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01/14/2008 IF YOU ONLY SEE THIS SECTION CLICK HERE FOR HOME The Colorado Trip |
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| Over a month has passed since this "Business Trip" and I am finally beginning to post its pictures. My thanks to the customer (do not have permission to name them) that sent me on the closest thing I have had to a vacation in around 20 years. It is the first time I have completely enjoyed a business trip. The people of the Colorado mountains were friendly and helpful and the scenery unsurpassed. The resorts I stayed in were wonderful and with few exceptions the restaurants were great. I have featured a couple of restaurants here that gave me unsurpassed service although all of them had great service. My only regret was not being able to get a picture of the black bear that ran out in front of my vehicle. I was too busy missing it. I did get pictures of some of the other animals that visited my field of sight while traveling. | ||||
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The trip started in Denver so early in the morning that all I saw of the city was the I-70. So for me the trip really began when I left I-70 onto US 40 heading for Granby. This is one of the sites in a small town along the way. Since this was a business trip, most of my pictures were taken either while waiting in highway construction traffic or from the windshield of my moving vehicle. Fortunately I have gotten good at pointing a camera and shooting without looking through the view finder. Got to keep all four of my eyes on the road. | |||
| Heading up into the mountains, this view of the road gave little indication of the forest scenes yet to be viewed. |
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Look closely there are 4, possibly 5, animals in this picture. I would have missed this shot except that they almost walked in front of my vehicle and I stopped for them. They really blend in to the mountain side. |
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At the time I took this picture, I thought they were deer. Now that I look at an enlargement, I am not so certain. I am a city boy and could be wrong, they may be goats. If they are, email me and let me know. consulting@wronkerroom.com with "website animals" in the subject line. | |||
| More mountain scenes |
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Due to road work, only one lane of the road was open in some
areas and I "lost" several hours on this
trip parked. I say lost???? We all got out and visited while
waiting. It was the friendliest traffic jam I have ever been in.
Los Angeles take notes! |
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| Throughout the trip there was an afternoon downpour with lighting and thunder. This slowed travel as well, but was spectacular. Considering that I left my hometown with it raining and112 degree heat to take this trip in Colorado where the temperature rarely got above 85, the rain here was wonderful. Funny thing though, the locals were complaining of a heat wave. Good Grief, guess it depends on your perspective. |
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For those of you that like historic buildings, here's the
courthouse in Steamboat, where I spent my first night out of Denver.
There was a good little micro brewery in Steamboat. The Mahogany Ridge Brewery. I had dinner there and then walked the town before returning to my hotel for the night. The Service and food were very good, but small proportions on what I had. I went away hungry and had to buy a desert elsewhere later that night. Sorry no pictures of the brewery, it was good food and drink, but the building was nothing special. |
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| I am skipping allot of pictures here because there is just so many pics of scenery that anyone can take. It is much better in person. | ||||
| My next night was spent in Parachute. No, I don't know how they named that place. I ate at a little restaurant up the hill from where I stayed called the White Buffalo. The food and service were very good and I would return there. The statue outside was worth noting. |
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I had lunch here on one of my days. Was treated to a real buffalo burger while sitting at an old fashioned barstool counter. The buffalo burger was great and the service I got from my waitress, Pat, was supreme. Thanks to all at the Red Rock Diner on the way to Carbondale. | |||
| Back on I-70 I am driving one of the most spectacular roads I have ever been on. That dark shape to the left is the lanes going the other direction, suspended above my side of the road which seems to be overlapping the river on the right. Hard to see when the picture is this small. It was exciting though. |
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A Better picture of the river beside the road. | |||
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| What a TUNNEL! Going in and leaving it seemed like the longest tunnel in my life. maybe 5 miles long. I thought I was never coming out the other end. | ||||
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| More of the precarious way the road overlapped itself and hugged the river and a scene that was just too pretty to leave out. Please remember that these are being taken through the windshield of my moving car without looking through the view finder! | ||||
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| One of the best hotels I stayed in was located in Vail. Beautiful place that gave guests a real breakfast, not just a continental breakfast. They gave me a coupon for ten dollars at an adjacent restaurant and I was able to add a couple of my own dollars to it and get a very good omelet. Thank you Holiday Inn for a fantastic stay. | ||||
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Also in Vail, right down from my hotel was a little Italian place
that was very obviously where the locals hang out. If you are
impressed by fancy decor, then this is not your place to go. If you
are impressed by well prepared food and excellent service then this
is a must stop on I-70.
Not only was the food superb and quantities enough to eat, the service takes the award as the best service on the entire trip. The waitress and the chef went out of their way to take excellent care of me and the people around me. If you can't make out the name of the restaurant in the picture, it is BAGALI'S in Vail. Colorado and than you to the staff their for making a weary traveler feel welcome. |
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| This page is getting long. Hope it does not take to long to load. Let me know and I will split it into two pages later. | ||||
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More pictures of Vail taken in the evening before the sun went down using my cell phone. I forgot my good camera at the hotel. |
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The view from my room at the Best Western Ptarmigan Lodge in
Dillon. Almost the end of my trip and one of the best days of my
trip. After work I walked the path at the lake and around my hotel.
It was fantastic.
Then I had dinner at an historic restaurant that had been there before the lake and had to be moved to its present site when the lake was created. see below. The Arapahoe Cafe and Pub |
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| I went back to the Arapahoe for lunch the next day too. It has quite a history and to read more about it click here | ||||
 View from hotel room window in Dillon |
 Walking the Lakefront in Dillon |
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The Lake | |||
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There was so much in between each town I visited, Vail and
Dillon and even after Dillon that I could not possibly put it all on
this site. I hope I have given you a taste of and a good reason to
visit Colorado. I sure want to go back.
Meanwhile I watched this sunset in Dillon for over an hour and find it fitting that I conclude by riding off into...... Hope you all enjoyed my pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. |
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