• Cathy Duguay
  • Cathy Duguay

Colorado 2016

A 12-day adventure by Cathy Read more
  • Trip start
    September 2, 2016

    Avoiding the hurricane

    September 2, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    Hurricane Hermine hit north Florida overnight but that didn't hinder our travel plans. A little rough weather, and a closed Skyway Bridge, but we got to the airport on time.

  • Wild goose chase & lunch

    September 2, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Larry wanted to get a pair of hiking pants in case it was chilly in CO, so after picking up the car rental, we made our way to a store which Goggle rated as our best choice for hiking clothes. Located in historic Highland, an area I dubbed Hipsterville, the store was a small boutique with 6 pairs of hiking type pants, none if which were Larry's size. We decided to grab some lunch & enjoyed yummy sandwiches at the Salt & Grinder.Read more

  • Glenwood Springs

    September 2, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    So excited to see Nikki, we got a quick tour of her school & hit the road for Glenwood Springs. Turns out that Doc Holliday "retired" to the town for health reasons so it has an interesting history. As usual we can count on Nikki for so many nuggets of info. Our Airbnb was on a farm & we met puppies on our arrival. We enjoyed the view & a beer and explored the cute, modern, & comfortable apt. we will call home for the next couple days.Read more

  • No Name/ Jess Weaver Trail

    September 3, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After some research, Nikki found the perfect warm up hike, Jess Weaver Trail in a community called No Name. Located near the water treatment plant, the trail followed a rushing river and had us crossing overturned logs as we climbed along its banks. Our reward was a great view of the pass & waterfall.Read more

  • Aspen & Maroon Bells

    September 4, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Our trip began with an informative lecture by our very laid back bus driver. We learned about the history of the area, spied a coyote sauntering through a meadow and saw several llamas as we made our way to the top. Our first spectacular view was of Maroon Lake, the most photographed spot in CO. No picture could capture the magnificence of these mountains.
    We decided we were up for the challenge of the "moderate" 1.8 mike hike to Crater Lake and set off on the somewhat muddy and increasingly steep trail.
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  • Crater Lake

    September 4, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We needed several stops to literally catch our breath as we hiked onward & upward but there was a breathtaking view around every corner to photograph. Crater Lake was a perfect spot for our granola bar picnic. The hike down was much quicker and both Larry & Nikki snagged a rock for their collectionsRead more

  • Hidden hot springs & Cont. Div.

    September 5, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Nikki's guidebook mentioned a local hidden hot springs that was definitely off the beaten track. We were greeted by a bunch of hippies, apparently living on a bus, who directed us down the path to the small pond. We enjoyed a half hour soak, serenaded by the somewhat monotone melodies of the bus dwellers but otherwise in perfect serenity.
    We happened upon Loveland Pass on the Continental Divide on our way back to Denver. Despite the chilly temps & no bathroom facilities, we stopped for a photo op.
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  • Botanical Gardens

    September 6, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Our relaxing day in Denver included a walk to and around the Botanical Gardens. We saw plants from around the world and learned about some interesting sculpture. My favorite section was the riot of color in the rose garden. Lunch at Snarf's, where they have the best sandwiches in the world. It was very tasty
    We walked to Nikki's apartment and then to dinner at Angelo's. Urban hiking - we logged 7.6 miles on my fitbit, the most so far on this trip.
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  • Mimi's cabin

    September 7, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    On our way to Winter Park, we stopped at Berthoud Pass on the Continental Divide and, of course, another photo.
    We were very pleased with Mimi's Cabin, our rental for the rest of the week. Comfortable and rustic with a lovely view of the mountains and close to the many hiking trails in the area, it was just about perfect. We enjoyed some drinks on the porch then a brisk walk uphill to marvel at the McMansions and their views along the ridge. We ate the best bbq'd burgers and had a few more drinks on the now chilly deck, then retreated inside to warm up in front of the cozy fire.Read more

  • Creekside Loop Trail

    September 8, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    The 5 mile Creekside/Flume Trail recommended at the Visitors Center was just the right difficulty. We hiked along the river and through meadows and forests enjoying the beginning of the fall colors and some beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.Read more

  • Elk Meadow Sunken Bridge Trail

    September 9, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We headed out on a crisp morning to tackle what proved to be a challenging 6.5 mile hike. We found a beautiful meadow with magnificent views of the mountains where others had boondoggled and sat to enjoy a snack and the view before crossing Sunken Bridge. The climb following the bridge was steep & rocky but we persevered only to continue to climb on the road until we found the trail head for Zoom & downhill from there. Definitely a feeling of accomplishment.Read more

  • Sunset Trail

    September 10, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    I found this trail on my quest to capture a mountain sunset and it was perfect for a morning hike with Nikki, Arianne, Emily & Shannon. We spent the rest of our last day enjoying our beautiful view & watching college football with NikkiRead more

  • Berthoud Pass Hike

    September 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Sad to leave Mimi's but we got on the road bright & early. We spotted a moose on the side of the road on our way out of Winter Park. We stopped at the pass for a short hike that took us high into the mountain and enjoyed some amazing scenery. Then it was on to Denver where we acted like millennial's by spending the afternoon in a bar watching Sunday football & drinking beer.Read more

  • Red Rocks Amphitheater

    September 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    The last hurrah in Colorado was the OAR concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater. It was quite a workout even getting to our seats and Nikki & I made several hikes to the top for the best views. It was a beautiful spot to enjoy the music, the scenery, and a little people watching.Read more

  • Home

    September 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Monday morning and an uneventful trip home. On our drive toward Bradenton, we caught sight of a beautiful rainbow. We got to pick up Kolby a day early and his excitement was a great welcome home.

    Trip end
    September 13, 2016