Monthly Archives: July 2013

12 of 12, July 2013

My nineteenth “12 of 12”.

The 12 of 12 challenge was created by Chad Darnell and picked up from a number of random bloggers who then linked back to him and vice versa. Chad stopped doing the 12 of 12 links in December of 2011, but has now passed the torch on to Janet Hughes who really hasn’t been keeping up with it. So as always, I’m giving my shout-out to Blobby of Blobby’s Blog as he is the one who inspired me to do it.

Today’s 12 fell on a Friday. One of my long days. So you’ll get random pictures as I can remember to take them throughout the day before, during, and after clients.

All pictures were taken by me with my iPhone 4S.

12:00 AM: I don't think m likes me sitting on her couch. But I needed to watch some "Restaurant Impossible". She'll just have to deal.
12:00 AM: I don’t think m likes me sitting on her couch. But I needed to watch some “Restaurant Impossible” on the DVR. She’ll just have to deal.
11:32 AM: Looking for an artist to fill this room...
11:32 AM: Prepping the studio to open. I’m looking for an artist to fill this room…
12:46 PM: Computers updated! Right before my first appointment arrives...
12:46 PM: Computers updated! Right before my first appointment arrives…
6:45 PM: My appointment book and pile of stuffs to work on.
6:45 PM: My appointment book and pile of stuffs to work on.
7:58 PM: Restroom selfie.
7:58 PM: Restroom selfie.
8:18 PM: Merging some photos together.
8:18 PM: Merging some photos together.
8:31 PM: Cleaning the Husbear's salon while I have a moment.
8:31 PM: Cleaning the Husbear’s salon while I have a moment.
8:38 PM: Potty break!
8:38 PM: Potty break!
10:12 PM: Way too many choices for toothbrushes.
10:12 PM: Way too many choices for toothbrushes.
10:23 PM: Waiting in the checkout line. I really wish stores in the US would institute the "one line, next available cashier" method.
10:23 PM: Waiting in the checkout line. I really wish stores in the US would institute the “one line, next available cashier” method.
10:49 PM: Some person got a rental truck stuck in a ditch. And blocked the road.
10:49 PM: Some person got a rental truck stuck in a ditch. And blocked the road.
11:07 PM: Dinner. It's healthy, I know.
11:07 PM: Dinner. It’s healthy, I know.

Until next time...
Erik

July Walkabout, Day 4

[The events of this post occurred Wednesday, July 3, 2013.]

We left Grand Lake and headed north on Highway 34 through the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Some bears won't get out of the car to look at the scenery. Granted, it looks the same from in the car...
Some bears won’t get out of the car to look at the scenery. Granted, it looks the same from in the car…
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Yours truly.
Yours truly.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Husbear... somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Husbear… somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Save the bears!
Save the bears!
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park.

From Rocky Mountain National Park we took Highway 36 to Estes Park. In Estes Park we headed south down Colorado 7 to 72 until we got to Nederland, where we stepped over onto 119 (“Peak to Peak Scenic an Historic Byway”).

In Black Hawk, we headed South on 279 down to I70. Which we took down to the Copper Mountain Ski Area. From there, we jumped on Colorado 91 and headed to Leadville.

In Leadville we headed on Highway 24 down to Buena Vista where we got on County Road 306 to 209 to 742 down to Colorado 135 down to Gunnison.

Another "road"...
Another “road”…
How many times can one jump across the continental divide before one's brain gets fried?
How many times can one jump across the continental divide before one’s brain gets fried?
Pretty.
Pretty.
Scary wet road.
Scary wet road.

In Gunnison, we ate at a place that had really bad service. Really bad. So bad I’ll tell you the name of the place so you can AVOID it: Gunnison Brewery. The service was so bad we promptly left after finally getting our food.

We stumbled into a place called the Brick Cellar, what I would call a martini bar. Sean from Idle Eyes and a Dormy would have thought he was in gay heaven. As soon as I walked in I knew I could live there forever. Seriously. Wonderful architecture. Cozy. Excellent bar. And friendly bartender.

We spent the rest of the night talking with friendly Bartender Tom until he closed the bar around midnight. After that, Tom showed us to a couple of other beveraging establishments next door.

The Husbear grew tired and headed back to the hotel.

Bartender Tom had to go clean the bar, and invited Dwayne and I back for a beverage. Where we proceeded to spend a good chunk of the early morning drinking and talking. And drinking some more. And showing us all the cool places in the building. And more drinking. We eventually stumbled back to the hotel and crashed for the night. The morning was going to hurt.

297 miles traveled today, with altitude ranging from 7,408 feet to 12,188 feet in 9 hours.

Until next time...
Erik

July Walkabout, Day 3

[The events of this post occurred Tuesday, July 2, 2013.]

We finally woke up in the morning after a late night. Well, two of us had a late night. And slight hangovers. And possibly the munchies. Apparently you can get a contact high by being around the locals in Colorado these days.

Old-school hotel keys at an old school hotel.
Old-school hotel keys at an old school hotel.
Conveniently located right next to the Manitou Springs Police Department.
Conveniently located right next to the Manitou Springs Police Department.

We checked out of the hotel in Manitou Springs and headed up to Pike’s Peak on Pikes Peak Highway. Driving. To the top. The Husbear has developed an odd fear of going off the edge of roads as of late. I’m not sure why.

The view from Pike's Peak.
The view from Pike’s Peak.
Dwayne at the top. Or is. I always get those two mixed up. ;-)
Dwayne at the top. Or is. I always get those two mixed up. 😉
The view from Pike's Peak.
The view from Pike’s Peak.
A gaggle of gays!
A gaggle of gays!
The view from Pike's Peak.
The view from Pike’s Peak.
The clouds rolling in...
The clouds rolling in…
The view through the clouds...
The view through the clouds…
This is as close as the Husbear would get to the edge.
This is as close as the Husbear would get to the edge. I think he may be troubled.
The view from Pike's Peak.
The view from Pike’s Peak.
More of Dwayne on Pike's Peak.
More of Dwayne on Pike’s Peak.
I feel like we just took this picture. Wait. We did. Eight months or so before when we were here.
I feel like we just took this picture. Wait. We did. Eight months or so before when we were here.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
The Husbear wouldn't get out of the car for some reason.
The Husbear wouldn’t get out of the car for some reason.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Pretty.
Pretty.
Sappy smooching picture.
Sappy smooching picture.
Why am I so gray?
Why am I so gray?
Thew view coming down from the summit.
Thew view coming down from the summit.

After Pike’s Peak, we headed west on Highway 24. Somewhere along the way, the Husbear decided we should turn north on Elkhorn Road. Road. Dirt. Road. Which we took all the way north to Highway 285.

The brief time on Highway 285 didn’t last long. Where quickly turned north on Boreas Pass Road. Another dirt road. Which brought us into Arapaho National Forest. Which we took all the way to Highway 9 in Breckenridge.

Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest, I think.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
A house out in the middle of nowhere.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest, I think. Again.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
We spied a snow bank.
We spied a snow bank.
Flowers.
Flowers.
Snow! And the Husbear.
Snow! And the Husbear.
Dwayne being all mountain-ey...
Dwayne being all mountain-ey…
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Another flower.
Another flower.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Boreas Pass
Boreas Pass
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
Somewhere in Arapaho National Forest.
One of the many "barely a road" roads we traveled.
One of the many “barely a road” roads we traveled.

We took Highway 9 up to Frisco to meet I70 for a quick jump back over to Highway 9 in Silverthorne. Which we took up to Ute Pass Road/Country Road 3 all the way until it merged into Highway 40 near Parshall. Near Granby we headed north on Highway 34 up to Grand Lake.

We arrived in Grand Lake at the foot of Rocky Mountain National Park and decided to get a room and call it a day. Or a night, as it were.

We like to wander, don't we?
We like to wander, don’t we?

We traveled 215 miles over a 9-hour period. Our minimum altitude was 7,415 feet and our maximum was 14,140 feet.

Until next time...
Erik

July Walkabout, Day 2 (with Pictures!)

[The events of this post occurred Monday, July 1, 2013.]

After getting around, we headed out of Denver to go to Pike’s Peak.

The Husbear wanted to take the scenic route, as always.

Which ended up being a three-hour “tour” on several single-lane dirt roads through the mountains.

The not-so-direct route to Pike's Peak from Denver.
The not-so-direct route to Pike’s Peak from Denver.
Head for the mountains...
Head for the mountains…
Apparently the river turns?
Apparently the river turns?
The Husbear showing us the road he has chosen for us to take...
The Husbear showing us the road he has chosen for us to take. The road that we almost got trapped on.
"Lucy" is apparently pissed at us...
“Lucy” is apparently pissed at us for the Husbear’s route choice…

We finally arrived at the entrance to Pike’s Peak, where we were told because of an incoming storm they weren’t letting people up past a certain point. Well damn.

So we headed to Manitou Springs to walk around the Garden of the Gods. As we were arriving in Manitou Springs, the clouds opened up and a deluge happened.

Double damn.

So we thought instead we would go to Cave of the Winds. Since it is inside and all.

The rains stopped as we got to the cave. As we were waiting for our tour, a flash flood rolled into the canyon below us. Which was very impressive to see.

The canyon below has a massive flash flood roaring through it...
The canyon below has a massive flash flood roaring through it…
More of the massive flash flood... which doesn't look that massive when you're several hundred feet above it.
More of the massive flash flood… which doesn’t look that massive when you’re several hundred feet above it.
Two bears waiting...
Two bears waiting…
In the distance...
Manitou Springs in the distance…
Dwayne rocking a bear hat...
Dwayne rocking a bear hat…
And the Husbear rocking the polar bear hat. ;-)
And the Husbear rocking the polar bear hat. 😉
Aww...
Aww…
I don't really know why I took a picture in the cave, other than to take one.
I don’t really know why I took a picture in the cave, other than to take one.

The Cave of the Winds is what I call a “Disney cave”, meaning it is all smoothed out and staged for the public. Not like most of the caves I grew up spelunking. But it got us out of the rain and was fun to walk through.

As we were leaving, the main highway had traffic stopped on it. The deluge caused a landslide that blocked the road. Luckily we were going in the opposite direction. Unlike the miles of traffic that were parked on it.

So we again headed to Garden of the Gods to walk around. Which we did. And took photos. And looked at the occasional eye candy.

Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Two bears from behind. And their behinds.
Two bears from behind. And their behinds.
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Moi, closer.
Moi, closer.
Moi!
Moi!
The Husbear and myself.
The Husbear and myself.
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Fence post.
Fence post.
Dwayne.
Dwayne.
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
This one...
This one…
... or this one?
… or this one?
One of these things is not like the other...
One of these things is not like the other…
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods

IMG_3347

This picture isn't so much that Dwayne is taking a picture. It's that I busted the Husbear trying to take a rock from the park...
This picture isn’t so much that Dwayne is taking a picture. It’s that I busted the Husbear trying to take a rock from the park…
Chucks!
Chucks!
The Husbear from behind.
The Husbear from behind.
Formations at Garden of the Gods
Formations at Garden of the Gods
The sky above the park...
The sky above the park…
More cloud porn...
More cloud porn…

It was time for dinner. So we headed into the historic area of Manitou Springs to get some food and find a hotel. Both of which we did. And then wandered to a few of the different bars here. After all, it was Beveraging Monday.

I feel like Mark from Voenix Rising taking pictures of strangers... but he was hot.
I feel like Mark from Voenix Rising taking pictures of strangers… but he was hot.

The Husbear was tired, so we found a hotel room. Conveniently located near the bar. Then Dwayne and I went back out after tucking the Husbear into bed.

And stayed out until 3 am talking with some of the locals….

Yes. Talking.

Until next time...
Erik