Wednesday, July 9, 2008

“Boulder Dash”

Monday, July 07, 2008 1:00 pm

First a quick note – we are at the mercy of Wi-Fi availability, so entries may be several days or more apart – just like this one was. This will be especially true as we enter canyonland territory.
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Yesterday and today have been prime examples of how to do a whirlwind tour of a beloved place. Kathy and Scott lived in Boulder for almost four years just after they were married. They both adored the city, eventually moving back east primarily to be closer to family, to raise one, and job responsibilities.

You can see the nostalgia on both of their faces, and we’ve just spent the last day and a half touring all of the great places they loved, and a handful of their friends who are still in the area. A partial list of our activities includes:

- Driving past Rocky Flats on the way in (Rockwell International). Both Scott and my brother Doug worked at this location, which was shut down several years ago. Scott was surprised (and I think pleased) that the location wasn’t just an empty shell, but had been completely demolished and hauled away. There was nothing but a pile of dirt. The closing time bar just outside was still there and looked to be doing fine, despite the fact that it was now all alone in the middle of the desert.
- Shopping on the Pearl Street Mall twice. What a great street! Pedestrian only, with a center aisle full of kid-friendly rocks, sand pits, fountains, musicians, and performers. On Sunday, the place was just crawling with families and tourists getting out for the day. It had a very European feel, though its look was all American (eclectic American). We went back because time drew us away and there was more we wanted to see. Highlights were Old Chicago’s Pizza Pub, Farfel Pet Store, the Sweet Shoppe, and the Life is Good store.
- Strolling the Boulder Creek Path and dodging all of the bikes. This town is probably the most active and outdoorsy town in the country and it is chock full of bicyclers. The creek is picturesque, cool, and crisp. The stream comes down from the mountains and is surrounded by grassy fields, shade trees, and climbing rocks. As with Pearl St., it was full of waders, splashers, riders, kayakers, and tubers, all enjoying the cold water. The creek itself reminded me a lot of Rock Springs back home in FL.
- A tour of the one and only Celestial Seasonings manufacturing plant. The company prides itself on being dialed into the Boulder community and lifestyle, and patterns its many tea products around that atmosphere. The machinery wasn’t operating on Sunday, but we did get to tour the facility, taste all we wanted, and then buy all we wanted. The standout was the mint room, where a powerful whammy clears your sinuses the moment you step in. Mint is kept separate from other ingredients to prevent it being absorbed by everything else. The entire plant could very easily be dropped into the middle of Epcot as a feature attraction, and many of the employees claim it’s like working at Disney.
- Dinner and overnight with Dave and Maggie Lee, old friends of Kate and Scott’s, who insisted on cooking for us and putting us up. As you’d expect, any friends of K&S are bound to be great people, and Dave and Maggie are no exception. Dave is an architect and he designed and built their house, which is amazing. Elements of their lives and their careers and woven into the walls, stairs, and everywhere. We ate on the back porch which has an irrigation channel (it waters nearby farms) running through it. Maggie serves as a bookkeeper, though she is at heart, a musician. We heard all about their two grown boys, Nolan and Ryan (no pun intended, slugger). It sounds like they share their parent’s faith, good character, and artistic skills. Nolan is soon to be married, and plans are hot and heavy (no pun intended, slugger). Great people, and despite the niceties of the RV, it was good to have a night in a real bed in a real house.
- Breakfast with a couple of Kathy’s old AAA buddies (she used to work there when in Boulder). Joyce, a feisty and friendly mother hen, was all smiles and hugs. She reminds me (in demeanor only, not age) of Granny, the cartoon caretaker of Tweety Bird. She was with her longtime boyfriend Terry. Then there’s Rich (who Joyce regularly refers to as “you old rogue!”), who still works at AAA. He is a prankster and told us of a few practical jokes he’s played on new employees (including Kathy, back in the day). Awfully nice of them to take the time to see us.
- One more quick pass through Colorado University (Lee is college shopping and likes CU, but it is too far away from home), the Dark Horse - a very cool college bar (Scott calls it T.G.I.Fridays on steroids – there are all kinds of wagons, sleds, and knick knacks all in the ceiling, and all of it is huge), and Pearl St (yes, a third time), and we bid adieu to Boulder.

Next it’s up and over the mountains…

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