up taking what must be a "secret" route. It has twists and turns, hills and valleys. It puts us on narrow roads that I would never travel given a choice. Strangely enough it takes us to the Miramont Castle Museum.


It's an interesting place built by a Catholic priest back in the late 19th century. Today its thirty (30) rooms are filled with all sorts of oddities including Smokey the Bear, the history of the Manitou Springs Firefighters, and WWII memorabilia. All of which seem a little strange to be in a castle from the Victorian era.

With a few more zigs and zags, we make our way to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.


The clock on the wall says only fifty-two (52) days to Rio DeJaneiro (2016 Summer Olympics) and six hundred and three (603) days to Pyeong Chang (2018 Winter Olympics) in South Korea. Time flies, it is now only five hundred and seventy-two (572) days before the opening ceremony.


The training center has some interesting statuary including:






Much to my surprise, there was a Tai Kwan Do awards ceremony going on in the background. What better place!!

Next came the Visitors Center with lots of opportunities to purchase Olympic souvenirs. In the same building there were several slide show displays featuring American athletes from the 2012 London games.



Is that Michael Phelps in the left hand corner?

Next up the Air Force Academy!!

I visited here in 1967 and just drove on to the campus. Things have changed as we were met by two (2) armed guards at the entrance gate. One of which was carry an AR15. We pull up to the gate and show our IDs. The guard then asks that we roll down our back window. It suddenly hits me. I've got some Emerald Fields supplies in the back seat along with a copy of THC magazine. This may not have been a good time to remember that inside the academy Federal law prevails so I'm carrying! Fortunately the guard smiles and we are in and on our way.


The big picture view. The campus is a beautiful place being used for a less beautiful purpose.


The cadet chapel. Its ironic that this is the most beautiful building on the campus.

As the day closes we head back to the hotel to enjoy our supplies and celebrate what has been a great trip.

More to come tomorrow. We've still got Pike's Peak and other interesting things on the agenda. After that there's still Denver!

[MinnBobber]

Thanks for the ongoing report.

I'm hoping/planning/needing to re-visit CO to replenish my meager stash. Maybe the end of Sept/Oct??

I'm 1000 miles away. Minnesota, and now feel like I'm forced to drive so as to carry some supplies back home but not sure what to do.

I assume you flew?? I see there is a light-rail from airport to downtown Denver and that might enable a much cheaper car rental as airport has a list of addtl taxes a mile (high) long. What did you do? I still cringe at thought of flying with some stash....

At the end, please post what shops had the best flowers and what kind of prices---hoping to find high quality at low/decent pricing. My favorite was Green Grass Alt Med in Central City, 45 minutes NW of Denver if you get near there.

Any CO residents on here with suggestions OR who want to give a short paid seminar to my wife and I on "how to trim" and we keep what we trim ??

[notsofasteddie]

Day 3 in Colorado Springs

For those who might be curious as to the supplies we inadvertently took into the Air Force Academy, they were


Heavenly Honey Lemon Chill Pills and Love's Oven Peanut Butter Chippies Eddie liked the chill pills as they were potent and given their sublingual nature somewhat quicker than other edibles. Wifey was not a fan as they reminded her of cough drops. Eddie did not care for the peanut butter chippies as they were weaker than the other edibles consumed on the trip.


Apothecanna extra strength relieving body crème which was quite effective for Wifey's aching knees and Eddie's stiff neck.


Back to business and the Pike's Peak Cog Railway


The station where we are about to start our 3 hour trip. The station has all sorts of things to sell like food, water, and souvenirs. One item that was a surprise was that they also were selling oxygen in small canisters. Given that that amount of oxygen in the air at the summit of Pike's Peak is only sixty (60) per cent of what is available at sea level, it is a popular product.

Things to see on the way up


We've just begun and as you can see we are definitely going uphill


Nice view, but the best is yet to come


Water is precious here so there are lots of reservoirs to collect it


We are now at 12,129 feet(3,697 meters) so Wifey and Eddie have establish a new highest point as we are above the highest point we crossed in Rocky Mountains National Park. This cabin used to house workers who maintained the railway, but today it is abandoned and home only to these guys



We made it! We're at the top


The summit -- 14,115 feet (4,302 meters) Not quite as high as Mont Blanc the highest mountain in the Alps, but pretty high.


Looking South you can see all the way to New Mexico and Texas. Looking down you're looking at a fall of about 3,000 feet (900 meters)


Looking North you get to see the mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park which is a little over 100 miles or 160 kilometers away. I thought it was interesting that there was so much more snow there than there was on Pike's Peak.


At the top there's this memorial to the woman (Katherine Lee Bates) who wrote the lyrics to America the Beautiful after visiting the summit of Pike's Peak in 1895

Our stay at the summit lasts only thirty (30) minutes. This in some ways is a good thing as I'm huffing and puffing - maybe buying oxygen would have been a good idea - and with the wind chill temperature being 29 degrees Fahrenheit or -1.67 Celsius this Florida boy is getting cold. We came prepared for cold with jackets and sweaters. Too bad we left them in the hotel.



On the way down, I noticed this. The rail car was made in Switzerland. Made me feel safer!!


OMG, we're about to have a collision with the train coming up the mountain. Not to worry, the railway is single track, but they have switch offs to accommodate the up trains and the down trains. Interestingly, they are manually operated. The tour guide has to climb down and throw the switch.

Time to head for the hotel and an evening of relaxation.

Tomorrow is our last day in Colorado Springs and will feature some local oddities!

[pengaldinho]

Really nice trip report! The scenery is spectacular and i bet even better when baked

[notsofasteddie]

The days remaining in Colorado are definitely dwindling down. This is our last full day in Colorado Springs. Tomorrow we leave for Denver. It's been a great trip with more to come!

Something that I never thought I would see. Only in America can you get this. I guess it's only fair as you can buy beer and wine at most gas stations. There are three (3) of these Gas and Grass stations in Colorado Springs. Wifey and Eddie visited two (2) of them. Too bad all of the dispensaries in Colorado Springs are medical. All we could buy is gas.




Next up and off the beaten path is Starr Gideon Kempf's Metallic Sculptures.



These things are amazing being over 60 feet (19m) There used to be more of them here, but based on the complaints made by neighbors due to the volume of traffic coming through the area there are now fewer of them. I can't even imagine what creative process gave rise to these.

Next we have a picture of some long arm quilting machines. They provide features such as perfect free motion stitches, navigation via touch screen, and easy threading and bobbin winding. If you want to quilt big, this is what you need. Given that these guys are priced between $6,000 and $20,000, I hope that Wifey continues to quilt small.


Our field trip for the day is out to Royal Gorge. It's about forty (40) miles or sixty-five (65) kilometers west of Colorado Springs. Up until 2001, this was the highest bridge in the world when measuring from the bridge to the Arkansas River below. Today the record is held by China.


A closer look at the bridge makes you appreciate that its 955 feet (291m) from the bridge to the river and the distance between the towers is 880 feet (270m). Interestingly much of what you see was destroyed in the wildfires that ravaged Colorado in 2013. The superstructure of the bridge survived, but all of the wooden planking did not.


Here's a picture of the gondola that travels across the chasm. Trust me when I say that given how I saw it swaying, it will be a cold day in August in Florida before this boy gets on. With age comes wisdom or maybe it's that discretion is the better part of valor.


There is also a zip line setup across the gorge. I tried to get a shot of those brave (foolish) enough to enjoy the ride, but failed due to the slowness of my camera and the speed at which they were travelling.

Well we are back in Colorado Springs and enjoying a nice Mexican restaurant, Arceo's. I loved the chairs as they would brighten anyone's day. A couple of Margarita's, some Fajitas, and Sopapillas for dessert and then it time to chill with edibles to finish off the day.


Next up Denver with lots to see and do

[CopenhagenCouple]

Good write up Eddie, thanks for sharing!

We are also dreaming of a smokers trip (plus so much more) to Colorado so great hearing about your adventures! Can't wait to hear about Denver...Gas and Grass is a fun idea, sad that it isn't recreational there yet!

CC

[notsofasteddie]

Today we leave Colorado Springs and head for Denver. Since "check-in" time at the hotel is 2:00 p.m., we've got a couple of hours to kill. A quick decision takes us back to the Garden of the Gods. It's spectacular and close to where we are staying.


The view from the gift shop. This time I remember to get a t-shirt souvenir for my grand niece.


The view with subtitles.

We've made it to Denver, check in to the hotel, and now we are out exploring the 16th Street Mall.


Apt description


This proves that buffalo are migratory. The first time that I was on the mall the herd was about a block South and on the other side of the street


Interesting place if you're into money. You get to see a $100,000.00 bill, $30 million in cash. You get to take home a bag of shredded currency, and the museum is mostly photo-friendly. No picture to support counterfeiters, please!


Horse and buggy a great way to tour the area.


Clyfford Still - Abstract Impressionist and predecessor to Jackson Pollock.

From the 1940's

From the 1960's


Another great show at the Paramont. Gordon Lightfoot a.k.a., Don Quixote, the hottest thing in folk back around 1972.



Words to the wise; words to live by!


Time to take a break and stock up. It's only two (2) more days before we return to the land of prohibition so lets take advantage of the opportunity.





A "selfie" so if we're ever in Colorado or Amsterdam at the same time, you'll recognize me


Shot from the hotel room. There's a party on the roof of the Denver Athletic Club. I wish I had been invited. Looks like a good time is being had by all!



Here comes the night

Tomorrow is the last day of the trip. We've got Denver Comic-con to check out and the Gay Pride Parade. Not to mention one last dispensary

[spidergawd]

What a fabulous trip report, love the musical interludes.

[macky]

Great report ...not bud porn Gorden Lightfoot ,love that guy seen him at Massey Hall . Maybe next year you guy,s will be able to make trip north Keep doing what your doing ...Thanks

[notsofasteddie]

Last Full Day in Denver! Tomorrow we hit the big bird back to Florida and our Colorado Trip becomes just a memory albeit a very good memory. Carpe Diem!!


Something's happening here.

It's Denver Comic Con

The lines are unbelievable. Fanboys and Fangirls stretching for blocks.









Superheroes to be seen



Superheroines and princesses too


Taking a break from the festivities to refuel


Next comes Gay Pride

[notsofasteddie]

It's Saturday so Gay Pride was a disappointment. Much to my surprise, the parade was scheduled for Sunday and we'd be on the "big bird" heading East back to Florida. When Wifey and I lived in Dallas it was always on Saturday and it rocked!

Lots of preparation, but not too much is happening






Still there are some early birds getting set up for what hopefully will be a busy, busy day!



The "nice lady" blew me a kiss!! Too bad I'm almost seventy-five (75) and Wifey is with me

Still a couple of interesting things to see

Denver Art Museum


An interesting tableau representing the amicable relations between Cowboys and Indians


Last stop Pure Dispensary on Bannock street. I messed up and didn't take a picture of the outside so here's what Google's Street Maps from August 2015 saw:
Pure Dispensary

Inside is a typical barebones dispensary with knowledgeable staff and some interesting things to see.



Damn, it's Father's Day! Those prices look good to me!


Interesting to see some Old [older]School strains -- Lavender, Big Bud, and pre-98 Bubba Kush!
So Many Strains; So Little Time




It's back to the hotel for an early evening and a good night's sleep. We've got a 5:00 a.m. wake-up call and then a quick trip to the airport.

We finish off more of our supplies. Can't take them home so "Waste Not; Want Not!

The night ends with this:

[Willjay]

Thanks for sharing