A while back (like in the spring) I had a free time share week I needed to burn, so Jerry and I sat down to plan something. We ended up with a Marriott in Vail CO named Streamside. We were a little dubious as the establishment listed right on the main page that it had no air conditioning. But, we figured September in The Rockies couldn't be too hot, and we were hoping to catch the Aspen trees with some color on them.
We were able to secure great flights, and Vickie and I were able to use our free companion fare we get once a year from AMEX. However, as the time to go approached, it was touch and go if we were really going to be able to make it. My mother had just come through cancer surgery, and had just moved into a rehab facility. I talked it over with her, and she said GO. My sister and my daughter (an RN by phone from Pittsburgh) promised me they would handle what ever came up. I needed a break (as did Miss Vickie) so I took them up on their offer, and here we are in Colorado in the fall.
We arrived at the Marriott Streamside in Vail CO which is situated at about 8300 ft of elevation. The trip from Denver brought us across I-70 through the Eisenhower tunnel, and across the Vail Pass in the mountains. All along the way were mandatory "chain up" areas along the road, runaway truck ramps, and barricades used for closing the road in the winter. Our worries about no air conditioning were unfounded. Temperatures for the week were 60's in the day, and 30's at night. We gladly opened our windows and enjoyed the mountain breezes.
Let me start off by saying, if you don't want to ski the ski resorts in the fall are beautiful, and pretty reasonable values. We went to the "Oktoberfest, Car Show and Farmers Market" this past Sunday here in Vail. According to a local shopkeeper Jerry and Brenda met, the 3,800 or so people wandering around Sunday turns into around 38,000 in the winter time. The shopkeeper said the winter season generated 70% of his annual business.
Later we went to what was for us a new event. I had seen in the local Vail rag, an ad for something called a "Bloody Mary Bar" at the Red Lion Inn. We rode the free shuttle from the Marriott Streamside down to Vail town proper. After wandering around, and buying me a cool straw hat (from a hot chick in turquoise boots with matching hat) branded with my initials, we happened upon the Red Lion Inn. I remembered the ad from the day before, so we went in to check it out. The "Bloody Mary Bar" turned out to be---the nice waiter guy brings you the glass with the adult beverage and ice, then you go to the bar. The bar was set up with a cute little attendant, and several kinds of Bloody Mary mixers. We opted for the house special, and I added a little Clamato to mine. Glasses were rimmed with Old Bay, coarse salt, celery salt, or nothing as you chose. Then you could pick from a marvelous assortment of garnishes. They had all types of olives (big green ones stuffed with blue cheese or garlic were the hit of the day), cauliflower, radishes, broccoli, carrots, celery, pickles, pickled beans and asparagus, shrimp, fruit and skewers to put it all on. Turned a Bloody Mary into a morning snack.
After that is was on to scope out the local car show. As it turned out, the car show in Vail was small but very interesting. Many very unusual cars, most in pristine original condition. Lots of exotics with an assortment of American iron. Along the way we also saw chili peppers being roasted for sale, booths offering lamb sliders, gyros, baklava, brats made with elk; ostrich; or the usual porcine parts.
There was music going on in the town center, of note, a couple playing beautiful music on two long alpine horns. They had some traditionally dressed folks teaching guests a polka of sorts. It wasn't exactly the long tables full of beer, brats, and singing I had envisioned for Oktoberfest. My artificial parts had enough of hiking, so we retreated to the Marriott and enjoyed it's facilities for the rest of the day. I think I drank a little to much rum as the day wore on---I wore out, and my good friend Jerry grilled us some great hamburgers.
On Monday, I was moving a little slow, so Vickie and I decided to make use of the considerable facilities offered here at the Marriott. The have a sauna, steam room, indoor/outdoor pool, and outdoor/indoor hot tubs. Jerry and Brenda headed out for a little exploring which carried them to Golden Hot Springs located west of here on I-70. They had a relaxing day in the therapeutic pools of the hot springs, and Vickie and I had a similar day in and around the resort facilities. It is an interesting experience sitting in the hot sun with a 60 degree wind blowing around you.
On Tuesday we headed back east to Leadville CO and a little railroad that still runs up through the mountains toward the molybdenum mine in Climax CO. http://www.leadville-train.com/ We arrived after a beautiful ride up through the mountains, and the train station told us loading was @12:30 and departure @1pm. We asked where the best lunch was and were directed to the Delaware Hotel. Lunch at the hotel did not disappoint. They had 3 different kinds of homemade soup (including buffalo chili), amazing good corn muffins, and great sandwiches on sturdy bread. We were fed and ready for our train ride on time.
The train ride was slow and up through the mountains. You had your choice of closed or open topped cars, and the weather was delightful. Along the way they had a "conductor" who was a lady that knew the history of the railroad, the local area, the landscape, and the flora and fauna. She kept us well informed, the trip was scenic, and just about the right length. Of note were the Aspen trees, which unknown to us, spread from a central tree via underground roots. So a stand of Aspen trees are all genetically related. Seeing them on the mountains gave us a great picture of how their color progresses through the fall. Where it is colder at the top of the mountains, the trees were almost red. As you came down in elevation, they were reddish orange, and further still down they were the yellow everyone associates with fall. The trees at the base of the mountains were still green. All of this color to be short-lived since they said they hoped they could keep the train running till Oct. 1st due to the snow starting.
When we returned home from our day in Leadville, we decided to go out to dinner. We did our usual scoping of dinner venues, and came up with Montauk Seafood where they had specials this time of the year. The resort folks recommended it, and I had seen the menu posted the previous day while wandering around Oktoberfest. It was an elegant restaurant, and an exceptional value this time of year. Jerry had Red Trout, Vickie had steak, Brenda had light batter Tilapia, and I had Black Grouper. We saved $$$ from similar meals had it been ski season and got to eat in one of the best seafood restaurants in Vail. (without a reservation)
So far our adventures in Colorado (and getting away from the 90 degree heat at home) turned out to be a wonderful experience. I'll break off here and write more about the rest of the week later.
more later,
wes
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