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  3. TRAVEL 2013
  4. AUGUST, 2013: STATESIDE

AUGUST, 2013 B: COLORADO

From San Luis through Boulder
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bajbarbedwire

  • Sounds good to me. Try pouring some of this over me when I'm gone....<br /> <br /> We're in the oldest town in Colorado. San Luis dates back to 1851.
  • We stopped for Lattes at this quaint little totally volunteer-run espresso bar and gallery.
  • Nice place. Interesting stuff inside. The name is Ventero Open Press Fine Art. They have some old-style presses inside, in addition to art work. <br /> Find them at <a href="http://www.ventero.org/">http://www.ventero.org/</a><br /> <br /> I made the mistake of ordering a Mocha Latte and a Chai Latte. These were way too sweet. I think that their coffee (and Lattes) would be fine, however (and I'm sure that there are some who would say that our drinks were perfect the way they were).
  • GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK. What you see in front of you are the tallest sand dunes in North America, Rising up 750 feet.
  • As you can see, it was a bit stormy when we were there. In fact, there was a bit of lightening on the far side of the dunes, which made me decide to not start the trek to the top. The white appearance is from rain -- it was not cold enough for frost or snow, but the sand up on the dunes took on this white-silvery cast when it got wet.<br /> <br /> These dunes are on the Western Slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and prevailing winds here come from west to east. The basin to the west of the mountains is basically a huge and ancient river bed. As the winds blow over the basin, they pick up sand. As they approach the mountains, however, they are partially blocked (or at least slowed down), which makes them drop the sand. The dunes are therefore growing, and are slowly re-shaped on a continuing basis.
  • Sorry about the wind noise. You will be able to tell the difference between it and the thunder, however (at 1:29). Also, watch for the lightening bolt at about 2:22.
  • Fairplay, Colorado: The largest town in the South Park Basin. And yes, this really IS the South Park on which the cartoon is based. So now, if anyone ever asks Bri if she has any experience as a cartoon character, she can truthfully reply "I was once in South Park."
  • The old Park County Court House (and Mausoleum) is now the Fairplay Public Library.
  • Library door was unlocked, so we stepped in. Bri headed up the stairs and someone up there sternly (but courteously) let her know that the library was closed. Pretty cool building, both inside and out.
  • Some of the old buildings from the frontier and mining days have been moved / reconstructed here to create SOUTH PARK CITY, basically a tourist exhibit. We were too early to go through it, but it looks pretty authentic from the outside looking in.
  • Just outside the South Park City, there are about 3 or 4 blocks where the buildings look fairly Western-like, too.
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  • Heading north from Fairplay, up toward Hoosier Pass. The little peak just up and to your left from Bev is Mount Lincoln (at 14,291 feet the 8th highest peak in Colorado). I never made it to the top, but was once within a few hundred feet -- up at the base of the little peak part -- near where the bottom of that little high snow pocket is. Love the high (and thin) mountain air! But I'm not planning to take that trek again (*sigh*).
  • 13-photo panorama of the mountains and the valley back down toward Fairplay.
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  • We stopped at the Hoosier Pass summit (elevation 11,542 feet) and started walking up a gently-inclined 4-wheeler road. Of course, we all had to stop to take pictures of flowers (and for Daddy to catch his breath).
  • Montgomery Reservoir in the valley. Still looking down toward the Fairplay side of things.
  • 17-panel panorama from nearly as high as we went (my altimeter said 12,200 feet, if I remember correctly). Bring the photo up to "original" size for some pretty amazing detail. Can you find Bri?<br /> <br /> The valley to Fairplay is to your right. The valley to your left descends toward Breckenridge.
  • Hmmm. Something seems different about this photo. Maybe it's the altitude?<br /> <br /> Or maybe this is like the expedition up to the Twin Peaks of Kilimangaro (click the following link if you are not familiar with THAT one: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46btEgKmCTo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46btEgKmCTo</a> )
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