Denver
To me, there are just a few scenes more beautiful than the cockpit view of the Colorado plains meeting the Rocky Mountains. The bird's-eye view is often astonishing and is always mesmerizing. I do not believe it is possible to capture or explain the magnificence of the sight.
That view is nature's welcome to Denver Colorado. The arrival by air is like passing through a door into an old castle--you can feel the solid beauty of what is to come. Although Denver's airport architecture attempts to mimic the mighty Rockies, it falls comically short of the true power exerted by these mountains (man just can't compete against nature).
Denver has always been a lively, vibrant western city. It was founded in 1858 as a gold mining town. It soon flourished into a frontier town that catered to the local miners. As the population grew, the city took on new rolls. Today you can find remnants of the old frontier, but those remains are absorbed into a larger modern city that serves the needs for all lifestyles.
Denver's geographic position has not only helped it economically, but also made it a key tourist destination. The airport serves as a spring board to the ski resorts in nearby towns. It is also a very active and outdoor oriented city with world class museums, concert facilities, sports arenas and restaurants. In fact, to take advantage of all the city has to offer, the Democratic National Convention is being staged here beginning this week.
But the most beautiful part of the city is my sister that lives there. She moved to Colorado (Vail) after college and has lived in Colorado ever since. She fell in love with the state and it seems to fit her perfectly (it might also be genetic, since part of my mother's side of the family settled in Colorado in the mid 1800s). Kim is as beautiful, outdoorsy, and as gifted as the state itself.
My son, Sam, and I visited her last month. The trips to her house are always exciting and filled with adventure. Every summer, Sam can't wait to visit. A talented photographer by trade, Kim also makes everything look easy. Her appetite for knowledge, the fine things of life, and adventure make her a good teacher for Sam. She has an enormous amount of energy that translates into fun times.
With each visit, we always stop at Wynkoop's in lower downtown (LoDo) for dinner and drinks. That meal has become one of our many customs; a trip to Kim's without the stop would be incomplete. It is one of my favorite restaurants and I highly recommend a stop to enjoy some of what it has to offer. The home brews and scotch collection cannot be beat. The menu is fresh and always graciously and happily served.
For this trip, Kim and her boyfriend, Dan, have something special planned for me and Sam--a whitewater camping trip down the Colorado River. Dan is also a very talented business man who owns his own company and has a love for the outdoors. He also owns his own raft and enjoys paddling it down whitewater rivers on his few days off; the raft, on this trip, can hold four people, a large dog (Dan's dog, Cody), and camping and cooking gear.
The excitement of the trip began even before we arrived in Denver. When Kim told me about what she and Dan planned, I was thankful for their generosity and care. Kim thinks the world of Sam and treats him like a prince; she wants the best for him both intellectually and physically. She provides artistic guidance, humor, healthy choices, and mental stimulation to both him and me that no one else can. On this visit, she continues with that generous giving.
The rafting trip starts early and we drive to the headwaters of the Colorado River. We put in at the Pumphouse Recreation Area southwest of the town of Kremmling and at the start of the mighty Colorado River . The Colorado river begins at an elevation of about 10,000 feet and runs for 1,400 miles down to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. For the next few days, we will sample what it has to offer.
The river, on this section, offers class 1 to 3 rated rapids--plenty rough enough to get your heart pumping and the laughter and shouts started. We pass over rapids called "Needle Eye" and "Yarmony" and wind through ranch country and between sandstone, 1000 foot high cliffs. The ride takes you away from civilization and back to where true peace resides. As bald eagles soar above you and beaver swim alongside, you wonder what it was like 100 years ago before "progress" made bold steps in this wonderful country.
We find a camping spot on an island in the river and stake it out; the closet campers are a half mile away. We set up are tents and gear and go for hikes. Sam has picked up a love of photography from Kim and he takes many pictures as we walk up onto the plateau over looking our compsite. It is beautiful and offers a fantasitic view for miles and miles.
Back in camp, we go fishing and for a swim (the water temperature is in the 50s but very refreshing). Dan teaches Kim how to fly fish and then he proceeds to catch a twelve inch rainbow trout! For dinner, we cook hamburgers and brats over an open fire and enjoy the meal as the sun goes down. We sit around the fire for a while and then call it a day. It is so quiet and peaceful as we crawl into our tents. Sam and I share a tent that has a screen top. Laying on the ground and looking up toward the heavens, thousands of stars can be seen. We enjoy the sight as we fall asleep to the sound of the rushing waters of the nearby river.
After breakfast the next morning, we pack up for another day on the water. This section is calmer and offers a chance for more swimming and fishing. We take out in the town of Rancho. If you have never been on a river in a raft, you are missing one of life's true pleasures. Floating or paddling on a river is a gift to your soul and mind.
Back in Denver, Kim continues to show us a great time between her busy schedule. One of my favorite places to visit is the REI store on Platte Street. This store is housed in the old 1901 Tramway building and offers everything a person could dream of for outdoor adventures. A trip to Denver would not be complete with a visit to Tattered Cover Book Store in the LoDo section. It is a large independent bookstore that is my favorite in the country. This is what a bookstore is supposed to be!
On the final night here, we continue with tradition and eat sushi. There are a number of very good place and we have our favorites. But tonight we try something new and it turns out very good. Sushi Uokura Restaurant next to Dan's building in Golden offers up plenty of fine Japanese cuisine, sake and beer (and tea for Sam). It is an enjoyable night and a fitting conclusion to another loving time spent at Kim's.
I am fortunate in that I have a very close family. I am particularly blessed in that my two sisters are treasures that no amount of gold could replace. They are each uniquely talented, loving, generous and intelligent. God has blessed me with their presence and what they always offer. They both continue to make me and Sam better men.
That view is nature's welcome to Denver Colorado. The arrival by air is like passing through a door into an old castle--you can feel the solid beauty of what is to come. Although Denver's airport architecture attempts to mimic the mighty Rockies, it falls comically short of the true power exerted by these mountains (man just can't compete against nature).
Denver has always been a lively, vibrant western city. It was founded in 1858 as a gold mining town. It soon flourished into a frontier town that catered to the local miners. As the population grew, the city took on new rolls. Today you can find remnants of the old frontier, but those remains are absorbed into a larger modern city that serves the needs for all lifestyles.
Denver's geographic position has not only helped it economically, but also made it a key tourist destination. The airport serves as a spring board to the ski resorts in nearby towns. It is also a very active and outdoor oriented city with world class museums, concert facilities, sports arenas and restaurants. In fact, to take advantage of all the city has to offer, the Democratic National Convention is being staged here beginning this week.
But the most beautiful part of the city is my sister that lives there. She moved to Colorado (Vail) after college and has lived in Colorado ever since. She fell in love with the state and it seems to fit her perfectly (it might also be genetic, since part of my mother's side of the family settled in Colorado in the mid 1800s). Kim is as beautiful, outdoorsy, and as gifted as the state itself.
My son, Sam, and I visited her last month. The trips to her house are always exciting and filled with adventure. Every summer, Sam can't wait to visit. A talented photographer by trade, Kim also makes everything look easy. Her appetite for knowledge, the fine things of life, and adventure make her a good teacher for Sam. She has an enormous amount of energy that translates into fun times.
With each visit, we always stop at Wynkoop's in lower downtown (LoDo) for dinner and drinks. That meal has become one of our many customs; a trip to Kim's without the stop would be incomplete. It is one of my favorite restaurants and I highly recommend a stop to enjoy some of what it has to offer. The home brews and scotch collection cannot be beat. The menu is fresh and always graciously and happily served.
For this trip, Kim and her boyfriend, Dan, have something special planned for me and Sam--a whitewater camping trip down the Colorado River. Dan is also a very talented business man who owns his own company and has a love for the outdoors. He also owns his own raft and enjoys paddling it down whitewater rivers on his few days off; the raft, on this trip, can hold four people, a large dog (Dan's dog, Cody), and camping and cooking gear.
The excitement of the trip began even before we arrived in Denver. When Kim told me about what she and Dan planned, I was thankful for their generosity and care. Kim thinks the world of Sam and treats him like a prince; she wants the best for him both intellectually and physically. She provides artistic guidance, humor, healthy choices, and mental stimulation to both him and me that no one else can. On this visit, she continues with that generous giving.
The rafting trip starts early and we drive to the headwaters of the Colorado River. We put in at the Pumphouse Recreation Area southwest of the town of Kremmling and at the start of the mighty Colorado River . The Colorado river begins at an elevation of about 10,000 feet and runs for 1,400 miles down to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. For the next few days, we will sample what it has to offer.
The river, on this section, offers class 1 to 3 rated rapids--plenty rough enough to get your heart pumping and the laughter and shouts started. We pass over rapids called "Needle Eye" and "Yarmony" and wind through ranch country and between sandstone, 1000 foot high cliffs. The ride takes you away from civilization and back to where true peace resides. As bald eagles soar above you and beaver swim alongside, you wonder what it was like 100 years ago before "progress" made bold steps in this wonderful country.
We find a camping spot on an island in the river and stake it out; the closet campers are a half mile away. We set up are tents and gear and go for hikes. Sam has picked up a love of photography from Kim and he takes many pictures as we walk up onto the plateau over looking our compsite. It is beautiful and offers a fantasitic view for miles and miles.
Back in camp, we go fishing and for a swim (the water temperature is in the 50s but very refreshing). Dan teaches Kim how to fly fish and then he proceeds to catch a twelve inch rainbow trout! For dinner, we cook hamburgers and brats over an open fire and enjoy the meal as the sun goes down. We sit around the fire for a while and then call it a day. It is so quiet and peaceful as we crawl into our tents. Sam and I share a tent that has a screen top. Laying on the ground and looking up toward the heavens, thousands of stars can be seen. We enjoy the sight as we fall asleep to the sound of the rushing waters of the nearby river.
After breakfast the next morning, we pack up for another day on the water. This section is calmer and offers a chance for more swimming and fishing. We take out in the town of Rancho. If you have never been on a river in a raft, you are missing one of life's true pleasures. Floating or paddling on a river is a gift to your soul and mind.
Back in Denver, Kim continues to show us a great time between her busy schedule. One of my favorite places to visit is the REI store on Platte Street. This store is housed in the old 1901 Tramway building and offers everything a person could dream of for outdoor adventures. A trip to Denver would not be complete with a visit to Tattered Cover Book Store in the LoDo section. It is a large independent bookstore that is my favorite in the country. This is what a bookstore is supposed to be!
On the final night here, we continue with tradition and eat sushi. There are a number of very good place and we have our favorites. But tonight we try something new and it turns out very good. Sushi Uokura Restaurant next to Dan's building in Golden offers up plenty of fine Japanese cuisine, sake and beer (and tea for Sam). It is an enjoyable night and a fitting conclusion to another loving time spent at Kim's.
I am fortunate in that I have a very close family. I am particularly blessed in that my two sisters are treasures that no amount of gold could replace. They are each uniquely talented, loving, generous and intelligent. God has blessed me with their presence and what they always offer. They both continue to make me and Sam better men.
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